2016

One of the better-known works of ancient Greek literature is the epic poem, Odyssey, written by Homer, which describes the voyage of a man named Odysseus. In one episode, he has to pass through a body of water between Sicily and Italy, known as the Straits of Messina. Passing through there poses two dangers to all sailors.

One is the rocky coastline. If a sailor comes too close to shore, his craft could run aground on the rocks, which would destroy his boat and endanger the crew. But if he stays too far from the shore, there was an even greater danger, a whirlpool that could consume the entire ship. …

4th Sunday of EasterRead More »

One way to look at the readings throughout the Easter Season is to reflect on the word “relationship.” Our relationship to the Risen Jesus, our relationship to the Church, our relationship to our brothers and sisters. In these readings for the Easter Season, we witness the growth of a relationship we are all called to embrace. The readings speak of the meaning of discipleship both in our internal attitudes and in our relationships with other people.

Today’s Gospel and, to some extent, the Second Reading speak of recognizing the presence of God and of Jesus in our daily lives while the First Reading calls us to witness to our faith with consistency and courage. One flows from the other. To be a genuine disciple of Jesus, it is not enough just to be “holy”, to be good, but to have the courage, when the call comes, to do difficult things and perhaps even to suffer.

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3rd Sunday of EasterRead More »

1st reading   Acts: 5:12-16
2nd reading  Rev: 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19
Gospel      John 20:19-31                  

The Cross of Christ! Who would have thought back at that moment in time what the cross would mean for all of humanity! This wooden cross-meant for torture and death. This cross-where Mercy in the flesh hung. This cross- where Jesus conquered sin and death because of the greatest love we could never imagine, the love of God for his creation, for us!

Divine Mercy Sunday comes at an appropriate time in our church year, the Sunday after Easter. In a way, through our reflections on the Triduum and Easter Sunday, we have been preparing for God’s Divine Mercy and the impact it can have on us as individuals and as a Church. …

Divine MercyRead More »

Five times in this gospel, the word “tomb” is mentioned. When we think of tombs, we often think of graves, 6 feet deep; final resting places that are forever sealed when the first spade of dirt is tossed in. Once the ground has been covered, the body is rarely removed. In ancient Israel, tombs were small caves, much like our mausoleums.

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and her companions come to the tomb of Jesus, never expecting to find it empty but that is what they discovered. Nor did they expect to encounter two men in dazzling white who said, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, he has been raised.” Recalling all that Jesus had told them, they returned from the tomb to tell the apostles, who understandably did not believe them. Nonetheless, Peter ran to the tomb and saw for himself that something wasn’t right. …

EasterRead More »

When I was growing up, the covers of Time magazine always featured someone who was newsworthy that week. One issue stood out, however, since the cover was black with the eye catching bold statement, “God is dead.”

That cover comes to mind when I hear Jesus say, “It is finished.” Then John tells us, “And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.” We hold the belief that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine; the two beings woven into one, the second person of the Trinity.  So, if the human person died on the cross, so did the divine.

We must not fictionalize or trivialize what happened on Calvary that day. Jesus really suffered more than any of us can imagine. Do not presume that being divine, he felt pain any less than we do. If anything, he suffered more intensely. Having seen the movie, The Passion, I winced at the pain he must have felt as the crown of thorns was placed on his head. I cringed with each flick of the whip that made his back flinch. I recoil as the large nails were pounded into his wrists and feet. John certainly doesn’t minimize the violence of Jesus’ crucifixion. …

Good FridayRead More »