Archive for April 30, 2015

Are We Ready To Receive Jesus Into Our Lives?

Posted: April 30, 2015 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys, Meditations
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If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two –
If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you would do.
Oh, I know you would give your nicest room to such an Honoured Guest;
And all the food you would serve Him would be the very best.
And you would keep assuring Him you are glad to have Him there,
That serving Him within your home is joy beyond compare.

But – when you saw Him coming would you meet Him at the door
with arms outstretched in welcome to your Heavenly Visitor?
Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in?
Or hide some current magazines and put the Bible where it had been?

Would you turn off the TV set and hope He hadn’t heard?
And wish you hadn’t uttered that last, loud, hasty word?
Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?
Could Jesus walk right in – or would you have to rush about?

And so, I wonder – if the Savour spent a day or two with you,
Would you continue doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on repeating the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?
Would your family conversation keep up its usual pace?
And at the dinner table would you say a word of grace?
Would you sing the songs you always sing and read the books you read?
And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?

And would you take Him with you everywhere you planned to go?
Or would you maybe change your plans for just a day or so?
Would you be glad to have Him meet your closest friends?
Or would you hope they would stay away until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever – on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?

Yes, it might be interesting to know the things you would do.
If Jesus came in person to spend some time with you.

How at peace are we with Jesus?  Do we have a relationship with Him, or is He still a stranger in our lives?  What can we do individually, as a husband or wife, or as a parent to be able to immediately welcome Jesus into our homes without first ‘cleaning up’?

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: April 30, 2015 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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From the time of our birth to when we prove our worth, the love of our God endures forever.

From the slavery of sin set free by the cross’ victory, the love of our God endures forever.

From our unfaithfulness to reconciliation, peace and joy fulness. The love of our God endures forever.

From the darkest periods in our lives draped in loneliness to the brightest filled with Holiness. The love of our God endures forever.

My Lord, my God, Jesus! You are the Son of the living God our Father. True sign and testimony that the love of our God endures forever. Amen

First reading
Acts 13:13-25

Paul and his friends went by sea from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia where John left them to go back to Jerusalem. The others carried on from Perga till they reached Antioch in Pisidia. Here they went to synagogue on the sabbath and took their seats. After the lessons from the Law and the Prophets had been read, the presidents of the synagogue sent them a message: ‘Brothers, if you would like to address some words of encouragement to the congregation, please do so.’ Paul stood up, held up a hand for silence and began to speak:
‘Men of Israel, and fearers of God, listen! The God of our nation Israel chose our ancestors, and made our people great when they were living as foreigners in Egypt; then by divine power he led them out, and for about forty years took care of them in the wilderness. When he had destroyed seven nations in Canaan, he put them in possession of their land for about four hundred and fifty years. After this he gave them judges, down to the prophet Samuel. Then they demanded a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin. After forty years, he deposed him and made David their king, of whom he approved in these words, “I have selected David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will carry out my whole purpose.” To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David’s descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. Before John ended his career he said, “I am not the one you imagine me to be; that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undo his sandal.”’

Gospel
John 13:16-20

After he had washed the feet of his disciples, Jesus said to them:
‘I tell you most solemnly,
no servant is greater than his master,
no messenger is greater than the man who sent him.
‘Now that you know this, happiness will be yours if you behave accordingly. I am not speaking about all of you: I know the ones I have chosen; but what scripture says must be fulfilled: Someone who shares my table rebels against me.
‘I tell you this now, before it happens,
so that when it does happen
you may believe that I am He.
I tell you most solemnly,
whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.’