Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Whoever enters through me will be saved.”

Gospel Reading: John 10:1-10

Jesus said: "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers." Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.  So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly."

Do you hear the Lord our God calling your name? In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells us that He is our shepherd, that it is through Him that we will enter into the Kingdom. When the Good Shepherd calls our name, we are to respond. He is called the gatekeeper, the one that protects us. The Good Shepherd is there to protect us from evil. As the Psalm tells us; “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me” (Psalms 23:1-4). We are at peace when we are with the Lord. The Shepherd protects his flock at all costs. The good shepherd loves his flock so much that he puts himself between sheep and harm to protect them.  Jesus loved his flock so much that he gave his life that we might be saved. The Lord is our shepherd; he is our protector and even though evil is all around us, he will keep us safe. When the Lord calls, we should come. When he opens the door to let us in, he will comfort us. It is the Lord Jesus who feed us, who provides us with the nourishment me need live. If we stray from the flock, he will seek us until he finds us. Today, you should thank God for protecting us.

God has given each and every one of us a gift for a purpose. If we try to lead one of our brothers or sisters astray, then we become a wolf and not a sheep. If we enter the flock through mischievous means and not through the gate of our Lord, we will be denied access to heaven. We are called to come into a right relationship with him. Our unending desire for his righteousness should be so strong, that our faith in him is evident to others in our daily actions, that our walk and talk should exemplify our true Love for God. It is through our example that people from all walks of Life will come running to the Gatekeeper to be a member of his flock. To seek the protection of his rod and staff..

A Simple Prayer

Lord, you are my Lord and Shepherd,

Keep me safe in your flock and shelter from evil.

Lead me to your bounty; it is you I seek for nourishment.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Jesus … said to them, “into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” 

Gospel Reading: Mark 16:15-20

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."  Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

Today’s Gospel reading comes from the very end of the Gospel of Mark.  This passage is referred to as the Long Ending because it is believed that it was added later to complete the story of Christ.  It tells us about  the last moments of Christ on Earth before he ascends into heaven.  Before Christ departs this world, he provides instructions for his disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole of creation.”  This becomes a the final commandment given to his Apostles and becomes the foundation of their mission on Earth.  Christ tells us that “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.”  Christ is telling us that there is power in belief.  He tells us that if we truly believe we will be able to cast out demons, speak in new tongues, pick up serpents and drink deadly things without being hurt.  He also tells us that we will be able to lay hands on the sick and make them better.  Jesus’ ascension into Heaven marked a new beginning; a new gift given to man through God; a new evangelization for man to go out and care for the whole world.  This last passage of Mark is very simple, very short and very full of hope.  This one passage described the whole of Christ’s mission on earth; to save man from his sins and to free him from the afflictions which separate him from God.  The passage tells us that while Jesus ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God, he still “worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.”  In other words, Jesus is still active on the world through the Holy Spirit.  His love is continually poured out upon us and upon this world.  We continue to see the signs today.  Through the power of prayer, people are healed and miracles continue to happen.  Jesus continues to reach down to earth to set us free from the bondage of sins.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus, through the gift of the Holy Spirit,

You fill me with an unending spirit of praise and joy.

May I be a witness to those around me of the gospel

and the reality of your resurrection.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."

Gospel Reading: John 6:30-35

The crowd said to Jesus: "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:  He gave them bread from heaven to eat." So Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." So they said to Jesus, "Sir, give us this bread always."  Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."

