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Happy Easter! Happy Fifth Sunday of Easter, to be specific, but Happy Easter just the same! The Church, in its wisdom, knows the glory of the Resurrection cannot be contained in just one day, or one week, or one month, not even in the multi-week Easter season of each year’s Liturgical Calendar. The glory of the Resurrection continues to this day, but it continues even further – into eternity.

Thus, today’s readings are a kind of roadmap for us impatient children of God, sitting here with our “Are we there yet?” attitudes. Luke, writing about the first missionary journey of Paul in the Acts of the Apostles, John at Patmos writing his visions in the Book of Revelation, and the same John sharing his recollections of Jesus at the Last Supper, give us a few directives to help us get to where we hope to be going, and to reassure us while we are getting there.

Paul tells the disciples the hard truth: “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Faith requires perseverance and, unfortunately, too many decide the journey is too hard, failing to recognize the glory that awaits those who do persevere.

John’s vision in Revelation reminds us of that glory, a new Jerusalem where we, the bride, will be adorned for our husband, Jesus Christ, risen and ascended and seated on His glorious throne. Then John tells us something that should bring us joy: “God’s dwelling is with the human race.” That’s right, God will be with us! We lowly creatures who have believed and have faith and persevere will belong to God and be with God, who will “make all things new.”

Jesus tells us plainly in John’s Gospel how we get to that point: “love one another.”  Jesus says this is a new commandment, but hasn’t God been telling us to love one another all through the books of the Old Testament? The difference, the newness, is in Jesus’ next line: “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” 

How Jesus has loved us is everything here. Completely. Selflessly. Despite His divinity, becoming human for us. Despite His humanity, becoming heavenly food for us. Despite His greatness so far above us, becoming a sacrifice for us to save us from our sins. Jesus loved us so much that He laid down his life for us, making “all things new.” Jesus is calling us to love others so much that we would be willing to do the same. The reward, then, is that newness bestowed on us in His heavenly presence forever. The road may be long and difficult, but please, dear Lord, grant us the grace we need to get there.

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God, powerful and ever-living, Creator of all, mighty and all-knowing — this same God is seeking you. He is seeking your friendship. That truth can be difficult for us to accept, just as it was difficult for Phillip to accept.

At this point in John’s Gospel, Jesus has just told His disciples that in knowing him, they know the Father, but Phillip doesn’t seem to understand. “Show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” So Jesus patiently explains to Phillip and the rest of the disciples, that we come to know God by coming to know his Son. “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.”

It’s not the first time Jesus has shared this message. Earlier in John’s Gospel, Jesus talks with Nicodemus and explains, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) This oft-quoted Scripture paves the way for a new relationship between Creator and created. In today’s Gospel, Jesus is speaking to His disciples at the Last Supper. His time on earth is growing short; He is offering them a masterclass in all He has taught during his ministry. And He’s giving us the same.

God wanted a relationship with humankind, so he sent Jesus. Then He sent the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire Scripture and to remain with us. As Christians, we can generally wrap our minds around that. Harder to accept sometimes, though, is the truth that God still wants a relationship with humankind.

God knows each of us, and He wants each of us to know Him, so much so that He sent His Son to walk among us. Today’s Gospel message is clear: know the Son, know the Father. Now, 2,000 years after that message was delivered, the Holy Spirit remains, stirring in our hearts so that we can also come to know the Son as though we were sitting with Him at that Last Supper. 

God wants friendship and connection with YOU. God so loves YOU that he gave His only-begotten Son. God has offered His hand in friendship to each of us, and all we need to do is take that hand to get to know his Son. How? Invite the Holy Spirit into your heart as you read Sacred Scripture and as you receive the Sacraments. Come to personally know Jesus, and come to personally know God, powerful and ever-living, Creator of all, mighty and all-knowing. Mind-boggling, indeed.

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One of the big milestones in a baby’s mental development is the ability to understand sequences. First this, then that. After I eat, my hands get washed. When I hit this toy, it swings. If I smile at my mom she will smile back. Eventually, longer and more complicated sequences are understood and trusted to function consistently. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus proposes a new sequence to the apostles and challenges them to take their faith to the next level. He leads them along a logical line of thinking which draws their attention to the ultimate goal of Jesus’ mission: heaven and union with God. He starts with their collective faith in God the Father and draws them into His new trajectory for belief. This new perspective is grounded in trust and some very basic questions of faith: Do you trust God? If you trust God, trust me. Do you trust me and my words? Then don’t worry about what is going to come or where we are going. 

