Thursday Octave of Easter
SCRIPTURE
...it is the name of Jesus which, through our faith in it, has brought back the strength of this man whom you see here and who is well known to you. It is faith in that name that has restored this man to health, as you can all see.
Acts.3:16
OBSERVATION
Peter and John have just healed a cripple in the temple in the the name of Jesus, causing great excitement among the crowd. Peter uses the moment to preach powerfully about Jesus, the source of the miracle they had all just witnessed.
APPLICATION
Peter used the miracle to preach about Jesus and not take any of the credit for himself. The miracle happened because of "faith in that name". It's in that beautiful name, the name of Jesus, that I live and move and have my being. Today I have a fresh appreciation of the power in the name of Jesus. There is no other name by which man can be saved, there is no other name under heaven.
PRAYER
My Lord Jesus. I lift up your Holy and wonderful name.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
He is Risen Indeed!
Wednesday Octave of Easter
SCRIPTURE
Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’
LK.24.32
OBSERVATION
The two disciples were in confusion and despair. All their hopes and dreams of how Jesus would "set Israel free" were dashed. Jesus had been crucified. His body, a broken wreak like their dreams, had now gone missing. What's left but to go home to Emaus and try and pick up their lives again. But then they met the risen Lord and their hearts were set back on fire and their feet were set back towards Jerusalem. Something had happened beyond their hopes, beyond even their wildest dreams.
APPLICATION
I am a resurrection person. After the agony of the Passion is the bursting joy of the Resurrection. And each time I reflect on this my heart burns within me. On this I place all my hope. From this comes all my joy!
PRAYER
Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia! Alleluia!
SCRIPTURE
Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’
LK.24.32
OBSERVATION
The two disciples were in confusion and despair. All their hopes and dreams of how Jesus would "set Israel free" were dashed. Jesus had been crucified. His body, a broken wreak like their dreams, had now gone missing. What's left but to go home to Emaus and try and pick up their lives again. But then they met the risen Lord and their hearts were set back on fire and their feet were set back towards Jerusalem. Something had happened beyond their hopes, beyond even their wildest dreams.
APPLICATION
I am a resurrection person. After the agony of the Passion is the bursting joy of the Resurrection. And each time I reflect on this my heart burns within me. On this I place all my hope. From this comes all my joy!
PRAYER
Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Know the sound of His Voice
Easter Tuesday
SCRIPTURE
Jesus said, ‘Mary!’ She knew him then...
Jn.20:16
OBSERVATION
All we know of Mary of Magdala is that she had seven demons cast out from her by Jesus, that she became one of the faithful women followers of Jesus, that she was present at His crucifixion and that she was among the first to have seen the resurrected Lord. At first she doesn't recognise Jesus in His resurrected body, but when He calls her name she instantly knows who He is.
APPLICATION
Mary had been on both sides of the track. We don't know what the seven demons were but we do know that the casting of them out by Jesus radically changed her life. She was so attached to Jesus, her love so great, that she stayed around during His passion and death while the other disciples fled in fear.
How great is my love for Jesus? What demons am I still holding onto that stop me from being a radical follower? Would I recognise Jesus' voice if He called my name?
PRAYER
Jesus my Lord, my God my All. How can I love you as I ought?
Little Flower, please pray for me.
SCRIPTURE
Jesus said, ‘Mary!’ She knew him then...
Jn.20:16
OBSERVATION
All we know of Mary of Magdala is that she had seven demons cast out from her by Jesus, that she became one of the faithful women followers of Jesus, that she was present at His crucifixion and that she was among the first to have seen the resurrected Lord. At first she doesn't recognise Jesus in His resurrected body, but when He calls her name she instantly knows who He is.
APPLICATION
Mary had been on both sides of the track. We don't know what the seven demons were but we do know that the casting of them out by Jesus radically changed her life. She was so attached to Jesus, her love so great, that she stayed around during His passion and death while the other disciples fled in fear.
How great is my love for Jesus? What demons am I still holding onto that stop me from being a radical follower? Would I recognise Jesus' voice if He called my name?
PRAYER
Jesus my Lord, my God my All. How can I love you as I ought?
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Friday, April 2, 2010
By His wounds I am Healed
Good Friday
SCRIPTURE
Yet he was pierced through for our faults, crushed for our sins. On him lies a punishment that brings us peace, and through his wounds we are healed. 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.53:5,6
OBSERVATION
Isaiah prophesies the passion and death of Jesus, outlining the purpose of the horror of it all. The single word "crushed" does not fully describe the torture employed in Jesus' death by scourging and crucifixion. And yet on him lies a punishment that brings me peace, by His wounds I am healed.
APPLICATION
I enter today as a man healed, as a man who has been brought peace. Today I remember the cost of this priceless gift, and I am thankful.
PRAYER
Jesus my Lord, my God, my all. How can I love You as I ought. Thank you Lord for my healing, for my peace. I place my trust in You.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The Servant King
Holy Thursday. Mass of the Lord's Supper.
SCRIPTURE
‘Do you understand’ he said ‘what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.’
