Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

 

Gospel Reading: John 14:1-6

 

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You have faith in God; have faith also in me.  In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.”  Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells his disciples the he is “the way and the truth and the life.”  So what does this really mean.  He is telling us that there is only one way to eternal life and it is through him.  We must understand that it is Jesus who teaches us the one and only truth and by following his truth, we find our way to the one true life.  He is the door through which we must pass to get to the Father.  He tells his disciples that believing in God and knowing God comes through knowing him.  He starts out by telling them not to be troubled and to have faith.  Be not afraid and stand tall for you are followers of the one true life.  He commands this to put them at ease so that they can be prepared for the journey.  We are told to take solace in Christ and in God.  But no matter how hard we try to avoid trouble and despair, we all eventually encounter situations which are hard to deal with.  We all face trials in our life which put us to the test.  During these times, many of us will feel alone and even abandoned.  Christ wants us to know that we are never abandoned and that He will always be with us along the journey.  These troubles and trials are tests which challenge our heart.  If we are not strong and centered on Christ, we can lose hope and become discouraged.  Jesus tells us that “if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.”  We need to know that Christ is preparing a very special place for us in his house.  It is a place where we will spend our eternal life.  We need to take comfort that Christ is there to calm the waters and take on the burden of our pains.  However, we must be willing to give these things up to Christ without losing faith and hope.  We must be willing to let go and trust in Christ that he has prepared a place for us in his Father’s house.  We cannot find the way unless we trust in Christ.  It is only through our total abandonment that we will find heaven.  It is through our commitment to Christ that we will find the way, the truth and the life which has been promised to us in our baptism.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, prepare the way that I may find your Father’s house.

Give me the hope of everlasting life in heaven.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

Jesus … said to them, “Go 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.  He is telling us that our belief should lead us into service for the Gospel.  That if we believe, then we have an obligation to do good works in the name of Christ.  Those good works are a confirmation of our belief and our strengthened by our participation in the Sacraments and everything that is God.  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.  In our actions and our works, we bring the light of Christ forward to others.  The Holy Spirit working iin us and through us is the evangelization we are called to do through our baptism. 

 

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 have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” 

 

Gospel Reading: John 12:44-50

 

Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

 

Darkness envelopes the world through our sin and rejection of God, but Jesus came into the world to bring us the light to free us from this darkness.  He came not to condemn us to eternal darkness, but to bring us into eternal light.  In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells us that those who reject him, judge themselves.  It is in their rejection of the word of God that they define their eternal damnation.  By rejecting Jesus Christ, one rejects the very truth of our existence.  One denies the reason why God created us.  God created us in his image and likeness so that we could reflect his love to the world.  When we deny God’s will, we deny the very love which created us..  Adam and Eve allowed Satan to convince them otherwise.  Satan said, “If you want to be like God, you need to eat this fruit.”  We were already created in his image and likeness.  We were created to be in full communion with him and to be part of him through his undying love.  Yet our first parents rejected that and separated themselves from God.  Because of their actions and shamefulness, they hid from God.  Since they rejected him, they separated themselves from him.  This is the same thing that happens to us when we reject him and his love; we are no longer in communion with God.  However, God loves us so much, he sent his son to us to reveal the eternal light and to restore us to him.

 

To be in communion with Christ is to be in communion with eternal life.  He came to guide us to the narrow gate which leads to eternal life; “The Lord is my light and my salvation” (Ps 27).  It is through Jesus Christ’s message that we find God and we find eternal life.  Christ, the light of the world, reveals the hidden truth.  Through our faith in Christ, we can see God’s kingdom.  Through our faith the kingdom of God is revealed to us today.  Jesus makes it quite clear, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.”  Light is a necessary part of life.  Without it, there is no life.  The light of Christ not only reveals what is hidden, it also enables us to grow and be nourished in the faith.  Life would not exist without light.  Everything would die and wither away.  Through Christ, the living light shines upon us.  If we do not seek the word of God, we chose to remain in the darkness.  In the darkness, sin will consume us and we will become spiritually dead.  The light of Christ is like being kept in a small dark room and them walking out into the glorious sunlight.  When you enter the sunlight, you immediately feel the warmth of the sun and the sensation of joy overwhelms the body.  You immediately feel a sense of freedom and you are instantly revitalized.  This is the same feeling one experiences when they walk into the light of Christ.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord God, Show me the light and the way.

I seek you in the darkness that surrounds me.

Give me hope and salvation as I find true glory in your words.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

 

Gospel Reading: John 10:22-30

 

The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter.  And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.  So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense?  If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.  No one can take them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's hand.  The Father and I are one."

