800 years ago, if you were a layperson who followed St. Francis of Assisi and asked to join his order, he likely would not have responded as you expected. If you had a family or a job you were passionate about, he would have counseled you to not leave them but to embrace and live the Gospel in your work and day-to-day life.
Conversations are the most powerful influencers in the world. They shape who we are. They influence what we do. What's more, they build relationships, foster understanding, promote growth, and change perspectives. As we know, conversations can be good or bad, enlightening or disheartening. So, what can we do when we're stuck in a conversation that makes us feel uncomfortable, agitated, or helpless? What can we do during a conversation to fend off negative influences?
As we begin to journey through the Easter season, we are reminded that love is stronger than death and that in Christ, life is transformed, not ended. The Resurrection of Jesus assures us that those we love are never truly lost but live on in the embrace of God's eternal mercy.
This Easter season, we hear at Mass the story of the resurrected Jesus walking the road to Emmaus, where he heard his disciples describe the amazing events which culminate during this season.
