Sunday Gospel Message - Pentecost Sunday

PENTECOST SUNDAY
Today is the feast of Pentecost, the birthday of the
Church. Jesus had spent His life here on earth to establish the
Church and to teach the Apostles who, in turn, would hand on
His teachings to others for all times. Just as the story of the
creation of Adam depicts God breathing “into his nostrils the
breath of life, and so man became a living being,” so the Father
gave the breath of the Holy Spirit through Jesus and, then, the
Holy Spirit gave breath and life to the Church.
The Holy Spirit continues to guide and direct the
Church, which is all of us. The giving of the Holy Spirit
transformed the lives of the early disciples. That same Holy
Spirit has been given as a gift from the Father to us to transform
us also. “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and
enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit
and we shall be created and you shall renew the face of the
earth.”
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Seventh Sunday of Easter

Gospel Passage
John 17:20 “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those
who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one. As
you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the
world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given
me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them
and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may
know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved
me. 24 Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be
with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you
loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, the
world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have
sent me. 26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so
that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Questions for discussion -
1. In this prayer from the last Supper, Jesus is praying for all of us who would
hear and believe in the word of God through the work of the apostles. What
two things does Jesus pray for here? (Circle the two correct answers)
a) that we might be good people, liked by all
b) that we may be one, like the Holy Trinity
c) that God may glorify us
d) that we may be where Jesus is, to see his glory

2. Jesus wants us to be so united in love that the world may know that the
Father sent the Son and loves us. How would our love reflect God?

3. Jesus has revealed the Father to us so that we might live in the Father’s love.
How do we remain in the Father’s love?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Sixth Sunday of Easter

Sixth Sunday of Easter
Jesus promised that He would give His gift of peace. Yet shortly thereafter, there was dissension in the Church, as we see in the Acts of the Apostles. However, they trusted in the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus sent from the Father. That Spirit guided the Apostles in their deliberations. What Jesus promised was that we could have the reassurance of His presence with us, no matter what difficulties we would face. "Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid," Jesus tells us because He is with us! He sent the Holy Spirit to teach us everything and to remind us of what He told us. His presence and the gift of the Holy Spirit are what we need in our life's journey.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Sixth Sunday of Easter

Gospel Passage
John 14:23 Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word,
and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home
with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the
word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. 25 “I
have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate,
the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you
everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave
with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do
not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 28 You heard
me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater
than I. 29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does
occur, you may believe.

Questions for discussion -
1. Jesus says that those who love Him keep His words; those who do not
love him, do not keep his words. Do you keep his
words? Where do you need to grow in love?

2. Jesus says the Holy Spirit helps us learn everything Jesus has said to us.
How often do you pray to the Holy Spirit to learn more about the words of
Jesus and how to follow Him?

3. What is the peace that Jesus gives us? How is it different from the peace the
“world gives”?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Fifth Sunday of Easter

Paul and Barnabas proclaimed the word of the Lord in Lystra, Iconium, Antioch, Pisidia, Pamphylia, Perge, and Attalia; they reported to the people what God had done for them, with them, and through them. They were able to find success in their preaching in many places because of the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave success to their preaching. It is the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit in our lives that enable us to do His work. We too are called to be disciples (followers of the Lord) and then apostles (those sent by the Lord).
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Fifth Sunday of Easter

Gospel Passage
John 13:31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has
been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been
glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at
once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for
me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you
cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one
another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By
this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one
another.”

Questions for Discussion -

1. Jesus’ commandment is to love one another as He loves us. How does Jesus love us? What did He do for us?

2. Jesus wants our love for each other to be so great that everyone else will be
able to know that we’re his disciples by this love. This means that our failure
to love can hurt others’ coming to the faith. What do you need to work on so
that you can love like Jesus calls you to?

3. Jesus said, “Little children, I am with you only a little longer.” What did He
mean? Where was He going?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Fourth Sunday of Easter

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Paul and Barnabas proclaimed the word of the Lord
first to the Jewish people. Because many of them were not
open to hear the word of the Lord, they then went to the
Gentiles. Their mission from Jesus was to teach and to leave
the results up to Him. Jesus tells us today that He wants to
be our Good Shepherd, to lead us and to guide us and to
bring us to eternal happiness. We pray that we may be open
to hear the voice that we may be lead to eternal joy with
Him.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Fourth Sunday of Easter

Gospel Passage
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I
give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them
out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else,
and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are
one.”

Questions for discussion -
1. How do we hear Jesus’ voice? Where and when can you listen to Jesus?

2. Jesus says his sheep follow him in their actions. Who are His “sheep”? How
well do you follow Jesus?

3. The Lord Jesus says the Father and Him are one. Their unity is perfect. God
calls his disciples to be one, like the Father is in the Son and the Son in the
Father. What do you need to do to bring about this same “unity” in your
family, in your parish, and with your friends?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Third Sunday of Easter

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
The disciples had been fishing all night and had
caught nothing. How frustrating that must have been! Jesus
appears to them and tells them to cast the net on the other
side of the boat and they would catch fish. Not too logical,
is it? However, following the word of Jesus, they caught
153 large fish. Obedience to the word of the Lord in our
lives produces the same results. If we are out there doing
our own thing, we will catch nothing. If we listen and
follow the Lord’s direction, great things happen!
Used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Third Sunday of Easter

Gospel Passage
John 21:1 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am
going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He
said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and
jumped into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. 9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish hat you have just caught.” 11
So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came
and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus
said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my
sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know
that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you
used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out
your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19
(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow
me.”

Questions for Discussion -
1. Jesus asked St. Peter three times if he loved him. Why do you think he asked him
three times? (Hint: think of Peter’s actions after the Last Supper. Is there
something that happens next three times?)

2. Jesus gave work to his people — “feed my sheep, feed my lambs” — dependent
on loving Him. Do you love Jesus enough to help him “feed” his “sheep and
lambs”? Who are they and how can we feed them?

3. Jesus had helped St. Peter catch a miraculous load of fish once before, when he
called him to be a “fisher of men,” to catch people. Why do you think he did the
same miracle here? Did He want to remind them of something?
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,” the
one would not believe unless he could see, or we can look at
him as the “desirous Thomas,” the one who really wanted to see
the 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.
A way that helps us to know Jesus in our lives is to do
what the early Christians did. They joined together in prayer
and the Lord revealed Himself to them in their communal
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

Family Bible Study - Divine Mercy Sunday

Gospel Passage
John 20:19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 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 them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, 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 the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, 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. Reach out your hand and put it in my
side. Do not doubt but believe.” 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 have come to believe.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through 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, which is what priests do in the
sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). 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 anyone know which sins to retain and which to forgive unless somebody told them in confession? (Do you see
the importance of confessing your sins to the priest now?)

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

Family Bible Study - Easter Sunday

Gospel Passage
John 20:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene
came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she
ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and
said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where
they have laid him.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the
tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and
reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying
there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into
the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on
Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8
Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and
believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from
the dead.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Jesus was alive again three days after he was killed by Crucifixion, just like He promised would happen. This is the most important
thing that ever happened in the history of the world. How does it change your
day-to-day life?

2. St. John looked at the empty tomb, saw and “believed.” He believed that the
absence of Jesus’ body meant that Jesus had risen from the dead, just as he
promised. If you were running there alongside Peter and John, what would
your reaction have been?

3. If someone told you that they don’t believe that Jesus rose from the
dead, what would you do? What would you say? How would you try to help them believe what really happened?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry