Living Christ's Teachings

Living According To Christ’s Word
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry

Throughout all of history we humans have treated Almighty God as though he were human, and therefore desired the same things as we humans desire. Clergy dress in fancy clothes, maintain homes that the average person can not afford, Engage in elaborate liturgies with all the trappings of royalty. Trillions have been spent to build beautiful palaces as monuments and places of worship to God in spite of the fact that Christ did most of His preaching under the open skies of His Father‘s cathedral.What I believe God actually wants, is for us to live our lives with compassion for others, being mindful of the needs of others and not just our own needs and edification.
Certainly, we need a place to gather together safe from the elements of nature, a simple plain building with the necessary space for people to gather, where we can celebrate our love and honor Almighty God and partake in the Eucharistic Feast He has given us through His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Simple cups made with earths elements, just as I am certain Christ used at the Last Supper, would be proper instead of the golden bejeweled ones so popular in many churches. Yes, we need to be able to travel to visit His faithful who are unable to gather at the place of worship but we do not need fancy cars only reliable and simple transportation that will get us from one place to another safely.
Somehow my ministry has grown slowly, from nothing to reaching over 300 people every week all over the globe without any of the things mentioned above.
I do not have reliable transportation but somehow I manage to get to visit those in need who are local or I counsel them via the telephone or internet. I do not have a place where people can gather so I go to the homes of people to celebrate the Eucharist. My Chalice was an extra from another faith community, my vestments were hand me downs or gifts from family and friends.I have learned that God will provide what you need just as we are told in Matthew 6:25-27 “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”If we were to take all the Gold, Jewels, let's not forget the Billions of actual cash that religious denominations have and use it to buy food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless,clothing for the naked, medicine for the sick, as the Beatitudes and the Corporal Works Of Mercy instruct, Feed the hungry, Give drink to the thirsty, Welcome the stranger Clothe the naked, Visit the sick, Visit the prisoner, Bury the dead. (Matthew 25:31)
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great. (Matthew 5:3)
,what a difference it would make in this world.If all people who proclaim they are followers of Christ, or Buddha, or Yahweh, or Muhammad would practice the basic teachings of their religions truthfully, all of which preach peace and brotherly love, and find a way to work together toward living in peace many of the worlds ills would cease to be.
The time has come for us to realize that we all worshiping the One God and creator of all that is, by what ever name HE/SHE is called, and that that God desires His children to care for each other as He cares for them.
If we could just achieve this we would have no more wars, people would not be dying of Famine and plague.Our Seraphic Father, Saint Francis, realized how little the riches of the world meant compared to the riches of eternity. He stripped off all His fancy clothes and donned the clothes of a peasant. He shared his simple loaf of bread with the poor on the streets. Mother Theresa realized this. Padre Pio and Martin De Pores did also, as did many others who tried to show the way and were rewarded with sainthood but their message seems to have been ignored.
The world has kept on with their elaborate shows of excess as a means of praising God. For some reason, we just can not seem to grasp God's wishes and keep allowing our human thinking and desires to color our way of living the Word of God.Looking at the Christ's list things that defile and comparing them against the way people, leaders of nations and Religious denominations are living today, Always seeking the upper hand and control in all things, seeking to gain profit at the expense of the less fortunate who barely are able to maintain a decent living, desiring material trappings rather than having compassion for those in need, using deceit, lies or religious domination to justify war, indulging in indiscriminate sexual behavior rather than committed loving relations, promoting sensuality and narcissism to sell unnecessary products to increase the bottom line and the profit margin for select individuals.
One has to ponder where we are headed and how God is looking upon all this and what He mightfeel is needed to open our eyes and hearts to begin to live according to His teachings as proclaimed by His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
I believe the time is now for us to take a good hard look at the way we are living and make a concerted effort to change our ways and begin to live the Gospels not just preach them. AMEN