Finding God In Our Hearts with Msgr. Don Fischer

HOMILY • The 5th Sunday of Easter

Original Airdate: May 7, 2023 Acts 6:1-7 | 1 Peter 2:4-9 | John 14:1-12 Almighty, everliving God, constantly accomplish the Pascal mystery within us that those you are pleased to make new in holy baptism may, under your protective care, bear much fruit and come to the joys of life eternal through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

PRI Reflections on Scripture | Saturday of the 4th Week of Easter

Gospel John 14:7-14 Jesus said to his disciples: “If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to Jesus, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.” Reflection It's a challenge to believe that we have a destiny like the Christ. Jesus a human being, as we are human beings, was touched by God, filled with the spirit of the Father. And out of that spirit and through that spirit, he was able to do all the marvelous things he was doing and to teach the truth in a way that had never been proclaimed before to the human race. And yet we are told we will participate in that same kind of life. To be an instrument of God's grace. That is what gives God the glory. That's all He wants our permission and for us to be the source of the things the world needs. It's a privilege, but it's also the will of God. So we know it will work. Closing Prayer Father, it's so natural for us when we see something that needs our help or needs our advice. We try to do the best that we can, and so often we're using just our own mind and our ego trying to figure out what's the right thing to do? What's the best thing to do? We have to do in place of that is make an intention that whatever is needed will be done not by us, but by the spirit flowing through us that we believe will do and accomplish whatever needs to be done. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

PRI Reflections on Scripture | Friday of the 4th Week of Easter

Gospel John 14:1-6 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Reflection Jesus has challenged his disciples to go out and to teach, to preach, to bring life to others. But they are often troubled. They don't know how to do it. And Thomas is the doubter. He's the one always wondering, What if I can't do it? What if it doesn't work? And what God is saying through Jesus so beautifully is, Look, you have to understand this mystery. I no longer just live in that holy of holies in the temple, I live in you. I am with you wherever you go. I am there to dwell within you, to give you the direction you need, to give you the abilities you need to do the work of establishing the kingdom. I am going to show you the way. I will reveal to you the truth and you will experience life. Closing Prayer Doubt is not necessarily a bad thing. Lord, when we doubt we have an option to remain in that doubt or to seek the confidence that you promised to share with us. Everything that you ask us to give to others is first given from you to us. Keep us always in that union and communion as we go about our work of loving and caring and healing. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

PRI Reflections on Scripture | Thursday of the 4th Week of Easter

Gospel John 13:16-20 When Jesus had washed the disciples' feet, he said to them: "Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me. From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” Reflection John is the only disciple that shares with us this very interesting, intimate moment between the disciples and Jesus. And taking the role of a servant, He's really describing for them the work that they will have, the work that you and I have. But the interesting thing that He's teaching us is that what He wants you to be is not just a better you, but a you that brings Him to someone else. It's a mysterious work that we all participate in. And without it, we lose hope. Closing Prayer Father, we are so much more than our actions. We are more effective than we realize when you are in us, working through us for others. Help us to take on freely this work of service and be that instrument that you need for those that we love. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

PRI Reflections on Scripture | Wednesday of the 4th Week of Easter

Gospel John 12:44-50 Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.” Reflection Jesus is trying to point out, to the Scribes and Pharisees that the one that they are refusing to accept is God Himself. Jesus is filled with God, and God's presence is something the Pharisees do not experience. They're judgmental. They're constantly condemning people for not following the law. And here is Jesus crying out that He is nothing but light. He wants people to live. He is not interested in condemning anyone. He doesn't want to inflict punishment on anyone. He wants only that they not be in the place they are because sin has its own intrinsic punishment. To choose darkness is to live in darkness. To choose light is to live in light. Closing Prayer Father, we always resist something new. But we see in the example of the Scribes and Pharisees the absolute insanity of turning away from that which is life and light. Open us to see and to hear the fullness of your message so we can truly live in and continue to manifest the Kingdom of God. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]