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Jesus had been teaching His followers about the privilege of being a disciple and now He did something radical for His day — He taught a woman. When Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, listening to the words of her master, Martha criticized her for neglecting to help her to provide hospitality for their guest. Jesus reminded Martha that she was too anxious about things of little importance. The one thing that should concern her was “to seek God’s kingdom before all else.”

The Parable of the Good Shepherd is one of the most well known parables. The message of this parable is clear and obvious: regardless of what culture or religion we are from, we should be willing to help people in need, even if they are different from us. Some say this parable is the most moving parable in Scripture.

“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” We are constantly on a journey. Jesus was on a journey towards Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to prepare the way, but one village refuses to receive Him. He rebukes His disciples for wanting to punish them by fire. He says to the others: “Follow me.”

For those in ministry, serving a worshipping community for any length of time can be a challenging task. Many of us can remember a time when we were on the receiving end of a critical comment. Maybe it was something we said or how we treated someone that triggered a negative response. Whatever the reason, few things rattle our nerves more than a complaint from the pew.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, our Parish Feast Day. Historically known by the Latin name, Corpus Christi, it celebrates the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in The Holy Eucharist—Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.

When we are having a bad day and feeling down and out, we have all heard someone say to us: “God never gives us more than we can handle.” They mean well but it really may not help the situation. We do know that in the midst of turmoil or rough times, God knows our strengths and weaknesses and will never abandon us. This is the great mercy He shows to us.

On the Seventh Sunday of Easter, we always read from the 17th Chapter of John’s Gospel. In today’s reading, we hear Jesus ask that the unity He experiences with the Father be extended to all who believe in Him.

Do you know the peace which surpasses all understanding? In His farewell discourse Jesus grants peace as His gift to His disciples. What kind of peace does He offer? The peace of Christ is more than the absence of trouble. It includes everything which makes for our highest good.

When Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch to proclaim the Good News, they had made a considerable amount of new disciples. They told these new found followers to persevere. “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, our Scripture Readings provide us with comforting assurance of God’s solace in the challenging moments of our lives. It may be a sudden illness, a terminal cancer diagnosis, a child who suffers from drug addiction, a difficult co-worker, or death of a loved one or friend. In our daily encounter, sometimes turbulence knocks us off balance. The Good Shepherd offers us patience and tranquility.

The Risen Lord had a tremendous impact on the disciples. For us, the readings speak of the meaning of discipleship both in our internal attitudes and in our relating with other people. How often do we recognize the presence of God and of Jesus in our daily life? How often do we witness to our faith with consistency and courage?

We are a people who need to see things before we believe. We share many doubts when we are told that something happened and we are not present to see it for ourselves. Amid the joys of the Resurrection, today’s Gospel leads to doubt in things unseen. How do we relate to Thomas in our faith?

St. John Chrysostom said: “Come you all: enter into the joy of your Lord. You the first and you the last, receive alike your reward; you rich and you poor, dance together; you sober and you weaklings, celebrate the day; you who have kept the fast and you who have not, rejoice today.

Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before He was crucified.

Guilt is one of the most common of all human experiences, and often the heaviest burden to carry.

We all know this parable of the prodigal son. Most of us can identify with the eldest son who stood by his father’s side while his younger brother ran off and squandered all of his wealth. The older son remained steadfast and loyal.

This weekend is our Annual Catholic Appeal “kick-off.” Pledge cards are in the pews. I ask you to prayerfully consider sharing your faith by making a gift to this year’s ACA by filling out a pledge card and placing it in the collection basket.

How often do we aspire to mountaintop experiences like Peter, James, and John in our search for excellence and success? It is unrealistic to expect spiritual highs all the time. We tend to do this and put our overall faith experience at risk. We strive to put our best foot forward, but we must be realistic to expect that we are not always going to be successful and perfect every time out.

Pope Francis reminds us that “Lent is a new beginning, a path leading to the certain goal of Easter, Christ’s victory over death. This season urgently calls us to conversion. Lent is the favorable season for renewing our encounter with Christ who lives in His word, in the Sacraments and in our neighbors.” We are given the opportunity to create something new within ourselves and around us. Do not waste this season of Lent. Make it a favorable time for conversion!

t’s so easy to judge others. We feel empowered and superior … for the moment. God in His infinite wisdom, will give us the lesson of humility over and over, painfully at times, until we learn. He wants us to be accepting of others while turning inward to take an honest look at ourselves. Pride versus humility. What a personal battle! How do we refrain from judging others?