Jesus speaks with Nicodemus about the Holy Spirit. We have received this Spirit in our hearts at Baptism, and the Lord gives us the strength and wisdom to make our way through this life to Heaven. Our task: to let the Spirit work in our lives!
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Easter
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Study: Reflect on a time when you willingly took on a hard task with joy. What gave you courage to begin?
Pray: Is there something that needs to change in your life? Pray for the grace to begin again.
Serve: How can you help someone make a change for the good?
Mass Readings – 3rd Sunday of Easter
The season of Easter offers us many opportunities to celebrate and rejoice. After all, the light of the Risen Lord brings hope, courage and strength to all who call upon the name of Jesus. Take a look at a quick overview of these readings:
Why all this talk of repentance? First and foremost, because we need it. The Good News of the resurrection of Jesus Christ brings light to the darkness of death and sin. Easter does not downplay the call to turn away from sin; rather, we have renewed hope that in Christ’s victory on the Cross we are empowered to face our weaknesses with God’s grace.
The light of the resurrection shines in our hearts…and sometimes we need to clean out what’s in there. We might not like it, might try to avoid it, but in the end we stand before the Lord and acknowledge that all that we have is sustained by His love.
Here’s my point: this holy season offers us a chance to draw near to Christ – who knows us better than we know ourselves – and receive his mercy for our sins. All that’s required is our acknowledgement for what we’ve done, make a change to live for the Lord and then receive the forgiveness that flows from the Sacred Heart.
Repentance is a lifetime work. There will be days when we follow the Lord with joy and conviction; then again there will be days when we fail miserably. What matters most is that we continue to seek Jesus with all our heart and strive to live our lives in the light of his resurrection.
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The unity of the disciples through gratitude, love and peace offers us an example of how we draw together today with the people God puts in our lives. This is is not easy work…but it is worth it!
Mass Readings – 2nd Sunday of Easter
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As the disciples moved from doubt to bold belief, we see the process that often accompanies our transformation in faith. We need time to understand, integrate and apply God’s grace to our lives; may this Easter season help us to proclaim the Good News with boldness!
Mass Readings – Saturday of the Octave of Easter
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The Risen Lord appears to some of the disciples while they are fishing on the Sea of Galilee. Their encounter reveals that God gives us what we need so that we can face the challenges in life.
Mass Readings – Friday of the Octave of Easter
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After the resurrection Jesus appears to the Apostles and explains how he has fulfilled the prophecies within the Sacred Scriptures; that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer, die and be raised on the third day. He concludes this passage with a powerful exhortation, “You are witnesses of these things.” Our faith was built on the witness of others, and our lived example of faith helps others encounter the Risen Lord today.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the Octave of Easter
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Two disciples encounter Jesus on the road to Emmaus. Their journey reveals how God continues to touch the hearts and lives of believers today. May we continue on the path as we walk with the Lord!
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the Easter Octave
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Mary Magdalene was the first person to see the Risen Lord. Empowered by Jesus, she is sent to proclaim the resurrection to the Apostles. Her example reminds us that God continues to bless us in our weaknesses and strengthen us for service in the world today.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the Easter Octave
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Photo Credit: Mary Magdalene, 2018.
Study: Where have I experienced profound moments of unity with others?
Pray: Where do I see signs of disunity in my life? Call upon the Lord for grace and strength.
Serve: How can I help others grow closer together? How can I foster unity?
Mass Readings – 2nd Sunday of Easter
“The community of believers was of one heart and mind…” (Acts 4:32)
I marvel at the transformation of the disciples. Before the resurrection of Jesus they were filled with fear, paralyzed by their own weakness and doubt; after the resurrection they are changed, as evidenced in even the basic ways they lived and worked together.
One heart and mind!
Unity can be challenging in even the best circumstances: we see things differently, hold our own unique values and principles, as well as personal tastes and interests. Working together is tough, yet it is a common sign of holiness – the practical proof that we are doing our part to build the Lord’s kingdom here on earth.
What supports unity? Jesus Christ! Unity with Christ provides the grace for unity with Christ’s brothers and sisters; this clear sign of faith draws others to the Good News and fosters our community with one another. Take a look at a few of the patterns that emerge in today’s readings:
Another way to say it: Sharing, Gratitude, Love, Peace – which find their source in Jesus and flow through us to the those we meet. I would suggest that the disciples used these building blocks to form the first elements of the Church, working together in unity with the grace of Christ to proclaim the Good News.
This work continues today. We all know firsthand the effects of discord – where lives are broken and fragmented by selfishness, fear, hate, and a hardness of heart – yet we believe in something greater…Christ is triumphant! Our response can mirror the disciples:
May we bring these powerful blessings of the resurrection to our world today:
One heart and mind!
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Note: This post was first published on April 12, 2015.
The resurrection of Jesus brings hope and life as we turn away from our sins and embrace the living Lord. No matter what’s happened in the past, may we draw strength from God’s love and walk in the light of Christ’s amazing grace. The Lord is risen! He is risen, indeed.
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Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 