For Such a Time as This

Today is our final day of our walk through the gospel of John.  Thanks so much for joining us these 54 days.  We hope you have enjoyed these reflections.  We'd love to hear from you at our website, www.markandkatiemartinez.com.

We will be taking a break as we prepare for season 4, see you soon!

A Reflection John 21:20-25

“Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!’” (v 22)

Jesus: “Follow me. This is what I desire of you.

My little one, you spend too much of your time and energy preoccupied with others. Like Martha, you are “anxious and troubled about many things,” yet only, “one thing is needful” (Luke 10:41-42). You compare yourself to others, worrying that if they have success or joy or love, there will not be enough for you, as if My Father’s resources were limited. Or, you take on their burdens. You believe that you must be responsible for their happiness or salvation, so you do all that you can to save them, as if they do not already have a Savior.

Don’t you see, child? You must trust Me. Trust Me to provide you with all that you need to be fully satisfied, and then trust me to provide the same for those you love. Do you not believe that I will do this?

Of course, the Love of My Father is beyond your comprehension. It is impossible for you to understand how We can love each and every person individually and infinitely, or how Our Will of salvation can be played out in every person’s life, if they allow it to. You only understand your own finite love, energy, and power, and believe that this somehow means that there cannot be enough of Mine to go around. So, you use your own limited resources to wrestle out the salvation of others, instead of doing what I have asked of you.

You are missing out on the “better part” that Martha’s sister, Mary, chose.

My Love for you is infinite, vast, as far as the east is from the west, as high as the heavens and as deep as the netherworld. My Love for you embraced the cross and the grave, yet it could not be contained there. My Love for you rose from that grave, and it is My Love for you that waits every single day for you to meet me in the quiet of your soul, that I may embrace you, heal you, transform you, and lead you.

My little one: choose the better part. You cannot choose for another. Come, follow me.”

Am I letting comparison keep me from following Jesus? Am I worrying about another in a way that is keeping me from following Him to the extent that He wants me to?

Prayer: My Jesus, I am sorry for the ways that I have distracted myself with comparison or false-burden bearing. Today, I choose You, to follow You as You have commanded me to. Embrace me, heal me, transform me, and lead me. Jesus, I trust in You! Amen.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Welcome to Day 53 of our reflections on the gospel of John.  Thanks so much for joining us!  Connect with us at our website, www.markandkatiemartinez.com.

A Reflection on John 21:15-19

“Simon, Son of John, do you love me more than these?” (v 15)

Jesus’ words recall Peter’s fervent exhortation before His Passion: “Even though they all fall away, I will not” (Mark 14:29). Both He and Peter now know that Peter’s promise was broken. But Jesus is tender with His beloved Peter. He sees the shame that is still plaguing him, and He seeks to draw him into His Mercy to bring him healing.

Three times Peter denied Jesus. So, three times, Jesus asks him, “Do you love me?” And while Peter is exasperated, each time Jesus is giving him the chance to reverse his denial, He is applying a healing salve to Peter’s wound. Jesus knows that Peter needs this healing in order to be what he was created to be.

How many times has Jesus given us this chance? Like Peter, we deny Him, but like Peter, we always have the chance to come back to Him. He ardently desires to draw us near so that He can heal us, to bring us into His Presence and ask us, “Do you love me?”

Can we answer Him now?

Prayer: Yes, Lord, I love you. You know that I do. You know, also, that I am weak, wounded, and lost sometimes. You know that in those moments when fear overcomes me, or when I cannot feel Your presence, or when my emotions are too much for me, I forget. I forget Your love, I forget what You have done for me, I forget how I am supposed to be loving others. I lose trust and take matters into my own hands. I self-protect, self-rely, and self-love in an unholy way.

But Lord, I hope. I hope in Your Mercy and in Your Love. I hope that when You look upon me, You see my desire to love and please You. Yes, Lord Jesus, I love you. Amen.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Today is Day 52 of our reflections on the Gospel of John.  Thanks so much for joining us!  Find us on our website at www.markandkatiemartinez.com.

A Reflection on John 21:9-14

“And although there were so many, the net was not torn.” (v 11)

A hundred and fifty-three fish. This is the number of known types of fish in Jesus’ time. It is a number that symbolizes completeness. The full net of the apostles is telling us something about the Kingdom of God.

The Father’s net is deep and wide and strong. By sending His Son into the world, He has cast His net over it. In His time on earth, Jesus began hauling in the catch. Each and every person is in the range of that net, and it is strong enough to hold them all. Though the multitude is enormous and varied, the net will not be torn. He can carry each of us back to the Father’s house.

But we will not be carried to heaven against our will. We have a choice. Oftentimes, we imagine the net to feel restricting. We only see that we are caught, and an inner voice urges us toward “freedom.” It says that if we stay, we cannot do all the things we want to do, and we believe it. Like our first parents, Adam and Eve, we doubt the goodness of God and we rebel. But if we truly listened to our hearts’ desire, we would realize that in His arms is exactly where we want to be. True freedom is only found in the arms of the Father.

How can this be? How can we find true freedom under what feels like a restraint? The answer is trust. We must trust that God is who He says He is: a God of Love and Mercy, a God who keeps His promises, a God who wants the absolute best for us. As we practice trusting God, the feeling of restraint will gradually be replaced with a freedom found within. The peace of God will replace the fear, and we will be able to relax in the arms of the One who loves us best. We, in turn, will cast our nets as we desire to share this peace, joy, and freedom.

And in that glorious moment when we will be joined as one bride to the Bridegroom, Jesus, we will look with joy upon those who are with us. We will see the abundant and unique grace of God given to each one, and we will praise Him for all eternity, for the net was not torn.

Prayer: Oh God, I praise you! I praise you for pouring Your grace and mercy out over the whole world. May I do my part in receiving Your gift, trusting in Your holy will and sharing Your grace and mercy with those in my care that we may be united together in heaven with You. Amen.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Thanks so much for joining us for our reflections on the gospel of John!  Today is Day 51.  Find us on our website at www.markandkatiemartinez.com.

A Reflection on John 21:1-8

“Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” (v 6)

Another encounter with the Lord. Peter is so enthusiastic that he jumps from the boat just to be with Him that much sooner. He is alive, and He is here, with them on the beach of the Sea of Tiberias.

They had worked all night long, no doubt using all of their best efforts to produce a fruitful catch. Only their best efforts weren’t good enough. They produced nothing.

But what a difference Jesus makes. With one command, He produces a catch so fruitful it is almost too much for them.

Jesus can produce this fruit in us, too. On our own, we are like the apostles, working fruitlessly despite our best efforts. Sure, we can make some progress, but without Jesus, we will bear no fruit for eternity. We need His grace, His love, His power. God alone can raise the dead in our hearts; He alone can produce eternal fruit in us.

Like Peter, we must let our love for Jesus take precedence over all else. He set out for the task of fishing, but in the end, it was the desire to be with the Lord that sent him diving into the sea. We must cease to be wrapped up in our efforts of doing and seek to spend more time just being with God. And in that time, Jesus will bear fruit in us. He will cast the net wide in our souls, in our families, and in our Church, and He will bring about a great catch. May we see that this catch is less dependent on our own efforts and more dependent on our trust in Him.

Is there something in my life God wants me to stop doing so that I have more time to be with Him?

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit, cast your net in me. Catch my heart for Jesus. Let me be totally His, that He may make of my life a great catch, and that all that I do will lead others back to Him. Amen.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Welcome to Day 50 of our reflections on the gospel of John!  Thanks so much for joining us.  Contact us at www.markandkatiemartinez.com.

A Reflection on John 20:24-31

“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side.’” (v 27)

“Intimacy is the fruit that grows through touching one another’s wounds.” (Henri Nouwen)

Jesus: “Intimacy with you is my heart’s desire. To be so completely united with you, as the Bridegroom with His bride: this is why I came to earth.

Here I stand. Come, place your finger in my hands, my feet, my side. Feel my Sacred Heart beating. Touch my wounds. See that what was meant for evil, my Father meant for good; what was once dead is alive, what was sorrowful has become glorious. This is the transformational power of the Holy Spirit, who brings the dead back to life. And that power is available to you. Will you now allow Me to touch your wounds?

