Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 04-28-13, Fifth Sunday of Easter

USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | Revised New American Bible

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April 28, 2013

 

Fifth Sunday of Easter

 

Reading 1 Acts 14:21-27

After Paul and Barnabas had proclaimed the good news
to that city
and made a considerable number of disciples,
they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples
and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,
“It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the kingdom of God.”
They appointed elders for them in each church and,
with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord
in whom they had put their faith.
Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.
After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.
From there they sailed to Antioch,
where they had been commended to the grace of God
for the work they had now accomplished.
And when they arrived, they called the church together
and reported what God had done with them
and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13

R. (cf. 1) I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let them make known your might to the children of Adam,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 Rev 21:1-5a

Then I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth.
The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,
and the sea was no more.
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race.
He will dwell with them and they will be his people
and God himself will always be with them as their God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes,
and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain,
for the old order has passed away.”

The One who sat on the throne said,
“Behold, I make all things new.”

Gospel Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35

When Judas had left them, Jesus said,
“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
If God is glorified in him,
God will also glorify him in himself,
and God will glorify him at once.
My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.
I give you a new commandment: love one another.
As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”

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Information: St. Louis de Montfort

Feast Day:	April 28
Born:	31 January 1673 at Montfort-La-Cane, Brittany, France
Died:	1716 at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sovre, France
Canonized:	1947 by Pope Pius XII

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Information: St. Gianna Beretta Molla

Feast Day:	April 28
Born:	October 4, 1922, Magenta, Italy
Died:	April 28, 1962, Monza, Italy
Canonized:	May 16, 2004 by Pope John Paul II
Patron of:	mothers, physicians, preborn children

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Interactive Saints for Kids

St. Peter Chanel

Feast Day: April 28
Born: 1803 ::Died: 1841

Peter Louis Mary Chanel was born at Cluet, Belley in France. From the time he was seven, he took care of his father's sheep. He was poor but intelligent and loved God and his Catholic faith.

One day, a good parish priest met him and was so impressed by Peter that he asked Peter's parents if he could educate the boy. They gratefully agreed and in this priest's little school, and later in the seminary, Peter studied hard.

At the age of twenty-four Peter Chanel became a priest and he was sent to a parish at Corzet where just a few Catholics still practiced their faith. Father Chanel spent hours in prayer each day and was kind and patient with everyone. Within three years there was a big improvement in that parish. Many people became full of love for Jesus and his Church again.

Father Chanel had a great wish to become a missionary. When he was twenty-eight, he joined a religious order called the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers). He hoped he would be sent to bring the Good News of Jesus to people who did not yet believe in God. After a few years, his wish came true.

He and a group of Marist missionaries were sent to the islands of the South Pacific, Oceania. Father Chanel and one brother were assigned to the island of Futuna in New Hebrides. There the people happily listened to Father Chanel preach. "This man loves us," one man said. "And he himself practices what he teaches us to do."

Sadly though, the chief of this tribe became jealous because the priest had so many followers. When the chief's own son was baptized and became a Christian, he was furious. He sent a band of his warriors to kill the missionary.

As Peter Chanel lay dying, all he said was, "It is well with me." He was killed on April 28, 1841 for his faith. A short while after he died a martyr, the whole island became Christian.

[Salvation]

 

Catholic

Almanac:

Sunday, April 28

Liturgical Color: White

Today is the optional memorial of St. Louis de Montfort, priest, born in 1673. St. Louis is best known for his total devotion to Jesus through the Blessed Virgin. He consecrated his life to her service, preaching on the rosary wherever he traveled.

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Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for: April 28, 2013
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Almighty ever-living God, constantly accomplish the Paschal Mystery within us, that those you were pleased to make new in Holy Baptism may, under your protective care, bear much fruit and come to the joys of life eternal. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

RECIPES

• Chocolate Pecan Pie

ACTIVITIES

• Bring Flowers of the Fairest
• Family May Crowning

PRAYERS

• Prayers for the Easter Season

Easter: April 28th

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Old Calendar: Fourth Sunday after Easter

"I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples."

Love is man's first and constant vocation. Love is the summary of the whole Bible. Love is the secret of the saints, the necessary way to God. It is the means to reveal God's heart to other men. But the beauty of God's love must show itself fresh and new in every Christian; for beauty, to delight and attract, must be fresh as the morning. Every deed of vital love, performed by us in our personality which nature and grace have fashioned, is like the morning of time itself. "God is love" in its mysterious fullness and infinite freshness. Utterly King and Lord, He unites the baptized of every nation in the one Mystical Body of Christ, by the one Holy Spirit, under the one Mother Mary.

Click here for commentary on the readings in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

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Sunday Readings
The first reading is taken from Acts 14:21-27. Last week we heard of St. Paul's experiences at Antioch in Piscidia during his first missionary journey. Their visit had ended on a sour note as Paul and Barnabas were expelled. The reading ended with"the two shook the dust from their feet in protest and went on to Iconium. Their disciples knew only how to be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit". Today we hear of the conclusion of this first missionary journey where Paul and Barnabas retrace their steps back through Antioch in Piscidia on their way back to Antioch in Syria where they had begun their journey.

