10th Sunday of Ordinary Time June 5, 2016

Corpus Christi Feast 2016

Holy Trinity Sunday May 22, 2016

Pentecost May 15 2016

Mothers Day May 8 2016

Sunday May 1 2016 REFLECTION TV SHOW

5TH Sunday of Easter 2016 April 24th 2016

4th Sunday of Easter 2016 April 17, 2016

Sunday April 10, 2016 Reflection

Divine Mercy Sunday 2016

Easter Sunday 2016

Stations of Cross, Via Dolorosa

Palm Sunday March 20, 2016

Sunday Mar 13, 2016 5th Sunday of Lent

Stations of Cross, Via Dolorosa

Laetare Sunday Mar 6, 2016

Stations of Cross, Via Dolorosa

Sunday Feb 28, 2016 On Sin and Sinning

Sunday Feb 21, 2016

First Sunday of Lent 2016

5th Sundy of Ordinary 2016 Feb. 7, 2016

5th Sundy of Ordinary 2016 Feb. 7, 2016

4th Sunday of Ordinary 01/31/ 2016

4th Sunday of Ordinary 01/31/ 2016

3rd Sunday of Ordeinary Time 2016 1/24/2016

Jan 17, 2016 2nd Sunday of Ordinary time show

Jan 10, 2016 Baptism of Christ Show

Jan 10, 2016 Baptism of Christ Show

Jan 3, 2016 Epiphany Show

Christmas 2015 Show

Sunday Dec 20, 2015 REFLECTIONS show

Dec 13, 2015 Reflections Show

Nov 15, 2015 Reflection

Nov 8 2015 Reflection

Nov 1 2015 Reflection

October 25 2015 REFLECTIONS SHOW

29th Sunday of Ordinary time 2015

October 112015 REFLECTIONS show

June 7, 2015 Reflection

Trinity Sunday Reflection

7Th Sunday of Easter Video Reflection

6th Sunday of Easter Reflection

I will be on retreat for this weekend so I am posting early.

Video Reflection for Sunday April 19, 2015

Video Reflection for Divine Mercy Sunday

Seeking God, a reflection for July 27, 2014

Seek and you will find
A Reflection for Sunday July 27th 2014
By Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
An All Inclusive and Welcoming Old Catholic Parish and Ministry
Of the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas
Link to Mission Web Site: www.missionstsergius.org
Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Web Site: www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
Link to all Fr. Bob’s REFLECTIONS TV Shows http://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn
Link to St. Joseph Cupertino Parish: http://stjosephcupertino.com/index.html
Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FranciscansDivineMercy?fref=ts
Link to the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas http://www.iccamericas.org
Email Address: Divinemercyparish@msn.com


