God's Word for Holy Trinity Sunday

The Holy Trinity Sunday C

Sunday 26 May 2013

Proverbs:8:22-31. Ps 8:4-9. Rv.2. Rom. 5:1-5. John 16:12-15.

Wisdom ever at play in his presence and delighting to be with the sons of men.

You have made man little less than a god.

The love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit

All the Father has is mine. All the Spirit tells you will be taken from what is mine.

Readings at Mass

____________________

First reading

Proverbs 8:22-31

Before the earth was made, Wisdom was conceived.

Thus says the wisdom of God:

“The Lord possessed me, the beginning of his ways,

the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago;

From of old I was poured forth,

at the first, before the earth.

When there were no depths I was brought forth,

when there were no fountains or springs of water;

Before the mountains were settled into place,

before the hills, I was brought forth;

While as yet the earth and fields were not made,

nor the first clods of the world.

“When he established the heavens I was there,

when he marked out the vault over the face of the deep;

When he made firm the skies above,

when he fixed fast the foundations of the earth;

When he set for the sea its limit,

so that the waters should not transgress his command;

Then was I beside him as his craftsman,

and I was his delight day by day,

Playing before him all the while,

playing on the surface of his earth;

and I found delight in the human race.”

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…All things were made through him and without him was made nothing that was made” (John 1:1). The author personifies wisdom. We can see wisdom as Christ. Christ Jesus is the human expression of God. He is the human face of God. To become one with Christ is share in the wisdom of God.

____________________

Psalm

Psalm 8:4-5,6-7,8-9

O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars which you set in place—

What is man that you should be mindful of him,

or the son of man that you should care for him?

O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

You have made him little less than the angels,

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You have given him rule over the works of your hands,

putting all things under his feet.

O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

All sheep and oxen,

yes, and the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,

and whatever swims the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

____________________

Second reading

Romans 5:1-5

To God, through Christ, in love poured out through the Holy Spirit.

Brothers and sisters: Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

God is a family and through faith in Jesus we are invited to join this families as sons along with the Son. This is not a legal fiction. We are born again by the Holy Spirit. By this rebirth we share in the very life of God.

____________________

Gospel Acclamation

see Revelation 1:8

Alleluia, alleluia.

Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;

to God who is, who was, and who is to come.

Alleluia, alleluia.

____________________

Gospel

John 16:12-15

Everything that the Father has is mine; the Spirit will take from what is mine and declare it to you.

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”

A loving Dad in heaven

            We have all heard of shamrock and the Trinity, a triangle and the three persons but one God. The mind boggles. If we try to get the Trinity into our heads then it splits. It is like an ant trying to understand you. In fact, that is easy compared to trying to understand God. Then why did Jesus reveal this mystery? It was for our happiness and salvation. Many parents and teachers have unwittingly often caused great harm. Many taught us that God is a God who punishes sinners, that he has put us in a straitjacket with his commandments and forbids us to do the very things we want to, that he always says ‘no’ and throws a wet blanket over everything, almost that he likes to see us suffer and doesn’t seem to bother about our pain and lets the wicked escape. How many have thought, “Anyway he will throw me into hell, I may as well enjoy myself now” Those who reject God, reject a God who does not exist. Those who walk away, walk away from a God they have never met. God is nothing like what even saints imagine.

            No one has ever seen God. The Scriptures say further, no one can see God. As a result, no human being can say anything about God. Whatever they say is as valuable as the description of the elephant given by the six blind men. Only the Son who dwells in the bosom of the Father knows him. Only Jesus can teach about the Father because he is the visible image of the Father. Jesus is the invisible God translated into human form. Look at Jesus and you look at the Father. Listen to Jesus and you listen to God the Father.

            Far from condemning sinners, Jesus welcomed them – the tax collectors, the sinful woman in the house of Simon, the woman taken in adultery, the paralytic, Zachaeus the swindler par excellence, Peter after his threefold denial, and so many others until in his last moment the thief on the cross – the only person guaranteed a place in heaven. He had fellowship with them without preconditions. He simply loved them and hoped that his love would be contagious. In this, he confirmed the Word: God takes delight in forgiving sins.

