My friends, today marks the last Sunday of Easter as next week, we will be remembering the Ascension of our brother Jesus into his new life of heaven.  Now, none of us knows what that will be like who are on this side of the grave, except for Isaiah’s words quoted by Paul in the 1^st letter to the Corinthians, “that we can’t imagine what God has prepared for us…”  So, with that knowledge, we walk in faith and hope for what comes next! 

   In the meantime, our lives continue as we attempt to walk in Jesus’ footsteps, conscious of being faithful and consistent in that walk. With that in mind, the 1^st reading today from Acts seems to be a treatise on “growing with, and into change.  The apostles in Jerusalem and others seem to be “making trouble” and not “good trouble,” with Paul’s Gentile converts in basically telling them that to be a good follower of Jesus, they must first take on all the rules and regulations of the Jewish faith and we know they are considerable – over 600!  Thus, Paul and Barnabas must go to Jerusalem to sort this all out. 

   The upshot of this visit with the apostles is a letter that Paul and Barnabas must take to their Gentile converts with just a few, rather than, a lot of Jewish practice requirements.  One wonders why the apostles didn’t just lift up Jesus’ most wonderful message that they, “love others as he has loved them!” – and more succinctly, as God has loved them.

   This event, of getting “the message straight” is so indicative of how hard change is for us humans.  Jesus came among us stating very clearly that, “he was doing something new,” and if we can get “our hearts” around that full message – that if we say we, “love God,” then we must strive to find God in our neighbors too!  All else beyond this is superfluous!

   So, as a Gentile convert, I would have found the letter that Paul and Barnabas carried back, a bit “wanting.”  I am thinking Paul might have too and said as much to his new converts. 

   Having just completed the holy season of Lent with Jesus showing us again and again how important it is when confronted with situations where we must choose between “law and love,” we see that the best thing was and is, always to choose, love.  Jesus often spoke of his frustration with those who followed the “letter of the law” to the detriment of the “heart of the law.” 

   Additionally, looking at Jesus’ lived life and his words, we consistently see him taking the story – the parable, to a deeper level.  His parables weren’t just “nice” stories about someone we should look up to, but a trait we should incorporate into our personal lives, guidelines for living out our lives in any time, any place. 

   The 2^nd reading today from Revelation would seem to agree with the notion of taking the surface story deeper.  John tells his listeners that he doesn’t see “a temple in the city,” because “God…and the Lamb themselves are the temple [!]” In other words, we will find God, here, now, in all people, if we have “eyes to see [!]” To me, this would underscore Jesus’ “new commandment” that we “love our neighbors as ourselves,” a commandment, granted, not always easy to do, but there, just the same!

   I just finished a wonderful book of a couple of years back, Formidable: American Women and the Fight for Equality 1920 – 2020, by Elisabeth Griffith.  I would highly recommend this work if you are interested in taking a deep dive into all the myriad ways that our patriarchal society has put women into small boxes over this past century, denying them the chances for equal positions where work, pay, status and power are concerned, merely because of how they happened to have been born!  And I would encourage the reading of this book for men as well as women as it underscores how certain cultural mores become imbedded within societies so that we no longer even see how they limit people’s choices, especially if we happen to be the ones in power over others.  Didn’t we always do it this way? (:

   I personally thought I had heard most of the stories of discrimination regarding women, race and so on, but discovered many more of women, specifically, who had done great things that very few ever heard of because, as we know, those with the power, write the stories – the history books.  And women with dark skin have had an even tougher time, “living the dream,” as scientists, mathematicians and so on, in our country. 

   So, my friends, I believe our Scriptures today show us clearly how hard it is at times to make effective change, not only in State, but for our purposes here, in Church too.  The human tendency is so often that of the status quo – we are afraid to stand alone and speak truth to power – someone may not like us if we challenge the “easier path,” which is to follow the crowd, “live and let live” as someone recently said to me. 

   And it seems, if we learn that something we are doing, a particular way we are acting or speaking is hurtful to others – a racial slur, an article of clothing, such as a roman clerical collar, why would we not want to stop that action – stand with the people who can’t stand alone? 

   To me, there is no excuse for not stopping an action that we have been clearly told is hurtful to others – it is all about values in my mind – what we believe in, especially as organizations, what we want to present to the world in the name of Jesus, the Christ. 

   Jesus calms our fears today when he says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid…” [my Spirit will be with you, always.]   Amen? Amen! Alleluia!

   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!