...by Himself

The Gospel reading for this coming Sunday is the loaves and the fishes.  Jesus directs the disciples to feed the 5,000 and miraculously they do so with only 5 loaves and 2 fish.  A true miracle. 

But the predicate to the miracle is Jesus being broken by the death of John the Baptist early in the reading.  On hearing of John's death, Jesus "withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by Himself".  He was crushed.  But when he saw those in need again, he started healing and performing other miracles.

The point?  Life can suck.  Life can kick the _____ out of us.  Why that is, well, that's above my pay grade.

But the point is to take our hearbreak and make something good out of it.  Whether "God does everything for a reason" depends I suppose on what we mean by that.  

But I will tell you this: I have seen horrible things happen and I have seen good spring from the manure, so to speak.  That's our mission.  Don't discount that we, or anybody else, has just been dealt a horrible hand.  But try to find the strength to ante up and play the next round.

All love and peace.

- The Older Brother 

 

TREASURE KEEPER

Matthew 13: 44-52

O’ Lord, You are the divine steward of creation who watches over Your flock from the celestial heights and with everlasting discernment.

Lord, You remain our legacy custodian who affords us the refuge needed to be safe from the pagan forces of the world.

Praise to the Caretaker of our Souls!

O’ Lord, we rely upon You to be our asset shepherd who safeguards the many secrets that are being kept from our eyes for now.

Lord, You are my treasure keeper who leads me into fields of untold wonders and who will afford me treasures beyond description.

Glory to the Divine Shepherd!

O’ Lord, You remain my prosperity guardian who preserves a perfect existence for future generations to come.

Lord, You rise high above all mortal clerics, many who seek the treasures of a transient world and who possess limited wisdom.

Glory to the Kingpin of Creation!

O’ Lord, You are the curator of wealth beyond any understanding and the keeper of intangible knowledge and wisdom.

Lord, I seek the fortunes of Your throne only, that will adorn my soul with value beyond all comprehension and belief.

Praise to the Tender Remedy!

O’ Lord, You are my inner voice who reminds me that the wealth I seek is not far away in some distant place but rather in my own yard.

Lord, You remain the source of proper direction and infinite determination whose current pushes me toward safe shores.

Glory to the Wonderful Path!

The Pilgrim

 

 

 Gospel Reflection for Sunday July 19, 2026

The temptation for many men is to define ourselves by what we do or by our accomplishments—career success, financial security, providing for others, fixing problems, or earning the respect of those around us.

But Jesus reminds us that our deepest identity is not found in what we achieve, but in who we are becoming. Before we are sons, employees, husbands, fathers, retirees, or leaders, we are - and will always be - beloved sons of God, called to help build His Kingdom.

We are known fully…

loved completely… and

entrusted with unique gifts and talents that reflect the truth of this identity.

Whether just beginning adulthood, raising a family, living the single vocation, caring for aging parents, discerning a future, or enjoying retirement, the invitation is the same: let the our belovedness in Christ shape our hearts.

The Kingdom grows through ordinary acts of faithfulness, which are the seeds we sow:

•           Choosing honesty when no one is watching.

•           Offering forgiveness instead of holding a grudge.

•           Standing up for what is right, even when it’s unpopular.

•           Making time for prayer in the midst of a busy schedule.

•           Serving your parish, your family, your friends, or a neighbor in need.

•           Encouraging someone who is struggling.

 

These moments may seem small, but they are the mustard seeds of which our Lord speaks. They are the yeast that God uses to transform lives—beginning with our own.

We must also be aware that the enemy is sowing alongside our good efforts.  Seeds of discouragement, division, doubt, fear, and indifference threaten to overtake the seeds of the Kingdom.

There is a temptation to be distracted from the sowing the Lord asks us to do and to attempt to remove the weeds planted by the enemy.  But our job is to keep sowing faithfully… God is the Master Gardener and will separate the good from the evil in His perfect timing. We cannot allow the presence of the weeds stop us from sowing good seed.

In a culture that often measures a man’s worth by his title, his income, his possessions, or his accomplishments, Jesus measures something different…

He asks us to be faithful; to plant the seeds - to be faithful in the sowing… and trust the Master Gardener.

The Kingdom of Heaven is built through ordinary men who choose Christ—again and again—in the ordinary moments of everyday life. That quiet, faithful witness may become the very thing God uses to bring hope, healing, and faith to others and to our world.

