April 1
Tuesday

2nd Week of Easter

First Reading: Acts 4:32-37

The whole community of believers was one in heart and mind. No one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but rather they shared all things in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, for all of them were living in an exceptional time of grace.
There was no needy person among them, for those who owned land or houses, sold them and brought the proceeds of the sale. And they laid it at the feet of the apostles who distributed it according to each one's need. This is what a certain Joseph did. He was a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas, meaning: "The encouraging one." He sold a field which he owned and handed the money to the apostles.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 40:7-8, 8-9, 10-11
Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Gospel Reading: Jn 3:7b-15

Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Don't be surprised when I say: 'You must be born again from above.'
"The wind blows where it pleases and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. It is like that with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Nicodemus asked again, "How can this be?" And Jesus answered, "You are a teacher in Israel, and you don't know these things!
"Truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we witness to the things we have seen, but you don't accept our testimony. If you don't believe when I speak of earthly things, what then, when I speak to you of heavenly things? No one has ever gone up to heaven except the one who came from heaven, the Son of Man.
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."

Commentary
Stewardship is a way of life for the early Christian community because the members were one in heart and mind. Giving was practiced not because there was a need but because everyone had a need to give. That is why there was no needy person among them. Generosity was not something to be coaxed from them but a response to the witness of the apostles. All of them were living in an exceptional time of grace (Acts 4:34).
We pray for that exceptional time of grace to happen again in our Church today. We need more grateful and generous men and women to witness the great power of the resurrection of the Lord. For that, Jesus reminded Nicodemus in the Gospel, "You must be born again from above." If much giving and sharing are manifested in the material sphere how much more abundance will there be in the spiritual realm? God cannot be outdone in his generosity.

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April 2
Wednesday

2nd Week of Easter
Francis of Paola

First Reading: Acts 5:17-26

The High Priest and all his supporters, that is the party of the Sadducees, became very jealous of the apostles; so they arrested them and had them thrown into the public jail. But an angel of the Lord opened the door of the prison during the night, brought them out, and said to them, "Go and stand in the Temple court and tell the people the whole of this living message." Accordingly they entered the Temple at dawn and resumed their teaching.
When the High Priest and his supporters arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin, that is the full Council of the elders of Israel. They sent word to the jail to have the prisoners brought in. But when the Temple guards arrived at the jail, they did not find them inside, so they returned with the news, "We found the prison securely locked and the prison guards at their post outside the gate, but when we opened the gate, we found no one inside."
Upon hearing these words, the captain of the Temple guard and the high priests were baffled, wondering where all of this would end. Just then someone arrived with the report, "Look, those men whom you put in prison are standing in the Temple, teaching the people." ?Then the captain went off with the guards and brought them back, but without any show of force, for fear of being stoned by the people.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Gospel Reading: Jn 3:16-21

Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but may have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world; instead, through him the world is to be saved. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned. He who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God.
"This is how the Judgment is made: Light has come into the world and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For whoever does wrong hates the light and doesn't come to the light for fear that his deeds will be shown as evil. But whoever lives according to the truth comes into the light so that it can be clearly seen that his works have been done in God."

Commentary
The salvation of the human race is the magnanimous gift of the Father. Sending His Son into the world to save poor sinners far exceeds anything that we could ever have hoped for. God fully enters into our human experience so as to show us how far He will go to show us His love. Like the shepherd who goes in search of the lost sheep, our Heavenly Father treasures every single lost soul. Like the father who runs out to greet his wayward son, our Heavenly Father shows that He cannot be outdone in generosity.

