“But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.” John 20:31

We thank Saint Pope John Paul II for reminding us today of God’s love for all people—no matter their station, no matter their sins. 

This is Divine Mercy Sunday, a celebration begun by our beloved Pope in 2000.  On the Sunday after Easter that year he canonized Blessed Faustina Kowalska, a devoted religious, designating the second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday.  Mindful of St. Faustina’s gift to the Church at Easter, our Holy Father proclaimed:

“Jesus said to St. Faustina one day, ‘Humanity will never find peace until

it turns with trust to Divine Mercy.’  Divine Mercy!  This is the Easter gift

that the Church receives from the risen Christ and offers to humanity.”

What our Holy Father is saying is that personal transformation—the passage into new life that we celebrated at Easter—is only possible because of God’s mercy.  Each time we witness mercy, we transform ourselves in God’s image and offer the gift of new life to the world.  We become creators in a worldly way and in a spiritual way, too.

God’s mercy opens the door to a deeper practice of our faith, never failing to forgive and transform.  So, think of mercy as your starting point.  Know that mercy is God’s personal gift to you.  Then share the bounty.  Reach out to all of Creation, to everyone you encounter, and offer them the example of transformation that God has called you to be.  Mercy is a chance to heal divisions, overcome the hurts, set aside the misunderstandings, and start over.  With God’s blessing.

Friend, accept God’s divine mercy as the gift that that never stops giving back.  The more we practice being merciful, the more complete we become, and the stronger we are for the journey home.  Think big, practice small… an act of mercy a day.  More when you can.  I know God will bless and reward you. 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Divine Mercy Sunday

Pour out Your mercy upon me,

O divine Savior and Lord

who from the cross blessed the world

with salvation and grace.

Wash away my sins and cleanse me

from all transgressions against

Your most Sacred Heart.

More than water covers the earth

let Your mercy cover the world

freeing the captive, healing the

broken-hearted, and lifting

up the downtrodden.

You who prayed to the Father

to forgive Your executioners

help me to let go of past grievances

and turn over to You any thoughts

of vengeance or retribution

that I might worthily walk in Your ways.

Amen

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.” Psalm 118:24

Truly, this is the day the Lord has made.  Rejoice with me in celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the gift of eternal life.  There is no greater love than the sacrifice of the Cross.  We are a blessed people.

As you celebrate Easter Sunday—at home or safely in the company of family and friends—remember that our calling as missioners is to share in the life of Christ and the promise of salvation.  We know the past year has been challenging.  But whatever our circumstance may be—rich in blessings or blessings tempered by hardship—be assured… We are exactly where we need to be to reach our destination in Christ. 

How we accept and learn from every life experience is how we will complete the journey home to new life and our personal Easter.  With God’s grace, we will use every moment God gives us to deepen our faith, and to find solace in scripture and the sacraments.  As Easter celebrants, we have the conviction that life always overcomes death.  We know that expressions of new life can come at any time, usually with some sacrifice, and sometimes when we least expect them.  The Resurrection we celebrate today is our assurance that what we believe is so.

On this most sacred of holy days, I will remember you at a special Easter Sunday Mass to honor all of our missioners and co-missioners, our supporters and friends, and our prayer partners all over the world.  You are among them.  I will remember as well the richness of the Easter celebrations our Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers will offer today—beginning at dawn—in English, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, Swahili, Nepalese, and more.  The universality of our faith is reflected in the diversity of our faithful, the Kingdom of God on earth.  Celebrating the Resurrection is our common language.

Friend, may the blessings of Easter provide light and life for the journey that will take you home one day into the radiant splendor of eternal life.  That’s the promise of the Resurrection.  Yes, let us rejoice and be glad.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Easter Sunday Reflection

April 4, 2021 

O blessed dawn, O radiant light

that shattered the darkness of death

and scattered the shadows of sorrow!

Rise in our hearts with that same splendor

which greeting the mourning women

that first Easter morning.

Risen Savior! Grant us Your peace

a peace the world cannot give

and breathe on us Your Holy Spirit

to proclaim Your name and empower us

to be apostles of Your gospel to the world.

Lord, let Your Easter glory permeate

and penetrate every aspect of our life,

so that the Reign of God be established

in our hearts, in our homes,

in our lives and in our world.

Amen! Alleluia!

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear.” Isaiah 50:4

After all the weeks of Lent and preparation, we come to the heart of who we are and what it means to be a Christian.  This is Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion.

Today’s events, and the events of Holy Week soon to follow, are as meaningful now as they were 2,000 years ago.  We recognize that God is inviting us to be transformed:  to pass from death to new life.  This is the week we say “Yes, Lord.  I am ready.”

