THE SOUND OF MUSIC : 4th Sunday of Easter

By my brother’s kind heart, I listened to a music track “I Believe in You” by Il Divo & Celine Dion that cut through to my heart. It brought to my mind the tribulations in trying to be faithful to my vocation, that have kept me in the dark; the words of the song rung “Lonely, the path you have chosen, a restless road, no turning back, one day you, will find your light again, don’t you know, don’t let go, be strong!” To me, it was the voice of my Lord saying ‘Onward Christian soldier!’ I felt the conviction of success - it restored my enthusiasm! Does some song popup in your mind that speaks to you as such?

Today, Jesus tells you and I that secured in Him by the Holy Spirit at our Confirmation, no one can snatch us from His hand. Defeat is not an option! Isn’t it comforting? See your tribulations so far, no one nor what ever you live through, nor what is building up for the future, not even sin, can snatch you away from Jesus, the Good Shepherd, with whom is eternal life. Hurray!

There is a task though: we were appointed as light for the world, instruments of salvation for the ends of the earth and the surest way that our ministry can cross tribal, national, denominational, gender, age group, race, status lines is when we activate our gifts received at confirmation, our unique ministerial talents 1, 3, 5 or 10. This is what Jesus means by being sheep that follow!

What is it that you do well? Preach, sing, encourage, hear confessions, write, blog, do phone calls, organize, create visions, innovate, revive, offer sacrifice, what is it you uniquely do well? Sharpen that skill, build it up, search out avenues to use it, animated by the Holy Spirit, to create the encounter with the Divine grace wherever there is human need. What would you spend your time doing if you knew you would never fail, that you would succeed beyond measure? Your answer will be a pointer to where your gifts lie. Do not delay, start today!

Thus serving the Most Holy Trinity we will count amongst those who have washed their robes clean in the blood of the lamb. Listen again to that music track to sets you ready like an army for war & let us join to sing ALLELUIA!

TEARS MAY COME IN THE NIGHT BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING - 3rd Sunday of Easter 2013

It is the 3^rd Sunday of Easter and I just feel down. The school that employed me collapsed at the beginning of the year and I lost my job, they still owe me my pay. Since then every effort I have made to be productive has produced nothing but simply used up all my reserve of resources and even the resources of others. I am on the brink of quitting! For me it is a dark night! And you, where are you at? For Peter and the apostles too it is a dark night! So Peter returns to what he knows he is good at – catching fish. The others follow Peter, for at least they can get some food for themselves and their families and trade some. Yet their every effort is unsuccessful!

Have you had the experience of employing all your education, money, knowledge and skill on a project or task just to arrive at nothing? The endeavour shows you off as a complete idiot and self-doubt starts to settle in – Did I make the right choice in life? Of a career? Of a spouse? Of study? Of location? Myriads of hasty solutions pop up here and there; comparison sets in - My mates and siblings progress and are doing well in material wealth and societal life, while it seems I totally missed the point!

But times of darkness and night must come, while they are painful, they teach us to value what we have lost, what we can’t get to work; beloved, it is in the darkness of the womb that the baby grows waiting for its time to propel out. We have to be patient! Night, unknown to us grows a lot; the desire for the good things of life and eternity; it fashions a readiness to act when opportunity arises and we recognise it; It kills inertia and people-pleasing, it thrashes out fake friends and shows up real ones; tears are abundant in the night, but this too shall pass when the dawn comes.

Beloved, Jesus is the dawn! Jesus is the morning star that dispels every darkness; Jesus is the push that brings the baby out; Jesus is the epitome of being tended and cared for. It takes the experience of night to value the presence of Jesus, to cherish the memories of times of light and fruitfulness.

You see when Jesus stood on the beach they didn’t recognise Him, until he showed a sign that they had seen before. Let down your net on the other side and there was an abundant catch! Beloved this time Peter is not saying: go away from me Lord I am a sinful man; Peter is not saying, if you call me to come to you on the water, I will; Peter is not saying, I do not know what you are talking about, I am not his disciple; Beloved, Peter has stopped talking and starting acting – He jumps into the sea and wades across to meet Jesus, Jesus the light, Jesus who has prepared a morning breakfast banquet for them.

Yet the Trinity will have all of us or none of us, if we must be ardent soldiers of the Good! We must participate with our weakness that Jesus can turn into strengths: ‘Bring some of the fish you have caught’; we must use all we’ve got: speak again Peter speak, ‘Do you love me more than these?’ and again Peter will begin to speak, and speak and speak in the public and with the Spirit of the Trinity will speak before authoritative obstacles and speak them dumb and declare: We must obey Godde and not humans!

Can you feel the tempo? Feel the upsurge, from the tears of the night…to the forces of joy in the morning? It gives you and I something to look forward to, doesn’t it? It keeps our toes up, on our 50 day journey to Pentecost doesn’t it? Beloved, Winners don’t quit and quitters don’t win, so hang in there, I am hanging in there too! Dare to believe that Jesus will show up on the beaches of our lives and this dark night would have taught us to go for the light. Better still, we would have testimony of an abundant result to share, we would have so much gratitude and see every need to render thanksgiving, power, glory, honour, might and blessings onto the risen lamb forever;  Yes, We would sing with the psalmist, I praise you Lord for you have rescued me! Pray for me as I pray for you. SHALOM