7 Lessons of Easter
1. There is limit to what the evil one can do but God does the impossible. Satan thought that the worst he could do was to kill Jesus, but God raised him to new life, a life that has no limit anymore. A life that is invincible, beyond the reach of all harm. The worst that evil can do is just the beginning of great things God will do in our lives. God will place you where the devil can no more have access to you.
2. Whatever pain and anguish we go through, there will be a third day experience. God can change our stories when we place our trust in him. At night there are tears but joy comes with dawn. He will turn the tomb of defeat and tears the enemy has placed us into a womb of joy and greatness.
3. God cannot be out done in showing mercy. What is worse than killing the only son of God in such a cruel manner? yet God forgives. No sin is greater than God's mercy.
4. The risen Lord does not dwell in the past. He does not call to mind how he was abandoned, betrayed, falsely accused. He wants to start a fresh with everyone. We are new creatures in Christ. Old things have passed away... Let's bury past hurts in his tomb drawing strength from the risen Christ to start a new.
5. Faithfulness will be rewarded. Mary Magdalene was the first to see the ressurected Jesus and be commissioned to witness to the risen Lord, she became an apostle to the apostles, because even in death he did not abandon Jesus. She loved Jesus beyond death.
6. The risen Lord goes in search of his apostles. God always takes the initiative to restore us to himself. Let's be at the forefront of working for peace and reconciliation.
7. The risen Lord restores faith. He patiently brings his apostles back to faith in him. Is your faith weak? Are you faltering? Christ does not condemn you, he has come to restore you to faith.
🙇♀As we contemplate the risen Christ, may the new life he brings flourish in us. Amen. Happy Easter beloved in Christ.
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Fr. Patrick Etuk, MSP - Homily Holy Thursday, April 18, 2019
“If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet.” Jn.13:1-15.
The message of Jesus was so compelling and has continued to fire many imaginations because he taught what he was already living out. A picture is often worth more than a thousand words. He practiced what he preached. He taught his disciples how to pray because he was a man of deep prayer. When he asked his disciples to trust in providence they believed him because, the Son of man himself had no where to lay his head. Yet he was never stranded. It was not difficult for his disciples to understand his message of self denial because our Lord himself lived a life of renunciation. No show of affluence or vanity. When he taught them to forgive he will forgive those who took his life with so much cruelty. When he taught them the power of humble service, he stooped low to wash their dirty smelly feet. He spoke with authority because everything he asked of us he was already living it out . They knew him more as a witness than a teacher. This is the missing link in our preaching today- the force of personal witness. This explains often why our message does not move hearts because they don't come from our personal experience, mere lip service.
🙇♀Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like thine. Amen.
The message of Jesus was so compelling and has continued to fire many imaginations because he taught what he was already living out. A picture is often worth more than a thousand words. He practiced what he preached. He taught his disciples how to pray because he was a man of deep prayer. When he asked his disciples to trust in providence they believed him because, the Son of man himself had no where to lay his head. Yet he was never stranded. It was not difficult for his disciples to understand his message of self denial because our Lord himself lived a life of renunciation. No show of affluence or vanity. When he taught them to forgive he will forgive those who took his life with so much cruelty. When he taught them the power of humble service, he stooped low to wash their dirty smelly feet. He spoke with authority because everything he asked of us he was already living it out . They knew him more as a witness than a teacher. This is the missing link in our preaching today- the force of personal witness. This explains often why our message does not move hearts because they don't come from our personal experience, mere lip service.
🙇♀Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like thine. Amen.
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