I’m not sure about you, but my entire faith rests on Easter. As I see it, Easter changes everything.

Our Lady knows exactly what it is like to stand by and see someone you love suffer and die. But Our Lady also knew that, somehow, God was with her in that time of grief. But we could well ask: Where was God yesterday in Paris?

Jesus understands what you’re going through, because he has gone through this himself. He understands you not only because he’s divine and knows all things but because he is human and experienced all things.

Examen Fifth Sunday of Lent

Don’t get too down on yourself if your Lent hasn’t been perfect. Be easy with yourself. But keep taking those steps towards God.     

Jesus asks us to be generous with the poor. It’s one of the foundations of his public ministry: caring for the poor himself and asking his disciples to do so.

Fasting does a number of things for us. First, it’s often healthy. Second, it reminds us that we have some control over our bodies. But it’s the third reason that is often lost on people: to save money so that we can give to the poor.

It’s always good to try new ways of prayer. It might change your relationship with God, which is not a bad thing at all for Lent.

Instead of giving up something for lent, how about doing something positive? How about this: Be kind.

Today, we visited the Baptismal site at Qasr Al Yahoud, which holds the oldest and most ancient tradition for being the place of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.