Our Father does not want us to perish.
No one knows better than He how fragile we are and how many dangers surround us! Everywhere we are beset by attacks: within ourselves by our fallen nature, in the world by its seductions, by enemies and the envy of the devil who seeks to harm us.
We will listen to the reading that corresponds to the traditional calendar:
Acts 3,13-15.17-19
At that time, Peter addressed the people: The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant[a] Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
Note: Although we are in the octave of Easter, when no saints’ days are usually celebrated, I would like to focus on St Francis de Paula today. If you prefer to listen to the Easter texts, you can find them in the archive:
Lk 12:32-34
At that time Jesus said to his disciples: “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Read More
“Stay with me; I love you! – Stay with me; I guard you! – Stay with me; I guide you; I am your Father” (Inner Word).
What an invitation our heavenly Father addresses to us! And it is not only valid for the short time of our earthly existence; it remains in force forever and will carry us from glory to glory in eternity:
“Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood” (1 Cor 13:12). Read More
Before I go into the topic, I would like to say a few words about our mission: Harpa Dei and I have returned safely from a fruitful apostolic trip to Brazil and Argentina. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who daily follow the “3 Minutes for Abba” for their prayers. It was a joy to meet people in both countries who often listen to these meditations. I hope that in the future they will be spread even more for the glory of our Heavenly Father and for the good of souls. The next step would be to begin translating them into French. Read More
Acts 2:14,22-33
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed them in a loud voice: ‘Men of Judaea, and all you who live in Jerusalem, make no mistake about this, but listen carefully to what I say. Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to say: Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was among you, as you know. Read More
“Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:55).
We can exclaim it with jubilation on this day, the day on which the Church proclaims the Resurrection of the Son of God: The Lord is risen! Indeed He is risen! Hallelujah!
Mary Magdalene, wanting to show her love for the Lord even in death, runs to the tomb before daybreak.
“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they have put Him” (Jn 20:2) – she exclaims in pain, when she discovers that the stone of the tomb has been removed. Are the dead not even left in peace? Where is her Lord?
“I will say, ‘Let the darkness cover me, and the night wrap itself around me,’ even darkness to you is not dark, and night is as clear as the day” (Ps 138:8).
There is nothing that cannot be illuminated by the light of God.
Mourning for the Lord; grief for men, who have not recognised their Redeemer and have crucified Him… Mourning of the Mother for the beloved Son; mourning and bewilderment among the disciples, who say to each other in confusion: “Our own hope had been that He would be the one to set Israel free…” (Lk 24:21)
But the Lord descended into hell, to those who were still waiting for the Redemption, and He filled them also with His love.
