As St. Peter explains it, the prophetic words of David in the Psalms have come true: Christ died, but didn't stay dead. By the power and promise of God, He rose again to new Life. He is the perfect sacrifice that completely cleanses us of all sin.
In the midst of all the despair we face in the world and in our lives, especially now, Christ comes alongside us, directing us toward His very living, real Presence. It is there that we have new life, and we rejoice that our destiny is secure in Him.
Like the two disciples who journeyed to Emmaus, we continue to encounter Him in His life-giving words, and in His offering to us, both of which continually draw us to Him.
And from these encounters, we joyfully go to proclaim His Presence.
May each day bring us the joy of recognizing Him right with us.
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Sunday, April 19, 2020
April 19, 2020: Second Sunday of Easter/Divine Mercy Sunday
It is truly a blessed gift that the sacred wounds of Christ bring us redemption.
When we are locked in because of fear, like the disciples were, Christ breaks through and offers us His peace. When we're stuck in doubt, like St. Thomas and all the other disciples were, He gives us His very Real Presence so that we can truly encounter Him and proclaim Him as our Lord and God. He bestows His mercy on us, and with His breath, He forgives us of sin and brings us new Life. We can bring that forgiveness to others, as a sign that Christ is Risen and living among us. We can truly form a sense of community, living in awe of God's presence before us, and working in each of us to draw us together as One Body.
By the power of His Resurrection, Christ brings healing to our lives and our world. Even the great difficulties we face are means for His powerful redemption to fortify our faith, and lead us to Heaven. And that is truly the source of our hope.
It is truly a blessing in difficult times as this pandemic to behold the Divine Mercy so abundantly given to us. Indeed, it was a blessing when Pope St. John Paul II started this celebration on the 2nd Sunday of Easter 20 years ago, for we truly need God's mercy to raise us up from death into newness of Life.
May we join fully in the prayer: Jesus, King of Mercy, we trust in You.
When we are locked in because of fear, like the disciples were, Christ breaks through and offers us His peace. When we're stuck in doubt, like St. Thomas and all the other disciples were, He gives us His very Real Presence so that we can truly encounter Him and proclaim Him as our Lord and God. He bestows His mercy on us, and with His breath, He forgives us of sin and brings us new Life. We can bring that forgiveness to others, as a sign that Christ is Risen and living among us. We can truly form a sense of community, living in awe of God's presence before us, and working in each of us to draw us together as One Body.
By the power of His Resurrection, Christ brings healing to our lives and our world. Even the great difficulties we face are means for His powerful redemption to fortify our faith, and lead us to Heaven. And that is truly the source of our hope.
It is truly a blessing in difficult times as this pandemic to behold the Divine Mercy so abundantly given to us. Indeed, it was a blessing when Pope St. John Paul II started this celebration on the 2nd Sunday of Easter 20 years ago, for we truly need God's mercy to raise us up from death into newness of Life.
May we join fully in the prayer: Jesus, King of Mercy, we trust in You.
Sunday, April 12, 2020
April 12, 2020: Easter Sunday of the Lord's Resurrection
Early one morning on the first day of the week, there was an earthquake, a sign of how all Creation was shaken and began a new order of the ages.
Christ, Who died, rose again. The evidence He left behind was powerful, so that it transformed His disciples.
We are called to that same transformation. Let us raise our sights to what is above, for by His Resurrection, Christ has made the way for us to Heaven.
And so now, with great gladness, we proclaim the reality that Christ has risen, and is living, even in us.
Christ, Who died, rose again. The evidence He left behind was powerful, so that it transformed His disciples.
We are called to that same transformation. Let us raise our sights to what is above, for by His Resurrection, Christ has made the way for us to Heaven.
And so now, with great gladness, we proclaim the reality that Christ has risen, and is living, even in us.
Saturday, April 11, 2020
April 11, 2020: Holy Saturday Easter Vigil
The Exultet speaks so richly about this sacred night.
The saving work of God, manifested throughout the ages, now culminates in Christ, Who rose from the dead triumphantly. He demonstrates that nothing has power over Him, no sin, evil, or suffering, and not even death.
