May 8, 2011 Third Sunday of Easter
We heard in our first reading today that On the day of Pentecost Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed the crowd in a loud voice he said: ‘Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to say …’
It was important that Peter stood up with the Eleven, in front of the whole Church at that time, because the message he was about to preach was not his own - it was the solemn proclamation of the whole Church – they were of one mind and one voice. That by the way is how this and every parish is to be – of one voice – of one mind – in Christ.
It was important also that Peter spoke 'in a loud voice'. The Church must speak fearlessly and with unmistakable clarity on all issues.
And furthermore it was vitally important that this first declaration of the Gospel, of the Catholic faith, should have been made to the whole world. As Luke spells out clearly for us: Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven … and it was to these that Peter boldly preached ...
And when the Church is of one mind it is right that the whole world listen ..
We hear in our Gospel reading that a few miles away, on their way to Emmaus, a couple of disappointed ‘former’ disciples, in answer to a stranger’s question, begin their testimony with much the same words as St Peter: All about Jesus of Nazareth…. And what happened …
Actually, their story is remarkably similar in structure and content to Peter’s but these disciples lack two essential ingredients. First they appear to give their account of events without any reference to the Scriptures and, secondly, they are not convinced of the resurrection. Without this dimension their story does not bring joy, encouragement or peace - only downcast faces. What’s more, it leads them away from the community of the Church, away from Jerusalem.
Indeed, they had heard rumors of the resurrection, some women from their group had gone to the tomb and seen a vision of angels 'who declared he was alive'. But these rumors were not enough. They needed to see, to experience the Risen Lord for themselves. As yet they were like those who had gone to the tomb after the women but 'saw nothing'. Their eyes had not yet been opened.
We can only imagine the manner in which Jesus spoke those words: 'You foolish men!' to Cleopas and his friend. I imagine it would have been in somewhat the same tone with which Jesus had used with Philip: when He said: Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and still you do not know me?
The problem here was that, although these two men knew the Scriptures, they didn’t understand them, and therefore they didn’t relate the events which had so disappointed them to the word of God.
St Peter, with the benefit of his Easter faith, on the other hand, now sees all that happened as completely in accordance with what scripture had foretold. He speaks of Christ’s resurrection using the words of Psalm 16. He refers to King David and the promise God had made him that one of his descendants would succeed him on the throne, and speaks also of the promised Holy Spirit.
Jesus sets about instructing the demoralized disciples and soon their hearts are ‘burning’ within them. Jesus shows them that all is as it should be and that the word of God had foretold everything from the beginning.
What Jesus actually said to the two men is not recorded. What we do know is that he brought them to understand and believe the scriptures and to grasp the truth that the passion of Christ was a necessary forerunner to his entry into glory.
But one further surprise awaited these men: While he was with them at the table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him… .
What a shock! It had been Jesus all the time, the Risen Lord! He had shown them the ‘word’ and the ‘sacrament’ and then disappeared. Instinctively they knew there was only one thing to do. They must seek him in the ‘community’ and: They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem.
There they found ‘the Eleven assembled together with their companions’ – the Church – which verified for them the Good News: Yes it is true. The Lord has risen … .
The disciples who had walked away disapointed from the mystery had returned. They were home, in the only community on earth that knew Jesus had risen from the dead. It was their task then just like it is our task today to go out boldly and tell all nations that Jesus Christ is risen!
Alleluia!
Prison Ministry - May 1st Year A - Reflection
They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
What do you devote yourself to? What do you do EVERY DAY?
• The teaching of the apostles
• Communal life – communism by itself doesn’t work (separation of church and state – but communism + Catholicism = works; communism the Catholic way works)
• Life could be better for everyone – not just a few – but everyone if everything was held in common and distributed according to each one’s needs
• Breaking of bread – every day – can change you
• Prayers – every day – can change the world
Dr David Jeremiah relates the following incident.
While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, I traveled every two weeks by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. This required camping overnight halfway. On one of these trips, I saw two men fighting in the city. One was seriously hurt so I treated him and witnessed to him about the Lord Jesus Christ. I then returned home without incident.
Upon arriving in the city several weeks later, I was approached by the man I had treated earlier. He told me he had known that I carried money and medicine. He said, “Some friends and I followed you into the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight. We waited for you to go to sleep and planned to kill you and take your money and drugs.
Just as we were about to move into your campsite, we saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards. I laughed at this and said, “I was certainly all alone out in the jungle campsite.” The young man pressed the point, “No sir, I was not the only one to see the guards. My five friends also saw them, and we all counted them. It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone.”
At this point of my church presentation in Michigan, one of the men in the church stood up and interrupted me. He asked, “Can you tell me the exact date when this happened?” I thought for a while and recalled the date. The man in the congregation then gave his side of the story.
He stated, “On that night in Africa it was day here. I was preparing to play golf. As I put my bags in the car, I felt the Lord leading me to pray for you. In fact, the urging was so great that I called the men of this church together to pray for you. Will all those men who met to pray please stand?” The men who had met that day to pray together stood, there were 26 of them!
(Dr. David Jeremiah’s story about prayer is published in Prayer, the Great Adventure)
Many wonders and signs were done through the apostles
• Peter – cured the crippled beggar – I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.
• They even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them – and they be cured.
• He cured a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been confined to bed for 8 years
• He restored Tabitha to life
What about today – John Paul II – apostolic succession
• 9 days that changed the world – his pilgrimage to Poland in 1979 that created a revolution of conscience that transformed not only Poland but fundamentally reshaped the spiritual and political landscape of the 20th century – the fall of the Berlin wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
• Beatified today – and every year Oct 22 (my birthday) will be the day we celebrate Pope John II
• BE NOT AFRAID
The way we act can and does change people – the way we live (not act) changes people – God in our lives, working through us changes people – a lone we can do nothing.
