St Margaret Roman Catholic Church

Saint Bernardine of Siena, Priest (Optional Memorial)

He will . . . remind you of all that I told you. (John 14:26)

Have you ever visited a national monument or museum? These structures and exhibits are there for a reason: to remind us. They might commemorate the work of great inventors or heroic leaders, the service of veterans, or historic movements. But more than that, they embody a country’s character, dreams, and aspirations.

Scripture tells us that Israel built monuments too. When the people crossed the Jordan and entered the Promised Land, God told them to set up twelve memorial stones (Joshua 4). He knew that they would need a reminder of the miracles that brought them out of Egypt and through the wilderness into safety.

We do something similar. Statues, rosaries, mosaics, and stained glass windows in our churches and cathedrals are physical reminders of God’s work in our spiritual history. They remind us of God’s faithfulness, and they help us to stay faithful. As baptized Christians, though, we have something even more powerful than physical monuments. We have the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised would be our own personal reminder of all that he had said and done.

God knows that when life gets tough, we might need a reminder of his great love. Or we might make a big mistake and need the reassurance of his forgiveness, not just once, but many times. In moments like these, the Holy Spirit is there to comfort us and redirect us.

How does he do this? Well, his reminders don’t usually come as a thundering voice in the heavens. More often, they come in very quiet and simple ways—through a comforting Scripture passage that you hear at Mass, through a favorite hymn, or through a hug from a friend that assures you of how much Jesus cares for you. Any time you feel a nudge to remember what God has done in your life, it is probably the Spirit offering you his grace, power, and comfort.

Today let’s thank the Holy Spirit for being our faithful reminder. Let’s thank him that his reminders are more than thoughts that come to mind. They also carry fresh grace to help us move forward. We can depend on God’s love and mercy, no matter what.

“Holy Spirit, be my reminder. Help me to remember all that Jesus has done for me.”

Acts 14:5-18
Psalm 115:1-4, 15-16

5th Sunday of Easter

Love . . . one another. (John 13:34)

That seems pretty easy, doesn’t it? Be nice, take care of the people you’re close to, maybe give some money to the poor. But is this all that Jesus means? Or does he have a different idea? Let’s look at the context of this command to get some idea.

Jesus has just washed his disciples’ feet, and Judas has left on his mission to betray him. Jesus knows he will not be with his friends much longer as the cross begins to loom large in his mind. So when he tells his disciples to love one another as he loved them, he is calling them to a love that mirrors his own love—a love that is selfless and sacrificial, a love that flows from God’s unconditional love for each person on earth.

This way of loving would set apart Jesus’ followers because it is so different from the way most people think of love. Jesus’ love washed the feet of his betrayer. It forgave those who nailed him to the cross. It reached across cultural lines to embrace Samaritans and Gentiles. It extended healing to the marginalized and political rivals.

It’s this kind of love that won people over in the first century: they saw believers caring for outcasts like widows and orphans and holding their possessions in common. But it has also won people over throughout history: people saw Christians nursing plague victims in the Middle Ages, believers risking their safety to hide Jews during World War II, and more recently, Pope St. John Paul II forgiving the man who shot him.

Awe for the saints who loved like this might make you think it’s impossible for you, but this call to love isn’t just for the saints. Jesus has touched your life, and he lives in you, just as he did the saints. How did they do it? They experienced Jesus’ love firsthand, and it changed the way they loved the people around them. That very same thing can happen to you.

“Today, Jesus, teach me to love as you love.”

Acts 14:21-27
Psalm 145:8-13
Revelation 21:1-5

Saint John I, Pope and Martyr (Optional Memorial)

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. (John 14:9)

When you were a child, someone may have told you, “You’re the spitting image of your dad.” Or “Your eyes remind me so much of your mother’s.” Or maybe you heard “You have your father’s laugh” or “You have your mother’s nose.” These remarks reflect the truth that we don’t just pop into the world as completely independent beings. We inherit our physical makeup from our parents. Even in the case of someone who has never met our family, there’s still some truth to the fact that when they meet us, they are meeting our parents as well.

If this is true about human parents and children, imagine how much more it is for Jesus and his heavenly Father! He even says as much in today’s Gospel: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). All of his Father’s love and power were wrapped up in everything Jesus said and did.

Now for the really good news: because the Spirit lives within us, we too are infused with God’s love and power. We are sons and daughters of God who carry our Father’s “spiritual DNA.” Of course, like any other child, we still have to grow into our inheritance. But isn’t it wonderful to know we have all the tools we need to do just that?

You are a child of God. Hold on to this truth every day—especially when you are confronted with sin and weakness. Remember the goodness that your Father has placed in you when you are reminded of your failings. Remember that you have been filled with divine grace to help you live a holy life. Remember who you are—and whose you are.

When you have an impossible deadline at work, remember Jesus, who persevered through long days of ministry. Ask for his strength to carry on. When you are offended and want to retaliate, remember Jesus, who silently endured the cross. Ask the Spirit for his patience and compassion. When you want to offer to pray with a friend but feel afraid, remember your heavenly brothers and sisters, the saints. Let their boldness embolden you. Who knows? Before the day is over, someone might say, “You know, I see something different in you. What could it be?”

“Father, may I reflect your presence within me today.”

