Experience and Share

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/041215.cfm) reminds me that it is important to experience God so we can share him with others.

They say that sharing is caring. You share to the people you care about. Time, talent and treasure. And in the first reading, we see the ideal community set up. People were very generous, sharing whatever they have with others who need it. Everyone was taken cared of. God’s blessings and love were very much alive in every one. The second reading tells us that we should love God and obey his commandments. And in the gospel, we see that Jesus commands his disciples to do his work. “as the Father sent me, so I send you.”

You cannot share what you don’t have.

You cannot share love, you cannot love, if you do not feel love. You cannot love others if you were not loved. You cannot share Jesus if you do not know Jesus. That is why Jesus appeared to his disciples a lot of time, to remind them over and over again that he is alive, and to share his love and wisdom to them – the culmination of Jesus preparing them for three years. And in the same way the disciples were full of Jesus, we should also be full of Jesus as if we want to share him with others,

Everyday, God sends his love to us. We just need to allow him to love us. We just need to feel and experience his love. And we need to do our part – by praying, reading the bible, and partaking in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. In this way, we will be filled with God and his love, and we can be more effective in loving others and sharing God with others

May we take time to experience God and allow him to love us, so we can love others with that love.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your goodness. Lord, I ask that you never give up on me. I ask that you continue to love me and to be patient with me. sometimes I may be like Thomas and doubt, but I ask that you never let go of me. I allow you to love me, and I allow myself to feel and experience your love. As you fill me lord, I am ready and willing to share you to others, to share your love and blessings to others, to love others. Use me to make your love more alive and more real to others. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

-------------------------------------------------------

April 12, 2015

Second Sunday of Easter

Sunday of Divine Mercy

Lectionary: 44

Reading 1 Acts 4:32-35

The community of believers was of one heart and mind,

and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,

but they had everything in common.

With great power the apostles bore witness

to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,

and great favor was accorded them all.

There was no needy person among them,

for those who owned property or houses would sell them,

bring the proceeds of the sale,

and put them at the feet of the apostles,

and they were distributed to each according to need.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Let the house of Israel say,

“His mercy endures forever.”

Let the house of Aaron say,

“His mercy endures forever.”

Let those who fear the LORD say,

“His mercy endures forever.”

R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

or:

R. Alleluia.

I was hard pressed and was falling,

but the LORD helped me.

My strength and my courage is the LORD,

and he has been my savior.

The joyful shout of victory

in the tents of the just:

R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

or:

R. Alleluia.

The stone which the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

By the LORD has this been done;

it is wonderful in our eyes.

This is the day the LORD has made;

let us be glad and rejoice in it.

R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 1 Jn 5:1-6

Beloved:

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,

and everyone who loves the Father

loves also the one begotten by him.

In this way we know that we love the children of God

when we love God and obey his commandments.

For the love of God is this,

that we keep his commandments.

And his commandments are not burdensome,

for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.

And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.

Who indeed is the victor over the world

but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,

not by water alone, but by water and blood.

The Spirit is the one that testifies,

and the Spirit is truth.

Alleluia Jn 20:29

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;

blessed are those who have not seen me, but still believe!

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week,

when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,

for fear of the Jews,

Jesus came and stood in their midst

and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,

“Receive the Holy Spirit.

Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,

and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,

was not with them when Jesus came.

So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

But he said to them,

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands

and put my finger into the nailmarks

and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside

and Thomas was with them.

Jesus came, although the doors were locked,

and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,

and bring your hand and put it into my side,

and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”

Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples

that are not written in this book.

But these are written that you may come to believe

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

and that through this belief you may have life in his name.