You, O Christ, are the faithful witness,
the First-born from the dead,
you have loved us and have washed away our sins with your blood. REV 1:5
ACTS 13:13-25
My Soul's Beloved,
Every Catholic proclaiming the Gospel must be able to present the Good News of our salvation with clarity, weaving the threads of Old and New Testament until its culmination, Your glorious Resurrection from the dead. Without the power of the Resurrection, we build our house on sand. It is the rock-solid foundation on which the Church stands invincible against the wiles of the Enemy.
An in-depth study of the power of Paul's evangelisation to Jews, Gentiles, and new believers teaches us how to present through Sacred Scripture, You as the one, true, Redeemer, Messiah, and Savior of the world. There is no other.
Everything in Salvation History, beginning with the creation of the world and culminating in Your Second Coming in glory and majesty, follows a logical progression from a divine, supernatural, and natural human perspective. It is all supremely clear, but only if one seeks the truth honestly. Only then will their eyes see and their ears hear the marvels that God has done for us.
Grant the Church, O Lord, in our times, under the leadership of the new successor of Peter, Pope Leo XIV, a New Pentecost. May the fire of the Holy Spirit sweep across nations, and may the fire of Your love be enkindled in all hearts and hasten Your coming again in glory. Maranatha! Lord Jesus, Maranatha!
Paul stood up, held up a hand for silence and began to speak:
‘Men of Israel, and fearers of God, listen! The God of our nation Israel chose our ancestors, and made our people great when they were living as foreigners in Egypt; then by divine power he led them out, and for about forty years took care of them in the wilderness. When he had destroyed seven nations in Canaan, he put them in possession of their land for about four hundred and fifty years. After this he gave them judges, down to the prophet Samuel. Then they demanded a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin. After forty years, he deposed him and made David their king, of whom he approved in these words, “I have selected David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will carry out my whole purpose.” To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David’s descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. Before John ended his career he said, “I am not the one you imagine me to be; that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undo his sandal.”’
PSALM 88(89):2-3,21,22,25,27
I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.
I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord;
through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.
Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever,
that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.
I have found David my servant
and with my holy oil anointed him.
My hand shall always be with him
and my arm shall make him strong.
My truth and my love shall be with him;
by my name his might shall be exalted.
He will say to me: ‘You are my father,
my God, the rock who saves me.’
Paul stood up, held up a hand for silence and began to speak:
‘Men of Israel, and fearers of God, listen! The God of our nation Israel chose our ancestors, and made our people great when they were living as foreigners in Egypt; then by divine power he led them out, and for about forty years took care of them in the wilderness. When he had destroyed seven nations in Canaan, he put them in possession of their land for about four hundred and fifty years. After this he gave them judges, down to the prophet Samuel. Then they demanded a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin. After forty years, he deposed him and made David their king, of whom he approved in these words, “I have selected David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will carry out my whole purpose.” To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David’s descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. Before John ended his career he said, “I am not the one you imagine me to be; that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undo his sandal.”’
PSALM 88(89):2-3,21,22,25,27
I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.
I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord;
through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.
Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever,
that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.
I have found David my servant
and with my holy oil anointed him.
My hand shall always be with him
and my arm shall make him strong.
My truth and my love shall be with him;
by my name his might shall be exalted.
He will say to me: ‘You are my father,
my God, the rock who saves me.’
I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.
JOHN 13:16-20
JOHN 13:16-20
My Soul's Beloved,
Many of us who call ourselves Catholic and Christian are very selective about whose feet we wash. We create barriers based on our carnal inclinations, or we make social distinctions that put walls between us. We cringe when we look at certain people of a different background or faith, culture, or nation, while presenting a neutral look on our face or demeanour, but You, O Lord, are not deceived. You see all. You know all. And we who hold ourselves back instead of pouring ourselves out in self-donation as You did will be judged severely.
You tell us clearly how to be happy in this life and eternally happy in the next. It is to be a servant to all. You washed the feet of the disciples. You, who are Creator, Redeemer, Savior, Messiah, Lord of Lords and King of Kings, went down on Your knees and washed the feet of all Your Apostles. One betrayed You. One denied You not once but three times, and all but one fled during the hours You needed their love, friendship, and solidarity the most.
Here is a blueprint for every disciple:
We must be ready to get down on our knees and wash the feet of everyone we encounter in humble service because the servant is not greater than the master. The messenger is not greater than the One who sends him.
After he had washed the feet of his disciples, Jesus said to them:
‘I tell you most solemnly,
no servant is greater than his master,
no messenger is greater than the man who sent him.
‘Now that you know this, happiness will be yours if you behave accordingly.’
‘I tell you most solemnly,
no servant is greater than his master,
no messenger is greater than the man who sent him.
‘Now that you know this, happiness will be yours if you behave accordingly.’
Beloved, how it must have pierced Your loving Heart to look at Judas whom You loved. You knew he would sell You to Your enemies for a paltry sum of 30 pieces of silver, yet You washed his feet. How dark was his heart that, knowing his treachery, he still had the gall to permit You to do it.
I am not speaking about all of you: I know the ones I have chosen; but what scripture says must be fulfilled: Someone who shares my table rebels against me.
Beloved, You gave Your disciples foreknowledge of all that would take place before it occurred, so later, after they had given in to cowardice and abandoning You in fear, they would recall that being God, You knew all things and yet You submitted in humility and loving obedience to the will of Your Father.
‘I tell you this now, before it happens,
so that when it does happen
you may believe that I am He.
I tell you most solemnly,
whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.’
so that when it does happen
you may believe that I am He.
I tell you most solemnly,
whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.’
