“Children, have you any fish?” (John 21, 5) Jesus asked His disciples when He appeared to them for the third time on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias. Read More
Showing all posts by Elija
“JESUS’ GAZE UPON THE FATHER (II)”
Beloved Father, yesterday I shared with Your children the wonderful gift You bestowed upon us three years ago, on the most holy day of Your Son’s death, and which remains with us to this day. Contemplating the Face of the Lord, who draws us to Himself with His gentleness, is always a great comfort. In an inner word, the Lord has exhorted us: “From the cross of this world, which causes so much suffering, lift your gaze with Me to the Father.” Read More
TUESDAY OF EASTER WEEK: “It is I, fear not”
“Peace be to you (…). Why are you troubled? (…) it is I myself” (Lk 24:36, 38–39).
This is how the Risen Lord addressed His disciples when He appeared among them. They still could not quite believe it and were filled with dread and fear (Lk 24:37). Who was this who spoke to them? Their eyes had not yet been opened; they could not recognize the Risen One.
Was He perhaps a spirit? No, it was the Lord! It was the very One with whom they had journeyed and whom they had followed for three years, with whom they had eaten and drunk; the One who had performed miracles before their eyes and had instructed them with the fullness of wisdom. Yet now they could not recognize Him. Could He perhaps be a ghost?
“JESUS’ GAZE UPON THE FATHER (I)”
Beloved Father, today I would like to share with those who follow “3 Minutes for Abba” a wonderful event with which You have blessed our community. Some of them may already be familiar with it; others will be hearing about it for the first time.
It happened on April 7, 2023, Good Friday of that year, at 9 a.m.—the hour when the crucifixion of Your Son began to redeem humanity. As is customary in the Catholic Church during Passiontide, the large crucifix in our chapel was covered with a purple veil.
“THE BLESSED LIFE”
“This is precisely what the blessed life consists of: rejoicing in view of You, in You, and for You” (St. Augustine).
St. Augustine is right! This blessed life is already foreshadowed here on Earth, beloved Father. As soon as we wake up and shake off our sleep, Your grace is already with us, moving us to dedicate our first thoughts and words to You. Throughout the night You have watched over us through Your angel. And the new day that dawns awaits us with its task. Read More
MONDAY OF EASTER WEEK: “By Your death, You have conquered death”
NOTE: Throughout Easter Week, the daily meditations will take on a more contemplative tone, to help us delve deeper into the great event of our faith: the Resurrection of the Lord. The “3 Minutes for Abba” will continue as usual (https://en.elijamission.net/category/3-minutes-for-god-the-father/).
Just as You foretold, beloved Jesus, it has come to pass. You have truly risen!
You rose from the dead, and the good news has reached us. The first to announce it were the angels at the tomb: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen” (Lk 24:5). Then came Mary Magdalene; she had the grace to see You first, and then the apostles. There is no doubt! Not even the hostile Jews and the bribed soldiers could hide the truth. Alleluia!
EASTER SUNDAY: The empty tomb
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?
HOLY SATURDAY: Mourning for the Lord
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.
GOOD FRIDAY: Redeemed by love
Judas consummated his betrayal and Jesus is apprehended. This happens after the Lord had accepted in Gethsemane the suffering from the hands of his Father and had given his ‘yes’ to all that was before him.
A YES that had to go through anguish and agony; a YES, after having asked his Father that, if possible, that cup might pass without his having to drink it (cf. Mt 26:39-44); a YES that expresses unconditional surrender to the Father; a YES out of love for us men.
MAUNDY THURSDAY: The service and self-giving of Christ
“During supper, Jesus got up from table, removed His outer garments and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing.” (Jn 13:4-5)
What great love is manifested to us on this day, what extraordinary gestures do we encounter! The Lord of heaven and earth washes the feet of His disciples, thus revealing to them more deeply what their discipleship is all about: it is about service. God Himself, in His infinite love, serves man; and He calls us to live in this same service.