Thank You, Lord

Thank you. Lord for the gift of Your Mercy.

Msgr. Pope on Why the Resurrection Was Such a Hidden Event

"There is something of a hidden quality to the resurrection appearances that has always puzzled me. St. Peter gives voice to this when he says to Cornelius,

"God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:41 to 42).

"Note that Jesus did not appear openly to all but rather only to some. Why is this? It is so different from what most of us would do. 

"If I were God (and it is very good for you that I am not), I would rise from the dead very dramatically. Perhaps I would summon people to my tomb with trumpet blasts and then emerge amid great fanfare (including a multitude of angels), inspiring awe and striking fear in the hearts of the enemies who had killed me. Or maybe I would ride down on a lightning bolt right into the temple precincts and then go up to the high priest and tell him to seek other employment. Surely to accomplish such a feat would be an event that would never be forgotten! It would draw many to faith, would it not?"

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on some of the reasons why the Resurrection appearances were done in such a unassuming way.

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: Why Was the Resurrection Such a Hidden Event? (1 APR 18)

Reflection Starter from Pope Francis

"God covers us with His mercy, He enfolds us in Christ, so that we can become instruments of His goodness." - Pope Francis

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of good poetry.

Bishop Tobin on Ceasing Doing Evil and Learning To Do Good

"Wash yourselves clean! Put away misdeeds from before my eyes. Cease doing evil, learn to do good. (Is 1: 16-17)

"Every once-in-a-while you come across a scripture verse that seems to summarize the Christian life in just a few words, and during this Lent these two verses from Isaiah have spoken to me.

"'Cease doing evil, learn to do good.' Those seven simple words, though drawn from the Old Testament, capture one of the primary goals of the Christian life: to do good and avoid evil; to grow in holiness."

In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on the importance of ceasing doing evil and learning to do good during Lent and throughout our lives.

To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit:

Without A Doubt: Cease Doing Evil, Learn To Do Good (8 MAR 18)

Reflection Starter from Laozi

"To know yet to think that one does not know is best; not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty." - Laozi

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the kind words You send our way through the people You place in our lives.

An Actor’s Prayer to the Holy Spirit

With his role as Frasier Crane's father Martin on the hit TV series Frasier, John Mahoney entered the pantheon of lovable and comical curmudgeons that viewers welcomed into their living rooms week after week. The down-to-earth, Ballantine beer-loving Martin served as the perfect foil to Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Niles' (David Hyde Pierce) more upper crusty tastes. For 11seasons, Mahoney was the "everyman" in that cast, and he played it to perfection.

What you may not know about the actor, who passed away due to cancer on Feb. 4 at age 77, is that his Catholic faith was a key factor in his life. During an extensive interview he did with award-winning religion journalist and author Cathleen Falsani for her book The God Factor, Mahoney said, "I'm more spiritual than anything else, and Christianity is probably the most important facet of my life."

Falsani, who knew Mahoney from their Oak Park, Illinois neighborhood, describes him as "truly the kindest man I know." That kindness likely stemmed from his background and the wisdom he learned over the years. Mahoney was born in Manchester, England, the sixth of eight children. After coming to the U.S. at age 19, he served in the Army and became a citizen. During college, he worked as a hospital orderly, which shaped his views on life. Mahoney said, "Being around all that sickness and illness, yet seeing people's resilience and faith, I noticed that the people to emulate were the people who loved, and loved God, and loved their fellow man, and weren't selfish."

Despite that lesson, it didn't actually take right away. Mahoney didn't pursue an acting career until age 37, and admitted that he was self-absorbed in those early days. But he experienced a major change when he went to Mass at Chicago's St. Peter’s Church one day, an experience he described as "the intercession of the Holy Ghost."

Mahoney recalled, "I don't know where it came from, I just had a little breakdown of some sort, and after that, made a conscious effort to be a better person...and to try to revolve around everyone else in the world instead of expecting them to revolve around me…I've always prayed to the Holy Ghost for wisdom and for understanding and knowledge. I think he answered my prayers when I stopped in the church that day. My life was totally different from that day on. I saw myself as I was, and I saw into the future and saw what I wanted to be. And I sort of rededicated myself to God and begged him to make me a better person…And I think I am now. I like myself."

Part of that devotion to God played out in his career. Before every performance, Mahoney would say this prayer: "Most glorious blessed spirit, I thank you for all the gifts and talents that you've given me. Please help me to use all these gifts and talents to their fullest. And please accept this performance as a prayer of praise and thanks to you."

Mahoney also told Falsani that prayer is the first thing he does when he wakes up in the morning and the last thing he does at night. And about 20 to 30 times a day, he would simply pray, "Dear God, please help me to treat everybody - including myself = with love, respect, and dignity."

John Mahoney has now met the God he prayed to for all those years. May his devotion grant him eternal reward.

This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column by Tony Rossi, Director of Communications, The Christophers; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.

Background information:

The Christophers

Reflection Starter from Harriet Martineau

"You had better live your best and act your best and think your best today; for today is the sure preparation for tomorrow and all the other tomorrows that follow." - Harriet Martineau

"Unless a Grain of Wheat"

As our Sunday celebration continues, I offer this version of Bernadette Farrell's "Unless a Grain of Wheat":

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Today the Church celebrates the Fifth Sunday of Lent. The assigned readings are Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 5:7-9, and John 12:20-33. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 51 (Psalm 51:3-4, 12-15).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 51 Create in me a clean heart

The Gospel reading is as follows:

Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.

"I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name."

Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it and will glorify it again."

The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, "An angel has spoken to him."

Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself." He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.

Reflections on these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflections: Fifth Sunday of Lent (March 18, 2018)

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Fifth Sunday of Lent (March 18, 2018)

Community in Mission: The Cross Always Wins - A Homily for the 5th Sunday of Lent (17 MAR 18) 

The Sacred Page: The New Covenant: The Fifth Sunday of Lent (17 MAR 18)

The Sacred Page: The Grain of Wheat and Jesus' "Hour" (The Mass Readings Explained) (12 MAR 18)

St. Paul Center: The "Hour" Comes: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fifth Sunday of Lent

Word on Fire: Planting the Law Within Us (Cycle B * Lent * Week 5)

Spirituality of the Readings: Coming to Pieces (The Fifth Sunday of Lent B)

In Exile: Different Kinds Of Glory (The Fifth Sunday of Lent B)

The Word Encountered: Repentance and Eucharist (The Fifth Sunday of Lent B
)

Historical Cultural Context: Understanding Honor (The Fifth Sunday of Lent B)

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Cyril of Alexandria (The Fifth Sunday of Lent B)

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for setting is free through Your passion, death, and resurrection.