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)

Truly risen

April 20, 2014 5:00 am

“The Lord is truly risen, alleluia. To him be glory and power, for all the ages of eternity, alleluia, alleluia.” (Entrance Antiphon)

The Church has only one news to spread. It was the subject of the first speech of Peter, it is the same subject of Pope Francis’ message: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and power… They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible… everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10, 38. 39. 40. 43). We will celebrate this joy for the next 50 days. And we will enjoy this message “for all the ages of eternity.” We would like to bring this joy to every home and to every person. Your sins were forgiven, your wounded life can be healed, your relations – not only restored but beautifully improved, you yourself are God’s beloved child.

“Alleluia, alleluia. Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed; let us then feast with joy in the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.” (Verse before the Gospel)

My love shall never leave you

April 19, 2014 11:32 am

“Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, my love shall never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the LORD, who has mercy on you.” (Is 54:10)

Today the Church has prepared for us nine readings: seven from the Old Testament, and two from the New Testament. Each reading stages a new version of the same story—“my love shall never leave you… says the Lord.” From Adam through Abraham to the Apostles; from Paradise through Egypt to the Holy Land—the same God’s love appears. Sometimes you are afraid that your sins are too big, your weakness so dramatic, your relations broken, your life wounded beyond repair. Not for Him: “Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, my love shall never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken”.

“May the light of Christ rising in glory dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds” (Lucenarium)

Mercy and grace

April 18, 2014 10:29 am

“So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.” (Hbr 4:16)

Mercy and grace. This is God’s answer to our sins. The only condition is: “let us confidently approach the throne of grace.” He is always on His “throne of grace,” waiting for us.

“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.” (Verse before the Gospel)

 

As I have loved you

April 17, 2014 11:00 am

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

“Love one another” is not a new commandment. “Love one another as I have loved you” – it is the new commandment. He and His love is always the point of reference. He and His love is what we focus on.

Today we celebrate the new commandment and the place where we can always find it – the Eucharist. The central point of every Mass is the very celebration of love as “I have loved you”. This gift comes to us through the priests. They could be old or young, with a nice voice or almost deaf, fantastic preachers or boring speakers, great team-builders or horrible leaders, almost perfect or far, far away from perfection, but for sure they are always His priests with the most beautiful gift – the ability to bring us closer to Him and Him – closer to us.

“This is the Body that will be given up to for you; this is the Chalice of the new covenant in my Blood, says the Lord; do this, whenever you receive it, in memory of me.” (1 Cor 11:24-25) – Communion Antiphon.

 

News of the day

April 16, 2014 3:10 pm

“Morning after morning He opens my ear that I may hear” (Is 50:4).

I have to hear my Lord first. Before I start to listen myself or the others. He knows how to open my ear for the right thoughts. Because He always says the truth. And He always has a message for me, the real “news of the day:” that I am His beloved daughter or son, I am important, I am His miracle, I have a mission in this world and my presence in this world is very important. Even when He shows me my sins, He does it with compassionate love and at the same moment He’s grace assists me to help me to convert. Because His truth is always based on love and never hurts. Brings healing and relief.

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

From my mother's womb

April 15, 2014 12:29 pm

“The LORD called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.” (Is 49:1)

There is no such thing as coincidence when it comes to my conception. Even if my parents did not expect my appearance. We are “called from birth”. And He had a name for me from the very beginning. With my name came also all my talents, special place in God’s plan, the good that has come through me and all other beautiful things. I was named by God when no one even had an idea of my existence.

We are so infinitely important for Him, that He gave us His beloved Son for our eternal life.

“God did not spare his own Son, but handed him over for all of us” (Rom 8:32) – Communion Antiphon

The way to Life

April 14, 2014 10:30 am

“Six days before Passover” (Jn 12:1).

The final countdown. More important than the one before the first flight to the moon.
A lot of details: When – “six days before Passover”, where – “Jesus came to Bethany”, why – “for the day of my burial”.

My Lord’s last week doesn’t lead towards the death. It leads to the eternal life for me. To fulfill God’s love to mankind.

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