I know you are afraid. I know that to open up your wounds to me will likely open up great sorrow in you. It is true that exposing your wounds to Me may hurt. But as the Divine Physician, I alone can heal them. If you allow me to touch your wounds, I will transform them as My own have been transformed. I will turn your sorrow into dancing. I will turn your tears into laughter. Child, I can do this. If you allow Me too, I will.

And when you are made whole, the intimacy you will know with Me will be more than anything you’ve ever desired or imagined. We will be one, and ‘no one will take your joy from you’ (John 16:22).”

Can I open my heart fully to the Lord today and allow Him to touch my wounds?

Prayer: My Jesus, I do want your healing touch. I do want intimacy with you. Please, Lord, give me grace to allow you into the deepest places. Transform my wounds, that I may say with St. Augustine, “In my deepest wound I saw Your glory, and it dazzled me.”  Amen.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Today is Day 49 of our reflections on the gospel of John.  Thanks so much for joining us!  To contact us, visit our website at www.markandkatiemartinez.com.

A Reflection on John 20:19-23

“Peace be with you.” (v 19)

The apostles have locked themselves in a prison of fear and shame. Confused, afraid, and shocked from the reports of Mary, Peter, and John, they need Jesus’ peace now more than ever.

We, too, become trapped in our self-imprisonment of fear and shame. We build walls around ourselves and shut the doors, hoping to maintain some semblance of peace on the outside, whatever the turmoil on the inside.

But that semblance of peace is false. It does not last, and it does not satisfy. We have to let go of our pursuit of this false peace, whatever its forms: clinging to control, quieting our interior unrest with exterior pleasures, avoiding conflict out of self-preservation.

“Not as the world gives do I give to you,” Jesus promised us at the Last Supper (John 14:27). The peace that Jesus longs to give us is so much more than worldly peace. The peace of Jesus is an interior rest, a lying down in green pastures by still waters, a restoration of the soul (see Psalm 23). It is this peace that leads to a calm confidence in the Father’s will. This peace allows us to trust Him more than the world. It is a powerful peace; powerful enough to crumble the walls of shame and fear in our hearts.

When we have His peace, everything else that comes is secondary to it. This is the peace that only the Lord can give, the interior peace that gave the Apostles courage to later stand up and preach the gospel to all nations, even if it led to their death.

With His peace, we can change the world.

What is keeping me from accepting His peace?

Prayer: Jesus, I need Your peace. Come into the inner room of my heart, and tear down the walls of fear and shame that try to keep You out. May Your peace reign in my heart and the hearts of all believers forever.  Amen.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Welcome to Day 48 of our reflections on the Gospel of John.  Thanks so much for joining us!  Find us at www.markandkatiemartinez.com.

A Reflection on John 20:11-18

“Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?... Mary.” (v 15,16)

Mary Magdalene, overwhelmed with grief, yet still burning with love for her Lord, takes the first opportunity she can to be close to Him in His death. No longer under the requirements of Sabbath Rest, she visits the tomb as early as possible to attend to His body.

But His body is gone, and her grief consumes her. Hopeless, powerless, and confused, she is blinded by her anguish, and sees nothing with the eyes of her heart. She cannot see the glory of the angels sitting before her. She cannot even see the glory of Her Lord when He approaches her.

The Good Shepherd, “calls his own sheep by name… they know his voice.” (John 10:3-4)

Jesus is a patient, loving shepherd. He sees His lost, confused little sheep and His heart is filled with love and compassion for her. So, He calls her by name: “Mary.”

And in an instant, the clouds are removed from Mary’s eyes and heart and Light shines through. Her heart skips a beat: she knows His voice.  Her Lord is truly risen as He said. And the grief that overwhelmed her is replaced with shock and awe and a torrent of love that overcomes her and leads her to cling to Her Beloved Lord.

The Risen Lord calls us each by name today. Close your eyes, and hear him call your name in your heart. He calls to you. Whether you are near or far off, He still calls. Hear His voice, then open the eyes of your heart to behold His glory. He desires to share the gift of His Risen Life with you, His little sheep.

Prayer: My Jesus, You are Risen! I desire nothing more than to share in Your Risen Life. May I open my heart to You that You may come and dwell in me in a new way. You make all things new, make me new today. Amen.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Happy Easter!  Jesus is Risen, He is Risen, Indeed! 

