Third Sunday of Easter

MY BACLARAN

EXPERIENCE

“You are witnesses of these things.” – Luke 24:48

        I prayed the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help for nine Wednesdays in Baclaran Church as part of my Lenten sacrifice.

     Upon entering the basilica, my heart was delighted to see so many people from different social classes and ages who’ve come together to pray. I believe we take in a percentage of faith from every person in the church, and it helps increase our own. I was surprised that answered prayers were being shared in between the novena prayers to encourage more devotees to pray fervently to Our Lady. I found myself in tears, overwhelmed to be surrounded by people with such deep faith. I felt that I came to the right place to refill my hope tank for my prayers that still remain unanswered. Sometimes I fail to appreciate my blessings because I focus on those that I have not yet received.

       Where you are right now, with your struggles and victories, is exactly where God will empower you so you can become a blessing to others. Your blessings come in that form and in that particular time because it’s how God wants to use you. Our lives will be wonderful testimonies to His greatness. Ruby Albino (r_jean07@yahoo.com)

Reflect: Ask the Lord to see you through times of doubt so you can focus on the beauty of His plans for your life.

Father, it is my ultimate desire to share Your greatness in my life to other people. Make me a blessing to others today.

God will bring to completion the work He has begun in us. However, we need to cooperate with Him and allow Him to do His work. When we surrender to Him, He will transform our life by His grace. Let us welcome God who comes to us and allow Him to have His way with us.

Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

13 Peter said to the people: “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence, when he had decided to release him. 14 You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses. 17 Now I know brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did; 18 but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.”

P S A L M 

Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9

R: Lord, let your face shine on us.

1 [2] When I call, answer me, O my just God, you who relieve me when I am in distress; have pity on me, and hear my prayer! (R) 3 [4] Know that the Lord does wonders for his faithful one; the Lord will hear me when I call upon him. (R) 6 [7] O Lord, let the light of your countenance shine upon us! 7 [8] You put gladness into my heart. (R) 8 [9] As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep, for you alone, O Lord, bring security to my dwelling. (R) 

2ND READING

Keeping the Word of God means listening to and accepting it in our heart, mind, and soul. Sometimes we refuse to listen to His Word because we think it might be difficult to follow or accomplish. Remember, it is God who will do the work – we only need to be available to serve Him.

1 John 2:1-5

1 My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. 2 He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world. 3 The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. 4 Those who says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in them. 5 But whoever keeps his word the love of God is truly perfected in him.

 

_______________________________________________

 

_______________________________________________

 

_______________________________________________

 

 

 

CLAIM YOUR RESTORATION

In the First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter delivered a stinging sermon to the people of Israel. It will be good to quote him in full: “You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead” (Acts 3:13-15, NIV).

The  first pope of the Catholic Church was not one who sugarcoats his words to avoid offending the feeling of his hearers. However, he reminded the people of Israel of their collective guilt, not to reprimand them, but to encourage them to repent and turn to God so that their sins may be wiped out (see Acts 3:19). It was clear that the God Peter was preaching about was not a God of accusation but of restoration.  Thus he ended his sermon with a note of hope and encouragement “that times of refreshing may come from the Lord ” (v. 19).

We see the same pattern in full display in the Gospel. Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection. As He addressed them, He showed them His wounds, “Look at my hands and my feet” (Luke 24:39). It was as if He made them see that this is what sinful humanity did to the Author of life. But then again, His initial message was, “Peace be with you!”(Luke 24:36). And then He commissioned them to be His witnesses and appointed that conversion may be “preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:48).

Before the convicting words of our readings today, let us not feel condemned but rather called — called to conversion, renewal, and restoration. Take this to heart and commit it in your memory: Our God is not a God of accusation but of restoration! Fr. Joel O. Jason

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

Is there any area in your life that you feel is beyond redemption? Trust and entrust it to the Divine Mercy, and be restored.

Jesus, fount of divine mercy, I trust in You. Amen.
Today, I pray for: ___________________________________