My friends, today I would like to begin with a line from the gospel selection that I just read for us: “I give you a new commandment – love one another as I have loved you.”  I have read this line from Scripture many times before, as you probably have too; but this time it struck me differently than it ever did before.  I want to therefore, lift up for us the word, “new” to reflect on today. 

   If this commandment is “new,” that says to me that it is not one that the people listening to our brother Jesus would have been “practicing” already!  This reminds me of a scene from my favorite story of the “life and times” of Jesus of Nazareth, done so well, I feel, by Franco Zeffirelli. 

   In this scene Jesus is sitting with a group of Jewish priests and “higher-ups,” and Jesus asks Joseph of Arimathea, “what is the heart of the law?” Joseph, in Jesus’ estimation, “answers well!”  “The heart of the law is this, love God with all your heart, soul and mind – this is the greatest commandment,” continues Joseph.  Jesus then replies, “there is another commandment, no less great, love your neighbor as yourself!” 

   At this point in the film, another man from the Sanhedrin proclaims, “but who is my neighbor?”  Enter a woman known as, “a local prostitute,” and our brother Jesus ministers to her showing his brothers present and us today, what, “love of neighbor” looks like.  Basically, that love must extend not just to those who, “love us back” – that’s easy, right?  No, this love is something we must at least attempt to, “extend to all, especially the least among us!” 

   So, my friends, our brother Jesus is giving us a new commandment.  He continues to his faithful twelve – “You will know that you are my disciples if you truly love one another.” 

   I think for many in this world, if not all of us, it is much easier to “love God,” who in God’s completeness, none of us have ever seen, than it is to love “neighbors” who come in every visage, shape and form.  That is why, I believe, God, in God’s goodness sent Jesus to first name that, yes, “we should love God,” but that we can’t truly love God, without at least, “attempting” to love those we encounter each day.  As a reality check, you will notice that I used, “attempt to” love, to make it clear that this truly can be difficult to do at times. 

   In such situations, “attempting to love,” when we find that hard to do, I do two things.  First, I try to love that which God has seen from the beginning in each of us, all the good that we are capable of…  This doesn’t mean that we should, “love or affirm,” the personal actions of others that are clearly against love.  And, in fact, when we do see actions that are against love,  we should speak out – saying nothing because we don’t “want to get involved, or we want to keep the peace, or unity” among our chosen group, simply, as we might say in present day parlance, “doesn’t cut it,” especially if on the other hand, we want to claim, “that we love God.”  It is at times like this, others might say of us, “we are better than this.” 

   Secondly, when all else seems to fail, with my best efforts, I ask Jesus to love them through my less than perfect actions. 

   Looking then to the other readings for today, from Acts first, we see Paul and Barnabas not only initially setting up churches in Turkey and throughout the Greek world, but that they extended pastoral care by visiting again and again to check on how they were doing.  Additionally, we know that when visits weren’t possible, Paul wrote letters so that his “young” flock, would not feel, “alone.”  Paul seems to use every “tool in his box” to share the Good News – extending his work, and inviting Gentiles, those not of the Jewish faith, when the Jews proved to be, not interested. 

   I am touched by our God’s loving care for the people depicted in each of the readings today.  In the 2^nd reading from Revelation, we hear that, “God will wipe away every last tear, and that death and mourning, crying and pain will be no more.”  And our God also says, “see, I make all things new.” 

   So, from our Creator God, to Jesus, our Revealer, we hear the message, that now we are being asked to do something, “new.”  Love God, yes, but love the people of this world too!  Of our brother Paul, we could say, “he showed persistence,” traveling and writing, trying to be present to those who named themselves in the early days, “The Way,” following as faithfully as they could, the message and style of Jesus. 

   We could, in my mind, use more spiritual leaders – bishops and priests, in today’s world, willing to persist as Paul did, doing something “new” as Jesus did, in order that, as Sister Joan Chittister is fond of saying, “the full message” of love could be preached.  I am so saddened when I see those “with the power,” both in Church and State, simply saying and doing nothing, because if not from them, then who will go for us, speak for us?

   My friends, the Easter Season is winding down in a few more weeks, and we are each invited and encouraged during this time to give back a portion of all that we have been given – we know that Paul was persistent in traveling overland an estimated 700 miles, and by sea, another 500 miles to do his “portion” – we know he experienced shipwrecks and more, yet he continued…  Our journey in our Christian lives, “walking the talk,” doesn’t have to be identical to Paul’s, but we do have to do that which is ours, loving our world and its people, in the ways we ourselves would like to be loved and cared for, and again, not always easy to do!  And, in all this “loving” my friends, remember to include yourselves in the care given – it’s a balance. 

Amen? Amen! Alleluia!

My friends, first off today, I want to wish all the mothers a very happy day, and as you know from previous years, we not only remember those women who have given us physical birth, but those who have mothered us emotionally, and spiritually through our lifetimes.  For the most fortunate here, you had a mother who not only gave you physical, but emotional, and spiritual mothering too.  It is important that we raise up the fact that this isn’t true for everyone—me being one, so that it is wonderful that there can be other ways “to be mothered.” 

   Now that we are fully into the month of May, we should lift up one very special mother, sister, friend – Mary of Nazareth.  Our Church through its hierarchy has unfortunately, over time been satisfied to put her on a pedestal and remember that she once said, “Yes” to God, which is significant, but not all that she was about. 

   Anyone who has been, and is a mother, in any of the ways mentioned above, knows that you have to say, “yes” again and again over time to what life brings – any woman worthy of the name has to be strong, committed, brave – having a big heart, and able to give the world, justice, mercy and love.  In truth, no one would call such a woman, “a wall flower.”  We can only hope and pray that our new Pope Leo has such a view of women, and will move in time to recognize their gifts for ministry and leadership in our Church.

   So, friends, beyond Mothers’ Day and reflection upon Mary of Nazareth, this is also the 4^th Sunday of Easter – alleluia!  And within the season of Easter, this is also Good Shepherd Sunday. I was happy to hear Pope Leo include within his opening remarks to the world, that he sees himself, “shepherding all the People of God, because our God loves each person just as they are.” 

   Looking at today’s readings then, beginning with Acts, we see Paul and Barnabas moving beyond the Jews, to the Gentiles, folks like us, in other words.  They were getting resistance from their own people and their response, as we just heard, was to “shake the dust” off their feet as Jesus had instructed and offer their “good news” to those who wanted to hear it!  The Gentiles we heard, “responded to the Word of God with praise,” and [they] “were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.” 

   Upon reflection, it seems to me that this might be a good path moving forward in a world, our world, that seems so full of hatred, strife, selfishness, disregard for difference, and power-over-others.  The “path” I speak of, is lifting up all the good possible, concentrating on that, as I shared with a friend this week, treating others as we want to be treated ourselves – setting aside that which isn’t life-giving.” 

   The 2^nd reading from Revelation has John sharing his vision of heaven – “an immense crowd, from every nation, tribe, people, and language.”  We should really reflect today, this week, on what that tells us…God is telling us through John that all of God’s wonderful, beautiful, different people will be there!  So, to spend any time in “negative” spaces over things we personally can’t change is a waste of good energy.  But we can voice our opposition to all that is unchristian, and to those who claim to be “Christian,” but don’t show it in their actions. 

   Additionally, we are told in the 2^nd reading that God will wipe away every tear…with this, I would say, we have our “walking” orders…what our God is willing to do for us, we must be willing to do for others. 

   Today’s gospel from John is a short version of the story of the Good Shepherd, and basically, we are told that [if you have ears to hear, we will] “hear [Jesus’] voice” – [he] know[s] [us] and [we] “follow him.”  The extended story of the Good Shepherd lets us know, as our brother Jesus tells us in this beautiful parable, that he will “go after even one lost one.” 

   Again, it seemed from Pope Leo’s opening remarks that he sees “his new role” challenging him to go after every, “lost one too.” 

