Sunday, June 26, 2011

I Am the Living Bread



The Sunday Gospel [June 26, 2011 - Corpus Christi]

John 6:51-58

[Jesus said to the Jewish crowds]: 51“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”
52The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?” 53Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”
Reflection

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” ~ Jesus in v. 51

“This bread” that Jesus is talking about is the life that he offers to us every time we celebrate the Eucharist. He is the food that makes us immortal, the drink that quenches our thirst forever. Sound impossible? Not for anyone who believes that “all things are possible for God” (Mark 10:27)!

Have you ever noticed how much of an emphasis Jesus placed on his promise that those who ate of him in faith will live forever: “I will raise him on the last day” (John 6:54)? Imagine: We will have a glorified body that will radiate the very holiness and power of our God!

The promise of the Second Coming pervades the celebration of the Mass. At every Mass, we are reminded that Jesus will return. The exact hour is hidden in God’s design, yet we can be certain that he will come again as the King of Love. For this, we should always give praise!

“Lord Jesus, we await your coming. You will come in power, yet in tenderness. May we prepare for your coming by our faith, hope, and love.”

Credits: the WORD among us, excerpts

Source: The Reflection is from Bro. Abel Navarro (you can visit his blog at http://myblogabelnavarro-abel.blogspot.com/).

Friday, June 24, 2011

The Gate Keeper


[Diary 1271]
When I heard how dangerous it was to be at the gate these days because of revolutionary disturbances and how many evil people have a hatred for convents, I went in and had a talk with the Lord and asked Him to so arrange it that no evil person would dare come to the gate. Then I heard these words: My daughter, the moment you went to the gate I set a Cherub over it to guard it. Be at peace. After returning from my conversation with the Lord, I saw a little white cloud and, in it, a Cherub with his hands joined. His gaze was like lightning, and I understood how the fire of God's love burns in that look...


Source: DIARY, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul © 1987 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M.  Stockbridge, MA 01263.  All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.

Note: If you like my post then consider buying the Book "Divine Mercy in my Soul" from the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception website. The owner of this blog have no other intention but to spread and proclaim the "Divine Mercy".

Monday, June 20, 2011

God Sent His Son


The Sunday Gospel [June 19, 2011 - Trinity Sunday]

John 3:16-18

16God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.18Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Reflection

“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” ~ v. 16

Let’s stop right there. Sometimes these words can become so familiar that they roll by on the page without eliciting any new thought. But the greatest mystery of the universe is that God gave – and he gave and gave some more. In fact, he gave everything so that we could be with him. That’s how much he loves us!

This is the real mystery that we celebrate today. This is a day to rejoice in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who love us! It’s a day to rejoice in the very personal love that God has for each one of us! It’s a day to rejoice in the very personal love that God has for each one of us – a love that will never abandon us. God has held nothing back. He invites us, weak and sinful human beings, to share completely in his divine life. And he has moved heaven and earth to make it possible!

John tells us that God has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth by revealing the mysteries of the gospel to our hearts. The Holy Spirit takes what he hears from the Father and the Son and reveals it to us in a personal, life-giving way (John 16:12-15). And this is not just a passage on information. The Spirit works in such a way as to bring us into an experience of the Trinity. His revelation always lifts our hearts, fills us with joy, and gives us confidence that we are God’s beloved children.

Today, ask for a deeper revelation of the Trinity, a revelation of the love that gave everything so that we could be with him. Expect God to to fill you with his divine life and give you a deeper taste of love.

Source: The Reflection is from Bro. Abel Navarro (you can visit his blog at http://myblogabelnavarro-abel.blogspot.com/).

Thursday, June 16, 2011

God Reserves all their Joy for Eternity


[Diary 1402]
God, in his unfathomable decrees, often allows it to be that those who have expended most effort in accomplishing some work do not enjoy its fruits here on earth; God reserves all their joy for eternity. But for all that, God sometimes lets them know how much their efforts please Him. And such moments strengthen them for further struggles and ordeals. These are the souls that bear closest resemblance to the Savior who, in the work which He founded here on earth, tasted nothing but bitterness.


