Pentecost 2026 - New beginnings

We have come to the end of the Easter season. But this great Feast of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost, is not really about an ending. It is about a new beginning.

Pentecost is the beginning of the Church’s public mission. It is the beginning of the Apostles’ courageous preaching and the Gospel going out to the nations. It is the beginning of new life made possible by the Holy Spirit.

In our first reading, the Apostles are gathered in the Upper Room. They have already seen the risen Lord. They know that Jesus has conquered sin and death. But they seem stuck, like the Lord Jesus’ mission is over.

And then the promised Holy Spirit comes: a strong driving wind fills the house, tongues as of fire come to rest upon them, and the Apostles are changed. Men who had been hidden behind locked doors begin to proclaim the mighty works of God. Filled with the Spirit, they burst out of the Upper Room and begin preaching to the nations. Those once divided by language and sin begin to hear the Gospel in their own tongues.

That is Pentecost: it is the end of something. It’s the end of inactivity due to fear or confusion and the beginning of the Church living out the mission.

In the Gospel, we hear a particularly important dimension of the Church’s mission. The Lord appears to the apostles, breathes on them, and declares, “whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."

This certainly makes us think of the Sacraments of Baptism and Confession Because one of the first fruits of Pentecost is not simply that the Apostles go out and speak. It is that they go out with the power of Christ to bring forgiveness, reconciliation, and new life. The mission of the Church is not merely to give good advice. It is not merely to inspire people to try harder. The mission of the Church is to communicate the grace of Christ.

And that grace always means a new beginning.

In Baptism, there is the new beginning of becoming a child of God. In Confession, there is the new beginning of forgiveness after sin. In Confirmation, there is the new beginning of being strengthened for Christian witness. In Holy Communion, there is the new beginning of being nourished more deeply by the Body and Blood of Christ. In the Anointing of the Sick, there is the new beginning of grace and strength in suffering. In Marriage and Holy Orders, there is the new beginning of a vocation lived with special grace from God.

So each of the Sacraments have a special connection with Pentecost; for it is through the Holy Spirit that our Sacraments are efficacious.

In the Sacrament of Confession, when the priest raises his hand and prays the prayer of absolution, he says:

“God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and poured out the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins.”

Through the Holy Spirit our sins are forgiven. That’s why when we go to Confession, we are not engaging in a therapy session, just getting something off our chest, or simply receiving encouragement to do better next time. God’s mercy is truly bestowed upon through the Holy Spirit.

And again, just like Pentecost, a valid Confession is the end of something and the beginning of something new. It is the end of separation from God and the beginning of restored communion. It is the end of being trapped by past sin and the beginning of freedom in grace. It’s the end of an unhealed festering wound, and the beginning of real spiritual recovery. It is the end of carrying the shame of our guilt, because we hear from the priest, that in the name of God we are forgiven: God loves you and is so pleased to offer you a new beginning--a new beginnings of peace with God.

This is why we should never be afraid of Confession. Now, the devil wants us to be afraid of Confession. He wants us to stay locked in the upper room of our own guilt, our own embarrassment and discouragement. He wants us to think that our sins define us, that our failures are final, that nothing can really change.

But Pentecost tells us something different. The Holy Spirit opens locked doors and carries the peace of Christ into ours souls, and sets us back on the right path.

Each of the Sacraments, in some way is a new beginning. And yet, the new beginnings God wants for us are not limited only to sacramental moments. The Christian is called to be open to the newness of the Holy Spirit every day. New beginnings every day: new beginnings of a deeper prayer life. A new willingness to serve. A new courage in witnessing to the faith. A new effort to leave behind fear or complacency. A new growth in patience, humility, chastity, generosity, or charity. A new attempt to rebuild a bridge where there has been division. A new willingness to forgive someone, or to ask forgiveness ourselves.

So the question for us today is simple: are we open to the Holy Spirit beginning something new in us?

Are we open to being moved out of fear and into courage? Out of complacency and into mission? Out of discouragement and into hope? Out of sin and into grace? Out of isolation and into communion with God?

So today, at the end of Easter, we do not simply close a season. We ask for a new beginning for ourselves, our families, our parish.

Come, Holy Spirit. Fill the hearts of your faithful. Kindle in us the fire of your love. Renew the grace of our Baptism. Lead us to the forgiveness of sins. Strengthen us for the mission of the Church. Unite us more deeply to Christ. Help us to begin again in holiness, in courage, in charity, and in faith. And lead us, through Christ, into the fullness of life with God forever for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

7th Week of Easter 2026 - Wednesday (School Mass) - There will be wolves

 

We are arriving rapidly at the end of the school year, and it will be time for some of us to say farewell, for a time.

In our scripture readings today, both St. Paul and Jesus are saying goodbye.

In the first reading, St. Paul was saying goodbye to the Christians of Ephesus. He had come to them as a preacher of the word and stayed with them for three years, seeking to build them up to be good, strong, effective, and faithful Christians.

Before leaving them, he gave the Christians of Ephesus a warning. He says, after I leave, “savage wolves will come upon you” so be prepared. Now, he’s not actually talking about actual, physical wolves. He’s talking about a spiritual threat—those who would come and attack the flock of Christ. He’s talking about the bad influences of the world, and false teachers who would cause division in the Church, people who preach their own opinions instead of the truth of Christ handed on by the Apostles. So before his inevitable departure, Paul said, be on your guard, they’re coming.

Dear ones, as you prepare for summer vacation, of course, I hope you have a lot of fun and relaxation this summer. You’ve worked hard this school year, most of you. But, as st. paul said to the Christians of ephesus, I say to you, be on your guard. There are wolves out there.

Wolves that want to drag you away from Jesus in your thoughts, in your words, in your actions. Wolves that don’t want you to pray, wolves that don’t want you to go to church, wolves that want to cause you to forget all the good things you learned this year. Wolves that will propose corrupt images and ideas on the internet.

Be on your guard. Make sure your faith in Jesus is as strong as it possibly can be.

In the Gospel, as Jesus gives his farewell speech to his apostles, he prays to his Father, that his disciples be protected from the Evil One and that they be consecrated in the Truth. The Truth of Jesus, his teachings are protection against evil, protection against the wolves. Every time you studied your religion lessons this year, that was an opportunity to take up protection against those wolves, against the evil one. So as you face the wolves of summer, hold fast to the truth you have received. Read your bible this summer—see if you can read through the four Gospels. I would LOVE if you came back to school next fall and told me that you read the Gospels. Pray the Rosary, this summer. I would love if you came back to school next fall and told me you prayed the rosary, even just a few times.

This is the last school mass for our 8^th graders. You especially, are going to face some pretty savage wolves in high school. Our prayers go with you. You always have a spiritual home here, to recouperate from the battles. Don’t be a stranger.

And may each of us know the loving protection of Christ, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

Trusting in the Lord Jesus, who prays for his disciples and protects them in the truth, let us bring our needs before our heavenly Father.

For Holy Father Pope Leo, all bishops, priests, deacons, teachers, and all who hand on the faith: that they may preach Christ with courage and help God’s people remain strong against the spiritual dangers of the world, let us pray to the Lord.

For our parish school community: that as the school year draws to a close, students, teachers, and families may give thanks for the blessings of this year and continue to grow in wisdom, faith, and virtue, let us pray to the Lord.

For all students during the summer months: that they may be kept safe in body and soul, remain faithful in prayer and not be drawn away from Jesus by bad influences, let us pray to the Lord.

For our 8th grade students, as they prepare to move on to high school:
that the Lord may strengthen them, protect them from the evil one, and help them remain firm in the truth they have received.

For our families: that homes may be places of prayer, peace, faith, hope, and love.

For the sick, the suffering, and for all the faithful departed: that the Lord may bring healing to those in need and eternal joy to those who have died, let us pray to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, hear the prayers we offer you today, and keep us always close to you Christ your Son. This we ask through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

 

May 13 2026 - Our Lady of Fatima (school mass) - Become like shepherd children

 

Today, May 13 is the anniversary of Mary, the Mother of Jesus appearing to three shepherd children in the small village of Fatima in Portugal in 1917.  Mary appeared six times to Lucia, age 9, and her cousins Francisco, age 8, and his sister Jacinta, age 6, between May 13, 1917 and October 13, 1917.

Why was it, that out of all the people in the world, Mary appeared to three young children the ages of many of you here? She didn’t appear to the Pope. She didn’t appear to a journalist or a historian who could write a thorough and detailed account of her visit. She didn’t appear to a news anchor who could interview her on live television. Why three young shepherd children?

Part of that answer is mysterious—God works in mysterious ways. God wanted Mary to appear to those three children in Portugal because that’s what God wanted, He has his reasons, and those reasons are not always immediately known to us—we’ll find out in heaven.