   With regard for those needing “shepherding,” this past week, I read several articles about “sex-trafficking” and of how “storefronts” for this disgusting trade, “are more prolific than McDonald’s!” Because it is so difficult, apparently, for law enforcement to get their arms around, the victims are more often the ones arrested for prostitution than are the perpetrators of these crimes, instead of attempting to get to the causes of why this continues to happen. 

   Not being a social scientist, I would simply make a general statement about the status of women in the world and Church.  Women are seen as “less than, not worthy, or called equally to lead, to serve – and until that changes, blame can always be shifted, true causes for evil can be overlooked. 

   My friends, the Easter Season challenges us to dig deep within ourselves, finding all our God-given tools to be our best, to face our world, in its often “messiness,” “holding fast to the grace,” and [shine the] “light” God has given us, as in the 1^st reading says today; to be the change we want to see in our world.  As we have remembered this week 17 years of ministry in this community, let us praise our good God for this opportunity.  May we with each other’s help continue “shining our light.” Amen? Amen! Alleluia!

My friends, we continue today and this week with our “alleluias” as we marvel at our loving God in Jesus, coming to be one-with-us, and to speak for justice for all people, especially the least among us.  His speaking out we know was often against the civil authorities of his time – not a good thing to do if one values their physical life.  Our brother Jesus, in order to be true to himself and the God who sent him, had to challenge the powers of his time to do the right, just thing and we know he paid the price for his actions.  This is the message that his first disciples preached after his Resurrection. 

   Jesus, in today’s gospel from John appears to the apostles to fine-tune this message. We find these now, “fishers of people” reverting to what they know best, and is probably most comforting – fishing for physical food, which in reality is needed to keep them alive. 

   Into this reality, Jesus, knowing the human condition, comes once again to guide and support them.  We see Jesus’ tender, yet courageous approach with Peter to help him know that even though he denied Jesus during his passion, he is still loved.  Additionally, he makes clear the fact that as his followers, we can’t just “talk” about who Jesus was, but must “act” too.  If we say we “love” Jesus, then we must “tend the lambs – feed the sheep.” 

   Needless to say, perhaps, but necessary probably too, is the fact that the “lambs and sheep” are those in our midst who are needy in many ways, the poor, the homeless, the abused, and so on.  We see many actions these days coming from the powers-that-be, and even curiously, from those claiming to be “Christian,” that are far from what can be said to be, “caring for the least among us.” 

   I think it is significant that Jesus seems aware of how it can be difficult to do the right thing in the face of little support, and so he comes into their midst, to this chosen fragile group to uplift and support, letting them know that “he will always be with them,” and especially when the going gets tough. 

   We can only imagine that for Peter, whom Jesus has asked much of – to lead this rag-tag group of men, the fact that when the going did get tough, Peter denied even knowing Jesus, not once, but three times, had to have been hard for Peter to get over. 

   Jesus lets Peter and us know, in a gentle way, that he realizes that we love him and that we will, with his help, do the right thing.  I think we would all agree that our basic humanity, at times, gets in the way of the good that we would do. 

   Each Wednesday I pick up our grandson, Elliot after school, and then we have a few hours with him, which includes a snack, doing some reading, his homework, and some games, before having supper—he calls it “dinner,” either at our house, with his parents, or at theirs. 

   During his homework this past week, he wanted to know my answer to the question, “Is deciding whether an action is right or wrong always easy?”  to which I answered, “No, it is not.”  In fact, I am presently working on such a dilemma, but that is another homily.

   But the above question attempts to get children thinking beyond “black and white answers to the often-complex situations we find in our world.  As you know, many questions/situations fall into “gray” areas that aren’t always adequately, or justly answered in a black and white way. 

   The first reading today from Acts finds the apostles at odds with the high priest who wants them not to preach about Jesus, speaks well to this question of right versus wrong, “Better for us to obey God than people.”  This answer from some of Jesus’ 1^st followers answers “why” nearly 300 women in this country and around the world have followed their God-given calls to priestly ordination in a Church that claims that these ordinations are “invalid.”  In our nearly 17 years serving this community as a Vatican II parish, I humbly think that we have called that bluff. 

