Interpreting the Scriptures

"Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures." (Luke 24: 27)

Jesus Christ interpreted the scriptures authoritatively. He gave the same authority to His Church. If Jesus did not Himself say that all scriptures point to Him, this truth is not evident on its own. It is therefore misleading to assert that we can read scriptures and interpret it correctly for ourselves. We need the teaching authority of the Church to tell us authoritatively that this is what scripture means.

Lord Jesus, open my mind to understand scriptures.

Ransomed

"If you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one's works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb." (1 Peter 1: 17-21)

The precious blood of Jesus Christ ransomed me from my futile conduct.

Jesus Prayer

"Lord, you will show us the path of life.

I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed." (Psalm 16: 11, 8)

How do I set the Lord ever before me? Jesus prayer is the one word prayer that anybody can use at any time. The Jesus prayer constitutes simply the name of JESUS. The name of Jesus is a full prayer in itself.

Witness to the resurrection 2

"God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses." (Acts 2: 32)

The apostles were the chief eye witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection is the central truth of Christianity. We are Christians because we believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Without the resurrection, our faith is worthless. Without the resurrection of Jesus, the Church becomes like a social club but a club that promises only suffering and renunciations of comforts without offering anything positive. Because of the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of our own resurrection, we know that there is a better life than this one.

I am called to be a witness to the resurrection of Jesus. Can one witness to prayer if one does not pray? Can one witness to the resurrection of Christ if one has not experienced this reality? To bear witness to the resurrection is to bear witness to the truth that Christ is alive and is present in me through the Holy Spirit. He is present in a unique way in the Eucharist and the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus is also present in the Church when it gathers for worship.

To bear witness to the Christ present in me is to produce the fruits of Christ in my life.

Witness to the resurrection

"God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses." (Acts 2: 32)

The apostles were the chief eye witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection is the central truth of Christianity. We are Christians because we believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Without the resurrection, our faith is worthless. Without the resurrection of Jesus, the Church becomes like a social club but a club that promises nothing but suffering and renunciations of comforts without offering anything positive. Because of the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of our own resurrection, we know that there is a better life than this one.

Author of all truth

"Father in heaven, author of all truth, a people once in darkness has listened to your Word and followed your Son as he rose from the tomb. Hear the prayer of this newborn people and strengthen your Church to answer your call. May we rise to come forth to the light of day to stand in your presence till eternity dawns …." (Mass Prayer in Easter Season)

God is the author of all truth. The death and resurrection of Jesus ushered in a new age. It is the time of the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham to make him the father of all nations. The Church is the new people of God marked by four attributes: one, holy, catholic and apostolic. At Easter, the Church asks the Father to strengthen the Church to fulfill its mission.