Prayer for Vocations Sunday

Prayer for Vocations Sunday

This Sunday, May 11, is World Day of Prayer for Vocations. I am asking for all of us to offer up our Prayers and also encourage those men and women in our lives to pursue their vocations. We need these holy examples in the world today. Sometimes a simple question of "Have you ever thought of a Vocation to the Priesthood or Religious Life", will spark an interest. Some may say that a person knows if it is there in them and I will say that maybe that was the case years ago when times were different. Times where it was the norm of families to have a Priest or Religious in their families. A time when a vocation to the religious life held more appeal then the might of the dollar. A time when there was less noise and gave people the time to listen to their hearts.  A time when church and faith was number one in the family's daily life. 

   Times are different and with that comes the need for prayers and encouragement. Offer those around you the idea of a life in the Church. Let them know that if that is what they want, and feel this is the life they desire, that you will support them in this choice. Believe me, knowing you have support is a blessing. Knowing that people are being positive and praying for you is a great aid in the discernment of a vocation. Ask questions. Encourage. Pray. 

    The Bishop of my dioceses, Trenton Dioceses, Bishop O'Connell wrote a message concerning World Day of Prayer for Vocations. It is inspiring and encouraging. To read this message click here. Also our Pope, Pope Francis has also written a message and is also inspiring and encouraging. To read Pope Francis message click here.  The Seminarians from the Dioceses of Raleigh have a video that is encouraging to watch and to view the video click here. Also from the Dioceses of Raleigh a video with the Bishop speaking about what this day is about and how we are all called to do to support these vocations. Please click here to view the video. 

      There are over forty prayers for vocation and they can be found by clicking here. Each of the prayers are from different perspectives. Some prayers are from a church, personal and family perspective. I ask from the bottom of my heart for each of us to use these prayers and share them with others. 

      I have shared a video about the Priesthood on the blog before but I again feel the need to post it because I know how it spoke to me and feel the importance of it again. So, even if you have seen it before check it out again and more importantly share it with others. To see the video click here. I have also come across a series of Seminarian's discussing their vocations stories. They are great short four - five minute stories of their lives. To check them out click here. 

      For myself looking for information and searching some videos really makes me see how prayers and support are so key to the discernment of a vocation. Yes, it comes from within and only you can decide in the end, yet knowing there is others praying for you makes things a bit easier. So, pray pray pray for people to follow their hearts desire and follow whatever the vocation is that comes from their heart. Thank You for all the prayers for vocations. 

Until tomorrow,God Bless, and may we all pray for and follow the vocation of our lives. 

Friday of the Third Week of Easter
Lectionary: 277

Reading 1

ACTS 9:1-20

Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,

went to the high priest and asked him

for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that,

if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,

he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. 

On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus,

a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. 

He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

He said, “Who are you, sir?” 

The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 

Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” 

The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,

for they heard the voice but could see no one.

Saul got up from the ground,

but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;

so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.

For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias,

and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” 

He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 

The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight

and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul.

He is there praying,

and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias

come in and lay his hands on him,

that he may regain his sight.”

But Ananias replied,

“Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man,

what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.

And here he has authority from the chief priests

to imprison all who call upon your name.” 

But the Lord said to him,

“Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine

to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel,

and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” 

So Ananias went and entered the house;

laying his hands on him, he said,

“Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me,

Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came,

that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 

Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes

and he regained his sight. 

He got up and was baptized,

and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.

He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus,

and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues,

that he is the Son of God.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 117:1BC, 2

R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Praise the LORD, all you nations;

glorify him, all you peoples!

R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

or:

R. Alleluia.

For steadfast is his kindness toward us,

and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.

R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Gospel

JN 6:52-59

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,

“How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?” 

Jesus said to them,

“Amen, amen, I say to you,

unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood,

you do not have life within you. 

Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood

has eternal life,

and I will raise him on the last day.

For my Flesh is true food,

and my Blood is true drink. 

Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood

remains in me and I in him.

Just as the living Father sent me

and I have life because of the Father,

so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 

This is the bread that came down from heaven. 

Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,

whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 

These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

The Examen

The Examen

   Tonight I attended a night of reflection and Father spoke of The Examen. The Examen is a prayer developed by St. Ignatius. It is reflected on at the end of the day and it involves 5 steps.  I have copied it below for you to consider. Also below is the readings for Thursday. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and may we always be able to reflect in the light of Jesus. 

The Examen of Consciousness

This is a prayer where we try to find the movement of the Spirit in our daily lives as we reflect on our day. This prayer can be made anywhere: on the beach, in a car, at home, in the library. Many people make the Examen twice daily: once around lunchtime and again before going to bed. There are five simple steps to the Examen, which should take 10-15 minutes to complete, and what follows is just one interpretation of these five steps in discerning the movement of God's Spirit in your day. Through this method of praying you can grow in a sense of self and the Source of self; you can become more sensitive to your own spirit with its longings, its powers, its Source; you will develop an openness to receive the supports that God offers. Read an article on the Examen by Fr. Mark Thibodeaux, S.J.

Before you start: Try to be in a place where you are least likely to be disturbed, and where there is the least amount of external noise. Perhaps you might light a candle or change the lighting when you pray to symbolise the start of this activity. Sit comfortably and still yourself; relax, be aware of your breathing, your body and how you are feeling.

1.   Recall that you are in the presence of God. No matter where you are, hilltop or valley, country or city, in a crowd or alone, you are a creature in the midst of creation. As you quiet yourself, become aware that God is present within you, in the creation that surrounds you, in your body, in those around you. The Creator who brought you forth into being is concerned for you. The Spirit of God, sent by Christ, will remind you that you are gifted to help bring creation to its fullness. Ask the Holy Spirit to let you look on all you see with love. "Love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous or boastful, it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; ... it does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in the right ... Love hopes all things." (1 Cor.)

2.   Spend a moment looking over your day with gratitude for this day's gifts. Be concrete and let special moments or pleasures spring to mind! Recall the smell of your morning coffee, the taste of something good that you ate, the laugh of a child, the fragrance of a flower, the smile brought forth by a kind word, a lesson that you learned. Take stock of what you received and what you gave. Give thanks to God for favors received. Also look at your permanent gifts that allow your participation in this day. Recall your particular strengths in times of difficulty, your ability to hope in times of weakness, your sense of humor and your life of faith, your intelligence and health, your family and friends. God the Father gives you these to draw you into the fullness of life. As you move through the details of your day, give thanks to God for His presence in the big and the small things of your life.

3.   Ask God to send you His Holy Spirit to help you look at your actions and attitudes and motives with honesty and patience. "When the Spirit of truth comes he will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13) The Holy Spirit inspires you to see with growing freedom the development of your life story. The Spirit gives a freedom to look upon yourself without condemnation and without complacency and thus be open to growth. Ask that you will learn and grow as you reflect, thus deepening your knowledge of self and your relationship with God.

4.   Now review your day. This is the longest of the steps. Recall the events of your day; explore the context of your actions. Search for the internal movements of your heart and your interaction with what was before you. Ask what you were involved in and who you were with, and review your hopes and hesitations. Many situations will show that your heart was divided—wavering between helping and disregarding, scoffing and encouraging, listening and ignoring, rebuking and forgiving, speaking and silence, neglecting and thanking. Remember, this is not a time to dwell on your shortcomings; rather, it is a gentle look with the Lord at how you have responded to God's gifts. It is an opportunity for growth of self and deepening your relationship with God. Notice where you acted freely—picking a particular course of action from the possibilities you saw. See where you were swept along without freedom. What reactions helped or hindered you? See where Christ entered your decisions and where you might have paused to receive His influence. "Test yourselves," St. Paul urges, "to see whether you are living in faith; examine yourselves. Perhaps you yourselves do not realize that Christ Jesus is in you." (2 Cor.) His influence comes through His people, the Body of Christ. His influence comes through Scripture, the Word of God. Now, as you pray, Christ's spirit will help you know His presence and concern. As you daily and prayerfully explore the mystery of yourself in the midst of your actions you will grow more familiar with your own spirit and become more aware of the promptings of God's Spirit within you. Allow God to speak, challenge, encourage and teach you. Thus you will come to know that Christ is with you. Christ will continually invite you to love your neighbor as yourself and strengthen you to do this.

