Acts 18:1-8 | Psalm 98:1-4 | John 16:16-20

"What does He mean by this 'short time'?" —John 16:18

The "now" word in today's readings is: "within a short time" (Jn 16:16). The phrase "short time" is used four times in the Gospel passage. Through this repetition, the Lord undoubtedly wants to emphasize that something is about to happen. In ... More

Acts 17:15, 22—18:1 | Psalm 148:1-2, 11-14 | John 16:12-15

"When they heard about the raising of the dead, some sneered." —Acts 17:32

When Paul tried to preach the gospel to the Athenians, they called him a "magpie" (Acts 17:18) and sneered at him. Although a few became believers (Acts 17:34), this was probably the most lackluster response to his preaching Paul had ever seen. ... More

St. Isidore the Farmer (USA)
Acts 16:22-34 | Psalm 138:1-3, 7-8 | John 16:5-11

"About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as their fellow prisoners listened, a severe earthquake suddenly shook the place." —Acts 16:25-26

While evangelizing in Philippi, St. Paul was harassed by a girl who had a spirit of fortune-telling and made a lot of money by predicting the future. Annoyed, Paul took authority, "and said to the spirit, 'In the name of Jesus Christ I command ... More

To seek the gifts of the Spirit we must know what they are. Although the Spirit has poured out thousands of gifts, there are at least thirty which the Bible describes. The Lord commands us to seek these thirty gifts by prayer, Bible study, and use in ministry.

St. Matthias
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 | Psalm 113:1-8 | John 15:9-17

"Remain in My love." —John 15:9, JB

St. Matthias was known for remaining in God's love, during the portion of his life when he was included in the number of the twelve apostles, and during the portion of his life when he was not (Acts 1:21-22). Most likely Matthias would have ... More

The Pentecost Novena is the first of all novenas, nine days of prayer. After Jesus' Ascension into heaven, He commanded His disciples to come together in the upper room to devote themselves to constant prayer (Acts 1:14). They prayed for nine days before receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

The purpose of life is to develop a deep, personal relationship with Jesus and love Him with all our hearts (Lk 10:27).

Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 | 1 John 4:7-10 | Psalm 98:1-4 | John 15:9-17

"As Peter entered, Cornelius went to meet him, dropped to his knees before him and bowed low." —Acts 10:25

Cornelius and his family were the first Gentiles to receive the Holy Spirit because they were humble. When Peter, a common Galilean fisherman, entered the home of Cornelius, the powerful Roman centurion, Cornelius humbly dropped to his knees and ... More

Sts. Nereus & Achilleus, St. Pancras
Acts 16:1-10 | Psalm 100:1-3, 5 | John 15:18-21

"The reason [the world] hates you is that you do not belong to the world." —John 15:19

Although the Lord loves the world and died to save it (Jn 3:16), the world hates Jesus and His followers (Jn 15:18-19). The world is the system that opposes or ignores the lordship of Jesus. Consequently, the Lord has chosen us out of the world ... More

Acts 15:22-31 | Psalm 57:8-10, 12 | John 15:12-17

"It was I Who chose you to go forth and bear fruit." —John 15:16

The Lord commands, graces, and chooses us to bear fruit which is abundant (Jn 15:5) and lasting (Jn 15:16). This means that we are chosen to lead many people to a total commitment to the Lord and to disciple them so deeply that they will ... More

St. Damien of Molokai
Acts 15:7-21 | Psalm 96:1-3, 10 | John 15:9-11

"After much discussion, Peter took the floor." —Acts 15:7

For centuries, the Jewish people had been taught not to associate with Gentiles. This was based on the Bible (see Is 52:11). After Pentecost, the Jewish Christians were told that the Gentiles had been given the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:8). This ... More

Acts 15:1-6 | Psalm 122:1-5 | John 15:1-8

"He prunes away every barren branch, but the fruitful ones He trims clean to increase their yield." —John 15:2

Jesus is the true Vine; we are the branches (Jn 15:5). We must bear fruit abundantly or be thrown into the fire and burnt (Jn 15:6). We bear fruit not primarily through our own efforts but by living in Jesus and letting Him live in us (Jn 15:5). ... More

Acts 14:19-28 | Psalm 145:10-13, 21 | John 14:27-31

" 'Peace' is My farewell to you, My peace is My gift to you; I do not give it to you as the world gives peace." —John 14:27

In His last will and testament, Jesus gave His disciples His peace as our inheritance. He commanded us not to "be distressed or fearful" (Jn 14:27). Jesus said that He does not give peace to us as the world gives peace (Jn 14:27).

The world ... More

Acts 14:5-18 | Psalm 115:1-4, 15-16 | John 14:21-26

"He who obeys the commandments he has from Me is the man who loves Me." —John 14:21

Obedience is one of the main ways we express our love for God. The Lord gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32). The Lord reveals Himself to those obeying Him (Jn 14:21) and conceals Himself from the disobedient (see Lk 10:21). ... More

Fifth Sunday of Easter
Acts 9:26-31 | 1 John 3:18-24 | Psalm 22:26-28, 30-32 | John 15:1-8

"The Church was at peace." —Acts 9:31

When the risen Jesus met the women leaving the tomb, He gave the customary Jewish greeting, "Shalom" (Peace) (Mt 28:9). When the risen Jesus met the apostles on the first Resurrection evening, He again said "Shalom" (Peace) (Jn 20:19, 21). ... More

Acts 13:44-52 | Psalm 98:1-4 | John 14:7-14

"The disciples could not but be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit." —Acts 13:52

Paul and Barnabas suffered "violent abuse" and were expelled from the territory of Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:45, 50). Most people react to abuse with anger, unforgiveness, or other forms of retaliation. We tend to attack the abuser physically ... More

Acts 13:26-33 | Psalm 2:6-11 | John 14:1-6

"In My Father's house there are many dwelling places; otherwise, how could I have told you that I was going to prepare a place for you?" —John 14:2

Jesus promised He was going to prepare a place for us. Some people think this place is in heaven. However, heaven needs no preparation. It does not need remodeling or cleaning. Rather, the Lord is preparing a place for us on earth, in His ... More

"AT THE HEART"
At the heart of every culture ... is a consensus about the nature of reality and the moral good and ... about the conditions for human flourishing. In America, that consensus, as enshrined in your nation's founding documents, was grounded in a worldview shaped not only by faith but a commitment to certain ethical principles deriving from nature and nature's God. More

Sts. Philip & James
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 | Psalm 19:2-5 | John 14:6-14

"Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message." —Psalm 19:5

Jesus told Saints Philip and James, and all His disciples, "I solemnly assure you, the man who has faith in Me will do the works I do, and greater far than these" (Jn 14:12). Jesus spoke these words from the upper room in Jerusalem. His own ... More