Father Michael's Weekly Reflection

Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." (Jn. 20:19)

This is the Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday. The risen Christ dispels darkness from our hearts and minds. Fear and uncertainty envelop the world today. We desire peace but Christ said we would have struggles; however, we should not fear because he has overcome the world. The peace that Christ gives us does not cancel the uncertainties around us.

Where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more. The light is greater than the darkness. What remains is our own free choice: to choose Christ or abandon ourselves to the circumstances which envelop us. A boy became nauseous while on a ship in the middle of the ocean. The captain asked if the boy knew how to climb. He then instructed the boy to climb to the ship's highest point and look upward. The boy obeyed and his sickness went away. Let us fix our gaze on what's eternal and we won't be so swayed by the anxieties of life.

Questions for Reflection:

• Do I fix my gaze heavenward every day?
• Do I overconsume social media which only agitates my soul and increases my anxiety?
• Do I meditate frequently on the Word of God to guide my path and receive the sacraments frequently to feed my soul?