As I love you, love one another.

THE WORD OF GOD IS A DIVINE COMMAND. IT ACCOMPLISHES WHATEVER IT IS SENT TO. WHEN WE RECEIVE IT IN FAITH, WHAT HAPPENS? MIRACLE!

As I have loved you, so you shall love one another.

 "My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13: 31.....35).

Sunday, 15th May 2022 of the 5th week of Easter.

A short Gospel for this Sunday but powerful message. Jesus gives us a new commandment. Actually, the only thing that is new here is: "As I have loved you, so you also should love one another." This is what makes it tough and very challenging. When Jesus taught in His sermons on the mountain: "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect," we thought this is a hyperbole. Now Jesus commands: "As I have loved you, so you also should love one another."

How has Jesus loved you and me? Let us search the Scriptures.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
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"It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  
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"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
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"It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 7).

In 1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 7, we see the attributes of love.
This is how Jesus loves you and me. Is this how you love yourself? Your neighbor?

5. 15. "The veneration of the Virgin Mary has accompanied the path of the Church from the beginning; Marian feast days began to appear already in the fourth century: in some the role of the Virgin in the history of salvation is exalted; in others the principal moments of her earthly life are celebrated."
( Pope Benedict XVI).

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The Feast of St Matthias, the 12th Apostle.

THE EXERCISE OF FAITH INCREASES FAITH. THE EXERCISE OF CONFIDENCE CAUSES CONFIDENCE TO GROW. ONE WHO APPROACHES MY TABERNACLE IN FAITH IS GIVING EVIDENCE OF A COMPLETE RELIANCE ON MY MERCIFUL LOVE. (IN SINU JESU).

"Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.....
"I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.” (John 15: 9....17).

Saturday 14th May 2022, 4th Week of the Easter Season is the feast of the Apostle Matthias. (+ 64). The story of his election into the College of Apostles to replace Judas is the first Reading today: (Cf Acts 1: 15 - 26).

Mattias who had followed Jesus since His Baptism at the Jordan became a witness to the Resurrection and saw Jesus ascend into Heaven. He was present with the disciples in the Upper Room at Pentecost. Matthias met the criteria established by the Apostles to be qualified to replace Judas Iscariot.
Ancient tradition placed his ministry in Jerusalem, Cappadocia and Ethiopia. He was martyred in Jerusalem.
Matthias is the patron saint of Alcoholics.

How did Matthias become the 12th Apostle? It was necessary to replace Judas who had perished after his betrayal of Jesus. "Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles."

Our Scripture verse is from the Last Supper Discourse. Like St Matthias, each of us is called, chosen and anointed for a specific mission in the Kingdom. This is true whether we are soldiers, teachers, accountants, lawyers or housewives. Your day job is the field for your ministry. We are called to be friend and companion of Jesus who will carry on His ministry through us in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthias must have been deeply surprised by his call to join the Apostolic College. This is the way of God:
"God raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill he lifts up the poor to seat them with prince's, with the princes of his own people." (Psalm 113: 7 - 8).

"I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord." (John 15: 16).

5. 14.  "The greatest saints, those richest in grace and virtue will be the most assiduous in praying to the most blessed virgin, looking up to her as the perfect model to imitate and as a powerful helper to assist them."
- (Saint Louis Marie de Montfort)

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Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.

"IN THE END, MY IMMACULATE HEART WILL TRIUMPH," SAYS OUR LADY OF FATIMA TO THE THREE VISIONARY CHILDREN.
POPE PIUS XII CONSECRATED THE WHOLE WORLD TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14: 1 - 6).

Friday 13th May 2022, in the 4th Week of Easter is the feast of Our Lady of Fatima.

The feast of Our Lady of Fatima celebrates the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three shepherd children at Fatima in 1917. The message of Fatima is continued conversion to God and dedication to Mary through commitment to pray the Holy Rosary.

Our key Scripture for today takes us to the Upper Room where the Last Supper was taking place. On this night before His passion, Jesus was huddled together with His 12 Apostles in the Upper Room. He had revealed to them His departure from them through death. They were crushed. How on earth could they survive without Him with enemies everywhere? Then the Master said to them: Don’t be afraid or cowardly. As you believe in God and trust Him to protect and provide for you, you must believe in Me likewise.

