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  It's like a domino effect.  At least that's the way it is laid out by St. Paul in The First Letter to the Corinthians (Chapter 15), for people who deny the resurrection. He preached that Christ was raised from the dead, and if you don't believe that, everything falls apart. No resurrection means empty preaching; empty preaching means empty faith.  No resurrection means false witnesses and the dead not being raised. If the dead are not raised, faith is in vain, and sins have not been conquered. All of this leads to the dead, perishing, which makes us "the most pitiable people of all" if our hope in Christ was for this life only. When I read his words, I thought how sad it would be to think that our earthly life is all there is and that our loved ones have perished. Now, of course, we know that Jesus was raised from the dead, and none of the above is our path, but St. Paul was pointing out how dangerous it is to not believe in the resurrection. St. Pau

    In the Gospel of John, Chapter 3, Jesus tells us the Father " does not ration his gift of the Spirit." What might that mean for you and me? When I teach about Confirmation, I stress that the Holy Spirit is not parceled out to us, as if we get a little at Baptism, and the rest at Confirmation. No, that is not the case at all. When we are baptized, we fully receive the Holy Spirit, and what a gift this is to us!  One, I think, we under-utilize, for sure. I recently had something come up that probably would have caused me some stress, but because of a renewed sense of the Holy Spirit in my life, I found myself surprisingly un-stressed. Knowing that the Holy Spirit is with you, and fully trusting in that, brings you to a uniquely, blessed place, often of peace. Take some time during this Easter season, as we lead up to Pentecost on May 19th, and reflect on the gift of the Holy Spirit which Jesus gave to us when he ascended into Heaven. Ascension is 40 days after

In the Gospel of John, Chapter 3, Nicodemus, a Jewish leader asks Jesus for some clarification about what it means to be "born from above." Taking Jesus literally, Nicodemus asks, "How can a person once grown old be born again?  Surely he cannot reenter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?" Jesus had to correct him because Nicodemus thought Jesus was speaking literally, when he was speaking figuratively. One being "born from above" is not the same as reentering one's mother physically. Interestingly, this is one of those passages that actually affirms the Eucharist, where bread and wine are transformed into the actual body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus. How, you ask? Jesus told Nicodemus that he was not speaking literally about being born again, that someone cannot return to his mother's womb. And, when the apostles in Chapter 6, supposed that Jesus must be speaking figuratively when he told them he was giving them &qu

  Oh brother.  I just heard Whoopi Goldberg defend the right to an abortion using the Ten Commandments! ( The View, April 8, 2024) When one of her co-anchors on The View brought up "You shall not kill," Whoopi said that it doesn't hold up in this situation (abortion), because we allow killing in so many other ways, such as the death penalty, wars and the use of guns. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.  The anchors talked about how it's clearly not okay to lie or commit adultery, but then when the question of the Fifth Commandment came up, they rationalized it by saying that we allow killing to happen elsewhere, so you can't really apply that Commandment to abortion. Whaaaat? Apparently, Whoopi, who hopes "no one ever has to have an abortion" supports the right to choose abortion by using the tired old tripe that it is between a woman, her doctor and God. If abortion--intentionally taking an innocent life--is not okay generall

    Today we celebrate the beautiful Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord! This is the day when we ponder the coming of Jesus as he is conceived in the womb of his mother, Mary.  This miraculous conception changed the world and transformed each of our lives as it led to the birth of Jesus. Today might not be Christmas, when Jesus was born and came in the flesh, but it is the beginning of his journey to life, death and resurrection. Key is Mary's Fiat.  Her Yes!  In imitation of Mary, we, too, carry Jesus within us and give birth to him whenever we proclaim his name to all the world. In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 1, verse 26-38, we hear the good news of the announcement to Mary that she will conceive a child, Jesus. Don't let this day pass you by--no matter which faith tradition you follow--without thanking Mary for accepting this special gift of motherhood. Praise God that we can share in God's creative nature in our human lives, and say Yes! to all life.

      I was watching the television show "The Good Doctor" and one of the characters was shocked to learn, in her adulthood, that her mother was an interesting person.   You see, she had thought of her mother as "just a homemaker" and was shocked to learn that she had a full, adventurous life and had even studied a foreign language. Please allow me to vent. While that all sounds well and good, I really resent that the story line attempted to elevate the mom's "ordinary homemaker" role by tacking on all of these other things about her life. Here's my problem . . . why can't being a homemaker or stay-at-home mom (or dad) be enough?  Can't it be amazing in its own right? Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to moms (and dads) fully enjoying all aspects of their life, but shaping the lives of children, sacrificing for them, being present to them, is equal to, if not greater than, learning a foreign language or having an ad

Next week's total solar eclipse won't be total here in central Minnesota. I'm not terribly disappointed, since the odds are that I couldn't see it anyway. There's rain in the five-day forecast. We need rain a great deal more than I need to see a total eclipse of the sun, so I've got at least two reasons for not being terribly disappointed. Eclipses: Predictable, But Not Locally Frequent Headlines, Religion, and Me NASA's Eclipse Chasers God, This Universe, and "Even Greater Admiration" More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A very quick look at eclipses, the news, and how I see science and religion. Plus an embedded NASA eclipse chasers video.)

