Easter

All of us wrestle with the temptation to keep people, situations and even organizations in small, familiar boxes that we can understand, and maybe even control. And when they no longer fit in those boxes – when they change or grow or undergo conversion – it’s easy for us to not see it – or, worse, to resist it, not letting them change and grow. In doing so, we blind ourselves to the possibility that God is doing something new, and we become a hindrance rather than a help to God’s plan.
This week, sit with these questions:
Where in your life are you resisting God’s initiative, the newness God might be trying to bring?
Is it your skepticism in the face of a loved one who’s trying to change their life?
Is it your resistance to truth in the words of those who may see something that we ourselves don’t want to see?
Is it in demanding that your workplace or your team or even the Church conform to what’s personally comfortable or culturally acceptable?
Is it in the anger or stubbornness with which you greet some change in your life?
Where might God be saying to you, “Ooo! What’s over here?” and where might you be responding, “Eh. I’m good right here.”?
Someone once said, “The only predictable thing about God is that He’s unpredictable.” Where is this predictably unpredictable God working in your life, rocking your boat - and how can you learn to trust Him and enjoy the ride?

We all experience doubts; it's part of being human. How we handle our doubt is the key: doubts can diminish faith, but they can also be the catalyst to increase faith. But how do we move forward and have faith beyond our doubts? Fr. Bill suggests the following three things:
Allow your doubt to be the catalyst for more understanding.
Come to that understanding starting from a place of trust.
Don't stop praying, going to Mass, or going to Confession.

No matter how deep your darkness gets, no matter how deep you feel buried by your sins, Jesus loves you and wants to dig you out. Jesus’ Resurrection proves that he is more than capable to rescue you. He desires that each one of us would be with him in heaven for eternity. That is not just good news - it’s the greatest news ever.
 
Watch the original footage of the tree well rescue that Fr. Bill talks about in his homily (contains occasional use of strong language).

When our focus is on God, then it's possible for us to be united together with all kinds of differences in our midst. That is what Pentecost is about: the coming down of the Spirit, renewing us and helping us to stay focused on God so we can be united.

Invite Jesus in to your life and ask Him what He wants you to do. As you begin to sense that He is telling you something, you have to respond. Little by little, you will begin to see Him moving within you – and, in that movement, you’ll experience the joy that comes with having Jesus in your life.

Jesus promises us that, yes, we are going to have suffering and crosses that we will have to deal with - and that he will work with us in those moments and bring good out of it. Oftentimes, we don't see it; but God will never let go of any of us, and he is working especially in the challenging moments of our lives. 

Church isn't a refuge; it's a raid on the kingdom of the enemy, designed to undermine his power. Every time we meet adversity, misfortune, misunderstanding, and hostility with patience, trust, forgiveness, and the strength that comes from God, Jesus' victory on the Cross spreads a little further.

God is love, and He loves us far more than we will ever comprehend, far more even than we can love each other or our own children (and that's a lot).