 

In today’s Gospel reading, the Jews are again asking for faith; for Jesus to confirm that He is the Christ.  They ask Jesus to talk to them in plain English.  Well, maybe not English, but in plain Aramaic. Jesus responds by telling them, I can’t make it any more plain then I already have.  If they cannot recognize him from the miracles and the authority from which he preaches, there is nothing Jesus can do to convince them that he is the Messiah.  The people who “know” Jesus, recognize him through his works and his words.  Like a good shepherd, his flock recognizes him and he knows them.  He promises those that know him and follow him “eternal life, and they shall never perish.” Because of their faith and commitment to Jesus, they are saved from the eternal fires of hell.  Sheep without a shepherd are defenseless against the evil that lurks in the world. They become easy prey to the wolves and are easily lost. This is why a shepherd lives with his sheep all the time never abandoning them. He lives with them so that they will know and recognize his voice and his actions.  Jesus dwelt among us so we would know and recognize his voice.  The shepherd protects his sheep from the dangers of the world. He guides them to safety when evil lurks. He leads them to the best places for feeding and the best streams for drinking. The sheep come to recognize the voice of their shepherd and heed his call. We too are like the sheep in the field. If we have no shepherd, we become easy prey to forces which can destroy us. Sin and Satan easily enter our pasture and rob us of our eternal life. Christ not only protects us from the evil of Satan, he also leads us to the best of places where we can feed on the "word of life" and drink from the "living waters" of his Holy Spirit. The sheep who heed the voice of Jesus, the good shepherd, have no fear. He will lead them to the best of places – everlasting peace, joy, and fellowship with God and his people.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, you are my shepherd.

You will guide me through the evil which lurks in this world.

Lead me to the pastures of eternal life.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

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:

 

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

 

Gospel Reading: John 6:44-51

 

Jesus said to the crowds: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets:  They shall all be taught by God.  Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.  Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.  I am the bread of life.  Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.  I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world."

 

Has anybody ever asked you, “Why you receive the Eucharist” or  “Where is it written about the power of the Eucharist?” In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the final part of the discourse on the Bread of Life and the revelation of its significance in our salvation. God so loved us that he emptied himself and became human.  In his humanity, he came more closely linked to our own humanity.  To extend his abundant love for us, Jesus gave us the Eucharist.  Why? Jesus tells his disciples that the Israelites were given manna from heaven and yet they still died, but the bread that Jesus offers us from God provides eternal life. Jesus claims to be this eternal bread of life. This is a claim which only God can make. Jesus says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever.” There is no clearer statement about the power and mystery of the Eucharist. If we partake in the Eucharist, our bodies are fortified with abundant life in Christ which becomes our source of spiritual energy. The Eucharist is truly God himself which sustains us not only now, but also in our eternal life. “Amen, Amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.” To deny the Eucharist is to deny the very supernatural power of God himself. To deny the Eucharist is to deny life eternal. When we accept the Eucharist, we not only accept the nourishment of the spirit, we accept the healing graces, the wisdom of God, and the courage to live in his image. To accept the Eucharist is to accept a personal and intimate relationship with Christ. When you receive the Eucharist, remember that you are truly receiving Jesus Christ himself, the eternal “Bread of Life.” This is no symbolic representation, this is truly the Body of Christ, his Flesh given for the life of the world. When you receive the Eucharist, say “Amen, Amen, I believe in the eternal life granted by the Bread of Life.”

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, you are the living Bread of Life which nourishes my body.

You are the Eucharist which provides the healing powers to strengthen my soul.

You are the life which fires the eternal flame within my soul.

Give me the wisdom and courage to believe and defend the Eucharist.

 

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 6:35-40

 

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."

 

In today’s Gospel Reading, we hear a portion of the Bread of Life discourse which we have been reading for the past two days. Why did Jesus call himself the “Bread of Life?” The Jews understood that God promised them manna from heaven to sustain them on their journey to the promised land. Bread was the most basic staple of life. Even today, bread and grain are the food that feeds the world. We cannot live without food for very long. Bread sustains us. But what is life? Jesus clearly wants us to have something more than just mere physical existence. The life Jesus refers to is connected with God, the author of life. Real life is a relationship with the living God, a relationship of trust, love, obedience, peace, and joy. This is what Jesus makes possible for us – a loving relationship with God who created us for love with him. If we separate ourselves from Jesus, no one else can provide that kind of life and relationship. Are you satisfied with mere physical existence or do you hunger for the abundant life which Jesus offers?

 

Jesus makes three claims: i) he offers himself as spiritual food which produces the very life of God within us; ii) he promises unbroken friendship and freedom from the fear of being forsaken or cut off from God; and iii) he offers us the hope of sharing in his resurrection. Those who accept Jesus as the “Bread of Life” will be raised up to immortal life with Him when he comes again on the last day. It is time for us to experience the resurrection. It is time for us to come to the table of our Lord and be nourished by the Eucharist.  It is only at the Eucharist, that one can be nourished with the body and blood of Christ.  Everyone is invited to the table no matter who you are.   

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, you are the Bread of Life which nourishes our body and guides us to the heavenly gate.

You are the staple which gives us hope and a longing desire to find God and do his will.

Bless our lives with your love and mercy that we may share the Bread of Life with others.

 

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, … 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 of this world? These followers of Jesus, the five thousand He just fed, were hungry for spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with God. 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.

 

It is amazing sometimes how the Gospel readings line up with planned events.  Today, the Youth of St. Ignatius will begin the Hunger for Life retreat.  After lunch today, they will fast until after 5:15 Mass tomorrow when they take part in the great feast of our Lord’s Passion.  During this time, they will do acts of mercy and kindness to help those who don’t have.  In their own hunger, they will join in with those who don’t have enough to eat.  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; however, there was only five small loaves and two fish.  Definitely not enough to fee a crowd of 5000. 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. The abundance is the blessings he bestows upon his people due to his kindness and mercy.  This is the same abundance that will flow from Christ through the youth as they commit to this 24 hour period of fast, prayer and giving.  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:

 

“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.

 

Did God really love us so much that He sent his only?  Didn’t He really send him to condemn us and to damn us to eternal hell?  Is not obvious from his teachings that there is no hope for us and we’re all just going to rot in Hell?  This is the message that the world would have us believe.  I think it is even the message that people who call themselves Christians sometimes portray.  When fact, God wants just the opposite, not for us to condemn, but for us to love as He has loved us.  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 and to deliver us from the chains of hell, not to bind us to them.

 

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. Just yesterday, a young man went through a college campus here in Houston stabbing people at will.  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.  These things are the consequence of our own 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 hot 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 and trying to turn people away from Mother Church.  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.  It is not God who condemns us, but ourselves.  He has sent his son to open the gates of heaven, it is u who bars the door.  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:

 

"It is the Lord."

 

Gospel Reading: John 21:1-14

Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberius. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee's sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We also will come with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?" They answered him, "No." So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something." So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you just caught." So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast." And none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.

 

It has now been almost a week since the resurrection of Christ. Has the reality of this event started to wear off. Hopefully, we are not starting to fall back to our old ways and are still living our Lenten promises. In today’s Gospel, we hear that Peter has returned to Galilee, discouraged and probably feeling a little lost and abandoned. So what does he do?  He goes back to his old career as a fisherman, something that makes him feel comfortable, and something that he knows. He returns to his old ways. Even though Christ has already appeared to them, it sounds like they do not understand or possibly do not realize the significance of the resurrection yet. Peter and John, along with several other disciples have gone fishing. After a night of unsuccessful fishing, Jesus appeared to them on the bank. Jesus calls out to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” But they do not immediately recognize him. It is interesting that Christ addresses them as Children.  When we think of children, we think of people that are still learning, people who have not yet fully matured.  It is obvious that his Apostles still have some growing. Jesus educates them and tells them where to fish.  Following his instruction, the nets become over flowing. Peter now realizes that it is Jesus.  He is so overwhelmed with the reality of his revelation that he jumps into the water and rushes over to see him.  He cannot even wait for the boat to get to shore.  This is the third time Jesus revealed himself to Peter.

 

This is in contrast to the three denials of Peter the night before Jesus was crucified. Peter finally believes.  It takes three revelations to offset the three denials before Peter becomes fully aware of the Risen Christ.  How many times has Jesus revealed himself to you and you did not realize who he was? When you are in turmoil, have setbacks or disappointments, do you run to Jesus? How many times has Christ called out to us, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?"  and we have not listened.  Jesus is calling us to have faith. When he calls out, we might not immediately recognize him, but we should learn to recognize his signs. Peter did not immediately recognize Jesus, but he recognized the sign. Jesus joined them on the shore and had cooked breakfast for them. He broke bread and fed them. He again nourished his disciples. He gave them the strength to believe, to become true disciples. If you need to be nourished, reflect back on your Lenten commitment. Return to your Lenten journey. It will nourish the soul.  Seek the Eucharist as it is the true source of nourishment for everlasting life.

 

A Simple Prayer:

 

Lord Jesus, you are the true Resurrection and the source of eternal life.

Increase my faith in the power of your resurrection that I may never doubt your words

Teach me and feed me so I never stray from your presence.

 

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 Jesus at the tomb to pay homage to her dear friend when the angles question her, “Why are you weeping?” So why is Mary Magdalene weeping?  It is because of her deep love and desire to be with and to see him.  Through this very desire, Jesus appears before her to comfort her sorrows.  What is interesting is that she does not recognize him.  It is not until He calls 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.  It is us who cannot see him.  We are called to constantly seek him out Christ through our prayers and our actions. 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 the Lord Jesus in our lives. You must experience Him when He calls our 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