Brian Purfield of the Mount Street Jesuit Centre examines the Gospel accounts of the appearances of the risen Jesus.  What do they tell us about the disciples’ experience of the Resurrection?  What do they tell us about the early Christian communities for whom they were written?  What do they tell us about the risen Jesus himself?

In a world seared by death in battle, by starvation and disease, by drugs and alcohol abuse, the message of the Risen Christ, the message of life after death, is more important than ever. How will the world hear that message of hope unless all of us are prepared to stand up and to proclaim with boldness and confidence, the message of the Resurrection of Jesus?

Palm Sunday begins the most important and sacred time in the Church’s year but also an important and sacred time in our own personal spiritual lives.

Today’s Gospel recounts the last miracle of Jesus recorded by John.

"Forgiveness and healing are for us inextricably linked. We repent and God forgives; and this forgiveness brings healing........"

As Lent begins, we are invited to make the difficult journey into the barren and empty desert of our own hearts, but it is in that desert that we shall find Christ.