Proclaim the Gospel / Mk 16: 9-15

When Jesus had risen, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country. They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either.
Later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, “Go into the world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

As the first week of the Easter season comes to a close, do we find ourselves as the Eleven Apostles, in disbelief? We as Christians proclaim our belief in the resurrection of Christ, but do we really believe? Will we doubt no longer only if we see him face to face, or if we place our hands upon the wounds of salvation? Jesus said, “Blessed are they who have not seen and believe.” Can we say without a doubt that we are among the Blessed that our Lord spoke about? If so, then no sign is needed, no further explanation is necessary, for we have been filled with the grace redemption; The Spirit of Christ resides within our hearts. We need only to live out the directive given to us by our Savior: “Go out into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” Praise God!

The Passion

Alone in the garden to his Father he prayed
His disciples, under the trees, asleep they laid
My Father in heaven, please take this cup away
No, Father, let it be done to me as you say
The soldiers approach, his disciples in fear
Peter draws his sword and severs one's ear
Put your sword back into its scabbard
Shall I not drink the cup of my Father and Lord
Jesus surrenders himself without a fight
He is taken away in the dark of the night
As the cock crows Peter begins to cry
Told by Jesus three times he would deny
In a courtyard filled with a angry crowd
They reviled and cursed at him out load
A fearful Pilate is seated upon his throne
Abandoned, Jesus stands there all alone
Convicted and accused of blasphemy
Overwhelmed and fearful Pilate gives a decree
Our Lord knew fully his time was very near
Pilate washes his hands of the whole affair
A vicious murderer is spared and set free
The carpenters make a cross from a tree
His flesh, viciously ripped from his bones
In shock, enduring immense pain, he moans
Trusted upon his head, a thorn woven crown
His precious blood dripping to the ground
Lifting up his cross, with our sins how it weighed
With each and every step, to his Father he prayed
Falling three times and overwhelmed with pain
My Father in heaven please let this not be in vain
Thrown upon the cross he gazed up to heaven
He felt so alone with this cross he was given
Lifted up nailed to the cross, his eyes looked down
For his garments the lots rolled across the ground
His mother's heart broken, streaming tears in her eyes
The thick dark clouds gather above in the skies
Father, forgive them for they know not what they do
Then he bowed his head, and his mission was through
Streaks of lightning, thunder, pouring rain from the sky
There was no longer any doubt, for our sins he had died
God the Father of mercy, extending his love to everyone
Giving of Himself; in the passion and death of His Son.

God's Servant,
Anthony

PRAYER at the CONSECRATION:

Elevation of the Host:

My Lord and my God, my God and my all,
I love you in the most Blessed Sacrament,
Nailed upon the cross, suffered and died for the sake of all humanity,
That sin may be forgiven and the gates of heaven may be opened.

Elevation of the Chalice:

My Lord and my God, my God and my all,
I love you in the most Precious Blood,
Shed upon the cross at Calvary,
Cleanse us dear Lord, with this adorable sacrifice, and bring us to new life,
In your name we pray, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Be Not Afraid

If you are a Christian, someone that believes that Jesus is the Son of God; beware. Expect, to be ridiculed and slandered, for you faith. Christianity has now come full circle; just as in the early church, when Christians were persecuted for their faith, so too are we being persecuted in these times that we live today. Our Lord told us that if we wanted to follow him, then we would have to take up our cross and walk with him everyday. Our crosses come to us in many different ways; only you know what your cross may be.
Be assured, that although we may carry our cross; the Lord supports it. While we are put to the test, day after day, we need to keep the faith. Those who do not, believe, hope, or trust in God, will never understand you. They may say your crazy, or you have lost control of your senses. No, you are doing exactly what the Lord expects of you; leading others to the faith by your example. Continue on, do not be afraid; words are only exterior; faith is interior. Pick up your cross and walk with the Lord; in doing so you give glory to God.

Straight to The Cross

As we enter into Holy Week, we as Catholics must put on the armor of faith and be ready to accompany our Lord on the road to Calvary. With each passing day the Catholic Church has become the main focus of those who are antichrist. We are on the chopping block, and the attacks are coming from all directions. The evil one seems to be giving it one last try to destroy the one true church; Jesus said to Peter, “Upon this rock, I shall build my church.” So, now, we must defend our faith as never before, and we will. We shall continue to fight the good fight, armed with the faith of the cross and the Holy Rosary in our hands. Jesus said, “Be not afraid, I go be for you always.” And he did, straight to the cross; now it’s our turn!

Palms of Praise

Into the village Jesus sends two
A prophet's word has come to pass
He, an instrument that was spoken through
“Behold, your meek King, riding upon an ass,
On a colt, the foal of a beast of burden”
“Hosanna to the Son of David,” the people cry
Spreading garments and branches as he passes by
Entering Jerusalem, many ask, “Who is this man we see?”
“This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee”
The multitudes of the city were stirred and shaken
In the presence of divinity, soon to be forsaken
One day, a great multitude shall sing psalms
Before the throne of the “King of Kings” holding palms
Arrayed in white robes, every tribe, tongue, and nation
Joyfully praising the “Lamb of God,” for their Salvation!

Salvation

Countless words have been spoken; as in the sands of the seashore. Infinite words have been written; vast as the stars of the universe. The earth is filled with an endless number of books and publications; some written by the greatest intellectual minds that have ever lived upon the face of the earth, others written by the most simple and humble that have graced humanity. With this thought in mind however, there are but three words that will stand the test of time. Three words, that at the moment they were uttered, changed mankind for ever. Never again will these three words need to be spoken. They have brought to completion that which is the greatest mystery of mankind; the mercy of our Creator and our eternal salvation. So great were these words, that they could only be proclaimed by the One; the son of God our Lord and Savior, “Jesus” the Christ. Humanity has been redeemed; sin and death have been conquered for all of eternity; the power of the evil one destroyed; the gates of heaven opened as wide as his arms were outstretched and he uttered these words, “It Is Finished.” Amen!