Reasons to Love The Lord, Our God
A Reflection for the 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2009
Based on readings from Isaiah 50:5-9, James 2:14-18, Mark 8:27-35
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Reformed Catholic Church of New England
www.missionstsergius.org
“The Lord has opened my ear. For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn away. I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at my beard; I did not cover my face against insult and spittle.” (Isaiah 50:5-9)
These words from the book of Isaiah foretold how Jesus Christ would be treated and how Jesus would react to the ridicule and ultimate sacrifice He would endure.
These words also should remind us that we might have to endure taunts and even rejection because of our love for God and because the way of Christ is not the way of today‘s society.
Christ taught compassion, love, mercy, and forgiveness. These are qualities that are in short supply in today’s world.
“What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit?
So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But some one will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.” (James 2:14-18)
These words of James, the brother of Christ and head of the church at Jerusalem, explain how we need to act in order to proclaim our faith. In no uncertain words they say that we live our faith by our actions.
This has been the theme of the last few weeks and a constant theme of Christ’s teachings.
Many people proclaim to be followers of Jesus Christ, but they have blinders on towards the suffering and pain that exists all around them. If they are aware of it, they seem to have no desire to put an end to it.
Our nations leaders who for the most part claim to be Christians are engaged in discussions to make our health plans more affordable and the best in the world for all people regardless of their income yet they resist because of what it might cost or because of their party affiliations.
What happened to the idea of “Government for the people”
So many people give lip service but somehow little is really done to bring and end to homelessness, poverty, affordable medical assistance for the poor and seniors on low fixed incomes and affordable quality education for every person.
The Government can find trillions to explore space, wage wars, give tax breaks and incentives to the rich and corporations that pay their executives exorbitant salaries, often a thousand time greater than the average worker receives.
"If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.” (Mark 8)
These words of Christ tell us that to become followers of Christ, we must be willing to endure the crosses we are given. We must deny ourselves things that are considered luxuries so we can care for the needs of those who are poor, ill and unable to care for themselves without help.
Every day I pray to God asking him to provide me with the tools to do His work here on earth and be able to bring comfort and the sacraments to those who cannot get to church or have been told they were not wanted.
I try to spread The Good News of God’s everlasting compassion, infinite love and mercy for all His children.
God always hears our prayers, but He only answer us with what is best for us and at the appropriate time. When people who are sick, need a job or desire to sell their house or some other need ask God’s help, He hears them, but always gives them what is best for them.
Sometimes he calls the sick person home to him as the best way of ending their suffering.
It leaves us feeling sad, lonely, and sometimes angry but we need to realize that God did what was best for them. That is what it means to deny ourselves. We must accept God’s will in our lives, just as Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane pleaded “Lord remove this cup from me, but not my will, but yours be done”
Maybe if we make that prayer the qualification of all our petitions to God we will not be dissatisfied with God‘s answers to our prayers. I have found that when God deems it right He provides those things I need. My favorite poem FOOTSTEPS reminds us how God sometimes carries us when we thought He had abandoned us. God never leaves us but we often leave God out of our lives. I have learned that God needs to be a major part of our life and in a perfect world God is the center of our life.
We cannot allow ourselves to give up on God, worshiping Him and asking Him to be with us just because some have told us we are unwanted, or others try to claim that God is a myth, and still others who are supposed to represent Him have committed heinous crimes. We need to put our trust in God and love Him with all our being. Jesus instructed us with these words; “LOVE THE LORD, YOUR GOD, WITH ALL YOUR HEART, MIND, SOUL AND BODY AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF” (Mark 12:30) Christ also said “LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU” God loved us so much He was willing to die so that our sins could be forgiven and we could attain everlasting life with Him forever. AMEN
All Materials are copywriten (c) Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Showing posts with label A Loving God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A Loving God. Show all posts
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Friday, April 25, 2008
Loving Jesus is Loving God
Love of Jesus is love of God, The Father
A reflection for the Sixth Sunday of Easter 2008
Based on Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 66:8-20, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Divine_Mercy_Franciscans
The Gospel Reading for the sixth Sunday after Easter is extremely plan and clear, by loving and living our daily lives in accord with the teachings of Christ we exhibit our love for God, The Father. In reading the following passage from John 14 one can not interpret it in any way except that by following Christ’s teachings we live our lives in accord with God’s desire for us.
The reading also emphasizes that when we live our lives according to the teachings of Christ we are given the Holy Spirit within us as our counselor and guide.
"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. (John 14:15-24)
The reading also emphasizes that the Holy Spirit can not be seen but lives within us who accept Christ and attempt, to the best of our human ability to live our daily lives with love for all God’s children, with compassion for the sick, aged, lonely, hungry, homeless and marginalized.
Christ ends the message with a firm affirmation that “"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
The questions we have to ask ourselves are these; “Do we seek our God and take time to communicate with Him on a daily basis? Do we take advantage of the gift Christ gave us of His body and blood in the Eucharist regularly? Do we give back to God a percentage of the gifts He has given to us by contributing to those who are in need and to support the work of the church by tithing in time or a monetary way?
Do we speak out against injustice, violence, war, poverty and discrimination?
These are the things that Christ did when He walked this earth and showed us the way to the Father.
We need to follow His example if we wish to be welcomed into the Fathers house and claim the home prepared for us there.
The following is a prayer to invoke the Holy Spirit to abide within us and to guide and lead us every day of our life. The more one invokes the Holy Spirit, the more we feel the Spirit Christ promised working within us. May Almighty God fill us with the Spirit and shower us with His infinite mercy and love every day of our life. AMEN
Prayer to The Holy Spirit
By Father Robert Johnnene OFD
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Divine_Mercy_Franciscans
O Most Holy Spirit, merciful Comforter; Come, I beseech You, and take up abode in my heart. Let my weaknesses be penetrated with your strength, so that I may always do what is right and just. Fill my heart with charity toward all I encounter. Enlighten me in my ignorance, advise me in my doubts. Purify and cleanse me of all sin and sanctify my soul protecting and shielding me from the temptations that plague me. Make me truly humble that I may be pleasing to Almighty God. Instill within me an honest respect of Almighty God and all of His creations. Assist me to be an instrument of God's Word to all I encounter. Give unto me the gift of Wisdom to know and live according to God’s will. By your generous bestowing of your gifts, help me to live a holy life and grow in the everlasting love of Christ so that I may join with all the heavenly elect when my days here on earth are ended. I ask this through Jesus Christ, my redeemer and savior, who lives, and reigns with you and our creator Almighty God as one triune God, now and forever. AMEN
Friday, October 19, 2007
God's Justice Will Be Done
God’s Justice Will Be Done
A Reflection for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
The Gospel for this Sunday is the parable about the judge in a certain town who had neither fear of God nor respect for man and our need to pray continually and never lose heart. Which ends with a promise from Christ and also a question that is worth our considering in this age and time, “will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them?? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?”
The Gospel story could very well be speaking about the many people who live in this world and seem to have little or no fear of God or the consequences of how they are living their daily lives and who also have no respect for anyone but their own self interests. Our world today is very narcissistic and a great many people seek out fame, fortune, and power and seem to care not about God or the plight of their brothers and sisters in Christ.
A recent survey has pointed out a decline in the last few decades in those who attend church on a regular basis. According to the poll this trend has increased more in the last decade at an alarming rate which might account for the massive closing of churches and schools throughout the United States and in other nations.
The attacks on even the mention of God and the display of any Christian symbols in public places has also increased and with it we have seen the decline of all moral values and even simple courtesy and respect.
Of course we also have those who use God to justify their discrimination and prejudice toward ethnic and other groups who do not fit their idea of the ideal individual.
One can not wonder what God perceives of all this and how He is going to judge us when our time before Him comes.
We might also think about the words of Christ at the end the Gospel reading “when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?”
I believe that He will find some who have lived according to God’s will and the teachings of Christ. He will find some who have “Loved their neighbor as they have loved themselves” and who have practiced the Beatitudes and looked out for the well being of those who are sick, aged, poor and needy and who seek to know and love God in spite of the rejection and ridicule of others.
In Paul’s second letter to Timothy 3:14-4:2 Paul tells timothy to “Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed and remember from whom it was taught” The teacher was God’s master teacher, His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
Believing in God and accepting Jesus Christ as our redeemer and Savior is not enough, we are called to live our faith every day of our lives. We are called to put our lives in God’s hands and to trust God’s will. We must make it our life’s goal to live our lives with respect for all God’s creation especially all His children regardless of their race, creed or social position.
Today’s newspaper had a story about the condition of seniors and how they are having a greater struggle every year especially those who live on only their Social Security since the COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) does not actually keep up with the actual increase in the cost of living. In the last decade seniors have actually lost 40% of their purchasing power because of the way the government figures the COLA. Calls by all the organizations that serve the elderly to change to way the formula works have fallen on deaf ears. This is just one example of many where the desire for greater profits for investors to make the wealthy even more wealthy and neglecting needy. Everywhere in our society there are many examples of a total disregard of the needs of the less fortunate.
As Christians and believers in the teachings of Jesus Christ, we should be actively speaking out against all injustices and doing everything in our power to force change especially in the richest nation in the world.
We need to rethink our own individual priorities and make sure that we set aside at least ten percent of the gifts God provides us with to give back in thanksgiving for them.
God desire to see justice done in all things as the Gospel reminds us of what Christ said of God “I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. AMEN
A Reflection for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
The Gospel for this Sunday is the parable about the judge in a certain town who had neither fear of God nor respect for man and our need to pray continually and never lose heart. Which ends with a promise from Christ and also a question that is worth our considering in this age and time, “will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them?? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?”
The Gospel story could very well be speaking about the many people who live in this world and seem to have little or no fear of God or the consequences of how they are living their daily lives and who also have no respect for anyone but their own self interests. Our world today is very narcissistic and a great many people seek out fame, fortune, and power and seem to care not about God or the plight of their brothers and sisters in Christ.
A recent survey has pointed out a decline in the last few decades in those who attend church on a regular basis. According to the poll this trend has increased more in the last decade at an alarming rate which might account for the massive closing of churches and schools throughout the United States and in other nations.
The attacks on even the mention of God and the display of any Christian symbols in public places has also increased and with it we have seen the decline of all moral values and even simple courtesy and respect.
Of course we also have those who use God to justify their discrimination and prejudice toward ethnic and other groups who do not fit their idea of the ideal individual.
One can not wonder what God perceives of all this and how He is going to judge us when our time before Him comes.
We might also think about the words of Christ at the end the Gospel reading “when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?”
I believe that He will find some who have lived according to God’s will and the teachings of Christ. He will find some who have “Loved their neighbor as they have loved themselves” and who have practiced the Beatitudes and looked out for the well being of those who are sick, aged, poor and needy and who seek to know and love God in spite of the rejection and ridicule of others.
In Paul’s second letter to Timothy 3:14-4:2 Paul tells timothy to “Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed and remember from whom it was taught” The teacher was God’s master teacher, His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
Believing in God and accepting Jesus Christ as our redeemer and Savior is not enough, we are called to live our faith every day of our lives. We are called to put our lives in God’s hands and to trust God’s will. We must make it our life’s goal to live our lives with respect for all God’s creation especially all His children regardless of their race, creed or social position.
Today’s newspaper had a story about the condition of seniors and how they are having a greater struggle every year especially those who live on only their Social Security since the COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) does not actually keep up with the actual increase in the cost of living. In the last decade seniors have actually lost 40% of their purchasing power because of the way the government figures the COLA. Calls by all the organizations that serve the elderly to change to way the formula works have fallen on deaf ears. This is just one example of many where the desire for greater profits for investors to make the wealthy even more wealthy and neglecting needy. Everywhere in our society there are many examples of a total disregard of the needs of the less fortunate.
As Christians and believers in the teachings of Jesus Christ, we should be actively speaking out against all injustices and doing everything in our power to force change especially in the richest nation in the world.
We need to rethink our own individual priorities and make sure that we set aside at least ten percent of the gifts God provides us with to give back in thanksgiving for them.
God desire to see justice done in all things as the Gospel reminds us of what Christ said of God “I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. AMEN
Saturday, October 13, 2007
With Faith, A reflection for October 14th
With Faith, All Things Are Possible
Reflection For Sunday October 14th
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus, Holliston, MA
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
The Gospel readings from both the Tridentine and Novus Ordo rites for this Sunday contain the same message, “with faith in God, all things are possible”.
Both Gospels tell stories of people being cured because of their faith. In the Gospel from Matthew 4. 46-53 which is the reading for the Tridentine liturgy the story is about the official who came to Christ seeking a cure for his son, and Jesus tells him “Go thy way, thy son lives. The man believed the word which Jesus said to him, and went his way. And as he was going down, his servants met him, and they brought word, saying that his son lived. He asked therefore of them the hour wherein he grew better. And they said to him: Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. The father therefore knew that it was at the same hour that Jesus said to him: Thy son lives; and himself believed, and his whole house.”
The Gospel from Luke 17:11 – 19 is the story of the healing of the lepers and again faith in God is the reason for the cure. “Now on the way to Jerusalem Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests’. Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. These made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.”
Why is it that for some it takes a miracle for them to believe in God? Why is it that so many turn to God only when there is a problem in their lives? Far too often in this day and age we only turn to God for help in granting us a special favor and often when it is granted, we forget to give thanks to God and take it for granted that we deserved it. Today, everywhere we look we find people who are striving for material things, for the perfect figure, the perfect home, the classiest car, big fancy houses, the latest electronic gadgets and fashions and more and more money. The Few who have been blessed with an abundance of God’s gifts rarely think of sharing those gifts with the less fortunate or if they do so they need to have public recognition for their acts.
In the United States alone there are thousands who do not have adequate medical assistance, food or shelter. All over the globe people are suffering because of the few who seek to control the many.
Recently when I was attending the orders conclave in Minnesota I became aware of a program sponsored by the Lutheran Church called HOMELESS AND HUNGRY. This program’s purpose is to raise awareness of the plight and struggles of the homeless by having people pledge to fast for 24 hours and live on the street in cardboard boxes like the homeless and to beg for food stuffs and money. Every participant pledges $365.00 each which is the cost of feeding one person each day of the year. The money collected this year reached a staggering total of over $75,000 and more than 5000 pounds of food was collected. Those who participated said they never knew how hard it was for the “Street People” and how they were discriminated against. Many described how they were called names and insulted and some actually described how people would cross the street to avoid being near them. Every week Sister Mary of St. Clare’s convent makes up lunch bags with a sandwich, a fruit drink, raisons, a health bar, and fruit and Brother Michael and one of the faith community there distributes them to those on the streets of Fargo. I went out with them while I was there and was appalled to see mothers with their little children who were living in their car because they could not afford to live elsewhere. What became clearer to me is that we all need to do more to address this despicable condition in the richest country in the world. For this condition to exist is a major blemish on our nations as a whole and especially the political leaders who do nothing to alleviate it.
Having Faith in God is more than saying prayers and attending church but in putting our full trust in God and living according to what God has taught us in the preaching of Jesus Christ. Having Faith in God is not just seeking God’s healing when we are sick but believing that it is possible and also doing those things we need to do to keep ourselves and all God’s children in good health. People can not be healthy if they do not have proper nutrition and medical care. Our Nation has been blessed with an abundance of God’s gifts but at every opportunity there are people who do everything in their power to remove all mention of God in public places.
The ranks of those who claim there is no God is growing at an alarming rate according to the latest statistics.
Without a living faith, a practiced faith, without believing in a supreme being and a loving and merciful God our nation will continue to experience more and more violence and continue to decay just as every great nation before it has that turned away from the basic values found in most religions; the values of peace, brotherhood, compassion, mercy, forgiveness and love for all God’s creation.