How often do we ask the question, “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?” The Israelites tell Jesus that their ancestors were given a sign from Moses, why can’t they have a sign.  You can almost hear them saying, “But Jesus, that’s not fair that they get a sign and we don’t.”  It’s obvious from Jesus’ reply that they do not understand the ancient scripture.  It was not Moses that gave them the bread, but God himself that provided the bread.  Jesus replies to them saying, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” I would dare to say that we all hunger for signs from our Father in heaven so that we can believe? Do we not hunger for the bread of life? The Jews believed that when the Messiah returned he would bring with him the manna from heaven that was hidden in the desert by Jeremiah. And this is exactly what happened.  Jesus declares that He is the manna from heaven; the bread of life for which they are waiting. The “bread of life” is the revelation that God the Father sent Jesus the Son as the ultimate sign. This was Jesus’ first revelation to the Eucharist meal which feeds and nourishes our heart and soul. He who comes to the bread of life, shall not hunger. He who partakes of the Eucharistic meal will find eternal life. This is why the Eucharist is so important. We do not take part in some symbolic representation of the Eucharist, but actually participate in the continuing celebration of the “bread of life.” This is the super abundant meal which satisfies all our spiritual needs and provides strength for us to go out into the world to proclaim the Word of God.  This is the abundant gift from God which never ends.  It is eternal like God himself.  We should always long for the blessed bread of life, the manna from heaven who came to us as the Word made Flesh. It should be the focus of our desires and forever be in our hearts. What a most beautiful and gracious sign that God has given us. The Eucharist is none other than the very life of God. Do you hunger for the bread of life?  This is why the Eucharistic meal is both the source of our Catholic faith and the summit of all that is important to us Christians.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God, You are the bread of life.

Your are the source of eternal salvation.

May I desire you every day of my life.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.

Gospel Reading: John 6:22-29

[After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.] The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. Other boats came from Tiberius near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus answered them and said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.  For on him the Father, God, has set his seal."  So they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent."

I think today’s Gospel reading has a special meaning as it reminds us of the importance of good dietary habits. Not necessarily of the earthly kind, but of the spiritual kind. The setting for today’s Gospel reading takes place just after Jesus fed the 5000 and he walked on water; two pretty big miracles. Jesus mystically moves about the area transporting himself to deliver his message to the people. His disciples are pretty nervous at this time. They asked Jesus, “Rabbi, when did you get here?" and Jesus replied, " Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life." This response begs the question, “What are you seeking in your life?” Do you desire the nourishment of the Lord or are you seeking material goods? These followers of Jesus, the five thousand He just fed, were hungry for spiritual growth. Because they were craving spiritual nourishment, Jesus transported them with him. So I ask again, what are your desires; do you want to be transported with Christ, or do you desire things that are not important? What is it that you seek?

To seek God, you must believe in God. You cannot just get up one day and decide to believe and that’s it. You cannot get up and say that Jesus Christ is my Lord and somehow you’re forever saved. It’s not that simple. We must work at our faith. We must exercise our faith to keep it strong. The stronger our beliefs, the more we need to exercise. The more we exercise, the stronger our faith will grow. A well balanced healthy diet plan includes both sound nourishment and regular exercise. If you want to get stronger in your faith and closer to God, you must exercise daily. You must expose yourself to daily prayer and meditation and you must examine your conscience.

During lent, we started an exercise program; we committed to deeper prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We need to take the habits we formed during lent and glorify them during the 50 days of Easter. When you get up in the morning, start the day with the prayer that Jesus taught us – the Our Father. At lunch time, be a symbol of your faith by thanking God for the daily bread that he has provided at the table. In the evening, stop – close your eyes and silence your thoughts. Reflect upon the day. Pray for the light of God to open your eyes to allow you to see what God has done for you in your actions that day. Review your day. Identify both the good and the bad things that happened. Thank God for the good things and ask God to give you strength to fight the bad things. Choose one of the things that happened to you that day. It could be a good or bad thing – but one that is strong in your mind. Pray about that item. Give special praise to God if it was a blessing; or petition God if it was not good Christian behavior. Then, imagine tomorrow. What will you do tomorrow to make the day better; to bring the light of God into the world. Remember – it is our obligation to spread the Word through our actions and our work.

A Simple Prayer.

Most Heavenly Father

You sent your only son so we could receive the imperishable bread of life,

May we be nourished in its strength to believe in you;

May we be nourished in you to do your works;

May the fruits of our labor be satisfying and direct us to heaven.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

"Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted."

