Family Bible Study - Divine Mercy Sunday

Gospel Passage
John 20:19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut
where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and
said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 When he had said this, he showed them his
hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus
said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send
you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you
retain the sins of any, they are retained." 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called
the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him,
"We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of
the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side,
I will not believe." 26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and
Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them,
and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and
see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but
believing." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him,
"Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen
and yet believe." 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples,
which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
Questions for discussion -
1. One of the first things Jesus did after rising from the dead was to breathe on the
Apostles and give them the power to forgive sins. This is what priests do in the
sacrament of Reconciliation. If this is one of the first things Jesus did after rising from the dead, how important do you think it is to Him?

2. Jesus said to the Apostles, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” How could they know which sins to retain and which to forgive unless somebody told them in confession? (Do you see why we have to tell the priest our sins?)

3. Jesus said to “doubting” Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
believe.” We have not seen Jesus rise from the dead with our own eyes. How can we be
blessed too?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Divine Mercy Sunday

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
OR DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
We can look at Thomas as the “doubting Thomas” or
we can look at him as one who really wanted to see and
experience the Risen Lord. Thomas wanted the same
experience as the other Apostles and he wanted to touch the
Lord Jesus in order that he could know that Jesus was really
alive. We need to have that same desire to see Jesus and know
that He is risen and is in our lives.
The early Christians joined together in prayer and the
Lord revealed Himself to them in their community prayer life.
As we gather in prayer during the celebration of the Eucharist,
we can expect that the Lord will reveal Himself to us. As we
share our time, talent, and treasure with one another, as the
early Christians did, the Lord will be with us also.
It is the ninth day since Good Friday when Jesus died
for our sins. It is Divine Mercy Sunday. Accept the ocean of
mercy that Jesus has for us.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Sunday Gospel Message - EASTER: THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD

EASTER: THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD
A Happy and Blessed Easter to all from the leadership
and staff of Holy Name of Jesus! May the Risen Lord fill each
and every one of you and your loved ones with hope, joy, and
peace! The Lord is risen and is with us, Alleluia!
We would like to take this opportunity to express the
appreciation of all the parishioners of Holy Name of Jesus to
all those who cleaned the church, to those who assisted in
the Holy Week ceremonies, and to those who so beautifully
decorated the church for this Easter season. The beauty of
the liturgies and the decoration of the church help us to build
up our faith. Thank you to all who worship with us and aid
in our Spirit-filled liturgies.
Jesus is risen and is with us! This Easter event gave
hope to the early disciples who had witnessed the death of
Jesus. By His resurrection, Jesus proved that what He had
promised would be fulfilled. We celebrate the most
important feast of the year because Easter gives us the
promise of eternal life with Jesus. As He died and rose, so
we die and rise to share His glory.
Our baptism reminds us that Jesus gave us new life
and asks us to follow in His footsteps. Today we renew our
baptismal promises and profess that Jesus is our Lord and
Savior. During this Easter season we will have the rite of
sprinkling at each weekend Mass to remind us of the new
life given us through baptism and through the resurrection of
Jesus. Have a wonderful Easter season!
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Easter Sunday!

Gospel Passage
Matt. 28:1 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary
Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a
great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled
back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing
white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But
the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus
who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the
place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from
the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This
is my message for you.” 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and
ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they
came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them,
“Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Questions for discussion -

1. Today we celebrate that Jesus was raised from the dead three days after he
was killed by Crucifixion, just as he had promised. This is the most important
thing that ever happened in the history of the world. How does the risen Jesus
help you in your daily life?

2. Mary Magdalene and Mary, the Mother of James, went to the tomb “looking
for Jesus.” Where do you go to look for Jesus? How hard do you look for him?

3. The women left the tomb “with fear and great joy.” What do you think made
them so happy? What do you think had made them afraid?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Family Bible Study - Good Friday

Gospel Passage
(Abridged) John 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. 2 And the soldiers plaited a
crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe; 3 they came up to
him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 5 So Jesus came out,
wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 6
When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!”
Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with
him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered,
“We have no king but Caesar.” 16 Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. 17 So they
took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which
is called in Hebrew Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on
either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read,
“Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took
his garments and made four parts, one for each soldier; also his tunic. 25 So the soldiers did
this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of
Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved
standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the
disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. 28
After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A
bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to
his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished”; and he bowed his
head and gave up his spirit.
Questions for discussion -

1. Why do you think we call the day Jesus was killed “Good” Friday?

2. On Good Friday, the mob chose Barabbas, a thief and a murderer, over
Jesus. What happens whenever we sin?

3. At the Cross, Jesus gave Mary to St. John as his mother and St. John as a son
to Mary, and St. John tells us that he took her into his home (meaning his life).
Have you taken Mary, Jesus’ mother, into your life like St. John did? Do you
see that the secret to remaining faithful to Jesus even when we look at the
suffering of someone we love is staying close to Mary at the foot of the Cross?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Gospel Passage
Matt. 21:1 And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the
Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village
opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie
them and bring them to me. 3 If any one says anything to you, you shall say, `The
Lord has need of them,' and he will send them immediately." 4 This took place to
fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold,
your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an donkey, and on a colt, the
foal of an donkey." 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they
brought the donkey and the colt, and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon.
8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from
the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and
that followed him shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in
the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" 10 And when he entered Jerusalem,
all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" 11 And the crowds said, "This is the
prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee."

Questions for discussion -
1. This reading is from the first of two Gospels on Palm Sunday.
What do you think we call today Palm Sunday? Do you see any clues in the
reading?

2. The people in Jerusalem welcomed Jesus by shouting, “Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” When do say those
words during Mass?

used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - 5th Sunday of Lent

"Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Jesus did not deny the Scribes and Pharisees the right to carry out the prescription of the Law, but He insisted on one condition, namely, that they have no sin on their consciences. When Jesus and the woman were left alone, He looked up and said, "Woman, where are they?" Ironically, the self-righteous observers of the Law, so eager to throw stones, could not measure up to the requirement that Jesus had laid down. Previously called "Passion Sunday", this Sunday marks the beginning of Passiontide, a deeper time of Lent. This is the third Sunday of the scrutinies for the preparation of adult converts, and the final Sunday of Lent before the beginning of Holy Week. The Liturgy of the Word of this day speaks of recreation, resurrection, and new life.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - 5th Sunday of Lent

Gospel Passage
John 11:1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was
Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.
3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, "This
illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it." 5
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that he was ill, he stayed two days
longer in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go into Judea again." 17
Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 20 When Martha
heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary sat in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus,
"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 And even now I know that whatever you
ask from God, God will give you." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to him,
"I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection
and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and whoever lives and believes in me
shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son
of God, he who is coming into the world." 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her
also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled; 34 and he said, "Where have you laid him?" They
said to him, "Lord, come and see." 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" 37 But some
of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" 38 Then
Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb; it was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39 Jesus said, "Take
away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for
he has been dead four days." 40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see
the glory of God?" 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank thee
that thou hast heard me. 42 I knew that thou hearest me always, but I have said this on account of the people
standing by, that they may believe that thou didst send me." 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud
voice, "Lazarus, come out." 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face
wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." 45 Many of the Jews therefore, who
had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him.

Questions for discussion:
1. Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, who was already dead four days and in the tomb. Is there anything that Jesus cannot do?

2. Jesus says “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even though he die, shall live.” What does he mean?

3. Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus. He also loves you. Do you know and feel
this love? How does he show you this love?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry