**BIBLE VERSE**

"A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." Proverbs 12:10 (KJV)


"Ang matuwid ay nagpapakundangan sa buhay ng kaniyang hayop: ngunit ang mga kaawaan ng masama ay mabagsik." Kawikaan 12:10 (TAGALOG VERSION)

CHRIST THE CENTER

2 Cor. 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone the
new has come.


CRISTO ANG PINAKASENTRO

2 Corinto 5:17

Kaya't ang sinumang nakipag-isa kay Cristo ay isa nang bagong nilalang. Wala na
ang dating pagkatao; siya'y bago na.

Gal. 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loves me and
gave himself for me.

Galacia 2:20

Namatay na akong kasama si Cristo sa krus at kung ako'y may buhay,
hindi na ako ang nabubuhay kundi si Cristo ang nabubuhay sa akin. At habang ako'y nasa daigdig. namumuhay ako sa pananalig sa anak ng Diyos, na umiibig sa akin at nag alay ng kanyang buhay para sa akin

GOSPEL FOR THE DAY -
APRIL 12

John 20:1-9

Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag'dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

[b]Meditation: On Sunday morning the women went to the tomb to pay their last tribute to a dead body. The disciples thought that everything had finished in tragedy. Neither were ready to see an empty tomb and hear the angel's message,Why do you seek the living among the dead? Is it any small wonder that it was the women, rather than the apostles, who first witnessed the empty tomb and the resurrected Lord? Isidore of Seville, a 7th century church father comments on this: "As a woman (Eve) was first to taste death, so a woman (Mary Magdalene) was first to taste life. As a woman was prescient in the fall, so a woman was prescient in beholding the dawning of redemption, thus reversing the curse upon Eve." The first to testify to the risen Lord was a woman from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons.

What is the significance of the stone being rolled away? It would have taken several people to roll away such a stone. And besides, the sealed tomb had been guarded by soldiers! This is clearly the first sign of the resurrection. Bede, a church father from the 8th century, comments: "[The angel] rolled back the
stone not to throw open a way for our Lord to come forth, but to provide evidence to people that he had already come forth. As the virgin's womb was closed, so the sepulcher was closed, yet he entered the world through her closed womb, and so he left the world through the closed sepulcher."
(From Homilies on the Gospels 2,7,24)
Another church father remarked: "To behold the resurrection, the stone must first be rolled away from our hearts" (Peter Chrysologus, 5th century). Do you know the joy of the resurrection?

It is significant that the disciples had to first deal with the empty tomb before they could come to grips with the fact that scripture had foretold that Jesus would die for our sins and then rise triumphant. They disbelieved until they saw the empty tomb. Bede explains why the Risen Lord revealed himself gradually to the disciples: "Our Lord and redeemer revealed the glory of his resurrection to his disciples gradually and over a period of time, undoubtedly because so great was the virtue of the miracle that the weak hearts
of mortals could not grasp [the significance of] this all at once. Thus, he had regard for the frailty of those seeking him. To those who came first to the tomb, both the women who were aflame with love for him and the men, he showed the stone rolled back. Since his body had been carried away, he showed them the linen cloths in which it had been wrapped lying there alone. Then, to the women who were searching eagerly, who were confused in their minds about what they had found out about him, he showed a vision of angels who disclosed evidences of the fact that he had risen again. Thus, with the report of his resurrection already accomplished, going ahead of him, the Lord of hosts and the king of glory himself at length appeared and made clear with what great might he had overcome the death he had temporarily tasted."
(From Homilies on the Gospels 2,9,25)

One thing is certain, if Jesus had not risen from the dead and appeared to his disciples, we would never have heard of him. Nothing else could have changed sad and despairing men and women into people radiant with joy and courage. The reality of the resurrection is the central fact of the Christian faith. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Lord gives us "eyes of faith" to know him and the power of his resurrection. The greatest joy we can have is to encounter the living Lord and to know him personally. Do you celebrate the feast of Easter with joy and thanksgiving for the victory which Jesus has won for you over sin and death?

"Lord Jesus Christ, you have triumphed over the grave and you have won new life for us. Give me the eyes of faith to see you in your glory. Help me to draw near to you and to grow in the knowledge of your great love and power."

http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/apr12.htm

OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST

Romans 12:1

therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies
as a living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - which is your spiritual worship.

ROMA 12:1

Kaya nga, mga kapatid, alang alang sa masaganang habag ng Diyos sa atin, ako'y namamanhik sa inyo; ialay ninyo ang inyong sarili bilang handog na buhay, banal at kalugud - lugod sa kanya. Ito ang tunay na pagsamba ninyo sa Diyos.

If My people, who are called by My Name,

will humble themselves and pray and

Seek My face and turn from their wicked ways,

then will I hear from heaven and

forgive their sin and will heal their land.

-2 Chronicles 7:14