Parish Blog

Dear Friends in Christ,

In our Gospel for today, Jesus, on the first day of the week, entered a locked room where the disciples were hidden for fear of the Jews. Their Lord and Savior had been crucified by the Romans; their special friend, companion, and Lord was gone from their lives. I’m sure that you could cut the confusion and fear with a knife.

Into this locked room, Jesus suddenly appears and says, “Peace be with you!” and he shows them his hands and his side. And our Gospel tells us that the disciples “rejoiced when they saw the Lord.” Can you imagine their wonderment and joy? What would it have been like to be there? In this busy and demanding world, could your life use some wonderment and joy?

Dear Friends in Christ,

We have already heard the good news—or rather, the best news: “Christ is alive! He has risen and has appeared to His disciples.” Happy Easter to all! The sadness that filled our hearts at Christ's passion and death gives way to the uncontainable joy brought about by His resurrection.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, we read the narrative of the Passion from the Gospel of Luke. According to this evangelist, Jesus entering Jerusalem to a joyous parade of palms and the Passion narrative are mutually related. This is so even though the first part is jubilant while the second part is humiliating and degrading.

Dear Friends in Christ,

The Gospel passage describes the encounter of sin with divine mercy. The Pharisees who bring the adulterous woman have already decided that she must die; they focus on her past and want the law to be applied to her. Jesus doesn't want to play their game because none of them can pronounce just judgment. They too have a sinful past. It is Jesus who will exercise judgment, not by condemning, but by offering a way of salvation. He doesn't condemn because he looks to the future, to the plan he has lovingly established for each person.