Apr 8, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of the 2nd week of Eastertide
Gospel – John 3:7-15
“If you do not believe me when I speak about things in this world, how are you going to believe me when I speak to you about heavenly things?” In this very interesting conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus we can find the tension between the revelation and the faith. Faith is not something static. Faith is dynamic especially when it regards to the revelation. Faith must adapt itself to the revelation. And not that faith block itself before revelation. Nicodemus is a very sincere man. He is searching for truth. He is even expressing his ignorance without fear. And through his sincere questions, we come to know very profound answers to some existential questions of our life. What we need a new life, and this new life is given by the Son of Man who is in heaven. We have His life. We live with His life. And this Son of Man is like serpent raised in the desert. Moses raised it according to the will of God and everyone looked at was save. In the New Testament, God the Father raised Jesus Christ and in Him we are all saved. His life is shared among us. We receive His life and our lives are new. Let’s reflect: Easter is understanding that we live with the life of Jesus Christ given to us in Baptism.
Apr 7, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
The Annunciation of the Lord – Solemnity
Gospel – Luke 1:26-3
“But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?” The Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord is in a different date this year. Since the original date is on the Holy Week, it’s moved to the first day after the Easter Week because the Feast must be celebrated in the right spirit. The Feast of Annunciation is the day when the heaven and earth united in the consent of the Virgin in Nazareth. Mary united heaven and earth. In her, the divinity and humanity become one. The distinction is eliminated. Mary heard the words of Angel Gabriel. When the angel Gabriel gave the news, the Virgen in Nazareth did not immediately say “yes”. Mary wanted to know her role in this plan of God. Then angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God”. Mary wanted to be part of the plan of God. She understood the plan of God. She said, “let what you have said be done to me”. Because Mary with her freedom and with her will, accepted to be part of the Will of God. Let’s reflect: Annunciation invites us to be part of God’s plan for humanity.
Apr 7, 2024 | NEWS
On March 15, 2024, a celebration was held in the convent in the St. Marien Berlin-Kreuzberg retirement home to thank Sister M. Rosa Pakosch for her more than 40 years of service in the pastoral care of the deaf in the diocese of Berlin.
This celebration, which began with a church service, was attended by the regional superior of the Sisters of Mary, Sister Cordula Klafki and the sisters’ convent in the retirement home, as well as the deputy head of the pastoral department representing the Archdiocese of Berlin, Mr. Sebastian Schwertfeger, and other full-time and voluntary staff of the deaf pastoral care, the home director and the care service manager of the St. Marien facility.
During the coffee break that followed, we talked about how Sister M. Rosa was perceived in her ministry. The statements all came down to the same point: Sister Rosa always took a back seat and did her work quietly and selflessly, preparing the celebrations and church services and when there were problems, the answer was: “You’ll manage”.
She also mentioned organizing vacations together with the deaf, which was not always easy – and she always found help from her fellow sisters. She received a lot of support from Sister M. Manuela and Sister M. Euphemia in preparing and following up the get-together with coffee and cake after the monthly services for the deaf.
In this way, Sister M. Rosa managed to give the deaf a home – a home where they felt understood and accepted. Initially, she did this ministry in collaboration with Sister Christiane Uhl, who was deaf herself, and thus familiarized herself with this work and the deaf. Due to the early death of Sister Christiane, most of the burden then fell on her shoulders.
She was the OHR for the deaf. Many home visits and visits to the authorities took her all over the city. It was important to her to stand by these people in need of help.
Now this service is being continued at another location in the diocese of Berlin.
Apr 6, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Divine Mercy Sunday (2nd Sunday of Easter)
Gospel – John 20:19-31
Today is the Sunday of Divine Mercy. The Sunday when we acknowledge and thank the mercy of God which forgives our sins. The sense of this Sunday can be explained in these words: “Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you”. It’s the experience of the presence of Jesus standing in our midst and He is giving His peace to us. It’s the experience of seeing His pierced hands and His pierced side which are pierced as reparation for our sins. Our sins are forgiven with the divine mercy which comes from His pierced hands and side. It’s the experience of being filled with joy. The joy which comes from the gratitude of being forgiven the sins. The joy of the presence of the Lord in the midst. It’s the new hope present in the midst. It’s the experience of listening to the Words of Jesus, “Peace be with you”. It’s the assurance of the presence of His peace in my life. Let’s reflect: Easter is experiencing the Divine Mercy of the Lord in His peace given to me.
Apr 5, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Easter Saturday
Gospel – Mark 16:9-15
“‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation”. Resurrection is not just a spectacle. It’s the beginning of the mission. It’s the beginning of the mission of the Church. Before the reality of resurrection, you can doubt, or you can believe. If you believe you have to pass to the next phase which is the mission to preach. The mission which arises from the encounter with the Risen Christ. This area of the mission is the entire world. And the object of mission is to proclaim the Good News. The subject of this mission is the entire creation. The entire world and the entire creation is before us who has encountered Jesus Risen to preach the Good News. The Good News is that the love of God is above all things. Nothing can be stronger than this love. This love is even stronger than death. That’s why this is the Good News because nothing can change it to bad news. Let’s reflect: Easter is recognizing the mission which evolves from our encounter with the Risen Christ.
