5th Sunday of Easter - B (April 29, 2018)

“You are the Branches”

John 15: 1-8

Jesus speaks of himself as the true vine and the disciples the branches. 

This image made me think of the other branches, the friends with whom I share the connection in Jesus, the people who help connect me with Jesus.

Today’s first reading gives an example of such a friend – Barnabas who helps connect Paul with the Christian community.

And the second reading reminds us of Jesus’ commandment “love one another.”

Let us thank God for those who lead and connect us to the true vine.

4th Sunday of Easter - B (April 22, 2018)

“There will be one flock, one shepherd”

John 10: 11-18

“There will be one flock, one shepherd.”  Only then is the mission of Jesus completed.  That is the extent of God’s love for all.

As children of God, we are all given the privilege of sharing in that mission of Jesus.  Our mission is to bring the love of God to all, and to bring all into God’s family.

Hopefully, we will never treat our role as that of a hired hand.   

Today is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  Pray that we embrace our vocation of sharing the Good Shepherd’s mission.  

Image source:  http://www.agnusday.org

3rd Sunday of Easter - B

“Touch Me and See”

Luke 24: 35-48

The disciples knew Jesus both before and after his Passion and Resurrection.

But it was through meeting the Risen Christ that they received peace, joy, and courage to be his witnesses.  Without that, they were “troubled” and “questions arose in their hearts.”

We do not know Jesus before his Passion and Resurrection (the “historical Jesus”).  But we share the same privilege of with the disciples in meeting the Risen Christ in the community of believers, in his words of Scriptures, and in the breaking of the bread.

May we receive the same peace, joy, and courage in meeting the Risen Christ.  

Image source:  http://www.agnusday.org

2nd Sunday of Easter - B (April 8, 2018)

Jesus Shows the Disciples his Hands and his Side

John 20:19-31

When Jesus appears to the fearful disciples, “he shows them his hands and his side” and he said to them, “Peace be with you.”

Jesus’ pierced hands and side brings us to the moment of his crucifixion.

The Cross is indeed the summit of God’s love for humanity.   There, the price of our salvation.  In the Cross, and only in the Cross, we receive God’s gift of peace and forgiveness.

Image: Caravaggio, The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, wikipedia.org

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Go and Tell

Mark 16:1-7

The Easter message to the women was, “Go and tell.” 

This was the command to the first witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection.  They were afraid, anxious, confused, and lost. 

Yet, they took that command to heart.  As a result of their message, we heard of the good news of Jesus’ victory over death.

This command, “Go and tell” must continue with us today.

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Image source:  William-Adolphe_Bouguereau, Holy Women at the Tomb.  Wikipedia.