A Prayer to the The Holy Spirit for Christian Unity
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
Holliston, MA
www.missionstsergius.org
Almighty and merciful Father, send the Holy Spirit down upon us and the leaders of all the Christian churches to open their minds and hearts to the truthful teachings of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Help them to renew and restore the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church which he founded when the Holy Spirit descended on His Apostles that first Pentecost.
By the Holy Spirit gather all who believe the Truth of Jesus Teachings to come together, working together to bring about unity of the Church founded by Christ and the Apostles. Help them to practice respect the dignity of all God’s children throughout the entire world.
Inspire world leaders to find the means of bringing about an end to the horrors of war, poverty, genocide and discrimination and all the other atrocities being committed in the name of God.
Through the Holy Spirit, inspire all people to be more mindful of the needs of others and become more generous toward the poor, aged, and sick.
Open the minds of all to become more tolerant of the differences and diversity created by Almighty God.
Instill deep in our hearts your truth and through the Holy Spirit guide us in our service to you.
We ask this in the name of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our redeemer and savior.
AMEN
Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA Mission Sts. Sergius and BacchusEmail: Mission_St_Sergius@msn.comWeb Site: www.missionstsergius.orgYahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistryMSN 360 Blog: http://missionstsergius.org/blog.htmlMSN Group Blog: http://missionstssergiusandbacchus.blogspot.com/
A mission of the Franciscans of Divine Mercy. We are a welcoming and affirming faith community to all who feel disenfranchised, unwanted, and rejected by Faith Communities. We welcome all persons who believe Christ was the redeemer and savior. The mission pastor is Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Thoughts for Fourth of July Weekend
Since I will be leaving for my week long vacation on Cape Cod on Friday, I am posting my reflection for July Fourth Weekend early.
I wish one and all a blessed and joyous Fourth of July and pray that we all can come together in the Love of Almighty God and Jesus Christ to find and celebrate the things that can bind us together and break down the walls that separate us from within the Mystical Body of Christ.
Equality, Justice, Truth, Happiness, Faith, Generosity
Foundations of Our Fore Fathers and the Teachings of Christ
On this Independence Day weekend I find it especially gratifying and fitting that the readings for this Sunday support and uphold the foundations that this country is founded on.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” (Constitution of the United States)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL PEOPLE are created equal, that they ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR with certain unalienable rights, that among them are LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS” (Declaration of Independence)
The first reading for Sunday is from the book of Wisdom and it says, “Love Justice, you who judge the earth think of the Lord in Goodness and seek Him in integrity of heart” (Wisdom 1:1) “God does not rejoice in the destruction of the living for God furnished all things that they might have being…ALL the creatures of the world are wholesome” (Wisdom 1:14-15) “Through the envy of the devil death and evil entered the world” (Wisdom 2:24) “It is the wicked, the sons of Satan who with hands and words invited death and destruction considering it a friend” (Wisdom 1:16) We are also told in Wisdom 15 “Justice is undying”.
The truth is that JUSTICE is undying unless the devil has taken control of those humans who are commissioned to uphold it. JUSTICE is the root of all freedom, if there is no JUSTICE there is no true freedom. JUSTICE is undying when it is coupled with a sense of FAITH in a superior being, the creator Almighty God. This nations founding fathers had a deep-rooted sense of faith in God. In the Declaration of Independence, they refer to Him as THE CREATOR and THE SUPREME JUDGE OF THE WORLD. Today we have many people who are attempting to remove any mention of Almighty God from everything in this country; this was not the intent or purpose of our founding Fathers. They had a deep-seated FAITH and BELIEF in the Almighty. That small minority have prevented prayer in the schools, are trying to remove ONE NATION UNDER GOD from the pledge of allegiance, and would deny that our rule of laws were established with the commandments in mind. Sadly, some of these people purport to be religious leaders. Jews, Muslims, and all Christians worship the same God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and Jesus. The readings from the Gospel teach us how FAITH is so powerful. Both the woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years and the official of the Jewish synagogue, Jairus, had FAITH and TRUST that Jesus could cure them, and He did. Having FAITH can as Jesus tells us in Matthew 17:20 “If you had faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, you would be able to say to that mountain, move!, and it would move”
JUSTICE is undying when it is coupled with HONESTY, TRUST, FAITH and GENEROSITY or compassion and FREEDOM. Allowing ALL people to pursue HAPPINESS by having the same rights and benefits of all other individuals. In order to accomplish this we need to respect and embrace the diversity of God’s creation. Every child of God has been given special gifts and just as the various parts of our body look different and have differing functions they are all part of the same body. So it is with all God’s children, they might look different, may have differing celebrations and customs but they are all our sisters and brothers in Christ.
