‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us
not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,
namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,
from blood, from meats of strangled animals,
and from unlawful marriage.
If you keep free of these,
you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’

Acts 15: 28-29

Here are the complete readings for Friday, May 23, 2025.

(“The Theological Virtues: Faith, Charity, Hope” ca. 1500. Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Why is discernment so difficult and yet so liberating? Discernment requires a brutally honest self-assessment. What are our priorities and motivations behind them? Do we honor traditions because they are life giving and build community or because they help us maintain an identity that we like to present to others? The Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles speak of the courage demonstrated by the disciples in their unwavering dedication to their beliefs, especially of the Resurrection and their call to build the kingdom of God based on the Beatitudes of Jesus. Discernment asks us to show a different kind of courage. What about our human practices are indeed life-giving and edifying to our sisters and brothers, and which, while well intentioned, sow division and marginalize the very people God calls us to welcome? This is no easy task, and we must engage in constantly. Discernment may not always produce clarity, either. What it does offer, however, is it puts all of us in our place. Discernment reminds us of our own spiritual poverty and need for grace. Discernment creates the space to be open to what in our daily journeys brings us closer to God and who we must be in order to grow closer in this relationship. Like any intimate relationship, discerning the Spirit asks us to be vulnerable, which can invite sorrow or consternation. Can we have faith that this vulnerability, while potentially painful, is actually essential for letting God in to perform God’s marvelous works through us?

Day by day
you will need to renew your response.
Do not become discouraged
over the difficulties you encounter
in your life of gospel service.
Knowing that difficulties would be your share,
your Founder judged:
that nothing special is achieved
without much labor, effort and zeal.– The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, you greet us each day. Give us the mind and heart to be open to what our day can be while walking with you. Calm our fears about what or who we may encounter as we live in the present and acknowledge your Presence. May we appreciate the ordinary moments that reveal to us just how close you really are. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/5mP9-FAyjOE?si=1Ab17Q9cS9r6hde4

After much debate had taken place,
Peter got up and said to the Apostles and the presbyters,
“My brothers, you are well aware that from early days
God made his choice among you that through my mouth
the Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe.
And God, who knows the heart,
bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit
just as he did us.
He made no distinction between us and them,
for by faith he purified their hearts.
Why, then, are you now putting God to the test
by placing on the shoulders of the disciples
a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
On the contrary, we believe that we are saved
through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.”
The whole assembly fell silent,
and they listened
while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders
God had worked among the Gentiles through them.

After they had fallen silent, James responded,
“My brothers, listen to me.
Symeon has described how God first concerned himself
with acquiring from among the Gentiles a people for his name.
The words of the prophets agree with this, as is written:

After this I shall return
and rebuild the fallen hut of David;
from its ruins I shall rebuild it
and raise it up again,
so that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord,
even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked.
Thus says the Lord who accomplishes these things,
known from of old.

It is my judgment, therefore,
that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God,
but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from idols,
unlawful marriage, the meat of strangled animals, and blood.
For Moses, for generations now,
has had those who proclaim him in every town,
as he has been read in the synagogues every sabbath.”

Acts 15: 7-21

Here are the complete readings for Thursday, May 22, 2025.

(“James and the Jerusalem Council”)

When does a community stand firm in their beliefs about traditions, and when does it open itself up to the future, inviting change and the inevitable dispensing of some traditions that were once considered immutable? In both cases, a great deal of faith and courage are required to withstand what is convenient, and to focus on the core beliefs that guide the community’s mission. In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Council of Jerusalem was nothing short of revolutionary, in which the participants held to their beliefs about the resurrection of Jesus and his calling them to discipleship. By committing themselves to this mission, they were then able to appreciate that Christianity was not just about them and their familiar rituals. Instead, they were able to fulfill Jesus’ challenging approach to conversion by opening their doors to people who were not like them in an act of radical inclusion and grace. Today, communities continue to wrestle with balancing their commitment to the past and openness to the future. It is difficult to understand the mysterious ways of God and the direction we are being led. This is why we today can take another lesson from the Council of Jerusalem, which is the practice of discernment. The apostles and their associates did a great deal of speaking and arguing their points of view, but more importantly they took time to be still and listen. They listened to each other about the roots of their disagreement, and then together agreed to be silent and to listen to the Holy Spirit. This takes a tremendous amount of humility and trust to have this kind of fortitude in decision making, yet it is so vital to keeping our communities and institutions aware of the calling that brought us together in the first place.

As you prayerfully reflect on the past,
assess the present,
and ponder the future with one another,
be considerate of this history
and of this ministry.
Yet, like Ryken,
foster an attitude of openness
to the needs of the Church and your world,
and a willingness to follow Christ
wherever He leads.
You are called
to a life of constant searching.
Let the developments and changes
of your times
be a source both of confidence and challenge to you.

– The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, we thank you for our uncertainty as much as our certainty. When we are unsure of the direction of our journey of life, help us appreciate that feeling as a gift and an opportunity. We are grateful when you put us in our place and remind us of our connection to you and your people. Give us the courage and patience to admit what we do not know and be open to what you know. Amen.

Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.

John 15: 4-5

Here are the complete readings for Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

(“The Synaxis of the Apostles” Wikipedia Commons)

The image of the vine and branches goes so far to convey the intimacy of connection and the vulnerability required to establish and maintain that connection. This is a reminder to us that spirituality is both an individual endeavor from our own hearts, but is lived in a profoundly communal and hospitable fashion. Just as we believe that the mysterious nature of God as Trinity exists as relationship, so we come to understand our own unique self as it is reflected in our encounters with our brothers and sisters. Consider the words of the Fundamental Principles below that affirm the words of Jesus. Focus in particular on the challenge of sharing, and how this mutual sharing in community can open us to insights and truths that were not previously visible to us.

A band of Brothers
who mutually help,
encourage,
and edify one another,
and who work together.
You are called then by your Founder
to enter into a true mutual sharing
with your brothers and sisters.
This sharing will demand of you
an opening and a giving of yourself to them
at many levels,
and a ready acceptance of each of them
in all their sinful and graced humanity.

– The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, give us the courage to give of ourselves to others and to you. Help us realize that we are more capable of sharing our gifts and our burdens than we thought possible. Liberate us from our fears of being our authentic selves in the presence of our neighbors. In making ourselves available to our community and our world, even in the most common and ordinary moments, we make more room for the joy that comes from knowing You. Amen.

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you,
‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’
If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe.“

John 14: 27-29

Here are the complete readings for Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

(“St. Paul” Fresco in Catacomb of St. Thekla, Rome)

We have reflected in this space about the meanings of peace for ourselves and our souls in addition to peace in our communities and world. The idea of metanoia or conversion means we do not just change our actions and priorities. We rethink our entire concept of what brings us to peace and to joy. This type of conversion may come at once or in bursts, such as the blic that we have referenced before. Yet this state of being comes with a commitment to an awareness of the present tense, and of the presence of God in the most ordinary actions and interactions. A commitment to being aware takes practice, and it is important that we not judge whether our awareness at being aware was a success. If we can simply accept our efforts as we are in this present reality, then we are on the way to finding peace, which does not need to be found.

At times you will discover
that God’s ways are not your ways,
and God’s thoughts are not your thoughts.
When this happens,
try to surrender yourself trustingly
into the arms of your Parent God,
who knows you,
understands you,
and loves you.– The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, you show us that we have everything we need already. That in itself is a great joy and blessing. When we feel anxious or afraid, remind us that our most authentic self exists to be happy. Thank you for the ordinary miracles and unlikely saints who share with us the gift of your presence. Amen

“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit
whom the Father will send in my name–
he will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.”

John 14: 25-26

Here are the complete readings for Monday, May 19, 2025.

