God so loves Me

God loved the world so much, he gave us his only Son, that all who believe in him might have eternal life.
Jn.3:16

Jesus reveals to Nicodemus what is in the heart of God the Father. It is love for his creation.

To sacrificially give a son is such a great act of love I can hardly get my head around it. To take it up a notch, he gave his son for me.

God loves me so much, he gave his only Son, that I may believe in him and have eternal life.

Wow!

I walk into today a son loved by my Father. This changes everything. Hope and joy are mine.

Thank you Father for your great love for me. Help me be a prophet of hope and joy to all I meet today.
Saint Nicodemus, please pray for me.

Lift Him Up

The Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.

Jn.3:14,15

Jesus meets with Nicodemus in the dark of night proclaiming that he, Jesus, must be lifted up in the daylight.

Jesus doesn't want to be the world's greatest secret. He desires to be lifted up for all to see and live.

Today I live not as a Jesus denyer but a Jesus proclaimer.

Come Holy Spirit. Fill me with zeal to proclaim the Good News about Jesus.

Combat Strangely Ended

Death with life contended: 

combat strangely ended! 

Life’s own Champion, slain, 

yet lives to reign. 

 - Easter Sequence -

Here we are on the fifth day of the Easter Octave and the joy and wonder of Jesus' resurrection from the dead continues to reverberate around the world like Easter bells. The combat of death against life strangely ended indeed!

I walk into today as an Easter person. Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia Alleluia!

What Things?

‘What things?’ he asked.
Lk.24:19

The two disciples returning home after Christ's cruel death are downcast. The risen Jesus joins them and invites them to open up and share how they're feeling. That is when healing begins to take place.

"What things?" Such a simple phrase, yet such a powerful invitation to unburden. It's like lancing a boil. The pus must come out before healing can take place.

This is a practical way I can be Jesus to those I meet "on the road". Offer no advice. Just listen, then invite the Holy Spirit into the situation. Our gaze then shifts from down to up.

Thank you Jesus that you walk alongside me, that you ask "What things?" and then listen. 

Called by Name

Jesus said, ‘Mary!’ She knew him then.
Jn.20:16

Mary Magdalene is taken from despair to joy by Jesus saying one word to her. Mary!

Jesus didn't call out to Mary by the generic term woman. He called her by name. He drew on the intimacy of their relationship. Friendship does that. She knew him and he knew her.

Likewise, Jesus calls out to me by name. Yes, he is my God, but on a personal level he is my friend. He knows me. He is for me. He loves me.

Thank you Jesus for your friendship. You know me and I know you.

Do Not Be Afraid

Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid'.
Mt.28:10

First the Angel in the empty tomb then the risen Jesus has a primary message for the women. Do not be afraid.

Fear stifles action and Jesus wants action from his disciples. "Go Tell" he says to the Church, he says to me. In the first reading today we see Peter the sandpile transform into Peter the rock at Pentecost. Fear has left him.

Also, the absence of fear gives room for peace. I desire the peace that Jesus gives, a peace beyond understanding. 

Thank you Jesus for the peace you give me today. 

My Way

We had all gone astray like sheep, each taking his own way, and the Lord burdened him with the sins of all of us.
Is.53:6

Isaiah prophesies the passion of Jesus, highlighting  what is wrong with us and right with Jesus. We do it our way. Jesus does it God's way.

The song sung to Hell is, "I did it My Way". My way is not God's way and when I follow it I'm just a brainless sheep doing what everyone else does. 

Good News! Jesus has paid the price for my sinful stupidity. The way is made clear for me to come back to God's way. 

Praise to you Jesus. You have rescued me.