 |  clickable | | Christ Our Hope Has Risen Christ Our Hope Has RisenSometimes our faith moves us outward with great joy and fervent hope. But sometimes we need to go within, to renew our strength and our courage in quiet times of prayer. Depending on the circumstances of our lives this year, we might not be feeling the exuberant joy we expect in this season of Easter. Illness, death, unemployment, depression, and other human realities don't necessarily happen according to the liturgical year. But in a time when it seems the only constant is change, our faith—and even more, our hope—reminds us that God's love will always be there for us. —from the book The Hope of Lent: Daily Reflections from Pope Francis by Diane M. Houdek Inspiration to feed your spirit.
Christ Our Hope Has Risen |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote "It is not lengthy prayers, but generous deeds that touch God's heart."
— St. Arnold Janssen PRAYER DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
O clement, O loving, O sweet Mother Mary,
We, your children of every nation,
Turn to you in this pandemic.
Our troubles are numerous; our fears are great.
Grant that we might deposit them at your feet,
Take refuge in your Immaculate Heart,
And obtain peace, healing, rescue,
And timely help in all our needs.
You are our Mother.
Pray for us to your Son.
Amen. PRAYER OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen. MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Dearly beloved Mother, grant, if it is possible, that I may have no other spirit but yours to know Jesus and his divine will; that I may have no other soul but yours to praise and glorify the Lord; that I may have no other heart but yours to love God with a love as pure and passionate as yours. I do not ask you for visions, revelations, feelings of devotion, or spiritual pleasures. It is your privilege to see God clearly; it's your privilege to enjoy heavenly bliss; it's your privilege to triumph gloriously in heaven at the right hand of your Son and to hold absolute sway over angels, men, and demons; it is your privilege to dispose of all the gifts of God, just as you wish . . . The only grace I beg you to obtain for me is that every day and every moment of my life I may say: Amen, so be it, to all that you did while on earth; amen, so be it, to all that you are now doing in heaven; amen, so be it, to all that you are doing in my soul, so that you alone may fully glorify Jesus in me for time and eternity."
— St. Louis de Montfort, p.160
AN EXCERPT FROM
Manual for Marian Devotion VERSE OF THE DAY
"Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—in peace because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock."
Isaiah 26:3-4 |  click to read more | | ST. DONAN St. Donan (d. 617 A.D.), also known as St. Donnán of Eigg, was a prominent Celtic missionary and Gaelic priest. Little is known of his life except that he was likely an Irishman who traveled as a missionary throughout Galloway and northward along the west coast of Scotland. He is thought to have been a contemporary of St. Columba. Donan formed a religious community on the tiny northwest island of Eigg in Scotland. The community grew to fifty-two men. One year, after celebrating the Easter Vigil Mass, they were unexpectedly attacked and martyred either by pirates or a band of Viking raiders. Tradition holds that the community was gathered together and killed in the refectory on the night of April 17, 617. The martyrdom of Christian missionaries at this time was rare, leading many to suspect the attack was instigated by a malicious local queen who viewed St. Donan and his monks as a threat to her power. His feast day is April 17. | Friday in the Octave of Easter
Lectionary: 265
Reading 1 Acts 4:1-12 After the crippled man had been cured,
while Peter and John were still speaking to the people,
the priests, the captain of the temple guard,
and the Sadducees confronted them,
disturbed that they were teaching the people
and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
They laid hands on Peter and John
and put them in custody until the next day,
since it was already evening.
But many of those who heard the word came to believe
and the number of men grew to about five thousand. On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes
were assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest,
Caiaphas, John, Alexander,
and all who were of the high-priestly class.
They brought them into their presence and questioned them,
"By what power or by what name have you done this?"
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them,
"Leaders of the people and elders:
If we are being examined today
about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;
in his name this man stands before you healed.
He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved." Responsorial Psalm 118:1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25-27a R. (22) The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His mercy endures forever."
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Ps 118:24 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 21:1-14 Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.
He revealed himself in this way.
Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,
Zebedee's sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing."
They said to him, "We also will come with you."
So they went out and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?"
They answered him, "No."
So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something."
So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in
because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord."
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
The other disciples came in the boat,
for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards,
dragging the net with the fish.
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you just caught."
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.
Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast."
