to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways

April 20, 2017 6:00 am

“You are the children of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors when he said to Abraham, ‘In your offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ For you first, God raised up his servant and sent him to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.” (ACTS 3: 25-26) 

Our Lord knows perfectly our limits, our weaknesses and our daily temptations. Because God not only knows us but also loves us, He “raised up his servant and sent him to bless [us] by turning each of [us] from [our] evil ways.” We are always protected and supported, especially when we fight against our “evil ways.” We received the Sacrament of Penance, and we have daily support and remedy in the Eucharist and an amazing cure with daily readings. 

“This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Jesus himself drew near and walked with them

April 19, 2017 6:00 am

“That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.” (LK 24: 13-16)

It happens, from to time in our lives, that we feel abandoned, misunderstood, or alone. We should remember that Our Lord is always close to us, and whenever we are in need, He does for us what He did for the two disciples: “Jesus himself drew near and walked with them.” The problem could be just with our eyes: “their eyes were prevented from recognizing him”; the problem is never with Him.  

“This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” (Gospel Acclamaiton)

Promise is made to you and to your children

April 18, 2017 6:00 am

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2: 38-39) 

Our Lord comes to us with His gift “for the forgiveness of our sins.” Because we are created not to be alone, but to be united with others, and first of all to be family members, so “the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off.” In these days no one should feel alone, “far off” or separated—we are called to be His children: “every one of us.”

“This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Go tell my brothers

April 17, 2017 6:47 am

“And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”” (MT 28: 9-19)

Before any of Apostles started proclaiming the Good News, Our Lord chose Mary Magdalene to be the first apostle: “go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Latin calls her: “Apostolorum apostola—Apostle to the  Apostles” to express her dignity as the first witness who saw the risen Christ. Everybody is called to announce the most joyful message—“let us be glad and rejoice in it.” 

“This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

On the first day of the week

April 16, 2017 6:00 am

“On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.” (JN 20: 1)

Last week we started counting the days before the Resurrection with “six days before Passover”; today, again, we start “on the first day of the week,” a totally new reality: “the stone removed from the tomb,” a sign of resurrection and a sign of Our Lord’s victory over death, satan and sin. From this moment, every Sunday celebrates His victory, our redemption and the beginning of our new lives.

“Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed; let us feast with joy in the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Ran to announce 

April 15, 2017 6:00 am

“Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples.” (MT 28: 8)

The Good News needs to be proclaimed and needs to reach many. Today the Gospel expresses this in words of hurry: “quickly” and “ran,” just like at the beginning of the New Testament when the shepherds rushed to the manger. When we are touched by God’s grace, we cannot keep it to ourselves. We need to run and announce it. 

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” The right hand of the LORD has struck with power; the right hand of the LORD is exalted. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.” (Psalm before Gospel)

To receive mercy and to find grace for timely help

April 14, 2017 6:00 am

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, 
but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.” (HEB 4: 15-16)

Jesus, the Compassionate and Merciful Lord, Who “sympathize[s] with our weaknesses,” came not to blame us or to punish us, but to show us the unconditional love of God. The One, “who has similarly been tested in every way,” knows our temptations, our limits and conditions and encourages us to “confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.” 

“Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every other name.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

I have given you a model to follow

April 13, 2017 6:00 am

“So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”” (JN 13: 12-15)

Our Lord not only teaches us how to reach Heaven but also is a “model to follow.” And the only and the most important thing to Him is to “love one another,” expressed in “washing their feet.” “If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.” Love will have different ways or different expressions, depending on our vocations, but will show the same message—you are important to me.

“I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them 

April 12, 2017 6:00 am

“The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back.” (IS 50: 4-5)

Among many how-to skills, there is one, probably the most forgotten and the most important at the same time: “know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.” Among many how-to trainings, we can find courses on how to communicate our needs, how to be assertive and how to receive what we need, but there are not many to learn “how to speak a word that will rouse.” It takes time, but God “morning after morning opens my ear that I may hear.” He wants us on His side, working like He does. 

“Hail to you, our King; you alone are compassionate with our errors.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

The Lord called me from my mother’s womb

April 11, 2017 6:00 am

“Hear me, O islands, listen, O distant peoples. The LORD called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.” (IS 49: 1) 

Our Lord was the first one who knew about my existence. Even before my Mom, He knew. He not only knows us but also loves us. We are loved from the beginning of our lives; we are “called from birth,” and we have special name, which He “gave me from my mother’s womb.” We will recognize our name fully only when in Heaven, but here, still, we need to follow God’s plan for us, “obedient to the Father.” 

“Hail to you, our King, obedient to the Father; you were led to your crucifixion like a gentle lamb to the slaughter.” (Gospel Acclamation)