Ever since Holy Saturday Evening, we have been encountering the risen Christ. Everywhere we look, we see signs of Him. Every day at Mass, we hear of his appearances to His Apostles and Disciples and have come to believe that the tomb was really empty.

But, there are people in the world today that do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus, or those who have chosen to ignore it. And so we come together as a parish this weekend to be strengthened in our worship of God because you see, we see the Risen Christ! We can touch Him!

We can testify together to this Truth that Jesus is alive and dwells among us. We look to this Altar and say like Peter, “It is the Lord.”

My friends, we come here every weekend to encounter the Lord Jesus, Who died and rose again in a very personal way. When we experience Him in the Eucharistic Bread, our lives are changed; they are lifted up, expanded, spilling over with love.

And so Jesus asks us, “Do you love me” more than material things? Then teach others to do the same. “Do you love me more” than your self? Then teach others to do the same. “Do you love me” enough to give me away to others who need me? Tend my sheep.

Jesus is alive and lives among us. Be bold in your witness like the Apostles who were ordered to stop speaking in the name of Jesus but continued anyway and they rejoiced that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of His Name.

You can do it! You encounter Jesus, take Him with you and give Him away to those who need Him! He is risen, Alleluia!

“The splendor of Christ risen from the dead has shone on the people redeemed by His blood, Alleluia.” (Antiphon from Easter’s Morning Prayer)  May we continue to live the transformation that we have experienced in our lives  during this past Lenten Season.  Let us continue to release the Divine Presence through our actions.  Jesus is alive in us, the people of Mother of Divine Providence Parish.  ALLELUIA!

Today marks the beginning of a holy week of remembrance. Through the Scripture, Song and Sacred Ritual, we  commemorate Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. Our journey to God leads us now to the gates of Jerusalem where ‘Jesus emptied Himself and accepted death on a cross.’ We come to this time and place, open to the wonders  of the power of Christ’s death; a power that brings new life to those who have lost hope, a home to the confused, and healing to those who suffer.

We find encouragement on this journey from the Gospels. The Pope said this morning, we should “not be men and women of sadness: a Christian can never be sad! Never give way to discouragement! Ours is not a joy that comes from having many possessions, but from having encountered a Person: Jesus, from knowing that with Him we are never alone!”

We are meeting Jesus on His Way through Jerusalem. He is here for a purpose: to be proclaimed a King. But, what kind of King? Jesus is a King who is humbled, who suffers, who will be sacrificed.

As we walk along this road with Him we come to understand our own frailties and see in His poverty a heart still young and strong, fired with love for us. We will watch Him fall three times and in each fall see in ourselves an opportunity to rise again and keep on walking, close to the cross, like Simon the Cyrene.

My dear friends, this is the moment to draw out of our busy lives the love we have for Jesus; to feel our hearts pumping with the excitement of knowing the person of Jesus; of seeing in faces around us a need to be cared for, an encouraging word, a simple towel with which to wipe their faces.

Take these moments of holy week and savor them, for they are, in each minute, a love song for you to offer the God Who is ever present in your life and wishes only that you love Him in return.

“Christ’s cross embraced with love does not lead to sadness, but to joy! The joy of being saved and doing a little bit what He did that day of His death.” (Francis, Pontiff)

With young hearts that “never grow old,” “let us welcome the Lord as He comes, with songs and hymns, let us run to meet Him, as we offer Him our joyful worship and sing: ‘Blessed be the Lord.” (Canticle Antiphon)

During the Lenten Season as we pray, fast and give alms. These are days in which grace is in abundance.  We just need to reflect on  this Sunday’s Gospel of the Prodigal Son to see this reality.  The father says to the older son — “My son, you are with me always, and everything I have is yours.”  Imagine these words being spoken to you.   St. Paul tells us that “every blessing in the heavens is ours”.  So now, how do we use this abundance of grace?  Allow this grace to be the force behind your pray and actions.  This week, let us pray for and assist with alms the people of the Dominican Republic.

Country Spotlight:  Dominican Republic   In the Dominican Republic 42% of the population currently lives below the poverty line.  Catholic Social Teaching: Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers  —  The opportunity of work to earn a living is a right of all people.  All workers have the right to a fair wage, to organize themselves and to work in good conditions.  How CRS helped: CRS has developed Savings and International Leading Communities which is a methodology to target the poorest populations who lack access to formal financial services and who are often overlooked by major micro-finance institutions.  Reflection Question:  A common human reaction may be to be judgmental of other’s neediness.  How can we strive to go beyond our own biases or prejudices toward the poor and hungry?

As we come to the third week of Lent, our Lectio Divina sessions give us time to pray over the scripture and reflect on the barren fig tree.  The gardener allows for one more year so that the fig tree can be nurtured, pruned and cultivated so that it will produce good fruit.  Lent is that time for us.  The Lord offers many graces and opportunities for us to grow closer to Him.  This is our Lenten Prayer.

Our Rice Bowl Collection gives us the opportunity for Alms Giving.  The Catholic Relief Services gives assistance to many countries in need.  Read about this week’s country and please be generous to the collection.

Country Spotlight:  Lesotho (Africa) Lack of education does not allow people to move out of the cycle of poverty.  Catholic Social Teaching: Rights and Responsibilities   We must take responsibility to protect the rights of all people.  These rights include the right of life, food, shelter, education and employment along with political and cultural rights.  How CRS helped: CRS works with the Good Shepherd Sisters to ensure the right of orphans and vulnerable children to high-quality early education opportunities.   This education focuses on five key areas of development:  physical, mental, social, spiritual and emotional.  As a result the children are better prepared to follow instructions from teachers, sit in a classroom and socialize with one another.  Reflection Question:  In the parable of the fig tree, why do you think Jesus places so much emphasis on bearing fruit?