            Most of all he revealed God as Abba – our heavenly Dad who loves to take his children in his arms and bless them (Hosea11:3). He is Abba who longs for his children to come to him even if they have ruined their lives and hit rock bottom. He embraces them, gives them the best robe and ring, and makes a feast for all the angels and saints.

            What is your image of God? Do you see God as Jesus did or as people speak of him?  How does Jesus speak of his Father?

Father, grant that we may bring you joy by calling you Abba from our hearts.

God's Word for weekdays after the Ascension

Monday 13 May 2013

Gospel

John 16:29-33

Take courage, I have conquered the world.

The disciples said to Jesus, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

I am not Alone

The disciples do not realise what trial is about to come upon them. They have confidence in themselves but we need to be dependent on Jesus as he on the Father. At the crucial moment, they will fail their Master and run for their lives. It will not be a cold-blooded failure but they will not have the strength to stand up to the situation. Jesus, on the contrary, lives in union with his Father. He is not alone. His confidence comes from God. There was no peace for Jesus in this world. His life was a war with Satan and now the crucial battle has come. He will face all Satan can do to him without his disciples but not alone. His Father will be with him. By believing in Jesus, we join in this battle against Satan and sin. What kind of peace do you look for?

Tuesday 14 May 2013

Gospel

John 15:9-17

No one has greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”

To Love is to give Oneself

Jesus is our religion. Without him, there is no Christian religion. Our religion is to love Jesus and commit ourselves to him. Our religion is to obey Jesus. We do this because of our love for him. Our service is the measure of our faith. God is love and Jesus is God in human form. He is the human expression of God’s love. His desire is that those who believe in him become the human expression of the God’s love. He wants us to love as he does. This is a love that sacrifices for the good of others even to the point of death. We should measure the practice of our Catholic Faith by the love we have for others. The more we show our love for others the closer we grow to Jesus. In this, we become his friends. Do you see your religion like this?

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Gospel

John 17:11-19

That they may be one just as we are one.

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”

Christian Unity, the Prayer of Christ

Jesus founded one Church. He wanted it to remain one. His disciples were to be united in fellowship, faith, and worship. In New Testament times, they put fellowship first. Even when there were great disputes about circumcision and following the Law of Moses the first Christians preserved their fellowship. They kept their unity at whatever cost. However, it has not always been that way. Christians are divided into numerous autonomous groups. This is against the will of Jesus as expressed in his parting prayer. It is then sinful. Every Christian must both pray and strive that all believers be one in fellowship, faith and worship. The world has always been hostile to Jesus and Christians must give united witness to their belief in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Are you concerned about the lack of unity among Christians? Do you strive as far as you can to create Christian unity?

Thursday 16 May 2013

Gospel

John 17:20-26

That they may be brought to perfection as one.

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”

All to be One in Christ

Jesus prays for all Christians. They should be one body. This unity is not just a unity by agreement, as the unity of the world, but the unity that exists in the Trinity. We are to be one because we all have the same life within us. This is the life of God, which comes to us through the Holy Spirit. If Christians spoke with one voice, prayed with one mind and loved with one heart then their witness to Christ would be irrefutable. Jesus prays that all Christians may share his glory in heaven. Eternal life is to live with Jesus and to live in the indescribable love of God. All the saved will be one in Jesus regardless of their denomination on earth. More important than my denomination is “Do I know, love and serve Jesus wholeheartedly?” Do desire unity by loving and respecting who believe in Jesus?

Friday 17 May 2013

Gospel

John 21:15-19

Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.

After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Condition to be a Pastor

At the Last Supper Peter was full of untested self-confidence in his love for Jesus. He said,”I am willing to lay down my life for you”. Sadly, the events of that night proved how little Peter knew himself. Now things are different. Peter loves Jesus but cannot give unqualified commitment. He knows his weakness. Gone is his boasting. Jesus gently gives Peter the opportunity to make up publicly for his threefold denial. He professes his love three times. Three times Jesus appoints him to lead and guide his sheep. The sheep belong to Jesus, not to Peter. Jesus is the shepherd. In his absence, Peter will care for them in his name and in his way: he will give his life for them. Love for Jesus is the condition for being a pastor: more love for Jesus more love for his sheep. How do you pastor the sheep given you?

Saturday 18 May 2013

Gospel

John 21:20-25

This is the disciple who has written these things and his testimony is true.

Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours?”

It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.

The Heart of God in the Heart of a Man

We have come to the end of John’s Gospel. It is the flower of the community founded by the beloved disciple. He was so close to Jesus that he rested on his breast at the Last Supper. The members may have thought he would not die and now had to come to terms with his passing. The beloved disciple has given us deep insights into the heart of God, manifested in Jesus. We have come met a God who does not think of himself but only of us. He is our Shepherd. He knows each of us by name and gives his life for us. He underwent his Passion joyfully that we may have life in abundance. As he died, he handed over his Spirit to us. Is religion for you practices, rules and avoiding sin or knowing and pleasing your God, in Christ, who loves and longs for you?

God's Word for the Feast of the Ascension C

Sunday 12 May 2013

The Feast of the Ascension C

Acts 1:1-11. Psalm 46:2-3. 6-7. 8-9. Rv.6. Ephesians 1:17-23. Luke 24:46-53

You will be my witnesses, indeed to the ends of the earth.

 God is king of all the earth. Sing praise with all your skill

May he enlighten your mind so that so you can see what hope his call holds for you.

Repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be preached to all nations.

First reading

Acts 1:1-11

As the Apostles were looking on, Jesus was lifted up.

In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

This is the continuation of Luke’s first book, which is the Gospel. In the Gospel we see how Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit at the Jordan and then began his ministry which culminated in his death and Resurrection. His earthly life and mission have now been completed and he returns to his Father. However, he will not leave the world. He comes to it in the form of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus because the Holy Spirit is the mutual Love of the Father and the Son. He will send the Holy Spirit on his disciples then and throughout the ages and nations. Those who receive him will have the Spirit of Jesus within them and he himself will be multiplied throughout the world. As St. Paul says “I am crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”. The more we receive the Spirit of Jesus, the more we crucify all evil in us and indeed all our own desires and Jesus works through us.  

Psalm

Psalm 47:2-3,6-7,8-9

God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

or

Alleluia.

All you peoples, clap your hands,

shout to God with cries of gladness,

for the Lord, the Most High, the awesome,

is the great king over all the earth.

God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

or

Alleluia.

God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;

the Lord, amid trumpet blasts.

Sing praise to God, sing praise;

sing praise to our king, sing praise.

God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

or

Alleluia.

For king of all the earth is God;

sing hymns of praise.

God reigns over the nations,

God sits upon his holy throne.

God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

or

Alleluia.

Second reading

Ephesians 1:17-23

God seated Jesus at his right hand in the heavens.

Brothers and sisters: May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

The Holy Spirit within us is the guarantee of the truth of our faith. He gives us the wisdom to see the wonder of the Christian life and the living hope that it extends to us. Through God’s love and mercy we will become like him in divine glory.

Gospel Acclamation

Matthew 28:19a, 20b

Alleluia, alleluia.

Go and teach all nations, says the Lord;

I am with you always, until the end of the world.

Alleluia, alleluia.

____________________

Gospel

Luke 24:46-53

As he blessed them, he was taken up to heaven.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.

Do you witness?

Jesus came to this world on a mission. The world was in darkness and death the end to an aimless life. Jesus came to reconcile us with God and give us the invitation to become the children of God. He lived among us and was God’s love made visible. He revealed God’s love by healing the sick, forgiving sinners even until his death on the Cross.  His Father rewarded him by raising him to life and seating him on his right hand.

He walked the earth only for a few years but he must give the invitation to everyone throughout the world and throughout the ages. Humiliated and mocked on the Cross he had died offering his life for us. Because of this, God gave him all authority in heaven and on earth. Today we celebrate his return to the Father.

            His mission is by no means finished. He handed it on to his disciples. It is for them to proclaim to the world that he is Lord, reconciles us with God, and offers us the Holy Spirit to become children of God. “You will be my witnesses even to the ends of the earth.” This is the mission of all his disciples down through the ages until the end of time.

            As witnesses, his disciples will proclaim what they have seen and experienced. The disciples had spent time with Jesus, eaten, and drunk with him after his Resurrection. In the same way, if we are to be his witnesses we too must experience him in our lives. We must know him personally. Without experiencing his goodness and compassion, we will never be able to witness. Is the reason why so many do not witness to Jesus because they do not know him, but only know about him?

