So many people were baptized this past Easter weekend; beginning a new life with Christ. As Christians, we renewed our Baptismal vows on Easter Sunday. This week, we are starting a "new life in Christ," as we raise our hearts to heaven. Many of us were able to confess our sins in the sacrament of Reconciliation this week, preparing our heart, mind, and soul for this new beginning. We suffered with Jesus on Good Friday and rejoiced with Him in His resurrection on Easter. Lets continue to keep our hearts and minds focused on Jesus and His heavenly kingdom.
The Ideal Christian Life in the World from Colossians Chapter 3
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is ABOVE, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory." - Colossians 3:1-4
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is ABOVE, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory." - Colossians 3:1-4
"Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immortality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. Now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator. Here, Christ is all and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another, as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. - Colossians 3:5-17
"Everything I once held dear, I count it all as lost. Lead me to the cross, where Your Love poured out. Bring me to my knees. Lord I lay me down. Rid me of myself - I belong to You. Lead me, lead me to the cross." - Hillsong United
This Good Friday, Murph and I were blessed to walk the Stations of the Cross with the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal and Friars. These holy men and women, are unbelievable examples of God's love. They have completely handed their lives over to God. Joy beams from them in everything they do or say.
This is a picture of the procession through the streets on Good Friday. Some of the friars and a few faithful men carried speakers on their backs so that we could pray the Rosary and Stations, out loud, in the streets. Friars took turns carrying a giant cross on their back and wearing a crown of thorns. Other friars, and sisters, handed out rosaries and prayer cards to people that we passed on the side of the road. (See the bottom of this post for thoughts and a prayer from "One Bread, One Body," on proclaiming the word of God.)
Let us try and live a little more like the friars and sisters, and all holy men and women. Let us give ourselves completely to Jesus. If we can keep our eyes fixated on above, we will be reunited with Him. I wanted to share a prayer from the "Imitation of Christ:"
"O most merciful Jesus, grant me Your grace, that it may remain with me always and persevere with me to the end. Grant me always to will and desire what is most pleasing and acceptable to You. Grant that I may die to all worldly things, and that I may be despised and unknown for love of You. Grant, above all things to be desired, that I may find rest in You, and that in Your hear alone may be my peace. You, O Lord, give true peace to the heart and perfect rest to body and soul."
One last thing I wanted to share, was the interpretation of the today's readings from "One Bread, One Body:"
When the first followers of Jesus learned that He had risen, some were half-fearful and half-overjoyed (Mt 28:8). This divided reaction still occurs today. When we first encounter the risen Jesus, we rejoice with great joy. Yet we also realize quickly that risen life brings new challenges and new responsibilities, especially in evangelization.
Satan couldn't prevent the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, so now he is reduced to trying to stop us from spreading the good news that Jesus is alive and has conquered sin and death forever. One of the main ways Satan tries to limit the spread of the good news is to tempt Jesus' witnesses to be afraid - afraid of evangelizing, afraid of radical lifestyle changes, afraid of stepping out in faith, afraid of change. If Satan can take hold of at least a part of us, he's well on his way to reducing us from a half-witness to no witness at all. Therefore, Jesus immediately told His first witnesses: "Do not be afraid" (Mt 28:10). Jesus confronted fear by issuing a challenge: he sent His followers out to go and tell the good news (see Mt 28:10).
If we're half-fearful like the women at the tomb, let's turn to the better half, the "half-overjoyed" part (Mt 28:8). "Fix your eyes on Jesus" and the joy of His victorious resurrection (Heb 3:1). May His joy be yours, and may your joy be complete in Him (Jn 15:11).
Prayer: Jesus, You are risen! You have conquered sin and death! Use me to announce fearlessly the good news of risen life in You.
Satan couldn't prevent the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, so now he is reduced to trying to stop us from spreading the good news that Jesus is alive and has conquered sin and death forever. One of the main ways Satan tries to limit the spread of the good news is to tempt Jesus' witnesses to be afraid - afraid of evangelizing, afraid of radical lifestyle changes, afraid of stepping out in faith, afraid of change. If Satan can take hold of at least a part of us, he's well on his way to reducing us from a half-witness to no witness at all. Therefore, Jesus immediately told His first witnesses: "Do not be afraid" (Mt 28:10). Jesus confronted fear by issuing a challenge: he sent His followers out to go and tell the good news (see Mt 28:10).
If we're half-fearful like the women at the tomb, let's turn to the better half, the "half-overjoyed" part (Mt 28:8). "Fix your eyes on Jesus" and the joy of His victorious resurrection (Heb 3:1). May His joy be yours, and may your joy be complete in Him (Jn 15:11).
Prayer: Jesus, You are risen! You have conquered sin and death! Use me to announce fearlessly the good news of risen life in You.
Peace be with y'all :)