“When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” (JN 8: 28-29)
When we are connected with Our Lord’s words, connected by reading Bible or meditating daily on the readings, we also have access to the Fathers words: “I say only what Father taught me.” „The one who sent me is with me”—brings joy and hope: we are never alone; God the Father is always with us not only when we are reflecting on Our Lord’s words, but also when we are doing „what is pleasing to him.”
„The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live forever.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (JN 8: 12)
Our Lord is „the light of the word.” He not only leads and protects but also shares the light with us. Whoever follows Him, „will have the light of life.” All of us can make this world a shining place when we are focused on Him and every day more and more converted.
„I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live.” (Gospel Acclamation)
„Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.” (PHIL 3: 13-14)
For Saint Paul only one thing is important: to be „in Christ Jesus” forever. His strategy is also very simple: „forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal.” Don’t waste your time living in old memories of good old times, but invest „your whole heart” in today’s challenges and run forward to meet Our „gracious and merciful” Lord.
„Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart; for I am gracious and merciful.” (Gospel Acclamation)
„Others said, ‚This is the Christ.’ But others said, ‚The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?’ So a division occurred in the crowd because of him.” (JN 7: 41-43)
We prefer to be in good relationships with others rather than being divided. Conflicts, divisions and misunderstandings are generally difficult to accept, and we don’t like them. Different opinions („but others said”) about Jesus came from ignorance or bad will and eyes closed to truth (“Have you also been deceived?”). „A generous heart” always helps and opens our eyes to the truth.
„Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.”
„‚With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.’ These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, and they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls’ reward.” (WIS 2: 19-22)
Even the first step from our Love and Life Programs has to be tested. We can dream about how great we are in our gentleness, but real lives will inform us about the true results. Hopefully, it will be without „revilement and torture,” but for sure, different life circumstances will bring a lot of occasions to practice these virtues. With gentleness and patience everything is easier.
„One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (Gospel Acclamation)
„Let your blazing wrath die down; relent in punishing your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.’ So the LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.” (EX 32: 13-14)
The power of intercessory prayer. Moses begged the Lord: „relent in punishing your people” and reminded Him why. And God answered Moses’ prayer. „So the Lord relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.” We also can use the same intercessory prayer for our spouses, children, friends and the whole Church. God always answers prayer.
„God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” (IS 49: 15)
“I will never forget you,” is an amazing message, especially when contrasted with something which looks almost impossible, like “a mother who [would] forget her infant.” These words always bring a huge relief. We are tenderly loved; we are remembered, and we will never be forgotten. And we have proof: God’s word. God is good! Life is good!
“I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever believes in me will never die.” (Gospel Acclamation)
„Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.” (EZ 47: 12)
How much more we received: „from His side flowed blood and water.” Much, much more than „the flow from the sanctuary.” Our Lord’s Blood and Body is our true medicine because by his stripes we are healed. Ezekiel spoke only about a shadow of the true mystery—the Church and the Sacraments, signs of the love of Our Lord
„A clean heart create for me, O God; give me back the joy of your salvation.” (Gospel Acclamation)
„I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create.” (IS 65: 17-18)
For Our Lord our future is so important, so He is „about to create new heavens and a new earth,” where we will be located. For Him, who is our Redeemer, „the things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind.” Not only heaven and earth will be new, also we will be renewed, ready to spend eternity with Him.
„Seek good and not evil so that you may live, and the LORD will be with you.” (Gospel Acclamation)
„While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.” (LK 15: 20)
God’s love for sinners extends beyond all our imagination. „While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him”—because his son was expected, and longed for. „He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him”—because he can’t wait to tell him how much he is loved, the father shortens the distance between them. Our Lord came to show us God’s love and how much He is „filled with compassion.”
„I will get up and go to my Father and shall say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” (Gospel Acclamation)
