Things will get worse before they get better!

John 16:20-23

Jesus told his disciples, "I am telling you the truth: you will cry and weep, but the world will be glad; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into gladness. When a woman is about to give birth, she is sad because her hour of suffering has come; but when the baby is born, she forgets her suffering, because she is happy that a baby has been born into the world. That is how it is with you: now you are sad, but I will see you again, and your hearts will be filled with gladness, the kind of gladness that no one can take away from you."

Food for thought!

Yesterday, we marked the Ascension, that is, his return to heaven. Today's words were said before his return. He is saying to his disciples: "I am leaving you; but I am coming back. In between by going and my coming, you will have to go through terrible things, with pain like birthpangs upon you. But, if you faithfully endure, the blessings will be very precious." Jesus is saying that things will get worse before they get better. In other words, when we feel as though our life is falling apart, it’s really just falling into place in the hands of God. He’s taking our “Ending” and transforming it into His “Beginning.” So whenever you feel as though your life is falling apart, pause to notice that it’s really just falling into place, for God knows how to use everything, even the bad, for our good. (Rom. 8:28).

So don’t abandon your faith in God when hardships and sufferings come into your life; you might not be able to understand the reasons for the trials and tribulations in your life, God holds the answers. God has reasons for allowing it all. Your sufferings are part of a plan. You remember Joseph's words in the Old Testament? He said to his brothers: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good." (Genesis 50:20)

Our afflictions are never “meaningless.” They always have something to do with God’s greater purposes. God is present in our pain. Although we may not “see” Him . . . faith says, “He is.” And if God is present in our pain, stay calm and carry on and then: 

(i) Sorrow will turn to joy. There may be a time when it looks as if to be a Christian brings nothing but sorrow, and to be of the world brings nothing but joy. But the day will come when the roles are reversed. The world's careless joy will turn to sorrow; and the Christian's apparent sorrow will turn to joy. The Christian must always remember, when his faith costs him dear, that this is not the end of things and that sorrow will give way to joy.

(ii) There will be two precious things about this Christian joy.

(a) It will never be taken away. It will be independent of the chances and changes of the world. It is the simple fact that in every generation people who were suffering terribly have spoken of sweet times with Christ. The joy the world gives is at the mercy of the world. The joy which Christ gives is independent of anything the world can do.

(b) It will be complete. In life's greatest joy there is always something lacking; even when we are very happy, we experience some sadness. In every worldly joy they is some sadness; every worldly achievement there is some failure. We all have this funny feeling whenever we are contented, that this contentment will not last long. In Christian joy, the joy of the presence of Christ, there is no tinge of imperfection. It is perfect and complete.

(iii) In Christian joy the pain which went before is forgotten. The mother forgets the pain in the wonder of the child. The martyr forgets the agony in the glory of heaven. We all rejoice when, after much struggle and suffering, we are victorious. Jesus is just reminding us that true happiness and joy is that which comes after much fight and struggle. This is why, whenever we are faced with a choice, we must always choose not the easy one but the most difficult of the two choices, because it is this one that will bring us real joy.

Go and tell the good news!

Ephesians 1:17-20

I ask the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you the Spirit, who will make you wise and reveal God to you, so that you will know him. I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world.

Food for thought!

Today, we celebrate Ascension of Jesus, As you know Jesus stayed on earth for 40 days after his ressurrection. Then he went back to heaven on a day we call Ascencion or climbing. Please, note that in some countries, this day is pushed to the nearest Sunday. Be it as it may, let us look at its significance. Let us try to understand what Ascension really stands for.

In the above Paul's letter to the Ephesians, Paul is praying for you and me; he is praying that we may understand what Ascension of Jesus brings us, makes of us, means. He says, «I ask the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you the Spirit, who will make you wise and reveal God to you, so that you will know him. I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, and how very great is his power at work in us who believe.» Oh yes, I do also wish that you and me do understand the significance of Jesus' Ascension.

By Jesus' Ascension something happens. Something very great. To understand it, remember that in Genesis, after Adam and Eve sinned, God cursed them: «You were made out of the ground. And you will return to it. You are dust. So you will return to i.t» (Gen. 3:19). This meant in effect that our destiny and our destination was ever since the grave; we couldn't go beyond the grave. Jesus reverses this with his Ascension; he makes us go beyond the grave: «He seated him at his right hand in his heavenly kingdom. There Christ sits far above all who rule and have authority. He also sits far above all powers and kings. He is above every title that can be given in this world and in the world to come.» Christ came, took upon himself our human body, and took it to «the right hand» of the Father.

This is what the gospel of Mark 16:19 says: «When the Lord Jesus finished speaking to them, he was taken up into heaven. He sat down at the right hand of God.» By so doing, Jesus deleted the curse that we inherited from Adam and Eve; he changed the bad news of Genesis into good news; now we are no longer destined for the ground; we are now destined to heaven, to the right hand of the Father. This is what St. Paul is praying for you and me to grasp and understand.

Jesus has changed our bad news into good news; has changed us from nobodies into somebodies; has changed us from nothing into something; has taken our human body beyond the grave. Now, we are destined to heaven. Now, we are heaven bound. This is the Good news that Jesus commands us to share: «Go into all the world. Preach the good news to everyone.» (Mark 16:15).

We are to take this Good news to everyone going through hard times, everyone worried, everyone suffering, everyone groping with bad news. There is so much bad news around us; there are so many people who have lost jobs, who have lost hope; who are disparate and despaired. It is to these people that we are to take the good news of Jesus. Like Jesus, we are to go to these people and tell them to hold on, to continue hopeful. We are to change people's bad news into good news. That is the mission Jesus leaves us to do in his name. So, if you know someone that is down, someone going through difficulties, someone struggling to make ends meet, someone who has lost their job, their joy, their dear one, please go to them or call them and restore their hope, their courage, their love, their faith. This is what Jesus is saying today: «Go out and tell the good news to everyone under bad news.» (Mark 16:15).