The second reading is from the Book of Revelation 21:1-5a. For the past three weeks we have had as our second reading an account of John's privileged vision of the heavenly liturgy where he has seen the eternal sacrifice being offered to God the Father by His Son, The New and Eternal High priest and sacrifice. We have heard also the prayers being offered by the faithful. We now go to the end of John's account as he describes the Heavenly Jerusalem. It was Jesus' mission to go to the earthly Jerusalem to offer His sacrifice — this shows us the path that we must follow to reach the Heavenly Jerusalem so that we can dwell with Him there forever.

The Gospel is from John 13:31-33a, 34-35.We are disciples, followers of Christ, but how many of us would pass the test that Christ himself lays down for deciding who are his true followers? The word "charity" unfortunately has come to have a very restricted meaning in our present-day vocabulary. It signifies giving an alms, a gift of money to a needy person. This is but a very small part of the true charity, true love of neighbor which Christ made the distinguishing mark of the true Christian. He who truly loves his neighbor must be interested, first and foremost, in those things which concern that neighbor's most important purpose in life, his eternal salvation.

Here is where so many good Christians fail in true charity. Effective interest in missionary activity is a case in point. Practical help in parochial matters, taking part in the various societies which are intended to build up and strengthen the faith and the devotion of the members of the parish is another obligation of true charity. So many seem to think it is no concern of theirs but it is. Advising and encouraging, with true Christian kindness, a neighbor who is beginning to grow lax in his attendance to his Christian duties, or who is forming habits or alliances which, if unchecked, will bring misery and suffering to his family, and scandal to the neighborhood, and even the possibility of his own eternal destruction, is also an exercise of real Christian charity.

There are thousands of broken homes today which would not be broken if there was true charity in those homes not only in the heart of the offender but in the hearts of the offended. There are thousands in jails and in hospitals of rehabilitation today who would not be there if their families and neighbors fulfilled their obligation of Christian charity. There are many, far too many, lapsed Catholics in the world today, who would not have lapsed had true charity been practised by their relatives and neighbors. And, last but not least, there are millions of people who have remained outside the Church of Christ because the hall-mark of charity which Christ said was its distinguishing mark was tarnished or invisible. Each one of us could, with great profit, spend a few moments today looking into ourselves and comparing our thoughts and our words and our actions with the thoughts, words and actions of love which Christ expects from his followers.

It is never too late to mend. Begin today to take a true Christian interest in the spiritual fate of your family and neighbors. Where words have already failed perhaps, try prayer and example. The grace of God will cooperate with your sincere, charitable effort.

Excepted from The Sunday Readings, Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.

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Catholic Culture

Meditation: John 13:31-35

5th Sunday of Easter

I give you a new commandment… . As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. (John 13:34)

They say couples who have been married a long time start to look alike. Whether or not it’s true physically, it probably is true that a loving married couple over the years starts to think alike. They share the same desires and goals. They tend to make similar choices. They even complete each other’s sentences!

Well, if this is true of the relationship between a husband and wife, it is most certainly true when it comes to our relationship with Jesus. After all, the Church is the bride of Christ. That means that as his beloved, we should resemble him more and more every day.

But how do we do that? By loving other people as Jesus loves us.

This is a new commandment! We all have heard the greatest commandment telling us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. But Jesus took this even further as he spoke to his disciples on the night before he died. He wants us to love as he loves. This is what will set us apart as his people, his bride. This is what will make us start to look like him: loving like him!

If you want to know what Jesus’ love looks like, make a list! Think about various Scripture passages that have touched your heart. Think, too, about your personal experiences of the Lord. Write down words that describe what these felt like. Is his love generous? Forgiving? Compassionate? Is it faithful? Trustworthy? Pure?

Next, thank Jesus for the way he loves you, and ask him to put that same love in your heart. Make it a point to take just one of the descriptions on your list and live it out today. This is what will set you apart as a member of the bride of Christ.

“Jesus, pierce my heart with the love you have for me. Come, Lord, and expand my love so that I can pour it out to others. I want to become your reflection in this world!”

Acts 14:21-27; Psalm 145:8-13; Revelation 21:1-5

John 13:31-35

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

1. In the first reading, Paul and Barnabas prayed and fasted for those who were chosen to be leaders in the Church. Are you willing to pray and fast for the leaders of the Church and your parish? What concrete steps can you take to better support your pastor and his work?

2. The responsorial psalm sings of the graciousness, mercy, and kindness of God. Share the ways in which you have personally experienced these wonderful graces in your life. What are the ways in which you demonstrate your appreciation to God for his graciousness, mercy, and kindness?

3. In the second reading, St. John tells us that the “old order has passed away” and God is making “all things new”. What steps can you take to allow God to replace old patterns of behavior with “new” patterns?

4. In the Gospel reading, we are told that “all will know you are my disciples, if you have love one for another” (John 13:35). What do you think these words mean? Why is “love” the identifying characteristic of what it means to be a Christian? Who are the people in your parish, or at your workplace, to whom you need to show more love?

5. In the meditation, we hear these words, “We all have heard the greatest commandment telling us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. But Jesus took this even further as he spoke to his disciples on the night before he died. He wants us to love as he loves.” In what way does Jesus’ “new commandment” to love one another as he has loved us raise the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” to an even higher level. Why is this commandment impossible to fulfill unless we have first experienced Jesus’ love for us? (1 John 4:19: “We love because he first loved us.”)

6. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord to give you a greater experience of his great love for you, so you can give it away to others. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as a starting point.

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Oops that link should have been --

The Word Among Us

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A Christian Pilgrim

IN THE GLORIFIED SON OF MAN GOD IS GLORIFIED

(A biblical refection on THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER – April 28, 2013) 

Gospel Reading: John 13:31-35 

First Reading: Acts 14:21-27; Psalms: Ps 145:8-13; Second Reading: Rev 21:1-5 

The Scripture Text

When he (Judas) had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of man glorified, and in Him God is glorified; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  (Jn 13:31-35 RSV) 

When Judas walked out of the supper, night had fallen. That night marked the end of the day of the historical life of Jesus in the flesh. But it would pass into the morning light of new day in the time of the glorified Lord. The night of transition from one era to the other had now begun. The gathering momentum of the process is suggested in the words “now”, “at once” , “a little while”. The idea of glorification is not easily understood. We may envision it as the shining forth of the divine splendor hidden in His enfleshed life. The wonder is that His rightful glory was so hidden under the clothing of human flesh.

John’s gospel is the story that the Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us until the time of His return to the Father’s glory. Jesus – the Word of God – gave certain signs, especially seven miracles, which pointed to His unique relationship with the Father.

The first statement about His glory is in the prologue: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” (Jn 1:14).

Then in a comment on the miracle at the wedding in Cana he wrote: “This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him” (Jn 2:11). After working seven signs Jesus would reply to Philip’s request to see the Father: “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in Me? ……” (Jn 14:9-10). While the miracles were signs that indicated His divine glory, its fullness was hidden until after He had shed his coat of flesh in death. And then the divine glory would not be seen physically but only by the eyes of faith. John’s gospel leads up to the conclusion: “… these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (Jn 20:31).

The drama of Jesus’ death-glorification began when Judas went out leaving the room. The evangelist – John – anticipates the end of the drama by stating that the glorification had now begun.

Our seasonal remembrance of the drama extends over six weeks until the moment of return to the Father is finally celebrated on Ascension Day. This extension to forty days expresses the full duration of our Christian pilgrimage. The seed of divine glory has been planted in us at baptism. But the process of growth until full flowering is as long as life itself. Forty days until the Ascension is the fullness of life. Until then we are His “little children”, called to grow in reflecting His glory by imitating His love.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have returned to the Father’s glory. Your divine light, like the sun, is too bright for our eyes to take. But the warmth of Your presence is here for us through the mutual love of Your disciples in the Christian community who follow Your commandment to “love one another just as You have loved us”. Thank You for Your continuing presence, dear Lord Jesus. Amen.

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A Christian Pilgrim

GREATNESS

 (A biblical reflection on the 5^th Sunday of Easter [Year C] – 28^th of April 2013)

First Reading: Acts 14:21-27; Psalms: Ps 145:8-13; Second Reading: Rev 21:1-5; Gospel Reading:  Jn 13:31-35 

In Shakespeare’s play, Twelfth Night, there is a famous line that reads: “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”

As we look around we see how true this is. Some are born great, at financially, because their parents are very rich. We think of Henry Clay Ford or Nelson Rockefeller, for example. Some achieve greatness because of what they accomplished with a lot of effort. Luciano Pavarotti and Beverly Sills come to mind here. And some have greatness thrust upon them because they reacted heroically or nobly in certain situations. St. Maximilian Kolbe and Anne Frank are examples.

If we look into today’s readings we see again how true Shakespeare’ words are. In the first reading from Acts, the apostles Paul and Barnabas establish a principle for achieving Christian greatness: “We have to experience many hardships before we enter the Kingdom of God.” In the Gospel, greatness is translated into the word glory: “Now has the Son of Man been glorified, and in Him God has been glorified.” The meaning of this hour of glory or greatness is unmistakable. The scene is the Last Supper. The betrayer Judas has just left the upper room. Our Lord’s passion and death are about to begin.

How can Jesus call the hour of His death the hour of His glory? In the same way we designate any hour of crisis or challenge as an hour of glory.

In sports we recognize certain athletes as superstars because they perform their best when the pressure is the greatest. We think of Kirk Gibson hitting a home run to win the 1984 World Series of the Tigers, or of Jack Nicklaus charging  from behind to win the Master’ Golf Tournament in 1986.

In the field of skilled professions, the surgeons and lawyers who have great reputation are the ones who take on the greatest challenges in the operating room or in the courtroom and who excel in the process.

In times of war, we honor as heroes and heroines the men and women who make the supreme sacrifice for their country by dying for it.

So it is not surprising to see Jesus approaching His hour of death as the supreme hour that will give the greatest glory to His Father and that will glorify the Son forever.

Too often we look on our trials and challenges as something to avoid and run away from at all costs. How mistaken we are, because these are opportunities to achieve greatness. This is not to say that we should go running around looking for troubles and crises. But when they do come to us, we should view them as potential hours of glory.

