Daily Scripture, April 24, 2025
Scripture:
Reflection:
The Easter Octave: “Peace Be With You…”
In almost all his Resurrection appearances, Jesus greets his disciples with “peace.” He seems eager to dispel any fear in their hearts…and when you think about it, without faith we humans have reason to fear. Illness, injustice, economic uncertainty, loneliness, violence, hunger, etc.: realities all too common in today’s world, just as they were in the time of Jesus.
The risen Jesus shows us that we have no reason to fear either the present or the future. In His life, death, and resurrection, He triumphed over sin and death. In his life-long ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing, Jesus revealed that He has fulfilled the promises God made throughout Old Testament times. Such was the point St. Peter wanted to make in his sermon to the crowd in Solomon’s Portico that is our first reading today. We in the 21st Century can thus be confident that both we and our world are in the loving hands of God…there’s no reason to fear…have faith!
Jesus’ words “Peace be with you” to His early disciples are not an empty, casual greeting. They express the great gift of God’s “shalom” which can dissipate all fear from our lives and embolden us to witness in word and deed God’s unconditional love for our needy world. Are we women and men of Jesus’ peace? Do we radiate that Christ-centered peace in the 1,001 details of modern life…at times with our lips, often with our lives?
As 21st Century Easter People, “alleluia” is our song; Jesus’ gift of peace adds a richness to that song which invites the world to sing along. As the words to an old soft drink advertisement stated: Let’s teach the world to sing…
Fr. John Schork, C.P. serves as the Province Vocation Director and also as Local Superior of the Passionist Community of Holy Name in Houston, Texas.
Feast of St. Matthew Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 Matthew 9:9-13 Reflection: Accountants and auditors don’t sound like very exciting people. Nor do tax collectors. They seem to be the self-effacing » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-49 Luke 8:4-15 Reflection: "I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living. "(Ps. 56:14) The apostle Paul certainly was on » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 Luke 8:1-3 Reflection: When reading this section of St. Paul’s letter to Timothy, a memory of years gone by when I was working as an assistant » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Amos 8:4-7 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Luke 16:1-13 or 16:10-13 Reflection: "The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones." -Luke 16:10 It » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Luke 7:36-50 Reflection: What must it have been like in Jesus’ time to be "the sinful woman?" Can you imagine how painful it must have been to » Continue Reading.
Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows Scripture: Hebrews 5: 7-9 Psalm 31 Stabat Mater John 15: 25-27 or Luke 2: 23-35 Reflection: Once again the Church gives us » Continue Reading.
Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross Scripture: Numbers 21:4b-9 Philemon 2:6-11 John 3:13-17 Reflection: On this feast of the Holy Cross we are once again invited » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-32 or 15:1-10 Reflection: In Sunday’s Gospel reading from Luke (15:1-32), we hear Jesus tell three famous parables: ""The Lost Sheep," "The » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 Luke 6:43-49 Reflection: The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 1Corinthians 8:1b-7, 11-13 Luke 6:27-38 Reflection: It is exactly 400 years since Peter Claver, SJ arrived at his mission assignment in Cartagena, Columbia in 1610. His discernment to » Continue Reading.