Each of us are important and a have a part to play in God’s plan of salvation.
My New Coat, God
I have a new coat, it was designed by God and given to me by Jesus Christ. All I had to do to receive this coat was to believe in God's only Son.
I find it fits me perfectly unless I allow myself to become puffed up with foolish pride, then it's too tight. If I walk with my head high, trying to be above those about, then it is too short. But if I walk humbly as I should before God, it fits me just right.
How is the coat made? The shoulders are wide and roomy so that I can help my fellow man carry his burdens.
The collar is made of God's mercy, yes, the mercy of God's promises. First that I may become his child and second, that I will one day dwell with Him in that home prepared for His saints.
The cuffs are narrow, so that there is no room to tuck away grievance and hard feelings toward my neighbors. The pockets are oversized, One is for the love of God; the other is to hold my love for my fellowman and all humanity.
There are three buttons on my coat, which stands for faith, hope and charity. I check on them often so that none becomes loose or lost.
The lining is made of God's forgiveness, which I need so often that I want it next to me at all times.
The belt is made of God's love that encircles me everyday.
The material is thick enough to protect me when the storms of life come my way, but not too thick that I will not be able to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit who guides me.
There are many threads in my new coat, but not one thread of doubt that God's promises are true. Do you wonder about the color of my coat? Why, it's the color of Jesus' eyes that must sparkle when a lost soul accepts Him.
I will need my coat all through life. When I travel through the valley of death and when I view the future, I will always wear my new coat.
What do you devote yourself to? What do you do EVERY DAY?
• The teaching of the apostles
• Communal life – communism by itself doesn’t work (separation of church and state – but communism + Catholicism = works; communism the Catholic way works)
• Life could be better for everyone – not just a few – but everyone if everything was held in common and distributed according to each one’s needs
• Breaking of bread – every day – can change you
• Prayers – every day – can change the world
Dr David Jeremiah relates the following incident.
While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, I traveled every two weeks by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. This required camping overnight halfway. On one of these trips, I saw two men fighting in the city. One was seriously hurt so I treated him and witnessed to him about the Lord Jesus Christ. I then returned home without incident.
Upon arriving in the city several weeks later, I was approached by the man I had treated earlier. He told me he had known that I carried money and medicine. He said, “Some friends and I followed you into the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight. We waited for you to go to sleep and planned to kill you and take your money and drugs.
Just as we were about to move into your campsite, we saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards. I laughed at this and said, “I was certainly all alone out in the jungle campsite.” The young man pressed the point, “No sir, I was not the only one to see the guards. My five friends also saw them, and we all counted them. It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone.”
At this point of my church presentation in Michigan, one of the men in the church stood up and interrupted me. He asked, “Can you tell me the exact date when this happened?” I thought for a while and recalled the date. The man in the congregation then gave his side of the story.
He stated, “On that night in Africa it was day here. I was preparing to play golf. As I put my bags in the car, I felt the Lord leading me to pray for you. In fact, the urging was so great that I called the men of this church together to pray for you. Will all those men who met to pray please stand?” The men who had met that day to pray together stood, there were 26 of them!
(Dr. David Jeremiah’s story about prayer is published in Prayer, the Great Adventure)
Many wonders and signs were done through the apostles
• Peter – cured the crippled beggar – I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.
• They even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them – and they be cured.
• He cured a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been confined to bed for 8 years
• He restored Tabitha to life
What about today – John Paul II – apostolic succession
• 9 days that changed the world – his pilgrimage to Poland in 1979 that created a revolution of conscience that transformed not only Poland but fundamentally reshaped the spiritual and political landscape of the 20th century – the fall of the Berlin wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
• Beatified today – and every year Oct 22 (my birthday) will be the day we celebrate Pope John II
• BE NOT AFRAID
The way we act can and does change people – the way we live (not act) changes people – God in our lives, working through us changes people – a lone we can do nothing.
Each of us are important and a have a part to play in God’s plan of salvation.
My New Coat, God
I have a new coat, it was designed by God and given to me by Jesus Christ. All I had to do to receive this coat was to believe in God's only Son.
I find it fits me perfectly unless I allow myself to become puffed up with foolish pride, then it's too tight. If I walk with my head high, trying to be above those about, then it is too short. But if I walk humbly as I should before God, it fits me just right.
How is the coat made? The shoulders are wide and roomy so that I can help my fellow man carry his burdens.
The collar is made of God's mercy, yes, the mercy of God's promises. First that I may become his child and second, that I will one day dwell with Him in that home prepared for His saints.
The cuffs are narrow, so that there is no room to tuck away grievance and hard feelings toward my neighbors. The pockets are oversized, One is for the love of God; the other is to hold my love for my fellowman and all humanity.
There are three buttons on my coat, which stands for faith, hope and charity. I check on them often so that none becomes loose or lost.
The lining is made of God's forgiveness, which I need so often that I want it next to me at all times.
The belt is made of God's love that encircles me everyday.
The material is thick enough to protect me when the storms of life come my way, but not too thick that I will not be able to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit who guides me.
There are many threads in my new coat, but not one thread of doubt that God's promises are true. Do you wonder about the color of my coat? Why, it's the color of Jesus' eyes that must sparkle when a lost soul accepts Him.
I will need my coat all through life. When I travel through the valley of death and when I view the future, I will always wear my new coat.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)