OUR LIFE COMES FROM CHRIST! ~ CookingFood.Org

“RISEN WITH CHRIST”

Easter Reflections

Friday, 5th May 2017,

Third Week of Easter

Acts 9:1-20;

Ps 117:1-2 (R. Mk 16:15);

Jn 6:52-59.

OUR LIFE COMES FROM CHRIST!

St. Paul about whom we hear in the first reading of today was a wise man under the great teacher Gamaliel. His dramatic conversion takes place on the road to Damascus. Paul who had many things, lacked what was most important. He found it through his profound encounter with Jesus Christ. After the experience Paul exclaimed, “To me life is Christ”; “as far as I am concerned, living is Jesus Christ”. “I live now not with my own life but with the life of Christ who lives in me.”Once Paul met Jesus, his life was never the same. He was completely transformed. He was a new creation in Christ. We too receive Christ in the Eucharist. How much does it transform our life? How much do I give myself to Christ when he gives himself to me?

In the Gospel, Jesus tells, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink the blood you do not have life within you.” Some were upset and challenging His words. It’s inspiring to see that, when Jesus was faced with the harsh words of others, He responded with even greater clarity and confidence. This reveals a man of the utmost confidence, conviction and strength. It is inspiring and reveals the strength we are all called to have in this world. The world we live in is filled with opposition to the truth. It’s opposed to many moral truths, but it is also opposed to many of the deeper spiritual truths. These deeper truths are things such as the beautiful truths of the Eucharist, the importance of daily prayer, humility, abandonment to God, putting God’s will above all things, etc. We should be aware of the fact that the closer we grow to our Lord, the more we surrender to Him, and the more we proclaim His truth, the more we will feel the pressure of the world trying to steal us away.

So what do we do? We learn from the strength and example of Jesus. Whenever we find ourselves put in a challenging position, or whenever we feel as though our faith is being attacked, we must deepen our resolve to be all the more faithful. This will make us stronger and turns those temptations we face into opportunities for grace! Choose to imitate the strength and conviction of our Lord and you will become a greater visible instrument of His grace and mercy.

Prayer: Lord, give me the strength of Your conviction. Give me clarity in my mission and help me to serve You unwaveringly in all things. May I never cower when faced with the challenges of life but always deepen my resolve to serve You with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.