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Gospel Reflection – Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Dear friend,
One of the key messages that came from the most recent Council of our Catholic Church is this: the purpose of the Church is not itself, but to love, to serve, and to evangelize. This is the mission we all share as Catholics, each from our own calling and way of life. From the very beginning, many evangelizers lived this out, like those who fled after the death of Stephen. As the Acts of the Apostles tells us today, they preached the Risen Jesus in places like Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch—without fear, with conviction, but without arrogance.
In many of today’s cultural spaces—our modern “Areopagus”—there are efforts to silence anything related to religious belief or practice, as if faith belonged only to the private sphere. Let’s not accept that—because it isn’t true. Faith has a public dimension and a right to be expressed—not hidden; to be heard—not silenced. Faith is both personal and public, because it proposes values, denounces injustices, and has something meaningful to say. Yet in many places, it’s no longer “politically correct” for a famous athlete, singer, politician, or actor to speak openly about their beliefs—or even their lack of belief. So let’s be politically incorrect if we must, and share our faith without fear, but always with a spirit of dialogue, in the everyday public spaces of our lives: at work, with friends, during our free time…
Today’s Gospel from John again reminds us of Jesus as the Good Shepherd—the one who calls His sheep by name and cares for them, even to the point of giving His life. With a Shepherd like that watching over us, what do we have to fear? Keep working, keep moving forward, and trust—because this Shepherd watches over you as He did the first disciples, as He has done with countless believers throughout history, and as He will continue to do with all who listen to His voice.
Today we also remember the Virgin Mary under her title of Our Lady of Fátima. She is a powerful intercessor—and more than that, she is the great woman who knew how to wait on the great day of hope: Holy Saturday. She trusted that love is always stronger than death, and that the death of her Son could not be the end. Let us also bring to her our hope and patience in the face of difficult situations, together with the thousands of pilgrims who gather today to pray in that small Portuguese village.
Our Lady of Fátima, pray for us.
Your brother in faith,