| Minute Meditations
Lazarus  Lazarus, the friend of Jesus, the brother of Martha and Mary, was the one of whom the Jews said, "See how much he loved him." In their sight Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead. Legends abound about the life of Lazarus after the death and resurrection of Jesus. He is supposed to have left a written account of what he saw in the next world before he was called back to life. Some say he followed Peter into Syria. Another story is that despite being put into a leaking boat by the Jews at Jaffa, he, his sisters and others landed safely in Cyprus. There he died peacefully after serving as bishop for 30 years. A church was built in his honor in Constantinople and some of his reputed relics were transferred there in 890. A Western legend has the oarless boat arriving in Gaul. There he was bishop of Marseilles, was martyred after making a number of converts and was buried in a cave. His relics were transferred to the new cathedral in Autun in 1146. It is certain there was early devotion to the saint. Around the year 390, the pilgrim lady Etheria talks of the procession that took place on the Saturday before Palm Sunday at the tomb where Lazarus had been raised from the dead. In the West, Passion Sunday was called Dominica de Lazaro, and Augustine tells us that in Africa the Gospel of the raising of Lazarus was read at the office of Palm Sunday. Comment: Many people who have had a near-death experience report losing all fear of death. When Lazarus died a second time, perhaps he was without fear. He must have been sure that Jesus, the friend with whom he had shared many meals and conversations, would be waiting to raise him again. We don't share Lazarus' firsthand knowledge of returning from the grave. Nevertheless, we too have shared meals and conversations with Jesus, who waits to raise us, too.
Presence I pause for a moment and think of the love and the grace that God showers on me, creating me in his image and likeness, making me his temple.... Freedom It is so easy to get caught up with the trappings of wealth in this life. Grant, O Lord, that I may be free from greed and selfishness. Remind me that the best things in life are free. Love, laughter, caring and sharing. Consciousness I remind myself that I am in the presence of the Lord. The Word of God Reading 1 Jer 20:10-13I hear the whisperings of many: Responsorial Psalm PS 18:2-3a, 3bc-4, 5-6, 7R. (see 7) In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice. Verse Before the Gospel See Jn 6:63c, 68cYour words, Lord, are Spirit and life; Gospel Jn 10:31-42The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Listen to audio of this reading Watch a video reflection Conversation I begin to talk to Jesus about the piece of scripture I have just read. What part of it strikes a chord in me? Perhaps the words of a friend - or some story I have heard recently - will slowly rise to the surface in my consciousness. If so, does the story throw light on what the scripture passage may be trying to say to me? Conclusion Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen 5th Week of Lent The Lord is with me. (Jeremiah 20:11)
Have you ever felt that people were out to get you? Or maybe you have felt as though someone has worked to undermine or mock you. Well, you're not alone. In fact, you're in good company. All three of today's readings show heroes of the faith—Jeremiah, David, and Jesus—responding to public smearing, threats, and betrayal. How do you respond when you find yourself in a situation like this? Do you echo Jeremiah's plea: "O Lord of hosts ... Let me witness the vengeance you take on them" (Jeremiah 20:12)? Or do you follow Jesus' words: "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father" (Matthew 5:44-45)? Place yourself in Jeremiah's shoes. He had been given the heavy task of proclaiming prophecies concerning God's judgment to his wayward family, friends, and countrymen (Jeremiah 4:1-4). He prayed to the Lord to have mercy, but the people repaid him with plots to kill him. Jeremiah's prayer in today's first reading follows the discovery of a second plot to kill him! Although Jeremiah adds a sharp, vengeful little request in his prayer, he nonetheless exemplifies an admirable response to injustice and malice. He takes his broken heart to God. Such a sign of trust pleased the Lord deeply. He comforted Jeremiah, gave him strength for his task, and rescued him from "the power of the wicked" who were out to get him (Jeremiah 20:13). Do you believe that you can go to your Father in just the same way? It's true. It won't upset him to hear your frustration. In fact, it's much better to let it out than to keep it inside. God knows your heart, and he is always ready to give you his heart as you pour out yours to him. As you try this open, two-way approach, you will begin to see your prayers of anger and frustration turn into prayers of compassion and mercy. Give God the time, and he will transform you! "Father, I trust that you will be patient with me when I share my heart with you. Please hear my prayer, and teach me the way of love and forgiveness."
Psalm 18:2-7
Be Set Aside my2cents: The life of Christ is that of all the prophets. The giving of life of Christ is the giving of the laws given by God. Those who break the laws do not set well. Sin does not set well. This is why they were chasing Christ out of their lives. Our Lord got away at that time, interesting, they didn't chase after Him. It's the story of our lives. We chase Him away, and never really look for Him, and we are speaking about the truth. Jesus cries from the cross a week from today on Good Friday, not to say that every Friday in the world and time is not a good friday, because God made it good. That is why the custom is to sacrifice something on Fridays as a faithful Catholic, abstain from meat, do something to sacrifice and why? To be in unison with Him forever. It is a small gesture for the greatest act of Love in human history, that of a man from God, the Son of the only God of all, in total surrender and obedience to the Father in Heaven, the creator of all. Today's 5minutos ended with: ...Jesus says, "Be merciful as your Father is merciful" (Lk6:36). Jesus describes the mercy of God not solely to show me what God feels for me, or to forgive me my sins and offer a new life and much happiness, but to invite me to be like God and for us to be merciful with the others like He is with me. Convert oneself to the celestial Father is not only an important aspect of the teachings of Jesus; it is the very nucleus of His message." What a strange message to those that don't want to be like God, those that don't seek the truth. How many in your world do you know, don't want to really know this truth? I know in my world I am riddled with people that are not seeking the truth, they are happy with the way the live with God. He sits on His end of town, and they sit on the other end of town. Much like they kicked Jesus out to go to the other side of the Jordan while they sat on their end. And this is of the devil. Diablo means in the earliest of languages basically to divide. And this is the cause that I fight in my family, my parish, my community and the world beyond. Fighting means uniting in the terms of the celestial realms of the Father. For this Jesus came, no more gentile or Jew, no more pagans, no more anything, just all united through Him, with Him, and in Him. So, what's wrong with being a little god? Only thing wrong is who the little god represents, the god of self, or the God of all Gods, our Heavenly Father with Jesus!? This is why Muslims hate and stone Christians, because we call God our Father, making us equal with Him in a way they suppose. But we are OF HIM. How can I not be of the family that I was born into? And this is through baptism. Crossing the waters saves. Now, the life of appreciation ensues and we are leading to the Eucharist, the total surrender that ought to take place in our hearts at the moment He trespasses and infuses into our souls. There is no greater love in the world than that of the Father in Heaven. It's more than we make it out to be. How can God say "I'm going to be become one of my creations, my children, and I am going to show them personally what love is. And the starving children eat Him up  adrian | |||||||
going4th-20150327080346.mp3Going4th,
No comments:
Post a Comment