we will come to him and make our dwelling with him

May 20, 2019 6:00 am

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.” (JN 14: 23-24)

How amazing Our Lord created our hearts, able to love and able to live with God: “we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” Our prayer can be so simple; just close your eyes and talk to Him Who is within you. And we can really learn fast that prayer is less a thing to do—but more relationship, less action—more adoration.

“The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all I told you.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Love one another

May 19, 2019 6:00 am

“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (JN 13: 34-35)

“Love one another” is the first part of “a new commandment”; the second part is: “as I have loved you.” We should love one another, as Our Lord loves us. This is “how all will know that we are His disciples.”

“I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you.” (Gospel Acclamation)

contradicted what Paul said

May 18, 2019 6:00 am

“When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.” (ACTS 13: 45)

It would be so easy to reflect this reading from our perspective, looking with indignation at “the Jews”— how could they!? But these words are also about us; how often we reject truth, inspiration or good advice because our hearts “are filled with jealousy and with violent abuse.”

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)

so that where I am you also may be

May 17, 2019 6:04 am

“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” (JN 14: 2-3)

We are nobody, we are weak, sinful and very limited creatures, but we are His creation, loved in our weakness, raised from our sins and able to love beyond limits; we are not only His creation, but we are also His children. Our Lord prepared “a place for us” in “His Father’s house, where there are many dwelling places,” and He wants us there, “so that where He is we also may be.”

“I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (Gospel Acclamation)

if one of you has a word of exhortation for the people

May 16, 2019 6:00 am

“After the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue officials sent word to them, ‘My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.’” (ACTS 13: 15)

Our Lord’s words are given to all of us. Parents have “a word of exhortation” for their children and friends for their friends. His word is powerful and can reach every heart; its strength doesn’t come from the ‘speaker’; it comes from Him.

“Jesus Christ, you are the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, you have loved us and freed us from our sins by your Blood.” (Gospel Acclamation)

their fasting and prayer

May 15, 2019 11:28 am

“‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off.” (ACTS 13: 2-13)

These two—“fasting and prayer”—are happy when together. Fasting helps us to be more dependent on Our Lord, being more grateful for all we receive, and prayer directs everything to Him.

“I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Remain in my love

May 14, 2019 6:00 am

“As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” (JN 15: 9-10)

“Remain in my love”—how comforting are these words. We are important to Our Lord; we are loved and He wants us keep close to His heart. When we remain in His love, we are located between the Father and the Son; we are in Their hearts.

“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Life-giving repentance

May 13, 2019 6:00 am

“When they heard this, they stopped objecting and glorified God, saying, ‘God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too.’” (ACTS 11: 18)

Repentance is a twofold process: we turn away from sins and we turn toward God. If we only turn away from sins, not believing in God, we are like a person in an amazing outfit with no place to go; when we turn toward God, without turning away from our sins, we are like a guest who is invited to a wedding banquet but goes without a proper outfit—we will be asked to leave the place.

“I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.” (Gospel Acclamation)

No one can take them out of my hand

May 13, 2019 5:45 am

“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” (JN 10: 27-30)

What a significant continuation; yesterday we spoke about “giving [a] hand”; today, Our Lord promises us that “no one can take us out of His hand.” Not only His, but also from His Father’s hand. We are so loved and so protected. When we listen to Him, when we “hear His voice,” and when “we follow Him,” we will “never perish.”

“I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.” (Gospel Acclamation)

He gave her his hand

May 11, 2019 6:00 am

“He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive.” (ACTS 9: 41)

Sometimes all we need is to meet somebody who can give us a hand and raise us up; we have lost our hope, and we are feeling like dead for everybody, alone in “a room upstairs.” We need desperately somebody who can pray for us and who can come and share with us faith, hope and love. Somebody who can give us a hand and raise us up.

“Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.” (Gospel Acclamation)