Praying the Communion Antiphon Series Eastertide: Friday of the Second Week of Easter

 Praying the Communion Antiphon Series

He Is Risen As He Said

 Friday of the Second Week of Easter — Given from Heaven

Communion Antiphon
“Christ our Lord was handed over for our transgressions and was raised again for our justification, alleluia.” (cf. Romans 4:25)

 

 1. Thinking about the Words

“Handed over… raised again…”

Two movements:

• given
• and raised

 

 Handed over

Not taken.
Not lost.

Given.

There is love here—deliberate, self-giving love.

 

 Raised again

Not the end.
Not defeat.

But:

 new life breaking through

 

And then:

for our justification

This is a big word… but very gentle in meaning.

It means:

• being set right
• being restored
• being brought back into right relationship with God

 

2. The Gospel Connection — Encounter

Today’s Gospel (Gospel of John 6:1–15) brings us to the feeding of the five thousand.

A large crowd.
A real need.

 

The disciples see:

 not enough
 limitation
what cannot be done

 

Jesus sees:

what can be given

 

A small offering:

• five loaves
• two fish

 

And then:

He takes
He gives thanks
He distributes

And there is more than enough.

 

 3. Holding the Antiphon and Gospel together

The antiphon says:

 He was handed over… He was raised

The Gospel shows:

 He takes what is given… and multiplies it

 

There is a deep connection:

• Christ gives Himself
• and from that self-gift comes abundance

 

4. For Us — Where is Resurrection today?

Where do I feel:

• not enough
• limited
• unsure what I can offer

 

Today gently invites:

 What do I have?

Not what I lack.

 

And then:

Can I place this in His hands?

 

Because what we give:

• small
• imperfect
• ordinary

…He can use.

 

 A quiet question

Am I focusing on what I do not have…
or am I willing to offer what I do have?

 

This Communion antiphon flows so gently from the week:

• learning to trust
• learning to receive
• and now…
  learning to offer

 

 5. Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You were given for me
and raised to bring me life.

When I feel that what I have is not enough,
help me to place it in Your hands.

Take what I offer today,
however small,
and use it for Your purposes.

Bring forth life where I see only limitation.

Alleluia.

 

 

 

Praying the Communion Antiphon Series Eastertide: Thursday Second Week of Eastertide

 Praying the Communion Antiphon Series

He Is Risen As He Said

 Thursday of the Second Week of Easter — From Above

Communion Antiphon
“The one who comes from above is above all… He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, alleluia.” (cf. John 3:31–32)

 

 1. Thinking about the Words

“From above… above all…”

There is a contrast here.

• above / below
• heavenly / earthly
• God’s perspective / our limited view

 

 The one who comes from above is above all

This is about who Jesus is.

Not just:

• a teacher
• or a guide

But:

 the one who comes from God
 and sees fully

 

And then:

 He bears witness

He does not guess.
He does not speculate.

He speaks from:

• what He has seen
• what He has heard

 

 2. The Gospel Connection — Encounter

Today’s Gospel (Gospel of John 3:31–36) continues this unfolding.

John the Baptist speaks about Jesus:

• He must increase
• I must decrease

 

There is a letting go here.

A recognition that:

 this is not about holding on  but about making space

 

Again, we hear:

 the one who believes has life
 the one who rejects remains closed

 

 3. Holding the Antiphon and Gospel together

The antiphon tells us:

 Jesus speaks from above

The Gospel shows:

 we are invited to receive or resist

 

This is not about information.

It is about:

whose voice we trust

 

4. For Us — Where is Resurrection today?

So often we live:

• from our own understanding
• from what we see immediately
• from what feels urgent or overwhelming

 

Today invites a gentle shift:

to listen to the One who sees more
to trust a perspective beyond our own

 

This doesn’t mean ignoring life.

It means:

allowing God’s view to shape ours

 

 A quiet question

Am I living only from what I can see and understand…
Am I allowing Christ to lift my vision beyond myself?

