The Blood of Christ The celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is so important that the Church dedicates eight days of recognition. What that means is that the seven days following Easter Sunday are observed with the same solemnity as on Sunday. On Sunday, our reflections focused on the monumental act of Jesus destroying … Continue reading The Octave of Easter
Tag: Resurrection
Easter Sunday
Early in the Morning on the First Day "It was early in the morning, on the first day of the week, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw the stone removed from the tomb." Early in the morning, the heavens radiate bright colors, the orange warmth of God's presence peeking into view. … Continue reading Easter Sunday
Surely there will be a Stench
Fifth Sunday of Lent-A On the Sunday before we enter into Holy Week, a week uniquely dedicated to the recollection of Jesus’ passion and death, St. John tells us his third and final story of faith and adoration of God. Two weeks ago, we were taken to the water well in Sychar, close to Jerusalem, … Continue reading Surely there will be a Stench
Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe
On the last Sunday of the liturgical year, the Church focuses on Jesus as the King of the Universe. The feast asserts that Christ, through his obedience to the Father’s will by giving his life, is a king who rules over an eternal and universal kingdom. A kingdom of truth and life; a kingdom of … Continue reading Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe
My Peace I Leave You
Sixth Sunday of Easter-C We are at the time in the liturgical calendar when the Easter season ends. Forty days after the Resurrection, our Lord ascended into heaven and sits at the Father's right hand. In a few dioceses, the feast is celebrated exactly forty days after, on Thursday of next week. Most, however, will … Continue reading My Peace I Leave You
Do You Love Me?
Third Sunday of Easter-C The Gospel for the third Sunday of Easter is from John and repeats what was heard during the Easter Octave. The story is about a post-resurrection event when Jesus ventures to the Sea of Galilee and meets his disciples fishing. Near dawn, Jesus calls out to the fishermen and asks whether … Continue reading Do You Love Me?
The World’s First Selfie
The Shroud of Turin St. Paul argues in 1 Corinthians that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important doctrine of Christianity, and without this fundamental belief, our faith is without merit. He states: But if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some among you say there is no resurrection … Continue reading The World’s First Selfie
My Lord and My God, I Trust in You
Divine Mercy Sunday-C The Sunday after Easter is the last day of the Octave and is known for the significant event of Thomas’ doubt, and more recently, for God’s Divine Mercy. The Gospel passage from St. John reveals how incredulous Jesus’s disciples were about the news that he rose from the dead, specifically about Thomas’s … Continue reading My Lord and My God, I Trust in You
Easter Is More than One Day
Easter Octave Readings Are About Eyewitness Resurrection Accounts Most Catholics know Easter Sunday is the high point of the liturgical year, but they may be less aware that the Church celebrates the feast for eight days, which is known as the Octave of Easter. The recollection of the momentous event of Jesus destroying death by … Continue reading Easter Is More than One Day
The Tomb is Empty: Christ is Risen!
God So Loved the World Christ is Risen! These three profound words are the source of all Christian belief. Everything we need to know about God is encapsulated in the faithful declaration. The devil's grip has been broken, and we have been emancipated from the hopelessness of the false promises of the prince of darkness. … Continue reading The Tomb is Empty: Christ is Risen!