† Quote of the Day"Therefore, my brother, scorned as you are by men, lashed as it were by God, do not despair. Do not be depressed. Do not let your weakness make you impatient. Instead, let the serenity of your spirit shine through your face. Let the joy of your mind burst forth. Let words of thanks break from your lips."” -St. Peter Damian Today’s Meditation"'The Lord measures our perfection not by the number and greatness of the works we do for Him, but by our manner of doing them. And this manner is only the love of God with which, and for which, we do them. They are more perfect as they are done with more pure and perfect love, and as they are less mingled with the thoughts of pleasure or praise in this life or the other (St. John of the Cross).' When St. Bernard was assisting one night at Matins, he saw some angels who were carefully noting down the merit of each of the monks. The merit of those who were praying with much fervor, they set down in golden characters; of those with less fervor, in silver characters; of those with good will, but without affection, in ink; of those with sloth and drowsiness, in water; but as to those who were in mortal sin or voluntarily distracted, they wrote nothing, but, standing motionless, they lamented their blindness." —Anonymous, p. 292
An excerpt from Cultivating Virtue: Self-Mastery With the Saints Daily Verse"Consider your own calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God." -1 Corinthians 1:26-29
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EWTN Daily Saint
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St BademusSt. Bademus (d. 376 A.D.) was a wealthy and noble citizen of Bethlapeta in Persia. Desiring to give himself completely to God, he gave away his wealth and founded a monastery where he led a life of prayer and austerity. His sanctity was known to all, and he trained his monks to progress in devotion, virtue, and love of God. One day he and seven of his monks were abducted during the Christian persecution by King Sapor of Persia. He was chained in a dungeon for four months and whipped daily for his faith. He suffered his tortures for Christ and triumphed over them with patience and joy. One day a Christian prince named Nersan was also put into the dungeon, and, seeing the torments he would endure, apostatized from the faith in order to be released. To prove his conversion, the king ordered Nersan to slay St. Bademus on the spot. Bademus, after declaring his willingness to die for Christ, also warned Nersan of the account he would have to give to God for his actions. Nersan, timid and fearful, then killed Bademus with several awkward and misplaced blows. The pagans who were present admired the abbot's holy and resigned death, while abhorring the king's cruelty. St. Bademus' feast day is April 10th.
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Friday in the Octave of EasterLectionary: 265 Reading 1Acts 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 PsalmPsalm 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. Sequence -- optionalVictimae paschali laudes Christians, to the Paschal Victim Offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems; Christ, who only is sinless, Reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous: The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring What you saw, wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ, who is living, The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
bright angels attesting, The shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen; to Galilee he goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining. Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning! Amen. Alleluia. AlleluiaPsalm 118:24 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelJohn 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.
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Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ!
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From Word Among Us WAU.org
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Daily Meditation: John 21:1-14Simon Peter . . . dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. (John 21:11) How startling this miracle must have been for Simon Peter! It was so similar to his encounter with Jesus years earlier, when he had followed the Lord’s instructions to lower his nets and had caught an enormous amount of fish (Luke 5:1-11)! What’s more, both times, the catch came after he and his friends had fished all night with nothing to show for it. Just like the earlier miracle, the abundant catch of fish in today’s Gospel opened Peter’s eyes to see that he was in the presence of the Lord. It was this same attribute of abundance that Jesus had also used to reveal himself when he changed the water into wine at the wedding of Cana and when he fed thousands with just a few loaves of bread and fish. Today’s Gospel comes after Peter had deserted and denied the Lord. But now the risen Christ appeared to him on the shores of Galilee to offer him forgiveness and a new start (John 21:15-18). The abundant catch of fish reminded Peter of his call to be a fisher of men, a call that endured despite his failure. Jesus once told the apostles that he had come so that we might have “life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). And what is he giving us in abundance? Not just fish or bread or wine. In Peter’s case, it was mercy! The same is true for us. However low we have fallen, his mercy never runs dry. He will always restore us to himself when we come to him. God’s abundance extends even beyond mercy: he “does not ration his gift of the Spirit” (John 3:34). Just as the Spirit came upon the apostles at Pentecost, he has come to us—not just at Baptism and Confirmation, but with a new outpouring every time we ask for it. And just as the Spirit blessed Peter and the other disciples with the gifts and power to “feed [his] sheep,” so the Spirit gives us the strength, power, and grace to do the same (21:17). We often tend to focus on what we lack. Today, think instead of how abundantly you’ve been blessed. Then thank the risen Lord for all he has done for you! “Jesus, I praise you for the new life you have won for me!” Acts 4:1-12
Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-27
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Reflections with Brother Adrian:
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Audio of 2 Cents
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From today's Holy Gospel: ".. 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. ..."
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From Roberto Juarez: "When they reach the shore, they find something surprising: a fire with fish and bread. Jesus doesn't just give the order to fish. He also prepares the food. This reveals something very profound: God doesn't just ask us. God also provides. It anticipates our needs. He awaits us with the essentials ready. And he also says to them: "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." That is to say, what God does, and what we do, come together. Grace and human collaboration go together.
Finally, Jesus takes the bread and gives it to them. It is a gesture that clearly refers us to the Eucharist. The Risen One continues to feed us. Not only does it accompany us, it not only guides us, but it is given to us as food. Here is the center of our Christian life.
Today the Gospel leaves us with several very concrete keys. Without Christ, our nets are empty. He is present, even if we do not always recognize him. Obedience to his word opens unexpected paths. Love allows us to recognize Him. And He waits for us, feeds us and counts on us.
Let us ask the Lord that we may know how to listen to his voice in our daily lives, that we may not tire in the nights of emptiness, that we may have an attentive heart to recognize him, and that, like Simon Peter, we may know how to throw ourselves fearlessly towards him. And may we too experience, in the depths of our hearts: that it is the Lord who fills our nets and gives meaning to our lives." end quote.
Some people leave the faith because they say "I'm not being fed".
This is not a totally true statement.
Our Lord is offering Himself eternally.
It is us that are not offering ourselves to Him as we ought.
The amount of grace we receive is directly tied to the amount of openness we approach Him with.
And here is our Lord, for the 3rd time, feeding His people. He appears after the resurrection...
He appears encouraging.
He appears when they are trembling, locked in an upper room.
He appears at the lakeshore, with food ready on the charcoal fire. Remember Peter our first Pope had denied him before a charcoal fire.
Well now Peter cannot deny knowing Him, although they couldn't recognize Him physically, they just KNEW it was Him.
Yet our Lord appears today.
In the breaking of the bread, like in the Emmaus story.
He appears today, when we are locked in fear, "Have Courage".
He appears when there is turmoil "Peace be with You."
He appears when they feel fruitless "throw the nets one more time, on the other side".
I've heard in my studies that our Lord takes heart when you take heart. When you persevere.
In your day to day struggles, He appreciates that you go forth, with courage...
There is value in that. He will meet you there...just don't give up. It's like He is teaching us still today..."Walk with Me...Walk THIS WAY".
It can be scary. Walking on water is not normal. Walking up to the cross is not normal. Letting go of the world does not feel right. But He says on DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY "Trust Me". And we say and pray " JESUS, I Trust In You".
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Wow!
Random Bible Verse 1
2 Timothy 1:7 "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
Word of the Lord!
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