Gospel Reading: John 6:1-15

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.  The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people recline."  Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.  So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted." So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world."  Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the story of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Jesus has been teaching the crowds and he has developed quite a following. It was the feast of Passover and Jesus realizing that the crowd hungered, decided he needed to feed them. Jesus takes a small insignificant amount of food, blesses the food and feeds the crowd. The abundance of his gift overflows into the crowd. After they had eaten their fill, Jesus had them gather up the fragments. They gathered twelve baskets of fragments from the five barley loaves. When we hunger and long for Christ, the same thing happens to us. The small longing to experience Christ grows into an overflowing of life. When we hunger for the Word of God, our lives are filled to excess with Christ. In this story, Jesus took the little bit they had and through the glory and power of the Holy Spirit, multiplied the bounty. They were filled until they could eat no more. Christ is the true bread of life. In Him, we find the true nourishment which satisfies our spiritual needs. The Passover was the time when the lamb of God came to protect the Israelites. Now the Lamb of God was again feeding the masses. He is the source of all we need. His generosity is unending. He has enough to feed everyone with an abundance left over. It is time to reach out to the Word of God and be nourished.  The Eucharist which we receive at Mass is a sign of his ever abundant love and generosity.  It is his outpouring that continues to nourish our souls.  This week, when you receive the Eucharist, remember God’s abundance which is continually poured out for us.  

A Simple Prayer

Lord Christ, you are the bread of life.

You are the source of spiritual food.

Let me hear the Word of God

to the point that I overflow with the Holy Spirit.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“The one who comes from above is above all.”

Gospel Reading: John 3:31-36

The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus defines the path to eternal life. We see a clear contrast between earthly ministry of the profits like John the Baptist and the heavenly ministry of Jesus the Messiah.  As the Messiah, Jesus possesses the fullness of truth through the love of his Father conveyed by the Holy Spirit.  This love conveyed by the Father through the Holy Spirit is the same grace that is poured out for us on earth.  His love is graciously and abundantly poured out and not held back,.  This grace can only come from our God and not from any earthly minister.

Christ said that He bore witness to the Holy Spirit yet man did not receive it. He tells us, “Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.” When we receive the grace of the Holy Spirit, He enables us to recognize God’s truth. But more importantly, “whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.” Again, we are challenged to make a decision. We must choose between the light of the Holy Spirit or the eventual wrath of God. The light leads us to eternal life in heaven. But by avoiding the light, we will be judged harshly by God. We can accept eternal life or eternal death. We must consider the consequences of our decisions. We must consider whether the decision we make leads us to or away from eternal life. Through faith and reason, we can begin to unwrap the truth of God. Faith is exercised when we trust in God and we entrust ourselves to God.  Faith involves both the assent of the mind toward God and the consent of the will to obey his commandments.  You must exercise both; assent and consent.  This is the same as faith and faithfulness.  If we do not have faith, we exercise both unbelief and disobedience; we descend from our Father and deny him as Truth.  It is because of this that we deny Christ and justify our bad choices. We can eventually rationalize our actions to the point where we completely empty our soul of the grace which reveals God’s truth to us.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Christ, fill me with the Holy Spirit.

Allow the Holy Spirit to transform my life.

Allow the Holy Spirit to help me make good decisions.

Allow the Holy Spirit to lead me to life eternal.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

Gospel Reading: John 3:16-21

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of  God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear one of the most popular bible verses of all – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” God sent his son Jesus not to condemn us, but to save us from our sins. He sent his Son, to suffer and die for us so that on the third day He would rise again to save us from the fires of Hell. He came to save us from the darkness. It is in the revelation of the resurrection that we understand our the final eternal joy.  Jesus is the eternal light that came into the world to show us the way. Because of the original sin of Adam, the gates of heaven were closed.  Because of Jesus, the gates are reopened to allow us into the kingdom of heaven.  Unfortunately, darkness still lurks in the world. Jesus tells us that “people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.” This is still the case today. How many times do we hear about the evil that inflicts society. Greed and envy run rampant in businesses at the expense of the common worker. We look at the economic condition of the world today and it is not the fault of God, but the fault of our own greed and lust.  Some would like us to think that what is happening is punishment from God, but in reality, it is purely the fault of the sinfulness of man himself.  This is the consequence of our choice or action.  It’s like touching a hot burner on a stove.  It is not God who burns us, but our choice to touch the burner.  God’s not punishing us for touching the burning; it is the consequence of our action.  “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.” For us to find the light, we must reveal the sins which have kept us in the darkness. To find Christ, we must be willing to dispel the things which prevent us from finding the gate. This passage is all about right judgment. We choose the things we love. We either love the darkness or we love the light. If we choose the light, we choose the glory of God. What we love is the clearest window into our soul. “But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.”