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April 3
Thursday

2nd Week of Easter
Bl. Pedro Calungsod

First Reading: Acts 5:27-33

So the temple guards brought them in and made them stand before the Council and the High Priest questioned them, "We gave you strict orders not to preach such a Savior; but you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend charging us with the killing of this man." To this Peter and the apostles replied, "Better for us to obey God rather than any human authority!
"The God of our ancestors raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a wooden post. God set him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses to all these things, as well as the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."
When the Council heard this, they became very angry and wanted to kill them.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Gospel Reading: Jn 3:31-36

Jesus said to Nicodemus, "He who comes from above is above all; he who comes from the earth belongs to the earth and his words, too, are earthly. The One who comes from heaven speaks of the things he has seen and heard; he bears witness to this but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does receive his testimony acknowledges the truthfulness of God.
"The one sent by God speaks God's words and gives the Spirit without measure. For the Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything into his hands. Whoever believes in the Son lives with eternal life, but he who will not believe in the Son will never know life and always faces the justice of God."

Commentary
Just as the Son of God comes from heaven to speak of the things He has seen and heard, so too are we called to be witnesses of the Good News of the Lord. Our testimony before others is given in word and deed, and we pray that we might always be credible.
The world today is hungry for the life giving Word of God, even if many in it try to quell their hunger by seeking food that does not satisfy the hungry heart. How else will the world know the path of life unless you and I am are diligent in living our faith?

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April 4
Friday

2nd Week of Easter
Isidore of  Seville

First Reading: Acts 5:34-42

But one of them, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law highly respected by the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin. He ordered the men to be taken outside for a few minutes and then he spoke to the assembly.
"Fellow Israelites, consider well what you intend to do to these men. For some time ago Theudas came forward, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. But he was killed and all his followers were dispersed or disappeared. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared at the time of the census and persuaded many people to follow him. But he too perished and his whole following was scattered. So, in this present case, I advise you to have nothing to do with these men. Leave them alone. If their project or activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. If, on the other hand, it is from God, you will not be able to destroy it and you may indeed find yourselves fighting against God."
The Council let themselves be persuaded. They called in the apostles and had them whipped, and ordered them not to speak again of Jesus Savior. Then they set them free.
The apostles went out from the Council rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the Name. Day after day, both in the Temple and in people's homes, they continued to teach and to proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14
One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.

Gospel Reading: Jn 6:1-15

Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, near Tiberias, and large crowds followed him because of the miraculous signs they saw when he healed the sick. So he went up into the hills and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
Then lifting up his eyes, Jesus saw the crowds that were coming to him and said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread so that these people may eat?" He said this to test Philip, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred silver coins would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a piece."
Then one of Jesus' disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?"
Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." There was plenty of grass there so the people, about five thousand men, sat down to rest. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks and distributed them to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish and gave them as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten enough, he told his disciples, "Gather up the pieces left over, that nothing may be lost."
So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with bread, that is with pieces of the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
When the people saw this sign that Jesus had just given, they said, "This is really the Prophet, he who is to come into the world." Jesus realized that they would come and take him by force to make him king; so he fled to the hills by himself.

Commentary
Notice that Jesus uses what others have to give in order to accomplish the miracle. Loaves and fish do not appear out of thin air. They are multiplied into banquet proportions from the little that is at hand.
In the same way, Jesus uses the talents and abilities of each of us to accomplish His purpose today. We might not have much, but in the Lord's eye each of us has enough to accomplish great things. He should know, for all that we have is pure gift from Him, given so that we might use what He has given to participate in the upbuilding of the Kingdom of God.

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April 5
Saturday

2nd Week of Easter
Vincent Ferrer

First Reading: Acts 6:1-7

In those days, as the number of disciples grew, the so-called Hellenists complained against the so-called Hebrews, because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve summoned the whole body of disciples together and said, "It is not right that we should neglect the word of God to serve at tables. So, friends, choose from among yourselves seven respected men full of Spirit and wisdom, that we may appoint them to this task. As for us, we shall give ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word."
The whole community agreed and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and Holy Spirit; Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenus and Nicolaus of Antioch who was a proselyte. They presented these men to the apostles who first prayed over them and then laid hands upon them.
The Word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly and even many priests accepted the faith.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Gospel Reading: Jn 6:16-21

When evening came, the disciples went down to the shore. After a while they got into a boat to make for Capernaum on the other side of the sea, for it was now dark and Jesus had not yet come to them. But the sea was getting rough because a strong wind was blowing.
They had rowed about three or four miles, when they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and he was drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, but he said to them, "It is Me; don't be afraid."
They wanted to take him into the boat, but immediately the boat was at the shore to which they were going.

