On Friday morning, I was meeting with someone about a potential job opportunity.  Something that this person said has stuck with me since.  He said, “how cool would it be to have a job where your mission is to help set people’s hearts on fire?”  Regardless of what our jobs are or where we are at in life, that is the mission for all of us.  With the Holy Spirit, we can work to help spread the fire of God’s love.

This past weekend, the Church celebrated Pentecost.  This feast marks the Holy Spirit descending on the apostles, giving them courage to go out and spread the Gospel.  The apostles were emboldened in their mission to share Jesus with others.  This mission was not just for the apostles, long ago.  We too have this mission and it is only by being filled with the Holy Spirit that we can do this.

In order to share Jesus with others, we need to have the fire in our own hearts.  In prayer, we can ask the Holy Spirit to set our hearts on fire, to increase the flame so it burns brighter.  We must ask ourselves, does my life reflect that of someone who is on fire with the Holy Spirit?  If not, how can the flame be ignited?  How can the fire be increased?

Each of us has a mission to carry out.  And that mission is to help spread the fire for God.  We must be like the apostles, ready to share our faith and help others to encounter the transformative power of God’s love.  My prayer for each of us today is that we would invite the Holy Spirit into our lives in a deeper way and ask for His guidance to be a bold witness of our faith.  Holy Spirit, fill us with your love, set our hearts ablaze, and help us spread the fire to those around us. 

I’m reading a book called Your Eucharistic Identity by Father Gregory Pine and there is a part that I was really struck by when reading a few days ago.  When talking about Jesus and His 33 years on earth, he says, “He came to bestow the depth and breadth of God’s love for us in the most excellent and extravagant fashion.  So great is His desire to be near us that He personally enters into every dimension of our human lives, transfiguring them with His love and enabling our own response of love” (Pine 48).  He transfigures every dimension of our lives with love.  Have we experienced that love and how do we respond? 

When we encounter the love of Jesus, our lives are transformed in the best way possible.  We cannot encounter Christ and not be changed.  This encounter should make us move from just knowing about Jesus to actually knowing Jesus.  It should move us from seeing Jesus as someone distant and far off to having a personal relationship with Him.  Are we taking time to deepen our relationship with Christ each day?

These lines from the book speak of the desire that God has to be near us.  The Psalm for today also speaks of this; the Lord takes delight in his people” (Psalm 149).  God does not merely tolerate us or love us out of obligation.  But rather, He takes delight in us and desires to be close to us.  That is an amazing reality.

It’s sad to think about all of the people who do not know of Christ’s love for them, or who do not believe in His love for them.  Part of our job is to help extend His love to others so that they might encounter Him and so that they might know of His desire to be close to them.  How are we doing with loving the people around us, those who we know and those who are strangers? 

The fact that Jesus enters into every dimension of our lives is truly transformative.  He doesn’t have to, but He does.  He desires to be near us, do we desire to be near Him?  My prayer for each of us today is that we would allow the love of Jesus to transform our lives and not forget that He will never leave us!

Today’s Gospel passage contains one of my favorite lines in scripture.  Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give it to you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27).  Back in February, I was at mass right before a retreat I was leading was going to begin.  During the sign of peace, someone said to me, “I hope you have real peace right now.”  This was profound because this person’s comment was about the true peace that comes from Jesus, hoping and desiring that any fears or worries I had about the retreat were handed over and that I was trusting that Jesus was going to be in control and lead the way.  This is the peace that is unlike anything else and it is the peace we should hope for everyone to have.

The peace that Jesus gives is not the absence of challenges or suffering.  It is however a deep awareness of Christ’s presence and trust in Him.  If we stay focused on Jesus, we can maintain this gift of peace He gives us, regardless of what is going on around us.

The world offers a totally different version of peace.  It is fleeting and superficial.  It is based on external circumstances.  People hope for others to have happiness, success, and to accomplish great achievements.  These things on their own do not mean much.  And if they bring peace, it disappears after some time.  As Catholics and Christians, we should hope for others to have peace, the true peace that only can be found in Christ.

The peace Jesus gives changes everything.  It gives us a whole different way to live.  It doesn’t take away our problems or challenges, but it helps us to know that Jesus is walking with us through them.  My prayer for each of you today is that you remember the real peace that Jesus gives and do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid! 

The Gospel passage we heard at mass this past weekend, which continues in today’s Gospel, is about Jesus as the Good Shepherd.  It brings to mind the questions, do we know His voice and do we follow His voice?

There is so much noise in the world around us and so many voices that may pull us in different directions.  But the one voice that matters is the voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

Jesus speaks to us in so many ways, if we just take time to listen and recognize His voice.  Through scripture, the Church and the sacraments, through other people in our lives, and through the events of our days, He speaks to us.  Do we listen?