What would be the impact of these words on the extremely agitated disciples? Comfort and Peace! Such is the power of the word of God. The same Jesus is speaking to us today through the Scripture:
“You must not let yourselves be distressed—you must hold on to your faith in God and to your faith in me." (John 14:1 Philips).

How can you avoid worry and surrendering yourself to fear and doubt? Saturate your mind and heart with the creative words of Jesus. One thing I found helpful is  repeating memorized verse of Scripture or an inspirational maxim for example:
"No fear. No worry. No doubt. Jesus is my Security now and always."

5. 13.  “The Heart open to God, purified by contemplation of God, is stronger than guns and weapons of every kind. The fiat of Mary, the word of her heart, has changed the history of the world, because it brought the Saviour into the world—because, thanks to her Yes, God could become man in our world and remains so for all time." (Benedict XV1 on Fatima).

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Why do you think I washed your feet?

"GOD WILLED THAT MAN SHOULD BE LEFT IN THE HAND OF HIS OWN COUNSEL, SO THAT HE MIGHT OF HIS OWN ACCORD SEEK HIS CREATOR & FREELY ATTAIN HIS FULL & BLESSED PERFECTION BY CLEAVING TO HIM." (CCC 1743).
"THE CHURCH PROPOSES. SHE IMPOSES NOTHING." (ST JOHN PAUL II).

"When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen." (John 13: 16...20).

Thursday 12th May 2022, 4th Week of the Easter Season.

The Church celebrates today the feast of three youthful soldier martyrs. St Pancras (+ 304). Roman. Martyred at 14 under Emperor Diocletian. Also today: Saints Nereus and Achilleus, Roman soldiers. Both martyred under Emperor Trajan. The Church rejoices in saints that bore witness to Jesus at very young age: Agnes, Perpetua, Felicity, Agatha, Maria Goretti, etc.

We enter one of the most consequential conversations of Jesus with His disciples: The Last Supper Discourse.
The first thing Jesus did as He gathered the disciples to celebrate the Passover in the Upper Room which became the Last Supper was to wash the dirty feet of His disciples. What is the lesson for them and for us?

"Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.  If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it." (John 13: 16 - 17).
Jesus the Christ came to serve and not to be served. Imitation of Jesus is the key to a blessed life.

We become saints not by the amount of knowledge or degrees we have but by imitating Jesus. As we become little by little like Jesus every day we start to imitate his mannerisms: His words and actions.  Jesus promises that this is the secret of the ultimate blessings and happiness in this world and the next.

Saints are the happiest people on earth. Why not start by desiring to be a saint?

5.12. “From Mary we learn to surrender to God's Will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary we learn to love Christ her Son and the Son of God!” “As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.” (St John Paul II).

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Whoever believes in. Me will have light in him.

TO LIVE AS I BELIEVE IS TO LIVE NOT ACCORDING TO WHAT I SEE OR FEEL BUT TO LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF FAITH, THAT IS, IN THE LIGHT OF THE WORD OF GOD AND PROMISES OF GOD.

"Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world." (John 12: 44....50).

In our key Scripture for today, Jesus says that He came into the world as light. What does Jesus mean? The Easter Vigil Liturgy helped me to understand our key Scripture for today.

The Easter Vigil Service starts at sunset outside the Church. The congregation stand around a huge fire of burning wood. After prayers, the Priest lights the new Pascal Candle and Deacon carries the Candle and leads the congregation into the dark Church.

The Church is in darkness. The only light comes from the Pascal Candle. The Pascal Candle signifies Christ as the Light coming into a dark world. The gathered Church lights their candles from the Pascal Candle.  Soon the whole Sanctuary is lit up from hundreds of candles.

Through faith, we understand the meaning of the Easter Vigil ceremony. Without faith, the whole ceremony may appear strange.

Those who believe and trust Jesus are no longer in the dark with regard to the critical and existential questions of life: origin of life and the world, life and death, poverty and wealth, divine providence, racial diversity, eternal life, etc.
The light of Christ brought us knowledge of the Trinity, the Three Persons in One God. The meaning of the life and death of Jesus. The Sacraments, Communion of Saints, the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the economy of salvation and so forth.

