Today’s homily notes are for 4th Sunday of Easter, April 30, 2023, and the readings can be found by clicking here. The video of the homily is here soon.

Today after Mass I have the pleasure of baptizing four more children whose names will be written into the book of life. Two thousand years later, the church, faithful to the teaching of our Lord and to the witness of the early church, continues to baptize for the salvation of souls. 

-St. Ephraim the Syrian said of baptism, “Today your offenses are blotted out and your names are written down. The priest or deacon blots out in the water, and Christ writes down in heaven.” 

Reading 1 Acts 2:14a, 36-41

“What are we to do, my brothers?” Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;

and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He exhorted them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day. 

NOT A ONE AND DONE! This is the first step toward a life of peace and joy and holiness that begins here on earth but finds its ultimate fulfillment in heaven. 

Gospel Jn 10:1-10

So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. Whoever enters through me will be saved…I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

CCC 1257-61 The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. The Church does not know of any other means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude. God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments. 

Baptism is necessary for salvation for those whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament. The Church continues to affirm both Baptism of blood and the Baptism of desire. Of blood are those who suffer death for the sake of the faith without having received baptism. Of desire includes catechumen and those who although ignorant of the Gospel seek the truth and do the will of God in accordance with their understanding of it…

And for children who have died without Baptism, the Church teaches that we can only entrust them to the mercy of God who desired that all peop[le should be saved, and especially Jesus’ tenderness toward children when he said, “let the children come to me. Do not hinder them.” MK 10:14.

CCC 1262-1274 

The two principal effects of baptism are purification from sins and new birth in the Holy Spirit. In baptism our sins are forgiven, we become a “new creature” an adopted son of God who shares in God’s own nature, we are incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ, bonded with all Christians who share this baptism, and we are marked by God with an indelible spiritual character than no sin can erase.

SHOULD CHANGE THE WAY WE LIVE 

Reading 2 1 Pt 2:20b-25

If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you,

leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly.

Today’s homily notes are for 23rd Sunday of Easter, April 23, 2023, and the readings can be found by clicking here. The video of the homily is here soon.

My first visit to Campus Crusade. No Bible. 

I fell in love with Jesus in the Scriptures. There is real power in the Scriptures. The story of Jesus is powerful. The name of Jesus is powerful!

The Gospel according to St. Luke begins like this:

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received. – LK 1:1-4

Reading 1 Acts 2:14, 22-33

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words! – Speaks of their Patriarch, King David.

Gospel Lk 24:13-35

Two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred.

they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.

while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him.

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Ignorance of Scripture is Ignorance of God. -St. Jerome

We ought not, as soon as we leave church, to plunge into business unsuited to church, but as soon as we get home, we should take the Scriptures into our hands, and call our wife and children to join us in putting together what we have learned. -St. John Chrysostom
For in the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them; and the force and power in the word of God is so great that it stands as the support and energy of the Church, the strength of faith for her sons, the food of the soul, the pure and everlasting source of spiritual life. DV 21