Likely though, Mary appearing to three, poor shepherd children has something to do with Jesus telling us that unless you become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

This message was especially true in 1917. For in 1917, the world was on the verge of tremendous technological advancement: a lot of our own country still didn’t have electricity, but in just a few yers the world would change—automobiles, airplanes, nuclear power, soon computers, wireless communication, space rockets, internet, now artificial intelligence.

In 1917, the world would soon be getting more powerful and more complex, and Mary, appears from heaven to three simple, weak, poor children, and tells them to pray, to be dependent on God, and to not let material things become the center of your lives.

If Mary had appeared to adults, to their parents even, would they have believed her, that God wanted us to pray the rosary, to go to confession, to believe in Jesus. Many adults think of themselves as too sophisticated to pray the rosary, too proud to go to confession, too learned to believe in hell and the devil, too cultivated to practice fasting. This is why they are often so unhappy, because they have stopped believing in God in their deepest hearts. But, as we heard in the Gospel, "blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it."

Dear ones, please head our Lady’s message. Don’t grow up to think that you don’t need God. Don’t grow up to think that the point of this life is just to become rich or that the right amount of material things will make you happy. Don’t grow up to think that it’s okay to sin. If you do, you’ve grown up wrong.

God gave Mary a special job to appear to these three young children, he trusted them with this simple yet profound message: that if we want to be happy in this life and be with God in eternity, we need to turn way from sin, practice prayer, believe in Jesus and his teachings, and do what we can to help others turn to God.

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Inspired by Mary’s call to prayer and to trust in God, we offer now our prayers of petition:

For the holy Church of God, that she may always heed Our Lady’s message of Fatima by proclaiming and living out the call to prayer, penance, and conversion with faith, hope, and love.

For peace in our world, that through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima, hatred may give way to reconciliation, violence to justice, and war to enduring peace,

For the conversion of sinners and the renewal of faith, especially in places darkened by unbelief and indifference to Christ.

That during this month of May, all people may turn their hearts to the Blessed Virgin Mary, seeking her aid and imploring her intercession with increased and fervent devotion, imitating her example of Faith, Hope, and Love..

For those who suffer, especially the poor, the persecuted, and the forgotten, that they may know the comfort of Mary’s immaculate heart and the strength of her Son’s redeeming love,

For the dead, that they may be received into the glory of heaven where Mary, reigns as Queen.

O God, who chose the Blessed Virgin Mary to bring your Son into the world, hear our prayers and strengthen us in faith, hope, and charity, that we may one day share in the triumph of her Immaculate Heart. Through Christ our Lord.

 

6th Week of Easter 2026 - Tuesday - The Paraclete's case for Christ

 

Chapters 14 to 17 of John’s Gospel are known as the Farewell Discourse—a formal farewell speech Jesus delivered at the Last Supper on the night before he died. In his Farewell address, as we heard today, Jesus speaks about his departure to the Father and the sending of the Holy Spirit—his Ascension and Pentecost which we will celebrate in the next two weeks.

As he announces the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the Church, the Lord Jesus uses a fascinating title for the Spirit—Jesus calls Him, in Greek, the parakletos, the Paraclete—a word having legal connotations. The word is even translated as Advocate, in our English translation, a title given to lawyers who defend their clients.

And that’s precisely one of the tasks the Holy Spirit is sent to do. The Holy Spirit acts as a sort of defense attorney, to prove the case for Jesus Christ. The Paraclete throughout history defends Christ’s claim to be God, to be the Messiah, to be the Savior. He advocates for Christ and for belief in Christ. He helps the world remember who Christ is—what Christ has said and taught in his public ministry, and what Christ has done and accomplished in his Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

The case for Christ takes place in the courtroom of the world in every age and place until the Lord’s return. And the evidence, the testimony, with which the Spirit proves Christ’s case, is us, the Church.

You want proof that Jesus Christ is truly God and Lord and has conquered sin and death? Look at the evidence produced by the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church. Look at the courage of the martyrs; look at the sanctity of the saints—their miracles, their outpouring of love. Look at the unity he has accomplished among the disparate peoples of the world who accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Look at the patience and joy and understanding and knowledge he gives to ordinary people who pray.

Every Christian is to be a piece of evidence in the Spirit’s case that the world might believe. The words and works he inspires, the spiritual fruit he cultivates, are all testimony to convince and convict the world that Jesus Christ is Lord. May we cooperate with the Spirit as best as we possibly can. May we experience the conversion of mind and heart God wants for us, that his life may be evident in us, that the world may witness why following Jesus Christ, why initiation into and active participation in the life of His Church, is the most important thing you can possible do, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all bishops, priests, catechists, and parents may be faithful in preaching and teaching and living out the saving Gospel of Christ.

