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How easy it is for darkness to creep up and overshadow us. When we allow jealousy to rule out hearts. When we allow pride to take over especially when we see ourselves wiser, more knowledgeable than others. When we abandon our faith because we feel that it is just too difficult, too time consuming, stifling or because we didn’t get what we expected out of having it. When we allow sinful desires to take control and convince us that it is alright.

Walking in the light is not always easy but we walk as free men and women in peace and love. Such is God our Father’s love for us that even if we have fallen into darkness; so long as we have a contrite heart His beacon will shine for us to lead us home to Him.

O sweet Jesus, by Your life, death and resurrection You have set us free from eternal darkness. An epitome of human suffering, You bore it all, taking the world’s sin upon Yourself. Give us Your strength and Grace that we may continue to remain faithful and walk in Your light. To be a light for others, Amen.

FIRST READING
Acts 5:17–26

GOSPEL
John 3:16–21

God so loved the world that he gave his only–begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only–begotten Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

Be merciful, compassionate, humble and meek. Love your neighbour and be of service to all your brethren. If these are lessons too hard for us, or if we refuse to accept and strive to learn them; how can we hope to embrace the spiritual ones?

How can we see or rather comprehend the powerful redemptive love of Jesus on the cross? To believe in Him, our God who so loves us that He wants to share eternity with us? How can we be happy that even if we not see, we yet believe? How do we trust in God’s providence by letting go of our possessions? How can we be assured that He is with us always, to guide and show us the way?

Lord I believe; help my unbelief! Do thou increase my faith. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen

FIRST READING
Acts 4:32–37

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.”

I came to You only in the shadows of the night fearing that those who do not believe, might see in the day, but I heard Your voice in the gentle wind “Do not be afraid but go forth in boldness proclaiming the Word of God!”

I grew weary for they would not listen, in anger they tried to shut me up and cast me out, but I heard Your voice in the gentle wind “Do not be afraid but go forth in boldness proclaiming the Word of God!”

I was fearful, afraid to say the wrong thing. Ashamed of my lack of knowledge of Scripture, but I heard Your voice in the gentle wind “Do not be afraid but go forth in boldness proclaiming the Word of God!”

I was a terrible sinner Lord, but You gave me new life. Still I had felt so ashamed of my past, afraid that those who knew me might mock and ridicule me, but I heard Your voice in the gentle wind “Do not be afraid but go forth in boldness proclaiming the Word of God!”

Holy Spirit be my guide always, in Jesus name I pray. Amen

FIRST READING
Acts 4:23–31

GOSPEL
John 3:1–8

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘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.”

We have been told many times to go and share the good news with others for it is a fruit that multiplies as it is preached. Have we listened or instead questioned? Is it I Lord to do this? To whom shall I go? Have we buried the treasure? Starved the root so it bears no fruit?

Can we preach or share the good news if we will not listen ourselves? Many too have been sent to us to help us grow in our faith, in the knowledge of Christ. Have we thought ourselves better than them who were sent? Did we not believe they were sent by our Lord? Did we not recognise our Shepherd’s voice through them or through His message?

Lord Jesus help me to recognize You in all persons whom You send either to help me or to be helped by me. Let me never lose sight of You through the hardness of my heart. In Your most precious name I pray. Amen

FIRST READING
Acts 4:13–21

GOSPEL
Mark 16:9–15

When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country. They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either.

But later, as the Eleven were at table, Jesus appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

All the joy and peace which Easter brings can easily be lost or taken away, for we all have a powerful enemy to face each and every day! Sin! and the tempter lies awaiting.

St Peter urges to be humble before God, sober and watchful. To stand firm in faith for the Grace and strength of God is upon us to resist all evil.

Let us work with our Lord Jesus Christ, to proclaim the Gospel. For through Him we will build up His kingdom, through the salvation of our brothers and sisters who have yet to hear the Good news. Let us strive not to let the light within us be easily extinguished as we remain steadfast; to share the light of Christ to all.  Amen

FIRST READING
1 Peter 5:5b–14

GOSPEL
Mark 16:15–20

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:
“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

We need to spend time in reflection of our day with our Lord, only then can we begin to see how He is always in our midst. Especially when are striving to live our call to discipleship.

It is only when our eyes are focused on ourselves or what we want to see that fear of the unknown my creep in. For when we focus on our Lord Jesus, His peace is always upon us. We do not see with our eyes but with our hearts and we believe.

