All men and women are brothers and sisters. Each person is precious and priceless.
We must treat each other as we would treat God.
This is the teaching of Jesus.
This is our belief.
"spiritually stimulating and inspiring reflections...a wonderful book which will lead us and others to God," Bishop Anthony Poola, Bishop of Kurnool, India.
"deep and profound reflections which will nourish and sustain God-thirsting souls", Fr. Bernard Swarna D.C.L. Episcopal Vicar, Judicial Vicar, Archdiocese of Hyderabad, India.
"This book can transform your life" Fr. Kata Rajulu, Germany
"These reflections will serve their purpose if they encourage you to open the door to him (Jesus, Rev.3:20) and let him into your life. he will then dine with you and you with him and that will be another story - your story". From the author's Introduction.
If you would like to purchase this book just email me at jesus4ourworld@yahoo.com price £6.50 + postage and packing
3rd Sunday of Easter C
Acts 5:27-32. 40-41. Psalm 29:2.4-6.11-13. Rv.2. Apocalypse 5:11-14. John 21:1-19
Obedience to God comes before obedience to men.
I will praise you Lord you have rescued me.
To the One on the throne and to the Lamb be all praise, honour glory and power.
Yes Lord you know I love you. Feed my sheep
John 21:1-19
Later on, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together. 3 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. 4 When it was already light, there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus called out, 'Haven't you caught anything, friends?' And when they answered, 'No,' 6 he said, 'Throw the net out to starboard and you'll find something.' So they threw the net out and could not haul it in because of the quantity of fish. 7 The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord.' At these words, 'It is the Lord,' Simon Peter tied his outer garment round him (for he had nothing on) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net with the fish; they were only about a hundred yards from land. 9 As soon as they came ashore they saw that there was some bread there and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it. 10 Jesus said, 'Bring some of the fish you have just caught.' 11 Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken. 12 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. 13 Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish. 14 This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead. 15 When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?' He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my lambs.' 16 A second time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He replied, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Look after my sheep.' 17 Then he said to him a third time, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt that he asked him a third time, 'Do you love me?' and said, 'Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep. 18 In all truth I tell you, when you were young you put on your own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where you would rather not go.' 19 In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, 'Follow me.'
Mission or Self
The faith of the disciples is weak and aimlessly they return to their comfort zone of fishing. They catch nothing, though they work all night. Without Jesus, there is no success. It will be night. Jesus comes and stands on the shore. It is dawn. They do not recognize him. Jesus never leaves us but how many recognize him? We can get very close to him but do we? There is now no way of recognizing Jesus except through faith. The group are still fledgling disciples and their faith is immature. They follow his instructions and they catch a multitude of fish. The beloved disciple recognizes Jesus. It is love that brings our faith to life and enables us to recognize Jesus. The catch of fish reminds us that Jesus gives a mission to the church. They are to be fishers of men. Peter takes the lead in approaching Jesus. His faith may be weak, and he is always behind the beloved disciple, yet he loves Jesus and as he will profess ‘more than these’. There on the shore is a fire and Jesus gives his disciples a meal as he gives us the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharist is primarily food by which we become what we receive. There is enough bread from heaven for everyone on earth. The net full of large fish was unbroken.
There on the shore is a charcoal fire, as in the courtyard of the High Priest. After the breakfast next to the fire Jesus asks the threefold question, ‘Do you love me more than these’? Each time as Peter makes his profession, Jesus says feed my lambs, feed my sheep. Jesus reinstates Peter as shepherd of his flock once he, the Chief Shepherd, has returned to his Father. For him and for all who will share in his work of feeding and caring for the flock the important quality is love for Jesus. If we love Jesus we will love and care for his sheep. Only if we have love for Jesus will we be able to give our lives for his sheep. Pastors must remember they are “my lambs” and “my sheep” and will have to give an account of their love for them. ‘It is the Father’s will that not even one be lost of those who have been given to me’ (John 6:39). Jesus immediately tells Peter that he will have to give his life for the sheep as he had to do. Likewise all those who share in Peter’s work of caring for the flock are to give their lives for them. This may be by their blood as Peter or till old age as the beloved disciple. To be a pastor is to selflessly lay down one’s life in union with the Good Shepherd. Are we not all pastors?
