"They were astonished at the fearlessness shown by Peter and John, considering that they were uneducated laymen; and they recognized them as associates of Jesus." (John 4:13)
They recognized Peter and John as companions of Jesus. How? They must have thought: "Where have we seen such boldness from a peasant? Oh, we remember. Jesus of Nazareth! No wonder, these men were his companions."
"The Lord led his people to freedom and they shouted with joy and gladness." (Psalm 105: 43)
Christ is the new Moses who led us to freedom through His passion and death.
"Jesus said to his disciples: Come and eat. And he took the bread, and gave it to them." (John 21: 12-13)
Everyday Jesus issues invitation to us to come and have breakfast with Him in the Eucharist. All are invited but only a few respond.
"Throw the net out to starboard and you will find something.' So they threw the net out and could not haul it in because of the quantity of fish." (John 21: 6)
Thank you Lord for this word and for your promise. You know where the fish is. You know where the green grass is. (Psalm 23) I shall trust you to lead and guide me to these places. You are indeed my good Shepherd. I shall lack nothing.
"The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes." (Psalm 118: 22-23)
They killed; God raised up. They demoted; God promoted.
God raised the lowly. Only God can do this. It is a wonderful thing in our eyes.
"Why are you so agitated, and why are these doubts stirring in your hearts?" (Luke 24: 38)
Banish all fears; dispel all doubts. It is Christ indeed present in the:
Lord Jesus, I believe. Increase my faith.
What will you do if you know for certain that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist and in the Blessed Sacrament? I will be filled with awe and would adore Him constantly. Then ACT AS IF, for He is truly present.
"O Lord, our God, how wonderful is your name in all the earth! …What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him?" (Psalm 8: 2,5)
The name of Jesus is wonderful and glorious.
God stoops down to man, His creature. Who am I that the Lord should be mindful of me and care for me?
"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.
