The Empty Tomb of Life Everlasting

~~~ Easter Sunday ~~~

 

~~Acts of the Apostles 10:34a, 37-43~~Psalm 118~~ Colossians 3:1-4~~John 20:1-9~~

 

Jesus Christ is Risen today,

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

 

Let us rejoice and be glad this is the day the Lord has made.

Today is the reason we remain faithful to our commitment

to allow Christ to live in us.

He is our all and all.

It is in Him that we live, and move and have our being.

 

Today we renew our Baptismal promises to renounce Satan and his evil power.

We renew our belief in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Today we proclaim our believe in the Resurrection...

not just the Resurrection of Jesus

but also our own resurrection.

 

Jesus is truly alive...the stone has been rolled back form the tomb.

The tomb is empty because nothing can contain the Resurrection.

The burial cloths are neatly folded and left behind...

Death has been overcome the things of this world are no longer necessary.

 

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

The reality of the empty tomb is shocking

yet filled with hope for all those who follow Jesus.

This includes you and me.

It is the empty tomb that first signifies the Resurrection of the Lord...

the Messiah...the Redeemer.

He brings life to its fullest through his death.

Out of his death comes our eternal life.

We have been born into Christ so too must we share in his death.

Through his death we are granted life everlasting.

 

 

The empty tomb becomes the tomb of hope.

The hope we hold close to our hearts of life with the Lord.

When a loved one dies we often sense tremendous emptiness

without their physical presence.

Let us find hope in the empty tomb of Our Lord.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

All Life Comes from God

~~~ Holy Saturday ~~~

 

The readings today take us through all of creation.

They are designed to remind us of God's magnificence.

He creates and renews in one breath.

He breathes new life into existence.

He brings restored life out of death.

God is life itself.

The evidence of his breath of life is revealed in a most spectacular way

especially during Springtime.

Plants and animals burst forth with new life.

The trees and flowers give their brilliant colors to the landscape.

The birds sing their new songs.

All of creation rejoices in delight of the Creator.

 

 Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

 

~~~ Genesis 1:1—2:2 ~~~ Psalm 104 ~~~

 

In the beginning God created light, water, the heavens, vegetation, animals.

He created everything to be in balance.

Imagine all of this creation happening in high speed...

because for God there is no time...but there is order.

All that he created reveals his own beauty and splendor.

 

~~~ Genesis 22:1-18 ~~~ Psalm 16 ~~~

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

 

God tested Abraham, having him take his only son

 up to the mountain to be sacrificed.

They carried with them their own wood to build the altar of offering.

Just as he was ready to do the will of God;

God saw how devoted Abraham was and prevented him from harming Isaac.

“Do not do the least thing to him.
I know now how devoted you are to God,
since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.”

 

~~~Exodus 14:15—15:1 ~~~

Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

 

God leads Moses so that Moses can lead God's chosen people.

He parts the seas long enough for all of the Israelites to cross.

He releases the water when the soldiers foolishly follow in pursuit.

'...As the water flowed back,
it covered the chariots and the charioteers of Pharaoh’s whole army...'

 

~~~Isaiah 54:5-14 ~~~ Psalm 30~~~

 I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

 

We hear of God's resolve to take us back to himself.

The people will never again need to build an ark as Noah had done.

'...my love shall never leave you
nor my covenant of peace be shaken,
says the LORD, who has mercy on you.'

God gives us reassurance of his relentless love.

 

~~~Isaiah 55:1-11 ~~~

You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

God extends to his people the greatest invitation to come to him.

Come to the Lord...Seek him with all your heart.

Come to our God who is generous in mercy and forgiveness.

We are reminded of a very important fact...

'...For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.'

 

~~~Baruch 3:9-15, 32-4:4 ~~~Psalm 19 ~~~ 

 Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

'...Had you walked in the way of God,
you would have dwelt in enduring peace.'

 

We are blessed because we do indeed know what pleases the Lord.

We have his words to illuminate the path.

 

~~~ Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28 ~~~ Psalm 42 ~~~

Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for you, my God.

The warning to stay away from false idols...there is but one God.

Do not be fooled by the counterfeit imitation want to be gods.

Only the one true God can cleanse you and give you a new heart.

Only this God can place a new spirit in you...for we are his people.

 

~~~ Romans 6:3-11~~~ Psalm 118 ~~~

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Christ has conquered death.

