April 27, 2024 - Sat. of 4th Week of Easter
May you continue to open your eyes and see the wonderful works of GOD all around you.
Some people seem to walk around with blinders on. They fail to see “the big picture.” They only focus on their particular and limited part of the vision GOD intends. It is true that we can not fully comprehend all of GOD’s plan, but we often limit our sights because of a desire to see things only from our perspective. We also desire that the Lord Jesus Christ would see our point of view and agree with us rather seeking to be open to what He plans for us to see. Obviously, the analogy of seeing goes far beyond physical vision. It refers to spiritual insight.
Let us pray that the Lord Jesus will continue to open our eyes and minds and hearts to take in what GOD would have us comprehend. And let us give glory and witness to all of the mighty (and simple) deeds that GOD has done, is doing, and will continue to do.
May you continue to open your eyes and see the wonderful works of GOD all around you.
Some people seem to walk around with blinders on. They fail to see “the big picture.” They only focus on their particular and limited part of the vision GOD intends. It is true that we can not fully comprehend all of GOD’s plan, but we often limit our sights because of a desire to see things only from our perspective. We also desire that the Lord Jesus Christ would see our point of view and agree with us rather seeking to be open to what He plans for us to see. Obviously, the analogy of seeing goes far beyond physical vision. It refers to spiritual insight.
Let us pray that the Lord Jesus will continue to open our eyes and minds and hearts to take in what GOD would have us comprehend. And let us give glory and witness to all of the mighty (and simple) deeds that GOD has done, is doing, and will continue to do.
Readings can be obtained from: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/042724.cfm
Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort:
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-louis-mary-grignion-de-montfort
Readings: Acts 13: 44-52; Psalm 98: 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4; John 14: 7-14
“All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of GOD.” These words from the Responsorial Psalm today speak of the manifestation of GOD’s work. It is something that flows out for all to see, yet all do not see. Some refuse to see. Some do not fully understand and lack spiritual insights. GOD wants all to see and to give praise back to GOD.
In our First Reading, Paul and Barnabas continue their missionary journey into Asia Minor (modern Turkey). After preaching in the Jewish synagogue in Antioch, they are ousted by the Jews. The Jews cannot see, or they refuse to see, the truth of their own scriptures that revealed the saving works in the person of Jesus. The Gentiles rejoice in the message that Paul and Barnabas bring – the message of the saving works of GOD. The disciples sense the joyful presence of the Holy Spirit. The saving works of GOD are seen in more and more distant places and by people who are not part of the Jewish faith.
In the Gospel today, Philip does not see clearly. Philip wants to see the Abba-Father. Jesus had been with Philip and the other disciples for quite some time, yet they failed to see Jesus clearly. Jesus chides Philip for not seeing that Jesus and His Abba are one and if you see (“understand”) Jesus and His mission, you see the Father and “understand” the will of the Father.
How often we fail to see the saving power of GOD. We think we see what GOD wants us to see, but we are blind to GOD’s true workings. We only see what we want to see. We close our eyes and minds to the greater things that GOD is doing. Jesus came that we might see and experience the fullness of GOD, yet sometimes we shut our eyes to what GOD is revealing to us.
We think we see GOD’s plan, but what we see is through our own tinted glasses. It colors the world with false colors. We become myopic and only have limited vision. We want GOD to see things the way we see things, and we are not willing to see things the way GOD sees them. We say such prayers as “GOD, help others to agree with me about. . .” or “Lord, open the eyes of those who disagree with me so that they will see clearly (what obviously I already see clearly).”
We should be listening to the words of Jesus, “take the beam out of your own eye, so that you can see clearly to remove the splinter in your kinfolk’s eye” (Matthew 7: 5). If we really had the eyes of faith, we would begin to see GOD’s plan in the life and ministry of Jesus. We would come and learn from the Master-Teacher. We would become disciplined learners who seek to imitate our Master so that people would look beyond us to see the Master and His saving works.
As a response to today’s reading, I sense that I am being invited to spend more time with Jesus. As I spend more time with the Master, I will see His Abba as I look at the Master, and hopefully I will not hear the words Jesus addressed to Philip, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you still do not know Me?” It is in my spending time with the Master that I will get to “know” Him and His Abba, that is, I will deepen my relationship with Jesus and His Abba, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. I will see the great signs that Jesus will do as I learn to ask for the right gifts. That’s the challenge before me today: To see Jesus and His Abba and feel the presence of the Holy Spirit – to see the saving power of GOD that reaches out to the ends of the earth, beyond my limited scope. It takes a continued metanoia – a looking beyond my own mindset and a seeking to put on the mindset of the Master-Teacher.
