We Are Called to Sanctification
A Reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent
Based on 1 Thess. 4. 1-17, 2 Timothy 1:8-10, Matthew 17:1 – 9
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto sanctification: in Christ Jesus our Lord. (I Thess. 4. 1-17 )
We are called to a life of sanctification according to the reading today from Paul’s letter to the people of Thessalonica after his departure in 51 or 52 A.D.
If we are called to a life of sanctification then we need to diligently work toward that goal.
A life of sanctification means to live in God, meaning to live as Jesus instructed us, in other words to abhor degradation, hatred, violence, prejudice and war.
The only war we should be carrying out is the war against Satan and the minions of Satan.
Looking around the world today we see the fruits of Satan’s temptations all around us. We even see it in the actions of some who claim to represent Jesus Christ.
We see it in those who minds are closed to exploring the truth and those who accept everything that is fed to them by individuals who are paid to disseminate, sometimes inaccurate, information in order to sell a product, a candidate or a special interest point of view.
Jesus said; “Seek and you will find” To seek means to explore, to open ourselves up and reflect on the historical truths, to investigate all claims that people make including claims made by those who say they are teachers of God’s word.
Holy Scripture MUST be taken in light of the times and customs in which it was written. Those who wrote the Scriptures, although under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, did so within the understanding and customs of their times. This must be taken into account when interpreting and using Scripture, especially when dealing with many contemporary issues.
We need to ask ourselves, for example, if Jesus were on earth today what role would He give to women in the church today. It is very clear to me, considering how much respect He had for the woman who faithfully followed him and their prominence in His ministry, that women would have had a much more prominent role in ministry today.
The fact is that in the early early church, they did, we have reference to Phoebe and other women and the qualities a woman deacon should possess written in Paul's Epistles. We know that women had a place in ministering the Eucharist and in leading liturgies, so why are they relegated in this modern world to lesser roles?
You and I have been called by God, to live a life that reflects the teachings of Jesus.
The prime teaching of Christ could not be any clearer. LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.
When you love someone, you do not, under any circumstances, want to be the cause of pain and suffering. When you love someone, you try to shield them from harm. You gently advise them of their mistakes and guide them. If necessary you try to obtain healing for them. That is Love. Last Thursday we celebrated St. Valentine’s Day, a day set aside to honor those we love. But like most things, that day has become more of a commercial venture and less about love.
If today, we had more love for all God’s creatures and children the world would not be in the mess it is in.
You and I are being called to actively live a life of sanctity, a life that reflects to all we encounter God’s infinite love. We are being called to do all within our power to bring about a change in the attitudes that are causing so much pain and suffering in this world. Every tiny thing we do that makes progress toward this call from God to a life of sanctity will bring us a deeper love for God and God will love us more and live within us thereby giving us the strength we need to continue His work here on earth.
Paul begins his second letter to Timothy with these words, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher”. (2 Timothy 1:8-10)
We must always keep in mind the revelation that is found in all the accounts of the transfiguration from God “This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favor. Listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5)
I will end this reflection with the admission that to live a life of sanctity is not easy and to be afraid that we will not measure up to it is natural. Mother Teresa of Calcutta even had her doubts or “dark moments” as she called them but if we have faith and trust in God we can endure. Keep in mind what Christ told his apostles after God spoke on that mountain top; “Stand up,’ he said ‘do not be afraid.”. Matthew 17:7
Our message today is the knowledge that God is there for us and hears our cry and will give us the strength to endure if we but seek Him and His truth. Let us continue to prepare ourselves for the resurrection of our last days by living a life of Faith, Trust, and Godly Love for all God’s children here on earth. AMEN
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
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Friday, February 15, 2008
Friday, May 18, 2007
On Prudence and Mutual Charity
Be Prudent and Have Mutual Charity
Reflection for the Sunday within Octave of Ascension
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus, Holliston MA.
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
“Dearly beloved, be prudent and watch in prayers. But before all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves: for charity covers a multitude of sins. Using hospitality one towards another, without murmuring: as every man hath received grace, ministering the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speaks, let him speak, as the words of God: if any minister, let him do it, as of the power which God administered: that in all things God may be honored through Jesus Christ our Lord;”
These words from the First Epistle of Peter, chapter 4 verses 7-11 clearly outline how we, as Followers of Jesus Christ, should be living our daily lives. Notice that the first item on the list is to be prudent. According to the dictionary prudence is wisdom in the way of caution and provision; having discretion; being careful in the decisions you make. "Prudence is principally in reference to actions to be done, and due means, order, seasons, and method of doing or not doing." Sir M. Hale. "Prudence supposes the value of the end to be assumed, and refers only to the adaptation of the means. It is the relation of right means for given ends." Whewell.