We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,
so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
we too might live in newness of life.
 Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

 

 

~~~Luke 24:1-12 ~~~

 

At daybreak on the first day of the week
the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus
took the spices they had prepared
and went to the tomb.

 

The women were the first to go to the tomb.

They quickly went very early in the morning to perform the burial anointing.

But Jesus was already raised from death.

His body was no longer in the tomb.

He had already been anointed with the most expensive oils

at a dinner party just a few nights prior to his death.

 

Two men, perhaps angels, frightened them 

reminding them of the words that on the third day Jesus would rise.

 

Of course when they reported this to the apostles, who were still

in the state of shock at all that had happened,

they were not believed.

 

Peter, himself, rushes to the site of the tomb.

He too sees only the burial cloths remain inside the empty tomb.

Now they begin to understand and appreciate who had really been with them...

 walking and teaching them over the last few years.

 

On this Holy Night the entire history of God's love

 for us is spelled out; we have no doubt that in death

he brought forth new life...

Life Eternal.

We are souls in waiting,

waiting for the day when we too enter into Life with the Lord.

The Influence of Fear

 

~~~ Good Friday ~~~

 

~~~Isaiah 52:13-53:12 ~~~ Psalm 31 ~~~ Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 ~~~ John 18:1-19:42~~~

 

Jesus is betrayed during private prayer in a familiar place...the garden.

A place that represented peace and safety...

a place that he had gone before to escape the crowds seeking him.

 

Judas his betrayer also knew the place,
because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.

 

His closest friend, Peter, is so paralyzed with fear

that he cannot admit even knowing Jesus.

 

Jesus speaks in a manner that confuses the authorities.

They cannot process the meaning of his words.

The guards who seized him in the garden

fell to the ground when Jesus responds to who they were looking for....

 

When he said to them, “I AM, “
they turned away and fell to the ground.

 

 

Only God can say I AM...This was since the time of Moses.

Exodus 3:14

Out of the burning bush God speaks to Moses.

He declares the ground to be holy.

God commissions Moses to lead his people out of exile

assuring him of his nearness.

Moses asks God by what name should he tell the people to call him.

 

God replied to Moses: I am who I am.

 Then he added: This is what you will tell the Israelites:

I AM has sent me to you.

 

The guards were well aware of this reference to God.

No one can claim to be God just by using the I AM words

without grave consequences.

God goes on to tell Moses that this is his name forever.

 

Brought before the authorities Jesus seems to speak to them in riddles.

They become more confused and

with each answer he gives to their questions.

 

My kingdom does not belong to this world...

 

Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

 

Finally Pilate succumbs to the raging crowd and consents to their demands.

Pilate acts out of fear that the people will riot and become uncontrollable.

As the crowd screams louder and louder

"Crucify him, Crucify him."

Pilate finally chooses to give them what they want.

 

...the Jews cried out,
“If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar.

 

This seals the fate of both Jesus and Pilate.

My Lord and God

this solemn day causes me to reflect on

who you are;

I AM.

Our Creator God is also our Saving God.

By your cross and resurrection you have redeemed the world.

Jesus Bridges the Old and the New

~~~ Holy Thursday ~~~

 

~~Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14~~Psalm 116~~1 Corinthians 11:23-26~~John 13:1-15~~

 

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come
to pass from this world to the Father.
He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.

 

Jesus carefully begins his passion with the traditional Passover meal.

He had undoubtedly participated in this important

historical meal previously many times.

The feast of the Passover was to remember the saving from the Angel of Death.

 

The story of Passover is told in the Book of Exodus.

Moses is saved as an infant to later become the one chosen by God to lead

his people to freedom.

Pharaoh becoming increasingly threatened by the Hebrews

decreed that the first born males would be killed.

Only the females were to be allowed to live.

At the old age of 80, Moses boldly demands

 that Pharaoh release his people.

 

The ten great plagues descended upon the land

ending with the death of all the male children in the land.

The homes of the Hebrews were saved as a result

of their following the command of God.

They marked their doorways with the blood of a pure lamb;

thus their sons are spared. 

 

They shall take some of its blood
and apply it to the two doorposts and the lintel
of every house in which they partake of the lamb.

 

The people quickly prepared the lamb ready to flee in a moments notice.

They had no time to allow yeast bread to rise.

To this day unleavened bread is an important part of Passover.

 

 

Jesus begins his Passion on this feast day.

It is fitting since he alone will be sacrificed

 to bring all of us out of bondage.

Jesus is the bridge between the old with the new.

He fulfills the covenant issued by his Father.

He does not forsake the people of God.

Just as he continues to save us today.

 

Jesus is always the one who connects the old and the new.

The word became flesh to fulfill the will of the Father...

to make all things complete.

 

On this night of Passover Jesus rises, humbles himself,

and washes the feet of his apostles.

He does not discriminate among the faithful, the one who betrays

or the one who will deny knowing him three times.

 

After kneeling down and washing their feet,

he tries one more time to help them understand who he is

and why he really came.

 

“Do you realize what I have done for you?
You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am.
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet,
you ought to wash one another’s feet.
I have given you a model to follow,
so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

 

How we treat others speaks so much more than our words ever can.

We may not be washing the feet of those we meet,

but we can treat them with loving care and dignity.

 

Lord, help me to strive daily to be more like you.

Begin first by transforming my heart.

