It was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean... – Acts 4:10

       It was 3 a.m. My mother woke up and she couldn’t find my sister, a special child, beside her. She looked all over the house, still no trace of my sister. Fear and nervousness crippled her body. Confused and didn’t know what to do, she closed her eyes and prayed hard: “In Jesus’ name, please keep my daughter safe from harm.” A few minutes later, she saw a security guard in front of our house with my sister.

       A prayer is even more powerful if we pray “in Jesus’ name.” In fact, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church,  “Our prayer... has access to the Father only if we pray “in the name” of Jesus” (ccc2664). In this way, we also pray with His authority. Jesus assured us in His last words to His apostles that “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matthew 28:18). And according to John 14:14, “If you ask  anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

       Pastor John MacArthur, in his book, The Upper Room, said that by praying in Jesus’ name, we are submitting ourselves to the will of God. I’m also reminded by this Bible verse through a billboard along EDSA that says, “[Jesus] I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Gracious B. Romero (graciousromero@gmail.com)

Reflection:Have we already realized the extraordinary strength and power which comes in praying through Jesus’ mighty name?

Father God, reveal Yourself to us in everything that we do. Let Your will be done in every aspect of our lives, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

St. Anselm, bishop and doctor of the Church, pray for us.

Thousands of people followed the Gospel and this bothered the Jewish leaders. The new Christian sect quickly gained followers. Peter explained to them the heart of the Gospel message but they were seemingly unimpressed by it. Peter blamed in part the Jewish leaders for the death of Jesus – this may be the reason for the lackluster reaction to the Gospel.

1 After the crippled man had been cured, while Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them, 2 disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They laid hands on Peter and John and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the word came to believe and the number of men grew to about five thousand. 5 On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly class. 7 They brought them into their presence and questioned them, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders: 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, 10 then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. 11 He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”

R: The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 2 Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the Lord say, “His mercy endures forever.” (R) 22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. (R) 24 This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. (R) 25 O Lord, grant salvation! O Lord, grant prosperity! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord. 27 The Lord is God, and he has given us light. (R)

The miracle of the abundant catch parallels an earlier miracle in the ministry of Jesus. The disciples should have realized this and recognized the Risen Jesus. Let us allow our faith to build on our experiences of Jesus and use them to help us recognize His presence in the present and future events of our life.

This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.

1 Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. 2 Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. 3 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. 4 When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” 6 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” 11 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. 12 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. 13 Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.

Read the Bible in one year Numbers 1-3

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

IT IS THE LORD!

Peter had good intentions. Impulsive as ever, he made the sudden decision to go fishing one evening. Apparently, his impulsivity was contagious. Six others joined him, including the two sons of Zebedee. But there were more fishermen than fish. They caught nothing through the night. One ought to give it to the other disciples whose prompt response almost made up for lack of tangible results. A grade of “A” for effort, as they say!

        But the merciful Lord turned out to be more than just willing to give them a grade of “A.” He actually coached them, while asking if they had caught anything to eat. “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.”

        How’s that for a generous guy? A grade of “A,” some tips about where the fish are, and bingo! They couldn’t haul the net in “because of the number of fish.”

        But by that time, someone’s quick eye no longer valued the fish. John the Apostle saw the Giver and forgot about the gift. “It is the Lord!” he bellowed. And Simon Peter, whose idea it was to catch fish in the first place, also forgot about the big catch and jumped right into the water, leaving the rest of the disciples with the task of hauling in the abundant catch.

         Except that the merciful Risen Lord had more than just abundance in store by the shore. He had everything covered — from where to toss the nets, to giving the hungry and sleepy fishermen a steaming fish fillet breakfast after an almost fruitless night of work.

       There are days we miss more than just a forest for a tree. We see the abundant gifts, but we miss out on the Giver. When we forget that discipleship is not about inducing material growth but, above all, growing in intimacy with the Lord, we see the fish but not the One who taught us how to be fishers of men.

          The disciple who was loved saw more than just a coach. He saw the Lord. And at that instance, the Risen Lord was all that mattered. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

Recall all the blessings of the past week. Did you remember to thank the Giver or just focused on His gifts?

Risen Lord, Your abundant blessings and grace are ours for the taking. But more than Your gifts, make us thankful for You, our gracious Provider. Amen.