Jn.13:15
OBSERVATION
Jesus has has just washed the disciple's feet at the Last Supper. This included the feet of Judas, both of them knowing he was about to betray Jesus.
This is unique! There is no other religion that has its Lord acting as a servant this way. Jesus is the Servant King and in His own words is role modeling how His followers should relate to one another. The hierarchy of the Catholic Church follows this blueprint. The Pope is known as the servant of the servants of God.
APPLICATION
I am selective about who and when I serve. I certainly would not find it easy to serve one who was about to betray me. My attitude needs to change. Today.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus. You are the Servant King. Give me a servant's heart that I may copy what you have done.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
SCRIPTURE
‘Do you understand’ he said ‘what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.’
Jn.13:15
OBSERVATION
Jesus has has just washed the disciple's feet at the Last Supper. This included the feet of Judas, both of them knowing he was about to betray Jesus.
This is unique! There is no other religion that has its Lord acting as a servant this way. Jesus is the Servant King and in His own words is role modeling how His followers should relate to one another. The hierarchy of the Catholic Church follows this blueprint. The Pope is known as the servant of the servants of God.
APPLICATION
I am selective about who and when I serve. I certainly would not find it easy to serve one who was about to betray me. My attitude needs to change. Today.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus. You are the Servant King. Give me a servant's heart that I may copy what you have done.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Not I, Lord, surely?
SCRIPTURE
And while they were eating he said ‘I tell you solemnly, one of you is about to betray me’ They were greatly distressed and started asking him in turn, ‘Not I, Lord, surely?’
Matthew 26:21,22
OBSERVATION
It is the evening of Passover and Jesus is celebrating this Jewish feast with His twelve disciples; He with a clear picture of what is about to happen, the disciples with confusion. Jesus reveals what is about to happen (betrayal by one of His closest friends), which is denied by all. The two main players in this denial are Peter and Judas. Within twenty-four hours both would face the shame of their denial. Judas is overwhelmed with hopelessness and kills himself. Peter, with many bitter tears, stays with his fellow disciples, eventually meets the resurrected Jesus and becomes the rock that Jesus predicted.
OBSERVATION
The disciple's denial echoes on today within me "Not I, Lord, surely?" I say this to myself while knowing full well that my sins contributed to nailing my Lord to the cross. Perhaps today is a good day for me to be honest with Jesus about this.
PRAYER
Jesus my Lord, my friend. I am so sorry that I have sinned against you. With your help Lord, I will try not to sin again. Let your mercy triumph over judgment.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
And while they were eating he said ‘I tell you solemnly, one of you is about to betray me’ They were greatly distressed and started asking him in turn, ‘Not I, Lord, surely?’
Matthew 26:21,22
OBSERVATION
It is the evening of Passover and Jesus is celebrating this Jewish feast with His twelve disciples; He with a clear picture of what is about to happen, the disciples with confusion. Jesus reveals what is about to happen (betrayal by one of His closest friends), which is denied by all. The two main players in this denial are Peter and Judas. Within twenty-four hours both would face the shame of their denial. Judas is overwhelmed with hopelessness and kills himself. Peter, with many bitter tears, stays with his fellow disciples, eventually meets the resurrected Jesus and becomes the rock that Jesus predicted.
OBSERVATION
The disciple's denial echoes on today within me "Not I, Lord, surely?" I say this to myself while knowing full well that my sins contributed to nailing my Lord to the cross. Perhaps today is a good day for me to be honest with Jesus about this.
PRAYER
Jesus my Lord, my friend. I am so sorry that I have sinned against you. With your help Lord, I will try not to sin again. Let your mercy triumph over judgment.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Friday, March 26, 2010
My God
SCRIPTURE
The Jews answered him, ‘We are not stoning you for doing a good work but for blasphemy: you are only a man and you claim to be God.’
Jn.10:33
OBSERVATION
The Jews are wanting to silence Jesus because of His claims of divinity. Jesus replies, if you can't believe what I say at least believe in what I do as this testifies to who I am.
APPLICATION
Nothing's changed in two thousand years. Jesus' divinity is still the great dividing point. Many say Jesus did exist in history, was a good man saying wise things, a prophet even.. but God? This is the central to our Christian faith. If I don't believe in Jesus' divinity then I am not a believer and the cross doesn't make sense. I face today knowing that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for me, God loves me that much!
PRAYER
Jesus, you are my God and Saviour. In You I place my trust.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
The Jews answered him, ‘We are not stoning you for doing a good work but for blasphemy: you are only a man and you claim to be God.’
Jn.10:33
OBSERVATION
The Jews are wanting to silence Jesus because of His claims of divinity. Jesus replies, if you can't believe what I say at least believe in what I do as this testifies to who I am.
APPLICATION
Nothing's changed in two thousand years. Jesus' divinity is still the great dividing point. Many say Jesus did exist in history, was a good man saying wise things, a prophet even.. but God? This is the central to our Christian faith. If I don't believe in Jesus' divinity then I am not a believer and the cross doesn't make sense. I face today knowing that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for me, God loves me that much!
PRAYER
Jesus, you are my God and Saviour. In You I place my trust.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
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