sixth sunday of easter

Posted on by Cassie

Jesus came to reveal to us the ultimate truth, the truth of the Father’s love experienced by Jesus and manifested in His life, death and resurrection. We are invited to participate in this truth by becoming one with Jesus through faith.  This is accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit, who Jesus calls “the Spirit of Truth” and the “Advocate.” The role of the Holy Spirit is to assist us in discovering all the real and practical implications of the profound truth revealed  by Jesus.

Though Jesus taught His followers many things  throughout His public ministry, they were unable to understand much of what he said because the heart of His truth was revealed in His death and  resurrection.  Jesus told His disciples that the role of the Holy Spirit is to “teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you.”

The Spirit of Truth will continue the teachings of Jesus in light of the transforming reality of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  The Spirit will enable believers to experience Jesus days, years and even centuries after Jesus earthly life.  The effect of the Spirit’s work within the believer is a profound sense of peace, well-being, and confidence.  This is the kind of peace that the world cannot give and that does not go away in the midst of life’s most difficult struggles.  It is the greatest gift we can imagine.  It is a gift that Jesus gives to you and me.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell

fifth sunday of easter

Posted on by Cassie

Throughout the Old Testament, the glory of the Lord was experienced in fire, a cloud, and a host of other tangible appearances.  As Jesus prepares for His death, the truth of His life as a manifestation of the Father will be made clear.  When he is lifted up in crucifixion as the ultimate and perfect sign of Gods love for us, His glorification will be accomplished.

The heart of todays reading is the new commandment that Jesus gives to His followers: “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (Verse 34).  The commandment is at once very old and totally new.  It is based on God’s ancient commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev 19:18).  It is new because the standard of love is now the love with which Jesus has loved us.  Though God has shown His love for us in many ways in the past, no one could dream that it would reach the point where the Son of God would die for us.  Yet, love is more than a commandment; it is also a gift.  We could never observe the commandment were it not for the fact that we have been created to share in God’s life, which is love.

Spend some time today thinking about God’s love for you and thank Him by telling Him how much you love him.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell

 

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Posted on by Cassie

Shepherds were a common sight at the time of Jesus.  There is still a sheep market in Jerusalem, where shepherds come every Friday morning to buy and sell sheep.  Jesus’ characterization of Himself as the Good Shepherd is full of meaning for us, even though we never see shepherds leading their flocks through the cities.

Jesus speaks about sheep following their shepherd.  To follow Jesus is an image for discipleship.  What draws us to Jesus as His disciples? We have heard His voice and recognized it.  We have heard Him calling us by name.  We are bound to Jesus, our Shepherd, by a personal relationship.

Jesus repeatedly speaks of His laying down His life for His sheep.  He says that only the shepherd, who has a personal stake in his sheep would be willing to risk his life to protect his sheep.  Jesus is intimately connected with His followers, just as the Father is united with him.  He is willing to lay down His life for us so that we may have abundant life.

Jesus came into the world to give His life for you and me.  His coming and His death and resurrection is God’s demonstration of His love for us.  That is why we know we can entrust ourselves into the hands of our Good Shepherd.

Jesus tells us that it is His Father’s will that He freely sacrifice His life for us so that we may receive eternal life.  Since Jesus and His Father are one, Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself manifests just how greatly God loves the world.  God could give up nothing greater than His own Son to deliver us from death and give us eternal life.

What we celebrate during this Easter Season is God’s great love for us.   What we commit ourselves to during this Easter Season is to respond to God’s love for us by truly loving Him in return and asking Him to help us grow in His love.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell