Monday 1 April
2013
Readings at Mass
____________________
First reading
Acts
2:14,22-33
On the day of Pentecost Peter stood up
with the Eleven and addressed the crowd in a loud voice: ‘Men of Israel, listen
to what I am going to say: Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God
by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was
among you, as you all know. This man, who was put into your power by the deliberate
intention and foreknowledge of God, you took and had crucified by men outside
the Law. You killed him, but God raised him to life, freeing him from the pangs
of Hades; for it was impossible for him to be held in its power since, as David
says of him:
I saw the Lord before me always,
for with him at my right hand nothing
can shake me.
So my heart was glad
and my tongue cried out with joy;
my body, too, will rest in the hope
that you will not abandon my soul to
Hades
nor allow your holy one to experience
corruption.
You have made known the way of life to
me,
you will fill me with gladness through
your presence.
‘Brothers, no one can deny that the
patriarch David himself is dead and buried: his tomb is still with us. But
since he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn him an oath to make one of
his descendants succeed him on the throne, what he foresaw and spoke about was
the resurrection of the Christ: he is the one who was not abandoned to Hades,
and whose body did not experience corruption. God raised this man Jesus to
life, and all of us are witnesses to that. Now raised to the heights by God’s
right hand, he has received from the Father the Holy Spirit, who was promised,
and what you see and hear is the outpouring of that Spirit.
____________________
Psalm
Psalm
15:1-2,5,7-11
Preserve me, Lord, I take refuge in you.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God.
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and
cup;
it is you yourself who are my prize.’
Preserve me, Lord, I take refuge in you.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
I will bless the Lord who gives me
counsel,
who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight:
since he is at my right hand, I shall
stand firm.
Preserve me, Lord, I take refuge in you.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
And so my heart rejoices, my soul is
glad;
even my body shall rest in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the
dead,
nor let your beloved know decay.
Preserve me, Lord, I take refuge in you.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand happiness for ever.
Preserve me, Lord, I take refuge in you.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
____________________
Gospel
Acclamation
Ps117:24
Alleluia, alleluia!
This day was made by the Lord:
we rejoice and are glad.
Alleluia!
____________________
Gospel
Matthew
28:8-15
Filled with awe and great joy the women
came quickly away from the tomb and ran to tell the disciples.
And
there, coming to meet them, was Jesus. ‘Greetings’ he said. And the women came
up to him and, falling down before him, clasped his feet. Then Jesus said to
them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for
Galilee; they will see me there.’
While
they were on their way, some of the guard went off into the city to tell the
chief priests all that had happened. These held a meeting with the elders and,
after some discussion, handed a considerable sum of money to the soldiers with
these instructions, ‘This is what you must say, “His disciples came during the
night and stole him away while we were asleep.” And should the governor come to
hear of this, we undertake to put things right with him ourselves and to see
that you do not get into trouble.’ The soldiers took the money and carried out
their instructions, and to this day that is the story among the Jews.
Tells
my Brothers
The women ran with fear because they had encountered an angel
and with joy, because they knew Jesus was alive. Jesus did not disappoint their
faith. He came to meet them. “Do not be afraid”, he says. He seems to overlook
the desertion of his Apostles and the denial of Peter. “Go and tell my
brothers”, he says. He has forgiven them as he commanded us to forgive. Even
though deserted by them Jesus feels no bitterness towards his disciples. He
will build them up and build on them. He can do this with anyone who comes back
to him after sin. True repentance and total dependence on Jesus can make us
like the renewed Peter. He calls us his brothers and sisters. In contrast, the
behaviour of guards and priests reveal their insincerity and hypocrisy. With
their attitude, there is no hope for them. What is your attitude now?
Tuesday
2 April 2013
Readings at Mass
____________________
First reading
Acts
2:36-41
On the day of Pentecost, Peter spoke to
the Jews: ‘The whole House of Israel can be certain that God has made this
Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.’
Hearing
this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the apostles, ‘What must
we do, brothers?’ ‘You must repent,’ Peter answered ‘and every one of you must
be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and
you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise that was made is for
you and your children, and for all those who are far away, for all those whom
the Lord our God will call to himself.’ He spoke to them for a long time using
many arguments, and he urged them, ‘Save yourselves from this perverse
generation.’ They were convinced by his arguments, and they accepted what he
said and were baptised. That very day about three thousand were added to their
number.
