God only writes straight with crooked lines. No gesture, action or intervention of God is ever simple and straightforward. God is the one who appreciates and works by paradox. If we want to live through love in the presence of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, we need to be ready to be always surprised by the unexpected ways in which God works for our good.

The Lord calls us to a change of life, a change we exercise in some small way in Lent as a means of recommitting ourselves at Easter to the big reform we accepted in our baptismal commitment.

This week, Asian nations have experienced a trampling of basic human rights and religious freedom amid an outcry from rights campaigners, civil society and church groups. Much more in the report.

The Catholic Church in Japan has a unique practice, providing wedding ceremonies for non-Christians. As new civil and social forms of shared life appear in various places, that practice may be a hint of how the Church can respond to new realities, showing care while maintaining its traditional sacramental system. Father William Grimm, who lives in Japan,  shares some thoughts on this.

With 132 million people aged between 15-33, Pakistan is the fifth largest young country in the world. The Muslim-majority nation also has the second-largest youth population in South Asia after India. However, young people from religious minorities, such as Christians and Hindus, face social discrimination. They have fewer opportunities for education, jobs, and to develop their talents. Organizations like Youth Development Foundation or YDF attempt to bridge this gap through collaborative programs. Shahid Rehmat, YDF, Executive Director in conversation with Kamran Chaudhary.