The Struggles and Triumphs of the Early Church: Our Story in Christ As we continue the Easter Season, the Church invites us to journey with the first disciples through the struggles and triumphs that marked the earliest days of Christian life. From now until Pentecost, we will follow the Acts of the Apostles, witnessing how the Risen Christ, through the Holy Spirit, builds His Church in the midst of adversity, uncertainty, and opposition. The story of the early Church is not merely a history of the past. It is a living pattern for our own lives today. Just as the Apostles faced trials, yet persevered through grace, so too are we called to recognize that struggles and triumphs are both part of the Christian journey. The same Holy Spirit who empowered them is alive and at work in the Church and in our lives. Each week, we will focus on a theme that highlights a key aspect of the early Church’s experience, such as prayer amid threats, courage in persecution, trust during uncertainty, and ...

The word of God is both living and powerful and much more piercing than a two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12) .  The word of God is plainly shown in all its strength and wisdom to those who seek out Christ, who is the word, the power and the wisdom of God. This word was with the Father in the beginning, and in its own time was revealed to the apostles, then preached by them and humbly received in faith by believers. So, the word is in the Father, as well as on our lips and in our hearts. This word of God is living; the Father gave it life in itself, just as he has life in himself. For this reason it not only is alive, but it is life, as he says of himself: I am the way, the truth and the life . Since he is life, he is both living and life-giving. For, as the Father raises up the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to those he chooses (Jn. 5:21)  . He is life-giving when he calls the dead from the grave and says: Lazarus, come forth. When this word is preached, in th...

Christ is bathed in light; let us also be bathed in light. Christ is baptized; let us also go down with him, and rise with him. John is baptizing when Jesus draws near. Perhaps he comes to sanctify his baptizer; certainly he comes to bury sinful humanity in the waters. He comes to sanctify the Jordan for our sake and in readiness for us; he who is spirit and flesh comes to begin a new creation through the Spirit and water. The Baptist protests; Jesus insists. Then John says: I ought to be baptized by you. He is the lamp in the presence of the sun, the voice in the presence of the Word, the friend in the presence of the Bridegroom, the greatest of all born of woman in the presence of the firstborn of all creation, the one who leapt in his mother’s womb in the presence of him who was adored in the womb, the forerunner and future forerunner in the presence of him who has already come and is to come again. I ought to be baptized by you: we should also add, “and for you,” for John is to be ...

Brethren, we ought to regard Jesus Christ as God and judge of the living and the dead. We should not hold our Savior in low esteem for if we esteem him but little, we may hope to obtain but little from him. Moreover, people who hear these things and think them of small importance commit sin, and we ourselves sin if we do not realize what we have been called from, who has called us, and to what place, and how much suffering Jesus Christ endured on our account. How then shall we repay him? What fruit can we bear that would be worthy of what he has given us? For how many benefits are we not in his debt! He has enlightened our minds; he has called us sons as a father does; he saved us when we were about to perish. How then shall we praise him, how repay him for his gifts? Spiritually blind, we worshiped stones and pieces of wood, gold and silver and bronze, things made by men, and our whole life was death. Darkness enfolded us, and nothing but gloom met our eyes. Then, by his will, we esca...

The parable of the workers in the vineyard is a shock to our sensibilities – some laborers work longer than others but at the end of the day, all get the same pay from their generous employer.  Jesus is teaching us something about justice and generosity and why the last are usually first in the Kingdom of Heaven. But that’s not fair!” Most parents have heard this phrase umpteen times. The notion of fairness, also known as justice, is built into us. It makes us aware that each of us has certain rights that need to be respected. JUSTICE & GENEROSITY, RIGHTS & DUTIES But it also means that we each have duties. If others have the right to be paid for their work, those who benefit from that work have the duty to pay them. If others have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we have the duty not to let our pursuit of happiness infringe on their rights. But we have to widen our perspective a bit. God, the creator of all, is responsible for all the blessings we ...

St. Catherine of Siena on the immeasurable love of God demonstrated in the incarnation of the Word, when, moved by love, God became man in the person of Jesus Christ. My sweet Lord, look with mercy upon your people and especially upon the mystical body of your Church. Greater glory is given to your name for pardoning a multitude of your creatures than if I alone were pardoned for my great sins against your majesty. It would be no consolation for me to enjoy your life if your holy people stood in death. For I see that sin darkens the life of your bride the Church – my sin and the sins of others. MOVED BY LOVE, GOD CREATED MAN It is a special grace I ask for, this pardon for the creatures you have made in your image and likeness. When you created man, you were moved by love to make him in your own image. Surely only love could so dignify your creatures. But I know very well that man lost the dignity you gave him; he deserved to lose it, since he had committed sin. MOVED BY IMMEASURABLE L...

Christ is risen! He has burst open the gates of hell and let the dead go free; he has renewed the earth through the members of his Church now born again in baptism, and has made it blossom afresh with men brought back to life. His Holy Spirit has unlocked the doors of heaven, which stand wide open to receive those who rise up from the earth. CHRIST IS RISEN! Because of Christ’s resurrection the thief ascends to paradise, the bodies of the blessed enter the holy city, and the dead are restored to the company of the living. There is an upward movement in the whole of creation, each element raising itself to something higher. We see hell restoring its victims to the upper regions, earth sending its buried dead to heaven, and heaven presenting the new arrivals to the Lord. In one and the same movement, our Savior’s passion raises men from the depths, lifts them up from the earth, and sets them in the heights. Christ is risen! His rising brings life to the dead, forgiveness to sinners...

  This four part series is based on the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church By DeLisle Callender & Ivo Corazza The New Testament There are 27 books that most Christian denominations agree as comprising the “canon” of the New Testament writings.   The Catholic Church accepts and venerates as inspired these 27 books which can be grouped as follows: ·         Four Gospels whose authorship has been ascribed to the four Apostles - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. ·         The Acts of the Apostles which was also written by the author of the Gospel of Luke. ·         Twenty-one letters or epistles - attributed to Paul (14), John (3), Peter (2), James, and Jude; and The Revelation to John.   The four Gospels occupy a central place because Christ Jesus is their center.   The unity of the two Testaments proceeds from the unity of God’s plan and his R...