God’s Infinite Love for ALL
A Reflection for the Exaltation of the Cross Feast September 14th
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsergius.org
“God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.” (John 3:13-17)
This gospel is a clear reminder to us of exactly how much Almighty God loves ALL His children.
His love is so great that He was willing to send his beloved son, Jesus Christ, to earth in human form to be subjected to all the difficulties and pressures of being human even to the ultimate indignity of being persecuted, tortured and crucified. It was by Christ’s Crucifixion, death and resurrection that we were redeemed and our sins forgiven and the gates of heaven were opened to ALL who lived their lives in accord to the teachings of Christ.
The Church places very high regard to the sign of the cross recognizing the powerful significance of Christ’s crucifixion and the results it achieved for the human race. As Christians we begin prayer by making the sign of the cross on our bodies, we offer the following prayer when we celebrate the passion of Christ in the Stations of the cross “We adore you O Christ and we bless you. All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world”
The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is one of the twelve great feasts in the yearly Church cycle. It commemorates two historical events: first, the finding of the Life-giving Cross in the year 326 by St. Helen the mother of the Emperor Constantine, and second, its recovery from Persia in 628.
As adults, we sometimes feel abandoned and afraid and feel like we are being treated unfairly or blamed for things unfairly. We have a hard time when people criticize us for following our inner feelings even when we have discerned what we are feeling to determine if it is in accord with God’s will.
As adults the same feelings of insecurity that we sometimes felt as children raises its ugly head and we feel that everything we do is not appreciated.
There are also those times when we believe that we have taken on more responsibility or a project that we are not capable of or possibly is not actually God’s will.
We often feel sorry for ourselves; even though the crosses others have to carry are much greater than anything we have to contend with.
Even Jesus, who was fully aware of what was in store for Him pleaded with His father “"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will."(Matthew 26:39)
In all these insecure feelings we must always pray to God in the same way that Jesus did by asking our heavenly Father to grant to us that which is in accord with His will and not what we think we desire.
That is what I am now doing regarding the future of this ministry as I struggle to maintain it.
God’s infinite love for us will NEVER give us more than we are capable of enduring and, often, God has caused those He loves greatly, like His son, to endure greater suffering because God knows that our faith in Him is strong and we will be like Job, keeping our faith in spite of our difficulties.
In today’s world so many individuals and religious organizations reject and discriminate against others because they are not exactly like them. God did not create only one species or one kind of person.
God created great diversity and because of His creation we have much to be thankful for because if all people, animals and countries were the same boredom would certainly have overtaken this world many millennium ago.
Christ was sent to us as an act of God’s love to make known God’s will and the way to salvation.
One of the basic teachings of Christ is compassion for the downtrodden, poor and marginalized.
I believe that to be a true Christian means that those who have been given wealth, fame and power have an obligation to take care of those who are in need. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked (Luke 12:48)
Just as Christ set aside His human instincts to remain alive and not suffer the agony of the passion and death on a cross in order to attain salvation for ALL God’s children so too must we set aside our self-interests and make our decisions based on what will benefit the greatest number of people especially those who are suffering because of age, poverty, war, discrimination and illness.
Doing this we can be assured that we are truly living in accord with God’s will and as Jesus tells us in John 17:26 ; “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (John 17:26)
We are assured that God’s love for us is as great as the love God had for His son and that we are living as God desires us to live and that God is with us even in our darkest hours. AMEN
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Mission Sts Sergius and Bacchus: Thoughts on Anniversary of 9?11
Mission Sts Sergius and Bacchus: Thoughts on Anniversary of 9?11: Lest we Forget Thoughts on the Anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans o...
Thoughts on Anniversary of 9/11
Lest we Forget
Thoughts on the Anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsergius.org
As we come to the 10th anniversary of the horror of September 11, 2001, a day that will forever be engrained in the hearts and minds of all Americans just as December 7, 1942 is for those of us who were alive on that infamous day, let us examine the cost to us not only in financial terms but more importantly in human tolls.
The deaths of 2,977 mostly civilians is only the beginning of the horror since As of August 2, 2011 4,683 brave Americans have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since the launch of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) on October 7, 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom, which began with the invasion of Iraq on March 19, 2003. Of the total deaths, 3,708 were due to hostile fire, and the remainder due to non-hostile actions (such as accident, suicide, or illness). Every day we learn of another brave American service person that has lost their life fighting these wars in countries that have had tribal wars with each other since before the birth of Christ.
When we add the number of young men and woman who have returned from fighting these battles maimed and broken in body and spirit with the loss of their full physical capabilities or with PTSD the toll is horrendous. How many more have to die and how many more Trillions of Dollars that are draining our economy are we going to spend fighting battles that are causing more hatred and stronger desire to retaliate against the US by those Muslim radicals who believe this is God’s will?
Today we learned of a credible threat to destroy American civilians by setting off car bombs in major cities, which causes more stress to our citizens in a time when so many are suffering from loss of work, financial difficulties and recovering from the ravages of storm damage in all parts of the nation.
Our government is dysfunctional and more interested in promoting party politics than is doing what is best for the majority of the nation. The poor get poorer and the rich only desire to get richer, causing one to wonder if Satan has not gotten control in order to have people forget the GOLDEN RULE “Do unto others as you would have done unto you”
Members of one political party would like to eliminate programs that have been a safety net for so many poor, aged and unemployed like food stamps, which have been cut by 10% because some government bureaucrats claim that the cost of living has gone down while at the grocery store the cost of every basic food item and gas to fuel transportation has continued to go up almost daily.
On these days when we recall and memorialize those who died on that fateful day including Mychal F. Judge, OFM who was a fellow Franciscan let us also offer prayers for those who have suffered and died fighting these so called wars of terror and pray that God will inspire our leaders to find ways to end the carnage and redirect the resources to building a safe, strong healthy economy where justice prevails for every person. Let us strive to build a society where THE GOLDEN RULE is the way of life. AMEN
Thoughts on the Anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsergius.org
As we come to the 10th anniversary of the horror of September 11, 2001, a day that will forever be engrained in the hearts and minds of all Americans just as December 7, 1942 is for those of us who were alive on that infamous day, let us examine the cost to us not only in financial terms but more importantly in human tolls.
The deaths of 2,977 mostly civilians is only the beginning of the horror since As of August 2, 2011 4,683 brave Americans have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since the launch of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) on October 7, 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom, which began with the invasion of Iraq on March 19, 2003. Of the total deaths, 3,708 were due to hostile fire, and the remainder due to non-hostile actions (such as accident, suicide, or illness). Every day we learn of another brave American service person that has lost their life fighting these wars in countries that have had tribal wars with each other since before the birth of Christ.
When we add the number of young men and woman who have returned from fighting these battles maimed and broken in body and spirit with the loss of their full physical capabilities or with PTSD the toll is horrendous. How many more have to die and how many more Trillions of Dollars that are draining our economy are we going to spend fighting battles that are causing more hatred and stronger desire to retaliate against the US by those Muslim radicals who believe this is God’s will?
Today we learned of a credible threat to destroy American civilians by setting off car bombs in major cities, which causes more stress to our citizens in a time when so many are suffering from loss of work, financial difficulties and recovering from the ravages of storm damage in all parts of the nation.
Our government is dysfunctional and more interested in promoting party politics than is doing what is best for the majority of the nation. The poor get poorer and the rich only desire to get richer, causing one to wonder if Satan has not gotten control in order to have people forget the GOLDEN RULE “Do unto others as you would have done unto you”
Members of one political party would like to eliminate programs that have been a safety net for so many poor, aged and unemployed like food stamps, which have been cut by 10% because some government bureaucrats claim that the cost of living has gone down while at the grocery store the cost of every basic food item and gas to fuel transportation has continued to go up almost daily.
On these days when we recall and memorialize those who died on that fateful day including Mychal F. Judge, OFM who was a fellow Franciscan let us also offer prayers for those who have suffered and died fighting these so called wars of terror and pray that God will inspire our leaders to find ways to end the carnage and redirect the resources to building a safe, strong healthy economy where justice prevails for every person. Let us strive to build a society where THE GOLDEN RULE is the way of life. AMEN
Thursday, September 8, 2011
A Reflection on Forgiveness
A Reflection On Forgiveness
For the twenty-fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2011
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsergius.org
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times”
These words from the Gospel of Matthew 18:21tell us that we are obliged to forgive others for any indiscretions they commit against us. There is no doubt in my mind of how difficult that can be. It is not easy to forgive a person for even one transgression against us, let alone seven or seventy times seven times.
If we think about it though we need to think about how many times we commit sins and expect God to forgive us. What if he forgave us only once and when we, because of our human weakness commit the same sin again, God said: “I have already forgiven you once you went back and made the same mistake so I guess there is no hope for you”
This would never happen of course, because God is an everlasting and infinitely merciful and loving God who understands our human weaknesses and will forgive us if we are truly sorry and show some intent to try to not return to the same indiscretion.
How many times have you broken a friendship or held anger within you because of something that another did against you which made you upset and angry and when they asked forgiveness you were unwilling to forgive them?
I know of a case where an adult daughter is unwilling to forgive her father for divorcing the mother and leaving her. She was devoted to her father and was said to be his shadow as if attached to him. When in his company she was never more than a foot away from her dad. When the parents separated she was very hurt and felt that the father left her, which was not the case in any way. That all happened when she was 6.
Today she is a brilliant successful lawyer and yet she will not call her father “dad or father” but refers to him by his first name. On many occasions the father has apologized and told her how much he loves her and is proud of her achievements in spite of the fact that he was not there for much of her youth. The young lady has, according to others, actually torn up birthday and Christmas cards which included money or checks without even opening them.
This is not the way God wants us to act. The father can understand the daughter’s anger over feeling that the father had abandoned her, which was not the case since gifts and other messages were always being transmitted to her. The father always made sure that the children, (there were also two sons in this family) received presents on their birthdays and other occasions and when in the area would visit them.
This kind of anger is not in keeping with what Christ has instructed us, but can be harmful to the health of an individual. I know of another case where a person held anger over things that had happened to them in their youth inside them and the anger ate away at them making them sick much of their life. They held on to the negative things that happened to them and tended to forget all the wonderful things.
God’s promises are forever. God promises us that we will have salvation and eternal life with Him in these words found in Deuteronomy 6:2 “If you fear the Lord your God all the days of your life and if you keep all his laws and commandments which I lay on you, you will have a long life”.
We have been given many ways to show our love and devotion to God, The rules of the Old covenant were clarified for us by Jesus Christ.
Christ affirmed this when he responded to the scribe who asked him what the greatest commandments were and after being told “The scribe said to him, ‘well spoken, Master; what you have said is true: that there is but one God and there is no other. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice.’ Jesus, seeing how wisely he had spoken, said, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God’. And after that no one dared to question him anymore. (Mark 12:33-34)
If we can learn to forgive those who have caused us pain and anguish or worse and strive to the best of our human ability to live our lives daily exhibiting love, compassion and forgiveness to all we encounter as we travel the road of life God promises to extend His infinite mercy and love and forgiveness to us for our transgression and moments of weakness with these words; “Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (Matthew 18:33-35)
For the twenty-fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2011
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsergius.org
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times”
These words from the Gospel of Matthew 18:21tell us that we are obliged to forgive others for any indiscretions they commit against us. There is no doubt in my mind of how difficult that can be. It is not easy to forgive a person for even one transgression against us, let alone seven or seventy times seven times.
If we think about it though we need to think about how many times we commit sins and expect God to forgive us. What if he forgave us only once and when we, because of our human weakness commit the same sin again, God said: “I have already forgiven you once you went back and made the same mistake so I guess there is no hope for you”
This would never happen of course, because God is an everlasting and infinitely merciful and loving God who understands our human weaknesses and will forgive us if we are truly sorry and show some intent to try to not return to the same indiscretion.
How many times have you broken a friendship or held anger within you because of something that another did against you which made you upset and angry and when they asked forgiveness you were unwilling to forgive them?
I know of a case where an adult daughter is unwilling to forgive her father for divorcing the mother and leaving her. She was devoted to her father and was said to be his shadow as if attached to him. When in his company she was never more than a foot away from her dad. When the parents separated she was very hurt and felt that the father left her, which was not the case in any way. That all happened when she was 6.
Today she is a brilliant successful lawyer and yet she will not call her father “dad or father” but refers to him by his first name. On many occasions the father has apologized and told her how much he loves her and is proud of her achievements in spite of the fact that he was not there for much of her youth. The young lady has, according to others, actually torn up birthday and Christmas cards which included money or checks without even opening them.
This is not the way God wants us to act. The father can understand the daughter’s anger over feeling that the father had abandoned her, which was not the case since gifts and other messages were always being transmitted to her. The father always made sure that the children, (there were also two sons in this family) received presents on their birthdays and other occasions and when in the area would visit them.
This kind of anger is not in keeping with what Christ has instructed us, but can be harmful to the health of an individual. I know of another case where a person held anger over things that had happened to them in their youth inside them and the anger ate away at them making them sick much of their life. They held on to the negative things that happened to them and tended to forget all the wonderful things.
God’s promises are forever. God promises us that we will have salvation and eternal life with Him in these words found in Deuteronomy 6:2 “If you fear the Lord your God all the days of your life and if you keep all his laws and commandments which I lay on you, you will have a long life”.
We have been given many ways to show our love and devotion to God, The rules of the Old covenant were clarified for us by Jesus Christ.
Christ affirmed this when he responded to the scribe who asked him what the greatest commandments were and after being told “The scribe said to him, ‘well spoken, Master; what you have said is true: that there is but one God and there is no other. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice.’ Jesus, seeing how wisely he had spoken, said, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God’. And after that no one dared to question him anymore. (Mark 12:33-34)
If we can learn to forgive those who have caused us pain and anguish or worse and strive to the best of our human ability to live our lives daily exhibiting love, compassion and forgiveness to all we encounter as we travel the road of life God promises to extend His infinite mercy and love and forgiveness to us for our transgression and moments of weakness with these words; “Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (Matthew 18:33-35)
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Love is caring for ALL
Love is Caring for ALL
A Reflection for the 23rd. Sunday of Ordinary Time
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus/Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsaergius.org
“Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love. If you love your fellow men you have carried out your obligations. All the commandments are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbor as yourself. Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbor; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments”. (Romans 13:8 – 10)
There are two passages from the Readings for this Sunday that should guide us in how, we who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ, should be judging people and making our choices about who we associate with, not only to those we meet and encounter each and every day of our life, but those who we elect into government positions where they will have the power and opportunity to make necessary changes that would help those who most need help.
