Tagged: message of the day

“Together they devoted themselves to constant prayer. There were some women in their company, and Mary, the mother of Jesus.” –Acts 1:14 The conception of Jesus required the union of the Holy Spirit, the Divine, and Mary, representing humanity (Lk 1:35, 38). Likewise, the birth of the Church involved both the Holy Spirit, the Divine, and Mary, who was with the apostles in the upper room (see Acts 1:14). Thus, we refer to Mary under the titles of Mother of God and Mother of the Church. In the upper room, Mary had to choose reconciliation with the apostles. Peter denied...

“All were filled with the Holy Spirit.” —Acts 2:4 On this Pentecost Sunday, Jesus, Who is the same today as He was yesterday (Heb 13:8), is breathing on us and commanding us: “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn 20:22). To receive the Spirit and thereby a renewal of our Baptisms and Confirmations, we must repent, forgive, and be forgiven (see Acts 2:38; Mt 6:12; Jn 20:23). Then we will express ourselves “in foreign tongues and make bold proclamation as the Spirit” prompts us (Acts 2:4). We will see a miracle of unity. As the divisions between races, nations, spouses, family members,...

“Your business is to follow Me.” — John 21:22 In today’s Mass readings, we heard two conclusions, one from the Acts of the Apostles and the other from the Gospel of John. As we read through Acts of the Apostles, we meet Saul of Tarsus, who brought many Christians to trial in chains (Acts 9:2). At the conclusion of Acts, Saul (now known as Paul), is himself a Christian (Acts 28:31) and is in chains (Acts 26:29) for his steadfast belief in Jesus, Whom he earlier persecuted (Acts 9:4). At the conclusion of John’s Gospel, Jesus says to Peter, “Follow...

“They differed with him over issues in their own religion, and about a certain Jesus Who had died but Who Paul claimed is alive.” —Acts 25:19 Imagine investing your entire life to run after a Man Whom you have never seen and Who claims to be God risen from the dead. This is the decision that each Christian makes. We have decided not just to go to Church, say some prayers, or live a decent life, but to throw ourselves at Jesus’ feet, worship Him, deny our very selves, and follow Jesus even to the cross (see Lk 9:23). “We...