-Ignar, The Pilgrim Prophet

 

El sembrador

 

 Han pasado más de 40 años pero nunca me olvido. Siempre que considero la parábola del sembrador recuerdo aquella lección que recibí, aquella experiencia inolvidable.

 

Para dar seguimiento al proceso del encuentro nacional para la pastoral lhispana  que había tenido lugar el verano anterior en Washington D.C., se llamó a una unión de líderes Diocesanos de todo el nordeste de los Estados Unidos. La reunión tuvo lugar en la Casa de retiros de los padres Redentoristas en New Jersey. Cada diócesis envió dos o cuatro delegados de acuerdo al tamaño de la diócesis. Fuimos cuatro de la diócesis de Rockville Centre.

 

El tema de la reflexión inicial, oración que nos prepararía para entrar en los trabajos de la conferencia era la parábola del sembrador. Nos dividieron en grupos de ocho personas teniendo cuidado de que fueran de diferentes diócesis.   Y comenzamos a reflexionar.

 

Cada persona explicaba cómo debía sembrar la semilla en la viña que era la

diócesis de dónde procedía... De pronto una persona pidió la palabra y dijo, “ perdonen ustedes quizás yo no tengo derecho a hablar en este grupo porque como le dije al principio, no soy un delegado. Soy sencillamente el chofer que trajo al grupo de mi diócesis. Me dijeron que me uniera a ustedes…Miren, a  mí me parece que el Sembrador es Cristo; no es ninguno de nosotros”.

 

“ gracias te doy, Padre santo, porque has escondido estas cosas de los sabios y entendidos y has tenido bien revelarlas a las personas sencillas. “

 

Desde aquel día nunca jamás me he olvidado que el que siembra es Cristo. Cada uno de nosotros es un instrumento cuya tarea principal es convertirse en buen terreno por la gracia de Dios.  Esa gracia  va a producir en nosotros lo que a su vez se convertirá en tarea evangelizadora.

 

Cristo es el sembrador.  ¿ Y yo, quién soy? ¿ Y tú, quién eres? ¿ Y quien es nuestro prójimo?

 

Por virtud del bautismo, yo soy un hijo bien amado del Padre.  Y tú también lo eres y el próximo también lo es. Somos hijos bien amados del padre.   Todos los delegados a aquella reunión éramos hijos bien amados del padre pero también aquel señor, el chofer, cuyo nombre no recuerdo pero cuyas palabras impactaron el resto de mi vida, era un hijo bien amado del padre.

 

A veces nos cuesta creer que el padre gratuitamente nos ama. Y si cuesta creer que me ama a mí, mucho más va a costar creer que ama a esa persona que yo veo como “diferente”.

 

La parábola del sembrador no necesita explicación porque el propio Jesús explica el significado de esta.  Entender cómo debemos responder a las semillas que planta el sembrador, esto es, como debemos responder a quienes somos y responder a  cada persona que cruza nuestro camino, esa es la tarea de nuestra vida.   Ésa es la llamada, ese es el reto. No es tarea fácil pero sabemos que contamos con la promesa, “ mi gracia te basta “.

 

El caballero de Nuestra Señora

 

Let True Freedom Ring

 Most little children find joy in pleasing their parents.  This probably begins with the reward of the smiling face of the loving parent whenever the infant does something that evokes joy.  The smiling parent then elicits a giggling response from the child.  The child and parent are in a perfect relationship with one another.  In fact, as a parent myself, even now the quarter-of-a century ago memories of such moments with my children fills my heart.

These moments are actually very freeing.  As children, we know we are doing something to please the person or persons whom we trust.  We are in a good relationship with the person who gives us what we need, including food, comfort and safety.  I am at peace with the person who will free me from the captivity of fear.

Of course, as we grow older, our understanding of freedom changes.  We become self-sufficient, or so we think, and we rely less on pleasing those in charge of us.  Think of the teenage and young adult who as they branch out from the family home perceive that happiness comes from the ability to do whatever they please.  The reality is that as we get used to the feel of freedom, we redefine it to fit our needs.  It is then that freedom loses its very essence.

While the Lord does expect us to pick up our crosses, for indeed sacrifice is at the heart of true discipleship, the life of sacrifice, pleasing to God, is not one that leads to misery.  True joy comes from choosing the good.  However, it is not meant purely to put a smile on God’s face. Choosing the good, despite the challenges, brings us true freedom and therefore true happiness.

This weekend, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country’s founding, which is based on freedom, perhaps it is the right time to reflect on how freedom has evolved.  It is time to ask some reflective questions.  In two hundred and fifty years, has this been a place of freedom for all people?  Have we become a people who value the true freedom that allows us and prompts us to choose the good, particularly the good for the other person?  Have we stopped trying to please God and rather developed the idea that freedom only means I must protect my liberty to pursue whatever pleases me, despite the cost to others.

We have many reasons to celebrate this important milestone in our nation’s history.  It is however an important moment to think about where we are collectively in our relationship with God.  For we, who are Christians, must consider how much we have developed in our relationship with the Triune God who is love.  Is ours a selfless or a selfish society?  Do we aim to please our heavenly Father or do we see his call to sacrificial love as a yoke that is just too heavy?  Perhaps we need to become once again like the little ones.  They get this truth.

May God continue to bless these United States of America, not just with material prosperity, but with mercy and love.  A future of living that mercy and love will make us a nation that can change the world.

- The Servant

 

 

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 10: 37-42

 

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me”

 

This is a strange gospel to contemplate coming on the heels of Father’s Day.  I just spent yesterday thinking of how blessed I was to have had a father (and mother) who loved me so much; who sacrificed so much for me.  I spent a lot of time, also, feeling blessed to be a father, not counting the sacrifices I (and my wife) have made for our children, and thinking, further, that I wish I could have done more, sacrificed more.  We are commanded, after all, aren’t we, to “Honor thy father and thy mother?”  Exodus 20:12.

 

So the opening line of this gospel strikes a discordant note.  It doesn’t sit well.  It can’t be right.  Rather than making us think of the fifth commandment it makes us think of when God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his son. Genesis 22.  Harsh.  Difficult.  Sad.  Where in that story, or in the words of today’s gospel, is the peace that Jesus promised?  Where is the divine joy?  The comfort, the hope. 

 

This reading really asks me to dig deep, search within, consider the words from so many angles.  And, with prayer, meditation and contemplation I begin to understand.  Yes,  God’s love for me, and my loving response, means that God comes before all; that no other love – even that for father or mother, makes any sense unless I fully love God.

 

As I quietly pray and meditate, I think of a moment so long ago involving my father.  I must have been about 9 or 10 years old.  My sister had mentioned that there was a new girl in her class and that she and her mother lived down the block.  My parents invited them to come over, to welcome them to the neighborhood.  I recall sitting there at the kitchen table while coffee and cake were being served.  Friendly conversation. I don’t recall too many specifics, but I do recall that the girl’s mother came across as very nice, but with a little bit of an edge.  She was a single mother, trying to get by.  It seemed that life, perhaps, had not been too kind.  She clearly loved and lived for her daughter.  Emphasizing the point she used the phrase that she would “beg, borrow and steal” to make sure she provided for her daughter.  Such is the love of a parent.   After they left my father took a moment to talk to my sister and me.  He specifically mentioned this phrase and how it clearly showed how much this mother loved her daughter.  He reminded us how he would do anything to take care of us, including begging and borrowing.  “But,” he said, “I would never steal.  That would be wrong.  I would be teaching you that stealing, that taking something that belonged to someone else, was ok, that it could be justified.  And that,” he said, “would be worse than doing without.”   He reminded us that God commanded us not to steal, and that to do so, even for what seemed like a good reason, was wrong.  It was a sin.  It did more harm than good.  He stressed that raising us to always do the right thing and to remain faithful to God’s teaching was the most important thing he, as a father, could give his children.

 

And so this difficult passage finally sits well within my heart.  Not because it makes sense on its face; not because I feel a harsh sense of obligation; not out of a sense of reluctant acquiescence.  It sits well because of the words of a father who, so long ago, taught me that love of God comes first.  That only out of a true sense of love for God could he truly love me.

 

“Call Me Ishmael”

 

Will you hide?

In this week’s gospel, Jesus explains the importance of looking past what men think and toward what the Lord says. So many of us struggle with our image and how the world perceives us. That struggle can get in the way of how we live out our faith. The truth is, we need to worry much less about what our peers say. Instead, let’s focus on building our relationship with the Lord.

How has your need to look good gotten in the way of how you follow the Lord? Have you stayed away from the religious conversations at work? Have you been fearful to boldly proclaim that you are a follower of Christ? This gospel calls us to tell the world what we hear in the darkness. What is covered will be uncovered.