Do you pray for the Church and the pastors in the Church?
Father grant the Church zeal for its mission and pastors who give their lives for the flock.
A boat from from the time of Jesus being lifted from the mud of the Lake of Galilee in 1986.
The boat of the time of Jesus come to light after two thousand years.
The reflections for the week days will be posted on Sunday evening.
Sit quietly, recollect yourself. Concentrate on Jesus. Give him time. Call on the Holy Spirit. Take your time. There is no rush and there is no fixed rule to follow. Be free in the Spirit.
2. Be aware that Jesus is with you. (This is a very important part of prayer). Use a mantra if you like, e.g. ‘Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
3. Read the passage with Jesus who was there and in the Holy Spirit who inspired it.
4. Put yourself in the scene in your imagination. See Jesus there, see the other people, look at how they are, and see yourself there too. Just where are you, with whom are you, what is your attitude to everything going on, what are you doing?
5. Realise that Jesus is now with you. He is speaking and acting now with you.
April 12th 2010 Monday of 2nd Week of Easter
John 3:1-8
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicode’mus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicode’mus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ 8 The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit.”
Our body is fit for this world. But it gets old and ultimately dies. Who knew what happened after death. Men imagined the spirit living on in some land of shades. Death was the end of life with quality. Jesus brought Good News. We can live forever and not in ‘the land of shades’ either. We can be recreated and given the nature of God. We will see God face to face and live with the Trinity for ever. God will live with human beings. To receive this gift we must believe in Jesus. He gives the Holy Spirit who recreates and transforms us. We are born again. How do we know? The Spirit lives within us and we experience love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, and self control. This experience of the Spirit is the guarantee that Jesus in whom we believe is true
Tuesday13th April 2010
John 3:7b-15
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ 8 The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicode’mus said to him, “How can this be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”
We are born again of the Holy Spirit. As Spirit he can fill the whole universe and be in each person. He is the Love and Power of God, God’s Spirit. He makes believers in Jesus into the children of God. The life of God which is the life of heaven is already ours. We are already what we will be when with God. We must become true children of the Father and brothers and sisters of Jesus. Jesus won this life for us when he was lifted up on the Cross. The Holy Spirit makes us grow in the nature and likeness of God. Do you experience yourself as the child of God? Do you invite the Spirit to bring to perfection God’s nature in you? Through the Holy Spirit we become ‘a new person’. Can people see the Holy Spirit at work in you?
Wednesday 14th April 2010
John 3:16-21
' Men loved darkness rather than light'
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.
Each human being is so precious to the Father. Like the father in the parable he longs for each one to come home and live with him. But all had left the right path and gone astray. There was not a good man left, not even one. And what was God’s response? He sent his only Son to call us back to friendship and by his life and death to reconcile us with himself. We are saved by accepting Jesus with all our hearts and by surrendering to the Spirit so that we have a faith that produces the works of love. Holiness and sanctity are free gifts given in proportion to how we surrender to Jesus. Everything is the work of the Spirit in us. Are you willing to open yourself to Jesus or do you prefer to stay in the darkness of your own cell.
Thursday 15th April 2010
John 3:31-36
31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth belongs to the earth, and of the earth he speaks; he who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony; 33 he who receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for it is not by measure that he gives the Spirit; 35 the Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.
There is no life without Jesus. We may not realize this but it is true. The power to live forever with God is his gift. We are free to accept or reject it. We receive it by believing in Jesus. To believe in Jesus is to accept his invitation to intimate friendship. He will reveal the secrets of God. We receive eternal life now and not only after death. Those who truly believe in Jesus are already the children of God through the Spirit. Jesus is their Brother. If we reject Jesus, we reject life. The Father then accepts our free decision and we go to the place we have chosen. This is called the ‘wrath of God’. To bring others to experience eternal life we need to bear witness to Jesus by our lives and words. Have you accepted Jesus with all your heart? Do you bear witness?
