“Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David – Matthew 15:22 Each of the readings for this Sunday talk about unity, the coming together of different people from various places, all oriented toward the Lord. Isaiah writes the prophecy of all nations being united in the Lord: “my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Isaiah 56:7). In the Responsorial Psalm we cry out, “O God, let all the nations praise…
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?…
Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope… (1 Peter 3:15) Easter is a season of joy and hope. During Lent I was focused on allowing God to bring me to healing in a couple of areas, but as Easter approached I felt Him moving me away from that work and toward joy and hope. I think He knew I needed a break from the…
Here is a list of 7 practical tips for how to live out the new evangelization in your own walk of life. First, in case you missed them, here are the last two blog posts for some context: Mission of Mercy and Christian Witness. 1. Encounter the Mercy and Love of God Witnessing to Christ means that you have a relationship with Him and want to invite others to encounter His love and mercy for…
You are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:48 When you hear the words “new evangelization,” what do you think of? Knocking on doors to tell strangers about Jesus? Or is it not about you at all, but more about the priests, bishops, authors, and Catholic media working to spread the Gospel to more people? What’s wonderful is that each and every Christian has a part to play in helping Jesus fulfill His mission of mercy…
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” John 20:21 Happy Divine Mercy Sunday! God the Father sent Jesus on His saving mission. It was a mission of mercy. He came to free us from the captivity of our sins and death, sin’s logical consequence. Jesus’s victory over sin and death was His gift of mercy to us. Mercy is God’s name. God revealed…
Christ spent the forty days before His Ascension preparing the apostles for their mission by teaching them about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). Their mission was the same as ours; we are to help establish and extend Christ’s Kingdom: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”…
At your Baptism, you were washed and reborn as a child of God, set apart from the world as members of Christ’s Church, and anointed to be a light to the whole world. On the day of your baptism, you were “born of water and Spirit” (John 3:5). Imagine: the priest poured holy water over you to wash you from original sin; he anointed you with sacred chrism oil, signifying the gift of the Holy…
Scripture tells us that St. Mary Magdalen had a special devotion to Christ’s precious feet. She wept over and anointed His feet in contrition for her sins. She humbly sat at His feet, listening to every word of His teaching. She stood courageously at the foot of His cross, bearing the weight of His passion. What a humble devotion, to worship at the feet of our Lord. “How beautiful are the feet upon the mountains…
Just before the Ascension the disciples ask, ”Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Lord Jesus, this is what we’ve been waiting for! Is this when you will make all things right here on earth? Will you show everyone that You are the Messiah after all? Jesus replies, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own…