"It is the name of Jesus which, through faith in him, has brought back the strength of this man whom you see here and who is well known to you. It is faith in him that has restored this man to health, as you can all see." (Acts 3: 16)
Faith in Jesus and faith in the name of Jesus is one and the same thing.
Faith is power.
God has given us the power of faith.
Lord Jesus, grant me deep faith in your name.
Jesus prayer
"Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; but he had vanished from their sight." (Luke 24: 30 – 31)
Christ is truly present in the Eucharist but how do we recognize Him?
We recognize Christ in the Eucharist through faith. Faith gives us the promise of God's power. We exercise the power of faith when we come to the Eucharist and see Jesus Christ through the eyes of faith. Remote and proximate preparations for the Eucharist should involve prayer for faith, little acts of exercise of faith so that our faith may be adequate to recognize Christ in the Eucharist.
Christ is present in the Eucharist in the person of the priest, in the proclamation of the word and especially in the Eucharistic species.
"The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord….."
"Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord! Look to the Lord in his strength; seek to serve him constantly." (Psalm 105:3-4)
Glory in the name of Jesus. Look to Jesus in His strength.
"I have neither silver nor gold, but I will give you what I have: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk." (Acts 3: 6)
What is Peter saying here? "Right now, God has not given me silver or gold to give you. But He has given me spiritual power which He wants me to use on your behalf."
Often, I feel ashamed that I do not have money to give to people who ask me. But why should I be ashamed? God is the source of all inspiration and power. He withholds nothing from those who love Him. My one desire is to give to everyone who asks of me. I will give that which I happen to have at that material time. I have the following things I can give all the time:
"So Mary of Magdala told his disciples, 'I have seen the Lord', and that he has said these things to her." (John 20: 18)
Mary has just had the experience of the Resurrection. She saw the Lord. She heard His words.
Have I experienced the Resurrection? Have I seen the Lord? Have I seen the Lord in me, in the Body of Christ and in others? How is Christ speaking to me today? Who are the bearers of Christ's word to me this day?
"What are we to do, brothers?" (Acts 2: 37)
Lord, what do you want me to do now? How can I improve my program? Teach me Jesus how to do more and not less for you. Teach me to be generous, always seeking to do more and never less.
"If men desire wisdom, she will give them the water of knowledge to drink. They will never waver from the truth; they will stand firm forever." (Sirach 15: 3-4)
I desire wisdom. I have desired it all my life.
Lord, give me the water of knowledge to drink. Consecrate me in the truth. Your word is truth. Make me steadfast in the pursuit of truth.
"Filled with awe and great joy the women came quickly away from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples." (Matthew 28:8)
Am I filled with awe at the truth of the resurrection? How am I sharing this news?
God sends me people every day to share the good news of the Resurrection. How am I seizing the opportunity?
"Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope… I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand is shall not be disturbed." (Psalm 16: 1,8)
God is my hope.
With God at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
"Now raised to the heights by God's right hand, he has received from the Father the Holy Spirit, who was promised, and what you see and hear is the outpouring of that Spirit." (Acts 2: 33)
The Holy Spirit is proof of Christ's presence among us. We see this living proof in the life and the work of the Church. The different ministries of the Church pulsate with the actions of the Holy Spirit.
My two great desires:
Then I will succeed in everything I do.
"The Lord brought you to a land flowing with milk and honey, so that his law would always be given honor among you, alleluia." (Exodus13: 5,9)
The Enterprise is journey with Christ. It is journey towards a land flowing with milk and honey. The Enterprise land is a symbol and shadow for the spiritual paradise.
Thank you Father. Father, create in me a new spirit to always honor your law in everything.
Fruit of the 4th Joyful mystery – Obedience.
"He saw and believed." (John 20:8)
John saw the empty tomb and the clothes neatly arranged and believed that Jesus Christ was truly risen. What do I need to see and believe that Christ is truly risen and alive today?
I need to see His body, the Church at work and worship. I saw that this morning at the Center where I attended a course in catechism. I saw so many catechists giving up their Saturday to be at the same course. I felt the presence of Christ in the hall. This was not the first time I experienced this effect in a similar setting.
Life of the Church is centers on the Eucharist and other sacraments, ministering to the poor and the sick. When I see this, I believe that Christ is truly alive.
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is of earth." (Colossians 3: 1-2)
What to seek? The Truth, Jesus Christ.
What to think of? Faith, hope, peace, joy, mercy, thankfulness, etc.
Seekfirst the Kingdom of God and His justice. Seekfirst the King.
"He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead." (Acts 10:42)
As I wait, help me to bear witness to you by word and deed to every person I meet that you are alive and indeed the Lord.
"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 hope and opened their eyes to what the scriptures foretold: that first he must die, and then he would rise and ascend to 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….." (Prayer at Easter Sunday Mass)
On Easter day, Christ appeared to men who had begun to lose hope and opened their eyes to what the scriptures foretold. Anytime you are tempted to lose hope, ask Christ to open your eyes to what scriptures foretell about your situation. For example:
What does Scripture say on:
If you listen, you will hear a healing truth that brings calm and perspective to your situation.
"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 ….." (Mass Prayer on Easter Sunday)
The power of death was definitely shattered by the resurrection of Christ. Christ's resurrection opened for you the way to eternal life. What is possible for a member of the same nature is possible for every member of that nature. Jesus Christ died as man. By rising from the dead, He proved that everyman can rise too from the dead.
The first Christian martyrs did not hesitate to lay down their lives for Christ (Revelation 12: 10) because they looked forward to their resurrection.
"You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid? My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior. With joy you will draw water from the fountain of salvation." (Isaiah 12: 3, 2-3)
God indeed is my savior. I am confident and unafraid. I remain calm and He fights my battles for me.
"Father, even today we see the wonders of the miracles you worked long ago. You once saved a single nation from slavery, and now you offer that salvation to all through baptism. May the peoples of the world become true sons of Abraham and prove worthy of the heritage of Israel…." (Prayer at Mass on Holy Saturday)
The passage through the Red Sea is a type and shadow of Baptism through which God saves us.
"God and Father of all who believe in you, you promised Abraham that he will become the father of all nations, and through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ you fulfill that promise. Everywhere throughout the world you increase your chosen people. May we respond to your call by joyfully accepting your invitation to the new life of grace ….." (Prayer at the Mass of Easter Vigil)
At the Easter Vigil everywhere in the world, new members are added to the Church through the baptism of catechumens and the welcoming of candidates into the Church.
Jesus Christ is the means through which the promise to Abraham is fulfilled.
"Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." (Hebrew 5: 8-9)
What does it mean to obey Christ?
Christ becomes the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him. Salvation here and now means freedom from sin and the consequences of sin.
