Let us rejoice as we go along in the most joyful season of Easter. Our real joy lies in GLORIFYING God. This will be our theme: Glorify God.
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles 14:21-27 contains the most basic form of glorifying God: “…proclaim the good news and make considerable number of disciples.” This is the first and the best way of glorifying God. This is what the Apostles, disciples, and today the missionaries do to glorify God.
We, too, in every possible way must glorify God by proclaiming Him to every one around us. We, too, must be able to claim with the apostles and disciples, “What God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.”
The second reading from the book of Revelation 21:1-5 furthers our glorification by describing to us the new heaven and the new earth. St. John calls it a new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God: "I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.”
If this happens, God will be best glorified. We can proclaim this to all around us.
The Holy Gospel according John 13:31-35 gives us Jesus' own example of glorifying God. As soon as Judas went out and betrayed Jesus, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and God will glorify him at once.” This is what Jesus himself did to glorify God.
This summarizes how we must glorify God. We have recently celebrated how Jesus glorified God through His passion, death and Resurrection. We must be ready to suffer and even die while we fulfill our duty. In doing so, we not only save our own soul, but glorify God by saving many more souls around us.
Message for the Fourth Sunday In Easter
As we move with our meditations during the most joyful season of Easter, our theme for this Sunday is ONENESS. "The Father and I are one." “Be one with the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit.”
The Acts of the Apostles 13:14, 43-52 gives us the basic thought for oneness with the Father, with the Son, in the Spirit. "Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, 'It was necessary that the work of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.'"
This is the point God is making through his Apostles: “I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.” This way, our oneness is with all.
This thought continues with an audio and visual vision from the Apostle John in Revelation 7:9, 14-17. He had a vision of a great multitude, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes. The most important part of this audio visual is the purpose of this multitude: “For this reason they stand before God’s throne and worship him day and night in his temple ……”
The second reason is: “The one who sits on the throne will shelter them. They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike them. For the lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
This is the central power for the ONENESS with the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit. Finally, the climax comes in the Good News according to John 10:27-30. Here, Jesus as Good Shepherd speaks: "I give them Eternal Life." This is our final destiny and final oneness with the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit.
So, my dear friends, it is no luxury but a necessity for us to work for this oneness. This is possible only when the light is made known to us, and we, in turn, make it known to everyone around us. Thus we always should find ourselves in front of the Lord, worshiping Him day and night. Let us be shepherded only by the Good Shepherd, Jesus, and gain Eternal Life.
The Acts of the Apostles 13:14, 43-52 gives us the basic thought for oneness with the Father, with the Son, in the Spirit. "Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, 'It was necessary that the work of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.'"
This is the point God is making through his Apostles: “I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.” This way, our oneness is with all.
This thought continues with an audio and visual vision from the Apostle John in Revelation 7:9, 14-17. He had a vision of a great multitude, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes. The most important part of this audio visual is the purpose of this multitude: “For this reason they stand before God’s throne and worship him day and night in his temple ……”
The second reason is: “The one who sits on the throne will shelter them. They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike them. For the lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
This is the central power for the ONENESS with the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit. Finally, the climax comes in the Good News according to John 10:27-30. Here, Jesus as Good Shepherd speaks: "I give them Eternal Life." This is our final destiny and final oneness with the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit.
So, my dear friends, it is no luxury but a necessity for us to work for this oneness. This is possible only when the light is made known to us, and we, in turn, make it known to everyone around us. Thus we always should find ourselves in front of the Lord, worshiping Him day and night. Let us be shepherded only by the Good Shepherd, Jesus, and gain Eternal Life.
Message for the Third Sunday in Easter
As far as the season of Easter is concerned, it is not only for one day, one week or till the celebration of the Pentecost Sunday when we officially end the Easter Season. It is for the whole year, since we celebrate the joy of the Risen Lord every Sunday and every day.
Jesus from the moment of his Resurrection is busy to REVEAL himself to so many. 'Peace be with you' is his favourite way of greeting after the Resurrection. As Jesus reveals himself, our duty and responsibility is to RECOGNIZE him and give him to many around us.
The readings help us to recognise Him as he reveals himself. The first reading, which is from the Acts of the Apostles 3:13-15, 17-19, tells us "We must obey God rather than man". This is the foundation in the process in recognizing Jesus the Risen Lord. The word obedience comes from the Latin word 'audire' means 'to hear'. The one who hears obeys the voice. Let us hear the voice of God and do what he tells us to do. Listen to Jesus.
The second reading from the Book of Revelation 5:11-14, where the author John hears the voice of many angels saying,"Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing." If we recognise Jesus as the Risen Lord, we will be able to know how great Jesus is. St. John then hears the voice of everyone in heaven, on earth and under the earth, "To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour, glory and might, forever and ever."
These are the ones who have truly recognized Jesus. This is the right way of recognizing Jesus.
The Holy Gospel according to St. John 21:1-19 not only gives most concrete proof of the Risen Lord, but announces His MOST IMPORTANT MISSION to Peter and to us all. "Feed my lambs, Tend my sheep and Feed my sheep" is the mission the Apostles, disciples, saints, priests, religious and lay people must fullfill.
The true recognition of the Risen Lord must set us on fire to continue the Apostolic Mission. Let us feed and tend the sheep of the Lord with the word that we have received.
Jesus from the moment of his Resurrection is busy to REVEAL himself to so many. 'Peace be with you' is his favourite way of greeting after the Resurrection. As Jesus reveals himself, our duty and responsibility is to RECOGNIZE him and give him to many around us.
The readings help us to recognise Him as he reveals himself. The first reading, which is from the Acts of the Apostles 3:13-15, 17-19, tells us "We must obey God rather than man". This is the foundation in the process in recognizing Jesus the Risen Lord. The word obedience comes from the Latin word 'audire' means 'to hear'. The one who hears obeys the voice. Let us hear the voice of God and do what he tells us to do. Listen to Jesus.
The second reading from the Book of Revelation 5:11-14, where the author John hears the voice of many angels saying,"Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing." If we recognise Jesus as the Risen Lord, we will be able to know how great Jesus is. St. John then hears the voice of everyone in heaven, on earth and under the earth, "To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour, glory and might, forever and ever."
These are the ones who have truly recognized Jesus. This is the right way of recognizing Jesus.
The Holy Gospel according to St. John 21:1-19 not only gives most concrete proof of the Risen Lord, but announces His MOST IMPORTANT MISSION to Peter and to us all. "Feed my lambs, Tend my sheep and Feed my sheep" is the mission the Apostles, disciples, saints, priests, religious and lay people must fullfill.
The true recognition of the Risen Lord must set us on fire to continue the Apostolic Mission. Let us feed and tend the sheep of the Lord with the word that we have received.
Easter Sunday
My dear friends in the Risen Lord Jesus,
I am sure the meditations during the five weeks of Lent on the most powerful readings have helped us all to overcome temptations, become worthy sons and daughters of the Father in whom he is well pleased and thus we begin to give the fruit of the Resurrection.
As we were told in the book of Exodus 12:14, “This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord, as a perpetual institution.”
By celebrating the Paschal mystery of Passion, Death and Resurrection, Jesus has "Perpetually Instituted" this covenant with the Father. Now, in Luke 22:19b, He asks us to, “….Do this in remembrance of me."
If we celebrate the ‘Perpetually Instituted’ covenant of love, if we wish to obey the loving commandment of Jesus, “Do this in remembrance of me,” we cannot run away from the duties and the sufferings to which it is attached. We, too, must celebrate the Paschal mystery of Passion and Death so that we will have the privilege of Joy: the Joy of the Resurrection, the Joy of Easter Joy.
With Fr. Athanasius and Fr. Prentice, I wish our family of the church of the Assumption and St. Pius X all the joys of the Risen Lord.
--Padre Mingel
I am sure the meditations during the five weeks of Lent on the most powerful readings have helped us all to overcome temptations, become worthy sons and daughters of the Father in whom he is well pleased and thus we begin to give the fruit of the Resurrection.
As we were told in the book of Exodus 12:14, “This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord, as a perpetual institution.”
By celebrating the Paschal mystery of Passion, Death and Resurrection, Jesus has "Perpetually Instituted" this covenant with the Father. Now, in Luke 22:19b, He asks us to, “….Do this in remembrance of me."
If we celebrate the ‘Perpetually Instituted’ covenant of love, if we wish to obey the loving commandment of Jesus, “Do this in remembrance of me,” we cannot run away from the duties and the sufferings to which it is attached. We, too, must celebrate the Paschal mystery of Passion and Death so that we will have the privilege of Joy: the Joy of the Resurrection, the Joy of Easter Joy.
With Fr. Athanasius and Fr. Prentice, I wish our family of the church of the Assumption and St. Pius X all the joys of the Risen Lord.
--Padre Mingel
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