April 20, 2026 Monday of the Third Week of Easter Gospel: John 6:22-29
Today is Monday of the Third Week of Easter. From this day forward, the Gospel appointed by the Church for us is taken from Saint John’s Gospel, where Jesus speaks of the Bread of Life.
Saint John tells us: After Jesus had fed the five thousand, His disciples saw Him walking on the sea (cf. John 6:16-21). This is indeed a beautiful image. We know the sea is the dwelling place of the devil, and it always threatens to swallow life. John uses this image to tell us: Jesus is the Lord of life. He has trodden the sea (the devil’s dwelling) underfoot, thus conquering death.
Saint John recounts: “The next day, the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there was only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone with His disciples in the boat, but that His disciples had left alone” (cf. John 6:22). This is truly surprising, for we know Jesus was often with His disciples. Yet this time, He did not accompany them. Where did He go? “He withdrew to the mountain” (cf. John 6:15). What does Saint John want to tell us? He wants us to understand: Sometimes, Jesus does not walk alongside us, but waits for us, in the course of daily life, guided by the Holy Spirit, to rediscover His presence and reestablish a relationship that is universal yet particular—a relationship in which it is just I and Jesus, who loves us and was willing to lay down His life for us.
Saint John continues: “Other boats from Tiberias drew near the place where the Lord had given thanks and they had eaten the bread. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to look for Jesus” (cf. John 6:23-25). Why did they seek Jesus? Because Jesus could meet their needs. What did they need? They wanted to hear Jesus speak of the Kingdom of God, to see Him work miracles, and to have Him multiply bread so they would no longer be hungry.
We too often lose our way in life, seeking from God the wrong graces. We place great importance on the things of this world that can fill our stomachs and sustain our daily needs, yet fail to seek from God the imperishable food that satisfies our spiritual hunger—the Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Grant, we pray, almighty God,that, putting off our old self with all its ways,we may live as Christ did,for through the healing paschal remedies you have conformed us to his nature.Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,God, for ever and ever
April 19, 2026 Third Sunday of Easter Gospel: Luke 24:13-35
Today is the Third Sunday of Easter. The Gospel passage from St. Luke describes the account of Jesus walking with the disciples on their way to Emmaus.
As these two disciples journeyed toward Emmaus, they were talking together when Jesus drew near and walked with them. Yet their eyes were kept from recognizing Him (see: Lk 24:16). The reason they could not see Him was their confusion about the future, their disappointment in all that had transpired. They had longed for a Messiah to lead them in rebellion against the Roman Empire—they had placed great hope in Jesus, only to see Him crucified. When they heard from the women that Jesus had risen and appeared to them, they were even more astonished, for in their view, it seemed like an illusion, a mere mirage.
What happened to the two disciples at Emmaus can also happen to us. Our emotions are often swayed by the world around us; when this fickle world undergoes great upheavals, a desire to escape it stirs in our hearts. As this thought grows stronger, our actions will face the world with the same pessimism as the two disciples traveling from Jerusalem to Emmaus that day (see: Lk 24:13-17). When this pessimism and negativity reach a peak, we will, like Cleopas, pour out our sorrow through our words to those we live with day by day (see: Lk 24:18-24). In our minds, sharing our inner grief with others will bring some comfort to our troubled hearts.
Today, the Risen Lord Jesus met with them—and He will also come to us in a form accessible to our perception. He does not come to accuse, but to accompany, explaining all that has happened according to His holy will. When we choose to understand this under the illumination of God’s Word, we will recognize the Risen Lord in every moment of our lives, proclaim Him rightly to the world, and live worthily as the Risen Lord desires.
May your people exult for ever, O God, in renewed youthfulness of spirit, so that, rejoicing now in the restored glory of our adoption, we may look forward in confident hope to the rejoicing of the day of resurrection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
April 18, 2026 Saturday of the Second Week of Easter Gospel: John 6:16-21
Today is Saturday of the Second Week of Easter. The narrative taken from the Gospel of Saint John tells us the story of Jesus meeting His disciples amid a storm.
I wish to say: After Jesus had fed the five thousand, His disciples saw Him walking on the sea (cf. Jn 6:16-21). Indeed, this is a beautiful image. We know that the sea is the dwelling place of the devil, and the great waters always swallow life. John wants to tell us through this image: Jesus is the Lord of Life, who trampled the sea (the devil’s dwelling place) underfoot, thereby conquering death.
Christian life is often influenced by these technologies. Among the influences they bring, some disturb our innermost being and gradually cause us to lose our discernment of truth, goodness, beauty, and holiness. They lead us into an evil trend of thought, which causes our Church to deviate from the right course and fall into a dangerous situation. At such times, we often feel despair because we cannot perceive the presence of God.
Today, the merciful Lord Jesus Christ personally approaches the disciples amid the storm, comforts us with His Word, joins us willingly, aids us with His power to withstand all storms, and prevents the devil from overcoming us. For we know that where the Gospel of the Savior arrives, the devil cannot stand, but must flee far away.
O God, who willed that through the paschal mysteries the gates of mercy should stand open for your faithful,look upon us and have mercy,that as we follow, by your gift, the way you desire for us,so may we never stray from the paths of life.Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,God, for ever and ever
全属于祢 
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