I believe that Jesus speaks to each one of us in our own special way. He is always tugging on our heartstrings. Do you listen? Do you give the Lord the attention He deserves? Jesus says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell.” As followers of Christ, we will be tested. The true test isn’t what happens to us—it’s how we respond. Do you turn to your faith and allow God to work in your life, or do you shrink at the first sign of trouble? Do you recognize that if you keep God first in your life, everything else becomes trivial?

I have had so many moments in my life when I thought that things were falling apart. I’d lose my way. I’d begin to worry about what my friends or family were going to say, or how they might react. It takes time, but I always find my way back to where I need to be—in relationship with the Lord, trusting and knowing that He will help me through whatever the challenge is.

This reading is a call to trust in the Lord with all of our heart. Who else are we to trust? Who else has the hairs on our head numbered? We are called to let go and let God. Letting go doesn’t mean giving up. It means giving our hearts to the Lord and declaring ourselves for Him. That is when He will declare Himself for us. How will you respond to your next test? Will you hide behind the opinions of men, or boldly proclaim that Jesus is your Savior?

 

 

PSALM OF LAMENTATION

John 6: 51-58

O Lord, as I come to You in the mystery of Your body and blood I lay in the silence of the night and filled with veiled uncertainty.

Lord, why must we be subject to such injustices of social order that divide mankind rather than

Know the fraternity You expect?

Glory to the Discipline of my Heart!

O’ Lord, I am surrounded by men who are acting like hungry wolves lurking in the shadows and who seek to prey on the weak and defenseless.

Lord, many continue to promote vengeance and intolerance by banning their neighbors from a community which is meant to be harmonious. 

Praise to the God of Mutual Cooperation!

O’ Lord, You remain the Living water and Divine sustenance who patiently watches over the dark scenarios of this world.

Lord, help us to refute the darkness that seeks to destroy Your children and to fight the noble fight against such terrors.

Glory to the Spirit of Might!

O’ Lord, do You really hear my cry for justice and redress or am I simply crying out into an empty  space? 

Lord, I am weaker than I care to admit and need You desperately in my life to restore order and hope to my spirit.

Praise to Jehovah Rapha!

O’ Lord, the love of money and power continues to pervert the world and remain the religious mammon of many here.

Lord, I have more questions than answers that also abound in the shadows and that plague me in the silence of the night.

Glory to the God of Action & Moral Clarity!

O’ Lord, how much longer must we wait until reparations are made and before man’s petulance is laid to rest?

Lord, the cycle of greed and hatred grow exponentially and continue to infest our communities.

Praise to Jehovah Nissi!

O’ Lord, we have nowhere else to run but into Your arms as we battle with the desires of the flesh, while holding onto the desires of above.

Lord, comfort us as we struggle to be more in line with the Gospel and attributes grounded in kindness, integrity, respect, and acceptance.

Glory to the Divine Benefactor!

                                                                                      The Pilgrim

 

“God so loved the world…”

Our heavenly Father did not abandon the world, did not condemn it... He loved it enough to enter it completely... to dwell among wounds, fears, violence, and death in order to restore life.

And life is sacred!

It is sacred because every person is first held in the gaze of God before they are judged by the world. The unborn child, the refugee crossing borders, the lonely teenager, the exhausted parent, the prisoner, the dying man in hospice, the poor — all are carried within the immeasurable love revealed in Christ. Our task is to “see all things new in Christ,” to notice where human dignity is ignored and where God still labors quietly for healing.

Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but to save it. This does not mean evil is ignored; it means mercy is stronger. A faithful witness refuses both cruelty and indifference. We must not proclaim the Gospel through domination or fear, but through presence, compassion, truth, courage, and love.

This love for the world reminds us too that peace is sacred.

Christ enters violent hearts and teaches another way — the way of reconciliation, encounter, and radical hope. The cross itself becomes the great contradiction against hatred: love stretched open even for those who rejected it by the God “who so loved the world” and calls us to love our neighbors because...

Our neighbors are sacred.

No one stands outside the reach of divine love. In every encounter, we are challenged to ask: How is Christ already present here? The neighbor is often the place where Christ waits for us. If we claim to love God while despising another made in the divine image, we close our eyes to the very Gospel we claim to believe.