In Romans 13:8-10 Paul exhorts us to refrain from getting into debt which most of us are unable to live by because of the exorbitant cost of everyday needs which can be directly connected to a couple of factors that our governing leaders could control. One reason is the trillions of dollars spent in fighting a war against a country that did not attack us instead of putting our military might seeking the people responsible who did.
This war has drained our economy and the social programs that could help the poor, disabled and aged to maintain a constant quality of live they experienced ten years ago, provide quality affordable health care for all our citizens from birth to death. Guaranteed affordable quality education to every child and guaranteed College education to those who desired it. I learned this week that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is failing to live up to a law that gives adopted children tuition support at State Colleges and Universities because the funds are not there which is an example of how the priorities of government do not live up to what we as Christians have been called to live our lives.
Over 4500 families who have lost sons, daughters, Mothers and Fathers waging this war and the resulting damage has been tremendous financial strain for years to come to all of them.
Those who returned physically or mentally disabled have received minimal assistance especially those suffering from PTSD from the trauma of the war and the horrors they experienced.
Another causality of the deficit has been educational support to our returning veterans.
Another causality of our fiscal difficulties is the resulting debt every family, except those whose income is over $250,000 a year, are the higher than necessary prices charged for everyday necessities like Gas for transportation, fuel to heat homes and run factories that create the goods we need.
In spite of the difficulties so many have to live with the major corporations continue to report exorbitant profits and they have paid millions as bonuses and Golden Parachutes to CEO’s and other executives.
The failure of our Government leaders has resulted in high unemployment because of jobs are going to countries that pay lower wages just so the corporations can achieve higher profits at the expense of the workers in this country.
This is not showing love for our fellow citizens because these actions have caused pain and suffering to so many citizens and caused many to live in abject poverty.
The current fiscal crisis is also affecting all religious and private nonprofits that attempt to help the poor, elderly and those with disabilities because donations that support those programs have all but dried up.
This ministry is over $4500 in debt because our donations do not cover the average monthly expenses of $386. a month.
To continue to attempt to spread the word of God's infinite mercy and love and to serve those in nursing homes, hospices and the elderly and low income shut-ins I have for more than 7 years obtained what was needed by charging things on my person credit cards and now the strain to meet the monthly payments is causing me to reconsider the future direction of the ministry and how we can best continue.
Christ never turned anyone who came to him away yet some faith communities turn children of God away because of race, marital status or sexual orientation. That is not living as Christ did and taught. Jesus even welcomed those that Jewish laws forbid Jews to mingle with. He lived by extending a welcome and showing love to ALL he encountered and gave them love.
The Gospel for Sunday tells us that “, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven” yet we find ourselves constantly separating ourselves from God’s love because of petty and self-serving desires that have little or nothing to do with Christ’s teachings and way of life.
Just imagine if all who claim to be followers of Christ were to join together with one common goal, to make this world a better place for ALL God’s children and not just the select few how much better every one on earth would be.
If Christ is with us as He tells us in the Gospel “For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.” (Matthew 18:15 – 20) there is now power or force that could overcome us.
The time is NOW for us to gather together as ONE VOICE, ONE CHURCH, ONE BROTHERHOOD IN CHRIST to bring about a time of BROTHERHOOD AND TRUE LOVE that cannot hurt your neighbor. AMEN
A Reflection for the 23rd. Sunday of Ordinary Time
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus/Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsaergius.org
“Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love. If you love your fellow men you have carried out your obligations. All the commandments are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbor as yourself. Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbor; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments”. (Romans 13:8 – 10)
There are two passages from the Readings for this Sunday that should guide us in how, we who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ, should be judging people and making our choices about who we associate with, not only to those we meet and encounter each and every day of our life, but those who we elect into government positions where they will have the power and opportunity to make necessary changes that would help those who most need help.
In Romans 13:8-10 Paul exhorts us to refrain from getting into debt which most of us are unable to live by because of the exorbitant cost of everyday needs which can be directly connected to a couple of factors that our governing leaders could control. One reason is the trillions of dollars spent in fighting a war against a country that did not attack us instead of putting our military might seeking the people responsible who did.
This war has drained our economy and the social programs that could help the poor, disabled and aged to maintain a constant quality of live they experienced ten years ago, provide quality affordable health care for all our citizens from birth to death. Guaranteed affordable quality education to every child and guaranteed College education to those who desired it. I learned this week that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is failing to live up to a law that gives adopted children tuition support at State Colleges and Universities because the funds are not there which is an example of how the priorities of government do not live up to what we as Christians have been called to live our lives.
Over 4500 families who have lost sons, daughters, Mothers and Fathers waging this war and the resulting damage has been tremendous financial strain for years to come to all of them.
Those who returned physically or mentally disabled have received minimal assistance especially those suffering from PTSD from the trauma of the war and the horrors they experienced.
Another causality of the deficit has been educational support to our returning veterans.
Another causality of our fiscal difficulties is the resulting debt every family, except those whose income is over $250,000 a year, are the higher than necessary prices charged for everyday necessities like Gas for transportation, fuel to heat homes and run factories that create the goods we need.
In spite of the difficulties so many have to live with the major corporations continue to report exorbitant profits and they have paid millions as bonuses and Golden Parachutes to CEO’s and other executives.
The failure of our Government leaders has resulted in high unemployment because of jobs are going to countries that pay lower wages just so the corporations can achieve higher profits at the expense of the workers in this country.
This is not showing love for our fellow citizens because these actions have caused pain and suffering to so many citizens and caused many to live in abject poverty.
The current fiscal crisis is also affecting all religious and private nonprofits that attempt to help the poor, elderly and those with disabilities because donations that support those programs have all but dried up.
This ministry is over $4500 in debt because our donations do not cover the average monthly expenses of $386. a month.
To continue to attempt to spread the word of God's infinite mercy and love and to serve those in nursing homes, hospices and the elderly and low income shut-ins I have for more than 7 years obtained what was needed by charging things on my person credit cards and now the strain to meet the monthly payments is causing me to reconsider the future direction of the ministry and how we can best continue.
Christ never turned anyone who came to him away yet some faith communities turn children of God away because of race, marital status or sexual orientation. That is not living as Christ did and taught. Jesus even welcomed those that Jewish laws forbid Jews to mingle with. He lived by extending a welcome and showing love to ALL he encountered and gave them love.
The Gospel for Sunday tells us that “, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven” yet we find ourselves constantly separating ourselves from God’s love because of petty and self-serving desires that have little or nothing to do with Christ’s teachings and way of life.
Just imagine if all who claim to be followers of Christ were to join together with one common goal, to make this world a better place for ALL God’s children and not just the select few how much better every one on earth would be.
If Christ is with us as He tells us in the Gospel “For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.” (Matthew 18:15 – 20) there is now power or force that could overcome us.
The time is NOW for us to gather together as ONE VOICE, ONE CHURCH, ONE BROTHERHOOD IN CHRIST to bring about a time of BROTHERHOOD AND TRUE LOVE that cannot hurt your neighbor. AMEN
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Reflection for Sunday August 21st
Who Really Knows God’s Intent
A Reflection for the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.missionstsergius.org
The second reading for this Sunday clearly states that no human can ever really know God’s mind or the reasons He chooses to do anything.
"How rich are the depths of God – how deep his wisdom and knowledge – and how impossible to penetrate his motives or understand his methods! Who could ever know the mind of the Lord? Who could ever be his counsellor? Who could ever give him anything or lend him anything? All that exists comes from him; all is by him and for him. To him be glory for ever! Amen". Romans 11:33 – 36
For centuries churches have taken this line; “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.” from the Gospel of Matthew 16, to justify their selectivity of who is and who is not welcome within their church and also to claim that the Bishop of Rome is the one and only head of the church and many other actions that his excluded people rather than include ALL God’s Children.
In Actuality, the words that Jesus used in His answer are almost identical to those used in Isaiah 22 which is the first reading for today and one that Jesus would have been very familiar with. “I place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; should he open, no one shall close, should he close, no one shall open. I drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will become a throne of glory for his father’s house.”
We must remember that even though Peter was the person who gave the answer to Christ’s question; “Who do people say the Son of Man is?’; and Peter replied “You are the Christ", all twelve apostles were present and all, except Judas, after the decent of the Holy Spirit upon them went forth and established churches, the first being the Church in Jerusalem headed by James.
The Church of Rome actually was one of the last churches to be established. But I digress from the main point I want to make.
There is nothing in this world that was not initially created by Almighty God and still is watched over by Him.
God created everything for a purpose and for good. Unfortunately, we children of God seem to find a way to turn some of God’s creation into something bad. We misuse God’s creation in ways that He did not intend. We also make judgments about some of God’s creation using our less than perfect minds and human values to perceive God’s intent, usually incorrectly.
Paul, in his letter to the Romans makes it very clear “No human can ever penetrate God’s motives or understand God’s methods” “No human can ever know the mind of God”
What we do know is that God, the God who created all things, sent His only begotten son to earth to make His desire and will clear, The same God Jesus the Christ said was His Father in Heaven, is first and foremost a compassionate, merciful and infinitely loving God who cares for ALL His children.
A loving God would never condemn a person to everlasting suffering because they loved another and lived their life in a decent and lawful manner with concern for others and a love and devotion to God.
The son of God, Jesus the Christ, never turned anyone away that came to Him in belief and trust.
Christ denied no one who sought help. Jesus often instructed that His Father was a forgiving Father and would welcome all who might have strayed away just as the father in the story of The Prodigal Son welcomed and rejoiced upon the son’s return.
We, humans need to stop believing that we know the mind of God and the reasons He chooses to do things.
We need to stop condemning people and rejecting them from giving honor, praise and glory to the God who created them as they are.
We need to seek ways to end the cycle of violence against God’s children that has brought so much pain and suffering in this world and caused untimely death to so many.
We need to begin to find ways to help those who are poor, aged, sick, homeless and addicted to drugs and alcohol and put an end to wars that are waged in order to gain riches, property and dominate the minds of God’s children making them subservient to the few.
We need to live the Sermon of the Mount and be like the Good Samaritan.
We need to love one another as God loves us and respect the diversity that God created instead of trying to control and change it to suite our inferior selves. Only God is perfect and we can never know God’s reasons or intent. AMEN
A Reflection for the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.missionstsergius.org
The second reading for this Sunday clearly states that no human can ever really know God’s mind or the reasons He chooses to do anything.
"How rich are the depths of God – how deep his wisdom and knowledge – and how impossible to penetrate his motives or understand his methods! Who could ever know the mind of the Lord? Who could ever be his counsellor? Who could ever give him anything or lend him anything? All that exists comes from him; all is by him and for him. To him be glory for ever! Amen". Romans 11:33 – 36
For centuries churches have taken this line; “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.” from the Gospel of Matthew 16, to justify their selectivity of who is and who is not welcome within their church and also to claim that the Bishop of Rome is the one and only head of the church and many other actions that his excluded people rather than include ALL God’s Children.
In Actuality, the words that Jesus used in His answer are almost identical to those used in Isaiah 22 which is the first reading for today and one that Jesus would have been very familiar with. “I place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; should he open, no one shall close, should he close, no one shall open. I drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will become a throne of glory for his father’s house.”
We must remember that even though Peter was the person who gave the answer to Christ’s question; “Who do people say the Son of Man is?’; and Peter replied “You are the Christ", all twelve apostles were present and all, except Judas, after the decent of the Holy Spirit upon them went forth and established churches, the first being the Church in Jerusalem headed by James.
The Church of Rome actually was one of the last churches to be established. But I digress from the main point I want to make.
There is nothing in this world that was not initially created by Almighty God and still is watched over by Him.
God created everything for a purpose and for good. Unfortunately, we children of God seem to find a way to turn some of God’s creation into something bad. We misuse God’s creation in ways that He did not intend. We also make judgments about some of God’s creation using our less than perfect minds and human values to perceive God’s intent, usually incorrectly.
Paul, in his letter to the Romans makes it very clear “No human can ever penetrate God’s motives or understand God’s methods” “No human can ever know the mind of God”
What we do know is that God, the God who created all things, sent His only begotten son to earth to make His desire and will clear, The same God Jesus the Christ said was His Father in Heaven, is first and foremost a compassionate, merciful and infinitely loving God who cares for ALL His children.
A loving God would never condemn a person to everlasting suffering because they loved another and lived their life in a decent and lawful manner with concern for others and a love and devotion to God.
The son of God, Jesus the Christ, never turned anyone away that came to Him in belief and trust.
Christ denied no one who sought help. Jesus often instructed that His Father was a forgiving Father and would welcome all who might have strayed away just as the father in the story of The Prodigal Son welcomed and rejoiced upon the son’s return.
We, humans need to stop believing that we know the mind of God and the reasons He chooses to do things.
We need to stop condemning people and rejecting them from giving honor, praise and glory to the God who created them as they are.
We need to seek ways to end the cycle of violence against God’s children that has brought so much pain and suffering in this world and caused untimely death to so many.
We need to begin to find ways to help those who are poor, aged, sick, homeless and addicted to drugs and alcohol and put an end to wars that are waged in order to gain riches, property and dominate the minds of God’s children making them subservient to the few.
We need to live the Sermon of the Mount and be like the Good Samaritan.
We need to love one another as God loves us and respect the diversity that God created instead of trying to control and change it to suite our inferior selves. Only God is perfect and we can never know God’s reasons or intent. AMEN
Friday, August 12, 2011
Feast of Assumption Reflection
My Spirit Exults In God My Savior
A reflection on the readings for the Assumption of Our Lady, August 15th
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
The Gospel for this Feast day continues the story of the Annunciation by the angel Gabriel to Our Blessed Mother that she had been chosen to be the Mother of God’s only son where Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth and upon hearing Mary’s greeting Elizabeth “gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’
On this feast of the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother into Heaven , I can’t help but call to mind the first part of Luke’s Gospel describing the events of the Annunciation and Our Blessed Mother’s response since the feast of the Assumption is also the anniversary of my Ordination to the priesthood.
Seven years ago at 69, an age that many ordained priests are looking forward to retirement I was ordained to the holy order of priest in Washington DC. The news that I was to become a priest, like I am sure the angels message to Mary, came as a complete surprise to me but one that I accepted with trust and faith in God and the hope that I could be worthy of such an immense honor. & years later I pray that my labor for the honor and Glory of God and my humble attempt to spread the Good News of God’s infinite mercy and Love for ALL His children has inspired those who have felt unloved, unwanted and rejected to claim their rightful place within the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church and to partake of all the sacraments that God has given us.