As the gospel for today say’s; ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.”
Without faith and by that I mean a living faith that is more than words but action in our daily lives, how de we expect to be cured of the ills that plague us? How can we expect to overcome the troubles that destroy the lives of so many?
The time is now for us to turn back to God, to ask God for His healing graces, to begin to live our lives in accordance with the teachings we have been given by God and not those imposed by mere humans for the purpose of domination and control.
Only God can judge and determine who is and who is not saved. We who are Christians have been told how God expects us to live and how to attain everlasting life. We will be judged on how well we lived that life in not only word but in our deeds.
Now is the time to turn back to God’s way and not the way of man, for man by nature is flawed and we need God’s guidance and help to overcome our weakness. We need to place our trust and faith in God. When we do, we too will be healed as those in the gospel of today were healed. AMEN
.
Reflection For Sunday October 14th
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus, Holliston, MA
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
The Gospel readings from both the Tridentine and Novus Ordo rites for this Sunday contain the same message, “with faith in God, all things are possible”.
Both Gospels tell stories of people being cured because of their faith. In the Gospel from Matthew 4. 46-53 which is the reading for the Tridentine liturgy the story is about the official who came to Christ seeking a cure for his son, and Jesus tells him “Go thy way, thy son lives. The man believed the word which Jesus said to him, and went his way. And as he was going down, his servants met him, and they brought word, saying that his son lived. He asked therefore of them the hour wherein he grew better. And they said to him: Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. The father therefore knew that it was at the same hour that Jesus said to him: Thy son lives; and himself believed, and his whole house.”
The Gospel from Luke 17:11 – 19 is the story of the healing of the lepers and again faith in God is the reason for the cure. “Now on the way to Jerusalem Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests’. Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. These made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.”
Why is it that for some it takes a miracle for them to believe in God? Why is it that so many turn to God only when there is a problem in their lives? Far too often in this day and age we only turn to God for help in granting us a special favor and often when it is granted, we forget to give thanks to God and take it for granted that we deserved it. Today, everywhere we look we find people who are striving for material things, for the perfect figure, the perfect home, the classiest car, big fancy houses, the latest electronic gadgets and fashions and more and more money. The Few who have been blessed with an abundance of God’s gifts rarely think of sharing those gifts with the less fortunate or if they do so they need to have public recognition for their acts.
In the United States alone there are thousands who do not have adequate medical assistance, food or shelter. All over the globe people are suffering because of the few who seek to control the many.
Recently when I was attending the orders conclave in Minnesota I became aware of a program sponsored by the Lutheran Church called HOMELESS AND HUNGRY. This program’s purpose is to raise awareness of the plight and struggles of the homeless by having people pledge to fast for 24 hours and live on the street in cardboard boxes like the homeless and to beg for food stuffs and money. Every participant pledges $365.00 each which is the cost of feeding one person each day of the year. The money collected this year reached a staggering total of over $75,000 and more than 5000 pounds of food was collected. Those who participated said they never knew how hard it was for the “Street People” and how they were discriminated against. Many described how they were called names and insulted and some actually described how people would cross the street to avoid being near them. Every week Sister Mary of St. Clare’s convent makes up lunch bags with a sandwich, a fruit drink, raisons, a health bar, and fruit and Brother Michael and one of the faith community there distributes them to those on the streets of Fargo. I went out with them while I was there and was appalled to see mothers with their little children who were living in their car because they could not afford to live elsewhere. What became clearer to me is that we all need to do more to address this despicable condition in the richest country in the world. For this condition to exist is a major blemish on our nations as a whole and especially the political leaders who do nothing to alleviate it.
Having Faith in God is more than saying prayers and attending church but in putting our full trust in God and living according to what God has taught us in the preaching of Jesus Christ. Having Faith in God is not just seeking God’s healing when we are sick but believing that it is possible and also doing those things we need to do to keep ourselves and all God’s children in good health. People can not be healthy if they do not have proper nutrition and medical care. Our Nation has been blessed with an abundance of God’s gifts but at every opportunity there are people who do everything in their power to remove all mention of God in public places.
The ranks of those who claim there is no God is growing at an alarming rate according to the latest statistics.
Without a living faith, a practiced faith, without believing in a supreme being and a loving and merciful God our nation will continue to experience more and more violence and continue to decay just as every great nation before it has that turned away from the basic values found in most religions; the values of peace, brotherhood, compassion, mercy, forgiveness and love for all God’s creation.
As the gospel for today say’s; ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.”
Without faith and by that I mean a living faith that is more than words but action in our daily lives, how de we expect to be cured of the ills that plague us? How can we expect to overcome the troubles that destroy the lives of so many?
The time is now for us to turn back to God, to ask God for His healing graces, to begin to live our lives in accordance with the teachings we have been given by God and not those imposed by mere humans for the purpose of domination and control.
Only God can judge and determine who is and who is not saved. We who are Christians have been told how God expects us to live and how to attain everlasting life. We will be judged on how well we lived that life in not only word but in our deeds.
Now is the time to turn back to God’s way and not the way of man, for man by nature is flawed and we need God’s guidance and help to overcome our weakness. We need to place our trust and faith in God. When we do, we too will be healed as those in the gospel of today were healed. AMEN
.
Friday, June 29, 2007
July First Reflection
This Nation was based On Faith in God
A Reflection for the first Sunday of July, 2007 by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus, Holliston, MA
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
Sunday begins the great get-a-way of the Summer with schools out and the United States celebration of the 231st birthday of its founding I find it especially gratifying and fitting that we can find in The Good News of Salvation, the Gospels, the basis upon which this nation was formed.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” (Constitution of the United States)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL PEOPLE are created equal, that they ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR with certain unalienable rights, that among them are LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS” (Declaration of Independence)
In the book of Wisdom and it says, “Love Justice, you who judge the earth think of the Lord in Goodness and seek Him in integrity of heart” (Wisdom 1:1) “God does not rejoice in the destruction of the living for God furnished all things that they might have being…ALL the creatures of the world are wholesome” (Wisdom 1:14-15) “Through the envy of the devil death and evil entered the world” (Wisdom 2:24) “It is the wicked, the sons of Satan who with hands and words invited death and destruction considering it a friend” (Wisdom 1:16) We are also told in Wisdom 15 “Justice is undying”.
The truth is that JUSTICE is undying unless the devil has taken control of those persons who are commissioned to uphold it and guarantee that All people receive the same treatment and rights.
JUSTICE is the root of all freedom, if there is no JUSTICE there is no true freedom. JUSTICE is undying when it is coupled with a sense of FAITH in a superior being, the creator Almighty God. This nations founding fathers had a deep-rooted sense of faith in God. In the Declaration of Independence, they refer to Him as THE CREATOR and THE SUPREME JUDGE OF THE WORLD.
Today we have many people who are attempting to remove any mention of Almighty God from everything in this country; this was not the intent or purpose of our founding Fathers. They had a deep-seated FAITH and A STRONG BELIEF in Almighty God.
In recent years a small minority have prevented prayer in the schools, forbidden the reading of the Bible, are trying to remove and would deny that our rule of laws were established with the commandments in mind.
At the same time we have another segment of our society that use Religion to justify discrimination against people because of their ethnic origin or whom God created with a same sex orientation.
Sadly, some of these people are religious leaders of denomination that call themselves Christian or followers of Jesus Christ..
According to my understanding, Jews, Muslims, and all Christians worship the same God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David or Jesus Christ.
The Bible teaches us how FAITH is powerful. There is the story of the woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years and an official of the Jewish synagogue, Jairus, had FAITH and TRUST that Jesus could cure her, and He did.
Having FAITH can as Jesus tells us in Matthew 17:20 “If you had faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, you would be able to say to that mountain, move!, and it would move”
JUSTICE is undying when it is coupled with Honesty, Trust, Faith, Generosity or compassion and the same freedoms for all the people.
