JoAnn will receive a copy of Breakthrough! The Bible for Young Catholics, a $24.95 value.

As the title suggests, Breakthrough! The Bible for Young Catholics highlights what happens throughout salvation history between God and humanity. God breaks through and connects with human history, thereby establishing a relationship with humanity.

Using the Good News translation, Breakthrough! The Bible for Young Catholics was created for young people leaving childhood and entering adolescence. Its 10 special features were created to help make the Bible easier for young people to read and understand.

They will learn about the great people of the Bible, and will see how God has been breaking through in human history and connecting with humanity for thousands of years. Most important, they will discover, in the Bible, how God's messages to key people of faith have meaning for life today.

Breakthrough! The Bible for Young Catholics
ISBN: 978-1-59982-339-3, paper, 1,968 pages

by Joanna Dailey

It was the early 1960’s. My mom announced at supper that we had to "pick up" the living room, because the neighbors across the street were coming over to show slides of their trip to Europe. My dad groaned, but I was excited. London! Paris! Rome!

It turned out to be a lovely evening. I do not remember the pictures, exactly, but I remember the joy of this retired couple who had finally accomplished a lifelong dream. (My dad did fall asleep, however. This slide show came at the end of a long working day.)

For me, last week, it was Pittsburgh! Cleveland! Saint Louis! (The National Catholic Educational Association convention was in Pittsburgh this year, and what a great convention it was! My time in Cleveland was only a night in an excellent inn, because the plane from Pittsburgh to Cleveland had been cancelled and we had to await another one, arriving later than expected and missing connections to Indianapolis and other places.) But I made it back to Terre Haute, Indiana, just in time to catch my bus to Saint Louis for a whirlwind weekend with a sister-friend who is spending her last year in Saint Louis before returning to her motherhouse.

All this happened during Easter week. And, just as Jesus met the two friends on the road to Emmaus and helped them to understand a few things while they were companions on the way, so I was given some understandings that helped me put a few things into perspective:

1. In the liturgy of the Eastern Church, there is a prayer in the Great Litany:

"For travelers by land, by sea, and by air, . . . let us pray to the Lord." The response is, "Lord, have mercy."

We should pray for travelers, because travelers are often vulnerable and subject to conditions (like weather and airline management) beyond their control. As I discovered when my flight was cancelled, this is not an easy space to be in.

When I think of travelers, I think of our own Saint Mary’s Press consultants and salespeople, who are often on the road, visiting parishes and schools. And I also think of the millions of people who travel on the thousands of planes and boats and trains across the world! The 1987 movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a somewhat exaggerated version of a typical trip home for Thanksgiving. When I endure the vicissitudes of travel (which is not very often), remembering this movie helps me cope.

2. When we travel, we are called to be "companions on the way" to those we travel with, whether friends or strangers. In the Cleveland airport, we had to follow a circuitous route to get to Baggage Claim and Ground Transportation so that we could be taken to our overnight lodging. A young man in our group of stranded passengers seemed to have a fear of escalators. He just stood in front of a very tall escalator and stopped. I am not afraid of escalators, but elevators are sometimes easier, so I said, "Let’s find the elevator." The elevator brought us up to a corridor with no signs. We kept walking until we saw "Baggage Claim/Ground Transportation," so on we went. We found the right door to the right van. He looked at me and said, "If you had not been here, I would not have been able to find the way." We are here to help one another find the way!

3. Travel has unexpected benefits—traveling mercies. If the flight to Cleveland had not been cancelled, I would never have met a principal from Indianapolis who was riding in the van with me to our assigned night’s lodging. (It was almost 11 p.m., and we Hoosiers should have been home by then.) She and I got to talking, and we continued our conversation in the hotel pub until almost midnight. Just like the disciples who accompanied Jesus to the inn at Emmaus!

Whether we travel frequently or not, we are all pilgrims on a journey. We are all heading for Emmaus and beyond. (See the Make It Happen in this newsletter for a day of pilgrimage and prayer.) Some of us have heavy baggage to carry. Some are blessed with the gift of packing light. But all of us are called to help one another along the way. Vaya con Diós! Alleluia!

Blessings on your ministry!

Peace and joy,

Joanna

P.S. Keep the Easter event alive. Begin your next group session with a short meditation on Luke’s Resurrection account (Luke 24:1-9). It merges the Gospel account with a few thoughtful questions on life experiences. It is set up for two readers, but could work with as many as eight, with each reader taking one paragraph. You can find this meditation at the Resource Center on the Saint Mary’s Press Web site. The title of the handout is, "For Love Is Stronger Than Death." It can be found here.

