Tuesday 3rd Week of Easter

 Lord, receive my spirit. Acts 8:1

The way in which we die is different for everyone. 

The time we go is different as well for everyone. 

Death is a totally unique and personal experience. 

But one thing that seems to be common for many,

Is seeing the Light……

This Light is Christ for He is the Light of the world. 

As St. Stephen was being stoned,

The Heavens opened and He saw the Light,

The Son of Man standing at the right had of God,

And he prayed “Lord receive my spirit.”

Like Stephen we can pray,

Every night, before I sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep. 

If I should die before I wake

I pray the Lord my soul to take. 

Monday 3rd Week of Easter

Religious arguing. Acts. 6:8-15

Nothing gets people going more than a good religious or political argument. 

Both sides are trying to prove the other wrong. 

The Sanhedrin hauled Stephen into court and put him on trial. 

Rather than respond, Stephen remained silent with the face of an angel. 

Sometimes silence is the best response,

Especially when the other side has no intention of listening!

Third Sunday of Easter

Walking with Jesus  Lk.  24:13-35

Where are you going today?

Work?

Home?

An Errand?

Visiting someone?

Or just A Walk?

Will  you see the Risen Lord walking next to you?

The disciples on the road to Emmaus did not see Him. Lk. 24:15-16

Yet Jesus was walking right beside them

but they did not notice it was Him. 

But their hearts were burning as they listened to Him. 

It was not until the Breaking Of The Bread that they recognized Him. Lk. 24:30-31

What prevents us from seeing Him?

For the disciples on the road to Emmaus it was their sorrow. 

For others it might be the distractions of life. 

Others might be in too much of a hurry. 

And others might not even be looking for Him

That is why we come to Mass. 

To see Him in the Breaking of the Bread. 

That is why the Eucharist is called “The Real Presence”

For Jesus is really here in a way that he is not Present anywhere else. 

For Mass is where we walk with Jesus like the disciples on the road.

And listen to Him. 

Where we gather around the table of the Lord

And Jesus breaks the Bread. 

Every road therefore should lead us back to here.

For Only then will our hearts burn,

And will we see Him in the Breaking of the Bread. 

Friday Second Week of Easter

Rejoice in Suffering Acts. 5:34-42

The disciples in the book of Acts were beaten, imprisoned  and

Rejected. 

And They rejoiced that they had been found worthy to suffer for the Lord. 

Isn’t that odd?

They found joy in suffering for the Lord!

Not in money or popularly or power but in suffering. 

In the eyes of the world,

The cross represents suffering and death,

But for Christians it is joy and life. 

Thursday second week of Easter

Obedience. Acts. 5:27:33

The Sanhedrin hauled Peter in court and questioned him as to what he believed. 

Peter told the Sanhedrin that they had to obey God rather than men.  

This is easier said than done!

The world tells us many things. 

And if we do not do as we are told there will be serious consequences. 

We will lose our job. 

We will lose our place on the team. 

We will be canceled. 

The world is going to haul us into court;

Into the bar and social media and the street;

The grocery store and work;

 and question us

As to what we believe. 

Are we willing to pay the price

And obey God rather than the world?

Wednesday second Week of Easter

 God so Loved the World Jn. 3:16-20

God so loved the world that He sent us His only Son. 

His only Son who Who was scourged and crowned with thorns for us. 

Who died on the cross for us. 

Whose heart was pierced with a sword for us. 

There can be no doubt therefore that God loves us. 

For God has clearly shown His love for us. 

But Do we love God?

We may say we do,

But Do our actions show our love for God?

As God’s actions showed His love for us?

Tuesday Second Week of Easter

 

The early Christian community was of one heart and mind. 

No one claimed anything of their own. 

And if someone was in need, another would go and sell his property in order to help that person. 

Have we progressed or regressed in our Faith since the early days of the Church?

Are we too of one heart and mind?

Not always. 

What keeps us from being so?

How can the Church of St. Patrick’s Be Of one heart and mind?

How can We be of one heart and mind with the Church in Wenona, or Toluca or Lostant?

Through Love. 

Love others as the Lord has loved us. 

Through forgiveness 

Forgive one another as the Lord has forgiven us. 

Through prayer

Prayer that we all might be one One Body, One Spirit in Christ. 

Just as Jesus has loved us, so we must love one another.