The Good Word

There is a lot to unpack in the readings today. Let's get started! St. Paul is traveling in Derbe and Lystra, which is in modern day Turkey. He meets young Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish mother and a Greek father. Timothy's parents must have had a strong influence on their son, because he is highly recommended by the believers of that area. Paul invites Timothy to join him in his travels from city to city proclaiming the love of God for all peoples. Paul and Timothy also spread the decisions reached by the apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem, commonly known as the decrees of the Council of Jerusalem. The Council of Jerusalem basically said the following (Acts 15): that Gentile converts did not need to follow the Mosaic Law of the Jews, specifically circumcision, to be saved. It affirmed that Gentiles - and all believers - receive salvation through God's grace alone.  The Council of Jerusalem also listed four other requirements. Believing Gentiles were to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, sexual immorality, meat from strangled animals, and blood. They were also asked to continue to remember the poor within their churches, something which Paul was happy to comply. Perhaps some explanation is needed about “meat from strangled animals and blood.” Ancient pagan practices of drinking blood and cooking animals in blood was not an accepted practice in the dietary law of the Jews. It might have been a compromise to help make nonbelieving Jews more comfortable in sharing meals with believing Gentiles. The Gospel of John highlights the difference between living in the world and not being of the world. The “world” can desensitize us. When we watch a steady stream of violent programming, for example, we lose something of our basic human compassion for others. When we let ourselves be consumed by sensuality, we can lose basic respect for the other person and everyone's uniqueness in the eyes of God. Believers know their limits. St. James (1:27) puts it this way: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” James is saying that we must strive to maintain personal holiness by avoiding corrupting influences, selfish values, and the compromising sins of society while still engaging in it. We serve and honor God through our thoughts and actions. As Christians, we must make every effort to turn aside from the capital sins of pride, envy, wrath (anger), sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust. These sins are counteracted by their corresponding virtues: humility, generosity, chastity, meekness, temperance, kindness, and diligence (zeal). Overcoming laziness, for example, is the result of persistent effort and devotion to spiritual and daily duties. We cultivate all of these virtues through prayer and grace, correcting habits through small acts of charity, utilizing the sacraments to strengthen our willpower, and regularly examining our lives to keep these capital sins at bay. It is exciting to follow Paul and Timothy's travels around Asia Minor, but God's invitation to radical conversion and new life is just as alive today. Instead of asking, “What is God calling me to do?,” the better question might be: “Who is God calling me to be?” Easter Blessings,Fr. Kevin MacDonald, C.Ss.R.

ELEGIDOS QUE ELIGEN A JESÚSJesús les dice a sus discípulos que ellos son sus elegidos. Lo dice con estas palabras: No son ustedes los que me han elegido, soy yo quien los ha elegido y los ha destinado para que vayan y den fruto y su fruto permanezca .Uds. y yo somos también los ELEGIDOS DE JESÚS. Sobre todo Uds. y yo hemos elegido seguir a Jesús. Es mas Uds y yo hemos elegido, DECIDO vivir estas palabras de Jesús cuando nos dice: : “Éste es mi mandamiento: que se amen los unos a los otros como yo los he amado¨ Lo digo así. UDS. Y YO SOMOS LOS ELEGIDOS QUE HEMOS ELEGIDO AMAR, SEGUIR A JESÚS CON EL MISMO AMOR CON QUE JESÚS NOS AMA A NOSOTROS. .…y lo dice a nosotros también porque somos también los elegid Jesus says to the disciples that they are God´s ELEGIDOS. En la lectura hoy de los Hechos de los Apóstoles Pablo y los demás le ennvian una carta a los nuevos cristianos de Antioquía.  Hacen esto porque otras personas le han dicho a los nuevos cristianos de Antioquía que están obligados a hacer cosas de la ley judia que ahora no tienen tanta importancia.  Le dicen a los cristianos que ellos para seguir fielmente a Jesús deben hacer lo que Jesús nos dice en el evangelio de hoy…AMAR A LOS DEMÁS COMO DIOS LES AMA A AELLOS.Uds. y yo sabemos que Jesús ofreció su vida en la Cruz para que conociéramos el gran amor que Jesús y el Padre llevan para cada uno de nosotros.  Cuando los nuevos cristianos de Antioquía leyeron a esta carta consoladora dice Hechos: Al leer aquellas palabras alentadoras, todos se llenaron de júbilo. Ellos entendieron que lo importante en seguir a Jesús es amar a los demás. Inclusive ellos entendieron como nosotros entendemos que debemos amar y perdonar hasta a aquellas personas que nos hayan herido y nos hayan causado tristeza y dolor. Porque eso es lo que hizo Jesús mismo.  Jesús ama hasta aquellas personas que no le conocen todavía o aquellas personas que tratan a los demás con desprecio . Uds y yo debemos vivir con lo que llamo LA ESPERANZA DE JESÚS. La esperanza de Jesús lo expresó al final del evangelio de hoy cuando, al terminar su discurso en la Ultima Cena dijo esto:  Padre justo, el mundo no te ha conocido, pero yo te he conocido, y estos han conocido que tú me enviaste. Y les he dado a conocer tu nombre, y lo daré a conocer aún, para que el amor con que me has amado, esté en ellos, y yo en ellos.  Esta esperanza de Jesús debe ser la mia y la suya también.Si me desean hacer un comentario:tdeely7352@hotmail.com

LA PREGUNTA DE TADEOEstas palabras de Jesús se las dice a Tadeo y los demás discípulos en la Ultima Cena. Es la noche antes de será Jesús crucificado en el Calvario. Son palabras de ternura y cariño. Jesús les recuerda que el Padre y él mismo los ama tanto. Les asegura que el Espíritu Santo les irá ayudándoles entender y vivir mejor las palabras de Jesús que son, a la misma vez, las palabras del Padre Celestial. Entonces viene esta pregunta de Judas Tadeo:“Señor, ¿por qué razón a nosotros sí te nos vas a manifestar y al mundo no?” La respuesta de Jesús a esta pregunta de Jesús es sencillamente que Jesús repite las palabras que ya les he dicho sobre como el Padre y Jesús viniendo para hacer su morada en ellos.  Yo me atrevo decir lo que Jesús pudiera haberles respondido. Creo yo que Jesús podría haberles dicho esto: “Tadeo y todos Uds. mis queridos discípulos. Eso va ser la tarea de Uds.  Uds. mismos van a manifestarme al mundo. Uds. con su amor, con sus palabras, Uds. con compartir con los demás todas las cosas que han vivido, todas las cosas que Uds. han Visto, todos los momentos hermosos y bellos que hemos vivido juntos…Hermanas, Hermanos en Cristo hacen dos semanas varias personas entraron la Iglesia por el Bautismo, la Confirmación. Esas nuevas cristianas, al comenzar recibiendo el Cuerpo y la Sangre de Jesús mismo en la Eucaristía…esos nuevos seguidores de Jesús se juntaron a Cristo y se juntaron a nosotros para ser IGLESIA. Sabemos que la Iglesia, el Cuerpo Vivo de Jesús, su tarea diaria es manifestar, mejor dicho, hacer visible la presencia y el amor de Jesús en el mundo de hoy.  Si alguien me pregunta: Padre Martín, ¿Conoces tú a Jesús?  Lo que yo les respondo es que. YO VOY CONOCIENDO A JESÚS CADA DÍA UN POCO MAS.. Le doy un ejemplo. Hace dos semanas mi querido amigo y compañero de Ordenación, Padre Damian me compartió su decisión de dejar el tratamiento de diálisis, sabiendo que su muerte, mejor dicho, su encuentro con Jesús , la Virgen y todos los santos iba a llegar pronto. Yo, al ver la valentía, la fe y   el gozo de Padre Damian, pues yo conocía a Jesús un poco más…al ver yo la obra de Dios, del Espíritu Santo en mi querido amigo.Si me quieren hacer un comentario:tdeely7352@hotmail.com

NUESTRO PAPÁ Y ABBÁ EN EL CIELOVivo acá con otros redentoristas y sacerdotes. Tengo los 86 años. El mayor acá es Padre Bobby que tiene los 95 años. Celebramos la Santa Misa juntos cada mañana a las 8 y media de la mañana. Tomamos turnos siendo el sacerdote que es el sacerdote principal. Ese sacerdote siempre predica una breve homilía sobre el evangelio y las lecturas. A mí me gustan mucho las homilías de Padre Tomás Travers que tiene el mismo nombre que yo. Padre Travers siempre habla de ABBA, el Papá de Jesús y el papá de Uds. y yo también. Hoy Jesús le dice a la gente esto: Dice: Mis ovejas escuchan mi voz; yo las conozco y ellas me siguen. Yo les doy la vida eterna y no perecerán jamás. El Padre Travers nos diría hoy algo así.  Jesús vino al mundo para que Uds. y yo conociéramos nuestro Papá nuestro Abba en el cielo. Es más Jesús quiere que hoy y cada día Uds. y yo conociéramos un poco mas ese gran amor y ternura y cariño que nuestro Papá Celestial tiene para cada uno de nosotros. Y eso a pesar de los pecados, de los errores y malos pasos que hayamos hecho.  Nuestro Papá Celestial quiere que cada uno de nosotros seamos como Pablo y Bernabé en la primera lectura hoy. Pablo, por cierto, había hecho muchos pecados y errores cuando perseguía y apresaba a los cristianos. Dice la lectura hoy sobre la labor misionera de Pablo y Bernabé: Cuando llegaron estas noticias a la comunidad cristiana de Jerusalén, Bernabé fue enviado a Antioquía. Llegó Bernabé, y viendo la acción de la gracia de Dios, se alegró mucho; Hermanas y hermanos en Cristo, hoy Jesús y Nuestro común Papá Celestial desean que Uds. y yo permitan que el Espíritu Santo actúe en nosotros para que toda la gente que veamos en este día de hoy se llene del amor y de la alegría de Dios.Tdeely7352@hotmail.com

This reflection was originally published in 2025. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

This reflection was originally published in 2023. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

Tuesday of the Third Week of EasterApril 21, 2026  Hello and welcome to the Word, bringing you the Good News of Jesus Christ every day from the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province. I am Fr. Karl Esker from the Basilica of our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, NY. Today is Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter. Our reading today is taken from the holy gospel according to John. The crowd said to Jesus: “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” So they said to Jesus, “Sir, give us this bread always.”      Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”The gospel of the Lord.Homily Today's readings ask us to examine where our lives of faith are grounded. Are they grounded in the words and actions of Jesus or are they simply a set of practices with which we have become comfortable? In the gospel the crowd asks Jesus for a sign to believe in him. Remember, Jesus had just fed the crowd with the five barley loaves and two fish the day before. But they wanted something like the manna which had accompanied their ancestors in the desert for forty years, which they called bread from heaven. Jesus tells them that the true bread from heaven is what God is prepared to give them now, which will not just sustain the body, but will give life to the world. Of course, the crowd responds asking him to give them this bread always. Jesus then says to them: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” When we hear these words, we immediately think of receiving the body and blood of Christ in Holy Communion; but Jesus is not speaking just of the Eucharist. He is calling each of us to share in his way of being: to love as he loved, to forgive as he forgave, to relate to God as his beloved children and to see in others our brothers and sisters and bring them consolation and healing as he did. That is just as difficult for us today as it was for those listening to Jesus' words. The bishop St. Augustine liked to tell his people: “become him whom you eat.” One who did just that was Stephen, whom we hear about in today's first reading. St. Luke tells us that Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and fearlessly proclaimed Jesus as the Lord and Savior promised by God through the prophets. This did not sit well with the elders and the scribes of the Jewish people. They thought they were done with Jesus by crucifying him, but Stephen accuses them not only of being blind to the law of God, but also of being in the line of those who murdered the prophets. He then proclaims Jesus not only as risen, but seated at the right hand of God. This was all too much for them. They threw Stephen out of the city and began to stone him. In this moment of facing death, Stephen remained a faithful witness to Jesus. He shared Jesus' way of being by his attitude toward his murderers: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And he died as Jesus did: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” A young man named Saul witnessed the stoning and may even have incited it; but I am sure he was affected by the manner of Stephen's death, because when Jesus appeared to him on the way to Damascus, he was quickly converted. The question for us is whether our lives witness to the power of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus? In a world where our Pope and bishops are being attacked by figures in authority who feel threatened by their preaching the gospel, may our way of living and speaking in and of Christ Jesus be a witness that can transform the world. May God bless you. Fr. Karl E. Esker CSsRBasilica of our Lady of Perpetual HelpBrooklyn, NY

This reflection was originally published in 2023. While the speakers title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!