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.  

Monday Second Week of Easter

Born of Water and The Spirit Jn. 3:1-8

Everyone is born of flesh and blood. 

But not everyone is reborn of Water and the Holy Spirit. 

Those born of flesh and blood are of this world. 

Those reborn of Water and the Holy Spirit are of heaven. 

Jesus reminds us that what is born of the flesh is flesh and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

He therefore, places a choice before us. 

Flesh or Spirit. 

This world or the Kingdom of Heaven.

If we want the Kingdom of Heaven, then we must be born again of Water and the Holy Spirit in Baptism. 

Through Baptism the flesh becomes filled and led by the Holy Spirit. 

And the Holy Spirit blows where He wills. 

In other words, those born again leave aside their fleshly desires and allow them selves to be "blown" by the Holy Spirit wherever He wills. 

Divine Mercy Sunday

Mercy not Justice

There was a man who once tried to kill Napoleon.

But was caught before he could do so.  

He was to be executed in the public square. 

But his mother came running up to Napoleon and fell

At his feet begging him to pardon her son.

 

And Napoleon responded by saying,

“Your son does not deserve pardon.”

And she answered by saying,

“That is why they call it Mercy.”

Mercy is a gift, 

given only to those who do NOT deserve it. 

If a person deserved it, then Mercy would not be necessary. 

That is the Great Gift of Mercy. 

It is given to those who do not deserve it. 

Who do you know that does not deserve Mercy?

A politician?

A religious leader?

A criminal?

Someone who hurt you?

Yourself?

Those who do not deserve Mercy are the ones who need it the most. 

How willing are we to give it to them?

What makes Mercy Divine

Is that it is offered even before someone asks for it.  

So do not wait!

Be Merciful as your Heavenly Father is Merciful. Lk. 6:36