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Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Feast date: Apr 26
On the Feast of St. Mark, April 25, 1467, at the close of a festival in Genazzano, Italy, a cloud descended upon an ancient 5th-century deteriorated church, dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel. When the cloud disappeared, the festive crowd found a small, fragile image of the Blessed Virgin and Child on a thin sheet of plaster. The painting is said to have hung in mid-air, suspended without support, floating, on a small ledge. This particular fresco is said to date to the time of the Apostles. It had long been venerated in Albania’s capital city, Scutari.
Much of the church of Our Lady of Good Counsel was destroyed in World War II, but the image remained intact and in place. The miraculous image is still there today after more than 500 years. Countless miracles have been attributed to the prayerful intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Many pilgrims visit the church in Genazzano, and take part in the annual spring celebration, observed on April 25. Elsewhere in the world, the feast is celebrated April 26.
Jesus tends to pick us for a mission whether we feel equipped for it or not. Some of the heroes of our faith were just normal people who answered the call and allowed the grace of God to give them courage and transform their lives. Imagine living during the time of the Apostles. The Jewish people were waiting for a Messiah to come as a King. Jesus entered the scene and it was hard to believe from outward appearances that He was the savior the world had been waiting for. Nevertheless, He started performing miracles and preaching in ways that made everyone start to question and eventually believe.
In today’s first reading we see the Apostles in a similar boat. The book of Acts makes it clear that the scribes and Pharisees did not think much of the Apostles at first. They just seemed like uneducated fishermen. But then they started preaching and performing miracles in the name of Jesus and the script started to change.
I think one of the great tragedies of our world today is that we either take miracles for granted or do not realize the power we really have, through Christ, as baptized Christians. All throughout Scripture we hear about ordinary people who do extraordinary things because they trust in God. Now, maybe God isn’t calling us to literally heal people from leprosy or bring people back from the dead, but just because a miracle may not be a “showstopper” doesn’t mean it is any less of a miracle.
Since becoming a father I have very quickly had to realize that my spiritual life is going to look a little different. I may not be able to go to daily Mass like I did during college or spend as much time as I want in the adoration chapel, but it has made me much more intune to the little miracles that are happening in my family on a daily basis. I can wake up every morning and thank God for what he has done in my life already and what he will continue to do.
Easter is a time of celebration because we commemorate the biggest miracle of all time, Jesus rising from the dead. Let’s also take time during this season to thank God for all the miracles He gives us in our lives on a daily basis. Of course, in order to thank Him, we have to take some time to become aware of how He is working in our lives. I think if we pay attention, we will quickly realize that miracles still exist.
From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!
Jesús suele elegirnos para una misión, ya sea que nos sintamos preparados para ello o no. Algunos de los héroes de nuestra fe eran personas normales que respondieron al llamado y permitieron que la gracia de Dios les diera valor y transformara sus vidas. Imagínese vivir en la época de los apóstoles. El pueblo judío estaba esperando que viniera un Mesías como Rey. Jesús entró en la escena y era difícil creer, por las apariencias externas, que Él era el salvador que el mundo había estado esperando. Sin embargo, comenzó a realizar milagros y a predicar de maneras que hicieron que todos comenzaran a cuestionar y finalmente a creer.
En la primera lectura de hoy vemos a los apóstoles en una situación semejante. El libro de los Hechos deja en claro que los escribas y fariseos no tenían una gran opinión de los apóstoles al principio. Parecían pescadores sin educación. Pero luego comenzaron a predicar y a realizar milagros en el nombre de Jesús y el guión comenzó a cambiar.
Creo que una de las grandes tragedias de nuestro mundo actual es que tomamos por hecho los milagros o no nos damos cuenta del poder que realmente tenemos, a través de Cristo, como cristianos bautizados. En toda la Escritura escuchamos acerca de personas comunes que hacen cosas extraordinarias porque confían en Dios. Ahora bien, tal vez Dios no nos esté llamando a sanar literalmente a las personas de la lepra o a resucitarlas, pero el hecho de que un milagro no sea algo “espectacular” no significa que sea menos milagroso.
Desde que me convertí en padre, rápidamente me di cuenta de que mi vida espiritual iba a ser un poco diferente. Capaz no pueda ir a misa todos los días como lo hacía cuando estaba en la universidad o pasar tanto tiempo como quisiera en la capilla de adoración al Santísimo, pero me ha hecho estar mucho más en sintonía con los pequeños milagros que suceden en mi familia a diario. Puedo despertarme cada mañana y agradecerle a Dios por lo que ya ha hecho en mi vida y por lo que seguirá haciendo.
La Pascua es una temporada de celebración porque conmemoramos el milagro más grande de todos los tiempos, la resurrección de Jesús. También tomemos tiempo durante esta temporada para agradecer a Dios por todos los milagros que nos da en nuestras vidas a diario. Por supuesto, para agradecerle, tenemos que tomarnos un tiempo para tomar conciencia de cómo está trabajando en nuestras vidas. Creo que si prestamos atención, nos daremos cuenta rápidamente de que los milagros todavía existen.
De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios los bendiga!
Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”
Feature Image Credit: Carlo Navarro, unsplash.com/photos/closeup-photo-of-baby-on-blue-blanket-WCbCRXk7nmU
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
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