2nd Week of Easter 2026 - Wednesday (School Mass) - The power of Christ's resurrection in the life of the Church

 

A week and a half ago, Christians celebrated the great feast of the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. After suffering and dying on the cross and being buried in the tomb, Jesus rose from the dead, just as he said he would.

As you can see, the Church is still decorated with many signs of Easter, the priest wears the color white, to signify that we are still in the Easter season, we still have easter flowers and decorations. Much of the world has moved on from Easter, but Christians continue to celebrate Easter for 50 days—from Easter Sunday to Pentecost.

One of the features of the Easter season is that we read extensively from the book of the Bible called “The Acts of the Apostles”. The Acts of the Apostles is found in your bibles right after the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Where the Gospels focus on the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Acts of the Apostles talks about what happened next—those first weeks and months and years of the Church.

We read from the Acts of the Apostles during the Easter Season because in the Acts of the Apostles we see the impact Jesus’ resurrection had on the apostles—how Jesus’ resurrection changed them, animated them, guided their words and actions and behaviors—how they shared news of the resurrection and the importance of believing in Jesus and following Jesus and being baptized.

We also hear how the Apostles were hated by the world, just as Jesus was hated. But the Apostles were willing to suffer for the mission of the Church because their task was given to them by Jesus—to go and make disciples of all nations teaching them to observe all that he has commanded and baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles today, we hear how the Sadducees were filled with anger and jealousy over the teachings of the Apostles, just like they were filled with anger and jealousy over the teachings of Jesus. And like they did to Jesus, they threw the Apostles in jail. But then, there is something that reminds us of Easter. Just as the prison bars of death could not contain Jesus, the prison bars could not contain the Apostles. The temple guard found them, not in prison, but back in the temple area preaching and teaching in Jesus’ name.

Over the last 2000 years later, many of the world governments have tried to eradicate the Church and stop the preaching of the Gospel. Christians have been thrown in prison, tortured, and killed. But the mission continues and succeeds because the Catholic Church is not just some man-made institution—it is the body of Christ, risen from the dead, victorious over death, which continues to preach and teach in his name the message of salvation—that those who believe in Jesus and follow him shall have eternal life.

And just as the power of Jesus resurrection guided and shaped the early Church, it continues to guide and shape our lives, if we let it, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - 

Trusting in the risen Jesus, who conquered death and continues to guide His Church, let us bring our prayers before our heavenly Father.

For the Church throughout the world:  that, like the Apostles, she may boldly and faithfully preach Jesus Christ risen from the dead, let us pray to the Lord.

For the Holy Father, Pope Leo, our bishops, priests, deacons, and all who teach the faith: that they may be strengthened by the joy of Easter and remain courageous in proclaiming the Gospel, let us pray to the Lord.

For Christians throughout the world, especially those who are mocked, threatened, or persecuted for their faith:  that the Lord may protect them and fill them with the same courage he gave to the Apostles, let us pray to the Lord.

For Corpus Christi Academy:  that our students, teachers, and families may let the power of Jesus’ resurrection shape the way we think, speak, and live each day, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who are sick, suffering, or discouraged:  that the victory of the risen Lord may give them strength, peace, and hope, let us pray to the Lord.

For our beloved dead:  that they may share forever in the glory of Christ’s resurrection, let us pray to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, you raised your Son from the dead and filled the Apostles with courage and joy. Hear these prayers we place before you and help us to live always in the light of Easter. Through Christ our Lord.

17th Week in Ordinary Time 2021 - Tuesday - Jesus explains the Parable of the Weeds and the Wheat

Today we witness sort of a rarity in the four Gospels. Jesus takes his disciples away from the crowd and offers a point-by-point explanation of an earlier parable—the parable of the Weeds and the Wheat.  

He explains how each of the elements in his parable, the field, the weeds, the wheat, the sower, the harvest are symbols for a deeper reality.  

Why, out of all the parables, does the Lord explain this one? After all, the original parable isn’t that difficult to understand, is it? Perhaps, it’s because this parable in particular is addressing not just the moral life, or Christian attitude toward the poor, like the parable of the good Samaritan. It’s just to instill a sense of urgency toward conversion, like the parable of the pearl of great price. 

The Lord explains parable of the weeds and the wheat for it concerns the very mission of the Gospel: why he came, why he is forming the Church, and the obstacles which the Church will face as we continue his work until his return. “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.”

We should not be discouraged by the amount of evil in the world.  It seems like it is just getting worse and worse out there, and harder and harder to remain faithful.  So many distractions to the life of faith, so many people falling away, acts of true goodness rarer and rarer.  

Today Jesus provides assurance that the faithful children of God’s kingdom will be vindicated, that God has a divine plan, even as weeds of wickedness sprout up in abundance in this presence age, a future age of glory will follow for God’s faithful ones.  We must remain patient in the presence of the wickedness of the world, and faithful to all God asks of us. For there will come a time when the faithful will go to their eternal reward, and the wicked, to perdition.

Christians will have to strive to remain faithful to the Gospel amidst terrible, toxic evil. And evil is going to be so insidious, it will often disguise itself—like a wolf in sheep’s clothing—weeds and wheat, during our earthly life, will often appear indistinguishable.

But that’s the territory. And that’s the mission. To live out the Gospel amidst all that confusion, to cooperate with the Lord who continues to sew the seeds of the Gospel through the lives of his faithful ones. That things are going pretty sour out there, shouldn’t surprise us. Our task is to keep the faith, in its entirety, without compromise, with fervor and grace, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - -  

For the conversion of hearts hardened to the Gospel, for those who have fallen away from the Church, for non-believers and unrepentant sinners, and that Christians may be attentive to our responsibility of sharing the Gospel with all. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the purification of our minds and hearts from the errors of the culture and from the lure of worldly attachments. Let us pray to the Lord.

That leaders of nations may find guidance in the Word of God for proper governance and the pursuit of justice for all. Let us pray to the Lord.

That Christian family homes may be places where the Gospel is studied, understood, observed, and cherished. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all those who suffer illness, those in hospitals, nursing homes and hospice care. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, the deceased members of our families friends and parishes, for those who fought and died for our freedom, and N. for whom this Mass is offered. Let us pray to the Lord.

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all goodness, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain

2nd Week of OT 2020 - Friday - Apostles and Bishops and Us

The calling forth of the Apostles is a fitting scripture reading for us to reflect upon, particularly in light of yesterday’s news that Bishop Perez has been called forth by the Holy Father to be the next Archbishop of Philadelphia.

The word Apostle, comes from the Greek, Apostolein. Which means “to send”. We can see the English word “post” in there, like a postage stamp is used to send things, or a post office, a place where you send things, or simply to post, is “to send” something.

An apostle is first summoned by Christ. He is called from the world. He is called from the greater number of disciples. He is summoned to have a special intimacy with the Lord and to receive a special mission. In the case of the Apostles during the earthly ministry of Jesus, the Lord gives them a special mission of preaching and driving out demons. They are to do what he has done, what they have seen and witnessed him doing. In a sense, he’s already gone before them, showing them that the task is possible.

In their preaching, they shall use the words that they have heard him using, calling sinners to repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand, to turn away from their sins, to change their ways, that their lives may better reflect the values of God.

And they are to engage in spiritual warfare with the powers of darkness, driving away the entities and attitudes and forms of spiritual slavery through the power of God, the power given to them from God himself.

Having spent time with the Lord, having received their marching orders, the Lord then sends them out into the unknown. There they will encounter hostility, as he has encountered it. They will have to answer questions, make decisions, speak words some—many—are not willing to hear—helping them break from the sinful habits of the past in order to prepare for a future with God.

At the age of 32, St. Francis de Sales, whom we honor today was ordained a bishop. For 20 years, he labored zealously for the conversion of the Calvinists, administrated his diocese, and also found time to write his spiritual opus, The Introduction to the Devout Life, which hasn’t gone out of print in 400 years.

We certainly invoke the intercession of the bishop St. Francis and all those apostle saints and bishop saints, for Bishop Perez, called forth from Cleveland to fulfill the Apostolic mission within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. We recognize that we too, in our own way, are called to be with the Lord, that we may preach and drive out demons in the unknown territories of our lives. May we receive all the help we need from God for that purpose, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -
 
That all members of the Church may live out their baptismal call with greater conviction and faithfulness, and turn to the Lord in their sins with sincere contrition.

For Bishop Perez, for the churches of Philadelphia and Cleveland, for our future bishop, whomever he may be, for faithfulness to the Apostolic mission.

For the safety of all at the March for Life today, and that the witness to the dignity of human life may bring about greater protection for the unborn and conversion to the Gospel of Life.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

May 3 2019 - Sts. Philip and James - Steeds of God

St. Hippolytus, writing in the early third century, called the apostles “steeds of God”—“horses for God”. Hippolytus writes “For these steeds have donned the secret of holiness, carrying the word for the riders and bringing them to the goal of truth”. A horse of God! It’s a rather blunt, almost uncouth title, but a significant one, especially for the two apostles we honor today.

Literally, Philip means “friend of a horse”. And his liturgical companion, St. James, son of Alphaeus, known in the Gospels as the “brother of the Lord” depicts the role of the Christian as a sort of work horse. In the Letter of James, we hear that we must be doers of the word, not just hearers of the word. James says, faith without works is dead, and that Christians must persevere in trial. James even writes about horses: “If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies” so too the Christian must tame his tongue, bridle his body, with purity and wisdom.

I don’t know much about horses, but it makes sense that James highlights the importance of purity and wisdom as bridling and taming our bodies and tongues. For what we do in our bodies matters as Christians, and what we say, matters, our bodies and tongues can lead people to Christ or they can drive people from Him. The Tongue, writes James “is a restless evil, full of poison…From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers.”

How often do we regret our words because we do not think before we speak, we do not consider the consequences of our words, we use our tongues for gossip rather than gospel, blaming and complaining instead of encouraging and consoling.

The apostles are such great examples for us, because they have allowed the grace of Easter to truly blossom in their lives, they’ve allowed the wisdom of the Lord to order their lives, where spreading the Gospel and concern for souls is truly their first priority, even more important than preserving their own lives. Willingness to spread the Gospel like them, is, as St. Hippolytus writes, “the secret of holiness”.

Steeds for Christ. What a wonderful Easter image of our Gospel Mission. May we like the Apostles, Philip and James, be become spirited steeds of God, with tongues tamed by wisdom, bodies bridled with purity, for the carrying of the Gospel to the ends of the earth for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - -
 
May we join the Holy Apostles in our prayer for the world and the Church.

As the Apostles witnessed to the Resurrection of the Lord, may we be his witnesses to the farthest corners of the world.

For the bishops, the successors of the apostles: That they may be courageous in stirring up the flame of faith and defending the Church from error.

For all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love.

For all who long to see the face of the Father, for all our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord