Once, at Metro Market, I ran into a parishioner whom I had not seen in a long time.  Maybe feeling a little uncomfortable that he hadn’t been to Mass for a while, the man said to me, “I pray every day when I get up, Father, and I pray longer on Sundays.”
 
That conversation came back to me when I read a passage in the Little Black Book for Lent that compared praying alone at home with practicing the clarinet by oneself in a practice room, whereas joining the community at Mass is playing in an orchestra (maybe that analogy stuck with me because I did play the clarinet many years ago).
 
It is worth reflecting on that analogy: praying alone is like being in a practice room.  And we do need to practice: it is what prepares us to be a contributing member of the orchestra.  But if we only practice alone and never join an orchestra, we are not sharing our talents with others.
 
My friends, the Mass is our praying orchestra.  The celebrant is the conductor of the service.  The cantor is the conductor of the music.  The lector is the conductor of the Word of God. The Eucharistic ministers are conductors of the Body of Christ.  And each one of us makes up the body of the orchestra, sharing our talents and supporting the needs of those around us.
 
In our Gospel, Jesus tells us we will bear much fruit if we remain in Him.  In the short passage, He uses the word “remain” 8 times, beating us over the head with the reality that alone we are like a branch cut off from the source of life – or someone alone in a practice room.  We need to remain connected with Jesus, not just by ourselves, but through the community, the Gospel, and the Eucharist.  If we are to remain in God, we can’t go it alone: we need to be an active part of the community. 
 
I invite us this week to reflect on what a gift our community is, resolving to participate regularly as we give to and receive from each other, struggling to remain in God.
 
Church sign of the week: Church is not just someplace you go but something you are.

While there is a different focus in each of the three cycles of Sunday readings, every Gospel for the fourth Sunday of Easter focuses on the Good Shepherd.  For that reason, it is known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” Sheep are timid, easily scared, and vulnerable. A good shepherd guides and protects them, he lays across the gate to keep out danger, he stands up to the wolf.
 
The image of the Good Shepherd is perfect for the Easter season, because Jesus was the Good Shepherd who laid down His life to save us. He always wants to guide us, to protect us, to be there for us. There are two important points to reflect on as we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday:
 
First, Jesus wants to help us and guide us, but we have to cooperate.  We have to be listening to Him.  We do that in community when we listen to the scriptures and homily at Mass, but we also have to do it ourselves by spending quiet time talking with Him, listening to Him, asking for His guidance. I can’t emphasize enough the importance to our spiritual life of quiet time with the Lord each day: it is never time wasted.
 
Second, we call ourselves “Christians,” which means we have committed ourselves to do our best to live as Christ modeled for us.  Christ lived a life of being a Good Shepherd and protecting others, especially the lowest of the low.  Think of the woman caught in adultery, the 10 lepers, Zacchaeus the tax collector, etc., etc.  If we truly want to live as Jesus did, we need to do our best to be good shepherds to those around us, especially those who might be rejected or ignored by society. 
 
I invite you to spend some quiet time this week reflecting on Jesus, our Good Shepherd, allowing Him to speak with you and help you grow into being a better good shepherd for others.  God bless.
 
Church sign of the week: you can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.

Usually when I reflect on this Gospel story of Jesus appearing to the disciples in Jerusalem, right after they had been told what happened on the road to Emmaus, I reflect on how the disciples must have been feeling.  As I was mulling over what to share in this reflection, I focused more on Jesus.
 
Jesus had every right to be angry with them or, at least, to
reprimand them for abandoning and denying Him.  Yet, He knew they were basically good people who had very human weaknesses.  If Jesus had focused on Himself and how they had treated Him, if He had shamed them, what would have happened?  Would they have been crushed?  Would they have left in shame?  Would they have been able to recover?
 
But Jesus focused on them and the future: by His gentleness and kind words (peace be with you and why are your hearts troubled?) He put them at ease.  He showed them His wounds and ate something to prove He was real.  He showed them that He still loved them and they had nothing to fear.  He had forgiven them, before they even asked.  That enabled them to become the great missionary disciples, spreading the Good News to others. Jesus built them up, rather than crushing them.
 
There is a strong message for us in this: there will be problems and disagreements with others in life. It is part of being human. When we focus on ourselves and our hurt feelings, we look for revenge and want to give the other what they deserve.  But, when we can step back, look at the bigger picture, and remember that the other is a good person with weaknesses (like us), we can react more like Jesus did with His disciples.  When we do that, when we reach out in peace and not wait until the other has asked for forgiveness, we bring peace and our actions invite the other to be a better person.  It is really a win-win, because we are also at peace, rather than angry.
 
I invite us to reflect this week on the wisdom of responding as Jesus did to being hurt or betrayed.  It is not easy, but, with His help, we can do it and everyone, including ourselves, will be happier and at peace. A win-win!
 
Church sign of the week: If you have to choose between being kind and being right, choose being kind and you will always be right.

Our Gospel today is John’s version of Jesus’ first post-resurrection encounter with His disciples, which took place Easter evening.  The disciples were hidden in a locked room. They knew something was going on, because Peter and John had been to the empty tomb and Mary Magdalene had told them that she saw and talked with the risen Lord.

Can you imagine their fear of encountering Jesus?  They had run away and abandoned Him in His time of need.  Peter, who had proudly declared he would die for Jesus, had denied Him three times.  What embarrassment and dread they must have had! What would Jesus say?  Would He yell at them?  Would He dump them as friends?

But look what Jesus does: the first words out of His mouth are “peace be with you.”  No recriminations.  No reminding them of what they had done.  Just “peace be with you.” Then, to calm their fears about Who He was and what was happening, He showed them the scars of His wounds.  Peace and assurances that He was legit and all was Ok.  What mercy and love Jesus showed to them!

My friends, this first Sunday after Easter is called “Mercy Sunday” to remind us that Jesus offers the same mercy, love, and forgiveness to us.  We all sin, we all fail, we all deny Jesus, as did the apostles.  But Jesus says “peace be with you” and welcomes us back.”  We simply have to turn to Him and accept His love and forgiveness.

Once we do that, the next step kicks in.  Jesus sends His disciples to bring that same mercy and forgiveness to others.  And we are one of those disciples.  We receive mercy and forgiveness from the Lord and He sends us to share it with others.

As we celebrate this “Mercy Sunday,” let us renew our commitment to be forgiving, loving, compassionate disciples to all we meet. That’s how God treats us: we need to do the same for others. God bless.

Church sign of the week: There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.