Life Eternal

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/042215.cfm) reminds me how much God wants us to have life eternal with him.

When there is a big celebration, people send out formal invites. However, aside from the formal invites, people usually send personalized invites to those they really want to attend. They want to make sure the special people really get the invitation, and that they feel their presence is really wanted. In the same way, Jesus in the gospel repeats what God wants to happen – that his chosen people have eternal life with him.

God wants us to spend eternity with him.

We may have different concerns in this world. We have different situations, we have different problems and blessings. However, God has ua all in his list. He wants all of us to spend eternity with him. That is why he constantly reminds us of this, and he hopes that we will heed his call to live in preparation for eternity.

This world is not our permanent home. We are just passing by this world. We are just here to prepare and choose where we want to spend eternity – with God or away from him. Thus, we should not be too comfortable and too focused on this world. We do not need a lot in this world. We should work not only to improve our lives here, but also to prepare our place for eternity. IF we live as if God does not exist, and focus on earthly things, then ultimately we are choosing to be away from Him in eternity. But if we live right, following God’s teachings and ways, then we are preparing our place in eternity with him.

May we always heed God’s reminder to live preparing for eternity. May we take his gift of eternal life with him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for the mid week. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, I am sorry for the times I do not live right. Sorry for the times I focus on myself, on what I want, on the world. sorry for the times I forget about you. Lord, you know I want to spend eternity with you. Help me live preparing for it. May my life, may my actions tell you how much I love you and how important you are to me. May on the last day, you find me ready, willing and prepared to spend eternity with you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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April 22, 2015

Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter

Lectionary: 275

Reading 1 Acts 8:1b-8

There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem,

and all were scattered

throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria,

except the Apostles.

Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.

Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church;

entering house after house and dragging out men and women,

he handed them over for imprisonment.

Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria

and proclaimed the Christ to them.

With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip

when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.

For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,

came out of many possessed people,

and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.

There was great joy in that city.

Responsorial Psalm PS 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a

R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,

sing praise to the glory of his name;

proclaim his glorious praise.

Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!”

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

or:

R. Alleluia.

“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,

sing praise to your name!”

Come and see the works of God,

his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

or:

R. Alleluia.

He has changed the sea into dry land;

through the river they passed on foot;

therefore let us rejoice in him.

He rules by his might forever.

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia See Jn 6:40

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Everyone who believes in the Son has eternal life,

and I shall raise him on the last day, says the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 6:35-40

Jesus said to the crowds,

“I am the bread of life;

whoever comes to me will never hunger,

and whoever believes in me will never thirst.

But I told you that although you have seen me,

you do not believe.

Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,

and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,

because I came down from heaven not to do my own will

but the will of the one who sent me.

And this is the will of the one who sent me,

that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,

but that I should raise it on the last day.

For this is the will of my Father,

that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him

may have eternal life,

and I shall raise him on the last day.”