Tagged: message of the day

“The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover supper.” –Matthew 26:19 Mass Readings: April 12 First: Isaiah 50:4-9;Resp: Psalm 69:8-10,21-22,31,33-34;Gospel: Matthew 26:14-25 Today we celebrate the last Mass of Lent. We pray that these forty days of fasting, prayer, and sacrifice have prepared us for the Triduum. “The Easter Triduum begins with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil, and closes with evening prayer Easter Sunday” (Ordo, see also General Norms, 19). The Triduum is essentially a seventy-hour worship service with breaks for rest and other necessities. Jesus...

“Jesus,” reclining, “grew deeply troubled.” –John 13:21 Mass Readings: April 11 First: Acts 5:27-32,40-41;Resp: Psalm 30:2,4-6,11-13; Second: Revelation 5:11-14; Gospel: John 21:1-19 During Holy Week, we recall a week of extreme suffering, pain, and trauma for Jesus. As we reflect on Jesus’ sufferings, we too may be having an extremely difficult week. As we look at our lives, we may feel we have “toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent” our strength (Is 49:4). Like Jesus, we may grow “deeply troubled” (Jn 13:21). We are tempted to let Satan enter our hearts (see Jn 13:27), or we are broken-hearted...

“Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord.” –Psalm 27:14 Mass Readings: April 10 First: Acts 6:1-7; Resp: Psalm 33:1-2,4-5,18-19; Gospel: John 6:16-21 We wait for what we cannot see; the return of the Master seems to take so long. We wait with courage, not in doubt. We wait not because there is no other alternative but because we faithfully choose to persevere in hope while waiting for the Master to appear (see Mt 25:1ff). We call people who serve in a restaurant “waiters.” The waiter serves us. Thus, serving the Lord and His people...

“He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together.” –Jeremiah 31:10 Mass Readings: April 8 First: Acts 5:27-33;Resp: Psalm 34:2,9,17-20;Gospel: John 3:31-36 Jesus died on the cross “to gather into one all the dispersed children of God” (Jn 11:52). He is praying that we be one as He and the Father are one (Jn 17:21). Jesus makes us one by His being lifted up on the cross, in the Resurrection and the Ascension, to the right hand of the Father. Then He draws us to Himself, as He promised: “I – once I am lifted up from earth – will draw...

“You Who are only a man are making Yourself God.” –John 10:33 Mass Readings: April 7 First: Acts 5:17-26; Resp: Psalm 34:2-9; Gospel: John 3:16-21 In the Gospel of John, Jesus claims that He is God. He says: “The Father and I are one” (Jn 10:30). He uses the phrase “I AM” to refer to Himself (Jn 8:24, 28, 58), and that phrase is God’s name as revealed to Moses (Ex 3:14). When the Jewish leaders accused Jesus of making Himself God, Jesus was presented with the perfect opportunity to clarify exactly Who He was (Jn 10:33). Jesus’ life was...