Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Today's Mass Readings

What God promised our fathers
he has brought to fulfillment for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. Acts 13: 32-33.

R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you. Ps. 2. 7.

I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be. John 14: 4.

We are so blessed to live in the promise of the Father, to know that as the Sun is rising after the Resurrection event, we are still living directly in its light. We are not observing it as a past event. We are called to live continually in light of this promise every day and any time. God kept the Promise made to Israel’s Fathers that Christ would come, and that promise is fulfilled again for us every day. What we need to do is continue to take up our Cross daily. The Cross, once the ultimate symbol of death and fear for the Romans, now is the symbol of hope and new life for every Christian person.

I am thinking today of our parish priests, who, though often overworked and underpaid, continue to live and work in the image of Christ the Good Shepherd, preaching the living word of God to a nation in spiritual slumber. A friend of mine and classmate from seminary, Fr. Guillermo Trevino, comes to mind. He has been ordained for about ten years, and serves in multiple parishes and as a school chaplain. He still takes the time, once his duties are complete; to go out to Comic Cons and sporting events dressed as a priest. He never tires of spreading the joy of the Gospel through his witness as a priest. I encourage you, the reader, to accept the challenge of living in light of God’s promise. Amen.

Reflection by Br. Matthew Marie, OSB