May 23, 2026 Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter Gospel: John 21:20-25
Today is Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter. According to the ancient tradition of the Church, this evening the Vigil Mass for the Solemnity of Pentecost will be celebrated. As per the newly published Roman Missal, the Pentecost Vigil may be celebrated in a shorter form or an extended form, though the Gospel reading remains the same. In light of pastoral needs, this year we provide reflections for both the Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter and the Pentecost Vigil.
The Gospel for the Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter is taken from the final narrative of the Gospel of John. I wish to take this opportunity to offer some reflections.
Perhaps we find John’s description of the disciple “reclining at Jesus’ bosom” (cf. John 21:20) somewhat peculiar, or even subject to wild imagination. Therefore, it is necessary to explain this expression.
Let us turn our gaze back to the scene of the Last Supper. All the Evangelists describe them as reclining at table. What is the significance of this posture? It signifies that those partaking in the Passover meal considered themselves to be free men. John specifically highlights “reclining at Jesus’ bosom” to indicate that this disciple, who understood the heart of Jesus, was deeply loved by Him. John was truly blessed, for God specially granted him to behold with his own eyes the Passion of Jesus Christ, and further granted him the Virgin Mary, making him a brother of Jesus and a son of the Mother of God.
Another point requiring our special attention is the dialogue between Peter and Jesus (cf. John 21:21-23). Peter was concerned about the fate of another, rather than concerning himself with his own calling. The same thing happens to us; we often fixate on others, thereby neglecting what Jesus says to us: “Follow me.”
Today, the Lord Jesus Christ, rich in mercy, entrusts each of us with a unique mission. He desires to give us His Holy Spirit, that the Spirit may abide with us always, instructing and enlightening us. On this final ferial day of the Easter Season, let us pray together:
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who have celebrated the paschal festivities, may by your gift hold fast to them in the way that we live our lives. 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
May 22, 2026 Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter Gospel: John 21:15-19
Today is Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter. The Gospel presents the narrative of Jesus’ final apparition to His disciples after His Resurrection.
This is a dialogue filled with profound affection between Master and disciple. Recall what Simon Peter did during the Lord’s Passion? He denied Jesus three times, saying, “I do not know Him” (cf. Lk 22:54-62). Yet, remembering all that Jesus had said to him—especially at the Last Supper: “Simon, I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren” (cf. Lk 22:31A, 32)—he was overcome with bitter remorse, for he loved Jesus deeply.
Jesus asks him three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (cf. Jn 21:15A, 16A, 17A). This serves to teach Simon Peter not only to love Him and make reparation for his sins, but also to love the flock entrusted to his care, accompanying them with humility and charity.
Peter’s response—”Yes, Lord; you know that I love you” (cf. Jn 21:15B, 16B, 17B)—reminds us of the Profession of Faith we made before God and the Church when we received the Sacraments of Initiation. At that time, we professed: “We believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth… We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord… We believe in the Holy Spirit…” How often, when asked what we believe, can we no longer accurately recall the Creed we once proclaimed?
Today, let us renew the Profession of Faith we made before God and the whole Church. Let us imitate our Patron Saints, generously offering our lives and faithfully fulfilling the mission God has entrusted to each of us.
O God, who by the glorification of your Christ and the light of the Holy Spirit have unlocked for us the gates of eternity, grant, we pray, that, partaking of so great a gift, our devotion may grow deeper and our faith be strengthened. 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
May 21, 2026 Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter / St. Theodore of Magellan and Companions, Martyrs Gospel: John 17:20-26
Today is Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter. The Church celebrates a Memorial of St. Theodore of Magellan and his Companion Martyrs. The passage from the Gospel of John continues Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer offered to the Father before His Passion.
In this Gospel passage, John provides us with a most essential truth: Jesus is in the Father, and the Father is in Jesus (cf. Jn 17:20-21). To understand the relationship between Jesus and the Father, we must turn to Genesis. At the very beginning of creation, it is written: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day” (cf. Gen 1:1-5). Thus, the Word proceeding from the mouth of God is the Logos, through whom the world was created. St. John tells us at the outset of his Gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made” (cf. Jn 1:1-3).
Another point of note is that Jesus mentions “glory” once more (cf. Jn 17:22-23). This “glory” is not merely a verb but refers to the Holy Spirit. We know that the Holy Spirit is the Life of God. As written at the beginning of John’s Gospel: “In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (cf. Jn 1:4). By giving them “glory,” Jesus bestows upon them the very Life of God. He gives His flesh as food and His blood as drink—and according to Jewish custom, blood and flesh signify a person’s life.
Today, each of us has the opportunity to receive the Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ through the Eucharist. In the Sacred Liturgy, enlightened by the Holy Spirit and listening to the Word of God, if we keep His commandments, we are those whom the Father has given to Jesus. If we follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and live according to His will, we are united to Christ. The Word of the Lord, rich in mercy, will never leave us “orphans” (cf. Jn 14:18). He remains ever at our side, ready to grant us strength whenever we are in need, helping us through every crisis of life.
May your Spirit, O Lord, we pray, imbue us powerfully with spiritual gifts, that he may give us a mind pleasing to you and graciously conform us to your will. 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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