Let all Earth now be glad that God has manifested His power so victoriously.
We who die and rise with Him now share in that victory.
The saving work of God, manifested throughout the ages, now culminates in Christ, Who rose from the dead triumphantly. He demonstrates that nothing has power over Him, no sin, evil, or suffering, and not even death.
Let all Earth now be glad that God has manifested His power so victoriously.
We who die and rise with Him now share in that victory.
Friday, April 10, 2020
April 10, 2020: Holy/Cross/Good Friday of the Lord's Passion
The Cross was a symbol of cruelty in ancient Roman times. But once Christ went up on the Cross to die for our sins, He transformed it.
Jesus didn't avoid suffering, but faced it head on, so that God's redemptive power could work through it.
Now, the Cross is a symbol of God's power, which is greater than any sin, evil suffering, and even death.
The Cross has become a symbol of hope for us who recognize it is God's instrument for salvation of the world. By bravely bearing our own crosses, we have the hope of entering into the newness of Life. Christ opened the way for us to have direct access to the Father, Who helps us in our trials through this life, and bring us safely into His Kingdom, in which we share even now, by faith in what Christ did on the Cross.
Jesus didn't avoid suffering, but faced it head on, so that God's redemptive power could work through it.
Now, the Cross is a symbol of God's power, which is greater than any sin, evil suffering, and even death.
The Cross has become a symbol of hope for us who recognize it is God's instrument for salvation of the world. By bravely bearing our own crosses, we have the hope of entering into the newness of Life. Christ opened the way for us to have direct access to the Father, Who helps us in our trials through this life, and bring us safely into His Kingdom, in which we share even now, by faith in what Christ did on the Cross.
Thursday, April 9, 2020
April 9, 2020: Maundy/Holy Thursday
Jesus Christ, gathered at a meal with His Apostles, instituted a New Covenant on this holy night, as He offered His Body and His Blood. He is the perfect Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world by His one sacrifice.
He now entrusts this sacrifice to us, and in it, shows us the depths of God's love. And He called His Apostles gathered at the table, and all of us who follow, to abide by His command to love one another as He has loved us.
Truly it is a sacrifice that is meant to transform us, so that we go forth in service, knowing how much we are loved.
He now entrusts this sacrifice to us, and in it, shows us the depths of God's love. And He called His Apostles gathered at the table, and all of us who follow, to abide by His command to love one another as He has loved us.
Truly it is a sacrifice that is meant to transform us, so that we go forth in service, knowing how much we are loved.
Sunday, April 5, 2020
April 5, 2020: Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Today is the day we join with the crowds of Jerusalem that acclaimed Jesus as blessed, as a King.
But He was to show Himself to be a different kind of King, by dying for His people, in accordance with the plan of His Father.
He follows in the spirit of the Servant in the first reading from Isaiah, having confidence in the abilities God has given Him, even when faced with attacks.
Like St. Paul writes in the 2nd reading, Christ was God, but stepped back from His High Place, completely emptying Himself, facing off against the worst of humanity in a terrible death, by which we are freed from sin.
Now, He is exalted. And so we join with the crowds to acclaim Him as the King Who saves by suffering.
The Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, said it so well in his homily at Palm Sunday Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
We have hope in the midst of suffering, because Jesus united Himself with suffering to demonstrate His power of redemption.
But He was to show Himself to be a different kind of King, by dying for His people, in accordance with the plan of His Father.
He follows in the spirit of the Servant in the first reading from Isaiah, having confidence in the abilities God has given Him, even when faced with attacks.
Like St. Paul writes in the 2nd reading, Christ was God, but stepped back from His High Place, completely emptying Himself, facing off against the worst of humanity in a terrible death, by which we are freed from sin.
Now, He is exalted. And so we join with the crowds to acclaim Him as the King Who saves by suffering.
The Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, said it so well in his homily at Palm Sunday Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
We have hope in the midst of suffering, because Jesus united Himself with suffering to demonstrate His power of redemption.
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