Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP

Though his role was to feed the widows and orphans, Philip left Jerusalem to avoid persecution and preached Christ to great effect in a town in Samaria. We all have official roles in our communities, but we have to discern to find what our real role is in helping to unfold the Kingdom of God.

St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, looked up to heaven as he was being stoned to death and asked Jesus not to hold this sin against his executioners. If we hate our enemies or want them to be punished, then Stephen has a lesson for us, that we should instead look forward to reuniting with them in heaven some day.

Why did Thomas Doubt? Perhaps because his brothers did not speak conviction, with lives that were changed because of the Resurrection. We are called to preach of the Resurrection with the conviction of changed lives that manifest its importance.

After the Resurrection, Sts. Peter and John were hauled before the Sanhedrin because they were speaking boldly about Jesus. Would that we have the same courage to speak about what we have seen, or to ask those who seem to have experienced what we wish to experience.

Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the Second Sunday of Easter, challenging us to become part of the Good News by living the Resurrection.

In Matthew's Gospel, Mary Magdalene encounters the Risen Lord at the empty tomb, while his brothers have to go to Galilee. If we seek the Risen Lord, we will find him, though we might have to look farther.