First Reading: Acts 2:1-11 Reflection: Pentecost was originally a Jewish feast that occurred 50 days after the Passover celebration and commemorated the giving of the law to Moses and the Israelites on Mt. Sinai. On the celebration of Pentecost following Jesus’… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Acts 1:1-11 Reflection: This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. After Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, He remained on earth for 40 days and appeared to many people. Then, Jesus… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 Reflection: In this Sunday’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear about the first Church council that was held in Jerusalem. The issue at hand was whether or not Gentiles who came to… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Acts 14:21-27 Reflection: This Sunday’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles records the end of Paul’s first missionary journey. He and Barnabas had departed from Antioch in Syria and gone through the island of Cyprus and… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Acts 13:14, 43-52 Reflection: The events in this Sunday’s first reading took place during the Apostle Paul’s first missionary journey. Perga and Antioch in Pisidia were in Asia Minor (which is modern-day Turkey). Although this area was predominantly… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Acts 5:27-32, 40B-41 Reflection: This Sunday’s first reading recounts the happenings of some of the earliest days of the Church. After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the Apostles and other disciples of Jesus proclaimed the gospel to… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Acts 10:34A, 37-43 Reflection: During the Easter season, which we celebrate for 50 days in the Catholic Church (until Pentecost), we hear from the Acts of the Apostles in the First Readings, rather than the Old Testament. The book… Continue Reading →