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Daily Readings from the USCCB“Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:4–6In addition to His parables and moral teachings, Jesus revealed to His disciples deep mysteries in a direct way that they did not immediately comprehend, especially when He spoke to the Twelve in intimate settings, such as the Last Supper, the context for today’s Gospel....

By Dr. John BergsmaSince the beginning of time, human beings have sought to construct buildings that would bridge the gap between the temporal and eternal, earthly and heavenly planes of existence. These temples have taken widely differing forms in many cultures. One of the greatest was the Jerusalem temple begun by Herod the Great (73–4 BC), an architectural marvel of the ancient world while it stood. The authors of the New Testament texts in this Sunday’s Readings were well familiar with Herod’s great temple, yet they were convinced that God had begun the construction new and greater dwelling place for...

Daily Readings from the USCCBMemorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.” John 14:12–14To pray in Jesus’ name is not a formula that guarantees instant results, as if prayers were magical. Saying “In Jesus’ Name,...

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” John 14:1–2We all need hope, especially in the face of life’s uncertainties. The inspired virtue of hope is much more than wishful thinking. It’s a supernatural gift by which we are strengthened to persevere through challenges, trusting in God’s promises and His fidelity. Hope sustains us,...

Daily Readings from the USCCBWhen Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.” John 13:16–17Today’s Gospel comes from the Last Supper, just after Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. What an act of humility! By analogy, it would be as if a king knelt before his servants to polish their shoes, setting aside his glory to attend to their most basic needs. This act would...

Daily Readings from the USCCBReadings for the Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the ChurchWhen Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.” John 13:16–17Today’s Gospel comes from the Last Supper, just after Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. What an act of humility! By analogy, it would be as if a king knelt before his servants to polish their shoes,...

Daily Readings from the USCCBThe feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe…” John 10:22–25How often does the Lord speak to us, yet we fail to listen? Like the Jews in today’s Gospel, we might ask, “Lord, tell me plainly Your will!” Jesus responds,...

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.” John 10:11–13What is it that makes a shepherd “good?” A shepherd’s duties require great sacrifice and time. Like a mother who is always attentive to her newborn, a shepherd devotes his time...

Daily Readings from the USCCB“When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” John 10:4–5Young children are often frightened by strangers. Infants, for example, form a strong bond with their mothers who feed them, hold them close, talk to them, and lavish love upon them. It often happens that when other family members, such as grandparents or even the father, attempt to hold the...

By Dr. John BergsmaSo we have reached the mid-point of the Easter Season and come to the Lord’s Day unofficially called “Good Shepherd Sunday,” because every year at this time we read from John 10, the famous “Good Shepherd Discourse.” For the most part, the Readings are focused around the idea of Jesus Christ as our divine Shepherd. But what is a shepherd like? In Western culture, shepherding can involve a conflicted relationship with the sheep. Shepherds often drive sheep in different directions using dogs to intimidate them. But in Eastern cultures, shepherds don’t “drive” the sheep, they lead them....

Daily Readings from the USCCBFeast of Saint Mark, evangelistJesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe…” Mark 16:15–17Today we honor the Gospel writer, Saint Mark. Mark, also called John Mark, was likely from modern-day Libya in North Africa but grew up in Jerusalem with his mother, Mary. Her home was a significant meeting place for early Christians, possibly hosting the Last Supper and Peter’s visit...

Daily Readings from the USCCB“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink.” John 6:53–55Human reason and free will are the most precious natural gifts God gave us. They are what separate us from every other animal. Human reason enables us to think critically, understand concepts, and arrive at conclusions....

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus said to the crowds: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day.” John 6:44In today’s Gospel, Jesus continues His conversation with the crowd who sought Him out after performing the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. As the conversation continues, Jesus deepens His clarity about His relationship with the Father, His divine identity, the Father’s action in our lives, and the gift of Himself as the Bread of Life. The passage above reveals an essential spiritual principle...

Being a Christian girl in Pakistan means living as a target. Teenagers Maria, Sidra, Niha, and Elishba are just four of countless girls who have been abducted from their homes and forced to convert to Islam in the past year. Sidra and Niha were both abducted less than a month ago, in March 2026. The abuse goes beyond kidnapping. Maria was taken in July and forced to marry a 30-year-old Muslim man. She later gave a statement saying she had done so of her own will and was now a follower of Islam. Despite the efforts of Maria’s parents in...

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus said to the crowds, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. But I told you that although you have seen me, you do not believe.” John 6:35–36Some who listened to Jesus’ Bread of Life Discourse must have been shocked. Those who listened with faith began to believe in Him, even though their understanding was not complete. Those who listened with skepticism were not only shocked but angered, as evidenced by their reaction. Today’s Gospel marks Jesus’ clearest revelation of His divine...

Two years ago, dozens of FBI agents with guns drawn descended on the home of pro-life Christian activist Mark Houck in a terrifying early-morning raid. The 52-year-old father of seven was arrested in front of his horrified wife and children. Houck was charged and tried for violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) after he shoved a pro-abortion volunteer escort who was harassing his young son outside an abortion clinic in Philadelphia. While the Biden administration sought up to 11 years in prison and a $350,000 fine, Houck was acquitted by a federal jury in less...

Daily Readings from the USCCBThe crowd said to Jesus: “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”<> John 6:30–31Today’s Gospel begins the beautiful Bread of Life Discourse, which we read at Mass for the rest of the week. In this discourse, we read the conversation Jesus had with some of the crowd who, the previous day, were among the more than 5,000 who were miraculously fed by the multiplication of the loaves...

Israel Defense Forces @IDFFollowing the completion of an initial examination regarding a photograph published earlier today of an IDF soldier harming a Christian symbol, it was determined that the photograph depicts an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon.The IDF views the incident with great severity and emphasizes that the soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops.The incident is being investigated by the Northern Command and is currently being addressed through the chain of command. Appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings.Furthermore, the IDF is working to assist the community...

Daily Readings from the USCCB“Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” John 6:26–27The crowd desired one thing, but Jesus desired another. This reality is common to us all. Earlier in this chapter from John’s Gospel, Jesus miraculously...

Daily Readings from the USCCBThat very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. Luke 24:13–16These two disciples were overwhelmed by grief and bewildered by the events that had taken place. As they walked the seven-mile journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus, they expressed their sadness and confusion. Jesus, Whom...