God sent his Son into the world, so that the world might be saved through him... no condemnation for the world, but transformation within it. The disciple is called to be a witness: protecting life, making peace, feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, speaking truth without hatred, and resisting the temptation to reduce people to categories, politics, or usefulness.

The Church walks forward carrying this difficult but beautiful conviction: life is sacred, peace is sacred, our neighbors are sacred, because God so loved the world and still does!

And so we pray, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, for the grace not to believe these words and to embody them — in workplaces, classrooms and kitchens, at parish tables and public meetings, in silence, in service, and in the hidden choices of ordinary days.

For God so loves the world, that sends us out in the name of Jesus, to continue the transformation... THIS is who we are!

-Ignar, The Pilgrim Prophet

 

El Huésped del alma

 

Este próximo domingo la iglesia celebra la gran fiesta de Pentecostés,el espíritu consolador prometido por Jesús una vez que él se marchara a la casa del Padre.

 

El libro de los hechos de los apóstoles narra la venida del Espíritu Santo sobre los apóstoles. Una vez fortalecidos por la presencia del espíritu Santo en cada uno de ellos, salieron del cenáculo donde estaban reunidos en oración, la primera novena en la iglesia, y llevaron la buena noticia al mundo.

 

¿ Quién es el Espíritu Santo para ti?  Durante mis años de estudiante de escuela superior, los religiosos Marianistas que eran mis profesores, nos instruyeron sobre la presencia del espíritu Santo en nuestra alma. Por virtud del bautismo cada uno de nosotros se convierte en hijo muy amado del Padre y templo del espíritu Santo. Esa enseñanza fue una gracia de Dios para mí y para mis compañeros de clase.

Desde entonces en mi camino espiritual, he tratado de estar consciente de la presencia del huésped que habita en mi corazón y mi alma; Vivir en la presencia de Dios. No puedo decir que siempre he estado consciente de esta realidad. Éste es el trabajo de una vida entera. Vivir en la presencia de Dios es el reto más grande de todo el que desea vivir la vida cristiana plenamente.

 

En los momentos difíciles, en los momentos de enfrentar una prueba, o una crisis, trató  de recordar la presencia del consolador en mi alma y solicitar su ayuda. No se trata de pedir algo y esperar que suceda como si fuera magia. Se trata de sentir que no estamos solos, que el consolador está a nuestro lado, que no nos abandona.

 

El año pasado en Santa Brígida se nos invitó a que, como los Apóstoles, Hiciéramos una novena en preparación para la gran fiesta de Pentecostés y se nos proporcionó un libreto a tal fin. Conservo el libreto y lo he vuelto a usar este año.  Termino esta reflexión con la oración con que comenzamos la novena todos los días. Su autor es San Agustín.  Te invito a que le digas a menudo.

 

Respira en mi, oh espíritu Santo,

Para que todos mis pensamientos sean santos

Actúa en mí, o espíritu Santo

Para que también mi trabajo sea santo

Abre mi corazón, o espíritu Santo

Para que yo ame solamente lo que es santo

Fortaléceme, oh espíritu Santo

Para defender todo lo que es santo.

Guárdame, o espíritu Santo

Para que siempre seas santo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mount Rushmore Can't Hold Him

 You know when I was a kid, I remember I had a children’s bible.  It was full of pictures.  I loved paging through the bible, looking at the different scenes, particularly those in the Gospels of Jesus doing great things, and even the picture of him on the cross and of the empty tomb.  It was so fascinating to me.  There was even a picture of the scene we had this week.  I remember Jesus ascending into the clouds.  I remember thinking, as a child, that was kind of the end of the story.  In my child’s understanding, I figured Jesus was only present for a certain time and then he went away.  Then as a sort of consolation prize, he sent the Holy Spirit to keep the Apostles company and to help them remember Jesus.

In that way of thinking, the Gospel story is like any other child’s story.  There is a beginning and an end.  And we want to say, 'And they all lived happily ever after.'  In that childlike understanding of the story of our savior, Jesus came to save us, and he died on the cross, and some people told stories about him rising from the dead.  And then he ascended into heaven and resides in some far-off place, distant from us, and we are left with the Holy Spirit to remind us about him.   And then some two thousand years later, people remember this great preacher and miracle worker who lived a long time ago and is simply a model for what we should do.