Commentary
The circumstances of our lives can cause us great fear. We can find ourselves in great difficulty, rowing against the wind, as it were.
The Lord says to us in those times of anguish, "Don't be afraid." He reassures us that if we have the Lord in our lives we need not fear the wind and waves that threaten us, for He is fully capable of rescuing us from even the greatest danger. Not only is he capable, but He deeply desires that no one be lost in the sea of sin and death. And He gives His life to prove it.

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April 6
Sunday

3rd Sunday of Easter

First Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-33

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and, with a loud voice, addressed them, "Fellow Jews and all foreigners now staying in Jerusalem, listen to what I have to say.
Fellow Israelites, listen to what I am going to tell you about Jesus of Nazareth. God accredited him and through him did powerful deeds and wonders and signs in your midst, as you well know. You delivered him to sinners to be crucified and killed, and in this way the purpose of God from all times was fulfilled. But God raised him to life and released him from the pain of death, because it was impossible for him to be held in the power of death. David spoke of him when he said: I saw the Lord before me at all times; he is by my side, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced; my body too will live in hope. Because you will not forsake me in the abode of the dead, nor allow your Holy One to experience corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life, and your presence will fill me with joy.
Friends, I don't need to prove that the patriarch David died and was buried; his tomb is with us to this day. But he knew that God had sworn to him that one of his descendants would sit upon his throne and, as he was a prophet, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah. So he said that he would not be left in the region of the dead, nor would his body experience corruption.
This Messiah is Jesus and we are all witnesses that God raised him to life. He has been exalted at God's right side and the Father has entrusted the Holy Spirit to him; this Spirit he has just poured upon us as you now see and hear.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
Lord, you will show us the path of life.

Second Reading: 1 P 1:17-21

Dear brothers and sisters, you call upon a Father who makes no distinction between persons but judges according to each one's deeds; take seriously, then, these years which you spend in a strange land. Remember that you were freed from the useless way of life of your ancestors, not with gold and silver but with the precious blood of the Lamb without spot or blemish. God, who has known Christ before the world began, revealed him to you in the last days. Through him, you have faith in God who raised him from the dead and glorified him in order that you might put all your faith and hope in God.

Gospel Reading: Lk 24:13-35

Two of the disciples were going to Emmaus, a village seven miles from Jerusalem, and they talked about what had happened. While they were talking and wondering, Jesus came up and walked with them, but their eyes were held and they did not recognize him.
He asked, "What is this you are talking about?" The two stood still, looking sad. Then one named Cleophas answered, "Why, it seems you are the only traveler in Jerusalem who doesn't know what has happened there these past few days." And he asked, "What is it?"
They replied, "It is about Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, you know, mighty in word and deed before God and the people. But the chief priests and our rulers sentenced him to death. They handed him over to be crucified. We had hoped that he would redeem Israel.
"It is now the third day since all this took place. It is true that some women of our group have disturbed us. When they went to the tomb at dawn, they did not find his body; they came to tell us that they had seen a vision of angels who told them that Jesus was alive. Some friends of our group went to the tomb and found everything just as the women had said, but they did not see him."
He said to them, "How dull you are, how slow of understanding! You fail to believe the message of the prophets. Is it not written that the Christ should suffer all this and then enter his glory?" Then starting with Moses and going through the prophets, he explained to them everything in the Scriptures concerning himself.
As they drew near the village they were heading for, Jesus made as if to go farther. But they prevailed upon him, "Stay with us, for night comes quickly. The day is now almost over." So he went in to stay with them. When they were at table, he took the bread, said a blessing, broke it and gave each a piece.
Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; but he vanished out of their sight. And they said to each other, "Were not our hearts filled with ardent yearning when he was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures?"
They immediately set out and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and their companions gathered together. They were greeted by these words: "Yes, it is true, the Lord is risen! He has appeared to Simon!" Then the two told what had happened on the road and how Jesus made himself known when he broke bread with them.