I know that for some of us the traditional liturgies and celebrations of Holy Week will be compromised.  Whether we express our faith privately at home or in safe groups, Holy Week represents the core of our faith.  What we remember is Christ giving himself up totally for us—and calling us to give ourselves up for one another.

Today we receive the palm, which the crowds waved as they welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem.  Later this week we will celebrate the Last Supper and the gift of the Eucharist, the lasting presence of God among us.  Then on Good Friday we will recite the Stations of the Cross, remembering the suffering and death of Our Lord.  As we experience the promise of Holy Week, now is a good time to focus on forgiveness—for ourselves and one another—and on acts of charity that heal.  We do both by responding to God’s call to love and serve one another freely and without measure.  As missioners, there is no holding back.

Friend, when we turn to God for help, it will be as Isaiah says:  The Lord will open our ears, we will be called, and we will hear.  May you have a blessed Holy Week in preparation for the greatest feast day of all, Easter Sunday.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Reflection for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

With joy we proclaim you Messiah,

anointed Savior and son of David.

With blessed palm branches we hail You

King who comes in the name of the Lord.

With reverence and awe we gather

around the table of Your Passover supper

and with sorrow we mourn Your death

on the Cross for love of us.

Lord, we can never appreciate, much less

comprehend the depth of Your mercy

nor the full meaning of Your sacrifice.

We stand with Mary Magdalene and

Your Blessed Mother at the foot of the Cross

and in place of Your Beloved Disciple.

With sorrow beyond measure

we help Joseph of Arimathea

take down Your bruised body

and lay it in a tomb meant for us.

With broken hearts we take Mary,

Your mother, to our homes and

into our hearts as You instructed us.

As darkness falls over the earth

we keep holy this holiest of Sabbaths

as we mourn in silence and wait

for the dawn of a new day.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.” Psalm 51:12

Yes, it’s been a long five weeks.  But be hopeful.  Very soon we will arrive at the moment in our spiritual journey sure to fill us with a lasting joy.  Easter is almost here.

Everything we have done since Ash Wednesday—the prayer, the sacrifices, and acts of charity—have had a single goal:  to invite God into our lives to create a clean heart.  I think today’s wisdom from the psalmist is this:  A heart focused on God—love and the sanctity of life—doesn’t get caught up in petty things or self-satisfying pursuits but lives for others instead.  To me a clean heart is just another way of saying “the ability to love without holding back”!

Being human, we can easily forget our original intentions to stay focused and steadfast.  After all, forty days of focus is a long time and distractions are going to test our will.   But even when they do, we can work through them by calling on God’s grace.  We do that through Mass and the sacraments especially the Eucharist.  We also bring God into our hearts through scripture, personal prayer, and the Rosary.  All the things we have been doing.

Friend, as you prepare for Holy Week, lay claim to the comfort of a clean heart—and recognize that God’s presence during Lent has guided you every step of the way.  Lent is almost over, but the richness we are about to inherit will last forever.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for Fifth Sunday of Lent

Take from me, most merciful Lord,

my heart of stone and in its place

give me a human heart like Yours:

loving, forgiving, compassionate,

and caring, thus vulnerable and

open to being hurt and wounded.

You remain with us, Lord Jesus,

not only in the Blessed Sacrament

but also in hearts made pure again

by Your grace and good will.

You dwell within us, Lord Jesus,

just as You dwelt in the Temple of old

and in the ark of the new covenant:

the Blessed Virgin Mary,

Your Holy Mother and ours.

With hearts and souls cleansed

and renewed by Your blood on the cross

and empowered by that same Holy Spirit

that changes bread and wine into

the Sacrament of Your presence,

empower me always to do Your Will

and share Your life and Good News

with everyone I meet this day.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.” Ephesians 2:10

As far as Paul is concerned, we all have an important role to play.  And our calling comes into sharper relief as we continue through the days and weeks of Lent.

Of course, we all have choices to make about how we witness our faith.  That’s why Lent is so helpful—and hopeful.  It’s the gift we give ourselves.  We pray for guidance to be better family members and neighbors, better co-workers and more engaged members of our parishes and communities.  And we pray that by giving ourselves selflessly—in time, words, prayers and deeds—we will encourage others to become the children of God that they were called to be.

If the days of Lent have started to feel long, don’t be discouraged.  God is still at work, infusing us with new life.  Each act of charity, and every moment you dedicate to prayer takes you closer to your personal transformation. 

I understand:  Sometimes we are called to do things that aren’t always easy, and that includes me.  The past year and its lingering impact have asked us all to be selfless and heroic in ways we couldn’t have imagined.  But our examples of collective good will and determination continue to inspire the faithful—and society itself.  Working through suffering is the story of Easter—the birth of new life that follows and the promise of redemption in Christ.

