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THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER Christ is Risen, the Lord of all creation; he has shown pity on all the people. In today’s gospel, Peter is offered an opportunity to proclaim his love and loyalty to the risen Christ. Peter’s authority, lost by his denial of Jesus, is now restored through his confession of faith and he is given the commission to guard his whole flock in Christ’s name, a role that will lead to a violent death for Peter. The Good Shepherd leaves his Church in the hands of a man who failed which shows that Christ’s call does not exclude our falls. Peter came to know God’s grace through his failure. Often failure can be the finger of God pointing the way, awakening within us an awareness of our own helplessness and a call to follow Him. |
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SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER – DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY You believe, Thomas, because you have seen me; blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe. In today’s gospel, the prayerful gathering of disciples is interrupted by the stubborn disbelief of Thomas. Good Friday had ended all hope he had pinned on Christ and shattered his faith to the point where he made no attempt to hide his disbelief. Thomas does us all a favour in demanding proof of the resurrection. In fact, he echoes the doubts and voices the uncertainties which darken our minds and cloud our faith when our dreams are crushed by an unexpected death, a broken relationship or some other heavy cross that we must carry. This gospel shows us that faith does not always come easily. Sometimes believing is not a problem, at other times it can be a struggle against despair and a real challenge. Like Thomas, we are a mix of belief and unbelief. We have faith in our hearts and doubts in our mind. It is no small wonder we pray; ‘Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.’ |
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EASTER SUNDAY Christ, our Paschal Lamb, has been sacrificed: let us feast with joy in the Lord. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead affirms that death is not the end of us. We are meant for more than this present life and are not anchored to this world. Human life if no longer limited by the cycle of birth to death. Easter is the answer to all the tears that we shed at the graves of our loved ones because it reminds us that we have a future greater than we dare believe in, provided we open our hearts to the grace that Jesus won for us. Christ has shared the gift of his life with us and his resurrection from the dead points to the resurrection of all people. Easter is a turning point inviting us to live in an entirely new way that goes beyond the limitations of this world. |
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PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORD Christ became obedient for us to death, even death on a Cross. Therefore, God exalted him, and gave him the name above every other name. Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Acclaimed as king and hailed as a conquering hero by the cheering crowd, he seemed to have arrived at the fulfillment of his earthly mission. However, for Christ, it’s the beginning of the last week of his life; a week of violent contrasts, which will end in grief and glory. Throughout the passion, our attention is focused on Jesus who appears as a person completely absorbed in prayer, responding quietly and sensitively to each new moment of sorrow. During this most solemn week of the church year we are invited to take the road with the followers of Christ to Calvary and to be silently at his side. He wants the work of his cross to touch our lives so that we may break free of our sinful ways and be ready to quietly take up our daily crosses absorbed in prayer and sensitivity to the world around us. |
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THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT Return to me with all your heart, says the Lord, for I am gracious and merciful. In today’s gospel we have the Pharisees, dragging before Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery and asking Jesus to pass judgement upon her and approve of her death by stoning. Christ goes to the heart of the matter saying, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first one to throw a stone at her.” and without condoning her sinful action He restores her to peace and friendship with God. Christ’s offer of forgiveness and compassion to this publicly, humiliated woman points out our call to be a forgiving people, dedicated to reconciliation. In many ways, we can be as self-righteous as the scribes and Pharisees. It’s so easy to criticize and condemn others. Lent is an invitation to take a closer look at our lives, acknowledge our weaknesses and start anew in the friendship of God. |