An example of the darkness in the world is the ongoing religious strife and the ongoing attacks on the church.  Society is clearly choosing the dark.  This is evident in the TV programs which now air during prime time.  The underlying theme of these programs is sexual impurity and disordered relationships.  I can do whatever I want and there is no consequence to my action.  The government is now trying to force Mother Church to do things that violate her conscience.  People no longer take responsibility for their actions.  This is all because we are happy being in the dark.  Our actions are hidden because we do not see them in the light of the Gospels.    

A Simple Prayer

Christ Jesus, you are gift which saves us from our sins.

You are the light which leads us to the gate.

Strengthen our will so we can find the light of God.

And gives us the strength to love our enemies.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

Gospel Reading John 3:7b-15

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to him, ‘How can this happen?” Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the end of the story with Nicodemus.  Jesus is questioned by Nicodemus about his origins and about the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be “born anew.”  It is not enough to have an earthly birth, but he must be born in the spirit of God. It is not enough to call yourself a son of Abraham but one must be born in the Holy Spirit which sweeps the earth.  Jesus says, “The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  Here Christ speaks of the Holy Spirit which flows through the world.  We do not need to know where it comes from nor where it goes, we just need to hear its sounds and  be touched by its grace.  Nicodemus does not believe what he is hearing.  Jesus tells him, if you do not believe the things that I witness to you, then you lack in faith.  Faith is the ability to believe those things which we do not see or cannot touch.  It is the power of faith which is given to us in our baptism which allows us to believe in God.  Because no one has gone up into Heaven, no one can have complete knowledge of God except God himself.  Because Jesus is God, He is the only one who has complete knowledge of God.  It is His witness that allows us to grow in faith.  So why did God completely empty himself to become man? So we would have a witness to the kingdom of heaven.

In the end of the Gospel reading, Jesus tells Nicodemus, “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”  The bronze serpent erected by Moses was raised to cure the Israelites from the bite of the dessert serpents.  Jesus, the Son of man, was raised up on the cross for all humanity to see to save us from our sins and eternal damnation.  Jesus foreshadows his own death and resurrection so when these events occur, the people of Israel will believe.  He tells them this so that they will have faith.  Therefore, those of us who look upon Jesus with the faith that bore out through the crucifixion and his resurrection can be “born anew” into the salvation of eternal life of God.  Jesus took on the form of man to reveal to us the hidden mystery of our eternal life.  We now can witness the power of our baptism in the Holy Spirit and the resurrection of our new life in God.  The faith which we are given in our baptism is a gift from God.  It requires nourishment and feeding or it can wither.  We must ask God to strengthen that faith and increase that faith.  Faith is not only a gift, it is a virtue.  A virtue is a good habit; something that is developed through practice.  We need the help of grace to make this faith grow within us.  Faith and grace are codependents and we must have both to truly encounter Jesus Christ.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, increase my faith.

Allow my faith to be renewed daily in the Holy Spirit.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

Gospel Reading: John 3:1-8

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”  Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

How can one find heaven without knowing where heaven is located.  Jesus tells us today that “unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”  Christ is telling us that to see the kingdom, you must know the kingdom and you cannot know the kingdom unless you know God.  So how can we come to know the kingdom? We become acquainted with the Kingdom of God through our Baptism.  When we are baptized, we are baptized with both the water and the Holy Spirit.  It is in this sacrament that we are united to our Father in Heaven.  This bond with God is again completed and strengthened during our confirmation.  Jesus tells us that this is not an earthly bond, but a heavenly bond.  A bond we can only find through our linkage with Him.  It is this bond with our Father in heaven that creates a longing or a desire to find and enter the kingdom.  While Jesus tells us, “The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” While we cannot see God, we know he exists through his miracles, through the creation of life, and through the scriptures.  Most importantly, we know He exists because of what He places on our heart.  While we do not know where he comes from, we know that the Kingdom of God exists.  We should seek out this Kingdom during our life.  We should seek to create this Kingdom here on earth.