____________________
Psalm
Psalm
32:4-5,18-20,22
The Lord fills the earth with his love.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The word of the Lord is faithful
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right
and fills the earth with his love.
The Lord fills the earth with his love.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The Lord looks on those who revere him,
on those who hope in his love,
to rescue their souls from death,
to keep them alive in famine.
The Lord fills the earth with his love.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Our soul is waiting for the Lord.
The Lord is our help and our shield.
May your love be upon us, O Lord,
as we place all our hope in you.
The Lord fills the earth with his love.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
____________________
Gospel
Acclamation
Ps117:24
Alleluia, alleluia!
This day was made by the Lord:
we rejoice and are glad.
Alleluia!
____________________
Gospel
John
20:11-18
Mary stayed outside near the tomb,
weeping. Then, still weeping, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in
white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at
the feet. They said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ ‘They have taken my Lord
away’ she replied ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’ As she said this
she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not recognise
him. Jesus said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?’
Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have taken him away,
tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.’ Jesus said, ‘Mary!’
She knew him then and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbuni!’ – which means
Master. Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended
to the Father. But go and find the brothers, and tell them: I am ascending to
my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ So Mary of Magdala went and
told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had said these things
to her.
Jesus
Unrecognized
For Mary dawn has not risen. She is
still in darkness. She thinks of a robbery. She hardly notices the two angels.
She speaks to them casually. She cannot recognize Jesus now that he is
transformed, until he calls her by name. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who knows
his sheep. “I know mine and mine know me” (John 10:14). “They will hear my
voice.” (16). Mary hears him call her by name and immediately recognizes him.
We too will recognize Jesus when we hear his Word proclaimed to us. In Luke,
the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (tomorrow) recognize Jesus in the
breaking of the Bread. We should understand then that now it is through his
Word and through his Eucharist that we can meet Jesus as our Saviour. Are you
still in darkness or do you meet Jesus in the Bread and the Word?
Wednesday 3
April 2013
Readings at Mass
____________________
First reading
Acts
3:1-10
Once, when Peter and John were going up
to the Temple for the prayers at the ninth hour, it happened that there was a
man being carried past. He was a cripple from birth; and they used to put him
down every day near the Temple entrance called the Beautiful Gate so that he
could beg from the people going in. When this man saw Peter and John on their
way into the Temple he begged from them. Both Peter and John looked straight at
him and said, ‘Look at us.’ He turned to them expectantly, hoping to get
something from them, but Peter said, ‘I have neither silver nor gold, but I
will give you what I have: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!’
Peter then took him by the hand and helped him to stand up. Instantly his feet
and ankles became firm, he jumped up, stood, and began to walk, and he went
with them into the Temple, walking and jumping and praising God. Everyone could
see him walking and praising God, and they recognised him as the man who used
to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. They were all astonished
and unable to explain what had happened to him.
____________________
Psalm
Psalm
104:1-4,6-9
Let the hearts that seek the Lord
rejoice.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Give thanks to the Lord, tell his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.
O sing to him, sing his praise;
tell all his wonderful works!
Let the hearts that seek the Lord
rejoice.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Be proud of his holy name,
let the hearts that seek the Lord
rejoice.
Consider the Lord and his strength;
constantly seek his face.
Let the hearts that seek the Lord
rejoice.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
O children of Abraham, his servant,
O sons of the Jacob he chose.
He, the Lord, is our God:
his judgements prevail in all the earth.
Let the hearts that seek the Lord
rejoice.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
He remembers his covenant for ever,
his promise for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
Let the hearts that seek the Lord
rejoice.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
____________________
Gospel
Acclamation
Ps117:24
Alleluia, alleluia!
This day was made by the Lord:
we rejoice and are glad.
Alleluia!
____________________
Gospel
Luke
24:13-35
Two of the disciples of Jesus were on
their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were
talking together about all that had happened. Now as they talked this over,
Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them
from recognising him. He said to them, ‘What matters are you discussing as you
walk along?’ They stopped short, their faces downcast.
Then
one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, ‘You must be the only person staying
in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these
last few days.’ ‘What things?’ he asked. ‘All about Jesus of Nazareth’ they
answered ‘who proved he was a great prophet by the things he said and did in
the sight of God and of the whole people; and how our chief priests and our
leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our
own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not
all: two whole days have gone by since it all happened; and some women from our
group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when
they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of
angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found
everything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.’
Then
he said to them, ‘You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the
prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into
his glory?’ Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he
explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about
himself.
When
they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on;
but they pressed him to stay with them. ‘It is nearly evening’ they said ‘and
the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. Now while he was with
them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and
handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he
had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our
hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the
scriptures to us?’
They
set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven
assembled together with their companions, who said to them, ‘Yes, it is true.
The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then they told their story of
what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking
of bread.
Liturgy
of the Word with fire in the heart
“If our hope in Christ is good for
this life only, and no more, then we deserve more pity than anyone else in all
the world” (1 Cor 15:19). Jesus had promised so much. They were disappointed
with him. Where was the kingdom? Where was the liberation? In despair, they
leave. In their desolation, Jesus walks with them but they do not recognise him.
They have no faith. He opens their ears and they hear the Bible for the first
time: it all points to Jesus. Their hearts are set on fire. Jesus opens their
eyes. They recognize him in the Bread he breaks. They immediately rush to proclaim
him to their brethren. Jesus is always present and sets us on fire when we
truly understand the Scriptures. Then we recognise him in the Holy Eucharist
and with enthusiasm become his witnesses. Have you had this experience
this Easter?
Thursday 4 April
2013
Readings at Mass
____________________
First reading
Acts
3:11-26
Everyone came running towards Peter and
John in great excitement, to the Portico of Solomon, as it is called, where the
man was still clinging to Peter and John. When Peter saw the people he
addressed them, ‘Why are you so surprised at this? Why are you staring at us as
though we had made this man walk by our own power or holiness? You are
Israelites, and it is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our
ancestors, who has glorified his servant Jesus, the same Jesus you handed over
and then disowned in the presence of Pilate after Pilate had decided to release
him. It was you who accused the Holy One, the Just One, you who demanded the
reprieve of a murderer while you killed the prince of life. God, however,
raised him from the dead, and to that fact we are the witnesses; and it is the
name of Jesus which, through our faith in it, has brought back the strength of
this man whom you see here and who is well known to you. It is faith in that
name that has restored this man to health, as you can all see.
‘Now
I know, brothers, that neither you nor your leaders had any idea what you were
really doing; this was the way God carried out what he had foretold, when he
said through all his prophets that his Christ would suffer. Now you must repent
and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, and so that the Lord may
send the time of comfort. Then he will send you the Christ he has predestined,
that is Jesus, whom heaven must keep till the universal restoration comes which
God proclaimed, speaking through his holy prophets. Moses, for example, said:
The Lord God will raise up a prophet like myself for you, from among your own
brothers; you must listen to whatever he tells you. The man who does not listen
to that prophet is to be cut off from the people. In fact, all the prophets
that have ever spoken, from Samuel onwards, have predicted these days.
‘You
are the heirs of the prophets, the heirs of the covenant God made with our
ancestors when he told Abraham: in your offspring all the families of the earth
will be blessed. It was for you in the first place that God raised up his
servant and sent him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked
ways.’
____________________
Psalm
Psalm
8:2,5-9
How great is your name, O Lord our God,
through all the earth!
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
How great is your name, O Lord our God,
through all the earth!
What is man that you should keep him in
mind,
mortal man that you care for him?
How great is your name, O Lord our God,
through all the earth!
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Yet you have made him little less than a
god;
with glory and honour you crowned him,
gave him power over the works of your
hand,
put all things under his feet.
How great is your name, O Lord our God,
through all the earth!
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
All of them, sheep and cattle,
yes, even the savage beasts,
birds of the air, and fish
that make their way through the waters.
How great is your name, O Lord our God,
through all the earth!
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
____________________
Gospel
Acclamation
Ps117:24
Alleluia, alleluia!
This day was made by the Lord:
we rejoice and are glad.
Alleluia!
____________________
Gospel
Luke
24:35-48
The disciples told their story of what
had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of
bread.
They
were still talking about all this when he himself stood among them and said to
them, ‘Peace be with you!’ In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they
were seeing a ghost. But he said, ‘Why are you so agitated, and why are these
doubts rising in your hearts? Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed.
Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see
I have.’ And as he said this he showed them his hands and feet. Their joy was
so great that they still could not believe it, and they stood there
dumbfounded; so he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ And they
offered him a piece of grilled fish, which he took and ate before their eyes.
Then
he told them, ‘This is what I meant when I said, while I was still with you,
that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and in
the Psalms has to be fulfilled.’ He then opened their minds to understand the
scriptures, and he said to them, ‘So you see how it is written that the Christ
would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name,
repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations,
beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this.
Tortured and
Crucified for you
“Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the
dead”. We must realise Jesus came to fight and destroy Satan. It was a battle
to the end. Satan would attack him in every way until his last breath.
Suffering and death were then inevitable. It was a man against Satan. Though
the Son of God he fought Satan as Son of Man. Satan arrayed all his spiritual
army of demons and “he was tempted in every way” and all his human army of
“wicked men” who inflicted every kind of injustice and torment they could.
Jesus did not yield and he offered it all for our salvation. Now his Father in
love and vindication has raised him as man and our brother to his right hand.
Jesus is now the source of our Salvation. Do you appreciate what Jesus has done
for you? Does gratitude fill your heart?
Friday 5 April 2013
Readings at Mass
____________________
First reading
Acts
4:1-12
While Peter and John were talking to the
people the priests came up to them, accompanied by the captain of the Temple
and the Sadducees. They were extremely annoyed at their teaching the people the
doctrine of the resurrection from the dead by proclaiming the resurrection of
Jesus. They arrested them, but as it was already late, they held them till the
next day. But many of those who had listened to their message became believers,
the total number of whom had now risen to something like five thousand.
The
next day the rulers, elders and scribes had a meeting in Jerusalem with Annas
the high priest, Caiaphas, Jonathan, Alexander and all the members of the
high-priestly families. They made the prisoners stand in the middle and began
to interrogate them, ‘By what power, and by whose name have you men done this?’
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, addressed them, ‘Rulers of the people,
and elders! If you are questioning us today about an act of kindness to a
cripple, and asking us how he was healed, then I am glad to tell you all, and
would indeed be glad to tell the whole people of Israel, that it was by the
name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the one you crucified, whom God raised from
the dead, by this name and by no other that this man is able to stand up
perfectly healthy, here in your presence, today. This is the stone rejected by
you the builders, but which has proved to be the keystone. For of all the names
in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved.’
____________________
Psalm
Psalm
117:1-2,4,22-27
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his love has no end.
Let the sons of Israel say:
‘His love has no end.’
Let those who fear the Lord say:
‘His love has no end.’
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord,
a marvel in our eyes.
This day was made by the Lord;
we rejoice and are glad.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
O Lord, grant us salvation;
O Lord, grant success.
Blessed in the name of the Lord
is he who comes.
We bless you from the house of the Lord;
the Lord God is our light.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
____________________
Gospel
Acclamation
Ps117:24
Alleluia, alleluia!
This day was made by the Lord:
we rejoice and are glad.
Alleluia!
____________________
Gospel
John
21:1-14
Jesus showed himself again to the
disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this: Simon
Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of
Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said, ‘I’m
going fishing.’ They replied, ‘We’ll come with you.’ They went out and got into
the boat but caught nothing that night.
It
was light by now and there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did
not realise that it was Jesus. Jesus called out, ‘Have you caught anything,
friends?’ And when they answered, ‘No’, he said, ‘Throw the net out to
starboard and you’ll find something.’ So they dropped the net, and there were
so many fish that they could not haul it in. The disciple Jesus loved said to
Peter, ‘It is the Lord.’ At these words ‘It is the Lord’, Simon Peter, who had
practically nothing on, wrapped his cloak round him and jumped into the water.
The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net and the fish; they were
only about a hundred yards from land.