   Perhaps a quote that speaks well to what Jesus is doing today with Peter and ultimately, with us, as we try to be true to his words and actions, comes from an unnamed philanthropist, “We don’t try to make things easy for people, but to make things possible.”  I believe additionally, this helps those of us “doers” to keep the balance we need in life in order that we not only care for others, but ourselves as well. 

   My friends, as we try to be our best selves in a world so filled with need, let us remember the balance our brother Jesus shows us today in his ministry to Peter.  And with John in the 2^nd reading from Revelations, we can pray, “Be praise and honor, glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen? Amen!  Alleluia!

So my friends, here we are at the 2^nd week of Easter, having accomplished 6 weeks of Lent – a time given us by our Church, to, in its very best sense, I believe, look at our personal lives to see how much they resemble that of our brother Jesus.  And in doing that, we then can express nothing but gratitude for a God who has loved us so much as to send Jesus, to live his one wonderful life among us, showing us so completely how we should try to live ours. 

   The Scriptures for this week show us Jesus’ first followers living in somewhat of a “honeymoon” phase in the selection from Acts today.  Wonders in the form of physical cures seem to happen miraculously simply through Peter’s shadow falling upon the afflicted.  Luke, the presumed writer of Acts lets us know that “more and more believers … in great numbers” [were added to their ranks].  This had to be a heady experience for these first followers – one that they would have to come to terms with as time went on, for we who know, “the end of the story,” realize that persecution for these faithful followers will come – but for now, the wonders that they are seeing is something to marvel at. 

   Moving ahead to today’s gospel from John, we backtrack a bit, finding Jesus’ followers in the Upper Room, basically, “shaking in their boots” or their sandals, as the case maybe.  Jesus understands their fear and within this reading speaks no less than 3x, the words, “Peace be with you” – as he wants nothing but good for them, and so gives his Spirit so that “fear” will not get in the way of them doing the good in the world that he knows each is capable of.  Even though this gospel doesn’t include the words –we sense Jesus’ meaning – especially in the 2^nd reading from Revelation – “Don’t be afraid” – [I will be with you always!]

   I would like to briefly lift up another line from Revelation in today’s 2^nd reading.  John, living on the island of Patmos, the same John of the 4^th Gospel, is told to “write down everything” [he sees].  I take this line in a broader sense to mean that we should continue to keep our eyes on Jesus.  It seems that if each of us who claims, “to be Christian,” could do this more regularly, our world and our Church could be so much better. 

   Another important line from today’s Scriptures that I want to lift up for us to consider is when Jesus tells the apostles that if they so choose to “forgive the failings of others, those failings are forgiven…” – this is a broad power these 1^st believers received – one that I think the hierarchy now within the Church, forget when they claim “to have no power” to do what they are being asked to do that they don’t want to do.  Actually, I believe that these “powerful” words revert back to Jesus’ common practice of responding more from the heart than the head.  I so long for our beloved Church, ruled by men, to respond in our world in like manner. 

   As you know, I always attempt to connect the chosen Scriptures for each Sunday with what is going on in our world, so as to say that these Words are meant for us today as well.  This week’s news here in Winona again unearthed a tragic story of 14 years ago concerning a deceased baby found in the river in a backpack surrounded by angel figurines; thus, this little one was named by some in our community, “Baby Angel.” 

    The police officer in charge at the time seemed overly concerned about this case as did some Winona area residents, spending what seemed to me an inordinate amount of attention looking for “the woman who committed this crime.” 

   Now, 14 years later, with better genetic testing that could identify relationship, and this was done in an unseemly way, the woman has been found, arrested and the news piece this week spoke of “Baby Angel now getting justice.” 

   Now, I am not saying that “something bad” didn’t happen, but only, that perhaps this case calls for some mercy too.  The news report spoke of no mercy nor understanding of what this story in its entirety might be about. 

   For several years, I have been writing to a woman in the Wisconsin prison system, whom I learned about from another minister friend—she has spent the last 38 years of her life there because at a very bad time in her young life, she tragically took the lives of her two young sons.  It was a time in her life, as an abused woman, alone, frightened, and at her wits end, that she thought this was the “best” and only option in her life. 