The second instruction is to have mutual charity. Let us examine exactly what that means in our daily living. Charity is being kind to all persons regardless of their nationality, sex, sexual orientation or religious affiliation and not being resentful or mean towards them and certainly not inflicting anyone with pain or injury as a result of our actions. Charity means being tolerant of the differences that make up the human condition and not being prejudice towards anyone.
Charity means being compassionate and forgiving just as Jesus was toward those who crucified Him. Charity is being generous toward the poor and less fortunate and contributing to the support of your church by tithing with financial assistance or time. Charity means having sympathy for others who are suffering from afflictions like AIDS, cancer, or the loss of a dear one. Charity is being considerate of the needs of others and sometimes having to put the needs of others before your personal gratification.
In short, we are called to look out for each other as we are all children of God and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ and therefore we need to look upon every human being in that way.
The Gospel is the promise that Christ gave to the Apostles before He ascended back to the Father. “At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: When the Paraclete cometh, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeded from the Father, He shall give testimony of Me: and you shall give testimony because you are with Me from the beginning. These things I have spoken to you, that you may not be scandalized. They will put you out of the synagogues: yes, the hour comes, that whosoever kills you will think that he does a service to God. And these things will they do to you, because they have not known the Father, nor Me. But these things I have told you, that, when the hour shall come, you may remember that I told you of them. (John 15:26-16:4)
There are some who claim that the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit and the actual descending of the Spirit upon the apostles means that only those who were in the upper room received the Holy Spirit and it is passed on only to those who have been consecrated and ordained as presbyters. That is so very wrong for all who have been Baptized and Confirmed receive the gifts of the Spirit according to God’s desire. The Holy Spirit works within all in differing ways and is not the exclusive property of a few. Throughout the history of the church God has chosen to enlighten individuals with His insights and direct them to bring His message to all who would listen. The Holy Spirit is called the enlightener of God and does not always open the hearts and minds of the hierarchy but to simple peasants or a humble friar like St. Francis inspiring them to change the wrong direction that the church seems to be headed and back to the truthful teachings of God as proclaimed by Christ. The Church has so often in the past, and I believe currently, diverted from God’s plan in order to gain power, wealth and prestige for the hierarch of the church and to exert control over the minds of people in order to achieve there political and financial gain. Church history is very clear on that.
Over the past centuries the church has modified or changed things that existed for a millennium in order to achieve the above stated goals. They even have changed historical facts in order to do this. As believer in Almighty God and the teachings Christ gave us in word and deed, we need to practice the message of today’s Epistle and call upon the Holy Spirit to inspire us to knowing the truth and we need to be more mindful of how we relate to others each and every day.
In this coming week as we prepare to celebrate the decent of The Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and disciples and thereby the entire Universal Church and by our Baptism and Confirmation each of us I offer this prayer which asks the Holy Spirit to enlighten us and assist us in becoming a better follower of Christ and have a deeper love and greater service to Almighty God.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
By Father Robert Johnnene OFA
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 all 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 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 and our creator Almighty God as one triune God, now and forever.
AMEN
Reflection for the Sunday within Octave of Ascension
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus, Holliston MA.
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
“Dearly beloved, be prudent and watch in prayers. But before all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves: for charity covers a multitude of sins. Using hospitality one towards another, without murmuring: as every man hath received grace, ministering the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speaks, let him speak, as the words of God: if any minister, let him do it, as of the power which God administered: that in all things God may be honored through Jesus Christ our Lord;”
These words from the First Epistle of Peter, chapter 4 verses 7-11 clearly outline how we, as Followers of Jesus Christ, should be living our daily lives. Notice that the first item on the list is to be prudent. According to the dictionary prudence is wisdom in the way of caution and provision; having discretion; being careful in the decisions you make. "Prudence is principally in reference to actions to be done, and due means, order, seasons, and method of doing or not doing." Sir M. Hale. "Prudence supposes the value of the end to be assumed, and refers only to the adaptation of the means. It is the relation of right means for given ends." Whewell.
The second instruction is to have mutual charity. Let us examine exactly what that means in our daily living. Charity is being kind to all persons regardless of their nationality, sex, sexual orientation or religious affiliation and not being resentful or mean towards them and certainly not inflicting anyone with pain or injury as a result of our actions. Charity means being tolerant of the differences that make up the human condition and not being prejudice towards anyone.
Charity means being compassionate and forgiving just as Jesus was toward those who crucified Him. Charity is being generous toward the poor and less fortunate and contributing to the support of your church by tithing with financial assistance or time. Charity means having sympathy for others who are suffering from afflictions like AIDS, cancer, or the loss of a dear one. Charity is being considerate of the needs of others and sometimes having to put the needs of others before your personal gratification.
In short, we are called to look out for each other as we are all children of God and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ and therefore we need to look upon every human being in that way.
The Gospel is the promise that Christ gave to the Apostles before He ascended back to the Father. “At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: When the Paraclete cometh, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeded from the Father, He shall give testimony of Me: and you shall give testimony because you are with Me from the beginning. These things I have spoken to you, that you may not be scandalized. They will put you out of the synagogues: yes, the hour comes, that whosoever kills you will think that he does a service to God. And these things will they do to you, because they have not known the Father, nor Me. But these things I have told you, that, when the hour shall come, you may remember that I told you of them. (John 15:26-16:4)
There are some who claim that the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit and the actual descending of the Spirit upon the apostles means that only those who were in the upper room received the Holy Spirit and it is passed on only to those who have been consecrated and ordained as presbyters. That is so very wrong for all who have been Baptized and Confirmed receive the gifts of the Spirit according to God’s desire. The Holy Spirit works within all in differing ways and is not the exclusive property of a few. Throughout the history of the church God has chosen to enlighten individuals with His insights and direct them to bring His message to all who would listen. The Holy Spirit is called the enlightener of God and does not always open the hearts and minds of the hierarchy but to simple peasants or a humble friar like St. Francis inspiring them to change the wrong direction that the church seems to be headed and back to the truthful teachings of God as proclaimed by Christ. The Church has so often in the past, and I believe currently, diverted from God’s plan in order to gain power, wealth and prestige for the hierarch of the church and to exert control over the minds of people in order to achieve there political and financial gain. Church history is very clear on that.
Over the past centuries the church has modified or changed things that existed for a millennium in order to achieve the above stated goals. They even have changed historical facts in order to do this. As believer in Almighty God and the teachings Christ gave us in word and deed, we need to practice the message of today’s Epistle and call upon the Holy Spirit to inspire us to knowing the truth and we need to be more mindful of how we relate to others each and every day.
In this coming week as we prepare to celebrate the decent of The Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and disciples and thereby the entire Universal Church and by our Baptism and Confirmation each of us I offer this prayer which asks the Holy Spirit to enlighten us and assist us in becoming a better follower of Christ and have a deeper love and greater service to Almighty God.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
By Father Robert Johnnene OFA
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 all 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 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 and our creator Almighty God as one triune God, now and forever.
AMEN
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Second Sunday After Easter Reflection
Readings: Psalm 32, 1 Peter 2:21-25, Luke 24:35, John 10:11-16,
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
Misericordia Domini plena est terra, alleluia: verbo Domini coeli firmati sunt, alleluia, alleluia. -- Exsultate, justi, in Domino: rectos decet collaudatio. V.: Gloria Patri . . . - Misericordia Domini plena est terra . . . The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord, alleluia: by the word of the Lord were the heavens made, alleluia, alleluia. -- (Ps. 32. 1). Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: praise is comely for the upright. V.: Glory to the Father . . . -- The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
These words from Psalm 32 open the liturgy for this Sunday and everything in the liturgy points up the Goodness of God.
God’s goodness is everywhere and Jesus in His ministry exemplified the Goodness of the Lord in word and deed.
The Gospel for this Sunday is one of my favorite images of Christ, that of The Good Shepherd.
At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees: I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd gives his life for his sheep. But the hireling, and those that are not shepherds, whose own the sheep are not, seeing the wolf coming leaves the sheep and flees: and the wolf catches and scatters the sheep: the hireling fled, because he is a hireling, and he has no care for the sheep. I am the good Shepherd: and I know Mine, and Mine know Me, as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father: and I lay down My life for My sheep. Other sheep I have that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be but one fold and one shepherd.
The picture of the Good Shepherd carrying the sheep on His shoulders is very appropriate since if we trust and believe in Christ He, more often than not carries us through the difficult times in our life. The poem, FOOTSTEPS clearly says this.