Psychologists tell us that crises and challenges are times either for breakdowns or breakthroughs with respect to growth in maturity – and, we might add, with respect to growth in spirituality.

In other words, when a crisis occurs in our marriage or work, or in our studies or health, we can, on the one hand, break down under the pressure by damaging a relationship, copping out job, giving up in our studies or indulging in self-pity.

Or we can, on the other hand, break through the challenge by deepening a relationship, conquering the task, persevering in our studies or coping with our health problems.

True greatness is not measured by how much fame we attain, by how we react to crises and challenges the way Jesus did – by seeing them as hours of glory and as opportunities for growth. 

Note: Taken from Fr. Albert Cylwicki CSB, HIS WORD RESOUNDS, Makati, Philippines: St. Paul Publications, 1988, pages 233-234.

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Marriage = One Man and One Woman

Til' Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for April 28, 2013:

“As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” (John 13:34) Ponder the way Jesus loved—self-sacrificing, unconditionally, like a shepherd, forgiving–and choose one element to lavish upon your beloved today.

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Now is the Son of Man Glorified

Pastor’s Column

5^th Sunday of Easter

April 28, 2013

 

"Now is the Son of Man Glorified, and God is glorified in him."

 

       When Jesus says this at the Last Supper, Judas has just walked out to betray Jesus. We all know what's coming next and yet, incredibly, it is at this moment that Jesus says God is glorified the most! Most of us would think of this as the lowest point of our lives.

When I graduated from high school (in Los Angeles), our class of 900 was so large that they had to rent the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium to hold us all. This was the same venue that the Academy Awards were telecast from at that time.  Just imagine all the stars that came and went down that center aisle and how much they want to be in the spotlight!   Yet this kind of applause is not what it means to be glorified by God.  Instead, with God, we are most glorified when we are not noticed, when we suffer for some higher purpose or a self-sacrifice, but usually not when everyone applauds us!                                   

       I remember receiving some kind of award at that time – and now I don’t even remember what it was for! All I know is that I had a gold rope around my neck.  We can sometimes think that when we are applauded, or achieve a goal in our work, are compensated well financially or get recognized for a performance, that we have somehow glorified God (and perhaps we have), but God is more glorified when things are rough and we don't feel that we've accomplished anything. That's the paradox of the Gospel.

      

       Saint Faustina was once complaining to God that she felt no zeal or attraction to what she was doing; that she felt listless and not filled with energy and that she couldn't possibly be doing anything pleasing to God.  Does this sound familiar to you? Perhaps you are trying to pray daily and find you are distracted constantly, or you make a resolution to improve something and can't finish it.  You go about your duties at home or work but don't have any joy in it. How can this be pleasing to God?

 

       Actually (Jesus said to her), it is precisely in these times that we can glorify God the most.  It isn't really very noteworthy when we serve God or pray at those times when we are filled with zeal and love and joy! Whether it's in our marriage or for our children or at work or in our church, it’s easy to stay committed when everything is a joy and we're feeling great. But it is precisely in those times when it is difficult, dry, painful or exhausting, that we are really making a sacrifice for God. This is when we are glorifying God the most, when it costs something, when no one is applauding, when perhaps no one is even noticing.

 

       There are times in our lives when we do get applause or acclaim, and yet real glory lies in not tooting our own horn or when people applaud, but when God notices and what he notices is often what everyone else misses.  Don't think that just because your life is not always filled with zeal and joy and constant applause that you are not being pleasing to God. Instead, look to Jesus who, when he was about to go to the cross, said that this was when he glorified God the most—and this is a lesson for all of us too.

                                                                                          Father Gary

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St. Paul Center Blog

New For All Ages: Scott Hahn Reflects on the 5th Sunday of Easter

Posted by Dr. Scott Hahn on 04.26.13 |

Acts 14:21-27
Psalm 145:8-13
Revelation 21:1-5
John 13:31-35

By God’s goodness and compassion, the doors of His kingdom have been opened to all who have faith, Jew or Gentile.

That’s the good news Paul and Barnabas proclaim in today’s First Reading. With the coming of the Church - the new Jerusalem John sees in today’s Second Reading - God is “making all things new.”

In His Church, the “old order” of death is passing away and God for all time is making His dwelling with the human race, so that all peoples “will be His people and God Himself will always be with them.” In this the promises made through His prophets are accomplished (see Ezekiel 37:27; Isaiah 25:8; 35:10).

The Church is “the kingdom for all ages” that we sing of in today’s Psalm. That’s why we see the Apostles, under the guidance of the Spirit, ordaining “presbyters” or priests (see 1 Timothy 4:14; Titus 1:5).

Anointed priests and bishops will be the Apostles’ successors, ensuring that the Church’s “dominion endures through all generations” (see Philippians 1:1, note that the New American Bible translates episcopois, the Greek word for bishops, as “overseers”).

Until the end of time, the Church will declare to the world God’s mighty deeds, blessing His holy name and giving Him thanks, singing of the glories of His kingdom.

In His Church, we know ourselves as His “faithful ones,” as those Jesus calls “My little children” in today’s Gospel. We live by the new law, the “new commandment” that He gave in His final hours.

The love He commands of us is no human love but a supernatural love. We love each other as Jesus loved us in suffering and dying for us. We love in imitation of His love.

