"STAY WITH US, LORD" (Luke 24:29)

1st Reading         Acts 2:42-47 Psalm                    Ps. 118: 2-4,13-15,22-24 2nd Reading       1 Peter 1:3-9 Gospel                   John 20:19-31 "IN THE EVENING OF THAT SAME DAY..."  (Jn. 20: 19) "In the evening of that same day.. " (John 20:19). This is the beginning phrase of the Gospel passage for this Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter (also called Divine Mercy Sunday).  In that phrase is the word ὀψίᾳ (opsia). The author uses that word to speak of the time of the day when the sun is setting and darkness is approaching. This is the moment the author called "Evening." The setting of the evening (of "opsia") sets the scene for a powerful moment of revelation, as Jesus appears to his disciples amid their fear and uncertainty.  It is the same word translated as APPEARANCE in John 7:24 when Jesus said, "Stop judging b...

GOSPEL BEFORE PROCESSION (MATTHEW 21:1-11) "THE ASS THE THE COLT" Dear friends, today we begin the Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday of the passion of the Lord we commemorate the free and triumphal entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. He, "the Lamb of God" [John 1: 29], enters freely as he is not bound under force to do so. His free entrance is not different from the case of unblemished lambs that, according to Jewish tradition, are brought to Jerusalem on this same day for inspection and selection toward the Passover feast. As unblemished lambs are sent to Jerusalem, Jesus, "the lamb of God", also makes a journey to Jerusalem. The journey to Jerusalem is necessary. First, as a male Jew, it is expected that Jesus participates in this celebration of the Passover [deuteronomy 16: 16]. Secondly, to effect his mission of salvation through his passion death and resurrection the journey to Jerusalem was necessary.  In the gospel passage, the author name...