 

 5. Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You come from above
and see what I cannot.

When I am limited by my own understanding,
teach me to trust Your word.

Help me to listen,
to receive,
and to allow Your truth to shape my life.

Let my heart open to what You reveal,
and lead me into the fullness of life.

Alleluia.

 

 Personal Note: Sorry this is posted late: I have been unwell

Praying the Communion Antiphon Series Eastertide: Wednesday Second Week of Easter

 Praying the Communion Antiphon Series

He Is Risen As He Said

Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter — Sent by the Father

Communion Antiphon
“God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him, alleluia.” (John 3:17)

 

 1. Thinking about the Words

“God did not send his Son… to judge… but to save.”

This is very clear.
And perhaps… very needed.

 

Sometimes we carry an image of God as:

• watching
• measuring
• waiting to correct

But this antiphon speaks differently:

 sent
 not to judge
 but to save

 

This is the heart of the mission.

Not condemnation.
But salvation.

 

 2. The Gospel Connection — Encounter

Today’s Gospel (Gospel of John 3:16–21) continues the conversation with Nicodemus.

We hear the well-known words:

“God so loved the world…”

 

And then:

 the reason for the coming of the Son

Not:

• to expose
• to condemn
• to reject

But:

 to save

 

And yet…

There is also a tension:

• light has come into the world
• but people sometimes prefer darkness

 

 3. Holding the Antiphon and Gospel together

The antiphon gives us the key:

 the Son is sent for salvation

The Gospel shows:

👉 how we respond to that light

---

This is not about God turning away.

It is about:

👉 whether we are willing to step into the light

 

 4. For Us — Where is Resurrection today?

Where might I still be:

• holding back
• hiding something
• staying in what feels familiar, even if it is not life-giving

 

The light is not harsh.

It is not there to expose in order to shame.

It is there to heal

 

The invitation is gentle:

 to step forward
 to allow myself to be seen
 to trust that what is revealed will also be transformed

 

A quiet question

Do I see God as one who judges me…
or as one who is always working to save and restore me?

This Communion antiphon flows beautifully from yesterday:

• Tuesday: look to the One lifted up
• Wednesday: receive the One sent to save

 

 5. Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You were sent not to judge
but to save.

When I am tempted to hide or withdraw,
draw me into Your light.

Help me to trust that Your gaze is one of love,
not condemnation.

Let Your light reach every part of my life,
bringing healing, freedom, and new life.

Alleluia.

 

 Personal Note: Sorry this was posted late. I have been unwell.

 

Prayin the Communion Antiphon Series Eastertide: Tuesday Second Week of Easter

 Praying the Communion Antiphon Series

He is Risen As He Said

 Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter — Lifted Up

Communion Antiphon
“The Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life, alleluia.” (cf. John 3:14–15)

 

 1. Thinking about the Words

“Must be lifted up…”

There is a necessity here.

Not:

• optional
• not accidental

 must

 

And yet…

“lifted up” carries two meanings at once:

• lifted up on the Cross
• lifted up in glory

 

What looked like:

• suffering
• defeat
• ending

…becomes:

 the very place of life

 

 2. The Gospel Connection — Encounter

Today’s Gospel (Gospel of John 3:7–15) continues Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus.

Nicodemus is still:

• trying to understand
• still thinking in earthly terms

 

Jesus brings him to something deeper:

He recalls the story of Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness.

 Those who looked upon it were healed.

 

Now Jesus says:

 “So must the Son of Man be lifted up.”

 

 3. Holding the Antiphon and Gospel together

The antiphon gives us the heart of it:

 “so that everyone who believes… may have eternal life”

 

This is not just about understanding.

It is about:

 looking
 believing
receiving life

 

Nicodemus wants to figure it out.

Jesus invites him to:

 trust what is being revealed

 

 4. For Us — Where is Resurrection today?

There are moments when:

• things don’t make sense
• something feels heavy
• something looks like loss

 

And yet today invites us to see differently:

 Could this also be a place where God is working?
 Could what feels like “down” also be “lifted up”?

 

 A very gentle movement

The people in the wilderness were not asked to:

• fix themselves
• solve everything

They were asked:

 to look

 

Perhaps today:

 I am not asked to solve everything t simply to turn my gaze toward Him

 

 A quiet question

Where am I being invited today not to understand fully but to trust and look toward Christ?

 

 This Communion antiphon sits quietly with yesterday…

• Monday:  be born from above
• Tuesday:  look to the One who is lifted up

No rush to grasp it all—just let your gaze rest there

 

 5. Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You were lifted up
so that I might have life.

When I struggle to understand,
help me to turn my gaze toward You.

Teach me to trust
even when I cannot see clearly.

Let Your life flow into me
as I look to You in faith.

Alleluia.

 

Personal Note: sorry this has been posted late. I have been unwell.

Praying the Communion Antiphon Series Eastertide: Monday of the Second Week of Easter

Praying the Communion Antiphon Series 

He Is Risen As He Said

Monday of the Second Week of Easter — Born from Above

Communion Antiphon
“Jesus stood in the midst of his disciples and said to them: Peace be with you, alleluia.” (cf. John 20:19)

 

 1. Thinking about the Words

“Jesus stood in the midst…”

Not at a distance. Not calling from afar.

In the midst

Right into:

• confusion
• fear
• uncertainty

 

Again we hear:

 “Peace be with you.”

This is not the first time.
And it won’t be the last.

Because peace is not given once.

 It is spoken again and again Until it begins to settle

 

 2. The Gospel Connection — Encounter

Today’s Gospel (Gospel of John 3:1–8) brings us to Nicodemus.

He comes:

• at night
• searching
• trying to understand

And Jesus says something unexpected:

“You must be born from above.”

 

Nicodemus struggles.

He tries to:

• reason it out
• make sense of it
• fit it into what he already knows

 

Jesus is speaking of something deeper:

 not improvement nor adjustment but new life

 

3. Holding the Antiphon and Gospel together

This is very beautiful today.

• The Gospel speaks of being born from above
• The antiphon shows Jesus standing in the midst

 

This new life is not abstract.

It happens: because He comes into our midst and breathes His life into us

 

The disciples receive peace. Nicodemus is invited into new birth.

Both are encounters that change everything

 

 4. For Us — Where is Resurrection today?

Nicodemus asks:

“How can this be?”

And perhaps we do too.

 

When things are:

• unclear
• overwhelming
• hard to grasp

We try to:

• think our way through
• solve
• understand

 

Today gently invites:  not to figure everything out  but to receive new life

 

Where might I be invited today:

• to let go of needing to understand everything
• to allow God to do something new in me
• to receive peace again, even if I’ve heard it before

 

 A quiet question

Am I trying to manage my life…
or am I allowing God to bring forth something new within me?

 

 5. Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You come into the midst of my life
and speak peace.

When I struggle to understand,
teach me to receive.

Breathe Your new life into me,
that I may be born from above
and live from Your Spirit.

Alleluia.

 

Personal Note: Sorry this post is late.  I have been unwell.

Praying the Communion Antiphon Series: Eastertide: Saturday of the Easter Octave

 Praying the Communion Antiphon Series

He is Risen As He Said

 Easter Saturday — Clothed in Christ

Communion Antiphon
“All you who have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ, alleluia.” (Galatians 3:27)

 

 1. Thinking about the Words

“Put on Christ.”

This is such a striking image.

Not:

• learned Christ
• followed Christ
• admired Christ

But:

 put on Christ

 

Like a garment.
Something that:

• covers
• surrounds
• becomes what is seen

 

And notice:

 All you who have been baptized…

This is not something we achieve.

It has already been given.

So the question is not:

 Do I have Christ?

But:  Am I living as one clothed in Him?

 

 What does this mean?

To “put on Christ” is to:

• carry His presence
• reflect His way of being
• allow His life to shape ours

 

 We do not have to do this perfectly or not all at once. But truly.

 

 2. The Gospel Connection — Encounter

Today’s Gospel (Gospel of Mark 16:9–15) brings us to a moment of transition.

Jesus has appeared:

• to Mary Magdalene
• to others

Yet still:

 some do not believe

 

And even in that… He sends them:

Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel.”

 

Now hold the antiphon and the Gospel together:

• The antiphon says: you have put on Christ
• The Gospel shows: disciples being sent to live and proclaim that reality

 

They are not sent because they are ready.

They are sent because:

 they now belong to Him and they carry Him

 

 3. For Us — Where is Resurrection today?

If I have:

• been baptized
• been drawn into Christ
• been given His life

Then today:

 I am already “clothed” in Him.  It is not something to earn but something from which to live.

 

What might that look like today?

• in how I speak
• in how I respond
• in how I carry myself

 

Very simply:

 Do others glimpse something of Christ in me?  Not by effort alone but  by allowing what has already been given to quietly show.

 

 A gentle question

Am I living as though I still need to become someone else…
Am I livings as someone who has already been clothed in Christ?

 

 4. Prayer

Am I Lord Jesus,
You have clothed me in Yourself.

Help me to live today
not from who I think I must become,
but from who I already am in You.

Let Your presence be seen in me,
not through striving,
but through quiet faithfulness.

Send me into this day
as one who carries You.

Alleluia.

 

Personal Note: Sorry that I have posted this late,. I have been unwell.

Praying the Communion Antiphon Series: Friday of the Easter Octave

 Praying the Communion Antiphon Series

He Is Risen As He Said

Easter Friday — Come and Have Breakfast

Communion Antiphon
“Jesus said to his disciples: Come and eat. And he took bread and gave it to them, alleluia.” (cf. John 21:12–13)

 

 1. Thinking about the Words

“Come and eat.”

So simple. So ordinary.

Not:

• a command
• not a teaching
• not even an explanation

Just an invitation.

And then:

 He took bread
He gave it to them

 

There is something deeply familiar here.

This echoes:

• the feeding of the crowds
• the Last Supper
• and now… the Resurrection

 

The Risen Jesus does not begin with:

• correction
• or mission
• or instruction

He begins with:

 nourishment
 presence
 care

 

 2. The Gospel Connection — Encounter

Today’s Gospel (Gospel of John 21:1–14) brings us to the shore.

The disciples have gone back to fishing.

• familiar
• ordinary
• perhaps a little uncertain

They catch nothing.

 

Then:

Jesus is a voice from the shore. They follow His instruction to cast the net again
this then gives them an abundance. Slowly:recognition begins

 

But notice…

Before anything else happens:

Jesus prepares a meal

 

Now hold the antiphon and the Gospel together:

• The Gospel shows: Jesus waiting, cooking, providing
• The antiphon gives us the heart of it:
  “Come and eat.”

 

This is not rushed.

It is:

• quiet
• relational
• deeply human

 

3. For Us — Where is Resurrection today?

How often do I think:

• I need to do more
• fix something
• understand something
• prove something

 

And yet today:

Jesus says: “Come and eat.”

 

Not:

• Come and explain yourself
• Come and prove your faith

Just: Come

 

Where might I be invited today to:

• receive instead of striving
• pause instead of pushing
• allow myself to be nourished

 

And especially:

When I receive Communion, do I come as one who is hungry
and willing to receive?

 

 4. Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You stand on the shore of my life
and invite me to come.

When I am tired, uncertain, or searching,
teach me to receive what You offer.

Help me to recognise Your presence
in the simple, ordinary moments of this day.

Nourish me with Your life,
that I may live from You
and not from my own striving.

Alleluia.

 

Personal note: I am sorry this post is late.  I have been unwell.