Remain in me, as I remain in you. John 15:4 What does it mean to “remain” in Jesus? And what does it mean that Jesus “remains” in us? The word “remain” occurs eight times in our Gospel reading for this Sunday (John 15:1-8). In the allegory of the Vine and the Branches, Jesus teaches His disciples what it means to be in union with Him. We are called to be one with each other and…
…when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself. – John 12:32 All people belong to Jesus. Everyone. Not just Christians, all of mankind. He is King of the Universe, after all! In our Gospel passage for this Sunday (John 12:20-33), notice Jesus’s curious reaction after Andrew and Philip told Him that some Greeks wanted to speak with Him: “Jesus answered them: ‘The hour has come for the Son of…
Beloved: Christ suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. – 1 Peter 3:18 When I think of a desert, I imagine a desolate place with no clear paths marked out for traveling. Just a wide expanse of sand or rocks without water or many plants or wildlife. It’s a place one could easily get lost. The desert of Lent can feel the same…
Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. – Mark 1:17-18 Has God ever come along and changed everything in your life? Maybe it was a decision that caused you to move away from your home to take a new job in a new city. Or perhaps a family member needed your help, and you had to rearrange your life…
“Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.” -Psalm 40:8-9 The Psalm often gives us a hint at the “theme” of the readings during Mass. It is usually sung or simply chanted and allows us to meditate on the theme by engaging our bodies and hearts in a different way. When we sing sacred music, we use our body, mind, and spirit together to praise God. The Psalm should focus our hearts and…
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. – Psalm 95:8 Just how can we hear the voice of God? We can hear Him speak His Word to us through the Scriptures, in personal prayer, in our conscience that convicts us of right and wrong (CCC 1777), in the liturgy of the Mass, through the writings of the saints, and through godly people. The adage goes, it’s one thing to hear and another…
“And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.” (Matthew 16:18) Just what is a missionary disciple? A simple answer is a disciple who has a mission. In this Sunday’s Gospel passage, Jesus changed Simon’s name when he became the foundation of the Church. Simon’s new name, Petros–Rock, reflected his new mission to be the solid ground for the Church to be built upon. God also…
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20) This weekend we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. Jesus told the apostles that he would be with them always just before He left them. How is it possible for Him to be both sitting at God’s right hand (Ephesians 1:20) and with us here on earth? How can he remain Emmanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23) after His ascension?…
During His trial, Christ told Pilate His purpose: “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” To which Pilate famously asked, “What is truth?” (John 18: 37-38). His question was rhetorical—he probably didn’t really want an answer. But Jesus had given the disciples this answer already, and we hear it in today’s Gospel reading. Jesus…
Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.- Matthew 5:17 Have you heard the saying that the secret ingredient to any special recipe or good meal is love? Actually, it’s the secret ingredient to anything creative. You can tell when something has been created with love. There’s just something “extra” you can taste or sense. This Sunday’s readings are all…