Gabriel's Trumpet

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the Sheep Gate. Jesus calls each of us be NAME each day to be and do the Holy Will of the Father in the Holy Spirit. We are called to LISTEN so we might recognize THE VOICE of the True Shepherd. Listening is MORE than hearing. Listening requires our WHOLE BEING. We are to have a listening heart so as to recognize AND FOLLOW the Good Shepherd to verdent pastures and restful waters.

Beware of those who are naysers. Such people are more comfortable with FAILIUR than SUCCESS. This is especially true in the spiritual life. Such people can supress and depress our faith and trust in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Nothing is impossible with God. We need the support and witness of those who are alive in God and share the Holy Spirit with us. May we be vessels of God's presence to each other.

The conversion of Saul to Paul is most dramatic. He goes from persesecuting to proclaiming that Jesus is Lord! We are in need od DAILY conversion so that we may see with the eye of faith and proclaim that Jesus is Lord ALWAYS THROUGH LOVE!

Good news is meant to be shared. We MUST shout it from the roof top. The GOOD NEWS OF JESUS MUST BE SHARED! This is our vocation, our baptismal calling Jesus is risen! Sin and death are NOT victorios but LIFE, ETERNAL LIFE is offered to each person. Many close to us need THE GOOD NEWS! Let us share the Good News that Jesus is Lord, OUR Lord!

One of the faculities that makes us human beings is free will. The other faculty is reason. This episode discusses the meaning of free will as it is understood today and the way Jesus invites us experience AUTHENTIC FREEDOM OF THE WILL AS OBEDIENCE! The proper exercise of free will is to choose ONE THING ! Such is PURITY OF HEART and to know the blessings of PEACE!

Courage is required to live daily the Easter message-- Jesus is Lord. The opposition of the Evil One is determined to silence the Easter message of Jesus as the Savior of the world. We can expect opposition and persecution in various ways. Yet we are strengthened through the indwellung Holy Spirit! Be of courage and fear not. Jesus has overcome the world. We are invited to be daily witnesses to Jesus' victory which is our hope of glory.

Food is essential for life. There is the food for physical life. It is perishable. We will be hungry again and again. There is the IMPERISHABLE FOOD FOR OUR IMMORTAL SOUL. This is the food which nourishes us to LIFE ETERNAL! What is this food? The very Person of Jesus and the Living Word of God in Holy Scripture. Jesus invites us to seek the food of life eternal while caring for our earthly needs.

Jesus ask Peter if he loves him -- THREE TIMES. Peter had denied Jesus twice, now Jesus offers Peter the opportunity to AFFIRM his faithful love for Jesus. Jesus accepts his declaration of love. This will require Peter to also take up his OWN CROSS! Peter will do so by laying down his life for Christ. So it is with US. To love Christ is to take up our cross and FOLLOW HIM! Such is the way to ETERNAL LIFE.

Into every life there are times of rough weather - strong head winds and high waves. Such times can be within us as well as all around us and the world in general. Our fears are intense. Jesus tells us, " It is I; DO NOT BE AFRAID." Jesus says this to us STANDING IN THE MIDST OF THE TURMOIL and invites to come to Him. Faith and trust, NOT FEAR, ARE WHAT IS NEEDED. Jesus extends his hand to lift us up to a place of true safety-- WITH HIM!

Beware the cult of personality. This is crucial for the spiritual life. WE ARE NOT CALLED TO FOLLOW ANY HUMAN BEING. Rather, we are to follow the Lord Jesus Christ who alone saves! Too often when a human figure stumbles we can give up our faith. When we place our trust in frail human beings we are bound to be disappointed. It is only in Jesus the Lord that we are never disappointed. The Lord is forever faithful.