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, He looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.
This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.
The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.
Recently I received a message from a person saying “Try as I might to believe in the goodness and mercy of Almighty God I fear death because I am afraid that even though I has asked forgiveness for my sins I am not sure that they have been forgiven and that when I die I will end up in hell as the priest preached so often.”
My heart became filled with sadness that this person heard the part about Hell and damnation but had totally missed the parts of the teachings of Christ about forgiveness. Throughout the entire public life of Christ as related in the Gospels and the Epistles the message of forgiveness is one of the strongest ones in scripture. Christ forgave the woman caught in adultery, Forgave the thief while He himself was dying, forgave those who nailed him to the Cross, and even told his apostles and affirmed to those who follow in their footsteps as ordained servants “Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven”.
Last Sunday was Divine Mercy Sunday and celebrated and was specially instituted to highlight the truth that God’s mercy is forever and unlimited for all those who seek it out. This Sunday the theme continues proclaiming The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. God is not a vengeful God, for if He was he most certainly would have repeated one of the events found in the old testament writings and destroyed this planet many times over since the time of Christ.
God is merciful, just, fair, patient, and loves every one of His children. His patience if like His love unlimited. He keeps waiting for us to get His message and to begin to live in accordance with what Jesus, His beloved son, taught us. “Love one another as I have loved you”
Today’s Epistle spells it out clearly “Dearly beloved, Christ suffered for you in just this way, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footstep. He, who did no wrong, neither was deceit was found in His mouth. When He was insulted, He returned no insult. When He was made to suffer, He threatened not, but delivered Himself up to the one who judges justly. In His own body He brought your sins to the cross, so that all of us, dead to sin, could live in accord with God’s will. By His wounds you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray: but you are now returned to the Shepherd the guardian of your souls.
Christ is the Good Shepherd, He guards us and watches over us and when we go astray He comes after us to lead us back to the fold. When you hear His calling you, do not turn a deaf ear or allow others to entice you to ignore the call or delude you into believing that you are not really wanted and are only going to get punished if you heed the call. Christ came to save everyone, not just those good little sheep who never stray from the flock, but all God’s children. He especially has a fondness for those who are less than perfect and know it but want to become a part of the flock.
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you always” believe these words of Christ, do not run away from Him but run toward His open arms and if need be, let Him carry you through the difficulties of your life. Embrace Him and keep Him close to you always. He is there waiting to hear from you and willing to listen and lead you back onto a safe pasture where you can partake of all God’s blessings and gifts.
God did not want to make your life journey difficult. He only asks that you respect His creation and all His children. As the Gospel proclaims “Other sheep I have that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be but one fold and one shepherd”. We are the voice of the Lord, let us not silence it by prejudice, bigotry, anger, hatred, revenge and greed but shout out the message of Christ for all to hear that Almighty God is a God of compassion, mercy, forgiveness and love and wants all to live in peace and harmony with each other. AMEN
Readings: Psalm 32, 1 Peter 2:21-25, Luke 24:35, John 10:11-16,
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
Misericordia Domini plena est terra, alleluia: verbo Domini coeli firmati sunt, alleluia, alleluia. -- Exsultate, justi, in Domino: rectos decet collaudatio. V.: Gloria Patri . . . - Misericordia Domini plena est terra . . . The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord, alleluia: by the word of the Lord were the heavens made, alleluia, alleluia. -- (Ps. 32. 1). Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: praise is comely for the upright. V.: Glory to the Father . . . -- The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
These words from Psalm 32 open the liturgy for this Sunday and everything in the liturgy points up the Goodness of God.
God’s goodness is everywhere and Jesus in His ministry exemplified the Goodness of the Lord in word and deed.
The Gospel for this Sunday is one of my favorite images of Christ, that of The Good Shepherd.
At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees: I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd gives his life for his sheep. But the hireling, and those that are not shepherds, whose own the sheep are not, seeing the wolf coming leaves the sheep and flees: and the wolf catches and scatters the sheep: the hireling fled, because he is a hireling, and he has no care for the sheep. I am the good Shepherd: and I know Mine, and Mine know Me, as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father: and I lay down My life for My sheep. Other sheep I have that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be but one fold and one shepherd.
The picture of the Good Shepherd carrying the sheep on His shoulders is very appropriate since if we trust and believe in Christ He, more often than not carries us through the difficult times in our life. The poem, FOOTSTEPS clearly says this.
