IF YOU WANT TO BEAR MUCH FRUIT, REMAIN IN ME.
"Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
"You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
"Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.
"I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.
"Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned.
"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” (John 15: 1 - 8).
Sunday April 28th 2024 in the 5th Week in the Easter Season.
IF YOU WANT TO BEAR MUCH FRUIT, REMAIN IN ME. Says Jesus.
Every Christian wants to bear some fruit. Some desire to bear 30%, others 60% and yet others 100%.
You can not bear any fruit if you do not remain in Jesus. How do you remain in Jesus so that you can bear much fruit like the Pros of our faith?
We learn from examples. Who are the Pros of our faith who bore 100% fruit. Consider some of these saints and then we look at how they lived to become highly productive in the Vineyard of the Lord.
Saints Peter and Paul, John, Benedict, Dominic, Ignatius Loyola, Therese of the Child Jesus, Catherine of Siena, St John Paul II, and many more.
They abided or remained in Jesus through the daily consumption of His word. It is said that St Anthony of Padua could recite the entire Bible. He is not the only Pro that achieved this feat.
Why is the word of God very important if you want to be very productive in the Kingdom of God?
To quote St Ambrose of Milan, a Pro in his own right, "Know the Heart of God from the word of God."
The word of God is primus inter pares (first among equals), to become a Pro, you need a plan of life that consists of 7 branches:
1. Word of God.
2. Eucharist.
3. Prayer.
4. Reconciliation.
5. Examination of Conscience.
6. Spiritual Reading.
7. Faith-sharing or Ministry.
Saints do all the above on daily basis.
THE EUCHARIST IS THE PRECIOUS BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.
The Church honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL.
For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
IF YOU ASK ANYTHING IN MY NAME, I WILL DO IT.
"Jesus said to his disciples: “If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
"From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
"Philip said to Jesus, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip?
"Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves.
"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.
"And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.” (John 14: 7 - 14).
Saturday 27th April 2024 in the 4th Week in the Easter Season.
Reflect with me on this great promise of Jesus on Prayer:
"If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”
Jesus Christ Himself taught that Prayer is a vital necessity. (Luke 18:1). God is obliged as a matter of justice to answer every Prayer. ("Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily." (Luke 18: 7 - 8).
The God of Abraham is the God of Covenant who remembers His covenant forever.
Two of my greatest teachers on Prayer are:
1. St Alphonsus Liguori, CSsR.
2. St Claude de la Colombière, SJ.
Their teaching on Prayer is remarkably similar. Here is what I learned about their teaching on Prayer:
Pray with faith.
Ask God for big stuff.
Pray with persistence.
Ask with persistence until you receive what you ask. If you quit asking before you receive, blame yourself. If God does not intend to grant your prayer, you will know somehow interiorly and quit.
Since Prayer is such a vital necessity in life, it is worth paying any price to get this gift and learn as much as possible about Prayer. Every significant gift I have enjoyed in life came from Prayer.
I learned from the Liturgy of the Hours: "T'is not from chance springs any of the comfort we enjoy but from God's gracious ordaining."
This is true. Ask and you shall receive.
THE EUCHARIST IS THE PRECIOUS BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.
The Church honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL.
For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED.
"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 26th April 2024 in the 4th Week in the Easter Season.
"DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED."
What makes your heart troubled?
Health and money issues, job and fear of losing your possessions, discordant family, war and terrorism? Immigration and fear of losing your country?
Whatever makes your heart troubled and keeps you awake at night, Jesus has a healing word for you today.
"DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED."
Jesus says to the Apostle Paul when his heart was troubled by severe trials and temptations:
"My grace is sufficient for you. For power is made perfect in weakness." (Cf 2 Corinthians 12: 9).
Can you take the above advice of Jesus to Paul?
When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the sea towards their boat, they believed they were seeing a ghost. Jesus said to them:
"It is I. Do not be afraid."
Can you accept and recognize the above word of Jesus as true in every fearful situation?
Now think of this. Jesus gave us everything we have. Jesus can take any or All of what He has given us anytime whether we like it or not. Why then do you let your heart be troubled over this or that matter?
Consider and believe this promise of Jesus Christ once and for all!
"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and God will give you everything you need." (Cf Matthew 6: 33).
After all, God knows exactly what you need and when you need it.
THE EUCHARIST IS THE PRECIOUS BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.
The Church honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL.
For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
FEAST OF ST MARK THE EVANGELIST.
GO AND PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO THE WHOLE WORLD.
"Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.
"These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs." (Mark 16: 15 - 20).
Thursday April 25th 2024 is the feast of St Mark the Evangelist.
St Mark the Evangelist lived between AD 12 - 68 AD. He was Cyerene from Libya in North Africa. He was also called John Mark. Son of Mary who provided her home as a place of meeting for the early Christian community in Jerusalem.
Mark worked with Saints Paul and Barnabas and later with St Peter the Apostle. St Mark founded the Church in Alexandria in Egypt where he is honored with a beautiful Basilica.
St Mark is the patron saint of Egypt, Copts, Mainar, Venice and Barristers.
St Mark is the writer of the Gospel according to St Mark.
The Holy Spirit commands us in today's Gospel:
"Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel to every creature."
Today, this mission of universal evangelization is very urgent. Recent Popes are insistent that the Church mobilize for New Evangelization.
[Popes Benedict, St John Paul II and Francis emphasized New Evangelization].
Everyone can evangelize today. Probably over 50% of mankind today have cellphones and can be reached through social media groups, viz: WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, etc
The word of God today encourages each of us to share the Gospel. Practice makes perfect.
"Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel to every creature."
THE EUCHARIST IS THE PRECIOUS BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.
The Church honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL.
For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
ST FIDELIS OF SIGMARINGEN, OFM.
"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.
[Don't rush to criticize, complain or condemn].
"Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.” (John 12: 44 - 50).
Wednesday April 24th 2024 in the 4th Week in the Easter Season is the feast of St Fidelis of Sigmaringen, OFM.
St Fidelis of Sigmaringen (1577 - 1622), Priest and Martyr. Born in Germany, he achieved fame as Evangelist and Catechist in Switzerland where he was martyred for the faith.
Here is our chosen text for reflection today:
"I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness."
Why is there so much darkness in the world today?
Because of lack of faith.
Jesus is the true light of the world. He shines light on God's purpose for the world. This includes God's purpose for every person and everything in the world.
Unbelief in Jesus produces confusions like gender ideology, abortion, war, materialism, euthanasia, emotional instability and so forth.
Our saint of today, St Fidelis of Sigmaringen, OFM believed that Jesus Christ is the light of the world. This belief drove him to Switzerland to share this light. The Swiss rejected the Light at that time and he was martyred.
"There is no measure for the effectiveness of Holy Communion for our souls. Communion is for the spiritual world what is food for the natural world. As fleshly food renews our nature, so does the Divine Food, which renews and purifies our nature to make it consistent and joined with him." (Blessed Honoratus († 1916) OFM Cap.
THE EUCHARIST IS THE PRECIOUS BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.
The Church honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL.
For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
BEWARE OF THE SPIRIT OF UNBELIEF.
"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. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” (John 10: 22 - 30).
TUESDAY April 23rd 2024 in 4th Week in the Easter Season.
My brothers and sisters, our Scripture today from John 10: 22 - 30 compels us to warn:
Beware of the spirit of unbelief.
How do you recognize the spirit of unbelief?
"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."
The Jews see 5000 people fed, the blinds see, lepers cleansed, the dead raised, etc. Yet they do not believe. They hear in the Synagogue the Book of Isaiah teach them the attributes of the Messiah, yet they do not believe.
What is holding them back?
Since April 1st 2024, we proclaim that the Church honors the Most Holy Eucharist in APRIL. Teachings from the Magisterium of the Catholic Church has been provided, endorsement by many saints have been given.
If during this period, you have not increased the frequency of your reception of the Holy Eucharist, what is the problem? Are you troubled with the spirit of UNBELIEF?
"My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish."
Do you hear the voice of your Shepherd?
The Eucharist is the food for the Journey of life provided for us by the Good Shepherd.
THE EUCHARIST IS THE PRECIOUS BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.
The Church honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL.
For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
