Today’s mass offered a good reminder of the connection between our occupations and our identities. Christ identified himself as a shepherd who is so good at his job that he knows each sheep in his flock and they know him. Jesus warns against the hired-hand mentality where the motivation is money and the slightest challenge […]

In today’s gospel, the disciples see Jesus in the flesh. Knowing their friend was crucufied, rather than be delighted at seeing their teacher alive again, they were horrified. “In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost. … But he said, ‘Why are you so agitated, and why are these […]

Today’s gospel was close to my heart. It starred Thomas “Didimus,” my patron saint. He personifies the human condition: doubt. This worldly life has conditioned us to believe only what we can see. Thomas was one of the 12 who lived with Jesus, learning what he taught and witnessing the miracles he worked through the […]

The last line of today’s gospel says a lot about the Christian faith: “Till this moment they had still not understood the scripture, that He must rise from the dead.” Even His most fervent followers had a hard time grasping what Jesus told them about His calling and what must happen to Him. Then they […]

Our Savior rode into His kingdom on a donkey, not as a King but as a Slave. But He didn’t hide his true identity which also happened to be His mission–to save our souls by freeing us to be slaves to each other. He was a slave to that mission. Even His enemies saw who […]