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May 1, 2006 (St. Joseph, the Worker)
Readings: for the memorial, Gn 1:26—2:3 or Col 3:14-15, 17, 23-24/Mt 13:54-58
The celebration of St. Joseph the Worker reminds us that God put man in the garden of delights not to lead an idle life but to work. Man had to cultivate the garden of paradise. The gospel identifies St. Joseph as the carpenter or craftsman, and Jesus as his son. We know that Jesus himself practiced the craftsman's trade. All these point to the reality of work as something we should sanctify.
Work is a gift of God. Work ennobles man. All work is a sharing in God's activity. There is no honest work that we should look down upon. The value of our work depends on the love and diligence that we put into it. Let us be "proud" of our work and carry it out to the best of our ability.
May 2, 2006 (Tuesday in the 3rd Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 7:51—8:1a/ Jn 6:30-35
During their years of wandering in the desert, God gave the Israelites manna for them to eat. This mysterious substance was apportioned daily and every person had exactly what he needed, no more and no less. This manna was a symbol or figure of the food of our soul, Jesus Christ himself.
Jesus Christ fills all the yearnings, the hunger and thirst of our soul. "He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst." Our longing for truth, for love, for beauty, harmony and affection… all the longings of the human heart are perfectly satisfied in Christ. May we have a deep awareness of our need for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, as spiritual nourishment and as a permanent companion in the road of our life.
May 3, 2006 (Saint Philip and Saint James, apostles)
Readings: 1 Cor 15:1-8/Jn 14:6-14
The gospel today contains the mysterious words of Christ, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." On the occasion Christ said this, he also told Philip, one of the Apostles whom we commemorate today, "He that has seen me has seen the Father… I am in the Father and the Father in me." At that time, they were probably at a loss about the meaning of these words. From our perspective, we have a better understanding of these words.
Christ is our mediator to God. He is our way to God. Through Christ, we come to know the truth (revelation) and we acquire a new life (a share in God's life by grace). This is possible because Christ is both man and God. As God, Christ is in perfect unity with God the Father. If we go to Christ, we end up in the bosom of the Most Holy Trinity.
May 4, 2006 (Thursday in the 3rd Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 8:26-40/ Jn 6:44-51
"I am the bread of life," said Jesus to the great crowd gathered at the synagogue in Capernaum. Here Jesus revealed the great mystery of the Holy Eucharist. His words are so clear and unequivocal; there is no room for doubting what he meant. At the same time, what he is saying is so difficult to accept that without the gift of faith, it would be impossible to adhere to it.
Christ is truly present in the Holy Eucharist. His presence is not merely symbolic. It is not temporary. It does not depend on our likes or dislikes about it. It is from this belief that the Church draws certain practices, which are nothing more than the logical application of this truth -- for example, to keep the Lord in the tabernacle and to have a light indicating his presence. How about us? When we are in the presence of the Holy Eucharist, do we act consistently, as one who is in the presence of the body of Christ? And how do we behave after receiving Christ in communion?
May 5, 2006 (Friday in the 3rd Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 9:1-20/ Jn 6:52-59
The Jews could not accept what Christ was saying. Rather than soften the impact of his words, Christ emphasized it even more. "My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink."
The "real" presence of Christ in the Eucharist is at the heart of our Catholic faith. In the face of heresies that tried to deny this teaching, the Church has reacted by emphasizing the primacy of faith over our senses. Instead of hiding the appearance of bread, the Church "exposes" the appearance but at the same time asks us to surround this appearance with all the requirements of adoration and worship. "This is the Lamb of God," even if it looks otherwise. Before the Blessed Sacrament, let us react with a firm act of faith.
May 6, 2006 (Saturday in the 3rd Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 9:31-42/ Jn 6:60-69
Crisis! All the followers of Christ were abandoning him. The promise of the Eucharist (that they had to eat his flesh and drink his blood) was too much for the sensibilities of those listeners. But so firm was Christ in his position (and thanks to that, we too can be firm now in our faith in the real presence) that he did not budge and he even "invited" the closest ones, the apostles, to go away if they wanted.
Peter answered for all of them. "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of everlasting life and we have come to believe and to know that you are the Christ, the Son of God." It seems that they did not understand the Eucharist either, but they were just banking on their personal commitment to the Master. Loyalty -- that is what they had. And that is what kept them from abandoning Christ.
May 7, 2006 (FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER)
Readings: Acts 4:8-12/1 Jn 3:1-2/Jn 10:11-18
"The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep." On the other hand, the "hired hand," who does not have a personal stake on the sheep, would flee if his life were to be put at risk. Jesus refers to himself as the Good Shepherd. He expects his followers to share that task with him.
Jesus Christ is the model of all "pastoral" care. A true pastor serves the people not only at set times and places. He is always available for the needs of the people. Hence, to be a pastor requires thorough dedication and a great spirit of service and sacrifice. It cannot be treated like a profession that we can exercise at set times and choose to avoid at other times. To care for persons, we must follow Christ, who gave up his life for us.
May 8, 2006 (Monday in the 4th Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 11:1-18/ Jn 10:1-10
In the gospel today, Jesus applies to himself the lovable image of the Good Shepherd who takes loving and exquisite care of the sheep entrusted to him. "He calls his own sheep by name and leads them forth." The Good Shepherd acquires an intimate knowledge of each and every sheep. Those who somehow act as "pastor" (we can apply this to parents, teachers and other persons involved in formation of people) can learn from Jesus' example.
We must know the persons we are leading. Each human being is unique. A true pastor takes into consideration the individual situation and traits of his subjects. Besides, like the Good Shepherd who "goes before his sheep," the pastor must lead the way by example.
May 9, 2006
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May 15, 2006
May 16, 2006 (Tuesday in the 5th Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 14:19-28/ Jn 14:27-31a
"Peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you." The peace Jesus describes here is not only external peace. It is the inner peace that is the condition for any other type of peace to be possible. We normally associate peace with order. This is so because peace is the rest and quietude that follows when things are as they ought to be.
The most important order is the relationship that exists between each person and his God. Thus, if deep in our heart we know that we are not reconciled with God, we can have no real peace. We can cover up the voice of conscience through external distractions. But we will eventually have to face the issue. And when we are at peace with God, we can also have true peace with our fellowmen in our imperfect world.
May 17, 2006 (Wednesday in the 5th Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 15:1-6/ Jn 15:1-8
"Every branch in me that bears no fruit, he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more." The life of every Christian must be based on a life of prayer, a life of communion with his fellow men, and a life of sacrifice.
We must be united to Jesus Christ, who is the vine. This is done through a life of prayer. We must be united among ourselves, especially with those whom God has placed at our side through a common calling or through our particular circumstances. Finally, we must realize that every good thing always involves sacrifice. We must be willing to face sufferings and difficulties, and see that these are good, even contrary to all appearances. Apparent setbacks bring a promise of fruitfulness.
May 18, 2006 (Thursday in the 5th Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 15:7-21/ Jn 15:9-11
"Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love." Unfortunately, many people identify love with mere feelings or limit it to the romantic sentiment. Although these emotions are an integral part of human love, the substantial aspect of love is much deeper. Love lies in our spirit -- in our free choices, in our decisions, in our will for the good. True love effectively seeks the good of the beloved. If it is not transformed into deeds, then all the nice sentiments become forms of selfishness.
The test of loving God is an upright moral life. Likewise, the test of true human love is deeds of faithfulness and sacrifice for the good of the loved one.
May 19, 2006 (Friday in the 5th Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 15:22-31/ Jn 15:12-17
"I shall not call you servants any more...I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father." These words addressed by Jesus to his apostles can also be addressed to us. This is an invitation for all Christians to be friends of Christ. What does that mean?
According to St. Francis de Sales in his classic work Introduction to the Devout Life, friendship means mutual love with a common basis. If there is no common base, then it would be more a relationship of admiration (down to up) or benevolence.(up to down); but with friendship, there is a certain equality and mutuality. To be friends of Christ, we must rely on what we have in common with him -- the grace of God given to us. Friendship with Christ starts with the life of grace in our souls. It grows through mutual dealings (prayer) and increases with the sacraments, especially the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
May 20, 2006 (Saturday in the 5th Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 16:1-10/ Jn 15:18-21
The "world," in the sense of the universe coming from the hands of the Creator, is good – so we see from the narration of Creation in the book of Genesis. But in the gospel today, Jesus does not refer to the world in this sense. He is talking about the "world" as the evil forces that seek to hinder the work of redemption and sanctification of men. And so he says to the apostles, "you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."
