Vocations Newsletter

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…
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“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…
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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).
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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…
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