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April 6, 2025 Fifth Sunday of Lent
April 6, 2025 Fifth Sunday of Lent
5th SUNDAY OF LENT; Cycle – C; April 6th 2025
Isaiah 43: 16-21; Philippines 3: 8-14; John 8: 1-11
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
May the grace and mercy of our loving God be with you all! As we enter this fifth Sunday of Lent, the Church invites us to reflect on the limitless mercy of God—a mercy that does not condemn but restores, a mercy that lifts us from our failures and gives us a new beginning.
In today’s Gospel (John 8:1-11), we hear the powerful story of the woman caught in adultery, a story that reveals to us the heart of God. Let us reflect on three important messages:
1. God’s Mercy Does Not Condemn Us—It Calls Us to Conversion
The Gospel begins with a dramatic scene: a woman is caught in adultery and dragged before Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees. They remind Him that, according to the Law of Moses, she should be stoned to death. But instead of answering immediately, Jesus bends down and writes on the ground. When they persist, He finally speaks: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” One by one, the accusers leave, until only Jesus and the woman remain. He then asks: “Has no one condemned you?” She replies: “No one, sir.” And Jesus says: “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.”
This is the heart of today’s message: Jesus does not excuse sin, but He does not condemn the sinner. Instead, He invites her to change, to begin anew. In the first reading (Isaiah 43:16-21), God reminds us that He is doing something new. “Remember not the events of the past… See, I am doing something new!” Just as Jesus gives the woman a fresh start, God wants to do something new in our lives too.
2. Jesus Challenges Us to Examine Our Own Hearts Before Judging Others
The scribes and Pharisees were ready to stone the woman, but Jesus’ response forced them to look inward: “Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone.” This is a lesson for all of us. It is easy to point out the faults of others while ignoring our own. But Jesus is asking us: Do we judge others harshly while excusing our own sins? Do we gossip, criticize, or look down on others? Do we forget that we, too, are in need of God’s mercy? Pope Francis reminds us: “Who am I to judge?” This does not mean we ignore sin. But before condemning others, we must first look at our own hearts.
3. Every Sinner Has a Future When They Encounter Christ
The woman in the Gospel was guilty. She had no defense. Yet Jesus did not see her as a sinner to be condemned—He saw her as a soul to be redeemed. Jesus did not say: “Go back to your old life.”, “Try harder next time.”, “You’re hopeless.” Instead, He said: “Go, and sin no more.” This is the hope of the Gospel: No matter what we have done, we are never beyond God’s mercy.
There was once a man who had lived a sinful life. He was involved in crime, addiction, and destruction. One day, he walked into a church, expecting judgment. But instead, he found a priest who welcomed him, listened to him, and encouraged him to change. That encounter led him to confession. It led him to Christ. And from that day on, his life was never the same.
Just like the woman in the Gospel, one encounter with Jesus can change everything. In the second reading (Philippians 3:8-14), St. Paul says: “I forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead… toward the prize of God’s call in Christ Jesus.” Paul, who once persecuted Christians, became one of the greatest apostles. Why? Because when Jesus called him, he left his past behind and embraced a new future. Today, Jesus is offering that same new future to each of us.
Lent is a Time to Rise, Not to Remain in Sin
Brothers and sisters, today’s Gospel reminds us that we are not defined by our sins—we are defined by God’s mercy. The woman in the Gospel stood in shame, expecting judgment, but she walked away forgiven and free. This is what Jesus does for us when we turn to Him. He does not ignore sin, but He does not let it have the final word. Instead, He calls us to something greater: new life in Him.
As we approach Holy Week, let us ask ourselves: Are we holding onto guilt that Jesus wants to set us free from? Are we quick to condemn others while ignoring our own faults? Are we ready to receive God’s mercy and start anew? Jesus looks at each of us today and says, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” (John 8:11)
May we respond with hearts open to His grace, choosing not to remain in sin, but to walk forward in the light of His love.
Amen.
April 13, 2025 Palm Sunday
April 13, 2025 Palm Sunday
PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST; April 13th, 2025
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
May the peace of Jesus Christ reign in your hearts, especially as we now enter into Holy Week, the most sacred time of the year.
Today is a day of great contrast. We began with celebration—palms raised high, shouts of “Hosanna!” filling the church. But now, in the Gospel, we find ourselves standing at the foot of the Cross.
On Palm Sunday, we walk with Jesus—from the joy of His entrance into Jerusalem, to the agony of His passion. It’s a dramatic shift. But it mirrors something very real in our own lives: We, too, can praise God one moment and fall away the next. We, too, can be caught between faith and fear, love and rejection. So today, let us reflect deeply. Who am I in this story? Where do I stand as Jesus goes to the Cross?