The Incredulity of St Thomas Caravaggio [ Web Galleryof Art ] My Lord and my God!  (John 20:28; Gospel) Second Sunday of Easter Divine Mercy Sunday   Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel    John 20:19-31     (English Standard Version, Anglicised) On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them,  “Peace be with you.”   When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.   Jesus said to them again,  “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”   And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,  “Receive the Holy Spirit.   If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Now Th

  I was flipping channels the other day and I came across an episode of the old Golden Girls television show. In this episode, one of the characters, Blanche, had to deal with the passing of her father.  At the end of the episode, as she was walking away from his burial site at the cemetery, she said, "I am nobody's little girl anymore." I was reminded of what it is like when your last parent dies.  It sort of makes you feel like an orphan.  But, curiously, my first reaction to Blanche's comment, was to disagree with her. We do not cease being our parents' child, or "little girl," just because they have died. I think it is because so much of who we are comes from our parents, due not simply to genetics, but because of all of the other ways we have developed under them. We continue to carry a part of them with us in our mannerisms, the way we think and process the things of life, and so much more.  I have noticed over the years that vocal in

  "If we are the Body of Christ," my husband pondered, "then we are each like cells in the body, and if the body is a combination of healthy and sick cells, how do unhealthy cells find healing? It's a good question. If you are a disciple who strives to follow Jesus and do what we are supposed to do, what is your responsibility to those who have strayed? What is the treatment?  I was reading in the March, 2024 issue of Columbia (the Knights of Columbus publication) about three families who experienced extraordinary healings. (" If you need a miracle , pg. 22, online) These stories remind us of the power of God to heal, which, in turn, reminds us that God can bring healing and unity to his body when it is broken, fragmented by his children who live as if he doesn't exist. If you have a physical problem, you go to the doctor.  As members of the Body of Christ, when we are in need of healing, we go to the Divine Physician as well.   When following

    "He leaped up, stood, and walked around, and went into the temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God." This response from the man "crippled from birth," who was healed by Peter, (Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 3) left me wondering . . .are we THAT excited, right now, following Easter, knowing that Jesus saved us? No? Admit it, you have to be a little jealous of the man's response, wishing you could get as excited in your own faith.  Where is our joy?  Why are we not jumping up and down having just experienced the resurrection as we continue in this *Octave of Easter? (*Eight day celebration of Easter) Could it be that we are lacking a little in our belief?  Could it be that we aren't "all in" as we ought to be? It is understandable how excited the crippled man must have been when his body was fully restored to health.  But, we, too, have been fully restored, freed from our sins because of Jesus' death and resurrection.

    We were talking the other day about the difference between a life with faith and a life without.  Your life might be good, but how can I begin to describe how amazing it would be with faith?   Every single part of one's life, when faith is the foundation, is simply stunning, beyond anything you can imagine. But, as Christians, how do we convey that? With so many people separating themselves from the Church today, how can they be reached, when they don't know what they don't know? We often pray for people to come back to church, but I read a reflection that raised for me, the importance of praying for faith: "Help me always to grow and mature in my faith. Without it I am lost. Without it I am unable to see you, and if I cannot see you, how will I be able to follow you?" If you have someone who is slipping away from faith, pray for them to grow and mature in their faith, for in faith lies the foundation on which God can build a relationship with the

Every year in Malagá in the morning of Holy Thursday there is a ceremony known as  El Traslado del Cristo de Mena  (The Transfer of the Christ of Mena) where members of the Spanish Foreign Legion carry  El Cristo de la Buena Muerte  (The Christ of a Good Death). They sing  El Novio de la Muerte  (Death’s Bridegroom; lyrics in Spanish and English  here ) while carrying the very large and heavy crucifix. Continue at Bangor to Bobbio .

  Why did Jesus have to suffer and die for our sins? Surely God could have forgiven us without Jesus having to endure such pain and cruel death. Was it really God's will that His Son should die like that? Is this a loving God? Read more and share your views HERE .

    I should have been a king crab. Stay with me here. I was reading an article in "Reader's Digest" and it was talking about how good king crabs are for corals, because they "feast on seaweed." Now don't get me wrong, I don't even like crabs, nor seaweed, but, learning that the king crab exists simply to dine on its favorite food, I say, sign me up!  All kidding aside, I think the lesson we can learn here is that, since the king crab has no awareness that they are helping the coral reefs, the only purpose of their existence is to eat to their heart's content. We, of course, do have such an awareness.  In fact, it is key to our fulfillment as humans.  We are not here to simply satisfy ourselves, but to do what we can to help others. I've been reading a lot about Mary Magdalene's response to seeing the empty tomb of Jesus and how she immediately ran to tell the other disciples. Ultimately, the best way to help others is to point

      I was reading in 1 Corinthians 5: 6-8: "Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough?  Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened." May this Easter signify for you the transformation you have been looking forward to, where you can put behind you all of the old stuff that you have been carrying with you, and allow God to bring renewal to your life. That's one of the amazing things the saving act of Jesus can do for us.  Rejoice always! Happy Easter! Janet Cassidy janetcassidy.com Follow my Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/ Check out my YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy

Easter Sunday: when we celebrate the best news humanity's ever had — so far.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Happy Easter! A music video, a few words, and I'm done for the day.)

I was listening to a beautiful recording of the Exsultet, an "ancient hymn of praise" which means REJOICE!  This hymn is typically prayed at the Easter Vigil. I was moved by the words of this hymn, particularly: "Therefore, O Lord, we pray you that this candle, hallowed to the honor of your name, may persevere undimmed, to overcome the darkness of this night." At the Easter Vigil (the night before Easter), everyone's individual candles are lit from the one Easter Candle.  We gather in darkness and the light from our collective candles breaks through the darkness as the Light of Christ spreads. The hymn tells us that this light becomes " a fire into many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light." If you have never been to a Catholic Easter Vigil Mass, I encourage you to do so.  It is an explosion for the senses, from the light, to the smells and the sounds.  The prayers are extraordinary. Why not, just this once, if you ha

I'd planned on posting this today, with an 'Easter' post tomorrow. But, although I'm not feeling as awful as I did Wednesday morning: that's not going to happen. It's "nothing serious". Probably the same "nothing serious" that's been plaguing this household for a month and more. My temperature's stayed below the 103° F threshold, so I'm a comparatively happy camper. And that's another topic. Now, about these cards: the first three are Victorian-era, part of this selection.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Three Victorian-era humorous Easter cards, one from the early 20th century. Not what I had planned posting this week, but I hope you enjoy them.)

  So, do you believe in the Resurrection? Why? How about all those theories explaining the Resurrection? Any truth in them do you think? Find out more and make up your mind HERE ... and DO comment please.

The Resurrection of Christ Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) At the Mass during the Day Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel    John 20:1-9     (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.   So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”   So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going towards the tomb.   Both of them were running together, but t

    If you do nothing today, I'd like to encourage you to at least pray with Bishop Robert Barron the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary . His beautiful offering in this video lays out for us exactly what Jesus went through for each of us.  Whatever faith you follow, this will surely give you pause. There is such a freedom in following Jesus--yes, right to the cross--as we learn what it means to give up our life for someone else.  We learn how to love deeply and offer ourselves, as we share in his suffering. I'm going to guess that for many of you, there is someone in your family that is not willing to participate in the faith you have taught them, that there will be someone missing from your Easter table, and the table of the Lord. To pray for them makes you a sharer in the cross of Jesus, as he gave himself up to save us from our sins. If you fear for someone you know that has not accepted Jesus, or is walking away from him, I encourage you to pray in confidence th

  Why is it so difficult being a Christian? It's easy to wave hands in the air and sing songs when all is well and we are happy; but what about other times? The normal times in life. Do others look at us and say, "I see here a Christian?" Do we look and behave Christian? Read more and put yourself in these situations - CLICK HERE

  On this Holy Thursday, as we enter the three holiest days of the year, may your experience of the Passion of Christ open your heart to his saving grace. Worship God. Live gratefully. Love deeply. Janet Cassidy janetcassidy.com Follow my Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/ Check out my YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy

      I came across this line in a little reflection I was reading: "Most lives aim at nothing in particular and achieve it." I paused, thinking that's a pretty depressing thought, and then asking, "Is that true?" The actual point of the reflection was to note that the goal of Jesus was "to save humanity from its sin . . . to seek and save the lost."  Jesus, you see, had a goal. But back to us.  If it's true that we wander aimlessly about, and are satisfied in doing so, perhaps we need to rethink our behavior.  Christians shouldn't lack a goal, because disciples who follow Christ have their goal in his. We're not God, so we're not saving humanity like Jesus did, but we certainly are supposed to be participating in his mission.   St. Paul understood his role perfectly. As he wrote to the people of Philippi from jail, he told them that their "boasting in Christ Jesus may abound on account of me when I come to you again.&quo

  Do you struggle with a particular child?  Maybe this child is quite challenging, stubborn and just not easy to raise? Well, you are not alone! I was listening to a Discerning Hearts PODCAST recently with Fr. Timothy Gallagher and he was talking about one of St. Thérese of Lisieux's sisters, Léonie.  Fr. Gallagher was reading some letters that Thérese's mother wrote in which she expressed the difficulties she had with Léonie.  It seems that moms in the 1800s experienced similar problems that moms do today. This brutally honest account of what it was like for this saintly mother will provide inspiration for moms who feel inadequate in dealing with "difficult" children, as Léonie was called. Léonie is now a "Servant of God," which is a title given to one who is under investigation as a candidate for sainthood! So, not only might your difficult child help you achieve sainthood, but you may help them get there as well! Never give up hope! (Just click o