Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The road to Emmaus has long been a point of meditation in the Church’s history. From the Fathers of the Church who reflected on the way that Jesus opened the Scriptures and was revealed in the breaking of bread to the more modern Emmaus youth retreats, this story of two disciples encountering Jesus after His Resurrection has instructed believers and invited them to encounter Jesus in their own lives. The Church proposes this Gospel passage for us each year as an invitation to once more encounter Jesus who walks with us, and to recognize…read more

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As the Octave of Easter draws to a close, the Church turns our attention to God’s infinite mercy. This Sunday is called Divine Mercy Sunday, and it recalls for us the truth that on the Cross, Jesus showed supreme mercy, in taking our sins and their consequences on Himself. By rising from the dead, he brought that mercy to fulfillment, by defeating the ultimate consequence of sin, which is death. And so on this day dedicated to our Lord’s mercy, the Church not only wants us to know about that mercy and to practice mercy ourselves,…read more

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Allow me to join my voice to the many pastors across Christian denominations who today are pointing out this important truth about the first Easter: the apostles were quarantined. From the time Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane late on Holy Thursday night, the apostles had scattered. Peter and John followed our Lord to the high priest’s house and stood in the courtyard while our Lord was tried by the Sanhedrin in the dark hours of Good Friday morning. Having denied Jesus three times, Peter is reduced to a weeping heap in…read more

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As I write this note, the news that it will not be possible to celebrate Holy Week together in person has just come in. Needless to say, I am beyond disappointed. Nevertheless, as this Lent turns into one of the most unusual experiences of the spiritual desert I can imagine, I think that the Lord is doing something for us that will be a source of real grace. Namely, we are invited to suffer with Him as He carries the Cross. Palm Sunday brings us first to Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. He is…read more