Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday within the Octave of Easter
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter three, verses one thru ten;
Psalm One Hundred Five, verses one & two, three & four, six & seven, & eight & nine;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-four, verses thirteen thru thirty-five.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus enlightens the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Have you ever tried to solve a puzzle and then were surprised when the various pieces suddenly fell into place? Well, this is what happens to these disciples as Jesus begins to speak: "How slow you are to believe all that the prophets have announced! Did not the Messiah have to undergo all this so as to enter into his glory?" The whole of Christianity is hanging here in the balance.Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The disciples didn’t get it at first. They didn’t get the secret, the mystery, the key, the pattern. And what was that? God’s self-emptying love, even unto death. God’s act of taking upon himself the sins of the world in order to take them away, the mystery of redemption through suffering.
Jesus explains this first, with reference to the prophets; but then, he makes it as vividly present to them as he can: "He took the bread, pronounced the blessing, then broke the bread and began to distribute it to them." And that’s when the piece fell into place—that’s when the puzzle was solved. The Eucharist made present this love unto death, this love that is more powerful than sin and death. The Eucharist is the key.
†
Otherwise, 4 April would be the festival of Saint Zosimus of Palestine, Religious (circa 460-560): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Wayback Machine. 'Tis through St. Zosimus that we know of St. Mary of Egypt [1 April].
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Isidore of Seville, Bishop & Doctor of the Church (circa 560-636), who convened the Fourth Council of Toledo, labeled by some the last of the Church Fathers: Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Council; Wikipedia-link Fathers & Wikipedia-link Doctors.
Commentary: Brother of Ss. Leander of Seville [13 March], Fulgentius of Cartagena [14 January], & Florentina of Cartagena [20 June].
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Benedict the Moor, Religious, O.F.M. (1526-1589; A.K.A. the Black, the African): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Gaetano Catanoso, Priest (1879-1963, Anglicized as Cajetan Catanoso): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Papal Quote o' the Day
"Faith in the Resurrection of Jesus says that there is a future for every human being; the cry for unending life which is a part of the person is indeed answered."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope emeritus Benedict XVI (born 1927, reigned 2005-2013)
"How quickly life passes!… Soon we shall all be reunited in heaven. I love these words of the psalms very much: 'A thousand years in the eyes of the Lord are like yesterday that has already passed.'"Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"The Cross had asked the questions; the Resurrection had answered them… The Cross had asked: 'Why does God permit evil & sin to nail Jesus to a tree?'The Resurrection answered: 'That sin, having done its worst, might exhaust itself & thus be overcome by Love that is stronger than either sin or death.'"
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
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