When I was in middle school, there were times I didn’t want my fellow students to see my parents drop me off or pick me up in the school parking lot. I was embarrassed of my parents. Why? I have no idea. Maybe it was our station wagon. Or I didn’t want to look like a little kid. But in retrospect that was a silly thing to do. I was a kid. And I had two parents who loved me and had built a wonderful family. I was afraid of the other kids’ judgment. How silly! I should have been afraid of forgetting or downplaying my family, which is where my identity had its deep roots.

In the backyard of the house where I live with other priests, there is a lemon tree which produces a huge amount of fruit. One evening in the spring I needed some lemons for a chicken dish. I glanced from the kitchen and saw the tree bursting with large, bright, gorgeous lemons, hanging thick on seemingly every branch. Turning to Fr. Bob (I’ll change his name to protect the innocent) who sat on the couch, I said, “Father, could you pick a few lemons for me?” He said sure and into the backyard he went. He returned a few minutes later empty-handed. “John, there’s no lemons. Sorry.” I said, “What are you talking about?” I looked again and saw the grapefruit tree on the other side of the yard, which had recently been picked clean of fruit. He didn’t see the abundant fruit because he was looking in the wrong place!

Years ago, a woman at daily Mass approached me in the communion procession. She had her arms crossed, indicating she wanted blessing instead of the Sacred Host. She had tears in her eyes. gave her little blessing. She returned the next day. And the next. The same thing repeated. After few weeks, asked her why she didn't receive Holy Communion. She said she wasn't Catholic yet and was preparing to become so. asked her why she wanted to be Catholic. She said, "Because long to be in a real communion with Christ and with everyone love." That, submit, is a darn good reason. few months later, she became Catholic and received the Body and Blood of Christ with unspeakably great joy and still does to this day.

Soren Kierkegaard reminds us that life is not a problem to be solved but a reality to be experienced. The same can be said about God. God, who is the Mystery of mysteries, may be beyond our intellectual comprehension but not beyond our experience. Were our human minds really capable of knowing the true essence and depth of God, we would then be “equal” to God and as superior as He is. Just because we cannot fully comprehend or master and control God, it does not mean that His presence is diminished or that he is completely out of our grasp. What it does require is a change of focus. Experiencing the incomprehensible mystery of God requires more “soul work” and less “brain work.” It is only in our souls and not in our brains that a Divine encounter can occur.

World Day of Prayer for Vocations will be observed this Sun, May 28. It is also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” The purpose of this day is to publicly fulfill the Lord’s instruction to, “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). Please pray that young men and women hear and respond generously to the Lord’s call to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, societies of apostolic life or secular institutes.

For my 40th birthday, I wished only for a fancy pedicure — a real indulgent one complete with a massage where I could relax and escape the stress of life. On my way to the appointment, I stopped for a coffee and, while in line, this nudge to be open to sharing my faith if the opportunity arose stirred in my heart. Only moments into my birthday treat pedicure — reclined, eyes closed and prepared for an hour of quiet, I hear, "Oh, you wear a crucifix, you must be Catholic. I left for a church that follows the Bible." Opening one eye and peering toward heaven, I smirked with a wry acknowledgment of recognizing the day's earlier prompting to be open to being a witness of faith. While I wouldn't say I liked the timing, I obediently sat up and offered my attention to engaging in a friendly dialog about my faith.

May the example of Mary,
mother of Jesus,
inspire them to live their vocation
as Christian mothers
and call their children to faith.
Guide and protect them in challenging times
and help them to continue to trust in you
all the days of their life.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

'Tis the month of our Mother,
The blessed and beautiful days,
When our lips and our spirits
Are glowing with love
and with praise.

CHORUS: All hail to dear Mary,
The Guardian of our way.
To the fairest of all Queens
Be the fairest of seasons, sweet May.

According to ancient traditions, George was a soldier under the Roman Emperor Diocletian. He was sent on expeditions to Persia and possibly Britain. In 298, when the emperor required all soldiers to worship Roman gods, George left the army. Later, Diocletian outlawed Christianity, and George confronted the emperor to plead for his fellow Christians.

It is likely that George is indeed the unidentified hero who publicly tore up the emperor’s edict against Christians. His intercession was implored especially in battles, as he is said to have been a soldier. For his defiance, George was brutally tortured and finally beheaded around the year 303.

St. Anselm was born of noble parentage in Piedmont about the year 1033. At the age of twenty-seven, St. Anselm adopted the monastic state in the monastery of Bec, studied under Lanfranc, and was made Prior in 1063 and Abbot in 1078. Various voyages to England in the interest of his Abbey made him known in that country, and in 1093 he succeeded his old master, Lanfranc, as Archbishop of Canterbury. His resistance to the unjust measures of King William Rufus drew up- on him the anger of that monarch. In 1097-98, he made a voyage to Rome, and spent some time in a monastery of Calabria, where he composed a work on the Incarnation. In the same year he assisted at the Council of Bari, and by his prayers prevented the Pope from excommunicating the King of Eng- land.

On Christmas, we celebrate the Incarnation—God becoming human-with Jesus’s birth. During Lent, we recall the cross—Jesus’s crucifixion and his death.

At Easter, we rejoice in the empty tomb—Jesus’s resurrection. Easter is the day Jesus rose from the dead after being crucified.

The empty tomb means that Jesus’s words rang true. He fulfilled the promises of Scripture and conquered sin and death.