Wednesday of the 7th week of Easter. C. John 17:11b-19.

Wednesday of the 7th week of Easter. C. John 17:11b-19.

Consecration in the truth

We continue with the priestly prayer of Jesus. Our High Priest, Jesus throughout this Chapter 17 of John's Gospel, prays for unity. Besides unity, Jesus, in today excerpt, prays for the protection, the joy, the sanctification and the consecration of the disciples in the truth. With Jesus, the entire humanity has come to the fullness of the knowledge of God. "Father, consecrate them in the truth," he prayed. According to St. Augustine, this consecration in the truth is a call to holiness and a life lived for God's glory.

Jesus, I trust in you

Fr. Georges sac

Monday of the 7th week of Easter. John 16:33.

Monday of the 7th week of Easter. John 16:33.

"I have conquered the world"

Jesus tells us this morning: "I have conquered the world." As we will go through suffering and persecution, Jesus is inviting us to take courage. By his death and resurrection, Jesus overcame the power of the world, especially sin, death, and Satan. No matter what happens on our journey, if we trust in the Lord, our victory in Christ is already secured.

Come Holy of courage.
Jesus, I trust in you

Fr. Georges sac

May 31 – Feast of the Visitation. Luke 1:39-56

May 31 – Feast of the Visitation.

Luke 1:39-56

Mary, our model of service and humility

Without hesitation, Mary set out on a journey to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. She stayed with her to serve her and shared the good news with her. The presence of Mary brought joy and new refreshing air to Elizabeth. By setting on her journey as a young pregnant young girl, Mary took a serious risk. Yet, she becomes a beacon of hope, humility, service, and courage for generations of men and women who face challenges in their daily service to the Lord. We are reminded on this feast that those who do not live to serve others do not serve to live. By reaching out to others  in the way of Mary, the world would be a very different place. Such a world will be filled with gratitude and joy, love and peace. Let every living soul sing, "Magnificat anima mea dominum"

Jesus, I trust in you 

Fr. Georges sac

Friday of the 6th Week of Easter C. Acts 18:9-18; Jn 16:20-23.

Friday of the 6th Week of Easter C. Acts 18:9-18; Jn 16:20-23.

"You will grieve, but your grief will become joy."says Jesus. The change from grief to joy is a central theme in the Bible. In Psalm 126:6, "those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them." God will restore the children of Israel from slavery and exiles.

The disciples of Jesus, too, will experience grief over his upcoming death and separation. But, after his resurrection, there will be joy.  The victory of Christ over death and sin offers new hope and new life that bring unwavering joy to believers. Everyday believers go through the daily experience from death to life, from sadness and grief to joy, from trouble in heart to peace!

Jesus, I trust in you 

Fr. Georges sac

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 26

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 26

Verse of the Day: 1 Corinthians 2:14

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."

Pray for the spirit of discernment

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

Wednesday of the 6th Week of Easter. John 16:12-15

Wednesday of the 6th Week of Easter. John 16:12-15

Mission of the Holy Spirit

In this passage of John's Gospel, Jesus speaks of the role of the Holy Spirit after his departure. The Holy Spirit will reveal and make known to believers the truths and teachings that Jesus has received from the Father. He will take what belongs to Jesus and "declare it to believers. In the physical absence of Jesus, the Holy Spirit will continue his great job of teaching and revealing God's truth. The Holy Spirit's mission is to make known the truth to us.

Jesus, I trust in you

Fr. Georges sac

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 25

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 25

Verse of the Day: Isaiah 11:2

“And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.."

Lord let your spirit rest upon me

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

Tuesday of the 6th Week of Easter. Acts 16:22-34. John 16:5-11

Tuesday of the 6th Week of Easter. 

Acts 16:22-34. John 16:5-11

Nothing can stop God

Paul and Silas's time in prison is a lovely teaching of faith, comfort, strength, and joy for us as Christians. In  challenging circumstances, we should rely on the power of prayer, God's word, and worship.  Paul and Silas, even though they were behind bars and chains, did not stop praying and worshipping God. The conversion of the jailer and his subsequent actions of washing their wounds and providing a meal illustrate the fact that God has the power to change hearts and lives. God's power is unstoppable.

Jesus, I trust in you

Fr. Georges sac

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 24

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 24

Verse of the Day: Romans 5:5

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.."

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

Monday of the 6th Week of Easter. John 15:26—16:4. Memorial day.

Monday of the 6th Week of Easter. John 15:26—16:4. Memorial day.

The first reading this morning invites us to rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4) while the Gospel is a prayer Jesus for unity. These themes are fitting for the celebration of Memorial Day, which is a time of gratitude towards the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.  As Christians, we join the entire nation to celebrate their courage, bravery, and the cost of freedom. This reminds us to practice the love of Christ in our  daily lives: serving and laying down our lives for others. True love consists of giving one's life. "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone," says Jesus. (John12:24)

On this Memorial Day, let's pray not only for the fallen but also for the living veterans and active service members who continue to serve and carry the burden of memory. Let's pray for the Country. 

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 23

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 23

Verse of the Day: Acts 13:2

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

Pray for the grace of fasting and worship

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

Saturday of the 5th week of Easter c. John 15:18-21.

Not of the world but in the world

Jesus reminds us that, we do not belong to the world. What is the world in the Bible? The word "world" or "cosmos" refers to a world system ruled by Satan. In Christ, believers are no longer of the world; they are no longer ruled by sin, nor are they bound by the principles of the world. Through baptism, we being changed into the image of Christ, causing the world to be transformed as we bring Christ light into it. Our living in this physical world does not mean, conformity to its anti-values of corruption and sin. Rather, we are to conform ourselves and our minds to the values of the kingdom of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1-2). This is should become our daily activity and commitment.

Jesus, I trust in you 

Fr. Georges sac

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 22

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 22

Verse of the Day: 2 Corinthians 3:17

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

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

Friday of the 5th week of Easter. C. John15:12-17

Friday of the 5th week of Easter. C. John15:12-17

Bond of love with Christ

Love is not just a feeling but a commitment. That is what Jesus is teaching us in today’s gospel. Loving like Jesus and building a friendship with him. A Christian’s love is the mirror of Christ’s love. Jesus speaks of his sacrificial love manifested in his death on the cross for us. We are called to imitate Jesus by laying down our lives for others; serving without counting the cost and being the source of joy, hope and encouragement for others in our daily lives. Christ inviting us to a friendship with him signifies a bond of shared knowledge, truth, unity and love with him.

Jesus, I trust in him.

Fr. Georges sac

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 21

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 21

Verse of the Day: John 16:13

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth (…) and he will declare to you the things that are to come."

Pray for truth and revelation

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

Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter. C. John 15: 9-11

Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter. C. John 15: 9-11

Fruits bearing disciples

Jesus wanted us not only to bear fruits but more fruits. Hence, he prunes any part of us that is not fruitful. He wants the best of us. Therefore, he invites us to abide in his love. As the Father has loved Him, Jesus wants us to stay in his his love. God does not remove his love from us. He wants our joy to be complete. But, we often move away from God’s love. The greatest sin of man is the rejection of God's love; the revolt against God, which only bring bitterness and sadness! Yet, our true communion with Christ makes us fruits bearing disciples.

Jesus, I trust in you!

Fr. Georges sac

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 20

JOURNEY TO PENTECOST: DAY 20

Verse of the Day: 2 Corinthians 13:14

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

Pray for fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

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

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