As
soon as they came ashore they saw that there was some bread there, and a
charcoal fire with fish cooking on it. Jesus said, ‘Bring some of the fish you
have just caught.’ Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore,
full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there
being so many the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have
breakfast.’ None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, ‘Who are you?’; they
knew quite well it was the Lord. Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and
gave it to them, and the same with the fish. This was the third time that Jesus
showed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.
No
going back
The Disciples are together but lost. Their
dream now dead, they go fishing. However, without Jesus life is fruitless. No
one who has met Jesus can simply go back to his old life. They belong to him
and without Jesus life is meaningless. It is night. When Jesus comes, it is
dawn. Jesus reveals himself to those who love him. Therefore, the Beloved
Disciple recognises him. Peter too is desperate to return to his Lord. Jesus has no word of rebuke but
through the miraculous catch reappoints them to go and haul in men and women to
Salvation. Peter must ‘catch men for him’. Jesus provides their food. We too
belong to Jesus. Without him, our life is fruitless. He reveals himself to us
if we love him. He always provides us with nourishment. Do you feel strong in
the presence of Jesus? Have you recognised the Risen Lord?
Saturday 6 April
2013
Readings at Mass
____________________
First reading
Acts
4:13-21
The rulers, elders and scribes were
astonished at the assurance shown by Peter and John, considering they were
uneducated laymen; and they recognised them as associates of Jesus; but when
they saw the man who had been cured standing by their side, they could find no
answer. So they ordered them to stand outside while the Sanhedrin had a private
discussion. ‘What are we going to do with these men?’ they asked. ‘It is
obvious to everybody in Jerusalem that a miracle has been worked through them
in public, and we cannot deny it. But to stop the whole thing spreading any
further among the people, let us caution them never to speak to anyone in this
name again.’
So
they called them in and gave them a warning on no account to make statements or
to teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John retorted, ‘You must judge
whether in God’s eyes it is right to listen to you and not to God. We cannot
promise to stop proclaiming what we have seen and heard.’ The court repeated
the warnings and then released them; they could not think of any way to punish
them, since all the people were giving glory to God for what had happened.
____________________
Psalm
Psalm
117:1,14-21
I will thank you, Lord, for you have
given answer.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his love has no end.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he was my saviour.
There are shouts of joy and victory
in the tents of the just.
I will thank you, Lord, for you have
given answer.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
his right hand raised me up.
I shall not die, I shall live
and recount his deeds.
I was punished, I was punished by the
Lord,
but not doomed to die.
I will thank you, Lord, for you have
given answer.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Open to me the gates of holiness:
I will enter and give thanks.
This is the Lord’s own gate
where the just may enter.
I will thank you for you have answered
and you are my saviour.
I will thank you, Lord, for you have
given answer.
or
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
____________________
Gospel
Acclamation
Ps117:24
Alleluia, alleluia!
This day was made by the Lord:
we rejoice and are glad.
Alleluia!
____________________
Gospel
Mark
16:9-15
Having risen in the morning on the first
day of the week, Jesus appeared first to Mary of Magdala from whom he had cast
out seven devils. She then went to those who had been his companions, and who
were mourning and in tears, and told them. But they did not believe her when
they heard her say that he was alive and that she had seen him.
After
this, he showed himself under another form to two of them as they were on their
way into the country. These went back and told the others, who did not believe
them either.
Lastly,
he showed himself to the Eleven themselves while they were at table. He
reproached them for their incredulity and obstinacy, because they had refused
to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. And he said to them, ‘Go
out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation.’
He lived to die for
you
Why did Jesus appear first to Mary? Why did the disciples disbelieve
the Good News? Mary was on Calvary , at the
Tomb on Friday, at the Tomb early on Sunday morning. She didn’t leave. Jesus
had raised her from despair and now she loved him with all she had. Jesus
responds to her love. To understand Jesus we must understand that suffering and
death were his life. The disciples wanted a Saviour, in terms of this world,
not a Suffering Servant. They couldn’t accept his death, until they understood
that his life was a war with Evil, his Resurrection until they met him. Suffering
is the price of discipleship. Liberated from Satan we can become true images of
God. What Jesus is by his Cross, we become by his grace. We can only believe in
his Resurrection when we meet Jesus. Have you met him? Are you his disciple?
