Know - Grow - Go

Today is the day when Christ wants to be united to us in a more fundamental and definitive way than we could possibly imagine. He wants to invite us to step out of all the small, partisan things we get so fixated on. The disciples were freed from all of that when they received the presence of God. They realized there is a bigger picture. This is not to say these small things don't matter or that we shouldn't care, but rather that we are part of a much bigger mission. Jesus wants to fill us with His life and His joy, and He wants us to go forth from here on fire with the love of God Himself.

Readings at this Mass: Acts 1:1–11 | Eph 1:17–23 | Mt 28:16–20

Regardless of how one experiences loneliness, abandonment, or loss, it is precisely here in today's Gospel where Jesus assures us, saying, "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." We are never alone; we are never orphans. God will never abandon us. He loves us and desires to guide us to a life of abundance.

Readings at this Mass: Acts 8:5–8, 14–17 | 1 Pt 3:15–18 | Jn 14:15–21 

Fr. Bill speaks to the children celebrating their First Communion about how Jesus accompanies us every day, everywhere, through the Eucharist.

Readings at this Mass: Acts 6:1–7 | 1 Pt 2:4–9 | Jn 14:1–12 

We are sheep, but Christ is our good shepherd and we can follow Him — and that is all that matters. That is what it means to be a disciple. To follow the Good Shepherd. Nothing else.

Readings at this Mass: Acts 2:14a, 36–41 | 1 Pt 2:20b–25 | Jn 10:1–10

Faith is a very personal, very particular, and very intimate relationship that God wants with each of us. And it makes all the difference, not because it removes all difficulties, but because it shapes the way we see those difficulties and the way we walk into them. When I find myself short on patience, anxious, angry, or eager to judge, I ask myself: "Whose voice have you been listening to lately, the serpent’s or the Lord’s? What’s been shaping your heart: prayer, scripture, and the Liturgy; or the news and internet, my ego or insecurities?". Who we listen to shapes how we see other people, the world around us, the events of our lives — even God Himself.

Readings at this Mass: Acts 2:14, 22–33 | 1 Pt 1:17–21 | Lk 24:13–35

The good news of mercy is that we are being given what we don't deserve, and aren't being given what we do deserve. That's mercy. Given such a gift, we are invited to give it away to others. In a way, love demands mercy, again and again. In marriage, in family, in friendship: love doesn't survive without mercy. Mercy doesn't ignore wrongs; it forgives even when it costs you something. It means letting go of resentments and vengeance. So ask yourself honestly: where is God calling you to be merciful?

Readings at this Mass: Acts 2:42–47 | 1 Pt 1:3–9 | Jn 20:19–31

Today we encounter the risen Lord in the Word, and our hearts burn within us. We encounter Him in the breaking of the bread. Christ is here among us, the deepest and most magical reality of all. We are not alone. We have been saved, and in Him we have been raised up. 

Readings at this Mass: Acts 10:34a, 37–43 | 1 Cor 5:6b–8 | Jn 20:1–9

Today is 'good' because allows us to grieve the brokenness of our world, the wounds we carry, and the losses we endure. And through our faith, we can find hope, for the cross reveals that God has entered into our suffering and, in Christ, redeemed it. 

Readings at this liturgy: Is 52:13—53:12 | Heb 4:14–16; 5:7–9 | Jn 18:1—19:42

We all have those parts of our life that we avoid looking at, hide from others, and even pretend God can’t see. But he does see — and He cares. His love for you is unrelenting and entire. He doesn’t want just the pretty parts of your life — He wants all of you. To take all the smelly, grungy, ugly places in your life and make them cleansed and healed and refreshed.

Readings at this Mass: Ex 12:1–8, 11–14 | 1 Cor 11:23–26 | Jn 13:1–15 

It's hard to believe the message of the Cross. It's hard to trust that in letting go, we'll receive; that through suffering, we'll find healing; that it's in dying that we'll find life. But that's really the heart of Holy Week: life now comes through the Cross, because that's where Jesus has gone. Because of Jesus, because of what He's done for us, everything is grace. That's the truth we celebrate this week.

Readings at this Mass: Mt 21:1–11 | Is 50:4–7 | Phil 2:6–11 | Mt 26:14—27:66