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, all powerful and all knowing. Through Your GOoDness, You reveal Your saving power through many signs and wonders. Of these the greatest is the incarnation of Your Son, Jesus. He came to reveal Who You are by allowing His followers to see Who He is. As Master-Teacher, He taught His disciples (disciplined learners) to draw ever closer to Him and imitate Him in proclaiming Your love to others. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, help us to keep our eyes open to Your saving power as manifested in and through Your Son, Jesus the Christ. May we give glory and praise to You as we continue to experience Your marvelous deeds. In the name of Jesus we make this prayer, for He is our Master and Teacher, Who has given us an example of loving service, and 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: Open My Eyes by Jesse Manibusan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK6wgHO0yKQ
Open Our Eyes, Lord – Maranatha Singers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZsZkB-HcyE
Psalm 98: All the Ends of the Earth:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KraUiZR_nHA
Video of the Day: What's Your Story: St. Louis de Montfort:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzkaF08ckFE
© rjk, 12-01-22
Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort:
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-louis-mary-grignion-de-montfort
Readings: Acts 13: 44-52; Psalm 98: 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4; John 14: 7-14
“All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of GOD.” These words from the Responsorial Psalm today speak of the manifestation of GOD’s work. It is something that flows out for all to see, yet all do not see. Some refuse to see. Some do not fully understand and lack spiritual insights. GOD wants all to see and to give praise back to GOD.
In our First Reading, Paul and Barnabas continue their missionary journey into Asia Minor (modern Turkey). After preaching in the Jewish synagogue in Antioch, they are ousted by the Jews. The Jews cannot see, or they refuse to see, the truth of their own scriptures that revealed the saving works in the person of Jesus. The Gentiles rejoice in the message that Paul and Barnabas bring – the message of the saving works of GOD. The disciples sense the joyful presence of the Holy Spirit. The saving works of GOD are seen in more and more distant places and by people who are not part of the Jewish faith.
In the Gospel today, Philip does not see clearly. Philip wants to see the Abba-Father. Jesus had been with Philip and the other disciples for quite some time, yet they failed to see Jesus clearly. Jesus chides Philip for not seeing that Jesus and His Abba are one and if you see (“understand”) Jesus and His mission, you see the Father and “understand” the will of the Father.
How often we fail to see the saving power of GOD. We think we see what GOD wants us to see, but we are blind to GOD’s true workings. We only see what we want to see. We close our eyes and minds to the greater things that GOD is doing. Jesus came that we might see and experience the fullness of GOD, yet sometimes we shut our eyes to what GOD is revealing to us.
We think we see GOD’s plan, but what we see is through our own tinted glasses. It colors the world with false colors. We become myopic and only have limited vision. We want GOD to see things the way we see things, and we are not willing to see things the way GOD sees them. We say such prayers as “GOD, help others to agree with me about. . .” or “Lord, open the eyes of those who disagree with me so that they will see clearly (what obviously I already see clearly).”
We should be listening to the words of Jesus, “take the beam out of your own eye, so that you can see clearly to remove the splinter in your kinfolk’s eye” (Matthew 7: 5). If we really had the eyes of faith, we would begin to see GOD’s plan in the life and ministry of Jesus. We would come and learn from the Master-Teacher. We would become disciplined learners who seek to imitate our Master so that people would look beyond us to see the Master and His saving works.
As a response to today’s reading, I sense that I am being invited to spend more time with Jesus. As I spend more time with the Master, I will see His Abba as I look at the Master, and hopefully I will not hear the words Jesus addressed to Philip, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you still do not know Me?” It is in my spending time with the Master that I will get to “know” Him and His Abba, that is, I will deepen my relationship with Jesus and His Abba, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. I will see the great signs that Jesus will do as I learn to ask for the right gifts. That’s the challenge before me today: To see Jesus and His Abba and feel the presence of the Holy Spirit – to see the saving power of GOD that reaches out to the ends of the earth, beyond my limited scope. It takes a continued metanoia – a looking beyond my own mindset and a seeking to put on the mindset of the Master-Teacher.
- The personal question/action for today: How is my spiritual vision? Do I seek to see how my Master-Teacher sees or do I want Jesus to see things my way? What items/ obstacles are blocking my vision and preventing me from seeing as GOD would have me see? How can I help others to see with the eyes of GOD?
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, all powerful and all knowing. Through Your GOoDness, You reveal Your saving power through many signs and wonders. Of these the greatest is the incarnation of Your Son, Jesus. He came to reveal Who You are by allowing His followers to see Who He is. As Master-Teacher, He taught His disciples (disciplined learners) to draw ever closer to Him and imitate Him in proclaiming Your love to others. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, help us to keep our eyes open to Your saving power as manifested in and through Your Son, Jesus the Christ. May we give glory and praise to You as we continue to experience Your marvelous deeds. In the name of Jesus we make this prayer, for He is our Master and Teacher, Who has given us an example of loving service, and 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: Open My Eyes by Jesse Manibusan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK6wgHO0yKQ
Open Our Eyes, Lord – Maranatha Singers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZsZkB-HcyE
Psalm 98: All the Ends of the Earth:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KraUiZR_nHA
Video of the Day: What's Your Story: St. Louis de Montfort:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzkaF08ckFE
© rjk, 12-01-22