This kind of love is only made possible by the Spirit poured into our hearts at Baptism (see Romans 5:5), renewed in the sacrifice His priests offer in every Mass.

By our love we glorify the Father. And by our love all peoples will know that we are His people, that He is our God.

[Salvation]

5th Sunday of Easter: Are we like Christ?







"Love one another as I have loved you . . ."

 



Acts 14: 21-27
Rev 21: 1-5a
Jn 13: 31-33a, 34-35

Mahatma Ghandi, 20^th century leader of India’s independence movement, was a man well aware of world religions.  Educated in Europe, he was anything but naïve.  Although he wasn’t a Christian, he had many opportunities to study the Christian faith and get to know many Christians.  Later in his life he once commented: “I like your Christ.  I do not like your Christians.  Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

It’s quite a statement and obviously begs the question of Ghandi, “How are we unlike Christ?” which leaves the door open to many explanations.  One thing is clear, though, Ghandi’s experience of those who professed faith in Jesus Christ often fell short of the high ideals that Christ called for.  We could easily object that we know many good Christians who are indeed Christ-like in their lifestyle. Yet, there is no doubt that all too often we may see a Christianity that is more often mediocre rather than inspirational.  Or behavior that appears more judgmental than accepting. As the famed Christian author once wrote: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.” More than a pithy saying, Chesterton is right.  And perhaps the greatest challenge to any of us is to love as Jesus loved.

Our Gospel this 5^th Easter Sunday takes us back to the night of the Last Supper.  Why would we be going back to Holy Thursday after we’ve celebrated more than a month of Easter glory? Well, it’s the moment of the Eucharist, Judas has left the building, and Jesus remains seated with his Apostles.  Not only did he institute the Eucharist as a perpetual memorial of his body and blood but now he establishes the deeper meaning of the new covenant about to be established through his death and resurrection. 

Nothing Jesus did or said was ever an isolated fact.  His preaching, healing, his actions all had a connection that ultimately lead to the cross.  So too the Eucharist remains his risen presence among us and now in the Easter season we are reminded of how we must be more Christ like: “I give you a new commandment: love one another.  As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  (Jn 13: 34-35). Maybe the observation of Ghandi would have been more complimentary if he noticed Christians behaving more like Jesus Christ. However, we may wonder if Ghandi's observation is a bit narrow?

The love Jesus refers to is obviously not what we may hear in the latest romance novel.  Our Lord states: “As I have loved you . . .” Is this “Jesus love” easy?  If it was the cross and resurrection would be unnecessary.  As Chesterton stated, “it has been found difficult.”  But not impossible. Paul and Barnabas were amazed and joy-filled over what the Spirit of God was doing through the Gentiles in the first years of the Christian faith.  They well knew that it was difficult but not impossible: “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God . . .” (Acts 14: 22).   

How willing am I to embrace the fullness of the Catholic/Christian faith and not be satisfied with “Catholic lite" - a more watered down version of the Catholic faith; only what I agree with or what doesn't really challenge me to grow but keeps me in my comfort zone or is really just luke-warm Catholicism?  What might Ghandi say about you?

Jesus speaks of a new commandment - to love one another as he has loved us. In the context of the institution of the Eucharist he says this, thereby connecting the shedding of his own body and blood, the next day, to this new perpetual remembrance of that event. It begs us to enter the mystery of what God has done.

At that same dinner, he washed the feet of his disciples to give them a further example.  Then they witnessed his own arrest, the sacrifice of his own life upon the agony of the cross, and then the breaking of bread in his risen presence along the road to Emmaus, the forming of a community of faith around his presence. What more could Jesus had done to cement forever the meaning of his "love as I have loved" command? 

Our Catholic faith centers itself around the Eucharistic sacrifice.  It calls all of us to the higher moral ideals that Jesus has set for us.  We know where we must stand on certain issues that have become hot button one's in todays culture. Ghandi's observation may challenge us to look within ourselves and see a new way of relating to our brothers and sisters.  Not just those of our faith but to all we meet.  

Easy - no.  Impossible - no.  Transforming - yes.  

Fr, Tim

[Salvation]

Vultus Christi

Adoration and Rejuvenation

By

Father Mark

 on April 28, 2013 2:56 PM |

"When I am in adoration, what matters is not my capacity to be lucid for an hour, but rather the fact that in accounting for life, I have chosen that all of myself should be His. I am not there with my head, nor with my senses, but I am there, and I am there, my God, because I have chosen to be there with you. Whether I succeed or do not succeed at this is your business. The important thing is that -- even if I lose my initial lucidity -- I must recall the days of my youth. The youth that we must recall before God is not our biological youth, but rather the youth of the "Yes" we said to God. To rejuvenate means to be always young before God."

Antonino Grimaldi, La sfida del puro amore, Itinerario umano e spirituale di Madre Mectilde de Bar (1614-1698) (Portalupe Editore, 2006, p. 131).

It is not for nothing that the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar of the Tridentine Missal begin with the words, Introibo ad altare Dei, ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam, "I will go up to the altar of God, to God who makes glad my youth" (Ps 42:4).