This past week we all were given a glowing example of how one individual, Warren Buffett, is living out the message in the second reading of Sunday. “The willingness to give should be in accord with ones means, not go beyond them...there should be certain EQUALITY. Your plenty now should supply their needs so that there surplus later might be able to supply your needs, with EQUALITY as a result” (2 Corinthians 8:12-14)
I urge each and every one who reads or hears this message to think about our freedom, think about how they are contributing to the ideals this country was founded on. Are you being GENEROUS, TRUSTING, HONEST, FAITHFUL? 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 the violence, prejudice, hatred, poverty 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 leave on my annual week on Cape Cod with the prayer that Almighty God will send His bountiful blessings upon each and every one of you and that He will inspire the leaders of this nation and the world to find peaceful and compassionate ways to bring about a more perfect world and EQUALITY, JUSTICE, TRUTH, HONESTY, TRUST and HAPPINESS to all God’s children all over the Globe.
AMEN
Rev. Robert Francis Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints. Sergius and Bacchus
Holliston, Massachusetts
E-mail: Mission_St_Sergius@msn.com
www.missionstsergius.orgWe are a Catholic mission of the Franciscans of the Annunciation under the Old Catholic Diocese of New England. We believe that all God's children deserve respect and the same rights and privileges as every other person regardless of their sexual orientation or marital status.
We confer all Sacraments and Holy Unions.
God's love is everlasting and infinite and His mercy and compassion is unlimited.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistryhttp://spaces.msn.com/members/Mission-St-Sergiushttp://groups.msn.com/MissionSaintsSergiusandBacchus
I wish one and all a blessed and joyous Fourth of July and pray that we all can come together in the Love of Almighty God and Jesus Christ to find and celebrate the things that can bind us together and break down the walls that separate us from within the Mystical Body of Christ.
Equality, Justice, Truth, Happiness, Faith, Generosity
Foundations of Our Fore Fathers and the Teachings of Christ
On this Independence Day weekend I find it especially gratifying and fitting that the readings for this Sunday support and uphold the foundations that this country is founded on.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” (Constitution of the United States)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL PEOPLE are created equal, that they ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR with certain unalienable rights, that among them are LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS” (Declaration of Independence)
The first reading for Sunday is from the book of Wisdom and it says, “Love Justice, you who judge the earth think of the Lord in Goodness and seek Him in integrity of heart” (Wisdom 1:1) “God does not rejoice in the destruction of the living for God furnished all things that they might have being…ALL the creatures of the world are wholesome” (Wisdom 1:14-15) “Through the envy of the devil death and evil entered the world” (Wisdom 2:24) “It is the wicked, the sons of Satan who with hands and words invited death and destruction considering it a friend” (Wisdom 1:16) We are also told in Wisdom 15 “Justice is undying”.
The truth is that JUSTICE is undying unless the devil has taken control of those humans who are commissioned to uphold it. JUSTICE is the root of all freedom, if there is no JUSTICE there is no true freedom. JUSTICE is undying when it is coupled with a sense of FAITH in a superior being, the creator Almighty God. This nations founding fathers had a deep-rooted sense of faith in God. In the Declaration of Independence, they refer to Him as THE CREATOR and THE SUPREME JUDGE OF THE WORLD. Today we have many people who are attempting to remove any mention of Almighty God from everything in this country; this was not the intent or purpose of our founding Fathers. They had a deep-seated FAITH and BELIEF in the Almighty. That small minority have prevented prayer in the schools, are trying to remove ONE NATION UNDER GOD from the pledge of allegiance, and would deny that our rule of laws were established with the commandments in mind. Sadly, some of these people purport to be religious leaders. Jews, Muslims, and all Christians worship the same God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and Jesus. The readings from the Gospel teach us how FAITH is so powerful. Both the woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years and the official of the Jewish synagogue, Jairus, had FAITH and TRUST that Jesus could cure them, and He did. Having FAITH can as Jesus tells us in Matthew 17:20 “If you had faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, you would be able to say to that mountain, move!, and it would move”
JUSTICE is undying when it is coupled with HONESTY, TRUST, FAITH and GENEROSITY or compassion and FREEDOM. Allowing ALL people to pursue HAPPINESS by having the same rights and benefits of all other individuals. In order to accomplish this we need to respect and embrace the diversity of God’s creation. Every child of God has been given special gifts and just as the various parts of our body look different and have differing functions they are all part of the same body. So it is with all God’s children, they might look different, may have differing celebrations and customs but they are all our sisters and brothers in Christ.