Back to the basics of our faith!

Acts 17:16-21

Paul stood up in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I see that in all things you are as superstitious as possible. As I came through your city and as I saw the objects of your worship. I found amongst them an altar with the inscription, `To the Unknown God.' So then, what you worship and do not know, this I preach to you. God, who made the universe and everything in it, this God is Lord of heaven and earth and does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is he served by the hands of men, as if he needed anything, but he himself gives to all life and breath and all things. He made of one every race of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and he fixed the appointed times and boundaries of their habitations. He made men so that they might search for God, if they might perchance feel after him and find him; and indeed he is not far from any one of us. For by him we live and move and are. As some of your own poets have said, `We too are his offspring.' Since then we are the offspring of God we should not think that the Divine is like gold or silver or stone, engraved by the art and design of man. So then God overlooked the times of ignorance but now he gives orders to men that all men everywhere should repent. Thus he has fixed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he ordained for that task, and he has given proof of this by raising him from the dead."

Food for thought!

Paul stood up and started to teach the people the basics of faith:

1. God is not "God the made" but "God the maker"; and he who made all things cannot be worshiped by anything made by the hands of man. However, it is all too true that we often worship unknown gods made by ourselves. That is always the case when we dedicate all our energy, all our mind, all our heart and all our time to something or someone other than God. Only God must occupy all of us: «Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your strength and with all your mind.» (Deuteronomy 6:5; Luke 10:27).

2. God guides history. Sometimes we tend to think that God is no longer in control, that world events happen by chance, that our life is «our» life; we are in charge and no one else. This is wrong. God is still in charge of all things and of all people. As Paul teaches us God «gives to all life and breath and all things; He made of one every race of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and he fixed the appointed times and boundaries of their habitations. He made men so that they might search for God; and indeed he is not far from any one of us. For by him we live and move and are.»

3. God made man in such a way that instinctively he longs for God and gropes after Him. As St. Augustine put it: «Lord, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you.» The days of longing and searching are past. In the past, we used to search in the shadows and traditions of old, and God used to excuse our follies and our ignorance; but now that we have come to know Christ, excuses are past. «In the past, God spoke to our people through the prophets. He spoke at many times. He spoke in different ways. But in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one whom God appointed to receive all things. God made everything through him.» (Heb 1:1-2)

4. The day of judgment is coming. Life is neither a progress to extinction, nor stagnant; it is a journey to the judgment seat of God where Jesus Christ is Judge. History is going somewhere; all of us are moving towards Christ.

As the Book of Revelation says, «Every eye will see him. Even those who pierced him will see him.» (Rev. 1:7)

5. We have moved away from unknown gods to Known God (?) Have we? Have we moved away from the unknown gods to the Known God, as Jesus has revealed him? Are we still moving back and forth between unknown gods and Known God? Are we still going to traditions and to witch doctors? We should not because Jesus has shown us, has revealed to us, has made known us the unknown God; God is no longer unknown, as Jesus said last week:

«If you really knew me, you would know my Father also. From now on, you do know him. And you have seen him.» Philip said, «Lord, show us the Father. That will be enough for us.» Jesus answered, «Don't you know me, Philip? I have been among you such a long time! Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? «Don't you believe that I am in the Father? Don't you believe that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. The Father lives in me. He is the One who is doing his work. Believe me when I say I am in the Father. Also believe that the Father is in me. Or at least believe what the miracles show about me.» (John 14:7-11).

Ac.17:32-34

When they heard of a resurrection of dead men, some mocked and some said, «We will hear about this again»; but some attached themselves to him and believed. Amongst these were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman called Damaris. together with others.

From Paul's catechism class, there were three main reactions.

(i) Some mocked. They were amused by the passionate earnestness of this strange Jew. It is possible to make a jest of life; but those who do so will find that what began as comedy must end in tragedy.

(ii) Some put off their decision. The most dangerous of all days is when a man discovers how easy it is to talk about tomorrow.

(iii) Some believed. The wise man knows that only the fool will reject God's offer.

Praise the Lord even in your agony!

Acts 16:22-34

And the crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off Paul and Silas and ordered them to be whipped. After a severe beating, they were thrown into jail, and the jailer was ordered to lock them up tight. Upon receiving this order, the jailer threw them into the inner cell and fastened their feet between heavy blocks of wood.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, which shook the prison to its foundations. At once all the doors opened, and the chains fell off all the prisoners. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped; so he pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul shouted at the top of his voice, “Don't harm yourself We are all here!”

The jailer called for a light, rushed in, and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. Then he led them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your family.” Then they preached the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in the house. At that very hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; and he and all his family were baptized at once. Then he took Paul and Silas up into his house and gave them some food to eat. He and his family were filled with joy, because they now believed in God.

Food for thought!

There is so much food for thought in today's Frist Reading. Let us look at some of it.

Have you ever thought that there could be joy and blessing in prison or in suffering or in hard times? Most of us have never served time in jail nor have we been locked up in prison. However, spiritually speaking, we have all been through what we might call «prison experiences» in life. Times when the Lord shut us up, in affliction, for His own purposes. Times when we wondered where He was and why He was doing this to us. You've been there, haven't you? May be some of you are there today! Wondering how you got here and when will it end. Wondering why, if God really loves you, these kinds of things are happening in your life.

In today's gospel reading, Jesus tells the disciples:

«Now I am going to the One who sent me. But none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with sadness. 7 "But what I'm about to tell you is true. It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Friend will not come to help you. But if I go, I will send him to you.» (John 16:5-11)

Jesus is telling them, «IT IS GOOD THAT I GO.» How can going away from your dear ones ever be a good thing? How can being locked in grief ever be a good thing? But it is so, says Jesus: «Unless I go away, the Friend will not come to help you. But if I go, I will send him to you.» He is talking of the Holy Spirit. Yes, sometimes sadness is good, is a blessing.

In the first reading, Paul and Silas were obediently serving the Lord when all of a sudden they found themselves in trouble: The crowd joined the attack against Paul and Silas. The judges ordered that Paul and Silas be stripped and beaten. They were whipped without mercy. Then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received his orders, he put Paul and Silas deep inside the prison. He fastened their feet so they couldn't get away. If you haven't been there yet, you will be some day! The first question is «Why?» The answer is «Why not?» Didn't Jesus warn us yesterday: they will throw you into jail? 

Paul once said, «in all things God works for the good of those who love him» (Rom. 8:28). I think this is what made Paul and Silas sing of praise inside the jail: «About midnight Paul and Silas were praying. They were also singing hymns to God.» As someone (Cherie Hill) once said: There’s only one way to enter God's gates — it’s through praise.  The Psalm 100:4 says, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."

You want God’s attention? Start praising Him in the valley . . . where all hope seems gone. Your murmurs of praise are more valuable than the wails of your wavering faith. Through your shouts of praise, His gates are thrown open.  The way “out,” is through your shouts . . . of praise. In the face of impossibilities, laying claim to God’s promises and praising Him for His faithfulness moves His heart AND hand. When there are no signs of victory and your faith is failing, it’s your shouts of praise through the pain that will bring Light to your darkness.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, which shook the prison to its foundations. At once all the doors opened, and the chains fell off all the prisoners. 

I have told you all this now to prepare you!

John 15:26-16:4

“I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me. And you will tell people about me too, because you have been with me from the beginning.

“I have told you all this so that you won’t lose your faith when you face troubles. People will tell you to leave their synagogues and never come back. In fact, the time will come when they will think that killing you would be doing service for God. They will do this because they have not known the Father, and they have not known me. I have told you all this now to prepare you. So when the time comes for these things to happen, you will remember that I warned you.

“I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you then.

Food for thought!

Jesus knows life. Jesus knows man. Today, he is warning us of real danger, not of animals, not of catastrophes, of man. It is true, the greatest enemy of man is man, and Jesus knew and knows it. That is why he told us: "People will tell you to leave their synagogues and never come back. In fact, the time will come when they will think that killing you would be doing service for God."

Jesus is talking out of experience. He was hated by men, slandered by men, tortured by men, beaten by men, crucified by men and killed by men. What Jesus is telling us today, is what happened to him. They expelled him from the synagogue, and was later killed by the religious people of the day. Things have not changed much. The people who hate and wish us evil are not atheists but theists, that is, religious people. As recent events in Nigeria have shown, our greatest threat are fellow believers in God.

Jesus warned us. "I have told you all this now to prepare you. So when the time comes for these things to happen, you will remember that I warned you." When the hour comes, many times, if not always, we don't remember Jesus' warning; we don't remember that we have to suffer just as Jesus said.

Next time when the people you are trying to help turn against you, remember Jesus' warning. Or when someone turn against you for doing or being good, remember Jesus' words. Or when someone hates you out of jealousy, remember Jesus' warning. Or when people hate you for being contrary to their expectations, remember Jesus' warning.

Remember that many of the people who give us hard time are not pagans but fellow belivers, and sometimes fellow Christians; those who worship with us and profess the same faith in Jesus. As it was with Jesus so it will be with us. Jesus was killed by fellow Jews, fellow believers. Even though the people who give us hard times do think that by doing so they are offering service to God, the truth is that they have not known the Father, and they have not known Jesus. 

“The blessing and the honor and the glory and the power belong to the one sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever.” (Rev. 5:13)

Paraclete!

John 14:15-21

“If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Paraclete so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!

“I will not leave you orphaned. I’m coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you’re going to see me because I am alive and you’re about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I’m in my Father, and you’re in me, and I’m in you.

“The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that’s who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him.”

Food for thought!

I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Paraclete so that you will always have someone with you.

What is a Paraclete? Many words have been used to translate this word into English. They include: Advocate, Comforter, Counsellor, Helper. Basically, Paraclete means someone who is called to stand beside a client. In legal terms that would be your attorney. But a Paraclete is much more than an attorney. Probably the English word that we use today that most nearly captures the meaning of Paraclete is the word “coach.” 

The Paraclete is our coach, always by our side, to instruct and correct us when we make mistakes, to encourage and motivate us when we feel down, to challenge and inspire us to be the best we could, to defend us and fight for our rights when the judges are unfair to us. In short, the Paraclete means for us all that Jesus meant for the disciples. That is why Jesus is saying that "I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Paraclete so that you will always have someone with you."

Why do we need a Paraclete? For the same reason that athletes and sports people need coaches. No matter how good they are, sports people always need coaches. Even the best athletes need a coach. Left on our own, we are prone to mistakes and errors. Without God we can do nothing. Jesus knows it and tells us in today’s gospel that we all stand in constant need of divine help. We all need the divine Helper, the Holy Spirit who stands always by our side, the Paraclete.

Did you notice the small word, "another"? It means another of the same kind or quality. Jesus was a Comforter Himself, but the Spirit of God is Another Comforter. One just like Jesus. Jesus is giving us another Jesus! Jesus was able to abide with the Disciples for 3 years. Now that he is going away He will not abide with them as before; He shall abide in them through the Spirit. 

One purpose of the Spirit in our lives is to instruct us in the things of God. It is the Holy Spirit who teaches about the Bible. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals the deep things of God unto us. It is He the Holy Spirit who teaches us how to reach our fullest potential for the glory of God. He is a divine Instructor!

When you feel as though your life is falling apart, it’s really just falling into place, thanks to the Paraclete. Remember Joseph of old: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. (Genesis 50:20). For that reason, I am glad that when I do not understand what is going to happen, when it seems that everything is falling apart, when I don't know which way to turn, I can count on my Paraclete. To him be the glory and the power and the praise, both now and forever. Amen. 

Seeing your life through the eyes of Jesus!

John 15:18-21

18"If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. 19 If you lived on the world's terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God's terms and no longer on the world's terms, the world is going to hate you. 20"When that happens, remember this: Servants don't get better treatment than their masters. If they beat on me, they will certainly beat on you. If they did what I told them, they will do what you tell them. 21"They are going to do all these things to you because of the way they treated me, because they don't know the One who sent me.

Food for thought!

Like Christ like Christians! This affirmation is consoling because it means that Jesus identifies himself with us; what befell to him befalls to us; his is our destiny; ours is his destiny. It means that Jesus continues to live, to love, to suffer in his Christians, your suffering is Jesus' suffering; your joy is his joy; your concern is his concern.

This is what Jesus told Saul, when this man was once persecuting Christians: Acts 9:3-6

Saul (Paul) set off. When he got to the outskirts of Damascus, he was suddenly dazed by a blinding flash of light. 4 As he fell to the ground, he heard a voice: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" He said,"Who are you, Master?""I am Jesus, the One you're hunting down."

What Jesus told Saul (or Paul) that day, and Paul did not know yet, was that persecuting Christians is tantamount to persecuting Christ himself.

«Servants don't get better treatment than their masters. If they beat on me, they will certainly beat on you.» This means that we can and should look at our lives through the eyes of Jesus. And when we do this, we see that all that happened to Jesus is by and large happening to us. Christ continues to live in this world in you and me. So let us face life and its challenges in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Jesus warned us further that the world (society) will hate us. Why all this hatred? Well, we know from experience that people will always treat anybody that is different with suspicion, and sometimes with hate-rage. Anyone who is different, who wears different clothes, who has different ideas, who lives a different life, is automatically suspect. He may be regarded as an eccentric or a madman or a danger to others. This is what they did with Jesus. 

The world acutely dislikes people whose lives are a condemnation of it. It is in fact dangerous to be good. It is dangerous to practise a higher standard of living than the standard of the rest of the people. To put it at its widest, the world always suspects nonconformity. It likes a pattern; it likes to be able to label a person and to put him in a pigeon-hole. Anyone who does not conform to the pattern will certainly meet trouble. It is even said that if a hen with different markings is put among hens that are all alike, the others will peck her to death.

The basic demand on every Christian is to have the courage to be different. To be different will be dangerous, but no wo/man can be a Christian unless s/he accepts that risk, for there must be a difference between the wo/man of the world and the wo/man of Christ. If there is no difference between you and non believers or non-Christians, then you have not even started being a Christian.

Friends of Jesus!

John 15:12-17

“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father. “You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. “But remember the root command: Love one another."

Food for thought!

The central words of this passage are those in which Jesus says that his disciples have not chosen him, but he has chosen them. It was not we who chose God, but God who, in his grace, approached us with a call and an offer made out of his love. Sometimes we wonder why some people are not Christians. Well, the answer is given by Christ: «I chose you.» No one can make themselves Christians; becoming a Christian is a gift, as Jesus once said: «No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.» (John 6:44)

Out of today's gospel we can compile a list of the 7 things for which we are chosen and to which we are called.

(1) We are chosen for joy. However hard the Christian way is, it is, both in the travelling and in the goal, the way of joy. There is always a joy in doing the right thing. The Christian is the man of joy, the laughing cavalier of Christ. A gloomy Christian is a contradiction in terms, and nothing in all religious history has done Christianity more harm than its connection with sadness and long faces. It is true that the Christian is a sinner, but he is a redeemed sinner; and therein lies his joy. How can any man fail to be happy when he walks the ways of life with Jesus?

(2) We are chosen for love. We are sent out into the world to love one another. Sometimes we live as if we were sent into the world to compete with one another, or to dispute with one another, or even to quarrel with one another. But the Christian is to live in such a way that he shows what is meant by loving his fellow men.

(3) We are chosen to be his friends. What does it mean to be friend of God? It means that no longer do we need to gaze longingly at God from afar off; we are not like slaves who have no right whatever to enter into the presence of their master. Jesus gave us an intimacy with God, so that he is no longer a distant stranger, but our close friend.

(4) We are chosen to be his partners. A servant is never partner of his master. His master never opens his mind to him. But Jesus says: «You are not my servants; you are my partners. I have told you everything; I have told you what I am trying to do, and why I am trying to do it. I have told you everything which God told me.» Jesus has shared his mind with us, and opened his heart to us. We do well to open ours to him, as friends do.

(5) We are chosen to be ambassadors. «I have chosen you,» he says, «to send you out.» He did not choose us to live a life retired from the world, but to represent him in the world; Jesus called you and me to make him present wherever we are, not only in churches but on the Main Street, as well. Jesus called us, first to come in to him, and then to go out in his name to all the world. And that must be the daily pattern and rhythm of our lives. Christ is wherever the Christian is.

(6) We are chosen to be advertisements. He chose us to go out to bear fruit, and to bear fruit which will stand the test of time. The way to spread Christianity is to be Christian. Jesus sends us out, not to argue people into Christianity, but to attract them into it; so to live that its fruits may be so wonderful that others will desire them for themselves. We were chosen not to mis-represent but to represent Christ in our place of work, our home, wherever we are.

(7) We were chosen to be privileged members of the family of God. He chose us so that whatever we ask in his name the Father will give to us. Jesus chose us to be privileged members of the family of God. We can and must take everything to God in prayer; but when we have done so we must accept the answer which God in his perfect wisdom and perfect love sends to us. And the more we love God, the easier it will be to do that.

