Ascension Sunday

We are called to follow where Christ our Savior went first.  We, like Jesus, are called to be light enough to ascend to the Father: some things weigh us down, and some things raise us up.  Do you ever feel heavy?  Do you ever feel weighed down?  Jesus wants to lighten your load.

Ask Jesus for the grace today, ask the Holy Spirit for the power today: “Lord, give me the grace and the power to let go of one more thing I’m holding onto that’s weighing me down.  And Lord, help me with your grace and power to take one more step in an area that will raise me up!”

6th Sunday of Easter

On this Memorial Day Weekend, we give thanks to God for the lives we are able to live in our country as we remember those who have died while serving in our Armed Forces, protecting us and upholding the rights and liberties which we enjoy here and now; we remember them and we pray for eternal rest and peace for their souls.

If I’m being totally honest, though, in my day-to-day life, I usually take these freedoms for granted.  I also take many of the blessings of life for granted…and the people God has placed in my life for granted…and the incredible gift of forgiveness of sins in Jesus and eternal life for granted…and our incredible Catholic faith for granted… So if you’re anything like me, let’s pause this week, and intentionally give thanks to God this day for all of His many gifts!

4th Sunday of Easter

Just a few days ago, on Thursday, May 8th, something happened that I never thought I would see in my lifetime: Habemus Papam! We have a Pope! …And he’s American!

Robert Francis Prevost is a native of Chicago; an Augustinian priest (a religious order priest) who spent much of his priestly life as a missionary in South America, and eventually serving as a Bishop in Peru.  More recently, he was called to Rome, where he worked in the Dicastery for Bishops.

On this Good Shepherd Sunday let’s pray for our new shepherd, Pope Leo XIV.  I also ask for your prayers for me, your local shepherd.  And finally, prayers for those that you have been called by God to shepherd.

Jesus doesn’t say “follow me” to only popes or priests; he says it to every disciple.  Every one of us who has heard Jesus’ invitation and chosen to follow Him has also been tasked with the responsibility to shepherd specific people the Lord has placed in our care.  May we all model our shepherding after that of Christ, the Good Shepherd!

Easter Sunday

“Roll away the stone.  See the glory of God.  Roll away the stone.”

What stones are still blocking the tomb of your heart?  This Easter, God wants to roll those stones away.   Christ doesn’t roll it away to shame us—He rolls it away so that He can enter in.  Just as He stepped out of the tomb into the garden of new life, bringing into our world something entirely new — so Jesus wants to step into the tombs we’ve been trapped in and say, “Peace be with you, ” bringing His light and His healing, to clear out the old, musty, life-draining, stale air, and bring in a breath of new, fresh, moving, life-giving air!

Happy Easter!

6th Sunday of Easter

“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.”

“In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he has loved us.”

“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.  Remain in my love.”

4th Sunday of Easter

Two thoughts for you this Sunday…

Happy Easter!

6th Sunday of Easter

As we celebrate Mother’s Day weekend, as we honor mothers who hold their children dear and close in their hearts and minds, we look to Mary as the model of not only earthly motherhood, but also as the model of a disciple who invites the Spirit of God into her life, who ponders and intentionally holds in her mind the experiences that God has given her, and who, as a result, brings the presence of Jesus into the world around her!