I, like I am sure Mary did, questioned how I was worthy of accepting God‘s call to serve Him and asked "Are you sure it is I Lord?" Each day since then I pray that I have done God’s will and served Him and that I have been an instrument of bringing others closer to God.
I seek the intercession of Our Blessed Mother to her heavenly son asking that God will send the Holy Spirit down upon me to inspire and lead me in knowing and doing God’s will.
Every person on earth receives a call from God but God allows us the freedom of to accept His will for us or go our own way.
We constantly are challenged to live our lives according to the teachings of God found in the commandments and the teachings of Jesus Christ. We need to consistently ask ourselves questions like; Do we love God above all things? Do we love our neighbor as we love ourselves and do we see Jesus Christ in all the people of the world as being our neighbors and God‘s children? Are we living according to the instructions found in the Corporal Works of Mercy and The Beatitudes?
Mary lived her life fully in accordance with the Jewish faith. She was prayerful and totally committed to Almighty God. She lived her life according to God’s commandments and the precepts of the Jewish Faith she was brought up in.
Mary accepted God’s will for her even though she knew that as an unmarried woman found with child she could be stoned to death.
The Gospel for The feast of Assumption is from Luke 1:39 - 56 and ends with the words of Our Blessed Mother in responded to her Cousin Elizabeth’s greeting. Those words have become a statement of faith that we now pray as The Magnificat which is Latin means “ to Magnify” is considered the song both of the Mother of God and of the Church.
Mary’s total acceptance of God’s will for her and her willingness to become God’s humble handmaid when she responded with these words; , "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to Thy word". The words to the magnificat are;
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my savior;
because he has looked with favor upon his lowly handmaid. From this day forward all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name, his mercy reaches from age to age for all those who fear him. He has shown the power of his arm, he has routed the proud of heart. He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away. He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy
Mary’s words clearly state that God did not come for the rich and famous or the powerful of the world, but Christ came for the poor and those who society considers lowly.
I often wonder if we could have that kind of faith and trust in God that Mary had?
Do we acknowledge how blessed we are for all the gifts He bestows upon us every day?
Do we fear God, not with the kind of fear that we usually think of like fear of flying or of spiders or some terrible catastrophic event but the kind of fear where we are in awe of the wonderful power and majesty of Almighty God and we turn to God for praise and thanksgiving and worship because He is worthy of all those things?
Believing in God is believing that His will is always right and just.
By accepting His will and going forth with all of our energies to live according to his will is what life is all about.
In order to have the kind of faith Our Blessed Mother had we have to give ourselves over completely to God’s will for us and accept it just as Mary did when the Angel appeared to her and told her she would bear a child out of wedlock, something that according to Jewish law required that she be put to death.
Accepting God’s will is not easy, especially when we are faced with serious health issues, the inability to meet our financial obligation, challenges to our faith by others and issues like homelessness, poverty, and unemployment
We all need to listen carefully for the times when God attempts to speak to us in our hearts and not pass it off as an illusion or a dream and close our hearts and minds to God speaking to us.
It was not until I stopped demanding to always do things my way and to begin to ask God for guidance I began to find true peace within my heart and mind.
Just as Mary acknowledged that “the Almighty has done great things for me” we too need to acknowledge the things that God has done for us.
God’s love for us is infinite and forever and as Mary acknowledged “His mercy endures forever” even when we try to ignore Him and go our own way and yes, even when we have fallen away through sin, God does not give up on us.
All we have to do is acknowledge Him and attempt, with the help of His Divine Mercy and the Holy Spirit, to live our lives in a manner that is not harmful to ourselves or others.
We have to remember that only God is perfect and He knows the human condition is far from perfect.
He respects and loves us as we struggle with the difficulties of our daily lives and the pressures applied to us by a society that has values other than those that Christ instructed us to have.
God choose Mary to be the mother of His only begotten son because she lived her life in accord with His laws as they had been handed down through the prophets and the Jewish Faith.
Jesus came to earth to bring us a new covenant and Mary accepted that and followed Jesus even to watching him suffer and die.
She was there when he arose and when the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles.
She was the First and most loyal of all the disciples. She showed us how to follow Christ.
If we begin to change ourselves and totally give our lives over to the will of God, accepting His will, just as Mary did, possible we might, one day, hear the voice of an angel speaking to us and saying “God loves you for being His good and faithful servant and is welcoming you home to His loving arms.”
Let us have the faith of Mary and let us serve God by serving all His children with love, compassion, mercy, charity and acceptance and pray that God will receive us as His good and faithful servants when our days here on this earth are over..
AMEN
A reflection on the readings for the Assumption of Our Lady, August 15th
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
The Gospel for this Feast day continues the story of the Annunciation by the angel Gabriel to Our Blessed Mother that she had been chosen to be the Mother of God’s only son where Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth and upon hearing Mary’s greeting Elizabeth “gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’
On this feast of the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother into Heaven , I can’t help but call to mind the first part of Luke’s Gospel describing the events of the Annunciation and Our Blessed Mother’s response since the feast of the Assumption is also the anniversary of my Ordination to the priesthood.
Seven years ago at 69, an age that many ordained priests are looking forward to retirement I was ordained to the holy order of priest in Washington DC. The news that I was to become a priest, like I am sure the angels message to Mary, came as a complete surprise to me but one that I accepted with trust and faith in God and the hope that I could be worthy of such an immense honor. & years later I pray that my labor for the honor and Glory of God and my humble attempt to spread the Good News of God’s infinite mercy and Love for ALL His children has inspired those who have felt unloved, unwanted and rejected to claim their rightful place within the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church and to partake of all the sacraments that God has given us.
I, like I am sure Mary did, questioned how I was worthy of accepting God‘s call to serve Him and asked "Are you sure it is I Lord?" Each day since then I pray that I have done God’s will and served Him and that I have been an instrument of bringing others closer to God.
I seek the intercession of Our Blessed Mother to her heavenly son asking that God will send the Holy Spirit down upon me to inspire and lead me in knowing and doing God’s will.
Every person on earth receives a call from God but God allows us the freedom of to accept His will for us or go our own way.
We constantly are challenged to live our lives according to the teachings of God found in the commandments and the teachings of Jesus Christ. We need to consistently ask ourselves questions like; Do we love God above all things? Do we love our neighbor as we love ourselves and do we see Jesus Christ in all the people of the world as being our neighbors and God‘s children? Are we living according to the instructions found in the Corporal Works of Mercy and The Beatitudes?
Mary lived her life fully in accordance with the Jewish faith. She was prayerful and totally committed to Almighty God. She lived her life according to God’s commandments and the precepts of the Jewish Faith she was brought up in.
Mary accepted God’s will for her even though she knew that as an unmarried woman found with child she could be stoned to death.
The Gospel for The feast of Assumption is from Luke 1:39 - 56 and ends with the words of Our Blessed Mother in responded to her Cousin Elizabeth’s greeting. Those words have become a statement of faith that we now pray as The Magnificat which is Latin means “ to Magnify” is considered the song both of the Mother of God and of the Church.
Mary’s total acceptance of God’s will for her and her willingness to become God’s humble handmaid when she responded with these words; , "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to Thy word". The words to the magnificat are;
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my savior;
because he has looked with favor upon his lowly handmaid. From this day forward all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name, his mercy reaches from age to age for all those who fear him. He has shown the power of his arm, he has routed the proud of heart. He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away. He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy
Mary’s words clearly state that God did not come for the rich and famous or the powerful of the world, but Christ came for the poor and those who society considers lowly.
I often wonder if we could have that kind of faith and trust in God that Mary had?
Do we acknowledge how blessed we are for all the gifts He bestows upon us every day?
Do we fear God, not with the kind of fear that we usually think of like fear of flying or of spiders or some terrible catastrophic event but the kind of fear where we are in awe of the wonderful power and majesty of Almighty God and we turn to God for praise and thanksgiving and worship because He is worthy of all those things?
Believing in God is believing that His will is always right and just.
By accepting His will and going forth with all of our energies to live according to his will is what life is all about.
In order to have the kind of faith Our Blessed Mother had we have to give ourselves over completely to God’s will for us and accept it just as Mary did when the Angel appeared to her and told her she would bear a child out of wedlock, something that according to Jewish law required that she be put to death.
Accepting God’s will is not easy, especially when we are faced with serious health issues, the inability to meet our financial obligation, challenges to our faith by others and issues like homelessness, poverty, and unemployment
We all need to listen carefully for the times when God attempts to speak to us in our hearts and not pass it off as an illusion or a dream and close our hearts and minds to God speaking to us.
It was not until I stopped demanding to always do things my way and to begin to ask God for guidance I began to find true peace within my heart and mind.
Just as Mary acknowledged that “the Almighty has done great things for me” we too need to acknowledge the things that God has done for us.
God’s love for us is infinite and forever and as Mary acknowledged “His mercy endures forever” even when we try to ignore Him and go our own way and yes, even when we have fallen away through sin, God does not give up on us.
All we have to do is acknowledge Him and attempt, with the help of His Divine Mercy and the Holy Spirit, to live our lives in a manner that is not harmful to ourselves or others.
We have to remember that only God is perfect and He knows the human condition is far from perfect.
He respects and loves us as we struggle with the difficulties of our daily lives and the pressures applied to us by a society that has values other than those that Christ instructed us to have.
God choose Mary to be the mother of His only begotten son because she lived her life in accord with His laws as they had been handed down through the prophets and the Jewish Faith.
Jesus came to earth to bring us a new covenant and Mary accepted that and followed Jesus even to watching him suffer and die.
She was there when he arose and when the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles.
She was the First and most loyal of all the disciples. She showed us how to follow Christ.
If we begin to change ourselves and totally give our lives over to the will of God, accepting His will, just as Mary did, possible we might, one day, hear the voice of an angel speaking to us and saying “God loves you for being His good and faithful servant and is welcoming you home to His loving arms.”
Let us have the faith of Mary and let us serve God by serving all His children with love, compassion, mercy, charity and acceptance and pray that God will receive us as His good and faithful servants when our days here on this earth are over..
AMEN
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Sunday August 14th Reflection
20th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2011
A Reflection based on readings from: Isaiah 56, Psalm 67, Romans 11, Matthew 15
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.missionstsergius.org
www.Franciscansdivinemercy.org
Thus says the Lord: Have a care for justice, act with integrity, for soon my salvation will come and my integrity is manifest… all who observe the sabbath, not profaning it, and cling to my covenant – these I will bring to my holy mountain. I will make them joyful in my house of prayer. …. for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples. Isaiah 56:1, 6-7
These words from the first reading for the 2oth Sunday of Ordinary time are, to me, an affirmation of God’s intent to welcome all people into His company regardless of their race, marital condition or sexual orientation. In the second reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans 11 verse 13 He further strengthens that concept when he writes; “I have been sent to the pagans as their apostle, and I am proud of being sent, but the purpose of it is to make my own people (meaning the Jewish People) envious of you, and in this way save some of them. and he further states “God never takes back his gifts or revokes his choice.”
In the Gospel reading from Matthew 15 Christ is reported to have said; “I was sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’…. ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.”
To me the message for this week is that with deep and abiding faith and trust in God all who desire it are not only welcome in God’s house, but also are guarantied to be saved.
I have often written that it is God, and only God, that can determine who will be granted salvation.
When human beings claim to know God’s will and make judgments against another declaring that they are condemned, they are in great danger of claiming a power that belongs only to God and therefore, in my estimation, are committing the great sin of blasphemy at the least and worse yet, placing themselves above God.
Throughout the New Testament we see Christ welcoming all who came to him, even those who, according to Jewish law, a Jew should not be seen with or talk to.
The message Christ gave us is that Almighty God is a loving, compassionate and forgiving God who desires us to practice the same qualities toward all of His children regardless of their race, sex, marital situation or even their religious denomination as long as they believe in the one God, The God of Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Jacob, David and the Father of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The message of today’s readings is also a message of how we should live our life to be pleasing to God.
We are told to; “Have a care for justice and to act with integrity”
That means that we are to be fair in business dealings, in payment of wages, in discerning others and to do all things with integrity and honesty.
If we live our life, every day, in this manner and we also set aside time each day to center ourselves and to acknowledge and talk to God, we will be welcomed in heaven with all the heavenly elect.
God desires all His children to claim their rightful place in the Kingdom of heaven.
All we have to do to attain that is to Know, Love and Serve God in all our actions each and every day.
On Monday we will celebrate the Feast honoring the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother into heaven. It is also the anniversary of my ordination as a priest and a day I feel was the most wonderful day of my life.
With all joy comes sorrow and it is through the sorrow and the pain we learn to enjoy the happy moments.
Our ministry is now at a crossroads; I do not know where it is headed but leave it, as all things should be left, in God’s hands. I personally cannot sustain it by myself both financially and physically without help and support.
Tomorrow I will be releasing a reflection on Our Blessed Mother and how her life should be an example to all of us especially woman. She was totally devoted to God and accepted the “Sword that pierced her soul” (Luke 2:33–35) and so it is that I will accept whatever God has in store for Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus and the Franciscans of Divine Mercy.
AMEN
A Reflection based on readings from: Isaiah 56, Psalm 67, Romans 11, Matthew 15
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.missionstsergius.org
www.Franciscansdivinemercy.org
Thus says the Lord: Have a care for justice, act with integrity, for soon my salvation will come and my integrity is manifest… all who observe the sabbath, not profaning it, and cling to my covenant – these I will bring to my holy mountain. I will make them joyful in my house of prayer. …. for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples. Isaiah 56:1, 6-7
These words from the first reading for the 2oth Sunday of Ordinary time are, to me, an affirmation of God’s intent to welcome all people into His company regardless of their race, marital condition or sexual orientation. In the second reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans 11 verse 13 He further strengthens that concept when he writes; “I have been sent to the pagans as their apostle, and I am proud of being sent, but the purpose of it is to make my own people (meaning the Jewish People) envious of you, and in this way save some of them. and he further states “God never takes back his gifts or revokes his choice.”
In the Gospel reading from Matthew 15 Christ is reported to have said; “I was sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’…. ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.”
To me the message for this week is that with deep and abiding faith and trust in God all who desire it are not only welcome in God’s house, but also are guarantied to be saved.
I have often written that it is God, and only God, that can determine who will be granted salvation.