The carnal man with his 20/20 vision and all the scientific knowledge at his disposal does not understand 0.001% of the physical world and nothing at all of the spiritual domain. And yet, he thinks he knows everything.

"I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life." (Cf John 8: 12).

5. 11. "O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all your necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine Will that she should help in every kind of necessity." (St Basil the Great).

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The Feast of St Damien of Molokai, Patron Saint of Lepers.

WHAT IS IN A NAME? THE NAME OF JESUS IS THE VERY PERSON, POWER & PRESENCE OF JESUS. THE NAME OF JESUS IS IMMENSE. IT IS CERTAINTY AND ALWAYS AVAILABLE RESOURCE & GOOD FORTUNE.

"The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand." (John 10: 23 - 30).

Tuesday 10th May 2022, in the 4th Week of Easter is the feast of St Damien Joseph de Veuster of Molokai. (1840 - 1889). Priest. Belgian missionary. Father Damien requested to be sent to the leper colony in Molokai, in Hawaii where he spent the rest of his life ministering to lepers. Four of these years were lived in confinement after he contracted leprosy. St Damien was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 11, 2009. He is the patron saint of people with leprosy.

In the Gospel of today, Jesus was in the Temple during the feast of the Dedication. The people accosted Him and challenged Him to tell them if He is the expected Messiah.
Jesus answered with our key Scripture verse for today:

"The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me." What does Jesus mean? His miracles: healing, casting out demons, raising the dead, feeding multitudes are evidence of who He is. These "works" should be sufficient proof to anyone who is well disposed towards Him.

His sheep who are well disposed towards Him, hear His teachings and see His miracles and they believe in Him. This group do not waste time seeking for proof after proof about what should be obvious to men of good will. If you consider you are one of the sheep of Jesus, do you believe in these revealed truth about Jesus Christ below:

I believe in Jesus Christ the Only Son of God, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God.

This is our ancient Faith. The Faith of Christians who are the sheep of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus is your good Shepherd, He promises that His sheep will be fully provided for and fully protected from all dangers. Learn to trust in Jesus for all your needs.

5.10.  "[Mary] is the safest, easiest, shortest and most perfect way of approaching Jesus and will to surrender themselves to her, body and soul, without reserve in order to belong entirely to Jesus.” (St Louis Marie de Monfort).

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Are you Ready for Abundant Life?

ABBA FATHER, REMIND ME ALWAYS THAT IN YOUR INFINITE WISDOM, YOU KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR ME.

"A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10).

Monday 9th May 2022, of the 4th Week of Easter.

John 10: 10 is our Scripture verse for today:  "I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly," is one of the most quoted verses in the entire Bible. Why? It has the ring of a marketing slogan. Who is not attracted to Abundant Life? Abundant wealth, abundant health, abundant peace in the family, abundant quality food, abundant possessions and so forth. Is this what Jesus was talking at about? 

What do you think of this translation of John 10: 10?
"I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of."  (John 10: 10 MSG).

In Acts 1, Jesus talked again about the "Promise of the Father" that will soon be bestowed on the Apostles. That Promise of the Father is also called the "Big Gift" of the Father.

You know by now that we are talking about the Awesome Holy Spirit, "the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son." The Spirit that is worshipped together with the Father and the Son. He is the Giver of the Abundant life. What is this Abundant life? You remember what the Angel Gabriel said to Mary? She is "full of grace" and "the Lord is with her." Yes, Mary has abundant life while here on earth. She is full of the Gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.

When you fan into flame the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit you received in Baptism and strengthened in the Sacrament of Confirmation, your life will be utterly transformed. Imagine if you exercise the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel and knowledge, you will be sought after by the whole world. 

St Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church, who is richly endowed by the Holy Spirit says that eternal life starts here and now and continues all the way to eternity. If you do not enjoy the love, peace, joy and contentment that come from the Holy Spirit indwelling in you, what is wrong? Two possible things:
#1. Unconfessed sins.
#2. Unbelief.

5. 9   "Mary has divided the sea for us, that is the world, so that we might pass safely through it." She "has brought to us the water of grace from the rock, Christ, so that we may drink freely of this life-saving water."  (St Thomas Aquinas OP, Doctor of the Church).

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