I have risen, and I am with you still.

"I have risen, and I am with you still, alleluia." (Entrance Antiphon)

Today is the Solemnity of the Resurrection of the Lord, Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017.

Too wonderful for us this experience. The Lord is truly risen, alleluia. To Him be glory and power for all ages of eternity.  Alleluia!

Brethren, let us lift up our hearts to God:

"God our Father,
by raising Christ your Son
you conquered the power of death
and opened for us the way to eternal life.
Let our celebration today raise us up and renew our lives by the Spirit that is within us.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

Abundant Peace and Joy of Easter to you all. 💒 🌹🌼💟

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The stone the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.

"The Lord is truly risen, Alleluia. 
To Him be glory and power for all the ages of eternity, Alleluia, Alleluia!"   (Luke 24: 34; Cf Revelation 1: 6 RM)

"Today is Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil - April 15, 2017. 

 raised Jesus from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.   He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen — by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead." 
(Acts 10:40-41 NIV)

"And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead."   (Acts 10:42 NLT)

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His mercy endures forever." (Psalm 118: 1)

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Jesus gave His life as an offering for sin.

“Are you the king of the Jews?”  (John 18: 33 NABRE)
"Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world." (John 18: 36)

Today is Good Friday, April 14, 2017.  The Church celebrates the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ.
Jesus said to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world."  Think of it:  If the Kingdom of Jesus belongs to this world, no Christian will ever experience poverty or illness.  But we are affected by the conditions of this fallen world as much as others.

St Paul encourages his followers with these words:  "Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything."  (2 Corinthians 6: 10 NLT).  What does this mean? Christ Jesus died today on the Cross for a weightier goal than silver and gold, Mercedes and BMW, Palaces and Mansions, a 6-figure salary.

Jesus died that we may know the true nature of God, grow to love Him intensely, serve Him and at the end of our earthly life enjoy life everlasting with Him in Heaven.  Mary the Mother of Jesus understood this.  She was poor, humble and insignificant until her death. Look at her net worth and recognition today.  All the saints have similar understanding of the nature of the Kingdom Jesus died for.  They gave up ashes to possess forever genuine Gold.

Salvation, glory, and power to the Lord Jesus Christ!

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This is the Chalice of the New Covenant in My Blood.

"How can I repay the Lord for all the great good done for me? I will raise the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord."  (Psalm 116:  12 - 13 NABRE)

Today is Holy Thursday, the beginning of the Triduum, the three most holiest days in Church Calendar.  Today we celebrate the Memorial of the Institution of the Eucharist and the Sacred Priesthood by Jesus Christ, our Eternal High Priest.

“This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the LORD, as a perpetual institution.”  (Exodus 12: 14 RM)

In gratitude for so great a gift, the People of God (us) responds:
"I will offer a sacrifice of praise
and call on the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people."  (Psalm 116:  17 - 18)

Salvation, glory, and power to the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Hail O Cross, Our Only Hope!

"Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests  and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver."  (Matthew 26: 14 - 15)

On Wednesday of the Holy Week 2017, the word of God presents for our reflection: Sin, Betrayal and Repentance.
The word "Betrayal" is used in today's Gospel, Matthew 26: 14 - 25 six times.  You may call it:  Betrayal Wednesday in Holy Week.  So what do you think of the mystery of sin and betrayal?

Every single sin is a betrayal of Jesus.  What is your price? What is it that you love and prefer to Jesus? That is the price you ask for your sin or betrayal.

Awake, O sinner, and arise from your sleep, and Christ will give you light.  (Cf Ephesians 5: 14)

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Hail to You, our King, led to Your crucifixion like a gentle Lamb.

"Before birth the Lord called me, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name."  (Isaiah 49: 1 NABRE)

He shall be called Jesus. (Cf Matthew 1: 21; Luke 1: 31). Like Jesus, we too are called, chosen and anointed for good works.
"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  (Ephesians 2: 10).

"Though I thought I had toiled in vain, for nothing and for naught spent my strength,
Yet my right is with the Lord, my recompense is with my God."  (Isaiah 49: 4)
Shake off any discouragement or sloth.  Jesus Christ our Lord and Captain, set His face as flint as He marched to Jerusalem to complete His assignment.  (Cf Luke 9: 51).  Think of the cloud of witnesses who had gone before us.  (Cf Hebrews 12: 1)

On Tuesday of Holy Week 2017, we hail our Captain Jesus Christ the Faithful Witness! (Cf Revelation 1: 5)

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You always have the poor with you.

"You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”  (John 12: 8 NABRE)

Judas reproaches Mary, sister of Martha for a very extravagant deathday gift to Jesus.  What type of birthday present do you consider fitting for Jesus? What if you are to give Jesus a perfect deathday present, what would it be?  Your gift reveals the depth of your love.

"Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."   (Mark 12: 17).   What is it that belongs to God?  The Lord our God must be #1 in everything.  Honor Him and reverence Him above everything.  (Cf Exodus 20: 3;  Deuteronomy 5: 7).
Genuine charity realizes that what honors God does not deprive the poor.  Where love is, there is God.

Today is Monday of Holy Week, April 10, 2017.  This week is the climax of the Season of Lent.   The love of Christ impels us to finish the race.  (Cf 2 Corinthians 5: 14)

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