16 Apr
Sun
Easter Sundy (B)
Acts 10:34,37-43
Ps. 118:1-23
Col. 3:1-4 or 1 Cor. 5:6-8
Jn. 20:1-9
(Psalter proper)
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 

"He saw and he believed". There is much to learn from reflecting prayerfully, with an open and attentive heart, on what this Gospel says about "seeing" and "believing".

Early in his Gospel (Jn.1:14) John affirms: "We have seen His glory". It is this alone which makes John, or anyone else, an authentic disciple - one who is enlightened by the truth and can testify to it, one whose "seeing" can never be only the ignorant stare of the mere passer-by but must always become "contemplation".

Jesus' first words in this Gospel contain the invitation "Come and see", (Jn. 1:39). A climax comes with the "great beatitude", "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" (Jn. 20:29). Thus we understand what "seeing" meant for the disciple at the tomb. It was in seeing beyond the evidence which provoked faith. Indeed the evidence could only "prove" the rather trite and useless fact that the tomb was empty. But the heart of this disciple (and in this he was truly "beloved") penetrated far beyond the superficial evidence of the empty tomb into the mystery of God in Christ, and Christ risen in glory.

We can be negatively plagued in our spiritual lives by looking for evidence, for "signs and wonders" (cf. Jn. 4:48), to underpin our faith in Divine Providence to let us know the "will of God". But what we need is a contemplative heart so that we too may "see and believe".



Lord, help me to "see and believe" in You the wonder of God that has saved me.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That the individual, social, and political rights of women may be respected in every nation.
Elaboration

- END -


© Copyright Shalom 2006. All rights reserved.