Tuesday of the 5th week. Year C. John 14:27-31 a

Tuesday of the 5th week. Year C. John 14:27-31 a

The Father is greater than I.

The “greatness” spoken of in this passage relates to the role, not to the essence. The Son emptied himself by becoming obedient unto death(Phil 2:7-8). Thus, “for a little while” (Hebrews 2:9), the Father was greater in glory and exaltation. He was not subject to pain and illness and death. Yet, the Son was. Jesus' return to heaven is to regain the fullness of the glory that He had from the beginning. His return will now bring more joy to the disciples because he will send the promised Holy Spirit to be with them forever (John 14:15–31). So by accepting the pains and the shame of the cross, Jesus saved us from the power of death and sins.

Jesus, I trust in you

Fr. Georges sac

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 18

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 18

Verse of the Day: 1 Corinthians 6:19

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.”

Holy Spirit fill the hearts of the faithful and renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Monday of the 5th Week Year C. John 14:21-26

Monday of the 5th Week Year C. John 14:21-26

The Holy Spirit, Our Reminder

As we begin to get closer to the Pentecost, the readings are pointing out the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” Like Paul and Barnabas in the first reading, we should open our hearts to the Holy Spirit so that he can teach us. At the same time, dispose of ourselves so that the spirit will refresh our mind. Come Holy Spirit!

Jesus, I trust in you

Fr. Georges sac

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 17

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 17
Verse of the Day: Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Pray that your life may bear fruits!
Holy Spirit fill the hearts of the faithful and renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Saturday of the 4th week C. John 14:7-14

Saturday of the 4th week C. John 14:7-14

If you ask anything of me in my name

Asking often implies simplicity, humility and trust. In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites us to ask anything to God in his name and he will do it. What an assurance! Asking in the name of Jesus implies asking with authority and the power of Jesus. It means asking like Jesus, that is, always asking in alignment with his Father’s will. Christians should have faith in God's ability to solve their problems and to answer their prayers. Jesus is the mediator between God and humanity. What we ask in prayer in Jesus’s name, God hears and he is working on it. Theresa of Lisieux once prayed: “I am certain… that you will grant my desires; I know it, O my God!”

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 16

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 16

Verse of the Day: John 14:15

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.”

Pray for faithfulness to God’s commandments.

Holy Spirit fill the hearts of the faithful and renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Friday of the 4th week of Easter. C. John 14:1-6

Friday of the 4th week of Easter. C. John 14:1-6

God has a plan to be with us

As Jesus continues to bid farewell to his disciples, he begins by telling them, "Do not let your heart be troubled" (In John 14:1). Even in this difficult moment of trial, Jesus wants his disciples to have confidence in him and to keep trusting in God. The disciples are to maintain their peace and confidence because God’s plan is certain. God will be in charge and will provide for their needs. Moreover he is now fulfilling his plan to be with us in heaven., our final home “I am going to prepare a place for you”. Jesus reassures us as St. Augustine used to say, “We are citizens of heaven”.

Jesus, I trust in you

Fr. Georges sac

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 15

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 15

Verse of the Day: Luke 11:13

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Pray and ask for the gifts of the Holy Spirit!

Holy Spirit fill the hearts of the faithful and renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Thursday of the Fourth Sunday in Easter

Thursday of the Fourth Sunday in Easter

John 13:16-20

Being a servant

The servant is not greater than his master and the messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. Respect and faithfulness to God are a sign of our love for him. Love of him is manifest in our service for others in humility. No one is too important that he can not humble himself and serve. (Phil 2:1-5). Indeed, humility is the master of all virtues.

O Mary, Mother of Christ, teach me humility!

Jesus, I trust in you!

Fr. Georges sac

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 14

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 14

Verse of the Day: 1 Corinthians 3:16

“Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?”

Pray for the awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in me.

Holy Spirit fill the hearts of the faithful and renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Wednesday of the 4th week of Easter. John 12:44-50

Wednesday of the 4th week of Easter. John 12:44-50

Moving away from darkness

John's Gospel is often a dynamic of opposition between: truth and lie, darkness and light, keeping and rejecting, believing, and disbelieving. One needs to make a clear-cut choice.

