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Daily Reflections

Daily Scripture, May 13, 2025

Scripture:

Acts 11:19-26
John 10:22-30

Reflection:

One of my favorite things about the Easter season is that we are treated daily to reading from the Acts of the Apostles. The rich history of Christianity’s early beginnings, the ups and downs, the challenges and the triumphs are all proclaimed as one seamless story whose common thread is the presence of the “hand of the Lord was with them” (v.21) and the people “full of the Spirit and of faith” (v.24). We see this especially in today’s reading which highlight the scattering out from Jerusalem into the Mediterranean—Greek speaking—world of the early Christians escaping the “affliction” (or persecution) following the martyrdom of Stephen. With the original intention to preach only to the Jews, we read about the good news proclaimed also to the Greeks.

In reading between the lines, one can intuit the spread of God’s word didn’t move exactly as they had planned. As believers, we know that no one can predict the movement of the Spirit, especially in the presence of openness of mind and heart. Our God of surprises, who ignites a flame of faith wherever it falls, makes this possible. We can all be grateful and celebrate the wisdom of the early Christian communities who, guided by the Spirit, wrestled with this notion of inclusion of the “Greeks”—a term applied to anyone outside the Jewish world. Today, that means us!

The text tells of a “considerable number of believers (who) turned to the Lord” (21b) and is juxtaposed against the Gospel where Jesus is challenged by unbelieving “Jews,” and has his good works called into question. Again, Jesus states that true believers hear his voice and are known by him. As believers, we follow and belong to him.

Another thing I love about this time of year is the considerable number of (young) believers preparing to receive their First Holy Communion. Last Saturday, our granddaughter was one of those excited children. She and her classmates were all smiles as they lined up to process into the Church. Their special day had finally arrived, and joy reigned supreme as the liturgy began. I offered a silent prayer of thanksgiving to those early Christians who, through the guidance of the Spirit, had brought us to this moment.

When the time came for Holy Communion, as Eucharistic Ministers, my husband and I were privileged to watch each child come up one-by-one to receive Jesus in the Eucharist from our pastor. The moment felt very sacred and personal, a new beginning in their young lives. Jesus’ words from today’s Gospel came to mind, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of my Father’s hands” (v29), and I prayed that these precious children would always be safe in the hands of the Father.

Jesus’ radical words, that almost had him stoned (in v.31 that follows today’s text), as he restates, “The Father and I are one” (v.30). Can we believe that we are swept up mystically in this unity! May we never doubt that we belong to the Good Shepherd. Amen. Alleluia!

Jean Bowler is a member of the Ministry Team at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California.

Daily Scripture, November 27, 2009

Scripture: Daniel 7:2-14 Luke 21:29-33 Reflection: These are strange times.  The world is suffering.  I’m certainly not going to try and dissect the economic and political reasons for why our country » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 26, 2009

Scripture: Daniel 6:12-28 Luke 21:20-28 Reflection: Today in America we celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving.  Family and friends gather from near or far to spend time with each other and » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 24, 2009

Scripture: Daniel 2:31-45 Luke 21:5-11 Reflection: "Watch at all times!" Luke 21:36.   Jesus often in the Gospel warned us to keep alert.   There are many stories in history about people » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 21, 2009

Presentation of Mary in the Temple Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 Luke 1:26-38 Reflection: This liturgical memorial, with somewhat ambivalent origins in the bible, and a corresponding modest place in our liturgy, » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 19, 2009

Scripture: 1 Maccabees 2:15-29 Luke 19:41-44 Reflection: "As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it. . ." (Luke 19:41)   Life is full of disappointments. » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 18, 2009

Scripture: 2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31  Luke 19: 11-28 Reflection: The role of the mother in the first reading from the Book of Maccabees’ opened up a flood of memories from » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 14, 2009

Scripture: Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9 Luke 18:1-8 Reflection: Today’s Gospel leaves us with a question that surely crosses the minds of us all at one time or another: "But when the » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 13, 2009

Scripture: Wisdom 13:1-9 Luke 17:26-37 Reflection: The beaches and waterfalls of Hawaii, the snow-capped Rocky Mountains, the fjords of Norway…..all of these are places of great natural beauty.  Perhaps your » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 12, 2009

Scripture: Wisdom 7:22b-8:1 Luke 17:20-25 Reflection: Many people in India wear a colorful dot on their foreheads. This location, between the eyebrows, is known by various names such as the » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 11, 2009

Feast of Saint Martin of Tours Veterans Day   Scripture: Wisdom 6:1-11 Luke 7:11-19   Reflection: November 11 was originally proclaimed Armistice Day, from the armistice that ended hostilities in » Continue Reading.

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