04.05.2019

By Stefania Caterina and Fr Tomislav Vlašić

Father Tomislav: Dearest Brothers and Sisters, happy Sunday to all of you. This is the third Sunday of Easter and we continue our path with the Risen Christ who leads us to the elevation of Pentecost, to His ascension to the Father. This is the framework of our path within which we may understand the Holy Scriptures of today’s Holy Mass.[1]

The last time we spoke about the participation in the Trinitarian power. Today the title is “How to draw on the Trinitarian power”. Everyone wants to participate in it, even satanist, esoteric people, etc., all those who practice certain exercises without drawing on the Trinitarian power.

Today we have read the readings which are often referred to. They are presented like perfect catechism, but we are not called to participate in some catechism but in the event of the resurrection. When we read the event the apostles experienced, we are able to participate in it. If we do not participate in the event of the resurrection of Christ, we will have no benefit from catechism. Only through the vital, inner participation in the resurrection of Christ will we lead others to encounter the Risen Christ.

There are three important points in the readings: in the reading of the Gospel, chapter 21 of St. John, we may experience a full and vital participation in the resurrection of Christ which involves each apostle according to his originality and identity; the apostles thus began this vital relationship with the Risen Christ. So, this gives us the answer to the question about how we can draw on the Trinitarian power within us: if we allow the Eucharistic event, in which the Lord speaks to us, to involve us. As you know the Eucharist contains the word of the Lord but also the passage of the Lord from death to resurrection. He offers Himself to all of us to bring about our inner death; it is the passage towards the resurrection. We do not do it by ourselves. It is the Lord who gives us the grace. He prepares everything; however, we must be ready and involved according to our originality and our mission.

Next, in the first reading of the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 5, we learn that, despite all threats, Peter and the apostles proclaimed that Jesus is Lord and Prince. Before the heads of the Jewish religion, who were threatening them, they proclaimed that Jesus was the Lord and the Saviour of the universe.

The second reading is taken from the Revelations; it takes us to the throne of God where many servants, whom we do not know, are gathered around the throne; along with the whole creation they proclaim: Jesus Christ is Lord; He is the immolated Lamb. You see that this is the path we must participate in to draw on the Trinitarian power which God places within us. Let us look at these readings.

The Gospel we have heard is not a vision. It explains to us the service of the Risen Christ within us. The text tells us only that the apostles went fishing while Jesus was silently present. He approached them as He saw their hard work.

“Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus. He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’‘No,’ they answered.  He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’”

And the nets were full of fish. But before they brought the fish to the shore, Jesus had already prepared everything: “When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’” Then He called them: „Come and have breakfast.“

Jesus is always there, ready to serve us in every situation; He is present in all events, beyond the borders of our logic and our rationality.

This event, narrated by St. John, is different from the first events in which the women saw the Risen Christ. Here Jesus puts Himself at our service within us. Not only does He prepare breakfast, He also opens the seals of our spirit. John, who loved Jesus and was loved by Him, was the first to have the seal removed and screamed, “It is the Lord!”. This struck Peter who jumped into the water to reach the Lord. Thus, the path opened also for the others. “None of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’”

What does that mean? It means that Jesus reveals His life and His power within us; He communicates His power and His light to us, enlightening our mind and loving us with divine love. We must be certain that this is the consequence of encountering the Lord. Thus, we will be healed from our false self-confidence and be transformed; a goal we must achieve in our spiritual life.

Here we notice two figures in particular: John, in his originality, with His love for Jesus Christ and his true love for the Blessed Mother, who always lights the first spark. In the figure of St. Peter another important aspect appears: it is Jesus’ love that touches the depth of Peter’s wound for having denied Him. Jesus asked him for three times: “‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’” More than these. “‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’” After the third question Peter was hurt and said: “‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’” This is where Jesus wanted to get. Of course He knew that Peter loved Him. “Lord, you know all things”.

When Peter received this love and let it flow in him, he was ready to begin with his mission: “Feed my sheep.” It is not the investiture of an institution but the investiture of the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In this way Peter and the other apostles were prepared to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit promised by the Father in the name of Jesus.

Look, we are all called to reach this point. Otherwise we will not enter the new creation. All is governed by the Trinitarian Love. If we are ready to be involved, we are prepared from within according to our originality, identity and mission. The Lord will withdraw the special graces that cover human weaknesses.

Peter and the apostles then received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and manifested the Risen Christ despite all the threats they suffered. They proclaimed Him Lord and Saviour of Israel, and despite all punishments they continued to give testimony; this is how they spread the power of the Risen Christ. When we close ourselves in our wounds, the power of the resurrection cannot act fully in us; thus, we are not able to proclaim and carry the Trinitarian power to others. This is what the Church lacks; thus, she is weak, and the Christians are weak and often influenced by the spirit of the world.

“Jesus Christ is the Lord”, and everything, all angels, all men and all creatures are involved in this proclamation: the immolated Lamb is the Victor. “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!” (Rev 5,12).

Catechesis helps us little. It can be a tool, but the tool remains a tool if the event does not happen in us. If we live the event of the resurrection, our life will explode in praise, and the Trinitarian power will manifests itself and our joy will be greater than all threats, all disturbances and all our wounds. Our wounds can no longer contain sadness and despair. And this, if we live our Eucharist like this, has an impact on the whole universe. If this does not occur, the Trinitarian power will not act within us.

After having experienced the resurrection of Christ, the apostles openly gave testimony. The more you are open to receive, the more you can give. The more you give, the more will be given to you. This the inner circle of the Trinitarian Love within each one of us. If your love knocks down all the barriers hell provides, the spirit of this world will lift you up to the throne of God along with all the instruments that are there for the benefit of each one of us in his diversity: all instruments that are there live for us and proclaim loudly the glory of God.

If the Trinitarian vortex is not active, this power will not act. We may participate in the rituals of the Mass but nothing, or only little, will change if the Trinitarian vortex is not active. Therefore, all of us who are walking the path towards the new creation can accomplish it only by walking in this vortex, by feeling it within us; the Trinitarian power awakens, enlightens and directs us, just as Jesus Christ did with the apostles. Then, we, too, will be able to generate this vortex in our lives, in our relationships with each other, in God.

As we have heard in this Gospel, in every Eucharist He comes within us and leads us to redemption, to inner healing. The existential healing of our life leads us to our resurrection, and then we can receive our mission. When we have accepted this love with faithfulness and through our testimony, we are elevated and our spirit is, already now, before the throne of God. This is all our priests have to offer, gathering all those who are living in the Trinitarian vortex. All our priests should offer all they gather and present them to the Trinitarian vortex so that it may fill and expand more and more, involving the whole universe.

I wish you to walk your path carefully and responsibly, filled with God’s pure, immaculate love, like John’s heart was and that of the apostles. I bless you; may the Risen Christ heal all your wounds. I give you my blessing so that you do not seek healing out of egoistical intentions but to offer your lives to Jesus Christ, for then you will be able to give testimony and be elevated to God. We accompany you with our prayers and the offering of our lives to God; in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[1] Readings of the third Sunday of Easter; Year C: first reading: Acts 5,27-32.40-41; second reading: Rev 5,11-14; Gospel: John 21,1-19