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, He looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.
This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.
The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.
Recently I received a message from a person saying “Try as I might to believe in the goodness and mercy of Almighty God I fear death because I am afraid that even though I has asked forgiveness for my sins I am not sure that they have been forgiven and that when I die I will end up in hell as the priest preached so often.”
My heart became filled with sadness that this person heard the part about Hell and damnation but had totally missed the parts of the teachings of Christ about forgiveness. Throughout the entire public life of Christ as related in the Gospels and the Epistles the message of forgiveness is one of the strongest ones in scripture. Christ forgave the woman caught in adultery, Forgave the thief while He himself was dying, forgave those who nailed him to the Cross, and even told his apostles and affirmed to those who follow in their footsteps as ordained servants “Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven”.
Last Sunday was Divine Mercy Sunday and celebrated and was specially instituted to highlight the truth that God’s mercy is forever and unlimited for all those who seek it out. This Sunday the theme continues proclaiming The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. God is not a vengeful God, for if He was he most certainly would have repeated one of the events found in the old testament writings and destroyed this planet many times over since the time of Christ.
God is merciful, just, fair, patient, and loves every one of His children. His patience if like His love unlimited. He keeps waiting for us to get His message and to begin to live in accordance with what Jesus, His beloved son, taught us. “Love one another as I have loved you”
Today’s Epistle spells it out clearly “Dearly beloved, Christ suffered for you in just this way, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footstep. He, who did no wrong, neither was deceit was found in His mouth. When He was insulted, He returned no insult. When He was made to suffer, He threatened not, but delivered Himself up to the one who judges justly. In His own body He brought your sins to the cross, so that all of us, dead to sin, could live in accord with God’s will. By His wounds you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray: but you are now returned to the Shepherd the guardian of your souls.
Christ is the Good Shepherd, He guards us and watches over us and when we go astray He comes after us to lead us back to the fold. When you hear His calling you, do not turn a deaf ear or allow others to entice you to ignore the call or delude you into believing that you are not really wanted and are only going to get punished if you heed the call. Christ came to save everyone, not just those good little sheep who never stray from the flock, but all God’s children. He especially has a fondness for those who are less than perfect and know it but want to become a part of the flock.
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you always” believe these words of Christ, do not run away from Him but run toward His open arms and if need be, let Him carry you through the difficulties of your life. Embrace Him and keep Him close to you always. He is there waiting to hear from you and willing to listen and lead you back onto a safe pasture where you can partake of all God’s blessings and gifts.
God did not want to make your life journey difficult. He only asks that you respect His creation and all His children. As the Gospel proclaims “Other sheep I have that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be but one fold and one shepherd”. We are the voice of the Lord, let us not silence it by prejudice, bigotry, anger, hatred, revenge and greed but shout out the message of Christ for all to hear that Almighty God is a God of compassion, mercy, forgiveness and love and wants all to live in peace and harmony with each other. AMEN
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Renew Yourself, Prepare for Final Days of Holy Week
Renewed In Christ
A Reflection on the Paschal Triduum by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
Beginning Thursday of this week the Universal church will celebrate three days of reflection, prayer, and thanksgiving as they pay honor and tribute to Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. The focus meaning of these three days is all about renewal.
It affords us an opportunity to renew ourselves, our commitment, and our faith in Almighty God.
On Holy Thursday we recall the old and the new. The Old Covenant made with Moses and the New covenant Jesus gave us when He instituted the Eucharist. In the Liturgy the events of that Passover meal Christ and the apostles celebrated are reenacted. During the day all the priests of a diocese gather together to renew their vows of service, the sacred oils used in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation and in healing the sick are blessed for the coming year, and the old ones are burned symbolizing again renewal.
At the Mass of The Lords Supper the celebrant, representing Christ, washes the feet of twelve persons just as Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles. This act signified that Jesus came to, as he said, “If, I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do” (John 13:14-15)
After the liturgy of the Eucharist, the consecrated Eucharist are carried to a place of repose where through the evening the faithful take time to adore Christ present in the Eucharist. The Altar is then stripped, just as Christ was stripped of His garments, and left bare and empty.
