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We were all born in the image and likeness of God and by our baptism enter into a deep lasting relationship with Him. Do we cherish our baptism? Do we reflect on this often?  In the beginning, through original sin we had moved from God centeredness to self centeredness. Without God’s loving presence in our lives we would certainly die, much like plants withering away without water. Our loving Father desired that we all be restored in Him, to love and be loved. Hence through Jesus our Saviour we were restored and by the Holy Spirit as our guide we can strive to remain in perfect communion with Him.  Do we spend time daily listening to Jesus and learning His ways?

We need to renew our baptismal vows daily in order to live in the Spirit, that is to reject sin in all it’s forms and to walk with Jesus. Are we doing this now?

Evangelicals, protestants in all the various denominations through valid baptism are all our sisters and brothers in Christ, do all of us understand and acknowledge this? Do we love them as we should and more, even though we are often criticised by them for their lack of understanding of the Catholic faith?

It is wise to reject what we do not understand? Or to choose to be ignorant of our faith? We must accept in faith first and in our journey, strive diligently to increase our knowledge of our faith.  To read and live the Word daily in our lives for as St Jerome says ,”Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ.”

As we look upon the crucifix around our necks, in our homes, in Church or wherever we chance to gaze upon it. Let us always remember the Greatest Love that was born unto us, sacrificed and died so that we may rise in Him and live! Lifted on high our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen

GOSPEL John 3:7b – 15

Jesus said to Nicodemus:“‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to him, ‘How can this happen?” Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

Pray Sisters and Brothers that you are having a joyous and blessed Easter and that you are still rejoicing in the hope of our own rising from the tomb, with the Lord for He had conquered death! However have some of us got carried away and not tempered our merriment? Have we feasted too much? Have we drunk too much? Have we allowed ourselves to plunge into the darkness of sin?

Today we are reminded that the world lay in darkness, till Christ our light, our salvation was born through Mary’s fiat, the blessed fruit of her womb. We too are being called today, to respond to His call. What have we to fear? Are we ready to say YES? Do we trust in the Holy Spirit to lead us? To fill our lives? To overshadow us, so that we may be transformed? That we may be made new? That we may be reborn in our Lord Jesus Christ? To be a way for others through Him?

Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, may we all cry out in unison to the Lord our God ,“Here I am Lord, I’ve come to do Your Will!.”

Let us pray…

O God, in the incarnation of the Word, you wrought a marvellous exchange: as he humbled himself to share in our humanity, so did He enable us to have a share in His divinity. Transform us, O God, according to Your Word, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

GOSPEL Luke 1:26–38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.