ALL people should be able to pursue their life by having the same rights and benefits of all other citizens and none should have greater rights than any other regardless of their social, ethnic, religious denomination or financial position.
In order to accomplish this we need to respect and embrace the diversity of God’s creation and nurture it according to it‘s lawful purpose.
Every child of God has been given special gifts and just as the various parts of our body look different and have differing functions they are all part of the same body. So it is with all God’s children, they might look different, may have differing celebrations and customs but they are all our sisters and brothers in Christ which is the underlying message of this weeks second reading from Galatians 5:1-18 “When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. My brothers, you were called, as you know, to liberty; but be careful, or this liberty will provide an opening for self-indulgence. Serve one another, rather, in works of love, since the whole of the Law is summarized in a single command: Love your neighbour as yourself. If you go snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces, you had better watch or you will destroy the whole community. Let me put it like this: if you are guided by the Spirit you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence, since self-indulgence is the opposite of the Spirit, the Spirit is totally against such a thing, and it is precisely because the two are so opposed that you do not always carry out your good intentions. If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you.”
We have seen examples of how one individual, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfry and others by stepping forward and using their wealth and fame have made a difference and are living examples of the message found in Second Corinthians 8:12-14; “The willingness to give should be in accord with ones means, not go beyond them...there should be certain EQUALITY. Your plenty now should supply their needs so that there surplus later might be able to supply your needs, with EQUALITY as a result”
As we celebrate the birthday of the United States on Wednesday I urge each and every one who reads or hears this message to think about our freedom, think about how you are contributing to the ideals upon which this country was founded.
Are you being GENEROUS, TRUSTING, HONEST, FAITHFUL? Are you working to insure that EVERY citizen is accorded the same rights and privileges as all the others? Are you accepting the unique differences of races and beliefs that have come together from all over the globe seeking the promise of Freedom and hope that America has become?
As long as each and every person is respecting the RIGHTS of all the others, and reaching out to all with the same LOVE that Jesus demonstrated to all He encountered, there is a chance that we might find ways to end the violence that is killing our youth on the streets of our cities, end the prejudice and hatred that separates us from each other and address the poverty that so many endure all over the world. All these terrible things as well as the desire for vast wealth and power are the tools of Satan injected into people to keep the world confused and unbalanced and casting doubt in peoples hearts and minds about Love of Almighty God and if the God proclaimed in the Holy Scriptures actually exists.
I pray that Almighty God will send His bountiful blessings upon each and every one of us through the Holy Spirit’s guidance so that the leaders of this nation and the nations of the world and the world’s religions can find peaceful and compassionate ways to bring about a more perfect world, end the violent conflict that has killed more than 3600 of our young men and women and hundreds of thousands of innocent people all over the globe through genocide and starvation guiding them to institute laws that insure equality, justice, honesty, truth, trust and the pursuit of happiness for not only the citizens of this great nation but for all the children of God all over the globe, and guide the religious leaders to find the common bond that they all have in order to guide and lead their followers toward understanding and a deeper love of Almighty God by whatever name they call upon Him by.
AMEN
A Reflection for the first Sunday of July, 2007 by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus, Holliston, MA
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
Sunday begins the great get-a-way of the Summer with schools out and the United States celebration of the 231st birthday of its founding I find it especially gratifying and fitting that we can find in The Good News of Salvation, the Gospels, the basis upon which this nation was formed.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” (Constitution of the United States)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL PEOPLE are created equal, that they ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR with certain unalienable rights, that among them are LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS” (Declaration of Independence)
In the book of Wisdom and it says, “Love Justice, you who judge the earth think of the Lord in Goodness and seek Him in integrity of heart” (Wisdom 1:1) “God does not rejoice in the destruction of the living for God furnished all things that they might have being…ALL the creatures of the world are wholesome” (Wisdom 1:14-15) “Through the envy of the devil death and evil entered the world” (Wisdom 2:24) “It is the wicked, the sons of Satan who with hands and words invited death and destruction considering it a friend” (Wisdom 1:16) We are also told in Wisdom 15 “Justice is undying”.
The truth is that JUSTICE is undying unless the devil has taken control of those persons who are commissioned to uphold it and guarantee that All people receive the same treatment and rights.
JUSTICE is the root of all freedom, if there is no JUSTICE there is no true freedom. JUSTICE is undying when it is coupled with a sense of FAITH in a superior being, the creator Almighty God. This nations founding fathers had a deep-rooted sense of faith in God. In the Declaration of Independence, they refer to Him as THE CREATOR and THE SUPREME JUDGE OF THE WORLD.
Today we have many people who are attempting to remove any mention of Almighty God from everything in this country; this was not the intent or purpose of our founding Fathers. They had a deep-seated FAITH and A STRONG BELIEF in Almighty God.
In recent years a small minority have prevented prayer in the schools, forbidden the reading of the Bible, are trying to remove and would deny that our rule of laws were established with the commandments in mind.
At the same time we have another segment of our society that use Religion to justify discrimination against people because of their ethnic origin or whom God created with a same sex orientation.
Sadly, some of these people are religious leaders of denomination that call themselves Christian or followers of Jesus Christ..
According to my understanding, Jews, Muslims, and all Christians worship the same God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David or Jesus Christ.
The Bible teaches us how FAITH is powerful. There is the story of the woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years and an official of the Jewish synagogue, Jairus, had FAITH and TRUST that Jesus could cure her, and He did.
Having FAITH can as Jesus tells us in Matthew 17:20 “If you had faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, you would be able to say to that mountain, move!, and it would move”
JUSTICE is undying when it is coupled with Honesty, Trust, Faith, Generosity or compassion and the same freedoms for all the people.
ALL people should be able to pursue their life by having the same rights and benefits of all other citizens and none should have greater rights than any other regardless of their social, ethnic, religious denomination or financial position.
In order to accomplish this we need to respect and embrace the diversity of God’s creation and nurture it according to it‘s lawful purpose.
Every child of God has been given special gifts and just as the various parts of our body look different and have differing functions they are all part of the same body. So it is with all God’s children, they might look different, may have differing celebrations and customs but they are all our sisters and brothers in Christ which is the underlying message of this weeks second reading from Galatians 5:1-18 “When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. My brothers, you were called, as you know, to liberty; but be careful, or this liberty will provide an opening for self-indulgence. Serve one another, rather, in works of love, since the whole of the Law is summarized in a single command: Love your neighbour as yourself. If you go snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces, you had better watch or you will destroy the whole community. Let me put it like this: if you are guided by the Spirit you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence, since self-indulgence is the opposite of the Spirit, the Spirit is totally against such a thing, and it is precisely because the two are so opposed that you do not always carry out your good intentions. If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you.”
We have seen examples of how one individual, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfry and others by stepping forward and using their wealth and fame have made a difference and are living examples of the message found in Second Corinthians 8:12-14; “The willingness to give should be in accord with ones means, not go beyond them...there should be certain EQUALITY. Your plenty now should supply their needs so that there surplus later might be able to supply your needs, with EQUALITY as a result”
As we celebrate the birthday of the United States on Wednesday I urge each and every one who reads or hears this message to think about our freedom, think about how you are contributing to the ideals upon which this country was founded.
Are you being GENEROUS, TRUSTING, HONEST, FAITHFUL? Are you working to insure that EVERY citizen is accorded the same rights and privileges as all the others? Are you accepting the unique differences of races and beliefs that have come together from all over the globe seeking the promise of Freedom and hope that America has become?
As long as each and every person is respecting the RIGHTS of all the others, and reaching out to all with the same LOVE that Jesus demonstrated to all He encountered, there is a chance that we might find ways to end the violence that is killing our youth on the streets of our cities, end the prejudice and hatred that separates us from each other and address the poverty that so many endure all over the world. All these terrible things as well as the desire for vast wealth and power are the tools of Satan injected into people to keep the world confused and unbalanced and casting doubt in peoples hearts and minds about Love of Almighty God and if the God proclaimed in the Holy Scriptures actually exists.
