Vision

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Today, on this 2nd Sunday of Easter—Divine Mercy Sunday—we are reminded of the depth of God’s love and forgiveness. In the Gospel (John 20:19-31), we see the Risen Christ appearing to His disciples, offering them peace and breathing the Holy Spirit upon them, giving them the power to forgive sins.

This is the heart of Divine Mercy: that even in our weakness, Christ meets us with peace, not condemnation.

Dear Fellow Disciples, Peace.

Today is the greatest day in our faith—Jesus is risen! The tomb is empty. Death is defeated. Love has won.

The disciples came to the tomb expecting to find a body, but instead they found a surprise—a new beginning. At first, they were confused. But slowly, joy broke through. That same joy is offered to us today.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Today we begin Holy Week with Palm Sunday, a day of striking contrast. We start by waving palms and shouting “Hosanna!” welcoming Jesus as King. But not long after, we listen to the Passion narrative, and we hear another cry: “Crucify Him!”

How quickly the crowds turned. How quickly hearts can shift—from praise to rejection, from loyalty to betrayal. It’s easy to judge them, but if we’re honest, we see ourselves in them. We, too, can welcome Jesus when life is going well, but struggle to stay with Him in the trials.

In today’s Gospel, we encounter a powerful moment of mercy. The scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, hoping to trap Him with the Law of Moses. But instead of condemning her, Jesus responds with wisdom and compassion: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” One by one, they leave, and Jesus says to the woman, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

Dear Fellow Disciples, Peace,

Today’s Gospel presents one of the most powerful parables of Jesus—the story of the Prodigal Son. It is a story of mercy, repentance, and the boundless love of God the Father.

Dear Fellow disciples, peace.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about repentance using two powerful images: the tragedies that befell certain people and the parable of the barren fig tree. When people inform Jesus about the tragic deaths of some Galileans, He warns them, “Unless you repent, you will all perish as they did” (Luke 13:3). He then shares a parable about a fig tree that has not borne fruit for three years. The owner wants to cut it down, but the gardener pleads for one more year to care for it, hoping it will bear fruit.

Dear Fellow Disciples, Peace.

I'm writing this reflection from a kind of mountaintop, the Monastery of the Father of Mercy in Auburn, KY, where I'm spending some days in retreat.

Today’s Gospel takes us to the mountain where Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John. His face shines like the sun, and His clothes become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear, speaking with Him, and the voice of the Father declares, “This is my chosen Son; listen to Him.”

Dear Fellow disciples, peace.

As we begin our Lenten journey, today’s Gospel presents Jesus facing temptation in the desert. After fasting for forty days, He is tempted by the devil with food, power, and security. Yet, Jesus does not give in. Instead, He responds with the Word of God, showing us that true strength comes not from earthly desires but from trust in God.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses simple but profound images to teach us about discipleship and integrity. He warns against hypocrisy, asking, “Can a blind person guide a blind person?” and urging us to first remove the “beam” from our own eye before judging others. Jesus reminds us that our words and actions flow from our hearts.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us one of the most challenging teachings of the Christian life: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). At first, this may seem impossible. How can we love those who hurt us? Yet, Jesus does not just ask us to do this—He shows us how. On the cross, He prayed for those who crucified Him: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). This is the radical love to which we are called.

Dear Fellow Disciples, Peace,

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us the Beatitudes, teaching us a radical truth: true happiness is not found in wealth, power, or human praise, but in God. He says, “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who hunger, for you will be satisfied.” These words challenge us because they turn worldly values upside down.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

In today’s Gospel, we witness Simon Peter’s life-changing encounter with Jesus. After a long, frustrating night of fishing without success, Jesus tells him to cast his nets again. Despite his doubt, Peter obeys—and the result is an overwhelming catch. Realizing he is in the presence of the Lord, Peter falls to his knees in humility. But Jesus reassures him, calling him to a greater mission: to become a fisher of people.

Dear Fellow Disciples, Peace.

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas, marking when Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple to present Him to God, as prescribed by Jewish law. This moment is rich in meaning and filled with light and hope.

In the Gospel, we hear about two faithful servants of God, Simeon and Anna. Simeon, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognizes Jesus as the “light to the nations” and the salvation God has promised. Anna, a prophetess, praises God and shares the good news with everyone waiting for redemption. Their faith and perseverance remind us of the importance of recognizing God’s presence in the ordinary moments of life.