Archive for April 2021

Whenever I go to the library, I almost invariably come out with two books–a biography and historical fiction. I feel that both types of books make me a better person perhaps by the example of fictional and real people, but also by getting me out of my daily life to see a bigger picture. Although…

Over the past year I have found more time to read. It was a banner day when the library down the street opened for business. I have discovered another favorite author—Hazel Gaynor. I love historical fiction, because I’m learning history while enjoying an intriguing plot. I have also found that learning the plight of destitute…

The earliest depictions of Jesus Christ were those of a shepherd. Pictures of the sufferings and crucifixion of Jesus were too painful and inappropriate. The early followers of Jesus felt the image of Good Shepherd was the heart of the Christian message. “I am the Good Shepherd” is the Risen Lord’s self-portrait. I AM professed…

It’s impossible to respond to this question from Psalm 116. There is nothing I can do; however, fortunately God gives us the ability to make some return. We can take up the cup of salvation. We can call upon the name of the Lord. We can vow our lives. We can be God’s servants. We…

April is such a beautiful month. It’s easy to say with Gerard Manley Hopkins “Glory be to God for dappled things.” I rejoice in the variety of nature. In almost anything else I enjoy variety—food, recreation, work, anything. Our Church Year gives us a variety of saints and sinners in its list of saints from…

The Easter candle continues to burn throughout the Great Fifty Days. Are you still aglow with its flame? Let’s return to the Easter Vigil. The New Fire is lit, and a spark is taken to light the Paschal Candle. The gesture symbolizes Christ’s rising from the dead in glory. As the deacon processes with it,…

Today’s First Reading begins with “a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem,” which forces the believers to move out of the area. They land in Samaria and bring “great joy in that city.” In the Gospel Jesus says to the crowd that no one will be rejected; all who believe will have eternal life.…

The crowd wanted proof to believe in Jesus. He responded, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger.” As followers of Jesus Christ, as extensions of him, and persons made in the image of God, we too can say that we are the bread of life. How can this be?…

His persecutors in fury, the deacon and first martyr Stephen intently looked to heaven and saw the glory of God. The Holy Spirit filled Stephen with courageous conviction. The incredible outpouring of the Holy Spirit floods the stories of the Easter Season beginning with the resurrection of Jesus on that Sunday morning. Thomas Keating writes:…

Today’s gospel relates how Jesus was made known to the disciples on the road to Emmaus “in the breaking of the bread.” Even as they are telling the story, Jesus has “a piece of baked fish” to eat with them. So many ways to discover Jesus Christ during the Easter Season! We go from empty…