Peace of Christ

"The Lord says, peace I leave with you, my own peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give, alleluia." (John 14: 27)

Pax Christi – Deep contentment in the heart. Trust in God at all times and in everything.

Awareness of the nearness of Jesus everywhere at all times no matter the condition. Awareness that Jesus is in control.

We appropriate this peace of Christ every day. You ask the question: "How about the peace I appropriated yesterday's morning?" Answer: "That was for yesterday." Jesus says: "My own peace I give you; not as the world gives." He gives His peace as we appropriate it day by day. The world pretends to give its peace once and for all. After we appropriate the peace of Christ early in the morning, we defend this treasure against all threats everywhere and at all times. St. Peter warns us that our mortal enemy, the devil prowls constantly seeking the ruin of this peace.

Similarly, early in the morning, we offer our entire life – time, talent and treasure to Jesus. In exchange, we appropriate His peace, protection, provision, power, pardon and purpose for the rest of the day. We place our entire life and fortune in His loving and all powerful providence. We remain vigilant against all threats to the trust we place on Christ in the course of the day.

Completion

"I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1: 6)

What God begins, He brings to completion. I am confident that God will complete what He started with the Enterprise.

Put on the full armor

"Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you will be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones and also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains, so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.

(Ephesians 6: 10 – 20)

Believe in Jesus

"This is carrying out God's work: must believe in the one he has sent." (John 6: 29)

Believe in Jesus:

Know Jesus intimately

Love Him passionately

Follow Him everywhere

St. Stephen

"Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people." (Acts 6:8)

God has inspired me to ask for a large portion of the spirit of love, wisdom and power. Stephen is one of my patron saints.

Light of truth

"God our Father, your light of truth guides us to the way of Christ. May all who follow him reject what is contrary to the gospel….." (Mass Prayer)

God's light of truth – the word of God and the teaching of the Church.

The way of Christ is the Via Dolorosa.

What is contrary to the gospel:

"For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world." (1 John 2: 16)

Obedient servant

"Lord, bless us with your heavenly gifts, and in your mercy make us your obedient servants…" (Prayer at Mass)

Jesus Christ was obedient to His Father. Lord, make me your obedient servant.

Interpreting the Scriptures

"Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures." (Luke 24: 27)

Jesus Christ interpreted the scriptures authoritatively. He gave the same authority to His Church. If Jesus did not Himself say that all scriptures point to Him, this truth is not evident on its own. It is therefore misleading to assert that we can read scriptures and interpret it correctly for ourselves. We need the teaching authority of the Church to tell us authoritatively that this is what scripture means.

Lord Jesus, open my mind to understand scriptures.

Ransomed

"If you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one's works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb." (1 Peter 1: 17-21)

The precious blood of Jesus Christ ransomed me from my futile conduct.

Jesus Prayer

"Lord, you will show us the path of life.

I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed." (Psalm 16: 11, 8)

How do I set the Lord ever before me? Jesus prayer is the one word prayer that anybody can use at any time. The Jesus prayer constitutes simply the name of JESUS. The name of Jesus is a full prayer in itself.

Witness to the resurrection 2

"God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses." (Acts 2: 32)

The apostles were the chief eye witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection is the central truth of Christianity. We are Christians because we believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Without the resurrection, our faith is worthless. Without the resurrection of Jesus, the Church becomes like a social club but a club that promises only suffering and renunciations of comforts without offering anything positive. Because of the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of our own resurrection, we know that there is a better life than this one.

I am called to be a witness to the resurrection of Jesus. Can one witness to prayer if one does not pray? Can one witness to the resurrection of Christ if one has not experienced this reality? To bear witness to the resurrection is to bear witness to the truth that Christ is alive and is present in me through the Holy Spirit. He is present in a unique way in the Eucharist and the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus is also present in the Church when it gathers for worship.

To bear witness to the Christ present in me is to produce the fruits of Christ in my life.

Witness to the resurrection

"God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses." (Acts 2: 32)

The apostles were the chief eye witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection is the central truth of Christianity. We are Christians because we believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Without the resurrection, our faith is worthless. Without the resurrection of Jesus, the Church becomes like a social club but a club that promises nothing but suffering and renunciations of comforts without offering anything positive. Because of the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of our own resurrection, we know that there is a better life than this one.

Author of all truth

"Father in heaven, author of all truth, a people once in darkness has listened to your Word and followed your Son as he rose from the tomb. Hear the prayer of this newborn people and strengthen your Church to answer your call. May we rise to come forth to the light of day to stand in your presence till eternity dawns …." (Mass Prayer in Easter Season)

God is the author of all truth. The death and resurrection of Jesus ushered in a new age. It is the time of the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham to make him the father of all nations. The Church is the new people of God marked by four attributes: one, holy, catholic and apostolic. At Easter, the Church asks the Father to strengthen the Church to fulfill its mission.

Restore the joy of our youth

"God our Father, may we look forward with hope to our resurrection, for you have made us your sons and daughters, and restored the joy of our youth……" (Mass Prayer)

In his passion and death and resurrection, Jesus Christ reconciles us to God and at the same time restores our spiritual youth which was lost by the sin of Adam and Eve. When we participate in the Eucharist, we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the life-giving Body and Blood of Christ restore the joy of our youth.

The Eucharist and Love

"Lord, may this Eucharist which we have celebrated in memory of your Son, help us to grow in love ….."

The Eucharist helps us to grow in the love of God and of our neighbor.

Spiritual Sacrifice

"Merciful Lord, make holy these gifts and let our spiritual sacrifice make us an everlasting gift to you……"

In the Offertory, we offer the bread and wine, which represent the fruits of our labor to God. As the priest makes the offering on our behalf, we offer silently our joys and sorrows, our delays, disappointments and obstacles. In a holy exchange, God gives these back to us as the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

Do not be afraid

"It's me. Don't be afraid." (John 6: 20)

Peace is the special gift of Easter. This peace is a deeper awareness that Christ who was dead is now alive forever more. He is near me. He is in me. So I will not fear. I will not be afraid for Casa. I will not be afraid for SFJ. I will not be afraid for the Enterprise. I will not be afraid of anything. It is Jesus Himself who tells me, 'Don't be afraid.'

Time of famine

"Lord, let your mercy be upon us as we place our trust in you…

See, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, to deliver them from death and preserve them inspite of famine." (Psalm 33: 18 – 19)

God will have mercy on those who trust in Him to have mercy on them. I trust in God to have mercy on me with regard to the Enterprise. In fact, I believe He will.

God watches over those who fear Him. Lord, fill me with your fear.

Those who hope in God will be delivered from death and God will supply their needs even in time of famine.

Service of the word

"We ourselves will continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word." (Acts 6: 4)

I am deeply attracted to prayer and the service of the word.

Lord Jesus, lead me, guide me and use me. Amen.

Prioritizing Ministries

"It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food." (Acts 6: 2)

There is a hierarchy in ministries. Food for the soul is more important than food for the body. "Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that falls from the mouth of God" (Acts 6: 4)