Thanks so much for joining us for Day 47 of our reflections on the gospel of John.  Contact us at www.markandkatiemartinez.com.

A Reflection on John 20:1-10

“… the stone had been taken away from the tomb.” (v 1)

The Father: “Don’t you see, little one? I can roll away the stones.  I can bring the dead places in your heart back to life. On your own, you cannot do it. The stones are too heavy for you. You are too weak.

Is that hard for you to hear? For all of your life, you have seen your weakness as a disadvantage, or something to be ashamed of. But, “my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). When I see your weakness, my Spirit is attracted to your heart. When you surrender your weakness to me, you give my Spirit permission to come in and roll away the stones.

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)

Oh, child, how I long to do this for you! Surrender. Let it go. Be weak. It is ok, you are safe here with me. I will not trample you; I will not belittle you or shame you.

No, I will cradle you in my arms, and pour out my Spirit into your heart. He will come in and roll away the stones and bring the dead places back to life!

“O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” (1 Cor 15:55)

Have no fear, take courage! I am a God who keeps His promises. I am a God who brings the dead back to life.”

Prayer: Father, it is unfathomable to me that You love me in my weakness. My whole life I have tried and failed to be self-reliant and strong, yet You tell me to surrender. Today, in the joy of the Resurrection, I surrender my whole heart to you, weakness, sin, talents, and all. Bring the dead back to life in me, that I may say with a full heart bursting with joy:  Christ is risen! He is Risen indeed, Alleluia!

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Today is Day 46 of our reflections on the gospel of John.  Thank you so much for joining us.  Find us at www.markandkatiemartinez.com.

A Reflection on John 19:38-42

“So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.” (v 42)

Evil is the absence of good. Darkness is the absence of light. This day, today, is the absence of Jesus. The world without its creator is a dark thing, indeed.

The hope and joy of nearly all of the disciples are buried in the tomb with Jesus’ body. Their dreams of something new are crushed, and the future looks bleak.

But Mary does not let her hope die with her Son. She has received a promise that, “he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:33).  She clings to this promise with the faith of Abraham, who “(i)n hope he believed against hope… fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:18,21).  So today, though still in mourning, she keeps the flame of hope alive in her heart, and she waits.

There is a tomb in my heart. It is the place where I bury my dashed hopes and dreams and short-lived joys. These are the disappointments, the failures, the false hopes and heartbreaks. They are dead, so I place them in the tomb, roll the stone over, and walk away.

But what if I didn’t? What if I waited, like Mary, trusting in God’s promises and anticipating their fulfillment? What if I allowed myself to mourn these things, yet still hoped for their resurrection? Could I keep watch at the tomb of my soul today, waiting for the Spirit to breathe new life into my dreams? Waiting is its own form of suffering, yet “suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us” (Romans 5:3-5).

Prayer: Mary, today I wait with you. May I follow your example and Abraham’s, and let the Spirit produce hope in me as I wait for Jesus to raise me up with Him.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Welcome to Day 45 of our reflections on the gospel of John.  Thanks so much for joining us!  Find us at www.markandkatiemartinez.com.

A Reflection on John 19: 28-37

“It is finished.” (v 30)

The hour we have been waiting for and witnessed with Jesus has come to an end. The world is hushed as He breathes His last and the beating heart of the Word made flesh slows to a stop. The air is palpable as those around Him immediately feel a lack. The Light of the world has gone out, the Life that was once among them is now gone. He is gone.

“But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.” (v 34)

He pours out every last drop. He has taken the cup, the cup meant for us given to Him by the Father, and with it he has offered a libation of his own blood and water. He pours out every last drop on the heavenly altar before his Father. And with this offering, we are made new. Like a mother who pours out her own blood and water to birth her child, our Lord brings us forth anew in the Spirit, washed and transformed in His own blood and water. And in this moment in time that somehow transcends time, heaven touches earth to receive the sacrificial offering.

It is finished. The offering has been made. The earth is desolate and dark again. Now we must wait.

Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, renew in me a deep love for Jesus as I look upon His sacrifice for me. May I offer my own heart, too, with His on the altar, that I may die and rise with Him.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.