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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?

Last Thursday, we celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of The Church. Did you know he was the Patron Saint for those who lose sleep over things? Saint Peter lost sleep dealing with the countless Church challenges and scandals rampant in his time.

Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain” portrays Jesus’ concern for the poor and lowly who relied mostly on God’s mercy because they did not have many possessions. Jesus spoke to the real economic hardships of his day: poverty, hunger, suffering and persecution. Jesus’ disciples were “blessed” or “favored” because they found their fulfillment in God, and not in the things the world had to offer.

As a youngster growing up at the Jersey Shore, I used to go crabbing and fishing with my grandfather. I was a typical kid, all excited for about an hour and then wanting to go home because the fish weren’t biting.

St. Paul tells us emphatically that love never fails! This Scripture sounds much different when we read outside the context of a wedding. It makes it obvious that of all the many things we do, loving is paramount.

n our Second Reading today from the Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, we learn how many parts make up one body. This is certainly applied to our Church as many components make up The Body of Christ.

Do we speak up when we need to? The prophet Isaiah refuses to be silent. “It will not be possible for me to shut up. I will talk and not stop talking, proclaim and not stop proclaiming, preach and not stop preaching.

The theme running through our readings today consist of peace and justice. Our Gospel tells the story of the Baptism of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Just as John speaks of the mighty one, God’s beloved Son who brings us salvation, God, through His Son blesses us with the promise of the Old Testament psalm reading - peace.

Today we celebrate The Epiphany of The Lord. The Wise Men set out to pay homage to the new born king. Their journey took them outside their country and their comfort zone. The Wise Men risked the consequences of destroying Herod, who was known to behave as a madman when provoked and returned to their country by another way. The Wise Men were committed to the journey — wherever the star might lead.