Most of us know this parable:

"What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray." (Mt 18:12-13)

It speaks of the importance of finding what is lost. This parable is fitted neatly between two discourses on sin and its dangers and is followed by the parable of the unforgiving servant. The relationship is to the need for repentance and the joy in heaven that comes with it.

Readings this week focus on the growth of the early Church and Jesus’ command to love one another. These readings highlight the importance of faith, community, and the promise of a new heaven and earth.

Paul and Barnabas are spreading the good news, which shows us the importance of sharing our faith with others. They encourage believers to remain true to the faith despite hardships. This reminds us to stay strong in our faith through difficulties.

This Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, is also known as Good Shepherd Sunday because it focuses on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. He cares for His sheep, calls them by name, and leads them to safety.

Jesus reminds us that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. This shows the close connection between Jesus and those who believe in Him.

Jesus also speaks about eternal life—living forever with God in heaven. He promises this to those who follow Him.

The Third Sunday of Easter is full of lessons for our faith. Take time to reflect on the readings and what they mean for your life. The readings call us to follow Jesus with joy, love, and dedication. They remind us to obey God, worship Jesus, and show love through our actions. They help us to grow in faith and live out our call as Christians.

The apostles show courage and trust by obeying God rather than men, even when facing suffering. Their example encourages us to put God first, no matter the challenges. This obedience shows our commitment to Him.

Divine Mercy Sunday focuses on God’s mercy and love, inviting us to trust in Him and share His forgiveness. The readings are about faith, healing, and the importance of believing in Christ’s resurrection. They show how Jesus brings peace and healing to His followers. When He appears to the disciples, He gives them the gift of peace, calming their fears. This reminds us that we can always turn to Jesus for comfort and strength.

The Gospel highlights Thomas’s doubts and his declaration of faith when he finally encounters Jesus. This teaches us to believe in Jesus even when we cannot see Him. It also encourages us to deepen our trust in Him, especially when faced with uncertainty. The readings also emphasize forgiveness. Jesus gives His apostles the authority to forgive sins, showing that mercy is a main part of His message. We are invited to seek forgiveness through the sacrament of confession and extend mercy to others. Sharing kindness and compassion helps us live out the message of this special day.

Today we celebrate the high point of the Christian liturgical year. On Easter, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and the faith in Jesus’ promise of redemption and eternal life to humanity. It should be a day brimming with the joy of the Risen Lord, which also begins the Easter Octave—eight days of unbroken celebration, each treated as though they are one and the same day. This period invites us into deep reflection and joy over the life-giving mysteries of Christ’s triumph over death. During this time, the faithful engage in daily Masses that resonate with Easter’s hopeful and renewing message, culminating on Divine Mercy Sunday. This special day highlights God’s endless mercy and love. This is not just a remembrance of a past event but an invitation into a more personal encounter with the Risen Christ today.

Palm Sunday calls us to trust God and follow Jesus with faith and obedience. As we meditate on the events of Palm Sunday, we are reminded of Jesus’ unwavering faith and obedience. Let us open our hearts to welcome Him and live according to His teachings. May we find strength and hope in His love and sacrifice and strive to follow His example every day.

Think about this: How can we glorify Jesus one day and then crucify Him on the cross later? Jesus does deserve to be glorified for the great love that He has for us. This was shown to us when He suffered and died for us on the cross on Calvary. Do you know of anyone else that would take on so much suffering and then die for you? Jesus sacrificed His own comfort, including His body and blood, to take our punishment that we deserve for our own sins. We should rejoice gratefully for this every Sunday with hosannas and admiration, for in the Eucharist we reunite ourselves with that tremendous love.

With the Third Scrutiny the Gospel tells us about the raising to life of Lazarus. This shows us that Jesus is “the Resurrection and the Life”. Jesus in His obedience to His Father has the authority to give life to whom He will. The raising of Lazarus shows us what is to take place on the last day. In this Gospel, Jesus through His obedience to the Father, has the authority to give life to whom He will. This reading is a dramatic demonstration of the truth already declared in John 5.21 (“For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will.”) which is the best way anyone can comment on this story.

In both the second reading and the Gospel, we hear about turning from darkness to light. The second reading tells us to “Live as children of light.” Light and darkness were often used as symbols for good and evil. In both the second reading and the Gospel, the key idea is turning from darkness to light. Darkness will not overcome the light, but the light will make the darkness go away.

Try this little exercise: at night when it is dark outside, if you have a bedroom with a door that you can close, off of another room or a hallway, in that other room or hallway, turn on every light that is in there. Now go into the bedroom, turn off the lights in there, make sure the window blinds or shades are closed and close the door. It should be really dark in that room. Now open the door where all the lights are turned on. Does the darkness go into the area with the lights, or does the light come into the room that is dark and give it some light? When we sin, we are putting ourselves into that dark room, but by going to confession, we open the door to the Light of Christ.

For the next few weeks, depending on what Mass you attend, you might hear a different Gospel than your fellow parishioners. Why? Because we are entering a time before Easter where you will hear the word Scrutinies.

What are Scrutinies? The Scrutinies are rites celebrated on the Third, Fourth and Fifth Sundays of Lent, by those people who are preparing to be baptized at Easter, known as "The Elect". They are important and special rites of the Church. Whenever they are celebrated the Scripture readings of Year A of the liturgical cycle are used. The Scrutinies are described by the Church as “rites for self-searching and repentance, which are meant to uncover, then heal, all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect; to bring out, then strengthen all that is upright, strong and good. The Scrutinies are celebrated in order to deliver the elect from the power of sin and Satan, to protect them against temptation, and to give them strength in Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life. These rites, therefore, should complete the conversion of the elect and deepen their resolve to hold fast to Christ and to carry out their decision to love God above all.”

This Sunday we learn about God’s relationship with Abram, whom God later renames “Abraham”. Their relationship is one of prayer and God enters a covenant with Abram. Through this covenant, God and Abram make promises about how they would act towards each other. They have a relationship with spiritual and moral dimensions. When we were baptized, we entered into a covenant with God, even if we were infants, so that we can enjoy His life eternally in Heaven. God gives us the strength through prayer and the sacraments to live up to our end of the deal.

This First Sunday of Lent sets the tone for the whole season of Lent. We should be reflecting on the themes of salvation, temptation, and trust. As we do this, we can grow closer to God and prepare our hearts for Easter. Each of these themes helps us to see God's work in our lives and to live with greater faith.

This week we are invited to trust in God and resist temptation. We should open our hearts and deepen our faith. Salvation is not just for a few but is offered to all who call on the Lord. God's love is there for everyone, no matter who they are. Scripture states that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. We need to share this message and welcome others to experience God's love.

When we were little, we heard people say that Jesus has saved the world, but we are also not dumb. We have two eyes; we can look around us and see, “Well…things are still pretty messed up.” Go check the news: there is always something going wrong. But here’s the thing: Jesus saves the world by changing, by transforming the human heart. What changes the world and history is what changes the human heart, and that is Christ. When your heart is changed, when your heart is transformed, the world begins to transform.

The “saving” Jesus does, the victory Jesus wins, isn’t a social change, no, it is a victory within the human heart. And this is what we truly need. Allow Jesus to transform your heart this Lent, and that will change the world. Spend time in prayer, in adoration, in silence, and listen and beg the Lord to transform your heart, to transform your life.