Remain in love!

John 15:9-11 

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete.’

Food for thought!

In this passage there is much about remaining in the love of Christ. What is meant by that? Let us take a human analogy, knowing that all analogies are imperfect. Suppose a person is weak. He falls easily to temptation; or he has made a mess of things; he is on the way down to degeneracy of mind and heart and mental fibre. Now suppose that he has a friend of a strong and lovely and loving nature, who counsels him, encourages him, strengthens him to resist temptation and helps him stay good. In order to keep the momentum and stay ok, the weak man must stay in company of the good man. If he loses that contact; all the chances are that his weakness will overcome him; the old temptations will rear their heads again; and he will fall. His salvation lies in continual contact with the strength of his friend.

Yes, there are people in whose company it is very difficult to stay good; and there are people in whose company it is easy to stay good and clean.

Jesus is saying, I am your good company; stay with me and you will stay clean and well: «If you keep my commandments

you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.»

Jesus' secret of life was his constant contact with his Father; again and again he withdrew into a solitary place to talk to his Father. He was never too busy to be with his Father. We must do the same; we must keep constant contact with Jesus. We cannot do that unless we deliberately take steps to do it. To take but one example--to pray in the morning, if it be for only a few moments, is to have an antiseptic for the whole day; for we cannot come out of the presence of Christ to touch the evil things. Let's have a constant contact with Jesus. It will mean arranging life, arranging prayer, arranging silence in such a way that there is never a day when we give ourselves a chance to forget him.

By the way, this is the purpose of the daily «food for thought»; it is intended to help you jump start your contact with Jesus. I hope it helps you as it does with me.

I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete.

The many names of Jesus!

John 15:1-8

“I am the true Vine. My Father is the One Who cares for the Vine. He takes away any branch in Me that does not give fruit. Any branch that gives fruit, He cuts it back so it will give more fruit. You are made clean by the words I have spoken to you. Get your life from Me and I will live in you. No branch can give fruit by itself. It has to get life from the vine. You are able to give fruit only when you have life from Me. I am the Vine and you are the branches. Get your life from Me. Then I will live in you and you will give much fruit. You can do nothing without Me. “If anyone does not get his life from Me, he is cut off like a branch and dries up. Such branches are gathered and thrown into the fire and they are burned. If you get your life from Me and My Words live in you, ask whatever you want. It will be done for you. “When you give much fruit, My Father is honored. This shows you are My followers.

Food for thought!

Did you know that Jesus called himself seven names? Did you know that these names describe who Jesus is and what he represents? Did you know that these seven names correspond to the seven miracles Jesus performed? Lets begin with the names. Jesus called himself the following:

1. I am the bread of life. John 6:35, 41, 48-51

2. I am the light of the world. John 8:12, 9:5

3. I am the door of the sheep. John 10:7, 9

4. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. John 10:11, 14

5. I am the resurrection, and the life. John 11:25

6. I am the way, the truth, and the life. John 14:6

7. I am the true vine. John 15:1, 5

Surprisingly, Jesus performed seven miracles, each one corresponding to each of the seven «I am» sayings:

1. The multiplication of bread confirms that Jesus is the bread of life. John 6:1-13

2. Enabling a blind man to see the light confirms that Jesus is the light of the world. John 9:1-11

3. The healing of a paralyzed man by Jerusalem's Sheep Gate confirms that Jesus is the door of the sheepfold. John 5:2-9

4. Entering a room when the doors are shut (switching roles with a thief), confirms that Jesus is the door and the good shepherd who gave his life for the sheep.

5. The raising of Lazarus confirms that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. John 11:1-45

6. The healing of the nobleman's son confirms that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. (While the nobleman was on his way, his servants confirmed the truth of Jesus words, "Your son will live. (John 4:46-54).

7. The water turning to wine confirms that Jesus is the True Vine. John 2:1-11

Why seven I am and seven miracles of Jesus? Because seven is a holy number in biblical terms. The number seven symbolizes God's perfection, His sovereignty and holiness. Some examples of seven in the Bible: God created in seven days; Jesus multiplied seven loaves and fishes; seven devils exorcised from Mary Magdalene; forgive seventy times seven, seven sacraments, etc.

All this said, today Jesus has said his last name, his last «I am». It means that Jesus is now ready to go; he has reached the end; all is perfect; he is about to say: «It is complete». He has reached number seven. He is about to give us his soul. But before he goes, he gives us a secret, his secret. Jesus Secret.

Jesus has already given us the Holy Spirit, then yesterday gave us his Peace, and today he gives us his Secret: «If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.» The secret of success is that simple: Stay in touch. if you want to be someone or to do something worthwhile in life. Without me you can do nothing, he says.

Did you notice that no less than 7 times in today's gospel, Jesus uses the word «me» referring to himself? Well, because he is talking about a situation that is an absolute necessity for life and fruit bearing. Jesus is saying that the perfect way of becoming perfect in life is by abiding with him; it is by him being with us, and we being with him.

How can we stay in touch with Jesus? How can we not forget him? By having with us things that can remind us of him, like listening to Christian music or songs (Yes, buy some Gospel songs), like carrying with us a crucifix or image (by the way, we put a rosary or crucifix in the car or on our chest not so much to tell others that we are Christians, as to constantly tell ourselves that we are Christians; to remind ourselves of Christ). In other words, use anything you can to stay in touch with Jesus. «And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.» (Col. 3:17). This is the only recipe I know for excellence in life.

Peace of Christ!

John 14:27-31

Jesus said to his disciples: Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you. ’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Food for thought! - Peace of Christ!

