News - April 2022 RSS Feed

At the time when St. John wrote his gospel, the first persecutions had already broken out. The Roman Emperors had already begun their policy of executing Christians for treason, because Christians refused to worship the Roman gods. The Gospel gives us a powerful insight of the early Christian communities after the “hour” of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection. Their lack of faith, dashed hopes and unfulfilled expectations bring them back to do what they knew best – they went back to fishing. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.”

“Peace be with you!”        These first words of Jesus after the Resurrection fill us with the tremendous joy of Easter. At Easter, peace comes to us as a gift from God and invites us into a right relationship with Him, with ourselves, with others, and the entire world. This peace implies well-being, harmony between God and ourselves and the world surrounding us. With this harmony comes security, happiness, and a profound experience of peace – the first gift of the Risen Lord.

 Today we celebrate Easter! The glorious Feast of the Resurrection of Jesus reflects the highest truth of our faith - the Immortal One had taken on mortality when He became man; He reclaimed His immortality and ours when He crashed the gates of sin and death and rose gloriously from the tomb that first Easter Sunday.

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion – the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. Branches of palm, olive or sometimes even budding willow are ancient symbols of victory and hope as well as new life. The procession celebrating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem overflowed with praise and excitement as the onlookers waved these triumphant branches and proclaimed their blessings. Yet, in a few days they will cry out, “Away with Him!”, “Crucify Him!”

“Has no one condemned you?... Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” Reminding us of God’s readiness to forgive sin and to restore people to His friendship, today’s readings challenge us to show the same mercy to the sinners around us and to live as forgiven people, actively seeking reconciliation. This Sunday invites us to look into our own hearts and see that we need forgiveness, so we can become people after the example of Jesus Himself who showed inexhaustible mercy and compassion to sinners by dying for our sins. Today we learn from Jesus that God goes beyond the law, for He forgives and keeps forgiving. This is the attitude we learn from God.