2nd Sunday of Easter: Acts 4:32-35, 1 Jn 5:1-6, Jn 20:19-31. (Divine Mercy Sunday) - The Gospel this weekend is this: Jn 20:19-31 On 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." 20 When 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." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. 23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." 24 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." 26 Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." 28 Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." 30 * Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of (his) disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written that you may (come to) believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name. - The first reading is this: Acts 4:32-35 The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. 34 There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, 35 and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need. - The second reading is this: 1 Jn 5:1-6 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the father loves (also) the one begotten by him. 2 In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4 for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith. 5 Who (indeed) is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth. - MEDITATION: This Sunday God underlines the fact that the Good News is good! …and that it would be good to give testimony of our faith and to share the news around. The Apostles have closed the doors out of fear and Jesus appears with a very complex theological instruction: “Peace be with you”! Very complex, isn’t it?! Many live through doubts and fears, but God is stronger… stronger than death itself! Passing through problems, and even through death is no longer a major problem. It may lead to eternal Life with God! Jesus, through doubting Thomas, is asking us to have faith. Thomas comes to the tremendous conclusion that Jesus is God. When my multiple sclerosis began, I knew that it was going to bring problems to my life, but having faith, I didn't get depressed. Many fall into depression. I don't know exactly why it started, but I know that the Trinity have allowed it, and they surely have their reasons. Jesus had tremendous confidence on his way to Calvary! MS is just another pebble on the road of life, unless one has put their hope in the physical things of the world. If one had, then yes, MS would be a serious obstacle for them. But it’s just another twist on our short road, and what will matter in the end is whether or not we’ve done at least something good. That’s why Jesus adds: "As the father sent me, so I send you". We are not Jesus, but the marvel is that he invites us to participate in his mission. It only requires our "Yes". Following Christ is challenging for one with a comfortable and easy lifestyle, but if we are faithful, it will bear much fruit. Thereafter you'll know that Christ is really alive… resurrected in your own self. What most amazed St Paul is what happened to his own self inside. A proud opposer of that 'Jesus cult' soon became one of its main columns. The love of Christ simply seduces the heart... and transforms it. The first reading, of Acts of the Apostles, describes how the good testimony of the first Christian community 'spoke clearly' to people of that time. We give thanks for this today and at the same time we appreciate that God is asking us to 'communicate' to future generations. Many leave the faith today on seeing superficiality in Christians. If we live out our faith, the message will reach many, and in future centuries the world will appreciate us. The challenge now is to really believe in our risen Lord. And of course, faith isn’t just a matter of simply appearing at mass at the weekend and participating in the parish. It should be a 'living' faith that guides our steps and transforms us into 'Living Christs'. The mother of St. Augustine (St. Monica) could not speak to her son in his complicated philosophical language, but she gave good example at home, and look at the result! We welcome the good news that has come to us through many centuries and testimonies, but God wants all to have personal experience of it. How do you give that? It doesn’t require strange miracles or visions (like Thomas touching the wounds of Jesus); What is needed is to give personal time to meditation