Commentary
The Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament of the real presence of the Risen Lord. Bread and wine are changed, by the power of the Holy Spirit and the words of Jesus spoken by the priest, into treasures infinitely more valuable than silver or gold. They become the gifts that moth cannot destroy nor rust tarnish nor thief steal away.
Through the Holy Eucharist our Lord keeps His promise to remain with us always, even until the end of the age. May we be grateful that we have the faith to recognize Him in the breaking of the Bread.

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April 7
Monday

3rd Week of Easter
John Baptist de la Salle

First Reading: Acts 6:8-15

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Some persons then came forward, who belonged to the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia. They argued with Stephen but they could not match the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke. As they were unable to face the truth, they bribed some men to say, "We heard him speak against Moses and against God."
So they stirred up the people, the elders and the teachers of the Law; they took him by surprise, seized him and brought him before the Council. Then they produced false witnesses who said, "This man never stops speaking against our Holy Place and the Law. We even heard him say that Jesus the Nazarean will destroy our Holy Place and change the customs which Moses handed down to us." And all who sat in the Council fixed their eyes on him, and his face appeared to them like the face of an angel.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Gospel Reading: Jn 6:22-29

After Jesus has fed the five thousand, his disciples saw him walking on the water. Next day the people who had stayed on the other side realized that only one boat had been there and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples; rather, the disciples had gone away alone. Bigger boats from Tiberias came near the place where all these people had eaten the bread. When they saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Master, when did you come here?"
Jesus answered, "Truly, I say to you, you look for me, not because you have seen through the signs, but because you ate bread and were satisfied. Work then, not for perishable food, but for the lasting food which gives eternal life. The Son of Man will give it to you, for he is the one the Father has marked."
Then the Jews asked him, "What shall we do? What are the works that God wants us to do?" And Jesus answered them, "The work God wants is this: that you believe in the One whom God has sent."

Commentary
The gift of the Holy Eucharist is a treasure beyond compare. Jesus, who once fed the multitudes upon the hillside with bread miraculously multiplied, now feeds us with the bread that truly satisfies the hungry heart, the only food that never leaves us hungry. What greater sign can the Lord give us than the Sacrament of the Bread of Life? For in this sign, that which is signified is made present. As incredible as it might seem, this miracle occurs at every single offering of the Holy Mass. How blessed are those who are called to His supper.

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April 8
Tuesday

3rd Week of Easter

First Reading: Acts 7:51-8:1a

But you are a stubborn people, you hardened your hearts and closed your ears. You have always resisted the Holy Spirit just as your fathers did. Was there a prophet whom your ancestors did not persecute? They killed those who announced the coming of the Just One whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the Law through the angels but did not fulfill it."
When they heard this reproach, they were enraged and they gnashed their teeth against Stephen. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes on heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus at God's right hand, so he declared: "I see the heavens open and the Son of Man at the right hand of God."
But they shouted and covered their ears with their hands and rushed together upon him. They brought him out of the city and stoned him, and the witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning him, Stephen prayed saying: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and said in a loud voice: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he died.
Saul was there, approving his murder. This was the beginning of a great persecution against the Church in Jerusalem.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Gospel Reading: Jn 6:30-35

The people said to Jesus, "Show us miraculous signs, that we may see and believe you. What sign do you perform? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert; as Scripture says: They were given bread from heaven to eat."
Jesus then said to them, "Truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven. My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. The bread God gives is the One who comes from heaven and gives life to the world." And they said to him, "Give us this bread always."
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never be hungry, and whoever believes in me shall never be thirsty."

Commentary
Eating the wrong foods at a meal can leave us terribly hungry within a short period of time. The so-called "junk" food might provide momentary enjoyment, but it always fails to satisfy our needs. Even proper quantities of the choicest cuts of meat and the most nutritious foods will, within a few hours, leave us needing even more to eat.
Only Jesus satisfies the longings of our heart. The pursuit of holiness is the only wor-thy endeavor for those who seek the finest things in life, for it is our spiritual treasures that endure.

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April 9
Wednesday

3rd Week of Easter

First Reading: Acts 8:1b-8

All, except the apostles, were scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. Saul meanwhile was trying to destroy the Church; he entered house after house and dragged off men and women and had them put in jail.
At the same time those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to a town of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. All the people paid close attention to what Philip said as they listened to him and saw the miraculous signs that he did. For in cases of possession, the unclean spirits came out shrieking loudly. Many people who were paralyzed or crippled were healed. So there was great joy in that town.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Gospel Reading: Jn 6:35-40

Jesus said to the crowd, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never be hungry, and whoever believes in me shall never be thirsty. Nevertheless, as I said, you refuse to believe, even when you have seen. Yet, all that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me, I shall not turn away. For I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of the One who sent me.
"And the will of him who sent me is that I lose nothing of what he has given me, but instead that I raise it up on the last day. This is the will of the Father, that whoever sees the Son and believes in him shall live with eternal life; and I will raise him up on the last day."

Commentary
In the powerful "Bread of Life" discourse that is read in this week's daily gospel, Jesus identifies Himself as the one sent by the Father to draw all people to Himself, and to nourish all people with the gift of His divine presence. Jesus wants us to regard Him as bread: daily food without which we would die.
Jesus is our daily bread. He invites us to allow Him into our lives not only on special occasions, but throughout every day of our lives. And He promises eternal life to those who are so wise.

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April 10
Thursday

3rd Week of Easter

First Reading: Acts 8:26-40

An angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south towards the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert road." So he set out and it happened that an Ethiopian was passing along that way. He was an official in charge of the treasury of the queen of the Ethiopians; he had come on pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was on his way home. He was sitting in his carriage and reading the prophet Isaiah.
The Spirit said to Philip, "Go and catch up with that carriage." So Philip ran up and heard the man reading the prophet Isaiah; and he asked, "Do you really understand what you are reading?" The Ethiopian replied, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" He then invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. This was the passage of Scripture he was reading:
He was led like a sheep to be slaughtered; like a lamb that is dumb before the shearer, he did not open his mouth. He was humbled and deprived of his rights. Who can speak of his descendants? For he was uprooted from the earth.
The official asked Philip, "Tell me, please, does the prophet speak of himself or of someone else?"
Then Philip began to tell him the Good News of Jesus, using this text of Scripture as his starting point. As they traveled down the road they came to a place where there was some water. Then the Ethiopian official said, "Look, here is water; what is to keep me from being baptized?"
Then he ordered the carriage to stop; both Philip and the Ethiopian went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. The Ethiopian saw him no more, but he continued on his way full of joy.
Philip found himself at Azotus, and he went about announcing the Good News in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 66:8-9, 16-17, 20
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Gospel Reading: Jn 6:44-51

Jesus said to the crowds, "No one can come to me unless he is drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise him up on the last day. It has been written in the Prophets: They shall all be taught by God. So whoever listens and learns from the Father comes to me.
"For no one has seen the Father except the One who comes from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
"I am the bread of life. Though your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, they died. But here you have the bread which comes from heaven so that you may eat of it and not die.
"I am the living bread which has come from heaven; whoever eats of this bread will live forever. The bread I shall give is my flesh and I will give it for the life of the world."

