Category: Daily Prayer

“She decided to bathe.” —Daniel 13:15 Mass Readings: April 3 First: Acts 4:13-21; Resp: Psalm 118:1,14-21; Gospel: Mark 16:9-15 Today’s first reading is more than a story of good triumphing over evil. It’s an Old Testament preview of Baptism. When Susanna enters her bath (Dn 13:17-18), she is surrounded by the powers of evil, as represented by the two corrupt elders. Susanna is immersed in a dilemma of whether to save her life by yielding to evil or to cling to holiness and purity at the cost of her life (Dn 13:22). Susanna rises from her bath determined to trust...

“If the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then He Who raised Christ from the dead will bring your mortal bodies to life also, through His Spirit dwelling in you.” —Romans 8:11 Mass Readings: April 2 First: Acts 4:1-12; Resp: Psalm 118:1-2,4,22-27; Gospel: John 21:1-14 Ezekiel prophesied that God’s people would have a spiritual resurrection, that is, repentance and conversion (Ez 37:12ff). Jesus gave Lazarus a physical resurrection (Jn 11:44). The Father and the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead not only in spirit but also in body. Jesus’ Resurrection was not for...

“Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the Lord delivers him.” –Psalm 34:20 Mass Readings: March 31 First: Acts 3:1-10; Resp: Psalm 105:1-4,6-9; Gospel: Luke 24:13-35 Our trials, rather than being wasted time and experiences that keep us from being fruitful for Jesus, are actually a means to purify us and make us more fruitful disciples. “There is cause for rejoicing here. You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials; but this is so that your faith, which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold, may...

“Search the Scriptures.” –John 5:39 Mass Readings: March 30 First: Acts 2:36-41; Resp: Psalm 33:4-5,18-20,22; Gospel: John 20:11-18 You are reading this book, One Bread, One Body, to “search the Scriptures in which you think you have eternal life” (Jn 5:39). You are right in your belief that the Scriptures will lead you to eternal life. “These [things] have been recorded to help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, so that through this faith you may have life in His name” (Jn 20:31). “If you believed Moses,” that is, the first part of the Bible,...