God's Message For You - 25 April 2019
Rey Dionela
READINGS for 2019-04-25
Feast of St. Mark, evangelist A GOOD BLAME GAME Then he opened their minds so that they could understand Scriptures. – Luke 24:45 It was right after Christmas when a group came over to our house. It was their Christmas party and they wanted to honor us by singing carols. After their song and dance numbers, we had a little get-together. One of the ladies started to “accuse” me for her situation. She shared with the group that she has been seriously thinking of entering the religious life for the past several months. She joked that I was to blame because she had been regularly attending the weekly Bible study sessions started at our Feast. I smiled with affirmation. If she becomes a nun, she will be the third girl who has been influenced by our Bible study to enter religious life. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that when you study the Bible, you will always be called to the convent or the seminary. If you study Scripture, your call will become clearer—not just regarding your vocation but in all aspects of your life. Turn to God’s Word and you will hear the Lord’s voice that will lead you to your calling. Rolly España (rollye...@gmail.com) Reflect: “Scripture is not like a spare wheel you pull out when in trouble, but a steering wheel that directs us to the right path in our lives.” (Unknown) O, Holy Spirit, lead me always by Your Word, which surely leads me to the Father’s will. St. Mark, evangelist, pray for us. |
1st READING The Gospel has a way of capturing our attention and drawing us deeper into its truth. The Holy Spirit is always present as we read the Gospel, and He awakens in our hearts a love for the Word of God. Acts 3:11-26 11 As the crippled man who had been cured clung to Peter and John, all the people hurried in amazement toward them in the portico called “Solomon’s Portico.” 12 When Peter saw this, he addressed the people, “You children of Israel, why are you amazed at this, and why do you look so intently at us as if we had made him walk by our own power or piety? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence, when he had decided to release him. 14 You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses. 16 And by faith in his name, this man, whom you see and know, his name has made strong, and the faith that comes through it has given him this perfect health, in the presence of all of you. 17 Now I know, brothers and sisters, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did; 18 but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announcedbeforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away, 20 and that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment and send you the Christ already appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of universal restoration of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. 22 For Moses said: A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kin; to him you shall listen in all that he may say to you. 23 Everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be cut off from the people. 24 “Moreover, all the prophets who spoke, from Samuel and those afterwards, also announced these days. 25 You are the children of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors when he said to Abraham, In your offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 26 For you first, God raised up his servant and sent him to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.” PSALM Psalm 8:2, 5, 6-7, 8-9 R: O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth! 2 O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth! 5 What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? (R) 6 You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. 7 You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet. (R) 8 All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field, 9 the birds of the air, the fishes of the sea, and whatever swims the paths of the seas. (R) GOSPEL Today is the feast day of St. Mark. Let us thank and honor St. Mark for the simplicity of his Gospel, and the dynamism and power it portrays to us through faith. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. Luke 24:35-48 35 The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place on the way,and how they had come to recognize him in the breaking of the bread. 36 While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” 40 And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of baked fish; 43 he took it and ate it in front of them. 44 He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.” think: “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’” ______________________________ ______________________________
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST thank You, Lord, for: ____________________
Read the Bible in one year - Numbers 13-15 |
SCARS AS A SIGN OF LOVE Our faith is not built on the hallucination of some disturbed people or the questionable wishful dreams of some frustrated men and women. It was not conceived by disordered minds and utterly disappointed men who claimed to see what they wanted to see. The Risen Lord was and is real. The Jesus who died on the cross is the same Jesus who is alive today. Jesus was very patient with His disciples. He guided them slowly into the reality of faith. The same patience keeps us going. Maybe we doubt sometimes and question some of His teachings. We might wonder whether everything we read in the Gospels is true. Patiently, Jesus leads us into deeper faith. Patience is based on trust. It convinces us that, in the end, there will be a positive result. Patience overcomes setbacks and goes on even after experiencing disappointments. “Please be patient; God is not finished with me yet,” says a poster. What we ask from others, we can ask from God and say, “Please be patient, for You are not yet finished with me.” The patience of Jesus with His stubborn friends is inspiring. In His patience, He even invites them to touch Him, especially His wounds which are the proof of His love. Real love leaves wounds, for real love goes hand in hand with sacrifice. As human beings, we try to avoid pain, suffering, and sacrifice. But if we really love, sacrifice becomes easy. Wounds of love are not ugly. Wounds of love are trophies which we can show with pride. Jesus shows His wounds and stirs up in us feelings of joy and gratitude. He triggers in us the courage not to shy away from sacrifices when they can become signs of our love for Him who sacrificed more for us than anyone of us can ever offer to Him. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD -------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS ------- What continues to bother you? When was the last time you embraced the peace of God in your life?
Lord God, Prince of Peace, assure my troubled heart of Your promise to remain with me until the end of time. Amen. Today, I pray for: ________________________________ |