I pray that Almighty God will send His bountiful blessings upon each and every one of us through the Holy Spirit’s guidance so that the leaders of this nation and the nations of the world and the world’s religions can find peaceful and compassionate ways to bring about a more perfect world, end the violent conflict that has killed more than 3600 of our young men and women and hundreds of thousands of innocent people all over the globe through genocide and starvation guiding them to institute laws that insure equality, justice, honesty, truth, trust and the pursuit of happiness for not only the citizens of this great nation but for all the children of God all over the globe, and guide the religious leaders to find the common bond that they all have in order to guide and lead their followers toward understanding and a deeper love of Almighty God by whatever name they call upon Him by.
AMEN
Friday, June 15, 2007
Father's Day @007
Father’s Day, June 17th
A Reflection by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
“With God as our father, brothers all are we. Let us work with each other for perfect harmony” These words from the song LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH are full of intense meaning for each and every one of us if we take a good look at what they are acknowledging.
On this Father’s day most children seek to find a special gift for their earthly fathers. Some children have two fathers and in my mind this could be a double blessing for them and unfortunately some children have never known their earthly father because of their passing before they had a chance to know them or through divorce or other circumstances.
My father was called home to God in 1976 at the age of 76 but I still have times when I want to talk with him and times when I feel his presence or hear his words.
As a father of three and a grandfather I know how much I love my children and grandchildren and I am but a mere mortal man, how much more does our Heavenly Father love each and every one of us?
With God as our Father, we are all, every person on this planet, brothers and sisters and we are also brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ, the son of God our father.
Why is it then that we have so much trouble getting along with each other and why do we try to exclude some of our brothers and sisters from giving their heavenly father the worship and praise He deserves just because they are a different race or religion or have a sexual orientation toward a member of the same sex or because they are divorced.
Why is it that we do not look out for the well being of those brothers and sisters who are not as well of as we are or are in need of special attention because of physical or mental or medical reasons?
The father in the story of the Prodigal Son was willing to overlook his son’s transgressions and welcome him back with a feast and a joyous celebration which is how our heavenly father will welcome every one who returns to Him.
Our Father in heaven is a loving, caring, compassionate and merciful father, not the God of vengeance of the Old Testament and Christ proclaimed that while He was here on earth.
Now is the time for each and every one of us, to acknowledge that we are all brothers and sisters with the same heavenly father and for us to begin to act with the same compassion and love toward each other that Christ exhibited while he was on earth to all He encountered.
It is time for us to speak up against injustice, bigotry, violence, discrimination, war and poverty and to make a gift that is truly meaningful to our heavenly father, God Almighty.
Christ in His sermon on the mount found in Matthew 5: 3-12 said; Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.The best way for us to be blessed and follow Christ’s Sermon on the Mount is to put the seven practices of charity toward our neighbor into action. They are based on Christ’s prophecy of the Last Judgment, which will determine each person’s final destiny and they are; Feed the hungry, Give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, Shelter the homeless, Visit the sick, Visit those in prison, and Bury the dead. “Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ’Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?’ And the king will answer them, ’Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.’”(Matthew 25:34)
On this Fathers day let us make a gift to God that will be truly pleasing to Him and take an action in keeping with how we as brothers and sisters should be acting and lets begin to make a change in this world that will bring about a time of brotherhood for all not just a select few chosen by one group or another.
When Christ taught us to pray He said; “When you pray, say, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed is your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on this earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive our trespassers and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from all evil” and then we acknowledge “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. AMEN”
A Reflection by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
“With God as our father, brothers all are we. Let us work with each other for perfect harmony” These words from the song LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH are full of intense meaning for each and every one of us if we take a good look at what they are acknowledging.
On this Father’s day most children seek to find a special gift for their earthly fathers. Some children have two fathers and in my mind this could be a double blessing for them and unfortunately some children have never known their earthly father because of their passing before they had a chance to know them or through divorce or other circumstances.
My father was called home to God in 1976 at the age of 76 but I still have times when I want to talk with him and times when I feel his presence or hear his words.
As a father of three and a grandfather I know how much I love my children and grandchildren and I am but a mere mortal man, how much more does our Heavenly Father love each and every one of us?
With God as our Father, we are all, every person on this planet, brothers and sisters and we are also brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ, the son of God our father.
Why is it then that we have so much trouble getting along with each other and why do we try to exclude some of our brothers and sisters from giving their heavenly father the worship and praise He deserves just because they are a different race or religion or have a sexual orientation toward a member of the same sex or because they are divorced.
Why is it that we do not look out for the well being of those brothers and sisters who are not as well of as we are or are in need of special attention because of physical or mental or medical reasons?
The father in the story of the Prodigal Son was willing to overlook his son’s transgressions and welcome him back with a feast and a joyous celebration which is how our heavenly father will welcome every one who returns to Him.
Our Father in heaven is a loving, caring, compassionate and merciful father, not the God of vengeance of the Old Testament and Christ proclaimed that while He was here on earth.
Now is the time for each and every one of us, to acknowledge that we are all brothers and sisters with the same heavenly father and for us to begin to act with the same compassion and love toward each other that Christ exhibited while he was on earth to all He encountered.
It is time for us to speak up against injustice, bigotry, violence, discrimination, war and poverty and to make a gift that is truly meaningful to our heavenly father, God Almighty.
Christ in His sermon on the mount found in Matthew 5: 3-12 said; Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.The best way for us to be blessed and follow Christ’s Sermon on the Mount is to put the seven practices of charity toward our neighbor into action. They are based on Christ’s prophecy of the Last Judgment, which will determine each person’s final destiny and they are; Feed the hungry, Give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, Shelter the homeless, Visit the sick, Visit those in prison, and Bury the dead. “Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ’Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?’ And the king will answer them, ’Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.’”(Matthew 25:34)
On this Fathers day let us make a gift to God that will be truly pleasing to Him and take an action in keeping with how we as brothers and sisters should be acting and lets begin to make a change in this world that will bring about a time of brotherhood for all not just a select few chosen by one group or another.
When Christ taught us to pray He said; “When you pray, say, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed is your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on this earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive our trespassers and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from all evil” and then we acknowledge “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. AMEN”
Friday, May 25, 2007
Veni, Sancte Spiritus, Come, Holy Spirit, Come
Reflection for Pentecost Sunday by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
Acts 2:1-11; Galatians 5:16-25; Psalm 103, John14:23-31;
“Come, Holy Spirit, come! And from your celestial home shed a ray of light divine!” with these words the beautiful prayer to the Holy Spirit, VENI, SANCTE SPIRITUS, begins. The feast of Pentecost which is also referred to as the Birthday of the church because it celebrates the decent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. After the Holy Spirit descended upon them in tongues of fire after which when they spoke they were heard the people of every race and nationality proclaiming the truth of Jesus teachings in the language of the nationality of those listeners present.
The word of God needs to be proclaimed in the language of the listener so that they will fully comprehend His teachings but it must be translated carefully into that language preserving the meaning of the original writings in accord with what those words meant at the time they were written and not, as has been done with Holy Scripture and other church documents, into the meaning the words have taken on throughout history. The intent of having the liturgy of the Eucharist, commonly called the Mass, translated from the Latin into English and other languages under Vatican II was to make the liturgy more understandable and reverent to all participating, unfortunately the translations failed to meet the original meaning of the Latin and became less than a spiritual experience and more a modernized prayer service and theatrical experience in some cases.
God’s word was not meant for a chosen few but for all of the human race. The Apostles were told to preach the word to all nations even unto the ends of the earth. In order to do this and faithfully proclaim the truth one has to know the meaning of the original Greek and Aramaic words of the first writings.
