Joining us today is Benedict Rogers, an internationally known rights activist and East Asia team leader of the international human rights organization - Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). The rights group, based in London, works for freedom of religion of people across the world. An expert on the situation of religious and democratic freedom in China and Hong Kong, Rogers has been campaigning against communist violations of basic human rights.

In this conversation with Christopher Joseph of UCA News, Rogers specifically focuses on the issue of cross removals in China as a form of rights violations. He explains how the cross removals are part of a process to establish the communist ideology. And, yet there has been very little criticism from global Christian leaders against it because they are trying to compromise with Chinese communist regime.

Today's first reading records the basis to what was the first big contest in the early church. They were those early converts to Christianity who thought the following Jesus was really about the reform of Judaism and so they saw themselves as an elite group and so the people taking the leading part of today argument against other Christians.

Paul and his companions seem to get into trouble and face obstacles and projection and hardships as they go around and speak to communities evangelizing about the mystery of Jesus Christ. And you just wonder what keeps them all going. The answer to that question about just what drives them on and how did they find the energy to keep going is there for in the Gospel today.

Today’s reading from the Acts of Apostles shows us an example of why good people suffer reversals for the very good things they do and why bad things happen to them.

Today is Mothers’ Day. A mother embodies the mystery of life. Mother is forgiveness that fills the world with second chances and new beginnings. But have you heard her voice crying in the tempest?  Father Valson Thampu, Commentator and former Principal of St. Stephens College, Delhi reflects.

In the first Reading today we see seven deacons take up some of the works the Apostles were doing. This can be compared with the problem confronted by the Church today. Just like the Apostles, the church leaders have too much to do and can't provide or the range of services and leadership the emerging community requires. It's a theologically sound as it is practically efficient.

As Covid-19 continues its ravaging journey, Asian governments this week reinforced measures against the pandemic, drawing some criticism and some applause. Curfews and lockdowns continue amid government plans to evacuate the stranded. The pandemic resulted in the temporary shutdown of a church-run hospital in densely populated Bangladesh after 22 medical staff including doctors tested positive for Covid-19. Despite a curfew, Sri Lankan Buddhists are celebrating the Vesak festival, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Lord Buddha. In Pakistan human rights activists are condemning an Islamic missionary group for trying to convert non-Muslims while distributing rations amid the coronavirus lockdown. Meanwhile, India’s fight against Covid-19 hit a major hurdle when the country witnessed three industrial accidents. In Thailand, fears are growing that immigration detention centers may become hotbeds of Covid-19 as 18 more foreign detainees were tested positive for the virus on May 4. The Philippine government shut down the country’s top entertainment and media corporation ABS-CBN, after its 25-year franchise expired on May 4. In China, a 98-year-old bishop, believed to be the world's oldest person to have survived Covid-19, died in his sleep on May 7. Christians have welcomed a damning report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom but said religious oppression in China is more severe than what is reported. Catholic Church officials see a potential rights violation in Taiwan’s plans to amend a law to legalize surrogate pregnancy.

One of the great challenges to believing in God and believing in Jesus is that we need to have two sets of eyes – is the world we know through smelling and tasting, and touching is the world of pragmatic material reality. Are you satisfied with that? Today’s Gospel is all about it.

Jesus tells us today that the place where we live with God is not only this world we live in now. He has prepared another place for us, one with "many dwelling places," enough dwelling places for each of us to live with him in his Father's house.

Today's Gospel reading is taken from one of the most familiar passages in John's Gospel which is used in all sorts of circumstances particularly in funerals where it reassures people about the way in which they are in the ever-lasting embrace of God’s love. But it's also something that is very reassuring in the process of prayer. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God.