(“Worship the Holy Spirit” by Lance Brown)

Everyone needs an advocate, one who knows us and speaks up for us on our behalf. Jesus gave his friends this pledge that God as Holy Spirit would be this Paraclete, or Comforter. The more we discern the role of the Holy Spirit, we realize that the comfort we experience is in God’s companionship, not in the certainty of earthly stability or material prosperity. Our future is a mystery, and the more we trust in the presence of God, the more comfortable we become with the discomfort of the unknown.

As vowed members of the people of God,
sealed in baptism and confirmed by the Holy Spirit,
they would participate
in the Church’s mission of evangelization
through a life of gospel service
lived in solidarity and availability
among the people.

– The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, what a great gift you have given us this day. Thank you for the surprises that await us. Give us comfort and assurance that you are with us even when our future encounters are painful or frustrating. We do not know what tomorrow will bring, and there is a liberating peace in our acceptance of that reality. Let us look forward to it, not with dread, but with hope. Amen

I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race.
He will dwell with them and they will be his people
and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes,
and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain,
for the old order has passed away.”

Revelation 21: 3-4

Here are the complete readings for Sunday, May 18, 2025.

(“St. Paul Preaching” by Vieira Lusitano)

The readings for today are meant to challenge us as persons of faith, but also to encourage us. The words give us reminders about the reality of the human experience. It is difficult to sustain the same positive feeling of belief from day to day, and it would be disingenuous for us to think otherwise. We are where we are in our journey of faith each day. Some days we experience confidence in the presence of the Holy, in other days, skepticism, or perhaps a feeling of stagnation or the absence of God. While a spiritual life, like any good habit or exercise, is about discipline, a sign of growth or maturity is the awareness of where we are and who we are in the present, not what we have achieved in our pursuit.

Friend,
This common rule
is not meant to be a burden to you. By faithfulness to it
may you discover
in God’s own time
ways to incarnate anew
the vision of Theodore James Ryken
and the charism of the Brothers of Saint Francis Xavier
in the life of the world.

– The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, thank you for believing in who we are and who we can be. May we not despair when we cannot see these gifts within us. Help us to be honest with ourselves and with our neighbors, and give thanks for the gentle challenges and strong support that our sisters and brothers give us to help us embrace who we are today and to give thanks for tomorrow. Amen

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way.”

John 14: 1-4

Here are the complete readings for Friday, May 16, 2025.

(“Jesus Farewell Discourse” from the Maesta by Duccio)

Jesus promised his friends and humanity that he would prepare a place for us. This means that just as he welcomes us with open arms, so are we to be generous and to have room for others at our tables, or in our communities. Sometimes we can find the opportunity to do this literally by welcoming strangers, those who are new, and especially the ones who are unwanted in whatever circumstance. It is more likely that we will be challenged to show generosity by be open to a calling that we did not expect and which is inconvenient. We had a plan or path for ourselves, and it has not turned out as we’d hoped it would. Where do we go when we are disappointed by turns of events or fate? Are we listening to our hearts to be available for the signs of God that are right in front of us? And if we can sense these signs, do we dare turn towards them, with a generous heart, even if it diverges from the path we had intended?

It is this communion with the living God
which is at the heart of your life
as a child of God,
disciple of Jesus,
witness of God’s spirit,
quickened member of God’s Body,
and brother or sister to the world.

– The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, we are blessed with sisters and brothers who encourage us and guide us. Their actions and intentions are a most powerful grace that connects us all to You and your Spirit. Amen

The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
“I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong.”
“My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'”

Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 and 27

Here are the complete readings for Thursday, May 15, 2025.

(“Jesus Washing Disciples’ Feet” by Bhanu Dudhat)

It is wonderful to read and speak a song like Psalm 89 above. It brims with confidence and joy, giving comfort to anyone in any time or situation. There is a sense of belonging and friendship emitting from the psalmist’s voice, infused with gratitude that these gifts come as blessings, not something earned. Many of the psalms are attributed to or inspired by King David, often reflecting not the triumphant moments when he was a conquering king, but the perilous times when he faced persecution from his enemies. Considering this context, how can we take both comfort and courage from this testimony? We do not know what today will bring, or what other people will say about us at the end of the day. In the end, does it matter when we believe we have such loving accompaniment on whatever journey we find ourselves?

