Everything about this life

April 30, 2014 8:56 am

“Go and … tell the people everything about this life.” (Acts 5:20)

Who knows life better than its Creator and Redeemer? Who knows life better than the Apostles, who spent three years with Jesus Christ – who described Himself as the Way, Truth and Life? He invited them to proclaim the Good News about life. About its true destination, true meaning, methods of achieving it and sharing it. This mission continues in the Catholic Church. We are also invited to proclaim and spread Good News and “tell people everything about this life”.

“I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord, and have appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, alleluia” (Communion Antiphon)

Born from above

April 29, 2014 10:59 am

“You must be born from above.” (Jn 3:7)

An everyday invitation. Once born, we should be born again “from above.” To change our perspective: from my point of view into the point of view from “from above;” to change our relations: from “expectations” to “gift of self”; to change our work: from “I have to work” to “I’d like to share and serve”; to change our prayer: from “change my life for better, now” to “help me understand my role” and from “I-need-it” to “thank-You”.

“If we walk in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin, alleluia.” (Communion Antiphon)

Proclaim with all boldness

April 28, 2014 10:24 am

“And now, Lord, … enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29 – 30)

“Enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness.” The greatest desire of every priest. We have received very unique gift: the ability to proclaim the Gospel – the Good News about His love to mankind. Every word in it was spoken out of love to us. His gift needs our cooperation, faithful listening and great concern to proclaim only His “signs and wonders.”

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” (Alleluia versus)

Divine Mercy

April 27, 2014 5:02 am

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope”… (1 Ptr 1:3)

You know how happy we are today, especially Poles. This Feast came from Poland through a Polish nun, Saint sister Faustina Kowalska and blessed Fr. Michael Sopoćko, was proclaimed by the Polish Pope (John Paul II), on this Sunday of Divine Mercy in 2011 that Pope was announced blessed, and today will be proclaimed Saint (with another Pope, John XXIII).

Our Lord, who asked sister Faustina to paint the vision of his Merciful Divinity being poured from His sacred heart also asked for a feast of Divine Mercy to be established on the first Sunday after Easter, so that mankind could take refuge in Him: “I want the image solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it.” (Jesus’ words, Diary 341)

“I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain the complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet.” (Diary 699).

We are also invited to practice mercy. St. Faustina reminds us three ways how we can do it: first—prayer, second—word, third—action. Let us celebrate!!! 🙂

It is impossible

April 26, 2014 10:22 am

“It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)

“Impossible … not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” But the beginning was so different. “When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.” “They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either.” “But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature’” (Mk 16:11. 13. 14-15).

Without the earlier unbelief, without the “hardness of heart,” without doubts and questioning – “proclaiming the Gospel to every creature” would be impossible.

In 1975 our beloved pope Paul VI made the powerful comment: “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” We are invited to be in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When we know Him only from books or we heard about him from others – we can’t speak about Him.

“All of you who have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ, alleluia” (Communion Antiphon).

The net filled with fish

April 25, 2014 11:33 am

“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.” (Jn 21:11)

I like those exact numbers in the Bible. I can even see the disciples counting. And we know that some of these numbers have also symbolic meaning: like twelve (tribes or Apostles) and forty (years or days).

“One hundred fifty-three” probably means apostolic universalism. At that time zoologists catalogued one hundred fifty-three different species of fish. And “even though there were so many, the net was not torn”. The Catholic Church is catholic, which means: universal. “I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.”

This is my daily observation here in the USA. So many nations, colors and accents, names from all over the world – and we pray together during the same Mass. My brothers and sisters in Poland, in Mexico, in New Zealand, UK or in Belgium celebrate the same mystery of Easter, say the same prayers and recive the same Body and Blood during Communion. “There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are able to be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

“Jesus said to his disciples: Come and eat. And he took bread and gave it to them, alleluia” (Communion Antiphon).

His name has made him strong

April 24, 2014 1:42 pm

“And by faith in his name, this man, whom you see and know, his name has made strong, and the faith that comes through it has given him this perfect health, in the presence of all of you.” (Acts 3:16)

His name. Some of the Saints used to call on His name and showed it on small boards when preaching. If you pray the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, you will find strength and comfort in many worries. His name can make you strong, give you perfect health, improve your relationships, help you in temptations, and come to rescue in everyday troubles.

“O chosen people, proclaim the mighty works of him, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light, alleluia” (Communion Antiphon).

The breaking of the bread

April 23, 2014 8:52 am

…”he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” (Lk 24:35)

“Breaking of the bread” was the first name for the Eucharist and became the most significant sign of His presence. Ever since the Last Supper we have been celebrating the Eucharist—not only to memorize that moment, but also to bring about His presence and in this way to experience what He did and still does for us. He dies for us in every Mass. It is His Body and His Blood for the forgiveness of sins.

The more we explore the mystery of the Eucharist, the more we know Him.

“The disciples recognized the Lord Jesus in the breaking of the bread, alleluia” (Communion Antiphon).

 

Apostola Apostolorum

April 22, 2014 10:25 am

“Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her.” (J 20:18)

St. John wrote about Mary Magdalen that she “stayed outside the tomb weeping.” When she found the tomb empty, she started looking for the body of Jesus. Instead of the body – she encountered Him. When “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’,” she recognized Him. She became an apostle for the Apostles by proclaiming Good News to them: “I have seen the Lord.”

Jesus called her by name. He also calls us by our names. I like to imagine how my name sounds when He calls me and where He sends me today.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” (Verse before the Gospel)

Ran to announce

April 21, 2014 5:00 am

“Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples.” (Mt 28:8)

This is the nature of Good News: you would like to spread the news immediately. This time is so special. We greet even strangers with “Happy Easter” because we wish everybody to be touched by God’s Love and experience His Redemption. Everyday Mass readings are the Good News itself. It is so good to receive Our Lord’s message and find a way how we can “announce the news” to our family, friends, co-workers or neighbors.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” (Verse before the Gospel)