Overview
This extended activity takes prayer and the young people into the streets. Using the theme of pilgrimage, the young people embark on a journey that leads them to stop and pray outside specific locations in a town, such as a hospital, a church, a jail, and a social-service agency. This activity is ideal for complementing a service or outreach day, or it can enhance a road trip or retreat journey.

Suggested Time
This is an extended prayer activity that could be spread out over the course of a day or an afternoon. The actual gatherings at locations can be as brief as 2 or 3 minutes. However, additional time will be required for traveling between sites, providing explanations, and guiding the young people through the process.

Group Size
Five to 20 people, because groups of any larger size can be a distraction and can block public access at the prayer sites. If your group is larger than 20, it may be necessary to split it into several smaller groups that each take turns praying at the chosen sites.

Special Considerations
This prayer presents some logistical challenges. Preparation, planning, and adequate adult support are all important. If your group is large, it may be necessary to inform the local authorities of this activity and obtain permission to hold it. Some young people may be self-conscious about praying in public. This can be addressed by standing in small, closed circles and praying quietly.

Click here to download the entire activity, "Pilgrimage Prayer Day." This activity is an excerpt from the book Prayer Ideas for Ministry with Young Teens by Saint Mary's Press.

The Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 11, 2014
John 10:1-10

Opening Prayer

Jesus, as the good shepherd you continue to guide us to restful waters and to feed us through the Eucharist. May we take your example of caring for others deeply and integrate it into our way of living. May we follow your example of being servants for others. Amen.

Context Connection
The most forceful line of this Sunday's Gospel is "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (10:10). The access to this abundant life is through Jesus: "I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture" (10:9). The metaphor John uses is that of a shepherd, an image well known in the Old Testament. God was often spoken of as the shepherd of the Jewish people. Leaders and especially kings were also seen as shepherds for the kingdom of Israel and, after its division, for the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. During the exile in Babylon, the Jewish prophets spoke of God as the future shepherd of the people. They also hoped for a future Davidic leader who would shepherd the people of Israel. See Jeremiah 3:15, Micah 5:4 (NRSV), Micah 5:3 (NAB), or Zechariah. In Ezekiel we hear an insight into this future shepherd in chapter 34, verses 11-16. This new leader would be a good shepherd caring for his flock.

John interjects something new. With his image of the good shepherd from Ezekiel, "The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (10:11), he presents a key insight that says Jesus is the Davidic good shepherd, the hope of the Jews since the Babylonian captivity. Jesus is the good shepherd because of his freely chosen sacrifice on the cross. It is Jesus' act of self-giving that brings about the salvation of all. Therefore Jesus is the gate that gives access to good pasture, and he is the protector of the sheepfold. Those who enter are saved. Those who go out find good pasture and abundant life among the community of believers. It is through Jesus that others are given life in abundance.

Psalm 23 is the responsorial psalm for this Sunday. It is familiar to us. After the Passion, death, and Resurrection of Jesus, Christians read into this psalm the importance of being nurtured through the Eucharist as sheep in the pasture. To find pasture is to find life. Those who seek pasture through Jesus find life in abundance. As the good shepherd, Jesus leads us to green pastures and refreshing water, an abundance of life. It is here that Jesus restores our souls, our broken spirits, and gives us direction toward righteousness in our lives. Even in times that challenge us, we believe that Jesus is there to guide us and comfort us. Through the Sacraments Jesus continues to strengthen us for the journey of life. Our heads are anointed with oil to show how precious we are in the eyes of God. The Eucharistic banquet is prepared to nurture us. Our God is a generous God, and thus our cup overflows. God gives us life in abundance. Because Jesus came to give us life, and to give it in abundance, we are called to share it with others, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" (Psalm 23:6).

Tradition Connection
The image of the good shepherd in the Old Testament depicts the qualities both of a good king and of God. That image is carried on into the Christian community and serves as an example for leaders at all levels in the Catholic Church. On Holy Thursday, the start of the Triduum, the ritual that the Church uses is the washing of the feet to remember Jesus' example and words to his disciples. After washing his disciples' feet, Jesus said, "So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you" (John 13:14-15). Washing the feet of guests was relegated to the slave. But what Jesus did for his disciples was to give them an example of leadership for the new community he had formed, to be the servant to the servants.

This concept of caring deeply for the members of the Christian community continues to the present day. We give the title of pastor to those priests who lead parishes. The origin of the word pastor in Latin is "shepherd." A pastor is the ordained servant-leader of a parish. The concept of servant-leader is even reflected in one of the titles for the pope: Servant of the Servants of God (Servus servorum Dei).