You see that understanding of the Gospel very simply makes Jesus a nice historical figure.  It relegates Jesus to the many historical figures that we remember.  In our own country, we recall the likes of Abraham Lincoln and Neil Armstrong and Amelia Earhart.  So often we make Jesus into one famous historical figure among many.  We make our faith simply into following someone who was great and someone we should imitate.  We put Jesus into a far-off place in a far-off time.  We think being a disciple of Jesus simply means when we have a challenge, we should just ask, “What would Jesus do?”  And yes, it is a good practice to see Jesus as a model on how to live.  After all Jesus shows us how to be fully human, but we can’t limit him to a mere historical figure, for that says his ministry was for only basically a few years in a time long gone and in a far-off place.

Jesus ascended to heaven not to take his place on the Mount Rushmore of famous religious figures.  As the head, Jesus went to rule over the rest of his body.  The body, the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ has still very much been doing his ministry for two thousand years and will continue doing it both now and forever.

- The Servant

 

Sixth Sunday of Easter

John 14: 15-21

 

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

 

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

How many times when I was a child did my mother tell me, in not so many words, “If you love me, you will listen to what I say.”?  Oh, she never made her love conditional.  On the contrary, whenever I was scolded, or reprimanded or punished she would always make it a point to tell me that she was doing so because she loved me.  That she wanted me to be safe from harm. She wanted me to grow up right and be happy.  She wanted me to become a good person.  The implication was always, “If you listen to what I tell you, it means that you know how much I love you.”

 

Jesus’ words today may sound conditional, but we know they are not.   Jesus’ words are my mother’s words, “I love you so much that I want you to listen to what I say, to obey my commandments, so that you will grow up right, so that you will happy and peaceful, and that your life will be a witness to the Father’s glory.”

 

As a child it may have been enough to listen to mom (and dad) simply because I was told to.  Being a “good boy” certainly saved a lot of hassle.  But knowing that mom and dad’s instructions and admonitions were the product of their love made such a difference.  It led me to something much deeper than mere obedience.  Knowing how much I was loved was the greatest gift I could ever receive from them and has made me the person I am today.  (Oh, I have way too many faults, but, on balance, I’m happy with the person I see in the mirror.) So too with Jesus.

 

I can call myself a good follower of Christ if I obey Jesus’ commandments simply because he told me to.  But in just checking off that box I’d be missing the point.  I would be obeying out of a sense of obligation, not out of love. I would not be fully embracing His love for me, and, as a result, I would not be allowing Him to transform me. 

 

We know the old adage:  My life is Gods gift to me.  What I do with my life is my gift to God.

 

It’s as simple as that.  Obeying Jesus’ commandments is the best way for me to say, “I love you, too, Jesus.”

 

 

“Call Me Ishmael”

 

Love and Trust.

 In this week's gospel, John 14:1-12, Jesus reassures the disciples that he is who he says he is.

Jesus says to them, "Do not let your hearts be troubled." Jesus wanted the disciples to know that they were ready for the next chapter of this story. They had some doubts about what Jesus was going to do next and needed to have their faith strengthened. That's exactly what he did. He explained that in "his father's house there are many dwelling places…" These statements were God's way of making it clear to them that the disciples were already in God's hands. I think we have all needed the reassurance that we were in God's hands every now and then. We have had those moments where we just wish we had a clear sign that everything was going to be ok.

There have been so many seasons in my life where I wasn't sure if what I wished for was going to happen. Living with uncertainty takes tremendous faith. We are called to have faith in something not seen. Jesus was calling the disciples to believe that he wasn't going to just leave them. He had a plan. All he wanted was trust. Still they questioned him. Thomas said, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus responds powerfully, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." This exchange between Jesus and the disciples is one of my favorites. The disciples just want to be sure. They want a definite answer to calm their nerves. That's exactly what Jesus gives them when He says, "I am the way." He is the answer to all of the questions. He is the certainty when you don't have it.

How many times have you been just like the disciples? How many times have you asked God for what you already have? You know that God will never leave you in a position that isn't right for you. No matter what you are going through, deep down you know that God will never let you down. Sure, there will be pain. Sure, there will be suffering, but it is always God's will. Still we question. We ask for more signs. The truth is that we do not need any more signs. We need to trust. We need to know who the Father is. We need to wake up every day with the understanding that the will of God is the only thing that we can count on. Our will isn't enough. That's exactly why we question. Remember that when you want certainty, there is only one answer. Today's Gospel is a reminder that we may question the plan, but the answer is and will always be the same. Trust the Lord.

How dense can I be?