There are many voices we can follow in the world.  The temptation to do what everyone else is doing, and to be like everyone else is always present.  But Jesus calls us to Himself, to choose His ways instead of the ways of the world.  He leads us always and the Gospel passage tells us, “…he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.  But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him,  because they do not recognize the voice of strangers (John 10:4-5).  This is a great gift!  Jesus walks before us always, leading us to what is good, true, and beautiful.  And if we trust and love Him, we will follow because we know His voice.  We will turn away from the voices of false leaders, the voices of evil and darkness, the voices that are masked as good, and of all else that is trying to lead us astray. 

Recognizing Jesus’ voice and following Him should be our greatest desire and goal in life.  It is something that we need to continue to grow in and work on daily.  Jesus loves us so much and never leads us astray, and that is something to rejoice in.  My prayer for each of us is that we would truly know His voice, following the Good Shepherd today and always! 

The daily Gospel readings throughout this week come from John chapter 6, specifically the part of the chapter that is known as the Bread of Life Discourse.  This passage is central to our faith as Catholics and what we believe.  What Jesus says within this chapter changes everything.

There is so much to unpack from the words we read in John chapter 6.  Reflecting on the passage, the main thing we might ask ourselves is, “do I believe what Jesus is teaching here and do I believe that He is who He says He is?”  The Eucharist and belief in Christ’s true presence is a great mystery that takes faith.  Do we have that faith?

Jesus has promised to remain with us always.  And in the Eucharist, He gives himself to us, providing spiritual nourishment.  We can trust Jesus when He says, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst” (John 6:35).  We must believe Him when He says, “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you” (John 6:53).  We don’t have to go searching far to fill our lives, we simply have to seek Jesus.  He will satisfy our deepest longing.  He gives us life.  He strengthens us.  And He is fully present, body, blood, soul, and divinity, always waiting for us.

Since the Bread of Life Discourse is so foundational to our faith, we should read and reflect on it often.  This week is a great opportunity to do so.  Your heart may be touched in a new way if you allow it to.  Ask Jesus to strengthen your faith and to deepen your desire to be close to Him.  It truly changes everything.

Today, April 13th, is the 29th anniversary of my baptism, which calls for donuts or something because our baptism dates are worth celebrating!  I thank God for this gift and am grateful for my parents having me baptized in the Catholic Church as a baby.  In today’s Gospel, we read about the importance of baptism.  Through Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, we are reminded that baptism is the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith.

Have you ever had anyone ask you if you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior or if you’re saved?  These questions, which typically come from Christians from different Protestant denominations, indicate a belief of “once saved, always saved”, from one specific moment of accepting Christ and of being born again.  But Catholic theology regarding being “born again” teaches that this happens within the sacrament of baptism, which is what Jesus is referring to in today’s Gospel.  In the passage, Jesus says “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God” (John 3:5).  Through this sacrament, we are initiated into the Church, we receive sanctifying grace, and we are made new creations.  As Jesus tells Nicodemus, baptism is necessary to enter the Kingdom.  Baptism is vital for our lives, but it is just the start of our faith journeys.

Our faith is a life-long journey of growing closer to Christ.  It requires commitment, dedication, and renewal.  The concept of “once saved always saved” gives the impression that we can live our lives however we want, carelessly and without repenting of sin.  But we are called to a continual transformation of our hearts and minds.  We must live out our baptism daily.  Our lives should be evidence of spiritual growth and deeper faith.  If we claim Jesus as our Lord and savior, our lives should bear fruit that reflects a life that is lived for Him.  And when we fail, we should turn towards Jesus in confession.

In the last part of today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know what it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).  This is a reminder for us to allow our lives to be led by the Spirit, to not be passive in our faith lives, to not stand still.  He is in control and we cannot know the depths of where He will take us.  If we are not growing in our faith and relationship with the Lord, we are likely drifting further away.  Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to direct our lives, renew our faith, and to help us choose what is good and true?

The sacrament of baptism that we have received was the start of a beautiful journey that the Lord has for us.  Take time to thank God for the grace He has given you from the start to now.  As I think about my own baptism and faith journey, I am reflecting on a few questions.  Am I cooperating with God working in my life?  Am I allowing myself to be led by the Holy Spirit?  Where do I need to let Jesus transform me so that I can become a greater image of Him?

In today’s Gospel, Mary Magdalene encounters the risen Jesus.  At first she doesn’t recognize Him.  It’s not until Jesus says her name that she knows that it’s Him.  Mary goes and announces to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord” (John 20:18).  This story reminds us that this is what the Christian life is about.  Do we too recognize Christ in our lives and share Him with others? 

Jesus is always working in our lives.  Whether it’s through different events in our days, or through other people, He is there.  Yet, how often do we fail to recognize Him?

We can be blind to Jesus in front of us so easily.  Mary was blinded by her grief and thought Jesus was the gardener (John 20:15).  Distraction, our own struggles and suffering, doubt, and our weaknesses can all blind us to recognizing Jesus.  But He is there.  Are we looking for Him? 

When we have an encounter with Jesus and recognize Him in our daily lives, we should share that with others.  We must share how He has impacted our lives and how He is working in our lives.  Hearing people’s witnesses of Christ is powerful and can help give hope and may help others to seek Him more deeply in their lives.