Let me begin with a story. There was once a little boy who loved his father dearly. Every day when his dad came home from work, the boy would run to greet him, hug him tightly, and shout, “Daddy, I missed you!” But one day, the father was falsely accused of a crime. He was arrested at home in front of the neighborhood. Though he was innocent, people began whispering, judging. The little boy, once proud of his father, now felt confused and ashamed. When others asked him, “Isn’t that your dad?” he quietly said, “No, that’s not my father.”
Months passed. The father was cleared and released. He came back home, expecting distance—but the boy ran into his arms, crying: “Daddy, I’m sorry. I was scared. I said you weren’t mine.” The father knelt, held him close, and whispered, “I knew you were scared. But I never stopped loving you—not even for a second.”
This is Our Story Too. That child could be any one of us. How often do we proudly follow Jesus when things are easy—but grow silent or walk away when the cost gets high? Today, we begin Holy Week with Palm Sunday, and the Gospel gives us a striking contrast: We start with joy and celebration— “Hosanna to the King!” But we end in sorrow and betrayal— “Crucify Him!” We wave palms in one breath… and deny Him in the next. So let us reflect today on three Gospel truths that speak to our hearts:
1. Faith That is Rooted, Not Shallow
The people of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus with cheers and branches. But just a few days later, many of those same voices turned against Him. Why? Because Jesus didn’t give them the kind of king they expected. They wanted a Messiah who would overthrow Rome, not one who would ride humbly on a donkey and die on a cross. And we’re not so different. We praise God when life is good, but when prayers go unanswered or suffering comes, we might wonder, “Where is God?” But true faith isn’t based on feelings. It’s rooted in trust—especially in dark times. Isaiah said it in today’s first reading: “The Lord God is my help; I shall not be disgraced.” (Isaiah 50:7) Jesus did not run from the cross. He walked toward it, trusting the Father completely. Will we do the same?
2. Mercy Over Revenge, Silence Over Rage
As we read the Passion, Jesus is betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, mocked by soldiers, and sentenced by Pilate. And how does He respond? He does not lash out. He does not defend Himself. He suffers with quiet dignity and boundless mercy. Even from the Cross, He prays, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34) What love is this? Saint Paul describes it so beautifully in the second reading: “Though He was in the form of God, He did not cling to His equality with God but emptied Himself… even unto death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8) This is the love that transforms the world—not power or pride, but humility and forgiveness. Are we willing to forgive like that? Even those who’ve hurt us?
3. The Cross is Not the End—It’s the Beginning
To the world, the Cross looked like failure. But to heaven, the Cross was victory. Jesus turned an instrument of shame into a throne of glory. And the thief crucified beside Him—he recognized that. He cried out, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43) That thief had nothing to offer but a broken heart—and Jesus welcomed him. There is no sin, no past, no wound so great that Jesus cannot redeem it. The Cross tells us: “You are not beyond mercy.” Even when we’ve failed—when we’ve said, “I don’t know the Man”—Jesus still looks at us with love and says, “I never stopped loving you.” Just like that father in the story.
Will You Walk With Jesus This Week?
So now we stand at the threshold of Holy Week. And the question is no longer just, “What happened to Jesus?” It’s this: “Where do I stand in the Passion story?” Am I the crowd, cheering one day and silent the next? Am I Peter, who denies—but weeps and returns? Am I Simon, helping carry the Cross? Am I the thief, trusting in mercy at the last moment?
Jesus doesn’t need perfect disciples. He needs faithful hearts—hearts willing to walk with Him, even when the road leads to Calvary. The Passion is not just something we remember. It is something we live. As we wave our palms and walk toward Calvary, let us follow Jesus not just in words, but with our hearts: Steadfast in praise. Humble in suffering. And confident that the Cross leads to resurrection. Let us walk this Holy Week with eyes fixed on the Cross—not in fear, but in faith, hope, and love.
April 18, 2025 Holy Thursday
April 18, 2025 Holy Thursday
HOLY THURSDAY; Cycle – C; 2025
Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26; John 13:1-15
Tonight, my friends, we step into something sacred.
We enter an upper room—quiet, dimly lit, the air filled with the smell of bread and wine, and something else… Something harder to name. kind of holy tension. Love is in the room—but so is betrayal. Hope sits at the table—but so does fear. It is the night before He died, and Jesus, knowing everything that is coming—the cross, the abandonment, the agony—does something completely unexpected. He doesn’t run. He doesn’t hide. He bends down.