For an increase in the gifts of the Holy Spirit among all Christians, and for all who are persecuted for the faith. For those who do not believe in God and for those who have fallen away from the Church.

For all priests, that they may be ardent preachers and faithful stewards of the sacred mysteries. For the sanctification of all priests: for the endurance to remain faithful to their calling amidst so many challenges, and for an increase in vocations to the ordained priesthood.

For the sick, the suffering, those in nursing homes, hospitals, and hospice care, for the underemployed and unemployed, for the imprisoned, those with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, that the Spirit of Consolation may comfort them.

For the deceased members of our families, friends and parish, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for all those who fought and died for our freedom.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

 

6th Week of Easter 2026 - Monday - Witnessing with patience, humility, and hope

 There is an old insight from classical philosophy, found in Aristotle and developed by St. Thomas Aquinas, that every human action is done “sub ratione boni” — “under the appearance of the good.”

We make moral choices because they appear to be good for us. We eat breakfast because it appears good, we come to church, we follow the commandments because they appear good to us.

Aquinas would say that sin often works this way. Even sin, in the moment of sin, appears good. The thief steals because it appears to be a good way to pay his bills. The addict returns to his addiction because it appears to give him relief. In sin, we fixate on a partial or apparent good, but in a disordered way. Sin chooses a lesser good against a greater good, or an apparent good against the true good.

That helps us understand the frightening words of Jesus in today’s Gospel:

“The hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.”

Jesus here explains how individuals can become so deluded, their reasoning so disordered, that they think persecuting the Church is the right thing to do.

St. Paul knew this from experience. Before his conversion, he persecuted the Church. He thought he was serving God by stoning Christians to death. So many martyrs died at the hands of people, not who loved evil for evils sake, but thought they were doing the right thing—just like we do when we sin.

But this is why the Church must give witness to the truth. Because the Christian never gives up hope for conversion. The persecutor Saul became the Apostle Paul. The enemy of the Church became one of her greatest saints.

So we witness, not with hatred. Not with bitterness against those who persecute us. But with patience and hope, and humility, knowing how easy it is for people to become deluded—after all we’ve been deluded ourselves at times.

"When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify.”

We must not lose hope when the world becomes deluded and full of hatred toward the good. The Lord essentially promised that it would. But even deluded hate-filled souls can be saved.

So may the Spirit grant us rightly formed minds and hearts, but also hearts filled with patience, humility and hope, that we may witness, as we have been told we must, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Knowing that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, who guides the Church and strengthens us to bear witness to Christ, let us offer our prayers to God with confidence.

For the Church: that she may always bear faithful witness to the truth of Christ with courage, humility, patience, and hope. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.

For all who govern nations and shape public life: that they may not be deceived by false goods, but may seek truth, justice, peace, and the dignity of every human person. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who persecute the Church, oppose the Gospel, or are blinded by hatred and confusion: that the Spirit of Truth may enlighten their minds, soften their hearts, and lead them to conversion. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.

For those caught in sin, addiction, falsehood, or discouragement: that they may recognize the true good, find freedom in Christ, and receive the grace to walk in the light. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.

For the sick, the poor, the suffering, and all who feel afflicted or abandoned: that God’s mercy may strengthen them and that Christian witness may bring them consolation and hope. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.

For the faithful departed: that, purified of every darkness and falsehood, they may behold God face to face in the fullness of truth and life. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.

Father of Truth, hear the prayers of your people. Send forth your Holy Spirit to form our minds, purify our hearts, and make us faithful witnesses to your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever and ever.

6th Sunday of Easter 2026 - Deeply in love with Jesus Christ

 

There’s a catholic philosopher and author I very much enjoy named Dr. Peter Kreeft. Dr. Kreeft is a professor of philosophy at Boston College. He’s a convert to Catholicism from Calvinism, and the author of over eighty books, including a spiritual autobiography that came out a few months ago. I got to meet Dr. Kreeft and have dinner with him when he came to give a lecture at our seminary about 10 years ago.

Dr. Kreeft tells the story about a time he was invited to give a talk at a small monastery up in Connecticut.  And at the end of his visit, the monastery’s holy abbot approached Dr. Kreeft and said, “I’d like to ask you a question, Doctor. And it’s the same question we ask every visitor to our monastery. And the question is, “If you could ask God to give any gift possible to these monks, what would you ask for?”

