Looking Ahead: April 28-May 3, 2025

Looking Ahead

This week, we see the effects of the Resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as we are looking ahead. The resurrection has changed everything. But most of all, it has changed those who follow Jesus and can change us too.

Monday, April 28, 2025

The way in which Peter and John change is remarkable. We will see them a lot this week. And we will see them boldly proclaiming the resurrected Jesus. In the gospel, Jesus and Nicodemus talk about what it means to be born from above.

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Today we celebrate Saint Catherine of Siena, a great Dominican saint and mystic. She is a perfect saint for the season of Easter, in that she helped, through her writings, she helped people to come to a better understanding of the power of God’s love, and the ways to live out that love.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

The problem with the Sadducees and Peter and John is not brought out into the open. The Sadducees were jealous. Peter and John were doing miraculous things. Or more accurately, Peter and John were the vehicles of God’s miraculous action in the world. Just imagine what might have been different had the Jewish leaders have been able to recognize the action of Jesus and the Holy Spirit and what it could mean for them.

Thursday, May 1, 2025

When we feel that people are not listening, or even worse, not agreeing with us, we can be tempted to simply say things louder, more forcefully. We try to impose our will on the one with whom we disagree. The Jewish leaders try the same thing. Despite strict orders not to preach in Jesus’ name, Peter and John know their ultimate call is to do just that.

Friday, May 2, 2025

Saint Athanasius was the great defender of the doctrine of the Trinity. The prevailing view in the Church at the time was Arianism, and not the Trinitarian understanding that was ultimately defined by the Church. It is because of the staunch defender of the Trinity, Saint Athanasius, that we say “consubstantial.” That the Father and the Son are of one substance.

Saturday, May 3, 2025

While the focus of many of the readings since Easter have been about Peter and John, today we celebrate Saints Philip and James. It has been the case that since the resurrection, we have witnessed the apostles coming to grips with just what happened to Jesus. What does it mean to be raised. Today’s gospel shows us that even if we cannot understand, we can still believe.

On the friar, you can listen to our homilies (based on the readings of the day) and reflections. You can also ask us to pray for you or to pray for others. You can subscribe to our website to be informed whenever we publish an update. And we have restarted our podcasts after a hiatus. You can subscribe to our podcasts on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

About Author