We have a place waiting for us!

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Acts 13:26-33

John 14:1-6

Have the 2^nd and 8^th graders not in their usual seats but in the empty seats by the shrine of Mary.

To begin my homily, ask the students:

“Where are the 2^nd & 8th graders? Why are you sitting over here? Have you been bad? Get a response from the students!

Go over to the 2^nd & 8^th graders and ask:

“Why are you sitting over here?’ How does it feel to be sitting over here all by yourselves? Do you feel out of place and a bit weird? Would you like to go to your assigned seats?

Give them time to go to their usual seats and get situated.

In our Gospel, Jesus says some amazing things. Jesus first says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God and faith in me.” When we are in the wrong place, by temptation and sin, Jesus wants us to come to him, and he will give us his peace.

Jesus’s second amazing thing is, “I am preparing a place for you. When you follow me and know there is no other way to salvation except through me, I have a special place for you.”  

Our Catholic school is perfect for learning about Jesus and his special place for us in heaven. Our dedicated staff and teachers are committed to Christ and are his messengers.

May we all know of our place in heaven and do all we can to get there in Christ.

I have come to lay down my life!

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 4: 8-12

I John 3:1-2

John 10: 11-18

I have some slogans for you! Please complete the following slogans.

SLIDE ONE: What is in your?

SLIDE TWO: Wallet – Capital One

SLIDE THREE: “Snap! Crackle!
SLIDE FOUR: Pop! – Kellogg’s Rice Krispies
SLIDE FIVE: There are some things that money can’t buy; for everything else, there’s?
SLIDE SIX: Master Card
SLIDE SEVEN: If you are happy and you know it? (Sing this one!)

SLIDE EIGHT: Clap your hands.

SLIDE NINE: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd?

SLIDE TEN: Lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)

I can’t get this line out of my head! It differs from all the images we are given for Good Shepherd Sunday. The other images show Jesus as the gatekeeper and his recognition of his voice.

In sacred scripture, we have the following:

SLIDE ELEVEN: We have Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd.” 

SLIDE TWELVE: Ezekiel 34:15, “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep.”

In our Gospel, Jesus says five times, “I am the good shepherd, and I lay down my life for the sheep.” What is evident from this passage is that there is only one true good shepherd, and that is Jesus Christ.

SLIDE THIRTEEN: What have we done to deserve such a gift?

SLIDE FOURTEEN: Nothing!

I am challenged today by asking myself, “Am I willing to lay down my life for you? Are we willing to lay down our life for others? Ex. Spouse, children, grandchildren, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. The real test comes with things that interrupt our lives and will change our schedules.

SLIDE FIFTEEN: Can we imagine a world where we always lay down our lives for someone? May we imitate the good shepherd and be willing to lay down our lives to whoever may need it next.

Things are not what they seem?

Third Week Easter Weekday Friday

Acts 9: 1-20

John 6: 52-59

All Scholl Mass

Put up the Optical Illusions

1. Elephant – How many legs are on this elephant?
2. Duck/Rabbit – What do you see?

Things are not always what they seem to be.

In our first reading, we heard about Saul, who is not who they thought he was as he, on his way to persecute Christians, was struck down and made blind. God tells Ananias that Saul is no longer who you think he is. God tells Ananias to lay his hands on Saul and bring him to the Christian community. When Ananias does this, Saul’s blindness goes away, and he is healed from his physical blindness. He was brought to the Christian community and became a great leader.  

In our Gospel, Jesus is more than what the people think he is as he tells them, “Unless you eat of my flesh and drink of my blood, you will not have life within you.

Things are not always what they seem to be in our lives, as simple bread and wine will be blessed and transformed in the presence of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

God does this because when things are not what they seem in our lives, God brings healing. When we are feeling down or discouraged, God is bringing his healing. When we feel lost, God will help us be found. When we have sinned and strayed from God, he will bring his forgiveness. When things don’t seem right in our lives, God is there to save us.

What is my treasure?

Third Week of Easter Thursday

Acts 8: 26-40

John 6: 44-51

What are the things that we treasure? I look around my bedroom, filled with things I treasure. I have pictures of loved ones, I have the crucifix from my dad’s casket, and I have a manger scene that I bought years ago in Assisi, Italy. All these things I treasure. But is there anything that we treasure more than the Eucharist?

As I read the readings given to us today, I see that the framework of the Eucharist is right there for us to meditate on.

