I am the way and the truth and the life

May 10, 2020 4:00 am

“Jesus said to him, A I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (JN 14: 6-7)

Our Lord is the only mediator chosen by the Father to bring us to glory. He is “the way” when we look for directions and have doubts about how to reach our destination; we need to look at where is Our Lord. Whenever we choose the truth (even when tempted to lie) we are choosing Him. When we really want to live a full and abundant life, we are choosing Him. When we chose Him, with Him comes the way, we should go, the truth, and the amazing life.

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

If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it

May 9, 2020 4:00 am

“And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.” (JN 14: 13-14)

Sometimes we think about heaven as going to retirement: “Requiescat in pace”—“Rest in peace” or shortened RIP; we can see many tombstones with these letters. We think that we will finally have found peace and we will rest. But this is not true; heaven is full of love and love is not just experiencing or in feeling some comfort and pleasure. Love is in giving, protecting, respecting, comforting, and serving. Our Lord didn’t go to heaven to rest (mission completed, Father), but to love and protect and lead and to make priestly intercession for the Church on Earth.

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

Do not let your hearts be troubled

May 8, 2020 4:00 am

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.’” (JN 14: 1)

Probably we know the saying: “watch your thoughts because your thoughts become actions.” If we let our “hearts be troubled,” we can expect actions based on troubles; when we “have faith in God” and in Our Lord, we will have actions based on faith, trust, and love. Protect your spouse from your thoughts; when we defend them in our thoughts, definitely we will be better spouses: gentle, respectful, and givers of self.

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

Whoever receives the one I send receives me

May 7, 2020 4:00 am

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” (JN 13: 20)

In the same way in which Our Lord is connected with His Father, He wants to be connected with us. We are not only part of His life, but also of His mission. He wants to send us with the Good News to many and bring to them the salvation, redemption and happiness. We do the same when we share with others our mariage practices and our rituals to inspire them and to help them.

“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)

Whoever sees me sees the one who sent me

May 6, 2020 4:00 am

“Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.” (JN 12: 44-46)

Our Lord came to show us His and Our’s Father love. Whatever Jesus did, whatever He said, whatever He explained, was only to present Father and His love to us. We can’t see the Father, but we can watch Our Lord’s actions and words.

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

My sheep hear my voice

May 5, 2020 4:00 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.” (JN 10: 27-28)

The way in which we can know others is by listening to them. This is how we can learn about what they represent, what they believe, what values and virtues they respect. By listening daily to Our Lord, we will know Him better and better with every day. We can learn how we can imitate Him when we meet sick people, people in stress, people in severe difficulties, those who are hungry and homeless when we meet married couples and those who are lonely. We hear His voice and naturally, we follow Him.

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” Gospel Acclamation

I know mine and mine know me

May 4, 2020 4:00 am

“I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.” (JN 10: 14-15)

We are known, and we know Our Lord. Every day we learn more about Him, about His love, and more and more about His Father Who loves us so much. We can recognize true love when love is unconditional, is free, creative, is joyful, when it is in giving not demanding, and is full of gentleness and respect. We are loved this way. And we can love the same way. We are loved, and we are called to love.

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

Have a life and have it more abundantly

May 3, 2020 4:00 am

“I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (JN 10: 9-10)

Not only “so that they might have life,” but “have life more abundantly”; this is God’s vision for us. Our Lord came to make our lives reach and bold: abundance in health and in mindset, in wealth and in the relationship; not only here and now, but forever. Our Lord has a bigger plan for us than just to live: our vocation has an amazing destiny—heaven. The only problem is with “might have,” because Our Lord gave us an option. He wants us involved. How about starting again or taking more seriously our 20 minutes daily ritual?

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

Many of his disciples returned to their former way of life

May 2, 2020 4:00 am

“As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, ‘Do you also want to leave?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.’” (JN 6: 66-69)

It really happened: “many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him”; so sad. Have you ever thought about why we are following Him? What is our reason to love our spouses day after day, after conflicts and during silent days, after arguments and moments of misunderstandings? Why are we practicing our daily rituals? Understanding our “why” could help us inspire others. Stronger why; stronger impact.

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

Whoever eats this bread will live forever

May 1, 2020 4:00 am

“This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (JN 6: 58)

The promise and possibility “will live forever” comes from Our Lord. This is His body and blood, this is His death and resurrection, this is His Father initiative and this is God’s plan for us. We receive “the bread that came down from heaven” to remind us where we belong, and where we go. We go there practicing our vocation—as husbands and wives, and as fathers and mothers.

“Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood, remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)