 The Gospel reading for tomorrow is John 10:1-10.  Jesus explains that He is the gate to the Kingdom of Heaven.  I love this reading because I can be like the Pharisees at times - not opening my mind to the most direct lessons Jesus wants to teach me.  

In the reading, Jesus explains to them the metaphor of the sheep going through the gate to reach salvation, but they do not understand.  So, He explains it again, saying, "I am the gate for the sheep.  All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate.  Whoever enters through me will be saved."

I picture Jesus pulling out poster board and markers and sketching out what he is trying to say, with arrows and labels, a little bit frustrated.  Those Pharisees were a little slow on the update.  And so can I be.  

Jesus' messages are simple.  We complicate them.  The whole of the message of the Gospel can be summed up with today's reading and Matthew 22: 37-39, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"   

Can you imagine what the world would be like if people internalized and acted according to these two passages?  Almost too sad to contemplate.

So it's simple.  All the theology.  All the councils over the millenia.  All of the beautiful and well-intentioned work of creating the Cathechism.  The countless heartfelt sermons by priests and preachers who devote their lives to God.  And it's really rather simple.  Just so often we don't follow what we have been taught. 

Our job then: to realize how straightforward it is to walk through the gate.  Not easy, but straightforward.  Let's try not to be as thick-headed as the Pharisees.

Peace be with you.

- The Older Brother

 

The Great Reveal

Luke 24: 13-35 (Third Sunday of Easter)

O’ Lord, You are my salvation and the great reveal who protects me from enemies who seek to breach my fortress.

Lord, instill in  me a devotion that never yields, a faith that spreads like a sunrise percolating from the horizon.

Praise to the Wonderful Mystery!

O’ Lord, as peace retreats from this place redirect us back to the Source of all kindness and prosperity.

Lord, it is only You that can restore us to divine sanity and who can redirect us back to our Heavenly destination.

Glory to the Anonymous Yeshua!

O’ Lord, it is impossible to know the depths of Your love for I can only taste it through Your son’s mercy and sacrifice.

Lord, You remain the affirmation of Truth revealed and my anticipation to know You grows more intensely each day.

Glory to the Good News!

O’ Lord, Your anonymous reveal inspires many to forge a quest rooted in charity, peace, integrity, and love.

Lord, the upper room of my heart is a place that impatiently awaits to hear You say, “Peace be unto you.”

Glory to the God of Deliverance!

O’ Lord, my legs are giving out and I have become exhausted by the journey, needing to sleep and rest.

Lord, there is so much more to learn from You and I am ready for the lessons that await me.

Praise to the Divine Harvester!

O’ Lord, more days have passed than remain, so please increase in me a desire to know You more completely.

Lord, You are Messiah Yeshua whose resurrection promise prevails and reveals itself in simple and random acts of kindness.

Praise to the Inherent Victory!

                                                                                      The Pilgrim

 Gospel Reflection 4/12/26

My brothers,

We are a people surrounded by constant noise: arguments without listening, endless news cycles- telling us what to hold true; opinions that become weapons.

We hear speak of red, white, and blue being “great again” as if that matters more than the cross on which hung our salvation- Jesus – the words He spoke and the example He invited us to follow.

We no longer make an effort to gain broader insights and remain happy staying in our narrow views of reality.

We fear differences in skin color, language, and culture, forgetting that there is one creator – and He calls it ALL “very good.”

We are weary; exhausted by the strain of a divided country – communities fractured by mistrust and violence, people of all ages struggling with anxiety and depression, a world filled with conflict and war, and we have a longing that no connection seems to fill.

We have learned how to respond to protect our “tribes” but fail miserably at communicating. We do not listen. We see silence as failure and have failed to master stillness, where we can find union with the God who calls us beloved and offers us rest.

We have advanced so much since the days of the first disciples and still we are not so different from them - locked behind doors, afraid of what may be outside, uncertain of the future.

Yet—He comes – not into a calm world, but into a world bound by fear, confusion, and doubt.

He comes through those locked doors that bind us, into the chao and says: “Peace be with you.”

This is not the peace of winning an argument, of “being right.” Nor is it the peace of everything going our way, nor the peace of control.

It’s the kind of peace that can exist in a divided nation, and even in a restless heart.

He shows us His wounds and we must not look away! In a world that hides weakness, He reveals it. In a culture that avoids pain, He gives us an example. In a people who are quick to judge, He offers mercy.

