Christ is Always Present

In today's Gospel we hear the story about two men who are walking with the Risen Christ to Emmaus. The two men are frustrated and confused because they heard of the tomb being empty. When Jesus comes to them and walks on the road with these two, the men suddenly gain more and more hope and begin to believe. Although the two men do not recognize Jesus, the risen Christ, they invite him to stay with them for the night. At table Jesus breaks the bread and this lifts the veil from the eyes of the two men who realize it is the Christ. It is in this breaking of the bread, an event that we take part in so many ways in our daily lives that Christ is made present to us. In sharing of a meal, a conversation, or a past time we bring out the risen Christ in others and our Lord is made present in us. Christianity is centered upon the fact that we as a community of believers make up the body of Christ in this world. It is up to us to make sure that not only our family and friends experience the joy of the Lord each day, but that all people may know that they are children of God and members of the family of faith. By the power of the Spirit, Christ is poured out to us in the celebration of the Eucharist at Mass. By taking part in and taking in the body and blood of our Lord and Savior we are filled with his presence, grace, and love. May we remember that although we have fallen short of the glory of God because of our human weakness and slavery to sin, Christ has broken the chains of this slavery and given us new life. May we as Christians always allow Christ to be present in us and see the Lord in others.

Jesus Christ is Risen

Today Christians all over the world celebrate the rising of our Savior from the dead. Easter Sunday marks the third day from the time when Christ was crucified, died, and was buried and has risen from the grave. Jesus, the blessed Son of God was not conquered by death, by overcame the throws of human sin and physical death to raise to new life. As Christians we believe that we too will die, but we trust that this physical death is the gateway to new and everlasting life in Heaven with our Lord. Jesus will raise us from the dead and has already prepared a place for us in his Kingdom. During the season of lent we had a chance to examine our lives and assess our faith and our relationship with our Lord. With the resurrection, we too are raised now from death in sin to life in the Spirit. Christ's death on the cross and rising from the grave mark the ever so important faith statue that we are no longer slaves to the chains of sin but are free in Jesus the one who has saved us yesterday, today, and forever. There is no doubt that all who believe and walk by way of the cross are promised everlasting life. What can be better than knowing that physical death is merely the time when we become no longer constrained by sin, but we are released from this bondage and raised to eternity to forever be with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. May this Easter bring you joy and hope that now you are raised from sinfulness to life in the Spirit and that in due time Christ will raise us all from physical death to eternal life. For Jesus has told us that He came to do the will of the one who sent up, the will of the Father is that we all share with Him Paradise.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, as Jesus enters triumphantly into Jerusalem. We hear the proclamation "Hosannah to the Son of David!" and "Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord!" As Christians, we must remember that Jesus is our Lord who overcame all obstacles, including crucifixion and death, conquering both by way of the resurrection. Holy Week is a time for us to reflect upon lent, how we have grown as Christians and where we look to continue to improve, being born from death to new life in the resurrection. There is no doubt that Christ is present with us now, as he was with the disciples two thousand years ago. Jesus is here in our midst and when we proclaim the Gospel of the Lord and shout and proclaim that Christ is King, we too are on our way toward being resurrected and united with our Lord for all eternity. Palm Sunday reminds us that Christ is the vine and we are the branches, that we too like our Lord and Savior carry the cross every day in our lives. The intensity of the passion must have magnified for our Lord as he faced the Sanhedrin and Pontious Pilate. Barbas, a man who was the true criminal was released to the people upon request, while the innocent one died out of love for humanity. Christ is the Messiah, the "anointed one" who came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for all. Like the scriptures say "He humbled himself to obey death, even death on a cross." May we take this humility to the for front of our lives and into a world which is plagued with pride, injustice, hatred, and violence. May Christ continue to be our light, as we can and will overcome all evil and darkness with the Good Shepherd at our side. For Jesus is the "Way, the Truth, and the Life," as no one can reach the Father except through Christ. During this holy week let us continue to follow the way of the Cross, the Truth which rests in God, and the Life which is not earthly but is spiritual and eternal. Someday we too hope to enter the gates of the New Jerusalem to share in the glory and love of God in unity with the Holy Spirit and Jesus the Christ our everlasting King forever and ever. May we be not afraid and hold high the Cross, knowing that we are called to holiness only obtainable by means of the grace of our Lord and by humble servitude called love.

All Are Invited

In today's Gospel we hear the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus had been dead for over four days and his sisters Mary and Martha were very upset that the Lord did not come in time to prevent their sick brother from death. Jesus, a friend of Lazarus himself, told the women that their brother would be raised if they only believed. Martha said to the Lord, "I know he will rise,in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die" Because Martha and her sister believed, Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, raising him from the dead. It is important to understand that Jesus told the women to role the stone in front of the tomb, that their brother might come out. The women who told the Lord they did believe, still were confused because their brother had been dead for over four days, they said the stench would be awful. Jesus yet again assured them by reminding them of what He told them, that if they believed their brother would be brought again to life. Sure enough, Jesus completed the miracle as He said, "Lazarus, Come Out!" The dead man arose and came out of the tomb with burial clothes tied around him. This miracle performed by Jesus tells us much about our own salvation. We are all dead at times because of sin in our lives. Christ calls us from death to life and ensures that Salvation is a free gift that is ours if we say Yes to it. Christ came so that all would be saved, that humanity would be reconciled from the separation from God caused by sin. The crucifixion and ultimate love that Jesus showed on the Cross is the invitation to all that salvation is ours if we want it. It is by the grace of God, through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ and the mystery of the Cross and Resurrection that all are called to salvation in the Lord. Like the Gospel says, this is a free gift given to all. Our life mission is to accept the invitation and say yes to this call to salvation. The Gospel explains that salvation and eternal life is ours as a gift from God, we just have to be willing to receive it. Those who do not say yes and take up their cross and live life in a constant effort to love God and neighbor, and by relying on God's grace are those who are invited, but not chosen because they themselves choose not to be saved. On the other hand, those who say yes to the call and respond positively working to gain relationship with God through prayer, sacraments, service, love, and sacrifice are invited and chosen. Therefore, it is not God who condemns, but we who condemn our selves. God loves us all and wants us to be with Him forever in Paradise, that is why He sent His Son so that this might be fulfilled. Yet, it is up to us as Christians to say yes to this graceful and loving invitation. For that is why the Lord tells us that, "Many are invited, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:14) All of us are invited to the banquet of everlasting life, unfortunately only few choose God over the world and say yes to the call. Remember that the invitation is yours, it is never too late, pick up your cross today and walk in the light that leads to life. Be a disciple of Jesus Christ and you are promised the Heavenly Kingdom, Eternal Life!!! May the grace of the Lord be upon you and may the Holy Spirit dwell within you always, for as the Father Has Love the Son so also does He Love YOU.

