Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

CHROMATIUS:

He fulfilled the law at the time by completing the sacrifices of the law and all the examples prefigured in himself … by accepting a body. Certainly he fulfilled the law at the time he confirmed with evangelical grace the precepts of the law he had given. He proceeds to demonstrate he had come to fulfill the law: “Until heaven and earth pass away, not one iota, not a dot, shall be lost from the law until all is accomplished.” Therefore we know from Christ’s teaching how true and divine is the preaching of the law. The Lord reveals that not a single iota or a dot will be lost. read more

Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter

CHRYSOSTOM:

Why has Peter reminded us of [John’s] reclining? Not without cause or by chance but to show us what boldness Peter had after the denial. For he who then did not dare to question Jesus but turned this task over to another was now entrusted with the chief authority over the brothers. And not only does he not commit to another what relates to himself, but he himself now puts a question to his Master concerning another. John is silent, but Peter speaks. He also shows here the love that he had toward him. For Peter greatly loved John, as is clear from what followed, and their close union is shown both throughout the Gospel and also in the Acts. When therefore Christ had foretold great things of Peter and committed the world to his care and had foretold his martyrdom and testified that his love was greater than that of the others, desiring to have John also to share in this with him, he said, “And what shall this man do? Shall he not travel the same road with us?” On that other occasion, because he is not able himself to ask the question, he put John forward. Similarly, now desiring to return the favor and supposing that John would want to ask about matters pertaining to himself but lacked the courage, he himself undertook the questioning. read more

Mercy Sunday

The symbols in today’s Gospel teach us about God’s mercy.  God uses the language of Creation and Human Life to help us perceive the significance of His mercy.  Jesus first gives peace to the disciples to counteract their sorrow and fear.  Then as He breathes on them and invokes the gift of the Holy Spirit, we recall the first act of Creation, wherein God breathes into the nostrils of Adam and causes him to become a living being.  We understand now, that this life was forfeited with sin and that new life becomes possible by receiving new breath, a new Spirit.  We are recreated by the spirit: God’s mercy and forgiveness are not simply about letting bygones be bygones, it is the infusion of new life. read more