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The Word today, Easter7C


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June 02 - June 07, 2025


Sts Marcellinus and Peters, martyrs


Acts 19:1-8 Followers of John the Baptist who did not believe in Jesus as Messiah continued to exist for a long time.


John 16:29-33 Although Jesus speaks plainly throughout this Gospel (unlike in Mark), nevertheless the slow journey of the disciples is registered. The overall tone is one of encouragement.


St Kevin, abbot


Acts 20:17-27 Today’s reading is a very touching scene: the final farewell of Paul to the faithful of Ephesus. It offers a kind of apologia for the Pauline mission.


John 17:1-11 Today we hear the start of the final prayer from the Farewell Discourse. It is, of course, a prayer; but it is also a kind of summing of the teaching so far and a looking forward to the time after the resurrection. You may notice the typical “defnition” of eternal life: And eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.


Sts Charles Lwanga and his Companions, Martyrs


Acts 20:28-38 Paul’s last speech to the elders in Ephesus is full of still valid and good advice and the very last moment is very moving.


John 17:11-19 “Glorify” may sound strange to us, as if Jesus were looking for some kind of vain recognition. In this Gospel, however, to glorify point to the cross; specifically, it means that the heart of God, God’s inner identity, is disclosed in Jesus’ death and resurrection.


St Boniface, bishop and martyr


Acts 22:30, 23:6-11 “Divide and conquer” is an old rule and Paul uses it cannily in today’s vignette. Paradoxically, Paul is “rescued” by the very officials who hold him prisoner.


John 17:20-26 This heartfelt prayer will touch us all. Although conflict is normal, at every level, it cannot be normative. Therefore, we strive for forgiveness, reconciliation and true fellowing or oneness. May this great prayer be ours today!


St Norbert, bishop St Jarlath, bishop


Acts 25:13-21 A key event in the life of Paul is recounted. He was under arrest in Caesarea. As a Roman citizen, he makes the fateful appeal to the emperor.


John 21:15-19 Because our reading of John is coming to a close as the Easter Season ends, the lectionary takes us forward to chapter 21. Here we read of the restoration of Peter. In the background, there is an oblique reminder of his betrayal (charcoal1). But in the foreground stands the high call to love and the fundamental call to follow.


St Colman of Dromore, bishop


Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 Today we hear the very last scene in Acts of the Apostles, drawing Luke’s magnificent two volume work to a close. How does he choose to end? He shows Paul, under house arrest, still proclaiming Jesus. Very last word (in Greek) is “unhindered” — an invitation to the readers to continue the work today.


John 21:20-25 Our Gospel today is the second ending of John’s Gospel. It is clear that by now, the great spiritual leader of the community (represented in the text as the Beloved Disciple) has died, causing distress and consternation. Finally, the writer frankly admits that he has selected stories in the Gospel.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025at, June 1). Seventh Sunday of Easter. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060125-Sunday.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings


 
 
 

The Word today, Easter6C


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May 26 - May 31, 2025


St Philip Neri, priest and religious


Acts 16:11-15 Today we hear of the founding of Paul’s first community in Europe. Philippians shows just how warm relationship became after these simple beginnings.


John 15:26-16:4 The word “paraclete,” strange to us, means literally the one who pleads alongside (someone). This is very like the Pauline vision of the Spirit helping us in our weakness. John’s Gospel, however, adds two extra dimensions, noticed in today’s Gospel: witnessing and remembering.


St Augustine of Canterbury


Acts 16:22-34 In biblical language, an earthquake symbolises the presence and action of God. In this extraordinary story, a truly astonishing reversal takes place.


John 16:5-11 Our Gospel reflects on the meaning of Jesus’ departure (death): it signals and enables the gift of the Spirit in a completely new way.



Acts 17:15, 22-18:1 One expression from this reading is often quoted: it is in him that we live, and move, and have our being. The context for this marvellous affirmation is set-piece confrontation between Paul and the philosophers of Athens.


John 16:12-15 We are more aware, perhaps, than other generations of the importance of memory for our well-being and stability as individuals. It is important for us as believers as well and, fortunately, we are not alone. The Holy Spirit guides us not simply to retain the past but to live the future of our faith.


St Paul VI, bishop of Rome


Acts 18:1-8 We may be tempted to think of Paul as operating on his own, but today we meet some of his wider team. Priscilla and Aquila were great supporters in friendship, hospitality and finance.