Today’s readings from Holy Scripture are all about Love, God’s love to be exact and how we should return that love to God.
The first reading for this Sunday is from 1 Kings 3:5 “The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” and it called to my mind another similar passages from Holy Scripture.
One is found in Deuteronomy7 4:29 “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Another is found in 1 Chronicles 28:9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” and still another in Matthew 7 :7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Each of these passages are a solid reminder of God’s promise and love for ALL His children who embrace Him and seek Him for solace and forgiveness as well as healing and strength.
Today’s Gospel from Matthew 13:44-52 relates the parable that Christ used to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” Once we have found the truth of Christ’s message and recognize that Almighty God, the Father and creator of all things is a loving, compassionate and forgiving God who has created all things good, we need to hold on to that message and value it as the most precious thing we have.
In Paul’s letter to the Romans 8:28, which is the second reading for this Sunday, Paul reaffirms this knowledge by saying “Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.” Combined, these words should hearten us and lift us up when we feel depressed, forlorn or abandoned.
Recently Pope Francis told us the following about God’s love and our love for God; “It is more difficult to let God love us than to love Him! The best way to love Him in return is to open our hearts and let Him love us. Let Him draw close to us and feel Him close to us. This is really very difficult: letting ourselves be loved by Him. And that is perhaps what we need to ask today …‘Lord, I want to love You, but teach me the difficult science, the difficult habit of letting myself be loved by You, to feel You close and feel Your tenderness ! May the Lord give us this grace.” This is a wonderful prayer for us to pray daily, especially if we feel that God does not love us. God’s love for us is unlimited and infinite.
Pope Francis has emphasized the love of Christ when he said; “The Lord loves us tenderly, The Lord knows that beautiful science of caresses, the tenderness of God. He does not love us with words. He comes close – closeness – and gives us His love with tenderness. Closeness and tenderness!
“The Lord loves us in these two ways, He draws near and gives all His love even in the smallest things: with tenderness. And this is a powerful love, because closeness and tenderness reveal the strength of God’s love.”
We need to remember that we are never completely alone as long as we hold on to the love of God and believe the message that Christ gave us.
It is not the rules of man, or a church organization that should establish how God perceives us but what is embedded deep in our hearts.
If we live our lives to serve God with our whole heart and with a willing mind, as the reading from Chronicles reminds us, GOD WILL NEVER REJECT US!
If we welcome and accept the truths found in today’s readings we will understand it is God Himself who looks into our hearts and decides who will attain heaven.
It is not any humans place to usurp God’s decision. We are taught in today’s readings; “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” “know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him” “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
On May 22nd in his homily to those gathered for Thursday Mass at Casa Santa Marta.
Pope Francis had the following to say about God’s love and our love for God; “The Christian vocation is this: to remain in the love of God, that is, to breathe, to live of that oxygen, to live of that air, Jesus' love is a love that comes from the Father. The loving relationship between Him and the Father is also a relationship of love between Him and us. He asks us to remain in this love, which comes from the Father,”
The Pope was focusing on Jesus’ exhortation from the Gospel of John, “remain in my love.” The sign of remaining in this love is “keeping the commandments.”
“When we remain in love,” the pontiff said, “the Commandments follow on their own, out of love.” Love “leads us to naturally fulfill the Commandments. The root of love blossoms in the Commandments.”
In essence, if we live by what Christ called the two greatest Commandments: “Love the Lord, your God, with your whole mind, body and soul and love your eighbor as you love yourself” or when he said; “Love one another as I have loved you” God will NEVER reject anyone who comes to him and has faithfully followed those teachings.
We must always remember the motto of our Ministry; “God loves ALL His children exactly as He created them”
Therefore, go forth and seek God with your heart, mind and entire being and follow Him with love toward individual you encounter on your journey of life and you will have the gates of heaven opened to you and hear God say; “Well done my good and faithful servant”. AMEN

4th Sunday of Advent Reflection

4th Sunday of Advent 2013 Reflection

By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD

Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy

Independent Catholic Church of the Americas

Email: Divinemercyparish@msn.com

Link to Mission Web Site: www.missionstsergius.org

Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FranciscansDivineMercy?fref=ts

Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Web Site: www.franciscansdivinemercy.org

Link to the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas http://www.iccamericas.org/

Link to All Reflections TV Shows; http://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn

Link to St. Joseph Cupertino Parish: http://stjosephcupertino.com/index.html





Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She 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.' these words from the Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Advent indicates how powerful the child in the womb of Mary was.

A good thing to remember also is that Elizabeth and Zechariah her husband who was a priest in the Jewish Temple were not young, they had long past the child bearing age but Zechariah was chosen by lot one morning to offer incense in the Holy Place, the temple's inner chamber where only priests were allowed.

As Zechariah was praying, the Angel Gabriel appeared at the right side of the altar. Gabriel told the old man that his prayer for a son would be answered. Zechariah's wife would give birth and they were to name the baby John. Further, Gabriel said John would be a great man who would lead many to the Lord and would be a prophet announcing the Messiah.

Zechariah was doubtful because of his and his wife's old age.

The angel then struck him deaf and mute because of his lack of faith, until the child would be born.

