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St. Louis Catholic Church, Akure., Ondo By Pass Road, Akure (2026)

24/05/2026

𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘 (𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘)
𝐕𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐑𝐞𝐝
𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐌𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲

𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1-11)

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

The word of the Lord.

𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐌
Psalm104:1ab.24ac.29bc-30.31and 34 (R. cf. 30)
R/. Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
Or: Alleluia.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, how great you are.
How many are your works, O Lord!
The earth is full of your creatures. R/.

You take away their breath, they die,
returning to the dust from which they came.
You send forth your spirit, and they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth. R/.

May the glory of the Lord last forever!
May the Lord rejoice in his works!
May my thoughts be pleasing to him.
I will rejoice in the Lord. R/.

𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆
“By one Spirit we were all baptised into one body.”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 12:3b-7. 12-13)

Brethren: No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

The word of the Lord.

𝐒𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄
(Veni Creator Spiritus) (prose text)
Come, Holy Spirit,
and from heaven direct on man the rays of your light. Come, Father of the poor;
come, giver of God’s gifts; come, light of men’s hearts.
Kindly Paraclete, in your gracious visits to man’s soul you bring relief and consolation.
If it is weary with toil, you bring it ease;
in the heat of temptation, your grace cools it; if sorrowful, your words console it.
Light most blessed, shine on the hearts of your faithful — even into their darkest corners;
for without your aid man can do nothing good, and everything is sinful.
Wash clean the sinful soul,
rain down your grace on the parched soul and heal the injured soul.
Soften the hard heart,
cherish and warm the ice-cold heart, and give direction to the wayward.
Give your seven holy gifts to your faithful, for their trust is in you.
Give them reward for their virtuous acts; give them a death that ensures salvation; give them unending bliss. Amen. Alleluia.

𝐆𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐋 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
Alleluia. Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful; and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia.

𝐆𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐋
“As the Father has sent me, even so I send you. Receive the Holy Spirit.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 20: 19-23)

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost, which took place fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead. Today’s Gospel recounts Jesus’ first appearance to the Apostles as a group—Thomas being absent—on the evening of the Resurrection. During this appearance, Jesus conferred on them the authority to forgive sins, a power foundational to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This gift anticipates the fuller outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, when the Apostles were empowered to carry out their mission with boldness and divine strength.

By breathing on the Apostles, Jesus recalls the creation account in Genesis, when God breathed life into Adam (Genesis 2:7). Now Christ, the New Adam, breathes new life—the divine life of grace—into His Apostles. While this breathing conveys the Holy Spirit in an anticipatory manner, Pentecost represents the full bestowal of the Spirit upon the Church, sanctifying and empowering the Apostles and all disciples.

Our knowledge of Pentecost comes to us from the Acts of the Apostles, Luke’s continuation of his Gospel in which he details the beginning of the Church: “And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them” (Acts 2:2–3).

When the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles at Pentecost, there were physical manifestations. God often accompanies significant biblical actions with visible signs to reveal the invisible reality of His presence and activity. Though the transforming reality of Pentecost was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the accompanying signs teach us about the Spirit’s nature and work.

The “strong driving wind” that “filled the entire house” symbolizes the ongoing, life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit. Like the wind, the Spirit is unseen yet powerful, moving where He wills and producing visible effects in the lives of believers. Though we understand the natural causes of wind today, its mystery and uncontrollable nature remain, reflecting the Holy Spirit’s divine origin and unstoppable work in the world. He comes from God’s hidden presence, unseen but active, bringing about a new creation in the Church and in every soul He touches.

The “tongues as of fire” signify the Spirit’s purifying and transforming action, burning away sin and igniting hearts with zeal for God’s mission. Together, these signs reveal the Spirit as the powerful, life-giving, and sanctifying presence of God, animating the Church and guiding her to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

Before Pentecost, the disciples hid in the Upper Room, fearful and uncertain. Though Jesus had taught them, performed miracles, and revealed His perfect love, their hearts were not yet fully transformed. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came as a divine fire, emboldening them to become fearless witnesses.

