​When I read today’s first reading, it seems like the early church was living in this dream world. Everyone was so generous and got along, and everyone had exactly what they needed. So when and where did things change? Why doesn’t this seem to be the same world and church we are living in today? 

In a world filled with tragedy and suffering, from Notre Dame to Sri Lanka and beyond, it can be hard to see the Holy Spirit at work as he was in the early church. We need to invite the Holy Spirit back into our communities, our families, and our hearts. When we lay down all that we have and all that we are and all that we long to be at the foot of the cross, then the work of transformation begins. This transformation is not always easy, but with the Holy Spirit, we find greater unity not only in our community but also in our own hearts. With greater surrender comes greater freedom. 

This Easter season is a beautiful time to unleash the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The early church was not just a “dream world;” it was living the reality and beauty of the truth of the resurrection, which Christ invites us to live in each and every day.

While I know, practically speaking, there is no magical pill to fix the problems and suffering which our world is facing today, I firmly that with the Holy Spirit we can begin to find the peace and freedom which Christ offers each one of us. Let’s get back to our roots and look to the early church not as an unattainable reality but as the truth for which we were created and are continually striving.

What sticks out to me about the early church that I desire for my own life?

How often do I invite the Holy Spirit into my communities (family, friends, etc.)?

How can I model the beauty of the church in my life this Easter?

"Come, Holy Spirit!"

"Help me surrender."

"Jesus, transform our world."

Find time today to pray within your community- whether that be your friend group, your parish, or your family. Begin to model the church in your life!

In a few weeks I am getting married, and one of the first things my fiancée and I began to plan together once we’d gotten engaged was our honeymoon. We knew that we would have to get to the important details around paperwork, marriage preparation, booking the caterer, looking for suits and dresses, and everything else that goes into planning for a wedding, but we couldn’t resist starting with planning our dream vacation together for after our wedding. One thing that I knew I did not want was to travel somewhere that I did not speak the language! Once when I was travelling with my class in high school we were in a country that only spoke Spanish, and although I didn’t know a single word, I did know a little bit of french. Well, French didn’t help me very much when our class was out at a restaurant and I confidently ordered dessert for myself and all the classmates at my table. The waiter looked at me funny, but I insisted I knew what I was doing. After a few minutes of waiting for our ice cream to arrive, the waiter dropped off four bowls of cream of cheese soup!

Few things are more frustrating than trying to communicate with somebody but not understanding the language. When I was young I often felt like me and my parents were speaking different languages, even though we were both speaking English. In my life, I often have a hard time understanding the way God is working, or what he is trying to say to me; it’s as if we’re speaking different languages.

I think that experience is what Nicodemus is going through with Jesus in the passage from today’s Gospel. No matter how much he tries to understand, it’s as if he and Jesus are just speaking different languages. Jesus says, “unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God” and Nicodemus responds, “How can a man once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot re-enter his mother's womb.”

Nicodemus is speaking about the flesh, Jesus is speaking about the Spirit.

​Nicodemus is speaking about what’s possible for man, Jesus is speaking about what’s possible with God.
​
Nicodemus is thinking terms of earthly, natural things, Jesus is trying to help him think in terms of heavenly, supernatural things.

Jesus is trying to show Nicodemus something we all need to be reminded of from time to time: Entering the kingdom of heaven is not natural, it’s supernatural. The salvation Jesus brings is a pure gift from God that totally exceeds our natural abilities. If you rely on yourself, your own wisdom, your strength, your intelligence, it can’t be done. If you rely on Jesus, all things are possible. By my own strength I stumble and fall easily and often, but with God’s strength I can accomplish great things.

Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Will you listen when He speaks? Will you let Him teach you a whole new way of thinking in His love, and a whole new language of love?

Have you ever felt like God was speaking a different language to you? What did you do about it?

​How can you better listen to God?

How can you listen and let God love you?

"My sheep hear my voice."

"Help me love you Lord." 

"Help me listen and understand."

Do you know your love language? The love language tests helps you understand how you give and receive love. Take the test then pray about how you can use your new understanding to love God and others better.

Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).

​Happy Divine Mercy Sunday! 

Occurring each year on the Sunday after Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday was put in place by the late Pope John Paul II in . 

I chose the Psalm to reflect on today because it explicitly focuses on God’s mercy and how it is never-ending—a core message of the Divine Mercy teaching. The Psalm comes from chapter 118, and we will specifically focus on the first four verses: 

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
His mercy endure forever. 
Let Israel say: 
His mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Aaron say, 
His mercy endures forever. 
Let all those who fear the Lord say, 
His mercy endures forever. 

The Psalmist’s repetition of the phrase “His mercy endures forever” emphasizes the importance of the teaching and show how it continues—even for readers today. A similar Bible passage that reiterates this message is Lamentations 2:23 “The Lord’s acts of mercy are not exhausted, his compassion is not spent.”

Both verses point out that God’s mercy does not and cannot run out—ever. This theological point is illustrated beautifully in the Divine Mercy image. The image was presented in a vision to St. Faustina, a saint from the early 20th century who received messages from Jesus throughout her life. Check out the phone background at the bottom of the post for reference of what the image looks like. 

In this image, rays of light are coming out of Jesus’ hands, representing his mercy flowing out to all of us. Jesus told St. Faustina to have this image painted, and for the last hundred or so years, Christians have taken solace in praying with the image and being reminded of God’s infinite mercy. I would encourage you to make the image below your phone background and reflect on this truth throughout the week. 

As a last point of consideration, St. Faustina also famously conveyed this message from Jesus to the world: “The greater the sinner, the greater right they have to my mercy”.

I hope this good news brings you joy and energy. No matter how sinful or guilty we ever fear, we should no longer worry if God still loves and cares for us. The lower we are or feel, the greater the right we have to God’s ever-available, inexhaustible mercy. 

These questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today.

Where in my life am I in need of God's mercy? 

To whom can I show God's mercy?

How will I better embrace God's mercy in this Easter season?

In this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord.

"Jesus, I trust you."

"Lord, have mercy."

​"His mercy endures forever."

In light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today?

Take some time to pray with God's mercy, whether it's reading the writings of St. Faustina, or going to Confession, or praying the divine mercy chaplet.

Observing the boldness of Peter and John
and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men,
the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed

Are you and I okay being common and ordinary? One of the most beautiful parts of the Acts of the Apostles in my opinion is this moment. Peter and John are being questioned before the leaders of the temple because, while walking into the temple, they told a man who was crippled in the name of Jesus to walk. After Peter responds to their questioning, they are amazed! Why are they amazed? They're amazed at what Peter says, but even more so at who it was that said, for Peter was a simple, regular, uneducated fisherman. 

Think about the things this common fisherman has done in this store. He had the boldness to say in the name of Jesus to a crippled man that he was healed. He stood before the leaders of the temple and amazed them with his words. He is leading a brand new church founded by God who became man and entrusted the whole thing to him. 

If Peter and John are common and ordinary – and they are, or they were before Jesus put them in places and situations they would've never imagined – that is good news for you and I. Sharing the power, the love, and the truth of Jesus isn't left for the extraordinary and the educated. No, sharing the truth of Jesus and bringing his love to those who need it is for you and I just as it was for Peter. 

Today and every day, let's act in the boldness of Peter and John, remembering that Jesus is with us and proclaiming him to those we meet. Don't wait until you feel like you have it together or know the answers – Jesus is with you, and through you he wants to reach the world. 

What does the boldness of Peter and John look like in your life? 

How is God calling you today to share his love with those you meet and those in your family and friends, even if it's difficult and they'll know you are simply common and uneducated?

Jesus longs to live in your life – this Easter, how are you growing in your relationship with the Resurrected Jesus? Where do you see God moving closer to you right now in your life?

"I am common and uneducated."

"Work in my life."

"Jesus you are enough."

Take at least one opportunity today to share Jesus' love with someone that you meet or know by loving and caring for them and, if asked, actually telling them about who God is and your love for him.