Ny herin'ny fitsanganana amin'ny maty

NY TENY IZAO MOMBA NY VAKIN'NY MASY
ho an'ny 18 septambra 2014
Opt. Fahatsiarovana an'i Md Janoary

Lahatsoratra litorjia Eto

BETSAKA miankina amin'ny Fitsanganan'i Jesoa Kristy tamin'ny maty. Araka ny lazain'i St. Paul anio:

… Raha tsy natsangana i Kristy dia foana koa ny toritenintsika; foana koa ny finoanao. (Vakiteny voalohany)

Very maina izany rehetra izany raha tsy velona Jesosy ankehitriny. Midika izany fa nandresy ny rehetra ny fahafatesana ary "Mbola ao amin'ny fahotanao ihany ianao."

Fa ny Fitsanganana amin'ny maty indrindra no mampisy dikany ny fiangonana voalohany. Ny tiako holazaina dia hoe, raha tsy nitsangana i Kristy, maninona ireo mpanaraka azy no mandeha amin'ny fahafatesany amin'ny fomba feno habibiana misisika lainga, noforonina ary fanantenana kely? Tsy toa ny nanandrana nanangana fikambanana matanjaka izy ireo fa nifidy fiainana mahantra sy serivisy. Raha misy izany dia heverinao fa ireto lehilahy ireto dia nandao ny finoany teo imason'ireo mpanenjika azy avy hatrany ary nilaza hoe: “Jereo, nandritra ny telo taona nipetrahantsika tamin'i Jesosy! Tsia, lasa izy izao, ary izany no izy. ” Ny hany zavatra misy dikany ny fihodinan'ny radika aorian'ny fahafatesany dia izany hitan'izy ireo nitsangana tamin'ny maty Izy.

Not only these Apostles, but several dozen of the first popes were also martyrs—they and thousands of others, all of them claiming that they had nihaona the life-changing power of Jesus through the message of the Cross, like St. Januarius. 

…we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Cor 1:23-24)

I mean, today, we hear many inspiring speeches and wise insights on how to make the most of one’s life. But would you die for them? Yet, there is something in the Gospel that moves people to the very core of their being, changing and transforming them so that they literally become a “new creation.” That is because the “Word of God” is Jesus, the Teny tonga nofo.

Eny tokoa, ny tenin 'Andriamanitra dia velona sy mahomby, maranitra noho ny sabatra roa lela, ka tafiditra ao anelanelan'ny fanahy sy ny fanahy, ny tonona sy ny tsoka, ary mahay mamantatra ny eritreritra sy ny eritreritra ao am-po. (He 4:12)

Today’s Gospel gives us insight as to why so many have willingly given their lives in following Jesus Christ—because He gave their lives back to them:

Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out.

I understood that the Church had a Heart, and this Heart was burning with love. I understood that only Love gave motion to the members of the Church: that if Love were to be extinguished, the Apostles would no longer proclaim the Gospel, the Martyrs would refuse to pour out their blood… —St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Manuscript B, vs. 3

And after 2000 years, nothing has changed. I am thinking of the testimony of a prostitute who slept with over a thousand men. But she encountered Jesus and His power, converted, and married. She said that on their honeymoon, it was “like the first time.” I have listened to testimony after testimony of men and women alike who have been inexplicably delivered from evil spirits, alcoholism, nicotine and drug addictions, sex addictions, greed, lust for power… you name it—all at the name of Jesus.

And Christ continues to resurrect the dead. My friend, the late Stan Rutherford, had been dead for several hours from a terrible industrial accident. He was tagged and placed in the hospital morgue, when what he thought was a little nun, tapped his forehead, “waking” him up, telling him that it was time to go to work (he later learned that it was the Blessed Mother, as he was a Pentecostal then). And then there is the story of pastor Daniel Ekechukwu of Nigeria who was dead and partially embalmed for nearly two days after a car accident, who suddenly came to life at his funeral. ^[1]cf. Fanahy isan'andro Want to hear more? Fr. Albert Hebert collected 400 true stories ^[2]cf. Saints who Raised the Dead, Boky TAN of saints who raised the dead. There are endless testimonies that reveal the power of the Resurrection.

And then there are the incredible stories of the late Canadian missionary Fr. Emiliano Tardif who had a powerful healing ministry. When he entered into one town, he wondered why the people weren’t coming to the church. A parishioner replied, “Because you’ve already healed them all!” ^[3]jereo Jesus Lives Today! These were miracles of cancer vanishing, the blind seeing, and limbs reshaping in front of their eyes.

Brothers and sisters, as the Storm we are entering into gets darker and more fierce, we need to remember that Jesus is not dead—He is risen! And He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ^[4]jer. He 13:8

Expect miracles. Expect signs and wonders. Expect Him to use you.

Show your wondrous mercies, O savior of those who flee from their foes to refuge at your right hand. (Today’s Psalm)

These signs will accompany those who believe:in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents [with their hands], and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. (Mark 16:17-18)