Now when Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was in the last month of her pregnancy our Gospel story tell us of what Elizabeth experienced and how she knew that the child Mary was carrying was the promised Messiah.

We also must remember that Mary accepted the will of the Lord in spite of the possibility that in doing so she could be stoned to death.

Now we need to ask ourselves how willing are we to do God's will even when it will be difficult.

That is the lesson and the question I believe we need to think about this last Sunday before we celebrate the birth of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Many popes and saints have urged us to follow the example of Mary and give birth to Christ this Christmas spiritually in our hearts and minds.

I am reminded of the words of St. Francis concerning the birth of Christ; "We give birth to him through holy works, which should shine forth as an example for others. How holy and dear, pleasant, humble, peaceful, lovable and desirable above all things it is to have such a brother and such a son, our Lord Jesus Christ!"

As we go through life often times we are faced with problems or trials that we would rather not have to deal with. I have experienced it as well as many others when the doctors give you the news that you have cancer or a serious health condition. But I also have found that with faith and trust that God will bring you through that difficulty, especially if you turn to him and pray often to him putting your trust in his will you will come through the difficulty. Often, the most difficult times are lessons sent by God to lead us toward the place he desires us to be or tests like those Job had to endure as proof of our complete trust and love of God.

St. Franics tells us that when we love God with a sincere heart we give birth to Christ spiritually especially when we accomplish deeds that manifest Christ's teachings to the world.

What would have happened, I wonder, if Mary had told Gabriel "You have got to be kidding? You want me to bring forth a child without being married?" "No Way!" "I could get stoned to death as a harlot"

It is with complete faith in God, The God that Mary knew from the Hebrew Scriptures, that Mary accepted God's invitation even though it could create a very heavy burden for her.

I sometimes wonder what this world would be like is Mary had not accepted God's call.

If Jesus had never been born and therefore we never head the Good News of Salvation that Christ came to enlighten us with through that light lead us on the path that would bring us to everlasting life.

Christ was sent by the Father, Almighty God, to teach us the truth of God's will and to rebuke all the man made rules and regulations that had been imposed over the years..

Christ came to give us the keys to open the doors to heaven for all who desire to follow the path He taught us. The path of Christ is a simple one; "Love God with all our being and love each other as Christ loved us"

Christ loved us enough to die for us. There is no greater love than that.

Mary's acceptance of God's will was the first step in our redemption.

If she had refused Christ would not have been born and the prophet's fulfillment would not have happened which means we would not be celebrating Christmas this Wednesday. On Christmas Day let us attempt to follow Mary's complete trust in God and accept His will for us. Let us learn to be happy with how God created us and to accept others as God created them.

Let us give each other the gifts of brotherly/sisterly love and diligently try to bring about a time of justice, equality, truthfulness and fairness to every individual on the face of the earth since we all are children of God no matter what nationality or religious denomination.

This Christmas let us renew our efforts to bring about a time of peace and justice to all. Let us dig down and support those who are in need and support those charities that are trying to help others. Let us make God a major focal point in our daily schedule.

Let us place our complete faith and trust in God as May did and tell God "Not our will but your will be done unto us according to your word"

On Christmas Day, let us consider what a glorious gift was given to us on that night when our savior was born in a simple stable. The King of Kings, Lord of Lords was not born in a palatial palace.

He was not born in the warmth comfort of a home or inn. No, he was born in a humble stable surrounded not by nurses and doctors and relatives but by Mary and Joseph, who had accepted God's will for them even though it could have left them open to criticism. They were there with only God's other creations, the animals of the barn whose breath provided warms for the new born child.

Jesus first visitors were simple shepherds, not the elite of the world.

God gave us a sign by this choice for His only son's birth.

God is trying to tell us to live our lives simply and not go seeking fame or fortune. We have been given a message that the simple things in life are what count. Not riches, fame, fortune, but the simple things of life like family, friends, and the beauty of nature.

