To fully appreciate this week’s gospel reading, we must consider the context in which Christ spoke these words: to his disciples at the last supper. This context is important to fully embrace what Jesus means when he emphasizes that if we love him, we will keep his commandments. Jesus washed the feet of his…

The disciples in today’s gospel: Shaken, but together, returning to that long Holy Thursday conversation, reaching to recall every word from their last time together when he was alive. In all that grief and fear and uncertainty, came a call they struggled to understand: “Where I am going, you know the way.” They heard that…

OUR FASCINATING FAITH                 Jesus, the Good Shepherd, tells us that he calls his own sheep by name and those sheep respond by following him. Unlike the early disciples, we do not have the benefit of hearing the Lord Jesus call us by name. Or do we? Through the centuries countless men, women, and children…

In today’s Gospel, we may be surprised to learn that these friends of Jesus could walk and converse with him at some length yet not recognize him. We learn that the first community met and recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread, just as we meet Jesus in the Eucharist. We can imagine the…

Believe What Sounds Too Good to be True Today’s Gospel, John’s story of Jesus’ first appearance to his mourning, frightened disciples. Apparently seeking one another’s comfort and protection, they locked themselves together in hiding. Suddenly, Jesus became fully present among them, alive, scarred and loving. He had but one word for them: “Shalom.” Our lectionary translates…

Trust in God’s abundant mercy                  Today we rejoice because Jesus was raised from the dead. We also rejoice because we were raised to new life with him. In the letter to the Colossians, St. Paul challenges us to live this mystery. He wrote, “If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above.” Through baptism,…

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord                  This Sunday, also known as Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord marks the beginning of the Holy Week and the entry into this most solemn and important period of time when we commemorate the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the…

Today’s scripture readings from Ezekiel, Paul, and John center on death: death of a nation, death to self, and death of a beloved friend. But the lesson we need to take from today’s scripture is not the inevitability of physical death, with its sorrow and confusion, but the union we must all form with Jesus…

Rejoice                 The Fourth Sunday of Lent is known as “Laetare (Rejoice) Sunday,” expressing the Church’s joy in anticipation of the Resurrection of our Lord. Today’s readings remind us that it is God Who both gives us proper vision in body as well as in soul and instructs us that we should be constantly on our guard…

Do You Trust Jesus?                   In this week’s Gospel Reading, Jesus invites the woman at the well into a relationship of trust. He is a Jew—the sort of person she expects to look down on her because she is a Samaritan. What’s more, he knows about her past. She has been through marital struggles. She,…