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Wednesday May 14 HE WAS CHOSEN TO REPLACE JUDAS ISCARIOT [ACTS 1:15-17,20-26]]

May 14, 2014 by
HE WAS CHOSEN TO REPLACE JUDAS ISCARIOT [ACTS 1:15-17,20-26]]

matias -01MATTHIAS, whose feast we celebrate today, was chosen to replace Judas as “a witness” to Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 1:22). Matthias was chosen in part because he had been with Jesus from the start of His ministry and had stayed faithful to Him throughout His travels and preaching. Matthias saw the risen Christ ascend to the Father in heaven as well (Acts 1:21-22). As a result, he was considered a credible witness to the Gospel, one who could speak from firsthand experience about the Lord.
It is important to understand that all this happened before the miracle of Pentecost. After God poured out His Spirit, great apostles like Barnabas and Paul were raised up who had not been with Jesus during His ministry and did not see Him die and rise. What qualified them? Jesus promised His disciples that when the Holy Spirit came, He would “bear witness” about Him (John 15:26), bringing the reality of Jesus’ presence to life within them (John 14:23). The Holy Spirit, who came at Pentecost, revealed the risen Lord to them so powerfully that they could testify to His reality.
Even today, we can receive Jesus into our hearts in just as powerful a way. As God pours His love into us through the Spirit, Jesus comes to live within us, and we become His witnesses. We no longer just know about Jesus, we know Jesus – and we are transformed. Jesus’ victory over death begins to open up to us the fullness of life that God intended for us from the beginning: a life marked by joy, hope, and confidence that we are His beloved children (Romans 8:16). We begin to live day by day, hour by hour, with Him. We no longer thing the same or act the same. We may not even look the same!
Let us now ask the Holy Spirit to show us the risen Lord with such power that we too are enabled to be witnesses to the Gospel. This is God’s glorious promise to us, an inheritance in which we can all partake.
Jakarta, 14 May 2014

A Christian Pilgrim
achristianpilgrim | May 14, 2014 at 12:07 am | Tags: ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, JESUS CHRIST,MATTHIAS | Categories: LENT AND EASTERTIDE, SAINTS WE LOVE, TODAY’S THOUGHT 2014 | URL: http://wp.me/p1055h-2kF
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Tuesday May 13, Jesus laid down His Life for US

May 13, 2014 by
JESUS LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US [JOHN 10:22-30]

Brooklyn_Museum_-_Jesus_Walks_in_the_Portico_of_Solomon_(Jésus_se_promène_dans_le_portique_de_Salomon)_-_James_Tissot
For the past couple of days, we’ve talked about Jesus’ parable of the good shepherd, and we want to look at it again today. While it may seem repetitious, it is really worth spending time pondering images like this one because of their ability to reveal numerous dimensions about who Jesus is and how deeply He loves us.
Because of the amount of time shepherds spent with their flock, it would not be uncommon for a shepherd to know every detail of each sheep in his care – its markings, its habits, even its personality. Similarly, the sheep knew their shepherd and became very attached to his voice. The mere sound of a stranger’s voice could startle them and send them scurrying.
During spring and summer, when a flock might spend months grazing in the countryside, the shepherd would gather his sheep in a hillside sheepfold for the night. This sheepfold had walls but no gate or door, just an opening where the sheep could come and go. Once the animals were within the walls, the shepherd would act as a door, lying down at the opening to guard his flock. In other words, he would literally lay down his life for his sheep!
Jesus knew that parables like the good shepherd would help His hearers (and us as well) understand His love more fully. He knew that vivid images would help transform abstract concepts into concrete terms that people can understand. Jesus laid down His life for us, and no one can snatch us from His hand (John 10:27-28). His promises are as trustworthy as a good shepherd’s commitment to his flock. When we enter His “sheepfold,” He will keep us close to Him and protect us from all harm.
The next time we (you and I) encounter a parable, let us make it a point to learn more about the images Jesus used. Let us do some background reading. Let His words sink into our hearts. Let us also use our imagination to draw a picture in our minds. Through this kind of study, prayer, and contemplation, the Holy Spirit can open up new avenues of understanding to strengthen our faith and make our love for Jesus burn even more intensely.
Jakarta, 13 May 2014
A Christian Pilgrim

achristianpilgrim | May 13, 2014 at 12:16 am | Tags: AT THE PORTICO OF SOLOMON, JESUS CHRIST | Categories: LENT AND EASTERTIDE, TODAY’S THOUGHT 2014 | URL: http://wp.me/p1055h-2kz
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Monday May 12 Our Good Shepherd

