Saturday in the Octave of Easter It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:20) The apostles’ preaching of Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God quickly brought them into conflict with the religious authorities of Judaism, the teachers and interpreters of the law, and the priests of the temple. It is […]

We continue the great 50 days of Easter and the continuous reading from the Acts of the Apostles. We hear Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit to preach and transform hearts. Peter came a long way from being “just Simon.” The transformative power of the resurrection got him on board to go fishing and […]

It’s been a year since I was invited to join the ranks of learned Scripture scholars and write my reflections on the day’s readings. As a young Catholic, emphasis in Sunday school was on the Catechism, the Ten Commandments, and the Sacraments. There was a Bible at home, my grandmother’s family Bible, but it was […]

We all know well the story of the Road to Emmaus. Two disciples leave Jerusalem discouraged because Jesus had failed in their expectations of him. Even though they heard that some of their members had proof of Jesus’ resurrection, they were not buying it, and they left town. Then a man came along, and they […]

Tuesday in the Octave of Easter … She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni…” Many things could be said about this […]

What will our new normal be like after the pandemic? This question has generated much discussion. Hope is beginning to emerge that with vaccines, we may return to a normal existence. But having experienced the fear, isolation, and death of this past year, we wonder what normal might be. And so, we await a “new […]

Easter Sunday We are witnesses to all he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem… They put him to death by hanging him on a tree but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses. (Acts […]

Holy Saturday “What can bring us happiness?” many say. Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord. (Psalm 4:7) Holy Saturday ends with the exuberant joy of the Easter Vigil, but it begins with silence — the silence that enveloped all creation following the death of the Savior. Silence flooded the minds and hearts of the disciples of Jesus, too, as they hurriedly washed and anointed his tortured body, wrapped it […]

Good Friday I try to begin every day with a hot cup of coffee, prayer, the daily reflection, and the local obituaries. I rarely read any unless I know the person, but occasionally one will catch my eye. One phrase that draws my attention is a celebration of life will be held to honor the […]

Holy Thursday I remember sitting in the back of my grandfather’s car as the air conditioner’s hum muffled the people’s voices outside. When it was time, I stepped outside of the car and walked towards the church. I stopped for a moment, looked around, and took a deep breath. This was it. With a nod […]