Acts 13:44-52
Psalm 98:1-4

4th Week of Easter

I am going to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

A teenage girl who was the youngest of eight children had waited for years to have a room of her own. For her sixteenth birthday, her busy mom secretly sewed a beautiful comforter with matching curtains. When the girl arrived home from school on her birthday, she discovered her new room decorated in yellow and pink, her favorite colors. It was a place prepared just for her!

Today’s Gospel reading is typically used for funeral liturgies. Jesus has ascended to heaven and is preparing a place for us when we pass from this life to the next. But there’s more to this promise than the guarantee of a heavenly home. Jesus is also telling his disciples that he has prepared a place for each of them on earth, in his kingdom, as it breaks out all around them.

Jesus has prepared a place for you—here and now—as well. Just as that mother decorated a place for her daughter, Jesus has fashioned a niche all your own where you can flourish and thrive. It’s a spot uniquely suited to your personality, gifts, and abilities. It’s the place where you can become an effective coworker with him in building his Father’s kingdom.

So where is this place? Take a moment to consider where it may be at this time in your life. Whether it’s in your parish or in your workplace or at home with your children, you can rest assured that it has been tailor-made just for you. It’s the place where you can best radiate God’s love and mercy to the people around you.

Believe too that in your special place, Jesus is there with you, working in you and alongside you. His constant presence can sustain you, even when you face obstacles and hardships. It can give you wisdom and insight to help you fulfill your calling. It can give you energy and hope when you feel depleted. And best of all, Jesus’ presence can fill you with joy as you await the time when you inherit that special place he has prepared for you in heaven!

“Jesus, thank you for the place you have fashioned for me here on earth—and for the place you are preparing for me in heaven.”

Acts 13:26-33
Psalm 2:6-11

4th Week of Easter

If one of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak. (Acts 13:15)

Similar to our celebration of the Mass, Jewish synagogue services in Jesus’ time included readings from the Scriptures followed by a homily. Usually, the rabbi or one of the elders spoke, but he could also invite visitors or respected members of his community to offer their thoughts instead. This is what happened to Paul and Barnabas in today’s first reading. The elders in Pisidian Antioch, recognizing them as learned men, called for a “word of exhortation” that would edify the congregation (Acts 13:15). So Paul accepted the invitation.

We often glance over stories like these. Of course, Paul, the brave apostle to the Gentiles, would preach! But there is more to Paul than his apostolic commission. This is the same man who had devoted himself to rounding up Christians in the hope of having them killed. Surely the memories of his past life would have come back to Paul every now and then. Surely he would sometimes hear a voice inside his head saying, What makes you think you are qualified to talk about Jesus? You hated him and his followers.

Paul felt worthy to preach, not because he was faultless, but because he had been forgiven. It was not because of his own speaking skills but because of his confidence in the power of his message. Rather than dwelling on past sins, he focused on God’s mercy. And when he did consider his shortcomings, they only served to highlight the goodness of God even more.

Do you have a “word of exhortation” that you’d like to share with a friend or family member? Go ahead and say it! Don’t let your past get in the way. Have you committed some sins in your life? Yes, and some of them might even be big, embarrassing ones. But these transgressions can help convince you of the power of God’s love and mercy. They can become the fuel for your courage and humility.

Words—especially words of exhortation—must be spoken in order to be heard. Don’t keep the news of God’s goodness all to yourself. You may not be a great apostle—at least not yet—but you can share from your heart about what Jesus means to you. And that will make all the difference.

“Lord, help me to focus not on my weaknesses but on your goodness.”

Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25, 27
John 13:16-20

Saint Isidore (Optional Memorial)

The Holy Spirit said . . . (Acts 13:2)

A famine had spread across the land, and the Christians in Antioch were concerned about their fellow believers in Jerusalem. So they raised some money and commissioned Barnabas and Paul to bring it to them (Acts 11:27-30). Their “relief mission” now completed (12:25), Barnabas and Paul joined the prophets and teachers in the church in Antioch. Fasting and praying, they asked the Lord, “What’s next?”

We don’t know exactly what he meant when Luke, the author of Acts, wrote that “the Holy Spirit said” (Acts 13:2). The Spirit could have spoken in an audible voice, but he also might have been speaking in more ordinary ways.

For example, God could have been speaking through the circumstances of Paul and Barnabas. They had proven themselves to the leaders of the Antioch church, and perhaps the time had come for them to expand the scope of their service to the Lord.

God could have also been speaking through the desires of Paul and Barnabas to go on another mission trip. Maybe they were restless and eager to do more for the Lord.

Or the Spirit could have spoken through an interior sense the elders had as they prayed and fasted. Perhaps the Spirit helped them realize that their peaceful, prosperous community was ready to share its gifts and proclaim the gospel elsewhere.

God can speak to us in similar ways. If you’ve just retired and your pastor asks you to head up a new ministry, he might be speaking to you through your circumstances. If you’ve always wanted to work with young children and you notice that your local elementary school needs volunteers, God might be speaking to you through your desires. If you and your spouse agree to move to a different part of the country for a new job, the Spirit could be speaking through a sense you both had as you prayed about whether to accept it.

God speaks to us all the time, but often in more subtle ways than we might expect. Let’s be confident that he will answer us when we ask for guidance. Just as he did for those early Christians in Antioch, God is always ready to show us what’s next!

“Holy Spirit, help me to hear you speaking to me—in any way that you choose.”

Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8
John 12:44-50