There are a lot of different names for Jesus and many different ways we can picture him.  Good Shepherd is one of my favorite titles for who Jesus is.  Just as a shepherd gathers his sheep and protects them, Jesus gathers us up as his flock and protects us.  He calls out to us as shepherds call out to their sheep.  “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).  When we hear Jesus, do we recognize him and follow him?  Do we allow him to guide us?

The world is loud and filled with many different voices.  We can be pulled into many different directions from the people around us, social media, and anyone or anything else we interact with on a daily basis.  It may be easy to be tempted to do whatever everyone else is doing or believe what everyone else believes.  However, this is not the way of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.  He calls us to more.  He allows us “to have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).  When we abandon the ways of the world and choose to instead follow him, our lives will be filled with greater faith and love than we could ever imagine.

Without Jesus as our shepherd, we are just a bunch of lost sheep.  We may think we know everything or believe that we can do it on our own.  When we fall into these mindsets, we get distracted and wander off the path to the gate.  Jesus knows each and every one of us on a deep, personal level.  The fact that thousands of other people choose to follow him does not matter.  He wants you and me to follow him too because he loves each one of us individually.

​There is no one who knows us better or loves us more than Jesus.  Why would we not listen to and follow the one who knows us best and loves us most?  Let him protect you, guide you, and love you.  You are a part of his flock.  A sheep without a shepherd is lost.  In the same way, a person without Christ is lost.  Don’t be a lost sheep.  Be a sheep who hears the Good Shepherd and trusts that following Him is the best thing you could ever do.

Reading through the Gospel for today (Monday 4/19), there is one part that stands out to me.  “Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.  Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” (John 6:26-27).  The crowd of people went looking for Jesus because they were fed by the loaves of bread and knew He could fulfill their physical hunger.  They were concerned with the temporary.  This scripture passage is a good opportunity to reflect on the hunger in our lives.

Throughout the seemingly ordinary days of our lives, we go to work so that we can provide earthly necessities such as food, clothing, housing, and other expenses we have and comforts we want to be able to enjoy.  These things allow us to fulfill our physical hunger and maintain our overall health and wellbeing.  What about our spiritual health?  Are we working for eternal life and allowing Jesus to satisfy the hunger that only He can?

We can eat all the food that we want until the point of being stuffed full.  We can buy all the material items we could ever want.  We can make all the money in the world.  After we fill up on these things, we will still be empty unless we seek Jesus and the truth of who He is.  When we experience hunger for things that can satisfy the body, we are able to easily meet that need by making a meal or going to the grocery store.  When it comes to satisfying our hearts and souls, the deepest parts of ourselves, we cannot do this on our own.  It is God alone who fulfills this spiritual hunger we have- the hunger for love and truth.

​Jesus offers us everything we need to have life within us.  When we go to Him, the deepest longing and hunger in our hearts are satisfied.  He nourishes and strengthens us in a way that nothing else can.  While we are filled by the food of this world temporarily, the food that He offers endures forever.  May every person come to know that Jesus is the bread of life that will sustain us always.

On Friday I was writing a talk that I had to give at a retreat the next day.  I was asked to give a reflection for Saturday’s retreat back in February.  Why did I wait until the last minute to write the talk?  There is no real reason I can think of besides the busyness of daily life (and procrastination.)  It is exactly this reason that retreats are so important.  I believe that all Catholics should take time to attend retreats.  They are the perfect way to get away from hectic and often full schedules to rest, be inspired, discuss our faith with others, and find peace. 

Retreats are often experiences that we do not really realize how much we need until we are there in the middle of them or once they are over.  It had been over a year since the last retreat I had been on.  Being able to go to the TEC Rejoice retreat was a true gift.  Being able to be in the presence of other Catholics, discussing faith, hearing reflections, praying together, and escaping the world, even if only for a day, was a time of refreshment and a time to recharge.  This is what we all need, especially now more than ever.

I believe retreats are vital for our spiritual health and faith.  They are a time of nourishment and a way to dive deeper into our relationship with Jesus.  Scripture often talks about the importance of rest.  In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”  Retreats are an opportunity to just be in the presence of Jesus and let Him refresh your soul.  Unlike the expectations the world places on us in our daily lives, being at retreats, there are no real expectations but to just be still and rest.  Through dedicated time for prayer, reflection, and small-group discussions, we can more clearly hear God.

Of course, we can encounter Christ outside of retreats.  However, we are called to set aside time for prayer and contemplation so we can be renewed and strengthened.  Even Jesus took time to step away from the world at times.  In addition, retreats provide an opportunity to build community with others who care about their faith.  Finding time to be around people who share our faith is so important.  We need a faith community to pray with and for us, and encourage and help us along the way.  It is these relationships that are centered on Christ that are life-changing.  The graces that come from retreats are countless.

​For many Catholics, their retreat participation starts and ends with their Confirmation retreat.  While we cannot force people to go on a retreat, we can be persistent in inviting others.  We can help people seek out different opportunities.  My prayer is that all Catholics would open up their hearts and consider attending a retreat.  If you are reading this, know that God has so much to offer you and going on a retreat might just be exactly what you need to receive what He wants to give you.

“What joy we have, For the stone is rolled away And the tomb holds nothing now. No sting of death, No power over sin or grave…”  As Christians, this is what Easter is about!  Nothing can keep us from the joy of Jesus’ resurrection and nothing can steal that joy away.  The amazing thing about this joy is that it is not just reserved for one day of the year.  The joy that we experience Easter Sunday is the joy that we should be sharing every day with all those around us.

Having joy is something that is transformative.  Encountering the risen Christ changes us.  The same power that rose Jesus from the dead can work in us.  His resurrection does not change the fact that we will face losses and challenges along the way.  However, the resurrection gives us hope which inspires us to live in pursuit of heaven, joyfully proclaiming that Jesus has defeated death.  Evil and sin do not win.

Real joy is something that can only come from Jesus.  If it came from anywhere else, the world would be able to strip it away.  At times, we can be tempted to let the darkness of the world bring us down.  There is a lot we can become weighed down by.  When this happens, we need to refocus.  Clinging to the hope that the resurrection brings allows us to be overflowing with joy.  When we have this joy, we have a deep desire to share Jesus and His love with others.  Looking to the victory of Jesus and all that He overcame, how could we not have joy?

​The joy we have is not superficial or shallow.  It comes only from having deep faith in Christ and allowing Him into our lives.  Take some time to reflect on the reality of the resurrection.  See the power and glory, and carry the joy with you wherever you go!

Holy Week is upon us.  When I was a kid, I knew Holy Week to be the important week where we had to go to church three or four days in a row.  As Catholics we are not just asked to go to church multiple days, we are called to fully participate in the liturgies and reflect on the events leading to Jesus’ death and resurrection.  So much happened in such a short amount of time.  Everything that happened from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday changed the world.  Has it changed your world?  Do we let the passion, death and resurrection of Christ change and transform our lives?

To sum it up and put it simply, Holy Week is about love.  There is absolutely nothing Jesus went through during this time that was not because of His immense love for us.  From His agony in the garden, to his scourging, and everything in between, it was all for you and for me.  How could we look at the cross and not know the depths of his love?  How could we see the nails in his hands and feet, the wounds in his side, and the crown of thorns on his head and not choose to love him in return.  How could we look at the crucified Christ, arms stretched wide open, love poured out and say, “It’s not enough.”  Putting it into words, it sounds crazy.  Yet, how many times have we said this with our thoughts and actions?  How many times have we said, “Jesus, what you did for me isn’t enough”?

We so often search the world, grasping for different things that the world says will satisfy us.  Maybe it’s success, more money, a bigger house, and the list goes on.  We tell ourselves that it is when we get certain things that we will have enough.  In our desire for empty things, it might be easy for us to think that Jesus’ love is nice, but it’s just not enough.  We need something else.  In these moments, look back to the cross.

​During this Holy Week, let Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection transform you.  Reflect on the significance of everything that happened and the impact it has on your daily life.  Walk with Jesus through his journey to the cross.  Keep watch with Him.   Let this week be a reminder of how to pray more deeply, follow the will of the Father more closely, and ultimately, how to love more intensely.  When we experience the love Christ offered to us on the cross, we will be able to share the joy and hope that comes from His resurrection. 

I remember the first time I heard the concept of sharing pronouns.  I was in college when I first heard people discussing this.  It was at this point in time that I realized just how lost and confused our society was.  Now, it is on a regular basis that I see lists of pronouns in people’s email signatures and social media bios.  It is something people do because they want to be seen as tolerant and affirming of this practice.  Our culture is under the impression that people can pick “preferred pronouns.”  As time goes on, the truth continues to be under attack.  When people reject who they are as a male or female, they reject God and the beauty of who He created them to be.

Our world is trying to erase gender and say that it does not matter.  However, it does matter, a lot.  Men and women are different.  We have different traits, abilities, personalities, and strengths.  Both men and women reflect God and His love in different ways.  We each have unique gifts that need to be valued.  Although men and women were created different in many ways, they complement one another.  God’s creation and plans for humanity are perfect and when people attempt to mix things up, it does not go well.  God’s plans go from beautiful to broken.

Masculinity and femininity are beautiful gifts from God.  Many fail to see and understand this.  For quite some time now, there has been a loud and overwhelming movement and voice in our culture that says masculinity is toxic.  This could not be further from the truth.  The issue at hand is actually the lack of authentic masculinity in our society.  Men are called to imitate Jesus Christ, the greatest example of masculinity there is.  He loved others deeply and made sacrifices daily.  He respected all, recognizing their dignity, and protected others, especially women, at all costs.  He was not afraid to be vulnerable, sharing His emotions openly.  When men rise up and strive to live the way God created them to, they offer the rest of the world gifts that are different from women.

The modern feminist movement has become dangerous and destructive.  Those who claim to be for “women’s rights” stand for everything that is contrary to women.  For a movement that claims to support and be for women, they promote the opposite.  They belittle and condemn men while, at the same time, saying they want to be exactly like them, erasing any differences that exist.  With the modern feminist movement, we have seen the value and true gift of femininity being erased with things such as contraception, abortion, vulgarity, and tantrums.  These things are about as anti-women as you can get.  Mary is the perfect model of authentic femininity, who women are called to imitate.  Last summer, I read a book called The Anti-Mary Exposed: Rescuing the Culture from Toxic Femininity by Carrie Gress.  It was a well-written book that really dives into femininity on a deep level.  In it, Gress says, “Mary knew the truth about herself: that everything she had, everything she was, and everything she would ever do was because of the gifts offered to her by her Father, her Creator. She not only knew the truth about herself—which has made her the humblest woman to ever live—but she also knew the truth about God, who he is, especially as Father and Creator.  She surrendered every piece of herself to God the Father as a beloved daughter.”  When women strive to walk in the footsteps of Mary, they offer the world gifts that are different from men.

​We live in a time when our society says gender is “fluid.”  It is a time when people believe one can choose whether to be male or female based on how they feel, reducing gender to a surgery and a clothing change.  As Christians, we need to recognize the dignity of every single person, including those who are struggling with who they are.  We need to continue to share the love of God and help others know that the way they were created is not a mistake.  “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)  It is this simple truth that we must not tire of speaking of with love.

I’ve worked at a dining and banquet hall for the past 10 years.  One thing I’ve seen time and time again is just how impatient some people can be.  Some groups who come in on Sundays for the family style chicken dinner seem to never be satisfied.  As soon as one platter of chicken is set down, they are looking for the next refill, asking for it right away, as if they are the only table in the dining room.  They have an abundance of food yet they want more and they want it immediately.  I feel like this is how it can be in our faith sometimes.  We have an abundance of blessings in our lives yet we are always looking for more and asking God for answers about what is to come.  God is patient with us, why can’t we be patient with Him?

We live in a culture of instant gratification.  People want things and they want them now.  Our desires to experience certain things immediately and without delay are often fulfilled.  In our advanced and fast-paced world, it is easy to get many of the things we desire right away.  When it comes to our faith, it is not quite the same.  God’s timing is different from our timing.  He answers us in His own ways and in His own time.

How much time do we spend being too focused on the future, asking God to tell us what the next month, year, or five years will hold?  We want to know when He is going to give us a new job, a relationship with a certain person, or healing from a sickness.  It is good to have desires, especially if they can be used for God’s glory and praise.  However, we need to trust in His perfect timing more than we believe we are lacking in something.  “If only I had this or was better at that” we tell ourselves.  God does not withhold good things from us.  We have all that we need in each moment we are in.

​Some people are more patient than others.  It is a fruit we can ask for more of.  Wherever we are at, there is always room to grow.  There is always space to trust more in God’s timing and appreciate the blessings we have in this present moment.  When waiting for answers in prayer and waiting for the next big thing in life, may we all remember that just to know that God hears us and loves us is enough.

A few days ago, I was thinking about how people define themselves.  Oftentimes, it seems like we let our jobs and what we do define us.  Other times we think our failures and weaknesses say who we are.  Do we find our identities in our job titles or in God?  Do we allow what we do (or don’t do) to tell us who we are or do we ask God to reveal these truths to us?  

Apart from God, we cannot really know who we are.  He reveals the truth to us and the truth sets us free.  We cannot know ourselves except through God and we cannot know God except through prayer.  Prayer gives us a deeper knowledge of God and therefore, ourselves.  Our truest identity is found in how we are seen by our heavenly Father.  We only really know ourselves in the light of God.  If we learn about ourselves through school, work, our life experiences, and the people around us, that is good.  However, we are missing something if we do not include God.  

The first part of knowing ourselves deals with our sin.  When we acknowledge God, there is no room for lies, excuses, or masks.  God shows us our sin while revealing his forgiveness and mercy.  We can only be healed and live fully as children of God through recognizing our sin and through God’s forgiveness.  God loves us as we are, with a completely unconditional love, and it is this love that gives us our deepest identity.  From there, we can accept his love and come to know who we really are.  Looking past our sin, the love God has for us personally as our creator and father is the most pure part of ourselves.  The whole basis for our identity is the fact that each of us is a child of God. 

​We don’t have to search for who we are or try to pick up a bunch of pieces to form our identities.  It is sitting right in front of us, waiting to be accepted and embraced.  Will you embrace your identity as a child of God and accept who you are?  We have value because we were created in the image and likeness of God.  This alone is the most important truth about ourselves.  As St. John Paul II once said, “We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son.”  The love of God is what defines your life and gives you your identity.  My hope is that you would be reminded of who you are and allow God to reveal this truth to you.

Yesterday I was flipping through radio stations in my car when I came across the popular song “Imagine” by John Lennon.  Can we all just agree that it is easily one of the worst songs ever written?  Last year, there was a video of a group of celebrities taking turns singing lines of the song that went viral.  For some reason, it seems to be a type of anthem that groups of people unite around when life is hard.  Aside from the dull, depressing melody that drags on and the whiny singing, the lyrics are quite unpleasant.  “Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky.  Imagine all the people living for today.”  I am not sure why anybody would want to imagine this, as if this would make life better or solve all the world’s problems.  Hearing this song, I noticed the obvious theme that says life would be better without faith and without God.  This could not be further from the truth.  I started thinking about faith and how vital it is to my life.  To put it simply, without God, what are we living for?

​Do you ever stop and think about what life without faith would be like?  In the eyes of the world, it’s just about growing up, getting through school, and then getting a job so you can work the rest of your life.  Then you die.  Oh and don’t forget to be a “good person.”  The world says we don’t need God.  Our society tells us that there isn’t much of a real purpose to life but to focus on power, pleasure, greed, and doing whatever “makes you happy” without consequences.  What is the purpose in all of this?  What is the end goal in this?  

I sometimes think about how I would respond to certain situations or get through difficult times without faith.  I often think back to a conversation with my uncle at my grandma’s funeral.  “How do people without faith deal with the loss of someone?”  Without faith, there’s no hope, no peace, and no purpose in the suffering, trials, and challenges.  Having faith means knowing that we do not walk alone.

On the flip side, it seems like, without faith, it would be harder to appreciate the blessings in my life and recognize everything good in my life as a gift.  Sure, without faith, we would still experience good times and the love of people around us, but who would we thank?

To sum it up, in the words of St. John Paul II, “The most beautiful and stirring adventure that can happen to you is the personal meeting with Jesus, who is the only one who gives real meaning to our lives.”  Each day of our lives, we have the opportunity to encounter Jesus and come to know and love Him more.  It is through our meeting with Him that we can love and serve others.  Of course, this does not mean that people who don’t have faith do not have a purpose.  Every single life is a gift and has purpose and meaning, whether one knows God or not.  Instead of imagining a world without faith, imagine a world where every person comes to realize that life has purpose and that we are here for a reason bigger than ourselves.  And that reason is Jesus Christ.  Some may want to imagine a world without heaven.  I’ll take a world with faith where we can hope in the promises Christ offers.  What about you?

Lent is now upon us.  As a season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, there is a lot we often try to do in order to make the most of these 40 days.  Ultimately, Lent is about going into the desert.  Just as Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit.  He is calling us to the desert too.

During Lent, we are invited to a barren, desolate place.  While we may think of the desert landscapes of the world, we don’t have to leave the current environments we are in to follow Jesus into the desert.  We are invited to the spiritual desert of our lives.  This is a place away from the business of our lives that allows us to become closer to Jesus.  The desert we are led into during Lent allows us to experience greater silence, deeper prayer, and a stronger yearning for Christ.  It is a place where we are asked to remove the distractions in our lives, detach ourselves from material items, worldly desires, sinful habits, and all that keeps us away from God.

When we empty ourselves of everything that is not Jesus, we will find ourselves searching and hungry.  In this hunger and emptiness, we will be reminded that it is only Jesus who can satisfy us.  There are many ways we can allow Jesus to fill us.  We can spend more time in prayer and silence, attend eucharistic adoration, add in daily mass, go to confession, deny ourselves of certain comforts through fasting, serve others, give to a charitable organization, just to name a few things.

During our time in the desert, we need to refocus on what really matters: Jesus’ suffering and ultimate sacrifice for us.  In the desert we don’t have to be weighed down by the expectations the world has for us.  Instead of hearing what the world is telling us, we can better listen to what God wants for us.  Spending time in the desert gives us the opportunity to learn how to surrender ourselves completely to God and His will for us.  Wandering through the desert will bring us closer to Jesus and help us to experience his love more deeply.

Just as Jesus was tempted, we too will be challenged, stretched, and asked to confront our own weaknesses on our journey through the desert.  When tempted by Satan, Jesus placed his trust in God the Father.  Jesus knew the Father would provide for Him.  May we all follow in the footsteps of Jesus through the desert this Lent, trusting that He will always walk with us.