Jesus, in today's gospel, indicates that he has come as the light so that whoever believes in him would not walk in darkness. We may find ourselves in various forms of darkness: unbelief, hatred, greed, division, corruption, and laziness. Yet, following Jesus is the exclusive source of spiritual light. No other source of spiritual truth is available to mankind.

May we remain in the light of Christ. Nobody or nothing can shut down the light of Christ in us.

Jesus, I trust in you

Fr. Georges sac

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 13

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 13

Verse of the Day: Acts 2:33

“Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.”

Holy Spirit open my eyes and my ears!

Holy Spirit fill the hearts of the faithful and renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Tuesday of the 4th week of Easter. C. John 10:22-30

Tuesday of the 4th week of Easter. C. John 10:22-30

Winter Season in our spiritual life

In today's Gospel, St. John tells us that the feast of the dedication was taking place in Jerusalem during winter time. The word has a deep meaning. Here, Winter refers first to the historical context. It is a season with very cold temperature and rain. Second, it symbolizes also, death, coldness, time of waiting, ending, barrenness, and it prepares people to spring and its new life. So, when John tells us that “It was winter”, this means that the long wait for the Messiah was coming to an end. Death would soon be defeated. The winter of Satan’s reign would soon pass into the spring of Jesus’ Kingdom. The barrenness of religious leaders' hearts will give room to Jesus' life-giving presence. May our hearts open up to Christ’s self giving life. Amen.

Jesus, I trust in you!

Fr. Georges sac

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 12

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 12

Verse of the Day: Ephesians 4:30

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Pray for a very special relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit fill the hearts of the faithful and renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Monday of the 4th week of Easter C.

Monday of the 4th week of Easter C.

Jesus, the true Door

In today's Gospel, Jesus declares, "I am the door of the sheep." (John 10:7) The door represents a point of access into the house. In the context of John's Gospel, Jesus uses the analogy of the door to specify that he is the only way to salvation and true life. As the true Shepherd, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. All others who claim to lead to God are thieves and robbers who lead sheep astray.

By indicating that he is the door, Jesus is clearly telling every listener that he is is the gateway or the highway to God's kingdom, salvation, and true spiritual life. Only through Jesus can we truly know God and be saved.

Jesus, I trust in you.

Fr. Georges sac

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 11

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 11

Verse of the Day: Romans 15:13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope!”

Pray today for the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit fill the hearts of the faithful and renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Saturday of the 3rd week of Easter. C. John 6:60–69

Saturday of the 3rd week of Easter. C. John 6:60–69

Words of eternal life

As he continues teaching on the bread of life, many disciples begin to leave.  “This saying is hard; who can accept it?”  Jesus keeps intensifying the language. He knew that some would not believe in the Eucharist  no matter what. Some would rather leave him for their former way of life. Some would prefer darkness and error, cheap ways, manipulations, and lies. Together with St. Peter, the Catholic Church continues to celebrate the Eucharist as the source and summit of our life. "

To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” 

Yes, in the Eucharist, we partake in the whole mystery of God's love for us.

Jesus, I trust in you!

Fr. Georges sac.

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 10

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 10

Verse of the Day: John 16:7

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

Holy Spirit fill the hearts of the faithful and renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Friday of the 3rd week of Easter, C. John 6:52-59

Friday of the 3rd week of Easter, C. John 6:52-59

Unless you eat my flesh

This statement of Jesus brought about a serious quarrel among the Jewish people. They were forbidden to eat blood, for the blood is life. It is forbidden to eat the life with the meat (cf. Deut 12:23). Yet, the aim of Jesus is to turn their hearts to the true purpose of living. That is why he says: “Unless you eat my flesh.” Christ gives no option but to condition our existence by feeding on his flesh. No wonder, St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us that, “Although in all of the sacraments the power of Christ is present, in the Eucharist Christ himself is present”. The Eucharist is central in our life and vital for our survival.

St. Leo, the Great, pray for us!

Fr. Georges sac

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 9

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 9

Verse of the Day: John 14:16

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever”

Holy Spirit fill the hearts of the faithful and renew the face of the earth. Amen.