April 26, 2024 - Fri. of 4th Week of Easter
May you continue to keep your eyes on Jesus and follow where He leads.
One of the modern technologies which fascinates me is GPS. As a person travels around, they can know where they are and how to get to their destination. GPS receivers even have the capability of being constantly updated to take into consideration traffic problems and help circumnavigate around those traffic problems. But one thing that is necessary is that the GPS is turned on. It cannot assist the driver or traveler if it is not on.
The same could be said of our relationship with Jesus. Jesus has come to show us the Way to the place He has prepared for us, but if we do not activate our relationship with Him, it will not do us any GOoD. Jesus is the GOD Positioning System which/Who can help us know where we are in our relationship with His Abba and how to get to our ultimate destination. Jesus can assist us when we get caught up in traffic which seems to be going no where. But we must be sure that we turn on our relationship with Jesus.
Today, I remember my parents who were married on April 26, 1947. I thank GOD for the life they shared with me – not only the physical life, but the spiritual, mental, and spiritual life. They were a GOD Positioning System for me, leading me to follow them and Jesus into a deeper relationship with GOD!
May you continue to keep your eyes on Jesus and follow where He leads.
One of the modern technologies which fascinates me is GPS. As a person travels around, they can know where they are and how to get to their destination. GPS receivers even have the capability of being constantly updated to take into consideration traffic problems and help circumnavigate around those traffic problems. But one thing that is necessary is that the GPS is turned on. It cannot assist the driver or traveler if it is not on.
The same could be said of our relationship with Jesus. Jesus has come to show us the Way to the place He has prepared for us, but if we do not activate our relationship with Him, it will not do us any GOoD. Jesus is the GOD Positioning System which/Who can help us know where we are in our relationship with His Abba and how to get to our ultimate destination. Jesus can assist us when we get caught up in traffic which seems to be going no where. But we must be sure that we turn on our relationship with Jesus.
Today, I remember my parents who were married on April 26, 1947. I thank GOD for the life they shared with me – not only the physical life, but the spiritual, mental, and spiritual life. They were a GOD Positioning System for me, leading me to follow them and Jesus into a deeper relationship with GOD!
Readings can be obtained from: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/042624.cfm
Saint Pedro de San Jose Betancur:
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-pedro-de-san-jose-betancur
Readings: Acts 13: 26-33; Psalm 2: 6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab; John 14: 1-6
The relationship between Jesus and His Abba-Father takes center stage in today’s readings. In the First Reading, St. Paul refers to Psalm 2 to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of GOD’s Promised Word to send One Whom GOD calls “the Son.” In the Gospel, Jesus also speaks of His connection with the GOD Whom He call His Abba.
St. Paul speaks to the people of Antioch in Pisidia (in modern Turkey). He summarizes the paschal mysteries of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. He shows how these events fulfill the Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament) and reveal the close relationship between Jesus and His Abba, Who is GOD. He quotes Psalm 2 (which is the psalm of the day): “You are My Son; this day I have begotten You.”
The Gospel today is taken from Jesus’ discourse with His disciples at the Last Supper. Today Jesus speaks about preparing a place for His followers in His Abba’s house. He tells His disciples that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one can come to the Abba except through Him.
Jesus is not only a prophet (spokesperson for GOD); He is not only the suffering servant (cf. Isaiah’s four passages about the Suffering Servant: https://en. wikipedia.org/wiki/ Servant_songs); but also He is the Son of GOD Who has an intimate relation with His Abba Who is GOD. Jesus is constantly aware of His relationship with His Abba. He knows that He is called to do the will of His Abba and lead His followers into a closer relationship with His Abba.
It is thus that Jesus is upset because Thomas and the other disciples do not fully understand His mission and purpose. They do not understand that He has come to bring them to the dwelling place He is preparing for them in His Abba’s house. He tries to get this across to them by saying that He is the Way to the Abba and that no one can come into a deep, intimate relationship with GOD unless they come to the intimate relationship through Him. He also emphasizes that all other information about GOD, His Abba, is second to what He has come to share because He is the Truth. Finally, Jesus says that any other purpose in life is unimportant unless it is tied to Him, since He is the Life.
I am challenged by the readings today, because I do not always focus on Jesus as much as I should. Oh, I know in my head that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, but I do not always live it out in my life. If I really believe in my innermost being that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, my life would be centered even more fully on Jesus and the relationship with His Abba that Jesus has come to share with me, and with you. If I firmly had trust in Jesus, I would not worry about my problems, but come and sit at the feet of the Master-Teacher and learn from Him. I would keep my eyes focused on Jesus, for He is the Way. I would reflect on His words, for He is the Truth. I would live a Christ-centered existence because He is the Life.
Yet, being so wound up in my own concerns, I miss out on what my relationship with Jesus and His Abba could be. I settle for less because I don’t fully trust the Lord Jesus; it is not that I don’t want to, but I let other things get in the way. I put too much emphasis on the wrong things. I can relate to Thomas. I, too, ask the wrong question. I repeat Thomas’ question: “I don’t know where You are going, Jesus; how can I know the way?” If I would just open my eyes and ears, I would realize that Jesus’s way is simple: He is heading back to His Abba and He wants us to come along. After all, He is the Way. The understanding of Jesus is also simple, for He is the Truth. What I must do is also simple. I just need to live like Jesus, for He is the Life.