After his Ascension, the disciples returned to Jerusalem in great joy. They were full of enthusiasm to receive the Spirit and begin the mission. The Ascension tells us that we are all to be witnesses.

“Do not leave Jerusalem till you have received power” .We need to be anointed by the Holy Spirit as the disciples were on Pentecost day. Only Spirit filled people can witness to the world. Pentecost is for everyone.

             For too long we have experienced an attitude of dependency and immaturity in the Church whereby we have left everything to the hierarchy and to the priests. The Church has suffered and still suffers from this clericalism. The faithful have not been encouraged to use the manifold gifts of the Spirit. Now is the time for all members of the Church to carry the responsibility of witnessing to Jesus as Lord. The gifts bestowed on the laity for mission should be given free rein to bring the Gospel to the world and the world to Christ.

How can you witness to Jesus?

Father, may we not just look up to heaven but go forth to bring light to the world by our lives.

God's Word for Weekdays of 6th week of Easter

Monday 6 May 2013

Gospel

John 15:26-16:4

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘When the Advocate comes,

whom I shall send to you from the Father,

the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father,

he will be my witness.

And you too will be witnesses,

because you have been with me from the outset.

‘I have told you all this that your faith may not be shaken.

They will expel you from the synagogues,

and indeed the hour is coming

when anyone who kills you

will think he is doing a holy duty for God.

They will do these things

because they have never known

either the Father or myself.

But I have told you all this,

so that when the time for it comes

you may remember that I told you.’

Disciples in a Hostile World

The Jews persecuted Jesus for claiming to be Lord of the Sabbath, greater than Solomon and Jonah, for existing before Abraham who rejoiced to see his day and for being Son of the Lord God who will come on the clouds of heaven. Men will persecute his disciples because they claim that Jesus alone is the Saviour of the world, that there is no salvation without him. They do this because “they have not known the Father or me”. For the joy that lay before him, Jesus endured the Cross (Heb 12:3). Likewise, our faith in Jesus gives us confidence to suffer for his name. This will prevent us from stumbling – from losing our faith in Jesus. The strength of the Spirit within us will enable us to live as disciples in a hostile world. Have you witnessed among an unbelieving people? Do you experience the Spirit within you? 

Tuesday 7 May 2013

Gospel

John 16:5-11

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘Now I am going to the one who sent me.

Not one of you has asked, “Where are you going?”

Yet you are sad at heart because I have told you this.

Still, I must tell you the truth:

it is for your own good that I am going

because unless I go,

the Advocate will not come to you;

but if I do go,

I will send him to you.

And when he comes,

he will show the world how wrong it was,

about sin,

and about who was in the right,

and about judgement:

about sin: proved by their refusal to believe in me;

about who was in the right: proved by my going to the Father and your seeing me no more;

about judgement: proved by the prince of this world being already condemned.’

It is Good for You that I go Away

The disciples are sad at the thought of Jesus’ departure. We too have to live in the “absence” of Jesus. We haven’t met him face to face yet. However, it is to our advantage, Jesus says, that he goes away so that the Advocate can come. The Holy Spirit is dynamically active in the world. He shows that the world is wrong not to believe in Jesus and that though Jesus was condemned as a criminal God has vindicated him and he proves that Satan will not triumph ultimately. Seemingly victorious now, Satan will be destroyed. Jesus promised that the Advocate would be ever at our side to help us. We need to claim this promise. Let the Spirit rule and guide your life and then you will experience the Salvation won for you by Christ Jesus on the Cross. Do you have fellowship with the Holy Spirit? (2 Cor.13:13)  

Wednesday 8 May 2013

Gospel

John 16:12-15

Jesus said:

‘I still have many things to say to you

but they would be too much for you now.

But when the Spirit of truth comes

he will lead you to the complete truth,

since he will not be speaking as from himself

but will say only what he has learnt;

and he will tell you of the things to come.

He will glorify me,

since all he tells you

will be taken from what is mine.

Everything the Father has is mine;

that is why I said:

All he tells you

will be taken from what is mine.’

