MY HELP IS FROM GOD

THREE CHOICES ON TROUBLE

WHY..............?

I’m strong because I know my weaknesses.
I’m wise because I’ve been foolish.
 I laugh because I’ve known sadness.

THE CHURCH

BAD TIMES VERSUS GOOD TIMES

Bad times, hard times — this what people keep saying; but let us live well and times shall be good. We are the times. Such as we are, such are the times.

Saint Augustine of Hippo

PURGATORY

6TH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER YEAR A

Christ Jesus had to return to heaven so that our salvation might be complete.

  Our Lord did this not to complicate things, but to comfort us. In fact, in our text we find that Jesus gives a comforting promise. He promises to care for us, and He promises to be with us always. He said "If you love me you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever" (John 14:15).

 Jesus identifies the new Advocate as the Spirit of truth, unknown to the world but an abiding presence within the disciples. This then is the foundation of our trust in the guidance of the Spirit.

We experience life as a mysterious adventure. And we are convinced that - because of Jesus - the adventure will not end with death. That is the reason for our hope. : God is with us always. God never leaves those who love Him, and will even surprise us if we are open to it!

Jesus does not leave us at all. God has given us His Spirit, but His Spirit does not dominate our lives.The Holy Spirit is there in a very gentle way prompting our actions, keeping us faithful, helping us to hang on in there even though God seems so far away. God does this so that we can grow in love, so that it can be stretched to its limits.

RESISTANCE

Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world.  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you.  To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

(1 Peter 5:8-11)

MY CONSCIENCE

My conscience is the tribunal of Pilate… as often as I choose to speak the uncharitable word, do the dishonest action, or consent to the evil thought, I say in so many words, “Release Barabbas unto me.” And to choose Barabbas means to crucify Christ.
Ven. Fulton Sheen

FOCUS ONLY THE FUTURE

A REASON TO LIVE

THE CROSS

Daughter, embrace the Cross and for My sake look on all sweet things as bitter, and all bitter things as sweet, and so be certain that you will always be strong.

— Our Lord to St Catherine of Siena

SATAN'S CUNNINGNESS



5TH SUNDAY EASTER TIME YEAR A, JESUS, THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND LIFE

If we are half dead Christians, we should enlist with Jesus. He who said, "I am the Way!" will recharge us with His spiritual cables and get us into the fast lane.

Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was hanged in 1945 by the Nazis. Before his execution, he told a fellow prisoner, "This is the beginning of a new life." A British officer later said, "Dietrich knew the WAY he was going."

A poet wrote that you do not know the meaning of a person's life until he is dead. Is that true of everyone? I think not. But it was true of the Christ and His servant, Dietrich. It could be true of us yet.

We owe that blunt apostle Thomas much. The Master said, "You know the way to the place where I am going." "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How do we know the way?" Thomas wanted a heavily marked AAA roadmap as well as road flares. His doubts provoked Jesus to say, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Just eight words but arguably the most important words spoken in the 5000 years of recorded history.

That line rang like a loud bell in the ears of Thomas and his friends. It still so sounds in the 21st century.

A man lost his way in Boston and asked a fellow for directions but was rather confused with his reply.

He asked another and received the following reply:, "Follow me and I'll show you the way." The man had become his guide. He relaxed. Happily for us, Jesus is our guide. He does not give directions in hundreds of words. Nor does He say, "You can't miss it." Rather, He informs us confidently that He is the way. More to the point, He says, "Follow me. I'll show you the fast way."

Professors have said to us, "I have taught you the truth as I understand it." But no professor was so presumptuous to say, "I am the Truth." None except One and that is the reason we come here today to worship Him. So we pray the 86th Psalm, "Teach me thy way, O Lord, and I will walk in thy truth."  Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Einstein, great thinkers all, were, like us, confused. They sought the truth. and found that this exist only where Jesus is.

A GRAVE RESPONSIBILTY

The parents’ most fundamental duty is to 

prepare their children for eternity.

—Fr. John Hardon

HEED THIS WARNING SERIOUSLY

LOVE

QUOTES ON THE EUCHARIST

When the Eucharist is being celebrated, the sanctuary is filled with countless angels who adore the divine victim immolated on the altar. ~ St. John Chrysostom

The angels surround and help the priest when he is celebrating Mass. ~ St. Augustine 

If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy. ~ Saint Jean Vianney 

The celebration of Holy Mass is as valuable as the death of Jesus on the cross. ~ Saint Thomas Aquinas 

Once, St. Teresa was overwhelmed with God’s Goodness and asked Our Lord “How can I thank you?” Our Lord replied, “ATTEND ONE MASS.” 

“My Son so loves those who assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that, if it were necessary He would die for them as many times as they’ve heard Masses.” Our Lady to Blessed Alan. 

When we receive Holy Communion, we experience something extraordinary – a joy, a fragrance, a well-being that thrills the whole body and causes it to exalt. ~ Saint Jean Vianney 

There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us. ~ Saint Jean Vianney 

When we have been to Holy Communion, the balm of love envelops the soul as the flower envelops the bee. ~ Saint Jean Vianney 

It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without Holy Mass. ~ St. Pio of Pietrelcina 

KNOW YOUR BLESSINGS

OUR AGENDA

MY GOD, WHAT A GOD OF PATIENCE AND LOVE YOU ARE

God is a God of Second Chances-and third and fourth and even more chances. He loves you. God’s approval is not based on your achievements. It is based solely on the fact that you are His child and He sees the best in you. There is nothing you can do, and there’s nothing anyone else can do, that will ever change your value in God’s eyes. But you have to do your part. Quit over-analyzing your faults; stop taking an inventory of everything wrong with you. You make mistakes, ask for forgiveness and then move on. Don’t become overly concerned if you are not changing as quickly as you would like. Stay focused on what you can become, and God will get you to where you need to be.

GOD FOREGIVES AND FOREGETS

WHAT DOES GOD MEAN FOR YOU?

THE CUNNING DEVIL

MY NOTHINGNESS

TRUTH VERSUS HATE

3RD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER YEAR A

Some call today's gospel as the gospel of the Confused Disciples.

Luke's story centres on two disciples journey to Emmaus confused about the mission of the Messiah who promised that He would rise from death but yet they had still not seen Him. Finally Jesus shows himself to them at the breaking of the bread.

Cleopas and his companion thought Jesus' death had brought an end to the redemption of Israel. 

As far as they were concerned, the shame and death of the cross was not compatible with their understanding of Israel's Redeemer.

Just like these disciples, we may also not know why things have happened, or even what things have happened. We may not know the best course for us to take in this or that situation.

One thing is clear:  if we stay united to the Lord in Word and Sacrament, we will never go wrong. We can be at peace because we have our anchor, Sacred Scripture, and our joy, the Presence of the Lord in the Eucharist

HARD WORK

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO BE HAPPY?

SAINTHOOD IS FOR E V E R Y B O D Y

It is a great mistake to think that only priests and religious and those who have withdrawn from the turmoil of the world are supposed to meditate upon the truths of our faith and the mysteries of the life of Christ. If priests and religious have an obligation to meditate on the great truths of our holy religion in order to live up to their vocation worthily, the same obligation is just as much incumbent on the laity, because of the fact that every day they meet with spiritual dangers which might cause them to lose their souls. Therefore they should arm themselves with the frequent meditation on the life, virtues, and sufferings of our Blessed Lord, which are presented to us in the fifteen mysteries of the holy Rosary.