Slowly He leads us to a deeper faith and understanding. With it comes the power and the glory of the risen Lord and through Him we can prophesy, Heal and much more.

Praise be to Our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen

FIRST READING
Acts 3:11–26

GOSPEL
Luke 24:35–48

The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way, and how they had come to recognize him in the breaking of bread.

While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

Give me the bullet form, the summary or the outline! This is generally how we want our information, who has time to sieve through blocks of texts? Isn’t this the same approach we use for faith? When we approach Scripture? It is no wonder we don’t go very far in our faithlife, how can we when we have missed the point? When we pass over the treasures that lay deep beneath, and the deeper we might have delved the richer we would have been.

When two or three are gathered in His name whether it be to grapple with Scripture texts or matters of faith in today’s cultural backdrop. Are we still not assured of our Lord Jesus presence? He is always there! To guide us and lead us to a deeper understanding.

As we continue to grow deeper in our faith we will see that we have new abilities to do great things in a His name.

And If we listen with our hearts and open our eyes to see, we would recognise Him in the Eucharist! Yet another wonderful revelation in this sacred texts of today. Jesus had already prepared us for His departure and yet He assured us that He would always be with us. One of the sure ways He would do this is when He instituted the Eucharist. In this great mystery, He reveals Himself in the Eucharist while His human form vanishes. “And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.”

Let our hearts burn within us Lord as we strive to grow and go deeper into our relationship with You. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen

FIRST READING
Acts 3:1–10

GOSPEL
Luke 24:13–35

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his Body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

While it is Easter for us and we are rejoicing in the light of Christ, many are still in darkness and in despair. They have not yet heard of the Good news, because we have not yet shared it with them. The Good News that they too can share through repentance and baptism.

Then too, darkness can creep up on us when we lose sight of Jesus. Some through tragedy, loss of a loved one, persecution and many other ways some of which the dark forces take delight. Our eyes, ears, hearts are shut off to the light. And all we ever need do is with a prayerful heart open them and we will find that Jesus never left our side.

Lord Jesus let me bring Your light to all! Amen

FIRST READING
Acts 2:36–41

GOSPEL
John 20:11–18

Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her.

The resurrection of our Lord does not demand nor require our understanding because none of us have yet experienced it. It requires faith in the truth, the truth revealed to us through the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

A faith that moves us with such a burning desire that we cannot help but Run and share the good news with others. And when we do so, we go with the loving embrace of our risen Lord whose peace is upon us.

However if we choose to remain in the dark, then in the dark we shall remain for now and forever.

Today my Lord, as I recall the Paschal Candle being lit during Easter Vigil the night before last; I am reminded that You are the light of the world that penetrated the darkness of my life. Help me to always walk in Your light for now and forevermore. Amen

FIRST READING
Acts 2:14, 22–33

GOSPEL
Matthew 28:8–15

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.

“Surely not I my Lord?” when I told you I would not give in to my anger and pride. “Surely not I my Lord?” when I said I was not going to fall into sexual temptations. “Surely not I my Lord?” when I said I would never deny you in front of others but did so by my words and actions. “Surely not I my Lord?” when I told you I would not but turned by back on those crying out to me for help, the poor, the needy, my fallen brethren, my church.

Amidst all pain and obstacles You O Lord remained steadfast in love to do Your Father’s Will. Help me to do likewise, knowing that You will never abandon me.

Lord, in your great love, answer me.
In multitúdine misericórdia tua, Dómine, exáudi me, témpore grátiæ. Amen

First Reading
Isaiah 50:4-9a

Gospel
Matthew 26:14-25

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”’ The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.
When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”

We all have experienced betrayal in one way or another and it always hurt a whole lot more when it was someone we loved and cared about. Some of us become bitter, withdrawn even depressed. Others launch into defence mode often cold and vindictive seeking to get even.

But you O Lord were patient and loving to the end, offering many chances for a change of heart. Even though it must have been extremely hurtful to face such betrayal and knowing that all those whom you loved would soon leave you in your hour of need, still you persevered to do our Father’s Will because You so loved us, Your friends.

Give us the strength to persevere especially when we are tempted to abandon our cross, let us stay focussed on doing our Father’s Will as You were. So that striving for Holiness we may lead one another into our heavenly inheritance. Amen

FIRST READING
Isaiah 49:1–6

GOSPEL
John 13:21–33, 36–38

Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.

When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.”

