I thirst

April 10, 2020 4:00 am

“After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I thirst.’” (JN 19: 28)

“I thirst”—from the human being perspective–Our Lord asked for something to quench His thirst, but from God’s perspective He calls us to answer to quench His thirst for love. You are called to be spouses, to be parents, and Your vocation is all about love. Your spouse is thirsty for love, your children are thirsty for love, your relatives and your friends are thirsty for love. Different loves—different ways to express, but the same “thirst” which needs to be quenched.

“Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every other name.” (Gospel Acclamation)

I have given you a model to follow

April 9, 2020 4:00 am

“So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’  and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (JN 13: 12-15)

He didn’t ask—are they worthy or good enough, or do they deserve it? He did it because love is in giving fully, freely, creatively and joyfully. Love doesn’t check, or keep score; love wants to be spread and exposed. We receive a “model to follow,” and there is no better place to show this then your marriage. We are called to the same love.

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

What are you willing to give me?

April 8, 2020 4:00 am

“One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?’ They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.” (MT 26: 14-16)

Demanders always look for rewards. They can invest, they can give something but it is important what that they will have something for themselves. A giver always looks for occasions to make a surprise, to bring happiness to others; is happy being a free and creative gift of self. They feel joyful, because his/her joy doesn’t come from what he/she receives, but from bringing others smiles and joy.

“Hail to you, our King; you alone are compassionate with our errors.” (Gospel Acclamation)

With you only a little while longer

April 7, 2020 4:00 am

“My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.”

Every year we liturgically experience exactly the same—in a moment, “only a little while longer”—Our Lord will die for me, for you, for us. It is a never-ending story. He has been dying for us and for our salvation, because this is the only way, we can go to heaven. Not our prayers, our fasts, achievements or whatever—Our Lord is the only Redemptor and Savior and time of His death is coming. We can’t stop it. But we can enjoy the results for us. Our redemption is coming.

“Hail to you, our King, obedient to the Father; you were led to your crucifixion like a gentle lamb to the slaughter.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Believing in Jesus because of him

April 6, 2020 4:00 am

“And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.” (JN 12: 10-11)

Our relationship with Our Lord, our faith, our spiritual journey, could be an inspiration for our relatives or neighbors or friends. My father’s respect to the liturgy, seeing him reading Bible, praying Rosary or singing in the morning religious songs had, of course, an impact on my own spiritual journey to be one day a Catholic priest. Our children are watching us all the time. What we do with our relationship with our spouses and with a relationship with Our Lord, for sure, are important for the future of our children.

“Hail to you, our King; you alone are compassionate with our faults.” (Gospel Acclamation)

In your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples

April 5, 2020 4:00 am

“He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, ^My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.^’” The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.” (MT 26: 18-19)

This year our homes become “domestic churches,” the places where we can’t celebrate our religion’s practices, but where we can celebrate our spirituality. We can’t go to the church, but Jesus can come to our homes: “in your house, I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.” Can we call ourselves–His disciples? Let prepare our hearts to His visit, let prepare our marriages and families to His visit, let prepare our homes, and rooms, to His visit.

“Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.” (Gospel Acclamation)

To gather into one the dispersed children of God

April 4, 2020 4:00 am

“He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to kill him.” (JN 11: 51-53)

The human’s plan (“to kill him”) and God’s plan (to gather into one the dispersed children of God)—are together in action, but totally separated in intention and in the goal. We see this clearly; but we do exactly the same, when we use compromise instead of looking for common good. Are we better than Pharisees?

“Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.” (Gospel Acclamation)

The Father is in me and I am in the Father

April 3, 2020 4:00 am

“If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” (JN 10: 37-38)

Our Lord is always connected with His Father, and whatever He performed or said comes from His Father. Through Our Lord and with Him, and in Him, we can see Father, we can hear to His message, we can contemplate His love and mercy to us.

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

will never see death

April 2, 2020 4:00 am

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” (JN 8: 51)

We are scared these days, we are afraid of what could happen to our parents or our beloved ones. Our Lord reminds us that death is only when we will be separated from Him when we could go to hell. This is real death. Our Lord is life, His words are life and when we are connected with Him, when we are close to Him, when we keep His word, we “will never see death.”

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Will truly be free

April 1, 2020 4:00 am

“Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free. ” (JN 8: 34-36)

True freedom doesn’t come from our hard work, from our amazing decisions or intensive retreats. The only true freedom comes from Our Lord— “if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free.” It is time to find a priest and to confess. I know how hard can be in these days, but it is important. Our freedom depends on Him.

“Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.” (Gospel Acclamation)