In our first reading, Philip is walking west on the road, and an Ethiopian man is heading west. The man reads aloud from the prophet Isaiah but does not understand what he is reading. Philip asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replies, “How can I understand unless someone instructs me?” So, Philip begins to help him understand what he is reading and more. We come to the Eucharist to hear God’s word proclaimed and opened to us to understand and to live.

In our Gospel, Jesus offers his very body as living bread that will last forever into eternal life.

Our human hearts will always be searching for the next treasure in our lives. We should never look past the biggest and best treasure offered to us each day in the Eucharist. Only the Eucharist can give us the lasting joy and peace we seek.

May we put our faith in what we are doing now in this Eucharist and never take it for granted.  

God’s care for us!

Tuesday Third Weekday Easter

Acts 7:51-8:1

John 6: 30-35

“What kind of sign can you do that we may see and believe in you?” The question is being asked by people who have been following Jesus around, they have seen him heal a cripple at the Pool of Bethesda, and he fed 5000 of them from five loaves of bread and two fish. Now, the same people ask, “What kind of sign can you do for us?”

We may not be far behind these people by asking the question. How many times has God shown us a sign of his loving and guiding providence? We are all here because of God’s providence, yet we ask for more.

Jesus says to us one more time, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” Can we believe in this promise today?

What can help us to place our trust in God’s providence? Our prayers of supplication. St. Faustina said, “A humble soul does not trust itself, but places all its confidence in God.”

• When we pray, be specific about what we pray for, and don’t be so general. 
• When we pray be confident but also humble. When we are confident, we express our faith and hope in Jesus Christ.
• Finally, ask others to pray along with you for your request.

Lord, we come before you asking for a sign. May we place our total trust in your care for us?

Are you crazy and wild for Jesus?

Third Sunday of Easter

Acts 3: 13-15, 17-19

I John 2:1-5

Luke 24: 35- 48

Pointing at someone, say, “You are crazy and wild! But you are my kind of crazy and wild? Repeat a few times.

SLIDE ONE: What do I mean by being crazy and wild?

• When one gives their life to Christ completely with confidence and trust, one becomes crazy and wild.  
• When one moves from being a bystander to a witness. A bystander stands on the sidelines and cheers everyone as they watch others do things. A witness gives evidence of this confidence and trust in Jesus Christ.
• When one knows their mission in life, one is a witness. Do you know your mission?

SLIDE TWO: “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you. When you call me, I will listen. When you look for me, you will find me. When you seek me in your heart, I will let you find me, and I will change your lot!” Jeremiah 29: 11-13

SLIDE THREE: In our Gospel, Jesus shows the apostles it is him. He says to them, “You are witness of these things.” Luke 24: 48

Jesus ascends into heaven after this, and the apostle’s move from being bystanders to witnesses. They become bold and confident, and they become crazy and wild.

SLIDE FOUR: Peter gives evidence of moving from a bystander to being a witness, crazy and wild, as he says, “All of these things we are witnesses to.” Acts 3:15

SLIDE FIVE: How do we move from a bystander to a witness? How do we become crazy and wild?

• It is knowing that Jesus this week, has tried his hardest to have an encounter with us.
• We cannot be indifferent. We must respond.
• Our checkbook or credit card statement will tell us whether we are bystanders or witnesses. Will we give today to the level of our blessings in your life? There is no reason why we cannot make our CSA commitment.
• Our calendar will tell us if we are a bystander or a witness. Prayer, Church, Outreach, and volunteering on our calendars?
• Sometimes I feel like I am begging!

SLIDE SIX: Homework: Ask yourself, “Am I a bystander or a witness? What can I do to be a better witness for Christ this week?

The totality of Jesus!

Easter Weekday Tuesday

Acts 4:32-37

John 3:7-15

Millions of people from Texas to Maine had a fleeting chance to witness the solar eclipse yesterday. The nation stopped to watch the moon slowly cover the sun for a brief few minutes, creating an eerie daytime darkness. Schools and offices closed early so people could look to the sky and see this magnificent moment.

In our readings, a magnificent moment of totality needs to take place that changes people’s lives.

In our Gospel, Nicodemus is in a moment of “totality” to understand that Jesus needs to be raised and what it means to be born again.

In our first reading from the Book of Acts, the community of followers of Jesus have had this moment of totality as we are told: “The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of their possessions as their own, but held everything in common.”

What does our moment of totality look like in our lives today?

