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SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.” As disciples we are called to be persons for others, making sacrifices for them, following the example of Jesus. Love is a form of self-sacrifice which demands us to give, not just of the things we possess but of ourselves, our time and our talents. For instance, mothers and fathers bear witness to Christ in their everyday lives by labouring tirelessly to feed their families, nursing their sick children and counseling them when they are confused. Facing up to these commitments may be hard and costly as it is a long uphill struggle with many falls and faltering, but in doing so they are guaranteed to find God and happiness. Wherever there is love, God is present. God’s love for us surpasses anything we can ever imagine. ‘As the Father has loved me so I have loved you.’ |
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FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Abide in me as I abide in you, says the Lord; my branches bear much fruit. Alleluia. If Jesus is to have an effect on the world, it is through his followers, living in such a way that people will see the hand of God at work in the most ordinary situations in our lives. Christ is dependent upon us being his hands and his voice carrying the lamp of his redemption to others. The greatest contribution each one of us can make to the well-being of the church is to allow Christ’s love to seep into our own life blood. If we live in Christ and he lives in us, the fruit we can bear is beyond imagining. It’s an occasion to reflect on the depth of our personal inward enduring commitment to the gospel because; apart from Jesus, there can be no lasting growth. God demands a lot from his children in expecting them to make the church a vibrant community by living good and fruitful lives. |
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FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my own, and my own know me. Ever since the days when the early Christians painted the picture of Christ as the Good Shepherd tending his sheep on the walls of the catacombs in Rome, the image of the Good Shepherd has been a favorite in Christian circles. Generations of Christ’s followers have been comforted and consoled by the picture of Christ the Good Shepherd anxiously seeking out the lost sheep and carrying it home on his shoulder. The image provides inspiration as it expresses the type of care, compassion and guidance which Christ offers to all of us. Even when sin causes us to wander and stray, the Good Shepherd is there to come to our rescue. He brings us back carrying us shoulder high into the safety and companionship of the fold. |
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THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts burn with love when you speak. The gospel tells us how Christ opened the minds of the disciples to the understanding of the scriptures. He explained why he had to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. Moreover, they were to be his witnesses, preaching penance for the remission of sins, to all nations. Today our prayer is an invitation to Jesus to come into our lives so that our minds and hearts may be opened to let in God’s word. It is our turn to be witnesses to the gospel and to show forth the resurrection in our lives. The first disciples could not keep the Good News to themselves, but hurried to share their great joy with anyone who has ears to listen. Likewise our relationship with Jesus requires us to communicate the good news by our attitudes, values and lifestyle. The Christian message is never fully ours until we have shared it with our family, close friends and the different people we meet in life. If we are to be witnesses to Christ’s gospel we must stop living in a half-hearted manner and show forth the resurrection in our lives. Drawing close to Christ implies Christian behaviour and being of one mind and heart with him. |
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SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER (DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY) You believed, Thomas, because you have seen me; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. Thomas was doubtful about the key issues of whether Jesus has risen from the dead and was actually alive. Therein lies the heart of our whole believing. Thomas with his intelligent questioning and his need for satisfactory answers is a good type of person to have in any community, and acts as a defense against the excesses of pious belief. In many ways he echoes moments of our own uncertainty, when we question the religious values handed down to us. During life, faith is an ongoing struggle and there are moments of crisis when our minds are darkened and our vision of God is blurred by clouds of doubt. There is nothing comfortable about believing as it challenges us to change our lives as a result of our encounter with Jesus. The risen Christ is present in our midst as much as he was with the early Christians and we are called to live our lives in his name. It is through believing that we enter into a relationship with Christ and enjoy the new life which he offers us. |