A Simple Prayer

My God, my Father in Heaven.

I know you through my baptism.

Through this baptism, I have found new life.

A new life which leads me to the Kingdom of God.

May I have the wisdom and fortitude to follow the winds of God.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Peace be with you.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 24:35-48

The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way, and how they had come to recognize him in the breaking of bread.  While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to  them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have." And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of baked fish;  he took it and ate it in front of them. He said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was  still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus appears to the apostles. The two men were relaying their story to the apostles about seeing Jesus on the road to Emmaus and “how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread” when Jesus mystically appeared before them. The apostles are not only frightened but troubled with what they see. They cannot believe what they see. Jesus says to them, “Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” Even seeing his wounds, they still disbelieved. How many times in our lives have we witnessed the wonders of God and still disbelieved? How many times have you said that if I was present at the time of Christ and witnessed him first hand, it would be easier to believe.  The apostles witnessed Christ firsthand and were troubled with disbelief.  How many times have we been in situations where we needed Christ and were afraid to call upon him. Even with Christ standing right before them, they doubted. “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, ‘Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem’.” Jesus has to go to great lengths to make them understand that he is not an illusion nor a ghost, that he is flesh and bones. Jesus was really present on the road to Emmaus and was really present among the apostles. He ate with them and he broke bread with them. He did this to make sure that they understood that he was truly resurrected and not just a figment of their imagination  or an illusion.  When we submit to Jesus Christ, he opens our minds so we can understand.  The more we submit to his will, the more at peace we become and the more we realize his presence in our lives.

It is through his resurrection that the scriptures are fulfilled. The apostles are the witnesses that provide the evidence that we need to believe. More importantly, it is the resurrection that defeats death and sin. It is our hope for eternal life. The cross is the narrow door to heaven. It is the pathway we must follow to find eternal life. The hope of our own resurrection gives us the strength to overcome the sorrow and despair of sin. Jesus told the apostles, “You are witnesses of these things.” The apostles were commanded to go out and spread the word. We too are called to be witnesses to the resurrection of Christ. We must go out into the world and spread the good news of the Gospels. We must go out a preach repentance and forgiveness of sins through the cross.  Through “the breaking of the bread,” Christ is revealed to us every time we go to Mass.  His real presence in the Eucharist nourishes us and leads us to the narrow gates.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, Jesus open my mind to your word.

Give me the strength to spread the word to others.

Let me be the witness to your resurrection.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 24:13-35

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them,  "What are you discussing as you walk along?" They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?" And he replied to them, "What sort of things?" They said to him,  "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his Body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see." And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?" So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the story about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Two of Jesus’ disciples are reflecting upon the events which had just transpired when the risen Christ joins them. When they first encounter the Risen Lord, the two men do not recognize him. It is obvious that the two men are saddened by all that has happened because they feel that Jesus had been defeated.  The one person they put all their hope and faith in died on the cross. The men lost hope and began to feel that life had no meaning. As the men reflect on the life of Jesus, his crucifixion and his death, they are probably asking their selves, “Why?” Jesus sees the sorrow in their hearts and reaches out to them to comfort them and to nourish them. At supper, he takes the bread of life, blesses it and gives it to them. Once they received the bread, “their eyes were opened and they recognized him.” At that very moment they recognized Christ in the Eucharist.  They realize that Christ will be with them forever in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.  Every time we receive the Eucharist, we share in that meal that opened the eyes of his disciples.  In the Eucharist, our hope is restored and we realize that Christ was not defeated on the cross.  They no longer need the physical Christ, because they realize that Christ is present in the broken bread we take during Communion. 

How many times have we let despair crush our hope? How many times have we lost sight of Christ in our lives? Today’s Gospel reading talks about the journey. No matter where we are, Christ is with us. We might not recognize his presence, but he is there. We all must journey to Emmaus. It is through the journey that we find the bread of life. The two disciples reflect, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” Christ burns within all of us when we encounter him. When we lose hope and are over come with despair, the flame dims. But when we read the scriptures and when we participate in the Eucharist, the fire of Christ burns strong within us. It is the journey which leads to the encounter. Christ has provided the Eucharist so we are never without him.  The two disciples originally saw defeat in the cross, but once they experienced Christ, the realized that he truly was the risen Lord and savior. We too must see the path which leads through the cross to life everlasting. We must be able to see the risen Christ. We must recognize Christ in our lives.

