Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 THE CHURCH THAT HAS TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE RESURRECTION

St. John 21:15-25
V. 17: "He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep."

The purpose of the Gospel of John is 1. To believe that Jesus is the Son of God(20.31). 2. To bear witness to the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ (21.24). The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the new hope for the faith community to start afresh. It is a reinstating event. It call you to leave you dark past behind and start afresh inorder to bear witness to the Resurrection.

John's witness about Simon Peter

John testifies that Simon son of John was called by Jesus to follow Him and named Him Peter-The Rock. Peter loved Jesus very dearly that he even defends Christ during His arrest. But he sadly denies Christ thrice and loses all hope after Jesus's death and goes back to fishing. He withdraws from his calling to Follow Jesus.

John's witness about Resurrected Christ

Although Peter denied Christ three times and withdrew from his calling Jesus didn't stab him with condemnation but tries to restore him and heals him with love. By calling him Simon son of John Jesus reminds Peter who he was before Jesus first met him and gently prods him assess how he now stands in relation to the name which Jesus had given him. The Resurrected Christ offers Peter Forgiveness and Restoration. He restores Peter back to his Calling to Follow Jesus.
Let's ponder about the world's witness about us and our Church. Are we falling back from our Calling to Follow Jesus? Are we more interested in catching fishes of indulgence to avoid our Calling?
Prayer 
Father, Guide me to know Your unconditional love for me, guide me to love You throughout my life in ALL of life's circumstances.  Amen.

Thought for the day:
No matter what storm you face, you need to know that God loves you. He has not abandoned you.
- Franklin Graham

Rev. Kiran Samuel Marthomite
Vicar,
Rajagiri Mar Thoma Church & Athirunkal Salem Mar Thoma Church

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tell a child as to why they’ve been a
Read more