Some people are called by God to somehow "leave" the world and detach themselves externally and internally from all worldly affairs, in order to devote themselves exclusively to things of God or the Church. But the majority of Christians have to remain in the world while keeping themselves from being stained by the forces of evil. St. Josemaria Escriva would express it in a catchy phrase – being of the world but without being worldly. The majority of the ordinary faithful have to remain in the world precisely so that the saving power of Christ can act through these Christians in the different environments of the world.
May 21, 2006 (SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER)
Readings: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48/1 Jn 4:7-10/Jn 15:9-17
"You did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit." The apostles, to whom these words were addressed, may have recalled that day when, after having spent a whole night in prayer, Jesus called them apart from among all his followers. They were not necessarily the best nor the most capable. They were simply God's inscrutable choice.
The calling to serve God, the vocation, is a mysterious reality. What we can see in this verse is that it is primarily God's initiative. Hence those who have received a vocation (whether it be to the priesthood, the religious life, or any other form of dedicated life) must be conscious of its divine dimension. They should consider their vocation as a sacred reality and act accordingly.
May 22, 2006 (Monday in the 6th Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 16:11-15/ Jn 15:26—16:4a
In today's gospel reading, Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit. He calls the Spirit of God "Advocate". Other versions translate the word as "Paraclete" or "Consoler". This gospel is like an anticipation of the celebration of the Solemnity of Pentecost, which will come soon after the Lord's departure for heaven. It is somehow introducing us to the Person of the Holy Spirit.
All these terms referring to the Holy Spirit point to the reality of the Holy Spirit's role in our life. The Holy Spirit will enlighten us. The Holy Spirit will come to our defense. The Holy Spirit will give us consolation. What Jesus did for his followers two thousand years ago, that the Holy Spirit does for us now.
May 23, 2006 (Tuesday in the 6th Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 16:22-34/Jn 16:5-11
"Unless I go, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." In a few days, we shall be celebrating the Lord's Ascension to heaven. Jesus said these words before his passion, death and resurrection. But he was already referring to his final departure from earth. Ten days after Jesus ascended to heaven, the promised Advocate came -- the Holy Spirit who descended upon the gathered disciples on Pentecost.
Yet Jesus continues to remain with us under the appearance of bread and wine in the sacrament of the Eucharist. This sacramental presence of Jesus is possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a real presence, although we do not have Christ in the way he appeared two thousand years ago. Let us increase our faith in the real presence of Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
May 24, 2006 (Wednesday in the 6th Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 17:15, 22—18:1/ Jn 16:12-15
"When the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth." Jesus is telling the apostles about the coming of the Holy Spirit. The mission of the Holy Spirit, once Jesus Christ has died, risen from the dead and ascended to heaven, is to apply the fruits of Christ's redemption to the Church. This means that the mission of the Holy Spirit is basically one of sanctification.
It is significant that Christ calls the Holy Spirit the spirit of "truth." After all, sanctification requires the acceptance of the truth revealed by Christ. That is why faith, by which we come to possess the supernatural truths about God and ourselves, is considered by St. Paul to be the beginning of justification. Let us pray to the Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds and the minds of all men, so that we may all be receptive to the truths left by Christ in his holy Church.
May 25, 2006 (Thursday in the 6th Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 18:1-8 / Jn 16:16-20
The words of Jesus were meant to prepare the apostles for the trials they will undergo during the passion of Jesus. "You will be weeping and wailing, while the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy." But these words of Jesus can also apply to the general situation of Christians. They must expect persecution and difficulties. In fact, many of the first Christians suffered martyrdom for their faith, but they were triumphant in the end because they entered heaven.
Nowadays, we can also apply these words of Jesus to our situation. When a Christian, out of fidelity to Christian principles and morals, suffers material setbacks, he can also rest assured that God will somehow reward him. Quite often, even in this life, a Christian's temporal sorrow is transformed into a deep joy. But above all, the sorrow will be transformed to joy when he receives the eternal reward of heaven.
May 26, 2006 (Friday in the 6th Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 18:9-18/ Jn 16:20-23
Jesus Christ said, "I shall see you again, and your hearts will be full of joy, and that joy no one shall take from you." This passage makes us consider the joy a Christian should have. Christianity, although its symbol is the cross (which is associated with hardship), is a religion of joy and happiness.
Anyone can have a good laugh and still be sad deep down inside. Joy is not just having a fun time. True joy, the one that "no one shall take from you", is based on the deep conviction coming from faith that God is our father who loves us madly. When hardships come (and come it must for everyone because we live in an imperfect world), Christian joy is not removed. By uniting our sufferings with Christ on the cross, our joy becomes even more firmly rooted. A Christian can continue to smile in spite of external and internal hardships.
