Peace be with you. This is what Christ wants to give - he wants to give us peace, love, grace. Many times we can think, what is God going to say to me? I’ve abandoned him, I’m afraid to come to him. Maybe this keeps us away from church, maybe this keeps us away from Confession. Can God truly forgive me? Does he truly want to give me peace? We know the answer to this in our head - we’ve been told over and over again that he loves us, but it can be hard to let that truth penetrate our heart sometimes. 

This is what God wants to give - He wants to say to each and every one of us - peace be with you. He wants to give us what we’re longing for, which is Him. We can receive this mercy over and over again, for God never tires of giving it. It’s only in God that we are going to find fulfillment and that we are going to find peace.

In his homily this past Sunday, Fr. Carlson speaks about God’s mercy, and tells a powerful story of one woman’s search for peace, and how she found it.

Happy Easter! Look how much God loves us! He brought us into existence out of love. Even if we reject him, he does not reject us. God continues to give Himself to us. See how we rejected him? Jesus was hung on the cross and crucified. What did he say on the cross? Father, forgive them. God isn't just full of love, he is love.

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, Jesus’ passion and death on the cross; these aren’t just scenes in a book. They are scenes of Christ’s love. He invites us into his love, and wants to reveal his immense love for us! This week, spend time in prayer with these scenes and images from Jesus’ life; place yourself as one of the people in the crowd on Palm Sunday, at the foot of the apostles at the Last Supper, at the Cross. See how much God truly wants to give Himself to you!

Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life, and whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live” (Jn 11:25). We are a people of the Resurrection, not of death. In his homily, Fr. Carlson invites us to place our faith, hope and trust in Christ, and know that He, Jesus, will be the one that raises us up to be with Him not just now, but forever.

In this past Sunday’s Gospel we hear of Jesus healing a blind man. Jesus seeks out this blind man, and heals him of his blindness. This miracle speaks to us about baptism. By our baptism, we too are able to say - I was blind, but now I see.

The Lord seeks us out. In the Gospel, we hear the story of the woman at the well. Jesus seeks her out. In his homily this weekend, Deacon Nevin shares about his own journey of faith, and how he had an encounter with love, an encounter with truth, and how it changed his life, just like it did for the Samaritan woman at the well. Ask the Lord in prayer - Lord, how are you seeking me out? How are you asking me to be in relationship with you?

A husband or wife says, “I’m going to pour out my love to you”. Alternatively they could say, “I’m going to send you a text of how much I love you”. Which one is deeper? In his homily this past Sunday, Fr. Carlson speaks about the updated translation of the prayer of absolution said in Confession. The word “sent” has been updated to “poured out”, and the word “give” has been updated to “grant”. God pours himself out completely for us. Where do we see this most explicitly? Jesus on the cross. We are not walking along this pilgrim journey alone. God is with us, pouring out Himself completely, because he loves us. God is fighting for you. He does not send someone in His place. He sends Himself. God loves us in the most perfect way. He will never abandon you. Turn to Him.

The prayer of absolution that is said in Confession has been updated to a more accurate translation. The word “sent” has been changed to “poured out”, and the word “give” has been changed to “grant”.

Updated prayer: “God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his son has reconciled the world to himself and poured out (formerly, sent) the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the church may God grant (formerly, give) you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

In his homily on Sunday, Fr. Carlson shares a powerful story of forgiveness. A woman chose to overcome an evil act done to her with her own act of love. To be loving, kind, and merciful is hard, so we must go to God and say “God, help me”. Injustice, hatred, unforgiveness - is it worth carrying that poison that corrupts us from having the freedom that God wants to give us? Lord, help us to reflect love, not hatred.

This week we continue National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14). Fr. Carlson offers insight on loving as Christ loves, and in his homily focuses in on loving as Christ loves within the Sacrament of Marriage.