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

Have I offered my best or choicest to my Lord and God in praise, honour and worship? Or have I made excuses out of being practical or modest? Have I anointed the feet of Jesus my Lord with such fragrant oil of love, that it perfumes the air such that everyone can know the presence of my Lord in all I say and do?

When I feel that Jesus is not with me, do I go seeking Him out knowing I will surely find Him in the poor? Do I serve Him in the poor and downtrodden bringing them His light? The same light that illuminated my life and drove all darkness from it.

Lord Jesus be with me always, however if there are times that You must go so that I may grow, then return to me Lord as swiftly as Your Will is done. Amen

FIRST READING
Isaiah 42:1–7

GOSPEL
John 12:1–11

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.

“I pray that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John -17:21

And how did our loving God choose to unite us all? He chose do so through His Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who died to take away Sin; Sin that binds and separates us from Him and from one another. Do we then choose to continue, to see and allow our differences to separate us? Or do we stand united and remain focus on our Bridegroom, the head of our Family?

Lord Jesus, let me never forget that I am not alone but a member of a loving covenantal family under God. Amen

FIRST READING
Ezekiel 37:21–28

Gospel
John 11:45-56
Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to kill him.
So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples.
Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves. They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?”

The Word proclaimed today reminds us that we have a powerful and loving ally. And though many will try to persecute us for our faith or denounce our efforts to serve our Lord as vainglory; yet we will be vindicated.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice. (In tribulatióne mea invocávi Dóminum, et exaudívit me.)

I place all my faith and trust in You Lord, for I know You will not abandon me. Glory to God in the highest! Amen

First Reading
Jeremiah 20:10-13

Gospel
John 10:31-42

The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’? If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and Scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power.
He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained. Many came to him and said, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” And many there began to believe in him.

We fear death when we we have no hope of new life. Doesn’t matter how holy we think we are, or how strong we think our faith in Jesus is. If we bite, claw, and struggle to hold on to our life, then we are not yet perfected in love and the truth has not yet fully penetrated our hearts to set us free.

What is the truth? The truth that promises and fulfils; life eternal with our heavenly Father. Let us keep His Word, turn away from sin and live our lives worthy of our calling. Through the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit in Jesus name we pray. Amen

FIRST READING
Genesis 17:3–9

GOSPEL
John 8:51–59

Jesus said to the Jews:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and of earth… We say this every Sunday in the Creed, yet have we pondered what it means to believe? To believe, is it not to worship? And to worship, is is not to love? To love, is it not to be in a relationship? To be in Communion?

Whom or what do we spend most if not all of time with? Our family? Our friends? Our work? Watching television? Sports? Computer games? Do we even have room in our hearts for God?

Lord Jesus come into my heart, let me not go a day without You in mind or in spirit. For I know all too well that without Your Grace I fall easily into sin. And Sin separates me from my loving God and blinds me to His presence. Let me never lose my God.. Amen

FIRST READING
Daniel 3:14–20, 91–92, 95

GOSPEL
John 8:31–42

Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free. I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you. I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the Father.”

They answered and said to him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this. You are doing the works of your father!” So they said to him, “We were not born of fornication. We have one Father, God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”

Is it not in our nature to be prideful? To think we can do it all on our own for we are strong, wise and highly capable. Who has the time for God? Why do I even need Him?

Then what do we do when things don’t go as planned? When things start falling apart? Some start cursing and swearing, others complain and grumble. Where was God? Why did He allow for this to happen? I knew all along there is no God! How different are we from the children of Israel led out of slavery by Moses? Have we not turned our backs on our loving Father?

And yet with sorrow in our hearts for what we have done and by turning back to Him, our loving Father extends His loving hand to save us. All we need to do is to look upon the cross and gaze upon love most pure, our redeemer, our liberator, our salvation, our Lord and God, Jesus Christ! Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen

FIRST READING
Numbers 21:4–9

GOSPEL
John 8:21–30

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning. I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.” They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.

We have all needed to decide at one time or another what we were going to do, what action we were going to take or even how we were going to react with someone who had hurt us, wronged us, did something wrong which caused a terrible mess, hurt someone else, wronged someone else and so on.

In other words we had to exercise our judgement in the matter, even though some of us are reluctant to call it what it is, a Judgement. Apart from being honest, truthful, even fair in our assessment. How many of us would temper it with mercy? How many of us would look at the person through the merciful eyes of our Lord Jesus Christ? Before saying or doing anything? Have we not sinned in anyway ourselves?