After promising us the Holy Spirit, whom he referred to as the «Advocate» that will «teach and instruct us», Jesus gives us another gift, peace: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." And he immediately adds: "Not as the world gives do I give to you." And he concludes: "Let (therefore) not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
The reason we are not supposed to be troubled nor afraid is that we are not left alone nor lonely, as we saw yesterday.  Jesus leaves us with an advocate, that is, a pleader, an attorney, a lawyer who defends our cause. As St. Paul puts it, «We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.» (2 Cor 4:8-9)
In the Bible «peace» never means the absence of trouble. Indeed, peace by nature pressuposes trouble; we cannot talk of peace without implying trouble, just as we cannot talk of day without implying night. Something demonstrative of peace happened during Jesus' passion; he was at peace throughout: «He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.»
Amidist false accusations and cries of «crucify him», Jesus remained peacefully in silence to the amazement of Pilate, who remarked: «Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?»
When he carried the cross, when he lay down on the cross, and when he was nailed through his hands and feet, Jesus maintained his peace. THIS IS THE PEACE OF CHRIST, «which surpasses all understanding» (Phil. 4:7). The peace which Jesus offers us is the peace of conquest after challenges, is the peace that endures all kind of challenge. No experience of life can ever take it from us and no sorrow, no danger, no suffering, no problem can ever make it less. It is independent of outward circumstances.
In today's first reading there is another example of peace despite trouble (Act 14:19-22)
«But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many hardships we must go before we enter the kingdom of God.»

Paul was talking from experience. He had just been bitten to die, but when he rose up, he went on doing what he had to do. He even encouraged others saying: «through many hardships we must go before we enter the kingdom of God.» Like Jesus, Paul is saying in other words, there's no crown without the cross; no victory without a fight; no day without a night; no Easter Sunday without Good Friday.
  

We are neither alone nor lonely!

John 14:21-26
Jesus said to his disciples [and to us], Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and my Father and I will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Food for the thought!
The Holy Spirit will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you!
As he begins to end his ministry, Jesus begins to introduce the Holy Spirit; Jesus' end on earth is the beginning of the Holy Spirit's presence on earth. «All this I have spoken WHILE STILL WITH YOU», he says, «BUT THE ADVOCATE, THE HOLY SPIRIT, whom the Father WILL SEND in my name, will teach AND remind you all things.» Jesus tells us that the task of the Holy Spirit is to teach us, to instruct us in the things of God. It is the Holy Spirit who teaches about the Bible. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals the deep things of God unto us. It is He the Holy Spirit who teaches us how to reach our fullest potential for the glory of God. He is a divine Instructor!
The Holy Spirit reminds us also of all the things Jesus said. That is why we don't forget. When we become discouraged, the Holy Spirit in our soul rises up and wraps the comforting arms of Heavenly love and protection around us and reminds that we belong to Him. He encourages us to keep on running, to keep on going, to keep on living for Jesus. He inspires us to press forward for the glory of the Lord. Indeed, we are neither alone nor lonely because the Holy Spirit is busy within us!
To the end of the day the Christian must be a learner, for to the end of the day the Holy Spirit will be leading him deeper and deeper into the truth of God. The Christian who feels that he has nothing more to learn is the Christian who has not even begun to understand what the doctrine of the Holy Spirit means. The Christian with a shut mind is a contradiction. This is why, before you read the Bible, before you listen to a sermon, you do well to pray for the Holy Spirit for yourself.
When we listen to or read a sermon, we all hear equally the single voice of the person speaking to us and yet we each have a different perception of the meaning; we understand different things according to what the Holy Spirit wants each one of us to know. In other words, as we listen to the outside voice or as we read, we do listen as well to the inside voice in us of the Holy Spirit. A preacher or teacher's utterance is powerless if it is not accompanied by the workings of the Holy Spirit in the hearer. This is why those two disciples who were going to Emmaus said, «Were not our hearts burning within us as he spoke to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us» (Lk 24,32). These disciples heard the voice of Jesus, but inside them the Holy Spirit was busy working in their hearts.
Nearly all of us have this sort of experience in life. We are tempted to do something wrong and are on the very brink of doing it, when all of a sudden back into our mind comes a saying of Jesus, the verse of a psalm, the picture of Jesus, words of someone we love and admire, like our mother, a teaching we received when very young, etc. All of these sayings that flash unbidden into our minds are the work of the Holy Spirit struggling to stop us sin.

Great Good News!

John 14:1-12

1"Don't let this throw you. You trust God, don't you? Trust me. 2 There is plenty of room for you in my Father's home. If that

weren't so, would I have told you that I'm on my way to get a room ready for you? 3 And if I'm on my way to get your room ready, I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live. 4 And you already know the road I'm taking." 5 Thomas said,"Master, we have no idea where you're going. How do you expect us to know the road?" 6 Jesus said,"I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You've even seen him!" 8 Philip said,"Master, show us the Father; then we'll be content." 9"You've been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don't understand? To see me is to see the Father. So how can you ask,'Where is the Father?'10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you aren't mere words. I don't just make them up on my own. The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act. 11"Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can't believe that, believe what you see-- these works. 12 The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing. You can count on it. 

Food for thought! Plenty of room!

It is good news for us to know that "There is plenty of room for us in our Father's home." But what did he mean when he said there were many abiding places in heaven? Does it mean that in heaven there were different grades of blessedness which would be given to people according to their goodness and their fidelity on earth? That in the world to come there are many mansions prepared good for good; evil for evil? Does it mean that in heaven there are degrees of glory, rewards and stages in proportion to our achievement in

holiness in this life? 

Speaking in purely human and inadequate terms, we sometimes feel that we would be dazzled with too much splendour, if we were immediately ushered into the very presence of God. We feel that even in heaven we would need to be purified and helped until we could face the greater glory. Be it as it may, "There is plenty of room for you in my Father's home" may simply mean that in heaven there is room for all. An earthly house becomes overcrowded; an earthly inn must sometimes turn away the weary traveller because its accommodation is exhausted. It is not so with our Father's house, for heaven is as wide as the heart of God and there is room for all. Jesus is saying to his friends: "Don't be afraid. Men may shut their doors upon you. But in my heart you will never be shut out. Isn't this good news?

