Saints + Scripture: Pascha

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '20.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter four, verses thirty-two thru thirty-seven;
Psalm Ninety-three (R/. one[a]; or, "Alleluia"), verses one(a/b), one(c/d) & two, & five;
The Gospel according to John, chapter three, verses seven(b) thru fifteen.

Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus declares that he must be lifted up to bring eternal life to believers.

Why would God’s salvation of the human race have to include something as horrifying as crucifixion? We live in a time when the human predicament is regularly denied, explained away, or ignored. Despite the massive counter-evidence from the moral disasters of the last century, we are still beguiled by the myth of progress: with just enough technical advancement, psychological insight, and personal liberation, we will solve our problems.

But with this sort of stupidity and superficiality the Bible has no truck. The scriptural authors understand sin not so much as a series of acts but as a condition in which we are stuck, something akin to an addiction or a contagious disease. No amount of merely human effort could possibly solve the problem.

With this biblical realism in mind, we can begin to comprehend why the Crucifixion of the Son of God was necessary. The just rapport between God and human beings could not be reestablished either through our moral effort or with simply a word of forgiveness. Something had to be done—and God alone could do it.

Video reflection by Father John M. McKenzie (U.S. Conf. of Catholic Bishops): Easter Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Easter Reflection.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Every believer ought to be an active member of the Church. Every Catholic lay person is invested with the right & the duty to work in order to testify to & spread the Kingdom of God."
—Pope Saint Paul VI (1897-1978, r. 1963-1978; feast: 29 May)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell fear the name & protection of Mary."
—Saint Bonaventure, O.F.M., Doctor of the Church (1221-1274, feast: 15 July)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"I can't bear being photographed, but I make use of everything for the glory of God. When I allow a person to take a photograph, I tell Jesus to take one soul out of Purgatory & into Heaven."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Physical idelness deteriorates the mind; spiritual idelness deteriorates the heart."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)