Cycle B 5th Sunday of Easter

 Acts 9:26-31; 1 Jn. 3:18-24; Jn. 15:1-8

In the Gospel, Jesus offers what must have been a familiar image to explain what it means to live in his love, and how we can “measure” the love that gives us life. “I am the vine, and you are the branches… Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. He is within us and in our community. His words have great power to transform us.

In the book of Hebrews, we encounter a powerful declaration about the Word of God: "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). These words remind us that the Scriptures are not mere words on a page but are living and dynamic, capable of transforming lives in profound ways. Today, let us explore this passage and discover how the Word of God has the power to change us from the inside out.

Cycle B 4th Sunday of Easter

 Acts 4:8-12; 1 Jn 3:1-2; Jn 10:11-18

There is the story of a particular census taker who went to a poor home in the mountains of West Virginia to gather information. He asked the mother how many children she had. The woman began, "Well, there is Rosie, and Billy, and Lewella, Susie, Harry, and Jeffrey. There's Johnny, and Harvey, and our dog, Willie. The census taker interrupted her aid said: "No, ma'am, that's not necessary. I only need the humans. "Ah," she said. And began to pronounce the names of the children. Once again, the census taker interrupted her and said, "No, ma'am, I just need the numbers." The old woman replied, "But I don't know them by numbers. I only know them by name." In today's gospel Jesus the good shepherd says that he knows his sheep by name.

It is something alien to the thought and practice of the modern man. The modern man's approach to his fellow beings is depicted well in the poem “The Unknown citizen" by

Cycle B 3rd Sunday of Easter

 Acts 3:13-15; 1 John 2:1-5; Luke 24:35-48.

Today, all three readings from the Holy Scriptures echo that Jesus suffered for the forgiveness of sins. The first reading proclaims "God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out." [Acts 3:18-9] St John speaks in the Second Reading, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." [1 Jn. 2:2] And, during the Gospel, we heard, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." [Lk. 24:46-7]

"Thus, it is written, that the Christ is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day." These words echo the

Cycle B Divine Mercy Sunday

Acts 4:32-35; 1 John 5:1-6; John 20:19-31

On that first day of the week, fear gripped the hearts of the disciples as they locked themselves away from the world. But in their darkest hour, Jesus appeared among them, offering peace in the midst of their fear.

Throughout the Old Testament, we find instances where God's people faced fear and uncertainty, yet God always provided peace and deliverance. One such example is found in the book of Exodus when the Israelites were trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's advancing army. In Exodus 14:13-14, Moses reassures the people, saying, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today." And indeed, the Lord parted the Red Sea, leading His people to safety.

Another powerful example is seen in the life of King David. In Psalm 23, David speaks of finding peace even in the midst of great adversity, saying, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." David's trust in God's