And that is not all. Jesus says much more good news: I'm on my way to get a room ready for you? I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road. I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. To see me is to see the Father. If you really know me, you know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You've even seen him in me. To see me is to see the Father. The words that I speak to you aren't mere words. I don't just make them up on my own. The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act. I am in my Father and my Father is in me. Those are the good news that we do well to hold unto everyday; every time; every moment. One more reason to take Jesus serious, as today's second reading put it (1 Peter 2:4-9):

The Lord is the living stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him; set yourselves close to him so that you too, the holy priesthood that offers the spiritual sacrifices which Jesus Christ has made acceptable to God, may be living stones making a spiritual house. As scripture says: See how I lay in Zion a precious cornerstone that I have chosen and the man who rests his trust on it will not be disappointed. That means that for you who are believers, it is precious; but for unbelievers, the stone rejected by the builders has proved to be the keystone, a stone to stumble over, a rock to bring men down. They stumble over it because they do not believe in the word; it was the fate in store for them. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 

Smile! Jesus loves you!

Do you believe in God, or you Believe God?

John 14:7-14

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If you know me, you know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him.’ Philip said, ‘Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.’  ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip,’ said Jesus to him, ‘and you still do not know me? ‘To have seen me is to have seen the Father, so how can you say, “Let us see the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason. I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, he will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask for in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it.’

Food for thought!

We owe to Philip very very much; his daring remark made Jesus tell us something special: "You must believe me."  What does Jesus mean by this? What is the difference between "believing in Jesus" and "believing Jesus"? Well, "believing Jesus or even believing God," is something we rarely do. Many people "believe IN God," but very few actually "believe God." 

As the Bible says, even demons believe IN God: "Do you still think it's enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror! (James 2:19). As Cherie Hills tells us, Confessing that you believe “in God” means that you simply believe that there is a God. 

Believing in God alone is quite meaningless—it’s the obvious. The difference is in "Believing God." This expression means believing in God's Word, His Son; believing in what He tells us to do. Satan believes IN God, but does not believe God. What Jesus wants from you and me is not believing in him, but believing him. That is, he wants us to live with confident assurance that, as he put it, "The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason."

It is not enough to believe in God; it is equally important to believe God. This means that the Word of God not only brings us peace and hope, but it increases our faith, as we are assured that God will perform His Word. 

Faith is more than just believing in God. It’s about trusting in Him, even when there is no evidence that you should. As Jesus told us yesterday, we must believe in God still. "I always remember that the Lord is with me. He is here, close by my side, so nothing can defeat me." (Psalm 16:8).

Don’t be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch how the Lord will rescue you today!

John 14:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house; if there were not, I should have told you. I am going now to prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you with me; so that where I am you may be too. You know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus said: ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’

Food for thought!

Rejections, defeats, and failures that all of us have experienced can create enough negative feelings to destroy us. It is here that we must be very careful! Often the most painful wounds are not the scars that are outwardly seen, but the hidden wounds deep in the heart. Being hidden, they are often the most dangerous.    

Setbacks in our lives, struggles in the journey, trials that fall across the way, can take the joy out of living. Our faith is weakened, and if we collect enough hurts it will stop us from wanting to press forward. Even success can make someone the target of criticism. Do not let the hurts hurt you! Don't let the troubles trouble you, says Jesus.

This passage stands as a great rock in the Scriptures! If you have accumulated some complications along the way that are sapping your spiritual life, stealing your joy and causing you pain, this passage, if believed and received, is able to restore your joy and peace once again. If your heart is troubled by something or the other, there is help here for you today.  

You believe in God, don't you? If you do, you have a stronghold, a weapon that will bring you through the valleys! Believe that God exists and that He is in absolute control of all events, even in your life. And stubbornly hold onto this trust. In other words, trust your trust. And don't let, don't permit, don't allow your troubles trouble you.

As you know, whatever you focus on multiplies. If you focus on your problems all the time, your problems will look doubled; starve your problems by focussing on Jesus. "Trust in God still, and trust in Jesus." What does this mean? It means not to stop trusting God and trusting him. Even in this current crisis, even this time, trust him. Trust God—be still—no matter what. In quietness and in trust shall be our strength. It is God that will part your Red Sea, it is the Lord that will rescue you from the lion’s den, and it is Him alone that will be with you and protect you in the furnace of affliction.

What we must remember, in our darkest moments of life, is that God has often led us to the very place where we cry out in despair . . . in the midst of a parted Red Sea . . . in the valley where all hope seems gone. And He has done so to teach us a much needed lesson in our walk of faith—we cannot deliver ourselves from a crisis that God himself has orchestrated. Too often, it is by His design that we are in the midst of our overwhelming situation. We so quickly become focused upon the seemingly insurmountable circumstances, instead of our supernatural God. (Cherie Hills).

But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch, and you will see the wonderful way the Lord will rescue you today. The Egyptians you are looking at—you will never see them again. (Exodus 14:13).

Jesus loved and lived with his enemy!

John 13:16-20

Then Jesus said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life. “I’m not including all of you in this. I know precisely whom I’ve selected, so as not to interfere with the fulfillment of this Scripture:

The one who ate bread at my table, turned on his heel against me. “I’m telling you all this ahead of time so that when it happens you will believe that I am who I say I am. Make sure you get this right: Receiving someone I send is the same as receiving me, just as receiving me is the same as receiving the One who sent me.”

Food for thought!

I’m telling you all this ahead of time so that when it happens you will believe that I am who I say I am!