and contemplation of the word that has come to us. Thoughts and ideas arise in our minds and in that way our risen Lord speaks to us and gives us his life. About Thomas and the call to faith, there is much to say, but here I put just a few ideas. Humanity can advance much in wisdom, science, and art, etc., but something sure is that this piece of flesh and bones is going to die someday. On the one hand this seems tragic, but it also has a positive aspect. It inspires us to search for a meaning. The prospect of death humbles us and gets us to seek. It is then that the person of Christ, along with the Scriptures and his followers, bears fruit. Quoting Francis Bacon: 'If a man will start only with certainties, he ends up with doubts, but if he will begin with his doubts, he may well end up with certainties'. I believe that human intelligence is based on humbly realizing that there is much in life that I do not know! Isaac Newton (1642-1727) helped humanity with his suggestions and intuitions rather than demonstrations and scientific proofs. There was a time when it seemed that science would unlock the secrets of the universe, but there are always things that science can’t explain. Only God can explain all. The challenge for us is to pay attention to the word of God. In fact, Newton himself ended up very religious. When I was young and first learnt about discoveries and inventions, I once asked my father where I had come from. He responded "From God". I kept asking "But who he is? and how is it that I showed up?". I was looking for some kind of erudite explanation of my pharmacist father. He knew some scientific truths but eventually said that he didn't know… and that no human being could fully explain it. That humble "I don't know" was the best way to 'open doors' and prepare the way so that I myself would seek and thereafter welcome the tremendous Good News of our faith. Thus began my search for answers. I would love if all people would seek a bit – and would at least open the door! The truth is that God is humbly calling at our door. That was the motivation for the incarnation of Christ and He keeps calling: "I stand at the door and knock; If someone opens to me, I will enter and you we’ll have dinner together." (Apoc3:20). The Apostles were hiding. We all hide sometimes, and avoid showing clearly that we are followers of Christ. Being a Christian isn’t always easy, because we have to give good witness at work, at home and all-over. The temptations of wealth, pleasures and honors create barriers that Jesus has to penetrate. He can penetrate, but does not want to impose. He’s at the door humbly calling! .......... Dara. - - en ESPAÑÓL: - 2° Domingo de Pascua: Hech 4:32-35 1Jn 5:1-6 Jn 20:19-3 (Domingo de la Misericordia Divina) ¡Este Domingo Dios subraya que la Buena Nueva es buena! …y que sería bueno dar buen testimonio Cristiano y compartirla. Los apóstoles han cerrado las puertas por temor y Jesús aparece con una instrucción teológica muy compleja: “Que la paz esté con vosotros”. ¡Complejísima, ¿verdad?! Muchos viven con dudas y temores, pero Dios es más fuerte – ¡más que la muerte misma! Pasar por problemas, aún por la muerte, es muy poquito, casi nada, comparado con la Vida eterna y feliz con Dios. Jesús sigue, a través de Tomás, pidiéndonos tener fe, y Tomás llega a la conclusión tremendísima que Jesús es Dios. Cuando empezó mi esclerosis múltiple, yo sabía que iba a traer problemas a mi vida; pero al tener fe, no pasé ni un minuto deprimido. Muchos caen en ello. No sé exactamente por qué empezó, pero sé que Dios lo ha permitido, y tiene sus razones – lo mismo que Jesús en su camino al Calvario. La esclerosis es una piedrecilla en el camino de la vida – a no ser que uno haya puesto sus esperanzas en las cosas físicas del mundo, entonces sí que sería un obstáculo serio para realizarte. Pero es un camino breve, de paso, y lo que importará a fin de cuentas, será haber hecho al menos algo bueno. Por eso Jesús añade: “Como el Padre me envió, así os envío”. No somos Jesús, pero la maravilla es que nos invita a participar en su misión. Solo requiere nuestro “Sí”. Seguir a Cristo es desafiante para nuestra vida cómoda y fácil, pero si somos fieles, dará mucho fruto: entonces sabrás que Cristo está realmente vivo – resucitado en ti mismo. Lo que más maravillaba a San Pablo era lo que le pasó a él mismo por dentro. Un