An Irish Welcome

Céad Míle Fáilte friend and rover ...
Wherever you come from and whosoever you may be.
That's an Irish greeting and it means

you are welcome
a thousand times over.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

My Lord and My God ...

Observe the Power of Christ and the empty tomb ...

"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you." (John 20:19) "But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." (John 20:24-26)
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. ... " (John 20:27) ... 

Thomas proclaimed:



"My Lord and My God"




The Power of the Empty Tomb:

The empty tomb of our Resurrected Christ gives us hope, encouragement but most of all comfort. 

The tomb whispers in our hearts, "You who have suffered do not be disheartened in the most painful moments of your life. Do not feel deprived, when your friends abandon you and do not be discouraged when the hatred of people creates around you, and inside you, an atmosphere that is suffocating. Listen and regard the road of all those who have traveled with My Gospel as their guide. The footsteps of His life never ended with Golgotha; His path ended with the Resurrection ... with the Ascension ... with Theosis. Remain with Christ, O Bride, and He will remain with you - do not be afraid of anything."





O Lover of mankind, great and immeasurable is the multitude of Your mercies; for You endured being struck by the Jews, handled by Apostles, and investigated by those who reject You. How did You become incarnate? How were You crucified, You who are sinless? But make us understand, as You did Thomas, so that he cried to You, ‘My Lord and my God, glory to You.’ Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and forever. Amen. 

—from the Vespers of St. Thomas Sunday



"Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him." (John 11:16).

"O strange wonder, / unbelief hath given birth unto steadfast faith! / For Thomas said: / Unless I see, I shall not believe. / And when he touched the side of Christ, / he spake with divine authority / concerning the Incarnate One Who is the very Son of God, / and recognized Him as the One Who suffered in the flesh. / He proclaimed the Risen God, and cried with a radiant voice: // O my Lord and my God, glory be to Thee".

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