During this season of Easter, we are treated to two sets of readings. Both are taken from the New Testament, and both have decidedly different approaches to telling us the Good News.  Luke’s Acts of the Apostles is volume two (the first being his …

In yesterday’s first reading (Acts 13:26-33) Paul continued his discourse begun on Thursday on salvation history and on how Jesus was handed over by the leaders of his people into the hands of the Romans for execution.  He addressed his words both to the …

Uncertainties and the unknown are a messy part of our everyday lives: Will my children find jobs in their new locations?   Will I be able to handle my aging parent’s debilitating disease?  Should I accept a new position?  What major should I declare …

Had not yesterday been the Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle, we would have heard about the beginnings of the First Missionary Journey.  In yesterday’s readings we would have learned that Barnabas (representing the Church of Jerusalem) led the missionaries, with Paul and John Mark …

I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. (John 12: 46) Light and darkness, sight and blindness, these are powerful images. In Jesus’ time, other than fire light, candles, or oil lamps, the …

In the past weeks, Acts has shown us the followers of Jesus beginning to take that which they have received and giving it to the entire world. First, we see Bachos, the Ethiopian eunuch, not welcomed at the Temple in Jerusalem, returning to his …

We have now entered a momentous part of Acts that describes the inauguration of the mission to the Gentiles (Acts 11:1-18).  It may not seem a big deal to us, but it involved a radical change in thinking for the first Christians who were …

Today, the fourth Sunday of Easter, called “Good Shepherd Sunday”, the subject of today’s Gospel.   It is also known as “Vocations Sunday”, a day when our Church prays for new shepherds and pastors to lead our Christian communities. In some parts of the …

The first reading for today (Acts 9:31-42) talks about the baby church taking its first baby steps and about its early growth. The focus is on Jesus and the growth that comes from the Holy Spirit. The baby Christians are called “holy ones” and …

We Have a New Pope! Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, May 8, 2025, becoming the first pope from the United States.  Smiling and waving while wearing more traditional papal garments than his predecessor, and appearing to hold back …