   Now any of us who claim to be sane, living what we may consider, moral lives, and looking at these two examples from that privileged place, might find ourselves saying, well, it seems like justice is served.

   That my friends would be the “black and white” answer to these equally tragic stories.  The woman that I write to has been denied parole time and time again over these 38 years, even though she has demonstrated her diligence to better herself.  She is no threat to others, yet this punitive system seems to have a need to punish her without end. In 2024 she was once again up for parole, and asked me to write a letter of recommendation for her, which I did – and we were most hopeful this time, but once again, came the denial. 

   And, we hear Jesus’ words in light of this, “Receive the Holy Spirit, if you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven.”  I know in my heart that my friend that I write to is no danger to society, yet she can’t seem to get any mercy. 

   Now, I don’t know Baby Angel’s mom’s story, but I think we can probably agree that it wasn’t a good one – parents don’t do such things when life is supported and cared for.  No doubt if this present case goes to trial, the true and complete story will be made known – and again, not that this woman’s action was good or right; but perhaps the good that each of us possesses as sister and brother humans can come to the fore so that a more complete justice can be arrived at.  The prospect of any more punishment being dealt out in this regard seems absolutely abhorrent to me. 

   In all fairness and truth, it must be said that both of these tragic stories that I have mentioned today reflect the patriarchal society of our world – state and church, where women often don’t have a true voice and are made to bear the blame alone of so much evil that exists when structures of power rather than love dominate our lives. 

   In conclusion friends, during this exultant season of Easter, let us not forget why Jesus, our brother came to be one-with-us –that we would have a “change of heart” –striving to be our best selves for ourselves and for others. Amen? Amen!

My friends, I decided for this Easter message, “to cut to the chase,” so to speak, and just jump into the story of Easter as it is such a good story! – because it includes all the best elements of a really good story: suspense, action, intrigue, and of course, love.

   Let’s look at what we are told—Mary Magdala, Mary the Tower, as we have learned more truly describes her name, goes to the tomb, early in the morning—she is looking for her friend who suffered a grievous death, not even two days ago, before her very eyes.  It was all so confusing that day—no one had been able to anoint his body, as was their custom, a task she intended to do now. A secret friend at the Sanhedrin, Joseph of Arimathea had given Jesus a tomb and Mary made sure she knew where it was.  Because of the Sabbath and the prohibition of any, but necessary work; she couldn’t go to the tomb until after the holyday had passed. 

   She was the first to arrive at the tomb—she couldn’t stay away.  Upon arriving, much to her wonder and shock, she finds that the stone barring the entrance has been rolled away. Her immediate reaction is that Jesus’ body has been taken, and this is what she reports to Peter and John. 

   These two disciples then run to the tomb to confirm that which they can’t yet believe. At this point all three are grieving Jesus’ death and they are looking for a body.  Upon inspecting the tomb and seeing the wrappings on the ground and the cloth covering his face rolled up in a different place, they suspect that something more than a grave robbing has occurred as was Mary’s first impression—if someone wanted to steal his body, they wouldn’t bother to unwrap it first is what exegetes tell us and no doubt the apostles and Mary were thinking this as well.  The Scriptures say, “When they saw the evidence, they believed.” 

   And we might ask, “What is it that they believed?  It is important for us to remember that these first followers had no experience of a resurrection or of what that truly meant, even though Jesus had told them that he would rise after three days. 

   Now at this point, we have to fault those who chose the gospel reading for this Easter Sunday morn as they stop short of the ten verses of the story that flesh it out and make it truly the alleluia story that it is! For those of you who follow the lectionary closely, you will notice that today’s selection ends with verse 9 of the 20^th chapter of John, “Then the disciples went back to their homes.” Really! I found myself thinking – come on guys, you’re going to end the story there?! (In fact, the selection was made by guys!)