Friday 16th April 2010
John 6:1-15
1 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiber’i-as. 2 And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, “How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!” 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Moses foretold that God would raise up a prophet like himself.Like Moses, Jesus goes up a mountain. People had seen the signs he had done and they flocked to him. The Passover was near – the time for the lamb to be sacrificed. Jesus saw the crowds. There were more than five thousand. The disciples express their total inability to feed them, but they give Jesus what they have – five loaves and two fish.. Jesus takes it, blesses it and like Moses feeds all the people. This is a sign of the Bread of Life that he will give. Do you see in the Eucharist the Bread of Life, the Food that gives eternal life? The Bread does not become us. We become the Bread, namely the Body of Jesus. Do you see only the miraculous signs in the Gospel, or do you experience Jesus as the Food for Life
Saturday 17th April 2010
John 6:16-21
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Caper’na-um. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea rose because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, 20 but he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
Life is hard for everyone. Death too is the ultimate enemy and no one can escape it. Without Jesus it is dark and the wind blows against us and we struggle as we cross the sea of life. Many of us are frightened to let him into our lives. What will he ask of me? But Jesus loves us with a love that makes him walk on water to come to us. To welcome him personally into our life is to have all fear banished. “Do not be afraid, it is I”. To give our life to Jesus is our salvation. Why do you wait for Jesus to come? By your daily time with him as you experience his presence through prayer, he will always be with you to protect you in any storm. Is Jesus someone who is always with you? Do you meet him each day?
(Please see below "2nd Sunday of Easter" for the Gospel reflection)
Hebrews 4:15-16, 5:7-9.
15 For the high priest we have is not incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us, but has been put to the test in exactly the same way as ourselves, apart from sin. 16 Let us, then, have no fear in approaching the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace when we are in need of help.
7 During his life on earth, he offered up prayer and entreaty, with loud cries and with tears, to the one who had the power to save him from death, and, winning a hearing by his reverence, 8 he learnt obedience, Son though he was, through his sufferings; 9 when he had been perfected, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation
Jesus is not cold or aloof, but the friend of sinners hoping his love may melt their hearts. In the parable he greets the sinner with open arms and a hero’s welcome, simply because he has returned. He does not overlook sin but refuses to condemn and is ever ready to forgive. Faced with the adulterous woman he appeals to her not to sin again. Though submerged in anguish on the Cross, he mercifully forgives a thief’s life of sin and spontaneously begs his Father to forgive the priests. He is God in human form, compassionate and gracious; slow to anger and abounding in love. He casts our sins to the depths of the sea. Let us approach him with confidence that we may find mercy and grace in our time of need. Can you believe Jesus loves you unconditionally and longs for you at any cost?
19 In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, 'Peace be with you,' 20 and, after saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord, 21 and he said to them again, 'Peace be with you. 'As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.' 22 After saying this he breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained. 24 Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples said to him, 'We have seen the Lord,' but he answered, 'Unless I can see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.' 26 Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. 'Peace be with you,' he said. 27 Then he spoke to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving any more but believe.' 28 Thomas replied, 'My Lord and my God!' 29 Jesus said to him: You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. 30 There were many other signs that Jesus worked in the sight of the disciples, but they are not recorded in this book. 31 These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.
The numbers who came to believe in the Lord Jesus increased steadily.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the corner stone
I was on Patmos for having preached God’s word and witnessed for Jesus.
These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ and have life.
Jesus Risen in you
The disciples are paralyzed with fear. They are afraid of persecution. There is no life in their community. How can they conquer the world? Jesus stands in their midst and offers them ‘peace’. His peace is not the peace of the world. Persecutions will come but they will know that he is with them. He has overcome the world. Their hearts will not be troubled. They will not be afraid. They will know that in the midst of every storm Jesus is with them and victory will be theirs.
When the disciples see the hands and feet of Jesus they recognize the Victor over death. He is the new creation and they are filled with joy. The Bridegroom is back. They now have no reason to fear. In creation Yahweh breathed into the image of man the breath of life and he became a living being. Now Jesus breathes on this fearful group and gives them the Spirit. As the Father sent Jesus so he sends them now filled with his Spirit. It is to bring forgiveness for sin. In Christ the new creation has begun. He is making all things new.
But is it true? Has Jesus really risen? Has he conquered death and has he now supreme power? If so then he has changed the world and life forever. The fact of the Resurrection is not just a news item, a miraculous event. It is world transforming. It will cause the transformation of everyone who believes. Though few in number the disciples will go out into the world to conquer it for Christ. Many will give their lives in the task but the conquest will go on till the end of time. Those who shed their blood will be victors and share the throne of the Lord of Life.
Thomas needs irrefutable evidence. He sees the Lord and makes the ultimate proclamation of the Gospel: My Lord and my God. He gives to Jesus the title that the Old Testament gives to Yahweh God.
Our faith in the Risen Lord is based on the witness of the disciples. Filled with the Spirit they were changed from fearful and paralyzed to men who rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer for Jesus’ sake. One by one they gave their lives for the One who had conquered death. Even the Roman Empire could not resist the Resurrection.
“Blessed are those who have not seen but have believed”. We will not see with our eyes but our faith can give us the same experience that Thomas and the Disciples had. Spirit filled, we too can bring love and forgiveness to the world.
Do you desire to have the experience of the Risen Lord? You, like Thomas, will find him in the faith community and in prayer one to One.
Father, may others see the Risen Lord in me and come to believe.
13 Now that very same day, two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking together about all that had happened. 15 And it happened that as they were talking together and discussing it, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; 16 but their eyes were prevented from recognising him. 17 He said to them, 'What are all these things that you are discussing as you walk along?' They stopped, their faces downcast. 18 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.' 19 He asked, 'What things?' They answered, 'All about Jesus of Nazareth, who showed himself a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and the whole people; 20 and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. 21 Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have now gone by since it all happened; 22 and some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, 23 and when they could not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. 24 Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.' 25 Then he said to them, 'You foolish men! So slow to believe all that the prophets have said! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer before entering into his glory?' 27 Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself. 28 When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on; 29 but they pressed him to stay with them saying, 'It is nearly evening, and the day is almost over.' So he went in to stay with them. 30 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. 31 And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. 32 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?' 33 They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, 34 who said to them, 'The Lord has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon.' 35 Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.
How many people suffer like these two disciples! Once disciples they would like to be still but have lost Jesus. So many come to church and to Mass like the disciples to the tomb but “of him they ‘see’ nothing”. Jesus may chide us too for being so slow to believe. We may have heard the Gospels since childhood but have we penetrated their meaning? Have our hearts burned within us as we listened to them? Have we ever met the Risen Jesus? He walks with us but we cannot recognize him. He is always present but do we want him to stay? Are we in earnest or simply superficial in our belief in him? The way to meet him today is in the Breaking of Bread. When we Break Bread together in fellowship we meet Jesus both in the Sacrament and in our community. Has Jesus risen – for you?
5th April 2010 Monday in the Octave of Easter
Mt 28:8-15
8 Filled with awe and great joy the women came quickly away from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And suddenly, coming to meet them, was Jesus. ‘Greetings,’ he said. And the women came up to him and, clasping his feet, they did him homage. 10 Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; there they will see me.’ 11 Now while they were on their way, some of the guards went off into the city to tell the chief priests all that had happened. 12 These held a meeting with the elders and, after some discussion, handed a considerable sum of money to the soldiers 13 with these instructions, ‘This is what you must say, “His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.” 14 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.’ 15 So they took the money and carried out their instructions, and to this day that is the story among the Jews.
Why did the women go to the tomb? They went to see the sepulchre.. They didn’t expect to see Jesus but love drew them to the tomb. Love opened them to God’s grace. Do I love Jesus? I know he is risen. Do I want to meet him? If I do then he will meet me. How do I go to the tomb today? I go to the ‘absence’ of daily prayer. But he won’t be ‘absent’. Jesus will come. We must experience Jesus if our faith is to be fruitful. The chief priests had no love for Jesus. They were closed even to the evidence of the guards. The guards did not know Jesus and so had no love for him either. They took money and lied. Do I want to know Jesus, risen for me? Or do I remain an outsider, unwilling to fall in love?
