The apostles needed to know more. Would their Risen Lord restore the kingdom to Israel? Would they finally be in control? Obviously, that was their idea of heaven—being in charge of their own fate at long last. That’s when Jesus told them they would receive another kind of power—from the Holy Spirit—“And you will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth.” And with that Jesus was lifted up and a cloud took him from their sight.

“When leaders live up to their solemn responsibilities and commitments, they can be the difference between light and darkness, hope and despair, life and death for the people whom they have the privilege of serving and protecting. In the final analysis, true leadership is forged in the vicarious crucible of crisis.”Through an examination of Pope Francis’s words and actions during the coronavirus pandemic, Fr. Orobator finds a model of leadership for a suffering world.

“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you…”John 15:16Remembering and celebrating her on Mother’s Day… That’s how I will honor my mother today—remembering how kind she was and celebrating her many gifts, especially the faith she gave me.Some of us are fortunate to have our Moms with us today. Some of us have entrusted her to God and the saints. However you remember your mother today, I will pray for you both at Mass, asking our Blessed Mother in particular to hold you close.We all have special memories of Mother’s Day growing up and I certainly have mine. My mother is the one who first modeled prayer and the Sacraments. She taught me the virtues of respect and compassion, and also forgiveness. Later as an adult and young missioner in Bolivia, I learned new lessons about motherhood. When Bolivians observe Mother’s Day, the world might as well come to a complete stop. You just spend time with your mother—no excuses! Watching their joyous family celebrations, I learned something new. Central to the Bolivians’ understanding of a mother’s love is the connection to their other provider, the earth—a spirit they call Pachamama or Mother Earth. How extraordinary… The homage they give to the woman who gave them life is a reflection of the homage they give to the earth itself.Friend, when you were a child, you probably bought your mother flowers or made her breakfast on Mother’s Day. Now we can still do special things to honor our mother—and all the women we know who are generous life-givers and nurturers. Model their devotion to the Gospel… share their compassion with someone in need… find a new way to care for Creation itself. These are all great ways to say, “Thank you, Mom.”

The journey is as important as the destination—an adage that rings ever more true after our past year of enormous sacrifice. So many heroes, caregivers, and prayer—givers dedicated themselves to the healing. Their work has been a special calling, and we are grateful for all they do. They exemplify for me the value and dignity of all work—by the sung and unsung, the known and the unknown. Yesterday was the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker, our steadfast model of the man who understood the dignity of work. He underscores by example the contribution we can each make to the well-being of our communities when we use our God-given skills for the greater good. Some call Joseph the Silent Saint. But through his work he was more than eloquent. Joseph provided for his family with the skills of a carpenter and the devotion of a husband and father who understood he had a noble role to fulfill. In recognition of Joseph’s special calling, the Church celebrates the dignity of all work on May 1. Joseph taught us that work is the way we participate in the creative life of God our Father. Through our work-offering, whatever and wherever that might be… in an office, in our homes, caring for a loved one, tutoring a child… we are cooperating with God in bringing about the fullness of creation.Friend, work-offerings in union with the Gospel are the way we build God’s kingdom on earth—the very deeds that St. Paul talks about. Whether you are an active worker or retiree, the dignity of your mission work is the real centerpiece of your life: witnessing the Gospel in all you do—in words and deeds—to strengthen the vine and branches of our faith. On the feast day of the Silent Saint, may St. Joseph the Worker bless your journey.

Not many of us have ever owned sheep let alone taken care of sheep—but I have. At one point during my mission days in Peru, I was asked to serve as director of a seminary. As was the custom, when a seminarian arrived to begin his studies, the families would each give a sheep as a gift. Before long, our grounds had become something more than a petting zoo! This city boy had to learn on the fly how to care for his flock.One day I needed to corral the sheep but they just would not respond. The more I tried to move them together, the more they scattered in all directions. “They’re not very smart,” I thought. Seeing my frustration, a wonderful woman who worked in our kitchen and usually took care of the sheep, came out to rescue me. With a deft call to attention, she brought all the sheep back in what seemed like seconds, including the ones who had jumped the wall and were in danger of getting lost.

The actual meaning of the word “apocalypse” is not "disaster" but “unveiling.” Drawing on John’s prophetic Apocalypse, Keller unveils a “dreamreading” of our current global crisis—particularly the threat of climate change and ecological devastation. John’s text is not a foretelling of future events, but a parable of our present reality, which exposes the deep spiritual roots of these threats.

Have you ever stopped to notice where people encountered Jesus? It’s often in the humble, ordinary moments of life… while people are at work—maybe fishing; while they’re gathered with family and friends—remember the wedding feast of Cana? Even while they’re traveling from one town to another—as in the story of the Good Samaritan. Then there’s the story of the Walk to Emmaus… the resurrected Christ meeting two of his disciples and changing their lives, and ours, forever.The two men were saddened by the loss of Jesus. Where was God’s purpose in the Crucifixion? As they walked to Emmaus, Jesus appeared in their midst. When they arrived in Emmaus, Jesus took bread, blessed it, and gave it to the disciples. At that moment, they recognized him as their risen Lord. Their spirits were renewed. They returned to Jerusalem filled with a desire to witness the Gospel and the living presence of Christ.Emmaus is a reminder of the many pathways to God. In the ordinary activity of everyday life, Jesus is always present if we are open to receiving him and sharing him with a world anxious for healing. That ordinary activity of ours could be anything from shopping and running errands to waiting on line or saying the Rosary on Zoom with a parish prayer group. Finding Christ in the simple journeys of everyday life is especially comforting right now. Who hasn’t experienced isolation in the past year? It’s been so much harder to attend Mass and receive the Sacraments, harder to get together with family and friends. But that doesn’t mean that Jesus has abandoned us. Quite the opposite. What the disciples experienced on the road to Emmaus was the enduring presence of our God, always at hand, especially in the most difficult moments. Friend, the words of today’s Gospel are a comfort and a consolation. Receive the gift of our Risen Christ knowing that you are never alone, never without the strength you need to love and serve the Lord… just like the disciples who found Christ on the road to Emmaus.

