To remain faithful

June 11, 2014 8:00 am

“When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart…” (Acts 11:23).

Thank God, “remaining faithful” is not only our problem – even the first Christians had the same trouble. It is quite easy for us to enjoy “the grace of God,” but later, slowly everything goes back to “normality.” It is so natural for our human condition. What we need is to receive from time to time some encouragement “to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart”.

“Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world.” (Alleluia versus)

 

Author of all good things in my life

June 10, 2014 11:56 am

“Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Mt 5:16).

Our good deeds are connected with the glory of our heavenly Father, because He is the Author of all good things in our lives. When we are connected with Him, when we follow His word, we are able to understand and to fulfill His invitation to be His apostles in this world.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my saving strength” (Communion Antiphon)

Blessed are you…

June 9, 2014 9:45 am

“He began to teach them, saying: ‘Blessed are…’” (Mt 5:2-3)

Eight simple blessings which cover all kinds of life situations: from lack of food to persecution, from mourning to thirst for justice. Each of this situations is covered with God’s blessing. Our Lord gives us a different perspective. The blessing is not in prosperity, in goods or in success; the blessing rests in relation with Him. When we imitate His life, when we follow His ways, when we perform His will, we are blessed.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my saving strength” (Communion Antiphon)

The miracle of speaking

June 8, 2014 5:00 am

“Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans … yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.” (Acts 2:7.11)

The miracle of “hearing” or of “speaking”? “We hear them speaking in our own tongues.” Theology says that this miracle consisted in speaking. “Speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God”. God gave them the new tongue, a new ability – to proclaim His presence among us.

Today, on Pentecost Sunday, we are asking God to send us the people who will speak in our own tongue about the mighty acts of God. We are surrounded by too much information about what happened in the world; today we need preachers, neighbors, colleagues, fathers and mothers, and friends, who will speak “in our own tongue of the mighty acts of God.”

“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of you love.” (Alleluia versus)

Proclaim the Kingdom of God

June 7, 2014 5:00 am

“He remained for two full years in his lodgings. He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:30-31)

This is the end of the Acts of the Apostles. The circle is closed: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem…and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Paul started his mission in Jerusalem, where he watched the death of St. Stephen (Acts 8:1), and now is in Rome, ready to give his own life for Jesus. From the moment he met Jesus “he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ” to “all who came to him.”

“I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord, he will guide you to all truth.” (Alleluia versus)

Agapas me? Philo se!

June 6, 2014 10:38 am

“‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’” (John 21:15)

One of the most famous dialogs in the New Testament between Our Lord and Simon after resurrection. Because Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, now there are also three questions: “Do you love me?” And the opportunity to answer again, and again, and again. Threefold denial — and now threefold declaration or confirmation of Peter’s love. This is how we generally understand this scene. But maybe there is one more option of understanding this scene, in a deeper sense.

Our Lord asked Peter: “Do you love me?”, which means, in Koine Greek (the Greek of that time): “Agapas me?” – and this is a word for unconditional love. Peter answered: “Philo se,” using the word which describes an affection that could denote friendship or brotherhood. It is as if Jesus asks Peter: “Do you love me unconditionally?” – and Peter answers: “You know, Jesus, I like you so much, you are a good friend, the best in my life.”

So Our Lord asked him again. And again the same thing happened. So, Jesus asked him for the third time. And also this time he wasn’t upset or offended that Peter didn’t understend his invitation to a true relationship, and He asked him: “Philo me?”. Peter answerd” “Philo se.” “Do you ‘like me?’ ” –  “Yes, I like you so much.” It was more important for Jesus to meet Peter at his level of love than to force him to declare more or to reject him. We know, that the last word of Peter’s, at the end of his life, was AGAPAS SE. I LOVE YOU, MY LORD!!!

Our Lord loves us unconditionally. And he is patient. He can wait for us until we grow up.

“Christ loved us and washed us clean of our sins by his Blood, and made us into a kingdom, priests for this God and Father, alleluia” (Entrance Antiphon)

 

The gift of wisdom

June 5, 2014 11:30 am

“Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, ‘My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.’ ” (Acts 23:6)

Our Lord promised us to be our protector. It doesn’t mean that He should be there physically to defend us. We can use the gift of wisdom. Paul was aware of being alone against two strong groups, so he looked for allies; knowing the basic difference between Sadducees and Pharisees he put the subject of resurrection of the dead into the discussion. It helped.

We are never alone, Our Lord is always with us. He will come with help whenever we need it. Important is to use our reason enlightened by faith.

“Perpetual light will shine on your Saints, o Lord, and life without end for ever, alleluia.” (Entrance Antiphon)

His gracious word

June 4, 2014 8:37 am

“And now I commend you to God and to that gracious word of his that can build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.” (Acts 20:32)

The word which can build. Unfortunately, we also know the words which can destroy. This is the reason why we should start every day with a moment of reflection on His word. His gracious word “can build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.” Our Lord expects from us only the space, the time when His gracious word can build us up. When we invite His word to our life, to our days, to our relationships – we can expect miracles.

“Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth.” (Alleluia versus)

The Gospel of God’s grace

June 3, 2014 10:38 am

“Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24)

God’s grace has accompanied us throughout all our life. Its beginning, every moment and end is protected by God Himself. His Gospel is a never-ending story of His love and protection; every word and page is a record of this.

It is so obvious that when Paul met Our Lord and experienced His grace, his life became totally dedicated to the ministry “received from Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel of God’s grace.” When we are touched by God, we can’t keep it secret, we have to share.

“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.” (John 17, 6)

Take courage

June 2, 2014 1:59 pm

“In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John 16, 33)
“In the world you will have trouble” sounds so serious. There is no “probably,” “maybe,” “presumably” or “it’s very likely,” it says: “you will have trouble”. Fullstop. And it sounds like “the end of the world.” Wrong. It is just a wonderful occasion to trust Our Lord – “take courage” because “I have conquered the world.”

Sometimes my decisions, actions or just simple lack of imagination gets somebody else into trouble. Sometimes I am in trouble because of somebody else’s decisions, action or the lack imagination. Unfortunately, trouble is part of our life. The only way is to believe and “take courage,” because He “has conquered the world” and will take care of me and of the others who have suffered because of me.

With Him every trouble can bring beautiful fruit, all sufferings can result in peace, and conflicts – in a new quality of the relationship. It’s possible when we “take courage” to invite Him as the conqueror – as our Lord and Prince of Peace.

“The father of orphans and the defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling. God gives a home to the forsaken; he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.” (Ps 68, 6-7)