Wednesday 5/1 (Acts 15: 1-6; Jn 15: 1-8)
We have today the beginning of the first big controversy in the Church. It is obvious that not all branches will bear good fruit – then or now! May we allow ourselves to be cleansed by the Word and not be unnerved by those who bear bad fruit.
Thursday 5/2 (Acts 15: 7-21; Jn 15: 9-11)
Is our joy complete? If not we might want to consider why not. Are we perhaps placing a yoke on others, or even ourselves, that is too much to bear?
Friday 5/3 Philip and James, Apostles (1 Cor 15: 1-8; Jn 14: 6-14)
Do we know the Christ who has been with us all this time? Do we recognize the Christ who appears to us in the many people whose lives we touch each day?
Saturday 5/4 (Acts 16: 1-10; Jn 15: 18-21)
Being chosen carries with it the promise of suffering. The apostles came to understand this as they lived out their mission. So may we!
5/5 Sixth Sunday of Easter (Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29; Rev 21: 10-14, 22-23; Jn 14: 23-29)
Today we get the first hint of the coming of the Holy Spirit who will teach us everything, bring us peace and protect us from fear. The power of that Spirit can be seen in the first reading where the young church was delivered from a potential schism! What a profound statement from the apostles: “It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…” Such assurance is the result of the grace of discernment, available to each of us! May we use this gift of the Spirit!
Monday 5/6 (Acts 16: 11-15; Jn 15: 26-16: 4a)
Jesus says many things to us to keep us from stumbling. Like Lydia, may we open our hearts to hear the Word.
Tuesday 5/7 (Acts 16: 22-34; Jn 16: 5-11)
The disciples are saddened that Jesus is going to leave them. They did not understand that he would never really leave, he would send his Spirit to live with us. This is the same Spirit who opened the doors of the jails. What doors do we need to have opened? The Spirit is waiting for us to ask.
Wednesday 5/8 (Acts 17: 15, 22- 18: 1; Jn 16: 12-15)
Do we allow the Spirit to guide us in the way of truth? It is this truth that will lead us to our own resurrection and the everlasting embrace of God.
Thursday 5/9 (Acts 18: 1-8; Jn 16: 16-20)
Faith in Jesus can turn pain into joy. But we have to give it “a little time.” And sometimes the first step is to shake the dust from our hearts and our lives!
Friday 5/10 (Acts 18: 9-18; Jn 16: 20-23a)
Jesus promises that no one can really harm us. So there is no reason to be afraid. He also promises us that our hearts are capable of rejoicing with a joy that cannot be taken from us!
Saturday 5/11 (Acts 18: 23-28; Jn 16: 23b-28)
May we speak with burning enthusiasm of the goodness of the Lord who promises: “Ask anything of the Father in my name and receive it.”
Sunday 5/12 Ascension of the Lord (Acts 1: 1-11; Heb 9: 24-28, 10: 19-23; or Eph 1: 17-23; Lk 24: 46-53)
So, now it’s for us to continue the mission! How? “You will be baptized by the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Let us spend this coming week in holy expectation for the coming of the Spirit!
Monday 5/13 (Acts 19: 1-8; Jn 16: 29-33)
Do we ever think to inquire about the spiritual health of our friends? That was Paul’s genius. “Have you been baptized?” Or do we fear the reaction we might get from others? “Fear not,” says Jesus, “I have overcome all that!”
Tuesday 5/14 St. Matthias (Acts 1: 15-17, 20-26; Jn 15: 9 –17)
We, the baptized, have been chosen, like Matthias, to witness to the Risen Jesus. It’s not a choice we make, but a choice that God makes. It’s a clear call to love and to lay down one’s life. To the degree that we surrender to that choice and that call, we too will bear fruit that will last.
Wednesday 5/15 (Acts 20: 28-38; Jn 17: 11-19)
Jesus has given us the Word that we may live in the world as he did, proclaiming God’s love. We get some good advice from Paul: “Keep watch over yourselves… shepherd the church of God… be alert.”
Thursday 5/16 (Acts 22: 30, and 23: 6-11; Jn 17: 20-26)
Jesus prays to the Father for us in today’s Gospel that we may be with him in the Father and that we may share in divine love. It was that presence and that love that kept Paul going and has the same power for us.
Friday 5/17 (Acts 25: 13b-21; Jn 21: 15-19)
Answer Jesus’ question: “Do you love me?” by the way you live every moment of this day. Even if you feel like you’ve been left in prison!
Saturday 5/18 (Acts 28: 16-20, 30-31; Jn 21: 20-25)
No, the world cannot contain in books all that Jesus’ life was about. We are to be those books, living witnesses of the Good News, welcoming all those who come to us and teaching Christ with boldness!
5/19 Pentecost Sunday (Acts 2: 1-11; I Cor 12: 3b-7, 12-13; or Rom 8: 8-17; Jn 20: 19-23 or Jn 14: 15-16, 23b-26)
Even if the doors of our hearts are locked, the Spirit desires to come upon us, bringing peace, and gifts that we are to share. So, let us all be in one place, the heart of Jesus, that we may receive the passionate love of the Spirit!
Monday 5/20 Sir 1:1-10; Mk 9:14-29)
“All wisdom is from the Lord… who pours her out on all of us,” Sirach tells us. How consoling! And wisdom assures us that God is always able to do what is best for us.
Tuesday 5/21 (Sir 2:1-11; Mk 9:30-37)
Great advice in today’s readings. You want to serve God? Be childlike, cling to God. Expect to be tested in the furnace of humiliation and trust in God!
Wednesday 5/22 (Sir 4:11-19; Mk 9:38-40)
Want to be filled with joy? Don’t ever be jealous of those who do good, seek and learn from Wisdom.
Thursday 5/23 (Sir 5:1-8; Mk 9:41-50)
Translated into our language, Sirach is saying “Don’t push your luck!” Rather, be “salted” with the fire of the Spirit.
Friday 5/24 (Sir 6:5-17; Mk 10: 1-12)
Let only one friend out of a thousand be your adviser! Sounds harsh. But so do some of the answers Jesus gives. Today’s Gospel is trying to warn us that life is often difficult and unexplainable.
Saturday 5/25 (Sir 17:1-15; Mk 10: 13-16)
Today, the readings show us the tender side of God who takes us in his arms, puts his hands upon us and blesses us. This is also the God who gifts us with all that is human.
5/26 Trinity Sunday (Pv 8: 22-31’ Rom 5: 1-5; Jn 16: 12-15)
Jesus will give us ALL that is his. How amazing and comforting!
Monday 5/27 (Sir 17: 19-27; Mk 10: 17-27)
Does Jesus shock you? Let God encourage you if you are losing hope!
Tuesday 5/28 (Sir 35:1-12; Mk 10:28-31)
We do not have to bribe God! We just have to give him everything! The reward? Eternal life AND a hundredfold NOW!
Wednesday 5/29 (Sir 36:1, 4-5a, 10-17; Mk 10: 32-45)
If we live our faith, people may be amazed or even afraid. But they will know that there is no God but our God!
Thursday 5/30 (Sir 42:15-25; Mk 10:46-52)
How often has Jesus restored our sight? Like Bartimaeus we must follow Jesus, and in the words of Sirach: “Call to mind the works of the Lord and declare what you have seen!”
Friday 5/31 Visitation of Mary (Zep 3:14-18; or Rom 12:9-16; Lk 1:39-56)
Do folks experience the presence of Jesus in my life? It is for each of us to fulfill the prophecy of Zephaniah: “The Lord your God is in your midst..”