May 12, 2014 by

The-Good-Shepherd-_James-Powell-1888

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Saturday May 10 Jesus is Our Good Shepherd

May 10, 2014 by
JESUS IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD

(A biblical reflection on THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (Year A], 11 May 2014)
Gospel Reading: John 10:1-10
First Reading: Acts 2:14a,36-41; Psalms: Psalam 23:1-6; Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:20b-25

gb-23The Scripture Text
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of the strangers.” This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what He was saying to them.
So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door, if any one enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:1-10 RSV)
Jesus, the crucified one, has been raised up, exalted at the right hand of God (Acts 2:22-28). These were the words of assurance that Peter gave the crowd that gathered on the first Christian Pentecost. Like those first believers, we too can be cut to the heart as we welcome the outpoured Spirit to move us in repentance and faith to accept the life that Jesus offers. He who “committed no sin” (1 Peter 2:22) chose, out of love for us and obedience to His Father, to bear the guilt of our sin so that we might receive new life in Him.
gb-4How could God’s love, care and protection for His people be more adequately described than by the figure of a shepherd? It was an image common to the Old Testament, drawn from pastoral life but having a particular reference to the deliverance that the Jewish people experienced during the Exodus. Now, in the age of the Church, Jesus is the Good Shepherd: the new Moses who is God’s provision for a wandering people. “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25). He has come to bring life in abundance to each one of us (John 10:10). While the world offers many options that promise “life” – the pursuit of which ultimately brings disappointment and emptiness – Jesus offers an eternal life that brings us into unity with the divine life of the Trinity.
Any image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd which does not embrace the sacrificial dimensions of shepherding falls short of how Jesus understood His mission. Jesus confronted life and death, sacrificial issues that ended in His crucifixion. He was the true Shepherd because He laid down His life for us. His love is personal and intimate, and He calls each of us by name (John 10:3). In love, He sought the one who strayed and rejoiced when it was found (Luke 15:4-7).
Amidst the clamor of false claimants, those who hunger for His life will recognize His voice. Every disciple who follows Him is empowered by grace to live the same life as Jesus. We will strengthened in the daily struggle of resisting sin as we turn to the sinless one who not only leads us into abundant life, but is also the door – the way into that life.
Prayer: The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. In verdant pastures He gives me repose. Beside restful waters He leads me; He refreshes my soul. He guides me in right paths for His name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for You are at my side. With Your rod and Your staff that give me courage. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life. And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come (Psalm 23 NAB). Amen.
Jakarta, 9 May 2014

A Christian Pilgrim
achristianpilgrim | May 10, 2014 at 6:40 am | Tags: JESUS CHRIST, THE GOOD SHEPHERD | Categories: BIBLICAL REFLECTIONS 2014, LENT AND EASTERTIDE, PARABLES OF JESUS | URL:http://wp.me/p1055h-2km

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Friday May 9 Th Only Thing Powerful Enough to Change Our Hearts Acts 9:1-20

May 9, 2014 by
THE ONLY THING POWERFUL ENOUGH TO CHANGE OUR HEARTS [ACTS 9:1-20]

PERTOBATAN PAULUS - 105As we grew up, most of us were accustomed to seeing crucifixes in our churches, in our homes, and perhaps even at school. For years, we may have looked at them, never really understanding what they meant. And then one day, we looked at a crucifix and it took on new meaning. The reality of God’s love for us that is in Jesus began to penetrate our minds, and a real love for our Savior took root in our hearts.
Paul’s conversion was intense and dramatic, but God’s act of opening our eyes may not cause as great an upheaval. Nevertheless, the revelation of Jesus as the One who gave His life for us is the only thing powerful enough to change our hearts. No matter how far along we are in the Christian life, if we do not grasp this truth as an ongoing revelation, our faith and our love for God can become a set of rules and regulations that can make us proud or ashamed based on our performance.
Dr. Victor Frankl, in his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, details how he learned the truth of God as a Jewish prisoner in the Nazi concentration camps of World War II. In spite of a brilliant mind a well-disciplined emotional state, Dr. Frankl relates that only through his discovery of who God is and God’s love for all people, did he have the will to survive. It was this revelation that brought him through the holocaust.
The word “revelation” comes from a Latin word that means the disclosure of that which was previously hidden or unknown. Our ignorance and our sin may blind us to the revelation of God’s love, but it is always the Spirit’s desire to reveal Jesus as the Son of God and to open our eyes to God’s purposes for us. Revelation is a process; it requires us to come into frequent communion with God in prayer and scripture reading. Today, let us walk in the love of God to the best of our ability and ask the Holy Spirit to deepen His revelation of the Lord in our hearts.
Jakarta, 9 May 2014