Commentary
Again, Jesus makes the point that He is the Bread of Life, the One sent by the Father to give life to the whole human race. Just as the people of Israel would have been foolish to decline the opportunity to gather daily the manna that God rained down from above, so too are we sadly mistaken when we ignore opportunities to welcome the great gift that the Lord offers us in Word and in Sacrament.
Without the manna the Israelites would have perished. Without the Eucharistic Lord Jesus we cannot hope to live.

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April 11
Friday

3rd Week of Easter
Stanislaus

First Reading: Acts 9:1-20

Meanwhile Saul considered nothing but violence and death for the disciples of the Lord. He went to the High Priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues of Damascus that would authorize him to arrest and bring to Jerusalem anyone he might find, man or woman, belonging to the Way.
As he traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?" And he asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The voice replied, "I am Jesus whom you persecute. Now get up and go into the city; there you will be told what you are to do."
The men who were traveling with him stood there speechless: they had heard the sound, but could see no one. Saul got up from the ground and, opening his eyes, he could not see. They took him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. He was blind and he did not eat or drink for three days.
There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, to whom the Lord called in a vision, "Ananias!" He answered, "Here I am, Lord!" Then the Lord said to him, "Go at once to Straight Street and ask, at the house of Judas, for a man of Tarsus named Saul. You will find him praying, ?for he has just seen in a vision that a man named Ananias has come in and placed his hands upon him, to restore his sight."
Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and now he is here with authority from the High Priest to arrest all who call upon your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to bring my name to the pagan nations and their kings, and the people of Israel as well. I myself will show him how much he will have to suffer for my name."
So Ananias left and went to the house. He laid his hands upon Saul and said, "Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me to you so that you may receive your sight and be filled with Holy Spirit." Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he could see; he got up and was baptized. Then he took food and was strengthened.
?For several days Saul stayed with the disciples at Damascus, and he soon began to proclaim in the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 117:1bc, 2
Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

Gospel Reading: Jn 6:52-59

The Jews were arguing among themselves, "How can this man give us flesh to eat?" So Jesus replied, "Truly, I say to you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood live with eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day.
"My flesh is really food and my blood is drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood, live in me and I in them. Just as the Father, who is life, sent me and I have life from the Father, so whoever eats me will have life from me. This is the bread which came from heaven; unlike that of your ancestors, who ate and later died. Those who eat this bread will live forever."
Jesus spoke in this way in Capernaum when he taught them in the synagogue.

Commentary
Those who heard Jesus could not believe their ears. Surely Jesus was speaking in a metaphorical sense. The flesh of which Jesus spoke could not have been His very Body and Blood.
Jesus understands their way of thinking and answers their objections by firmly stating that He does give His very flesh and blood as food and drink, the body and blood that would hang upon the cross and be made present through the memorial of the Holy Eucharist. The blessing and the doctrine of the Lord's real, substantial presence is at the core of our Catholic faith.

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April 12
Saturday

3rd Week of Easter

First Reading: Acts 9:31-42

Meanwhile, the Church had peace. It was building up throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria with eyes turned to the Lord and filled with comfort from the Holy Spirit.
As Peter traveled around, he went to visit the saints who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed, and had been bedridden for eight years. Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!" And the man got up at once. All the people living in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
There was a disciple in Joppa named Tabitha, which means Dorcas or Gazelle. She was always doing good works and helping the poor. At that time she fell sick and died. After having washed her body, they laid her in the upstairs room.
As Lydda is near Joppa, the disciples, on hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay."
So Peter went with them. On his arrival they took him upstairs to the room. All the widows crowded around him in tears, showing him the clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter made them all leave the room and then he knelt down and prayed. Turning to the dead body he said, "Tabitha, stand up." She opened her eyes, looked at Peter and sat up. Peter gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the saints and widows and presented her to them alive. This became known throughout all of Joppa and many people believed in the Lord because of it.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 116:12-13, 14-15, 16-17
How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?

Gospel Reading: Jn 6:60-69

Many of Jesus' followers said, "This language is very hard! Who can accept it?" Jesus was aware that his disciples were murmuring about this and so he said to them, "Does this offend you? Then how will you react when you see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh cannot help. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. But among you there are some who do not believe."
From the beginning, Jesus knew who would betray him. So he added, "As I have told you, no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father."
After this many disciples withdrew and no longer followed him. Jesus asked the Twelve, "Will you also go away?" Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We now believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

Commentary
St. Peter answers Jesus' question not only for himself, but for the other apostles and the entire Church. In spite of the fact that he would not fully understand the meaning of Jesus' Bread of Life discourse until the institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, St. Peter puts his faith unequivocally in Jesus when he asks, "Lord, to whom shall we go?"
The mystery of the Holy Eucharist is much bigger than our intellect can contain. Still, because we trust the words of Jesus to be true, we do not hesitate to express our belief in and devotion for the Sacrament that truly satisfies our hungry hearts.

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April 13
Sunday

4th Sunday of Easter

First Reading: Acts 2:14, 36-41

On Pentecost day, Peter stood up with the Eleven and, with a loud voice, addressed them, "Fellow Jews and all foreigners now staying in Jerusalem, listen to what I have to say.
"Let Israel then know for sure that God has made Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified."
When they heard this, they were deeply troubled. And they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What shall we do, brothers?"
Peter answered: "Each of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise of God was made to you and your children, and to all those from afar whom our God may call."
With many other words Peter gave the message and appealed to them saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who accepted his word were baptized; some three thousand persons were added to their number that day.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Second Reading: 1 P 2:20-25

What merit would there be in taking a beating when you have done wrong? But if you endure punishment when you have done well, that is a grace before God.
This is your calling: remember Christ who suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you may follow in his way. He did no wrong and there was no deceit in his mouth. He did not return insult for insult and, when suffering, he did not curse but put himself in the hands of God who judges justly. He went to the cross burdened with our sins so that we might die to sin and live an upright life. For by his wounds you have been healed. You were like stray sheep, but you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Gospel Reading: Jn 10:1-10

Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. But the shepherd of the sheep enters by the gate. The keeper opens the gate to him and the sheep hear his voice; he calls each of his sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them and the sheep follow him for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, rather they will run away from him because they don't recognize a stranger's voice."
Jesus used this comparison, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, I am the gate of the sheep. All who came were thieves and robbers, and the sheep did not hear them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved; he will go in and out freely and find food.
"The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I have come that they may have life, life in all its fullness."

Commentary
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is called "Good Shepherd Sunday." The Gospel recalls the reassuring words of Jesus that he will watch over His flock and protect it from the dangers of the enemy, the one who seeks only to scatter, steal and slaughter the sheep.
Jesus is the gateway to new and abundant life. When we search for security outside of him we find only chaos. But with the Lord Jesus we find salvation. We find new life here on earth, and we enter upon the pathway that leads to the restful waters and verdant pastures of heaven.

April 14
Monday

4th Week of Easter

First Reading: Acts 11:1-18

News came to the apostles and the brothers and sisters in Judea that even foreigners had received the Word of God. So, when Peter went up to Jerusalem, these Jewish believers began to argue with him, "You went to the home of uncircumcised people and ate with them!"
So Peter began to give them the facts as they had happened, "I was at prayer in the city of Joppa when, in a trance, I saw a vision. Something like a large sheet came down from the sky and drew near to me, landing on the ground by its four corners. As I stared at it, I saw four-legged creatures of the earth, wild beasts and reptiles, and birds of the sky. Then I heard a voice saying to me: 'Get up, Peter, kill and eat!' ?I replied, 'Certainly not, Lord! No common or unclean creature has ever entered my mouth.' A second time the voice from the heavens spoke, "What God has made clean, you must not call unclean." This happened three times, and then it was all drawn up into the sky. At that moment three men, who had been sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were staying. The Spirit instructed me to go with them without hesitation; so these six brothers came along with me and we entered into the man's house. He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and telling him: Send someone to Joppa and fetch Simon,? also? known? as? Peter.? He will bring you a message by which you and all your household will be saved."
I had begun to address them when suddenly the Holy Spirit came upon them, just as it had come upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If, then, God had given them the same gift that he had given us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to resist God?"
When they heard this they set their minds at rest and praised God saying, "Then God has granted life-giving repentance to the pagan nations as well."

