Present in Word and Bread

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, Thursday of Easter Octave, invite us to discover the Presence of Christ in Word and the Sacrament of the Bread of Life.

Fed by the Word

The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents the “kerygma” in Peter’s Speech.

* [3:13] Has glorified: through the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, God reversed the judgment against him on the occasion of his trial. Servant: the Greek word can also be rendered as “son” or even “child” here and also in Acts 3:26; 4:25 (applied to David); Acts 4:27; and Acts 4:30. Scholars are of the opinion, however, that the original concept reflected in the words identified Jesus with the suffering Servant of the Lord of Is 52:13–53:12.

* [3:14] The Holy and Righteous One: so designating Jesus emphasizes his special relationship to the Father (see Lk 1:35; 4:34) and emphasizes his sinlessness and religious dignity that are placed in sharp contrast with the guilt of those who rejected him in favor of Barabbas.

* [3:15] The author of life: other possible translations of the Greek title are “leader of life” or “pioneer of life.” The title clearly points to Jesus as the source and originator of salvation.

* [3:17] Ignorance: a Lucan motif, explaining away the actions not only of the people but also of their leaders in crucifying Jesus. On this basis the presbyters in Acts could continue to appeal to the Jews in Jerusalem to believe in Jesus, even while affirming their involvement in his death because they were unaware of his messianic dignity. See also Acts 13:27 and Lk 23:34.

* [3:18] Through the mouth of all the prophets: Christian prophetic insight into the Old Testament saw the crucifixion and death of Jesus as the main import of messianic prophecy. The Jews themselves did not anticipate a suffering Messiah; they usually understood the Servant Song in Is 52:13–53:12 to signify their own suffering as a people. In his typical fashion (cf. Lk 18:31; 24:25, 27, 44), Luke does not specify the particular Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled by Jesus. See also note on Lk 24:26.

* [3:20] The Lord…and send you the Messiah already appointed for you, Jesus: an allusion to the parousia or second coming of Christ, judged to be imminent in the apostolic age. This reference to its nearness is the only explicit one in Acts. Some scholars believe that this verse preserves a very early christology, in which the title “Messiah” (Greek “Christ”) is applied to him as of his parousia, his second coming (contrast Acts 2:36). This view of a future messiahship of Jesus is not found elsewhere in the New Testament.

* [3:21] The times of universal restoration: like “the times of refreshment” (Acts 3:20), an apocalyptic designation of the messianic age, fitting in with the christology of Acts 3:20 that associates the messiahship of Jesus with his future coming.

* [3:22] A loose citation of Dt 18:15, which teaches that the Israelites are to learn the will of Yahweh from no one but their prophets. At the time of Jesus, some Jews expected a unique prophet to come in fulfillment of this text. Early Christianity applied this tradition and text to Jesus and used them especially in defense of the divergence of Christian teaching from traditional Judaism. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 8 contrasts the smallness of humans with the dignity bestowed with God.

* [Psalm 8] While marvelling at the limitless grandeur of God (Ps 8:2–3), the psalmist is struck first by the smallness of human beings in creation (Ps 8:4–5), and then by the royal dignity and power that God has graciously bestowed upon them (Ps 8:6–9).

* [8:1] Upon the gittith: probably the title of the melody to which the Psalm was to be sung or a musical instrument.

* [8:3] With the mouths of babes and infants: the psalmist realizes that his attempts to praise such an awesome God are hopelessly inadequate and amount to little more than the sounds made by infants. Established a bulwark: an allusion to lost myth telling how God built a fortress for himself in the heavens in primordial times in his battle with the powers of chaos. This “bulwark” is the firmament. Enemy and avenger: probably cosmic enemies. The primeval powers of watery chaos are often personified in poetic texts (Ps 74:13–14; 89:11; Jb 9:13; 26:12–13; Is 51:9).

* [8:5] Man…a son of man: the emphasis is on the fragility and mortality of human beings to whom God has given great dignity.

* [8:6] Little less than a god: Hebrew ‘elohim, the ordinary word for “God” or “the gods” or members of the heavenly court. The Greek version translated ‘elohim by “angel, messenger”; several ancient and modern versions so translate. The meaning seems to be that God created human beings almost at the level of the beings in the heavenly world. Heb 2:9, translating “for a little while,” finds the eminent fulfillment of this verse in Jesus Christ, who was humbled before being glorified, cf. also 1 Cor 15:27 where St. Paul applies to Christ the closing words of Ps 8:7. (Psalms, PSALM 8 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke presents the Appearance of Jesus to the Disciples in Jerusalem.

* [24:36–43, 44–49] The Gospel of Luke, like each of the other gospels (Mt 28:16–20; Mk 16:14–15; Jn 20:19–23), focuses on an important appearance of Jesus to the Twelve in which they are commissioned for their future ministry. As in Lk 24:6, 12, so in Lk 24:36, 40 there are omissions in the Western text.