When we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, we receive the same gift bestowed upon the disciples at Pentecost. We might not feel a strong driving wind or see tongues of fire descend from Heaven, but the reality is the same. The signs at Pentecost were not only for the disciples, they were also for us, revealing the Holy Spirit’s workings and power in our lives.

Reflect today on the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Have you experienced the Spirit’s presence in your life? Like the first disciples, have you allowed the Holy Spirit to fill you with power from on high, emboldening you, purifying you, and setting you on fire with zeal to fulfill the mission God has entrusted to you? The Holy Spirit will transform us—if we let Him—setting our feet on the path to eternal glory.

Adapted from: My Catholic Life

17/05/2026

𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 (𝐀)
𝐕𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞
𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐌𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲

𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆
All with one accord devoted themselves to prayer”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1: 12-14)

[After Jesus was taken up into heaven,] the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away; and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

The word of the Lord.

𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐌
Psalm 27:1.4.7-8a (R. 13)
R/. I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.
Or: Alleluia.

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
whom should I dread? R/.

There is one thing I ask of the Lord,
only this do I seek:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord,
to inquire at his temple. R/.

O Lord, hear my voice when I call;
have mercy and answer me.
Of you my heart has spoken,
“Seek his face.” R/.

𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆

“If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed.”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter (1 Peter 4:13- 16)

Beloved: Rejoice in so far as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a wrong-doer, or a mischief- maker; yet if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name let him glorify God.

The word of the Lord.

𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐋𝐔𝐈𝐀
Cf. John 14: 18

Alleluia. I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord; I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice. Alleluia.

𝐆𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐋
“Father, glorify your Son.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 17: 1-11a)

At that time: Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; and now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made. I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you; for I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you did send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours; all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

The entirety of Chapter 17 of John’s Gospel is traditionally referred to as Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. This prayer concludes the Last Supper Discourse, which we have been reading for the past two weeks. It marks a transition from the conclusion of Jesus’ public ministry to His Passion and glorification. With His teaching completed, Jesus begins His prayerful offering of His life to the Father. The prayer can be divided into three sections:
Verses 1–11a: Jesus’ intimate prayer to the Father focuses on their mutual glorification through the completion of His sacrifice. This “hour” of sacrifice and glory is now at hand.
Verses 11b–19: Jesus prays for the disciples who accompanied Him during His earthly ministry, asking for their protection, sanctification, and perseverance in their mission.
Verses 20–26: Jesus’ prayer extends to all future believers, the Church throughout time, including us today. He prays for unity among believers, rooted in the love of the Father and the Son.
Today, in liturgical Year A, we read the first section of this prayer, when Jesus speaks of His divine mission and His imminent return to the glory He shared with the Father before creation. This prayer highlights a central theme in John’s Gospel: Jesus’ “hour.”

The theme of the “hour” was introduced at the wedding at Cana, the beginning of Jesus’ signs. When the Blessed Mother intercedes for the couple, saying, “They have no wine,” Jesus replies, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come” (John 2:3–4). From that moment, Jesus references the concept of His “hour” throughout His ministry, pointing to the appointed time for His Passion and glorification.

In today’s High Priestly Prayer, Jesus makes His final and definitive reference to His hour: “Father, the hour has come…” (John 17:1). The hour of His sacrifice, the pinnacle of His earthly mission, has now arrived. Though Jesus was fully aware of the suffering He was about to endure, He did not enter into that suffering with dread or fear. Rather, He did so with eager resolve, knowing that everything He had done throughout His life and public ministry pointed to this moment, which had finally come.

Jesus’ human disposition while praying at this pivotal moment offers us an invitation to approach His Sacrifice in the way He did. His “hour” continues in our lives every time we are invited to embrace His Cross. Therefore, every opportunity for sacrifice—no matter how small—must be prayerfully embraced in union with Jesus’ prayer.

