Beads of Joy Blog II (2025 - 2026)

  Thursday of the 2nd Week of Easter - April 16, 2026 He Who Believes in the Son Has Eternal Life Acts 5:27-33  |  John 3:31-36 Photo created by J. Dacey Jr. using M365 Co-Pilot. Today’s Readings Acts 5:27-33 The court questioned the apostles and said, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to His right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses. When they heard this, they became furious and wanted to put them to death. John 3:31-36 The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks of earthly things. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the...

Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Easter April 15, 2026 Let The Light of Jesus Shine Through You Acts 5:17-26  |  John 3:16-21 Photo created by J.Dacey Jr. using M365 Co-Pilot. Today’s Readings Acts 5:17-26 The high priest and the Sadducees had the apostles arrested and thrown in jail. But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and said, go and take your place in the temple area and tell the people everything about this life. At dawn, they entered the temple and taught. When the court officers arrived to bring them from prison, the jail doors were locked, and the guards were at their posts, but the apostles were gone. They were found teaching in the temple. John 3:16-21 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. The light came into the world, ...

Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Easter April 14, 2026 Giving Freely Let Go of Your Old Life Acts 4:32-37  |  John 3:7b-15 Photo created by J. Dacey Jr. using M365 Co-Pilot. Today’s Readings Acts 4:32-37 The community of believers was of one heart and one mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions were their own, but they had everything in common. There was no one needy among them because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds to the apostles for distribution to all according to need. Joseph, called Barnabas, son of encouragement, sold a field and laid the money at the apostles' feet. John 3:7b-15 Jesus said to Nicodemus, do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born from above. The wind blows where it wills and you can hear the sound it makes but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So, it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. Jesus continued, no one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down ...

  Monday of the 2nd Week of Easter:  April 13, 2026 You Must Be Born of The Spirit Acts 4:23-31  |  John 3:1-8 Photo created by J. Dacey Jr. using M365 Co-Pilot. Today’s Readings Acts 4:23-31 After Peter and John were released, they returned to the community and reported what had happened. The whole group raised their voices to God in prayer, asking for boldness to speak the word. When they finished praying, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. John 3:1-8 Nicodemus came to Jesus by night and said, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. Jesus answered, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. Nicodemus asked, how can a person be born again when they are old? Jesus answered, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh, and what is born of Spirit is spirit...

  Divine Mercy Sunday April 12, 2026 Acts 2:42-47  |  1 Peter 1:3-9  |  John 20:19-31 Photo created by J. Dacey Jr using M365 Co-Pilot. Today's Readings Acts 2:42-47 The early community devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles, to the communal life, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. They held everything in common. They ate together with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number. 1 Peter 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His great mercy gave us new birth to a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Although you have not seen Him, you love Him. Although you do not see Him now, yet you believe in Him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy. John 20:19-31 The disciples were behind locked doors out of fear. Jesus appeared and said, Peace be with you. He showed them His hands and ...

Saturday of Easter April 11, 2026 Go Into The Whole World and Proclaim the Gospel. Acts 4:13-21  |  Mark 16:9-15 Photo created by J. Dacey Jr. using M365 Co-Pilot. Today's Readings: Acts 4:13-21 The rulers were astonished at the boldness of Peter and John, recognizing they were ordinary men who had been with Jesus. They ordered them to stop speaking in His name. Peter and John answered, “we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Mark 16:9-15 Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene. She told the others, but they did not believe her. He appeared to two disciples walking in the country and they told the rest but again they were not believed. Then He appeared to the Eleven and rebuked them for their hardness of heart. He said, go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel. Today's Thread: Ordinary people. Unstoppable mission. The rulers saw two fishermen with no formal training and were astonished at their courage. Mary Magdalene told the truth and wasn...

Friday of Easter Week April 10, 2026 It is the Lord. Acts 4:1-12  |  John 21:1-14 Photo created by James Dacey Jr. using M365 Co-Pilot. Today's Readings Acts 4:1-12 Peter and John were arrested for preaching the Resurrection. When questioned by the rulers, Peter declared boldly, "This Jesus whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, is the stone rejected by the builders that has become the cornerstone. There is no salvation through anyone else." John 21:1-14 The disciples had been fishing all night and caught nothing. A figure on the shore told them to cast the net to the right side of the boat. The catch was so large that they could not pull it in. Then the beloved disciple said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” Today's Thread: You'll know Him when He shows up. The disciples fished all night in their own strength and came up empty. The moment they listened to the voice on the shore, everything changed. Peter and John stood before rulers who had all the power a...

Thursday of Easter Week April 9, 2026 The Risen Jesus Appears Acts 3:11-26  |  Luke 24:35-48 Photo created by James Dacey Jr. using M365 Co-Pilot. Today's Readings Acts 3:11-26 The people ran to Peter and John in amazement after the lame man was healed. Peter addressed them directly, “Why are you surprised? It is not our power that did this. The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob glorified His servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied. But God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses. Luke 24:35-48 The disciples told the others what happened on the road to Emmaus. While they were speaking, Jesus appeared in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified, thinking they saw a ghost. He showed them His hands and feet. He opened their minds to understand the Scripture and told them; you are witnesses of these things. Today's Thread: You are a witness. Peter said it to the crowd, and Jesus said it to the disciple...

Wednesday of Easter Week April 8, 2026 The Road to Emmaus Acts 3:1-10  |  Luke 24:13-35 Photo created by James Dacey Jr. using M365 Co-Pilot. Today's Readings Acts 3:1-10 Peter and John were going to the temple for prayer. A man lame from birth was carried there daily to beg. He looked at them, expecting money. Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ, rise and walk.” He leaped up, walked, and went into the temple praising God. Luke 24:13-35 Two disciples were walking to Emmaus, discouraged and confused. A stranger joined them and began explaining the Scriptures. They urged Him to stay. When He broke bread, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him, and He vanished. They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He spoke?" Today's Thread: Give what you actually have. Peter had no money, but he had something far greater than money. The two disciples on the road had no idea t...