Spiritually, we grow old and stiff-jointed when we forget the "Yes" that first brought us to the foot of the altar in adoration. The recovery of a youthful spirit -- not to be confused with an impulsive and immature spirit -- but of the freshness and wisdom of spiritual childhood is intrinsically related to the recovery of adoration.

Communities (and individuals) grown old, and stiff, and resistant to change, that is, to conversion, can recover their youth, their suppleness, and the élan of their initial "Yes" by exposing themselves to the glorious Body of Christ in Eucharistic adoration.

In response to Thy presence, O Lord,
I offer Thee my presence.
In response to Thy silence,
I offer Thee my silence.
In response to the gaze of Thy Eucharistic Face,
I offer Thee my eyes.
In response to Thy Eucharistic Heart,
I offer Thee every heartbeat of mine.
In response to the mystery of Thy Eucharistic poverty,
I offer Thee my poverty.
My one desire is to remain before Thee
even as Thou remainest before me
in this the Sacrament of Thy Love.

[Salvation]

Vultus Christi

Thanksgiving After Holy Communion

By

Father Mark

 on April 28, 2013 12:36 PM | 

Constrained by the Holy Spirit

Abba Agapios lingered in church after the Holy Oblation whilst his disciple Theophilos waited for him to begin the meal. When, after some time, the venerable elder arrived, the disciple made a profound reverence and said, "Forgive me, Reverend Father, but what detaineth thee so after the Holy Mysteries? Why dost thou not return straightaway that together we might break bread after the fast?" Abba Agapios crossed his hands over his breast and, with downcast eyes, replied, "No sooner do I partake of the Body and Blood of Christ than the Spirit of God fills my heart, constraining me to say again and gain, 'O Jesus, live Thou in me that I may live in Thee.' And so do I pray until He Whom I have received biddeth me depart in peace."

[Salvation]

Regnum Christi

They Will Know Us by Our Works

| SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Father Alex Yeung, LC

John 13:31-33a, 34-35

When Judas had left them, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and God will glorify him at once.  My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. I give you a new commandment: love one another.  This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe that you are here with me. I am privileged to have this private audience with you. Aware of my weakness, I hope in your mercy and love. I open my heart now to you, to the wisdom, mercy and good news of your Gospel, for through it you wish to guide me home to rest eternally with you in heaven. Thank you for your boundless love. Take my weak, poor love in return, as it is all I have to offer you.

Petition: Lord, help me to imitate you by accepting and forgiving others.

1. This Is How They Will Know You Are My Disciples: Nowadays, words alone are empty; they need to be backed up by actions. All too often we have experienced that zealous politician or marketer who makes promises that we instinctively know are too good to be true. We want to believe the good they promise, but experience has taught us to have a healthy sense of skepticism. Unfortunately, this contemporary disbelief of “too good to be true” could also be said of Christianity. Christians are to be known by their love for one another. In my marriage, with my children, and in my social circle, am I known for my Christ-like love? In particular, am I capable of accepting others as they are, of seeing their way of being in a good light? Though I set high standards, do my spouse and children truly find rest, light and solace in my company?

2. Love Has High Standards: The film “Love Story” had a classic line: “Love is never having to say you’re sorry.” As Christians, though, we are aware of our weak nature and tendency to sin. We need to ask pardon – frequently. More often than not, the souls we hurt are those closest to us: our spouse, a child, a parent or in-law. The disciples, too, had their squabbles with each other. The love that bound them, exhorted them to make peace with one another as Christ makes peace with his Church: “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). Is my love great enough to overlook the weaknesses of those who hurt me and turn my wounded ego to compassion and pardon? To err is human, but to forgive is divine.

3. Love Is from the Heart: Christ told his disciples, “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). This applies as well to harboring grudges in our hearts. Love goes beyond kind words and actions to the very heart of man: to our thoughts. Although it may initially cause distress to our will to think well of those who have hurt us, it is truly therapeutic! Our Lord said, “From the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, false witness, blasphemy” (Matthew 15:19). Likewise, a heart that actively looks for the good in others will form the habit of speaking well and acting kindly towards those who naturally are displeasing. Thinking well of others renews our faith in God’s mercy. If we are merciful, how much more we can expect Our Lord to be patient and merciful with us!

Conversation with Christ: My Jesus, your life is witness of love to me. You forgave your enemies and even prayed for them. My love is to mirror your love, but I realize I can love so much more than I have loved until now. Help me today to increase my love and let go of those remnants of egoism that hold me back from a Christ-like love.

Resolution: Today I will make a list of those souls immediately before me for whom I can do a hidden act of charity. I will pray for them, speak well of them, and look for a significant way to serve their needs as I would if they were Christ himself.

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 

<< Sunday, April 28, 2013 >>

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Acts 14:21-27
Revelation 21:1-5
View Readings

Psalm 145:8-13
John 13:31-35

A LOVE-LY DAY

"As My love has been for you, so must your love be for each other." —John 13:34

 

Judas had just left the upper room to betray Jesus (Jn 13:31). Jesus knew He would be dead in a matter of hours. He said to His apostles: "My children, I am not to be with you much longer" (Jn 13:33). Then Jesus gave us the new commandment, to love one another as He had loved us (Jn 13:34). Jesus repeated this commandment two more times and said we would be recognized as His disciples because of this unique love (Jn 13:34-35). Within a few hours after saying this, Jesus died on the cross because of His love for us.