May 27, 2006 (Saturday in the 6th Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 18:23-28/Jn 16:23b-28
"If you ask the Father anything in my name, he will give it to you." These words of Jesus are an assurance to us that our prayers, if they are properly done, are always answered. What can we learn about prayer from these words?
In the first place, we must pray to God as our father – that means that we must address God with the simplicity and trust of a child, not the suspicion and self-reliance of an adult. Then, we must address God in the name of Jesus. Have you noticed how many liturgical prayers end with the formula "we ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ?" It means that we do not rely on our own merits. We must unite ourselves with Jesus Christ, who only wanted to do the will of God. And we come to our final point – our prayers are answered if it conforms to the will of God. Now the will of God, who is our loving Father, is for our authentic good. Hence, God will grant the prayers that are for our true good. And, as many parents have experienced, they give their children good things but the children sometimes do not realize that what may seem to be an unpleasant response is really good for them.
May 28, 2006 (ASCENSION OF THE LORD)
Readings: Acts 1:1-11/ Eph 4:1-13 / Mk 16:15-20
The very last recorded words of Jesus on earth were those he said when he went up to heaven. "Behold, I am with you all days, even unto the consummation of the world." They were addressed to the Christians who were agape, watching the Lord rising up to heaven and gradually disappearing from their sight. Jesus said those words right after He had entrusted them with a very demanding charge – to convert the whole world by sanctifying and teaching all people. This is at the heart of the mission of the Church -- the salvation of all men.
The last words of Jesus are the basis of what we call the "indefectibility" of the Church. It does not mean that the Church, composed of limited mortals, has no defects in her members. It means that the Church, as a whole, will not fail in the mission given it by Christ. This is because Jesus, who is God and who has won our salvation, will always be with the Church. And so, throughout the centuries, the Church has gone through many difficult times. Yet, in mysterious ways, she continues here salvific activity. She somehow "bounces back" from any crisis She encounters. The boat of Peter may be rocked, but it will never sink.
May 29, 2006 (Monday in the 7th Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 19:1-8/ Jn 16:29-33
In today's gospel, Jesus foretold how even the apostles would end up abandoning him. "The time will come –in fact it has come already—when you will be scattered, each going his own way and leaving me alone." At the same time, this does not disconcert Jesus. He is aware that there is a greater one who will never abandon him. "And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me."
How wonderful it would be if we all had the same awareness as Jesus. Indeed, God is always with us, whether or not we are aware of it. But if we were always conscious of God's presence, we would always act in the best possible way. Besides, we would be filled with peace and joy.
May 30, 2006 (Tuesday in the 7th Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 20:17-27/ Jn 17:1-11a
In the last part of today's gospel, Jesus mentions that while he himself will no longer be in the world (an allusion to his Ascension into heaven), yet his followers remain in the world. "I am not in the world any longer, but they are in the world." In the Latin language, the term for "world" is "seculus". Historically, the term "secular" then referred to persons who are "in the world". This is in contrast to those who, inspired by a special calling, decided to flee or get out of the world in order to dedicate themselves more to a specialized mission and to bear witness that "this world is passing away" so that we should not get misled by the wiles of the world.
Hence, we can say that Christ's words apply especially to those who are in a "secular" situation. This refers to most Christians, most especially the lay persons whom God has wanted that they remain in their ordinary situation. Christ has prayed for them so that while they do remain involved in secular affairs, they may always realize that their true home is in heaven, with Jesus and the Father.
May 31, 2006 (The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
Readings: Zep 3:14-18a or Rom 12:9-16/Lk 1:39-56
Today is the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary went with haste to the house of her cousin Elizabeth, when she learned that Elizabeth was pregnant. Leaving aside the supernatural happenings involved in the meeting of the two cousins and the beautiful hymns in praise of faith and humility, we can focus on what this visit meant in itself.
Was Mary visiting just to exchange gossip with her cousin? Was she visiting in order to go sightseeing? No. It seems that Mary went to Elizabeth in order to help her. An elderly woman being pregnant for the first time would need the help of her younger cousin. Mary went there not to enjoy herself or to be pampered, but to serve, to work, to nurse her cousin. How wonderful Mary is! Instead of feeling proud and conceited for being the mother of the future messiah, she made herself available for the menial jobs that Elizabeth could not handle. Let us learn from her.
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