The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Athanasius by Ms. Joan Watson.

Athanasius, Bishop, Doctor Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Acts 15: 7-21 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 96: 1-2a, 2b-3, 10 Alleluia: John 10: 27 Gospel: John 15: 9-11

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter by Dr. John Bergsma.

Easter Weekday/ Joseph the Worker First Reading: Acts 15: 1-6 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 122: 1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5 Alleluia: John 15: 4a, 5b Gospel: John 15: 1-8, Proper Gospel for Joseph: Matthew 13: 54-58

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter by Dr. Shane Owens.

Easter Weekday/ Pius Virgin, Pope, Religious First Reading: Acts 14: 19-28 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 10-11, 12-13ab, 21 Alleluia: Luke 24: 46, 26 Gospel: John 14: 27-31a

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Catherine of Siena by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Catherine of Siena, Virgin, Doctor Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Acts 14: 5-18 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 115: 1-2, 3-4, 15-16 Alleluia: John 14: 26 Gospel: John 14: 21-26

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Easter Weekday First Reading: Acts 13: 44-52 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98: 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 Alleluia: John 8: 31b-32 Gospel: John 14: 7-14

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter by Dr. John Bergsma.

Easter Weekday First Reading: Acts 13: 26-33 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 2: 6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab Alleluia: John 14: 6 Gospel: John 14: 1-6

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Feast of St. Mark by Ms. Joan Watson.

Mark, Evangelist Feast First Reading: First Peter 5: 5b-14 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 89: 2-3, 6-7, 16-17 Alleluia: First Corinthians 1: 23a, 24b Gospel: Mark 16: 15-20

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter by Dr. John Bergsma.

Easter Weekday/ Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Priest, Martyr First Reading: Acts 12: 24 – 13: 5 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 67: 2-3, 5, 6 and 8 Alleluia: John 8: 12 Gospel: John 12: 44-50

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter by Dr. Shane Owens.

Easter Weekday/ George, Martyr/ Adalbert, Bishop, Martyr First Reading: Acts 11: 19-26 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 87: 1b-3, 4-5, 6-7 Alleluia: John 10: 27 Gospel: John 10: 22-30

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Easter Weekday First Reading: Acts 11: 1-18 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 42: 2-3; 43: 3-4 Alleluia: John 10: 14 Gospel: John 10: 1-10

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Readings: Acts 4:8–12 Psalm 118:1, 8–9, 21–23, 26, 29 1 John 3:1–2 John 10:11–18

Jesus, in today’s Gospel, says that He is the good shepherd the prophets had promised to Israel.

He is the shepherd-prince, the new David—who frees people from bondage to sin and gathers them into one flock, the Church, under a new covenant, made in His blood (see Ezekiel 34:10–13, 23–31).

His flock includes other sheep, He says, far more than the dispersed children of Israel (see Isaiah 56:8; John 11:52). And He gave His Church the mission of shepherding all peoples to the Father.

In today’s First Reading, we see the beginnings of that mission in the testimony of Peter, whom the Lord appointed shepherd of His Church (see John 21:15–17).

Peter tells Israel’s leaders that the Psalm we sing today is a prophecy of their rejection and crucifixion of Christ. He tells the “builders” of Israel’s temple that God has made the stone they rejected the cornerstone of a new spiritual temple, the Church (see Mark 12:10–13; 1 Peter 2:4–7).

Through the ministry of the Church, the shepherd still speaks (see Luke 10:16), and forgives sins (see John 20:23), and makes His body and blood present, that all may know Him in the breaking of the bread (see Luke 24:35). It is a mission that will continue until all the world is one flock under the one shepherd.

In laying down His life and taking it up again, Jesus made it possible for us to know God as He did—as sons and daughters of the Father who loves us. As we hear in today’s Epistle, He calls us His children, as He called Israel His son when He led them out of Egypt and made His covenant with them (see Exodus 4:22–23; Revelation 21:7).

Today, let us listen for His voice as He speaks to us in the Scriptures, and vow again to be more faithful followers. And let us give thanks for the blessings He bestows from His altar.