“But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.”John 20:31We thank Saint Pope John Paul II for reminding us today of God’s love for all people—no matter their station, no matter their sins. This is Divine Mercy Sunday, a celebration begun by our beloved Pope in 2000. On the Sunday after Easter that year he canonized Blessed Faustina Kowalska, a devoted religious, designating the second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday. Mindful of St. Faustina’s gift to the Church at Easter, our Holy Father proclaimed:“Jesus said to St. Faustina one day, ‘Humanity will never find peace until it turns with trust to Divine Mercy.’ Divine Mercy! This is the Easter gift that the Church receives from the risen Christ and offers to humanity.”What our Holy Father is saying is that personal transformation—the passage into new life that we celebrated at Easter—is only possible because of God’s mercy. Each time we witness mercy, we transform ourselves in God’s image and offer the gift of new life to the world. We become creators in a worldly way and in a spiritual way, too.God’s mercy opens the door to a deeper practice of our faith, never failing to forgive and transform. So, think of mercy as your starting point. Know that mercy is God’s personal gift to you. Then share the bounty. Reach out to all of Creation, to everyone you encounter, and offer them the example of transformation that God has called you to be. Mercy is a chance to heal divisions, overcome the hurts, set aside the misunderstandings, and start over. With God’s blessing. Friend, accept God’s divine mercy as the gift that that never stops giving back. The more we practice being merciful, the more complete we become, and the stronger we are for the journey home. Think big, practice small… an act of mercy a day. More when you can. I know God will bless and reward you.

The first Westerner to be ordained as a monastic disciple in Thich Nhat Hanh’s Vietnamese Zen lineage Sister Annabel Laity was given the Dharma name Chan Duc, which means True Virtue. Now a much-loved senior Dharma teacher in the Plum Village community, Sister Annabel teaches and leads retreats worldwide. She is the author of True Virtue: The Journey of an English Buddhist Nun (Parallax Press).

Truly, this is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice with me in celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the gift of eternal life. There is no greater love than the sacrifice of the Cross. We are a blessed people.As you celebrate Easter Sunday—at home or safely in the company of family and friends—remember that our calling as missioners is to share in the life of Christ and the promise of salvation. We know the past year has been challenging. But whatever our circumstance may be—rich in blessings or blessings tempered by hardship—be assured… We are exactly where we need to be to reach our destination in Christ. How we accept and learn from every life experience is how we will complete the journey home to new life and our personal Easter. With God’s grace, we will use every moment God gives us to deepen our faith, and to find solace in scripture and the sacraments. As Easter celebrants, we have the conviction that life always overcomes death. We know that expressions of new life can come at any time, usually with some sacrifice, and sometimes when we least expect them. The Resurrection we celebrate today is our assurance that what we believe is so.On this most sacred of holy days, I will remember you at a special Easter Sunday Mass to honor all of our missioners and co-missioners, our supporters and friends, and our prayer partners all over the world. You are among them. I will remember as well the richness of the Easter celebrations our Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers will offer today—beginning at dawn—in English, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, Swahili, Nepalese, and more. The universality of our faith is reflected in the diversity of our faithful, the Kingdom of God on earth. Celebrating the Resurrection is our common language.Friend, may the blessings of Easter provide light and life for the journey that will take you home one day into the radiant splendor of eternal life. That’s the promise of the Resurrection. Yes, let us rejoice and be glad.

“Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear.”Isaiah 50:4After all the weeks of Lent and preparation, we come to the heart of who we are and what it means to be a Christian. This is Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion.Today’s events, and the events of Holy Week soon to follow, are as meaningful now as they were 2,000 years ago. We recognize that God is inviting us to be transformed: to pass from death to new life. This is the week we say “Yes, Lord. I am ready.”I know that for some of us the traditional liturgies and celebrations of Holy Week will be compromised. Whether we express our faith privately at home or in safe groups, Holy Week represents the core of our faith. What we remember is Christ giving himself up totally for us—and calling us to give ourselves up for one another.Today we receive the palm, which the crowds waved as they welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem. Later this week we will celebrate the Last Supper and the gift of the Eucharist, the lasting presence of God among us. Then on Good Friday we will recite the Stations of the Cross, remembering the suffering and death of Our Lord. As we experience the promise of Holy Week, now is a good time to focus on forgiveness—for ourselves and one another—and on acts of charity that heal. We do both by responding to God’s call to love and serve one another freely and without measure. As missioners, there is no holding back.Friend, when we turn to God for help, it will be as Isaiah says: The Lord will open our ears, we will be called, and we will hear. May you have a blessed Holy Week in preparation for the greatest feast day of all, Easter Sunday.

Bill Cain’s The Diary of Jesus Christ is a first-person recounting of the life of Jesus, a new lens through which to see the familiar stories of the gospel—including the Passion.Get your copy today >> https://maryknoll.link/1huThe story begins with the healing of the leper, heralding the remarkable spirit that flows through the diary accounts—a spirit of discovery, surprise, learning, doubt, failure, and new life.