Easter is a testament of renewal, marking the sacred moment where light overcomes darkness and hope finds its ultimate victory. We share these scripture reflections for contemplation and collective inspiration. These reflections offer a source of strength, a reason for joy, and a shared reminder that even in the quietest moments, the dawn of a new chapter is always within reach.
April 5, 2026 - Easter Sunday
In today's gospel we see Mary of Magdala coming to Jesus' tomb in the dark and she was surprised and probably confused to see the stone rolled away. She then ran to the disciples to tell them, indicating she didn't know what to do or what it meant. So, we start with darkness and confusion, following the dreadful events culminating in the crucifixion of Jesus.
Mary was assuming someone had taken Jesus from the tomb and is desperate to know where He was taken. Her dedicated attention to Jesus remains even after his death. Then when she returned with the disciples, they found the burial cloths left in the tomb. How could that be? Was this reminiscent for them of the raising of Lazarus? How could this immeasurable sacrifice lead to freedom and celebration?
Confusion remains, but just as the light of day breaks, this opens the possibility for optimism emerging from sorrow. This specifically helps Mary and the disciples begin to consider the enormous joy that accompanies His resurrection. A joy greater than the most joyful moments in anyone's life, for it is everlasting for those who come to believe in the resurrection and live a life in search of harmony with Christ's teachings. There is now hope despite our humanness, our failings, that we all might experience the afterlife with God in Heaven. Thus, on this Easter Sunday, may you be visibly joyful and spread that joy to everyone you encounter!
Kathleen Jagger, President
April 6, Easter Monday
Acts 2:14, 22-33; Matthew 28:8-15
The readings today highlight the contrast between fear and doubt with the boldness we sometimes experience in our faith. In Matthew, the women go from fear to joy as they carry the news of the resurrection, while others suppress the truth. In contrast, Peter, with boldness and confidence, proclaims that Jesus is risen and exalted by God. These passages remind me that our faith journey often begins with uncertainty, but it can also grow into courage through the Holy Spirit, who gives us the confidence to become faithful witnesses of the miracles God performs in our lives. God gives us the strength to speak truth even when the truth is questioned or misunderstood.
David Pérez, Assistant Professor of Music
April 7, Easter Tuesday
Acts 2:36-41; John 20:11-18
In our readings today, the first being Peter preaching to the crowds on Pentecost day, and the Gospel being Mary Magdalene weeping outside of the tomb, there is one similarity that struck me—both readings at their center are dealing with knowing Christ and who he is. The crowds at Pentecost do not know who Jesus is until Peter tells them that he is “Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Mary Magdalene does not recognize the risen Lord until he calls her by her name. May the Lent we have finished have prepared our hearts to be able to recognize Jesus when he is proclaimed to us and when he calls us by name.
Hadassah Suffield '25 Administrative Assistant
April 8, Wednesday
Acts 3:1-10; Luke 24:13-35
Quo Vadis - Where are you going? Tradition has it that this question was asked of St. Peter by Jesus as he was walking away from the city of Rome to escape the persecutions. Immediately, St. Peter turned back to Rome and would be crucified upside down in his final and most profound witnessing to Christ crucified yet resurrected. What was asked of St. Peter and, implicitly, of the crippled man in Acts and the two disciples walking to Emmaus can be asked of us too. Where are we looking for happiness? St. Peter gives us the answer. It's not silver or gold. It's not in safety from danger. It's not even physical, miraculous healings. It is Jesus Christ that we seek! In Christ and with Christ, we find peace and where our hearts burn with joy.
Rev. Mr. Koby Nguyen ‘20 Transitional Deacon
April 9, Easter Thursday
Acts 3:11–26; Luke 24:35
Both passages center on the same turning point, encountering the Risen Christ. In Luke, the disciples move from disbelief to understanding as Jesus opens the Scriptures and commissions them as witnesses. Acts shows Peter, once fearful, now speaking boldly at the temple that the Messiah has been resurrected, calling the people into repentance and renewal. As the Old Testament predicted, the Messiah has been delivered. The resurrection is not only something to believe, but also something to proclaim with lives shaped by forgiveness, hope, and trust in God's promise.
Deborah Beumer, ASC Associate
April 10, Easter Friday
Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14
At the break of dawn, Christ appears to his disciples who had caught nothing after a night of fishing. He tells them, "Cast the net to the other side.” They then catch 153 fish. 153 is the numeric value of the Hebrew phrase Ani Elohim ("I am God"). This encounter with Christ provides a grace for his disciples to bring people to Him. In Acts, we see Peter and John proclaim the Resurrection. Though they face arrest by the high priests, they are not deterred to share the good news, because it is by Christ all people are saved.
Anna Engle, Assistant Campus Minister
April 11, Easter Saturday
Acts 4:13-21; Mark 16:9-15
Lent was the time to prepare ourselves for the Resurrection of Jesus, the Lord our God who is the foundation of the Christian faith. This is Good News - without the resurrection, the promise of eternal life is nothing but a vague fairy tale. Be excited to proclaim the good news of the Resurrection, just as Mary Magdalene did. Be unwavering in proclaiming the good news like John and Peter. Believe in Christ who has defeated death. Let us pray for faith and boldness to proclaim the Good News of the Resurrected Jesus.
Ba Minh Nhat Nguyen, Newman Student
April 12 - Second Sunday of Easter
Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31
When we hear “Peace be with you,” we want to ask: Where? If Peace doesn’t come to us, maybe we need to search for Peace. What is our part to do to invite God’s Peace? How do I become a person who exudes Peace?
Having a good conscience is a worthwhile basis for Peace in our hearts. Forming a good conscience can be a challenge to our ego. Only through prayer, study, reflection, experience in a relationship or a community, can a right conscience be formed. Just a few verses beyond the end of our first Reading, St. Peter advises us to “Always be ready with an answer to anyone who asks the reason for the hope that is in you, but do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience.” (1 Peter 3:15)
When someone asks, “the reason for the hope that is in you,” people with inner Peace are often the persons who are asked—and the ones who can give the best answer. Does our being, our personality, carry the message that portrays Peace to the people who know us? Or even to someone who meets us for the first time?
According to the Acts of the Apostles, early Christian communities willingly shared their possessions, so no one was in need. They could indeed eat their meals “with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people.” We can consider that to mean: not only was their Peace among the Christian communities, but it spilled over to at least some of the non-Christians. When Peace brings a willingness to share, I may need to ask: Am I the kind of person who refuses to remain complacent when I realize I have more than I need? Am I ready to share my goods with someone whose needs are not being met?
Having Peace in our minds and the “sincerity of heart” of the early Christians, is an invitation for the Holy Spirit to find a dwelling place within us. After Jesus says, “Peace be with you” a second time in today’s Gospel, he sends his disciples on their journey, but he doesn’t send them without help: “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he says. The message of Jesus is to send them as the Father sent him.
We are being sent to recognize the persons who need to hear from us those inviting and comforting words that Jesus spoke: “Peace be with you.”
Elaine Freund, ASC
April 13, Monday of the Second Week of Easter
Acts 4:23-31; John 3:1-8
In the Gospel, Jesus tells Nicodemus we must be born of the Spirit, which is like the wind, unseen but powerful, giving us new life in God. This new life transforms us from within, shaping our hearts, minds, and actions in ways we often cannot see. In Acts, we witness the disciples living this transformation. Faced with threats and uncertainty, they do not pray for safety, but for boldness, and God fills them with the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that empowered them continues to give us courage to spread the Word of God and live our faith openly each day.
Grace Long, Newman Student
April 14, Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter
Acts 4:32-37; John 3:7b-15
In the reading of John, Jesus tells us that we must be born of the Spirit, and that when we start to stray from Him or no longer understand his teachings, we must be born again. In the Acts of the Apostles, we see how people behave when they are born of the Spirit and follow the word of God. Believers come together as one and share with each other so that no one person is in need. This Easter season, we are reminded by these readings to come together as a community and serve each other with generosity because we are all born of God’s Spirit and therefore are one being.
Bryn Kovacic, Major Gifts Officer
April 15, Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter
Acts 5:17-26; John 3:16-21
In today’s gospel, we hear the iconic line from John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave us his only son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but have eternal life.” These consoling and reassuring words, remind us of God‘s constant deep and unfathomable love for each and every one of us. This love like any form of human love demands a response. How are we to respond to God’s love? The first part of one’s response to God’s love is to simply receive His love and allow that to form our identity. Secondly, we are called to imitate God’s son, Jesus in making a complete and total self-gift of ourselves to others. This imitation of Christ lays within the heart of being a saint and responding to God’s love here on earth.
Rev. Mr. Peter Bergkamp ’20, Transitional Deacon
April 16, Thursday of the Second Week of Easter
Acts 5:27-33; John 3:31-36
From the passage from Acts, we see the apostles’ courageous commitment to "obey God rather than men," even when facing opposition. This serves as a reminder of the strength God gives us through the Resurrection when we look to him for help and stand firm in our faith. It also reminds us that we always have the option to choose our response, even if we dislike the initial consequences. John reminds us that "the one who comes from above is above all," pointing us toward the eternal perspective and the life-giving Spirit that Christ offers to those who believe. Many think of this as hope and a belief that something much better awaits us on the other side after death if we strive to accept and live by God's laws.
Sheryl Stanley, Honorary Alumna
April 17, Friday of the Second Week of Easter
Acts 5:34-42; John 6:1-15
So many nuggets of truth for our lives are to be found in these two readings!
“If this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them.”
“The apostles left…rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.” “Every day… at home the apostles did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus Christ.”
“Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks…”
“Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost.”
Take one of these nuggets. Ponder it during the day. Listen for the truth being spoken personally to you for your life today.
