Prayer Peace and Persecution

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present the “Bread of Life” that is our source of peace when we endure persecution by living in Jesus Way.

Peace from Persecution

The Reading from The Acts of the Apostles describes the Persecution of the Church that initiates the mission of Philip in Samaria.

* [8:1] All were scattered…except the apostles: this observation leads some modern scholars to conclude that the persecution was limited to the Hellenist Christians and that the Hebrew Christians were not molested, perhaps because their attitude toward the law and temple was still more in line with that of their fellow Jews (see the charge leveled against the Hellenist Stephen in Acts 6:13–14). Whatever the facts, it appears that the Twelve took no public stand regarding Stephen’s position, choosing, instead, to await the development of events.

* [8:3] Saul…was trying to destroy the church: like Stephen, Saul was able to perceive that the Christian movement contained the seeds of doctrinal divergence from Judaism. A pupil of Gamaliel, according to Acts 22:3, and totally dedicated to the law as the way of salvation (Gal 1:13–14), Saul accepted the task of crushing the Christian movement, at least insofar as it detracted from the importance of the temple and the law. His vehement opposition to Christianity reveals how difficult it was for a Jew of his time to accept a messianism that differed so greatly from the general expectation. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 66 praises God for powerful acts for Israel.

* [Psalm 66] In the first part (Ps 66:1–12), the community praises God for powerful acts for Israel, both in the past (the exodus from Egypt and the entry into the land [Ps 66:6]) and in the present (deliverance from a recent but unspecified calamity …

* [66:5–6] cf. the events described in Ex 14:1–15, 21; Jos 3:11–4:24 and Ps 114. (Psalms, PSALM 66 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, up to Jn 6:50, “bread of life” is a figure for God’s revelation in Jesus;

* [6:35–59] Up to Jn 6:50 “bread of life” is a figure for God’s revelation in Jesus; in Jn 6:51–58, the eucharistic theme comes to the fore. There may thus be a break between Jn 6:50–51. (John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

Jane Stein comments that the early disciples teach us that faith is not a protected place; it is a movement outward, sometimes compelled by pain or loss. Each place of suffering becomes a new space for grace to unfold.

In the Gospel, Jesus identifies Himself as the Bread of Life—the one who satisfies all hunger and thirst. His words move us from an outward struggle to an inward promise. “Whoever comes to me will never hunger.” The same Spirit who scattered the disciples now gathers all who believe into communion with Christ. Here, joy is not the denial of suffering but the fruit of being united to the will of the Father, who desires that “none be lost” but have eternal life.

When I read these passages together, I sense a call to trust in God’s transforming purpose. Even in times of fear or uncertainty, the divine pattern holds: persecution leads to witness, hunger leads to fulfillment, loss leads to resurrection. The story of the early Church is our story too. Christ feeds us with His presence so that we, nourished by the Bread of Life, can bring joy to the cities and hearts we touch today.

Blessings and Happy Easter! (Stein, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Possessing the Scriptures”, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"When you understand anything in the Scriptures, it is love that is manifesting itself to you. When you fail to understand, it is love that is hiding itself from you. Those, therefore, who possess charity possess both what is manifest in the divine words and what is hidden in them." (excerpt from Sermon 350,2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 6:35-40 we can still struggle to understand and believe what Jesus says about his being the Bread of Life.

“Jesus, I believe that you are offering your very self—the gift of heavenly bread—to me. In faith I receive you, both at the altar and throughout my day. Help me to consume you at every moment. Help me to delight in knowing you. Help me to find in you the fulfillment of my longing for eternal life, with you and your Father and the Holy Spirit. This, Lord, is the food I long for. This is the only food that will satisfy my every hunger and thirst.”

“Lord, give me this Bread always!” (Meditation on John 6:35-40, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in Acts a great persecution is occuring in Jerusalem. The Hellenistic Jewish Christians fled. Philip acts to heal and exorcise evil. Many flee but instead Philip proclaims to the people in difficult times. We can use difficulty to reach out with empathy and kindness. We lighten their burden by carrying it with them. The Bread of Life discourse continues in the Gospel of John leading to the revelation of the Bread of Life as His Nature. Now He proclaims how much God loves us and if we embrace that we are one with Jesus and the Father we are acquiring communion with God. Friar Jude notes this is the vertical dimension of Eucharist.

Brian McLaren describes a favorite place in nature from his childhood. He honors the grief that arises when the places we have known and loved change.

Several years ago, I was in the old neighborhood again…. The trail was still there, but now it was broad and paved for bicycles. The wetland had disappeared…. As I sat on one of the benches and looked around, I was overcome by sweet grief for the delight I once enjoyed as a boy, a lost magic boys and girls today will never know, at least, not there….

I’m returning to this precious place in my memory, this sacred swampy ground. I’m appreciating it, praising it for what it was, all the more because it has been lost…. You have your lost places unknown to me. I have mine unknown to you. We could not protect them. But we do not let these good creations disappear only to be forgotten, unappreciated, unpraised, unlamented. Our love for them outlasts their existence. So together, we remember them in grief. We feel them more fully revealing themselves to us in their passing away….

