Who do you wanna call?

3rd Sunday of Easter
26 April 2009


The Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

First reading Acts 3:13-15,17-19
Peter said to the people: ‘You are Israelites, and it is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, who has glorified his servant Jesus, the same Jesus you handed over and then disowned in the presence of Pilate after Pilate had decided to release him. It was you who accused the Holy One, the Just One, you who demanded the reprieve of a murderer while you killed the prince of life. God, however, raised him from the dead, and to that fact we are the witnesses.

‘Now I know, brothers, that neither you nor your leaders had any idea what you were really doing; this was the way God carried out what he had foretold, when he said through all his prophets that his Christ would suffer. Now you must repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.’

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 4:2,4,7,9

Second reading 1 John 2:1-5
I am writing this, my children,
to stop you sinning;
but if anyone should sin,
we have our advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ, who is just;
he is the sacrifice that takes our sins away,
and not only ours,
but the whole world’s.
We can be sure that we know God
only by keeping his commandments.
Anyone who says, ‘I know him’,
and does not keep his commandments,
is a liar,
refusing to admit the truth.
But when anyone does obey what he has said,
God’s love comes to perfection in him.

Gospel Luke 24:35-48
The disciples told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.

They were still talking about all this when he himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you!’ In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said, ‘Why are you so agitated, and why are these doubts rising in your hearts? Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed. Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have.’ And as he said this he showed them his hands and feet. Their joy was so great that they still could not believe it, and they stood there dumbfounded; so he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ And they offered him a piece of grilled fish, which he took and ate before their eyes.

Then he told them, ‘This is what I meant when I said, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and in the Psalms has to be fulfilled.’ He then opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘So you see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this.


Reflection
by Elizabeth R. Eguia

Who do you wanna call? GHOSTBUSTERS! This is a very popular line in the movie “Ghostbusters”. People will call this group and ask them to get all those ghosts roaming around scaring people and destroying their places. I wonder who we normally call in times of need. It could be our parents, siblings, our best friend, our husband/wife, and of course our God.

The past few weeks had been very dragging. Easter just finished and yet I feel sad and bothered. Our salaries were not given on time and there are bills to pay. Sometimes I will be up but most of times I will feel low especially when it is just not me who is affected. Everyone you talked to in the office seems to be desperate of their salaries as well. This morning something remarkable happen. I started my work and suddenly decided to listen to El Shaddai Radio programme. Unknowingly the message being given was very appropriate to how I feel and I realized God was talking to me.

Four important messages were given to me:
1. Continue praising and thanking God;
2. Pray continuously;
3. Fix our eyes on God;
4. Believe.

It was just like an instant cure. I felt my heart that was once drained with sadness and worries and despair, suddenly was filled with hope and with vibrant energy. I joined in their prayer while I was in the office not minding what colleagues will say to me. I prayed hard not just for me but for my co- employees as well. I felt their pain and all that I can do is pray for all of us. True enough…I was not expecting that God will answer my prayer on that very precise moment. I was shocked and almost cried thanking God on this miracle. I received an e-mail from HR that salary will be credited tomorrow. I cannot believe that at first but suddenly God continued to amaze me. It is true we cannot surpass the greatness of our Lord. He can give everything in an instant just as long as we believe and ask his help.

As we continue to celebrate Easter, let our minds and hearts be focused on Him alone. It is not easy. It is like a battle happening inside us that is why praying hard and being connected to him 24 hours a day will surely help us.







Heavenly Father we praise, glorify and thank You for always being there when we need help. Thank You for your love and for continually helping us as we daily face our own battles in life. Increase our faith and hope in You so that we will not be easily shaken by trials and problems that may come our way. Continue to pour upon us Your abundant blessings, Lord. Amen.