Whoever Humbles Himself Will Be Exalted

In today's Gospel we hear about two men who go to the temple in prayer in drastically different ways. The first is a pharisee, a man who claims to offer much to the Lord, boasting about what he has done, how he is better than others, and even boasts about being better than another sinner present in the temple. The second man, the sinner in the temple, says only a few words to the Lord in prayer. This man beats his breast and asks God to have mercy on him, for he admits that he is a sinner who is nothing without God. The parable concludes with the beautiful scripture, "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted." There is no doubt that both men went to the temple for two different reasons. The first went boasting and had no love in his heart for God, as he did not really pray but went about speeking of his good and the bad of the other man in the temple. On the other hand, the sinner and man the pharisee claims to be a horrible man, is the man who takes himself to the Lord in genuine prayer and is transformed from death to life because of his understanding that God is the one who makes us complete and holy. God loved both men before they entered the temple, He loved both men in the temple, and loved both men after they left the temple. For the Love of God cannot be earned. However, it is evident that the sinner, not the Pharisee, was the one who was justified because the sinner was the one who proved his love for God in his humble prayer and reliance on the Lord. The Pharisee was too caught up in what he had done, and did not even realize that he needed the Lord because he was much worse off than the sinner, the Pharisee's soul being misdirected by his boasting and lack of humility. Therefore, let us strive to be like the second man, the sinner, as we are all sinners who must be humble and realize that all we have and all we are is dependent on the Lord our God. For those who rely on the Lord and remain humble in this lifetime surely will be made pure and holy and will rejoice in the Eternal banquet, exalting with the Lord forever in paradise. "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Its the humble heart that justifies and its the humble one whom pleases God.

Life Giving Water

In today's gospel we learn that Jesus tells us that he is the Life Giving Water that we all need, and those who come to Him will never Thirst. Christ promises to fill us with water that will spring us to Eternal Life, for in Him all of our thirsts are quenched as our Savior grants us life, peace, happiness, joy, faith, hope, and love. Jesus provides the spiritual nourishment that we need as Christians and ensures that we are filled with the Lord and the Holy Spirit every time we celebrate the Eucharist. The message is clear and simple, those who take of Christ's body and blood are filled with the Savior and those who believe in this miracle shall be some day united with God in the world to come. When we hear the voice of the Lord we must remember to not harden our hearts, but be receptive and take Him in for He will always help us in times of trouble and times of need. For we know how much God loves us in that like the gospel says, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." There is certainly no greater gift than to "lay down one's life for one's friends." We are friends of God and He has sent us His Spirit to reveal and teach us all things. It is our test as Christians to remain faithful and trust and continue to drink of the cup of salvation that is available to us all in our Lord. As Jesus said, "I came not to be served, but to serve and to give my life as a ransom for many," we too must remember that life is not going to be easy but by persevering and withstanding all tests we too will reign with our Lord as He has promised us. So let us go therefore and drink of this Life Giving Water and do our part as disciples of Christ to share this cup of Salvation with all those around us by living a life of honesty, love, compassion, and friendship.

Listen to Him

In today's gospel we learn how important it is to listen to the Son of God Jesus Christ who is ever present and interactive in our daily lives. God said to the first disciples "This is my Son with whom I am well pleased, Listen to Him." It is important for us Christians to respond to this message from God. The only way that we can become renewed in multiple areas of our lives is to work with the Lord through obedience and by listening to him in the events of our daily lives, as well as while in prayer. It is important that we do God's will because His will is what will ultimately bring us to become full human beings and our complete selves. God knows what is best for us and wants us to be co-creators to His will. The future is certainly not set in stone, God has given us the ability (free will) to choose the ultimate good that will lead us to become closer to Him and become better people. Our lives are continuously unfolding and developing so we just have to be aware of the presence of God all around us and respond positively. We have to try our best to embrace challenges and look at them as opportunity's to grow closer to God who makes us holy by helping us to persevere and overcome temptation and sin. By staying in touch with God and noticing Christ in the lives of others, as well as making Him present to others we fully can experience the Lord in our lives and will understand this transfiguration we too are going through. Although we probably will not be shining as white as light or as snow, as Jesus was in THE TRANSFIGURATION when He appeared to the disciples conversing with Moses and Elijah, we will be transformed from our old ways to new ways of life in Christ. Therefore, by continuing to listen to Jesus and learn from our old selves, we have the best chance of being born as new creatures in Christ to God the Father who will continue to Love us the same yesterday, today, and forever!