In the First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear a summary of the key events of our salvation: Jesus’s passion, His resurrection, and now His ascension into heaven. In the Second Reading, Saint Paul speaks of the time after the Ascension- how Christ now reigns at the right hand of the Father, and how the Church, His Body, is called to live in His presence and carry His mission forward.

The Easter season gives us much to celebrate in our Church. Throughout the world and in our own communities, we have newly baptized and professed members of the Church, children and teens who have received their First Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation, newly ordained deacons and priests for our Diocese, and of course our new Pope Leo XIV! Our Church is very fruitful with the activity of the Holy Spirit. We have much to rejoice in!

"The glory of God is man fully alive." This ancient quote from St. Irenaeus of Lyons expresses that man and woman are made in God's image and likeness. The more our lives pattern the life of Jesus, the more fully alive we become and the more God is glorified. However, the path to fullness of life as a human person is marked by suffering and hardship since self-giving and merciful love presents a challenge in this life marked by sin and selfishness.

Happy Mother's Day! We give heartfelt appreciation to all of our moms, grandmas, stepmoms, aunts, and godmothers this day. We have all been blessed with a mother who said yes to the gift of our life, and we honor our moms by being the sons and daughters God created us to be.

"Do you love Me?" Jesus asks Simon Peter this question three times in today's Gospel. Our English word "love" doesn't quite grasp the dynamics at work in this exchange, but if we look at the Greek words used by Jesus and Peter for love, we can learn a lot about their interaction and how the Lord meets us where we're at.