orgulloso perseguidor de aquella ‘Secta de Jesús’ llegó a convertirse en una de sus columnas principales. El amor de Cristo simplemente seduce el corazón... y lo transforma. La primera lectura, de los Hechos de los Apóstoles, describe cómo el buen testimonio de la primera comunidad Cristiana ‘habló claramente’ a la gente de aquel tiempo. Damos gracias por ello hoy y a la vez escuchamos a Dios pidiéndonos ‘comunicar claramente’ a generaciones futuras. Muchos dejan la fe hoy al ver tantos cristianos superficiales. Si vivimos a fondo nuestra fe, el mensaje llegará a muchos, y nos lo agradecerán en siglos futuros. El desafío ahora es el de realmente creer en nuestro Señor resucitado. Y claro, la fe no es cuestión de simplemente aparecer en misa cada domingo y participar en la parroquia. Debería ser una fe ‘viva’ que orienta cada paso y nos transforma en ‘Cristos vivos’. La madre de San Agustín (Sta. Mónica) no podía hablar a su hijo en su lenguaje complicado filosófico, pero dio ejemplo claro en casa, y ¡mira el fruto! Conviene acoger la Buena Nueva que nos ha llegado a través de muchos siglos y testimonios, pero Dios quiere que tengamos experiencia personal de ella. ¿Como puede darse esto? No requiere ningún tipo de milagro raro o visión extraña (como Tomás tocando las heridas en las palmas y el costado de Jesús); lo que hace falta es dar tiempo personal a la meditación y contemplación de la Palabra que nos ha llegado. Pensamientos e ideas nos surgen en la mente y es así como nuestro Señor resucitado nos habla y nos da su Vida. Acerca de Tomás y la llamada a la fe, hay mucho que decir, pero aquí pongo sólo algunas ideas. La humanidad puede avanzar mucho en sabiduría, ciencia, y arte, etc., pero algo seguro es que este trozo de carne con huesos va a morir. Por un lado esto parece una tragedia, pero también tiene un aspecto positivo: nos hace buscar un sentido. La perspectiva de la muerte nos hace humildes y nos hace buscar. Es entonces cuando la persona de Cristo, junto con las escrituras y sus seguidores, da fruto. Citando a Francis Bacon: ‘Si un hombre parte de certezas, acaba con dudas, pero si parte de las dudas, puede que acabe con certezas’. Creo que la inteligencia humana está basada en darse cuenta humildemente que ¡hay mucho en la vida que yo no sé! Isaac Newton (1642-1727) ayudó a la humanidad con sus sugerencias e intuiciones más que con demostraciones y pruebas científicas. Había llegado el tiempo en que parecía que la ciencia iba a liberar los secretos del universo; y de ocurrir así, ya no harían más falta las cabezas eclesiásticas. Pero siempre quedan cosas que la ciencia no puede explicar. Solo Dios puede. El desafío para nosotros es prestar atención a la Palabra de Dios. De hecho, Newton mismo acabó muy religioso. Cuando yo era pequeño y aprendía sobre descubrimientos e invenciones, pregunté una vez a mi papá de dónde yo había venido. Él respondió “de Dios”. Yo seguí preguntando “Pero ¿quien es Él? y ¿como es que aparecí yo?”. Estaba buscando algún tipo de explicación sabia de mi padre farmacéutico. Él sabía bien las verdades científicas pero respondió que en el fondo él no lo sabía – que ninguna persona humana podía explicarlo. Aquel “yo no lo sé” humilde fue la mejor forma de ‘abrir puertas’, de preparar el camino para que yo mismo buscase al Dios Padre, y para acoger la Buena Nueva tremenda de nuestra fe. Así empezó mi búsqueda de respuestas. Me encantaría que todos buscáramos un poco – ¡y que al menos abriésemos la puerta! La verdad es que Dios está llamando humildemente a nuestra puerta. Aquello fue la motivación de su encarnación y hoy lo sigue intentando: “Estoy a la puerta y llamo; si alguien me abre, entraré y cenaremos juntos”. (Apoc 3:20). Los apóstoles estaban escondidos; todos nos escondemos a veces, y evitamos mostrarnos claramente como seguidores de Cristo. Ser cristiano no es fácil, pues hay que dar testimonio bueno en el trabajo, en casa y en el juego. Las tentaciones de riquezas, de placeres y de honores crean barreras que Jesús tiene que atravesar. Él puede penetrar, pero no quiere imponerse. ¡Está a la puerta llamando humildemente! .......... Dara. 6th Sunday in Ordinary TimeEcclesiastes (Sir) 15:15-20
1 Corinthians 2:6-10 Matthew 5:17-37 |
Reflections of faithRead and be inspired by the reflections and experiences of faith, based on the Word of God. Archives
August 2016
Categories
All
|