May 31, 2025: Feast of the Visitation

Joy pervades the scene in the Gospel reading.  Even in the midst of the difficulties present, St. John the Baptist leaped for joy because He recognized the presence of the Lord, and as a result, so did his mother, St. Elizabeth. She declared Mary blessed for taking on the role of responding to God's call.

So let us join them in rejoicing that God is present among us.  For us who confess faith, joy is all around us.  And may we respond by sharing that joy through acts of kindness that edify one another and make God present.  Furthermore, as we celebrate during this Easter Season, may we rejoice that God is present to us in the Risen Christ in a glorious way.

May 25, 2025: Sixth Sunday of Easter

The Church as the Body of Christ is a sign that God is dwelling on Earth.

Undoubtedly, any group must exert effort to maintain unity, as we see in the first reading from Acts that despite the joys of the infant Church, there were also challenges to bring together Jews and Gentiles. Yet they relied on the Holy Spirit, the continued presence of God and the Risen Christ with the Church, to find a solution.

Ultimately, the Church is a sign of what is to come, the heavenly Jerusalem that shows the perfection of God's character. The vision from Revelation describes how the city has perfect dimensions, and God is fully present, so there is no need for a Temple or the heavenly bodies of the Sun or Moon.

As we strive toward the full realization of this vision, we rejoice that Christ remains with us through the Holy Spirit.  At the Last Supper, from which today's Gospel reading is taken, He declares that He gives us peace unlike what the world offers, because we have a sure grounding in our relationship with Him. The Holy Spirit teaches and reminds us of what Jesus Christ says so that these words come alive in us, and we see how everything is real as He said and so believe.

We furthermore rejoice today that Pope Leo XIV takes possession of the Cathedra of Rome in his role as Bishop of Rome.  It is a sign of the unity that God desires for our Church, that we may reflect the vision of the Heavenly Jerusalem and strive with the Holy Spirit toward the fullness of that reality.

May 18, 2025: Fifth Sunday of Easter

God has glorified Himself in Jesus Christ, and Jesus is glorified in God through Jesus Christ's Death and Resurrection because in the Paschal Mystery Christ offers Himself as the fullest expression of God's self-giving love of agape.

As we recognize in our recent Triduum celebrations, these events are not merely historical events: They are realities within us.

The Paschal Mystery was lived out as the Holy Spirit worked to build the Church, which is called to reflect the glory of the Heavenly Jerusalem that will come in its fullness.

Indeed, at that time, God will make all things new, just as He is making us new as Christ's glorious Life is in us.

We advance closer to that reality when God fills our hearts with His love and then, by the Holy Spirit, we respond to the new commandment Jesus Christ gave at the Last Supper, to love others in a way that reveals the ultimate act of love God showed us in Christ.

I recall how I entered more deeply into God's love on the 5th Sunday of Easter, when I was baptized and then years later, when I presented myself for First Holy Communion, joining myself more closely to God through the Church.  Tomorrow I celebrate the 12th anniversary of my ValpU graduation, which was on Pentecost Sunday, and I recognize how on that day, I was sent forth.

Pope Leo XIV is installed today, on the birthday of Pope St. John Paul II, and the Church is refreshed as we come together in unity, which we show forth to the world as we express love for one another that flows into the world.

May 11, 2025: Fourth Sunday of Easter/Good Shepherd Sunday

God leads us to Eternal Life, an image so richly represented by the Good Shepherd.

He provides for our needs along the way so we can live in the Abundant Life He desires us.

He keeps us close, so that we experience closeness to the Father and to the Son.

Our Good Shepherd Jesus is the Lamb Who was slain to bring us salvation, and He now leads us to Eternal Life.

Such a glorious reality inspires us to proclaim this Good News to all the world.  Even when we face opposition, God consoles us, because He cares for us like a Good Shepherd.

The Church furthermore rejoices that we have a new earthly shepherd in Pope Leo XIV.  We pray that he will be faithful to his office and lead us like the Good Shepherd.

And we can all be shepherds guiding one another to encountering God's presence that is so real and joyful in light of the Resurrection.

May 4, 2025: Third Sunday of Easter

Christ, once dead, is now Risen, and He continues to live in us because He continually offers the gift of Himself for our nourishment and sustenance.

When the Apostles, likely from discouragement and lack of grounding in the new reality of the Resurrection, returned to their previous way of life and went fishing, they caught nothing.  Yet the Risen Jesus appeared to them and brought them an abundant catch, and even had breakfast ready for them.

He would then grant them a mission to care for His flock.

Furthermore, His living Presence in them would continue to sustain them in the face of opposition.  By the Holy Spirit, the presence of the Risen Christ in them, they would boldly proclaim the Good News, even when the authorities didn't want to hear it.

Yes, the reality of the Resurrection continues to live in us, as we feed on the Living Bread that came down from Heaven that keeps us connected with God so we may continue fulfilling His mission.

With great joy this weekend, I recall my first encounter with the Eucharist at my First Holy Communion Mass 26 years ago.  Furthermore, we party like it's 1991, because May 3 is the birthday of Carlo Acutis, who developed a deep devotion to God and the Eucharist from a young age, and then boldly shared it with others.  And this day 20 years ago, I attended another monthly Confirmation preparation meeting, continuing to draw toward the Holy Spirit, Who brings us, the faithful, alive in the Paschal Mystery that we, by its power, may impact the world.

This Easter Season continues to remind us that the Risen Christ is constantly present to us, and we rejoice as we go forth to carry this reality to the world, worshipping, like in the vision from Revelation, the Lamb Who was slain and is worthy of our devotion by our lives.