Called to Communion in the Resurrected Christ
Easter Sunday
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.”Ps. 118
Christ came to give us his Kingdom, that is the good news (Gospel).
“The Kingdom of God is at hand…”Mark 1:15
“The Pharisees were asking Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” … And know that the Kingdom of God is among you.”Luke 17:20s
THE RESURRECTED CHRIST IS THE KINGDOM IN OUR HEARTS.
It is Jesus himself in person, the Kingdom of God that comes to be sown, TO RESURRECT US WITH HIM and wants to spread throughout the earth, for our own good, because if through sin and disobedience, death and chaos entered, through obedience comes to us new life, order, paradise. God placed it within our reach, but it needs our collaboration. Living baptism is to be resurrected with Him.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”Revelation 3:20
He cannot enter unless we open to him, and we will only open if we hear speak of Him, for He is opened by faith, and faith comes from hearing.
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?…”Romans 10:14ss
Allowing Jesus into the soul is allowing in the way, the truth, and the life. Without that truth, there is no freedom, but slavery to sin; without his life, one is dead in the soul, and therefore it is the most lamentable situation a human being can be in, without Grace, unfortunate.
When one has this life, one has the love of God, which impels us to give it, we cannot stop giving it, as St. John Chrysostom said: it is easier for the sun to stop giving light than for a Christian to stop giving light. The Christian is light or is not Christian, is a missionary, or is not Christian, because by baptism we were anointed by the same Holy Spirit that Christ promised us, and he anoints us to be like Him, priests, kings, and prophets; therefore, called to holiness, communion, and mission.
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? What portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? We are the temple of the living God;…”2 Corinthians 6:13ss
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one…”John 17:20ss
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. It refers to the Holy Spirit that He gives us so that we may be one, for there can be no unity except in Him, with Him, and in Him.
Weekly Readings
Sunday: Acts 10:34a, 37-43/Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 (24)/Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:60-8/Jn 20:1-9 or Mk 16:1-7
Monday: Acts 2:14, 22-33/Ps 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11/Mt 28:8-15
Tuesday: Acts 2:36-41/Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22/Jn 20:11-18
Wednesday: Acts 3:1-10/Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9/Lk 24:13-35
Thursday: Acts 3:11-26/Ps 8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9/Lk 24:35-48
Friday: Acts 4:1-12/Ps 118:1-2, and 4, 22-24, 25-27a/Jn 21:1-14
Saturday: Acts 4:13-21/Ps 118:1 and 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21/Mk 16:9-15
Next Sunday: Acts 4:32-35/Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 (1)/1 Jn 5:1-6/Jn 20:19-31
Observances for the Week
Sunday: Easter Sunday
Monday: Monday within the Octave of Easter; April Fools’ Day
Tuesday: Tuesday within the Octave of Easter
Wednesday: Wednesday within the Octave of Easter
Thursday: Thursday within the Octave of Easter
Friday: Friday within the Octave of Easter
Saturday: Saturday within the Octave of Easter
Next Sunday: 2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy)