Third Sunday of Easter - Year B - 15th April, 2018
Extracts from Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation:
“The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly being born anew.”
“I invite all Christians, everywhere at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting Him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly every day.
“Whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to real-ize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms. Let me say this once more. God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.”
“On the lips of the catechist the first proclamation must ring out over and over: ‘Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.”
“How good it is to stand before a crucifix, or on our knees before the Blessed Sacrament, and simply be in the Lord’s presence! How much good it does us when he once more touches our lives and impels us to share His new life!”
“A true missionary, who never ceases to be a disciple, knows that Jesus walks with him, speaks to him, breathes with him, works with him. He senses Jesus alive with him in the midst of the missioning enterprise.”
“All those who entrust themselves to God in love will bear good fruit. (John 15:5). This fruitfulness is often invisible, elusive and unquantifiable. We can know quite well that our lives will be fruitful, without claiming to know how, or where, or when. We may be sure that none of our acts of love will be lost, nor any of our sincere concerns for others. No single act of love for God will be lost, no generous effort is meaningless, no painful endurance is wasted.”
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