Easter Sunday 2025

Easter Sunday Mass includes a “Sequence” which is a poetic text that takes place just before the Gospel Acclamation. This Sequence (written out above) continues to break open the mystery and glory of Easter morning. The language used in the Sequence is so striking. Phrases like “combat stupendous” and “bright angels attesting” and “victor King” aren’t used in our everyday language, which sort of forces us to stop in our tracks when we hear them. The words draw you into the gravity of the event. What happened on Holy Saturday was not just a normal night. It was not a normal death. It was a night where “death and life… contented” and Christ won victory for us. Mary, the angels, the clothes left in the tomb all speak of this reality. Christ has not just risen from the dead, He has conquered death.

And what does this mean for us, then, if we have been given new life? Don’t we all long to be a part of a great and epic story? Today, Christ sets the stage for something greater than we could have ever imagined. The possibility of life eternal compels us to live our lives so that we might be with Christ forever. Christ’s resurrection does not pave a path for a comfortable, easy life. Trials and tribulations and suffering are ever present in this world and in our life. As we face these things, it is important to know that they are a part of what makes our life epic. There is drama and the glory for resurrection because of them. With Christ, we can face these things knowing that they do not have the last say. Christ is the victor King who reigns forever. We are not held to the confines and rules of this life any longer. There will be victory and resurrection in each of our lives because Christ won the battle once and for all!

As we sit in the glory of the resurrection today, your mind may still be filled with the places of suffering and death in your own life. During this Easter season, take some time to be with the Lord in those places. Bring them to Him in prayer and ask Him to bring life and glory to those places. And if it is not evident right away, have confidence that He is working and is still the “victor King, ever reigning” even when we cannot see the victory.

— Tara Harvey and Rebekah Crowley, Assistant Directors in Big Sandy

Palm Sunday

Today marks the day that Our Lord and Savior made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem to do what must be done to accomplish the Paschal Mystery. It also marks the start of the most holy and solemn time of our Church calendar, for this is the start of Holy Week — otherwise known as Passion Week. The word “passion” comes from the Latin root of “passio,” which means “to suffer and endure.” What does the word “passion” bring to your mind when meditating on the dolorous Passion of Our Lord? And how can you unite your passion to our Lord’s Passion so it becomes, as the founder of The Society of Jesus, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, says: “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam” or “for the greater glory of God?” Everything we do must be for the greater glory of God.  There is no “halfway” in life or in the Faith. Our Lord says in the Book of Revelation, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. I would thou wert cold, or hot. But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, nor hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.”

The words of Saint Ignatius of Loyola provide an explanation of how we are to live in his First Principle and Foundation:

“The human person is created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by doing so to save his or her soul; and it is for the human person that the other things on the face of the earth are created, as helps to the pursuit of this end. It follows from this that the person has to use these things insofar as they help towards this end, and to be free of them insofar as they stand in the way of it. To attain this, we need to make ourselves indifferent towards all created things, provided the matter is subject to our free choice and there is no prohibition. Thus, for our part, we should not prefer health nor sickness, wealth nor poverty, fame nor infamy, a long life nor a short life, so with everything else, desiring and choosing only what conduces more to the end for which we are created.”

These words help orient us in life and face the perils of this world with the strength that comes from our relationship with the Lord. If we do not have a relationship with Him, we cannot be effective examples for others of what it means to follow and to suffer with Him.

We read in the Gospel that the animal Jesus rides on into Jerusalem is not a horse but a simple donkey. Here, we see that He comes as the Christ to win a spiritual conquest rather than the military and political victory that the Jews had anticipated. We see the people take off their cloaks and lay palms in the path of Our Lord, acclaiming Him with joy and honor — but these are the very people who will soon demand the blood of Our Lord and to “crucify Him!” These people praised Our Lord at first, but then denied Him and wanted Him dead. We can reflect on our own nature of how often we follow Our Lord until times get tough — and we often drop Him to make life easier. The Christian way of embracing suffering is not an easy one, but with faith and perseverance, we can follow and accompany Our Lord on His way of the Passion.

As Saint Ignatius of Loyola says, let us “go set the world on fire.” I leave you with his prayer, the Suscipe:

“Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me. To You, O Lord, I return it. All is yours, dispose of it wholly according to Your Will. Give me Your love and Your grace, for this is sufficient for me. Amen.”

+AMDG+

—        Phillip Lopez, 2024-25 Missionary Staff

Fifth Sunday of Lent

The second reading today is from Paul’s letter to the Philippians. It talks about letting go of the things around you: “That I may gain Christ and be found in him.” (Philippians 3:8-14) It’s as if he is telling us, “Let go of your past and the things that you think have made you into who you are today. Rather, conform yourself to Christ Jesus.” Within this passage, there is an assertion of the reality that when you conform yourself to Christ, you are allowing Christ to take full control or “possession” over you. This is such a vulnerable position to put ourselves in because it is completely natural as human beings to desire control over our own lives.

In the second half of the reading, Paul says, “It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity, but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it.” This reminds us that we do struggle; life is hard, and we are not perfect when it comes to allowing Christ to take full control. We are human and we fall short, but it is important to seek out the Lord — especially in those times of struggle. During this season of Lent, there will be times when you fall short and feel like you have failed. In those moments, it is important to recognize it but not dwell in it. Allow yourself grace during this Lenten season — and know that you are seen, known, and loved.

“Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind — that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” — Romans 12:2 

— Rosa Matamoros & Alexandra Bruce, 2024-25 Missionary Staff

Fourth Sunday of Lent

In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear the story of the prodigal son, in which Jesus describes the ever-seeking love and mercy of God the Father. The younger son takes his inheritance and leaves his father for a life of dissipation. However, after spending everything, he is moved by a repentant heart. Psalm 51:17 says, “…a broken contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” The son returns home and is received with love, rejoicing, and forgiveness from his father’s embrace. During this Lent, how are we accepting the graces of repentance and then how do we respond to being received in love even after wandering from the Father?  

On the other hand, the older son is consistent and faithful. Instead of rejoicing at the return of his brother, his heart becomes hardened. The father extends to him the invitation to have a disposition of gratitude and compassion. Even though it is difficult, how are we receiving those who have wandered and desire to return home?

This season of Lent is not meant to be a checklist. It is to enkindle a resurrection, a renewal of relationship with Love Himself, others, and ourselves. Let us continue onward, encouraged by the strength of His Merciful Love!

“Do not let the past disturb you; just leave everything in the Sacred Heart and begin again with joy.” – St. Mother Teresa

— Karen Gutierrez & Symy Sanchez, 2024-25 Missionary Staff

Third Sunday of Lent

Today on the Third Sunday of Lent, the Gospel reading is from Luke 13:1-9. In the first part of the Gospel, Jesus speaks to a group of people about the Galileans killed by Pilate and the eighteen people killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them. He says, “These people that died were not greater sinners or more guilty than anyone else — but if the rest of you do not repent, you will perish as they did.” In the second part of the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a fig tree that did not bear fruit, so the owner told the gardener to cut it down. The gardener asked to take care of it for one more year to see if it would bear fruit before cutting it down.

This Gospel dives into how we frequently judge others but it’s not often that we think about what we do wrong. With this in mind, we need to think less about what goes on in the lives of people that do not impact us and more about what we can do to be more like Christ, especially in this time of Lent. In order to do this, we need to allow the Lord to enter into our lives. We can picture ourselves in the parable of the fig tree as the owner of the fig tree. We need to allow the gardener to work to bring fruit from the fig tree — and know that it will take time for it to happen. You may wonder who the gardener is in our lives. He is none other than God, so we need to give God control of taking care of our needs so we can focus on ourselves instead of those around us.

Some ways that we can allow the Lord to enter into our lives are: inviting the Holy Spirit into prayer, attending daily Mass (if possible), going to Adoration, and another good one is going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A simple way to invite the Holy Spirit to come is by simply saying, “Come, Holy Spirit.” We don’t often remember to allow the Holy Spirit to come into our lives. We invite Him in by going to Mass when possible to receive the Eucharist, which is the Body of Christ, and allowing Him to fill our hearts. In Adoration, we can sit in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and speak directly to Him. We can go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation to be cleansed from our sins and be reunited with Christ.

— Aramiz Martinez & Jared Alamo, 2024-25 Missionary Staff

Second Sunday of Lent

On this Second Sunday of Lent, March 16, 2025, the Gospel reading from Luke 9:28b-36 recounts the Transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus ascends a mountain with Peter, John, and James to pray. During this time, His appearance transforms: His face changes and His clothing becomes dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear, conversing with Him about His eventual journey to Jerusalem. A cloud envelops them, and a voice declares, "This is my chosen Son; listen to him."

This passage offers profound insights. The Transfiguration reveals Jesus' divine nature. This moment emphasizes the importance of prayer; it is during prayer that Jesus is transfigured, showing how communion with God can lead to transformation.

We are reminded to prioritize prayer in our daily lives. Just as the disciples witnessed Jesus' glory through prayer, we too can experience God's presence and guidance when in prayer. The Father's command, "listen to him," emphasizes the need to follow Jesus' teachings. In a world filled with distractions, actively listening to Jesus helps us navigate challenges and grow in faith.

Additionally, the disciples' initial sleepiness, followed by their awakening to witness this divine event, serves as a metaphor. It encourages us to remain spiritually awake so we don't miss God's work in our lives. This Lent, we invite you to reflect on how you can be more attentive to God's voice, embrace transformation through prayer, and strengthen your commitment to living out the Gospel.

— Morgan Ignaszewski & Jackie Gutierrez, 2024-25 Missionary Staff

First Sunday of Lent 2025

Today, let’s take a moment to reflect on how Jesus was tempted in the desert — not to show us how superior He is in strength and self-discipline — but to comfort us with His presence as we face temptation. We read this story of Jesus’ temptations on the first Sunday of Lent, and we will hear on Good Friday that, “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) Lent is bookended with reminders that Jesus is no stranger to our struggles.

The devil is an ancient enemy whose tricks are old and tired. In today’s Gospel, we see common temptations mirrored in his taunts: the inclination to rely on ourselves and do it on our own, the desire for control and influence, and the constant, creeping doubt about whether or not God can be trusted to fulfill His promises.

None of it is easy to resist. None of it is new — even Jesus faced the same. And none of it is unique to us. We are not alone in being tempted to place our trust in anything and anyone outside of the good, good Father who loves us.

Let us move forward together with confidence as we embrace this season of prayer and repentance. May it be a new experience of allowing sin to become unattractive and dead in our eyes so our hearts can become more fully alive.

“The parables of Jesus reveal a God who is consistently overgenerous with His forgiveness and grace. He portrays God as the lender magnanimously canceling a debt, as the shepherd seeking a strayed sheep, as the judge hearing the prayer of the tax collector. In Jesus’ stories, divine forgiveness does not depend on our repentance or on our ability to love our enemies or on our doing heroic, virtuous deeds. God’s forgiveness depends only on the love out of which He fashioned the human race.” — Brennan Manning, The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus

— Mary Chapman, Marketing Coordinator