Anonymous
April 18. Saturday of the Second Week of Easter
Acts 6:1-7; John 6:16-21
These verses make me think about the importance of faith and service. The verses in John 6 artistically describe a scene of stress in a turbulent lake, in which Jesus comes and calms the waters. It makes me think of how we run into these "strong winds " and "rough waters" constantly and just need something or someone to help "calm the lake". Similarly, Acts 6 describes a complaint, an early stress, in the church; however, in this case, instead of Jesus calming the waters, the disciples band together and help each other. If we were to grow from these verses, all we need is to observe the subtle comparison of the disciples and Jesus; to be Jesus-like is to be in service of those who are on those rough waves and waging against those strong winds.
Daniel Knolla, ‘22
April 19, Third Sunday of Easter
Acts 2:14, 22-23; 1 Peter 1:17-21; Luke 24:13-35
LISTEN! SEE! Our readings today challenge us to use our senses – but at a level deeper than just the everyday. In the first reading Peter raises his voice and proclaims to his audience that they are to “listen” to his words. You can almost hear the intensity of his request. He wants them to really understand who this Jesus of Nazareth was and still is because of his resurrection.
In the Gospel the two disciples listen to this stranger who has joined them on their journey, but do they really hear what he is saying. Why can they see who this person is? Some things require us to get out of our mundane, run-of-the-mill, often self-centered way of walking through life and encountering others. Being Christian requires an attentiveness in both listening and seeing that allows us to go deeper than the surface, to encounter others as fellow human beings at the heart level. To listen intently and accompany reverently as Jesus did.
Sister Fran Schumer ASC, Board of Trustees Member
April 20, Monday of the Third Week of Easter
Acts 6:8-15; Gospel: John 6:22-29
These readings from Acts and John are both prime examples of faith leading to eternal life. Stephen, though scorned and faced with false accusations, boldly witnesses to the Gospel and encourages believers to rely on God even in times of persecution. This connects to what Jesus says during His “Bread of Life Discourse,” when He responds to the crowd by explaining that the works of God are accomplished through believing in “the one He sent,” rather than focusing only on what can be physically seen or received. During this holy Easter time, we must remember to live out our faith and beliefs in a way that reflects God, just as Stephen did.
Samuel J. Somerhalder, Newman Student
April 21, Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter
Acts 7:51-8:1; John 6:30-35
In Acts 7:51—8:1, Stephen calls out the people for being stubborn and rejecting God. Then in John 6:30–35, Jesus is clearly offering himself as the Bread of Life something meant to fully satisfy. Both passages highlight the tension between resistance and what God is trying to offer. It stands out to me that even when God provides exactly what we need, people still resist or miss it. My hope and prayer are that our eyes be opened and our hearts embrace the life-giving grace that God persistently extends to all.
Hazel Leslie, Lead Clinical Director, Nurse Anesthesia
April 22, Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter
Acts 8:1b-8; John 6:35-40
In our first reading from the Acts, we hear about the apostles experiencing many setbacks, many disruptions to their work of sharing the Gospel. They experience hardships, persecutions and, for some, martyrdom. But they remain faithful to their mission, sharing the Good News with joy and boldness. What about us? When we experience difficulties in our spiritual lives, do they make us put our faith on hold? Or are they opportunities for us to lean into our trust in the Lord? Because ultimately, the Lord can work victoriously through it all. Let us trust boldly in the Lord!
Rev. Mr. Luke Meyerhoff ’20, Transitional Deacon
April 23, Thursday of the Third Week of Easter
Acts 8:26-40; John 6:44-51
Faith begins with God’s invitation and grows as we respond with openness, faith, and trust. As Philip demonstrated, obedience is essential when we commit to following Christ. Even when we don’t fully understand God’s plan, we are still called to obey, trusting that outcome will reveal His purpose. At times, we may feel unprepared or unsure, but God’s timing is perfect, and He equips along the way. Today, we can take comfort in knowing that His guidance is intentional, His timing perfect, and His Spirit is ready to lead us into a deeper, sustaining relationship with Him.
LaShonda Porter, Board of Trustees Member
April 24, Friday of the Third Week
Acts 9:1-20; John 6:52-59
Life is filled with doubt, doubt about our jobs, our family obligations, our own abilities, or even who we are supposed to be. I read the scriptures from John and Acts and I am overwhelmed with a sense of trust and belief. It is far easier to question the road that we walk than it is to trust that we will be led through every trial and tribulation set before us. The fear, or in Saul’s case of anger towards what he cannot explain until he is placed into a position that requires him to step back and put his trust into the Lord for the path forward. God has promised us his love and protection, and during this Easter season we are truly reminded what will come when we let go and put our faith and trust into Him.
Josh Schnoecker-Prilliman ’14, Director of Student Activities
April 25, Feast of St. Mark
1 Peter 5:5b-14; Mark 16:15-20.
On the feast of St. Mark, the readings call us to live with both humility and courage. In Peter, we are urged to “clothe ourselves with humility” and place our anxieties in God’s loving care. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus sends his disciples into the world with a bold mission: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel.” Together, these messages remind us that, when we humbly trust God, He strengthens us to serve others with confidence and joy. Like Mark, we are invited not only to believe the Good News, but to share it through our words, actions, and faith-filled lives.
Christopher Mick, Human Relations Coordinator