Fear Is Not the End of the Story
St. Mark invites us to join the disciples in asking, “Who is this?” For Mark, Jesus is the embodiment of the saving work of God. Each of the miracle stories is an opportunity to come to a deeper understanding of Jesus as the one who brings God’s power and providence to human needs.
The Sure and Silent Growth of God’s Kingdom
Jesus uses the image of the seed to describe God’s Kingdom. Like a seed planted in the ground, God works in hidden ways. We cannot always understand what He is doing or why things are turning out the way they are.
Seeing the Body of Christ
The Church offers us this Solemnity of the source and summit of our faith. It is a treasure far beyond human understanding. And yet it is a reality of Christian faith both intimately personal, and communally binding, not confined to the laws of space and time yet operates there.
Worship and Doubt
Worship is a relationship, not a transaction. When Jesus instructed his followers to make disciples of all nations, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you,” he knew that sometimes they would have to rely on the muscle memory of worship.
The Power of Pentecost
On Pentecost, we celebrate the birthday of the Church, that glorious moment the Holy Spirit “appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.” In the Holy Spirit, God dwells not just among us but within us.
The Good News of Transformation
The day-to-day challenges of life find us struggling with our incompleteness. Our unenlightened and dimly lit eyes fail to see the beauty of what is yet to be. Imagine how differently we would feel and how creative we would become if we gave more attention to who we are becoming!
Dare To Go to the Fringes
Like Benedict’s monks and the Apostles, each of us is called to do our part in realizing this mission, but we are also called to reach across the boundaries — whatever form they might take — and invite others to join us in living out this mission.
Staying Connected To One Another In Christ
Jesus connects us not only to himself but to one another. Just as the branch is vitally connected to the vine, so the believer is vitally connected to Jesus. And just as, apart from the vine, the branch shrivels up and dies, so those who are not connected to Jesus have no life within them.
A Willing Sacrifice
Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down on my own.” Jesus’ intrinsic freedom is the shining quality here. He was not “compelled” or “obligated” or “coerced” into the path that led to Calvary: he chose it.
Hope for the Resurrection of Our Bodies
In this last year we’ve all been reminded of our mortality as the COVID-19 pandemic has swept over the world. But as part of the Body of Christ, there is a hope that awaits our mortal bodies, and to see it, we need look no further than this Sunday’s readings!
Blessed Are the Believers
In this Divine Mercy Sunday’s Gospel, John presents two encounters of the Apostle Thomas coming to embrace the Good News and believe. Let us put ourselves into the Scripture, remembering we have all experienced “doubting-Thomas” moments.
It’s a Game Changer
When Jesus was transfigured before his disciples’ eyes, he stood before them. Now that he has risen from the dead his resurrected presence is within them! This is not something that comes as the result of a request, it is simply a gift.