Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection for - Sunday, April 19, 2026

In today’s Gospel, we hear the familiar story of the two disciples who are dejectedly walking away from Jerusalem toward Emmaus. They are distracted by their sadness over the death of Jesus and their confusion regarding the possibility that he had risen from the dead. Like those two disciples, we are often distracted and pulled away from what really matters, from what is truly important.

Worries and distractions pull us apart, but Jesus holds us together. The Latin word that means the exact opposite of separation is re-ligare, meaning “to be re-attached.” This is the root of the English word “religion.” Religion re-attaches us to Jesus and to one another. St. Paul tells us that “in Christ Jesus all things hold together.” That is a great way to think about Jesus. His cross, His love, His grace, and His mercy hold us together and keep us close to Him.

This can only happen if we give Jesus our time and attention just as the two disciples did on the road to Emmaus. When the distractions of life threaten to pull us apart, we need to re-attach ourselves to Jesus, by spending time with him in daily prayer, and weekly worship. Today’s gospel reading is a timely reminder to us to take time each day to re-attach ourselves to what truly matters and to stop being worried and distracted by so many things.

Like the disciples, we can see Jesus clearly and be re-attached to Him through His Word and in the breaking of the bread. But then, after we are re-attached to what matters, we must go and serve our neighbor in need, to go and show God’s love and mercy and grace and kindness to everyone we encounter. By bringing Religion to the world, by bringing the love of Jesus to all those around us, we re-attach people to what really matters.

When we are truly open to receiving Jesus, we are no longer distracted by our sadness or confusion. We are no longer “too busy” to carry out His mission. We are no longer so distracted by doing things for God that we fail to be still in both thoughts and activity so that we can listen to His Word and believe it. That is when our hearts will burn with desire for Him.

Fr. Mike

Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection for - Sunday, April 12, 2026

On this Divine Mercy Sunday, we see the struggle of Saint Thomas who appears so prominently in the Gospel this weekend. Over the centuries Saint Thomas has been given that terrible nickname “doubting Thomas.” Yet, after he touched the wounds in Jesus’ hands and side, Saint Thomas uttered in just five words what perhaps is the deepest expression of faith known in history: “My Lord and my God!” The encounter between Thomas and the resurrected Jesus is much more about our Lord’s mercy than about “doubting Thomas.”

There are two major sins in every age. They are the sins of despair and sins of presumption. We might say that the person in despair says, “I am so bad that I don’t think even God could possibly forgive me for my sins.” Contrast that to the person who sins by presumption and says, “I am so good that I cannot believe that God would not want me to be with him in heaven!” In many ways, on the surface, we might say that we live in an age of presumption in which people very quickly presume their own goodness and overlook any sin or frailty.

However, when we begin to go beneath the surface and touch the hearts of people who suffer from their sins and feelings, we understand that this age also may well be an age of deep despair. It is an age that thirsts for and yearns for the mercy of God. It is this deep desire that leads us to the throne of God’s mercy. The word mercy in Latin is misericordia or literally “the suffering of the heart.” In the Old Testament, the word hesed, which means tender mercy, captures this grace. In the familiar words of Psalm 118: “His mercy endures forever.”

Indeed, it is in confession that we experience most clearly and most significantly the great mercy of God. The devotion of Divine Mercy is intimately connected with the great Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is also no accident that the world was attracted to the example of Pope Francis, who was often seen both hearing confessions and humbly kneeling to receive the sacrament himself. And so, as we take great joy in the enduring nature of God’s mercy, saying, Jesus, we trust in You because Your mercy endures forever!

Fr. Mike

Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection for - Sunday, April 5, 2026

If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above…Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.

Jesus Christ is RISEN! He is RISEN indeed. Alleluia! Happy Easter!

Paul says that, because we are raised with Christ, we must seek what is above. We must look past, we must run over or through all earthly hurdles, overcoming all things that might prevent us from getting to Jesus Christ – the One Who is above. When we set our sights on the higher things, we inevitably find Jesus. There is a beautiful Catholic song from about 20 years ago titled, “Set your heart on the higher gifts.” The refrain reminds us that three gifts are all that remain – faith, hope and love. When we seek Jesus above, we find Him in faith, hope, and love.

Yes, we do believe that Jesus rose from the dead that first Easter morning. We accept this and are thankful for what this means for us as believers. But some of us are a bit skeptical; others are struggling to believe. Some are vacillating. Perhaps one or two of you may come to Mass on Easter because your wife or mother told you there would be no Easter dinner if you didn’t go to Church! Whatever the reason that brings you to Easter Mass, understand that in every mass, particularly on Easter Sunday, we set our sights on the higher gifts. We encounter the risen Lord and are joyful that He gives us faith, hope and love to make our lives in this world so much easier to bear.

Faith drives both our hope and our love. Without faith, realities that should inspire hope and love only cause confusion. Jesus’ empty tomb is the sign of the most complete victory, the most extreme love and the most powerful presence. Mary Magdalene, Peter and John all see the empty tomb. But their limited faith needs time to grow so that it can completely accept the great gift that is offered. In seeking the higher gifts, we must first strengthen our faith. Otherwise, what should cause hope and love will become stumbling blocks. Only a sincere and generous faith in the Risen Lord enables us to see hope and love in the circumstances of life.

Fr. Mike