Confronted by Truth

 

~~~ Isaiah 50:4-9a ~~~ Psalm 69 ~~~ Matthew 26:14-25 ~~~

 

'...Morning after morning
he opens my ear that I may hear...'

 

This is our call, to begin each day in prayer.

If we begin with the intention of listening for the voice of the Lord;

each day would unfold in a greater joy.

 

'...you who seek God, may your hearts revive!'

 

Our hearts would be in a constant state of revival

 if we would but keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

I recently read some beautiful advice...

No matter what situation we find ourselves in

see only Jesus.

 

Before the night of Passover, Jesus it seems,

has already made arrangements to dine at a friend's.

There he can have a private quiet meal with his closest followers.

 

“Where do you want us to prepare
for you to eat the Passover?”

The apostles were concerned about making all of the necessary

for the feast day, but Jesus was one step ahead of them.

They were willing to complete the requirements for the Passover feast,

but it was taken care of for them by Jesus.

 

I find this to true in my life as well.

When I am anxious about some approaching responsibility;

God shows up ahead of time and gets everything in order.

 

 

Jesus is always willing to make one more attempt

at getting and keeping out attention.

 

Even if we are on the brink of making a serious mistake

Jesus makes time for us...

he invites us to dine with him...

he confronts us with the truth.

 

Jesus confronts Judas with the truth of his betrayal

during their intimate Passover meal together.

While the others present may not have understood what Jesus was saying;

Judas surely got the message.

Jesus allowed Judas to excuse himself from the group.

Jesus did not command him to leave the meal.

 

Jesus always confronts us with the truth.

I invite you to pause and reflect to day on this question.

 

Are you willing to hear what Jesus has to say to you?

If we begin each day listening to the Lord,

 the truth will not catch us by surprise.

Farewell Words

 

~~~ Isaiah 49:1-6 ~~~ Psalm 71 ~~~ John 13:21-33, 36-38 ~~~

 

 

Be careful what you say lest your own words

come back to haunt you at a later time.

This is what happens to Peter.

He is so sure that his love for Jesus would not allow him

 to even deny him. Peter said to him,
“Master, why can I not follow you now?
I will lay down my life for you.”

 

Jesus gives Peter a chance to change his mind.

“Will you lay down your life for me?..."

 

Jesus is saying to Peter

did you really mean to say that you would

actually be willing to die for me...

do you really love me that much?

 

Jesus continues to reveal to Peter that he would in fact

deny him three times before dawn.

Peter must have been thrown into a state of disbelief

hearing this prediction from Jesus himself.

After Jesus dismisses Judas to prepare for his betrayal,

he tells the others his farewell.

 

 

My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.
You will look for me, and as I told the Jews,
‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.”

This handful of men had spent the last three years of their lives

following Jesus all across the lands.

They had seen him perform many miracles.

They had shared regular meals in fellowship with him.

They had created their own community of believers.

And now he is telling them that he is going away and they cannot follow him.

 

“Where I am going, you cannot follow me now,
though you will follow later.”

 

He gives them one small consolation for his departure.

'you will follow later'.

They most likely were scratching their heads trying to understand

what he meant about following later.

In time they will understand

 

these words Jesus spoke that night.

Today we can follow Jesus.

 

The Fragrance of Love

 

Isaiah 42:1-7 ~~~ Psalm 27 ~~~ John 12:1-11~~~

 

The tension is building, but Jesus finds comfort and safety

sharing a meal with his friends.

Martha, Mary, and Lazarus are present.

 Some of the apostles accompany Jesus also.

Imagine the preparations for this special visit from Jesus.

Mary has been praying for days in preparation

for what she has planned for Jesus.

Jesus too must appreciate the planning and cooking

 that has taken place before he arrives.

 

He knows that his days are numbered

and this may be the last chance he has

to share in loving fellowship in their home.

 

Even Lazarus' life is in danger

 because of his close association with Jesus.

Word soon spread about Jesus raising him back to life 

 three days after his death.

 

'...the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too,
because many of the Jews were turning away
and believing in Jesus because of him.'

 

Judas is present. He is a witness to how much Jesus is loved.

Is he jealous? Does he long for a similar kind of love?

 

Soon there is a strong fragrance filling the whole house.

It is not a smell commonly associated with food cooking

or even bread baking.

It is instead the unmistakably sweet smell of perfume.

A fragrance used typically in their burial rituals.

A costly perfume reserved for the death of a loved one.

A perfume used sparingly, difficult to replace.

 

Mary brought this gift...the most valuable possession she had,

and gave it all to anoint her beloved friend, Jesus.

She gave her finest and she gave it lavishly.

She gave all of it the entire liter.

She humbly knelt at the feet of Jesus and anointed his feet.

She used her long hair to wipe the excess from his feet.

 

Judas, in particular,

 was appalled at such extravagant wastefulness.

  “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages
and given to the poor?”

 

Judas is so misguided with his loyalties.

Is it the almighty money pouch or the Almighty Messiah?

Jesus quietly and calmly responds...

 “Leave her alone.
Let her keep this for the day of my burial.
You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

The day is getting closer when Jesus will no longer be with them.

 

 

We are presented with two opposing concepts today.

...In Mary, one of total self giving...

 in Judas, one of total selfishness.

Mary pours out her love for Jesus by giving him the best she has to offer.

Judas is unable to think of anyone but himself, even as he pretends

to be concerned for the poor.

