GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY : WEDNESDAY - May 4, 2022

WEDNESDAY - May 4, 2022

TODAY'S READINGS

May 4, 2022

 

Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter

Lectionary: 275

 

Reading I     

                                                                                    Acts 8:1b-8

 

There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem,

and all were scattered

throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria,

except the Apostles.

Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.

Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church;

entering house after house and dragging out men and women,

he handed them over for imprisonment.

 

Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria

and proclaimed the Christ to them.

With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip

when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.

For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,

came out of many possessed people,

and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.

There was great joy in that city.

 

Responsorial Psalm                                  66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a

 

R.        (1)  Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

 

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,

            sing praise to the glory of his name;

            proclaim his glorious praise.

Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!”

R.        Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

 

“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,

            sing praise to your name!”

Come and see the works of God,

            his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.

R.        Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

 

He has changed the sea into dry land;

            through the river they passed on foot;

            therefore let us rejoice in him.

He rules by his might forever.

R.        Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

 

Alleluia                                              Phil 2:8          Jn 6:40

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Everyone who believes in the Son has eternal life,

and I shall raise him up on the last day, says the Lord.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                           Jn 6:35-40

 

Jesus said to the crowds,

“I am the bread of life;

whoever comes to me will never hunger,

and whoever believes in me will never thirst.

But I told you that although you have seen me,

you do not believe.

Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,

and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,

because I came down from heaven not to do my own will

but the will of the one who sent me.

And this is the will of the one who sent me,

that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,

but that I should raise it on the last day.

For this is the will of my Father,

that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him

may have eternal life,

and I shall raise him on the last day.”

 

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Never Rejected, Always Loved!

This little line says much about our Lord’s Divine Mercy.  It is a line repeated often in St. Faustina’s Diary of Divine Mercy and it’s a statement that many people need to hear.

Why is this important to hear?  Because, very often, we can carry the burden of rejection.  Without even realizing it, there are many who have experienced rejection in their life and, as a result, are afraid to be vulnerable in a relationship out of fear of being hurt.  Once you have been hurt in a relationship, you proceed with caution.  This hurt can come from a family member, spouse, friend or anyone we’ve tried to reach out to in love only to receive hurt and rejection.  And that hurts.

Jesus’ words are especially important because they help to reassure us that Jesus is trustworthy.  It is true that we can come to Him, open our hearts to Him, become completely vulnerable to Him, and He will treat us with the utmost tenderness, respect, kindness and care.  Jesus will treat us with more care than we even treat ourselves!

Reflect upon these words of Jesus today.  Say them over and over.  “I will not reject anyone who comes to me.”  Know that He wants you to come to Him and to open your heart to Him completely.  Doing so will allow Him to manifest His love for you and enable you to trust Him beyond what you ever imagined possible.

Lord, I want to come to You in my sufferings and rejection.  I know You are the Divine Healer and will bring comfort to my soul.  Help me to trust You and to let You love me.  Jesus, I trust in You.

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God Bless You.....



The Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”

GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY : TUESDAY - May 3, 2022

TUESDAY - May 3, 2022

TODAY'S READINGS

May 3, 2022

 

FEAST OF SAINTS PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES

Lectionary: 561

 

Reading I     

                                                                                    1 Cor 15:1-8

 

I am reminding you, brothers and sisters,

of the Gospel I preached to you,

which you indeed received and in which you also stand.

Through it you are also being saved,

if you hold fast to the word I preached to you,

unless you believed in vain.

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received:

that Christ died for our sins

in accordance with the Scriptures;

that he was buried;

that he was raised on the third day

in accordance with the Scriptures;

that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.

After that, he appeared to more

than five hundred brothers and sisters at once,

most of whom are still living,

though some have fallen asleep.

After that he appeared to James,

then to all the Apostles.

Last of all, as to one born abnormally,

he appeared to me.

 

Responsorial Psalm                                  19:2-3, 4-5

 

R.        (5)  Their message goes out through all the earth.

 

The heavens declare the glory of God;

            and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Day pours out the word to day;

            and night to night imparts knowledge.

R.        Their message goes out through all the earth.

 

Not a word nor a discourse

            whose voice is not heard;

Through all the earth their voice resounds,

            and to the ends of the world, their message.

R.        Their message goes out through all the earth.

 

Alleluia                                              Phil 2:8          Jn 14:6b, 9c

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord;

Philip, whoever has seen me has seen the Father.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                           Jn 14:6-14

 

Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.

If you know me, then you will also know my Father.

From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him,

“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time

and you still do not know me, Philip?

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.

How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.

The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.

Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,

or else, believe because of the works themselves.

Amen, amen, I say to you,

whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,

and will do greater ones than these,

because I am going to the Father.

And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,

so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

 

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DOING GREATER WORKS THAN JESUS

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus says, "Whoever believes in me will do the works I do, and greater far than these." What does he mean -- greater than his?

 

Let's start with the basics: If you and I really do believe in Jesus, we want to be his apostles. The word "apostle" means "one who is sent." We want to be sent by Jesus to help others get to know him and experience his love. Our faith drives us into ministry and outreach. And Jesus gives us the power of his Holy Spirit so that we will be successful.

 

What are we sent forth to do?

 

Each of us has been assigned apostolates by the Father. Just as the Father accomplished his works through Jesus, so too does the Father desire to accomplish his works through me -- and also through you! He has given you a set of talents and gifts that make you uniquely capable for your particular divine purpose in life. You also have training and experiences (both good and bad) that God wants to put to good use.

 

Our Father has assigned an apostolate to you that requires your special combination of personality traits and spiritual attributes, right where you are right now -- in your job, your home, your relationships, your church, your neighborhood. Because of your uniqueness, he cannot accomplish this through anyone else!

 

Jesus said that if we believe in him, we will do the same works he did "and greater far than these." Through his humanity, Jesus did human works. These are the same works we do matter-of-factly as good people. Human works include loving each other, teaching what we've learned, sharing what we've been given, listening to those who need someone to talk to, working hard on the job to our fullest potential, offering a helping hand when we see a need, etc. But even atheists do that.

 

Through his divinity -- his unity with the Father -- Jesus did supernatural works (the "greater works"). Through Jesus, you and I are united to the Father, and the Father extends himself to the world through us. Through us, the Father continues working miracles, the humanly impossible works. Only someone who believes in Jesus and relies on his Holy Spirit can do this.

 

In doing our human works well, we give Jesus to the world. But sometimes our human works require supernatural aid, such as when loving someone becomes very difficult during a long trial as they continually sin against us.

 

What does the Father want to accomplish through you? Listen for his will to become known to you. How does the Father want to improve the world through you? Like Jesus, we do supernatural works when we do the will of the Father. Wait for his instructions with open ears.

 

Meanwhile, dedicate (or rededicate) your gifts, talents, resources, skills, and experiences to God for use in his kingdom. Pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen your virtues and empower your giftedness so that when others encounter you, they will experience the human works of Jesus and the divine works of the Father.

 

Today's Prayer

 

Beloved Jesus: Strengthen my faith and my confidence in You to do, in Your name, the works that glorify the Father and touch the hearts of those seeking His love. Amen.

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God Bless You.....



The Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”

GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY : MONDAY - May 2, 2022

MONDAY - May 2, 2022

This is the very perfection of a man, 

to find out his own imperfections.

-St. Augustine

TODAY'S READINGS

May 2, 2022

 

MEMORIAL OF SAINT ATHANASIUS, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

Lectionary: 273

 

Reading I     

                                                                                    Acts 6:8-15

 

Stephen, filled with grace and power,

was working great wonders and signs among the people.

Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,

Cyreneans, and Alexandrians,

and people from Cilicia and Asia,

came forward and debated with Stephen,

but they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

Then they instigated some men to say,

“We have heard him speaking blasphemous words

against Moses and God.”

They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes,

accosted him, seized him,

and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

They presented false witnesses who testified,

“This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law.

For we have heard him claim

that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place

and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”

All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him

and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

 

Responsorial Psalm                                  119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30

 

R.        (1ab)  Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

 

Though princes meet and talk against me,

            your servant meditates on your statutes.

Yes, your decrees are my delight;

            they are my counselors.

R.        Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

 

I declared my ways, and you answered me;

            teach me your statutes.

Make me understand the way of your precepts,

            and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.

R.        Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

 

Remove from me the way of falsehood,

            and favor me with your law.

The way of truth I have chosen;

            I have set your ordinances before me.

R.        Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

 

Alleluia                                              Phil 2:8          Mt 4:4b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

One does not live on bread alone

but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                           Jn 6:22-29

 

[After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.]

The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea

saw that there had been only one boat there,

and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat,

but only his disciples had left.

Other boats came from Tiberias

near the place where they had eaten the bread

when the Lord gave thanks.

When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there,

they themselves got into boats

and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

And when they found him across the sea they said to him,

“Rabbi, when did you get here?”

Jesus answered them and said,

“Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me

not because you saw signs

but because you ate the loaves and were filled.

Do not work for food that perishes

but for the food that endures for eternal life,

which the Son of Man will give you.

For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”

So they said to him,

“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”

Jesus answered and said to them,

“This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”

 

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SIGNS OR WONDERS?

In the first reading for today, Stephen works "great wonders and signs". Is there a difference between a wonder and a sign? In today's Gospel reading, Jesus challenges his followers because they had chased after him for the wonderful miracles he performed -- wonders that only filled their temporal (earthly) needs and desires.

 

A wonder is a miracle. A sign points to God as we travel down the road of life toward our eternal destiny.

 

Why are there fewer miracles today than in the first Christian century? Is it because we have less faith? No, because faith comes from the Holy Spirit, as a gift, and we have no less of the Holy Spirit now than anyone ever did, for God's Spirit cannot be diminished. We might have less trust, but not less faith. The faith might be hidden, but it's already within us.

 

There are many factors that contribute to fewer wonder-full miracles today, but I'd like us to look at the what, not the why. Whether we receive the miracles we ask for or not, God wants the experience to help us rely upon him more fully, because this affects what is eternal within us. His highest priority is the purification of our souls. What good is a miracle if we are not somehow converted by it? Sometimes we receive more conversion if we don't get the miracle.

 

Miracles are a normal part of Christian living. Otherwise, Jesus would not have manifested both signs and wonders during his ministry, nor would he have continued doing so through Stephen and the other disciples. But miracles are like the bread that Jesus multiplied: "You should not be working for perishable food." When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus eventually died again. When Jesus walked on water, he got to the other side and the miracle ended. When he calmed the storm, another day came with another storm.

 

Miracles are a bonus, not the goal. Signs are what point us to the goal. Conversion is the goal. Deepening our intimacy with God is the goal. Greater holiness in daily life is the goal.

 

As we follow the signs, we become signs that point others to Christ. In your need for a miracle, is your attitude about suffering and endurance pointing others to Christ? When we're more interested in the wonders of temporal gifts than in the signs of eternal value, we get frustrated with God because he's not doing things our way. Are you a sign that tells others that God always loves us and knows what's best for us -- or are you sign that says he doesn't care?

 

What kind of sign do you want to be?

 

Today's Prayer

 

Beloved Jesus, give me the grace of being able to earnestly turn back to you when earthly matters try to take me away from You and Your paths. Amen.

--------------------------------

God Bless You.....



The Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”