Welcome
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Saturday of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Easter, April 30
As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The proposal was acceptable to the whole community. (Acts 6:1-7)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/043022.cfm
The creation of the Seven (referred to much later in church history as “deacons”) was to respond to a language problem in the early church between the Greek-speaking and Hebrew-speaking members. It is fascinating that those who are named as the Seven all have Greek names. Perhaps the church knows that to speak one’s language helps in spreading the gospel.
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Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin & Doctor, April 29
One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” (Jn 6:1-15)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042922.cfm
Poor Andrew! The lack of faith on the part of church leadership is never surprising. Saint Catherine of Siena in the 14th century did her best to convince church leadership to lead. Despite all the failures of leadership in her day, Saint Catherine never gave up on the church.
Thursday, Week II, Easter
The one who comes from above is above all. (Jn 3:31-36)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042822.cfm
The question about where Jesus is from is answered in a very simple way in the Fourth Gospel: Jesus is from above, from God. And so the one whom God sends is the one who speaks the words of God. This is precisely what the Fourth Gospel community believes. And so the instructions of the Mother of Jesus to the waiters at the Wedding Feast of Cana are appropriate for all would-be disciples: “Do whatever he tells you.”
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Wednesday, Week II, Easter
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. (Jn 3:16-21)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042722.cfm
The heart of the gospel . . . and the challenge as well. If God so loved the world, then perhaps we need to do a better job of loving our sisters and brothers instead of condemning them.
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Saint Mark, Evangelist, April 25
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. (Mk 1:1-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042522.cfm
All four gospels are anonymous. The names in the titles were added later by the church. The Gospel According to Mark is one of the oldest. We know that “Matthew” and “Luke” had a copy of “Mark” in front of them when they wrote their gospels. So what we celebrate today is not so much a person (because we really don’t know who wrote this gospel), but rather the gospel that person wrote. It is unfortunate that for the feast of the gospel the lectionary-makers chose a passage that is definitely NOT from the hand of the gospel writer we call “Mark.” The passage in the lectionary for today is an addition to the gospel added much later by the church to make the Marcan gospel harmonize with the other gospels. We continue to pray for Ukraine.
II Sunday of Easter, Octave Day of Easter
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name. (Jn 20:19-31)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042422.cfm
“Jesus did many other signs . . . but these are written so that you may come to believe” and “may have life in his name.” Here we come to what is the first conclusion of the Fourth Gospel. But then later, after the deaths of Peter and the Beloved Disciple, the gospel writer decided to add a further chapter, Chapter 21, to answer concerns about the respective roles of these two important disciples in life and spirituality of the early church. We pray that Ukraine may have life.
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Friday in the Octave of Easter
When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead. (Jn 21:1-14)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042222.cfm
One of my favorite Resurrection Appearance Stories: Breakfast by the Sea. He continues to reveal himself to us in the Breaking of the Bread and in our life together.