5.   The final step is our heart-to-heart talk with Jesus. Here you speak with Jesus about your day. You share your thoughts on your actions, attitudes, feelings and interactions. Perhaps during this time you may feel led to seek forgiveness, ask for direction, share a concern, express gratitude, etc. Having reviewed this day of your life, look upon yourself with compassion and see your need for God and try to realize God's manifestations of concern for you. Express sorrow for sin, the obscuring darkness that surrounds us all, and especially ask forgiveness for the times you resisted God's light today. Give thanks for grace, the enlightening presence of God, and especially praise God for the times you responded in ways that allowed you to better see God's life. Resolve with Jesus to move forward in action where appropriate. You might like to finish your time with the Lords Prayer.

Once you've done the Examen a few times, you will find your own rhythm and method. Cover all five points daily with freedom to dwell more on one than another, as the Spirit moves you. You might also like to add some music, candles or images to help you pray. If you would like, you may download a copy of the Examen in the form of a bookmark from our website. It is in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format and is entitled "Praying the Jesuit Examination of Conscience."

Thursday of the Third Week of Easter
Lectionary: 276

Reading 1

ACTS 8:26-40

The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip,

“Get up and head south on the road

that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.” 

So he got up and set out. 

Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch,

a court official of the Candace,

that is, the queen of the Ethiopians,

in charge of her entire treasury,

who had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning home.

Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

The Spirit said to Philip,

“Go and join up with that chariot.” 

Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said,

“Do you understand what you are reading?” 

He replied,

“How can I, unless someone instructs me?” 

So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. 

This was the Scripture passage he was reading:

Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,

and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,

so he opened not his mouth.

In his humiliation justice was denied him.

Who will tell of his posterity?

For his life is taken from the earth.

Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply,

“I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this?

About himself, or about someone else?” 

Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture passage,

he proclaimed Jesus to him.

As they traveled along the road

they came to some water,

and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water. 

What is to prevent my being baptized?” 

Then he ordered the chariot to stop,

and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water,

and he baptized him. 

When they came out of the water,

the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away,

and the eunuch saw him no more,

but continued on his way rejoicing. 

Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news

to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 66:8-9, 16-17, 20

R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Bless our God, you peoples,

loudly sound his praise;

He has given life to our souls,

and has not let our feet slip.

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare

what he has done for me.

When I appealed to him in words,

praise was on the tip of my tongue.

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Blessed be God who refused me not

my prayer or his kindness!

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Gospel

JN 6:44-51

Jesus said to the crowds:

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,

and I will raise him on the last day.

It is written in the prophets:

They shall all be taught by God.

Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.

Not that anyone has seen the Father

except the one who is from God;

he has seen the Father. 

Amen, amen, I say to you,

whoever believes has eternal life. 

I am the bread of life. 

Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;

this is the bread that comes down from heaven

so that one may eat it and not die. 

I am the living bread that came down from heaven;

whoever eats this bread will live forever;

and the bread that I will give

is my Flesh for the life of the world.”

Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter Lectionary: 275

Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter

Lectionary: 275

Reading 1

ACTS 8:1B-8

There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem,

and all were scattered

throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria,

except the Apostles.

Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.

Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church;

entering house after house and dragging out men and women,

he handed them over for imprisonment.

Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria

and proclaimed the Christ to them.

With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip

when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.

For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,

came out of many possessed people,

and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.

There was great joy in that city.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 66:1-3A, 4-5, 6-7A

R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,

sing praise to the glory of his name;

proclaim his glorious praise.

Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!”

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

or:

R. Alleluia.

“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,

sing praise to your name!”

Come and see the works of God,

his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

or:

R. Alleluia.

He has changed the sea into dry land;

through the river they passed on foot;

therefore let us rejoice in him.

He rules by his might forever.

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Gospel

JN 6:35-40

Jesus said to the crowds,

“I am the bread of life;

whoever comes to me will never hunger,

and whoever believes in me will never thirst.

But I told you that although you have seen me,

you do not believe.

Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,

and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,

because I came down from heaven not to do my own will

but the will of the one who sent me.

And this is the will of the one who sent me,

that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,

but that I should raise it on the last day.

