 | Carry the Light "In the liturgy we relive the state of mind of the disciples over the news which the women had brought: Jesus is Risen! We have seen him! If only we were so luminous! But this is not just cosmetic! It comes from within, from a heart immersed in the source of this joy, like that of Mary Magdalene, who wept over the loss of her Lord and could hardly believe her eyes seeing him risen. Whoever experiences this becomes a witness of the Resurrection, for in a certain sense he himself has risen, she herself has risen. He or she is then capable of carrying a "ray" of light of the Risen One into various situations: to those that are happy, making them more beautiful by preserving them from egoism; to those that are painful, bringing serenity and hope." —Pope Francis One of Pope Francis's favorite distinctions is the difference between joy and mere happiness. This is something that's good to carry with us into the Easter season. His example of Mary Magdalene points to a key aspect of joy: It often follows a time of suffering, of disappointment, of struggle overcome and transformed. If Mary hadn't cared so much for Jesus, her sense of loss wouldn't have been as deep, but neither would her joy at their reunion. If we live our lives only on the surface, surrounding ourselves with acquaintances rather than real friends, we will find it difficult to experience deep emotions. Likewise, if our faith is only an intellectual exercise, a list of rules and doctrines instead of a personal encounter with the divine, we will miss the way it can truly change our hearts. One of the hallmarks of a true friend is someone who can accompany us through good times and bad, weeping and rejoicing as circumstances change. A genuine faith offers the same support. We are blessed if we have such friends, graced if we have such faith. Pope Francis reminds us that when we recognize the blessings in our lives, we will have a joy that we can share with others in good times and bad. If someone has done this for you recently, take a moment to let them know. As you reflect on your own joy in this Easter season, find a way to share it with someone who needs a ray or two of Christ's light in their lives. — from the book The Hope of Lent: Daily Reflections from Pope Francis, by Diane M. Houdek |  MorningOffering.com | †Saint 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 darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna."
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. | Tuesday in the Octave of Easter Lectionary: 262
Reading I 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. (5b) 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. (5b) 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. (5b) 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. | Daily Meditation: John 20:11-18 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" (John 20:16) Mary was distraught. Not only had Jesus been publicly and brutally executed, but his body was missing. Undeterred by her burden of grief and misery, she pressed on to try to find out what had happened to him. As she peered into the tomb where Jesus had been laid to rest, she saw two angels. But rather than reacting with fear, she didn't even flinch. No other consideration mattered, not even that Peter and John had already seen the empty tomb and had come back without having solved the mystery (John 20:9). She was focused wholeheartedly on finding Jesus. Then Jesus spoke her name, and she recognized him. Few of us will ever hear Jesus speak our names audibly. But when you pursue him as Mary Magdalene did, you can count on his promise that "my sheep will recognize my voice" (John 10:16). You will recognize it when a Scripture passage stands out in your mind or stirs your heart. You might "hear" his voice in your thoughts when an idea occurs repeatedly urging you to talk to, care for, or repent to someone. And sometimes you will recognize his voice through a new insight into God's love for you. So pursue Jesus even if you are dragging along a burden of grief or guilt or any other strong emotion. Turn your thoughts to the Lord and ask, "What are you doing right here, Jesus?" as you sit in a hospital waiting room or the carpool line at school. Stop for sixty seconds every hour to examine your conscience, or try to see what Jesus is doing around you at that moment. Jesus is with you always, though sometimes it's not easy to recognize him. But if we are as willing and determined as Mary Magdalene to set things aside and to focus wholeheartedly on him, we will hear his voice. The burdens you carry are not an obstacle to Jesus, nor do they disqualify you from finding him. "When you look for me, you will find me," the Lord promises. "Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me" (Jeremiah 29:13-14). "Holy Spirit, help me to seek Jesus today so that I might hear his voice." Acts 2:36-41
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22 |  clickable | He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the cross, so often will I forgive with all my heart.
— Saint Faustina
from the book The Diary of St. Faustina Maria Kowalska | my2cents:
""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."
There was an adult student who asked why in the world they couldn't received the Holy Sacraments, afterall, they (her and her live in boyfriend and common law marriage) they were doing all the classes and thought her and her boyfriend could "get the Sacraments" all except marriage, once classes were done. I said "I think we need to start the classes all over, so you understand what is being asked. You cannot receive the full Sacrament without one crucial ingredient, "Repentance". We do baptize babies, for they will be called to repentance, but an adult seeking all the Sacraments? No. If there is no repentance, there is no Sacraments. Would you like forgiveness without spilling out your sins? There's nothing to forgive! It is a mockery! Would you like the blessings of marriage without being married? Yet that is what some worldly people and even some priests are arguing for, illicit couples asking for blessings...not Holy Matrimony. Would you like to be healed without even seeing the doctor? That's ridiculous! Yet, that is what most want. All blessings no works, much less any sacrifice, especially a sacrifice of Thanksgiving. | We prayed: "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." Fear of the Lord is humility. Fear of the Lord is what is needed to receive Holy Sacraments. To see the Lord, you must not desire to see Him, as you approach Him, you dare not look to His face, until He says so. And now I'm speaking of a disposition. A holy fear brings you near. Fear to sin, fear to offend, fear to lose the Love of Loves, from our Almighty Father in Heaven. What has caused us to lose fear of the Lord? I propose to you, if you were stripped of all earthly things, what would you most look forward to? Such is death. Such is a new resurrection. God was stripped of everything, even His precious skin, and blood. | Mary Magdalene was crying at the tomb, and angels ask ""Woman, why are you weeping?"
She tries to explain and then Jesus our Lord appears ""Woman, why are you weeping?"
Her tears and emotions and inhibited her ability to know she was speaking with angels and our Lord Himself. She didn't recognize, Holy Scriptures say. And this should speak volumes to all of us in tears asking "God where are You!?". Where is He? | my child, He is right there. He is right there were you went to find Him, in Church. In the solitude of your room crying. He is asking ""Woman, why are you weeping?". Why does the Church weep? Because Woman stands for Church, His People. He made it a point to appear to the Woman that had caused Him death...Eve, the sinner, the Magdalene, she caused Him death through her sins, and now, He came back to say "go and do not sin anymore". Repentance changes everything. If anything has ever changed my life for the better, for Christ, it is true repentance. And it comes in the Holy Sacraments. My infant baptism has called me to repent. My confessions call me to repent totally. My Eucharistic experiences call me to repent before receiving Him. Every Sacrament calls us to repentance. And only then can we begin to see our Lord. "Is that you My Lord and My Father?", seek and ye shall find.
Our Lord issues a command, to stop holding onto His temporal self and rejoice and tell the good news Mary Magdalene "'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
She had put all her faith in Jesus, and Jesus did not disappoint her. Nobody else was crying at the tomb. No disciple. Only the sinner turned repentant. And to her He appears before all. Then all the cowardly men came running. You see? And it is like that today, I go to daily Mass, and all there is are women. Not all saints, but they are there tending to Jesus' Body. That is the role of the woman. To repent. To tend to Him. To spread the good news. Indeed, the woman is the Church. Indeed, Jesus is the groom. Only, this Covenant Marriage is a spiritual intimacy, bonded in the Holy Eucharist. There are stages in Sacraments, one builds upon the other, to form us into a Sacred Temple for Christ. Do you want to see Him? Mary Magdalene says to go meet Him! Lord, it's going to be a risky move to go see You. I'll have to be exposed. I'll have to be running, afraid, but running in joyful expectation. I'll meet You...we are on our way, to Your Way! | from your brother in Christ our Lord,
adrian | Random online bible verse from a random verse generator:
AMEN! Heb 13:6 6 So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
