Paul set the stage for the gospel of Christ he has been ordained to preach by going through a list of Christians who experienced Christ at disparate times and levels while putting himself with the newbies: “Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me.”

Today I want to talk about the need to prepare for the Father's house, taking our cue from the farewell message of Jesus to the disciples: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places…And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be."

God’s word in today’s liturgy presents a clear picture of what the church that Jesus was going to establish would be like—people with relationships with the Father and the son.

Today's gospel opens with these words, "The word of God continued to spread and grow." We know that the growth mentioned here was both quantitative and qualitative. We notice from the earlier chapters of Acts that as more and more people believed in the word of God and converted to the Christian faith, their lives transformed. They found it a lot easier to love others and live and share their belongings.

In today's gospel, Jesus connects faith to authentic discipleship when he told the crowd that those who belong to his flock believe in his teaching. Jesus said, "I told you, and you do not believe...But you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.”

When Saint Paul first became known to the early Christians, he was that young man ideologically upset with the Christian movement and determined to eradicate it. His personal aversion for the Christians produced in him “a breath that tasted of death, not of life” towards the Christians.

Living without Christ is always costly; he is the cornerstone that guarantees perfect, meaningful life. In today's gospel, Jesus repeats the underlying truth about his coming into the world; whoever comes to him receives life.

Today’s gospel is about the seminal teaching of Jesus about the Eucharist. The Lord’s claim in this passage is that he gives himself as the source of true life to those who show strong desire for him. He says, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever , and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

Prayer significantly featured in the life and ministry of Jesus, and it was something he enjoyed. Today's gospel shows how prayer may assist us to manage crisis and other life events.

Jesus knows understands the issues people bring to him for help. And he is able and ready to resolve such matters. Once again in the passage 0f today's gospel, notice how Jesus addressed one of the basic human problems- hunger!

We measure things to determine their value. Things of loftiest value receive greatest attention and appreciation. It is like the wedding rings that a couple exchange during Catholic marriage; it is a symbolic measure of the value of the boundless love between them. The value of the ring is not only in the gold or silver from which it is minted, but mostly in the boundless reality of love they have for each other.

The Christian kerygma, which we proclaim during this Easter and beyond, is powerful! It is when we proclaim that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and is alive! The apostles proclaimed it; so, we continue to announce today that Jesus Christ is alive!

In today's gospel, the disciples' experience a transition from multiple disappointments to joy and hope. They were disappointed about Jesus' death, but they were also confounded about the discovery that he had risen from the dead.

One lesson the resurrection teaches is about worrying less and praying more. We notice this in how Jesus acknowledged before the frightened disciples that “everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”

Despite all our heavy burdens, we too can always look to God and find in our lives a reason to give thanks to God.

Today’s gospel establishes Mary Magdalene’s pivotal role in our appreciation of the resurrection of Jesus. John contrasts Mary's life experiences and how the light of Christ comes to shine and strengthens her; it is typical of our own experiences.

The Gospel for this festive Monday carries the announcement about the gospel of life. The joy and hope of the women following the assurance received from the angel that Jesus was alive reached its completion as Jesus appeared to them.

In today's Gospel passage, the apostles experience chilling waves at Jesus' comment that one of them would betray him. So, distressing to them was the announcement that it prompted each one to ask Jesus: "Surely it is not I, Lord?"

It is a great thing to see how the respectful event in today’s gospel set the stage for the Paschal Mystery and foreshowed the holy event of the Triduum when Jesus would dine with the disciples, die, and resurrect to give all believers "the right to become children of God."

Today's readings make me realize how lonely it can feel to be a good Christian in our world. When we decide to remain faithful to the Lord and be obedient to him, persecution and rejection await us; often, friends and people we know are those who make us feel lonely because we choose not to side with them or abide where they abide.