BISHOP BARRON'S EASTER SERMON: JESUS SPEAKS AND ACTS IN THE VERY PERSON OF GOD

TRULY OUR LORD JESUS HAS RESURRECTED! ALLELUIAH! HAPPY EASTER!

[8:14] Here’s the second implication of the Resurrection. Again, not as some thin gruels, some vague symbols of the fact of the Resurrection: That JESUS CLAIMES ABOUT HIMSELF are now ratified. Unlike any other religious founders, JESUS CONSISTENTLY SPEAKS and ACTS in the VERY PERSON OF GOD.

 

“My son your sins are forgiven.” He is… ONLY GOD CAN FORGIVE SINS. Right, that’s the point. JESUS IS SPEAKING and ACTING in the VERY PERSON OF GOD.

“Oh, you’ve heard Him said in the Torah… but I SAY…” Who for first century Jew claim AUTHORITY OVER the TORAH which is the SUPREME AUTHORITY? The only one who could possibly do that WOULD BE GOD HIMSELF.

 

“You got a greater than the temple here,” Jesus said in reference to Himself. Again, for a first century Jew, the Temple was THE TEMPLE DWELLING of GOD. Who could possibly say “greater than the Temple” except THE ONE WHO IN FACT DWELLS IN THE TEMPLE?

In fact, this is why JESUS IS BROUGHT to the CROSS, this is apparent BLASHPHEMY, this MAN CLAIMING TO BE GOD. And thus, when He DIED on the CROSS, even His most ardent followers, were convinced that He was a sad fraud.

 

Think of those two disciples on the road to Emmaus, oh yeah, we’ve thought He was the ONE but clearly, He is not. Because there was no greater proof possible. That someone was not the Messiah of Israel than His death at the hands of Israel’s enemies. Clearly, He isn’t God. Clearly, He was just a deluded figure.

 

BUT WHEN HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD, not out of vague feeling that they may have been forgiven, come on. When HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD, and He appeared ALIVE AGAIN to them, they KNEW NOW, He is EXACTLY WHO HE SAID HE WAS. They knew that JESUS’ DIVINITY is claimed to DIVINITY is RATIFIED. And therefore, we have to give our lives to Him. If He is Whom He says HE IS, not one teacher among many. But GOD from GOD. LIGHT from LIGHT, TRUE GOD from TRUE GOD, what choice do I have…

LIVE: Easter Vigil at St. Peter Vatican City

37,000+ to Become Catholic at Easter Vigil Mass in the USA

No match for much publicized "conversions" in the fake Iglesia Ni Cristo® 1914.

Image source: Google Images - Fr. Broom

News Source: Catholic News World

WASHINGTON— Dioceses across the country will be welcoming thousands of people into the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil Masses on the evening of April 20th. As the culmination of the Easter Triduum, the Vigil celebrates the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While people can become Catholic at any time of the year, the Easter Vigil is a particularly appropriate moment for adult catechumens to be baptized and for already-baptized Christians to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church. Parishes welcome these new Catholics through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).

Many of the dioceses across the nation have reported their numbers of people who intend to become Catholic on Saturday to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Based on these reports, more than 37,000 people are expected to be welcomed into the Church at Easter Vigil Masses.

Still Catholic Converts are Rising Despite Scandals

"I will build MY CHURCH" says the Lord Jesus Christ, the FOUNDER of the CATHOLIC CHURCH ~ the real, only CHURCH OF CHRIST on earth. A Church not founded by fallen men and women. A Church that has been tested in the past 2000 years. The Devil is trying hard to infiltrate His Church but these evil men and women who are IN His Church will be exposed in fulfillment of His promise that "the gates of hell shall not prevail"! (Mt. 16:16-18)

Despite scandals, over 1,000 British to become Catholic at Easter

Catechumens and candidates at the Rite of Election (Diocese of Westminster / Flick)

WESTMINSTER, England, March 19, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – Despite the clerical abuse and cover-up scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church, over 1,000 people in England and Wales are expected to join the Church this Easter.

The UK’s Tablet reported last week that 419 catechumens (converts awaiting baptism) and candidates (baptized Christians seeking to be received into the Church) participated in the Rite of Election in Westminster Cathedral in London on March 9 and 10. Representing the largest group of converts, they came from 93 parishes. In Birmingham, 181 candidates and catechumens participated in their diocesan Rite of Election. In Nottingham, there were 151; in Portsmouth, 115; in the Diocese of East Anglia, 62; in Clifton, 47; in Lancaster, 32; and in Middlesbrough, 23.

In addition to these English figures, 37 prospective Catholics took part in the Rites of Election held in Cardiff, Wales.

At Westminster Cathedral in London, Cardinal Vincent Nichols addressed the 200 catechumens and 219 candidates, saying: “These ceremonies are among the largest gatherings of people from parishes across the diocese who join me in giving thanks for the great work that God is carrying out in your lives.”

“We give thanks to God for the ways in which our parishes and diocesan family will be enriched by you, and we promise to continue to support you and your families with our prayers and the example of Christian life that you experience in our parish communities,” he continued.

In St. John’s Cathedral in Norwich, 30 catechumens and 32 candidates from across the Diocese of East Anglia gathered for their Rites of Election on Sunday, March 10.

In his homily, Bishop Alan Hopes told the prospective Catholics, “Today is a celebration of your hope and trust in Jesus Christ, to whom you turn for salvation. Today you are being elected, chosen, called to salvation. The Church rejoices with you as she numbers you amongst all those who have been called and chosen.”

“During Lent, together with the whole Church, you are being called to turn to the Lord. You are being called to deepen your commitment to Him and so grow in holiness. You are being called to become saints of God,” Hopes continued.

“This call is not just for special people, but for everyone. We are all called to become like Jesus Christ.”

The Catholic Church in Scotland, which is overseen by the Scottish Bishops’ Conference, expects to welcome dozens more into the fold this Easter. According to Peter Kearney, the director of Scotland’s Catholic Media Office, this year there are 57 catechumens and candidates for the Diocese of Glasgow and 22 for the Diocese of Motherwell.

The other Scottish dioceses had not yet responded to a request for information by press time.

DAGSA ANG UMANIB SA TUNAY NA IGLESIA NI CRISTO NGAYONG PASKO NG PAGKABUHAY 2018!

Glenn Crocker and his children converted to the Catholic Church in 2015 Easter (Source: Catholic Anchor)

Dagsaan ang UMANIB sa TUNAY na IGLESIA NI CRISTO ngayong PASKO ng MULING-PAGKABUHAY!

-The Archdiocese of Los Angeles alone welcomed 1,700 catechumens and 1,127 candidates

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-Major Protestant YouTube Star Announces She’s Converting to Catholicism

-Leading figure from Vietnam War baptized … at age 92

-Mongolia, Sweden and Algeria: the unlikely centres of Catholic conversion

-For converts, Easter brings sense of relief