Courage to witness

Acts 4:19-20

19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

1691 "Christian, recognize your dignity and, now that you share in God's own nature, do not return to your former base condition by sinning. Remember who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Never forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of the Kingdom of God." (Pope Leo XIII)  CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

JESUS! JESUS!! JESUS!!!

Acts 4:12

12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

JESUS!  JESUS!!  JESUS!!!

Why are you troubled?

"Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?
 Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” (Luke 24: 38 - 39)

How real are our fears, worries and doubts?  Jesus knows every one of them.  He knows how fanciful and vain they are.  Therefore, He tells us:
"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4: 6 - 7)

To dispel the fears and anxieties of His disciples, Jesus invites them to look at His hands and feet and touch Him.  I cannot look at the hands and feet of Jesus and neither can I touch Him physically.  What can I look at here and now that will convince me that Christ is risen indeed and is truly alive?  I can look at His Body, the Church.  The Church is the Body of Christ, of which He is the head.  His Body is very much alive and His members of which I am one are everywhere. Always and everywhere in the world, His members are gathered now in worship, prayer, corporate and spiritual works of mercy.  Wherever two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus, Jesus is present there.  Wherever a cup of cold water is given to the thirsty today or bread is given to the hungry, it is Jesus Himself doing the giving through His members.

Lord Jesus, open my eyes today to see you in your members.

Ignorance of Scripture

"And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
( Luke 24:25-26)

There is a divine necessity that Christ must suffer "these things."
What are the "things" that I must suffer before the crown?
+Job security
+Financial security

"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of  Christ." - St Jerome
Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of my destiny.

Times and Seasons are Divine appointed way to glory.
No cross  no crown
No thorns no triumph
No suffering no salvation

"Afflictions of the saints are evidence of their son shipping. "

I have seen the Lord

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. (John 20 :18) In what sense can I say with Mary Magdalene that I have seen the Lord? I walk by faith and not by sight or feeling. Yes, I have seen the Lord in: +the Eucharist +the Blessed Sacrament +the Scriptures +Prayer What message has the Lord given me for His brethren? +++ He is truly alive!!!

Do not fear

"Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Matthew 28: 10) Christ rose from the dead to silence our fears : *Fears of illness and death *Fears of scarcity and poverty *Fears of no jobs and no money *Fears of family conflicts *Fears of the future

Pope Francis Easter Sunday Catechesis

"To remember what God has done and continues to do for me, for us, to remember the road we have traveled; this is what opens our hearts to hope for the future," he said. "May we learn to remember everything that God has done in our lives."

Adoration Chapel

Found this on Google Goggles: http://www.google.com/goggles/a/moments/zZa_tgDo9L2Ox6UYKaJg_3w?ogi=05398590359465543302

Easter Sunday

God our Father, creator of all, today is the day of Easter joy. This is the morning on which the Lord appeared to men who had begun to lose their hope and opened their eyes to what the scriptures foretold: that first he must die, and then he would rise and ascend into his Father's glorious presence. May the risen Lord breathe on our minds and open our eyes that we may know him in the breaking of bread, and follow him in his risen life. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.