“Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” — John 20:19 The Gospel for this Second Sunday of Easter brings us into the upper room with the disciples. Locked in fear, unsure of the future, grieving what they thought was lost—until the Risen Lord appears among them with…
DetailsHappy Easter! Christ is Risen! He is truly Risen! Alleluia! This is the high point of the Church year. Easter Sunday is not just a celebration of something that happened—it is the “defining moment” of who we are. As Christians, we are not just followers of a teacher, a healer, or even a prophet.…
DetailsEvery life is shaped by defining moments. Sometimes, they are joyful. Sometimes, they are painful. But they leave a mark — not just on our memories, but on our character. This Sunday, Passion Sunday, we enter into the defining moment of Jesus’ life — the Passion. Everything in his public ministry was leading to this…
DetailsThis Sunday’s Gospel brings us face-to-face with one of the most moving encounters in all of Scripture: the story of the woman caught in adultery. She is humiliated, shamed, and dragged before Jesus by people ready to condemn her. But Jesus doesn’t join in the condemnation. He simply says, “Let the one among you who…
DetailsThis Sunday, we encounter one of the most beloved and powerful stories in the Gospel—the Parable of the Prodigal Son. While we often focus on the son who squanders his inheritance and returns home in shame, or the elder brother who struggles with resentment, today I invite us to shift our gaze to the father.…
DetailsWhat a truly incredible weekend we just experienced! Our Lenten retreat with Julianne Stanz was a profound time of grace, reflection, and renewal. Over 350-400 people gathered each night to hear her powerful message of hope, centered on the Cross of Christ and the “thin places” in our lives—those moments when God breaks through in…
DetailsThe Second Sunday of Lent brings us to the mountaintop with Jesus, Peter, James, and John as we witness the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28b-36). In this moment of divine revelation, Jesus is transfigured before them, his face dazzling, his clothes radiant, and Moses and Elijah appearing beside him. It is a stunning glimpse of his divinity,…
DetailsAs we step into the first Sunday of Lent, we follow Jesus into the wilderness, where He fasts for forty days and faces three temptations from the devil (Luke 4:1-13). These temptations strike at the very core of identity: “Turn these stones into bread” – The temptation to believe that we are what we do.…
DetailsThis past weekend, I had the privilege, with several members of staff, of attending the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, a gathering that brings together thousands of people from across the country, and the world, to deepen their faith and be inspired for ministry. This year’s theme centered on compassion, a fitting reflection as we…
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