The Spirit of Jesus

We are a people of the Spirit. The Spirit has been active in the community from the time Jesus left us until today. In the first century, he inspired the New Testament. However, the authors of the New Testament, like authors of any age, wrote for the people of their time. The Holy Spirit is equally active today as then in guiding the community of Jesus. The Church will therefore never teach anything contrary to the Bible because the Spirit inspired the Bible as he inspires the Church today. Problems face us, which the authors of the New Testament never dreamt about. The Spirit guides the Church to tackle them in fidelity to the truth revealed in the Bible. The Spirit is our teacher as he reveals to us the message of Jesus for today’s world. Do you respect the teaching of the Church as the inspiration of the Spirit?

Thursday 9 May 2013

Gospel

John 16:16-20

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘In a short time you will no longer see me,

and then a short time later you will see me again.’

Then some of his disciples said to one another, ‘What does he mean, “In a short time you will no longer see me, and then a short time later you will see me again” and, “I am going to the Father”? What is this “short time”? We do not know what he means.’ Jesus knew that they wanted to question him, so he said, ‘You are asking one another what I meant by saying: In a short time you will no longer see me, and then a short time later you will see me again.

‘I tell you most solemnly,

you will be weeping and wailing

while the world will rejoice;

you will be sorrowful,

but your sorrow will turn to joy.’

Experience his presence by faith

Jesus is talking to them of his death. It will be a traumatic experience for his disciples. They will be plunged into sorrow while the enemies of Jesus rejoice. However, Jesus will triumph over death and return to them. They will experience the Risen Lord. After his Ascension, they will experience his presence through their faith. Likewise, we know that Jesus is with us. We are to experience his presence today by our faith. The more faith we have, the more we will experience his presence and the more joy we will receive. We are living in the interim period. Jesus faced persecution and death. We will face difficulties in following Jesus. However, Jesus tells us that trials and difficulties will not last. Since he has overcome the world, we also look forward to victory. Does the presence of Jesus give you strength to live the Christian life?

Friday 10 May 2013

Gospel

John 16:20-23

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I tell you most solemnly,

you will be weeping and wailing

while the world will rejoice;

you will be sorrowful,

but your sorrow will turn to joy.

A woman in childbirth suffers,

because her time has come;

but when she has given birth to the child she forgets the suffering

in her joy that a man has been born into the world.

So it is with you: you are sad now,

but I shall see you again, and your hearts will be full of joy,

and that joy no one shall take from you.

When that day comes,

you will not ask me any questions.’

Sorrow that leads to joy

The Prince of this world, Satan deceived humanity and led them into rebellion against God. God wanted to destroy the influence of Satan and save humanity from eternal death. Satan had deceived a man and God wanted a man to defeat Satan. The only human being who could do this was his Son. He became a man, like us in every way, to overcome Satan and save humankind. We can only understand Jesus’ life in terms of warfare with Satan from birth until death. Satan will have the Jesus killed on a Cross. His disciples will be distraught with grief. However, this sorrow leads to joy. Tempted in every way, Jesus was faithful in love until death. By his Cross, he defeated Satan. The Father raised him to glory. Now as his disciples, if we ask anything in his name the Father will grant it. What do you ask for?

Saturday 11 May 2013

Gospel

John 16:23-28

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I tell you most solemnly,

anything you ask for from the Father he will grant in my name.

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.

Ask and you will receive, and so your joy will be complete.

I have been telling you all this in metaphors,

the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in metaphors;

but tell you about the Father in plain words.

When that day comes you will ask in my name;

and I do not say that I shall pray to the Father for you,

because the Father himself loves you for loving me

and believing that I came from God.

I came from the Father and have come into the world

and now I leave the world to go to the Father.’

The Father Himself Loves You

Jesus revealed God as a Father who cares for us beyond anything we can ask for or imagine (Eph 3:20). If we could understand how the Father loves us and wants to share himself with us, then we would have no fears. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God and believe also in me” (John 14:1). The Father wants to bless us in every way even before we ask. We should concentrate on being worthy daughters and sons. When we pray in Jesus’ name, we unite ourselves with him. We have the same mind and intentions that he has and so we pray according to the heart of God. God wants to bless us with all the blessings of the heavenly places (Eph 1:3). When we pray in union with Jesus, can he refuse anything? Do you pray: Lord, do your will, or, Lord please do mine?