April 2023: Thought for the day
Thought for the Day
April 2023
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
2 April 2023
Love, far from mortifying our existence, makes its radiate with extraordinary brightness. St Francis de Sales could eloquently describe Calvary as ‘the mountain of lovers’. For there and there alone, do we come to realise that ‘it is not possible to have life without love, or love without the death of the Redeemer. Except there, everything is either eternal death or eternal love, and the whole of Christian wisdom consists in knowing how to choose well between them.’
Pope Francis, Totum Amoris Est,
Apostolic Letter on the Fourth Centenary of the death of Saint Francis de Sales (Veritas, 2023)
* * *
Easter Day of the Lord’s Resurrection
9 April 2023
One of the questions the disciples had on that first Easter morning was ‘If Jesus is not in the tomb, where is he now?’ In the light of his appearances to them, they came to understand that he was to be found among themselves, the community of believers. The risen Lord journeys with us, and he wants to journey through us as well; he wants to take flesh in our lives so that we become living signs of his Easter presence. He wants to live in us that his life-giving love becomes a reality in our world today. We can be grateful this Easter for the ways that the Lord’s life-giving love has taken flesh in the lives of so many people.
Martin Hogan, You Have One Teacher,
Reflections on the Gospel Readings for the Year of Matthew (Veritas, 2022)
* * *
Second Sunday of Easter
16 April 2023 • Divine Mercy Sunday
The Divine Mercy message is one we can call to mind simply by remembering ABC:
A – Ask for His Mercy. God wants us to approach Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and upon the whole world.
B – Be merciful. God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.
C – Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that our reception of the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive.
* * *
Third Sunday of Easter
23 April 2023
-
The four speeds of prayer are slow, slower, pause and reverse.
-
God promises believers a safe landing but not a smooth passage.
-
Jesus does not just call believers. He calls disciples who will follow him through suffering love to the cross.
-
Prayer is more about trust and hope than about arranging the world to suit me.
-
I cannot work miracles, but by active loving I can work healing all the time.
-
It is always a mistake to do nothing because I can do just a little.
-
Before you sleep, name one thing for which you are grateful that day.
Random Reflections – Mental Multi-Vitamins
Des O’Donnell OMI (Messenger Publications)
* * *
Fourth Sunday of Easter
30 April 2023 • Day of Prayer for Vocations
‘All the faithful, whatever their condition or state, are called by the Lord – each in his or her own way – to that perfect holiness by which the Father himself is perfect. We should not grow discouraged before examples of holiness that appear unattainable’. Mother Church proposes them to us not to copy them, but so that we can be spurred on in our pursuit of the specific path that the Lord has chosen for each of us. ‘The most important thing is that each believer discern his or her own path, that they bring out the very best of themselves, the most personal gifts that God has placed in their hearts.’
Pope Francis, Totum Amoris Est,
Apostolic Letter on the Fourth Centenary of the death of Saint Francis de Sales (Veritas, 2023)
* * *