WHAT HE SAID WAS TRUE

 JOHN 21:20-24 THE OTHER DISCIPLE

Peter turned round and was behind him the other disciple, whom Jesus loved- the one who had learned close to Jesus at the meal and had asked, “Lord who is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”

Jesus answered him, “If I want him to live until I come, what is that to you? Follow me.”

So a report spread among the followers of Jesus that this disciple would not die; he said “If I want him to live until I come, what is that to you?”
 He is the disciple who spoke of these things, the one who also write them down; and we know that what he said is true.
 

John the beloved disciple, whom our Lord mandated to take care of Mary His mother before his death on the cross gave the testimony of Christ divinity, and true His identity as the Son of God.  Who could have given an accurate account of the life of Jesus Christ if not the beloved disciple? He must have learnt a lot about Jesus from the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Christ. For I know they will always discuss about Him. What mother wouldn’t do so to keep the sweet and bitter memory of her Son?

Every mother does that, and our Mother Mary would not be an exception. .Why should some people come up and debunk the story of our Lord? If they could accept that of the prophets in the Old Testament and John the Baptist Christ forerunner; why must they argue about Christ? 

At their births (prophets) and their callings, they have their different peculiarities but that of Christ was unique.  They did not claim to be the messiah but they spoke about His coming. None did say he is the Son of God, except Christ, and He was sure of His identity He did not say I think, but truly I say to you. All His statement about His union with God was same even unto death He did not deny, nor renounce His identity, His unity and His oneness with God the Father.

At the Lamb's High Feast

Come to me Beloved

My God I love you

Beautiful Saviour

Hallelujah

Psalm 13    He who sings prays twice Saint Augustine

please songs/chants not produced, reproduction is prohibited

PETER DO YOU LOVE ME

JOHN 21:15-19  After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more that these others do?” “Yes Lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Take care of my lambs.” A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” A third time Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad because Jesus asked him the third time. “Do you love me?” so he said to him, “Lord you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.

I am telling you the truth, when you were young, you used to get ready ad go anywhere you wanted to, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will bind you and take you where you don’t want go to.” (in saying this, Jesus was indicating the way in which Peter would die and bring glory to God). Then Jesus said to him, Follow me.”

Do not be surprised at disciples not recognizing Jesus. Sometimes it happens to us also. We wonder where and when we met some people. Peter in excitement jumped into the river to meet the Lord. He did not remember his betrayal because he understood the loving Heart of his Master. How often do we run away from God when we sin? Peter is a perfect example for us to emulate. We should know that our loving Father is ever ready to receive and welcome us whenever we run to Him.

 For us Catholics, Jesus handed the authority/leadership to Peter, when he told him He gave him the keys to the kingdom. Now before departing, He needed Peter’s confession of love to Him because the true heart of a leader is love and compassion. Christ also gave him the responsibilities of  first caring for His lambs, secondly caring for His sheep, repeated twice. 

We have successive Popes, we are aware they could make mistakes as human, but the Catholic Church is Christ’s Bride. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Catholic Church, though sinners are we, Christ came to save sinners. We believe by God's grace, we shall be saved not by our own efforts and good works. But each time we make efforts, whenever we fall like Peter and the rests of the Saints, we get up and continue striving to be better Christians.

JESUS APPEARS TO SEVEN DISCIPLES

JOHN 21: 1-14  After this, Jesus appeared once more to his disciples at Lake Tiberias. This is how it happened. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael (the one from Cana in Galilee), the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.  Simon Peter said to the others, “I am going fishing.”

 “We will come with you,” they told him. So they went out in a boat, but all that night they did not catch a thing. As the sun was rising, Jesus stood at the water’s edge, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then he asked them, “Young men, haven’t you caught anything?”

“Not a thing,” they answered. He said to them, “Throw your net out on the right side of the boat, and you will catch come.” So they threw the net out and could not pull it back in, because they had caught so many fish.