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us. Amen

FIRST READING
Daniel 13:1–9, 15–17, 19–30, 33–62

Gospel
John 8:1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

There are many voices, many conflicting thoughts and words. But today Lord I am reminded of Your words to us, *My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me.” And through my own past experience, I know this rings true even from the mouths of those You have sent. For your peace and love is upon us.

In everything and any situation let our hearts cry out to You. For You O Lord are our refuge. Amen

FIRST READING
Jeremiah 11:18–20

GOSPEL
John 7:40–53

Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, “This is truly the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.” So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

Then each went to his own house.

Don’t go seeking for a spiritual high instead search for the heart of God.  There is no fixed format of prayer and worship songs that will be bring you closer to Him nor is there is anything You can do to merit His Grace. All you ever need is a sincere contrite heart opened and attentive and He will speak to you; often in the quiet.

We are oftentimes too ‘wise’ for our own good! We are

quick to deduce what we can see, sometimes without looking below the surface. We pride ourselves in our logical ability to process intricate and detailed information often to such a degree we miss the beauty of the big picture. We may never know what we are missing or have lost.

So it is with knowing and understanding God, our wisdom can only take us so far. It is only through the eyes of faith do we truly see; for then knowing and understanding God becomes a living and loving experience. An intimate relationship taking us far beyond what we can ever hope to imagine.

Lord Jesus, help me overcome all that prevents me from entering into a deeper loving relationship with You. Allow me to grow in love and charity for my brethren and all You send my way. Amen

FIRST READING
Wisdom 2:1a, 12–22

GOSPEL
John 7:1–2, 10, 25–30

Jesus moved about within Galilee;
he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.

But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.

Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.

This Lenten journey has been the ‘most’ of everything for me. Most trying, most painful, most illuminating, most humbling, most exhilarating, most sorrowful, most rewarding. Thank You Lord indeed! Praise be Your Holy name.

Struggling to be holy I fell into temptation time and time again and yet You reminded me of Your own temptation and how to overcome it. I was transformed by Your transfiguration. Then I grew weary and thirsty and You gave me rest, You gave me living water to drink. Rejuvenated I sought to do Your Will, encountered a few of Your people and witnessed Your glory through the changes in them and in me. Then I saw too your people who would not come after being invited over and over again and I grew weary and disheartened. Blindness came over me till You opened my eyes in Your loving mercy. I saw that you sought the lame, the blind and the poor and in them Your glory will be manifested. You will bring life to those who are dead. Your promise will be fulfilled! Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen

Lord I am learning, I am growing forgive me now my shortcomings. Yes Lord I have taken Your love for me and my loved ones for granted. All that is good comes from You and through You; yet I often seem to thank only those who bore the gifts or good tidings.

I realise now that offering Praise and thanksgiving is more for me than it is for You. Foremost it is a sign of worship of a loving God. (not of human beings, idols of myself) Then also it, is a result of me being in union with my God.

Reading Your Word daily and understanding Your Will for us through the Scriptures is very, very important but still not as important as growing in our relationship with You, through quiet time in prayer and worship.

Afterall it is only through the relationship that we are able to hear Your heart, Your Word most clearly. It further leads us to live holy righteous lives. And the prayers of a righteous person can accomplish much (James 5:16);so let pray for one another, especially those we see who are in need. Amen

FIRST READING
Exodus 32:7–14

GOSPEL
John 5:31–47

Jesus said to the Jews:
“If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life.

“I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

I cannot fathom what it must have been like for You Lord. Most of our hearts cried out for salvation while others could not, having been bound and gagged by Sin.

Your love for us was so great that You promised to come save us, prepared us for Your coming and then fulfilled Your promise to us. What did we do? How did we welcome You? We turned our backs on You, We mocked You, plotted to kill You and eventually did.

Knowing all this You still came seeking out Your lost sheep. You brought light into our darkness, living water to quench our thirst, bread from heaven to nourish bodies and souls. With Your precious blood You washed us so that we can stand spotless before our heavenly Father. How great is our God!

Our lives are nothing without You and without You there is no relationship with our heavenly Father. All love, peace and joy comes from You for in You is life eternal. May we always seek to do our Father’s Will. Amen

FIRST READING
Isaiah 49:8–15

GOSPEL
John 5:17–30

Jesus answered the Jews:
“My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.
Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation.

“I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”