-
The Father Speaks
-
 CHRIST HAS DIED, CHRIST IS RISEN, CHRIST
WILL COME AGAIN
- By Fr. Siegfried
Binzler, SJ
-
-
Beloved
Parishioners, Dear Brothers, Sisters and Children,
Our Lord Jesus Christ has opened the tomb and broken the
fetters of death. He who was enthroned by God the Father has become the
Lord over the world; He is the Alpha and the Omega. There is no limit or
border anymore for Him. His disciples, still paralyzed because of the
crucifixion, could hide no more behind closed doors: Jesus appeared to
them and stood in their midst. He gave proof that He is alive. Then He
sent them: “As the Father sent me, so I am sending you. Go therefore
and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching th em to obey
everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always,
to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). For provision He gave them
only this: PEACE; the peace that shall unite all nations. He gave them
the Holy Spirit, who overcomes the power of sin and frees man from every
evil.
The Church is the church for all nations and all races:
this is the meaning of the word “catholic” – in Greek “katholos,” –
all embracing. There is no border that may prevent Her mission and task.
Because our Lord Jesus has broken the fetters of death, so His Body, the
Church, also has to break all fetters. God's Word is free (2 Timothy
2:9). God Himself has sent the Church and gave Her power to free and
release people.
This is Easter. Leave the prison of fear, and go to the
ends of the world. Thomas, who did not believe immediately, brought the
Good News to the then uttermost end of the earth - to India. (Up to our
days, there exists a church, which is called Saint Thomas Christians.)
With all means, the Jewish elders tried to silence Jesus.
But God's truth cannot be silenced. At Pentecost, Saint Peter is to
preach to a crowd, numbering thousands from all nations: “…You who have
crucified the Lord and killed Him. But God raised Him up, having freed Him
from death, because it is impossible for death to hold Him in its power.”
(Acts 2:23-24) “That day, about three thousand persons were
added.” (Acts 2:41)
After the
Resurrection, the apostles left Jerusalem and set out to Samaria, Galilee,
and to the ends of the world. Saint Paul, who at first had persecuted
Christians, began to bring the Good News all over the Roman Empire. In his
letters, he strengthened the Christians, giving them the courage to become
witnesses to the Good News.
Later, the Roman authorities also tried to silence the
truth about Jesus. They forbid the apostles to preach; warned them
till they hunted them down, sentenced them and then put them to death. The
world powers opposed the testimony of the apostles. But the Good News
about Jesus was stronger. The blood of the martyrs became the seed for
all good people. Saint John wrote in his first letter: “This is
the victory that conquers the world, our faith” (1 John 5:4).
Before Jesus sent the apostles into the world where they
were often persecuted and imprisoned, even killed, He said, “Peace be
with you.” Jesus showed them His hands and wounds as tokens of His
victory over death. He also gave them the power to free people from their
sins. (John 20:23) And then, He ate and drank with them. Each
time when they broke the bread, - this was in the beginning, the name for
the Eucharistic Prayer, the breaking of the bread - they knew that Jesus
the Lord is among them.
We, too, are aware of His presence each time we celebrate
the Eucharist. So that we, too, through believing may have life in His
name.
I
wish you the rejoicing of Easter 2004. Hallelujah!
-
- TELL US LIKE IT IS!
- Has something
wonderful and unique happened in your life lately? Did God answer your
prayer in a very unexpected way? Did you, like Isaiah, meet God’s
whisper?
- Have you felt His
powerful hand working in your life recently?
- Everyday, people are
experiencing God’s mighty Word in their lives and it is a pity that very
few know about it. Do you have a story to tell? Some Good News to
share?
- E-mail us (genesis@catholic.org) or fax us
(021-6627384), and tell us about it. That’s right! You don’t have to be
a great writer to do this. We can help you write it – just tell us like
it is!
- Don’t forget to write
the subject: “Let Me Tell You A
Story”
Please take a
moment to sign our guestbook.
For comments, suggestions or
ideas:
Genesis Catholic
Community - All Rights Reserved 2004
No part of this website may be copied,
reproduced or modified without the permission from the
webmaster.
|
This site has been awarded
IN THIS ISSUE:
HIS Servant
by Bro. Pete Lapid
The Father Speaks
By Fr. Siegfried Binzler, SJ
Surabaya Corner
By Ramon Martillano
Our Faith
By Fr. KJ Veeger, MSC
Community Life ~ Here's the Latest
By Leslie Freires
Place of Refuge
By Philip Yuson
The LampLight
By Fr. Agustinus Tupen Belo, PR
God Answers Prayers
By Beth Manibog
Straight from the Heart
By Carolle Bautista
Surabaya Sharing
By Bombet Malinao
G* KIDSPACE
By Tintin Magbitang
Reflections
By Fr. Harry Toledano, OAD
Saint for the Month
Source: Catholic Online
Catholic News
Compiled by Armand Sol
On Focus
By Sansu Garin
- Meet the
Staff
-
-
-
Catholic
Links
-
-
- PROFILE OF THE
-
GENESIS CATHOLIC
COMMUNITY
|