The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment round him (for he had taken his clothes off ) and jumped into the water. The other disciples came to shore in the boat, pulling the net full of fish. They were not very far from land, about a hundred metres away.  When they stepped ashore, they saw fish on it and some bread. Then Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

 Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore full of big fish, 153 in all; even though there were so many, still the net did not tear. Jesus said to them, Come and eat.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. So Jesus went over, took the bread and gave it to them; he did same with the fish.
 This, then, was the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from death.

THE PURPOSE OF JOHN’S GOSPEL

JOHN 20:30

 In his disciples’ presence Jesus performed many other miracles which are not written down in this book. But these have been written in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through your faith in him you may have life.

Father in heaven, so many times I ask why me? Jesus came to set us free from bondage for you, Father so love the world that you gave to your Son Jesus Christ my Lord.  Thank you Father for your greatness and majesty. 

Father I praise you for the gift of your Son, I thank you for your blessings. Thank you Jesus Christ my Lord and Master. Father may your will be done in my life.

Mary my mother pray for me. 

Pray the Holy Rosary

Hail Thou Star of Ocean

I WILL NOT BELIEVE

 JESUS AND THOMAS JOHN 20:24-29 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (called the Twin), was not with them when Jesus came. So they told him, “We have seen the Lord!” Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the scars of the nails in his hands and put my finger on those scars and my hand in his side, I will not believe/”

 A week later the disciples were together again indoors, and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands; then stretch out your hand and put it in my side. Stop your doubting, and believe!”

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Do you believe because you see me? How happy are those who believe without seeing me?”

 I think only John narrated this incidence because he wanted to prove a point that Christ did rose from death. Putting ones finger on the scars and  on His side, and the nails on Hand.  If it is true the wounds will be fresh. Thomas did saw His pierced side, the scars of the wounds of Christ.  Interestingly, Jesus knew their conversation, so He addressed Thomas and invited him to do as he had spoken.

CONDITION FOR FORGIVENESS

IF YOU FORGIVE PEOPLE’S SINS THEY ARE FORGIVEN JOHN 20:19-23

It was late that Sunday evening, and the disciples were gathered together behind locked doors, because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities.  Then Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. After saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.” 

Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive people’s sins they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
 

Our Lord Jesus Christ breathed on the disciples an empowerment to forgive Sin and retain Sin. If we can recall after healing the man at the pool  in John Chapter 5:1-18  “Do you want to get” the man reply was no one to put him in the pool, But Jesus being the WORD spoke the WORD asking him to get up, pick his bed and walk. There was argument because he was healed on a Sabbath. Later Jesus found him in the Temple and said:  “Listen, you are well now, so stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”14 . Sin is very destructive; its consequence is very devastating It destroys body and soul.  Perhaps this was the reason Christ gave his disciples the authority to forgive Sin.   Some people accuses Catholics of going to confession, some will ask if it is in the BIBLE? This is Christ command and authority because he gave them the power to forgive by breathing on them and empowering them through the Holy Spirit to forgive sins.  It is Spiritual Cleansing. Our body need to be clean so is our Soul made of Spirit, so it is through the Spirit, it can be washed and cleansed. PLEASE MEDITATE ON THIS.

I AM RETURNING TO MY FATHER

JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE John 20:1-18 

 Mary stood crying outside the tomb while she was still crying, she bent over and looked in the tomb and saw two angels there dressed in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and the other at the feet. ‘Woman, why are you crying/” they asked her.

She answered, “They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him.”  Then she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. “Woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who is it that you are looking for?”

She thought he was the gardener, so she said to him, “If you took him away sir, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned towards him and said in Hebrew, “Rabboni!”  (This means “Teacher”).

“Do not hold on to me,” Jesus said to her, “because I have not yet gone back up to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am returning to him who is my Father and their Father, my God and their God.”

So Mary Magdalene went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and related to them what the Lord told her.

My God I Love You