A Jesuit Adventure

  My dear friends, today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter in Year A. The readings invite us to listen carefully—to a voice that calls us to repentance, strengthens us in suffering, and leads us to true life. They remind us that in the midst of confusion and many voices, only one voice truly leads us home—Jesus Christ. The first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles takes place on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, shortly after the resurrection of Jesus. The disciples, once afraid after the crucifixion, are now filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter boldly declares that Jesus, whom they crucified, has been made “Lord and Messiah” by God. It confronts the people with the truth, but it is not meant to condemn them. Instead, it invites them to recognize God’s action in Jesus. His words “cut to the heart,” showing that true preaching touches the conscience and leads to inner change. The people respond with an important question: “What should we do?” Peter’s answer is simple—r...

  My dear friends, today we celebrate Easter—the victory of life over death and hope over despair. The empty tomb is not just a sign that Jesus has risen, but a reminder that God is still at work, bringing new life even from our darkest moments. As we reflect on today’s readings, we are invited not only to believe in the Resurrection, but to live it and share it with the world. The first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles is set at a turning point in the early Church. Peter is speaking in the house of Cornelius, a Gentile. Until this moment, many believers thought the message of Jesus was only for the Jewish people. But here, Peter realizes something new: God’s salvation is for everyone . This event opens the Church to all nations and marks a major shift in Christian mission. Peter begins with a powerful insight: “God shows no partiality.” In simple words, God does not favor one group over another. His love is open to all—rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, saint or sinner. ...

  My dear friends, on this Good Friday, we stand at the foot of the cross, witnessing the mystery of suffering, love, and salvation. Today’s readings invite us to see beyond pain and failure, and to recognize God’s saving work unfolding even in the darkest moment. As we reflect on the Passion of Jesus, we are challenged to ask: how do we respond to the cross in our own lives? The first reading taken from the prophet Isaiah comes from the time of the Babylonian Exile , when the people of Judah were suffering, confused, and questioning God. This passage, known as the “Suffering Servant Song,” was meant to give hope—that their suffering was not meaningless, and that God was still at work. This powerful passage describes a servant who suffers deeply—rejected, wounded, and even killed—yet through his suffering, others are healed and saved. At first, people misunderstand him. They think he is punished by God, but later they realize: he was suffering for them . On Good Friday, Christian...

  My dear friends, tonight as we celebrate Holy Thursday, we enter one of the most sacred moments of the Christian year and begin the Paschal Triduum, remembering the night Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples. The Book of Exodus tells the story of the Israelites who were enslaved in Egypt for many years. God called Moses to lead them out of slavery into freedom. Before their liberation, God sent the final plague upon Egypt. On that night, God gave the Israelites special instructions for a sacred meal called the Passover. Each family had to sacrifice a lamb, place its blood on the doorposts of their house, and eat the meal together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. When the Lord passed through Egypt, the houses marked with the blood of the lamb would be spared. This night marked the beginning of Israel’s freedom and became a yearly remembrance of God’s saving action. In today’s passage, God gives very clear instructions. The lamb must be without blemish, and its bl...

Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14—27:66 My dear friends, today we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. Palm Sunday places before us a striking contrast — joyful procession and painful Passion, loud “Hosannas” and the heavy silence of betrayal. As we listen to today’s readings, we are invited to walk closely with Jesus on the path of humble obedience and faithful love. Today’s first reading comes from the Servant Songs of Second Isaiah, written during Israel’s exile in Babylon. The people were tired, discouraged, and burdened by suffering. In this setting, the prophet speaks of the Servant of the Lord — one who listens closely to God, speaks words of hope, and remains faithful even when obedience leads to pain. For Christians, this Servant clearly points to Jesus. The Servant begins by saying that God has given him “the tongue of a teacher,” so that he may sustain the weary with a word. This tells us that his words are not self-made; they come from listening. His ...

 22 Mar Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11, John 11:1-45 My dear friends, on this Fifth Sunday of Lent in Year A, as we draw closer to Holy Week, today’s readings invite us to reflect on God’s power to restore and renew us. Even when hope feels buried. Even when faith feels fragile. The prophet Ezekiel spoke to the people of Israel during the time of the Babylonian Exile in the 6th century BC. Jerusalem had been destroyed, the Temple was gone, and the people felt abandoned, hopeless, and cut off from God. They described themselves as dry bones. Lifeless. Without a future. In this dark moment, God speaks through Ezekiel words of promise and restoration. In the reading, God promises to open the graves of His people and bring them back to life. This is not about individual resurrection alone, but about the restoration of Israel as a community. God assures them that exile is not the end. By placing His Spirit within them, God will give them new life and bring them back to their own land. ...