* [24:39–42] The apologetic purpose of this story is evident in the concern with the physical details and the report that Jesus ate food.

* [24:46] See note on Lk 24:26. (Luke, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB, n.d.)

Carol Zuegner thinks about the disciples and the whole range of feelings they must have been experiencing after the events that led to Jesus’s crucifixion and death. Disbelief. Grief. Sorrow. Fear. Adrift in all of those feelings.

Even though Jesus spoke about this, called on the words of the prophets, fulfilled the words of the prophets, the disciples had a hard time figuring all of that out. They were incredulous with joy. It’s understandable in that fog of grief and fear. Jesus offers comfort and allays their fears from the very start. His first words: Peace be with you.

Now that we have celebrated Easter, a different kind of work begins after the days of Lent. How do I share the love and joy and peace of Christ in my life? How do I live out the Easter joy? What prayers, good works, and peace can I bring to those near to me and to the world? How can I overcome my fear and hesitancy and be fueled instead by the joy of the resurrection? I know I can start in small ways to find God in all things, to love my neighbor as myself, to forgive others as I hope to be forgiven. (Zuegner, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The Easter Alleluia,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"We are praising God now, assembled as we are here in church; but when we go on our various ways again, it seems as if we cease to praise God. But provided we do not cease to live a good life, we shall always be praising God. You cease to praise God only when you swerve from justice and from what is pleasing to God. If you never turn aside from the good life, your tongue may be silent but your actions will cry aloud, and God will perceive your intentions; for as our ears hear each others voices, so do God's ears hear our thoughts. " (excerpt from commentary on Psalm 148) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 24:35-48 comments that Jesus saw their doubt, but he patiently calmed their fears. He showed them his hands and feet, invited them to touch him, and ate fish with them. Even more, “he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” and showed them how he had fulfilled God’s promises (24:45). As he had always done, he led them closer to himself, one step at a time.

And just as he did back then, he will lead you one step at a time.

How? He might highlight a verse from the daily readings and help it stick in your mind during the day. He might enlighten you as you use a commentary to learn about the historical context of a passage. Or he might give you an awareness that he is “with you always,” even when you’re lonely or afraid (Matthew 28:20). He might even give you a personal experience of his mercy, as though a light has turned on, enabling you to believe his promise: “Neither do I condemn you” (John 8:11). Each experience builds on the next, so that you become more and more confident that Jesus can teach you through his word.

Jesus wants to open your mind to hear his voice and understand the Scriptures. So spend time pondering and studying God’s word. Pause a few times during the day, and ask the Spirit to speak to you about it. You will be amazed, just as his disciples were!

“Jesus, help me to hear your voice speaking to me in Scripture today.” (Meditation on Luke 24:35-48, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the texts for today.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Theologian Paula Gooder who describes how Jesus’s resurrection would have been interpreted as a sign that the end times—of justice, mercy, and love—had begun. A lot of the New Testament writers made sense of this by seeing Jesus’ resurrection as a radical and transforming event which changed the world now…. For them, Jesus’ resurrection signaled far, far more than a dead person living; it marked the start of a whole new way of being. The end times had begun, but not in their entirety. [1]

We can be encouraged by glimpses of resurrection in the here and now:

The world is as it always was with its wars, heartache, poverty, and oppressions, but … in the midst of conflict and aggression, we can, from time to time, see moments of reconciliation and of compassion. Occasions when the parent of a murdered son can forgive his killers, when a community can rise against the gangs that terrorize it and make it a better place, when we can rise above the petty arguments that spoil our human relationships are, for me, all a slice of the end times now. Some are dramatic world-changing occasions; others are small and apparently insignificant. Some affect whole nations and continents; others one or two individuals. The occasions may only be momentary and we quickly move back into the harsh reality of the everyday, but their effects linger, suggesting that new creation is possible and that transformation can happen.…

Belief in the resurrection is an act of rebellion against the evil, corruption and oppression that can so easily swamp us. Believing in the resurrection can be a refusal to accept the world as it is, that it can never change…. Believing in resurrection allows us to see the world with a long view, a perspective that looks backward to resurrection and forwards to the end times, recognizing traces of resurrection and end times in what is happening now. Believing in the resurrection can and should transform not only how we view the world, but how we live in it. We should become people in whom others can see new life, and people who introduce that new life wherever the world is stultifying and life-denying. Resurrection makes a difference not only to Jesus and the earliest disciples but also to us, as we live out our lives day by day. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the Spirit to support our action to bring love, care, and compassion to the encounters with the people in our environment.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/3?11 

Luke, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/24?35 

Meditation on Luke 24:35-48. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved April 9, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/04/09/1540147/ 

Psalms, PSALM 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/8?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Risen Existence. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 9, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-risen-existence/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Opened Their Minds to Understand the Scriptures. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Zuegner, C. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-april-9-2026 

Spirit of Wisdom and Love

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, invite us to ponder the Wisdom, Faith, Hope and Love that we experience as gifts that Jesus declared we receive through our experience of the Spirit of God on our journey.

