From Our Pastor's Desk
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From Our Pastor's Desk
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REMAIN IN CHRIST
The deep meaning of the allegory of the vine and the branches is the mystical union between Christ and believers. The trunk, branches, and fruit suggest many things to those who listened to Jesus. The stability of the trunk evokes the certainty of faith. Fruitfulness opens horizons for Christian hope. Sisters and brothers: 1. The Paschal cycle ends and the risen Christ has left key messages today and the previous Sundays: He is the Good Shepherd who gives his life for his sheep, is the master who teaches us the commandment of love, in which we are the branches that receive life and produce fruit if we are united to the vine. We cannot ignore the invitation to re-main in the fold of Christ, and still less, become united to the vine which gives much fruit. The allegory is clearly a life of communion with Christ. Grace is communicated to us through the sacraments and gives fruits of holiness and apostolate if we remain united to God. In contrast the separation from Christ produces fruitlessness and death. "Without me you can do nothing." 2. The disease most prevalent in our day is loneliness, say psychologists. This is found mainly in countries of higher living standards. Many children suffer from loneliness because their parents are too busy doing other things. Many young people feel misunderstood. They are married living in solitude. Those living in communities of consecrated life can also live solitary lives, if they have not found friendship with Christ and vegetate unenthusiastically amid the turmoil of their occupations. The elderly especially suffer from loneliness, neglect, abandonment, and are considered a burden. These people have done much in their lives and now may be surrounded by everything but love. 3. The loneliness is unbearable for anyone who is surrounded by thousands of people who are unrelated and unknown. Our cities are home to multitudes of people we do not know. Among those that are known, few are real friends. The relationships are superficial and can be short-lived. The interior pain is externalized in depression and anxiety, which can bring more than one to suicide. Our sophisticated and technical world does not favor the deep relationships between people as such. When John says, "you remain in Christ!" he is asking us not only to live "as" or follow "behind", or that we live "as" or walk "with" him, but live "in" Him. Our program of life should be in communion with God. Certainly to "remain in" is not interpreted passively, but is a dynamic and compromising program. Sisters and brothers: God is the answer to the problem of loneliness. His knowledge of us is intimate, personal, and profound. He knows our weaknesses, needs and wishes, even before being displayed. I invite you to begin to live like the branch, together with the true vine which is Christ the Lord. Source: ePriest.com / Best Practices and Homily Resources for Catholic Priests WE NEED A GOOD SHEPHERD
Life is worth living only if it is to surrender. Christ is the Good Shepherd who gives his life for his sheep -he knows us each by name. The shepherds of our time are not only the priests, but all the coherent Christians. Today's Gospel speaks of shepherds and of mercenaries. Only the first are capable of giving their life for his flock. Sisters and brothers: 1. Jesus ends the parable by saying: "I am the Good Shepherd." You and I are also the good shepherd if we meet the conditions: giving life for the sheep; know them by name, living among them by helping them with their problems and concerns, especially those outside the fold. Giving life is the supreme example of love. There are many who live off the sheep, taking advantage of the position and turning it into power and control, rather it should be responsibility and service. Being a shepherd is not easy. Knowing and giving life implies a personal, intimate, dynamic, and exciting relationship. 2. The teaching of Jesus is innovative and illuminates with a new light the relations of power and authority. "The good shepherd, says Vatican Council II, is known for the goodness of heart, sincerity, strength and steadfastness of the soul, and the constant concern of justice." We can be good shepherds or bad shepherds for others. Christ is the shepherd par excellence, but there are also other good shepherds among us. Good shepherds can be found in every state of life, all professions, and all social classes. They must always be "self-giving" (to die to self) - to sacrifice, be loyal, and be an example of loving one another. 3. The Fourth Sunday of Easter is the day of vocations. The world needs to be evangelized with new methods, new enthusiasm, new language, says the Pope. We need priests who devote their lives to serving the elderly, the handicapped, the sick, the poor, drug addicts, and children. Today priests are needed more than a king, the military, bankers, doctors, and teachers, because they can replace all of them, but none can replace a priest if he were missing. Without priests, the world would die the worst hunger without that little bit of bread and that little bit of wine that are the focus of all liturgical celebrations. Brothers and sisters: Let us pray that the Holy Spirit brings us many vocations. Many people can and do not want. Many want but cannot. A vocation is a calling from God. If any of your children has expressed an interest in a vocation, thank God for that. Protect them in their difficulties, pray for him to be generous; support their decisions. It will be the pride of your home and a blessing from heaven. Source: ePriest.com / Best Practices and Homily Resources for Catholic Priests CHRISTIANS ARE PEOPLE OF HOPE
Brothers and Sisters: We have already heard the good news. In fact, we have heard the best news: "Christ is alive! He is risen and has appeared to his disciples." Happy Easter to all of you! The sorrow that filled our heart at the Passion and death of Christ gives way to the unrestrained joy that his Resurrection brings. 1. It's not easy to believe in Jesus' Resurrection. The disciples had to experience the dark night of the soul after Good Friday. Together with the trauma of Jesus' violent death, they suffered because of the silence of so many unknown elements. So what would happen now? We can understand their anguish if we compare it to what we feel when we are waiting for someone who doesn't show up. They tell us that mom is coming on a trip, but she doesn't arrive when we expect her to. What could have happened? Our soul gets worried, and all sorts of images pass before our eyes. That's what the disciples were like, with a knot in their stomach. The resurrected Jesus appears to Peter, to Mary Magdalene, and to Thomas, precisely to these three because they were doubting. They were more dead than alive. And he appears to the disciples of Emmaus because they had already lost hope. To all of them he brings new reasons to live. 2. Christ's Resurrection changed the world. Death was defeated when Christ accepted death; pain and suffering were conquered when Christ freely chose to suffer; sin was destroyed when Christ bore it on his shoulders. This is all true, even though death, suffering and sin still continue by our side. But they are no longer unable to be overcome. We must be men of hope. We can't walk through the world always predicting calamities; we must persevere in solid optimism, tested in love and in death, a realistic optimism that is also full of good humor. There is a new Beatitude intended for us: "Blessed are those who have not seen, yet still believe." 3. Every Sunday is a little Easter that becomes a reality in the Eucharist. It's as if the day arrives when I can go to the bank of mercy and cash in the check of life, joy and pardon that Christ gave me two thousand years ago on the day of his Resurrection. It's not written out to "the bearer"; it's written to my name, and no one else can cash it for me. Tomorrow could be too late. It's an invitation for us to live "like resurrected souls." St. Paul invites us to "look for the things above, and not those of the world." Make a practical resolution: spend some time reading the Gospel narrative of everything that took place after the Resurrection. It will fill you with joy and peace. And how much do we need them after hearing all the bad news about catastrophes, death and abuse on the radio or on TV. Let us rather fill ourselves with good news that is a sign of God's presence. Let us be men of hope! |
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