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, ever revealing. Through Your GOoDness, You want us to come into a closer, more intimate relationship with You. Since we get lost so easily and cannot find our way, You sent us the Way – Your Son, Jesus. Because we get confused with falsehoods and lies, You have given us the Truth – Your Son, Jesus. Because we make choices that lead to death and destruction, You reassure us of Life – eternal Life – Life with You and Your Son Jesus, for He is the Life. You are overly generous in Your dealing with us and giving us what we need: the Way, the Truth, and the Life. All we can do is give You thanks and praise as we draw closer to You through Your Son. Continue to pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us so we can follow the Way, learn the Truth, and experience the Life that/Whom You have given us. We make this prayer through the only means we have to You – through Your Son, Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Who is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, for ever and ever. Amen. Alleluia!
Song of the Day: Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izl7LN5-R9c
I Am the Way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppS-UqW57JQ
Interesting Facts: Two cities called “Antioch” in the New Testament:
http://www.learnthebible.org/two-antiochs.html
21 cities named “Antioch” in the United States:
https://geotargit.com/called.php?qcity=Antioch
Video of the Day: Saint Pedro de San Jose Betancur:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4bNCaCAwTM
© rjk, 11-30-22
Saint Pedro de San Jose Betancur:
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-pedro-de-san-jose-betancur
Readings: Acts 13: 26-33; Psalm 2: 6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab; John 14: 1-6
The relationship between Jesus and His Abba-Father takes center stage in today’s readings. In the First Reading, St. Paul refers to Psalm 2 to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of GOD’s Promised Word to send One Whom GOD calls “the Son.” In the Gospel, Jesus also speaks of His connection with the GOD Whom He call His Abba.
St. Paul speaks to the people of Antioch in Pisidia (in modern Turkey). He summarizes the paschal mysteries of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. He shows how these events fulfill the Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament) and reveal the close relationship between Jesus and His Abba, Who is GOD. He quotes Psalm 2 (which is the psalm of the day): “You are My Son; this day I have begotten You.”
The Gospel today is taken from Jesus’ discourse with His disciples at the Last Supper. Today Jesus speaks about preparing a place for His followers in His Abba’s house. He tells His disciples that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one can come to the Abba except through Him.
Jesus is not only a prophet (spokesperson for GOD); He is not only the suffering servant (cf. Isaiah’s four passages about the Suffering Servant: https://en. wikipedia.org/wiki/ Servant_songs); but also He is the Son of GOD Who has an intimate relation with His Abba Who is GOD. Jesus is constantly aware of His relationship with His Abba. He knows that He is called to do the will of His Abba and lead His followers into a closer relationship with His Abba.
It is thus that Jesus is upset because Thomas and the other disciples do not fully understand His mission and purpose. They do not understand that He has come to bring them to the dwelling place He is preparing for them in His Abba’s house. He tries to get this across to them by saying that He is the Way to the Abba and that no one can come into a deep, intimate relationship with GOD unless they come to the intimate relationship through Him. He also emphasizes that all other information about GOD, His Abba, is second to what He has come to share because He is the Truth. Finally, Jesus says that any other purpose in life is unimportant unless it is tied to Him, since He is the Life.
I am challenged by the readings today, because I do not always focus on Jesus as much as I should. Oh, I know in my head that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, but I do not always live it out in my life. If I really believe in my innermost being that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, my life would be centered even more fully on Jesus and the relationship with His Abba that Jesus has come to share with me, and with you. If I firmly had trust in Jesus, I would not worry about my problems, but come and sit at the feet of the Master-Teacher and learn from Him. I would keep my eyes focused on Jesus, for He is the Way. I would reflect on His words, for He is the Truth. I would live a Christ-centered existence because He is the Life.
Yet, being so wound up in my own concerns, I miss out on what my relationship with Jesus and His Abba could be. I settle for less because I don’t fully trust the Lord Jesus; it is not that I don’t want to, but I let other things get in the way. I put too much emphasis on the wrong things. I can relate to Thomas. I, too, ask the wrong question. I repeat Thomas’ question: “I don’t know where You are going, Jesus; how can I know the way?” If I would just open my eyes and ears, I would realize that Jesus’s way is simple: He is heading back to His Abba and He wants us to come along. After all, He is the Way. The understanding of Jesus is also simple, for He is the Truth. What I must do is also simple. I just need to live like Jesus, for He is the Life.
- The personal question/action for today: What in my life keeps me from living out my belief in Jesus Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life? What can I do to more fully follow Jesus, the Way to the Abba? What element of the Truth do I need to accept and personalize and which I have been reluctant to do? How can I live in a way that manifests Jesus as the source and purpose of my life? How can I share Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life with others?
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, ever revealing. Through Your GOoDness, You want us to come into a closer, more intimate relationship with You. Since we get lost so easily and cannot find our way, You sent us the Way – Your Son, Jesus. Because we get confused with falsehoods and lies, You have given us the Truth – Your Son, Jesus. Because we make choices that lead to death and destruction, You reassure us of Life – eternal Life – Life with You and Your Son Jesus, for He is the Life. You are overly generous in Your dealing with us and giving us what we need: the Way, the Truth, and the Life. All we can do is give You thanks and praise as we draw closer to You through Your Son. Continue to pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us so we can follow the Way, learn the Truth, and experience the Life that/Whom You have given us. We make this prayer through the only means we have to You – through Your Son, Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Who is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, for ever and ever. Amen. Alleluia!
Song of the Day: Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izl7LN5-R9c
I Am the Way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppS-UqW57JQ
Interesting Facts: Two cities called “Antioch” in the New Testament:
http://www.learnthebible.org/two-antiochs.html
21 cities named “Antioch” in the United States:
https://geotargit.com/called.php?qcity=Antioch
Video of the Day: Saint Pedro de San Jose Betancur:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4bNCaCAwTM
© rjk, 11-30-22