Stay with grief long enough to feel its sweetness, long enough for the sweetness and grief to deepen our sensitivity to the exquisite agony and ecstasy that we call appreciation, praise, love … and life. (McLaren, n.d.)

We ponder the meaning to us of Christ as the “Bread of Life” and how our faith offers us hope that we are nourished by the vertical nature of our Communion to support the horizontal action to which we are commissioned as salt and light in the world.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/8? 

John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6? 

McLaren, B. (n.d.). Beauty, Memory, and Grief. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/beauty-memory-and-grief/ 

Meditation on John 6:35-40. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/04/22/1548287/ 

Psalms, PSALM 66 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/66?1 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Will Raise You up at the Last Day. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Stein, J. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton On Line Ministries. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-april-22-2026 

Time of Transformation

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, invite us to reflect on how the experience of the love and mission of God is the foundation of transformations in both individuals and society.

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish

The Reading from the Prophet Zechariah is an Expansion on the Themes of the First Three Visions.

* [2:10] Land of the north: refers to Babylon (v. 11), in a geographic rather than a political sense, as the place from which exiles will return. The designation is “north” because imperial invaders historically entered Palestine from that direction (see Jer 3:18; 23:8).

* [2:15] Many nations…my people: a way of expressing God’s relationship to people in covenant language. The covenant between God and Israel (see Jer 31:33; 32:38) is here universalized to include all nations.

* [2:16] The holy land: the Lord’s earthly territory, a designation found only rarely in the Old Testament. (“Zechariah, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB,” n.d.)

The Text from the Book of Revelation proclaims The Woman and the Dragon.

* [12:1–6] The woman adorned with the sun, the moon, and the stars (images taken from Gn 37:9–10) symbolizes God’s people in the Old and the New Testament. The Israel of old gave birth to the Messiah (Rev 12:5) and then became the new Israel, the church, which suffers persecution by the dragon (Rev 12:6, 13–17); cf. Is 50:1; 66:7; Jer 50:12. This corresponds to a widespread myth throughout the ancient world that a goddess pregnant with a savior was pursued by a horrible monster; by miraculous intervention, she bore a son who then killed the monster.

* [12:2] Because of Eve’s sin, the woman gives birth in distress and pain (Gn 3:16; cf. Is 66:7–14).

* [12:3] Huge red dragon: the Devil or Satan (cf. Rev 12:9; 20:2), symbol of the forces of evil, a mythical monster known also as Leviathan (Ps 74:13–14) or Rahab (Jb 26:12–13; Ps 89:11). Seven diadems: these are symbolic of the fullness of the dragon’s sovereignty over the kingdoms of this world; cf. Christ with many diadems (Rev 19:12).

* [12:5] Rule,iron rod: fulfilled in Rev 19:15; cf. Ps 2:9. Was caught up to God: reference to Christ’s ascension.

* [12:6] God protects the persecuted church in the desert, the traditional Old Testament place of refuge for the afflicted, according to the typology of the Exodus; see note on Rev 11:2. (“Revelation, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB,” n.d.)

The response from the Book of Judith describes how Judith Displays the Head of Holofernes.

* [13:12–20] Elements from chaps. 8–9 are echoed here. The assembly of the people at Judith’s return parallels the meeting of the town officials summoned by Judith in 8:10. Uzziah blesses Judith in 8:5 and again in 13:18–20. (“Judith, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB,” n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke proclaims Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth.

* [1:43] Even before his birth, Jesus is identified in Luke as the Lord.

* [1:45] Blessed are you who believed: Luke portrays Mary as a believer whose faith stands in contrast to the disbelief of Zechariah (Lk 1:20). Mary’s role as believer in the infancy narrative should be seen in connection with the explicit mention of her presence among “those who believed” after the resurrection at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:14).

* [1:46–55] Although Mary is praised for being the mother of the Lord and because of her belief, she reacts as the servant in a psalm of praise, the Magnificat. Because there is no specific connection of the canticle to the context of Mary’s pregnancy and her visit to Elizabeth, the Magnificat (with the possible exception of v. 48) may have been a Jewish Christian hymn that Luke found appropriate at this point in his story. (“Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB,” n.d.)

Desiree Nownes comments her experience was always that the church was a sanctuary from the evils of the world and a place that the poor, hungry, and downtrodden could turn to. In recent years, She feels that the church has taken on a very political stance and is not the protector of the poor, needy, and puts out more wrath than love. As we stand before our creator, will we be able to say that his church welcomed all who sought refuge from the dragon and evilness in the world? During this time of Advent as a time of light, can we dispel the darkness and welcome a season of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love?

Life is hard. Times are difficult. I am exhausted by the world and the despair I see.

I contemplate peace and pray for guidance against those who only wish hardship and ruin on others.

Be our light, Lord. Bring back the nurturing and protective nature of the church and its teachings. May they know we are Christians by our love.

