God's Word for Today (Scripture Reflections)

  Sunday 28 April 2024 –V Sunday of Easter (Year B) Mass Readings: Act 9:26-31    Ps 21    1Jn 3:18-24    Jn 15:1-8 Key Verse to Meditate: I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower (Jn 15:1). Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Lord, On this fifth Sunday of Easter, the liturgy of the word presents to us the imagery of Jesus as the true vine and us, his disciples, as the branches of this vine: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower (Jn 15:1); I am the vine, you are the branches (Jn 15:5)." Through this reading, John literally shows us what is important for us as Christians. As disciples, it is crucial for us to live in Christ. Like the branches of the vine, which are generated and nourished by the vine itself, we too are nourished and sustained by Jesus himself in our spiritual and human lives. Last Sunday's liturgy was centered around the figure of the good shepherd who gives his life for his sheep. The sheep have been entrusted to

  Sunday 21 April 2024 – IV Sunday of Easter (Year B) Mass Readings: Acts 4:8-12    Ps 117    1 Jn 3:1-2    Jn 10: 11-18 Key Verse:   I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (Jn 10:11) Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Lord, The Fourth Sunday of Easter, which is traditionally celebrated as Good Shepherd Sunday, is also known as Vocations Sunday or the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Firstly, the fourth Sunday of Easter is dedicated to the Good Shepherd by ancient liturgical tradition. In the Gospel passage of this Sunday, we are presented the figure of the good shepherd who gives his life for his flock. No image of Christ has ever been dearer to the hearts of Christians than that of Jesus the Good Shepherd. Since the first centuries, the Lord has been represented carrying a sheep on his shoulders, which, in its expressiveness, recalls the parable of the lost sheep (Lk 15:5). This image draws its strength precisely from the Gospel acc

  Sunday 14 April 2024 - III Sunday of Easter (Year B) Mass Readings: Act 3:13-15.17-19    Ps 4    1Jn 2:1-5    Lk 24:35-48 Key Verse to Meditate: Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures (Lk 24:45). Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Lord, The third Sunday of Easter in the liturgical cycle of B comes with the episode of the risen Lord appearing to the disciples gathered together, along with the Emmaus disciples who had come to tell them about their encounter with the risen Lord (Lk 24:13-34). In today’s gospel, we see how the risen Lord Jesus shows himself and makes himself recognized, speaks, and eats with them. It was not an easy concept of faith for the disciples to just believe in the risen Lord. They too were ordinary human beings, but they were the disciples of the Lord. Yes, they had been with Jesus for three years and had heard from Jesus himself about the predictions of death and resurrection (Lk 9:21-22; 9:44-45; 18:31-34). All three times the

  Sunday 7 April 2024– II Sunday of Easter- Divine Mercy Sunday (year B) Readings of the Mass: Act 4:32-35    Ps 117    1Jn 5:1-6    Jn 20:19-31 Key Verse to Meditate: Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20 :28). Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Lord, Today, we celebrate the eighth day of the Easter Octave, the second Sunday of Easter, or the feast of Divine Mercy. The Liturgy of the Word offers us a personal encounter with the risen Lord through the Apostle Thomas. Each year, the second Sunday of Easter presents the same Gospel, though the first two readings may vary. The Gospel reading serves as the culmination of the Easter Octave, setting the scene eight days after the resurrection. St. Thomas, rather than merely being known as the doubter, becomes the quintessential example of faith. He did not deny or betray but sought proof regarding the faith of those proclaiming Jesus' resurrection. Thus, Jesus appeared to him, strengthening Thomas in his fa