 

Mary is transparent, open, and honest about her feelings for Jesus.

Mary truly loves Jesus.

Judas is dark and deceitful about his feelings for Jesus.

Judas truly loves himself.

Jesus accepts both where they are,

 even as Judas criticizes the action of Mary.

 

Are you giving Jesus the very best you have?

Are you giving him the most precious gift of yourself?

Dear Jesus, help me to spread your fragrance

everywhere that I go.

A line taken from a beautiful song called the

Fragrance Prayer.

Jesus Prays for Our Faith

~~~ Palm Sunday ~~~

 

~~Isaiah 50:4-7~~Psalm 22~~Philippians 2:6-11~~Luke 22:14—23:56~~

 

Just as at the birth of Jesus jubilant songs fill the air this day when he enters

the city of Jerusalem. Perhaps their dreams were really coming true;

Jesus is the 'king' they were hoping he would become after all.

 

But what king would sit upon a donkey as his chariot?

They proclaimed:
“Blessed is the king who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest.”

 

Excitement fills the air, all are rejoicing.

Jesus gave them a taste of what they were looking for,

but it turns into a horror story instead.

 

Soon their songs of rejoicing turn to chants of mockery.

“He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him,
let him rescue him, if he loves him.”

 

The love between God the Father and the Son

surpass our human understanding.

A human father would not willingly want to see one of his sons suffer.

 

But Jesus came to do the will of the his father so

'...he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.'

 

Time after time I am touched by the tremendous humility

through which our salvation was secured.

Through the humility of Jesus we can experience

an even deeper appreciation for his death.

 

Just his name, Jesus, evokes great love and praise.

 

 

As the final hour draws ever closer Jesus chooses to share a meal

with his closest friends and followers.

He wants to share in fellowship and love with the twelve who knew him best.

Many people facing their impending death also want to be surrounded

with family and friends....

This may be a pure human phenomenon; I do not know for sure.

 

Jesus took this last supper if you will to share with his some of his final thoughts.

There were some important things that he wanted them to remember.

Memories connected to strong emotions are much stronger, more vivid,

and most easily recalled later.

 

'...I am among you as the one who serves.
It is you who have stood by me in my trials...'

 

Jesus impresses upon them that in doing

the will of the father he came to serve.

 

Jesus tells them that he has prayed for them to go forward to continue

the work he has begun.

'...I have prayed that your own faith may not fail...'

 

Imagine for a moment having Jesus pray for you.

How does that make you feel?

When Jesus prayed for his disciples I like to believe that he

was actually praying for us as well.

If we are now also one of his disciples we too

 have been strengthened

by his prayers for us.

 

I invite you to join me between now and Holy Thursday

to reflect on Jesus praying for you.

I am grateful and humbled to think that

Our Lord Jesus Christ would pray for me.

What can I give in return except a greater commitment to him

 and a deeper love for him.

Today we enter into the most solemn time of the liturgical year...

there is a reason it is called Holy Week.

We Are the Lost Boys and Girls

 

~~~ Ezekiel 37:21-28  ~~~ Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12abcd, 13 ~~~ John11:45-56 ~~~

 

 

Since the time of Ezekiel, God had a strong desire

for all the divisions among the people to be resolved.

God wanted the people to see what a waste it was for them

 to worship their idols of metal.

God has plans to deliver the people and to cleanse them of their sins.

God just wanted all his people to be one big happy family,

but it did not happen that way in the end.

 

So God sends down his son, Jesus, to implement his grand unity plan.

It is the same today when someone from the outside comes into an establishment

and begins to make radical changes.

Everyone else just watches shaking their heads in disbelief.

Let's face it Jesus was an outsider and he was stirring things up.

 

The Jews were getting nervous.

Their fears took control of their minds.

 Their ability to reason and understand things became greatly diminished.

When you are under stress your mental capacity is hampered. 

So the Jews began to meet and plot in small groups.

They discussed their plan of action to protect their interest.

 

If we leave him alone, all will believe in him,
and the Romans will come
and take away both our land and our nation.”

Fear...Fear...Fear...

Terror on every side in their opinion.

 

Caiaphas,
who was high priest that year...

was the only person of authority who came close

to understanding what Jesus was doing,

and what his death was going to accomplish.

 

...he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,
and not only for the nation,
but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God.
So from that day on they planned to kill him.



Jesus fled the area but still attended

amid the doubts that he would be a 'no show'.

By now Jesus must know the time is drawing near.

The tension was building to loud crescendo.

The cymbals were poised to be clashed together.

 

 

All that God wanted for his people became impossible

without the death of his son, Jesus.

Nothing that Jesus did really the Jews yet they let their fears

take over their reasoning ability.

They reverted to acting out of self preservation.

 

Indeed Jesus did die for a nation, but it did not stop there.

His death was for all of eternity.

Dear Lord, help me to appreciate what you have done for me...

especially when I gaze upon your crucifix.

Amen.