Jesus has clearly commanded us to crucified, sacrificial, unconditional love. He calls us to love the Judases in our lives. He calls us to lay down our lives (1 Jn 3:16) in love, even for our enemies. This new commandment of love is the essence of salvation, the meaning of life, and the way to the Father.

Jesus suffered for thirty-three years of life, three years of public ministry, and over three hours of agony, crucifixion and death because of His love for us. Let us live the new commandment and love one another as Jesus has loved us.

 

Prayer: Jesus, may I repent and accept Your heart of love for the person I least love.

Promise: "The One Who sat on the throne said to me, 'See, I make all things new!' " —Rv 21:5

Praise: Alleluia! Jesus, You have conquered sin and death. You are the Lamb of God Who takes away all our sins (Jn 1:29). Thank You, Jesus!

[Salvation]

Pray for an end to abortion in the United States. 

[Salvation]

Scripture Speaks: An Outbreak of God’s Glory

by Gayle Somers on April 26, 2013 ·

At the Last Supper, Jesus announces that His betrayal by Judas begins an outbreak of God’s glory.  How can this be?

Gospel (Read Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35)

St. John tells us that after Satan had entered Judas, driving him out into the night to report to Jesus’ enemies (see Jn 13:21-30), the Lord began to speak in an unexpected and baffling way:  “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.”  We know that Judas’ betrayal led to Christ’s Passion–violent brutality, suffering, and a shameful public death.  How could all that be described by Jesus as a glorification of both Him and His Father?

The answer is anticipated in what Jesus says next:  “I give you a new commandment… As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”  Although Christ’s Passion had the appearance of failure, defeat, and impotence, it was, in fact, a revelation of God’s love for man that far exceeded anything man had ever before or ever will see.  God’s glory was revealed in the total self-emptying of Jesus on the Cross for love of us, doing for us what we are helpless to do for ourselves.  Jesus submitted to great darkness and was thus able to conquer it.  He emptied suffering and death of their sting.  The “glory” of God is that even in the human circumstances that seem most devoid of His presence and care, God is at work to overthrow appearances and reveal His love for sinners in all its brightness and power.

Jesus also spoke about a “new” commandment of love.  The Jews had been taught to love their neighbors as themselves (see Lev 19:18).  What is “new” in Jesus’ teaching is that now God’s people are to love others as Jesus loved us—laying down His life for us, people who don’t deserve it.  The bar has been set much higher!  This kind of supernatural love can only come from Christ living in us.  The presence of this love in us—our willingness to serve others as Jesus served us—will be “how all will know that [we] are [His] disciples.”

When this selfless love becomes the mark of the Church, then “is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.”

Possible response:  Lord Jesus, help me see the small ways that my self-denial out of love today can be a flash of Your glory in this world.

First Reading (Read Acts 14:21-27)

We will better understand this reading if we know its context.  Paul and Barnabas, on a missionary journey, visited a town called Lystra.  There they healed a crippled man.  The people were so amazed by this that they tried to worship the apostles as gods.  Instead, of course, Paul preached the Gospel to them.  However, some Jews who had opposed Paul in other cities he had visited (Antioch and Iconium) followed  him to Lystra and provoked the people there to stone him.  Thinking he was dead, they dragged his body out of the city.  Yet “when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city” (see Acts 14:8-20).

Remarkably, this episode gives us a living picture of how the early Church actually fulfilled what Jesus spoke in our Gospel.  Paul and Barnabas faithfully preached the Good News.  Darkness closed in on them, as the Jews stirred up murderous hated.  The violence against Paul was so extreme that his enemies believed they had killed him.  The believers, looking beyond the darkness they saw, very probably prayed for him as they drew near his seemingly lifeless body.  Miraculously, Paul “rose up,” as Jesus had done in His darkness.  Glory!  Then, amazingly, Paul “entered the city” again.  Why would he go back to a place of such hostility against him?  He still wanted to preach and to teach those who had believed in Jesus.  This is the love of the “new” commandment, a self-emptying for the sake of others that is beyond what is naturally possible for man.

In the verses included in our reading, we see Paul continuing on to the next city, and then he returns to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.  Although all these places were full of danger for him, he wanted to strengthen “the spirits of the disciples and [exhort] them to persevere in the faith, saying, ‘It is necessary to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.’”  This is the same kind of glory Jesus had described, isn’t it?  Far from being signs of God’s disapproval or indifference, earthly affliction opens the way to heavenly glory (see Mt 5:10; Rom. 8:17).

[Note:  See that Paul and Barnabas “appointed elders for them in each church.”  The Greek expression, “appointed,” means “to stretch forth hands” and alludes to the rite of priestly ordination (see 1 Tim 4:14; Tit 1:5).  This helps us see the hierarchical, not democratic (elected by the laity) authority structure of the infant Church.  This is apostolic succession in action in the New Testament, a succession observed to this day in the Catholic Church.]

Possible response:  Lord Jesus, help me be as fearless as St. Paul in doing Your will, no matter what the cost.

