Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes… – Acts 2:46

       At Coron, Palawan, we were going home late in the afternoon from Kayangan Lake, the most serene place I have ever been to. On our way back, another group wanted to view the lake, but the island’s indigenous caretakers prevented them from going up the lake. They said that the birds were already sleeping and should not be disturbed. They said that has been their way to preserve the ecosystem. Their ancestors left them with good footprints to follow.

       The Holy Mass is one footprint that Jesus left for us to appreciate. Try this prescription from Fr. Bob McConaghy:

       • As the priest marches toward the altar, spot a person you feel the Holy Spirit tells you to pray for;

       • As the priest kisses the relic at the altar table, choose a saint to help you intercede.

       A tradition like the Mass is very beautiful. It is beautiful because the feet that made the footprints are beautiful. Rolly España (rollyespana53@gmail.com)

Reflection: Grace will flow out of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Mercy beyond what is needed will follow.

Father, Your grace is sufficient for me. I boast only of Your goodness and love.

St. George, martyr, patron of England, pray for us.

Today’s reading describes the spirit of sharing and brotherhood in the Early Church. Members of new communities have a strong allegiance to one another but this mellows over time. This lessens the intensity of the community experience.

42 They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

R: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.

2 Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron say, “His mercy endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the Lord say, “His mercy endures forever.” (R) 13 I was hard pressed and was falling, but the Lord helped me. 14 My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior. 15 The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just. (R) 22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. 24 This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. (R)

We are called to be men and women of the “living hope.” We are meant to bring hope in a world that is badly in need of the Good News. Things have worsened over the years and this causes people to become depressed and have a negative outlook. As Christians, we have received the Good News of salvation. We should always be joyful and full of hope – hope in Christ, hope in the Gospel and hope in the promises of God.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you 5 who by the power of God are  safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. 6 In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Thomas was not around when Jesus appeared to the other Apostles. It is interesting to note that there is no further mention of his “doubt” in the Scriptures. This probably means that God does not keep account of our doubts. Let us remember this in our relationships with others – there is no room for remembering the wrong deeds of the past.

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are they who have not seen me, but still believe!

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” 24 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” 30 Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

think: Where could you use Jesus’ “peace” right now?

Read the Bible in one year Numbers 7-9

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

NEW BIRTH TO A LIVING HOPE

Gerard Manley Hopkins, the priest and poet, immortalized the deaths of a group of five Franciscan nuns and companions in the poem, “The Wreck of the Deutchsland.” Prior to their deaths, when the SS Deutschland got entangled in a sandbar in the middle of a swirling snowstorm at the mouth of the Thames River, “hope was growing grey hairs,” and the chance of them getting out of the ordeal alive was getting slimmer as time passed.

       The emerging hero of the passionate ode was a towering nun: “Till a lioness arose breasting the babble, a prophetess towered in the tumult, a virginal tongue told.” They were exiled from Bremen and were being deported to the USA. “Rhine refused them, Thames would ruin them.” The tall nun took up the cudgels of leadership, even as “hope had mourning on.” But more than that, she took off into wings of prayer crying: “O Christ, Christ, come quickly!”

       More than a quarter of those who suffered the shipwreck perished, including the five Franciscan nuns. It happened on the eve of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. A horrific and heart-rending story, but also heart-uplifting and faith-ennobling. It was a drama in real time that took 12 hours of agony while they awaited certain death, with no one able or willing to help them.

     The tragedy of death so close and so certain, a drama of the mystery of undeserved suffering, became for Hopkins and for many others who witnessed it helplessly an opportunity to see the “new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

       There are problems in life that have no resolution. Sorrow and joy are two sides of the same coin. The reality of human sinfulness that brought the Lord to His crucifixion and death shows no rhyme nor rhythm, and no logical syllogism can ever explain away the mystery of why bad things happen to good people.

         Facing the Risen Lord, wounds and all, Thomas said it best: “My Lord and my God!” Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION -----------

Have you ever been in a life and death situation? 

“Lord, You know all things. Lord, You can do all things. And Lord, You love me very much.” (from the Prayer that says it all)