Readings:  Acts 2:1-11  Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34  1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13  John 20:19-23 Chants Scenes from the Life of Christ: Pentecost, Giottodi Bondone, 1267 Scott Hahn with David Scott The giving of the Spirit to the new people of God crowns the mighty acts of the Father in salvation history. The Jewish feast of Pentecost called all devout Jews to…

Readings: Acts 1:12-14 Psalm 27:1, 4, 7-8 1 Peter 4:13-16 John 17:1-11 Chants Ascension, Giotto di Bondone, 1304-06 Knowing God Jesus has been taken up into heaven as we begin today's First Reading. His disciples - including the Apostles and Mary - return to the upper room where He celebrated the Last Supper (see Luke 22:12). There, they devote themselves…

Readings: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20 1 Peter 3:15-18 John 14:15-21 Chants Alive in The Spirit Jesus will not leave us alone. He won’t make us children of God in Baptism only to leave us “orphans,” He assures us in today’s Gospel (see Romans 8:14-17) . He asks the Father to give us His Spirit, to dwell with…

Readings: Acts 6:1-7  Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19  1 Peter 2:4-9  John 14:1-12  (see also “Exodus and Easter”) Chants Resurrection, Agnolo Bronzino, 1522 Scott Hahn with David Scott By His death, Resurrection and Ascension, Jesus has gone ahead to prepare a place for us in His Father’s house. His Father’s house is no longer a temple made by human hands. It…

Readings: Acts 2:14, 36-41  Psalm 23:1-6  1 Peter 2:20-25  John 10:1-10 Chants Christ, the Good Shepherd, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, Italy, 5th c. What Are We to Do? Easter’s empty tomb is a call to conversion. By this tomb, we should know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Messiah, as Peter preaches in today’s First…

Readings: Acts 2:14,22-28  Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11  1 Peter 1:17-21  Luke 24:13-35 Chants The Meal in Emmaus, Jacopo Da Pontormo, 1530 Emmaus and Us We should put ourselves in the shoes of the disciples in today’s Gospel. Downcast and confused they’re making their way down the road, unable to understand all the things that have occurred. They know what they’ve…

Readings: Acts 2:42-47  Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24  1 Peter 1:3-9  John 20:19-31 Chants Doubting Thomas, Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1311 His Mercy Endures We are children of Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead. Through this wondrous sign of His great mercy, the Father of Jesus has given us new birth, as we hear in today’s Epistle. Today’s First Reading sketches the “family…