Acts 3:1-10; Ps 105:1-4,6-8; Lk 24:13-35 Who is the cripple beggar at the beautiful gate? You are. I am. We are all unable to walk, jump, or praise. We may have walked along the way of the Lord. We may have jumped for joy at his wondrous deeds. We may have joined the praise of […]
Continue ReadingActs 2:36-41; Ps 33:4,5,18-20,22; Jn 20:11-18 All during this “Bright Week” the liturgy summons us to rejoice and be glad, yet the crowds who listen to Saint Peter are deeply shaken and even the Gospel of John has Mary Magdalene weeping beside the tomb. What happened to the Easter Joy? Why are the crowds shaking […]
Continue ReadingActs 2:14,22-33; Ps 16:1,2,5,7-10; Mt 28:8-15: The Eastern Church calls these days after Easter “Bright Week,” and in the West, we call it the Octave of Easter. In both liturgical traditions the church seeks to move the hearts of believers from glory to GLORY. Indeed, the Paschal Mystery is so bright with the glory of […]
Continue ReadingRom 6:3-11; Ps 118:1,2,16,17,22,23; Mt 28:1-10: What is wonderful in our eyes? The Psalm used as a response to our reading from the Epistle to the Romans enables our response. “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.” The Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia […]
Continue ReadingIs 52:13-53:12; Ps 31:2,6,12,13,15-17 Heb 4:14-16,5:7-9; Jn 18:1-19:42: As we gaze upon Him whom we have pierced by our sin, what do we hear? Today’s psalm responds: “Take courage and be stouthearted!” Why would we gaze upon his suffering and death? Perhaps because we have never seen such love and sorrow mingled. Indeed we hear his […]
Continue ReadingEx 12:1-8,11-14; Ps 116:12-13,15-18; 1Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15: This responsorial psalm provides a question worth of both early morning meditation and end of the day reflection. Indeed, answering this question is what makes us Eucharistic people. “How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me?” Or […]
Continue ReadingIs 50:4-9; Ps 69:8-10,21,22,31,33,34; Mt 26:14-25: What a difference one day makes in this beautiful drama of Holy Week. The psalm now sings of the insult and shame that afflicts the faithful servant of the LORD. The Suffering Servant no longer prays to be shielded from shame. Now he prays that even his suffering would […]
Continue ReadingIs 49:1-6; Ps 71:1-6,15,16; Jn 13:21-33,36-38: In a shame based social organization, it is death to have your dignity publicly denied. Today’s responsorial psalm reflects upon the profound relationship between the Lord Jesus and his Father. It is his confidence in the Father’s love and care that enables Jesus to sing of his salvation. As […]
Continue ReadingIs 42:1-7; Ps 27:1-3,13-14; Jn 12:1-11: We spend this whole week gazing upon the cross of Christ. We look with love upon the Faithful Servant of the LORD about whom Isaiah the Prophet sings. We look with love upon Christ the Suffering Servant of the LORD and recall every detail of his last week before […]
Continue ReadingEz 37:21-28 ; Ps Jer 31:10,11,12; Jn 11:45-56 : So how does a shepherd guard his flock? The Good Shepherd, a title the Lord Jesus gives himself in the gospel, lays down his life for his flock. He literally places his body in the opening of the fence to keep out anyone who is a danger to […]
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