A Love That Bends Low
John tells us that Jesus got up from the table, took off His outer garment, wrapped a towel around His waist, and began to wash the feet of His disciples. Let that sink in. The Son of God—who spoke stars into existence—kneels before dusty, calloused feet and washes them.
This is love, my friends. Not lofty. Not poetic. Not distant. It is love that bends low. It is love that kneels. He washed the feet of Peter, who would deny Him. He washed the feet of Judas, who would betray Him.
He didn’t skip the difficult ones. He didn’t say, “Only the faithful get my love.” No, He washed all of them. Even the ones who would fail Him. What kind of love is this?
The Table and the Towel
Tonight we celebrate two extraordinary gifts: the Eucharist and the priesthood. Jesus, knowing that He would no longer walk with them as He had before, gives them Himself. “This is my body… this is my blood.” He doesn’t give them just words or instructions—He gives them everything. But notice something: the institution of the Eucharist is inseparable from the washing of the feet. At this table, Jesus feeds us.
With the towel, Jesus teaches us how to live. The altar and the basin go hand in hand. To receive the Eucharist, and yet not serve one another, is to miss the heart of this night. Because to be nourished by Jesus means we must also be transformed by Him. We must let His love flow through us—into our homes, into our communities, into the lives of those who are hard to love.
An Invitation to Imitate
Jesus said, “Do you understand what I have done for you? I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet. You must do the same for one another.” This isn’t just a gesture. It’s a commandment of love. To serve even when it’s inconvenient. To forgive even when it hurts. To love even when it isn’t returned. Holy Thursday asks us: Whose feet are you willing to wash? Is it the family member who’s been distant? Is it the neighbor who talks too much or the co-worker who gets under your skin? Is it someone who has wounded you deeply? Christ kneels before us, and says, “Go and do likewise.”
Closing – Stay With Me
And tonight, we end not with a conclusion, but with a beginning. Jesus will soon walk out into the night. He will pray in agony. He will be arrested. He will be alone. But before He goes, He gives us everything we need: His Body. His Blood. His example. His love. As we leave this church tonight and follow Him into Gethsemane, may our hearts whisper what He once asked of His disciples: “Stay with me. Watch with me. Love with me.” And may we not only receive Him at this table—but become more like Him at every one.
April 19, 2025 Good Friday
April 19, 2025 Good Friday
GOOD FRIDAY; April 18th, 2025 - C
Passion Narrative of John
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, the Church falls silent. No bells. No alleluia. No consecration. No Mass. Only a Cross—naked, blood-stained, and lifted high before our eyes. This is Good Friday—the day when our Lord Jesus Christ gave His life for us. And yet, we dare to call this Friday “good.” Why? Because in this sorrowful Passion, in this bitter suffering, something wondrous happens: God’s love reaches its fullest expression. Let us not rush past the Cross today. Let us stand at Calvary. Let us look upon the Crucified One and ask: What does this Cross mean for me? What does the Passion of Christ reveal about God, and about us?
1. Jesus, the Innocent Lamb, Carries the Weight of Sin
The Gospel of John paints the Passion of Christ in majestic, haunting beauty. Jesus is betrayed in a garden—just as humanity fell in a garden long ago. But unlike Adam who hid from God, Jesus steps forward and says, “Whom are you looking for?” (John 18:4) They say, “Jesus of Nazareth.” And Jesus responds with divine authority, “I AM.” At these words, they fall to the ground. This moment reveals that Jesus is not a passive victim. He is the Lamb who chooses the Cross. He carries it, not because He is forced, but because He loves us. He is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in today’s first reading (Isaiah 52:13—53:12): “He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon Him was the chastisement that makes us whole.” This is what sin costs. This is how far love will go to save us.
2. Jesus, the Silent King, Rules from the Cross
In His trial before Pilate, Jesus says, “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36) The world looks for kings with power, palaces, and soldiers. But Jesus wears a crown of thorns. He is robed in mockery, lifted not on a throne, but on a Cross. And yet, from this place of suffering, He shows His royal power— not by force, but by forgiveness. Not by domination, but by self-offering. He speaks to Pilate with calm authority. He gives His mother to the beloved disciple, creating a new family—the Church. And with His final breath, He cries, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) He is not defeated. He completes the work of salvation. As St. John Chrysostom said: “The Cross is the throne of the King. He reigns from it not with weapons, but with love.”