John 16:16-20 Our reading today touches a central part of the Farewell Discourse. This kind of writing acknowledges the transition of Jesus, so that he will no longer be with his disciples has he had been. At the same time, it opens to up different relationship after the resurrection. The words of the risen Jesus to Mary Magdalen come to mind: Jesus said to her, “Do not keep holding on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20:17; NRSV adjusted).



Acts 18:9-18 Enemies try to get the governor of Corinth to act against Paul, but Gallio sees through the ploy and dismisses the case. Gallio was governor from winter AD 51 to spring 52, so this scene helps us to put a date on Paul’s first visit to Corinth. Gallio’s brother was the better known philosopher Seneca.


John 16:20-23 In the Gospel of John there is very little “tension” towards the future, unlike other New Testament documents. Today’s reading, however, is an exception. We even find a standing metaphor from apocalyptic: labour pains. The insistent use of “joy” tells us what the Gospel writing has in mind.


Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary


Zephaniah 3:14-18 The note of joy at the coming of the Lord anticipates today’s Gospel, with its own note of joy at the coming of Jesus.


Luke 1:39-56 This gospel passage — like others in Luke — has inspired Christian prayer. In this case, the Hail Mary and the Magnificat.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025aq, May 25). Sixth Sunday of Easter. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052525.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings


 
 
 

The Word today, Easter5C


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May 19 - May 24, 2025



Acts 14:5-18 The powerful events which accompanied the preaching could easily be mistaken in their origin. But as St Paul said, For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. (2 Corinthians 4:5)


John 14:20-26 The teaching of the Fourth Gospel on the Spirit is distinctive and relevant: The “advocate” will stand alongside us to reach us everything and remind us of all that Jesus said.


St Bernardine of Siena, priest


Acts 14:19-28 In our attempts at evangelisation today, we can still learn from the example of the first preachers: they took risked, were full of zeal and they knew God was with them all along.


John 14:27-31 Peace—the great gift of the risen Lord —means much more in the Bible than usual and especially here in John. It includes life in abundance, on account of the resurrection and even freedom from death and the fear of death.


St Christopher Magallanes and his Companions, Martyrs


Cristóbal Magallanes was born in 1869 in the Archdiocese of Guadalajara. During this time in Mexico’s history, the government feared the power of the Catholic Church, and it tried to eliminate the practice of the faith and closed the seminaries. In 1915, Fr Magallanes opened his own small seminary in Totatiche and soon had more than a dozen students. He was on his way to celebrate Mass when he was arrested. Without a trial, he was convicted. On May 21, 1927, he and 21 other priests and three lay Catholics were executed.


Acts 15:1-6 Early Christians had to make up their minds whether or not to impose the full Jewish Law on new believers. It was not easy, as we see from today’s reading which features supporters on each side.


John 15:1-8 In the Fourth Gospel, there are seven I AM sentences, all echoing the name of God as I AM WHO I AM. In the same way, the image of the vine for the people of God is rooted in the Old Testament, as well as in the parable of Jesus. We the branches lives because of him.


St Rita of Cascia OSA, religious


Acts 15:7-21 What about the imposition of the Jewish Law? Paul and James are shown, giving different arguments, both supporting a more free attitude. The basic principle is attractive and useful today: lets not make things more difficult for people who want to join us.


John 15:9-11 Today we hear a very short Gospel— short and rich. Who does not need the message of love? Who does not need the message of joy?



Acts 15:22-31 As a result of the various deliberations, a careful letter is written from Jerusalem. As you can hear, only one of the dietary laws as insisted upon—perhaps as a compromise.


John 15:12-17 The metaphor of the vine is dropped. With directness and simplicity, the writer takes us straight to the heart of the matter: love of neighbour — precisely because God is love and God has so loved the world.



Acts 16:1-10 Today’s reading is odd and inspiring. It is odd that Paul had someone circumcised, because he was so against it. It is inspiring that the same Paul dreams about the Macedonian Greeks who want him to preach among them. It would remind us of St Patrick and his dream about the Irish calling him to return.


John 15:18-21 It cannot be that our destiny should be different to that of Jesus. He too did not belong “this world” and he too was hated. It is to be expected that being a believer will incite others against us—a mark that we are on the path of true discipleship.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025ao, May 18). Fifth Sunday of Easter. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051825.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings


 
 
 
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