A Love That Is Unconditional, Sacrificial, and Permanent
In today’s gospel, Jesus encourages us to love one another as he has loved us. He showed this love by his willingness to be humiliated, scourged, and crucified for our sins. It is precisely this type of love that Christ is calling us to express in our everyday lives.
Reluctant Sheep
Sheep get an awfully bad rap, linguistically. If you look at the phraseology associated with sheep, it’s no wonder that nobody wants to be one. Sheep are innocent. Sheep can’t protect themselves. They’re vulnerable and easily misled. We want to see ourselves as the opposite of all that.
Gifts in Disguise
Have you ever opened a gift and wondered what the giver was thinking? I think we have all been the confused recipient of a sweater that wasn’t our size or a gift card to a store where we don’t shop. But we smiled all the same and said how much it meant to us, because we know that when it comes to gifts, it’s all about the gesture.
An Ohio Parish’s Bulletin — Before-and-After!
LPi’s graphic designers often tackle the task of refreshing a parish’s branding. One of the most recent pieces is this bulletin facelift by David Kieckhefer, he was kind enough to answer some questions about the process and share his design recommendations for every parish.
The World Is Watching
“Christ has no body now but yours,” goes the famous quote attributed to St. Teresa of Avila. What she’s saying is that we have become the means through which God chooses to accomplish His will in the world. Us, the broken. Us, the weary. Us, the imperfect. If a person is going to come to believe in Jesus Christ in this day and age, it will be because of something we Christians do or say.
What We Bring to the Fire
God doesn’t just allow us to drag our dead fish to his already blazing fire — he tells us to. He accepts our offering — our good works, our suffering, our praise, our love. He accepts everything we have to give, and then He sits with us, and He gives us a job to do.
The Divine Mercy of Jesus
On Divine Mercy Sunday, we celebrate God’s abundant mercy. It may be hard to remember that we live in Jesus’ victory over sin and death; however, if we fail to embrace heaven here, we may miss the opportunity altogether.
Leave It in the Tomb
Today, on the most important day of the liturgical year, the Apostle Paul is calling us out. “I see you hiding in that tomb,” he says. “I see you baking with that old, stale yeast, thinking no one will notice.” If you want to be raised with Christ, you’d better be ready to step out of the shadows. Seek what is above — not what is on earth.
Parish Dispatch: Father Mario Amore, St. Aloysius Parish, Detroit, MI
We are honored to work with vibrant parishes across the United States, each one working to bring the Kingdom of God to their neighborhoods. Father Mario Amore serves at St. Aloysius Parish in Detroit. Here he answers some questions about his special parish.