3. Jesus, the Pierced One, Opens the Heart of God
After Jesus dies, a soldier pierces His side, and from it flows blood and water. Dear friends, this is not just a detail. This is the birth of the Church. The saints see in this moment the sacraments flowing from Christ’s side—baptism and Eucharist. St. Augustine wrote: “The Church was born from the side of Christ as Eve was taken from the side of Adam.” Here, God’s heart is literally opened to us. The Cross is not a wall of shame. It is a door of mercy. It is not an end. It is a new beginning. We must ask: Have we allowed His love to pierce our own hearts? Do we stand at a distance like the crowd, or do we draw near like Mary and John? Will we take up our own cross and follow Him?
Behold the Cross, Believe in Love
Brothers and sisters, the Cross we behold today is not just wood. It is the weight of sin, the cost of love, the gate to heaven. And the One upon it—Jesus—is not merely a man. He is God made flesh, who chose to suffer so we might live. So today, fall to your knees before this holy Cross. Bring your wounds, your sins, your fears. And hear His final words spoken not in despair, but in victory: “It is finished.” Love has done its work. Death is not the final word. And by this Cross, you are redeemed.
Let us venerate the Cross, not as a relic of the past, but as the living symbol of our hope. Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the salvation of the world. Come, let us worship.
Amen.
April 20, 2025 Easter Sunday
April 20, 2025 Easter Sunday
EASTER VIGIL & EASTER SUNDAY; April 20th 2025
Dear Sisters & Brothers,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, everything changes. The stone has been rolled away. The tomb is empty. Death has lost. Love has won. Christ is risen! Alleluia! This is not just a story from long ago. This is the very center of our faith. As St. Paul boldly says, "If Christ has not been raised, our faith is in vain." (1 Cor 15:17) But today, we proclaim with every ounce of our being: He is risen! And because He lives, we have hope, we have new life, and we are never the same again. Let’s walk together into that empty tomb and ask: What does this Easter morning mean for us—right now, in our lives today?
1. The Stone Is Rolled Away – And So Is Our Fear
John’s Gospel begins this morning: “Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark…” (John 20:1) She comes with grief. With loss. With fear. Like many of us. But she finds the stone rolled away. And that stone isn’t just the one at Jesus’ tomb—it’s the stone that lies over the hearts of all who are burdened by sin, by fear, by despair. Easter begins with a simple truth: God has rolled away the stone! The resurrection is God saying to us: “You don’t have to live in fear anymore. The grave doesn’t get the last word. Your sorrow is not forever.” As Peter proclaims in the first reading from Acts, “God raised Him on the third day… and He is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.” (Acts 10:40,42) So whatever stone is in front of your heart today—Jesus has come to move it.
2. The Empty Tomb – A Call to Believe
When Peter and the beloved disciple run to the tomb, they see the burial cloths, the rolled-up head covering… and then the Gospel tells us: “He saw and believed.” (John 20:8) But notice—Jesus hasn’t even appeared to them yet. There’s no vision, no angels. Just an empty tomb. And yet, in that emptiness, they begin to believe. Easter faith is not based on seeing everything clearly. It is a faith that steps into mystery, into what we cannot explain, because we trust the One who has gone before us. Some of us come to Easter with joy. Others with questions. Some with pain or doubt. But the empty tomb tells us: faith begins even in the dark, even when we don’t have all the answers—because Jesus is already at work. That’s why St. Paul, in the second reading, reminds us:
“Seek what is above, where Christ is seated… For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Col 3:1-3) Faith is not about having everything figured out. It’s about placing our life in His hands—trusting that because He lives, our story is not over.
3. Easter Is Not the End—It’s the Beginning
It might seem like the resurrection is the end of the story—the grand finale. But it’s the beginning of something new. Look again at Mary Magdalene. After seeing the empty tomb, she runs to tell the disciples. Peter and John run. Everyone starts moving. Because the resurrection is a mission. It's a call to go out, to live as people of the light, to proclaim what we’ve seen and believe. As Peter says in Acts: “He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that He is the one ordained by God.” (Acts 10:42)
The resurrection means that sin doesn’t define us anymore. Shame doesn’t get the last word. We don’t have to live small lives or stay stuck in the past. Easter people are witnesses. We live with joy, we serve with love, and we walk in the light of a Risen Lord.
Let the Risen Christ Rise in You
So brothers and sisters, today we don’t just celebrate that Christ is risen—we celebrate why that matters. Because He is risen: Your past can be healed. Your heart can be made whole. Your life can be made new. Let Easter rise in your home. In your marriage. In your children, in your family, in your community, in your offices, In your choices. In your struggles. Let the Risen Christ rise in you. And when people look at you this week, let them see someone who has met the living Jesus. Because the tomb is empty. And the world is changed. He is Risen! Truly, He is Risen! Alleluia!