These words of Jesus deserve our attention. He is saying something that I believe is extremely important. Jesus is saying: "I tell you this now, before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe that I am God." What is it that Jesus is telling us ahead of time? What is it that he is telling us in advance? Well, as you can see, it is about Judas. 

Jesus knew all about Judas' plans; he knew that this man would betray him. Jesus said, "One who eats supper with me will betray me", and after these words he immediately added: "I tell you this now so that when it happens, you will believe that I am who I say I am." Interesting, isn't it? 

Jesus was well aware that he was about to be betrayed by one of his men. Such knowledge might so easily have turned Jesus to bitterness and hatred toward Judas; but it made his heart run out in greater love than ever; Jesus loved and lived with Judas, his enemy; he even washed his feet. The astounding thing was that the more Judas hurt him, the more Jesus loved him. It is so easy and so natural for many of us to resent wrong and to grow bitter under insult and injury; but Jesus met the greatest injury and the supreme disloyalty of Judas, with the greatest humility and the supreme love.

Jesus knew what was happening. He knew the cost and he was ready to pay it. He did not want the disciples to think that he was caught up in a blind web of circumstances from which he could not escape. He was not going to be killed; he was choosing to die. At the moment they did not, and could not, see that, but he wanted to be sure that a day would come when they would look back and remember and understand. That's is why he said, "I’m telling you all this ahead of time so that when it happens you will believe that I am who I say I am!"

I have loved you just as My Father has loved Me. Stay in My love!

John 15:9-17

I have loved you just as My Father has loved Me. Stay in My love. If you obey My teaching, you will live in My love. In this way, I have obeyed My Father’s teaching and live in His love. I have told you these things so My joy may be in you and your joy may be full. “This is what I tell you to do: Love each other just as I have loved you. No one can have greater love than to give his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I tell you. I do not call you servants that I own anymore. A servant does not know what his owner is doing. I call you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from My Father. You have not chosen Me, I have chosen you. I have set you apart for the work of bringing in fruit. Your fruit should last. And whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you. “This is what I tell you to do: Love each other.

Food for thought!

I want to invite you to imagine your end; I mean your death. Try to imagine yourself dying. In your imagination, you are sure the hour of your death is come. See yourself calling all your dear ones to gather around you (your spouse, your children, whole family, your mother, friend...?). You know you have a few hours to live. What would you tell them? Do you have any secrets that you don't want to die without telling them?

This is what Jesus is doing in today's Gospel reading. As soon as Judas left the Last Supper, Jesus began to address the eleven disciples, using the words of today's gospel. Judas has left the group, and will soon come back accompanied by the soldiers who will arrest Jesus. Before Judas comes back, Jesus said, «Just as the Father has loved me, I have loved you.»

Back to our imagination. What are the words, the message, that you would like to say to your dear ones as you lay dying? Those words are sacred; those words are genuine. That moment is a moment of truth because no one says lies as they lay dying. You can't deceive on your death-bed. What you say is said straight from the heart. This is what Jesus is doing in today's gospel reading. So, this is the farewell of Jesus. This is a moment of great revelations; this is the moment we say it all; the moment we reveal our secrets.

I have loved you! Jesus confesses publicly. No one can have greater love than to give his life for his friends. Jesus continues his confession. Jesus is saying that the best gift of love is love itself; the most godly thing we can give, is love. This is what Jesus has done: «I've loved you the way my Father has loved me.»

The problem with many people is this, they have never been loved; they have never experienced being loved. And if you have never been loved, you cannot love. Why? Because love, before it is given, it is received. And no one can give what they don't have. This is why Jesus says, «I've loved you the way my Father has loved me; love one another as I have loved you»

Do you think you are loved? And I don't mean ONLY being loved by someone; I mean ALSO being loved by God. Do you think the Lord loves you? Can you cite anything in your life as proof of the love of God for you? Do you think God loves you? Do you know that God loves? Did you know that you are a friend of Jesus?

COURAGE!

John 10:22-30

It was the time when the feast of Dedication was being celebrated in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the Temple walking up and down in the Portico of Solomon. The Jews gathered round him and said, ‘How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.’ Jesus replied: ‘I have told you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name are my witness; but you do not believe, because you are no sheep of mine. (1) The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; (2) I know them and they follow me. (3) I give them eternal life; (4) they will never be lost; (5) and no one will ever steal them from me. (6) The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone, (7)       and no one can steal from the Father. (8) The Father and I are one.

Food for thought!

Jesus, in these few words, said eight things about his sheep that need our attention. There are eight great truths that should lift up all of us who are bowed down or discouraged by whatever we are going through. They are words of assurance. It is as if Jesus said, don't be afraid because THE FATHER AND I ARE ONE. 

And because I and the Father are one, says Jesus, I am God just as is the Father; I mean what I say, and I say what I mean. So, listen to my voice all of you that belong to me. And because I know all of you that follow me: 1) I give you eternal life; 2) I will not let you be lost; 3) nobody can and will steal you from me; 4) because the Father gave you all to me; and 5) no one can steal what the Father has given me. Therefore, Jesus is telling us to have COURAGE!

So, be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. (1 Peter 1:6 ) 

So be strong and take courage, all you who put your hope in the Lord! (Psalm 31:24 )

I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. (Psalm 16:8 ) 

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectations of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us for we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (Romans 5:3 ) 

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. (Hebrews 4:16 ) 

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1 ) 

I have refined you but not in the way silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering. I will rescue you for my sake,—yes, for my own sake! (Isaiah 48:10 ) 

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going…” (2 Corinthians 4: 8-10 ) 

“For you will rescue me from my troubles and help me to triumph ...” (Psalm 54:7 ) 

“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. Give all your worries and care to God, for he cares about what happens to you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)