Friend, you are God’s fullest expression of life destined for greatness by doing good.  Your gifts are unique to you.  Share them and you are doing the work of salvation, drawing closer to eternal life—the promise of Easter.  Life is always new, always becoming.  And you are the reason why.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for Fourth Sunday of Lent

As I continue to cross the wilderness of Lent,

without the comforts and habits of everyday life

I depend on for fleeting happiness and fulfillment,

strip me of all vanities and imaginings

that neither come from You nor lead to You,

my Lord and my God.

Remove all envy, jealousy, and greed

from my heart so wounded by life.

Drive from me all anger and resentment

that keep me from others and thus from You.

Above all, Lord Jesus, give me the power

to overcome false pride and ego

that Your divine image might once more

shine forth in and through my life.

By the grace of these 40 holy days

teach me to walk in Your ways and

live by the truth of Your gospel

to overcome not only sin but also

selfishness through the power of

Your Cross and Resurrection.

In Your most holy Name we pray.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:21

If you are confused by Paul’s reading today, don’t be.  The mystery inside of a mystery is where we start our meditation today.

What St. Paul is describing, in an especially vivid and memorable manner, is what the unbelievers and naysayers of our world saw as the foolishness of the Gospel. Remember, many of Paul’s contemporaries rejected the idea of salvation in the crucified Christ.  According to them, any God who would die on a cross in an act of redemption for the sins of humanity is a weak and foolish God.  Paul is assuring us of exactly the opposite.  The message of the Gospel is that God has gifted us salvation in Christ, our source of comfort, strength, and yes, wisdom.

For some the Gospel will always represent foolishness.  But we know that the most humble have been the strongest witnesses of salvation in Christ.  Think of the saints—even Paul himself who was once a persecutor of Christians but was transformed to preach the Gospel at great personal cost.  Think of the faithful in your own life, the role models who grew in strength and grace, deepening your own faith.

The Cross is our paschal mystery.  Like Christ we must go through death in order to arrive at the resurrection.  This is the ultimate message of our faith.  Life does not end at death.  This may be a step too far for the unbelievers.  But for Paul—and for us—it’s the rock and foundation of our faith.  We trust in life over death, in strength over weakness, in belief over skepticism.  The wisdom of God is simple:  By giving ourselves up for others—a reflection of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross—we are fulfilling our calling to be God-like ourselves.  To be missioners.

Friend, one last thought:  The temple in today’s Gospel is a metaphor for Christ’s resurrection… the removal of sin that is worthy of redemption and new life.  Whatever society may do—and whenever our egos may lead us away from God— we still have the promise of life over death, eternity over impermanence, wisdom over foolishness.  A lot to think about on the Third Sunday of Lent.  Our journey continues.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for Third Sunday of Lent

Lord God of power and weakness

help me discover You in the poor

no less than in the powerful.

You strengthen the weak and

empower the poor to cast off

chains of oppression and hardship.

You cast down the mighty from their thrones.

Grant I never follow anyone more than You

and listen to Your word before all others.

Jesus, You gave up the safety and security

of heaven to dwell here on earth to be with us,

live with us, teach us and show us the way that

leads to You and the fullness of life.

Be the light that reveals Your will

and guide us along the right path

of justice, peace, and mercy.

May my Lenten sacrifices and offerings

be for the glory of Your Name and

the sanctification of my brothers and sisters.

Help me recognize Your suffering in the

those I meet for whom life has become

a burden and not a blessing.

May You be revealed this day

in human weakness and diminishment.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard: This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.”  Matthew 17:5

Today’s Gospel reading is a comfort to contemplate… The Son of God transfigured in all His glory, His divinity revealed as a sign of the eternal glory each of us is destined to enjoy.

Here we are in the second week of Lent, anxious to show God that our good works and our sacrifices are all offered with the intention of drawing closer in worthiness to the gift of salvation. We see that the transfiguration of the Lord is a glimpse into our future, too. Matthew’s recounting assures us that we can be transformed in God’s image as well and become worthy of eternal life.

Transformation may sound like a tall order right now. Everyday life still poses its challenges—for all of us. But let’s remember that God loves and accepts us as we are, especially because our goal during Lent is to always offer up a little more and find new ways to give praise.

While we still have the spiritual energy, let’s promise ourselves that we will keep the momentum going. One way to do that is by trying to discern the gifts that God is trying to reveal in us. Is it a special kinship with children or the elderly? Do you have a unique talent that you could share—or share more of? Is there a prayer group that could enrich your Lenten practice—and convince someone else to do the same? 

Friend, it’s only the second full week of Lent, I know. But with the example of today’s Gospel, it’s a perfect time to look inward and see how you might be transformed in God’s image. The one promise I can make is that when you welcome God with the intention of being renewed, you’re not the only one who will experience a change. Your example will have the power to transform someone else’s life, too. Maybe more than one life. Maybe many lives. Lent is a time when we can set new goals and find out. May your journey this week transform you in God’s love. 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

February 28, 2021

Second Sunday of Lent

Lord Jesus Christ, on Tabor’s height

You were transformed in majesty

that Your disciples might not only

experience Your glory but also find

the strength and grace to be

transformed anew into the divine

image and likeness in which

we were all created by God.

Help us climb the holy mountain

where we too might offer our prayers

and sacrifices, our pain and broken promises

that these too might be transformed into

fountains of faith, hope, healing and love

for ourselves and all the people

through whom you have blessed us.

Be with us, Lord Jesus, as we, like you

descend from our holy mountaintop

to face our own, personal way of the cross.

May each step bring us ever closer to you

by drawing us closer to all who suffer

poverty, hunger, injustice or illness

that the power of your Cross and Resurrection

might continue to transform our broken world.

Amen

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.”  Psalm 25:4-5

The Psalmist is reading our minds today. On the first Sunday of Lent—and the days that follow—we ask God to make the paths of truth and righteousness known to us so that we might become worthy of salvation. That is our Lenten prayer.

But how can we become worthy in the eyes of God? That seems like such a tall order, doesn’t it?

We know the traditions: fasting, Stations of the Cross, daily Mass, and acts of charity that go beyond the usual. Of course, giving up something that we love—a tradition for many of us since childhood—is a form of penance. But Lent is more than that. Beyond the sacrifice, Lent is an opportunity to open up our hearts to God and give witness to the love we have received in baptism.

Actively witnessing God’s love is as rewarding—if not more so—than, say, forgoing tonight’s dessert. Something I experienced during my mission days in the Altiplano of Peru taught me how deeply we can practice our faith when we welcome Christ home. A man in our parish said he was giving up some food from his daily meal that Lent in order to give it to someone he knew who needed it more. The man was poor himself. But in order to prepare for Easter, he was ready to give away the little he had. That’s a sacrifice that showed me how deeply one person can love another.

Friend, before he began his public ministry Jesus fasted for 40 days. He was tempted by the devil but never gave in. Our 40-days of Lent will have its challenges, too, and we will need each other for support and encouragement. That’s what prayer partners are for. So please know I am praying with and for you. May this Lent deepen your faith and mine—and make known the paths of the Lord so that one day we will all be worthy in God’s eyes.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

February 21, 2021

First Sunday of Lent

Lord Jesus, we begin Lent every year

with the somber reminder that

dust we are, and to dust we shall return.

Having given up so much last year

due to the Covid pandemic

what more can I give to express

my sincere repentance and love

for You, my Savior?

In place of greed, grant generosity;

in place of jealousy, honest admiration;

in place of resentment, humility

and in place of insensitivity, compassion.

Help me, Jesus, to enter the desert of Lent

without the distractions and disillusionments

of everyday life, that I might concentrate

my thoughts, hopes and dreams totally

on doing Your will to the glory of God

and out of love for my brothers and sisters.

Amen

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31

“L-o-v-e” is a simple word, but rich and layered in meaning. These four magical letters, written in this precise order, define God’s relationship to us and our relationship to one another. Could anything be more uncomplicated? In the end, it all comes down to love.

My thoughts on Valentine’s Day are probably a lot like yours. Today we celebrate all expressions of God’s love: in our friendships and marriages… through the caring partnerships forged in brotherhood and sisterhood… in religious life… and through the teachings of the Gospel itself.

Thanks to Christ’s example, we understand that the richest experiences of human fulfillment come from loving one another. We saw this lesson expressed time and again over the past year—expressions of caring and love from our frontline healthcare workers that knew no bounds. Maybe you are one of those workers, or perhaps a caregiver who was called to serve in a new or unexpected way.

Friend, when we give ourselves over to someone else—freely and without expectation of any return—those are moments when we grow as disciples of Our Lord. So happy Valentine’s Day. Honor the gift of love with every special remembrance—traditional or otherwise. Then celebrate all year long by being an imitator of Christ.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

February 14, 2021

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Love incarnate, son of the Most High,

word made flesh and splendor of the Father,

You came to us through the Immaculate

Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary and

revealed God’s love for the world and

to the world by becoming human like us.

Help us to walk in your footsteps

along the way of love

for all our brothers and sisters

for all creatures, large and small

and for the whole Earth,

but above all, for you my God,

who made all things out of love

for us.

Lord, accept the tears and sighs

of those hearts wounded or broken,

hearts hardened or hurt

for love forsaken or betrayed.

You Who loved Your friends till the end

and know the pain of betrayal and abandonment,

fill us anew with Your grace that forgiveness,

mercy, and compassion might flow like a mighty stream

from Your most sacred heart to all of ours.

Amen

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso