Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

What are we aspiring for? What emptiness do we have inside us which needs to be filled?

Moving towards the sixth Sunday of Easter, we continue to celebrate because our Risen Lord has conquered sin, evil and death.  We go on rejoicing because we believe that the unending love of Christ continues to bring us salvation, redemption and peace.

In our hearts disturbed by anxieties and troubles, Christ longs so much to enter.  In our world ruined by violence, strife and war, Christ desires to come in and bestow peace.  We might be facing trials and difficulties of all sorts - decline in health, relationship problems, 

financial woes.  Our world might be in chaos.  There seems to be no end to our miseries and the crises besetting our nation.  In the midst of all these, Christ embraces us as the Prince of Peace, dispelling all our fears and troubles.  Christ asks us to surrender all to Him and place all our trust in Him who alone can bring true peace, the peace which this world cannot give.  

Indeed, the peace of Christ permeates our hearts knowing that He has redeemed us by His most precious Blood.  We come to celebrate the glorious love of the Lamb of God in the Eucharist where we receive Him as our Lord and Savior, and His promised gift, the Advocate, the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit of God which is dwelling in us fortifies us to abide in Christ's love, keep His commandments and work towards building the Kingdom of God. 

With God reigning in our hearts, we will then marvel at the coming of God's temple from Heaven, where Christ's eternal love and peace, and fullness of life dwells forever.  And with grateful and hopeful hearts, in God's perfect time, we trust that His loving promise will be fulfilled in our lives, in our families and in the lives of all our brothers and sisters in Christ.

God is Love,

father Al