When human beings claim to know God’s will and make judgments against another declaring that they are condemned, they are in great danger of claiming a power that belongs only to God and therefore, in my estimation, are committing the great sin of blasphemy at the least and worse yet, placing themselves above God.
Throughout the New Testament we see Christ welcoming all who came to him, even those who, according to Jewish law, a Jew should not be seen with or talk to.
The message Christ gave us is that Almighty God is a loving, compassionate and forgiving God who desires us to practice the same qualities toward all of His children regardless of their race, sex, marital situation or even their religious denomination as long as they believe in the one God, The God of Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Jacob, David and the Father of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The message of today’s readings is also a message of how we should live our life to be pleasing to God.
We are told to; “Have a care for justice and to act with integrity”
That means that we are to be fair in business dealings, in payment of wages, in discerning others and to do all things with integrity and honesty.
If we live our life, every day, in this manner and we also set aside time each day to center ourselves and to acknowledge and talk to God, we will be welcomed in heaven with all the heavenly elect.
God desires all His children to claim their rightful place in the Kingdom of heaven.
All we have to do to attain that is to Know, Love and Serve God in all our actions each and every day.
On Monday we will celebrate the Feast honoring the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother into heaven. It is also the anniversary of my ordination as a priest and a day I feel was the most wonderful day of my life.
With all joy comes sorrow and it is through the sorrow and the pain we learn to enjoy the happy moments.
Our ministry is now at a crossroads; I do not know where it is headed but leave it, as all things should be left, in God’s hands. I personally cannot sustain it by myself both financially and physically without help and support.
Tomorrow I will be releasing a reflection on Our Blessed Mother and how her life should be an example to all of us especially woman. She was totally devoted to God and accepted the “Sword that pierced her soul” (Luke 2:33–35) and so it is that I will accept whatever God has in store for Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus and the Franciscans of Divine Mercy.
AMEN
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Sunday July 17th Reflection
The Good seed is the Word of God
A Reflection for Sunday July 17th 2011
By Rev. Fr. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
We often hear the expression “Money is the root of all evil” and sometimes it seems that it is very true.
All we have to do is look at the current situation in the world and more explicitly in the United States and ponder if that is not the case.
In reality the root of all evil is NOT money but man’s DESIRE FOR POWER and symbols of status; greed and the seeking of great wealth to increase one’s status in the eyes of powerful people, or jealousy over losing control over people because of a loss of status in the world of finance is the actual cause of the evil that often occurs. Money is an obvious measure of one’s status, so it’s easy to confuse the two.
The actual statement from which this expression came is; “For the love of money is the root of all evil.” and is found in Timothy, 6:10.
Every day we are reminded that the US is headed to a major financial crisis unless the people who were elected to govern it can come together and make changes to the budget in order to forego a collapse of the government.
One political group wants to cut services to the poor and aged but is unwilling to the eliminate tax breaks that the super-rich get that allows them to pay less than the average working person.
This is a perfect example of how the desire for money and the power it can bring has corrupted even those who claim to be Christians.
They are willing to ignore the needs of the poor, aged and seniors on low fixed incomes while the cost of the daily necessities of life keeps going up.
Another example that is in the news this week is how some newspaper have used illegal means to obtain information in order to sell newspapers. Even some Religious denominations have succumbed to this desire for money not for humanitarian use but for status and the symbols of status and power.
The reading from the book of Wisdom 12 for this Sunday talks about being kind to your brothers and sisters in Christ, which means every man, woman and child on the face of the earth. “You are mild in judgment, you govern us with great lenience, for you have only to will, and your power is there. By acting thus you have taught a lesson to your people how the virtuous man must be kindly to his fellow men” It is sad that our government leaders do not follow this kind of governing.
Kindness, Compassion, Justice, Mercy, and Charity are virtues that often seem to be in short supply in our world today. They have been replaced with the notion that we should live with the concept of obscene salaries for CEOs and higher and higher dividends and profits for the giant corporations.
In August 2004 Andrew Greeley wrote in the Chicago Sun Times; “The most serious spiritual problem in the country today is reckless and untrammeled greed. Greed caused the disgraceful corporate scandals that fill our newspapers. Greed is responsible for crooked cops and crooked politicians. Greed causes the constant efforts to destroy unions that protect basic worker rights. Greed has produced rash tax cuts that have given money to the rich and in effect taken it away from the poor.”
Sadly, things have not changed but only gotten worse since 2004.
The oil companies continue to earn exorbitant profits which have caused the prices for gasoline and heating oil to more than double in the last year which has caused the cost of food and other basics of life to constantly increase yet the government has cut 10% from what individuals on food stamps receive claiming that the cost of living has gone down. I don’t know what country they are living in but it is not the same one I live in.
Seniors who live on their Social Security have not gotten a Cost of living increase in more than 3 years.
This is a prime example of Greed causing great evil because it is hurting those who can least afford to be hurt, the poor, aged and ill.
In his comments in 2004 Andrew Greeley went on to say; “No one said during the bizarre deification of President Reagan that he taught us that greed is good and that we should feel good about our greedy country. Greed is the reason that the country is being run by the insurance, pharmaceutical, weapons and petroleum industries. Greed causes worldwide sex slavery of women and children.”
This situation has only gotten worse in the last seven years.
One of the results of the economy problems is that agencies like food banks, Salvation Army, Religious and private charities and churches, ours included, who attempt to relieve the suffering of the poor, aged and ill have experienced a huge drop is donations resulting in their inability to help all who are in need.
The time is now for every person who claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ and believe in a God of Compassion, mercy and love, to take inventory of their lives and seek the Holy Spirit’s help is making the changes necessary to eliminate the seeds of evil mindset that have overtaken the good seed of the Word of God. We must live the words of Christ in the Beatitudes and what He called “THE GREATEST COMMANDMENTS”; “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” We must become more mindful of the needs of others especially the poor, sick and those who contributed to our economy all their productive adult lives and now are forced to live on low fixed incomes that are often below poverty standards.
Just as the enemy, the evil one, has penetrated the minds of some people, sowing bad seed into their minds, especially the young, making them think that wealth, material possessions, fame, power and luxurious living is what to seek, we must harvest the bad seed and destroy it so that we can reap the good which is the teachings of Christ. As the Gospel today advises; “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Today’s reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans affirms; “The Spirit comes to help us in our weakness. … and God who knows everything in our hearts knows perfectly well our needs” from Romans 8:26 - 27
Let us rid ourselves of self-indulgence and instead begin to find ways to be charitable, compassionate , forgiving and most importantly, live daily the teachings of Christ by loving, caring for our neighbor ( every human on the face of the earth) as Christ loved and cared for all He encountered. AMEN
A Reflection for Sunday July 17th 2011
By Rev. Fr. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
We often hear the expression “Money is the root of all evil” and sometimes it seems that it is very true.
All we have to do is look at the current situation in the world and more explicitly in the United States and ponder if that is not the case.
In reality the root of all evil is NOT money but man’s DESIRE FOR POWER and symbols of status; greed and the seeking of great wealth to increase one’s status in the eyes of powerful people, or jealousy over losing control over people because of a loss of status in the world of finance is the actual cause of the evil that often occurs. Money is an obvious measure of one’s status, so it’s easy to confuse the two.
The actual statement from which this expression came is; “For the love of money is the root of all evil.” and is found in Timothy, 6:10.
Every day we are reminded that the US is headed to a major financial crisis unless the people who were elected to govern it can come together and make changes to the budget in order to forego a collapse of the government.
One political group wants to cut services to the poor and aged but is unwilling to the eliminate tax breaks that the super-rich get that allows them to pay less than the average working person.
This is a perfect example of how the desire for money and the power it can bring has corrupted even those who claim to be Christians.
They are willing to ignore the needs of the poor, aged and seniors on low fixed incomes while the cost of the daily necessities of life keeps going up.
Another example that is in the news this week is how some newspaper have used illegal means to obtain information in order to sell newspapers. Even some Religious denominations have succumbed to this desire for money not for humanitarian use but for status and the symbols of status and power.
The reading from the book of Wisdom 12 for this Sunday talks about being kind to your brothers and sisters in Christ, which means every man, woman and child on the face of the earth. “You are mild in judgment, you govern us with great lenience, for you have only to will, and your power is there. By acting thus you have taught a lesson to your people how the virtuous man must be kindly to his fellow men” It is sad that our government leaders do not follow this kind of governing.
Kindness, Compassion, Justice, Mercy, and Charity are virtues that often seem to be in short supply in our world today. They have been replaced with the notion that we should live with the concept of obscene salaries for CEOs and higher and higher dividends and profits for the giant corporations.
In August 2004 Andrew Greeley wrote in the Chicago Sun Times; “The most serious spiritual problem in the country today is reckless and untrammeled greed. Greed caused the disgraceful corporate scandals that fill our newspapers. Greed is responsible for crooked cops and crooked politicians. Greed causes the constant efforts to destroy unions that protect basic worker rights. Greed has produced rash tax cuts that have given money to the rich and in effect taken it away from the poor.”
Sadly, things have not changed but only gotten worse since 2004.
The oil companies continue to earn exorbitant profits which have caused the prices for gasoline and heating oil to more than double in the last year which has caused the cost of food and other basics of life to constantly increase yet the government has cut 10% from what individuals on food stamps receive claiming that the cost of living has gone down. I don’t know what country they are living in but it is not the same one I live in.
Seniors who live on their Social Security have not gotten a Cost of living increase in more than 3 years.
This is a prime example of Greed causing great evil because it is hurting those who can least afford to be hurt, the poor, aged and ill.
In his comments in 2004 Andrew Greeley went on to say; “No one said during the bizarre deification of President Reagan that he taught us that greed is good and that we should feel good about our greedy country. Greed is the reason that the country is being run by the insurance, pharmaceutical, weapons and petroleum industries. Greed causes worldwide sex slavery of women and children.”
This situation has only gotten worse in the last seven years.
One of the results of the economy problems is that agencies like food banks, Salvation Army, Religious and private charities and churches, ours included, who attempt to relieve the suffering of the poor, aged and ill have experienced a huge drop is donations resulting in their inability to help all who are in need.
The time is now for every person who claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ and believe in a God of Compassion, mercy and love, to take inventory of their lives and seek the Holy Spirit’s help is making the changes necessary to eliminate the seeds of evil mindset that have overtaken the good seed of the Word of God. We must live the words of Christ in the Beatitudes and what He called “THE GREATEST COMMANDMENTS”; “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” We must become more mindful of the needs of others especially the poor, sick and those who contributed to our economy all their productive adult lives and now are forced to live on low fixed incomes that are often below poverty standards.
Just as the enemy, the evil one, has penetrated the minds of some people, sowing bad seed into their minds, especially the young, making them think that wealth, material possessions, fame, power and luxurious living is what to seek, we must harvest the bad seed and destroy it so that we can reap the good which is the teachings of Christ. As the Gospel today advises; “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Today’s reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans affirms; “The Spirit comes to help us in our weakness. … and God who knows everything in our hearts knows perfectly well our needs” from Romans 8:26 - 27
Let us rid ourselves of self-indulgence and instead begin to find ways to be charitable, compassionate , forgiving and most importantly, live daily the teachings of Christ by loving, caring for our neighbor ( every human on the face of the earth) as Christ loved and cared for all He encountered. AMEN
Thursday, July 7, 2011
15th Sunday of Ordinary Time Reflection
Let The Word Be Your Guide
A Reflection for 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2011
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus? Franciscans Divine Mercy
http://www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” (Luke 8:16)
The words above are from the last line of the Gospel of Luke and I have chosen to begin this reflection with them because they tell us that we should never hide our faith and be ashamed of believing in God.
The Gospel reading for today from Matthew is the parable story of the farmer who sowed his seed.
Christ used the sowing of seeds to represent how some people receive the inspired word of God found in the Holy Scripture we know as The Bible.
The parable is explained in this way in a part of the reading that was added by Doctors of the Church many years after the actual first telling and writing of what Christ Said so that those who heard it, remember the Holy Scriptures were not available to every person like they are today.
“The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop”
The earliest copies were all hand scribed and only available to clergy and in later years to the very rich. The History of THE WORD OF GOD which is what all denominations who believe in the One God, Creator of All, call the Scriptures is very interesting.
Two Hundred years before the birth of Christ the Septuagint Greek Manuscripts which contain The 39 Old Testament Books and the 14 Apocrypha Books was hand written. It was not until near then end of the 1st Century after the birth of Christ that the books that make up the New Testament, or the teachings of Christ and the Epistles attributed to the Apostles were hand scribed in Greek.
Athenasius, the Bishop of Alexandria, identifies the 27 books of the New Testament which are today recognized as the canon of scripture in the year 315.
Three Hundred and Eighty Two years after the birth of Christ St. Jerome produced all 80 books of the Bible in Latin. By the year 500 the Bible was translated into 500 languages, remember, all these translations were done by hand and often resulted in some changes from the original Aramaic and Greek that was the original languages that scripture was written in.
About the year 600 the only language that the Bible was allowed to be written in was Latin and that continued until the year 995 when an Anglo-Saxon translation was created which was the beginning of a translation into what we now know as English.
The first hand-written English Language version of the Bible was produced in by John Wycliffe an Oxford professor, scholar, and theologian of all 80 Books.
In 1455 when Gutenberg Invents the Printing Press; the Bible started to be mass-Produced Instead of Individually Hand-Written. The First Book Gutenberg ever Printed was the Bible in Latin.
The Bible has had many translations, many changes and yet, if one looks really close, and compares the different versions we have available, and does the research, we can deduce what was the first things that were transcribed by the first writers in both the Old and the new Testaments and what God was attempting to teach us on how we should live.
One method I like to use is to try to find the same things in multiple Gospel Stories and some time I also check what are called the Gnostic Gospels like the Gospel of St. Thomas. Most theologians will agree that when we find the same “words of Christ” in multiple Gospels we can be fairly certain that they are what Christ taught.
Most of us have heard the gospel and scripture stories all our lives, some have been read the Bible stories from the time they were little children which means we have heard the inspired word of God as given to the prophets and the disciples but what have we done with it?
I personally like to refer what is found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Like and in different wording but the same message in John, which is the only Gospel that was actually written by the Apostle to which it is attributed. Those readings instruct us “TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER” “ LOVE GOD AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR” in other words we are told by Christ, who if we are Christians believe was the son of God sent by God to enlighten us, that the key to the kingdom of heaven is to Love God and Love all God’s children which would mean we do not hurt anyone by actions that The Commandments individually detail.
In the writing of the Epistles of St. Paul we have affirmations of how THE WORD OF GOD should be received and accepted.
"I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once...." 1 Corinthians 15:1-10 "...our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance..." 1 Thessalonians 1:5 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Let us be like the Good seed; “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” and hold The Word of God solidly in our hearts and attempt, with all the energy we can muster and with deep sincerity and love of God to live The Great Commandment; “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, the second is like unto it, Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22, Luke 10, Mark 12) Or “Love one another as I have loved You” (John 13)
God knows we are not perfect and that it is not easy for us to completely follow his command and the teachings of Christ but the one common denominator we have with almost all the saints, and certainly those who are revered among the greatest saints, is admitting how sinful we are and their need to constantly imploring God for forgiveness and strength to overcome their weaknesses.
Why should we be any different than they? Morning and night and during the day I often turn to God and pray for the ability to resist the temptations that plague me.
I pray for guidance and direction in my ministry. I plead for the means to proclaim God’s infinite mercy and love for all His children and to not give in to the thoughts that I am failing God because of the limitations I have.
Like any journey we travel on we encounter many different roads. Some are lined with the beauty of God’s creation with verdant fields or lush foliage, others are filled with pot holes and detours and we struggle to reach out destination.
The destination we are aiming for is everlasting life with Almighty God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Our beloved mother Mary and all the angels, saints and heavenly elect.
The guide book to achieve that goal is Holy Scriptures so we should try to have a daily dose of meditation on the scriptures just like we take our daily vitamins or the medications that we need to keep us healthy.
We clergy daily pray the Daily Prayer or Divine Office which has scripture readings to meditate on but there are many resources out there for people to us, the bottom line is to keep referring to what I like to think of as “THE GUIDE BOOK TO ETERNAL LIFE” The Holy Inspired Word of God, found in Holy Scripture, The Bible. By listening to God “speaking to us” through the inspired word, we can avoid the pitfalls and dead ends that this world materialism and secularism put in our path to complete trust and faith in God. AMEN
A Reflection for 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2011
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus? Franciscans Divine Mercy
http://www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” (Luke 8:16)
The words above are from the last line of the Gospel of Luke and I have chosen to begin this reflection with them because they tell us that we should never hide our faith and be ashamed of believing in God.
The Gospel reading for today from Matthew is the parable story of the farmer who sowed his seed.
Christ used the sowing of seeds to represent how some people receive the inspired word of God found in the Holy Scripture we know as The Bible.
The parable is explained in this way in a part of the reading that was added by Doctors of the Church many years after the actual first telling and writing of what Christ Said so that those who heard it, remember the Holy Scriptures were not available to every person like they are today.
“The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop”
The earliest copies were all hand scribed and only available to clergy and in later years to the very rich. The History of THE WORD OF GOD which is what all denominations who believe in the One God, Creator of All, call the Scriptures is very interesting.
Two Hundred years before the birth of Christ the Septuagint Greek Manuscripts which contain The 39 Old Testament Books and the 14 Apocrypha Books was hand written. It was not until near then end of the 1st Century after the birth of Christ that the books that make up the New Testament, or the teachings of Christ and the Epistles attributed to the Apostles were hand scribed in Greek.
Athenasius, the Bishop of Alexandria, identifies the 27 books of the New Testament which are today recognized as the canon of scripture in the year 315.
Three Hundred and Eighty Two years after the birth of Christ St. Jerome produced all 80 books of the Bible in Latin. By the year 500 the Bible was translated into 500 languages, remember, all these translations were done by hand and often resulted in some changes from the original Aramaic and Greek that was the original languages that scripture was written in.
About the year 600 the only language that the Bible was allowed to be written in was Latin and that continued until the year 995 when an Anglo-Saxon translation was created which was the beginning of a translation into what we now know as English.
The first hand-written English Language version of the Bible was produced in by John Wycliffe an Oxford professor, scholar, and theologian of all 80 Books.
In 1455 when Gutenberg Invents the Printing Press; the Bible started to be mass-Produced Instead of Individually Hand-Written. The First Book Gutenberg ever Printed was the Bible in Latin.
The Bible has had many translations, many changes and yet, if one looks really close, and compares the different versions we have available, and does the research, we can deduce what was the first things that were transcribed by the first writers in both the Old and the new Testaments and what God was attempting to teach us on how we should live.
One method I like to use is to try to find the same things in multiple Gospel Stories and some time I also check what are called the Gnostic Gospels like the Gospel of St. Thomas. Most theologians will agree that when we find the same “words of Christ” in multiple Gospels we can be fairly certain that they are what Christ taught.
Most of us have heard the gospel and scripture stories all our lives, some have been read the Bible stories from the time they were little children which means we have heard the inspired word of God as given to the prophets and the disciples but what have we done with it?
I personally like to refer what is found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Like and in different wording but the same message in John, which is the only Gospel that was actually written by the Apostle to which it is attributed. Those readings instruct us “TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER” “ LOVE GOD AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR” in other words we are told by Christ, who if we are Christians believe was the son of God sent by God to enlighten us, that the key to the kingdom of heaven is to Love God and Love all God’s children which would mean we do not hurt anyone by actions that The Commandments individually detail.
In the writing of the Epistles of St. Paul we have affirmations of how THE WORD OF GOD should be received and accepted.
"I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once...." 1 Corinthians 15:1-10 "...our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance..." 1 Thessalonians 1:5 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Let us be like the Good seed; “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” and hold The Word of God solidly in our hearts and attempt, with all the energy we can muster and with deep sincerity and love of God to live The Great Commandment; “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, the second is like unto it, Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22, Luke 10, Mark 12) Or “Love one another as I have loved You” (John 13)
God knows we are not perfect and that it is not easy for us to completely follow his command and the teachings of Christ but the one common denominator we have with almost all the saints, and certainly those who are revered among the greatest saints, is admitting how sinful we are and their need to constantly imploring God for forgiveness and strength to overcome their weaknesses.
Why should we be any different than they? Morning and night and during the day I often turn to God and pray for the ability to resist the temptations that plague me.
I pray for guidance and direction in my ministry. I plead for the means to proclaim God’s infinite mercy and love for all His children and to not give in to the thoughts that I am failing God because of the limitations I have.
Like any journey we travel on we encounter many different roads. Some are lined with the beauty of God’s creation with verdant fields or lush foliage, others are filled with pot holes and detours and we struggle to reach out destination.
The destination we are aiming for is everlasting life with Almighty God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Our beloved mother Mary and all the angels, saints and heavenly elect.
The guide book to achieve that goal is Holy Scriptures so we should try to have a daily dose of meditation on the scriptures just like we take our daily vitamins or the medications that we need to keep us healthy.
We clergy daily pray the Daily Prayer or Divine Office which has scripture readings to meditate on but there are many resources out there for people to us, the bottom line is to keep referring to what I like to think of as “THE GUIDE BOOK TO ETERNAL LIFE” The Holy Inspired Word of God, found in Holy Scripture, The Bible. By listening to God “speaking to us” through the inspired word, we can avoid the pitfalls and dead ends that this world materialism and secularism put in our path to complete trust and faith in God. AMEN
Friday, July 1, 2011
On Being Called
A Reflection on Matthew 4:19, Matthew 19:29, Matthew 28:10, Luke 18:22, Luke 18:29
Br Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD, Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
Over the last 8 years I have pondered why I and any individual who believes they have been called by God to be God’s servant here on earth was called and what are our duties and responsibilities and what should be our priorities.
In Matthew 4:19, we read the following; “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers for people.” And in Matthew 28:19 we read; “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” which spells out our primary responsibilities; which are to make God known to ALL people and making them an active part of the Mystical Body of Christ.
Since we know that all the apostles except for St. John were married and had families, how did they resolves the problem of having families with what we find in Matthew 19:29 and Luke 18:29; “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”
Did Christ, who advocated justice, compassion and mercy and by his own life families, actually mean they should leave their responsibilities to their families or did He mean that they needed to put the needs of God and service to God first and foremost in their lives. I believe that God meant that God had to be at the heart and core of their lives and service to God and God’s children had to be the number one priority.
I believe that our responsibilities as a servant of God require us to have our priorities in the following order:
Firstly everything pertaining to the service of God and God’s children must be at the top of our priorities.
Since we have a responsibility to support and feed, clothe and shelter ourselves and our families we need to have a source of income that provides for our families wellbeing as the second priority of our life.
One way we who are called to be servants of God could incorporate both number one and number two priorities would be to work in an occupation like a nurse, doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, teacher, in nursing homes and hospices, working with the homeless, in food pantries, a corporation like Angel Flight or any field that services and helps people since that is what God has called us to do.
We have to teach the Truth of God and let people know that Gods is a God of Love and calls every human being to love one another by showing compassion, having charity, rejecting violence.
God desires that everyone care for one another, hold all people as equals and welcome all people.
One of the primary rules of the Old Testament was hospitality which is the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way. It was the lack of Hospitality that was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah not what some claim.
There is no greater calling a person can receive from God than to be a servant of God as a Priest and there is no role greater than that. All the titles, Monsignor, Bishop, Cardinal, are but political titles indicating a higher rung on the corporate ladder but the primary responsibility is that of a priest first and foremost.
The highest title in the early church was a Bishop, the titles Monsignor and Cardinal were additions and created to indicate a position of royalty which in my mind is completely in opposition to Christ’s teachings and example.
Christ and the first disciples wore simple homespun clothing, lived simply and rejected the trappings that the Hierarchy of Christ’s time had adopted. In Matthew 23 Christ admonishes them for their life styles and their rules that prevented people from the worship of God. “The scribes and the Pharisee sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others”.
Every day I pray that I will honestly fulfill God’s call to me to be his servant here on earth and I examin each evening how well I have done that day, I agonize when I feel that I have failed in some way by not being as kind as I might have been to a person who disturbed me in some way.
The following are two prayers I offer both morning and evening asking God through the Holy Spirit to help me be a good and faithful servant to Him.
“Almighty God, I give you my hands to do your work; I give you my feet to go your way; I give you my eyes to see as you do; I give you my tongue to speak your words; I give you my mind that you may think in me; I give you my spirit that you may pray in me; Above all, I give you my heart that you may love in and through me all with whom I come in contact with each and every day. I dedicate myself to doing your will in all things and to becoming an instrument through which you might bring peace and harmony to all your children here on earth. AMEN
“Almighty and merciful God, open my mind, my heart, and my soul to your infinite love. Instill within me the knowledge of your truth. Guide me in your ways in all the things I do so that I may be unto others a reflection of your love towards them. Allow the light of your truth to flow through me towards them in order that they may come to know you better. I pray that all those with whom I come in contact with each and every day may be brought into a closer union with you and enjoy the promise of Your salvation earned through your beloved son, Jesus Christ, in His passion, death, resurrection and ascension. I humbly ask this in the name of your beloved son, Jesus Christ, who lives, and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever unto the ages of ages. AMEN
As Father Provincial of the Franciscans of Divine Mercy I ask every member of our small band of Franciscans Brothers and Sisters to always hold the teachings of Christ and our Seraphic Father Francis as their guidepost to life, to have God at the center of their life and to have compassion, mercy, respect and love for ALL God’s creation especially God’s children. That is what I feel we have been called to do daily as servants of God. AMEN
A Reflection on Matthew 4:19, Matthew 19:29, Matthew 28:10, Luke 18:22, Luke 18:29
Br Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD, Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
Over the last 8 years I have pondered why I and any individual who believes they have been called by God to be God’s servant here on earth was called and what are our duties and responsibilities and what should be our priorities.
In Matthew 4:19, we read the following; “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers for people.” And in Matthew 28:19 we read; “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” which spells out our primary responsibilities; which are to make God known to ALL people and making them an active part of the Mystical Body of Christ.
Since we know that all the apostles except for St. John were married and had families, how did they resolves the problem of having families with what we find in Matthew 19:29 and Luke 18:29; “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”
Did Christ, who advocated justice, compassion and mercy and by his own life families, actually mean they should leave their responsibilities to their families or did He mean that they needed to put the needs of God and service to God first and foremost in their lives. I believe that God meant that God had to be at the heart and core of their lives and service to God and God’s children had to be the number one priority.
I believe that our responsibilities as a servant of God require us to have our priorities in the following order:
Firstly everything pertaining to the service of God and God’s children must be at the top of our priorities.
Since we have a responsibility to support and feed, clothe and shelter ourselves and our families we need to have a source of income that provides for our families wellbeing as the second priority of our life.
One way we who are called to be servants of God could incorporate both number one and number two priorities would be to work in an occupation like a nurse, doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, teacher, in nursing homes and hospices, working with the homeless, in food pantries, a corporation like Angel Flight or any field that services and helps people since that is what God has called us to do.
We have to teach the Truth of God and let people know that Gods is a God of Love and calls every human being to love one another by showing compassion, having charity, rejecting violence.
God desires that everyone care for one another, hold all people as equals and welcome all people.
One of the primary rules of the Old Testament was hospitality which is the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way. It was the lack of Hospitality that was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah not what some claim.
There is no greater calling a person can receive from God than to be a servant of God as a Priest and there is no role greater than that. All the titles, Monsignor, Bishop, Cardinal, are but political titles indicating a higher rung on the corporate ladder but the primary responsibility is that of a priest first and foremost.
The highest title in the early church was a Bishop, the titles Monsignor and Cardinal were additions and created to indicate a position of royalty which in my mind is completely in opposition to Christ’s teachings and example.
Christ and the first disciples wore simple homespun clothing, lived simply and rejected the trappings that the Hierarchy of Christ’s time had adopted. In Matthew 23 Christ admonishes them for their life styles and their rules that prevented people from the worship of God. “The scribes and the Pharisee sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others”.
Every day I pray that I will honestly fulfill God’s call to me to be his servant here on earth and I examin each evening how well I have done that day, I agonize when I feel that I have failed in some way by not being as kind as I might have been to a person who disturbed me in some way.
The following are two prayers I offer both morning and evening asking God through the Holy Spirit to help me be a good and faithful servant to Him.
“Almighty God, I give you my hands to do your work; I give you my feet to go your way; I give you my eyes to see as you do; I give you my tongue to speak your words; I give you my mind that you may think in me; I give you my spirit that you may pray in me; Above all, I give you my heart that you may love in and through me all with whom I come in contact with each and every day. I dedicate myself to doing your will in all things and to becoming an instrument through which you might bring peace and harmony to all your children here on earth. AMEN
“Almighty and merciful God, open my mind, my heart, and my soul to your infinite love. Instill within me the knowledge of your truth. Guide me in your ways in all the things I do so that I may be unto others a reflection of your love towards them. Allow the light of your truth to flow through me towards them in order that they may come to know you better. I pray that all those with whom I come in contact with each and every day may be brought into a closer union with you and enjoy the promise of Your salvation earned through your beloved son, Jesus Christ, in His passion, death, resurrection and ascension. I humbly ask this in the name of your beloved son, Jesus Christ, who lives, and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever unto the ages of ages. AMEN
As Father Provincial of the Franciscans of Divine Mercy I ask every member of our small band of Franciscans Brothers and Sisters to always hold the teachings of Christ and our Seraphic Father Francis as their guidepost to life, to have God at the center of their life and to have compassion, mercy, respect and love for ALL God’s creation especially God’s children. That is what I feel we have been called to do daily as servants of God. AMEN
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Reflection for Weekend of July 4th
A Reflection for the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time
and Independence Day 2011
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD, Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus & Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Based on Readings from Zechariah 9:9-10, Psalm 145, Romans 8:9-13, Matthew 11:25-30
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
This weekend we in the United States will be celebrating the 235th anniversary as an Independent nation founded on the principals of equality and justice for all.
It saddens me that so many politicians and citizens of this great nation have lost sight of that founding principal and even more saddening is that they dare to call themselves Christians meaning that they are supposed to follow Christ’s teachings.
On December 23, 1776 Thomas Paine wrote in a publication called The Crisis the following words “These are the times that try men's souls. The complacent citizen and the self-righteous will, in this time of crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of every man and woman.” I believe that these words could very well refer to what is happening in this country now.
Certain political hopefuls for the role of President of this country are advocating policies that would cause millions of our poor and low income senior citizens to be forced to live lives that are in some cases worse than those found in third world countries.
In one of the richest countries in the world the very politicians who are advocating cuts in Medicare, Food Stamps and other programs that help people have the basics of life, earn monthly salaries in excess of the yearly income of the people who their proposed cuts would hurt most.
The Mass readings for this Sunday have an affirmation that Christ was sent by Almighty God, that Christ came to instruct ALL humanity to have compassion for the poor, sick aged and marginalized.
The first reading prophesizes that the messiah would; “He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.” (Zechariah 9:9-10)
The second reading tells us the following; “Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:9-13)
The Gospel reading is an affirmation that Christ was sent from God; “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25-30)
Since Jesus the Christ is from and of God we, therefore, who claim to follow the teachings Christ gave us and call ourselves Christians need to consider the needs of those who have not been blessed with as much as we may have been and who certainly do not have the resources that so many have today.
Most of our senior citizens never imagined earning the salaries that so many today expect. They would have considered someone who earned $75,000 a year to be extremely rich. The salaries some receive for playing a sport or acting in films and TV where only received by The super-rich industrialists and financiers such as John D. Rockefeller, Andrew W. Mellon, Andrew Carnegie, J P Morgan, The Vanderbilt and Astor Families.
Tom Paine had a grand vision for society: he was staunchly anti-slavery, and he was one of the first to advocate a world peace organization and social security for the poor and elderly.
I believe that we, in this nation, are facing another time of crisis. So many individuals and corporations seek only to accrue dividends and huge profits for their investors by cutting jobs and raising the prices of basic goods or shipping jobs overseas for the cheap labor while at the same time as they receive tax cuts from our Government allowing them to have huge profits. These same people and the politicians who support them claim they are Christians. Their actions are in complete opposition to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Those individuals are denying millions of the basic values our founding fathers had when they established our constitution. When people are being denied equal rights because of their social condition, age or sexual orientation there is no justice.
The God who created all things and gave His only beloved son to us to teach us how to Love and respect each other would not approve of how this nation is denying citizens equal rights or how they deprive it’s most vulnerable and poorest and aged citizens of affordable health care and decent housing but spend billions to wage war against other countries that expend the lives of our youth and future.
Most of the very same politicians who are advocating cuts in Medicare and who have reduced Food Stamps for those receiving them claiming the COST OF LIVING had gone down while every news media organization including those considered part of the conservative are telling us how the cost of food has gone up considerably.
Every elected official receives, in addition to their salaries which as I stated before are more per month than what millions receive yearly to live on, also get FREE health and Dental insurance, subsidized meals in the Congressional dining room, grooming in the congressional barber and beauty shops, FREE parking and reimbursement for Gas and travel, some of which many would consider a luxury vacation.
These are all things those living on only their Social Security which is often less than $1000 ( One Thousand Dollars) a month have to pay for.
The Time is now for all to evaluate how our country is heading and speak up for equal rights and justice for ALL THE PEOPLE. Our Constitution Says; “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
In the book of Wisdom we read; “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) “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 humans who are commissioned to uphold it. This nation’s founding fathers had a deep-rooted sense of faith in God.
Justice is undying only when it is coupled with honesty, trust, faith and generosity, compassion and freedom.
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 this country was founded on. Are you being generous, trusting, honest, and faithful to what Christ taught when he told us; “Love one another as I have loved you” and “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” (1 John 3:17); “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)
Are you working to insure that EVERY citizen is accorder the same rights and privileges as the others? Are you accepting the unique differences of races and beliefs that have melded together to form this more perfect union? As long as each and every person is respecting the RIGHTS of the other, 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 poverty, homelessness, violence, prejudice, hatred, and discrimination that have been injected into this world by Satan to keep us confused and unbalanced and casting doubt on the Love of Almighty God.
I pray that God will inspire the leaders of this nation and the world to find peaceful and compassionate ways to bring about a more perfect world where equality, justice, truth, honesty, trust and happiness exists for all God’s children. AMEN
Rev. Robert Francis Johnnene OFD
and Independence Day 2011
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD, Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus & Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Based on Readings from Zechariah 9:9-10, Psalm 145, Romans 8:9-13, Matthew 11:25-30
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
This weekend we in the United States will be celebrating the 235th anniversary as an Independent nation founded on the principals of equality and justice for all.
It saddens me that so many politicians and citizens of this great nation have lost sight of that founding principal and even more saddening is that they dare to call themselves Christians meaning that they are supposed to follow Christ’s teachings.
On December 23, 1776 Thomas Paine wrote in a publication called The Crisis the following words “These are the times that try men's souls. The complacent citizen and the self-righteous will, in this time of crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of every man and woman.” I believe that these words could very well refer to what is happening in this country now.
Certain political hopefuls for the role of President of this country are advocating policies that would cause millions of our poor and low income senior citizens to be forced to live lives that are in some cases worse than those found in third world countries.
In one of the richest countries in the world the very politicians who are advocating cuts in Medicare, Food Stamps and other programs that help people have the basics of life, earn monthly salaries in excess of the yearly income of the people who their proposed cuts would hurt most.
The Mass readings for this Sunday have an affirmation that Christ was sent by Almighty God, that Christ came to instruct ALL humanity to have compassion for the poor, sick aged and marginalized.
The first reading prophesizes that the messiah would; “He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.” (Zechariah 9:9-10)
The second reading tells us the following; “Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:9-13)
The Gospel reading is an affirmation that Christ was sent from God; “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25-30)
Since Jesus the Christ is from and of God we, therefore, who claim to follow the teachings Christ gave us and call ourselves Christians need to consider the needs of those who have not been blessed with as much as we may have been and who certainly do not have the resources that so many have today.
Most of our senior citizens never imagined earning the salaries that so many today expect. They would have considered someone who earned $75,000 a year to be extremely rich. The salaries some receive for playing a sport or acting in films and TV where only received by The super-rich industrialists and financiers such as John D. Rockefeller, Andrew W. Mellon, Andrew Carnegie, J P Morgan, The Vanderbilt and Astor Families.
Tom Paine had a grand vision for society: he was staunchly anti-slavery, and he was one of the first to advocate a world peace organization and social security for the poor and elderly.
I believe that we, in this nation, are facing another time of crisis. So many individuals and corporations seek only to accrue dividends and huge profits for their investors by cutting jobs and raising the prices of basic goods or shipping jobs overseas for the cheap labor while at the same time as they receive tax cuts from our Government allowing them to have huge profits. These same people and the politicians who support them claim they are Christians. Their actions are in complete opposition to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Those individuals are denying millions of the basic values our founding fathers had when they established our constitution. When people are being denied equal rights because of their social condition, age or sexual orientation there is no justice.
The God who created all things and gave His only beloved son to us to teach us how to Love and respect each other would not approve of how this nation is denying citizens equal rights or how they deprive it’s most vulnerable and poorest and aged citizens of affordable health care and decent housing but spend billions to wage war against other countries that expend the lives of our youth and future.
Most of the very same politicians who are advocating cuts in Medicare and who have reduced Food Stamps for those receiving them claiming the COST OF LIVING had gone down while every news media organization including those considered part of the conservative are telling us how the cost of food has gone up considerably.
Every elected official receives, in addition to their salaries which as I stated before are more per month than what millions receive yearly to live on, also get FREE health and Dental insurance, subsidized meals in the Congressional dining room, grooming in the congressional barber and beauty shops, FREE parking and reimbursement for Gas and travel, some of which many would consider a luxury vacation.
These are all things those living on only their Social Security which is often less than $1000 ( One Thousand Dollars) a month have to pay for.
The Time is now for all to evaluate how our country is heading and speak up for equal rights and justice for ALL THE PEOPLE. Our Constitution Says; “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
In the book of Wisdom we read; “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) “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 humans who are commissioned to uphold it. This nation’s founding fathers had a deep-rooted sense of faith in God.
Justice is undying only when it is coupled with honesty, trust, faith and generosity, compassion and freedom.
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 this country was founded on. Are you being generous, trusting, honest, and faithful to what Christ taught when he told us; “Love one another as I have loved you” and “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” (1 John 3:17); “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)
Are you working to insure that EVERY citizen is accorder the same rights and privileges as the others? Are you accepting the unique differences of races and beliefs that have melded together to form this more perfect union? As long as each and every person is respecting the RIGHTS of the other, 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 poverty, homelessness, violence, prejudice, hatred, and discrimination that have been injected into this world by Satan to keep us confused and unbalanced and casting doubt on the Love of Almighty God.
I pray that God will inspire the leaders of this nation and the world to find peaceful and compassionate ways to bring about a more perfect world where equality, justice, truth, honesty, trust and happiness exists for all God’s children. AMEN
Rev. Robert Francis Johnnene OFD
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Feast of Corpus Christi
Feast of Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ 2011
A Reflection by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
http://franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsergius.org
The feast of Corpus Christi this year is celebrated the Sunday following Trinity Sunday which was last week. This feast day is one of very special significance because in honoring the Eucharist, especially following the celebrations of the Ascension and the Trinity the church proclaims one of the basic beliefs of the Catholic faith, that in the Eucharist, or Holy Communion as some refer to it, we actually are receiving the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The feast of Corpus Christi is one of the most exalted mysteries of Catholic beliefs and one often disavowed by some Christian denominations because it yields nothing to the mysteries of the Trinity and Incarnation but requires absolute trust in the Word and teaching of Christ which is proclaimed in the Gospel for today and in the words of consecration we priests invoke.
On Holy Thursday we celebrate the institution of the Blessed Sacrament when Christ took the bread and blessed it and took the cup and proclaimed the words we use in the consecration. In the first reading from today St. Paul tells us the following; "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf”
Since Holy Thursday is linked closely with the final days of Christ’s earthly life and therefore often with sadness it was only appropriate that we celebrate the gift of that day to us of Christ’s body and blood or in Latin, Corpus Christi .
The Eucharist is often called “The Bread of Life” because of the promise by Christ that “He that eats of My Flesh, and drinks of My Blood, lives in Me, and I in him” which is found in the Gospel for today.
Those words found in John 6 are a clear explanation of why we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi as a separate joyful feast and one that is affirming and welcoming and clearly shows Almighty God’s infinite and everlasting love for us.
In the Eucharist we have been given Christ as a companion to us for as long as we live and through partaking of this bread of life we receive the strength to overcome the daily temptations that plague us. The Body of Christ is a sustaining strength for us and therefore a life giving source.
Paul reminds us; “Brethren, I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks, broke, and said: Take you and eat, this is My Body which shall be delivered up for you; this do for the commemoration of Me." (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Throughout the Gospels and Epistles we are advised that by refusing to recognize Christ as actually present in the Eucharist will bring condemnation upon those who receive without believing that Christ is actually present in the bread and wine. A few years ago I was so blessed to be present at my 7 year old granddaughter’s First Communion and so impressed at the devotion and piety she exhibited when going to receive the Eucharist. Her entire being glowed, it seemed, and returned with reverence and prayerful continence to her place. Afterwards I asked her if she knew what it was that she had done and she replied, “I have just taken Jesus into me”. I saw the same recently at the First Eucharist of some young people at St. Joseph Cupertino Faith Community, our parish in Fall River Massachusetts.
If only everyone could have that kind of piety, love, devotion and belief as they approach to receive the Bread of Life the children had at their first Holy Communion. It saddens me that so many in these times forgo taking time to attend the Eucharistic Celebration which we commonly call “THE MASS” to partake of the gift of Christ’s body and Blood in the Eucharist, as well as thank God for all that he has provided them.
I believe that we could resist all the temptations we are faced with every day easier if we partook of the Eucharist more often.
Maybe we would become more faithfully to the teachings and examples Christ taught and saints like Francis, Clare, Mother Therese of Calcutta often spoke of and St. Thomas Aquinas Exalted in the very special Alleluia sequence he wrote especially for the Feast of Corpus Christi which we heard today a part of which says; Bread of the Angels, for us is given, broken, for our pilgrims food, and token of the promise by Christ spoken, in the Paschal immolation, in old types pre-signified. Alleluia Jesus, Shepherd mild and meek, shield the poor, support the weak; help all who your pardon seek, placing all their trust in You: fill them with Your healing grace! Source of all we have or know, feed and lead us here below. Grant that with Your Saints above, sitting at the feast of love we may see You face to face. Amen. Alleluia
The Eucharist gives us the strength to resist temptation and become less judgmental of the differences God has created for reasons known only to Him. It helps us to become more loving and open to accepting all people as children of God. We might even become more concerned for the wellbeing of all people in this world and be more active in speaking up for equality, justice, fair wages for all people and against war, genocide, greed, poverty and homelessness.
Christ taught us that; “As often as you do this, you do so in remembrance of me” (Lk 22.) (1 Cor 11) How lucky and blessed are we to be able to partake of the Eucharist and have Christ within us every day if we so desire, what a special gift and one that again shows us how much God loves us. Let us return that love by partaking of the Eucharist as often as possible and thereby help us to be more Christ like in our daily lives.
Even though none of us is truly worthy of receiving such a gift from God we also know that God loves us and forgives us any wrongs we have done if we but ask and by that forgiveness we become worth to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. I close this reflection with the words of St. Francis concerning the Eucharist; "What wonderful majesty! What stupendous condescension! O sublime humility! That the Lord of the whole universe, God and the Son of God, should humble Himself like this under the form of a little bread, for our salvation" "...In this world I cannot see the Most High Son of God with my own eyes, except for His Most Holy Body and Blood." - St. Francis of Assisi
A Reflection by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
http://franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsergius.org
The feast of Corpus Christi this year is celebrated the Sunday following Trinity Sunday which was last week. This feast day is one of very special significance because in honoring the Eucharist, especially following the celebrations of the Ascension and the Trinity the church proclaims one of the basic beliefs of the Catholic faith, that in the Eucharist, or Holy Communion as some refer to it, we actually are receiving the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The feast of Corpus Christi is one of the most exalted mysteries of Catholic beliefs and one often disavowed by some Christian denominations because it yields nothing to the mysteries of the Trinity and Incarnation but requires absolute trust in the Word and teaching of Christ which is proclaimed in the Gospel for today and in the words of consecration we priests invoke.
On Holy Thursday we celebrate the institution of the Blessed Sacrament when Christ took the bread and blessed it and took the cup and proclaimed the words we use in the consecration. In the first reading from today St. Paul tells us the following; "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf”
Since Holy Thursday is linked closely with the final days of Christ’s earthly life and therefore often with sadness it was only appropriate that we celebrate the gift of that day to us of Christ’s body and blood or in Latin, Corpus Christi .
The Eucharist is often called “The Bread of Life” because of the promise by Christ that “He that eats of My Flesh, and drinks of My Blood, lives in Me, and I in him” which is found in the Gospel for today.
Those words found in John 6 are a clear explanation of why we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi as a separate joyful feast and one that is affirming and welcoming and clearly shows Almighty God’s infinite and everlasting love for us.
In the Eucharist we have been given Christ as a companion to us for as long as we live and through partaking of this bread of life we receive the strength to overcome the daily temptations that plague us. The Body of Christ is a sustaining strength for us and therefore a life giving source.
Paul reminds us; “Brethren, I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks, broke, and said: Take you and eat, this is My Body which shall be delivered up for you; this do for the commemoration of Me." (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Throughout the Gospels and Epistles we are advised that by refusing to recognize Christ as actually present in the Eucharist will bring condemnation upon those who receive without believing that Christ is actually present in the bread and wine. A few years ago I was so blessed to be present at my 7 year old granddaughter’s First Communion and so impressed at the devotion and piety she exhibited when going to receive the Eucharist. Her entire being glowed, it seemed, and returned with reverence and prayerful continence to her place. Afterwards I asked her if she knew what it was that she had done and she replied, “I have just taken Jesus into me”. I saw the same recently at the First Eucharist of some young people at St. Joseph Cupertino Faith Community, our parish in Fall River Massachusetts.
If only everyone could have that kind of piety, love, devotion and belief as they approach to receive the Bread of Life the children had at their first Holy Communion. It saddens me that so many in these times forgo taking time to attend the Eucharistic Celebration which we commonly call “THE MASS” to partake of the gift of Christ’s body and Blood in the Eucharist, as well as thank God for all that he has provided them.
I believe that we could resist all the temptations we are faced with every day easier if we partook of the Eucharist more often.
Maybe we would become more faithfully to the teachings and examples Christ taught and saints like Francis, Clare, Mother Therese of Calcutta often spoke of and St. Thomas Aquinas Exalted in the very special Alleluia sequence he wrote especially for the Feast of Corpus Christi which we heard today a part of which says; Bread of the Angels, for us is given, broken, for our pilgrims food, and token of the promise by Christ spoken, in the Paschal immolation, in old types pre-signified. Alleluia Jesus, Shepherd mild and meek, shield the poor, support the weak; help all who your pardon seek, placing all their trust in You: fill them with Your healing grace! Source of all we have or know, feed and lead us here below. Grant that with Your Saints above, sitting at the feast of love we may see You face to face. Amen. Alleluia
The Eucharist gives us the strength to resist temptation and become less judgmental of the differences God has created for reasons known only to Him. It helps us to become more loving and open to accepting all people as children of God. We might even become more concerned for the wellbeing of all people in this world and be more active in speaking up for equality, justice, fair wages for all people and against war, genocide, greed, poverty and homelessness.
Christ taught us that; “As often as you do this, you do so in remembrance of me” (Lk 22.) (1 Cor 11) How lucky and blessed are we to be able to partake of the Eucharist and have Christ within us every day if we so desire, what a special gift and one that again shows us how much God loves us. Let us return that love by partaking of the Eucharist as often as possible and thereby help us to be more Christ like in our daily lives.
Even though none of us is truly worthy of receiving such a gift from God we also know that God loves us and forgives us any wrongs we have done if we but ask and by that forgiveness we become worth to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. I close this reflection with the words of St. Francis concerning the Eucharist; "What wonderful majesty! What stupendous condescension! O sublime humility! That the Lord of the whole universe, God and the Son of God, should humble Himself like this under the form of a little bread, for our salvation" "...In this world I cannot see the Most High Son of God with my own eyes, except for His Most Holy Body and Blood." - St. Francis of Assisi
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
What is Church
What is Church?
A Reflection by Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsergius.org
Often I am asked why do we have to go to a church and what church is the right one or The One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church.
Last evening, I experienced CHURCH in a very real way when I was invited to take part in an interfaith Taizé Prayer service at the Holy Paraclete Old Catholic Parish in Providence Rhode Island.
I felt that The Holy Spirit was alive and truly present in that building which is still in the construction stages of development to become a place of worship named after the Holy Spirit.
In what was once a mechanic shop a space is being created for the honor and glory of God and in it last evening clergy and people from different religious denominations gathered together to offer prayers, songs and to meditate on the Beatitudes.
To answer the question this reflection began with, I will tell you that CHURCH is not a building, a denomination but PEOPLE. People gathered together in the Name of God.
As we are told in Matthew 18:20; “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
Over the last three weeks the Universal church has celebrated The Ascension, Pentecost, and Trinity. Sunday we will honor the great gift God has left us of himself, The Eucharist when we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi (Body of Christ).
Over the last 67 days we who accept Jesus Christ as the promised of the ages and dare tpo call ourselves Christians, have honored and celebrated the basic truths of Christianity found in the Profession of Faith, Christ was sent from God to be born in human form and live as a human. He suffered, died, rose, from the dead thereby conquering sin and death and allowing forgiveness of Sins. Christ then ascended back to the Father and the Holy Spirit only to send the Holy Spirit to be with us. We affirmed our belief that God is three divine persons distinctly coexisting in unity as co-equal, co-eternal, and consubstantial, which take faith to fully understand since it defies that which is human. Finally on Sunday we will celebrate the Gift of himself Christ gave us in what is often called “THE BREAD OF LIFE” The Eucharist.
Gathered together last evening My heart was overcome with not only the by the devout spirituality of those gathered but the full understanding of the words that we sung “Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est” which means “Where charity and love are, God is there” and those that came into my heart and head “Veni Sancte Spiritus” which means “Come Holy Spirit”
In Taizé France is a faith community founded in 1940 by Brother Roger Schutz who was not a Roman Catholic and was considered a Protestant, but who came to be revered and accepted by every major religious denomination because the monastic community He established had a deep commitment to peace and justice through prayer and meditation. Brother Roger was a full participant in every session of Vatican Two in spite of the fact he was not a Bishop, Cardinal or even a priest but a “Non Catholic”.
Brother Roger was revered by Mother Therese of Calcutta because they both were committed to living the Word in deed as well as word.
Church is People, gathering together to give honor, glory and praise to God and to seek and listen for God speaking to them and guiding them in their day to day lives. That is Church and no one faith can own that but it is owned only by those who live it and by God who created all things. AMEN
A Reflection by Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsergius.org
Often I am asked why do we have to go to a church and what church is the right one or The One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church.
Last evening, I experienced CHURCH in a very real way when I was invited to take part in an interfaith Taizé Prayer service at the Holy Paraclete Old Catholic Parish in Providence Rhode Island.
I felt that The Holy Spirit was alive and truly present in that building which is still in the construction stages of development to become a place of worship named after the Holy Spirit.
In what was once a mechanic shop a space is being created for the honor and glory of God and in it last evening clergy and people from different religious denominations gathered together to offer prayers, songs and to meditate on the Beatitudes.
To answer the question this reflection began with, I will tell you that CHURCH is not a building, a denomination but PEOPLE. People gathered together in the Name of God.
As we are told in Matthew 18:20; “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
Over the last three weeks the Universal church has celebrated The Ascension, Pentecost, and Trinity. Sunday we will honor the great gift God has left us of himself, The Eucharist when we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi (Body of Christ).
Over the last 67 days we who accept Jesus Christ as the promised of the ages and dare tpo call ourselves Christians, have honored and celebrated the basic truths of Christianity found in the Profession of Faith, Christ was sent from God to be born in human form and live as a human. He suffered, died, rose, from the dead thereby conquering sin and death and allowing forgiveness of Sins. Christ then ascended back to the Father and the Holy Spirit only to send the Holy Spirit to be with us. We affirmed our belief that God is three divine persons distinctly coexisting in unity as co-equal, co-eternal, and consubstantial, which take faith to fully understand since it defies that which is human. Finally on Sunday we will celebrate the Gift of himself Christ gave us in what is often called “THE BREAD OF LIFE” The Eucharist.
Gathered together last evening My heart was overcome with not only the by the devout spirituality of those gathered but the full understanding of the words that we sung “Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est” which means “Where charity and love are, God is there” and those that came into my heart and head “Veni Sancte Spiritus” which means “Come Holy Spirit”
In Taizé France is a faith community founded in 1940 by Brother Roger Schutz who was not a Roman Catholic and was considered a Protestant, but who came to be revered and accepted by every major religious denomination because the monastic community He established had a deep commitment to peace and justice through prayer and meditation. Brother Roger was a full participant in every session of Vatican Two in spite of the fact he was not a Bishop, Cardinal or even a priest but a “Non Catholic”.
Brother Roger was revered by Mother Therese of Calcutta because they both were committed to living the Word in deed as well as word.
Church is People, gathering together to give honor, glory and praise to God and to seek and listen for God speaking to them and guiding them in their day to day lives. That is Church and no one faith can own that but it is owned only by those who live it and by God who created all things. AMEN
Thursday, June 16, 2011
2011 Trinity Sunday Reflection
Trinity Sunday 2011
A Reflection based on Readings from Exodus, 43, Daniel 3, Corinthians 13, John 3
By Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD, Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsergius.org
The readings for this Sunday honoring the Blessed Trinity of God the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit proclaim one important message that we need to burn into our memory and hold fast to since it sums up the most important thing we need to know about God. God is a God of LOVE, MERCY, and COMPASSION. In essence, God is LOVE consummate. In the first reading from Exodus we read where God himself proclaimed to Moses the following; “"The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity." The Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday comes from the book of Daniel and is the ultimate praise prayer that we should profess every day and one which we Franciscans do say at least twice a day in keeping with the fact that St. Francis himself prayed it often throughout the day. It is simple and yet very powerful. “Glory and praise forever! Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all age, Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever. Glory and praise forever! Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Glory and praise forever! Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Glory and praise forever!”
The second reading informs us on how we should live with one another and again it is a message of extending love like that Christ exhibited to all we meet especially our family, friends and members of our Faith Community. The reading tells us to; “Encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.” The reading ends with a prayer that we say several times as we celebrate the Mass. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.”
The Gospel begins by reminding us of how much God and His beloved son loves us when it says; “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” St. John then goes on to remind us that God is not interested in being a God of condemnation; “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”
It is, I believe, very appropriate the this year Trinity Sunday that celebrates the 3 distinct separate manifestations of Almighty God yet the unity of them happens to fall this year on Father’s Day since Christ called God His Father. He even told us that when we pray, say; “Our Father who art in heaven”
God exists as three persons but is one God, meaning that God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have exactly the same nature or being as God the Father in every way. Whatever attributes and power God the Father has, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have as well. "Thus, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are also eternal, omnipresent, omnipotent, infinitely wise, infinitely holy, infinitely loving, and omniscient." All this means that since all the attributes of God are Consubstantial meaning "of one being" in that the Son is "generated" ("born" or "begotten") "before all ages" or "eternally" of the Father's own being, from which the Spirit also eternally "proceeds.". All 3 personas of God are the same and therefore the great power and force that is God is LOVE.
To sum up, if we are to become Christ like or God like, we need to work hard on being more loving and accepting of everyone, even those who don’t always treat us well.
That is very difficult, but remember, as he hung on the Cross Christ called out “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. To be forgiving of those who have done harm to us is the ultimate way of expressing Love but it is extremely difficult and requires us to be reject the normal human reaction to retaliate. I find that I need to constantly implore the Paraclete to give me the strength and inspiration to be able to become more loving in my relationships with those who do not always treat me well. And since God is generous and loving I find that somehow I am able to forgive and be cordial to those who have hurt me.
Whether we pray to God in the name of Adonai, Yahweh, El-Olam, Jesus or The Paraclete (Holy Spirit) we are praying to the one and only God. The same God that Abraham, Isaac, Moses, King David, Jacob, Mohammad, the Apostles and all the Saints prayed too.
In short, let us establish a line of communication with God and let us try to have more love for all those we encounter. Just possibly, if we can achieve that it will start spreading like a virus that invades people turning their hearts of stone into hearts filled with compassion, mercy and the desire for a world without war, hunger, poverty, homelessness and prejudice. AMEN
A Reflection based on Readings from Exodus, 43, Daniel 3, Corinthians 13, John 3
By Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD, Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsergius.org
The readings for this Sunday honoring the Blessed Trinity of God the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit proclaim one important message that we need to burn into our memory and hold fast to since it sums up the most important thing we need to know about God. God is a God of LOVE, MERCY, and COMPASSION. In essence, God is LOVE consummate. In the first reading from Exodus we read where God himself proclaimed to Moses the following; “"The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity." The Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday comes from the book of Daniel and is the ultimate praise prayer that we should profess every day and one which we Franciscans do say at least twice a day in keeping with the fact that St. Francis himself prayed it often throughout the day. It is simple and yet very powerful. “Glory and praise forever! Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all age, Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever. Glory and praise forever! Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Glory and praise forever! Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Glory and praise forever!”
The second reading informs us on how we should live with one another and again it is a message of extending love like that Christ exhibited to all we meet especially our family, friends and members of our Faith Community. The reading tells us to; “Encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.” The reading ends with a prayer that we say several times as we celebrate the Mass. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.”
The Gospel begins by reminding us of how much God and His beloved son loves us when it says; “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” St. John then goes on to remind us that God is not interested in being a God of condemnation; “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”
It is, I believe, very appropriate the this year Trinity Sunday that celebrates the 3 distinct separate manifestations of Almighty God yet the unity of them happens to fall this year on Father’s Day since Christ called God His Father. He even told us that when we pray, say; “Our Father who art in heaven”
God exists as three persons but is one God, meaning that God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have exactly the same nature or being as God the Father in every way. Whatever attributes and power God the Father has, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have as well. "Thus, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are also eternal, omnipresent, omnipotent, infinitely wise, infinitely holy, infinitely loving, and omniscient." All this means that since all the attributes of God are Consubstantial meaning "of one being" in that the Son is "generated" ("born" or "begotten") "before all ages" or "eternally" of the Father's own being, from which the Spirit also eternally "proceeds.". All 3 personas of God are the same and therefore the great power and force that is God is LOVE.
To sum up, if we are to become Christ like or God like, we need to work hard on being more loving and accepting of everyone, even those who don’t always treat us well.
That is very difficult, but remember, as he hung on the Cross Christ called out “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. To be forgiving of those who have done harm to us is the ultimate way of expressing Love but it is extremely difficult and requires us to be reject the normal human reaction to retaliate. I find that I need to constantly implore the Paraclete to give me the strength and inspiration to be able to become more loving in my relationships with those who do not always treat me well. And since God is generous and loving I find that somehow I am able to forgive and be cordial to those who have hurt me.
Whether we pray to God in the name of Adonai, Yahweh, El-Olam, Jesus or The Paraclete (Holy Spirit) we are praying to the one and only God. The same God that Abraham, Isaac, Moses, King David, Jacob, Mohammad, the Apostles and all the Saints prayed too.
In short, let us establish a line of communication with God and let us try to have more love for all those we encounter. Just possibly, if we can achieve that it will start spreading like a virus that invades people turning their hearts of stone into hearts filled with compassion, mercy and the desire for a world without war, hunger, poverty, homelessness and prejudice. AMEN
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Pentecost Reflection
Pentecost 2011 Reflection
Based on the readings from: Acts 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12: 3-13, Psalm 103, John20:19-23; also John15:26-67; 16:12-15
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsergius.org
Veni, Sancte Spiritus Come, Holy Spirit, Come
“No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit” (. 1 Corinthians 12:3) “In the one Spirit we were all baptized, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.” (1 Corinthians 12:13)
“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 is also called the Birthday of the church because it celebrates the decent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles after which they were heard by people of every race and nationality to be proclaiming the truth of Jesus teachings in the language of the listener.
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 “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 “Receive the Holy Spirit”.
It is the Holy Spirit that guides and inspires us, just as it inspired those who wrote the scriptures. The Holy Spirit is a living Spirit, Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit we are assisted in refraining from behavior that is displeasing to Almighty God and separate us from Him.
To elaborate on 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 and would really require a series of Reflections but essentially we separate ourselves by giving in to the temptations of the Seven Deadly Sins. Each of these “Desires of the Flesh” or deadly sins 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.
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 Almighty 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 truth is that God is a merciful, loving, forgiving and compassionate God. God is always there awaiting your call to Him. He does not have an answering machine, voice mail, or a secretary. He always listens 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. 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, often we are 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 whatever 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. AMEN
A Prayer to The Holy Spirit
By Father Robert Johnnene OFD
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 for 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 our creator, Almighty God, as one triune God, now and forever. AMEN
Based on the readings from: Acts 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12: 3-13, Psalm 103, John20:19-23; also John15:26-67; 16:12-15
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsergius.org
Veni, Sancte Spiritus Come, Holy Spirit, Come
“No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit” (. 1 Corinthians 12:3) “In the one Spirit we were all baptized, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.” (1 Corinthians 12:13)
“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 is also called the Birthday of the church because it celebrates the decent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles after which they were heard by people of every race and nationality to be proclaiming the truth of Jesus teachings in the language of the listener.
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 “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 “Receive the Holy Spirit”.
It is the Holy Spirit that guides and inspires us, just as it inspired those who wrote the scriptures. The Holy Spirit is a living Spirit, Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit we are assisted in refraining from behavior that is displeasing to Almighty God and separate us from Him.
To elaborate on 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 and would really require a series of Reflections but essentially we separate ourselves by giving in to the temptations of the Seven Deadly Sins. Each of these “Desires of the Flesh” or deadly sins 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.
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 Almighty 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 truth is that God is a merciful, loving, forgiving and compassionate God. God is always there awaiting your call to Him. He does not have an answering machine, voice mail, or a secretary. He always listens 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. 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, often we are 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 whatever 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. AMEN
A Prayer to The Holy Spirit
By Father Robert Johnnene OFD
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 for 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 our creator, Almighty God, as one triune God, now and forever. AMEN
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Reflection on The Our Father
Our Father Reflection
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans Divine Mercy
http://www.franciscansdivinemercy.org/
http://www.missionstsergius.org/
The following is a reflection from the Gospel of Matthew 6: 7-15 where Jesus teaches the Apostles how to pray and gives them and us the prayer we know as THE OUR FATHER.
Christ’s first instruction is on how we should pray at all times was; “ In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
In this Jesus is telling us not to rattle off our prayers in a hurry and to actually take time to think about what we are saying. Prayer is not just a recitation of the words but is a conversation with Almighty God, Christ, Our Blessed mother, or our favorite saints. We should be talking with them as though they were there in the room with us. Yes when we say the traditional prayers like the one we are reflecting upon that Jesus himself taught us we should still feel the words we are saying not just rattle them off from rote memory.
This applies especially the great prayer, the Mass.
Christ reminds us that God knows what is in our hearts and our minds even before we speak them. The purpose of praying is not the words but in centering ourselves to be with God.
I often tell people that taking time alone with God and talking to him as though He were sitting opposite them is a calming and centering exercise and it brings us closer to God as well as helps us to focus.
By taking time to focus on what we are saying and to speak the words that come from our inner being we enter into a reverent communication with Almighty God.
Jesus then goes on to teach us words we now know as THE OUR FATHER.
"This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
In this simple prayer we sum up all our beliefs and our wishes.
Christ reminds us again, in no uncertain terms, what our request to God and the answer depends upon he said; For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:15)
Therefore, when we pray the Our Father, we are acknowledging many of our beliefs as Christians because we concede:
1. God is our Father, and like our paternal father whose seed brought us into being, God brought us and all things into being by willing them into existence.
2. We affirm that the name of Almighty God is Holy and needs to be revered above all persons and things.
3. We are acknowledging that the kingdom of heaven is something in the future not to be found in this mortal world.
4. We acknowledge that we agree that God’s will MUST be done in all things, in both heaven and here on earth.
Notice it is, God’s will, not our own desire and will. This is often very difficult for us to embrace and it is also one way that we so often find ourselves in troubling by insisting on having our own way in spite of all other things.
5. We next go on to ask God to provide us the daily necessities of our life.
The key in this part of the prayer is ‘DAILY NECESSITIES’.
When we ask to win the lottery or get a flat screen TV or new car God may not consider them to be necessary for our existence and if fact, God may see that in getting them we would be endangering our eternal salvation.
6. In asking God to forgive us our debts we are asking Him for forgiveness of the things we might have done that separated us from Him and put us in debt to God. We also must remember we need to be willing to forgive those who have hurt us. This is a extremely important part of the prayer. If we are unwilling to forgive others how can we expect God to forgive us. Christ even reiterates this when He cautions “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 18:35)
7. Finally, we ask God to keep us from being tempted by Satan, but to deliver us from all evils, those imposed upon us by others and those which come out of our own selfishness, greed, anger, prejudices and stubbornness.
When Christ repeated the caution a second time about forgiving others He did so, I am sure, because He knew how difficult it was going to be for us mortals.
One of the most difficult things for people to admit is that they are wrong.
It is even more difficult to go to someone you have done a wrong too and ask for their forgiveness.
It is even more difficult to forgive someone who you really admired and cared deeply for who has wronged you.
Many people just cannot admit to another they are wrong. We see this daily on the news and TV. Even when faced with overwhelming evidence that a decision one made was wrong, some people cannot admit it and plead innocence.
As we prepare for the feast celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the actual birth of the Christian Church, we might want to reflect on how we pray and whether or not we are doing all we can to reach out to those we might have wronged and seek their forgiveness or better yet, have we forgiven those that have hurt us and extended to them the love of Christ.
I suggest this meditation because it may require some time for us to digest.
To be true followers and believers of Jesus Christ and to truly love God with all our being, we need to open ourselves to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and to put into practice in our daily lives what Christ taught us.
We need to live the Gospels not just preach and read them and we need to partake of Christ within us through the Eucharist. I love how St. Francis described the Eucharist; “The lord of the universe, God and the Son of God, who so humbles himself for our salvation that he hides Himself under an ordinary piece of bread” (from a letter to the entire order by St. Francis)
Like the Tau cross all Franciscans wear which represents our being “marked” as converted to a life based on the teachings of Christ and strengthened by the Eucharist.
The Tau, which is the Greek letter for an “X” which is what Ezekiel in chapter 9:3-6 says all who repented their sins and were converted should be marked with.
We Franciscans have dedicated our lives to not only preaching the messages of peace, brotherhood, love, charity, mercy and forgiveness but attempt to embrace those teachings in our daily lives with the help and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, that Christ promised would be sent by God to be with us always. AMEN
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans Divine Mercy
http://www.franciscansdivinemercy.org/
http://www.missionstsergius.org/
The following is a reflection from the Gospel of Matthew 6: 7-15 where Jesus teaches the Apostles how to pray and gives them and us the prayer we know as THE OUR FATHER.
Christ’s first instruction is on how we should pray at all times was; “ In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
In this Jesus is telling us not to rattle off our prayers in a hurry and to actually take time to think about what we are saying. Prayer is not just a recitation of the words but is a conversation with Almighty God, Christ, Our Blessed mother, or our favorite saints. We should be talking with them as though they were there in the room with us. Yes when we say the traditional prayers like the one we are reflecting upon that Jesus himself taught us we should still feel the words we are saying not just rattle them off from rote memory.
This applies especially the great prayer, the Mass.
Christ reminds us that God knows what is in our hearts and our minds even before we speak them. The purpose of praying is not the words but in centering ourselves to be with God.
I often tell people that taking time alone with God and talking to him as though He were sitting opposite them is a calming and centering exercise and it brings us closer to God as well as helps us to focus.
By taking time to focus on what we are saying and to speak the words that come from our inner being we enter into a reverent communication with Almighty God.
Jesus then goes on to teach us words we now know as THE OUR FATHER.
"This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
In this simple prayer we sum up all our beliefs and our wishes.
Christ reminds us again, in no uncertain terms, what our request to God and the answer depends upon he said; For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:15)
Therefore, when we pray the Our Father, we are acknowledging many of our beliefs as Christians because we concede:
1. God is our Father, and like our paternal father whose seed brought us into being, God brought us and all things into being by willing them into existence.
2. We affirm that the name of Almighty God is Holy and needs to be revered above all persons and things.
3. We are acknowledging that the kingdom of heaven is something in the future not to be found in this mortal world.
4. We acknowledge that we agree that God’s will MUST be done in all things, in both heaven and here on earth.
Notice it is, God’s will, not our own desire and will. This is often very difficult for us to embrace and it is also one way that we so often find ourselves in troubling by insisting on having our own way in spite of all other things.
5. We next go on to ask God to provide us the daily necessities of our life.
The key in this part of the prayer is ‘DAILY NECESSITIES’.
When we ask to win the lottery or get a flat screen TV or new car God may not consider them to be necessary for our existence and if fact, God may see that in getting them we would be endangering our eternal salvation.
6. In asking God to forgive us our debts we are asking Him for forgiveness of the things we might have done that separated us from Him and put us in debt to God. We also must remember we need to be willing to forgive those who have hurt us. This is a extremely important part of the prayer. If we are unwilling to forgive others how can we expect God to forgive us. Christ even reiterates this when He cautions “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 18:35)
7. Finally, we ask God to keep us from being tempted by Satan, but to deliver us from all evils, those imposed upon us by others and those which come out of our own selfishness, greed, anger, prejudices and stubbornness.
When Christ repeated the caution a second time about forgiving others He did so, I am sure, because He knew how difficult it was going to be for us mortals.
One of the most difficult things for people to admit is that they are wrong.
It is even more difficult to go to someone you have done a wrong too and ask for their forgiveness.
It is even more difficult to forgive someone who you really admired and cared deeply for who has wronged you.
Many people just cannot admit to another they are wrong. We see this daily on the news and TV. Even when faced with overwhelming evidence that a decision one made was wrong, some people cannot admit it and plead innocence.
As we prepare for the feast celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the actual birth of the Christian Church, we might want to reflect on how we pray and whether or not we are doing all we can to reach out to those we might have wronged and seek their forgiveness or better yet, have we forgiven those that have hurt us and extended to them the love of Christ.
I suggest this meditation because it may require some time for us to digest.
To be true followers and believers of Jesus Christ and to truly love God with all our being, we need to open ourselves to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and to put into practice in our daily lives what Christ taught us.
We need to live the Gospels not just preach and read them and we need to partake of Christ within us through the Eucharist. I love how St. Francis described the Eucharist; “The lord of the universe, God and the Son of God, who so humbles himself for our salvation that he hides Himself under an ordinary piece of bread” (from a letter to the entire order by St. Francis)
Like the Tau cross all Franciscans wear which represents our being “marked” as converted to a life based on the teachings of Christ and strengthened by the Eucharist.
The Tau, which is the Greek letter for an “X” which is what Ezekiel in chapter 9:3-6 says all who repented their sins and were converted should be marked with.
We Franciscans have dedicated our lives to not only preaching the messages of peace, brotherhood, love, charity, mercy and forgiveness but attempt to embrace those teachings in our daily lives with the help and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, that Christ promised would be sent by God to be with us always. AMEN
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