Advertisement
The Bible Book(s)/Chapter(s) to read each day this week, Sunday, April 6 to Saturday, April 12, 2025.
The risen Christ is depicted in a stained-glass window at St. Aloysius Church in Great Neck, N.Y.
OSV News photo/Gregory A. Shemitz
April 4, 2025
Share this article:
OSV News photo/Sam Lucero
Here are the Bible Book(s)/Chapter(s) to read each day this week. Note that the readings are based on the New American Bible.
John Chapters 8-9
Read John 8:12 again. Jesus says that those who follow Him will have the light of life.
Ask God to help us to believe that a spark of light from us can bring joy to many hearts every day.
Say aloud to yourself a few times, “I am the light of the world.”
Then, imagine going through a typical day, literally glowing with the love of Christ. Look at the faces of the people who feel the warmth around you. Imagine joy entering each person who speaks to you. Imagine the buildings and the rooms that you have entered, lighter and warmer than they were before you entered them.
John Chapters 10-11
Read John 10:14-15 again. In these verses, Jesus speaks of laying down His life for us.
Every day brave men and women who are first responders or in the military put their lives at risk to protect us. Ask God to protect them all and to help us to serve others with the same level of commitment.
How many people do you know who would die for you? For whom would you be willing to die?
John Chapters 12-13
Read John 12:3 and 13:1-5 again.
Both Mary, sister of Martha, and Jesus showed their love for others by touching them in a caring way. Ask God to guide us to use the gift of a loving touch, where it is welcome.
Have scandals involving inappropriate touching caused you to stop touching others in appropriate ways? If you don’t know whether someone who is crying would like a hug, do you ever ask if he or she would feel comfortable with one?
John Chapters 14-15
Read John 15:1-5 again. In these verses Jesus talks about “pruning” us, the branches that belong to His vine, so that we will bear more fruit.
Ask God to help us not to focus on what we have lost but on the fruitful new branches that God wants to grow in our lives.
When you have had to let go of someone, or something, did it feel like part of you was being cut off? After time passed, though, did you see something new and good come from the situation?
John Chapters 16-18
Read John 16:5-15 again.
In these verses, Jesus promises His disciples that He will send the Spirit of truth to guide them.
Ask God to give us the courage to see the truth and to make loving choices in dealing with it.
How do you imagine that the Spirit of truth might try to get your attention?
John Chapters 19-21
Read John 21:1-14 again.
In today’s reading, we see that Peter went fishing with some of Jesus’ other disciples. When they relied on their own thinking, they caught nothing. When they listened to the voice of the Lord, their nets were full of fish.
Read John 13:23-26 and ask God to show us how we can be as close to Him as was this particular beloved disciple.
In your reading of the Bible so far what have you learned about how God communicates with us?
Acts Chapters 1-2
Today we begin reading the wonderful story of how the work of Christ continued after His ascension into Heaven. Hundreds of ordinary people, who were extraordinarily empowered by receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, went forth to tell others about Christ. Because of the work of these early believers there are more than a billion baptized Christians now living and continuing to do the work of Christ in today’s world.
Read Acts 2:1-6, 2:32-33 and 2:38 again.
The Holy Spirit is a gift that comes to the baptized. Luke 11:13 tells us that we can ask for more of the Holy Spirit’s power in our lives.
Ask God to teach us more about the Holy Spirit, to protect us from false teaching and to use the example of the early believers to inspire us to share our knowledge of Christ with others.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. Do you have a desire for any of these gifts of the Holy Spirit?
Read Galatians 5:22-23. Do you see evidence of such fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life?
A version of this story appeared in the April 06, 2025, issue of The Catholic Registerwith the headline "In Jesus we find the light of life".
Share this article:
Join the conversation and have your say: submit a letter to the Editor. Letters should be brief and must include full name, address and phone number (street and phone number will not be published). Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