In every event recorded of Christ's life in scripture, we find a message of acceptance, compassion and forgiveness. Christ welcomed all who came to him. He sat and ate with those considered sinners.

Christ is referred to as "The Light of the World" which means He was sent to light the way for us, like a brilliant beacon that guides ships away from dangerous shoals and reefs toward a safe harbor, Christ showed and taught us how we need to live our life.

Christ was born to clarify God's will for us and dispel the darkness that prevailed and still causes so much pain and suffering.

Christ came to comfort us in times of distress by assuring us that there is a great reward awaiting us at the end of our earthly life if we follow his example.

The miraculous birth we celebrate on Wednesday is that of God made flesh. God gave us a human image to equate to; a human being that had to endure all the human feelings, emotions, problems and joys that each of us has to experience in our journey of life.

Christ endured the pain of a loss of a parent and friends, He experienced the joy of a wedding of a friend. He became angry at the greed and callousness of the priests and temple employees.

Christ also told us how to live a life that would insure everlasting peace. His message was one of Love, forgiveness, compassion, mercy and generosity.

On this day that we celebrate God's gift to us of His only son and God's promise of salvation to all his children, let us present an offering to Him that reflects the way of life He advised us to lead.

Let us begin to be more compassionate to those who are suffering from hunger, illnesses such as AIDS and cancer, poverty, substandard housing, and discrimination. Let us work hard to eliminate these ills of our society and bring about a time of equality and justice for ALL God's children.

On this day that we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace let us make a concerted effort to bring peace into the world beginning with our own families, friends and neighbors whom we might be have hurt in some way. If all of us begin toward this goal, we can make a huge difference in the world.

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27) With these words of Christ I end this joyous message the last Sunday before the celebration of the birth of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, with a prayer that the Peace and infinite mercy and love of Christ will invade your hearts today and all the days of your life.

Have a truly wonderful Merry Christmas. AMEN

Christ the King Sunday

Reflection For The Feast Of Christ The King

A reflection for the Feast of Christ the King 2013

By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD

Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans Divine Mercy

Independent Catholic Church of the Americas

This week’s TV Reflection: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQBes0hcAd8

 Link to All Reflections TV Shows; http://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn

Link to St. Joseph Cupertino Parish: http://stjosephcupertino.com/index.html

 Link to Mission Web Site: www.missionstsergius.org

 Link Divine Mercy Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FranciscansDivineMercy?fref=ts

 Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Web Site: www.franciscansdivinemercy.org

Link to the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas http://www.iccamericas.org/

 

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Kingship of Christ, it is also the final Sunday of the Liturgical year and next week we begin a new Liturgical year with the first Sunday of Advent.

Psalm 122 for this Sunday ends with “I will now say, Peace be within you.

“I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the LORD…….Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.  For my brothers and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within you.  Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good.”

What wonderful greeting to offer to everyone we meet on our journey of life. “I say, Peace be within you”. 

This Sunday the 24^th of November has been set aside to acknowledge Christ as King. 

Christ declared that He was the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end and as such the human embodiment of the His Father, Almighty God the creator of all things.  

Any king, more precisely a loving good king, is concerned about the safety and welfare of every one of his subjects and so it is with Jesus Christ who told us how a good shepherd, which is exactly what a good king is supposed to be to his people, would go seeking a one lost sheep.

Our present Bishop of Rome, Francis, has often referred to himself as a shepherd and called upon all his Bishops and priests to go out into the pastures and be a shepherd to your flock.

The Second Reading for the feast of Christ the King is from Paul’s letter to the Colossians 1:12-20 which also gives us an affirmation of God’s love and caring for every person on the face of the earth and for the earth itself.

“Giving thanks to the Father, … Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell;  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven”.

The kingdom that Christ reigns over is not of this world, but is the everlasting kingdom to which we are called after living in this material world. We were reminded of this a few weeks ago when the scripture readings told of the life after this earthly one.

