Tuesday | May 21, 2024
James 4:6
God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
St. Christopher Magallanes and Companions
Humble Hearts Love Big
Today’s readings encourage humility—a virtue that the biggest man I’ve ever known possessed in spades. Standing at 6'5", my children’s beloved Pop never sought to take up too much space. His towering stature was only matched by the size of his big heart.
Pop died of an unexpected heart attack six years ago; today would have marked his 74th birthday. Pop was quietly brilliant and imparted esoteric knowledge about myriad subjects—from bug identification to obscure poets. His socks rarely matched, and he never made a fortune. He loved good books and the outdoors. Most of all, he loved his family. In fact, the only showy thing about him was how excessively he loved us all. So today, in his honor, my kids, husband and I will serve up a slice of humble (if you will) key lime pie—Pop’s favorite—and remember a man who lived simply but loved extravagantly.
Lord, give me a humble heart that loves big.
- Kate Wicker
James 4:1-10 • Psalm 55:7-11, 23 • Mark 9:30-37
Monday | May 20, 2024
John 19:27
Then [Jesus] said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.”
The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
Mary, Our True Mother
Today, we celebrate the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, a feast established by Pope Francis in 2018. It recalls that Mary is not only the Mother of Jesus, but she is also the Mother of the whole Church. But, at first glance, today’s readings don’t seem very celebratory. Rather, they are permeated with darkness and evil. Adam and Eve have flagrantly disobeyed God. When confronted, Adam blames Eve, and Eve blames the serpent. What’s to celebrate in that?
The Gospel, too, paints a horrific scene: Jesus dying on the Cross. Mary watches helplessly as her son is brutally executed by forces far beyond her control.
These stark readings remind us that Mary is our Mother not because she was preserved from trials, anguish and the effects of evil. She is our Mother because she is truly one of us.
Mary, our loving Mother, help us to be men and women of faith as we face the adversities of life.
- Sr. Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D.
Genesis 3:9-15, 20 or Acts 1:12-14 • Psalm 87:1-3, 5-7 • John 19:25-34
Sunday | May 19, 2024
Acts 2:2
…suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind…
Pentecost Sunday
Gone With the Wind
Sometimes, a little turbulence is a good thing. We need to be unsettled, startled, shaken. The first Christians learned as much on Pentecost. This singular event in the life of the Church—the “birthday of the Church”—doesn’t arrive quietly. “Noise like a strong driving wind” announces that the Holy Spirit has arrived. You want winds of change? Brace yourself. The world, in effect, is being blown off course.
Pentecost reminds us that God’s work in the world can sometimes leave us unsettled and mystified. It can take us out of our comfort zones. But every now and then, we need that. We need something (or Someone) to jolt us out of the world we know and take us someplace new. The people gathered in the Upper Room learned soon enough that “driving wind” might take you where you never expected. It might even shift the tides of history.
- Deacon Greg Kandra
Acts 2:1-11 • Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34 • 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Galatians 5:16-25 • John 20:19-23 or John 15:26-27; 16:12-15
Saturday | May 18, 2024
John 21:25
There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.
St. John I
The Book of Our Life
Which is more difficult to absorb—the infinite vastness of God’s work in Christ or the very small and personal ways he works? John the Evangelist was evidently in awe of both. John wanted to write down everything, big and small, but realized he couldn’t because we carry the greatness of God in very tiny vessels.
Our lives, too, can be the books that tell the story of the things Jesus has done—more than can ever be written dwells in each of us. Perhaps we can be evangelists by telling and retelling the Gospel, not as something far away and long ago but as real and living in our day. We need to do this for ourselves and for each other. It’s a sacred duty that nobody else can do for us.
Lord, speak in me and teach me to speak of you.
- Mary Marrocco
Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 • Psalm 11:4-5, 7 • John 21:20-25
Thursday | May 17, 2024
John 21:17
…[Simon Peter] said to [Jesus],“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
The 7th Week of Easter
Hunger and Thirst
Every Wednesday morning, I put a little bit of food in large boxes. Usually, it’s cereal, a can of fruit and a box of pasta. Just three things. But you see, I’m not the only one. Down the line, others put in peanut butter, dried beans, soup, fresh fruit and vegetables and eggs. At the very end, someone else places a bag of frozen meat on top. And after that, others greet those in need and give them the now-overflowing boxes.
And before all that, still others have picked up food from stores or the food bank, spent hours managing the process, and still others have contributed funds.
People hunger and thirst in different ways. Some of these hungers are overwhelming, and none can be fully satisfied except in the Lord. Yet, we are called in the present moment to do what we can—and every little bit helps—to feed the sheep.
Jesus, may I respond to your call today.
- Amy Welborn
Acts 25:13b-21 • Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20 • John 21:15-19
Thursday | May 16, 2024
John 17:20
I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word…
The 7th Week of Easter
Prayed for by Jesus
In the High Priestly Prayer said in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed for you and me. He prayed saying, “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” The faith has been handed down to us first through the Apostles. There’s a great comfort in knowing that on the night before he died, Jesus was already praying for us, for our strength and faithfulness.
St. Paul received the Gospel from the followers of Jesus, and his heart was changed and convicted. Jesus prayed for Paul that night in the Garden, and Paul’s words later converted many and are heard by us today. And in Acts, Paul bears witness to Jesus and the resurrection of the dead. He was not afraid to speak truth before others. Strengthened by Jesus’ prayer so long ago and the grace he gives us now, many others believe in him because of our words and actions.
- Fr. Edward Looney
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 • Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11 • John 17:20-26
Wednesday | May 15, 2024
Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock…
St. Isidore
Little Flocks
Paul is saying a very difficult goodbye in today’s first reading. Those of us who are experienced parents can likely relate. For decades, my wife and I kept watch over our own little flock. But they are grown and gone now. Especially when they were little, we did whatever was needed so that our children were safe and well. Even when the difficulties seemed insurmountable, the joy far outweighed the sleep deprivation and the worries.
Today, our son and daughter-in-law are making us proud as they endure some of the same sacrifices for the sake of their flock. Our eldest daughter and her husband are doing the same. One day, the seemingly endless nights, the countless hours attending youth sporting events and the myriad other activities will come to an end for them too. God willing, each of their children will move into a healthy adulthood. The best that we can do is offer them our blessings and commend them to God.
- Terence Hegarty
Acts 20:28-38 • Psalm 68:29-30, 33-36 • John 17:11b-19
Tuesday | May 14, 2024
Acts 1:26
…the lot fell upon Matthias…
St. Matthias
Comfort Zone
We all have a comfort zone—a safe and undisturbed state of mind. We know what to expect. And that’s reassuring. It’s a refuge, a place where we don’t have to push ourselves. But every now and then, God coaxes us to step out of self-imposed limitations. “No thanks,” we say, “we’re fine just where we are.” Or so we think.
Today is the feast day of St. Matthias. We don’t know too much about his life, but we do know he was named the twelfth Apostle after the Resurrection. When he was chosen, did he perhaps want to say thanks, but no thanks? We don’t know. But we do know he embraced the unknown despite whatever doubts he may have had. He trusted in God, and the rest is history.
How are you being asked to step out of your comfort zone? You never know what blessings may await your “Yes, thank you, Lord.”
- Gail Goleas
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 • Psalm 113:1-8 • John 15:9-17
Monday | May 13, 2024
John 16:33
In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.
Our Lady of Fatima
No Doubt
They had squabbled, jockeyed for position, questioned why they were chosen and looked for more direction from Jesus on what was to come and what they were to do. And in this passage, Jesus calmly notes the disciples will abandon him soon—and that’s all right, for God will never leave him or them. The hard work has already been done, even before his Passion begins.
The hard work has been done for us, too, but sometimes, we forget that. There’s so much we want to know: What is heaven really like? Will we see all our loved ones there? Will we get answers to our questions about the reasons for the suffering they and we have experienced? We don’t know. But Jesus has given us the greatest comfort possible—he’s with us every step of the way here on earth, and the trouble we experience is fleeting. As the Almighty is with Jesus, so Jesus is with us.
Lord, help me to set aside all my anxieties and trust in your victory.
- Melanie Rigney
Acts 19:1-8 • Psalm 68:2-7 • John 16:29-33
Sunday | May 12, 2024
1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.
7th Sunday of Easter
Loving As God Loves
St. John’s logic is simple: If God loves us so much that he was willing to give up his own Son for the chance at reconciling us to himself, how can we then refuse to extend that same love and mercy to others? It would be the height of hypocrisy for me to accept the salvation won for us on the Cross but refuse to forgive those who have wronged me or fail to help those in need.
Indeed, refusing to forgive others, to see Christ in the poor, to act as disciples, is tantamount to refusing God’s offer of love and mercy. In the Lord’s Prayer, we ask God to “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.” Our own salvation is sealed, as it were, by our willingness to love others.
Lord, give me today an open and loving heart.
- Jonathan F. Sullivan
Acts 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26 • Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20 • 1 John 4:11-16 • John 17:11b-19