6th April 2010 Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
Jn 20:11-18
Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rab-bo’ni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” 18 Mary Mag’dalene went and said to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
Mary came to the tomb looking for Jesus, but it was a dead Jesus, a Jesus of the past. She had come with the others to anoint the dead body of Jesus. She was living in the time of Jesus visible and physical presence. She is to learn that Jesus is still present, but in a new way. She can know him, but it must be in a new way. While she remains in the old way she does not recognize him and the tomb is empty and she is in tears because of ‘his absence’. The new way is the way of faith. It is through believing his Word in the Gospel spoken to you and meeting him in daily personal prayer in which like Mary we seek for him. It was her love that enbled her to recognize his Word. Love for Jesus is everything and without it we are nothing.
7th May 2010 Wednesday in the Octave of Easter
Lk 24:13-35
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma’us, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cle’opas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning 23 and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, 29 but they constrained him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, 34 who said, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
The two disciples were living in the past. They thought of Jesus as they had always done – a person visibly living among them. But that Jesus was now dead and they were full of grief. How do you see Jesus? Is he real and present or a kind of figure of history? If we want to dispel our sorrow and spiritual lethargy then we need to meet him and listen to him. We can now only do this through faith. Faith is the gift by which we are certain of that we cannot see (Heb 11:1). It gives us the certainty of Jesus’ presence. We must then listen to him speaking to us. This is through meditation and prayer on the Gospel. Life must become a walk with Jesus. Is yours? How often do you think of him each day? We should recognise him in the breaking of bread. Bread is food and it is for nourishment. The Mass is where we meet Jesus as the food that gives us life in abundance. Is each Mass an encounter with the living Jesus? What must you do to make it such? Is your life a proclamation that you have ‘seen’ Jesus?
8th April Thursday in the Octave of Easter
Lk 24:35-48
35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. 36 As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. 37 But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
The disciples had listened to the Scripture readings from childhood but they never understood them as saying Jesus must suffer and rise again. They first had to meet the Risen Jesus. He shows to them that he is truly alive. He isn’t a spirit. The tomb is empty because he has risen bodily. He wants us to know here that he has risen with his full humanity and they meet him though he is transformed. When they have met him, then they are in a position to see how all the Old Testament points towards him and is fulfilled in him. We should never understand the Old Testament except through the fulfilling words and life of Jesus. It is incomplete in doctrine and message. It is coloured by the understanding of God of that time and culture. Jesus alone will reveal the perfect face of the Father? Have you understood God as Jesus taught him or are you still in an Old Testament understanding? God is Abba. If you follow Jesus each day he will transform your life.
April 2010 Friday in the Octave of Easter
Jn 21:1-14
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe’ri-as; and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan’a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb’edee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
The disciples under the leadership of Peter go back to fishing. Jesus wasn’t there, they had not yet received the dynamic presence of the Holy Spirit and so what could they do. They only knew how to fish. But they catch nothing. Their real vocation is not to catch fish in the lake. Jesus has by no means finished with them. He is still nurturing them as the very foundation of his community of believers. He comes back to them standing on the shore. By the miraculous catch of 153 big fish he teaches them again that they are to become ‘fishers of men’. It is however only ‘the beloved disciple’ who recognizes Jesus and tells Peter, the leader. Jesus can only be recognized now by a faith which is full of love for him. Peter hauls the catch of fish ashore and the Jesus says, “Come and have breakfast”. Jesus is the one who feeds us, gives us life and joy, through the Church. Do you have a faith, inspired by love, which enables you to recognize Jesus in your life?
10th April Saturday in the Octave of Easter
Mk 16:9-15
9 Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. 12 After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. 14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.
Did the disciples know Jesus? Of course they did but they didn’t know him fully. They knew him as a human being who had died tragically. In the natural way of things they were full of grief at his death. They couldn’t believe because they had not met Jesus or seen him after he was risen. Can any of us believe before we have met Jesus? Mary Magdelene had met him, the two on the way to the country had met him. The eleven did not believe them because they had not met him. It was only after Jesus met them that they could believe. It is the same today. It is only when we have in some way met Jesus in faith that we can believe and then he can transform us. Do you want to meet Jesus? Then are you willing to take the means? The way to meet Jesus is to give time every day to searching for him in faith. It involves silence and solitude while we read, meditate and pray over the Word of God in the Gospel.
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