A perfect case in point is the word “homosexual” being found in translations. That word was not even created until 1869 and any references where it is being used in scripture were not referring to that orientation but to the use of group sex or sexual excesses as a form of worship to false Gods or for humiliation of a human being which would be a grave sin.
In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, Paul tells us “No one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit” It is in this letter that one of the most redeeming passages of scripture can be found. Paul informs us “everyone has different gifts bestowed on them by God through the Holy Spirit.” He goes on to affirm that there are “Different forms of service, but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces them all. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit” “For in one Spirit we were all Baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greek, slave of free person, we were all given to drink of the one Spirit”
The Gospel admonishes us to “Live by the Spirit”, it goes further to confirm that the desires of the flesh we can cause a breakdown of the graces provided to us. Some of the “Desires of the flesh” Paul mentions besides the obvious one of indiscriminate sexual pleasure are: immorality (using sex or sexually provoking images to excite one to engage in sexual activity for purposes other than that which God intended) , lust ( desiring after someone or something that belongs to another or craving for self gratification) idolatry ( the worship of false gods which would also include placing money or wealth or power above love of and worship of God), hatred, rivalry, jealousy, anger or fury, selfishness, and drunkenness. To elaborate on each of these today and how we might possibly cause ourselves to be separated from God, and the Gifts He freely gives us through the Holy Spirit, would take more time than we have. I will however, point to the fact that hatred, jealousy, rivalry, anger , fury, and selfishness are among those Paul mentions and often times cause more pain and hurt toward others than partaking in those that involve sexual pleasure.
It is some of those “Desires of the Flesh” that have caused the separations that exist within the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church just as giving in to those personal pleasure desires have caused the scandal that has disgraced so many. So many of the “rules” that churches enforce and claim are necessary for salvation have nothing at all to do with our salvation but with the churches maintaining their financial income and to prevent people from searching for the truth of God’s teachings and researching the history of the church.
Each of these “Desires of the Flesh” affords us many ways of sinning. They are human faults that every individual has; our task is to try our best to resist their lure to partake of their pleasures.
One thing that I personally can attest to is that, if we call upon God daily, or as many times as we need to in order to resist the temptations that plague us every day and ask God to send us the Holy Spirit, God will oblige.
One of my daily prayers begins with “Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart and kindle in in me the fire of your love so that I might be renewed”
In John 16: we are promised, “The Spirit will guide you to all truth. The spirit will not speak on its own, but will speak what he hears from me and declare it to you” The spirit speaks within us always with God’s will and teachings, we need to hearken to what we hear, even when it is opposite what popular thinking is proclaiming and be steadfast in proclaiming what our inner voice is telling us.
The truth is that God, the almighty creator and father of Jesus Christ, is a loving, forgiving, compassionate God. Jesus proclaimed this and by his example so often during his earthly existence and showed it to us by His actions in relating to all who came to him regardless of their race, creed or sexual orientation.
God is always there awaiting your call to Him. He does not have an answering machine, voice mail, or a secretary. You are not asked to press (1)if you need healing, press (2) for forgiveness, press (3) to seek a favor and so on.
You will not receive a message “Sorry God is busy taking a call from another special customer, please remain on the line and your call will be answered in the order in which it was received”. God is always listening to what we are saying and will respond to us according to what He feels is best for us. God always answers our prayers, just not always in the way we want, but in what will be best for us.
Many times God actually comes to us and speaks to us in our dreams, or quiet times and even sometimes while driving a car, listening to the I pod, watching TV or playing ball.
Unfortunately, we are often too preoccupied to listen to what he is telling us through the Holy Spirit.
I suggest that the time is NOW for us to begin to be more receptive to those calls from God. Don’t put Him on hold, but take a break from what ever we are engaged in and listen with an open and receptive heart.
We need to allow ourselves to “Receive The Holy Spirit” so that we can begin to develop a deeper and closer relationship with Almighty God and thereby begin the elimination of the “Desires of the Flesh” that have prevented us from receiving all the gifts of The Spirit, Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
May God grant us the wisdom and understanding and the ability to hear Him when He speaks to us and then go out and live in accordance with His will.
AMEN
Reflection for Pentecost Sunday by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
Acts 2:1-11; Galatians 5:16-25; Psalm 103, John14:23-31;
“Come, Holy Spirit, come! And from your celestial home shed a ray of light divine!” with these words the beautiful prayer to the Holy Spirit, VENI, SANCTE SPIRITUS, begins. The feast of Pentecost which is also referred to as the Birthday of the church because it celebrates the decent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. After the Holy Spirit descended upon them in tongues of fire after which when they spoke they were heard the people of every race and nationality proclaiming the truth of Jesus teachings in the language of the nationality of those listeners present.
The word of God needs to be proclaimed in the language of the listener so that they will fully comprehend His teachings but it must be translated carefully into that language preserving the meaning of the original writings in accord with what those words meant at the time they were written and not, as has been done with Holy Scripture and other church documents, into the meaning the words have taken on throughout history. The intent of having the liturgy of the Eucharist, commonly called the Mass, translated from the Latin into English and other languages under Vatican II was to make the liturgy more understandable and reverent to all participating, unfortunately the translations failed to meet the original meaning of the Latin and became less than a spiritual experience and more a modernized prayer service and theatrical experience in some cases.
God’s word was not meant for a chosen few but for all of the human race. The Apostles were told to preach the word to all nations even unto the ends of the earth. In order to do this and faithfully proclaim the truth one has to know the meaning of the original Greek and Aramaic words of the first writings.
A perfect case in point is the word “homosexual” being found in translations. That word was not even created until 1869 and any references where it is being used in scripture were not referring to that orientation but to the use of group sex or sexual excesses as a form of worship to false Gods or for humiliation of a human being which would be a grave sin.
In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, Paul tells us “No one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit” It is in this letter that one of the most redeeming passages of scripture can be found. Paul informs us “everyone has different gifts bestowed on them by God through the Holy Spirit.” He goes on to affirm that there are “Different forms of service, but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces them all. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit” “For in one Spirit we were all Baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greek, slave of free person, we were all given to drink of the one Spirit”
The Gospel admonishes us to “Live by the Spirit”, it goes further to confirm that the desires of the flesh we can cause a breakdown of the graces provided to us. Some of the “Desires of the flesh” Paul mentions besides the obvious one of indiscriminate sexual pleasure are: immorality (using sex or sexually provoking images to excite one to engage in sexual activity for purposes other than that which God intended) , lust ( desiring after someone or something that belongs to another or craving for self gratification) idolatry ( the worship of false gods which would also include placing money or wealth or power above love of and worship of God), hatred, rivalry, jealousy, anger or fury, selfishness, and drunkenness. To elaborate on each of these today and how we might possibly cause ourselves to be separated from God, and the Gifts He freely gives us through the Holy Spirit, would take more time than we have. I will however, point to the fact that hatred, jealousy, rivalry, anger , fury, and selfishness are among those Paul mentions and often times cause more pain and hurt toward others than partaking in those that involve sexual pleasure.
It is some of those “Desires of the Flesh” that have caused the separations that exist within the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church just as giving in to those personal pleasure desires have caused the scandal that has disgraced so many. So many of the “rules” that churches enforce and claim are necessary for salvation have nothing at all to do with our salvation but with the churches maintaining their financial income and to prevent people from searching for the truth of God’s teachings and researching the history of the church.
Each of these “Desires of the Flesh” affords us many ways of sinning. They are human faults that every individual has; our task is to try our best to resist their lure to partake of their pleasures.
One thing that I personally can attest to is that, if we call upon God daily, or as many times as we need to in order to resist the temptations that plague us every day and ask God to send us the Holy Spirit, God will oblige.
One of my daily prayers begins with “Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart and kindle in in me the fire of your love so that I might be renewed”
In John 16: we are promised, “The Spirit will guide you to all truth. The spirit will not speak on its own, but will speak what he hears from me and declare it to you” The spirit speaks within us always with God’s will and teachings, we need to hearken to what we hear, even when it is opposite what popular thinking is proclaiming and be steadfast in proclaiming what our inner voice is telling us.