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 42:2-3; 43:3, 4
Athirst is my soul for the living God.

Gospel Reading: Jn 10:11-18

Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. Not so the hired hand or any other person who is not the shepherd and to whom the sheep do not belong. They abandon the sheep as soon as they see the wolf coming; then the wolf snatches and scatters the sheep. This is because the hired hand works for pay and cares nothing for the sheep.
"I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father. Because of this I give my life for my sheep.
"I have other sheep that are not of this fold. These I have to lead as well, and they shall listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock since there is one Shepherd. The Father loves me because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down freely. It is mine to lay down and to take up again: this mission I received from my Father."

Commentary
In the days of Jesus the shepherd took great pride in his flock. He inherited the flock from his father, who could trace family ownership for many generations before him. The shepherd was there when the lambs were born, and he guarded the sheep from anything that could harm them. Pride of ownership made the shepherd much more than a hired hand. A keen sense of duty moved the shepherd to put his own life at risk so that the sheep might have life and have it in abundance.
Our Good Shepherd cares for His flock in exactly the same way.

April 15
Tuesday

4th Week of Easter

First Reading: Acts 11:19-26

Those who had been scattered because of the persecution over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message, but only to the Jews. But there were some natives of Cyprus and Cyrene among them who, on coming into Antioch, spoke also to the Greeks, giving them the good news of the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them so that a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
News of this reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the manifest signs of God's favor, he rejoiced and urged them all to remain firmly faithful to the Lord; for he himself was a good man filled with Holy Spirit and faith. Thus large crowds came to know the Lord.
Then Barnabas went off to Tarsus to look for Saul and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they had meetings with the Church and instructed many people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 87:1-3, 4-5, 6-7
All you nations, praise the Lord.

Gospel Reading: Jn 10:22-30

The time came for the feast of the Dedication. It was winter and Jesus walked back and forth in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in doubt? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I have already told you but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name proclaim who I am, but you don't believe because, as I said, you are not my sheep.
"My sheep hear my voice and I know them; they follow me and I give them eternal life. They shall never perish and no one will ever steal them from me. What the Father has given me is stronger than everything and no one can snatch it from the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

Commentary
Jesus' mission from His heavenly Father is to lead to everlasting life God's holy people, the flock that is His own. Nothing will deter Him from His mission, not even the threats of His enemies and the misdeeds of those who would seek to bring his mission to an untimely end.
As brave as a shepherd facing down a pack of wolves, the Lord looks death in the eye and does not blink. Through His death on the cross, His beloved flock would be safeguarded from the powers of sin and death.
There is no snatching the flock from the hand of the Lord.

April 16
Wednesday

4th Week of Easter

First Reading: Acts 12:24-13:5a

Meanwhile the word of God was increasing and spreading. Barnabas and Saul carried out their mission and then came back from Jerusalem, taking with them John also called Mark.
There were at Antioch-in the Church which was there-prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon known as Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod, and Saul. On one occasion while they were celebrating the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have called them." So, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
These then, sent by the Holy Spirit, went down to the port of Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. Upon their arrival in Salamis they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogue; John was with them as an assistant.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6 and 8
O God, let all the nations praise you!

Gospel Reading: Jn 12:44-50

Jesus had said, and even cried out, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me, sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
"If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I am not the one to condemn him; for I have come, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me, and does not receive my word, already has a judge: the very word I have spoken will condemn him on the last day.
"For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has instructed me in what to say and how to speak. I know that his commandment is eternal life, and that is why the message I give, I give as the Father instructed me."