The kingdom of heaven is a spiritual kingdom where peace and harmony and elation of being with the angels and saints and most especially the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, abounds.

As King, Christ has the ultimate say on who will and will not be welcomed into this kingdom. There is not one human being on the face of the earth that can make that judgment, although many who call themselves “pastors” have claimed they know who will be in heaven and who are condemned. 

In The Gospel from Luke 23:35-43, we hear the following; “Above him there was an inscription: ‘This is the King of the Jews’.
One of the criminals hanging beside him abused him saying;. ‘Are you not the Christ?’ he said. ‘Save yourself and us as well.’ But the other spoke up and rebuked him. ‘Have you no fear of God at all?’ he said. ‘You and I received the same sentence as he did, but in our case we deserved it: we are paying for the crimes we committed. But this man has done nothing wrong. He said to Jesus, ‘remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Christ replied; “‘Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

That statement by Christ strengthens the concept that Christ is the power through which we gain eternal life in the paradise that is the Kingdom of Heaven.  

In First Chronicles 29:11 we find this statement “Lord, you are great and powerful. Glory, majesty and beauty belong to you. Everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. Lord, the kingdom belongs to you. You are honored as the One who rules over all.” and in Matthew 5:19 we read these words of advice as to how we can gain entrance to the Kingdom for which Christ is king; Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
The Commandments we have been called to live by are simple according the Christ they can be found in Matthew 22: 38-39 and have been called “The greatest of Commandments” “Love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, mind, soul and body and the second is like unto it, Love your neighbor as you love yourself”, 

In Christ’s Sermon on the Mount where Christ gave us the instructions on how to live, often called “The Beatitudes” we were told to do the following; “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Next week we enter into a time of preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ, the season of Advent, which is an excellent time for us to take an inventory of how well we are doing in preparing for our entrance into the Kingdom of Christ, heaven, when our time here on God’s earthly plain is over.

Are we mindful of the needs of others, are we caring and accepting of all of God’s children not just those we consider acceptable because they conform to our way of thinking?

Are we looking out for the welfare of the poor, sick, homeless, aged and those who are unemployed?

Do we discriminate against others because of Race, creed, marital condition, sexual orientation or political party?

Are we giving back 10% to God of from the gifts he has provided us in time or goods or financial assistance?  

Christ has given us the example, He did not reject anyone who came to Him and neither should we.

We will not have to look far for a place to extend help or assistance; there are people in need in every community and in every Faith community all over the Globe.

This Thursday, as we celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving, let us make it a point to reach out and share some of our resources with someone in need. Take time to help out at a food pantry, or at a homeless shelter.

Give thanks to God by giving back some of the goodness that you have in your life.   

In this time of Advent, when people are thinking of the gifts they are going to get for their family and friends let us acknowledge the gifts God, our father, has given us and how we can use them to benefit those who have not been blessed as much as we are.

I always recall one of my father’s sayings; “I thought I was bad off because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet”

No matter how poor we might be, there is always someone who is worse off than we are and we are called by God to reach out to them and give them a helping hand.

By sharing the gifts God has provided us with someone less fortunate we not only show our love and respect for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords but we build up our treasure in the Kingdom of God which is what we hope to attain when out time here on earth is over.. AMEN

Video Reflection for Nov. 10th

REFLECTIONS TV SHOW for Nov. 3rd

Video Reflection for Nov. 3

Nov. 3rd Reflection, Words of Wisdom & Truth

Words of Wisdom and Truth

A Reflection for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD

Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans Divine Mercy

Independent Catholic Church of the Americas

Link to Reflections TV Shows; http://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn

Link to St. Joseph Cupertino Parish: http://stjosephcupertino.com/index.html

Link to Mission Web Site: http://www.missionstsergius.org

Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Web Site: http://www.franciscansdivinemercy.org

Link to the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas http://www.iccamericas.org/

 

The words from the first reading for the 31^st Sunday of Ordinary Time is from the Book of Wisdom 11:22-12:2 and worth more than a billion words and sermons.  