   So, I took some “literary license,” as do most, if not all women priests, and included the next 10 verses –these verses tell of Mary Magdala’s poignant, and wonderful encounter with her risen rabbi.  As a point of information regarding the word “rabbi” you will recall that earlier I mentioned that Mary had gone to the tomb looking for her “friend.” I said this because when she finally recognizes Jesus, she calls him “Rabboni” which is a diminutive of the word Rabbi or teacher. It would be like calling him “teach” instead of “teacher.” Clearly their relationship was one of friendship!

   Moving along then, from Mary’s position beside the tomb, where Scripture tells us, “She is weeping,” she discovers two angels when she looks inside the tomb to confirm that Jesus has truly gone—been taken—something! Everyone in this story seems to be on a different page because these creatures in “dazzling robes” ask her why she is weeping.  Now given what happened to Jesus not even two days ago, weeping seems a good reaction to me.  But these “dazzling” creatures had moved to the next page indeed,

and Mary will be there soon as she then notices someone behind her who too is concerned about her weeping, but he goes further—“for whom are you looking?”  Now Mary assumes that he is the gardener and asks him if he knows where Jesus’ body has been taken. So, our imaginations are piqued—why does she not recognize her rabbi, her friend, the one for whom she weeps?

     John Aurelio, in his book, Returnings tells us that what happened to Jesus was not a resuscitation where one would appear the same once oxygen was flowing again—Jesus was resurrected, something none of us understands any more than Jesus’ first followers did, but we can clearly surmise that something wonderful and life-changing had occurred because Mary can no longer recognize, at least physically, her friend.

   Scripture does tell us though that at one point she does recognize him, and it is when Jesus says her name, “Mary.”  No matter what resurrection has done to Jesus physically, she would always know the way he said her name. It is a bit like when we watch an old movie and recognize a character not by their looks, but by their voice. We can also think of our own loved ones and the special ways they name us, the special tone of voice, the special look reserved only for us, and we know that what is at the heart of it is love.

   Love is something that binds people over time and place and will always be, true.  Stories abound of people who have lost a loved one who later were most sure that they felt their presence in a certain situation, a physical manifestation in another human or animal form not of their loved one, or even in a manifestation of nature – rainbow, a sunset.

   We all recall the story of the disciples on the way to Emmaus who found they were walking with “a stranger” who was really Jesus, only they didn’t recognize him. When they arrived at their home, they invited the stranger in for the evening meal, still not recognizing him, but also not wanting to let him go, because “their hearts burned within them” at his words.  They finally knew him in an action they had experienced with him so many times before—”the breaking of the bread.”

   So, friends, Easter calls us each year to remember the wonderful story of how much our God loves us and wants to share our wonderful lives with us, helping us to be all that we can be, loving us no matter what we do with our lives. And love is really the key—it’s what makes this story so good! When we know we are loved; we can do anything, accomplish any feat.  That’s all God really wanted us to know in sending Jesus—that each one of us is loved.

   And because that is such an awesome task, our brother and friend, Jesus, asked us to continue what he could only begin.  That is what being his follower calls us to—to see him in our world in all the ways that he showed himself while with us.  Because he advocated for the least among us; we must see him in the poor, the downtrodden, the immigrants, the forgotten, the lonely young and the lonely old, the women around our world not afforded their full rights as human beings simply because of having been born female. We must see our brother Jesus in anyone or group of individuals not treated justly in our world due to race, creed or sexual expression and what we must see is the link that connects us all as Easter people—the connection between us and all others is the love given so freely by Jesus in his life and death, so that we could, “all be one” finally, finally! And that is why the actions coming out of Washington these days, in the name of us all, are so horrible, beyond party or district, as I told members of both parties in my postcard writing this past week.

   Jesus’ resurrection, what we celebrate today and during the next 50 days in a special way is the realization that we are called to be in our world as he was in his, and one day, to resurrected life where then, all will be fully accepted and loved as God’s own. This past week, a brother-in-law in our family, Patrick Gannon, began his resurrected life, having left this earthly life on April 15^th.  In that light, may the journey of these Easter days remind us that resurrected life awaits us all, as we strive to be our best, walking in Jesus’ footsteps.  Amen? Amen! Alleluia!