May 12-17: May12 Monday: Saints Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs & Saint Pancras, martyr Jn 10:1-10: Theme: Through today’s Gospel, the Church reminds us of our call to become good shepherds of God’s flock and good sheep of His parishes and invites us to pray for the acceptance of vocations to the priesthood, the diaconate and the consecrated life.

Explanation: In today’s Gospel, the two brief parables show us Jesus, first, as a selfless, caring “shepherd” who provides for his sheep not only protection but life itself, and second, as our unique gateway (“sheep-gate“) to eternal salvation. Besides guiding his flock to Eternal Life as does the Good Shepherd, Jesus is himself the gateway to Eternal Life. The first parable of today’s Gospel contrasts Jesus, the true Shepherd, with fake shepherds, thieves and robbers. Jesus gives us warning against false shepherds and false teachers in his Church. Jesus’ love and concern for each of us must be accepted with trust and serenity because Jesus alone is our God and our Shepherd, and no one else deserves our undivided commitment. As a true Shepherd, Jesus both leads his sheep, giving them the food and living water only the Good Shepherd can provide, and protects us, bringing us safely to true happiness. In the second parable, Jesus compares himself both to the Shepherd and to the Gate. As Shepherd, Jesus establishes his True Ownership of the sheep. By naming himself “Gate,” Jesus demonstrates that He is the One Mediator between God and mankind, and so is the only Way in or out of His Flock. All must go in through Him, through His Church, in order to arrive in Heaven.By identifying Himself with the sheep-gate, Jesus gives the assurance that whoever enters the pen through Him will be safe and well cared-for. Jesus is the living Door to His Father’s House and Family, the Door into the Father’s safe-keeping and into the fullness of Life in Him. It is through Jesus, the Door, that we come into God’s sheepfold where we are protected from the wolves of life. We find genuine spiritual, emotional, and psychological security and safety when we live within Jesus and his Church with the protectiveness of Christ, Christian friend, and a Christian family.

Life Messages: 1) We need to become good shepherds and good leaders: Everyone who is entrusted with the care of others is a shepherd. Hence, pastors, parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, government officials, and caregivers, among others, are all shepherds. We become good shepherds by loving those entrusted to us, praying for them, spending our time, talents and blessings for their welfare, and guarding them from physical and spiritual dangers. Parents must be especially careful of their duties toward their children, giving them good example and instruction and training them in Christian principles. 2) We need to become good sheep in the fold of Jesus, the Good Shepherd: Our local parish is our sheepfold, and our pastors are our shepherds. Jesus is the High Priest, the Bishops are the successors of the Apostles, the Pastors and their Deacons are their helpers, and the parishioners are the sheep. Hence, as the good sheep of the parish, parishioners are expected to a) hear and follow the voice of our shepherds through their homilies, Bible classes, counseling, and advice: b) receive the spiritual food given by our Pastors through our regular participation in the Holy Mass, our frequenting of the Sacraments, and our participation in the prayer services, renewal programs, and missions they offer; c) cooperate with our Pastors by i) giving them positive suggestions for the welfare of the parish, by encouraging them in their duties; ii) by offering them occasional loving, constructive correction when they are found misbehaving or failing in their duties, iii) by praying for them all the time;andiv) by actively participating in the activities of various councils, ministries, and parish associations. 3) We need to pray for vocations, and for those to whom they are offered, that they may accept the call, surrender all to Jesus forever and follow him faithfully! Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/25. For additional reflections: Click on https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/;https://www.epriest.com/reflections

May 13 Tuesday: Our Lady of Fatima: Jn 10:22-30 : Today is the 108th anniversary of the first apparition (1917) of Our Lady to three shepherd children,Lúcia, Santos (10) who later became a Carmelite nun, and her cousins Francisco Marto (9) who died at 11 in 1919 and Jacinta Marto (7) who died at 10 in 1920. Lúcia, Santos became Sister Lúcia,; she died in 2005 at the age of 97. The apparitions took place in Fatima, a village 110 miles North of Lisbon in Portugal. The Lady appeared in 1917 to the three shepherd children who saw her settle on a small spreading holm-oak tree. She asked them to return to that spot every month on the same date monthly from May 13 through October 13th, Mary instructed the children to pray the rosary, and to make sacrifices for world peace, for the end of World War I, for the conversion of sinners, for the souls in Purgatory, and for the conversion of Russia. On October 13th, 1917 seventy thousand people witnessed the dancing sun miracle without hurting their eyes. They saw the sun rotating, enlarging, shrinking, approaching and retreating. This miracle was intended to validate the reality of the Lady’s presence and her requests.

The three secrets of Fatima: On July 13, around noon, the Lady is said to have entrusted three secrets to the children. Two of the secrets were revealed in 1941 in a document written by Lúcia, at the request of José da Silva, Bishop of Leiria, to assist with the publication of a new edition of a book on Jacinta. The first secret was a vision of hell and its torments. The second secret was a statement that World War I would end and supposedly a prediction of the coming of World War II, should God continue to be offended and if Russia were not converted. The second half requests that Russia be consecrated to the Immaculate Heart. When asked by the Bishop of Leiria in 1943 to reveal the third secret, Lúcia struggled for a short period, being “not yet convinced that God had clearly authorized her to act.” However, in October of 1943 the bishop of Leiria ordered her to put it in writing. Lucia then wrote the secret down and sealed it an envelope not to be opened until 1960, when “it will appear clearer.” Pope John Paul II directed the Holy See’s Secretary of State to reveal the third secret in 2000. It spoke of a “bishop in white who was shot by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows into him.” Many people linked this to the assassination attempt against Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square on May 13, 1981 by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca. Some claim that it was not the real secret revealed by Lúcia,, despite assertions from Lúcia, herself and from the Vatican to the contrary. According to Cardinal Angelo Sodano “it appeared evident to his Holiness that it was a motherly hand which guided the bullets past, enabling the dying Pope to halt at the threshold of death.” (BBC). The local bishop approved the feast of Our Lady of Fatima in 1930, and it was added to the Church’s worldwide calendar in 2002.

