The Lord is risen!” “The Lord is risen, indeed!”

Christians around the world share this sign and countersign when greeting each other throughout Eastertide. For the Church, the Bride of Christ, the Resurrection is an event too glorious to observe on a single day.

Stephanie Weinert’s Instagram followers have come to expect unfiltered captions to go with her pretty pictures. That’s why she has amassed 7,000 followers, who click on images of her five young children and, in doing so, access her tips on skincare, home decor and liturgical living.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, churches are shuttered, and we huddle in our homes, afraid of cellular microbes we barely understand. The old and infirm at greater risk, we worry for our loved ones and our faith community. Things may well get worse before they get better, but we are of a faith that has endured greater storms than we face even now. So as we hunker and bunker down, work from home, rush through the grocery stories looking for toilet paper (no, stop that!), we know that “everything works together for good for those who love the Lord and are called to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Perhaps time at home means more time with family.

Springtime is close at hand and along with spring comes those dreadful yellowjackets. These yellow- and black-banded insects win first prize, by far, for the top “stinging” pest in Colorado. By understanding them a bit more it may help us to avoid these troublesome wasps and enjoy a sting-free season.

There comes a moment when something clicks. At a book club or a Bible study. In a carpool circle or a coffee shop. A connection is made, and a gathering turns into a group, taking on a life of its own.

 Elizabeth Tomlin has experienced it many times, and as a nomadic army wife, she’s come to rely on it.

In a recent essay in the Wall Street Journal, Kimberly Cutter chronicled the death of her father by suicide. As he struggled with rapidly progressing prostate cancer, he lost more than 30 pounds, becoming gaunt and emaciated. Back pain and nausea forced him to spend much of his time in bed.

The late 1800s saw a steep rise in American banking, commerce and industry. A new, ultrawealthy class arose, personified by families named Astor, Carnegie, Morgan, Rockefeller and Vanderbilt. Collectively, historians have tagged the men who created this wealth “Robber Barons,” reflecting their often cut-throat business tactics. These men and their families also donated vast sums of money to establish charitable foundations, endow universities, and found lending libraries, eventually furthering education and spreading that wealth.

When Mother Teresa visited New Bedford, Massachusetts in June 1995, she told those of us gathered at St. Lawrence Martyr Church: “Abortion is the greatest evil of today.” Never one to mince words, Mother Teresa’s courage, truthfulness and charity were palpable. Parents today need similar fortitude, honesty and love to be able to discuss the hard topic of unplanned pregnancies and abortion with their children.