Peter_Paul_Rubens_-_The_Gonzaga_Family_Worshipping_the_Holy_Trinity

The reading from the Book of Proverbs presents The Discourse on Wisdom.

* [8:22–31] Wisdom is of divine origin. She is represented as existing before all things (vv. 22–26), when God planned and created the universe, adorning it with beauty and variety, and establishing its wonderful order (vv. 27–30). The purpose of the two cosmogonies (vv. 22–26 and 27–31) is to ground Wisdom’s claims. The first cosmogony emphasizes that she was born before all else (and so deserving of honor) and the second underscores that she was with the Lord during the creation of the universe. The pre-existence of Woman Wisdom with God is developed in Sir 24 and in New Testament hymns to Christ, especially in Jn 1 and Col 1:15–20.

* [8:23] Formed: since the other verbs of the origin of Wisdom in these verses describe birth, it is likely that the somewhat uncertain verb is to be understood of birth as in Ps 139:13.

* [8:24–26] Perhaps the formless mass from which God created the heavens and the earth; cf. Gn 1:1–2; 2:4–6.

* [8:30] Artisan: the translation of the Hebrew word ’āmôn has been controverted since antiquity. There have been three main opinions: (1) artisan; (2) trustworthy (friend); (3) ward, nursling. The most likely explanation is that ’āmôn is artisan, related to Akkadian ummānu, legendary sages and heroes who brought divine gifts and culture to the human race. I was his delight: the chiastic or ABBA structure of vv. 30–31 unifies the four lines and underscores the analogy between Woman Wisdom’s intimate relation to the Lord and her intimate relation to human beings, i.e., “delight” + “playing” parallels “playing” + “delight.” She is God’s friend and intimate and invites human beings to a similar relationship to God through her. (Proverbs, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 8 marvells at the limitless grandeur of God.

* [Psalm 8] While marvelling at the limitless grandeur of God (Ps 8:2–3), the psalmist is struck first by the smallness of human beings in creation (Ps 8:4–5), and then by the royal dignity and power that God has graciously bestowed upon them (Ps 8:6–9). (Psalms, PSALM 8, n.d.)

The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans proclaims Faith, Hope, and Love.

* [5:1–11] Popular piety frequently construed reverses and troubles as punishment for sin; cf. Jn 9:2. Paul therefore assures believers that God’s justifying action in Jesus Christ is a declaration of peace. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ displays God’s initiative in certifying humanity for unimpeded access into the divine presence. Reconciliation is God’s gift of pardon to the entire human race. Through faith one benefits personally from this pardon or, in Paul’s term, is justified. The ultimate aim of God is to liberate believers from the pre-Christian self as described in Rom 1–3. Since this liberation will first find completion in the believer’s resurrection, salvation is described as future in Rom 5:10. Because this fullness of salvation belongs to the future it is called the Christian hope. Paul’s Greek term for hope does not, however, suggest a note of uncertainty, to the effect: “I wonder whether God really means it.” Rather, God’s promise in the gospel fills believers with expectation and anticipation for the climactic gift of unalloyed commitment in the holy Spirit to the performance of the will of God. The persecutions that attend Christian commitment are to teach believers patience and to strengthen this hope, which will not disappoint them because the holy Spirit dwells in their hearts and imbues them with God’s love (Rom 5:5). (Romans, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus proclaims the Coming of the Advocate.

* [16:13] Declare to you the things that are coming: not a reference to new predictions about the future, but interpretation of what has already occurred or been said. (John, CHAPTER 16, n.d.)

Gladyce Janky cites “The Slow Work of God,” Pierre Teil­hard de Chardin (1881−1955) prayer of Teil­hard de Chardin - Igna­t­ian Spir­i­tu­al­i­ty as she comments:

Jesus tells us his min­istry does not end with his death as he will send the Spir­it of Truth.  He assures us we can trust the advocate’s voice by say­ing every­thing that the Father has is mine; for this rea­son, I told you that he (Spir­it of Truth) will take from what is mine and declare it to you.  Said a lit­tle dif­fer­ent­ly, God’s life-giv­ing and self-rev­e­la­tion hap­pen dai­ly with­in the con­crete cir­cum­stances of our lives.  The invi­ta­tion is to sit qui­et­ly so we can hear the voice of the Holy Spir­it, who lives in us, and, as Ignatius teach­es, seek to Find God in All Things. 