A Christian Pilgrim
achristianpilgrim | May 9, 2014 at 12:06 am | Tags: JESUS CHRIST, PAUL’S CONVERSION,REVELATION OF JESUS, VICTOR FRANKL | Categories: LENT AND EASTERTIDE, TODAY’S THOUGHT 2014 | URL: http://wp.me/p1055h-2kd
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Thursday May 8 Promptings From the Holy Spirit

May 8, 2014 by
PROMPTINGS FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT [ACTS 8:26-40]
FILIPUS DAN SIDA-SIDA DARI ETIOPIAHaving been filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, Philip developed a natural expectation to hear God’s voice. Through years of practice, he had become sensitive to the Spirit’s promptings and knew when God was speaking to him. So when the Spirit told Philip, “Go over to this chariot and joint it” (Acts 8:29), he was swift to obey. It may not have made much sense at first, but Philip’s desire to spread the Good News won out. If he thought the Holy Spirit was telling him to chase after a chariot, he would do it – and the results were amazing.
Like any skill, discerning the Spirit’s voice requires practice. After all, God’s way of thinking can be quite different from ours. For example, we might wonder why Phillip, whose mission was to preach the Gospel, would be directed to leave an area like Samaria, when his preaching was bearing fruit and to travel through a less populated region such as Gaza? And why should he approach an eunuch, whose physical condition, according to the Mosaic Law, made him incapable of participating fully in Israel’s worship?
A man guided only by human thinking could find reasons to dismiss these promptings from the Holy Spirit. But through acts of loving obedience and time in prayer and study of Scripture, Philip had absorbed Jesus’ way of thinking. He had come to see how precious each person is to God, and he was not too surprised when spreading the Gospel involved some unexpected maneuvers.
Through our prayer and study of God’s word, we too can prepare ourselves to hear the Spirit’s voice. Let us think of ourselves as athletes in competition. A runner, on his mark, drowns out all distractions and strains to hear the signal that begins the race. Similarly, let us work at shutting out distractions so we can hear the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit. God is always preparing people’s hearts to receive the Good News. Even if we are shy or reticent, the Holy Spirit can guide us and make our very lives into signs of His love to people who are ready to receive them.
Jakarta, 8 May 2014

A Christian Pilgrim
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Vocation Talk

May 7, 2014 by

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Vocation Talk

May 7, 2014 by

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Wednesday, May 7

May 7, 2014 by

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Tuesday – May 6 Conversion Acts 7:51-8-1

May 6, 2014 by
CONVERSION [ACTS 7:51-8:1]


STEFANUS DIRAJAM DENGAN BATUAn angry mob roared its rage at the man who addressed it. Then, as one, the crowd rushed upon the man and swept him out of their city. Arms, strengthened by fury, flung rocks at him until they crushed the life out of him. And all along, “Saul was consenting to his death” (Acts 8:1). Filled with the rage, threats, and murderous intentions, Saul too railed against these followers of Christ – condemning, scattering, punishing, and killing them. But then, not long afterward, Saul himself became an ardent proponent of “the Way” he once denounced so violently.

What Saul – whom we know as Saint Paul – experienced was conversion, a head-to-head meeting with Jesus that led to a radical change in his priorities and philosophies. Once bent on destroying all who proclaimed Jesus as the risen Savior, Paul spent the rest of his life announcing, explaining, and defending this very truth. What he once persecuted he now embraced and declared with just as much passion and vigor.

The Bible is filled with conversion stories that highlight this radical change. Think, for instance, of the woman “who was a sinner” in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 7:36-50). Jesus’ words touched her heart and set her on the way of transformation. And as she followed this new path, she was led to the house of a Pharisee, where Jesus was dining, so that she could anoint his feet with precious perfume and tears of repentance (Luke 7:37-38). The Pharisee’s scorn did not matter. Rules of propriety fell by the wayside. Her love for Jesus filled her with courage in the face of opposition.

Saint Paul begged the Christians in Rome: “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Is your philosophy of life changing? Is your behavior changing? Does your life give witness to “what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2)? Conversions like this don’t have to happen overnight, but they do have to happen. Take your spiritual pulse today. See if things really are changing. If not, let us ask the Lord to reveal Himself to each of us more clearly and to help us become more like Him.

Jakarta, 6 May 2014

A Christian Pilgrim

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