Today’s Gospel begins with the two disciples gathered together with the Twelve telling them their experience[1]. And then Jesus again appears. This time everyone recognizes Him, but thinks He is a ghost. So, Jesus showed them His hands and feet and told them to touch Him. He even ate a piece of fish to prove that He was not a ghost. He explained the scriptures and call His disciples to be witnesses. Today he calls us to be His witnesses as well. In a court of law, at least in America, when someone is called to be a witness, that person has to swear that he or she will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Well, we the witnesses of Jesus Christ, are called to give testimony that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. We are called to testify that there is more to life than the physical, there is the spiritual. We are called to proclaim that Jesus Christ came, suffered, died and rose from the dead so that we could have a share in His eternal life. So, the world needs to hear our testimony. The world needs to hear that there is so much more around us than the everyday concerns of our lives. The 24/7 news reports from the left and from the right provide us with incessant whining regarding the statements and actions of those with opposite views. It makes it seem as though the world will stop if the views opposite their position are allowed to take hold on the country and the world. Because there are few people of faith on either side in the media, they miss that all their reports pale in comparison to the only news that matters, the Good News, the Gospel. Jesus Christ has saved the world. He has given us eternal life. We have to treasure this life, and lead others to His life. We have to take a stand for all that is right and moral whether it comes from the liberals or the conservatives, and we have to fight against all that which is wrong and immoral whether it exists among the liberals or conservatives. The bottom line of our concern is not either of the parties positions. The bottom line for us is the Truth of Jesus Christ! Every position in politics, every law in the land, must be seen from the perspective of the Truth of Jesus Christ. Who is there in this country who is going to stand up for what is right and true, just and moral? Who? We Christians! We are the real witnesses of Jesus. We are witnesses to His Truth. If only people realized that there was so much more to life than meets the eye, if only people realized that the spiritual is real, if only people realized that the eternal life of the Lord is available for them, that the Lord is reaching out to them, then they would realize that much of their upset in politics as well as in their daily lives is insignificant next to the overwhelming truth and love and peace of Jesus Christ. So, someone must be found to let the world know about the only reality that matters. This is what we have been called to do. We are His witnesses • AE
[1] Lk 24:35-48
Fr. Agustin’s Schedule for the Third Sunday of Easter 2021.
Saturday, April 17, 2021
2.00 p.m. Confirmation Mass @ St. Peter Prince of the Apostles
3.00 p.m. Wedding of Natalie & Nathaniel @ Our Lady of Grace
4.30 p.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation @ St. Peter Prince of the Apostles
5. 30 p.m. Mass @ St. Peter Prince of the Apostles
Sunday April 18, 2021
10.30 a.m. Mass @ Our Lady of Grace
12.00 p.m. Mass @ Our Lady of Grace
5. 30 p.m. Mass @ St. Peter Prince of the Apostles
III Domingo de Pascua
Por qué surgen dudas en su interior? Les dice el señor a los apóstoles. Cuántos hombres y mujeres de nuestros días responderían inmediatamente enumerando un conjunto de razones que los hacen dudar. Antes que nada, hemos de recordar que muchas de nuestras dudas, aunque tal vez las percibamos hoy con una sensibilidad especial, son dudas de siempre, vividas por hombres y mujeres de todos los tiempos. No podemos olvidar aquello que decía Jaspers: «Todo lo que funda es oscuro». La última palabra sobre el mundo y el misterio de la vida se nos escapa. El sentido último de nuestro ser se nos oculta. Pero, ¿qué hacer ante las dudas, los interrogantes o inquietudes que nacen en nuestro corazón? Cada uno hemos de recorrer nuestro propio camino; a ratos buscaremos a tientas el rostro de Dios; a ratos habrá momentos más claros. Lo que no podemos olvidar es que el valor de nuestra vida depende del grado de sinceridad y fidelidad con el que nos pongamos delante de Dios, que ve el fondo de nuestro corazón. Y para esto no es necesario que hayamos resuelto todas y cada una de nuestras. Basta con que seamos honestos, como Tomás. Además, es necesario que alimentemos nuestra alma. Diario si es posible. Querer creer, a pesar de las dudas, es ya una manera humilde pero auténtica de vivir en verdad ante Dios. Quisiéramos vivir algo más grande y gozoso y nos encontramos con nuestro propio increencia. Quisiéramos agarrarnos a una fe firme, serena, radiante y vivimos una fe oscura, pequeña, vacilante. Si en esos momentos, sabemos esperar contra toda esperanza[1], creer contra toda increencia, y poner nuestro ser en manos de ese Dios a quien seguimos buscando a pesar de todo, en nuestro corazón se irá encendiendo cada vez más la fe, hasta que sea una auténtica hoguera. Somos creyentes. Dios entiende nuestro caminar por esta vida, a veces, ratos tan pobre y tan necesitado. Jesús resucitado nos acompaña siempre[2]. No olvidemos • AE
[1] Cfr. Rm 4,16-25
[2] J. A. Pagola, Buenas Noticias, Navarra, 1985, p. 169 ss.
LA MEDITACION DE LA ESPOSA 