John emphasizes the quality of this kind of pastoral leadership through the phrase "good shepherd" in contrast to bad shepherds. A good shepherd wants what will be good for his flock. The good shepherd gives guidance and care to those for whom he is responsible. He provides not only for their physical needs but also for their spiritual needs. The love of the shepherd for his flock is complete and enduring to the extent that he would lay down his life for the sheep. "Intrinsically linked to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry is its character as service" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 876). Just as Jesus came to give us life and to give it abundantly, those who follow Jesus as leaders in the Church are asked by Jesus to make sacrifices so that those they serve will have life and have it abundantly.

Wisdom Connection
John sets forth in his Gospel the image of the good shepherd serving the Christian community as a way to assess their present leadership. The example for leadership given to us by Jesus is one of servant-leadership, placing the good of another before our own personal gain. A servant-leader washes the feet of all members of the community. A servant-leader provides pastoral care for each member of the Christian community, even if it means seeking out the lost and restoring them to the community. The model of leadership that John presents in the image of the good shepherd and in the washing of the feet in chapter 13 clearly shows that leadership in the Christian community should be based on service to others and not on power over others.

Acknowledgments
The scriptural quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition. Copyright © 1993 and 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved.

The quotations labeled Catechism are from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America. Copyright © 1994 by the United States Catholic Conference, Inc.--Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.

The Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 18, 2014
John 14:1-12

Opening Prayer

Jesus, as you prepared to return to your Father in heaven you assured us that we would also live with you in communion with the Father. By continuing your mission of good works, we have a road map to the place where you dwell with the Father. Continue to inspire us through the Holy Spirit to be doers of your word. Amen.

Context Connection
In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus reminds his disciples that even though he is going away--back to the Father--they need to continue his mission. The opening words, "Do not let your hearts be troubled" (14:1), are words of comfort and compassion. Jesus also tells his disciples that believing in God and in himself will give them strong hearts and the conviction to do the works of Jesus.

Jesus says he is going to his Father's house, where "there are many dwelling places" (14:2), to prepare a place for them. Jesus promises his disciples that he will not only prepare a place for them but also come again to take them with him to dwell with God the Father. "I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also" (14:3). We continue to believe that Jesus will come again at the end of the world.

Then Jesus tells his followers that in the in-between time they will know what to do: "And you know the way to the place where I am going" (14:4). Thomas speaks first, expressing the insecurity of all the disciples: "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" (14:5). Jesus' response to Thomas's question is poignant and serves as a teaching for all disciples: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (14:6). The "way" of Jesus is a loving way, a way of total self-giving, even to the point of death. It must also become the way of all his followers.

These words of comfort are added by Jesus: "If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him" (14:7). For three years the disciples have traveled with Jesus and spent time in conversation with him so that they could come to know him. Jesus now wants his disciples to understand that he is in the Father and the Father is in him. This is the start of the comprehension of the mystery of the Holy Trinity: if you know Jesus, you know the Father, because they are one. Jesus' response clarifies that Christian hope is not found in a method or in a procedure but in a person-Jesus-the means of encounter with God.

Once again the disciples' insecurities are voiced-this time in the words of Philip: "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied" (14:8). This statement shows the disciples' lack of faith. Jesus becomes exasperated with Philip and the other disciples for not recognizing the Father in him over the previous three years. Thus Jesus' words are direct: "Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me" (14:11). To believe is crucial. One must believe that Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in him-they are one. Jesus continues to say that if it is not possible for the disciples to believe, then they should look back over the many miracles he has worked and understand that they were the manifestation of the Father's work in and through him: "If you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves" (14:11).

The Gospel closes with instruction for all disciples of Jesus, including us: "The one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father" (14:12). Jesus links belief with doing good works. The Letter of James says that we are to be not only hearers of the word of Jesus but also doers of his word; we must put those words into action. Jesus tells his disciples that by placing their belief in him they will do even greater things than he. The increased greatness of the works lies in acting in Jesus' name after he has ascended to the Father. The Acts of the Apostles records many of these great works of the Apostles.

Tradition Connection
Jesus speaks about his returning to the Father from whom he came. Each Christmas we celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus: God taking on full humanity to live among his people. In the Nicene Creed, we profess, "He [Jesus] came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and become man" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, page 49). Jesus' descent from heaven made the will and love of God the Father known to the world. As Jesus approached the time when he would ascend to the Father, he wanted to prepare the disciples for his departure. "This final stage stays closely linked to the first, that is, to his descent from heaven in the Incarnation. Only the one who 'came from the Father' can return to the Father: Christ Jesus.¹ 'No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man²'" (Catechism, paragraph 661).

