Divine Mercy Sunday and The Gift of True Peace

On this second Sunday of Easter, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church places before us the face of the risen Christ, shining with mercy, and his first words to the fearful apostles: “Peace be with you.” 

The Passion Fulfilled, Our Part Begins

The cross teaches us obedience to the Father’s will. It teaches us forgiveness. It teaches us hope. It teaches us love. As we begin Holy Week, may we remember that all Christ did was to leave us an example.

From Tomb to Triumph: Jesus, Lord of Life

Are we so animated by our faith in Jesus as the only begotten son who invites us to salvation that all our actions these 40 days express our conviction that he is Resurrection and Life?

Jesus at the Well: Grace Without Shame

Lent is an opportunity to confront our own imperfection and open ourselves to the love of Christ, which enables us to live free of shame and grow in his grace.

From Mountain Glory to The Silence of the Cross

In today’s Gospel, Jesus brings Peter, James, and John up a mountain, a place considered the dwelling of God, where, from a cloud, also a reference to the presence of God as in the pillar of cloud that went before the Israelites during the Exodus, they hear the voice of God declare Jesus, “My beloved Son.”

Jesus, the Desert, and the Call to Lenten Renewal

As we begin this season of Lent, we acknowledge the reality that we are all poor sinners, trying our best to be good, holy, and faithful disciples. When we fall into feelings of loneliness, fear, and frustration, we must not allow Satan to make his way in.

Living the Commandments With Heart and Holiness

As a kid growing up, I was very much fascinated with the Ten Commandments. I always thought of them as “rules” that every good Christian needed to live by. These were basic “rules” everyone needed to follow to get to heaven. Of course, if you broke even one of those rules, you needed to take responsibility and apologize for that, which meant going to the sacrament of reconciliation. This was the fabric of what was meant to be a good and holy person, following the commandments and apologizing if you dared break any of them.