April 27, 2025 Divine Mercy Sunday
April 27, 2025 Divine Mercy Sunday
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER/DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY; 2025
Dear beloved children, parents, families, and all gathered here,
Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!
Today is a day of great joy. First, because Jesus is risen from the dead. Second, because today many of you beautiful children will receive Jesus Himself in Holy Communion for the very first time!
What a perfect day to celebrate Jesus’ Divine Mercy—because His mercy is not something far away. It is something we can receive today, right here in the Eucharist.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus comes to His disciples who are scared and hiding, and He says: “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19) Today, He says the same to you. Let's take a few minutes to see what the Risen Jesus teaches us about His mercy—and how your First Communion brings you even closer to Him.
1. Mercy Meets Us Where We Are
The apostles were afraid. They had locked the doors. They were sad and confused. But what does Jesus do? “Jesus came and stood in their midst…” (John 20:19) He doesn’t scold them or ask, “Why didn’t you believe?” Instead, He brings them peace. And that's what He does for us. Today, you might feel a little nervous about your First Communion. Or maybe you wonder: "Am I ready? Will Jesus love me?" And the answer is: YES! He comes into our hearts exactly where we are—whether we're joyful, scared, excited, or nervous—and He says: “Peace be with you.” Saint Faustina, the "Apostle of Divine Mercy," said that the greater the sinner, the more right we have to His mercy. And when you receive Him in Holy Communion today, you are receiving that mercy in Person—Jesus Himself, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. "So, we see that Jesus comes to us where we are—bringing peace, not punishment. But His mercy isn’t just words of comfort. It’s something we can touch and see in His wounds—proof of how much He loves us. Let’s look deeper at that..."
2. The Wounds of Christ Are the Doors of Mercy
When Jesus appeared, He showed the disciples His hands and His side—the places where He was hurt on the Cross. Why? Because He wanted them—and us—to know: "I loved you so much, I was willing to suffer for you." Those wounds are not scary. They are beautiful! They are like an open door to His Heart—a heart that never stops loving us. When you come up today to receive your First Holy Communion, it is like stepping into that open door of Jesus' love. You are saying: "Jesus, I believe in You. Jesus, I trust in You."
Think of it this way: Every time you come to Holy Communion, it’s like Jesus showing you His heart again, saying: "I love you. Welcome into My Heart." Even Saint Thomas, who doubted at first, was invited to touch those wounds—and he believed! "The wounds of Jesus invite us into His love. But His mercy is not just for us to keep quietly. He also gives us a special mission—a way to share His mercy with the world. Let's see what that mission is..."
3. We Are Sent to Be Witnesses of Mercy
After Jesus says, “Peace be with you,” He breathes on the disciples and says: "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." (John 20:21) Children, when you receive Holy Communion today, Jesus is not only coming into your hearts—He is sending you. He is sending you: To bring peace to your homes, your classrooms, and your playgrounds. To forgive others, just like He forgives you. To be kind, even when it’s hard. To show the world what real love looks like. Receiving Jesus is a gift. But being His hands and feet in the world—that’s the mission He gives you starting today. The early Church, like we heard in the Acts of the Apostles, grew because people lived mercy every day. You are part of that mission now!
Real-Life Application: A Saint Who Listened
A little girl named Helena Kowalska grew up in Poland. She loved Jesus very much and always wanted to do something great for Him. She became Sister Faustina, and through her, Jesus reminded the world about His Divine Mercy. Jesus showed her His heart, with rays of white and red flowing from it—symbolizing the waters of Baptism and the blood of the Eucharist. And today, the same Jesus who spoke to Sister Faustina is speaking to you: "Come to Me. Trust Me. Let Me live in you."
Jesus, I Trust in You
Dear First Communicants, Today is not just a party. It’s not just a milestone. It is the beginning of a lifelong friendship with Jesus Christ. When you receive Him today, whisper quietly in your heart: "Jesus, I trust in You." Let Him fill you with His mercy. Let Him heal your hurts. Let Him give you His peace. And then—go out into the world with a smile, with kindness, with a heart full of Jesus—because you are now His living presence wherever you go. Jesus is alive. Mercy is alive. And through you, His mercy will touch the world. Congratulations, dear children! Congratulations, dear families! Jesus is risen! His mercy endures forever!
Amen. Alleluia!
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