Psalm (Read Ps 145:8-13)

All the psalms in the season of Easter give us an opportunity to sing God’s praises for His lavish, unthinkable love for us, demonstrated so unequivocally in the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus.  In our Gospel, the Lord knew with confidence that the boundless glory of God was about to be revealed to all mankind in His suffering.  He knew the words of this psalm would be appropriate for us:  “Let Your faithful ones bless You.  Let them discourse of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might.”  We must never forget the lesson Jesus taught His disciples at the Last Supper and that He teaches all of us through all the ages:  “The glorious splendor of [God’s] kingdom,” although often veiled now, is indestructible.  Therefore, today we can declare:  “I will praise Your Name for ever, my king and my God.”

Possible response:  The psalm is, itself, a response to our other readings.  Read it again prayerfully to make it your own.

Second Reading (Read Rev 21:1-5a)

In our Gospel, we wondered why Jesus started speaking about glory when the power of His enemies was soon to overtake Him.  Here, in St. John’s vision, we can see an explanation.  Jesus knew that in the sacrifice He was willing to make, God’s plan to “make all things new” would begin in earnest, never to be undone.  This beautiful heavenly scene gives us a glimpse of the conclusion of the history of “the former heaven and the former earth,” the time and space in which we now live.  God’s plan is to make His dwelling “with the human race.”  The old order of death, mourning, wailing, and pain will be over.  Jesus knew at the Last Supper that His suffering would be temporary.  St. Paul knew on his missionary journey that his suffering would be temporary.  We, too, must understand this, and St. John’s vision is written down to give us exactly this kind of encouragement (see Rev 21:5b).  The “new Jerusalem,” the Church, is being “prepared as a bride and adorned for her husband.”

We ought never to forget that although in this life we will shed tears, someday God Himself will “wipe every tear from [our] eyes.”  Glory!

Possible response:  Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise to make all things new.  This is our ray of hope in every darkness.

[Salvation]

This Sunday’s Gospel: Trials and Unity

by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D. on April 26, 2013 · 

Often Christians act surprised when they try to do good and things don’t go according to plan.  Sometimes it’s small but irritating annoyances that get in the way, other times serious calamities.

The Bible says that “He shall wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, crying out or pain, for the former world has passed away (Rev 21:1-5).”  But this is a vision of the end of the story, of a new heavens and earth where God reigns unopposed.  The problem is that we’re still in the middle of the story, living in the old heaven and earth where there is yet plenty of opposition to the Lordship of Christ.  Regarding our sojourn in this world, Paul says “we must undergo many trials if we are to enter into the reign of God.”  (Acts 14: 22)

Paul is speaking from experience here!  The book of Acts recounts how he was run out of town, stoned nearly to death, beaten with rods, jailed, shipwrecked, and bitten by a poisonous snake.  When he and his companions came into Macedonia, he says “our bodies had no rest but we were afflicted at every turn – fighting without and fear within” (2 Corinthians 7:6).  Following Christ is evidently not a cake walk.  God provides, but he does not necessarily provide comfort and convenience.

Why not?  Because if we never experienced resistance, we’d never grow.  After all, what do body-builders do?  They expose their muscles to ever greater resistance, pushing against more and more weight.  No pain, no gain.  This is why James says “count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2)  How kind of our heavenly Father to double as our personal trainer and add more weight to the bar from time to time.

Now it is easy to see how we should expect trials to ensue when we are dealing with those outside the Church.  But often the greatest trials come from dealing with those within.  Paul and Barnabas saw things differently and so went their separate ways (Acts 15:39).  And the Judaizing Christians were a constant thorn in Paul’s side.

Yet the Lord gives us the new commandment, to love one another as he has loved us (John 13: 34).  The context of this command?  Jesus had just washed the disciples’ feet, and Judas had responded to this act of love by slipping out into the darkness to betray his master.

We are, then, to wash the feet even of those who annoy us, or worse, betray us.  This does not mean always agreeing with them or acquiescing to their wishes.  But we are to love them, and lay our lives down for them.

Clearly, this is not natural.  It is natural, rather, to love those who love us, agree with us, think like us.

That’s the point.   We are no longer limited to what comes naturally.  The death and resurrection of Christ has cast the fire of divine, supernatural love upon the earth.  We have become “sharers in the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4) and we know from John that the nature of God is love (1 John 4:8).   It is now possible, though never easy, to love one another as he has loved us.  Though often painful, the experience of such love produces something that the world is restlessly searching for but can never seem to find– fullness of joy (John 15:11) and the peace which passes all understanding (Colossians 3:15).

We are to love one another so that our joy might be full.  But there is another reason.  The world needs to know that Jesus is different from the many false prophets that constantly come and go.  How will they know that he is truly the one sent from heaven?  By the loving unity of his disciples (John 17:23).

So what does the world see when it looks upon those who call themselves his disciples?  Not only are we divided between Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox, but even within churches, we find bickering between conservatives and liberals, traditionalists and progressives.  Is there any wonder why there who are many who are skeptical about the claim that Jesus died “to gather into one the scattered children of God?”  (John 11:52).

Only through many trials will Christian unity be attained and preserved.  But it is not an optional extra.  It was his last wish, his last prayer, his parting command.