NOBODY’S EXEMPTED

We may all have experienced something that we just can't contain it within ourselves and we needed to shout it out and let the whole world know. This should be our attitude towards the gospel of Jesus Christ. We should never stop proclaiming and testifying to God's Word. The Holy Spirit enables us to withstand external pressure in order to carry out with holy boldness the proclamation of the word of God. We have to will it as this is exactly how we should feel after witnessing during these Lenten and Easter seasons how God so loved the world. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 4:13-21

...they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. 20 It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”

God is the source of all good things. Only Jesus can satisfy our souls. We should be really careful in setting our priorities. Sometimes we end up making the wrong choices and decisions in life. We end up rejecting something that should be valued and treasured more than anything else in this whole wide world. All we need to do is trust that the Lord will always take care of all our needs we need not tire ourselves to the point of exhaustion because it is better to take refuge in the Lord than resort to trusting in or own strength and others. According to Fr. Joseph Koterski a Jesuit priest and a professor in Fordham University it helps to always have GRACE. G stands for Gratitude, R for Respect, A for Account (have an accounting of the things we have done whether good or bad), C for Charting (to chart our course of action in order to see where we're going) and E to Entreat the Lord for the energy  and enthusiasm He has been giving us in this life. We need to always think of the things we are grateful for. It will help us examine our conscience and live a holy life that is fitting for a people of God. There are times when we don’t feel like saying our prayers. Whenever we feel this way but still managed to gather all our strength to still commit to our prayers then we will surely find ourselves with renewed strength to start our day right. When we master the art of praying and always drawing near to God then we become "Untouchables".  This is due to the fact that no one is like God. There is none like Him, for no one else can do as much as the Lord God Almighty and All Powerful can. We can rely on God’s goodness and build confidence on that knowing that with God on our side we are undefeated. His might knows no limits and His power is able to do wonderful things beyond our imagination. Everything fits like a key in a hole. There is only one thing that is conveyed here that God allows things to happen for a reason and everything falls into its perfect place. God's love and mercy endure forever and do not fail. We can always count on the goodness of God at all times and in all circumstances all the days of our lives. Truly knowing and proclaiming that God is Lord of all our days makes all the difference. It gives us real joy and gladness for heaven and earth will fade but His words will remain. We may not have witnessed first hand when Jesus walked and lived on earth but we can never deny witnessing to God's miracles working in our lives every day. Truly knowing and proclaiming what we are celebrating this easter season makes all the difference. It gives us real joy and gladness that never fade. We should have the confidence to joyfully shout out what the psalm tells us today.  Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 118:1, 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21

R: I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 14 My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. 15 The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just...

Sometimes it takes time before we can fully realize the things that are already before and around us just like the other disciples who failed to recognize Jesus right away. The disciple whom Jesus loved was the first to recognize Him and we, too are challenged to become like this disciple whom Jesus loved and be more sensitive when it comes to identifying in our lives who Jesus really is. Several times did Jesus appear after His resurrection and it took some time before they finally believed. It was a series of doubt, unbelief and hardness of heart. There are times when we have to be repeatedly told and witness first hand before we are finally convinced. How many times in our lifetime have we encountered certain events and experiences that call us to greater and stronger faith in God but remained skeptical and unbelieving? During those times we were all guilty just like his disciples in today's gospel. Sometimes we need to be rebuked for our unbelief and hardness of heart. When this happens and get our wake up call then we really need to get our acts together and be ready for the call of Jesus to spread the Good News of God. Nobody's exempted. God will always provide us with all the proof that we need it's just a matter of opening up our hearts to His daily promptings. Remove all clouds of doubt, believe and proclaim the gospel. The disciples of Jesus had to hear it a 3rd time and be rebuked before they took action. Maybe it is necessary for us to go through these stages in order for us to appreciate better the truth that is evident and irrefutable so as to cultivate in us the confidence to spread the good news and proclaim the gospel without a doubt. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 16:9-15

When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene...When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country. They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either. But later, as the eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised.He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”