“I (almost) always come limping into Advent,

desperate for light, but almost too tired to look for it.

Then, I remember, the light comes to look for me,

and that’s the whole point.” (Annie B. Jones) (Nownes, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Mary conceives the Creator of all things,” by an anonymous early author from the Greek church.

"Gabriel flew down from the vault of heaven and came to Nazareth; standing before the virgin Mary, he cried to her, 'Rejoice! You shall conceive a son more ancient than Adam, the Creator of all things and Savior of those who cry to you. Rejoice, pure virgin!' Gabriel brought from heaven good tidings to the Virgin, and he cried out to her, 'Rejoice! You shall conceive him whom the world cannot contain; he shall be contained within your womb. You shall bear him who shone forth from the Father before the morning star!' (Psalm 110:3).

"The co-eternal Word of the Father who has no beginning, not being parted from the things on high, has now descended here below, in his boundless love taking pity on fallen humankind. He has assumed the poverty of Adam, clothing himself in a form strange to him." (excerpt from STICHERA OF THE ANNUNCIATION) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 1:26-38 comments that In today’s first reading, the prophet Zechariah proclaims, “You shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you” when “many nations” join themselves to the Lord (Zechariah 2:15). Just so, we can rejoice that the Lord has sent our Blessed Mother to us because of the way people from “many nations,” including our own, have joined themselves to the Lord as a result of her appearances.

God sent the prophet Zechariah to Israel with a message of salvation. He sent the angel Gabriel to Mary with a message of salvation. He sent the Virgin Mary to the Americas with a message of salvation. And he’s sending you to your friends, family, and community with a message of salvation. So don’t be afraid to share the good news about Jesus; it’s just as powerful today as ever!

“Lord, thank you for sending me into the world!” (“Meditation on Luke 1:26-38,” 2025)

Friar Jude Winkler comments how Zechariah speaks about the Lord coming to rescue Zion and Judah will be His own portion. God will make a home among His people. The Ark of the Covenant was seen in the Temple announcing God coming for judgement. We may think of Mary and the Immaculate Conception but it also is the Church giving birth to Jesus throughout history. The primordial rebellion against God is presented in sweeping of the stars. In Luke, the Holy Family starts in Nazareth, which is in the region of Galilee. They travel to Bethlehem in Judea for a Roman census, where Jesus is born, and then return to Nazareth shortly after. 

This account differs from the Gospel of Matthew, in which the Holy Family appears to be living in Bethlehem. In Luke, the Spirit greets Mary in the perfect tense, indicating she is always full of grace. Mary is a bit troubled that she would bear Jesus, “Yeshua”  or“Yahweh saves” who in the light of The Holy Spirit we understand as the Only Son of God. Friar Jude addresses the difference in Zachariah and Mary’s question, valid in the case of Mary who becomes the new Ark of the Covenant, Her pregnancy was also possible. Those damaged by sin are not able to be totally vulnerable as was Mary. The visitation where Mary travels to Ein Karem and Elizabeth can recognize Mary’s surrender to the will of God as John the Baptist, in Elizabeth’s womb, gives witness to the Lord. Friar Jude comments that The “Magnificat” is chosen by Luke to illustrate how Mary proclaims the greatness of God.

Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us of the context of Galatians and reiterates Paul’s admonition not to revert to our previous ways of life now that we have been freed from the yoke of slavery. He also discusses the works of the flesh which separate us from Christ and the fruits of the spirit which result from a life lived in God, reminding us that we will reap what we sow in due season. Today’s readings are Acts 25, Galatians 4-6, and Proverbs 29:15-17.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces author Stephanie Duncan Smith who writes about her experience of suffering a miscarriage during the Advent season. She recounts how averse she felt to the holiday celebrations in her time of grief.

The God of Advent is not a God of indifference, but the God who imagined mirror neurons into existence—the cell network responsible for so much of what makes us human, which is the basic ability to read and respond to the emotional needs of others. Every human encounter of empathy begins with mirror neurons firing in witness to pain.

It is fitting, then, that the sacred year begins with Advent. Human pain is the call—every nerve ending crying out. The Incarnation is the response—every mirror neuron of God firing, volcanic in awakening. God hears the crash and cries of our great fall and, like a mother, comes running. Emmanuel rushes through time and space to be not just near our hurt, but human with us in it.

What I had missed was the very essence of Advent: This is an entire season dedicated to hearing the hurt and naming the night. We are not just allowed to do so, we are openly called to do so. (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the consolation of the Spirit as we negotiate our journey through challenge and loss with trust in God to transform our lives through love, mercy and compassion.

References

Judith, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/judith/13?18 

Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1? 

Meditation on Luke 1:26-38. (2025, December 12). Word Among Us. https://wau.org/meditations/2025/12/12/1444284/ 

Nownes, D. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-december-12-2025 

Revelation, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/12 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/advent-heals-the-hurt/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). For with God Nothing Will Be Impossible. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Zechariah, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/zechariah/2?14