Mary’s encounter with Jesus reminds us that He is right in front of us, even if we don’t always recognize Him at first.  My prayer for each of us today is that we would seek Jesus daily, recognizing Him in the people around us and the moments of our days, so that we too can share with others, “I have seen the Lord!” 

At Palm Sunday mass, the gospel we hear on Jesus’ passion is always powerful and profound.  Even though we’ve all heard it countless times, hopefully there is something that catches your attention, strikes you in a new way, or causes you to reflect.  Jesus tells Peter, James, and John, “Remain here and keep watch with me” (Matthew 26:38).  Will we too stay with Jesus and accompany Him throughout this Holy Week?

When the people in our lives who we love and care about ask us to do something for them, I think most of us would not hesitate to do whatever it is they are asking.  Is it the same when Jesus asks us to do something?  Jesus’s command to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsamane is an invitation to all of us.  Jesus has been with us from the beginning, walking with us, supporting us, carrying us.  How will we respond to that love, especially in the most significant week of the year as Catholic Christians?

It is easy to become distracted, to find ourselves too busy.  How often do we live our lives spiritually asleep?  How often do we allow spiritual laziness to seep into our lives?  Jesus calls us to overcome the temptation to fall asleep, and to overcome the weakness of the flesh.  Jesus never leaves us, so we too must never leave Him.

Throughout this Holy Week, we must fully enter in and walk closely with Jesus in His journey to the cross.  This week, the Church offers us the opportunity to participate in moving liturgies, reflecting on all that Jesus did for us.  This week gives us the opportunity to pray more, reflect often, and to have our hearts transformed by Christ’s sacrifice.

Will we remain with Jesus and keep watch with Him?  Giving our time, spending it with Jesus in prayer, is the least we can do for the One who gave us everything.  My prayer for each of us this week is that we can remain close to Jesus, watching and praying with Him. 

Today’s responsorial Psalm comes from Psalm 23.  There is a lot to think about and reflect on from this Psalm.  But the line that stood out to me today is, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).  This reminds us that we have everything we need and that the Lord is enough.  We all have different wants and desires in our lives, but we must pray to desire God’s will for us for each day. 

Many saints provide great examples of desiring what God wanted for them.  But two saints (one not yet officially declared a saint) that I have been particularly inspired by in the words they were known for are St. Gianna Molla and Blessed Chiara Luce Badano.  St. Gianna was known for saying and living the phrase, “whatever God wants.”  Blessed Chiara was known for the phrase, “if you want it Jesus, I want it too.”  These are two beautiful statements that truly inspire me and they point back to Psalm 23, acknowledging that God alone provides.  These were two holy women who truly desired what the Lord desired for them.

Isn’t that what much of prayer is about?  Praying so that our desires and wants align with what God wants for us?  We all want different things at times throughout our lives.  Maybe your life looks different than you thought it would.  Maybe you desire something that may not be for you.  Maybe it’s something small that you really want.  In whatever it is, can we release the grip we may have on those wants, and turn to God?  It’s not always easy and it is a lifelong process, but we must aim to desire what God wants to give us, acknowledging that He is enough.

Reflecting on Psalm 23 reminds me that God will lead us where He wants us to go, and give us what we need.  Let us live with this in mind always, so that we can say, “whatever God wants” and “if you want it Jesus, I want it too.” 

On Thursday morning, flying into Charlotte, one of the flight attendants made the announcement about luggage, as they always do.  The statement she shared was, “if Charlotte is your final destination, you can pick up your luggage at carousel one and if it’s not your final destination, it will be at your next stop.”  Hearing this reminded me of the journey we take through our lives.  How many people live like earth is the final destination, like eternal life doesn’t exist?

The human experience for many people consists simply of focusing on the next big achievement.  People are constantly looking to fill the hole in their lives with a higher-paying job, a fancier car, a bigger house, and more.  It can become a race to the top, a comparison of who can become richer, more successful, more popular.  People so often find their meaning and purpose in status and material possessions, making them their God.  How much time do we spend stressing about things that really don’t matter, about things that are temporary? 

At mass Sunday morning, the priest gave a great homily, reminding us that we are called to a higher way of living.  One thing he mentioned was that we are called to imitate Jesus, working to advance the Kingdom here on earth through the way we live and interact with others.  This was a reminder that if we are followers of Christ, our lives should bear fruit that is a reflection of our belief and faith in Him.

Accomplishing great achievements is not bad.  But we should not get wrapped up in worrying about what we do for our own benefit, living as if that’s all there is to life.  Rather, we should focus on what we are doing for Jesus, keeping our eyes fixed on Him and His kingdom.

Our greatest desire should be to hear Jesus say to us, “well done, good and faithful servant.”  We must always remember that this life is not our final destination, but rather that it is the journey we must take to grow in our faith and love for Jesus and others.  My prayer for each of us today is that we would travel well, so that we can arrive at the final destination we were made for!