A Simple Prayer

Father God, my heart burns for your love.

May I open the scriptures to all who I encounter.

May I take your message with me as I journey through life.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“I have seen the Lord.”

Gospel Reading: John 20:11-18

Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" She thought it was the gardener and said to him, "Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni,"  which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, "Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and then reported what he had told her.

In today’s Gospel reading, Mary Magdalene is seeking out Jesus at his tomb. She says to the angels, “They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him.” Through her desire to be with Jesus, he appears before her.  What is interesting is that she does not recognize him.  It is not until he cries out her name that she recognizes him.  How many times are we seeking Jesus but do not see him standing there with us?  Jesus Christ never abandons us, we abandon him.  We are called to constantly seek him out. Mary Magdalene was looking for Jesus and He was right there with her. Finally, when Jesus calls her name, she recognizes him. Being filled with the joy of the encounter with the risen Christ, she goes and tells the disciples, “I have seen the Lord.” It is not enough for us to know about the Lord, but we must encounter Christ in our lives. You must experience Him when He calls your name. And most importantly, you must be willing to go to others and say, “I have seen the Lord.” An encounter with Jesus Christ is the very foundation of the Christian faith. To be truly Christian is to have experienced Jesus Christ first hand. It is through your faith that you can see the power of the resurrection and eternal life. It is through the eyes of your faith that you encounter the Kingdom of God here on earth. Celebrate your encounter with Jesus and shout out, “Alleluia, Alleluia, I have seen the Lord!”  A true encounter with Jesus Christ is life altering.  It is through the grace of God that you encounter Jesus Christ in your life.  We have the choice to accept that grace or to deny it.  Your eyes will be opened and you will be given the light if you accept his grace.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus, Father in heaven.

You are the risen Christ.

It is through you that my sins are forgiven.

It is through you that I find eternal life.

Give me the eyes of faith to see you.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Gospel Reading: Matthew 28:8-15

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."  While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.' And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.

In today’s Gospel reading, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary learn that the tomb is empty. They had been told by an Angel that Jesus has risen from the dead. The gospel reading says the two woman “went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed...” The fear comes from the unknown and the great joy comes from the anticipation. On their way, Jesus met them and said, “Do not be afraid.” These two woman were frightened and when they met the Lord, they fell to their knees and took hold of his feet. Jesus immediately relieved them of their fear and disbelief. How do you react when you meet the risen Lord? During the Triduum and finally ending with Easter Sunday, we experience so many emotions starting with the Last Supper, the agony in the garden, the trial, the scourging, the crucifixion, the burial and finally the resurrection. Just think of the level of anxiety the disciples faced during this period. The two Marys had been through it all with Christ and now they were face to face with Risen Lord. We too have the same opportunity to experience the Jesus who rose from the dead to defeat death and give us everlasting life. We will find him on our knees in prayer and reflection. It is through our faith that we will encounter Christ and through the Holy Eucharist that we see Christ face to face.

The soldiers who guarded the tomb also witnessed the resurrection. The Gospel reading says that they went to the chief priest and he paid them money to lie about the events. “The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.” The chief priest did not want to believe, so they paid the guards to silence them. The experience of Christ is much greater and the chief priests can not deter the faithful. Even though the guards try to cover up the events, the encounters by others spreads like fire through a dry field. The glory of the risen Lord cannot be contained. We too must celebrate the Easter resurrection even though people try to convince us to deny Christ. The evil in the world tries to take over our faith and shake us off our foundations. It is our faith that forms the foundation of our belief. We must chose which story to believe? Our actions and our words tell others which story we have selected.  

A Simple Prayer

Oh most Holy Risen Christ.

I behold your feet.

Pass your blessing upon me

That I may share the glory of your resurrection.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Today is Good Friday and we hear the Passion of Christ according to John. What is the Passion of Christ?  The Passion of Christ is the story of the last 12 hours of Jesus’ life; the time from his arrest to the time of his crucifixion. So why then do they call this day Good Friday?  The word “good” should actually be “Great”.  Today the single greatest sacrifice ever commit by a man happened when the unblemished Pascal Lamb offer himself up for all our sins.  Not just our sins, but the sins of the past and the sins of the future.  Sit back and take in the Passion of our Lord.

Gospel Reading: John 19:1-18,42

Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden,  into which he and his disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place,  because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards from the chief priests and the Pharisees  and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, Whom are you looking for?" They answered him, "Jesus the Nazorean." He said to them, "I AM." Judas his betrayer was also with them. When he said to them, "I AM, " they turned away and fell to the ground. So he again asked them, "Whom are you looking for?" They said, "Jesus the Nazorean." Jesus answered, "I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go." This was to fulfill what he had said, "I have not lost any of those you gave me." Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?" So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it was better that one man should die rather than the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. But Peter stood at the gate outside. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest, went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in. Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, "You are not one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm. The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue or in the temple area where all the Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said." When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said, "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Didn't I see you in the garden with him?" Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed. Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and said, "What charge do you bring against this man?" They answered and said to him, "If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you." At this, Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law." The Jews answered him, "We do not have the right to execute anyone, " in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he would die. So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?" Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here." So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" When he had said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, "I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" They cried out again, "Not this one but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a revolutionary. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head,  and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck him repeatedly. Once more Pilate went out and said to them, "Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, "Behold, the man!" When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him." The Jews answered, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God." Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, "Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin." Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, "If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar." When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge's bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon. And he said to the Jews, "Behold, your king!" They cried out, "Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.  So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews." Now many of the Jews read this inscription,  because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that he said, 'I am the King of the Jews'." Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written." When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier. They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless,  woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another,  "Let's not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be," in order that the passage of Scripture might be fulfilled that says: They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. This is what the soldiers did. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.  After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I thirst." There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished." And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. Here all kneel and pause for a short time.Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,  the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken  and that they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first  and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced. After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body. Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night,  also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices,  according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.

This is a sorrowful day, a day Jesus suffered on the Way of the Cross for our sins.  Today, Jesus is put on trial for our sins, for our denials and betrayals.  He is beaten and scourged for our sins and then Jesus carries the burden of all men’s sins upon his shoulders as he marches through Jerusalem with his cross.  Jesus “carrying the cross himself, went out to what is called the Place of the Skull.” Today’s trial ends at the cross on top of Mt. Calvary, the Place of the Skull.  Jesus is then nailed to the cross in total annihilation and total humiliation.  He is completely abandoned.  Only his mother, three women and the disciple he loved were present.  Even on the cross, in all his pain and suffering, he finds the power to forgive those who crucified him.  In his last words, he says, “It is finished.”  The Gospels say that the skies became black.  The darkness that filled the sky was our sins released from this earthly place into heaven.  At that moment, the scriptures were fulfilled.  “Christ offered himself without blemish to God and he put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9:24-26) 

Jesus opened his arms for us on the cross to invite us to the cross, not as a bystander, but as a participant.  We are called to the cross.  Our journey through Lent has been long and we probably stumbled along the way.  It’s okay, we get up and take our cross again.  Jesus stumbled along the way to Mt. Calvary under the great burden of our sins.  He got back up and so must we.  At the cross, Jesus defeats our enemies – sin, Satan and death.  Jesus and the crucifixion are described as the “doorway” to heaven.  Without the sacrifice of the unblemished Lamb of God, mankind would not be freed from their sins.  We would never get to the resurrection. The message to today is one of Glory for now we know we can call on the cross for our salvation.  Jesus still calls us today to join him at the cross.  Through Jesus’ suffering, our sins can be forgiven; through Jesus’ trials and abandonment, we can find the light that purifies our soul; and through Jesus’ death, we will find new life.

A Simple Prayer

“Lord, I put everything at the foot of the cross –

my sickness and pain, my sins, my fears and worries.

Help me to look no longer at them but only at your saving love for me.”

Today is a glorious day for Christ has died for our sins.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon