Gospel – John 1:35-42
John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” — which translated means Teacher —, “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where Jesus was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” — which is translated Christ —. Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” — which is translated Peter.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
608 After agreeing to baptize him along with the sinners, John the Baptist looked at Jesus and pointed him out as the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” By doing so, he reveals that Jesus is at the same time the suffering Servant who silently allows himself to be led to the slaughter and who bears the sin of the multitudes, and also the Paschal Lamb, the symbol of Israel’s redemption at the first Passover. Christ’s whole life expresses his mission: “to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
552 Simon Peter holds the first place in the college of the Twelve; Jesus entrusted a unique mission to him. Through a revelation from the Father, Peter had confessed: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Our Lord then declared to him: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. ”Christ, the “living stone,” thus assures his Church, built on Peter, of victory over the powers of death. Because of the faith he confessed Peter will remain the unshakeable rock of the Church. His mission will be to keep this faith from every lapse and to strengthen his brothers in it.
881 The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the “rock” of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock. “The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of apostles united to its head.” This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs to the Church’s very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope.
From “The Visible Face of the Invisible God” Testimony of Catalina Rivas (Chp. II:1)
1) When John introduced Me, he did not present Me as his relative, but he said instead: ‘Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ (Jn 1:29). At that instant John, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, recalled the quote of Abraham to Isaac, as he was about to be immolated by his father: ‘God will provide Himself with a lamb for the holocaust’ (Gen 22:8). That was a prefiguration of the true Lamb of God: Me, who would be immolated to save mankind.
From “Springs of Mercy” Testimony of Catalina Rivas (SM – 94:2)
2) I am the lamb of God who out of love for mankind has placed Himself on your altars in a state of death… Join your voices with that immense crowd of blessed spirits that the beloved Disciple saw in his Apocalypse, so as to acknowledge Me.
From “The Great Crusade of Mercy” Testimony of Catalina Rivas (CM – 29:32)
32) Notice Peter, for example, and look at the line of Holy Pontiffs who have followed him. Well then, for the poor fisherman, for the rock that I placed as the foundation of My beloved Church, I lived through days and nights of prayer, devotion and surrender. I know very well what it means to be My Vicar, to act on behalf of Me, to take upon oneself the immense responsibility of looking after My flock. That is why I gave Peter great gifts. I made him experience My Omnipotence so that his lack of strength should not be an obstacle to My work.
Each week we will be presenting a portion of the following Sunday’s readings, and linking it to relevant parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and messages from the Testimony of Catalina. Pay special attention to the italicized underlined sections. This Sunday it is asked, What kind of soil will you be for the word of God? We hope this is inspiring and educational. Any comments you have are certainly welcomed.
Tim Francis prepared this educational program to help you increase your faith and love for the Holy Trinity and our Blessed Mother. His website is http://YouShallBelieve.com
I have known Tim for many years and recommend his work highly. He is a strong advocate for the “The Real Body and Blood Of Jesus” and the numerous miracles that occur on a daily basis. Both of us are greatly inspired by the amazing writings of Catalina Rivas. Catalina is one of the few individuals in history who personally experienced the “Stigmata Of Jesus Christ.”