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About The Season of the Resurrection
The Sunday of the Resurrection marks the beginning of the Resurrection Season in the Maronite Church.
The Resurrection of Jesus is the celebration of His victory over sin and death. It is the cornerstone of our Christian faith and the central theme of apostolic preaching. For us Christians, the death and Resurrection of Jesus are not merely events in history, but rather a present reality in which, through Baptism, we are intimately involved.
The celebration of the great mysteries of our faith, the passion, death and Resurrection of Our Lord, are not external truths to be celebrated once a year. They are truths that have to affect our lives here and now.
We pray that we will experience the power of the Risen Christ in our daily lives so that we can become better witnesses of Christ in our world today.
The Sunday of the Resurrection marks the beginning of the Resurrection Season in the Maronite Church.
The Resurrection of Jesus is the celebration of His victory over sin and death. It is the cornerstone of our Christian faith and the central theme of apostolic preaching. For us Christians, the death and Resurrection of Jesus are not merely events in history, but rather a present reality in which, through Baptism, we are intimately involved.
The celebration of the great mysteries of our faith, the passion, death and Resurrection of Our Lord, are not external truths to be celebrated once a year. They are truths that have to affect our lives here and now.
We pray that we will experience the power of the Risen Christ in our daily lives so that we can become better witnesses of Christ in our world today.
Sixth Sunday
Gospel Luke: 24:36-48
Reflection
“You are witnesses of these things”
Jesus appears for a third time to the eleven apostles and others in Jerusalem. The disciples were frightened when Jesus appeared in their midst. However, in the midst of their brokenness and confusion he inspired them, enhanced their faith and brought them peace. As they share a meal, they experienced joy, disbelief and wonder. Jesus explains to them how his resurrection into glory, after his death by crucifixion, fulfils the scriptures. God’s plan for the world is fulfilled in Jesus and it is to be continued in the mission of his disciples. Jesus prepared them for their mission to all nations which will only be possible through a promised special outpouring of his Holy Spirit.
We are like a link in a chain- By Gwen Simon
Looking at our lives today, what influence does the reality of the Resurrection exercise upon our life as believers? What place has the understanding of the scriptures
in our interpretation of our life in Jesus Christ? Does our meeting with the Risen Lord in the Eucharist make us enthusiastic servants of the Good News of the Resurrection?
We are like a link in a chain. We will be judged on how strong or weak a link we have been depending on how clearly our lives, our words, our actions, our values will be shown to have been in harmony with our belief that Jesus, by dying destroyed our death, and by rising, restored our life.
May our belief in the Resurrection and our worthy reception of the Eucharist strengthen us and help us to be living witnesses to Jesus in our lives.
Gospel Luke: 24:36-48
Reflection
“You are witnesses of these things”
Jesus appears for a third time to the eleven apostles and others in Jerusalem. The disciples were frightened when Jesus appeared in their midst. However, in the midst of their brokenness and confusion he inspired them, enhanced their faith and brought them peace. As they share a meal, they experienced joy, disbelief and wonder. Jesus explains to them how his resurrection into glory, after his death by crucifixion, fulfils the scriptures. God’s plan for the world is fulfilled in Jesus and it is to be continued in the mission of his disciples. Jesus prepared them for their mission to all nations which will only be possible through a promised special outpouring of his Holy Spirit.
We are like a link in a chain- By Gwen Simon
Looking at our lives today, what influence does the reality of the Resurrection exercise upon our life as believers? What place has the understanding of the scriptures
in our interpretation of our life in Jesus Christ? Does our meeting with the Risen Lord in the Eucharist make us enthusiastic servants of the Good News of the Resurrection?
We are like a link in a chain. We will be judged on how strong or weak a link we have been depending on how clearly our lives, our words, our actions, our values will be shown to have been in harmony with our belief that Jesus, by dying destroyed our death, and by rising, restored our life.
May our belief in the Resurrection and our worthy reception of the Eucharist strengthen us and help us to be living witnesses to Jesus in our lives.
Seventh Sunday
Gospel: John: 13: 31-35
Reflection
Love is very demanding
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gave his disciple a new commandment “Love one another as I have loved you.” Our love has to be like Christ’s, that is, sacrificial to the point of death. This love comes not from us but from the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. If we are to be true Christians, we cannot be contented with words. we must express our love for Christ by the keeping of His commandments so as to love as he loved and to live as He lived.
“By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love is the mark of our identity. The History of our Christian identity is wholly centred on the message of love. It is our responsibility to exemplify this love so that the world will know that we are disciples of Jesus.
God is glorified
We often overlook the significance of this statement made by Jesus that “the Son of man is glorified and in him God is glorified”. This simple statement alludes to many significant teachings. The crux of this statement however is the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus explicates a simple message, that the Son of man was glorified on earth after His death and resurrection. It is when Christ accepted his suffering via all the evils in the world that He truly illustrated to humankind His dying love for us. Jesus went to the furthest extent of Godlessness to bring all people back to His mercy. By doing this, He showed us the dimensions of God’s love for the world, as discussed by Saint Paul in Romans 5:8. More so, in this statement Jesus is referencing the unity between He and the Father. Since the Son of man is glorified, so too is the Father, referencing the fact that the Father and the Son are one.
“If in my life I fail completely to heed others, solely out of a desire to be “devout” and to perform my “religious duties,” then my relationship with God will also grow arid. It becomes merely “proper,” but loveless. Only my readiness to encounter my neighbour and to show him love makes me sensitive to God as well. Only if I serve my neighbour can my eyes be opened to what God does for me and how much he loves me”. Pope Benedict XVI
A thought for the week
Anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because the essence of God is love.
Seventh Sunday
Gospel: John: 13: 31-35
Reflection
Love is very demanding
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gave his disciple a new commandment “Love one another as I have loved you.” Our love has to be like Christ’s, that is, sacrificial to the point of death. This love comes not from us but from the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. If we are to be true Christians, we cannot be contented with words. we must express our love for Christ by the keeping of His commandments so as to love as he loved and to live as He lived.
“By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love is the mark of our identity. The History of our Christian identity is wholly centred on the message of love. It is our responsibility to exemplify this love so that the world will know that we are disciples of Jesus.
God is glorified
We often overlook the significance of this statement made by Jesus that “the Son of man is glorified and in him God is glorified”. This simple statement alludes to many significant teachings. The crux of this statement however is the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus explicates a simple message, that the Son of man was glorified on earth after His death and resurrection. It is when Christ accepted his suffering via all the evils in the world that He truly illustrated to humankind His dying love for us. Jesus went to the furthest extent of Godlessness to bring all people back to His mercy. By doing this, He showed us the dimensions of God’s love for the world, as discussed by Saint Paul in Romans 5:8. More so, in this statement Jesus is referencing the unity between He and the Father. Since the Son of man is glorified, so too is the Father, referencing the fact that the Father and the Son are one.
“If in my life I fail completely to heed others, solely out of a desire to be “devout” and to perform my “religious duties,” then my relationship with God will also grow arid. It becomes merely “proper,” but loveless. Only my readiness to encounter my neighbour and to show him love makes me sensitive to God as well. Only if I serve my neighbour can my eyes be opened to what God does for me and how much he loves me”. Pope Benedict XVI
A thought for the week
Anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because the essence of God is love.