Saturday in the Octave of Easter

Acts 4:13-21

Peter and John cannot be silenced by the leaders, elders and scribes in their praise for Jesus, saying "...it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard."

They  pay Peter and John the highest tribute that can be given to any Christian:  "They recognized them as the companions of Jesus." 

In your daily interaction with people, do you remain silent when something is said that makes you feel uncomfortable?  For example, if a racist remark is made or if something is being said about a person who is not present, do you speak up?    The reading inspired this writer to strive to state his feelings in these situations in a calm and positive manner indicating he is truly a companion of Jesus. 

May the same be said uf us.

Friday in the Octave of Easter

John 21:1-14

John does not tell us why the disciples are back in Galilee, but in fact Jesus had told them to return there, where he would meet them. They seem to have been sitting around, unsure of what to do, until Peter decides to go fishing and the others come along. Peter is taking the lead, but what sort of lead is it? Some see this act as "aimless activity undertaken in desperation" that is, abandoning the Lord and returning to their former life. Others think they went fishing simply because they needed to eat. The latter is probably true enough, but there is also a sense that Peter and the others, while not necessarily aimless and certainly not apostate, are doing what is right in their own eyes. The stories in this chapter reveal Jesus' bringing his disciples, especially Peter, more completely under his lordship. The disciples do not know what to do, so they do that which is necessary, and in taking this initiative they put themselves in a place where Christ meets them. Here is the simple truth, attested to by the saints, that when we are uncertain what to do we should simply do our duty and God will guide.

 

We are Peter, and Peter is us. The second chance comes not through some penitential act of Peter’s, but through the sheer grace and love of Jesus himself. It could well prove to be a major turning point in our life if we would...ask ourselves if we really do intend to be life students of Jesus. Do we really intend to do and be all of the high things we profess to believe in?

Thursday in the Octave of Easter

Acts 3:11-26; Luke 24:35-48

When we, like the disciples in today’s Gospel, are troubled, what restores our peace?  The humanity of Jesus Christ.  The risen Lord says to the distressed disciples, “Look at my hands and my feet… Touch me and see.”  To prove that they are not “seeing a ghost,” Jesus takes the piece of baked fish given to him and eats it in front of the disciples.  Jesus woos us away from anxiety with the words, “Why do questions arise in  your hearts?”  The pierced man who stands before us is our Answer.  The repentance and conversion that Saint Peter preaches make it possible for God to “grant you times of refreshment and send you the Christ already appointed for you, Jesus.”  “All the holiness God has destined for our souls has been placed in the humanity of Christ, and it is from this source that we must draw” (Blessed Columba Marmion).  Those who dare to look at Jesus’ wounds and live as “witnesses of these things” hear the risen Christ say, “Peace be with you.”

Wednesday in the Octave of Easter

Luke 24:13-35

Today's Gospel tells the story of Jesus meeting two disciples on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus a few days after his resurrection.  Luke indicates that there was a great deal of confusion and sadness concerning the events of Jesus' death and resurrection.  Jesus admonishes the two men for their lack of faith and understanding concerning his suffering, death and resurrection.  It appears that this lack of faith is preventing them from recognizing Jesus in his glorified state.  However, the men are touched by Jesus' teaching and they invite him to dinner.  After Jesus gives thanks and blesses the bread, their eyes were opened and Jesus vanishes.

We can take much from the story.  Firstly, our lack of faith and reliance on self will prevent us from recognizing Jesus in our life.  Secondly, the power of the Eucharist will give us the grace to overcome these failings and will allow us to grow closer to Christ.  We can find true joy, just as these two men did, when our eyes and hearts are opened to Jesus.

Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

Acts 2:36-41; Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22; John 20:11-18

Mary doesn’t recognize Jesus until he calls her name.

Maybe she was crying too hard to recognize him. Or maybe what she saw wasn’t what she was looking for. She thought she knew what that would be – a body wrapped in linen. The remains of her friend Jesus. The one she thought she knew; would always recognize. The familiar one. Maybe she was just too busy holding on to her memory of Jesus to recognize the real Jesus who stood before her. He wasn’t who she was expecting.

And then he calls her by name. And tells her to stop holding onto that she remembered but rather go and tell the other disciples that ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ Because this new Jesus, the one Mary wasn’t expecting, the one she didn’t recognize, stood before her as the fulfillment of hope. In him was the assurance of salvation and eternal life – for if his Father is our Father, and his God, our God, then his journey and destination are ours as well.

Monday in the Octave of Easter

Psalm 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

"All the good things I have come from you"

"So I am thankful and glad and I feel completely secure."

"You will show me the path of life and your presence fills me with unending joy." 

God is the ultimate giver - all the good things in our lives come from Him.  We are given these gifts as well as the wisdom to use them to benefit ourselves and others, and to give honor and glory to God.  All the blessings we have received - our families, our friends, our homes, our parish, our work, have come to us because of God's love for us - not because we deserved them.  That is the security we experience as children of God.

All of these, although they come from God, are of earthly dimension and, as such, are always subject to change.  Nothing in life, regardless of our own desires and needs, will stay the same.  People, places and things move about us in constant motion.

The only thing that will never change is God's love for us.  It is timeless and unending.  The challenge for us as Catholic Christians is to surrender ourselves to God with absolute trust.  He holds us tightly through difficult times and rejoices with us in good times.

If we place our lives in God's hands, we will never be alone.  We will be rewarded with unending joy promised to us by God in Psalm 16.