How quickly we forget to trust in God and not in ourselves. We shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves however, because St. Thomas has already beat us in that respect. He heard the words of Jesus first hand, and in his own way, demonstrates a lack of trust by asking Jesus how they can know the way if they don’t know where they are going. We always want to know where we are going. Thanks to the map apps on our phones we usually know exactly where to turn and when. The point isn’t usually the journey, it’s the conclusion. 

In a beautiful way, Jesus’ logic highlights both the journey and the destination as important considerations for our faith. The goal, or destination, is union with the Father. The way to the Father is union with the Son. Jesus is the way to the Father, and He is also one with the Father. So, both the journey and the destination are intimately united. 

In order to enter into this journey/destination dynamic, we have to trust the logic of Christ. We have to let go of our desire to control the journey of life, of where we think we want to go. If we allow Jesus to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life, then we have, in a certain sense, already found our destination. We can move through life with a peace and a joy that isn’t rooted in the passing circumstances of our situation. 

The logic of Jesus may seem counterintuitive to the logic of the world. But as people of faith we know we can trust that by following wherever Jesus leads we will always discover the way to the Father.

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One of the most beautiful parts of our wedding day was when we washed each other’s feet at the reception. This has become a pretty common thing in Catholic circles and we wanted to show each other that we would be willing to serve. More than that though, we really did it for all of the people who came to our reception. We knew that many of them did not believe in a sacramental view of marriage, since some were not even Christian or weren’t practicing a specific religion. So we did this as a witness to others of what marriage should be. 

In the Gospel today we see Jesus giving this witness. Way before we had the idea, Jesus sat His disciples down and showed them through this action what it meant to lead and what it meant to serve. Have you ever looked at a beautiful stained glass window for any length of time? I used to work at a small little church out in the middle of nowhere that had the most beautiful stained glass. When the light hit the glass it would illuminate the story being told. Images do that for us. They let our imagination come alive. 

All throughout our Catholic tradition we have people who were models for us in the faith. We even call Mary the living icon of the Church because she reflects the love of her Son to the world. But in today’s Gospel we see Jesus as the model. Unlike holy sacramentals like statues, candles, and stained glass, Jesus is both an image of what to do, and the One who helps us do it. 

This is why Scripture is clear that He is the sacrifice and the priest all rolled into one. In the Alleluia verse for today we even hear that Jesus is a faithful witness but also the sacrifice who freed us from sin. 

Here in this 4th week of Easter, let’s take a step back and reflect on the past few weeks. Have we allowed God to be the example we need? Have we allowed His love to enter into our hearts? Have we allowed His sacrifice to change us and cleanse us? Stained glass will only have an effect on us if we look at it. Are you looking at Jesus to learn from His example and also thanking Him for giving you the grace to follow Him? Am I?

From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!

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When I was little I had a sign hanging in my bedroom that read: “The will of God will not take you where the grace of God cannot protect you.” That saying has stayed with me into adulthood and has gotten me through some tough times. Most of us could say that we have experienced events in our lives where we have felt abandoned by God and alone. Sometimes it is hard to believe Jesus when He says “I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.” At least for me, most of the time I have no idea what God is doing, but that’s where love comes in. 

Faith, Hope and Love. And the greatest of these is Love…but why? 

Love, true love, demands trust. Imagine a marriage or friendship without trust, it might be ok at first but eventually it will fall apart. I believe this is where a lot of Christians get lost in their walk with Christ. It reminds me of The Proof of Your Love (The Monologue Mix) by For King + Country. The song includes a spoken bridge about how you can know the ins and outs of religion and repeat Scripture until you’re blue in the face, but if you have not fallen truly and deeply in love with Christ, your knowledge and memory will never be enough to aid you through difficult times in the journey. 

The Lord asks us to trust completely, and through that trust we can experience the deepest and truest love that our hearts were created for. When we reach that point of falling deeply in love with Christ, we will also trust Him to show us His will, knowing that His love will guide us wherever His will may lead us. 

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Jesus “walked about in the Temple area on the Portico of Solomon”, a specific place in a specific time, with a specific meaning and purpose. The Temple was, according to ancient tradition, built on Mount Moriah, where Abraham was led to sacrifice his son, Isaac (Genesis 22:2), on the site of the threshing floor bought by King David (2 Kings 24), and where he erected an altar to the Lord. The first Temple was built by King Solomon, and a later iteration by Herod. 

The Portico was named after Solomon because it was likely built against the same eastern wall Solomon constructed as part of that original Temple; this east boundary of the Temple complex never changed. To the west was the Court of the Gentiles and the Temple itself. To the south was the Royal Porch of Herod, where Jesus sat among the doctors when he was 12 years old (Luke 2:46). To the east was the city wall and the Kidron Valley.

The Portico of Solomon was a grand covered walkway with massive columns, a very significant gathering place for theological discourse and debate. It was here, where great discussions took place, that Jesus taught, visited with people, and shared the Truth. After Pentecost, Peter and John would preach to a large crowd here, and heal the lame man (Acts 3:11-12). It became a gathering place for the early believers (Acts 5:12).

It was here, in a space rich with history and significance, that today’s Gospel takes place. It was Hanukkah. It was cold. And Jesus “walked about.” He was not taking a solitary afternoon stroll; as we’ve seen, this was a place where people gathered and serious debates took place. The Jews gathered around Him to demand an answer to their most pressing issue: “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” So Jesus told them, plainly: “I told you and you do not believe.” 

Then he took it a step further and called them out, saying they are not among His sheep. Speaking even more plainly, He called God his Father, saying, “The Father and I are one.” If we read a little further, we will see that they threatened to stone him to death, the penalty for blasphemy, because He claimed equality with God! He told them plainly, and they refused to accept His answer and tried to eliminate Him. As Jesus said, they do not believe because they are not among his sheep.

Who are His sheep? Those who believe in Him and hear His voice, the voice of Truth. “I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life… No one can take them out of my hand.” What consoling words for those who follow the words of the Good Shepherd, and allow Him to lead! If we continue to listen for His voice, no one can take us away from the One who has laid down His life for His sheep.

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In just a few days, my husband and I will celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary. And while this may not be considered a milestone by many, so much has happened in these short but long years. We have survived many storms: familial feuds, monetary muddles, infectious illnesses, chronic conditions, and the daily difficulties of raising five lively littles. I could compare it to the ebb and flow of an ocean tide. So many ups and downs, so many certainties and uncertainties, so much joy and pain. 

Yet this year has seemed like the best one yet in so many ways. While the marriages of several family members struggle and deteriorate, ours remains strong. While the world shines forth hatred and misunderstanding, our love and communication continue to grow. While others strive for material riches, we strive for poverty of spirit found in a quest for holiness. Constant pain is lifted up to the Lord as an offering and patience is refined through countless opportunities to practice it. 

We seek to provide a home where perfection is not required, flexibility is welcomed, and laughter and snuggles abound. And while we often fall short of this goal, our daily prayer and Tuesday evening Mass dates ground us over and over again. God has blessed us so abundantly through the sacrament of matrimony that all that is left is for us to be thankful. For as Fr. Mike Schmitz says, if you have gratitude, you have everything. Gratitude is all you need. 

Although the world often tempts us to lean towards a more glamorous marriage of fancy cars, a spotless home and elaborate vacations, we seek to follow the voice of our Good Shepherd, who “calls his own sheep by name and leads them… he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.” We know He calls us by name with overwhelming love. We know He leads us along the path to eternal life with gentle care. We know His voice speaks truth and goodness with justice and mercy. And we believe when He says to us, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (see today’s Gospel)

What is God speaking to your heart today? Do you recognize His voice? Will you follow Him wherever he leads you? May the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom we honor in a special way this month, lead you into a deeper relationship with her Son. May her motherly prodding encourage you to break down any barriers that are preventing you from allowing Him to walk ahead of you. May whatever you experience this day, whether it be an illness, an anniversary, or just another Monday, be filled with gratitude for being able to live one more day as His beloved sheep.

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“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.” 

I have to admit for many years I had a certain idea of what Jesus’ voice sounded like. My assumptions came from the first verse of this Gospel. Sheep are not very intelligent animals and need a shepherd to protect them, make sure they are fed and healthy, and lead them to safe pastures. When I “heard” Jesus’ voice in my heart, it was always gentle, meek, caring, a “what can I do for you” type of voice. 

When I made my thirty-day Ignatian retreat I heard another type of voice when Jesus spoke to my heart: it was clear, firm, and understanding. It was the voice of authority that wanted the very best, and only the best for me. Sometimes that meant I had to confront areas of my life that needed repentance and healing. Other times I needed to know that I was loved even in my poverty and weakness. Still other times Jesus needed me to realize that he was the one who does things, not me. It was the voice of the One who died that I might live forever in communion with God. It was a voice of urgency and patience.