The reading most certainly should open our hearts and minds to God’s infinite mercy and love for all His children regardless of their race, nationality, gender, or religious denomination.

When we take into consideration the other readings for this Sunday we have not only a message affirming God’s love and mercy for us all but also advice on how we can and will be welcomed and found pleasing in God’s eyes.

The reading from the book of Wisdom 11 verses 22 through Wisdom 12:verse 2 says; “Before the Lord the whole universe is like a grain of dust that tips the scales,or like a drop of morning dew falling on the ground. Yet you are merciful to all, because you can do all things and overlook men’s sins so that they can repent. Yes, you love all that exists; you hold nothing of what you have made in abhorrence, for had you hated anything, you would not have formed it.   And how, had you not willed it, could a thing persist, how be conserved if not called forth by you? You spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life, you whose imperishable spirit is in all.  Little by little, therefore, you correct those who offend, you admonish and remind them of how they have sinned, so that they may abstain from evil and trust in you, Lord.”

When coupled with, are taken into consideration from St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians chapter 1:11-2:2 we become strengthened even more in the knowledge of God’s love for us; “all that you have been doing through faith the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. To turn now to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we shall all be gathered round him: please do not get excited too soon or alarmed by any prediction or rumor or any letter claiming to come from us, implying that the Day of the Lord has already arrived.”

So many who claim to be preaching the word of God have tried to frighten people with the admonition that dooms day is at hand, and have done so from the earliest days of the church but Christ himself told us; “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. (Mark 13:32)

The message from Sunday’s Gospel is also comforting and affirming in that it reminds us that Christ did not heed the admonishments of the Religious of His time. It also makes clear that God and Christ are there for everyone who believes in them and tries to live in a way that is pleasing to God according to the teachings that Christ proclaimed.

Unfortunatly there are some who believe that they are the “chosen ones” because of their position, their wealth or because or their devotional practices and attendance at church but when they leave the confines of the church, and sometimes even while there, they do not practice Christian Charity and often demean others because of how they dress, or the color of their skin or their nationality.

The Gosple tells us:  “When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: “Zacchaeus come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.” And Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Christ joyfully. Others complained when they saw what was happening. “He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house” they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, “Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount”And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost”   (Luke 19:1-10)

We might also take note of what Zacchaeus said to Christ about giving half of his property to the poor and needy and making right any injustices or cheating he might have done since it is also one of the major teachings of Christ, to be mindful of the needs of others and to share our gifts with those who have not.

Christ has told us time and again that being aware of others and having compassion and generosity are keys to entering into heaven.

The Seraphic Father of our order, The Franciscan’s of Divine Mercy and love of God, our official name, knew this message so very well.  

St. Francis is known to have said “I acknowledge that all my possessions were given to me by God, and now here I am ready to give them back to Him”

Everything we have comes from God and therefore we need to give thanks for the gifts we have received and not hoard them to ourselves but share then according to our ability. 

We need to open our eyes to the needs of others around us and to put aside our prejudices and self centered interests and open our hearts to being more receptive to living the great commandment of Christ every moment of our life here on earth.

“Love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, mind, soul and body and love your neighbor as you love yourself” “Love one another as I have loved you”

Let us go forth from this day forward, putting these words of Christ into action by being more concerned about the needs of others especially the poor, sick and aged and seek out every opportunity to share the gifts that God has given us with others especially the poor, sick, homeless and aged. 

If we do this we will be living the Gospel every day of our life and by doing so not only be an inspiration to those who we encounter in our daily life but we will also be opening the door into our partaking in the everlasting glory in heaven with Almighty God our Father and creator of all things, His beloved Son, our redeemer and savior Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and all the heavenly elect. May God bless you and keep you, may his light shine upon you and may you be filled with the comfort and peace that comes from God.  AMEN