"God our Father, life of the faithful, glory of the humble, happiness of the just, hear our prayer. Fill our emptiness with the blessing of this Eucharist, the foretaste of eternal joy….." (Mass Prayer)
God is our Father. He has made us for Himself and our hearts are restless till they rest in Him.
The Eucharist is a foretaste of eternal joy.
"I will be a witness to you in the world, O Lord. I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers, alleluia." (Psalm 18: 50; 22: 23)
Grand purpose: To learn and to teach.
Father, may it be done to me according to this word. But then, I have too many impediments.
In the fullness of time, the Holy Spirit will help you.
"Lord, may this celebration of our redemption help us in this life and lead us to eternal happiness….." (Mass Prayer)
How does the Eucharist help us in our pilgrimage of life?
"Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory." (Luke 24: 46, 26)
Moses had to suffer before his glory.
Others who had to suffer before they enter into glory:
There is a divine necessity for suffering before glorification.
"Lord, give us joy by these Easter mysteries; let the continuous offering of this sacrifice by which we are renewed bring us to eternal happiness." (Prayer at Mass)
The Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ form the core of the Easter mysteries that is celebrated continuously in the Eucharist. The Eucharist increases sanctifying grace in our souls. The Eucharist also renews our vitality.
"The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me." (John 10: 27)
Whose voices are competing with Christ's voices for our attention today?
Why do we listen to our parents?
Why do we listen to our teachers?
Why do we listen to our government?
We listen to them because we believe we belong. The sheep that belong listen to the voice of the master.
"I have told you but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name are my witness; but you do not believe, because you are no sheep of mine." (John 10: 25-26)
The Gospels tell us about the words and works of Christ. We learn that the words and works of Christ form a unity. The words explain the works and the works confirm the words.
A few years ago, I was challenged by a Moslem to show from the Gospels that Jesus is God. I searched and found John 21: 28 where Thomas responded to Jesus with the words, "My Lord and my God!" But if I knew what I know today about the Gospels, I should have told him that the synthesis of the Gospel is Jesus Christ. Every word, every work goes to prove that He is God.
"Those who had scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, but hey proclaimed the message only to Jews. Some of them ….. started preaching also to the Greeks." (Acts 11: 19-20)
The exiles of the Jews created Jewish Diaspora all over the world. It was a providential environment for evangelization. The Christians fleeing from persecution in Palestine found ready places in the Diaspora where they could share the Good News. The great lesson is that God is in control of history. All things work together for good to those who love God. Trust completely in God's disposal of events.
"Let us shout out our joy and happiness, and give glory to God, the Lord of all, because he is our king." (Revelations 19: 7, 6)
What will I do if I know with absolute certainty that Christ is my king and my boss?
I will seek to serve Him with distinction and excellence. I will also trust Him to provide adequately for me.
"I am the good Shepherd: the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep." (John 10: 11)
Christ is the good Shepherd who lays down His life for me. Therefore I am precious in His eyes.
The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.
"My being thirsts for God, the living God, |When can I go and see the face of God?
Why are you downcast, my soul; | Why do you groan within me?
Wait for God, whom I shall praise again, | My Savior and my God.
I say to God, "My rock, | Why do you forget me?
Why are you downcast, my soul, | Why do you groan within me?
Wait for God, whom I shall praise again, | My Savior and my God.
You, God, are my strength.
Why then do you spurn me?
Why must I go about mourning, | With the enemy oppressing me?
Send your light and fidelity, | That they may be my guide
And bring me to your holy mountain, | to the place of your dwelling,
That I may come to the altar of God, | to God, my joy, my delight.
Then I will praise you with the harp, | O God, my God.
(Psalm 42-43: 3, 6, 10, 12, |2-4)
"I answer you through my word." (4th Sunday of Advent – 122108)
"I had scarcely begun to speak when the Holy Spirit came down on them in the same way as it came down on us at the beginning." (Acts 11: 15)
Peter was amazed that the Holy Spirit was also given to the gentiles.
The Spirit blows where He wills.
We must therefore respect the gifts of the Holy Spirit across Christendom. God's extraordinary providence is always as work so that as many as possible will be saved.
"Father, through the obedience of Jesus, your servant and your Son, you raised a fallen world. Free us from sin and bring us the joy that lasts forever….." (Prayer at Mass)
Christ obeyed unto death.
Obedience of faith
Trust and obey.
Christ is Lord and King, yet he humbled himself as a servant and obeyed unto death.
"A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it abundantly." (John 10: 10)
You are either with Christ or you are with the thief. There is no middle course.
If you are with the thief, know his agenda: theft, slaughter and destruction. Whatever he gives today in money, power, prestige and fun would not last. He would reach out and take much more back, leaving behind a trail of destruction. After he finishes his work, your life would be shattered and would need rebuilding. Jesus Christ, the good Shepherd is standing by to help.
If you choose Christ, then the good Shepherd promises abundant life: peace, joy, contentment under any circumstances.
"Beloved: If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps." (1 Peter 2: 20 – 21)
Patience, submission and self- abandonment: What a glorious trio.
"I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. " (Psalm 23: 6)
What would I do if I know for certain that this promise is also for me?
I would say: "Thank you Father. When will this promise be fulfilled?'
"Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come." (Psalm 23: 6)
Yes, only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life. Now what will I do if I know for certain that this is absolutely true? I will wonder in what sense is this true. I will pray for light to understand the spiritual meaning of this truth. Then I will trust God's providence completely in everything.
"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. | in verdant pastures he gives me repose; besides restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul." (Psalm 23: 1-2)
The Lord is indeed my Shepherd. I trust Him; therefore I shall not lack:
O how good you are O Jesus!
"Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to al those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2: 14, 36, 41)
The gift of the Holy Spirit – A promise made to all of us. Thank you Jesus for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit – A promise made to all of us.
11
Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 8
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, 9
and the violent are taking it by force.
All the prophets and the law 10 prophesied up to the time of John.
And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come.
Whoever has ears ought to hear.
When I read this scripture early this morning, I wondered what Jesus means that the violent are taking the kingdom by force. It is necessary to coerce our natural inclinations if we want to enter the kingdom of God. Sometimes, we need to use force on our will.
Fr. Thomas preaching a homily on the above text shared with us life in India where most people use public transportation. If they want to get to their job or destination on time, they must not only be at the bus stop on time but must struggle to get into the bus. So those who desire to get a seat on the bus and get to their destination must take it by force as it were. I was encouraged to see that we got the same light on the same text.