Are Your Words and Actions Congruent

 

~~~ Jeremiah 20:10-13 ~~~ Psalm 18 ~~~ John 10:31-42 ~~~

 

If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me;
but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me,
believe the works, so that you may realize and understand
that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

 

Jesus is defending himself with words

while simultaneously saying look at my actions.

If you cannot believe my words;

 can you at least consider what my actions are saying.

 

The word became flesh yet the words of Jesus are not taken seriously.

His words alone have cured the crippled right before their eyes.

He has repeatedly stated that he came to do the will of the Father.

 

Jesus was completely congruent with the words he spoke

and the actions he performed.

Even with this perfect complement he was condemned.

 

 

As much as I might try to have the right intention,

 my actions often fall short of the words I say.

 

Or my words do not reflect what should be in my heart.

We need to have constant reminders concerning our actions.

 

Actions do speak louder than, but in the case with Jesus

his actions coupled with his words was still not good enough.

 

We hear 'the truth will set you free'.

In the case with Jesus the truth in his actions and his words

condemned him to death;

only to set us free.

We have been saved by the truth...

the truth that no one could love us more than God loves us.

I pray that I will have the grace to think before I act.

I want my words and actions to be congruent

with the words and actions of Jesus.

Timeless Covenant

~~~ Genesis 17:3-9 ~~~ Psalm 105 ~~~ John 8:51-59 ~~~

 

The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

 

 Today we are being reminded that God remains

to his promises made to from as far back as Abraham.

We see these promises written for us from the beginning

in the book of Genesis.

The beauty of God is that he keeps his word.

He keeps his word for all time...until the end of the ages.

 

Today we live in a world where it is rare for us to experience someone

 who does actually follow through from their words.

Too often words are just holders for empty promises.

Soon we come to a point where we find it hard to believe what people tell us.

 

But it is different with the words of God.

He has been keeping his words from the beginning of time

and he will continue to do so.

 

I will maintain my covenant with you
and your descendants after you
throughout the ages as an everlasting pact,
to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

 

God promised Abraham that all of his descendants

would be granted the very same promises.

No one can make such a promise except God himself.

God is never changing; yet he is the living God.

The concept is almost contradictory,

since we know from experience

 that all living things change.

 

The Jews around Jesus could not let themselves believe

the words Jesus spoke to them.

They only had knowledge of one God

and this God did not walk as one of them.

 

When Jesus says I am this same God...

I speak on his behalf...

He sent me here to do his will;

they recoiled completely from the idea much less the reality.

 

But I do know him and I keep his word.

 

Jesus says I do know this God for I am he...

I speak his words to you right now.

 

The Jews want to measure time through their understanding of Abraham.

They considered Abraham their 'father'...

he was the one God spoke to...he was the recipient of God's covenant.

Or so they believed.

Jesus had no such authority, in their eyes,

to speak of himself in a manner reserved only for God.

 

Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
before Abraham came to be, I AM.”

 

 

Imagine their shock when Jesus declares himself 'I am'.

God alone was the I AM up until now.

This was a huge leap of faith for them, and many just could not believe.

 

This certainly should not be a leap of faith for us,

but we do need to be reminded often.

God will never abandon us...

He is a faithful and everlasting God.

There is no time for God

God is eternal.

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the great

I AM.

 

I pray that I am given sufficient grace

to never join

 in throwing stones

 in the direction of Jesus.

Glory and Praise Forever

~~~ Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 ~~~ Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 ~~~ John 8:31-42 ~~~

Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him,
"If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  

 To be a true disciple of the Lord requires great sacrifices.

To be a disciple of Jesus means that you are his student;

one willing to learn from the master teacher.

IF you are a true disciple you accept the teachings of Jesus...

in accepting these teachings you imitate them in your own life.

We are eager to be a disciple of Jesus because we believe that he is the one true God.

We believe that he has a covenant with us...

a covenant of salvation...our salvation.

The three young men written about in the book of Daniel

were willing to be thrown into the fiery furnace instead of worshiping false gods.

They believed that God would come to their assistance for their steadfast faith.

God did send an angel to protect them from the consuming fires.

Their salvation brought forth joyful songs of praise for all that God had done.

Glory and praise for ever!

  

 These three young men called out for all of creation to bless the Lord.

They had such faith as to speak out praises for the Lord

even as they circled in the scorching flames.

There certainly was nothing they could do or say that would have adequately

thanked the Lord for their lives.

So that brings us to where we are today; just days before Holy Week.

How can we begin to thank God for saving us from the flames of sin?

The simple answer is to give him praise and glory.

All we can really do is be thankful and humbly accept his generous mercy.

The most we can do is to constantly strive to live the life

even partially as he intended us to live. 

To live as his disciples...to live in love, mercy, and compassion.

Though we may walk through the burning flames

we will not be harmed because God will protect us.

He will walk beside us protecting us, leading us out of the fire.

May we forever sing the praises of the Lord fro he has been good to us...

he has done great things for us.

 We give you Glory and Praise almighty God.

Protect us from the flames of sinfulness.

Amen.

Blessings of Fatherhood

~~~Feast of Saint Joseph~~~

 

~~~ 2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16 ~~~ Psalm 89 ~~

~~~Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22 ~~ Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a ~~~

 

 

If I had a daughter Joseph would be the kind of man I would want her to marry.

Joseph was a man of character and integrity.

He exhibited great compassion for Mary under extreme circumstances.

Pregnancy out of wed lock would have been a disgrace for both of them.

Their respective families would also have been embarrassed.

It should not be surprising that God would have hand picked such a man

to accompany Mary for this holy event.

Dreams and angels were all the assurance Joseph had to convince him

staying with Mary was the right decision.

Joseph had no idea that the Holy Spirit was overshadowing everything.

 

Mary respected Joseph so much that she even refers to Joseph as

Jesus' father when he is twelve.

She says,

“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”

 

Jesus, as we know, had remained in the temple

instead of leaving with his parents.

Jesus did not act a typical rebellious teen;

instead he respected their wishes. He returned to Nazareth with them.

Jesus was doing the work of his heavenly Father, but he is also

obedient to his earthly father...Joseph.

Jesus himself never tried to deny or trivialize the fatherhood of Joseph.

This is a beautiful tribute to the person of Joseph.

He was deprived of biological fatherhood

 yet put in the place of honor as the father of Jesus.

 

Jesus probably never told Joseph that he didn't have to obey him

 because he was not really his father.

In today's world, unfortunately, that would not be uncommon.

 

I believe Joseph was strong yet meek and humble.

Joseph, as a carpenter, could look at a chunk of wood and envision

how it could be transformed into something useful.

He could plan take a piece of wood into his shop and create something

useful and beautiful.

Most likely he took great pride in his finished products.

Mary surely was proud of what he could make for them

and how he could provide for her and Jesus.

 

Joseph was a builder. Jesus was a builder too.

Jesus is still building up the kingdom here on earth.

He calls us to join him in his mission of building.

 

 

Being a father does not rely solely on biology.

It is much more.

Blessings to those men who are fathers with no gene connection.

Love will make up for more than any thing else; we see it here with Joseph.

 

Saint Joseph, pray for all fathers.

Saint Joseph, pray for my father, Joseph,

who was also a gifted wood worker.

You Are a Light to Others

 

~~~ Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 ~~~ Psalm 23 ~~~ John 8:12-20 ~~~

 

As we saw yesterday, if a woman was caught in adultery

the punishment was death by stoning.

Today we have the little known story of Susanna.

She was a noble woman who was wrongfully accused of adultery

by two seemingly conniving men.

 

These two men concocted a false story because Susanna refused

to commit the sin of adultery with them while bathing in her own garden.

Basically the plan of these two peeping toms blew up in their faces.

 

The wisdom of Daniel prevented the death of Susanna.

Daniel proved that each man was lying when their stories did not match

when questioned separately.

This form of questioning is still used today by law enforcement.

 

God used Daniel to save the life of an innocent woman, Susanna.

Her prayers were answered. She never turned away from God.

Her faith prevailed in the justice of God.

 

 ...I fear no evil; for you are at my side...

 

Susanna believed in the Lord

even when she was walking in the valley of darkness.

 

 

The very next verse following the woman caught in adultery

being saved by Jesus are his words of light.

“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.”

 

This statement made by Jesus about himself

is one of seven great 'I am...' statements. 

The coming of Jesus to humanity brought light to the world.

The world would no longer be in darkness.

Jesus brings with him the light of clarity.

But in spite of this light many remained in darkness.

Today many also remain in the darkness of their sinfulness.

 

Unlike a light bulb casting light into a space...

the light coming from Jesus is seen by those who have the desire...

those who believe.

 

Before the coming of Jesus God himself was the light.

Jesus makes this light visible.

Jesus makes this light available for us.

Jesus makes God visible to us through taking on or human form.

The light of Jesus makes all things visible including

 the truth about our own sinfulness.

 

Just as the temple was filled with light from the menorah at night;

Jesus would bring such a light to the whole world.

Jesus uses a metaphor here of light;

the people were all familiar with the contrast between

darkness and light.

 

Unlike most of our politicians today;

Jesus kept all of his promises made to us.

Jesus came to be the light for the whole world

not just one chosen group of people.

His light is also one that sustains life.

Just as all living things need sunlight to survive

we too need the light of Jesus to survive.

Our spiritual life is sustained though the light of Christ.

Sadly some people cannot see even when

the light is streaming in from all sides.

 

Because we share in the life of Jesus we too are called to a light for others.

This is a humbling responsibility;

to be a light for someone's walk in life.

It might only be our example that shines brightly,

it might be a single word spoken in kindness to a stranger.

We may never know how our light has touched someone .

What we can be confident of,

 is that if we have Christ with us, his light will shine through us.

The light of Christ helps us to see ourselves as God sees us.

 

What will you do today to insure

you are shining the light of Christ brightly?

You too are the light of the world.

We live and move and have our being in God.

You are Blessed!

Who Has Possession of You

~~~Fifth Sunday of Lent~~~

~~~Isaiah 43:16-21 ~~Psalm 126~~ Philippians 3:8-14~~John 8:1-11~~~

The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

'...I am doing something new!'

'...I continue my pursuit in hope...

...I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ Jesus.' 

Isaiah, Paul, and the psalmist are each expressing the feelings and sentiment 

of the woman in today's Gospel story.

The woman caught in adultery was violently dragged 

and thrown at the feet of Jesus.

Jesus could have joined in and condemned her along with the others;

after all if she was guilty she was a sinner.

But instead Jesus uses this opportunity to teach us 

about his capacity to forgive.

He shows us his unconditional love for this woman 

by inviting us to look at ourselves.

“Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”

He gives her accusers permission to punish this woman; 

but then he does something very curious,

he looks down and begins writing in the sand.

What he wrote in the sand that day was never recorded for us to know.

Imagine the fear racing throughout this poor woman's body 

as she awaits her condemnation.

But instead not one man picks up a stone,

rather they sheepishly turn and walk away in silence.

...Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” 

This woman could sing with the psalmist...

the Lord has down great things for me...

I am filled with joy.

He did something new for her...

he forgave her instead of condemning her.

He gave her a reason to have hope once again.

Perhaps she had been hopeless by her lifestyle for many years.

Jesus did indeed take possession of her heart, mind, 

body, and soul through his loving compassion.

Jesus saved her from a painful humiliating experience.

His simple words and actions diffused the entire situation.

The woman caught in adultery was the beneficiary of God's love.

The Lord has indeed done great things for each of us.

Remember them and be filled with joy.

Go, sin no more...

continue to live in hope.

Let Christ Jesus take possession of your

 mind, body, and soul.

The Lord is kind and merciful

 and we should be also.

Division is Part of Life

~~~ Jeremiah 11:18-20 ~~~ Psalm 7 ~~~ John 7:40-53 ~~~

Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said,
“This is truly the Prophet.”
Others said, “This is the Christ.”
But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he?
Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family
and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
So a division occurred in the crowd because of him.
Some of them even wanted to arrest him,
but no one laid hands on him.

A division occurred in the crowd...
A difference of opinion can be a good thing in a group of people.
Division among a large group of people is very common.
When you have a division it creates a difference of opinion...
a opportunity for open discussion...
an opportunity for each group to defend their beliefs...
an opportunity to describe the group's beliefs.

It is usually healthy for a group to have some division.
Division can stimulate growth.
Division can encourage more dialogue...greater clarity.

Life is not as simple as black and white.
When you are faced with division you are forced to evaluate
your own personal beliefs.
This may be a positive thing; as it discourages
going along with the majority.

How do you respond when faced with division?
How do you defend what you believe to be true?
How comfortable are you in defending your beliefs concerning Jesus?

Do you avoid situations of division whenever possible?
Do you simply retreat to your house avoiding the whole situation?

Lord, give me the wisdom to accept divine truths...
and the fortitude to be able to hold firm in the face of division.
You are blessed with faith...exercise it often.

Are You Willing to Change

~~~ Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22 ~~~ Psalm 34 ~~~John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 ~~~

"Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us...
...his life is not like that of others,
and different are his ways...
...Let us see whether his words be true...
...let us put him to the test
that we may have proof of his gentleness
and try his patience...
...their wickedness blinded them..."

The wicked made a terrible mistake in judgement.
They did recognize that Jesus was very different from themselves,
but they held these differences against him.
They were unable to accept his holiness;
that is what made him different.
We tend to keep our distance from those who do not share similar views.
This is how we choose our friends.
We first search for what we have in common with the other person.
The more we have in common the more likely
a friendship will develop.

Jesus not only turned over the money changers tables
 he turned over most of their beliefs.
Jesus had no doubt that his way was the right way,
but he was unable to convince the wicked ones
who wanted him out of their way.
They wanted to continue to believe what they had always believed.
Isn't this the easier path to take even for us today?

Our own church is at the beginning of a new Papacy.
Already we are seeing changes...more simplicity...
less pomp and circumstance, if you will.
I wonder how long it will be before some become irritated
with the 'changes'?

The anointed one of God was in their midst and they could not see him.

'...When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.'

It is almost like they thought he would be coming from outer space...
as an alien.
This might have been easier for them to accept.
At least they would not experience any jealousy.
Did they want Jesus to look different too?
He certainly acted in ways different from them.

Jesus walked, ate, and drank with them.
He healed their illnesses, he feed them,
he showed tremendous compassion for the least of them.
And yet none of his words or actions were enough to convince them.

 

So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said,

“You know me and also know where I am from.
Yet I did not come on my own,
but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.”

Many times I experience sorrow that Jesus was so violently rejected.
He endured this because he was in agreement with the Father
that we should be saved.
God created us to be with him in heaven.
The death of Jesus was the most profound way of accomplishing his will.
Our salvation had to be visibly secured in a way that we could not
ignore or dismiss it.
The Crucifixion cannot be taken lightly.

Has anything changed in your life or your heart during this Lent?
If not there is still time. It is never too late for a conversion of the heart.
Lord, take my life and make it more pleasing to you.
Enlighten the way to accept the change you desire fro me.
Amen.

Are You 'Stiff - Necked'

~~~ Exodus 32: 7-14 ~~~ Psalm 106 ~~~ John 5: 31-47 ~~~

Today I am using the ordinary lectionary readings even though

we celebrated a Mass of prayer and thanksgiving for Pope Francis.

The alternate psalm was the Lord is My Shepherd;

certainly appropriate as we pray for the new Holy Father

to be blessed with the Holy Spirit

as he leads the universal Catholic Church.

God complains to Moses that his people are 'stiff necked'.

I am not sure of the exact meaning, but it seems to me the people

had become very stubborn.

God was not living up to their expectations fast enough

to keep them satisfied.

Gee, have you ever had that feeling?

You know the one where you think God is either not listening

or taking too long to answer your prayers.

I must be honest and admit I have been in that state...

in that place where you wonder where God is in your life.

It is amusing that Moses intercedes on behalf of his people before God.

In effect Moses reminds God of all the trouble

he has gone to to lead these same people...

only to destroy them now.

God does indeed listen to Moses and refrains from exercising his wrath.

Moses quoted the actual words spoken earlier by God to defend his people...

rather brilliant on his part.

God keeps his promises to his people.

God keeps his promises even when the people fall short for their part.

That is an amazing fact about God.

Jesus realizes he is not believed by many to be the Messiah.

He calls on those who have come before him...

those who have given testimony on his behalf.

Those, like John the Baptist, who was loved and admired by many.

You search the Scriptures,
because you think you have eternal life through them;
even they testify on my behalf.
But you do not want to come to me to have life.

If you hear the scriptures and do not follow through on the journey

toward developing a more intimate relationship with Jesus

you are missing the boat.

Out life must also be a living testimony

 validating the person of Jesus

as the Son of God.

I invite you to use the remaining days of Lent

to reflect on how your life

reflects the life of Jesus.

How loving, caring, kind, compassionate,

and forgiving are you?

Lord, show us how to be more like you today.

If we too are 'stiff - necked' soften us with your love.

The Palm of His Hand

~~~ Isaiah 49: 8-15 ~~~Psalm 145 ~~~ John 5: 17-30 ~~~

'...Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you...'

Time after time God proves his love for us.

He shows this love in his words and his actions.

He brings water forth from a rock...parts seas allowing for safe passage...

Effortlessly, He cuts a road through a mountain.

Time after time he shows his love and yet

we still experience times of doubts.

God says even if your own mother were to abandon you

he would still be there.

There is no human love that compares with the love of God.

'...The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.'

He has written each of our names on the palm of his hand.

This same hand that healed and fed hundreds if not thousands of people

during the public ministry of Jesus.

Jesus does only the work of his Father.

The Father is extending himself through the person of Jesus.

If you love Jesus then it follows that you also love the Father.

The Son and the Father are one in the same.

You cannot have one without the other.

Jesus humbled himself to become one of us.

He came to do the will of the Father.

The will of the Father is filled love, compassion, and mercy.

Our Triune God is kind and merciful...

slow to anger...rich in kindness.

We are so blessed!

At least one drop of his precious blood from his nail pierced hand

fell to the ground for you.

'...See, upon the palms of my hands I have engraved you...'

Rising Waters

 ~~~ Ezekiel 47: 1-9, 12 ~~~ Psalm 46 ~~~ John 5:1-16 ~~~

 

 

Living along the coast, I have learned the real danger of flash flooding.

When the water begins to rise you often do not

have the time to evacuate.

The quickly rising water can pose a life threatening

danger in a matter of minutes.

 

Ezekiel is being led little be little, step by step
 into deeper and deeper waters.

An angel is leading the prophet on this journey,

but his anxiety level was surely increasing.

 

The water was flowing out of the temple.

It was not like walking into a river or a stream.

The water was rising.

With each step the water goes from ankle deep to waist deep;

clearly it was getting deeper.

 

Until finally the water was so deep Ezekiel had to swim.

It was the angel that brought him safely to the bank of the river.

 

This is water imbued with power from God.

This water is rich with life producing qualities.

This water has the power to change salt water into fresh water.

This water flows right from God himself.

The giver of life created this water to continue his creative life giving quality.

Now God uses this water as a sign of his ability

to bring forth new and abundant life.

The power of God remains with us...he is in the water...

thus it is the living water.

 

 

When the essence of God is present one does not need

to enter into the water to be healed.

The desire of the heart makes the healing possible.

 

"Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool
when the water is stirred up;
while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.”

 

The desire to be healed was burning inside of this man.

Jesus answered the silent prayer of the man to be healed.

Jesus proved to this man, who had been ill for thirty eight years,

healing is possible even on the Sabbath.

 

What desires are in your heart that you have yet to verbalize?

Just the act of carrying your bed roll was a violation of the Sabbath

 much less healing a person in front of the enforcers of the law. 

 

This was once again too much blasphemy for the Jews.

They believed the observing the law was the most important one could do.