Your Founder’s vision was unique.
He originally intended to form a community of laymen
who as religious brothers
would be sent as missionaries to the world.
As vowed members of the people of God,
sealed in baptism and confirmed by the Holy Spirit,
they would participate
in the Church’s mission of evangelization
through a life of gospel service
lived in solidarity and availability
among the people. Now this understanding of mission
has been expanded to include
the many women and men
who collaborate with the Brothers in the
Xaverian Way.

– The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, you do not take away my fears. You help me confront them and embrace them, with the belief that you find us worthy of love and to love in return. Thank you for values of trust and humility that allow us to be open to facing both the day ahead and You who travel with us. Amen

Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you:  love one another.”

John 15: 9-17

Here are the complete readings for Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

(“Christ in the Night” by Marc Chagall)

Stop for a moment to compare the words of Jesus to the exhortation in the Fundamental Principles below. The word “love” is used throughout both texts. Meditate on how we internalize the meaning of this word coming from the mouth of Jesus. The word is not mentioned casually. It means commitment, dedication, and sacrifice, all infused with a sensation of joy that exists even the difficult spaces we occupy when called to give freely of ourselves. All of this comes from the lens of friendship and enduring personal relationships that demonstrate our capacity to be as God calls us to be. It is a wonderful revelation about the mysterious yet personal nature of God and of who we truly are and can be.

I give you a new commandment:
Love one another.
Just as I have loved you,
you also must love one another.
By this love you have for one another,
everyone will know that you are my disciples.
Your life with your brothers and sisters,
centered on the word and worship of God,
is a sharing
in the memory of Christ.
You are called
to be of one heart and one mind with them
so that you can participate
in the building up of the reign of God.

– The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, we are grateful for your wisdom and mercy but also your friendship. Through your friendship, you welcome us just as we are and without judgment. You challenge us to pursue a deeper friendship, where we recognize our faults but also our blessings, and how we can use these gifts in your service. Amen

Those who had been scattered by the persecution
that arose because of Stephen
went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word to no one but Jews.
There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however,
who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well,
proclaiming the Lord Jesus. 
The hand of the Lord was with them
and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord. 
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. 
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.

Acts 11: 19-26

Here are the complete readings for Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

(Pauline shrine in Veria, Greece-“Saint Paul Preaching”)

In the Acts of the Apostles, new names of note start appearing. Saul, or is it Paul? Who is this man, Barnabas? What is going on in Antioch? This community develops a more sophisticated name, “Christians”, instead of the”Way.” Change in any organization, including faith communities, can move at an agonizingly slow, glacial pace and then suddenly flood with new components, people, and ideas. It can be exhilarating but also disorienting. Communities, and the people who identify with them, can take comfort when they have embedded some time of regular contemplation to compliment the acts of apostles in any age. If we look at this reading and the Gospels, we should not take for granted that these leaders, like Jesus, prioritized moments of quiet, meditation, and prayer, as essential for helping them be open to the Spirit, and therefore to the potentially radical direction that Spirit was calling them. It was difficult to carve out that time back then as it is now. If we are looking for days or moments to devote to contemplation, perhaps we should start with the most ordinary or mundane parts of our busy days. If we can find a home for the Spirit in these times, however fleeting, perhaps that gives us more room in our minds and hearts for what we may encounter tomorrow.

For your part,
God asks you in return
to make the word of God your home.
To do this
you must be willing to spend time each day
in solitude and prayer,
opening yourself to God’s living word. – The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God,  When I am frustrated with the busy pace of life and long to relax, help me find space in my day to pause and give thanks. You are always there, wherever there is. Thank you for the small but very real graces in our days to remind us of our ever changing but ever growing relationship with You. Amen