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?"
because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead. | Today's Meditation: John 21:1-14 Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. (John 21:4) This isn't the only time in the Scriptures that the disciples do not immediately recognize the risen Christ. Outside the empty tomb, Mary Magdalene mistakes Jesus for the gardener until he says her name (John 20:11-18). The two disciples talk to Jesus on the road to Emmaus, but they think he is simply a fellow traveler on the road until he breaks bread (Luke 24:13-35). We don't know why, but in each of these encounters something about Jesus finally causes his followers to recognize him. Many of us have had similar moments. Jesus is with us, "standing" right in front of us, but we only recognize his presence when something happens that opens our eyes. It hasn't been crystal clear that he has been with us the whole time, but once we do see him and realize that he never left us, we feel comforted and encouraged. So what can we learn from the disciples' experience and our own? To hold onto our faith when it's difficult to sense God's presence. To believe the time-tested truth that even when we struggle to sense Jesus' presence or wonder how he is at work, he is closer than we realize, caring for us and loving us. If you're wrestling with this right now, try to shift your perspective to see how Jesus continues to stand by you. He is with you when a friend reaches out to help you in an unexpected way. He is with you when you feel a sense of peace at Mass or when you find a Scripture verse especially consoling. It is his grace that gives you the strength to serve your family or the courage to share your faith. When you choose to believe that Jesus is loving you in and through all these things, you are choosing to believe that Jesus is standing with you. At its heart, this is what it means to put our faith into practice—it's believing without seeing. Wherever you are, you can choose to believe that Jesus is with you, whether you recognize him or not. You are not alone, and he is not far off. "Jesus, thank you for remaining close to me. Lord, help me to see you everywhere I go." Acts 4:1-12
Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-27 |  clickable | Jesus could bear His Cross alone, did He so will; but He permits Simon to help Him, in order to remind us that we must take part in His sufferings, and have a fellowship in His work. His merit is infinite, yet He condescends to let His people add their merit to it.
— St. John Henry Newman
from Prayers, Verses and Devotions | my2cents:
"There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved."
That name is Jesus. That name that heals. That name we need. Especially now, when evil is tempting the world to what? To enter...your life, and your heart. I know I prayed that prayer at 3 AM this morning when I felt a dark presence, I rejected it in the name of Jesus, calling out to Heaven to deliver me in time of temptation...to fear, or to pay attention to that fear. | We pray today: "The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it."
The rejected stone is Jesus. And if you are truly one with Jesus, you may be rejected too. Your presence might not be fully accepted...in all places....except with the humble. But is that where you are to remain? Locked up? Let's see what our Lord says to that. | "Children, have you caught anything to eat?"
He doesn't say brothers, and he doesn't say friends, He says children. And He's speaking as the Master of Fishers of men. Have you caught anything? I'm in the movement of the Cursillo. And one of the weekly questions calls us out, on our apostolic work, "what success or failures have you had" for the Lord. It is a hard question to answer, aside from piety, and studying. But One hinges on the other. If you are pious, you are faithful, and if you are faithful, you will study, and if you study, you will share the wealth of wisdom. What have you learned? And if you are excited about what you've learned, you will want to share it. And so, apostolic action can become an innocent byproduct of the love of God, and it binds us in faith.
Next He says: "Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something."
It was a command, take it or leave it.
The disciples, tired, could've scoffed, but rather, as children of innocence obeyed. And they were fruitful, and on that note: | From Bishop Barron:
"Friends, today's Gospel tells of the appearance of the risen Jesus to seven disciples by the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Peter and six other Apostles were in a boat on the sea. Seeing Peter and the disciples in a boat, we are meant to think of the Church, and the peculiar number of seven—evocative of completion or fulfillment—is meant to make us consider the eschatological Church, the community of Jesus approaching the end of its journey.
On the shore (though they don't recognize him at first) is the Lord Jesus. At his command, they lower their nets and bring in an extraordinary catch. Well, this is the work of the Church until the end of the age: to gather in souls and to bring them to Christ.
When they empty their nets they discover 153 large fish. Many theories as to the meaning of this figure have been proposed. My favorite is the one put forward by St. Augustine. According to the science of that time, Augustine argued, there were 153 species of fish in the sea, and therefore, this extraordinary number is meant to signal the universality of the Church's salvific mission." A representation of every man from every nation, so the Master called for them to bring in on His command.
And He commands it over and over in the resurrection and upon the Ascension.
And that call is for you today. What apostolic action have you accomplished today? At what time did you read this? Morning? Midday, or night?
This is the message I received: Do not grow tired, do not grow weary, do not grow faint, be ready, even when you are most tired, to obey, and be ready to hear Him and be amazed.
He feeds bread.
And the fish He caught becomes food. Can you present this sacrifice to the Lord? Abraham did. Moses did. Elijah did. St. John the Baptist did.
And now all the faithful do...sacrifice for greater love.
And there is not greater Love than what God commands.... |  click to hear a message | Random Bible verse from an online generator: 1 Peter 4:16
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit my website Going4th.com, surely you'll find me there. God Bless You! Share the Word. Share this, share what is good | | |
