 |  clickable | | Walking with the Risen Jesus Let us try to imagine the scene of the disciples who are walking with Jesus at their side for about seven miles. We can almost picture them in our minds: Initially focused on themselves with downcast faces, little by little they regain their strength, lift up their heads, return to an upright position, and breathe deeply again. Having reached the village of Emmaus, Jesus concretely checks to see if these two have understood and accepted all that he wanted to reveal to them during their journey. The disciples' invitation shows that they accepted the extraordinary nature of their mysterious journey companion. Their invitation reveals the new feeling that is now in the hearts of these two. "It would be very good if you stayed with us. We have not yet understood who you are, but your presence is a source of consolation. Stay here with us." They enter the place, and during the meal Jesus performs actions and repeats the very words of consecration for the Eucharist. He takes the bread and breaks it. The disciples—watching this take place and trained in listening to the word of God now being interpreted—are able to recognize him in the breaking of the bread. The Gospel reports that at the disciples' invitation, Jesus "went in to stay with them." As soon as they recognized him, however, "he vanished from their sight." But why? Shouldn't he have stayed with them? Because now he was still with them, because he had taught them to recognize him in the sacrament of his presence that he had left them: the body broken for them and the blood poured out for them. —from the book Encountering Jesus: A Holy Land Experience by Vincenzo Peroni |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint Quote "I earnestly admonish you, therefore, my brothers, to look after your spiritual well-being with judicious concern. Death is certain; life is short and vanishes like smoke. Fix your minds, then, on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Inflamed with love for us, he came down from heaven to redeem us. For our sake he endured every torment of body and soul and shrank from no bodily pain. He himself gave us an example of perfect patience and love. We, then, are to be patient in adversity."
— St. Francis of Paola † PRAYER DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
O clement, O loving, O sweet Mother Mary,
We, your children of every nation,
Turn to you in this pandemic.
Our troubles are numerous; our fears are great.
Grant that we might deposit them at your feet,
Take refuge in your Immaculate Heart,
And obtain peace, healing, rescue,
And timely help in all our needs.
You are our Mother.
Pray for us to your Son.
Amen. † PRAYER OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen. † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"God will forgive you if you forgive others. Forgiving those who cause offense or injury is often exceedingly difficult. And yet, forgiveness is one of the most beautiful and important teachings of Jesus Christ. It is central to the gospel because, without it, you can't go to heaven."
— Patrick Madrid, p.21
AN EXCERPT FROM
A Year with the Bible † VERSE OF THE DAY
"Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you."
1 Samuel 12:23-24 |  click to read more | | ST. LIDWINA OF SCHIEDAM St. Lidwina of Schiedam (1380-1433) was born to a poor family in Holland. She had a devotion to the Blessed Mother and would often pray before the miraculous image of Our Lady of Schiedam. One winter, when she was 15 years old, she fell while ice skating and broke a rib, which she never recovered from. Gangrene spread throughout her body, which became as one big sore, and she was bed-ridden for the rest of her life. No medicine was able to help her. Her gradual physical deterioration was so grotesque that many suspected her of being possessed by the devil. However, when a priest brought her an unconsecrated Host, she was able to discern that it was not the Body and Blood of Christ. She experienced great suffering in this way until she was 53, but God rewarded her with the gift of heightened prayer, mystical visions, and spiritual consolations. Although she was not cured, many miraculous healings were attributed to her intercession. She fasted continuously, eventually surviving on only the Eucharist, and after her death on Easter Sunday the sweet odor of sanctity filled her room. Her grave became a pilgrimage site over which a chapel was erected. St. Lidwina of Schiedam is the patron of the chronically ill and ice skaters. Her feast day is April 14th. | Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
Lectionary: 262
Reading 1 Acts 2:36-41 On the day of Pentecost, Peter said to the Jewish people,
"Let the whole house of Israel know for certain
that God has made him both Lord and Christ,
this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart,
and they asked Peter and the other Apostles,
"What are we to do, my brothers?"
Peter said to them,
"Repent and be baptized, every one of you,
in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins;
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is made to you and to your children
and to all those far off,
whomever the Lord our God will call."
He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them,
"Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."
Those who accepted his message were baptized,
and about three thousand persons were added that day.
Responsorial Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22 R. (5b) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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 in spite of famine.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
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 20:11-18 Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping.
And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there,
one at the head and one at the feet
where the Body of Jesus had been.
And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?"
She said to them, "They have taken my Lord,
and I don't know where they laid him."
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,
but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you looking for?"
She thought it was the gardener and said to him,
"Sir, if you carried him away,
tell me where you laid him,
and I will take him."
Jesus said to her, "Mary!"
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni,"
which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her, "Stop holding on to me,
for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and tell them,
'I am going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.'"