For this is the will of my Father,

that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him

may have eternal life,

and I shall raise him on the last day.”

Mary & Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter Lectionary: 274

Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter

Lectionary: 274

Reading 1

ACTS 7:51-8:1A

Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes:

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears,

you always oppose the Holy Spirit;

you are just like your ancestors.

Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute?

They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one,

whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.

You received the law as transmitted by angels,

but you did not observe it.”

When they heard this, they were infuriated,

and they ground their teeth at him.

But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit,

looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God

and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,

and Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened

and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

But they cried out in a loud voice,

covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.

They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.

The witnesses laid down their cloaks

at the feet of a young man named Saul. 

As they were stoning Stephen, he called out,

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice,

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them”;

and when he said this, he fell asleep.

Now Saul was consenting to his execution.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 31:3CD-4, 6 AND 7B AND 8A, 17 AND 21AB

R. (6a) Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Be my rock of refuge,

a stronghold to give me safety.

You are my rock and my fortress;

for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me.

R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Into your hands I commend my spirit;

you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.

My trust is in the LORD;

I will rejoice and be glad of your mercy.

R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Let your face shine upon your servant;

save me in your kindness.

You hide them in the shelter of your presence

from the plottings of men.

R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Gospel

JN 6:30-35

The crowd said to Jesus:

“What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?

What can you do?

Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:

He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”

So Jesus said to them,

“Amen, amen, I say to you,

it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven;

my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 

For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven

and gives life to the world.”

So they said to Jesus,

“Sir, give us this bread always.” 

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life;

whoever comes to me will never hunger,

and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

Open Letter

Open Letter

 I sat down tonight to write about Grace, then decided since that did not seem right for tonight then about the weekend with the Benedictine Monks but again that was not feeling right so I started this open letter to anyone’s life that has come into contact with mine whether it be for a short time, a while or is on going. 

Open Letter to All who crossed My Life’s Path,

     This letter is to anyone who’s life crossed mine, wether it was only for a short time, a extended time, or still in the process. I am writing this because over the past few months, I have come to a realization of my life. Where I was, Where I am and Where I am going. Each of those “Where’s” have people and will have people that have influenced me in one way or another. Some for the better and some for the worse. Even my influences on people around me where I may not have even realized. 

      The best place to start is “Thank You”. Thank you for all who have crossed my path. Without you all my life would not be the way it is now. I am not only Thanking those who have had positive influences but those who taught me lessons that I needed to learn. Sometimes it does take pain and sorrow to learn and become stronger for the next phase of life and without those people who, at the time, I felt wronged me or had a negative impact on my life have taught me something. I tend to be stubborned and need that hard hit at times so I can learn and move. Sometimes that hit caused me to fall and land on my knees in prayer and I know that is where I needed to be. I also think that is when God wanted me to call out to Him and seek Him when I was away from Him. Yet, it is not easy to Thank those who have hurt you or was not the best influence. But, I still must Thank You because I am stronger and can handle life much better because of you.

     For those people who have been a small or great influence on my life, I Thank You. Thank you for teaching me life lessons, morals, kindness, love, caring, sympathy, joy, etc...Thank You for teaching me how to get back up, how to wipe away a tear, how to stand tall, how to kick the dust off and to be strong. Without you all my life would not be what it is today. For whatever reasons that God had our paths cross, I Thank Him for it. I pray that no matter where you are right now, in or out of my life, that God will watch over you and care for you on your path. If your time here has ended I pray for your soul and the journey to Heaven. 

       The next place is to say “Sorry”. Sorry to all those who have crossed my path and who were hurt because of it. I am sorry for all the pain, sorrow, hurt, tears, questioning, sadness, etc... I am sorry for not being the person that God wanted me to be to you. Sorry for not being Christ’s Light in your life. Sorry for not listening to the Holy Spirit and changing my actions and words that caused you the pain and tears. Sorry that my actions have not always reflected the teachings and life of Jesus and my Faith. Sorry that I took joy, peace, strength, understanding from your lives and replaced it with pain. Sorry for pulling back my hand instead of reaching out to help. Sorry for closing my eyes to your suffering. Sorry for turning my head from your face in need. Sorry for turning a deaf ear to your calls. Sorry for sitting down and not standing up for you. Sorry for anything I have done or failed to do. 

