SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER –   2019

«  The Church celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus   during 7 days  as if it were Easter Sunday itself.

«  And each Sunday of the Easter Season is called FIRST SUNDAY OF EASTER, SECOND….. 

¡ALLELUIA,  JESUS, THE LORD IS RISEN!!!!

FIRST READING . Acts of the Apostles 5, 12-16    

As we have said last week, during the liturgical season of Easter the first Reading is taken from the book of the Acts. 

Today’s reading describes what the apostles were doing and how the people looked at them:   

Ø  They did wonderful things and they healed the people. This is what all of us seek, we are vulnerable, limited, and we do not like to suffer.  

Ø  The reading says that they were all together under one of the porticoes of the Temple

Ø  That nobody wanted to join them, probably the author means while they were at the temple. 

Ø  Because a little bit, further it says that everyday more followers were joining them.  

Ø  People put their sick on the street wishing that, at least, the shadow of Peter may cover them and so be healed.  

Ø  What a wonderful description of Peter, like his Master and Lord, his shadow does well to people.  

Ø  As it happened when Jesus lived among us, people brought from everywhere their sick ones to be cured, now they do the same with the vicar of Christ, Peter to whom Jesus has given the keys of the Church.  

RESPONSORIAL PSALM   Ps. 118 2-4; 13-15; 22-24

«  We continue the Reading of Psalm 118. 

«  It is a thanksgiving hymn to the God of Israel, we sing it in the liturgy to give thanks and praise to Jesus, victor over death and hell.  

R. Alleluia.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
 R. Alleluia.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
 R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia.

 SECOND READING  Rv  l,9-11a. 12-13. 17-19

ü  The book of the Apocalypse is called also Book of Revelation. Revelation of the glorified  Christ, Lord and King of Kings    

ü  The Gospels are books that tell us about Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ and Messiah, during the days of his earthly life among us.  

ü  The book of Revelation tells us about the risen Lord Jesus, the glorified Christ, who is God, the Second Person of the Trinity.  

ü  This book does not speak of the future as the seers do, but using symbols and images the author wants to help us understand the meaning of today’s  history. 

ü  Thus, it is called Revelation, which means to lift up the curtain.  Through the different chapters, our brother John inspired by God removes little by little the curtain so that we may be able to see what is behind it. Thus, we may be able to understand the meaning of  history.   

ü  I read once an author who said that this book was written to give hope to the people who suffer.  

ü  That one of its messages, probably the most important one, is that we find God in the events of history, not beyond them. Let us thing a little bit on this sentence and it will probably help us to deepen our faith, as Jesus asked Thomas to do “doubt no more, believe”.  

LET US SEE THE MESSAGE FROM THIS SUNDAY’S READING

      The author introduces himself as John, our brother, who shares with us the events of life and the persecution because of his fidelity to Jesus.  

       Because he has chosen to be faithful,  he is exiled in the isle of Patmos.  

       There he has a revelation of the heavenly Christ. Jesus, risen and glorified,  presents himself and speaks to him to give a message for him and for all his brothers.   

       This happens on a Sunday, the day of the Lord, from the latin   dominum = Lord. It is the first time that this Word is used in the New Testament.   

       Jesus presents himself as a “son of man” name that Jesus used many times during his earthly life among us. This Word comes from the book of Daniel, where the son of man is someone with  authority. 

      This son of man dresses priestly vestments, and is among seven golden chandeliers, symbol of the Church.   

      John is terrified on seeing this majestic being, but Jesus touches him and says “do not be afraid.” 

      And continues saying:  

o   I am the First and the Last   

o   The Living one, I was dead, but now I live forever.  

o   He has the keys of death and life. Paul will tell us that the Father has given him a name above every other name, thus at the name of Jesus every knee shall bend on earth and under the earth and in the netherworld.

o   Christ orders John to write what he sees now and in the future.  

  GOSPEL OF JOHN 20:19-31

      On this second Sunday of Easter,  the liturgy puts before the eyes of our faith the manifestation of the Risen Lord to the eleven.   

      Jesus comes in their midst suddenly,  all can see him.   

o   He says his usual greeting   “Shalom=Peace” The Risen Christ is our peace, his presence fills us with an overwhelming joy and we experience a deep peace that nobody can take from us.  

o   Jesus tells them that they have to continue the work he began with the Incarnation;  they are called to be his visible presence in the world.  

§  What is that work, that mission?: With the strength of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus they will receive the strength and also the mission to forgive, to bind and unbind with the same authority of Jesus, who will accept what they bind or unbind here on earth.  

o   One of them, Thomas, is not with the others. He left the community, why? Probably because he is disappointed and  sad.  He has left the community when he needed it most, when he needed to share with his friends their sadness, their fear, their disappointment.        

      Jesus comes back 8 days later, he does not want to leave one of his intimate friends without seeing him. 

o   Jesus, who continues to love without limits, is going to give to Thomas a wonderful gift which will be a gift for us also.   

o   Thomas, look at me, I am Jesus, the one you love, with whom you were ready to go to Jerusalem to die. 

o   Do not allow the temptation of sadness   overcome you, do not go away from the community of your friends, who suffer like you.   

o   Touch my hands; enter into my wounded side that will always be open for you. 

o   You know, that now by the power of the resurrection, we are brothers, not only friends, or disciple and teacher.  

o   “My Lord and my God.” I love you my Lord, forgive my unbelief, my lack of trust.

§  HAPPY THOSE WHO WILL BELIEVE WITHOUT SEEING.  Thank you Lord for your words, because we belong to the group of those who struggle day by day   

·         To believe without seeing.   

·         To seek you in the midsts of our darkness.  

·         To allow your love to find us, your love who always forgets and forgives our lack of trust.   

·         WE BELIEVE LORD, BUT HELP OUR UNBELIEF, INCREASE OUR FAITH

	CLARETIAN CORNER

One day, our Lord showed me the beauty of his most Holy Law. He showed me a beautiful scene of a vast and beautiful meadow full of the most beautiful flowers of all kind; they had the most varied and exquisite fragrance. I saw that they all had stain, some more than the others. Some had only a little stain but it disfigured the beauty that exquisite scenery. Our Lord told me: “do you see my daughter the beauty of the flowers are breaking of my holy law. I had nobody to observe it, because there is no one who keeps the precept of charity. Venerable María Antonia París, Foundress of the Claretian Missionary Sisters, Autobiography 27.

I couldn't stand for anyone to make fun of them, as young boys are often wont to do, despite the exemplary punishment meted out to the boys who made fun of Elisha .

Moreover I remember that when I was seated in church and an old man would come in, I would stand up gladly and give him a seat. I would always greet old people on the street, and if I had the pleasure of talking with one of them, I enjoyed it immensely. God grant that I have known how to use the advice of these elderly gentlemen to advantage.

My God, how good you are! How rich in mercy you have been to me! If you had given others the graces you have given me, they would have cooperated with them so much more. Mercy, Lord: I'll begin to be good from now on, with the help of your grace.  Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Founder of the Claretian Missionary Sisters, Autobiography 20-21.