Mary went and announced to the disciples,
"I have seen the Lord,"
and then reported what he had told her. | Today's Meditation: John 20:11-18 She turned around and saw Jesus. (John 20:14) Yesterday we read about the apostle Peter's zeal in proclaiming Jesus' resurrection fifty days after it happened. But it wasn't all excitement for the disciples after the crucifixion. John's Gospel, for example, takes a peek into Mary Magdalene's mind and heart before and after the risen Lord appeared to her. That short period of time was filled with emotion, and her interior journey can be a wonderful road map for our prayer during this Easter week. So using the verses below, follow the movements of Mary's heart and try to offer yourself to God as she did. "They have taken my Lord" (John 20:13). Father, like Mary Magdalene, I offer you my disappointments. I want to know where you are in the challenges that I face every day. Sometimes I don't see you, and that can be very frustrating. Protect me, Lord, from losing hope; send your Holy Spirit to guide me. "Tell me where you laid him" (John 20:15). Lord, I offer you my desire to control the outcome of situations that I don't understand. My intentions are good, but sometimes it's hard for me to trust that your plan is bigger and better than mine. Let me be consoled by the knowledge that you were standing next to Mary Magdalene even as she searched for you. Stand close to me too, Jesus! "Mary!" (John 20:16). Jesus, I want to hear your voice too. I offer you my desire to be united with you. Your name is precious to me, and I long to experience more fully how precious my name is to you. Lord, call me by name. Here I am, ready to do your will. [Pause here in silence for a moment or two.] "I have seen the Lord" (John 20:18). Jesus, I know in my heart that you are here with me. I hope in you. I trust in you. Like Mary Magdalene, I accept your call to go to all your brothers and sisters and share the good news of your resurrection. Thank you for giving me purpose and sending me out as your messenger. I still don't have all the answers, but my strength is renewed because I know you are with me. "Jesus, you heard and responded to Mary Magdalene's weeping. Hear and respond to the cries of my heart today." Acts 2:36-41
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22 |  clickable | If the angels were capable of envy, they would envy us for two things: one is the receiving of Holy Communion, and the other is suffering.
— St. Faustina
from The Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska | my2cents:
""Repent and be baptized, every one...
For the promise is made to you and to your children
and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call."
Do you feel the Lord has called you? Why or why not? Maybe you should...be called. Maybe you should heed the call. The Good Shepherd makes the call. What is God's promise? It is good. God's promise is good. If only we had the faith, to see what Heaven sees | We pray today: "Alleluia. 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 in spite of famine. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord."
Holy Scriptures say that the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. And the Word is Truth. If only we could see the good God sees. Our eyes are accustomed to seeing only the bad. God saw the cross...and saw that it would be good. Now we are speaking about seeing with eyes of ages, of millennia, of perceiving with omnipotence, of being able to see through darkness and seeing light beyond darkness as if darkness were a veil. And that is what He tore from the cross. The earth shook, and it was good. The earth was darkened, and it was good. So we could wake up, and see Him. | Mary cried at the tomb. It was dark. She loved the Lord. She loved Him and believed Him. She followed Him closely, and the more she followed, the more she relied her trust in Him. The more she suffered with Him, the more her strength came from Him. And Mary wept, alone. ""They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him." I have now, a special connection with Mary Magdalene, for I was baptized on her feast day. If I was named after my saint as Catholics often do, I would be Mario, or Mariano, or maybe Magdaleno, or something similar. But what has that to do with you? Magdaleno writes to you a first hand account in the Holy Spirit. | Our Lord says ""...why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?"
She said ""Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him,
and I will take him."
There were no soldiers there, they'd left in fear...for their lives for having lost the goods. Only Mary, crying, for all her refuge, and hope had been left in the tomb.
And then Jesus wakes her eyes to Him by saying "Mary". Imagine Him saying your name? After a pause "my child". And the way He says it, like a special tone, so you know it was Him. At the nursing home, a blind man I visit, I say his name a special way, and he knows immediately it is me. He copies me in the same tone saying my name and smiles and begins the conversation. The act alone is love.
So let's go back to the relationship factor. That of Mary Magdalene, the darkened sinner, converted, saved, and now followed Jesus everywhere. It reminds me of the demoniac at the cemetery, the Gerasene, we didn't know his name, but once he was saved, they say that he wanted to leave everything and follow Jesus wherever He'd go. Not all the saved did this, but a few. Jesus told him to stay and be the light where he was now. But Mary was allowed to follow. This relationship, if you ask our twisted world, they say she was his girlfriend, because our world is possessed by eroticism and romanticism. These things do not exist in the eyes of ages. What exists is the covenant relationship between the Father and child. So Jesus says what is to come: ""Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." Jesus from the onset knew He was the Son of God. This is a mystery. We may never fully know how He knew from birth, it must be a spiritual instinct. Like when a creature, a bird knows when and where to migrate. Or a fish, knowing its direction without one to follow. It is instilled.
And the good news is, you have that instinct instilled in your heart, it is made manifest in Baptism.
Back to the relationship factor.
Mary saw Jesus as Father, but even more, she knew He was the One of God. The only one she could trust. The only would she would not be led astray with. The only one that would not leave her alone. And her instinct came true, her faith came true, Jesus appeared to her with angels. The resurrection changes everything.
And it changed her heart even more...she had a thrill inside to share...and the thrill had many killed, for believing, for knowing, knowing something that darkness tries to hide...the truth.
Jesus appears my child, to this very day.
He appears in solemnity.
He appears in reverence.
He appears to the brokenhearted.
He appears, to those taking their suffering to Him.
He appears, to the chosen.
He appears and disappears, because human sight can be deceiving, but the truth by which we know makes for the world to change.
She runs to the disciples, the flame starts a wildfire....
And the truth said "How I wish the world were ablaze". |  click to hear a message | Random Bible verse from an online generator: Numbers 23:19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? | If one day you don't receive these, just visit my website Going4th.com, surely you'll find me there. God Bless You! Share the Word. Share this, share what is good | | |
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