In today’s first reading from Acts the early church confronts its first big crisis: who can belong to the church and what is required to become a member. Luke begins this chapter by laying out the issue: “Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the...
In today’s Gospel Jesus promises his disciples to never leave them alone. God’s presence will continue to be with them in the person of the Holy Spirit: “I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate (paraklētos), the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send...
Jesus says goodbye! Today’s Gospel is part of Jesus’ Farewell Discourse in John’s Gospel. As part of his “Last Will and Testament” Jesus tells his disciples and us what is central or most important. He calls them and us to have courage: “Do not let your hearts be...
God made me do it! Peter defends himself in today’s first reading from Acts by claiming, “I didn’t want to do it, God made me do it!” What did Peter do? He went to non-Jews, Gentiles, and preached to them. Some of the Jewish Christians, the “circumcised believers”...
Who is Jesus? This question is the core question of our faith and the core question in John’s Gospel. In today’s Gospel Jesus answers this question: “I am the bread of life.” Jesus has used similar images to describe himself elsewhere in John Gospel. In his...