      I am asking for your forgiveness for all the wrongs I have done or failed to do to each and everyone of you. I know I am not deserving of it because of my actions or words. I will continue to pray for all of you who I have hurt in my life and that God will continue to watch over you in this life and the next. 

      Where my life is now and the direction it is heading is in part due to all of you who have crossed my path. Wether it is “Thank You” , “Sorry”  or both that I must express to you, know that I will be forever changed because of you. God has a plan for each of us and sometimes He needs to use us to get another to where we are to be and for that I am grateful. 

      God Bless,

     Jim Harmon

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and my we all know the path we have taken to get where we are and those who were on it. 

Monday of the Third Week of Easter
Lectionary: 273

Reading 1

ACTS 6:8-15

Stephen, filled with grace and power,

was working great wonders and signs among the people.

Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,

Cyreneans, and Alexandrians,

and people from Cilicia and Asia,

came forward and debated with Stephen,

but they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

Then they instigated some men to say,

“We have heard him speaking blasphemous words

against Moses and God.”

They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes,

accosted him, seized him,

and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

They presented false witnesses who testified,

“This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law.

For we have heard him claim

that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place

and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”

All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him

and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30

R. (1ab) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

or:

R. Alleluia.

Though princes meet and talk against me,

your servant meditates on your statutes.

Yes, your decrees are my delight;

they are my counselors.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

or:

R. Alleluia.

I declared my ways, and you answered me;

teach me your statutes.

Make me understand the way of your precepts,

and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

or:

R. Alleluia.

Remove from me the way of falsehood,

and favor me with your law.

The way of truth I have chosen;

I have set your ordinances before me.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

or:

R. Alleluia.

Gospel

JN 6:22-29

[After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.]

The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea

saw that there had been only one boat there,

and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat,

but only his disciples had left.

Other boats came from Tiberias

near the place where they had eaten the bread

when the Lord gave thanks.

When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there,

they themselves got into boats

and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

And when they found him across the sea they said to him,

“Rabbi, when did you get here?”

Jesus answered them and said,

“Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me

not because you saw signs

but because you ate the loaves and were filled.

Do not work for food that perishes

but for the food that endures for eternal life,

which the Son of Man will give you. 

For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” 

So they said to him,

“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”

Jesus answered and said to them,

“This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”

Third Sunday of Easter Lectionary: 46

Third Sunday of Easter

Lectionary: 46

Reading 1

ACTS 2:14, 22-33

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven,

raised his voice, and proclaimed:

“You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem.

Let this be known to you, and listen to my words.

You who are Israelites, hear these words.

Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God

with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs,

which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.

This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God,

you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.

But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death,

because it was impossible for him to be held by it.

For David says of him:

I saw the Lord ever before me,

with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted;

my flesh, too, will dwell in hope, 

because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,

nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.

You have made known to me the paths of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence.

“My brothers, one can confidently say to you

about the patriarch David that he died and was buried,

and his tomb is in our midst to this day.

But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him

that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne,

he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,

that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld

nor did his flesh see corruption.

God raised this Jesus;

of this we are all witnesses.

Exalted at the right hand of God,

he received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father

and poured him forth, as you see and hear.”

Responsorial Psalm

PS 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

R/ (11a) Lord, you will show us the path of life.

or:

R/ Alleluia.

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;

I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”

O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,

you it is who hold fast my lot.

R/ Lord, you will show us the path of life.

or:

R/ Alleluia.

I bless the LORD who counsels me;

even in the night my heart exhorts me.

I set the LORD ever before me;

with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

R/ Lord, you will show us the path of life.

or:

R/ Alleluia.

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, 

my body, too, abides in confidence;

because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,

nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.

R/ Lord, you will show us the path of life.

or:

R/ Alleluia.

You will show me the path to life,

abounding joy in your presence,

the delights at your right hand forever.

R/ Lord, you will show us the path of life.

or:

R/ Alleluia.