Jesus shares with the disciples that his whole reason for coming into the world is so that humankind can come to know God the Father in a definitive way:

Christ's whole earthly life-his words and deeds, his silences and sufferings, indeed his manner of being and speaking-is revelation of the Father. Jesus can say: "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father," and the Father can say: "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!"³ Because our Lord became man in order to do his Father's will, even the least characteristics of his mysteries manifest "God's love . . . among us.⁴" (Catechism, paragraph 516).

In the Lord's Prayer we pray to God our Father who is in heaven. In doing so we recognize God's love for us, his children, as seen in the Old Testament, especially in the prophets, and in the New Covenant: Jesus the Christ. In this New Covenant we become God's people and hence adopted children of God. "This new relationship is the purely gratuitous gift of belonging to each other: we are to respond to 'grace and truth' given us in Jesus Christ with love and faithfulness⁵ "(Catechism, paragraph 2787). The Catechism speaks further about the symbol of the heavens as God's dwelling place and our homeland:

The symbol of the heavens refers us back to the mystery of the covenant we are living when we pray to our Father. He is in heaven, his dwelling place; the Father's house is our homeland. Sin has exiled us from the land of the covenant,⁶ but conversion of heart enables us to return to the Father, to heaven.⁷ In Christ, then, heaven and earth are reconciled,⁸ for the Son alone "descended from heaven" and causes us to ascend there with him, by his Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension ⁹ (Catechism, paragraph 2795).

We, the disciples of Jesus, are invited to step out in faith to trust the mystery of God: the unity of the Father and the Son. It is through Jesus that we come to dwell with God the Father in heaven. In First Corinthians Paul wrote, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Wisdom Connection
Just as the disciples were troubled about Jesus' departure, so also was John's community. So John writes to help them gain perspective on Jesus' return. Jesus told the disciples he would come back to take them with him to the Father. The early Christian community hoped this would happen in their lifetime. John's Gospel was written near the end of the first century, and Jesus had not yet come again. Rather than focus on the timing of the Second Coming, John has his community focus on what needs to happen in the in-between time. Jesus did not leave without giving the disciples an understanding of how to get to the Father. The original disciples were told they must continue the good works of Jesus the Christ through faith in him. Through his life, teachings, and actions, Jesus presented a way of life to his disciples. If an individual, as well as a whole community, would live as Jesus did, then they would definitely encounter God, who is love. For John it was a matter of believing in Jesus as the Christ and modeling one's life after his. "The one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these" (14:12).

Jesus' departure should not be a cause of sorrow and despair. Rather, it is a cause of hope and comfort because he is preparing a permanent dwelling place for those who are in communion with God the Father. On earth the glory of God, once seen in the works of Jesus, can now be seen in the works of the believing disciples.

Acknowledgments
The scriptural quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition. Copyright © 1993 and 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved.

The quotations labeled Catechism are from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America. Copyright © 1994 by the United States Catholic Conference, Inc.--Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.

Endnotes cited in quotations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church

1. Cf. John 16:28.
2. John 3:13; cf. Ephesians 4:8-10.
3. John 14:9; Luke 9:35; cf. Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7 ("my beloved Son").
4. 1 John 4:9.
5. John 1:17; cf. Hosea 2:21-22; 6:1-6.
6. Cf. Genesis 3.
7. Jeremiah 3:19-4:1a; Luke 15:18,21.
8. Cf. Isaiah 45:8; Psalm 85:12.
9. John 3:13; 12:32; 14:2-3; 16:28; 20:17; Ephesians 4:9-10; Hebrews 1:3; 2:13.

Fittingly, we honor a traveling saint in this newsletter: Saint Brendan the Navigator. This intrepid and courageous saint may have been the first European to discover America! He set sail from Ireland in search of a land unknown, which he called "The Promised Land," or "Paradise." Seven years later, he returned, and his voyage was recounted in a Latin text. The book The Brendan Voyage is an account of a modern recreation of Saint Brendan’s voyage, which demonstrated that a boat such as the one Saint Brendan used could have reached North America. (This book, by the British explorer Tim Severin, is an amazing and sometimes harrowing tale, and it has also been made into a movie.) Saint Brendan was born in County Kerry, Ireland (near the present city of Tralee) in 484 and died in what is now Annaghdown in 577.

Read more about Saint Brendan by clicking here.