Message of the Week

Liturgical Season: Easter

He Was Made Known to Them in the Breaking of the Bread

The Third Sunday of Easter
April 26, 2020

Jesus’ disciples knew much of what happened to Him.  They knew the history.

Their hearts burned while He opened the scriptures for them.

This was not just history but faith.

It all came together for them….  His life, His death, His resurrection.  History, faith, and experience gave them meaning.

We, too, can find him again and again in the breaking of the bread.

History, faith, and experience can cause our hearts to burn, too.

 

He is Risen!

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
April 12, 2020

The promises of Jesus have been fulfilled.

Jesus is the Resurrection and the life.

We can trust in His saving power.

His life was about healing body, mind, and soul.

He is with us now.  Believe!

The Spirit of the Truth Will Guide You to All Truth

The Most Holy Trinity
June 16, 2019
  • The Trinity is GOD.
  • The Father, The Spirit and Jesus are ONE.
  • Jesus connects us to Almighty God in a very special way.
  • God is with us in everything we do. God, through the Spirit, guides us to do his will.
  • His will is always that we love one another.

Peace I Leave With You, My Peace I Give To You

The Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 26, 2019
    • As Jesus is about to end his last meal with his disciples, He tells them of the Holy Spirit’s coming.
    • That Spirit will make Jesus ever present to them, will advocate for them.
    • The result will be an abiding peace that only Jesus can give.
    • Trust in Jesus and His words are necessary for this sense of peace.
    • Can you let go of the world’s pressures, promises, and temptations?
    • Can you trust in Jesus instead?

Love One Another

The Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 18, 2019
  • Jesus gives His final charge to His disciples:
  • Love one another.
  • Jesus is about to make the ultimate sacrifice that will fulfill His father’s will.
  • He makes it out of love for His Father and love for us.
  • The love of the Father also is imparted to us in this sacrificial act, and we are to impart it to one another.
  • How will you do this?

 

The Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 12, 2019
  • Jesus comes to us again in this time of reflection after Easter.
  • Today He once again reminds us of His never-ending love and care for us.
  • He is the Good Shepherd and He knows that His sheep hear His call and His guidance.
  • Jesus reminds us of the power given to Him and His use of that power to care for us throughout all of eternity.
  • What do we hear when we hear Jesus’ words?
  • How does He make His love – and the love of His Father – known to you in your life?
  • What do these words encourage you to think and do?

 

We Are Called

The Third Sunday of Easter
May 5, 2019
  • The Lord Jesus is with us and calls us to work with Him in bringing others to him.
  • We are the Church with the mission to call others to His truth.
  • Jesus will show us how to fish or how to live our lives to achieve His purpose.
  • It is easy for Jesus to become a stranger to us in the busyness of our lives… even in this short time after Easter.
  • The disciples recognized Jesus, then joined Him for a meal of fish and bread as nourishment. The Eucharist is the meal Jesus provides to strengthen us.
  • What will help you to recognize Jesus in your life?
  • What will help you know how to answer His call?

 

Blessed Are Those
Who Have Not Seen and Have Believed

Divine Mercy Sunday
April 28, 2019
  • Jesus appears to the apostles to assure them that He has indeed risen from the dead.
  • He knows of their angst and sadness about His death.
  • He wants them to know about the peace and strength He brings with His Resurrection.
  • He wants them to know that He is truly the Son of God.
  • But Thomas, who had not been present when Jesus first appeared, would not believe.
  • Jesus returned when Thomas was present and presented his wounds for Thomas’ inspection.
  • Who then finally believed?
  • How much like Thomas are we, always needing proof – a sign?
  • Trust and faith are what will bring us comfort and peace.
  • Divine Mercy comes to those who trust and accept what Jesus says on faith.
  • Can we get beyond our need for proof and receive all the grace Jesus has to offer us?

 

HE IS RISEN … ALLELUIA!

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
April 20, 2019
  • Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the greatest event in history.
  • The resurrection is also the most important KEY to the future for each of us.
  • Had Jesus not died for us and had He not risen we would have no future.
  • Alleluia (PRAISE GOD) is the only word we can sing at this time.
  • We have been freed, blessed, and granted eternal life.
  • Easter is the time to celebrate the great gift we have been given.
  • Can we use this KEY to the future as a way to live as Jesus has taught us?

Come Holy Spirit

Pentecost Sunday, Easter
May 17, 2018
  • The Holy Spirit burst in upon the Apostles on Pentecost.
  • The Holy Spirit changed those Apostles forever.
  • If you are open to Him, the Holy Spirit will burst into your life too!
  • Speak to Him about your life, your doubts, your hopes and He will help you resolve your concerns and wishes.
  • Jesus promised us that He would never leave us alone.  He promised to send us the Holy Spirit which is also His Spirit.
  • We have before us the power of Almighty God, in the Spirit.  Anything is possible.
  • We must never be afraid.  We must move forward in faith and in life.
  • Reach out to your God and He will lead you into the future He has planned for you.
  • You are loved and blessed beyond your wildest dreams!

Go Into the Whole World and Proclaim the Gospel to Every Creature

The Ascension of the Lord, Easter
May 10, 2018
  • The lifting up of Jesus on the cross signifies and announces His lifting up by his Ascension into heaven.
  • In our Christian life, entering the glory of God demands daily fidelity to His will, even when it demands sacrifice and sometimes requires us to change our plans.
  • We have One who always defends us from the snares of the devil, who defends us from ourselves and from our sins!
  • The Apostles returned to Jerusalem “with great joy.” But how could this be?  With the gaze of faith they understand.
  • Jesus stays with us forever, He does not abandon us and in the glory of the Father supports, guides and intercedes for us.

I Am the Vine… You are the Branches

Fifth Sunday of Easter
April 29, 2018
  • It is a reminder that all things are possible if you remain with Him in thought and deed.
  • Whatever you want will be done for you.
  • You are to be His disciples and bear much fruit.
  • If you but yourself off from the vine you can do nothing.
  • Can you organize your life around this message?
  • Imagine what God has in store for you and your faithfulness!

I Am the Good Shepherd, I Have Laid Down My Life For the Sheep

Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 25, 2018
  • That is what this is all about. Jesus laid down His life for us.
  • “This is why the Father loves me…”
  • Because I laid down my life and conquered death as He commanded.
  • You who hear my voice will follow me and live as I lived and do as I did in your world.
  • Do you realize that you have become a shepherd too?
  • Do you realize that your flock is all around you and so are the wolves? What are you to do?

Meet Him in the Breaking of the Bread

Third Sunday of Easter
April 15, 2018
  • The disciples met a stranger as they walked the road to Emmaus. He turned out not to be a stranger.
  • He taught them who He was by exposing them to the scriptures which foretold His coming.
  • He ate with them to show them that He was really alive and not just an apparition.
  • When He broke bread with them they saw who He was. Jesus had returned from the dead.
  • As you look at your own life are there still questions of who Jesus was and is to you?
  • Have you met Him personally? Is He just an apparition?
    He will come to you and you too can meet Him in the Eucharist – the breaking of the bread. Believe what you have heard and it will happen!

He is Risen, Celebrate Easter!

First Sunday of Easter
April 1, 2018
– He is Risen! Praise him with Joy!
– Jesus’ Death and Resurrection are the single most important events in all of history – past and future.
– Jesus’ Death and Resurrection are the most important events affecting your life.
– Without his Resurrection you would have no future.
– With his Resurrection you have eternal life before you.
– In celebrating the Sunday Eucharist, we worship, praise, and thank God for his saving acts.
– We also bring our lives to offer in thanksgiving.
– In gratitude we do this every Sunday, the Lord’s Day and invite all to join us.

I Love You and I Choose You

Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 6, 2018
– We are offered a relationship with Jesus Christ.
– He asks us to love one another as He loves us.
– We are called to keep His commandments and to love, even to the point of giving up our lives.
– Stay attached to the vine and you will bear much fruit. The Father will give you whatever you need to succeed.
– Are you willing to go this far?
– What else do you want?

Peace be With You

Second Sunday of Easter
April 8, 2018
– Like the Apostles we are now locked in our rooms as we consider what happened in the Passion and the Resurrection. It is almost beyond belief. What does it mean to me?
– Jesus comes to us and says “Peace be with you”. “Blessed are you who have not seen and yet believed.” Let it sink in.
– Are there times when we struggle to believe?
– Turn to Jesus who has suffered and died for you. He says do not be afraid and know that my mercy will dispel all doubts and heal all wounds. You are safe and you are saved.
– My mission is complete and yours’ is still ongoing. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” This is the same for us as it was for the Apostles. Now it is up to us. With his Resurrection you have eternal life before you.
– Jesus tells us that our mission is to believe and share “that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in His name.”
– What else could we possibly dream of? What else do we need to know? What will we do to find out?