Come Holy Spirit Series: Gift of Understanding.

Come Holy Spirit Series.

Come Holy Spirit.

Gift of Understanding.

Welcome back to Come Holy Spirit Series.
As part of my own preparation for Pentecost, even though we have just entered into Eastertide, I decided as part of my own spiritual journey to explore the gifts and fruits of the Spirit and to see how to use them in my life now.   This series is born from this perspective. It is my refresher and preparation for Pentecost, something that I hope will have a whole different perspective this year.  Perhaps you might like to join me on this adventure on Who is the Holy Spirit and invite the Holy Spirit to come.
In last week's post, we discussed Who is the Holy Spirit and the first of the Seven Gifts- Wisdom. In this post, we will explore what the Gift of Understanding is and how it relates to gift of Wisdom.  We will also explore how we might tap into this gift in our lives this week.  Let’s begin.

 

Week 2: The Gift of Understanding: "Holy Spirit, I want to know You again."

 

What Does the Compendium of the Catechism Say About Understanding?

In the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, understanding is mentioned under the broader explanation of the gifts of the Spirit:

Q. 389. What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. They are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.  (CCC 1830–1831)

It is listed second, immediately after Wisdom, because once we see with God's eyes (wisdom), we need to enter into His truths more deeply (understanding).

Though the Compendium lists the gifts without individual detailed explanations, in the full Catechism (CCC 1831) and Catholic tradition, Understanding is seen as:

• A gift to grasp the truths of the faith in a deeper, interior way.
• Not just knowing "about" God—but knowing and feeling His mysteries at the level of the heart.
• A light that allows us to penetrate mysteries that reason alone cannot fully explain (like the Trinity, the Eucharist, divine providence, and mercy).

Therefore we can say simply:

Wisdom lets us see as God sees whereas
Understanding lets us enter what God sees.

 

What Is the Gift of Understanding, Really?

Understanding is not about being clever, quick, or theologically brilliant. It's about the Holy Spirit breathing into the soul a deeper intuition and recognition of spiritual realities.

When we have the gift of Understanding:

• Scripture comes alive in new ways.
• We feel the truth of the mysteries of our faith, even when we cannot explain them fully.
• We trust God's ways more easily, even when they seem hidden or difficult.
• We move from head knowledge to heart knowledge.

It’s like a lamp being lit inside us—suddenly, what once seemed abstract becomes personal.

Think about the disciples on the road to Emmaus:

"Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked to us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32)

That’s the Gift of Understanding at work.

 

 Why Do We Need the Gift of Understanding?

Because faith is not just information—faith is relationship.

Without Understanding, we may know doctrines but struggle to enter into their beauty.
We may repeat prayers without feeling their life.  We may hear about forgiveness without grasping its freedom.

Understanding:

• Bridges our mind and our heart.
• Brings joy when meditating on Scripture and the Sacraments.
• Strengthens our trust when life is confusing.

Without this gift, the mysteries of faith remain like locked doors.  With this gift, the Spirit Himself becomes the key. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to give us Himself in this way and if we have been confirmed already, to refresh, renew and reinvigorate this gift within us.   Come Holy Spirit.

 

How Can We Refresh, Renew, and Use the Gift of Understanding?

1. Ask for it simply and daily.

“Come, Holy Spirit, Gift of Understanding. Open my mind. Enflame my heart.”

2. Sit with Scripture slowly.

Let us not rush reading scripture. When something stands out, stop. Stay there. That’s often Understanding trying to work.

3. Receive the Sacraments with fresh eyes.

Next time we go to Mass or Confession, ask the Holy Spirit to help us "understand" more deeply what is happening beyond the visible signs.

4. Embrace mystery.

If we don’t understand something about God or life, let us not panic. We can use this opportunity to simply say:

“Holy Spirit, I don't understand yet. Help me to trust and to love.”

The Gift of Understanding grows by living the mysteries, not explaining them away.

Scriptures That Speak of Understanding

·         “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”  Luke 24:45

·         “The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:10

·         “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5

 

Reflection Question for the Week:

Where in my faith life do I need the Holy Spirit to move me from knowing about God to truly encountering Him?

 

Daily Soul Moments for Understanding Week

• Sunday: Thank God for a moment you understood something new about Him.
• Monday: Pray: “Holy Spirit, open the eyes of my heart.”
• Tuesday: Read Luke 24:13–35 (Road to Emmaus). Where does your heart “burn”?
• Wednesday: Reflect on a mystery of faith (e.g., the Eucharist). Ask to understand it more deeply.
• Thursday: Bring a current question or doubt to prayer. Don't solve it—just sit with it.
• Friday: Meditate on Proverbs 3:5. Trust where you don't yet understand.
• Saturday: Look back: How has God helped you understand something you once struggled with?

 

Closing Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, Gift of Understanding,
Awaken my heart to the wonders of faith.
Teach me to walk not by sight, but by the light of Your truth.
Where my mind is closed, open it.
Where my heart is hesitant, embolden it.
Where my spirit is weary, renew it.
Teach me to know You, not as a stranger, but as my closest companion.

 

 

Entering The Joy: Easter Entrance Antiphon Series Wednesday Second Week of Eastertide

 Entering the Joy: 

Easter Entrance Antiphon Series.

He Is Not Here. He Is Risen.

Wednesday Second Week of Eastertide.

Entering the Joy: Easter Antiphon Series.

 

Let’s unpack today’s Entrance Antiphon:

1. "I will praise you, Lord, among the nations"

Eastertide is missionary by nature:

The Resurrection isn't just a private joy — it must be proclaimed among the nations.  This line calls us outward — to be joyful witnesses of what God has done, not just inside church walls, but in the world.

2. "I will tell of your name to my kin"

• Kin = family, community, those closest to us.
• It reminds us: evangelization doesn't only happen "far away" — it begins right where we are — with our families, friends, neighbours.
• Telling of God's name is telling of God’s saving love — His mercy, His kindness, His resurrection life.

3. "Alleluia"

• Still the Easter cry: Not just surviving, but proclaiming with joy.

How does this relate to St Pius V whose feast day it is.

• St Pius V was a pope who courageously reformed the Church after the upheaval of the Protestant Reformation.
• He "praised the Lord among the nations" not by grand gestures, but by faithfully defending truth and renewing the Church’s liturgy and prayer (he helped standardize the Mass and the breviary after Trent).
• His life reminds us: faithfulness is a form of proclamation.
• You don't have to be loud — a life of integrity proclaims Christ.

 

Today’s antiphon reminds us: Easter joy isn’t meant to stay hidden.
It’s a song meant to be sung among the nations — and whispered to our kin.

Resurrection is a reality that demands a response:

• In our words
• In our lives
• In our love

Some are called to proclaim Christ loudly; others are called to live so faithfully that Christ is made visible through them.
Today, we remember St Pius V — a pope who praised the Lord among the nations not through noise, but through courage and renewal.

Wherever you are planted today, you are called to be a living “Alleluia.”

 

Spirituality in Action

How will I practice this antiphon today?

• Speak one small word of praise aloud — even if just in prayer.
• Offer thanks to God for your family and community — your "kin."
• Look for a way to encourage someone today — proclaim God's goodness quietly but truly.
• Ask yourself: Is there one person I can share the joy of Christ with today, even by or through a simple act?
• Reflect: How does my daily life "praise the Lord among the nations"?

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus,
let my life be a song of Alleluia.
Let my words praise You
and my love proclaim You,
so that among the nations and in my own home,
Your name may be glorified.
Amen.

 

Entering the Joy: Easter Entrance Antiphons. Feast of St Catherine of Siena

 Entering the Joy: 

Eastertide Entrance Antiphon Series.

He Is Not Here. He Is Risen.

Entering the Joy: Easter Entrance Antiphon: Feast of St Catherine.

Today's Entrance Antiphon alludes to the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13).

Entrance Antiphon (St Catherine of Siena):

"Here is a wise virgin, from among the number of the prudent, who went forth with lighted lamp to meet Christ, alleluia."

Let’s explore it first:

1. "A wise virgin"

• "Wise" here isn't just intelligence — it's spiritual attentiveness.
• The Wise Virgins kept their lamps trimmed and burning — they were ready when the Bridegroom came.

2. "From among the number of the prudent"

• Prudence is not fear or hesitation, rather it is the right judgment of when and how to act.
• It is choosing to be prepared even when others are careless or distracted.

3. "Lighted lamp"

• The lamp symbolizes faith, hope, and love burning actively.
• Oil often symbolizes the Holy Spirit — the ongoing fuel for the soul.

4. "To meet Christ"

The goal is not just to be prepared for anything.  It is to be prepared specifically to meet Jesus.

• Readiness is about relationship, not just duty.

How this fits into Eastertide:

• We are living in the “in-between” time: Christ has risen and ascended — but we are still waiting for the final fulfilment.
• Eastertide invites us to live as wise and ready people which means that we need to be awake, joyful, alert, lamps lit, faith alive.

 

Feast of St Catherine of Siena – Reflection on the Entrance Antiphon

Today’s antiphon paints a vivid picture: a wise and prudent soul, lamp lit, walking out to meet her Beloved.

This wisdom isn’t just head knowledge.

It’s the wisdom of prepared love — the readiness of a heart that stays awake, even when the wait is long.

St Catherine of Siena lived this reality:

• She burned brightly with faith.
• She let herself be fuelled by love of Christ.
• She moved toward Jesus with courage, even when it meant confronting emperors or traveling across Italy.

In the parable of the Wise Virgins, those who brought oil were welcomed into the wedding feast. Those who came unprepared found the door shut

Today’s entrance antiphon invites us into the heart of St Catherine of Siena’s life: a soul ablaze with love, a lamp burning brightly for Christ.

St Catherine was not only a woman of deep action — advising popes, healing divisions — but also a mystic who spent hours contemplating the Passion of Christ.
She understood that the Resurrection does not erase the wounds of Christ. Jesus rises with His scars still visible — glorified, but not sanitized.

For St Catherine, and for us, contemplating Christ’s wounds is not morbid; it is the wellspring of wisdom.
In the wounds of the Risen Christ, she found courage, love, and the fire to live for others.

If you wish to listen to a homily which connects the love that St Catherine discovered for Christ, here is the link. 

Easter joy is not naïve.
It sees the scars and still sings “Alleluia.”
It keeps the lamp lit even in the darkness because it knows that the Bridegroom is coming.

Today we are invited to do the same — to let the memory of Christ’s Passion fuel our joy, not diminish it.
To meet Him — scarred, risen, glorious — with our lamps still burning.

 

Eastertide reminds us:

Christ has already opened the door — but we are still called to keep our lamps burning brightly until the final meeting.

Even in small ways today, we can live like the Wise Virgins — trusting, joyful, ready.

 

Spirituality in Action

How will I practice this antiphon today?

• Check the "oil" in your spiritual life: Prayer, Scripture, love — are they part of your daily living?
• Light a candle today in prayer, asking God to keep your lamp of faith burning brightly. Let us keep our light burning brightly even in a wounded world.
• Choose an act of love today that you might otherwise postpone. Kindness is oil for the lamp.
• Reflect: If Christ knocked on my door today, would I be ready to greet Him with joy?
• Spend a few moments contemplating Christ’s wounds today especially and in our prayer time so the we remember they are now signs of victory, not defeat.
• Pray: "Jesus, let my heart stay awake, my love stay strong, my hope stay lit."
• If you feel weak or tired, offer that feeling to Christ — He knows the cost of waiting and of loving through suffering.

 Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus,
Keep my lamp burning brightly today.
Let wisdom guide my steps,
and let love fuel my heart,
so that whenever You call,
I may run with joy to meet You.
Alleluia.

 

Collect Series: Second Sunday of Eastertide Year C ( Mercy Sunday).

Collect Series

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

Collect Second Sunday of Eastertide Year C ( Mercy Sunday).

COLLECT

 

God of everlasting mercy,

who in the very recurrence of the pascal feast,

Kindle the faith of the people You have made Your own,

Increase, we pray, the grace You have bestowed,

That all may grasp and rightly understand

in what font they have been washed,

By whose Spirit they have been reborn,

By whose Blood they have been redeemed.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You

In the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.

  

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

1.  What does God’s mercy mean to me?
2.  How have I experienced God’s mercy in my life?
3.  What grace has God bestowed on me? 
4.  What does my baptism mean to me and how does it affect my daily life?
5.  What does it mean to me to be redeemed by Jesus? 
6.  How can I live a life of mercy?

7.  What does living Easter entail for me during Eastertide and throughout the year?

GOSPEL REFLECTION.

Today we hear the Gospel of the meeting of the Risen Lord  with St Thomas. It has evoked much writing from The Fathers of the Church and has also proven to be a source of inspiration for numerous artists who have in their work tried to represent the reality of the risen Christ to His disciples 8 days after the resurrection.

Perhaps we can see ourselves in the doubting Thomas and so we can identify with his initial unbelief.  He wanted proof. Put ourselves in his shoes for a moment. Imagine being told someone you have loved and had been buried a week before is now alive.  What would really be our reaction.  Probably like Thomas- I want to see this for myself.

And yet what a response from Thomas after he saw His risen Lord. Jesus’ response to Thomas, after he recognized Him as ‘My Lord and my God’, has a mysterious fascination that must relate not so much to the disciples—those who ‘have seen’—but rather to those, like us, who were added to their number afterwards. ‘You have come to believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.’ (Jn 20:29)

The Second Sunday of Easter (the ‘eight days after,’ which is the Sunday after the Resurrection), permits us to tie our reflection to one of the most significant Eucharistic hymns composed by another Thomas, St Thomas Aquinas. In the Adore Te Devote, which refers to the Eucharist, we read: ‘Sight, touch, taste are all deceived in their judgement of you. But hearing suffices firmly to believe’. Combining these words with today’s Gospel we can justly affirm that the experience ‘to see’ was not denied to us, but it is in contrast with the Apostle Thomas’ physical experience, who was able to put his own finger into the holes in Christ’s hands and side, whilst we can only comprehend it in the faith which is guarded and transmitted by the Church, our Mother and Teacher.

That which we ‘have not seen’ is therefore the glorious Body of the Risen One. However, today we have the ability to ‘listen’ to the Word of God and the Magisterium of the Church and so we can ‘see’the real Body of Christ which is the Eucharist. We can ‘see’ His Mystical Body which is the Church. We can ‘see’ Him in our lives and in the lives of our many brothers who, after meeting the Lord in a real but mysterious way, are united to Him in His Spirit!

Like Thomas, Christ calls us to fill the holes left by the instruments of the passion in His Body with our own hands so that our lives and the verbal witness that we give proclaim His Resurrection. Our senses could betray us, but we know that we have met the Risen One and we have recognized Him!

MERCY SUNDAY

  This Sunday is popularly known as Mercy of God Sunday. Between 1930 and 1938 Christ appeared to Sister Faustina, a Sister of Mercy in Poland who initiated the Divine Mercy devotion. She was canonized on April 30, 2000, the Sunday after Easter, the Feast of Divine Mercy. On Good Friday, 1937, Jesus requested that Blessed Faustina make a special novena before the Feast of Mercy, from Good Friday through the following Saturday. Jesus also asked that a picture be painted according to the vision of Himself as the fountain of mercy. He gave her a chaplet to be recited and said that it was appropriate to pray the chaplet at three o'clock each afternoon (the Hour of Great Mercy).

Jesus to Sr. Faustina

On one occasion, I heard these words: "My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.

"[Let] the greatest sinners place their trust in My mercy. They have the right before others to trust in the abyss of My mercy. My daughter, write about My mercy towards tormented souls. Souls that make an appeal to My mercy delight Me. To such souls I grant even more graces than they ask. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he makes an appeal to My compassion, but on the contrary, I justify him in My unfathomable and inscrutable mercy. Write: before I come as a just Judge, I first open wide the door of My mercy. He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice.

"From all My wounds, like from streams, mercy flows for souls, but the wound in My Heart is the fountain of unfathomable mercy. From this fountain spring all graces for souls. The flames of compassion burn Me. I desire greatly to pour them out upon souls. Speak to the whole world about My mercy."

Excerpted from Diary of Sr. M. Faustina Kowalska.

 

 On this second Sunday of Easter, ''Mercy Sunday'', the gospel gives a clear description of the institution of the  sacrament of Reconciliation- Jesus giving His disciples to forgive sins in His name. Obviously, every priest who hears confession gives the sign and the words of absolution, provided that the conditions of the penitent have been met.  Absolution is not a given if the disposition of the penitent is clearly not meeting the criteria that a priest must weigh up before giving absolution.  However, it is Christ Himself hidden in the priest who hears our sins and gives us absolution.  Some people think that they are confessing only to a priest and forget this essential element.  

 As we celebrate Mercy Sunday, let us give thanks to the Lord for his goodness and everlasting love.

Let's get Practical: How does God's Mercy extend to us in the Church ?

On this Mercy Sunday, let us take the opportunity given us by the Church to receive a plenary indulgence by receiving communion at Mass, receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The church knows that it is not always possible to receive the sacrament on this day itself. It provides us with the same graces and opportunity  by allowing us to receive the sacrament with the appropriate disposition and requirements within a week before or after the feast) and say the prayers for the Holy Father.  Given that Pope Francis has died and that currently we are in transition whilst we wait for the conclave, those prayers for the Pope can either be directed towards the soul of Pope Francis and to pray for the upcoming conclave of the cardinals who will elect a new pope.

Entering the Joy: Easter Entrance Antiphons Easter Thursday

 Entering the Joy: Easter Entrance Antiphons.

He is not here. He is Risen.

Easter Thursday Entrance Antiphon:

“They praised in unison your conquering hand, O Lord, 

for wisdom opened mouths that were mute 

and gave eloquence to the tongues of infants. 

Alleluia.”

(cf. Wisdom 10:20)

 

1. “They praised in unison your conquering hand, O Lord…”

This line evokes the Exodus — the people of Israel praising God after passing safely through the Red Sea. The “conquering hand” refers to God’s power to save, not with violence, but with victory over oppression, slavery, and death.

In Eastertide, we see that fully revealed in Christ’s Resurrection — His conquering hand lifts us from the grave. It’s not just history — it’s happening now, in our own Red Sea moments.

 

2. “For wisdom opened mouths that were mute…”

This is the moment where it gets personal and Spirit-led. In Scripture, wisdom isn’t just cleverness or intelligence — it’s a gift from God that allows us to speak truth, live rightly, and see the world as God sees it.

Wisdom opens the mouth of:

• The hesitant
• The afraid
• The unworthy
• The unsure

Sound familiar? Think of Moses: “But I am slow of speech…” (Ex 4:10). And yet God gave him the words.

This also echoes Pentecost — when the Spirit gave speech to the apostles and eloquence to those who once had none.

3. “Gave eloquence to the tongues of infants…”

This is stunning. The image here is of purity, simplicity, and trust. God doesn’t just use seasoned speakers — He speaks through the humble and small. Even those who seem incapable of speaking can proclaim His glory when Wisdom fills them.

 

Yesterday, I began another series called Come Holy Spirit and I talked about the gfit of Wisdom. If you have not read it yet, you can find it here.   I started with the Gift of Wisdom — and here it is, right in the liturgy, proclaiming its power to liberate, proclaim, and praise.

As I am reflecting on the Entrance Antiphon today and the connection between beginning my blog series Come Holy Spirit, I see this as:

• Wisdom as Resurrection Speech — what we begin to say (and see) once we've passed through death into life.
• Wisdom as Empowerment — God equips the voiceless to speak, the shy to shine, the ordinary to praise with extraordinary grace.

Spirituality in Action

“They praised in unison your conquering hand, O Lord, for wisdom opened mouths that were mute and gave eloquence to the tongues of infants. Alleluia.”
(Wisdom 10:20)

How will I practice this antiphon today?

• Pray for Wisdom — Simply ask: “Holy Spirit, gift me with the wisdom to speak your truth with love today.”
• Notice the small voices — Pay attention to someone who might not usually be heard — a child, someone shy, someone overlooked. Listen to them with reverence.
• Speak when you’d normally stay silent — If there’s a moment where you’d usually hold back — in kindness, encouragement, or testimony — let wisdom open your lips.
• Encourage someone else’s voice — Tell someone you value what they say. Help them feel confident speaking up.
• Praise in unison — Join your voice (even quietly) with others in prayer, song, or shared purpose. Let your unity proclaim God’s conquering hand.
• Journal your own “mute to eloquent” moment — Reflect on a time when God gave you words when you didn’t know what to say.

 

This antiphon reminds us: wisdom is not just for theologians — it’s for the humble, the hesitant, and the hopeful. Let God give you the words today.

 

 Ps Sorry that this blog post is posted later than Easter Thursday. 

 

Entering the Joy: Easter Entrance Antiphons Easter Saturday

Entering the Joy: Easter Entrance Antiphons.

He is not here. He is Risen.

Easter Saturday:  

In the secular world, Easter Saturday is wrongly referred to as the Saturday before Easter Sunday. This is really Holy Saturday for Christians.  If we think about the logic of it, we cannot have Easter Saturday before Easter Sunday- before Christ has risen from the dead. So, Easter Saturday is today- the Saturday in the Easter Octave- the Saturday after Easter Sunday. 

Easter Saturday – Entrance Antiphon

“The Lord brought out his people with joy, his chosen ones with shouts of rejoicing, alleluia.”
(Psalm 104:43)

This antiphon is still Exodus language that we had earlier in the week. which is a reminder for us to celebrate how God brought Israel out of Egypt.
However in this antiphon on Easter Saturday, the focus here is JOY and IDENTITY:

• “His people” – belonging

• “His chosen ones” – identity

• “With joy” and “shouts of rejoicing” – expression of liberation and new life

This is a victory song — not a quiet procession, but a joyful, boisterous movement of a people who know they have been set free. As we reach the final day of the Easter Octave, the Entrance Antiphon bursts with a spirit of triumph and belonging.  God is not distant. God is not vague.  He knows His people by name.  He leads them out — not with a weary sigh, but with joy, with shouts of rejoicing.

You are not random. You are chosen. You are claimed. Even on days when you feel flat, heavy, or tired, this truth stands: The Lord has brought you out with joy.

Today’s antiphon reminds us that rejoicing is not always loud laughter — sometimes it’s the deep, steady heartbeat of knowing: I belong to Him. 

Even when we don’t feel full of energy, our faith tells us:

• We have been led through the waters.
• We have been claimed by Christ’s Resurrection.
• We are the people of joy, because we are the people of God.

 Spirituality in Action

How will I practice this antiphon today?

• Whisper a quiet “Alleluia” at some point during the day — even if it’s just for yourself and God.
• Light a small candle or sit in the sun for a few minutes, just resting in the joy of being God’s chosen.
• Pray for someone who feels lost or forgotten — that they, too, might know they are chosen.
• Remember one moment from this Easter Week when you glimpsed even a flicker of joy. Hold onto it.
• Smile, even if softly — a sign to yourself and to heaven that you are one of His.
• Make the sign of the cross on your forehead and hands today and say the words used in baptism when the priest baptises a child' I claim'( your name) for Christ. Claim yourself again for Christ with the sign of the Cross.

• When you say "Alleluia" at Mass today, say it with the awareness: "I am among the chosen ones."

• Smile deliberately — let your face witness Easter joy.

• Recall a moment you felt truly loved — thank God for it.

• Say aloud: “I am Yours, Lord. You have brought me out with joy.”

• If you're feeling weighed down, still whisper: “Alleluia” — as a choice, not a feeling.




Summary:

• Joy is the outward expression.

• Being chosen is the deep root underneath.

• Together, they form true Easter rejoicing.

Closing Prayer

Lord of Joy,

Even when my heart feels quiet,

Your love still sings over me.

Lead me today in the peace of knowing I am Yours.

Let my life whisper "Alleluia" every day,

even when my lips are still and my body and mind with tiredness.

Let my alleluia be always singing in my heart

both in exuberant joy and in quiet, weary days.

Amen.

 

 

 

 Moments with the Gospel

Moments with the Gospel Icon

The Miracle Catch

When meditating on today’s Gospel Jn 21:1-14,    there were a couple of interesting ponderings I had which I would like to share with you in my moments with the Gospel.  Perhaps you may have wondered about these points too. Let’s explore.

1. Is it unusual not to catch any fish for professional fishermen?

For seasoned fishermen like the disciples (Peter, James, and John were professionals), it would be unusual to fish all night and catch nothing.

• The Sea of Galilee (also called Tiberias) was well known for being rich in fish.
• Fishermen in that region typically fished at night, when the fish rose to the cooler surface waters, making them easier to catch with nets.

So, a completely unfruitful night would have been deeply frustrating — and perhaps humbling — especially for skilled professionals. This sets the stage for the miracle: their own effort produced nothing, but at Jesus’ command, they experience abundance.

 

2. What side of the boat did they usually fish from? Was it unusual to fish on the starboard side in the light?

• Traditionally, fishing was done from the left side (port side) of the boat. Most fishermen were right-handed, and the rudder was on the starboard (right) side, making the port side more accessible for casting and hauling nets.
• Also, boats in ancient Galilee were relatively small and balanced for hauling nets on one particular side.

 Casting on the right (starboard) side in daylight would be unusual and even counterintuitive, especially after a night of no success.

This highlights:

• Obedience over experience.
• The miracle wasn't in the technique but in following Christ’s word — even when it defied logic or habit.

3. What does the number 153 represent?

The number 153 has invited centuries of interpretation. Here are the most well-known possibilities:

• A literal count: It may simply reflect the astonishing abundance — large fish, counted precisely, and the net not breaking. It shows the miracle's physical reality and eyewitness detail (John often includes exact figures).
• Symbolic interpretations:
• St. Jerome (4th century) noted that ancient naturalists believed there were 153 species of fish in the world — suggesting a symbol of the universal mission of the Church to "catch" all peoples.
• St. Augustine suggested it symbolizes perfection: 153 is the sum of the numbers 1 through 17 (a triangular number).
• 10 (representing the Ten Commandments) + 7 (gifts of the Spirit or completeness) = 17
• 1+2+3...+17 = 153
• Mystical interpretations also see the number as representing the fullness of God's work, unity, or the completeness of the Church.

 

Reflecting on these thoughts:

The openness after failure of the disciples is deeply moving. The night of emptiness prepared them for the morning of grace. What about my nights or even days of emptiness? Do they prepare me for grace?

The humble posture of the heart that says:

“I don’t understand this… but because You say so, I will.”

It echoes Luke 5:5, from the first miraculous catch:

“Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing — but at Your word, I will let down the nets.”

Here in John 21, the same Peter — older, maybe a little more weathered — doesn’t even say a word this time. He just obeys. That silence speaks volumes. Perhaps Peter had some nagging professional fishing thoughts, which would be natural.  However, even if he did, he did not argue the point or try to tell Jesus that his way was better, made sense or was the right way. He remained silent and obeyed.  Do  I keep silent and allow my Master to direct me? Do I obey?  This is a struggle street point for me I have to say.

The disciples did not defend their expertise is telling. Professional pride often resists divine instruction, but hunger and failure made space for faith.

You might even say:

• Empty nets can empty pride.
• And empty hands are ready to receive a miracle.

 

There are plenty of other aspects to this gospel to be considered. These were the moments I had with the Gospel this morning.   I hope that these moments might encourage the catch you need.