The Gift of Mercy and The Gift of Baptism...

On Divine Mercy Sunday — the very day when Pope Francis, the first-ever Jesuit pope whose life and teachings were so profoundly centered on mercy, was laid to rest — I, a fellow Jesuit, was privileged to baptize Baby Ophelia at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Omaha, USA. 

My first-ever prayer request for the Holy Father, therefore, was, "Dear Holy Father, remember Ophelia when you come into His kingdom!"

It was a moment of deep and overwhelming emotion for me as a priest, as I reflected on how God's living word continues to be fulfilled: "Go, therefore, and baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

I was reminded of the great Jesuit missionaries of the past — St. Francis Xavier, who tirelessly spread the Gospel in India and across Asia, and St. Matteo Ricci, who brought the light of Christ to China. Now, here I am, a Jesuit from the island nation of Sri Lanka, standing on American soil, baptizing a child into the faith.

On this sacred day, when God’s infinite mercy was first entrusted as a gift to the disciples — to be carried in their hearts as they were sent forth to the ends of the earth — I was humbled to be a part of that same mission.

Alleluia!

Behind the Image: Yet Another Easter Story…

 

Photographed by Fr. Rashmi M. Fernando, SJ | April 21, 2019 

St. Sebastian's Church, Katuwapitiya, Negombo, Sri Lanka

Behind this image, a story breathes—

As powerful and unfathomable

As the Resurrection of our Lord.

It bears the silence of screams,

And the weight of a nation’s broken prayer.

 

It speaks of Easter Sunday 

April 21^st, 2019

When Heaven met horror 

And the sanctity of the Day was defiled

On the Island Nation of Sri Lanka

And in Katuwapitiya’s holy place,

In the heart of Little Rome—my hometown.

 

A series of coordinated bombings

Tore through the Day’s holiness,

Cutting the breath of prayer,

And giving way to flesh and blood,

What a terrible tremor in the soul,

And disturbance to Alleluia, our Easter Song

 

Though I detested capturing any pain

What I saw in the lectionary was an image 

I could not turn away.

Lying open in the wreckage—

Covered with shards of glass, 

The dust of fallen ceilings,

And the tender, unspeakable remains

of those who came to rise with Christ—

Were the pages whispering the Psalmist’s prayer 

And the eternal truths,

Though difficult to comprehend then,

That remains in my soul until this day: 

"Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.”

"The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." 

 

Six years have passed.

And on this Easter Monday morning, 

Yet, another April 21^st,

I wake to a different grief:

The Holy Father—Pope Francis

The only Jesuit pope in our history

Returned to the Eternal.

 

A dear friend of mine from Omaha writes to me:

"I know today is a very difficult day, Rashmi.

I can’t help but think

All the beautiful Sri Lankan martyrs

Ran to him and hugged him in heaven."

Yes…

Rest now, dear Papa Francis, 

In the embrace of those who bore the Cross of Christ in your time.

You were indeed an instrument of God's Spirit,

 Renewing the face of the Church and of the earth,

And showing the fullness of His goodness 

To those most in need, the vulnerable, and the marginalized,  

In the far ends of the world. 

 

දෙව්ලොව ආසිරි ලැබේවා දිව්‍ය පාමුලේ: Loving Homage To All Who Died In Easter Bombings in Sri Lanka

Priesthood is a Mystery | Message from My Brother on the Feast of Priesthood

 Priesthood is a mystery.

It is not merely a vocation but a way of life. The Way that Jesus Himself walked. He invited His apostles to follow Him to preach and to spread the Good News to a world wavering in faith. It was challenging then. And it is equally challenging today, for priests are human too.

Jesus suffered and died. His apostles also endured suffering and death, but all for a greater purpose. His priests today, who share in the same vision and mission, also suffer. Their suffering may take different forms, shaped by the circumstances they live in. Yet it is holy.

So, on this Maundy Thursday, I urge you, Malli, to embrace the cross placed upon your mission. Be joyful. Even in suffering, Jesus was joyful, even unto death on the cross.

From a human point of view, this calling is a mystery. But through the divine Spirit, this untold mystery can be comprehended. That is the art of the priesthood. And if priesthood is an art, Jesus is the Master Artist, the one you are called to imitate.

Happy Feast Malli!

2025

S. B. Anuranga Fernando

Washing of the Feet at Holy Thursday Mass at St. Benedict the Moor Parish, Omaha, USA

Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers...

She was the one that I'd wanted for all times

And each night I'd spend prayin' that God would make her mine

And if He'd only grant me this wish I wished back then

I'd never ask for anything again

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers

Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs

And just because He doesn't answer, doesn't mean He don't care

'Cause some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers 

She wasn't quite the angel that I remembered in my dreams

And I could tell that time had changed me, in her eyes too it seemed

We tried to talk about the old days, there wasn't much we could recall

I guess the Lord knows what He's doin' after all

And as she walked away, well, I looked at my [life]

And then and there I thanked the good Lord

For the gifts in my life

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers

Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs

And just because He may not answer, doesn't mean He don't care

'Cause some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered-

Some of God's greatest gifts are all too often unanswered-

Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

(Garth Brooks, 1990)

Some Self-Help for Self-Transformation & Moving on in Life...

To thank God for your unanswered prayers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QESLoxIId0 

To gain the strength to give up what doesn't belong to you: Watch the movie, Unanswered Prayers (2010)

Check your loyalty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWQW8jm4nJU    

Don't let this be you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDAzYuQcgMM  

What is your Magnificat (song of praises to God) in life? Will you start writing one today?

What are your life maxims that define who you are, what you have, and all that you do? Here are mine....

Through Grace To Renewal and Redemption...

Fernando, R. (2024, April 6). Through grace to renewal and redemption. Online Ministries: Creighton University. https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/040625.html

Reading 1, Isaiah 43:16-21

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6

Gospel, John 8:1-11

Reading 2, Philippians 3:8-14

The readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year C, share a profound theme of renewal and redemption. From Isaiah’s prophecy of God making a way in the wilderness to Paul’s exhortation to forget the past and press on toward Christ, and finally, to the Gospel account of Jesus’ merciful response to the woman caught in adultery, we see a recurring message: God’s transformative power calls us to move forward, embracing grace over condemnation.

This theme of renewal and redemption through grace reaches its pinnacle in John 8:1-11, where Jesus encounters a woman accused of adultery. The religious leaders attempt to use this situation as a trap, expecting Jesus to either contradict Mosaic Law or undermine his message of mercy. However, his response shifts the focus from punishment to self-examination: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” One by one, the accusers leave, recognizing their own shortcomings. Instead of condemnation, Jesus offers the woman a new beginning: “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on, do not sin anymore.”

This passage is a powerful reflection on the nature of God’s mercy. Jesus does not deny the seriousness of sin but prioritizes redemption over retribution. His words invite us to reflect on our own tendency to judge others while overlooking our faults. More importantly, they remind us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. Just as the woman was given a new chance, we too are called to rise from our past and walk forward in transformation.

In this Lenten season, these readings encourage us to embrace God’s invitation to renewal. Whether by letting go of past burdens, striving forward in faith, or showing mercy to others, we are reminded that God is always making a way for us, offering rivers in the wasteland of our lives.

Self-Reflective Questions:

• What past burdens or regrets do I need to release in order to fully embrace God’s new work in my life?
• How can I practice mercy and grace towards others, just as Jesus demonstrated to the woman in the Gospel?

Can a woman forget her baby?

“Can a woman forget her baby? 

Can she forget the child who came from her body? 

Even if she can forget her children, 

I will never forget you..."

(Is. 49:15)