With Easter comes new life. And new life comes with responsibilities. How can we deepen our faith if we don't nurture and care for it on a daily basis as we do our children? Just as a child is a precious gift from God, so is belief in Him. Neglect only leads to dire circumstances.
Today's Gospel (Luke 24:13-35) finds two disciples walking along the road discussing all that had occurred over the past few days. Jesus appears walking along side of them, asking what they were so intently debating. The disciples don't recognize Jesus. Their eyes could not distinguish His presence until Jesus removed the veil:
That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his Body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
In Volume Three the Blessed Mother is speaking to priests, but the message applies to all of us:
"Better you say to a soul, 'Follow the path of righteousness.' In the event you have been wronged, look clearly at what happened. Be assured God is displeased with the wrong levied against you. It was not God’s will that you be injured. But God will judge your offender. The offender will not escape divine justice and the offense will not remain hidden. There are no successful lies or deceits in heaven, my children. God will heal even the most grievous of wounds and injuries. Believe this. If you do not believe this, dear souls, how on earth can you convey this gift of healing to others? You cannot. It would be impossible. So you must obtain this gift of faith before you can share it. To obtain it, you must spend time with Jesus. There is no other way. You cannot give what you do not have."
Lay apostles, whenever I gaze into the eyes of our grandchildren, I am overwhelmed with love for Jesus. These beautiful babies remind me to love and cherish my gift of Faith. To nurture it as our grandchildren will be nurtured by our daughters and their husbands.
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of faith. I honestly don't know how people do it without You!
God bless,
Bonnie
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