News - April 2014 RSS Feed

By Father Bob Pagliari, C.Ss.R. Redemptorist missionary, Rev. James Paul Lundy, died on April 26, 2014, at the Mary Manning Walsh Rehabilitation Center in New York, New York. He had just celebrated his 95th birthday earlier in the month before returning peacefully to the Lord.

Father James Paul Lundy died on April 26 in New York City. He was 95. Read or download his obituary here .

Scripture readings: Acts 10:34, 37-43; Psalm 118; Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; John 20:1-9 As a child I got to wear my best clothes on Easter Sunday. Sometimes that even meant new clothes, which was a wonderful, even if perhaps unintentional, proclamation of the new life bestowed on the world today by our all-loving God.

Scripture readings: Various Old Testament readings and psalms; Romans 6:3-11; Matthew 28:1-10 In the Liturgy of the Hours for today, we read from an ancient homily: “Something strange is happening; there is a great silence on earth today.” It is good that we keep silence today to reflect on the death of Jesus.

Scripture readings: Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 31; Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42 I once taught a class of sixth graders about how Jesus saves us from sin through His death and resurrection. A boy asked, “If Jesus was God, why did He have to die?” I was stumped, so like any good teacher, I asked my own question, “Well, what do you think?” There was a pause for a few moments until a girl offered, “I think Jesus had to die because He was just like us.” I think she touched on the essence of what we celebrate today, “Good” Friday.

Scripture readings: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; Psalm 116; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15 Toward the end of the musical Les Misérables , the young Marius sings: “There’s a grief that can’t be spoken; there’s a pain goes on and on; empty chairs at empty tables; now my friends are dead and gone.

Scripture readings: Isaiah 50:4-9; Psalm 69; Matthew 26:14-25 A recent Time magazine cover story featured soldiers returning from war. Besieged by nightmares, anger, and addiction, many find relief and renewed purpose by helping others.

Scripture readings: Isaiah 49:1-6; Psalm 71; John 13:21-33, 36-38 Hurt. Disappointed. Wounded. At one time or another, we have all experienced those feelings, and they have left their mark. In the Gospel today we are confronted with the betrayal of Jesus.

Scripture readings: Isaiah 42:1-7; Psalm 27; John 12:1-11 The song “Little Things Mean a Lot” reminds us that in relationships, simple signs of affection—a touch of the hand or a kind word—can be very important and can mean a lot to the ultimate health of the relationship.

Scripture readings: Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14- 27:66 In English, passion can mean intense emotion, or it can refer to the death of Our Lord Jesus Christ. On this day it means both.

Scripture readings: Ezekiel 37:21-28; Jeremiah 31; John 11:45-56 The thread running through all three readings is one of gathering, unity, and joy. We are reassured that God is not indifferent to the world’s divisions, hatreds, prejudices.

Scripture readings: Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 18; John 10:31-42 “The breakers of death surged round about me, the destroying floods overwhelmed me; the cords of the nether world enmeshed me, the snares of death overtook me.

Scripture readings: Genesis 17:3-9; Psalm 105; John 8:51-59 Today we are comforted by our faith in Christ’s resurrection, knowing that we too will come to a day of resurrection. But it was difficult for the people of Jesus’ time to understand this idea.

Scripture readings: Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; Daniel 3; John 8:31-42 “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Very often I find myself advising folks in the confessional about the need to be honest.

Scripture readings: Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 102; John 8:21-30 The Chosen People in today’s reading have wandered the desert and received the Ten Commandments and now in God’s providence are preparing to enter the Promised Land.

Scripture readings: Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62; Psalm 23; John 8:1-11 Our lives include many people who sin against us and hurt us. Today’s Gospel is not so much about sin but about God’s mercy.

Scripture readings: Ezekiel 37:12-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45 Every day through the news or even in our own experience, we become aware of people dying—because they do not have enough food, through some sort of violence in the streets or the home, or from other death-dealing realities.

Scripture readings: Jeremiah 11:18-20; Psalm 7; John 7:40-53 Today’s Gospel shows us the evil and stupidity of prejudice. Crowds of people, and even some Pharisees, are awed by Jesus’ words and deeds.

Scripture readings: Wisdom 2:1, 12-22; Psalm 34; John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 It is the Jewish feast of Tabernacles, and Jesus decides to go, “not openly but as it were in secret.” Some of the people who heard Him speaking were puzzled.