Jesus’ prayer teaches us that sacrifice is not something to resist or begrudge. Instead, every sacrifice becomes an opportunity to glorify God and receive a share in His glory. When we embrace sacrifice with generosity and trust, we unite ourselves to Jesus’ perfect Sacrifice, participating in His work of redemption and giving glory to the Father.

Reflect today on the interior disposition Jesus manifested as He faced His imminent suffering and death. He did not cower or hesitate. He looked at His Cross with divine eyes, seeing His Sacrifice as the pinnacle of His life’s mission and the source of glory for Him and His Father. As we strive to embrace our own sacrifices, turn to Christ in prayer, asking for His grace and strength to offer His prayer as He offered it to the Father.

Adapted from: My Catholic Life

10/05/2026

𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫
𝐕𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞
𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐌𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬

𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚
“They laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 8:5-8.14-17)

In those days: Philip went down to a city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did. For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralysed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city. Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for the Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

The word of the Lord.

𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗠
Ps 66: 1-3a.4-5.6-7a.16 and 20 (R.1)
R/. Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.
Or: Alleluia.

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth;
O sing to the glory of his name.
O render him glorious praise.
Say to God, “How awesome your deeds!” R/.

“Before you all the earth shall bow down,
shall sing to you, sing to your name!”
Come and see the works of God:
awesome his deeds among the children of men. R/.

He turned the sea into dry land;
they passed through the river on foot.
Let our joy, then, be in him;
he rules forever by his might. R/.

Come and hear, all who fear God;
I will tell what he did for my soul.
Blest be God, who did not reject my prayer,
nor withhold from me his merciful love. R/.

𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚
“Put to death in the flesh, he was made alive in the Spirit.”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter (1 Peter 3:15-18)

Beloved: In your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defence to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence; and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behaviour in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God’s will, than for doing wrong. For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit.

The word of the Lord.

𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗟𝗨𝗜𝗔 John 14:23
Alleluia. If a man loves me, he will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him. Alleluia.

𝗚𝗢𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗟
“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 14:15-21)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you. “I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
The feeling of being an orphan, of longing for belonging, reflects a deeper spiritual reality Jesus addressed with His disciples in today’s Gospel. Those with close families are truly blessed, as a supportive family fosters personal growth and a sense of identity. When one is orphaned, the absence of these natural bonds can leave a lasting sense of loss. Yet even the strongest earthly family relationships point to a greater truth: our ultimate belonging is found in God’s family.

Jesus understood the sense of loss His disciples would feel after His Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension. When He said, “In a little while the world will no longer see me…” He was preparing them for His physical departure through the Ascension. But He reassures them: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you…you will see me, because I live and you will live.”

Initially, the disciples struggled to grasp the meaning of these words. Only after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit did they begin to understand. The same promise Jesus made to them applies to us today. Though we were not among those who witnessed His earthly presence, we too have a longing for His nearness—a longing to belong, to be loved, and to find our place within a family. This longing is fulfilled supernaturally through the gift of faith and our incorporation into God’s divine family, the Church.

Faith is the key to this relationship. It is more than intellectual belief; it is the acceptance of a personal revelation from God and a choice to live according to that revelation. Jesus promises that those who love Him and obey His commandments will experience His presence and that of the Father. This experience begins through faith, which is a gift by which God communicates Himself to us, revealing His love and will. It is both certain and mysterious, a knowledge that leads us to divine hope and sustains us in the pursuit of God’s will.

Faith also unites us with one another. Through faith, we are no longer orphans but brothers and sisters in Christ. Our natural longing to belong finds its ultimate fulfillment in God’s glorious family, which begins on earth and is perfected in Heaven.