Source: DIARY, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul © 1987 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M.  Stockbridge, MA 01263.  All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.

Note: If you like my post then consider buying the Book "Divine Mercy in my Soul" from the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception website. The owner of this blog have no other intention but to spread and proclaim the "Divine Mercy".

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Jesus Bestows the Holy Spirit


The Sunday Gospel [June 12, 2011 - Solemnity of Pentecost]

John 20:19-23

19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21[Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Reflection

“Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them; and whose sins you retain are retained.” ~ Jesus in v. 22b-23

Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit to perfect his Father’s creation – that includes you and me. To achieve this goal the Holy Spirit distributed gifts – gifts of healing, teaching, prophecy, making miracles – different gifts to different people. God did not create a perfect world, although he could have done so. Instead, he made us co-creators of perfecting his creation. Through the gifts we have received we are now to testify to the power of the cross, to proclaim the truth of Jesus’ words and to declare the message of forgiveness and hope. Collectively, these gifts have one goal – to achieve the perfection of all, beginning with our life now and ending in the next.

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.” ~ St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

What gift(s) did you receive from the Holy Spirit? How are you using it to perfect God’s creation? Do you pray to the Holy Spirit?


Source: The Reflection is from Bro. Abel Navarro (you can visit his blog at http://myblogabelnavarro-abel.blogspot.com/).

Saturday, June 11, 2011

On Scrupulosity


[Diary 1802]
On the following day, I had a clear awareness of the following words: "You see, God is so holy, and you are sinful. Do not approach Him, and go to Confession every day." And indeed, whatever I thought of seemed to me to be a sin. But I did not omit going to Holy Communion, and I resolved to go to Confession at the prescribed time, as I had no clear impediment. But when the day for confession came, I prepared a whole mass of those sins of which I was to accuse myself. However, in the confessional, God allowed me to accuse myself of only two imperfections, despite my efforts to make a confession according to what I had prepared. When I left the confessional, the Lord said to me, My daughter, all those sins you intended to confess are not sins in My eyes; that is why I took away your ability to tell them. I understood that Satan, wanting to disturb my peace, has been giving me exaggerated thoughts. O Savior, how great is Your goodness!


Source: DIARY, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul © 1987 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M.  Stockbridge, MA 01263.  All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.

Note: If you like my post then consider buying the Book "Divine Mercy in my Soul" from the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception website. The owner of this blog have no other intention but to spread and proclaim the "Divine Mercy".

Sunday, June 5, 2011

The Great Commission



The Sunday Gospel. [June 5, 2011]

Matthew 28:16-20

16The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. 18Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Reflection

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations …teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” ~ Jesus in v. 19-20

St. Francis of Assisi tells the following story on himself.

One day, he suggested to a young monk that the two of them should go into the town and preach. So they walked down to Assisi and passed along its streets until they came to the marketplace. All the while they were talking to each other about their spiritual experiences and insights.

It was only in their way back home that the young monk said in astonishment, “But Father, we completely forgot about preaching to the people.”

Francis put his hand on the young monk’s shoulder and told him, “My son, remember one thing: it makes no sense to go and preach if one does not preach while he is going.”

Credits: Will Hoffsuemmer, The NEXT 500 Stories

Source: The Reflection is from Bro. Abel Navarro (you can visit his blog at http://myblogabelnavarro-abel.blogspot.com/).

Saturday, June 4, 2011

God's Greatest Attribute


[Diary 301]
Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of My hands are crowned with mercy.



Source: DIARY, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul © 1987 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M.  Stockbridge, MA 01263.  All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.

Note: If you like my post then consider buying the Book "Divine Mercy in my Soul" from the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception website. The owner of this blog have no other intention but to spread and proclaim the "Divine Mercy".