A Kingdom Turned Upside Down Against the values of the world, Jesus gave up his power in heaven to live as a poor outcast on earth. Loving his people as a shepherd loves his sheep, he led with mercy over judgment, justice over greed, reconciliation over exclusion, and humble service over heavy demands. He associated with the weak and the lowly while criticizing the rich and haughty, announcing a kingdom turned upside down in which the last shall be first and the first shall be last. In his final act of humility, he laid down his life so that others might live, telling his disciples to do the same. Against the values of the world, Jesus Christ came preaching and showing that greatness is not found in power, wealth, and prestige, but in weakness, poverty, and humble service to the lost and forgotten. —from Called: What Happens After Saying Yes to God
franciscan media | ✞Quote
"Lord, help me to make time today to serve you in those who are most in need of encouragement or assistance."
— St. Vincent de Paul ✞ MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Fear of the Lord does not mean to be afraid of God. St. John tells us that where there is love, there is no fear. Rather, fear of the Lord is to stand in awe and wonder before the greatness of the Lord. It is to recognize that God is the creator and we are the creatures. Fear of the Lord should lead us to praise and worship."
— Rev. Jude Winkler, OFM, p.95
AN EXCERPT FROM
Daily Meditations with the Holy Spirit ✞ VERSE OF THE DAY
"What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
Matthew 10:27-28 |  click to read more | | BL. JULIANA OF MONT CORNILLON Blessed Juliana of Mont Cornillon, also known as Juliana of Liege (1193-1258) was born near Liege, Belgium. She was orphaned at the age of five and placed in the convent of Mt. Cornillon near Liege. She made rapid progress in virtue and grew in love for the Passion of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Blessed Sacrament. At the age of thirteen she became a nun and devoted herself to caring for the sick in the convent hospital. She eventually became the superioress of her community. Taught in repeated visions that Our Lord wanted a liturgical feast in honor of the Holy Eucharist to be established, she worked diligently to have the feast of Corpus Christi instituted for the Universal Church, a task for which she endured much opposition. She was forced to flee her convent after its general superior excited the populace against her and her visions. She was later vindicated by the bishop and returned to her rightful place, only to be forced to flee a final time, ending her life in seclusion. The feast of Corpus Christi was finally instituted six years after her death by Pope Urban IV, who also commissioned Saint Thomas Aquinas to prepare the magnificent texts for the feast's Office and Mass. Her feast day is April 6. | Friday in the Octave of Easter Reading 1 Acts 4:1-12 After the crippled man had been cured,
while Peter and John were still speaking to the people,
the priests, the captain of the temple guard,
and the Sadducees confronted them,
disturbed that they were teaching the people
and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
They laid hands on Peter and John
and put them in custody until the next day,
since it was already evening.
But many of those who heard the word came to believe
and the number of men grew to about five thousand. On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes
were assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest,
Caiaphas, John, Alexander,
and all who were of the high-priestly class.
They brought them into their presence and questioned them,
"By what power or by what name have you done this?"
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them,
"Leaders of the people and elders:
If we are being examined today
about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;
in his name this man stands before you healed.
He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved." Responsorial Psalm pS 118:1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25-27a
R. (22) The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His mercy endures forever."
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Ps 118:24
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 21:1-14 Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.
He revealed himself in this way.
Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,
Zebedee's sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing."
They said to him, "We also will come with you."
So they went out and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?"
They answered him, "No."
So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something."
So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in
because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord."
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
The other disciples came in the boat,
for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards,
dragging the net with the fish.
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you just caught."
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.
Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast."
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?"
because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead.
| Meditation: Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-27 Give thanks to the Lord. (Psalm 118:1) What an appropriate refrain to sing during this Octave of Easter! Of course we should give thanks: Jesus has just risen from the dead. But there's a way that these words are appropriate on any day of the year—even Good Friday! Why give thanks? Because in a world filled with uncertainty, God never changes. He was good on Good Friday, he was good on Easter Sunday, and he is good today. His mercy persists, despite our sins. He walks with us through all of our joys and sorrows. So, give thanks! Give thanks because God is always good. Out of his goodness, he created you. Out of his goodness, he established hope-filled plans for your life and surrounded you with his love. He is at work day after day, seeking to draw you closer to him on earth and to bring you to eternal life with him in heaven. Regardless of what happened yesterday or what will happen tomorrow, God intends good for you today. He has grace for you today to face whatever comes your way. He is leading you even when you can't see the way. Give thanks because God's mercy endures forever. It endures for all people, through all generations, from eternity to eternity. His mercy endures toward you, even when you forget about him, or sin, or harden your heart toward him. His mercy persists; he will never cease reaching out to you and to your loved ones with mercy and love. Give thanks because God is with you. You are never alone. Before you open your eyes each morning, he is there. He accompanies you at every turn. He delights to pour his love and grace upon you as you pray. His Spirit nudges you during your day to with quiet reminders that he is there. In your moments of gladness, he rejoices with you. In your dark valleys of struggle, he walks beside you and gives you strength. He will never leave you. So give thanks for every blessing you can recall and for all those yet to come. Give thanks for God's mercy and for his presence. Yes, give thanks even if you don't feel it. Give thanks because God is near—in good times and bad. Turn your heart to him, for he is good, and his mercy endures forever. "Thank you, Lord, for you are always good." Acts 4:1-12
John 21:1-14 | my2cents: Peter proclaims to his captors and to all the world "There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved." Jesus is amazing. I only know one thing: He lives yesterday, as tomorrow, as today, He is in the forever now. We can not understand this, but He does. All we've to do is to trust in Him, the very message of Divine Mercy Sunday. Trust in His mercy. Peter is now walking on water. "The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it." Every day is a gift, that is why it is called the present. Every day you can smile at God. Every day you can say "I love you God our Father". Every day you live, can be an offering to our Father. I challenge your faith today. To be this kind of devoted and loving soul. Let us be glad and rejoice in it, in what He has made...in you. Our Lord enters the Gospel: "Jesus said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?" They answered him, "No." Fish again where you caught nothing. Just do it. And they get shocked and amazed...but they did their part, in obedience, they did their part in faith. That's when Jesus amazes. What if Jesus appeared to everyone, and only the disciples recognized Him? What if it still happens to this very day...the present?
What if He is calling you to do the impossible, like fishing again, trying again, this time, in His name? An offering. A sacrifice. A sign of...love.
In our Good Friday retreat, us men fished and caught nothing, but there was a charcoal fire and we were fed fish. Jesus already had fish, he didn't need the disciples' fishes to eat. But He still wanted them to bring what they had caught. In our fishing for souls, He wants what you catch, but he's already got everything, in control, in His hands, but our part is the beauty He loves...our loves. I suggest everyone to read 2 books, one being The Imitation of Christ and the other "An Introduction to the Devout Life". These books will guide you into being a Saint. And saints spawn saints. Repeatedly throughout history, the witness brings witnesses to God's table.
Bishop Barron's daily reflection ends today with: "Instead, he deigned to appear to a small coterie of dedicated disciples who knew him, loved him, understood him—confident that they would be the effective bearers of his message. We are those now who eat and drink with him after his Resurrection. And so we have a commission to announce this Good News." You need not wonder what He looks like. You need not mind what He tastes like. But I'll give you a clue: Heaven.
This is why Heaven is on earth...Jesus.
He trusts you will carry His word to the ends of the world.
How? Simple: Do your part in this chain of carrying of command. The better the message through you, the better it will be received in the end.
Therefore, everything you say and do matters...for your soul and of countless others. God wants to make room for you in Heaven.
Can't we make room for Him in our daily lives? And if so...how much room? | |
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