April 30
Saturday of the Second Week of Easter
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intentions
9:00 AM – Deceased Members of Cathedral Candle Co.
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
Acts 6:1-7
As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the Apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
R. (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Gospel Acclamation
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ is risen, who made all things;
he has shown mercy on all people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
John 6:16-21
When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading.
“Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.”
Reflection
Fitting that we have our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles as we are just two weeks away from the ordination of our own James Buttner to the Transitional Diaconate. This morning’s first reading is often used at diaconate ordinations because that’s what we see on display! Having discerned from the community with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles pray and lay hands on these seven to be of specific service in the Church.
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1570: "
Deacons share in Christ's mission and grace in a special way. The sacrament of Holy Orders marks them with an imprint ("character") which cannot be removed and which configures them to Christ, who made himself the "deacon" or servant of all. Among other tasks, it is the task of deacons to assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages, in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals, and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity.
Our gospel reading today contains the verses that continue from yesterday’s and we’ll keep going with it next week. It’s always worth picking up John 6 and reading it in full. This famous chapter is absolutely essential to our understanding of the Eucharist, so we should pay attention to what Jesus says and does. At this point, Jesus has just fed the crowds, having multiplied the loaves and fish. First, this is in the context of the Jewish feast of Passover (remember: God’s salvific actions that led people from slavery in Egypt to freedom and promised land). Just as they hungered while walking through the desert, God sent the manna—the bread from heaven.
Jesus now sits before the hungry multitude ready again to provide bread for them to eat. In this moment he is about to gently teach toward understanding his future gift of the Eucharist. We see vividly on display: Jesus has the power to multiply bread to feed the crowd, and in our verses from the gospel today that follow, Jesus demonstrates he has power over his body, and power over nature as he walks on water. As a result we shouldn’t be too surprised now when the very next thing he will teach us is that we must eat his very flesh and drink his blood in order for us to have eternal life within us. Jesus has the power to feed multitudes, he has power over his own flesh and over the realm of nature…this is how he begins to show us that as he institutes the Eucharist with the sacrifice of his life, we are able to be fed with food that leads us from our slavery to sin, to the joys of everlasting life. Stay tuned!
Peace,
Fr. Foley
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