As with the dis­ci­ples, Jesus knows life in this cen­tu­ry includes chal­lenges.  He hopes I will rely on my faith to nav­i­gate through each day, not expect­ing cer­tain­ty of what is to come.   Amid the world’s chaos, Jesus assures me that I am not an orphan, as the Holy Spir­it con­stant­ly invites and sup­ports me (and all of cre­ation) to live in a rela­tion­ship with God. (Janky, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “The Mystery of the Holy Spirit,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).

"John tells us that all things came into being through the Son who is God the Word abiding with you, Father, from the beginning. Paul in his turn enumerates the things created in the Son, both visible and invisible, in heaven and on earth. And while he is specific about all that was created in and through Christ, of the Holy Spirit he considers it enough simply to say that he is your Spirit.Therefore I concur with those chosen men in thinking that just as it is not expedient for me to venture beyond my mental limitation and predicate anything of your only-begotten Son except that, as those witnesses have assured us, he was born of you, so it is not fitting for me to go beyond the power of human thought and the teaching of those same witnesses by declaring anything regarding the Holy Spirit other than that he is your Spirit. Rather than waste time in a fruitless war of words, I would prefer to spend it in the firm profession of an unhesitating faith.

"I beg you therefore, Father, to preserve in me that pure and reverent faith and to grant that to my last breath I may testify to my conviction. May I always hold fast to what I publicly professed in the creed when I was baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. May I worship you, the Father of us all, and your Son together with you, and may I be counted worthy to receive your Holy Spirit who through your only Son proceeds from you. For me there is sufficient evidence for this faith in the words 'Father, all that I have is yours, and all that is yours is mine,' spoken by Jesus Christ my Lord who remains, in and from and with you, the God who is blessed for endless ages. Amen." (excerpt from ON THE TRINITY 12.55-57) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 16:12-15 comments that we know intellectually that God is love (1 John 4:8), but the Spirit helps us experience the immensity of that love. He shows us that we are the apple of God’s eye, beloved from before time began. He shows us the love that moved the Father to give us his Son, so that we might live with him forever.

Jesus reassured his disciples that the Spirit “will speak what he hears” (John 16:13). On this special feast, let the Spirit speak a word of reassurance to you about our mysterious, awe-inspiring God. You will never fully grasp the mystery of the Trinity, but you can be grasped by it. You can know God and the love he is pouring out into your heart—today!

“Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I will praise you forever!” (Meditation on John 16:12-15, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the hymn to Wisdom in Proverbs from a time when God was understood to be at the other end of the universe. Wisdom presents a model of how things should be done based on being a crafts person at Creation. The Chapter from Romans begins with the declaration of our justification by faith, Justification is understood to be peace with God by having trust in the Love of God witnessed on the Cross. The passage from Romans reminds us that even afflictions and difficulties can strengthen faith. Friar Jude notes that the Gospel John in Jesus' Last Supper Discourse speaks of the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, who glorifies the Truth of Jesus and is the Love between Father and Son.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares coming to appreciate Walter Burghardt’s definition of contemplation as “a long loving look at the real” that became transformative for him. The world, Fr. Richard’s own issues and hurts, all his goals and desires gradually dissolved and fell into proper perspective. God became obvious and ever present. He understood what Thomas Merton meant when he said, “The gate of heaven is everywhere.” 

I tried to keep a journal of what was happening to me. Back then, I found it particularly hard to cry. But one evening I laid my finger on my cheek and found to my surprise that it was wet. I wondered what those tears meant. What was I crying for? I wasn’t consciously sad or consciously happy. I noticed at that moment that behind it all there was a joy, deeper than any private joy. It was a joy in the face of the beauty of being, a joy at all the wonderful and lovable people I had already met in my life. Cosmic or spiritual joy is something we participate in; it comes from elsewhere and flows through us. It has little or nothing to do with things going well in our own life at that moment. I remember thinking that this must be why the saints could rejoice in the midst of suffering. 

At the same moment, I experienced exactly the opposite emotion. The tears were at the same time tears of an immense sadness—a sadness at what we’re doing to the earth, sadness about the people whom I had hurt in my life, and sadness too at my own mixed motives and selfishness. I hadn’t known that two such contrary feelings could coexist. I was truly experiencing the nondual mind of contemplation. (Rohr, n.d.)

We are grateful for the inspiration of the Spirit that invites us to contemplate our experiences of closeness to the Divine as we encounter Love through our faith and hope in Jesus Way.

References

Janky, G. (2025, June 14). Daily Reflection June 15, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved June 15, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-june-15-2025 

John, CHAPTER 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/16?12 

Meditation on John 16:12-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 15, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/06/15/1306456/ 

Proverbs, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/proverbs/8?22 

Psalms, PSALM 8. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/8?4 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Tears of Joy and Sadness. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 15, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/tears-of-joy-and-sadness/ 

Romans, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/5?1 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Spirit Will Guide You into All the Truth. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 15, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jun15