If you make my
word your home you will indeed be my disciples you will know the
truth
and the truth will make you free
John 8:31-32
and the truth will make you free
John 8:31-32
Easter, a time of
Glory! A time of Victory! A time of Freedom!
This freedom won
for us by Jesus is ours for the asking. Yet, this freedom also has to
be lived. Jesus said that we will be free only if we know the truth.
We can only know the truth if we make his word our home, if we live
in his word.
The Word of God is
important in our lives of freedom. It is in the Word of God that we
find Jesus and live in him. This is why the Church teaches that the
Word and the Eucharist are of equal importance. Both are celebrated
in the Liturgy on their respective altars. This is why we worship
Jesus both in the Word and in the Eucharist.
As Catholics, we
are blessed to have the same privilege as the disciples of Jesus.
They listened to Jesus and they also enjoyed his presence. We too, as
Catholics, are able to listen to Jesus in Scripture AND enjoy his
presence in the Eucharist. This is why these two cannot be separated
because they are vital to our life in freedom.
Jesus is the Word
of God. Scripture is the Word of God. So Jesus IS the Scripture.
Reading Scripture is reading Jesus. It is encountering Jesus
intimately.
As Catholics, we
believe that Jesus is in the Eucharist. If not, it is idolatry to bow
and worship a piece of bread and a cup of wine. We believe that the
bread and wine we take is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of
our Lord Jesus. So we come before him to adore him. We enjoy his
presence.
In his encounter
with Martha and Mary, Martha was busy serving their guests. Mary, in
the meantime was busy enjoying his presence. Jesus commended Mary for
that. I would think that Martha also heard the words of Jesus. When
she put food on the table, even when she was in the kitchen,
preparing the food, she heard Jesus speak. BUT she was not enjoying
his presence. So Jesus had to gently rebuke her for that.
Devotion to the
Eucharist is NOT enough, devotion to the Word is NOT enough. It has
to be both or nothing. All the saints have a devotion to the
Eucharist AND The Word. This was what gave them the courage to say
“Yes” to Jesus always.
Listen to the Word
AND enjoy his presence. This is the only way to have courage to say
“YES” to the Lord. This is the only way to live a life of
freedom, the only way to live a life of power, the only way to live a
life of victory in Jesus.
Happy Easter!
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