This past week we all were given a glowing example of how one individual, Warren Buffett, is living out the message in the second reading of Sunday. “The willingness to give should be in accord with ones means, not go beyond them...there should be certain EQUALITY. Your plenty now should supply their needs so that there surplus later might be able to supply your needs, with EQUALITY as a result” (2 Corinthians 8:12-14)
I urge each and every one who reads or hears this message to think about our freedom, think about how they are contributing to the ideals this country was founded on. Are you being GENEROUS, TRUSTING, HONEST, FAITHFUL? 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 the violence, prejudice, hatred, poverty 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 leave on my annual week on Cape Cod with the prayer that Almighty God will send His bountiful blessings upon each and every one of you and that He will inspire the leaders of this nation and the world to find peaceful and compassionate ways to bring about a more perfect world and EQUALITY, JUSTICE, TRUTH, HONESTY, TRUST and HAPPINESS to all God’s children all over the Globe.
AMEN
Rev. Robert Francis Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints. Sergius and Bacchus
Holliston, Massachusetts
E-mail: Mission_St_Sergius@msn.com
www.missionstsergius.orgWe are a Catholic mission of the Franciscans of the Annunciation under the Old Catholic Diocese of New England. We believe that all God's children deserve respect and the same rights and privileges as every other person regardless of their sexual orientation or marital status.
We confer all Sacraments and Holy Unions.
God's love is everlasting and infinite and His mercy and compassion is unlimited.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistryhttp://spaces.msn.com/members/Mission-St-Sergiushttp://groups.msn.com/MissionSaintsSergiusandBacchus
A Fourth of July Reflection
Since I will be leaving for my week long vacation on Cape Cod on Friday, I am posting my reflection for July Fourth Weekend early.
I wish one and all a blessed and joyous Fourth of July and pray that we all can come together in the Love of Almighty God and Jesus Christ to find and celebrate the things that can bind us together and break down the walls that separate us from within the Mystical Body of Christ.
Equality, Justice, Truth, Happiness, Faith, Generosity
Foundations of Our Fore Fathers and the Teachings of Christ
On this Independence Day weekend I find it especially gratifying and fitting that the readings for this Sunday support and uphold the foundations that this country is founded on.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” (Constitution of the United States)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL PEOPLE are created equal, that they ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR with certain unalienable rights, that among them are LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS” (Declaration of Independence)
The first reading for Sunday is from the book of Wisdom and it says, “Love Justice, you who judge the earth think of the Lord in Goodness and seek Him in integrity of heart” (Wisdom 1:1) “God does not rejoice in the destruction of the living for God furnished all things that they might have being…ALL the creatures of the world are wholesome” (Wisdom 1:14-15) “Through the envy of the devil death and evil entered the world” (Wisdom 2:24) “It is the wicked, the sons of Satan who with hands and words invited death and destruction considering it a friend” (Wisdom 1:16) We are also told in Wisdom 15 “Justice is undying”.
The truth is that JUSTICE is undying unless the devil has taken control of those humans who are commissioned to uphold it. JUSTICE is the root of all freedom, if there is no JUSTICE there is no true freedom. JUSTICE is undying when it is coupled with a sense of FAITH in a superior being, the creator Almighty God. This nations founding fathers had a deep-rooted sense of faith in God. In the Declaration of Independence, they refer to Him as THE CREATOR and THE SUPREME JUDGE OF THE WORLD. Today we have many people who are attempting to remove any mention of Almighty God from everything in this country; this was not the intent or purpose of our founding Fathers. They had a deep-seated FAITH and BELIEF in the Almighty. That small minority have prevented prayer in the schools, are trying to remove ONE NATION UNDER GOD from the pledge of allegiance, and would deny that our rule of laws were established with the commandments in mind. Sadly, some of these people purport to be religious leaders. Jews, Muslims, and all Christians worship the same God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and Jesus. The readings from the Gospel teach us how FAITH is so powerful. Both the woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years and the official of the Jewish synagogue, Jairus, had FAITH and TRUST that Jesus could cure them, and He did. Having FAITH can as Jesus tells us in Matthew 17:20 “If you had faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, you would be able to say to that mountain, move!, and it would move”
JUSTICE is undying when it is coupled with HONESTY, TRUST, FAITH and GENEROSITY or compassion and FREEDOM. Allowing ALL people to pursue HAPPINESS by having the same rights and benefits of all other individuals. In order to accomplish this we need to respect and embrace the diversity of God’s creation. Every child of God has been given special gifts and just as the various parts of our body look different and have differing functions they are all part of the same body. So it is with all God’s children, they might look different, may have differing celebrations and customs but they are all our sisters and brothers in Christ.
This past week we all were given a glowing example of how one individual, Warren Buffett, is living out the message in the second reading of Sunday. “The willingness to give should be in accord with ones means, not go beyond them...there should be certain EQUALITY. Your plenty now should supply their needs so that there surplus later might be able to supply your needs, with EQUALITY as a result” (2 Corinthians 8:12-14)
I urge each and every one who reads or hears this message to think about our freedom, think about how they are contributing to the ideals this country was founded on. Are you being GENEROUS, TRUSTING, HONEST, FAITHFUL? 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 the violence, prejudice, hatred, poverty 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 leave on my annual week on Cape Cod with the prayer that Almighty God will send His bountiful blessings upon each and every one of you and that He will inspire the leaders of this nation and the world to find peaceful and compassionate ways to bring about a more perfect world and EQUALITY, JUSTICE, TRUTH, HONESTY, TRUST and HAPPINESS to all God’s children all over the Globe.
AMEN
Rev. Robert Francis Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints. Sergius and Bacchus
Holliston, Massachusetts
E-mail: Mission_St_Sergius@msn.com
http://www.blogger.com/We are a Catholic mission of the Franciscans of the Annunciation under the Old Catholic Diocese of New England. We believe that all God's children deserve respect and the same rights and privileges as every other person regardless of their sexual orientation or marital status.
We confer all Sacraments and Holy Unions.
God's love is everlasting and infinite and His mercy and compassion is unlimited.
http://www.blogger.com/http://www.blogger.com/http://www.blogger.com/
I wish one and all a blessed and joyous Fourth of July and pray that we all can come together in the Love of Almighty God and Jesus Christ to find and celebrate the things that can bind us together and break down the walls that separate us from within the Mystical Body of Christ.
Equality, Justice, Truth, Happiness, Faith, Generosity
Foundations of Our Fore Fathers and the Teachings of Christ
On this Independence Day weekend I find it especially gratifying and fitting that the readings for this Sunday support and uphold the foundations that this country is founded on.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” (Constitution of the United States)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL PEOPLE are created equal, that they ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR with certain unalienable rights, that among them are LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS” (Declaration of Independence)
The first reading for Sunday is from the book of Wisdom and it says, “Love Justice, you who judge the earth think of the Lord in Goodness and seek Him in integrity of heart” (Wisdom 1:1) “God does not rejoice in the destruction of the living for God furnished all things that they might have being…ALL the creatures of the world are wholesome” (Wisdom 1:14-15) “Through the envy of the devil death and evil entered the world” (Wisdom 2:24) “It is the wicked, the sons of Satan who with hands and words invited death and destruction considering it a friend” (Wisdom 1:16) We are also told in Wisdom 15 “Justice is undying”.
The truth is that JUSTICE is undying unless the devil has taken control of those humans who are commissioned to uphold it. JUSTICE is the root of all freedom, if there is no JUSTICE there is no true freedom. JUSTICE is undying when it is coupled with a sense of FAITH in a superior being, the creator Almighty God. This nations founding fathers had a deep-rooted sense of faith in God. In the Declaration of Independence, they refer to Him as THE CREATOR and THE SUPREME JUDGE OF THE WORLD. Today we have many people who are attempting to remove any mention of Almighty God from everything in this country; this was not the intent or purpose of our founding Fathers. They had a deep-seated FAITH and BELIEF in the Almighty. That small minority have prevented prayer in the schools, are trying to remove ONE NATION UNDER GOD from the pledge of allegiance, and would deny that our rule of laws were established with the commandments in mind. Sadly, some of these people purport to be religious leaders. Jews, Muslims, and all Christians worship the same God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and Jesus. The readings from the Gospel teach us how FAITH is so powerful. Both the woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years and the official of the Jewish synagogue, Jairus, had FAITH and TRUST that Jesus could cure them, and He did. Having FAITH can as Jesus tells us in Matthew 17:20 “If you had faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, you would be able to say to that mountain, move!, and it would move”
JUSTICE is undying when it is coupled with HONESTY, TRUST, FAITH and GENEROSITY or compassion and FREEDOM. Allowing ALL people to pursue HAPPINESS by having the same rights and benefits of all other individuals. In order to accomplish this we need to respect and embrace the diversity of God’s creation. Every child of God has been given special gifts and just as the various parts of our body look different and have differing functions they are all part of the same body. So it is with all God’s children, they might look different, may have differing celebrations and customs but they are all our sisters and brothers in Christ.
This past week we all were given a glowing example of how one individual, Warren Buffett, is living out the message in the second reading of Sunday. “The willingness to give should be in accord with ones means, not go beyond them...there should be certain EQUALITY. Your plenty now should supply their needs so that there surplus later might be able to supply your needs, with EQUALITY as a result” (2 Corinthians 8:12-14)
I urge each and every one who reads or hears this message to think about our freedom, think about how they are contributing to the ideals this country was founded on. Are you being GENEROUS, TRUSTING, HONEST, FAITHFUL? 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 the violence, prejudice, hatred, poverty 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 leave on my annual week on Cape Cod with the prayer that Almighty God will send His bountiful blessings upon each and every one of you and that He will inspire the leaders of this nation and the world to find peaceful and compassionate ways to bring about a more perfect world and EQUALITY, JUSTICE, TRUTH, HONESTY, TRUST and HAPPINESS to all God’s children all over the Globe.
AMEN
Rev. Robert Francis Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints. Sergius and Bacchus
Holliston, Massachusetts
E-mail: Mission_St_Sergius@msn.com
http://www.blogger.com/We are a Catholic mission of the Franciscans of the Annunciation under the Old Catholic Diocese of New England. We believe that all God's children deserve respect and the same rights and privileges as every other person regardless of their sexual orientation or marital status.
We confer all Sacraments and Holy Unions.
God's love is everlasting and infinite and His mercy and compassion is unlimited.
http://www.blogger.com/http://www.blogger.com/http://www.blogger.com/
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Having Faith In God
Reflection for Sunday June 25th
Faith In God
“Who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey?” (Mark 4:41) If the apostles had any doubts about who this Jesus of Nazareth might be, they should have been wiped away when Christ ordered the storm to cease. The readings of today all deal with water, the essence of all live. According to scientists all live evolved from water. Without water human life would cese to exist. The fact that Almighty God have dominion over the water and can call it forth or cause it to cease should strengthen our faith in Almighty God.
Even though scientist have tried to control the weather and bring rain to the parched areas of the earth and divert it from areas that are being flooded because of too much rain, they have had little success. This should tell us that there are some things that man cannot control.
“Why are you terrified, do you not yet have faith?” These words of Jesus are being said to us even today. We go about claiming that we believe and have faith but we are like the apostles, we tend to question God by doubting his will.
I have learned, that everything that happens to us has a reason. Granted, when we are going through it, especially when it is not something that we like, we ask ourselves “Why is this happening to me?” I had that thought more times than I can count, but now, looking back I fully understand why. I had lessons to learn, lessons that I needed to know before I could truly serve God completely. Lessons I had to learn that would make me stronger in my faith. Lessons that better prepared me to deal with life situations I would encounter. Lessons I needed to understand and master before I could answer the call I felt God calling me too from my childhood.
This is not to say that I do not have many more lessons to learn, but now when I encounter something that is not what I would have preferred to happen, I put my trust and faith in God and search for the lesson it is trying to teach me. I Trust that God’s will is what will ultimately be done. In other words I totally place my life in His hands.
The story of Job is one of the strongest lessons I find in scripture, The devil had bet God that he could shatter jobs faith. God told Lucifer to go ahead with the test but the only stipulation was that Satan could not harm Job. As today’s reading from Job tells us, God set limits on Satan, “Thus far shall you come, but no farther” (Job 38:11). Job never gave up hope in the Lord, even when everything he had was taken away. God rewarded Job with the return of everything a thousand fold. So it shall be with us! If we do not give up, if we believe and trust that God will provide for us and will only do what is best for us, we too will be rewarded.
Almighty God is a merciful and forgiving God, His compassion and mercy are unlimited and everlasting. All we need to do is put our faith and trust in Him and live as Christ has requested of us. We need to be conscience of all of His children’s needs, to show them love, compassion, mercy, forgiveness and generosity. We need to “Love one another as I have loved you” by being mindful of how our actions affect others and not allow ourselves to do anything that would bring one of God’s children pain and suffering. This is the message I get from today’s readings. To place out trust and faith not in man, but in God. We need to believe in ourselves and accept ourselves as God created us and make the best of the gifts he has given us in serving Him according to His will. By doing this we show our trust and faith in Him and He will in turn take care of us. AMEN
Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saint Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.orghttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
http://missionstsergius.org/blog.html
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