Jesus said to his disciples:
“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.

Fifth Sunday of Easter: Painting by: Ronald Raab, CSC

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Dear Followers of the Risen Christ,

We proclaim this weekend’s gospel (John 14:1-12) hearing Jesus say that he is the way, the truth and the life. Not all the disciples hear this message with a full heart. That is why Jesus first says to his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

Even in this Easter season in the afterglow of Resurrection Light, we can easily slip back into our troubled hearts. I appreciate the gospels in these Easter days that show us that being human is both the way in which we encounter Jesus’ new life and the obstacle toward receiving such news.

It is easy to focus upon our troubled hearts even in these Easter celebrations. Life continues on and we simply do not always receive the new life we are asking for in Jesus Christ. Sometimes we are not looking in the right places. Sometimes we ignore the change of heart in our prayer or how grace is really changing our lives, maturing our spirits, insights and healing us in our deepest wounds. Again and again, we offer our troubled hearts to the miracle of God’s fidelity toward us in the Eucharist and the sacraments.

Thomas is helping us work through our uncertainty. He asks Jesus about where he is going and if the disciples can follow him. Thomas is often the spokesperson for questioning Jesus and he really speaks our truth as well. The point of Jesus’ new life is to show us the way to the Father. Our true home is in the Father’s fidelity and that new home begins here on earth. Our troubled hearts get the best of us when we forget that we are connected to the Father’s love. We also become troubled when we think that the Father’s love is for certain people and not for others. God’s fidelity is here for us to behold and experience. With the Father’s love we pray more fervently.

Even though our hearts may be troubled, we find our path to Jesus as the way, the truth and the life. I invite you this week to continue your prayer with honesty and integrity. Sometimes our hearts are more troubled by not living the truth of how our lives unfold. We are nudged into living others’ lives and not our own. Sit with the Living Christ and offer your heart to the God who shows us the way, the true path and the real life to the Father’s love. Our Creator wants the best for us all.

Here are some questions to consider this week: How is your heart troubled in this time in your life? How can you rest in the truth of Christ Jesus? How are you being drawn into the Father’s love for you?

Mother’s Day is this weekend and I want to wish all mothers—grandmothers, foster mothers, stepmothers, birth mothers, God mothers and all the women who are in some way a mother to others— a gracious and happy day. Please know of my prayer and hope for all your work, energy, time and commitment in your vocations of love, tenderness and faithfulness.

Blessings in these Easter Days,

Fr. Ron

On the Margins from Mater Dei Radio, Portland, Oregon

Fifth Sunday of Easter May 14, 2017

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“Do not let your hearts be troubled”. In this Easter Season, Jesus invites us to reimagine our lives.

This is my first article for The Priest Magazine. It is online at Our Sunday Visitor. Enjoy

Click here to read my article in Priest Magazine for May 2017

“You are my begotten Son; this day I have begotten you” Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC

Responsorial Psalm PS 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11AB

R. (7bc) You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“I myself have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD:
The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.”
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an earthen dish.”
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.

“I am the good shepherd” Painting by: Ronald Raab, CSC 2017

Here is another image of the good shepherd I painted a couple of weeks ago. This vibrant longing of Jesus to chase us down is visible in this particular image. This same vibrancy is in the grace of today’s gospel…when we listen with our lives, our brokenness and our longing.

Gospel JN 10:11-18

Jesus said:
“I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A hired man, who is not a shepherd
and whose sheep are not his own,
sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them.
This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
This is why the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.
I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father.”

The Shepherd We Call Good, Painting by: Ronald Raab, CSC

I painted this image of the Good Shepherd last week. We will use it as a bulletin cover sometime this summer. This image speaks to me of our call to solidarity and compassion with all who are lost and marginalized. I invite you to pray with this image, especially as you reflect on today’s Second Reading from 1Peter.

Reading 2  1 Pt 2:20b-25

Beloved:
If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good,
this is a grace before God.
For to this you have been called,
because Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps.
He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.

When he was insulted, he returned no insult;
when he suffered, he did not threaten;
instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly.
He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross,
so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness.
By his wounds you have been healed.
For you had gone astray like sheep,
but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

“Tender Shepherd” Painting by: Ronald Raab, CSC

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Dear Followers of the Shepherd,

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is generally known as, “Good Shepherd Sunday.” The image of Jesus as the tender and loving guide continues to reveal to us an image of the Resurrected Christ. The Shepherd is not timid or shy, but strong in his desire for us to follow him to the Kingdom.

This is one of my favorite images of Jesus. Today’s gospel, John 10:1-10, offers us a text for reflection in these Easter days. I love this image because I must entrust not only my own life to Jesus’ perseverance in desiring me, but also his longing for people who are most estranged, lonely and set apart from others. Jesus is the gate. Jesus is the entry into freedom, love and acceptance.

This image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is often ignored because some assume this means that people are just dumb sheep. This is not the purpose of this image of Jesus’ Resurrection. The image is meant to be one of guidance, love and connection. Jesus knows us. He loves us. Jesus wants the best for us. Jesus chases us, protects us and brings us together. In my own prayer all year long, I rely on this image that Jesus wants to satisfy my heart and the lives of every person.

We experience many voices in our daily lives attempting to get our attention. During most of our days, we hold in our hands phones and devices that offer us opportunities to connect with people or live in our own selfishness. The internet is a positive voice of learning, but it can also become a negative voice connecting us to fear around the world. Learning to follow the Voice of the Shepherd is never easy. In fact, listening to Jesus’ love, presence and voice is extremely countercultural. As followers of Jesus, we are drawn to his mercy and forgiveness.

Learning to receive the genuine love of the Shepherd takes courage. Our faith is not just a simple pious effort, but a strong realization that it takes a lifetime for us to hear his voice and embrace a lifestyle of freedom, love, forgiveness and mercy. We become in our lives the characteristics of the one we follow.

Here are some questions to consider this week: How do you listen to the Good Shepherd’s voice and desire for you? How do you pray?

What do you need to let go of in your life to better attune to Jesus’ presence and care for you? What competing voices need to be silenced?

What does it mean for you in the Easter season to follow the Good Shepherd? How does Easter change your lifestyle?

Peace to you in these Easter Days. Let’s continue to raise our voices in praise of the Good Shepherd, the Living Christ that invites us into a life of peace and liberation.

Blessings to you all,

Fr. Ron