Begin Mass – OK, how is everyone’s eyesight after the solar eclipse yesterday? I hope you had the proper glasses on to see the eclipse happening.

Divine Mercy Sunday!

Second Sunday of Easter

Acts 4:32-35

I John 5:1-6

John 20: 19-31

I love my therapist! I told him this week, “When I fail at something, I see myself not as a sixty-six-year-old man but as a six-year-old boy.” I went on to say, “Am I normal?” I desperately wanted him to say “Yes!” He responded, “Well, Yes and No! Yes, you are normal, as many people, to some degree, have two basic fears: rejection and failure.” He continued, “No, because you are a sixty-six-year-old man, not a six-year-old boy.”

SLIDE ONE: My therapist shared this story. In 1992, Mike Johnson was a heavy favorite to win the 200-meter race in the Summer Olympics. But he only came in 6^th place. It was a major failure. In the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, he was a heavy favorite to win the 200 and the 400-meter race, a feat never done by a male athlete. He is quoted as saying, “I don’t know how I am going to do! I know that I have learned as much from my failures as my successes.” Mike Johnson won the 200 and the 400 meters that year.

SLIDE TWO: In our Gospel, the disciples huddle in a room, and Jesus appears to them. Jesus knows all so well that they have failed him, as they all left him on Good Friday. What Jesus does is epic. He says, “Peace be with you,” and then he shows them the wounds on his hands and side. Why isn’t the resurrected body of Jesus now perfect in his resurrection? Jesus wants his wounds to be our hope in times of trials.  

SLIDE THREE: What is our last failure, or what is our greatest failure? On this Divine Mercy Weekend, what do we need to know about God’s loving mercy?

• Failure is the necessary pre-condition for God’s greatest gift.
• Failure is not final.
• Failure brings the mercy of God when we least deserve it.
• I am free to fail because I am free to trust in God’s mercy.

SLIDE FOUR: Turning to the cross! If you need God’s mercy, please kneel. Lord, I need your mercy for my lustful thoughts, Lord. I need your mercy for my lack of patience with my spouse and children. Lord, I need your mercy for stealing and cheating. Lord, I need your mercy for believing there is no mercy for me because I am a sinner.

SLIDE FIVE: Mercy wins today because to be Catholic is to be free to fail and know of God’s mercy when we turn to him and trust him.

We are on holy ground!

Friday Octave of Easter

Acts 4:11-12

John 21:1-14

I love Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon. I have had many memorable moments of prayer walking the beach and the trails. I discerned my priesthood walking the trails and the beech. I go there when I want to meet Jesus along the way.

In our readings, there are those who go back to places that are familiar to them.

In our first reading, we have been following all week the healing of a crippled man that Peter and John came across as they entered the city through the “Beautiful Gate.” It was on Good Friday that Peter and John were in place witnessing the trial of Jesus, and Peter denied that he even knew Jesus. Today, Peter acts very differently as he boldly proclaims Jesus Christ as the one who was to come as the savior of the world.

In our Gospel, Peter goes back to fishing, and six others decide to go with him. I wonder, as Peter was trying to make sense of everything that had happened if he didn’t think, “I wonder if I went back to where it all began when Jesus called me and said, ‘Simon, I now call you Peter, and you will be fishing for me.'” Luke 5:10. Our story today is almost identical to Luke’s.

Peter returns, and Jesus appears to him just as he had done three years earlier. Jesus gives him a physical example of what he wants Peter to do. Go and make disciples of all people.

Where is a favorite place for us to go to meet Jesus? How are we filled with Easter joy? Do we know we come in direct contact with Jesus when we come here?

May this day be filled with Easter joy!

What do we need today?

Thursday, Octave of Easter

Acts 3:11-26

Luke 24 35-48

Our Gospel picks up from yesterday’s story of the two disciples walking home after they witnessed the death of Jesus, and these two men feel dejected and defeated. When Jesus appears to them, but they do not recognize him, he tells them all the stories about himself. When he stays with them in the breaking of the bread, their eyes are open to him, and he disappears from their sight. Both men say, “Were not our hearts burning within us as he talked to us along the way?”

The two disciples return quickly to the other disciples and recount what happened to them and how Jesus was made known to them by breaking the Bread.

Jesus appears to all of them and says, “Peace be with you.”

Jesus knows what they need, to dispel any of their doubts and fears.

Today’s story is our story! Where are we today, as witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus? How are we by our lives, giving witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?