Dr. Kreeft, thought about it for a moment, and said, “I would ask God to make every single one of you fall totally in love with Jesus Christ for the rest of your life. That is the gift for which I would ask.” At his answer, the abbot smiled and some of the monks began to chuckle.  Not thinking it was a terrible answer, Dr. Kreeft asked the abbot why the monks were laughing at him. And the abbot said, we are not laughing at you or your response, it’s just that last month, Mother Theresa visited us, and she gave the exact same answer: that you may fall totally in love with Jesus Christ.

Why would Dr. Kreeft consider this the greatest gift you could wish for someone? Why do Mother Theresa and the Saints consider falling totally in love with Jesus Christ the greatest of all gifts? Why would they say that if you could give one gift to your spouse or child, one gift to your neighbor, one gift to a stranger, to the sick, imprisoned, or orphan, the best gift you could want for them is to love Jesus Christ? What’s behind this answer? I promise it’s not false piety. They are serious, dead serious. It’s what I want for all of you more than anything.

The reason Dr. Kreeft, Mother Teresa, and the saints say that the greatest gift is to fall totally in love with Jesus Christ is precisely what today’s Gospel reveals. In this passage, Jesus shows us what loving him actually means, and what flows from it.

First, notice that Jesus treats love for him as the center of the Christian life: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” He does not say merely, “If you admire me,” or “If you find my teaching interesting.” He speaks of love. Why? Because Christianity is not merely a moral system or a set of religious ideas. It is a living relationship with Jesus Christ. To love him is the heart of everything.

And then Jesus shows why that love is the greatest gift. Whoever loves Jesus is drawn into the very life of God. “The Spirit of Truth will be with you” “He remains with you, and will be in you.” You are in me and I in you.” “Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father.” “I will love him and reveal myself to him.” This is extraordinary. To love Jesus Christ is not merely to become a better person, though it does make us better. It is to enter into communion with the Blessed Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To have a living relationship with God who Is a Communion of Love.

That is why the saints are so serious about this. If a person falls in love with Jesus Christ, then obedience ceases to be mere external rule-following. His commandments are no longer just burdens imposed from outside. Love transforms obedience into a participation in the life of God. Love makes life possible.

And Jesus promises even more: “if you love me, I will not leave you orphans”. Those are deeply consoling words, because one of the deepest fears in the human heart is the fear of being abandoned. Have you ever loved someone who didn’t love you back? It hurts.  Have you ever given your heart, your loyalty, your trust, only to be ignored, rejected, or abandoned? The human heart longs for more than the wound of loneliness and abandonment. Again, we were made for communion, for love that endures.

And so Jesus speaks addresses this directly: I will not leave you orphans. In other words: I will not leave you alone, to fend for yourself. I will not leave you to wander through life aimless, confused, in darkness, trying to make sense of everything by your own strength.

“I am with you always” the Lord says, and he is through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The one who loves Christ receives not merely good advice, or an inspiring example from the distant past, but the living presence of God dwelling within him. The Holy Spirit is with those who love Jesus Christ, reminding us of all that Jesus teaches, because God knows, we are prone to forget. The Holy Spirit comforts us, because God knows, we are prone to suffering and trial. The Holy Spirit convicts us because God knows how easily our fervor for pursuing holiness can diminish.. The Holy Spirit guides because God knows how easily we become lost amidst the confusion and chaos of the world.

Loving Jesus Christ is the key to everything worth having. It’s the key to a happy marriage, it’s the key to a healthy priesthood, it’s the key to withstanding the social pressures that bombard the young, particularly on social media. It’s the key to discovering who you were meant to be, to unlocking the potential of your mind and heart and unique soul.

When we understand the importance of loving Jesus Christ, we come to understand what motivated the saints to serve God with such heroic virtue. Love of Jesus: it’s what impelled St. Francis to embrace the leper even though he was initially repulsed, it impelled St. Vincent de Paul to care for the plague victims at the risk of his life. It impelled St. Francis Xavier Cabrini to leave her native Italy to serve the immigrants here in the United States, and St. Junipero Sera and St. Rose Philippine Duchesne to educate and serve the Native Americans, and St. Mother Theresa to serve the poorest of the poor, St. Maximilian Kolbe to take the place of the concentration camp prisoner about to be executed.

Love of Jesus Christ transforms ordinary people to do extraordinary things, and it can for us as well, if we let it, if we make loving Jesus our greatest aim.

How can we grow in our love for Jesus? “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” This is where today’s Gospel begins: Breaking the commandments is not just breaking rules, sin turns the heart away from the beloved. Sin extinguishes the fire of love. Obedience, however, proves love, reinforces love, seeks the beloved in the face of obstacles.

Prayer, of course, increases love because love requires presence. You do not fall in love with a person you never spend time with or talk to or listen to or spend time pondering.

Charitable service increases love. Jesus identifies himself with others: “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” Service trains the heart away from selfishness, which is the great enemy of love. It stretches the soul. It makes us imitate the one who “came not to be served but to serve.”

The Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Confession increases love: for confession restores the union that what was weakened or lost by sin; in Communion, we become what we receive, Jesus Christ who is love incarnate.

We come to holy mass seeking to love, to express love, to grow in love, to fall deeply in love with Jesus, that love may guide us every day, in all of our relationships, in our brokenness, in our trials, that love may heal us, sustain, transform us, animate us for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

5th Week of Easter 2026 - Wednesday (School Mass) - Belly Buttons, Vines & Branches

 

Why do you have a belly button? Do you know?

Your belly button is actually a scar, marking the spot where you were connected to your mother by a cord—called an umbilical cord, while you were still a tiny baby growing in your mother’s womb. Around the time you were 5-7 weeks old in your mother’s belly, so 33 weeks before you drew your first breath in the world, when you were just half an inch big, you were connected to her by this cord at your belly button. And through that cord, your tiny little body received from your mother oxygen, nutrients, blood. You were completely dependent upon her for life.

So make sure you thank your mother and thank God for the gift of your mother this weekend on Mother’s Day.

In the Gospel today, Jesus uses an image very much like that cord that connects us to our mothers for life. He says, “I am the vine, you are the branches… Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.” Just like you could not have physical life as a little baby unless you remained connected to your mother, you cannot have spiritual life unless you remain connected to Jesus.

“Without me, you can do nothing” he says.

Now, that does not mean you cannot do your math homework without Jesus, or eat your lunch without Jesus, or tie your shoes without Jesus. He means that without him, we cannot have the kind of life that matters most: the life of grace, the life of holiness that leads to heaven. We cannot become the saints God created us to be unless we remain connected to him.

And how do we stay connected to Jesus?

We stay connected to him by prayer. Every time you pray, even very simply, you are turning your heart toward Jesus.
We stay connected to him by listening to his word. When we hear Scripture, when we learn about the faith, when we pay attention at Mass, Jesus is speaking to us.
We stay connected to him by obeying him. When we choose honesty instead of lying, kindness instead of cruelty, purity instead of sin, forgiveness instead of revenge, we remain in his love.
And of course, we stay connected to him through the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, where Jesus gives us his very self, and Confession, where we become reconnected to Jesus when we sever ourselves from his life through serious sin.

A branch cut off from the vine may look fine for a little while. It may still look green. But it is already dying, because it is no longer connected to its source of life. That can happen to us spiritually too. A person can look fine on the outside, but if he stops praying, stops listening to God, stops going to Mass, stops receiving the sacraments, and chooses sin again and again, then the life of Jesus in the soul begins to weaken.

But the good news is that Jesus wants us close to him. He wants us to have his life in us. He wants us to bear fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and holiness.

So today Jesus gives us a very important reminder: stay connected to me. Remain in me. Do not drift away. Do not allow yourself to live without me, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

Trusting in Jesus Christ, the true vine, from whom we receive the life of grace, let us bring our prayers before our heavenly Father.

For the Church:  that she may always remain deeply united to Christ and help all people grow in faith, holiness, and love, let us pray to the Lord.

In anticipation of Mother’s Day, we pray for mothers, grandmothers, and all women who care for children with love and sacrifice: that God may bless them, strengthen them, and reward them for the gift of their love, let us pray to the Lord.

For our academy community: that our students, teachers, and families may stay connected to Jesus through prayer, obedience, and the sacraments, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who feel far from God: that they may hear the voice of Jesus calling them back to remain in his love and receive the life only he can give, let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the lonely, and those who are suffering: that remaining close to Christ, they may receive strength, peace, and hope, let us pray to the Lord.

For our beloved dead: that they may live forever with Christ in the joy of heaven, let us pray to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, you give us life through your Son, Jesus Christ, the true vine. Hear these prayers and keep us always united to him, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.