The truth is that God, the almighty creator and father of Jesus Christ, is a loving, forgiving, compassionate God. Jesus proclaimed this and by his example so often during his earthly existence and showed it to us by His actions in relating to all who came to him regardless of their race, creed or sexual orientation.
God is always there awaiting your call to Him. He does not have an answering machine, voice mail, or a secretary. You are not asked to press (1)if you need healing, press (2) for forgiveness, press (3) to seek a favor and so on.
You will not receive a message “Sorry God is busy taking a call from another special customer, please remain on the line and your call will be answered in the order in which it was received”. God is always listening to what we are saying and will respond to us according to what He feels is best for us. God always answers our prayers, just not always in the way we want, but in what will be best for us.
Many times God actually comes to us and speaks to us in our dreams, or quiet times and even sometimes while driving a car, listening to the I pod, watching TV or playing ball.
Unfortunately, we are often too preoccupied to listen to what he is telling us through the Holy Spirit.
I suggest that the time is NOW for us to begin to be more receptive to those calls from God. Don’t put Him on hold, but take a break from what ever we are engaged in and listen with an open and receptive heart.
We need to allow ourselves to “Receive The Holy Spirit” so that we can begin to develop a deeper and closer relationship with Almighty God and thereby begin the elimination of the “Desires of the Flesh” that have prevented us from receiving all the gifts of The Spirit, Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
May God grant us the wisdom and understanding and the ability to hear Him when He speaks to us and then go out and live in accordance with His will.
AMEN
Friday, April 27, 2007
Shout with joy to God
A reflection for the Third Sunday after Easter
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
There undeniable message that is proclaimed over and over again in scripture is that God’s love is everlasting, unconditional, and for all people.
This Sunday’s readings bring this teaching out with crystal clarity beginning with the Introit of the mass.
“Shout with joy to God, all the earth, alleluia: sing a psalm to His Name, alleluia: give glory to His praise, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia." -- (Ps. 65. 3) , What a wonderful reminder these words are to us of how we, as followers of Jesus Christ, should be acting, not only this day but every day of our lives, giving praise and glory to God for all He gives us if we but seek him out.
The Collect of the mass also has an important message to us, for it reminds us that Christ came not for the pious and holy but for those who may have gone astray, felt rejected or were told that they were not acceptable to God.
“O God, who to those that go astray did show the light of Your truth, that they may return to the path of justice: grant that all who are enrolled in the Christian faith, may both spurn all that is hostile to that name, and follow after what is fitting to it. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit as one God, now and forever AMEN" .
Today’s Epistle, which some attribute to St. Peter, gives us further advice on how to conduct ourselves and live out the message of Jesus Christ.
"Be you subject therefore to every human creature for God's sake: whether it be a king or the governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of the good: for so is the will of God, that by doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free persons, and not by making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God. Honor all men: love the brotherhood: fear God."
The last words from the Epistle reading might need an explanation as to the meaning of the phrase “Fear God”. To Fear God does not mean the kind of fear one might have of a major disaster or event in their life or the fear some have of heights or flying or the fear a child has of the boogey man but it means to hold God in esteem, awe and respect. Christ proclaimed clearly that His Father, Almighty God, was not a person to be feared but a person to love, respect and to trust.
The part about honoring all men simple means to have respect for all people, men and women, regardless of their race or creed or sexual orientation. By honoring some one does not mean giving them rewards or undeserved praise for their existence but it means not to defame them or ridicule them or cause them suffering or pain.
“Love the brotherhood” is repeating what we find in the Gospel of John 15 which is the preceding chapter to today’s Gospel; “Love one another as I have loved you, there is no greater love than this”
The part that particularly struck me in the epistle for this Sunday was the words; “not as making liberty a cloak for malice but as the servants of God”. “Making Liberty a cloak for malice” stuck a note in light of how today we use the phrase liberty so loosely to justify many actions that are totally opposite the teachings of Christ.
Why is it that we, humans who profess to be believers in the message of Jesus Christ, seem to find ways of not loving each other? We decide that because a person speaks a different language has a different ethnic background, possesses a same sex orientation that they do not deserve the same kind of love that Jesus gave to all that he encountered. How do we justify this kind of action? Where in scripture do we find validation for our actions?
The kind of love the Christ preached and that the Scriptures proclaim is unselfish, kind, merciful, forgiving and not judgmental. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” (John 14:27) It is clear in this quote, that Jesus wants us know that the perceptions of the world are not the perceptions of God. He implores us in John 15:7 “If you live in me and my words remain in you, you may ask what you want and it will be done for you”
When you love someone, you do not, under any circumstances, want to be the cause of pain and suffering. When you love someone, you try to shield them from harm. You gently advise them of their mistakes and guide them. If necessary you try to obtain healing for them. That is Love.
If today, we had more love for all God’s creatures and children the world would not be in the mess it is.
We who call ourselves Christians are being called to actively live God’s love. We are being called to do all within our power to bring about a change in the attitudes that are causing so much pain and suffering in this world. Every tiny thing we do that makes progress in this call from God will bring us a deeper love for God and God will love us more and live within us giving us the strength we need to continue His work here on earth.
Today’s Gospel is from John 16 verses 16 to 22 and it also sends a confirmation of the above readings concerning how we are to live our lives as Christians but it also lets us know that Christ foresaw the confusion the we today might have because even those who had been with him during His life journey to the cross did not understand the meaning of everything He said.
"At that time Jesus said to His disciples: A little while, and now you shall not see me: and again a little while, and you shall see me: because I go to the Father.
Then some of His disciples said one to another: What is this that He is saying to us: A little while, and you shall not see me: and again a little while, and you shall see me, and, because I go to the Father? They said “What is this that He says, a little while?” We do not know what He is speaking about. Jesus knowing that they had a mind to ask Him, He said to them: Why do you inquire among yourselves, because I said: a little while, and you shall not see Me: and again a little while, and you shall see Me? Amen, amen, I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice: and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but when she has brought forth the child, she remembers nothing of the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world. So also you will indeed have sorrow: but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice: and your joy no man shall take from you." John 16:16-22
Here Christ was clearly predicting the sorrow that they all would have at his passion and death on the cross, but that they would rejoice when he appeared to them after his conquering death and sin and rising from the tomb three days after His death. This passage from John’s Gospel is from a chapter telling of the events of Christ’s life that preceded Christ Passion and Resurrection on Easter.
A deeper message from this Gospel reading is how, if we truly believe in Jesus Christ and are truly Christians in every sense of the teachings of Christ, the joy and peace we will find cannot and will not be able to be taken away from us by any proclamations of mere human individuals. Just because a person is a minister, rabbi, priest, Bishop, Cardinal or the Pope they are first and foremost human and therefore imperfect.
You and I are being called to actively live God’s love. We are being called to do all within our power to bring about a change in the attitudes that are causing so much pain and suffering in this world. Every tiny thing we do that makes even the slightest progress in this call from God will bring us a deeper love for God and in return God will love us more and live within us giving us the strength we need to continue His work here on earth.
We live in troubled times. We hear many versions of how life is going to change for us by doing one thing or another. Politicians will be promoting their agendas over the next months all claiming to improve our lives. Television networks are all vying for our eyes claiming to be the #1 network that gives us the best news and entertainment. Advertisers tell us our lives will improve by using their product. The truth is the only way our lives will ever change is if we change them within our selves. Our lives and the world condition will only change when we begin to make a serious examination of our behavior and how closely it and our lives are being lived in relationship to Christ’s teachings. The challenge is ours alone. We should not be seeking to be the top gun but must be willing to be the humble servant just as Jesus was when he washed the feet of His apostles.
We need to become a servant of God, serving our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and working to harvest peace among all God’s children.
We have Christ’s challenge to us to Love one another as He loved us. Let us answer it by changing our faults into virtues and live in accordance with the will of God and pleasing to Him by the way we are living.
Do not let the whims of mere men with their natural human weaknesses cause you to stray away from the love of God or from the worship and praise of God or receiving the Sacraments and Gifts of God because they have told you that you are not worthy but truly believe the promises of God as proclaimed by our savior and redeemer Jesus Christ. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
May Almighty God give us the Wisdom to know and live according to the truth of Christ’s teachings and not the proclamations and ignorance of foolish mere mortals.
May The Almighty and merciful God grant us patience, compassion, forgiveness, and courage to live according to his way so that we will be welcomed into His Kingdom with open and loving arms as depicted in the image of Christ toward the children, which we are in the eyes of God, His Children. AMEN.
A reflection for the Third Sunday after Easter
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
There undeniable message that is proclaimed over and over again in scripture is that God’s love is everlasting, unconditional, and for all people.
This Sunday’s readings bring this teaching out with crystal clarity beginning with the Introit of the mass.
“Shout with joy to God, all the earth, alleluia: sing a psalm to His Name, alleluia: give glory to His praise, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia." -- (Ps. 65. 3) , What a wonderful reminder these words are to us of how we, as followers of Jesus Christ, should be acting, not only this day but every day of our lives, giving praise and glory to God for all He gives us if we but seek him out.
The Collect of the mass also has an important message to us, for it reminds us that Christ came not for the pious and holy but for those who may have gone astray, felt rejected or were told that they were not acceptable to God.
“O God, who to those that go astray did show the light of Your truth, that they may return to the path of justice: grant that all who are enrolled in the Christian faith, may both spurn all that is hostile to that name, and follow after what is fitting to it. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit as one God, now and forever AMEN" .
Today’s Epistle, which some attribute to St. Peter, gives us further advice on how to conduct ourselves and live out the message of Jesus Christ.
"Be you subject therefore to every human creature for God's sake: whether it be a king or the governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of the good: for so is the will of God, that by doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free persons, and not by making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God. Honor all men: love the brotherhood: fear God."
The last words from the Epistle reading might need an explanation as to the meaning of the phrase “Fear God”. To Fear God does not mean the kind of fear one might have of a major disaster or event in their life or the fear some have of heights or flying or the fear a child has of the boogey man but it means to hold God in esteem, awe and respect. Christ proclaimed clearly that His Father, Almighty God, was not a person to be feared but a person to love, respect and to trust.
The part about honoring all men simple means to have respect for all people, men and women, regardless of their race or creed or sexual orientation. By honoring some one does not mean giving them rewards or undeserved praise for their existence but it means not to defame them or ridicule them or cause them suffering or pain.
“Love the brotherhood” is repeating what we find in the Gospel of John 15 which is the preceding chapter to today’s Gospel; “Love one another as I have loved you, there is no greater love than this”
The part that particularly struck me in the epistle for this Sunday was the words; “not as making liberty a cloak for malice but as the servants of God”. “Making Liberty a cloak for malice” stuck a note in light of how today we use the phrase liberty so loosely to justify many actions that are totally opposite the teachings of Christ.
Why is it that we, humans who profess to be believers in the message of Jesus Christ, seem to find ways of not loving each other? We decide that because a person speaks a different language has a different ethnic background, possesses a same sex orientation that they do not deserve the same kind of love that Jesus gave to all that he encountered. How do we justify this kind of action? Where in scripture do we find validation for our actions?
The kind of love the Christ preached and that the Scriptures proclaim is unselfish, kind, merciful, forgiving and not judgmental. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” (John 14:27) It is clear in this quote, that Jesus wants us know that the perceptions of the world are not the perceptions of God. He implores us in John 15:7 “If you live in me and my words remain in you, you may ask what you want and it will be done for you”
When you love someone, you do not, under any circumstances, want to be the cause of pain and suffering. When you love someone, you try to shield them from harm. You gently advise them of their mistakes and guide them. If necessary you try to obtain healing for them. That is Love.
If today, we had more love for all God’s creatures and children the world would not be in the mess it is.
We who call ourselves Christians are being called to actively live God’s love. We are being called to do all within our power to bring about a change in the attitudes that are causing so much pain and suffering in this world. Every tiny thing we do that makes progress in this call from God will bring us a deeper love for God and God will love us more and live within us giving us the strength we need to continue His work here on earth.
Today’s Gospel is from John 16 verses 16 to 22 and it also sends a confirmation of the above readings concerning how we are to live our lives as Christians but it also lets us know that Christ foresaw the confusion the we today might have because even those who had been with him during His life journey to the cross did not understand the meaning of everything He said.
"At that time Jesus said to His disciples: A little while, and now you shall not see me: and again a little while, and you shall see me: because I go to the Father.
Then some of His disciples said one to another: What is this that He is saying to us: A little while, and you shall not see me: and again a little while, and you shall see me, and, because I go to the Father? They said “What is this that He says, a little while?” We do not know what He is speaking about. Jesus knowing that they had a mind to ask Him, He said to them: Why do you inquire among yourselves, because I said: a little while, and you shall not see Me: and again a little while, and you shall see Me? Amen, amen, I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice: and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but when she has brought forth the child, she remembers nothing of the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world. So also you will indeed have sorrow: but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice: and your joy no man shall take from you." John 16:16-22
Here Christ was clearly predicting the sorrow that they all would have at his passion and death on the cross, but that they would rejoice when he appeared to them after his conquering death and sin and rising from the tomb three days after His death. This passage from John’s Gospel is from a chapter telling of the events of Christ’s life that preceded Christ Passion and Resurrection on Easter.
A deeper message from this Gospel reading is how, if we truly believe in Jesus Christ and are truly Christians in every sense of the teachings of Christ, the joy and peace we will find cannot and will not be able to be taken away from us by any proclamations of mere human individuals. Just because a person is a minister, rabbi, priest, Bishop, Cardinal or the Pope they are first and foremost human and therefore imperfect.
You and I are being called to actively live God’s love. We are being called to do all within our power to bring about a change in the attitudes that are causing so much pain and suffering in this world. Every tiny thing we do that makes even the slightest progress in this call from God will bring us a deeper love for God and in return God will love us more and live within us giving us the strength we need to continue His work here on earth.
We live in troubled times. We hear many versions of how life is going to change for us by doing one thing or another. Politicians will be promoting their agendas over the next months all claiming to improve our lives. Television networks are all vying for our eyes claiming to be the #1 network that gives us the best news and entertainment. Advertisers tell us our lives will improve by using their product. The truth is the only way our lives will ever change is if we change them within our selves. Our lives and the world condition will only change when we begin to make a serious examination of our behavior and how closely it and our lives are being lived in relationship to Christ’s teachings. The challenge is ours alone. We should not be seeking to be the top gun but must be willing to be the humble servant just as Jesus was when he washed the feet of His apostles.
We need to become a servant of God, serving our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and working to harvest peace among all God’s children.
We have Christ’s challenge to us to Love one another as He loved us. Let us answer it by changing our faults into virtues and live in accordance with the will of God and pleasing to Him by the way we are living.
Do not let the whims of mere men with their natural human weaknesses cause you to stray away from the love of God or from the worship and praise of God or receiving the Sacraments and Gifts of God because they have told you that you are not worthy but truly believe the promises of God as proclaimed by our savior and redeemer Jesus Christ. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
May Almighty God give us the Wisdom to know and live according to the truth of Christ’s teachings and not the proclamations and ignorance of foolish mere mortals.
May The Almighty and merciful God grant us patience, compassion, forgiveness, and courage to live according to his way so that we will be welcomed into His Kingdom with open and loving arms as depicted in the image of Christ toward the children, which we are in the eyes of God, His Children. AMEN.
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Saints Sergius & Bacchus
Patron Saints of Mission
Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD
God's Love Unlimited and Everlassting