Life messages: 1) We need to become holy children of a Holy Mother by leading pure lives. 2) We need to imitate Mary’s trusting Faith in God’s power, her unconditional surrender and obedience to God’s will, and her spirit of selfless and humble service. 3) We need to obey the Fatima message of repentance, renewal of life, keeping the six First Saturdays Mary requested, and praying the rosary with the prayer, “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of Thy Mercy” following each Decade. (Fr. Tony) L/25 For additional reflections: Click on https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/;https://www.epriest.com/reflections

May 14 Wednesday: Saint Matthias, apostle: Jn 15:9-17: 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 This I command you, to love one another.

The context: During the Last Supper discourse, Jesus teaches his disciples that love is the hallmark and the criterion of Christians. Jesus reminds his disciples that he has chosen them as his friends with a triple mission. First, they are to love others as he has loved them. Second, they are to bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Third, they are to ask God the Father for whatever they need in Jesus’ name.

The criteria of Christian love: First, Jesus modifies the Old Testament command from “love your neighbor as you love yourselves” (Lv 19: 18) to “love one another as I have loved you.” This means that our love for others must be unconditional, forgiving, and sacrificial. Jesus invites each Christian to be in the inner circle of his friends by obeying his commandments including the new commandment of love. Such friends abide in Jesus, and Jesus abides in them, and their prayers in Jesus’ Name will be answered promptly by God the Father. We express our love for Christ by obeying his new commandment of love. Jesus further explains that the real source of Christian joy is the certainty that God loves us. We, too, must be ready to express our love for others by our readiness to die for them as Jesus died for us.

Life message 1) Let us remember that true Christian love is costly and painful because it involves sacrifice on our part when we start loving unlovable, ungrateful, and hostile people with Christ’s unconditional, forgiving, sacrificial loveBut our Christian call is to love others as Jesus has loved us, and as Jesus loves them. (Fr. Tony) (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/25

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

May 15 Thursday:Saint Isidore the Farmer: Jn 13:16-20: 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of you all; I know whom I have chosen; it is that the scripture may be fulfilled, `He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I tell you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any one whom I send receives me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me.”

The context: Today’s Gospel is the second part of the explanation Jesus gave to his disciples after washing their feet before the Last Supper. He promised his disciples that that whoever listened to them would be listening to him as well, provided his preaching disciples became the humble servants of others. Gospel lessons: In the first part of today’s Gospel, Jesus emphasizes the fact that the hallmark of his disciples must be their readiness and generosity in offering humble and sacrificial service to others, because that was the model Jesus had given them by his life and especially by washing their feet. It is by serving others that we become great before God. In the second part of today’s Gospel, Jesus shows his apostles how to treat people who are unfaithful and disloyal. Jesus hints at the betrayal of Judas by quoting Psalm 4:9: “He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.” Instead of distancing himself from Judas, Jesus offers him reconciliation, showing him more affection by washing his feet and by giving him a morsel of bread dipped in sauce with his own hand. In the third part, Jesus gives the basis for apostolic succession, stating that one who receives his apostles and messengers receives him, thereby receiving God the Father who sent Jesus.

Life messages: 1) Let us prove that we are true disciples of Jesus by rendering others humble and loving service today. 2) Let us learn to be reconciled with those who offend us by unconditionally pardoning them, by wishing them the very best, and by keeping them in our prayers. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)L/ 25

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

May 16 Friday: Jn 14:1-6: 1 “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.

The context: Jesus consoles his apostles who are sad and disheartened at the prospect of his arrest and crucifixion by assuring them that he is going to prepare an everlasting accommodation for them in his Father’s house in Heaven. He gives them the assurance that he will come back to take them to their Heavenly abodes. It is then that Thomas says to Jesus, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus answers Thomas’ question with, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.”

Jesus the Way, the Truth, and the Life: The basic doctrine of Judaism is that Yahweh is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Hence, Jesus is making the revolutionary claim that he and His Father, Yahweh, are One. Jesus declares that he himself IS the safest and surest way to God, thus discrediting the notions that “all religions are equally sure ways to reach God,” and that “no organized religion, but only living a good life of sharing love, is necessary to reach God.” Jesus IS the Way which he calls narrow, for it is the way of loving, sacrificial service. Jesus IS the Truth who revealed truths about God and God’s relationship with man in his teaching. Jesus also taught moral truths by demonstrating them in his life. Jesus IS the Life because he himself shares the Eternal Life of God, and because He shares his Divine Life with his disciples through the Word of God and the Sacraments.

Life messages: We should share the Divine Life of God by making use of the means Jesus established in his Church: 1) by actively participating in the Eucharistic celebration and properly receiving the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion; 2) by the worthy reception of the other Sacraments; 3) by the meditative daily reading of the Word of God; 4) by following the guidance of the life-giving Spirit of God, living in the Church and within us; 5) by communicating with God the Source of Life, in personal and family prayers; 6) by going to God to be reconciled with Him daily, repenting of our sins; 7) by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation (yearly, at a minimum), whenever we are in mortal sin (so that we can receive Him in the Eucharist); 8) by forgiving others who offend us; and 9) by asking God’s forgiveness of our own sins. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/25

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

May 17 Saturday:Jn 14:7-147 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, `Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves. 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; 14 if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

Scripture lesson: In today’s Gospel selection, Jesus, answering Philip’s request at the Last Supper, explains the unity and oneness of the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus clarifies the abiding presence of each Person of the Holy Trinity