Jesus’ voice in the Gospels has many of these characteristics. Think of his words to Mary Magdalen in the garden of the resurrection. I would have expected Him to reach out to her, tell her that everything was going to be okay, and express his sympathy with what she had suffered. Instead, He calls her by name, tells her not to cling to Him, and to go and tell His brothers that He had risen. Clear, strong, real, amazing, urgent; the voice of authority, the voice of love.

Think of Zacchaeus, the Sermon on the Mount, or His words to Peter at various times during the three years of the public ministry. Remember how Jesus spoke to the Syrian Phoenician Gentile woman and His commanding words to the spirit that possessed the boy who was deaf and mute. What about the 5,000 people scattered across the fields listening to Jesus’ preaching. “You feed them yourselves,” He said to his disciples. And His words to His apostles at the Last Supper, “This is my body. This is my blood.” And in His appearance to His apostles after the resurrection, “Peace be with you.” 

There are a thousand different variations of tone and intent and desire and command and mercy in the voice of the Good Shepherd. 

We, the sheep, still hear Jesus’ voice today. “I absolve you from your sins.” “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” We hear his voice as we read the Scriptures. Our soul may be illuminated by a gesture that moves us deeply or by an unexpected kindness. How sweet and strong and true is the voice of our Shepherd!

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Have you ever gone through something that made you want to turn around and walk away from the problem, perhaps from your life, or maybe even from God? Some things challenge us so much that we intuitively revolt against them. Sometimes we are faced with something so distressing that it makes us doubt what we had believed to be true or doubt a decision we had made. 

In today’s Gospel, many of Jesus’ followers were so challenged by His teaching that they did walk away. They could not reconcile what they believed with what they were hearing from Him, so they gave up.

Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Do you also want to leave?” The disciples were confused too and did not know what to make of Jesus’ claim, but they knew they needed to see Him through to the end. They knew Him too well and had seen and heard enough that they could not abandon Him. I love Peter’s answer: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

There was a night this past summer when I was again at a breaking point. Life had been too heavy for too long, and many things were pressing in on me. Needing to clear my head, I ran out the door into the dark garage and backed the car down the driveway. Though I did not feel like praying and tried to avoid it, I ended up exactly where I knew I would: sitting in the car outside church.

Knowing Jesus was just beyond the wall of the church building, I repeated Peter’s words, “Lord, to whom shall I go? You have the words of eternal life.” I could not deny the difficulty I was being asked to bear, but the difficulty did not erase the truth that Jesus is God and that He was right there with me, guiding me through this time.

To whom shall I go? To Jesus, always back to Jesus. To His arms, to His redeeming power, to His love and mercy. Like Peter and the apostles, I have experienced and seen enough that I have come to believe He is the Holy One of God and I cannot live my life without Him.

I wish I could say things became better immediately after that. They did not. I am continuing to live my brokenness in a very real way and continuing to face challenges I am not equipped to handle. But I continue to do my best to walk with Jesus because I know I cannot leave Him.

To whom shall we go? In good times and in bad, Jesus is Lord, and He has the words of eternal life. Even in difficult times, by His side is the best place to be.

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Do you ever feel like you are no good or are not living up to your full potential? This is a classic effect of a fallen world that many, if not all of us, struggle with. We do not feel like we are good enough or worth as much as we could be. Of course, this is not true, but it is sometimes hard to believe the truth. 

When we struggle with this belief, the story of Paul from today’s first reading can be quite consoling. Here is a man who was actively persecuting Christians. Acts chapter 9 makes it very clear that he does not only hate the Christians, but he is breathing murderous threats against them. It is pretty astounding that we read about how treacherous Paul was in the very same book that was later written by him. 

In other words, God knew his full potential. Even if Paul felt that his purpose in life was to murder innocent people, God had bigger plans for him. It’s interesting to note that the invitation for Paul to live his life to the fullest came directly from God, not from anything that Paul did. No amount of self reflection or insight changed his behavior. Instead, God extended him a simple invitation. 

Now, it doesn’t hurt that God also made him blind and showed him wonders beyond his wildest dreams so he would come to believe. That is Paul’s story. What is yours? What is mine? What is God calling us to that we have not yet given our yes to? I find that the best way to get out of the rut of thinking that we are not living up to our full potential is by asking God what our full potential is. We are only going to find that in Him because He gave us our potential. 

During this Easter season, let’s take a moment to reflect on what more God is calling us to and how we can actively participate in the beautiful mysteries that God has placed before us. We might just come to find out that the things He has called us to will take us places we never dreamed of. 

From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!

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