Reflect today on the desire in your heart to belong, to be loved, and to be part of a family. Recognize that this longing finds its ultimate fulfillment in the family of God. Though we await the fullness of this communion in Heaven, we can experience it even now. Commit yourself to respond to Jesus’ invitation by embracing your place in His family through prayer, the sacraments, and daily acts of love. Recognize that He is in the Father, we are in Him, and He is in us. Embrace this reality, allowing the gift of faith to draw you more deeply into the divine family to which we are called.

Adapted from: My Catholic Life

03/05/2026

Sunday May 3, 2026
5th Sunday of Eater
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mysteries

FIRST READING
“They picked out seven men full of the Holy Spirit.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 6: 1-7)

In these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the Twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 33:1-2.4-5.18-19 (R. 22)
R/. May your merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you, O Lord.
Or: Alleluia.

Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just;
for praise is fitting for the upright.
Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp;
with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs. R/.

For the word of the Lord is faithful,
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right,
and his merciful love fills the earth. R/.

Yes, the Lord’s eyes are on those who fear him,
who hope in his merciful love,
to rescue their souls from death,
to keep them alive in famine. R/.

SECOND READING
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood.”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter (1 Peter 2:4-9)

Beloved: Come to the Lord, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious; and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and he who believes in him will not be put to shame.” To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but for those who do not believe, “The very stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall”; for they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA John 14:6
Alleluia. I am the way, and the truth, and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, but by me. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 14: 1- 12)

In those days: Jesus said to his disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

REFLECTION

In addition to His parables and moral teachings, Jesus revealed to His disciples deep mysteries in a direct way that they did not immediately comprehend, especially when He spoke to the Twelve in intimate settings, such as the Last Supper, the context for today’s Gospel. In this discourse, Jesus explains, in veiled form, that He will soon ascend into Heaven where He will prepare a place for His followers. He explains that because they know Him, they know the way to where He is going—the way to the Father—because He Himself is that Way. As Jesus spoke these mysterious truths, we can imagine the Twelve listening attentively, yet with confusion.

Everything Jesus taught was true. His words, recorded in the Gospels, reveal to us the deepest divine mysteries. Within the Scriptures, we find all we need to know to attain perfect holiness and the eternal life of Heaven. Yet we cannot quickly digest Jesus’ words as we might an intriguing novel or history book. There are many layers of depth to what He says, and we can only understand those layers through prayer.

As the conversation continued, “Philip said to him, ‘Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?’” (John 14:8–9).

Jesus’ response likely surprised Philip and the other disciples because they did not understand what He was saying. Their intention was good—they wanted to understand—but Jesus’ words were more than they could comprehend at that moment. Despite this, Jesus gently rebuked Philip as a way of drawing him deeper into the mystery He was revealing.

God often treats us the same way. There are many things that we do not understand. Why do innocent people suffer? Why doesn’t God heal my loved one in answer to my prayers? Why do my children no longer practice the faith? What am I supposed to do with my life?

Just as Philip struggled to understand Jesus’ words, we, too, face moments of confusion when God’s ways seem beyond our grasp. God’s answer to life’s most challenging questions is rarely straightforward or immediate. Why? Because such an approach can never fully satisfy the depth of our hearts. Instead, God reveals a kernel of truth to us and then invites us to ponder it, revealing the divine mystery we seek to understand little by little, to the degree we are open.

The answers we seek come only as we conform our wills to God’s, patiently opening ourselves to His Wisdom. Divine mysteries can only be understood through prayer and deep attentiveness to the truths in God’s mind. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Only by uniting ourselves to Him in prayer will we discover the path we must walk, the truth we need to hear, and the life we are called to live.

Reflect today on anything you struggle to understand. See yourself as one of the Twelve, listening to Jesus speak, but failing to comprehend. Do not be discouraged; instead, allow the fullness of Jesus’ divine Truth to sink in gradually. Spend time in prayer, read the Gospels, be open, and listen from the depths of your heart. Seek out His gentle voice and know that He is your Way, Truth, and Life. Let Him lead you and reveal to you the mysteries of His divine Wisdom so that you, too, know the way to the Father in Heaven.

Adapted from “My Catholic Life”

26/04/2026

4th Sunday of Easter
GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mysteries

FIRST READING
“God has made him both Lord and Christ.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2.14a.36-41)

[On the day of Pentecost,] Peter, standing with the Eleven, lifted up his voice and said to the multitude, “Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptised, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm23:1-3a.3b-4.5.6 (R. 1)
R/. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Or: Alleluia.

The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me;
he revives my soul. R/.

He guides me along the right path,
for the sake of his name.
Though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death,
no evil would I fear, for you are with me.
Your crook and your staff will give me comfort. R/.

R/. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Or: Alleluia.

You have prepared a table before me
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing. R/.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell
for length of days unending. R/.

SECOND READING
“You have returned to the shepherd of your souls.
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter (1 Peter 2:20b-25)

Beloved: If when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God’s approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA John 10: 14
Alleluia. I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my own, and my own know me. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“I am the door of the sheep.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 10:1-10)

At that time: Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

REFLECTION

Young children are often frightened by strangers. Infants, for example, form a strong bond with their mothers who feed them, hold them close, talk to them, and lavish love upon them. It often happens that when other family members, such as grandparents or even the father, attempt to hold the child, tears emerge until the child is placed once again in the familiar and safe arms of his or her mother.

An infant’s reaction to strangers can teach us much about today’s Gospel on Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Like an infant, sheep become familiar with the voice and presence of their shepherd. The shepherd lives with the sheep night and day. He calls to them, speaks to them, keeps them safe, and leads them to green pastures and water. If a stranger were to call to them, they would not listen, similar to how an infant reacts to a stranger.

Jesus’ teaching is in response to the criticism He received from the Pharisees after He healed a man born blind. After healing the man, Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind” (John 9:39). When the Pharisees heard Jesus say that, they inquired whether He was suggesting that they were blind, to which Jesus replied, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains” (John 9:41).

An infant’s unfamiliarity with a stranger is instinctive and innocent, yet it teaches us about the deeper spiritual reality Jesus describes. Just as sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd and follow him because they trust in his care, so too does a soul attuned to God respond to His voice. In contrast, the Pharisees, who prided themselves on their religious knowledge, failed to recognize Jesus as the true Shepherd. This failure was not innocent ignorance; it was willful blindness rooted in their rejection of His divine mission. The healed blind man perceived Jesus’ voice with the simplicity of faith, while the Pharisees, claiming to ‘see’ with their own wisdom, remained in sin because they refused to hear and follow the voice of the Good Shepherd.

The Pharisees saw Jesus as a stranger to their religious beliefs and practices. They labeled Him an imposter. Unlike the innocent reaction of an infant or the natural response of sheep, the Pharisees’ unfamiliarity with Jesus was a sin stemming from pride. It was a blindness of their own making that closed their hearts to the comforting and supernaturally familiar voice of God. To recognize Jesus’ voice is to respond to the call of grace, trust in His teachings, and follow into the fullness of life He offers. Only by humbly admitting our need for His guidance can we, like the sheep, allow Him to lead us to green pastures and salvation.

Reflect today on the fact that God calls out to you day and night. Do you recognize His voice? Or do you, like the Pharisees, turn away from Him? Following the Good Shepherd begins with an intimate familiarity with His divine presence in our lives. We must become as familiar with Him as an infant is with its mother or as sheep are with their faithful shepherd. Failure to recognize the Good Shepherd’s voice leaves us lost and unable to care for ourselves. Jesus desires to lead us, care for us, and bring us to the abundant pastures of new life. Become familiar with Him and listen to His voice alone, and like the blind man, you will begin to see in ways you never have before, through the eyes of faith.

Adapted from “My Catholic Life”

St. Louis Catholic Church, Akure.

24/05/2026

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26/04/2026

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