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April 18, 2006
Easter Greetings
"If Christ had not been raised from the dead in vain is your faith"(1Cor 15:14). St. Paul's words confirms the inevitability of the fact of the Resurrection of Jesus and how essential it is as the basis of Christian Faith and Living. All our lives would have been futile, had not the Son of God who died for our sins did not rise from the dead. Jesus' resurrection gives us all the hope that when we die we shall also be resurrected. St. Paul again admonishes us to focus our lives in terms of what is to come. This sense of the eschatology would determine the choices that we make in our lives and ensure that such choices are in terms of the 'already' and the 'not yet' aspect of our faith.
Jesus' assurance, 'Lo, I am with you to the end of ages' is a reassuring presence. As a risen Savior He is much close to us than we can think of. Jesus' post resurrection presence is one of comfort, solace, commission, strenght, direction and zeal fot the kingdom of God. May His active presence continue to be extended to others through our own, be it in the family, church, among friends, in the neighborhood or in the planet earth.
On Easter Sunday, when I was so tired, after having done the vigil service at 10:30pm and the Holy Eucharist at 10am and then the Eucharist in Spanish at 1:30pm, I thought I would crash in the bed around 5pm. Just then a call came from Jean, one of our members. Well, within 30mts I was at the Washington Regional Hospital. Regardless of how tired one is, there is so much joy in giving. The moment you see the smile on the recipient's face, your weariness disappears. This morning, one of our immediate neighbors to St.Gabriel's came back home after 3 months of hospital stay. He had several strokes and cardiac arrest. I realized that something was not right, when I saw his RV being tugged away by someone. Today I looked at Richard's house and found another man working on his lawn mower. When I approached him, I was informed of Richard's critical illness. I told him that I did not want to intrude. Richard's brother-in-law said, preachers of God's word can intrude any time". When I went in I saw him in a resigned poise: I knew that he was a pastor all his life. I told him that God is looking after him in a special way, because he worked for His kingdom. His wife wiped her tears off as she saw me out. Imagine what our presence can do. He wanted us to be the leaven in the dough. May we be His powerful presence. Jesus breathes His peace as He says, "RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT". May His peace, that the world can never give, be yours today and always.
Posted by frleo at April 18, 2006 3:17 PM
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