Category: Memory Verse

Jesus “breathed on them.” –John 20:22 In the beginning, “the Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being” (Gn 2:7). The breath of the Father gives life where previously there was no life. On His Resurrection evening, Jesus “breathed on” His disciples “and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (Jn 20:22). The breath of Jesus brought the Holy Spirit and peace where previously there had been turmoil and fear. On the day of Pentecost, “suddenly from up in the sky there...

“How does that concern you?” –John 21:22 Mass Readings: June 3 First: Acts 28:16-20,30-31; Resp: Psalm 11:4-5,7; Gospel: John 21:20-25 Listen to the Mass Readings Our modern society must be one of the nosiest groups of people in history. We have talk radio shows, gossip columns, tabloid and people magazines, soap operas, “reality TV” shows, social media, etc. It seems like we mind everyone’s business but our own. While our society peers into everyone else’s lives, our own lives are falling apart. Our own marriages deteriorate due to neglect, unfaithfulness, and unforgiveness. Children are running around unsupervised and fall in...

“I issued orders that [Paul] be kept in custody until I could send him to the emperor.” —Acts 25:21 Mass Readings: June 2 First: Acts 25:13-21; Resp: Psalm 103:1-2,11-12,19-20; Gospel: John 21:15-19 Listen to the Mass Readings The goal of Acts of the Apostles is that the Gospel message reach to the ends of the earth. Acts considers Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, to be “the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The last seven chapters of Acts record a series of extremely messy events which led St. Paul to Rome. In order for the Gospel to reach...

“I pray that they may be [one] in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” —John 17:21 Mass Readings: June 1 First: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11; Resp: Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-11;Gospel: John 17:20-26 Listen to the Mass Readings God created man and woman to be one flesh, crafting a supernatural unity (Gn 2:24). Adam and Eve sinned against God, and with their fallen nature, humanity has inherited a tendency to fracture into disunity. Before long, mankind was so wicked (Gn 6:5) that God wiped them out in the flood (Gn 7:23). So God started over again with Noah’s family, and...

“Thereupon Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the hill country to a town of Judah, where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.” –Luke 1:39-40 Mass Readings: May 31 First: Zephaniah 3:14-18;Resp: Isaiah 12:2-6;Gospel: Luke 1:39-56 Listen to the Mass Readings All Christians are not only to receive Pentecost but also to give Pentecost to others. At the first Christian Pentecost, one-hundred and twenty disciples of Christ (Acts 1:15) received the Holy Spirit at 9 AM. Then they gave the Holy Spirit to almost three-thousand people before the day ended (Acts 2:41). We too must let the Holy Spirit...