Let Go and Let God!

“Stop holding on to me, 

for I have not yet 

ascended to the Father. 

But go to my brothers 

and tell them, 

I am going to my Father 

and your Father, 

to my God and your God.” 

(John 20:17)

Jesus reveals Himself to those who seek Him, regardless of their status. 

Sometimes we may not recognize Jesus’ work in our lives until we have a personal encounter with Him. Even in our deepest sorrows, the resurrection of Jesus can bring life-changing hope. 

Let us seek Jesus honestly, diligently, personally, and obediently in our lives and share our experiences of Jesus with others.

In the quiet corners of our hearts, where faith resides,

Jesus reveals Himself to those who seek, where His love abides.

Regardless of status, high or low, in His eyes we're the same,

In every personal encounter, He calls us by name.

Sometimes His work in our lives, we may not see,

Until we meet Him personally, and let our hearts be free.

Even in our deepest sorrows, when hope seems far away,

The resurrection of Jesus brings a new day.

Life-changing hope, a beacon bright,

Guiding us through the darkest night.

Let us seek Jesus, in all we do,

Honestly, diligently, personally, true.

Obediently walking in His ways,

Sharing our experiences of His grace.

With others around us, let us share,

The love of Jesus, beyond compare.

Dear Lord Jesus,

We come before You, acknowledging that You reveal Yourself to those who seek You, regardless of their status. We confess that sometimes we may not recognize Your work in our lives until we have a personal encounter with You.

In our deepest sorrows, we are reminded that the resurrection brings life-changing hope. Help us to seek You honestly, diligently, personally, and obediently in our lives.

As we experience Your love and grace, guide us to share these experiences with others, spreading Your love and light in the world.

In Your precious name, we pray. Amen.

Pericope:

III: The Book of Glory

THE APPEARANCE TO MARY OF MAGDALA

John 20:11-18

Gospel Acclamation

This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.

Gospel | John 20:11-18

11 Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. 13 And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. 17 Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her.

Reflection Source:

Conversation with Copilot

Set Free

This was the oath He swore to our father Abraham: 

to set us free from the hands of our enemies, 

free to worship Him without fear, 

holy and righteous in His sight all the days of our life. 

LUKE 1:73-75

Lord Jesus, You are my peace and freedom. The dawn breaks, and Your glory knocks at my door. Glory that is full of Your tender love, mercy, and compassion. Thank You so much for setting me free from the bondage of sin, giving me a glorious life that is bright, healthy, and peaceful.

Today, I humbly claim complete healing and total freedom. Heal me from any form of sickness or toxic substances that may have entered my body. Free me from this stress that makes me uncomfortable. May I always stay strong and healthy to enjoy a long life in the world as I long to see my grandchildren grow into Your fullness, love, and care. I hold on to Your promise of a long and healthy life.

Please take care of my growth and maturity so that I may be the person you wanted me to be. Capture my mind and make it rest in Your peace. Let me stay in the light at all times and dispel all darkness that may come my way. Greatly manifest the powers of your Spirit in me so that in all things, I will be strong. I believed that nothing is impossible with You. 

Through it all, I offer everything to You. I love you so much and deep in my heart, I want to make all things right for the praise and glory of Your name. As always, may Your hand continue to work wonders over my life most especially in raising me up to higher grounds. 

With much love and thanksgiving I pray. Amen.

FREEDOM AND LIBERTY

This is the day when the Lord sets you free. 

A day to begin your journey 

to the land He had promised.

Jesus said, "If a Son frees you, then you will truly be free" (Jn 8:36).

The Lord proclaims liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners (Is 61:1). Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Cor 3:17). For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death (Rom 8:2)

Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life (Rom 6:22).

Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God (1 Pt 2:16). For, brothers, you have been called to liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another (Gal 5:13)

Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (Gal 5:1).

This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord, as a perpetual institution” (Ex 12:14).  

Published:

May 26, 2011, 4:12 PM

You will be made free?

"If you continue in my word, 

you are truly my disciples, 

and you will know the truth, 

and the truth will make you free." 

John 8:31-32

They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one. How is it that you say, `You will be made free'?"

Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever" (John 8:34-35).

"If the Son makes you free, 

you will be free indeed."

John 8:36

"I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father" (John 8:37-38).

They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do what Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God; this is not what Abraham did. You do what your father did." They said to him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God" (John 8:39-41).

"If God were your Father, you would love me, 

for I proceeded and came forth from God; 

I came not of my own accord, but he sent me." 

John 8:42

Free from Wickedness

For thy immortal spirit is in all things. Therefore thou dost correct little by little those who trespass, and dost remind and warn them of the things wherein they sin, that they may be freed from wickedness and put their trust in thee, O Lord.

-- Wisdom 12: 1 - 2

Child of the Free

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise.

Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in travail; for the children of the desolate one are many more than the children of her that is married."

So, brethren, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

-- Galatians 4: 22 - 24, 26 - 27, 31