New Year Blessing Reflection

May the Lord Bless and Keep You
A Reflection for January First, The Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord/ Mary Mother of God
Readings: Numbers 6:22-27, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:16-21,
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus, Holliston, MA
www.Missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry

The Psalm for the liturgy of New Years Day proclaims a message we all should be shouting from the rooftops, “Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, How awesome are your works!”
When we couple that with the direction given in the first reading of the day from the book of Numbers chapter 6 verses 22-27 on how to greet people “You shall say to them: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace.” We receive a direction of living our life in accordance with the teachings of Christ and therefore Almighty God.
Our hearts should be filled with the knowledge and love that the King of Glory, Jesus Christ brought to this world. Was not just happenstance, but was part of God’s design from the very beginning of time.
As if to reinforce the truth, that we have all been chosen by God as his children and therefore heirs to the kingdom of heaven we have the words from the second reading found in Galatians 4: “The proof that you are sons is that God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts: the Spirit that cries, ‘Abba, Father’, and it is this that makes you a son, you are not a slave any more; and if God has made you son, then he has made you heir.”The Gospel tell us that the name chosen for the child was not a family mane but that it was given to the infant according to the instructions Mary received from the Angel Gabriel. When the eighth day came and the child was to be circumcised, they gave him the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him before his conception. "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:22
Besides being the feast of the Circumcision of Jesus, today is also commemorated in the western church to celebrate the motherhood of Mary, “the Theotokos” in Greek meaning mother of God. The Gospel reading reminds us that Mary pondered all that had come to pass and also the things she was told would occur in her heart by the priest “Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." Luke 2: 34-35.
There should be no doubt in anyone mind that Jesus is the promised one of the ages and as such we need to heed the things He has instructed us to do. We also have to keep in mind that through the centuries many things have been added to what Jesus instructed, mainly for the purpose of gaining power and wealth. Those things have very little to do with living our life according to God’s will. Celibacy of clergy was an idea that came many years after Christ, the early church had women deacons, the early church blessed same sex commitment ceremonies, liturgies were celebrated in the language of the people. These are just some of the things that churches enforce that were not defined by Christ.
All the grandeur, splendor, pomp and circumstance that is associated with some churches fly in the face of what Christ taught. By His birth in a simple manger alone; Christ gave us a lesson that He came to give hope and promise to all and that the poor and needy where more acceptable than the rich and powerful. “Do unto others as you would have done unto you” this teaching should cause us to think about how we treat others and is it the same way that we would want to be treated?
Jesus Christ came to earth to save us, to open up the gates of heaven to all people. Almighty God sent us His son in human form to teach us the truth, to lead us in the path of righteousness, and to gain for us eternal salvation.
As we begin a New Year let us make a new beginning in our relationship with Almighty God through His beloved Son, Jesus the Christ. Let us vow to make the changes necessary in our lives so that we come closer to God in all that we do. Let us set aside time each and every day to acknowledge God and ask His help in making us a better and newer person. Let us examine way that we can actively make a difference by our actions and deeds. Can we be more compassionate toward those who are suffering from poverty, hunger, homelessness and serious illness? Can we do more to support the spreading of the Good News of Salvation preached by Jesus Christ? Can we make time in our schedules to pray and receive the bread of life, the Eucharist?
As the sports adage says; “The ball is in our court” how are we going to play it?
May the New Year bring peace to the hearts and minds of all people, May the wisdom of God infuse the inner being of all especially the leaders of the worlds governments and religions so that they find a pathway to peace and unity and bring about the promise of The Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. AMEN

An Idea For A New Year's Resolution

A New Year Prayer, A Resolution for Peace On Earth,
A Reflection for January 1 in the year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Seven
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFAMission Saints Sergius and Bacchus,
a Franciscans of the Annunciation mission
www.missionstsergius.org

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry

As we prepare to make our resolutions for the New Year 2007, how about we try this one on for size?I based this reflection on the words to a once very popular prayer/song “Let There Be Peace On Earth” written and copy written in 1955by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson. In this time of world turmoil I feel we need to focus on the issues that have been tearing nations, churches and people apart and make a resolution to do our part to change the direction the world seems to be headed. Daily we are reminded of all the dissention between the various churches which claim to be Christian and other religious denominations that claim the God of Abraham, Isaac, David and Jacob as their father. Every day the news is filled with reports throughout the world, of strife, conflicts over territory and in some countries genocide, poverty, and starvation caused by the need of a minority for power, control and greed. Families have been torn apart over the issue of their child’s sexuality by individuals who claim to represent Christ and have taken upon themselves the role of making judgments that are only God’s right to make. Did not Christ Himself say “Let those among you that is without sin, cast the first stone” We all are sinners to one degree or another, we need to acknowledge that and be repentant for our own misdeeds and assume we are better than the others.The words of this wonderful prayer/song are very poignant. It not only makes a request but it points out that it all must start with each of us individually; “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.” This is a lesson to us that we cannot wait for others to set the ball in motion, we need it to begin within our selves. We need to make a move in our own lives to settle any disagreements we might have with members of our own family, friends, neighbors or employees. If each and every person would work toward the goal of peace in their own live the result would be like a snowball rolling down a very steep hill, it would keep building and growing larger and faster as it traveled along. Each individual action would cause a similar reaction from others and it could spread throughout the world.The second line in this message written in 1955 is also powerful as it directs us to the source of all peace; “Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God as our Father.” In order to achieve any kind of lasting and meaningful peace we need to turn to the source, Almighty God. We need to place Him at the center of our lives and live according to the way His beloved son, Jesus Christ instructed us. We need to look around us and be thankful for the gifts we have been given and stop grumbling about the things we think we need. We need to come to the realization that we are all children of the same God and therefore brothers and sisters of each other as the prayer/song explains; “brothers all are we, Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony.”As we contemplate what kind of resolution we are going to make to change our lives in this new year I suggest that each of us place this as number one and that we make sure that we keep this resolution even if all the others are forgotten as the year progresses; “Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now, With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow, To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.”. Peace is not something to be wished for, it is something one has to work hard to achieve. If these words “ Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me!” are to ever be realized we all have to work together to make it a reality. We cannot be satisfied as long as there is one child of God that is being oppressed because social or economic status, suffering discrimination for any reason, dying because of lack of proper food or medicine, homeless due to inadequate affordable housing, or being violently murdered over drugs or gang disputes. As children of God and followers of Jesus Christ we are called to live the Gospel message not just preach it. Let us resolve to begin this New Year with one single purpose, to do our part in bringing about changes that will make this prayer/songs words a reality.

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me,Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.With God as our Father, brothers all are we,Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony. Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now,With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow,To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me! AMEN

I am also adding the prayer of the seraphic father of our order and all the

Franciscan orders, Saint Francis which helps us to understand the things we need to do to achieve a true and lasting peace.

Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;where there is hatred, let me sow love;when there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;and where there is sadness, joy.Grant that I may not so much seekto be consoled as to console;to be understood, as to understand,to be loved as to love;for it is in giving that we receive,it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. AMEN

May God fill each and every one with an abundance of His mercy, infinite love and grace throughout the new year and grant you the courage and strength to do what is necessary to bring about changes on this planet so that there will be a new beginning for all and a time of peace and reconciliation.

A New Interpretation To 12 Days Of Christmas

A New Meaning to the Twelve Days of Christmas Song
Day 1 A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE
Jesus, The Son of God
Day 2 2 TURTLE DOVES
The Old and New Testament
Day 3 THREE FRENCH HENS
The Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity
Day 4 FOUR CALLING BIRDS
The Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Day 5 FIVE GOLDEN RINGS
The Pentateuch or first five books of the Old Testament
Day 6 SIX GEESE A LAYING
The six days of creation
Day 7 SEVEN SWANS A SWIMMING
The Seven Sacraments
Day 8 EIGHT MAIDS A MILKING
The Eight Beatitudes
Day 9 NINE LADIES DANCING
The nine fruits of the Holy Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
Day 10 TEN LORDS A LEAPING
The Ten Commandments
Day 11 ELEVEN LORDS A LEAPING
The eleven faithful apostles (excludes Judas)
Day 12 TWELVE DRUMMERS DRUMMING
The Twelve points of doctrine found in the Apostles Creed.
1 I Believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of Heaven and earth
2 I Believe in Jesus Christ the Only Son of the Father
3 He was born of the Virgin Mary
4 He became man
5 He Suffered under Pontius Pilot
6 He Was Crucified, Died and was buried
7 On the Third day he rose again.
8 He ascended into heaven
9 He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
10 I believe in the Holy Spirit
11 I believe in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church
12 I acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sin.
Rev. Robert Francis Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry