From Fr. Bill Muller, S.J.: Rest in God

April 2026

Jesuit and Catholic and Brophy

Picasso’s Christ Crucified (1897), Pericle Fazzini’s The Resurrection (1977)

A Reflection From Fr. Bill Muller, S.J.

Vice President for Mission and Identity

British-American poet and writer WH Auden’s 1970 A Certain World: A Commonplace Book includes a reflection on Good Friday.  “…Just as we were all, potentially, in Adam when he fell, so we were all, potentially, in Jerusalem on that first Good Friday before there was an Easter, a Pentecost, a Christian, or a Church. It seems to me worthwhile asking ourselves who we should have been and what we should have been doing…” Auden says he’d have been a wealthy Jew from Alexandria talking philosophy with a friend as they walked by Golgotha. I think I’d have been one of the bystanders who has been around Jesus a lot and who knows him, but backs away from the front of the crowd that’s close to the cross. I think, at that moment, I wouldn’t know what to do.

At this moment, confronted by continuing crucifixions in many places in our world – the crucifixions of war, forced migration, violence, cruelty, hatred, deceit and so much that is not at all what Jesus commanded – I am not sure I know what to do. I pray for our leaders that God will move their hearts. I pray for those who are sincerely trying to be bridges of reason for us to cling to. I pray that my daily activities will not contribute in any way to the agony that so many endure. I speak up and act out when and where I can. At this moment I want to move closer to the front of those near to the cross. 

Much earlier in his life, Auden gave some advice to the future American poet and novelist Jay Parini. “Rest in God, dear boy, rest in God.” It is God who embraces us all even to the point of death. It is God who beyond time, and at the edges of time, pulls us toward an eternity with no beginning and no end. It is God who transforms our mortal bodies to be like his son’s glorious body. Yes, Adam is still falling; we are sinners all. And Jesus is still being crucified in hundreds of thousands of places, yet we proclaim this holy week that God’s power over death, over evil, is complete in his son.  

American poet Mary Karr finishes her “Descending Theology: The Crucifixion” with these words:

     The man on the cross
     under massed thunderheads feels
     his soul leak away, then surge. Some wind
     sucks him into the light stream

     in the rent sky, and he’s snatched back, held close.

Jesus held close. We, too, held close. Rest in God, dear sisters and brothers, rest in God.


April Dates of Note

Arab American Heritage Month
National Recycling Month

1 – Passover Begins
2 – The Lord’s Supper – Holy Thursday
3 – The Passion of the Lord – Good Friday
4 – Assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968
5 – The Resurrection of the Lord – Easter Sunday
7 – World Health Day
Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide
9 – Passover Ends
12 – Divine Mercy Sunday
American Civil War Began, 1861
14 – Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, 1865
18 – San Francisco Earthquake, 1906
19 – American Revolution Began, 1775
20 – Columbine High School Massacre, 1999
22 – Feast of Mary, Mother of the Society of Jesus
Earth Day
23 – William Shakespeare born, 1564
24 – Library of Congress established, 1800
25 – Feast of St. Mark, Evangelist
27 – Feast of St. Peter Canisius, S.J.
29 – Feast of St. Catherine of Siena
30 – George Washington Sworn in as President, 1789
International Jazz Day

Pope Leo’s Prayer Intention for April

For priests in crisis

Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.

Learn more hereEN ESPAÑOLBROPHY COLLEGE PREPARATORY MISSION & IDENTITY »

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Published by RJ Hamster

I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis. I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God. I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree. Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons. I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA. While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon.. In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God. We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987). From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting. Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982. I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects. In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston. In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018. Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia. In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey. As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova. Love and God Bless, Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi

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