Reading 2

1 PT 1:17-21

Beloved:

If you invoke as Father him who judges impartially

according to each one’s works,

conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning,

realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct,

handed on by your ancestors,

not with perishable things like silver or gold

but with the precious blood of Christ

as of a spotless unblemished lamb.

He was known before the foundation of the world 

but revealed in the final time for you,

who through him believe in God

who raised him from the dead and gave him glory,

so that your faith and hope are in God.

Gospel

LK 24:13-35

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.

He asked them, 

“What are you discussing as you walk along?”

They stopped, looking downcast.

One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply,

“Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem

who does not know of the things

that have taken place there in these days?”

And he replied to them, “What sort of things?”

They said to him, 

“The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene,

who was a prophet mighty in deed and word

before God and all the people,

how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over

to a sentence of death and crucified him.

But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel;

and besides all this,

it is now the third day since this took place.

Some women from our group, however, have astounded us:

they were at the tomb early in the morning 

and did not find his body;

they came back and reported

that they had indeed seen a vision of angels

who announced that he was alive.

Then some of those with us went to the tomb

and found things just as the women had described,

but him they did not see.”

And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are!

How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!

Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things

and enter into his glory?”

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets,

he interpreted to them what referred to him

in all the Scriptures.

As they approached the village to which they were going,

he gave the impression that he was going on farther.

But they urged him, “Stay with us,

for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.”

So he went in to stay with them.

And it happened that, while he was with them at table,

he took bread, said the blessing,

broke it, and gave it to them.

With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him,

but he vanished from their sight.

Then they said to each other,

“Were not our hearts burning within us

while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?”

So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem

where they found gathered together

the eleven and those with them who were saying,

“The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!”

Then the two recounted 

what had taken place on the way

and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

Month of Mary

Month of Mary

 Blessings, to all. I want to first Thank all of you who have kept my friends mother / mother in law, Patricia Morgan, in your prayers as well as her family. It is always hard to lose someone you love and when we live this life in Christ, knowing people are praying, helps us carry that Cross of Sorrow and Hurt. 

   With this being May, and the Crowing of Mary happening, I want to share some images of Mary from time to time. Some we may have seen and others may be new. I started with this one because I loved the look on Mary's face. Her eyes closed and just looking down at her Son, our Savior. To me, I see this as a capture of Mary in prayer. She looks down at her Son and knowing who He is, closes her eyes and prays for the path He is destined to take. What do you see in the picture? Please share any photo's of Mary that speak to you as well.

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and may this month of Mary bring us closer to Mary and her Son.

Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 271

Reading 1

ACTS 5:34-42

A Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel,

a teacher of the law, respected by all the people,

stood up, ordered the Apostles to be put outside for a short time,

and said to the Sanhedrin, “Fellow children of Israel,

be careful what you are about to do to these men.

Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important,

and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed,

and all those who were loyal to him

were disbanded and came to nothing.

After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census.

He also drew people after him,

but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered.

So now I tell you,

have nothing to do with these men, and let them go.

For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin,

it will destroy itself.

But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them;

you may even find yourselves fighting against God.”

They were persuaded by him.

After recalling the Apostles, they had them flogged,

ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus,

and dismissed them.

So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin,

rejoicing that they had been found worthy

to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.

And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes,

they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Christ, Jesus.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 27:1, 4, 13-14

R. (see 4abc) One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom should I fear?

The LORD is my life’s refuge;

of whom should I be afraid?

R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

One thing I ask of the LORD

this I seek:

To dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD

and contemplate his temple.

R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD

in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD with courage;

be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.

R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Gospel

JN 6:1-15

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.

A large crowd followed him,

because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.

Jesus went up on the mountain,

and there he sat down with his disciples. 

The Jewish feast of Passover was near.

When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,

he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”

He said this to test him,

because he himself knew what he was going to do.

Philip answered him,

“Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough

for each of them to have a little.”

One of his disciples,

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,

“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;

but what good are these for so many?”

Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” 

Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. 

So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.

Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,

and distributed them to those who were reclining,

and also as much of the fish as they wanted.

When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,

“Gather the fragments left over,

so that nothing will be wasted.”

So they collected them,

and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments

from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.

When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,

“This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” 

Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off

to make him king,

he withdrew again to the mountain alone.