“Entrusting all our works and deeds to the Safe Hands of Jesus, our Saviour!”
(Based on Acts 2:14, 22-33 and Mt 28:8-15 – Monday of the Easter Octave)
A commonly-known humorous narration is told about how Jesus and satan were having an argument about Who was better on the computer.
They said to each other: “Let’s set up a test that will run for three hours and then let’s see who does the better job!”
So Jesus and satan sat down at the keyboards and typed away.
They did spreadsheets.
They wrote reports.
They sent faxes.
They sent e-mails
They downloaded.
They did every known job.
But ten minutes before their time was up…
… lightning suddenly flashed across the sky
… thunder rolled
… the rain poured
And, of course, the electricity went off.
Satan stared at his blank screen and screamed every curse word known in the underworld.
Jesus just sighed and remained cool!
The electricity finally flickered back on and they restarted their computers.
Satan started searching his files frantically, screaming:
“It’s gone! It’s all gone!
I lost everything when the power went out!”
Meanwhile, Jesus quietly started printing out, all of his files that He had worked on from the past three hours.
Satan observed this and became irate.
“Wait! You cheated, how did You do it?”
Jesus just shrugged and replied, “Don’t forget, I am Jesus!
The meaning of the name Jesus is: God Saves!”
Well… the three hours of the agonizing Death of Christ on the Cross, was seen as a sign of victory by Satan
The Kingdom of darkness had been conquered… so it was felt!
The world of misery had overcome all goodness… so it was felt!
But it was God who had the last laugh!
Jesus rose from the dead, and Life and Salvation became the last words.
The Resurrection – Jesus’ rising from the dead – was the most spectacular joke that God had pulled on Satan.
It was a reminder that whatever happens in life…
… when one has entrusted everything to the Lord, then ultimately: God Saves!
Resurrection is a Feast with a call to celebrate and enjoy God’s magnificent victory over Satan and the powers of darkness.
The Gospel of the Day is the account of the encounter of Jesus with the women, who had come to the tomb of the Lord.
- At the desert, Satan had sought to make Jesus a fool, by tempting and luring Him through many temptations. (Mt 4: 1-10)
- During His life, the Lord encountered many occasions, when He was subject to being in humiliating, mocking and testing situations
- In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord once again faced a trying time in battling to embrace God’s Will totally and completely (Lk 22: 41-44)
- On the Cross, the soldiers and others who persecuted the Lord, mocked and challenged Him to come down from the Cross (Mk 15: 29-32)
At every stage of His Life, our Blessed Lord was put into situations of being the “butt of jokes” and the “laughingstock” and a target for many a trial, tribulations and mockeries.
The Crucifixion was meant to be the greatest of all such “agonizing” mockeries!
But…
… Divine Wisdom always finds a way out to triumph!
… Divine Providence always regains the way to victory!
This is the message of the Resurrection.
The women who saw the empty tomb and encountered the Lord, were filled with a holy fear, a tremendous joy and a deep devotion (Mt 28: 8-9)
Divine Wisdom always, has the final laugh in every trial and tribulation!
Are we ready to share in the happiness of this “joyful” act of the Lord?
Life may bite us sharply with ensnaring temptations and evil tendencies…
Life may make a fool of us with mounting tensions and troubles…
Life may put us down badly with uncertainties and doubts…
We may often, find ourselves mocked.
We may often, find ourselves ridiculed.
But in all such situations, let us dare to look to our Crucified Lord…
… who Himself underwent painful mocking and unfair scorning…
Yet, had the final laugh, through the Resurrection from the dead!
The Resurrection gives us…
… every reason to rejoice, even in the midst of deadly trials…
… every cause to be joyful, even in the midst of heavy tribulations…
May the Risen Lord be the reason for us to rejoice and be joyful, thanking Him for the greatest joke ever – the crushing of Satan by the power of the Holy Cross!
Yes, in all moments of our struggles…
… even when the lightening of problems hit our lives
… even when the electricity of encouragement goes off
Let us entrust all our works and deeds to the Safe Hands of Jesus…
… because “God always saves!”
Happy Easter to all of you!
“Let Hallelujah be the joyful song that we radiate in all our thoughts, words and deeds!”
God Bless! Live Jesus!
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION – WHO CAN RECEIVE THIS SACRAMENT?
In the Eastern Churches a different discipline has been in force for many centuries: while bishops are chosen solely from among celibates, married men can be ordained as deacons and priests.
This practice has long been considered legitimate; these priests exercise a fruitful ministry within their communities.
Moreover, priestly celibacy is held in great honour in the Eastern Churches and many priests have freely chosen it for the sake of the Kingdom of God.In the East as in the West, a man who has already received the sacrament of Holy Orders can no longer marry. (CCC # 1580)
Reflection Capsules 