Happy Humility

Fourth Week of Easter

SCRIPTURE

After he had washed the feet of his disciples, Jesus said to them:

‘I tell you most solemnly,

no servant is greater than his master,

no messenger is greater than the man who sent him.

‘Now that you know this, happiness will be yours if you behave accordingly.
Jn.1316,17

 OBSERVATION

Jesus has just washed the disciples feet a the Last Supper and starts his last discourse to them, teaching on true servant-hood. Jesus infers here that there is happiness that comes with humility.

APPLICATION

This is one of the many counter-cultural teachings of Jesus.  The world tells us it is better to be served than to serve.  Jesus' model of washing the disciple's feet teaches the opposite.  Happiness will be mine, says Jesus, if I serve others as though they are better than myself.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus you are the Servant King. Help me form a servant's heart after your own.

Little Flower, please pray for me.

The Greater Love

Feast Day of Saint Peter Chanel, Priest, Martyr




SCRIPTURE
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Jn.15:12,13


OBSERVATION
Today is the Feast of Saint Peter Chanel, Priest and Martyr.  His zeal to be a missionary was thwarted for many years before he was sent to the island of Futuna in the Pacific where he was murdered by the locals.  Chanel's martyrdom accomplished his missionary work, with most of the island converting, including his murderer.


APPLICATION
The greatest act of love is to lay done your life.  The obvious inference is that this is what Jesus did for me and I should do likewise. It is a great calling but not one I would willing rush into. I'm sure Saint Peter didn't plan on his martyrdom.  And yet he did die for those he came to serve in Jesus name. 


PRAYER 
Lord Jesus, I do love the gift of my life. I surrender it to you.
Saint Peter Chanel, pray for me.

What's in a Name?

Fourth Week of Easter

SCRIPTURE
 It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians.’
Acts.11:26

OBSERVATION
The persecution following the martyrdom of Stephen has scattered the followers of Jesus throughout Asia Minor.    They preached as they traveled and so the Good News of Jesus was spread as a result, one of the most fertile grounds being Antioch. Here not only Jews were converted but Greeks as well.  Barnabas was sent to check on the unusual happenings at Antioch and was pleased with what he saw.  It was at Antioch that the followers of the way of Jesus became distinctive in their life style to the degree that they became named as "Christians".

APPLICATION
What's in a name?  Is my life style so radical that others would readily call me Christian, would readily call me Catholic.  When I first converted twenty-one years ago these names felt strange but also exciting.  I knew I was going against the flow and I wore these labels with pride.  Have I become complacent in my life-style?  Do I no longer stand out as radically different? My zeal for Jesus needs to regain a few degrees of heat.  I need to be more worthy of the name.

PRAYER
There is no other name by which men can be saved, there is no other name under heaven.  Lord Jesus, may I be worthy of your beautiful name.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Reach the Ends of the Earth

Fourth Week of Easter

SCRIPTURE
Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. ‘We had to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans. For this is what the Lord commanded us to do when he said:

I have made you a light for the nations,

so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.’

It made the pagans very happy to hear this and they thanked the Lord for his message;
Acts.13:46-48

OBSERVATION
Paul and Barnabas have reached Antioch and are preaching the Good News of Jesus so boldly that many are converted. Again this causes jealously among the Jewish leaders who plot against them.  Paul and Barnabas take this opposition from the Jews as a sign that they are to start preaching to gentiles and pagans, much to the joy of those people.

APPLICATION
There is a tendency in me to "preach to the converted", it's much safer.  But this was never God's intention.  His salvation is intended to reach the ends of the earth.  Who are the "gentiles and pagans" in my day to day living that I can present the Good News of Jesus to?

PRAYER
Holy Spirit, give me boldness to present the Gospel clearly to all who are destined to be saved.
Saints Paul and Barnabas, pray for me. 

Eat My Flesh, Drink My Blood

Third Week of Easter

SCRIPTURE

 As I, who am sent by the living Father, myself draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will draw life from me.
Jn.6:57

OBSERVATION

The crowd has chased after Jesus following the miracle of the feeding of the five-thousand.  Jesus confronts their misunderstanding of who He is and why he had come by explaining it is His flesh that must be desired to be eaten, not just bread.  Even as people start grumbling about this and start drifting away, Jesus doesn't water down what He is saying.  In fact He emphasises it;  ‘I tell you most solemnly, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you." Jn.6:53

This is the great establishment of the Holy Eucharist which Jesus then performs at the Last Supper.

APPLICATION

I want the life of Jesus in me.  Holy Eucharist offers me that, not because of any teaching of man, but because Jesus Himself said it will.  I will approach the Eucharist with a new sense of awe as to who and what it is I am receiving.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of your flesh and your blood that promises me eternal life!  Jesus in the Eucharist, I trust in You.

Little Flower, please pray for me.

Right place at the Right Time

Third Week of Easter

SCRIPTURE
The eunuch turned to Philip and said, ‘Tell me, is the prophet referring to himself or someone else?’ Starting, therefore, with this text of scripture Philip proceeded to explain the Good News of Jesus to him.
Acts 8:34,35

OBSERVATION
Philip is prompted by an angel to meet the eunuch Ethiopian official on the road and engage with him.  The eunuch is reading scripture and puzzling at what it could mean.  The scripture is from Isaiah, the prophesy about Jesus being led like a sheep to the slaughter house.  The Eunuch asks the question, Philip gives the answer.  The eunuch was ready for the Gospel of Jesus Christ because he had asked the question.  Philip's presentation of the Good News had a powerful affect as the eunuch immediately asked for baptism.

APPLICATION
I'm reminded of a saying: "Don't give the answer until he asks the question".  Philip was in relationship with the eunuch, enabling the question that would change his life for ever to be asked.  I need to be more open to hearing an angel prompting me to be at the right place at the right time, to get into relationship with others so they can ask the question. I can then give the Good News of Jesus to them.

PRAYER
Holy Spirit.  Help me hear your promptings to get into the right place at the right time so I may meet others and give the Good News of Jesus when they ask the question.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

When the Stones get Thrown

Third Week of Easter

SCRIPTURE
But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. ‘I can see heaven thrown open’ he said ‘and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’
Acts 7:55,56

OBSERVATION
Stephen has been falsely accused of blasphemy before the Sanhedrin.  He continues to boldly proclaim the truth about Jesus before them, incurring their mounting rage. The greater their anger the more insistent Stephen becomes about the divinity of Jesus, ending with a glorious apparition of seeing "heaven thrown open" with Jesus and God the Father waiting for him.  Saint Stephen is acknowledged as the Church's first martyr. You wouldn't die for what you know to be a lie. It is upon his blood and the blood of others who soon follow him that the foundations of the Church are firmly and unshakably laid.

APPLICATION
This reminds me of a line from a News Boys song:  "When the stones get thrown, they either miss or they turn to Glory."  For Stephen, they turned to Glory.  It's not a matter of IF but WHEN the stones get thrown. Standing up for Jesus makes me a target.  This is the boldness I claim today to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus.  Fill me with a zeal to proclaim You to my world which is crying out to know the truth.
Saint Stephen pray for me.