We hear Jesus in today’s Gospel passage extend his peace to his apostles. “Peace be with you.” At every Mass I say a prayer after the Our Father recalling these very same words of Jesus, and then ask Jesus to grant us the peace and unity of his kingdom where he lives forever and ever. Then, we then exchange the sign of Christ’s peace. What is this peace of Christ we offer one another? In the 1930s, Jesus appeared to... Read more

[From my parish bulletin] In 2000 Pope John Paul II proclaimed today, the Sunday after Easter, the Feast of Divine Mercy. He did this inspired by the 1930s apparitions of Jesus to a Polish sister, Saint Faustina. Five years later the Pope died on the vigil of this feast, and today, eleven years later, he is being beatified in Rome. Beatification is a step in the formal process towards proclaiming someone a saint in the Church. Today is a great... Read more

This morning at the school Mass I summarized the Gospel passage of the disciples on the road to Emmaus after the children heard it proclaimed. I asked them, “what do Jesus’ actions remind you of?” One hand went up, “Sounds like Jesus celebrating the Passover meal again.” Surprised at the answer since it was somewhat correct but not the answer I was looking for, I called on another student. She said, “Sounds like the Last Supper.” Yes, I said. Again... Read more

Twenty years ago tonight, I left my house and my country. There was so much uncertainty as we drove away from home in the night to catch a midnight flight to Miami. That day changed the course of my life. I was uprooted from all that was familiar and comfortable. I came to a foreign country where the roots had to be replanted or else die. Little did I know, the roots would firmly take hold on the new soil.... Read more

What would have happened if when Mary Magdalene and the disciples arrived at the tomb, they found the stone still blocking the entrance to the tomb and the body of Jesus still lying there, dead? Nothing. Nothing would have happened. Life would have continued as normal in Jerusalem. Another great prophet in the line of great Jewish prophets would have been mourned. Another great teacher would have been added to the list of great wise men of history. What would... Read more

What follows is the beautiful Easter Sequence Victimae Paschali, proclaimed before the reading of the Gospel on Easter Sunday. The sequence is attributed to the German Wipo of Burgundy (AD 1039). The original Latin text is on the left, a poetic English translation on the right. VICTIMAE Paschali laudes immolent Christiani. CHRISTIANS, to the Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise. Agnus redemit oves: Christus innocens Patri reconciliavit peccatores. The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb; and Christ, the undefiled, hath... Read more

  What child is this, who, laid to rest On Mary’s lap, is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary! When we hear these words sung, we usually picture the joyful new born Jesus on Mary’s lap. Today, the day we remember the death of Our Savior, read these words picturing... Read more

The internet is the repository of all human garbage. I heard Tina Fey say this on NPR recently. Even though the internet has positively revolutionized the way we communicate and gather information, there is so much garbage out there. The way Tina Fey expressed it is a bit crude, yet her words are true. Much of this garbage can be found on comment boards across the web. I no longer read comments left on news articles because people can be... Read more

Hosanna to the Son of David Blessed is the he who comes in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest! Today we recall the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover feast by repeating the words that greeted him on his entry to Jerusalem, “Hosanna to the Son of David…” We also bless and hold palms to liturgically reconstruct this historic moment. Jesus had just been in Bethany where he raised his friend Lazarus from the... Read more

Have you ever wondered how ancient non-Christians dealt with death? What follows is most of Ode 2.14 by the Roman poet Horace (56-8 BC) where he meditates on the transient nature of life and the harsh reality of death. It’s very sobering, revealing and thought provoking, even for us moderns today. I came across it a few years ago in class about the transformation of Rome into a Christian city. Remember, this is looking at death without a Christian understanding... Read more