Why do we continue to try to hide our wounds as if they would disqualify us?

“Thomas doubted, and was not rejected. He questioned, and was invited closer. He reached toward the wounds, and found faith there.”

Thomas was not disqualified and we are not either! Jesus asks us to share our doubts, questions, and struggles with Him so that He can reveal Himself for us – just as He did for Thomas.

We must stop thinking we are unworthy, but more so, we must stop treating one another as enemies and believing that fear will save us. We must stop waiting for certainty before we choose to love.

This nation will not heal by shouting louder. Our communities will not be restored by locking doors.

Peace begins in hearts willing to be transformed.

We are blessed, not because we have all the answers, but because we are willing to believe that something greater than division is possible.

We ask for signs and demand proof. We measure, compare, defend. But faith was never meant to be transactional.

Faith requires an encounter. Peace offered. Mercy extended. Love granted as an invitation from the heart.

The doors we lock do not keep Him out, but keep us trapped.

So let’s open them!

And notice: He is already standing amongst us, speaking peace into the very places we thought were too broken, too conflicted, too volatile to heal.

-Ignar, the Pilgrim Prophet

 

 

OUTCAST & KING

Sunday 5 April Easter Sunday of the Resurrection

O’ Lord, You are the beatific vision available to all – the outcast and king of humanity.

Lord, You are the man-God and the perfect example of suffering and victory.

Glory to the King of Kings!

O’ Lord, although the object of mockery and malfeasance, You chose benevolence and integrity.

Lord, help me to model Your ways as I walk toward Emmaus discerning the unimaginable.

Praise to the Tender Remedy!

O’ Lord, You remain forever the “promised fulfilled” who fulfilled a selfless quest.

Lord, afford us the ability to discern Your presence in every possible moment of this life.

Glory to the Risen Christ!

O’ Lord, the great wonders of mercy You performed were simply a precursor to those coming.

Thank you for rescuing this weary traveler from an outcome too much to bear.

Praise to the Mantle of Compassion!

                                                                                      The Pilgrim & the Knight of Our Lady

Lent Must Lead to Holy Week

It seems like yesterday that we began our Lenten journey on Ash Wednesday. We come now to the reason for that journey - Holy Week, including the Sacred Triduum (the Sacred Three Days). It is for what we have been preparing. Beginning this Sunday, as we celebrate Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, to his giving himself in the Eucharist at the Last Supper, to the events of his Passion and Death on Good Friday, to his glorious Resurrection, when he conquered sin and death for each of us, we get to experience the very essence of our lives.

Holy Week gives us the opportunity to go on a pilgrimage with the Lord through these very real events of our salvation. Each of the liturgies throughout the week draws us into these actual moments. These are not fictional stories to teach us a lesson, but rather the true story that has allowed us to live in the hope of eternal life.

It is easy to allow Holy Week to pass by as just another yearly ritual. This would be an opportunity wasted. Yes, God-willing, there will be many more Holy Weeks in our lives but think about what we wouldn't have if it wasn't for Holy Week.

So where are each of us at this moment?  This Sunday starts Holy Week 2026.  We are nearing the finish line of our Lenten marathon.  For some of us, it may seem like a sprint.  In a blink of an eye, we went from having ashes imposed on our foreheads to preparing to wave palm branches again, recalling Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  In between then and now, many of us tried different things to boost our spiritual life. We tried adding prayer time.  We fasted from some of the many things that distract us from who should be the top priority of our lives.  For some, it helped us lose weight, for others it preserved some battery life on our phones. Hopefully, everyone had some experience that brought them closer to the Lord.  

However, it would all be wasted if we ignored Holy Week.  Lent is not meant to merely be a self-help program, designed to better our lives.  While it has that potential, it should never leave us feeling we can accomplish our well-being purely on our own.  Lent should remind us that we need a savior and most importantly that we have a savior.

Lent is meant to draw us into the events of Holy Week.  Even if we feel like we dropped the ball many times this Lent, those disappointments are reality checks of our need for a savior.  We had ashes placed on foreheads not as sign or strength, but as an acknowledgment of our weaknesses.

It is time to place ourselves in the story of Holy Week.  This is not a fictional story but a story of true events, which shows us the most important Truth of our lives.  We are not left for orphans but have been saved by the God who loves us. No matter how you assess your Lenten journey, it is time to connect with the most important week in human history. 

- The Servant