On Good Friday, we recall The Lord’s Passion and Death at about three o’clock in keeping with the time Jesus is believed to have died. In many churches and countries the time between twelve and three is set aside for people to walk the Stations of the Cross. At the Good Friday service the Passion is proclaimed, many times with members of the faithful taking part as the voices of the crowd, the narrator, and Christ. After the passion is proclaimed there is veneration of the cross where the faithful approach the cross with the figure of Christ upon it and usually kiss one of the wounds. Many believe that they are kissing the wound that they believe their sins caused Jesus to receive.
The cross is venerated because, it through it the sins of all died on the cross with Jesus, by that act of Jesus giving over of himself we were renewed and given a chance to live a life given over to God and obtain the renewing grace of forgiveness for our sins and the promise of everlasting life with Almighty God when our earthly days are ended.
On Holy Saturday this entire renewal process is brought to fulfillment. The evening vigil liturgy is a powerful and moving living liturgy that renews all. The Liturgy begins in a darkened place, just as the tomb of Christ was dark. The liturgy begins with the blessing of the New fire, representing Christ as the Light of the World, the glory of Christ’s and the New hope Christ brought into the world.
From the new fire The Easter Candle is Blessed and lit and from it all those attending light their individual candles indicating that Jesus brought the light of truth into their lives.
Following the proclamation of the word, the candidates to be received into the faith community are renewed in Baptism and all the faithful renew their Baptismal vows. With this the entire faithful have renewed their lives in Christ.
On Easter Sunday morning, we rejoice in our renewal and the renewal Christ brought to all people with his resurrection.
The message for is is, with Christ, all people have a future, all people of the world have the opportunity to share in everlasting life with God and all the Elect. Christ came to bring salvation to all of God’s children. Just as Christ did not discriminate in who he received into His company, the gift of renewal and salvation earned by Christ was for every human being on the face of the earth.
As true followers of Christ we do not have any justification for deciding who will and who will not be welcome in the presence of God.
As we journey through this most sacrad and wondrous week let us rejoice and be glad, that through Christ, we have been given a total and complete renewal of our lives.
Let us rejoice and give thanks to God for giving us His only begotten son as the sacrificial lamb to renew us.
On Easter morning let us rejoice and be glad and proclaim joyously that Christ has risen. For Easter is the remembrance of God’s giving us the opportunity to completely renew ourselves into persons who respect the diversity and uniqueness of God’s creatures and people who foster and promote the message of love that Christ brought to us. “Love one another as I have loved you” these words of Christ should echo in our minds and heart, for Christ showed us how much he loved us by being willing to suffer and die the ignominious deat on the cross just so we could have the promise of forgiveness and everlasting life with God. The coming days are truly, the days of the Lord.
Let us rejoice and be glad. Let us shout our HOSANNAH, HOSANNAH TO THE SON OF DAVID, HOSANNAH TO CHRIST OUR REDEEMER AND SAVIOR. THROUGH YOU WE HAVE BEEN RENEWED.
LET US GO FORWARD FROM THIS DAY ONWARD WITH THE VOW TO LOVE AND SERVE GOD AND EACH OTHER. AMEN
A Reflection on the Paschal Triduum by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
Beginning Thursday of this week the Universal church will celebrate three days of reflection, prayer, and thanksgiving as they pay honor and tribute to Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. The focus meaning of these three days is all about renewal.
It affords us an opportunity to renew ourselves, our commitment, and our faith in Almighty God.
On Holy Thursday we recall the old and the new. The Old Covenant made with Moses and the New covenant Jesus gave us when He instituted the Eucharist. In the Liturgy the events of that Passover meal Christ and the apostles celebrated are reenacted. During the day all the priests of a diocese gather together to renew their vows of service, the sacred oils used in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation and in healing the sick are blessed for the coming year, and the old ones are burned symbolizing again renewal.
At the Mass of The Lords Supper the celebrant, representing Christ, washes the feet of twelve persons just as Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles. This act signified that Jesus came to, as he said, “If, I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do” (John 13:14-15)
After the liturgy of the Eucharist, the consecrated Eucharist are carried to a place of repose where through the evening the faithful take time to adore Christ present in the Eucharist. The Altar is then stripped, just as Christ was stripped of His garments, and left bare and empty.
On Good Friday, we recall The Lord’s Passion and Death at about three o’clock in keeping with the time Jesus is believed to have died. In many churches and countries the time between twelve and three is set aside for people to walk the Stations of the Cross. At the Good Friday service the Passion is proclaimed, many times with members of the faithful taking part as the voices of the crowd, the narrator, and Christ. After the passion is proclaimed there is veneration of the cross where the faithful approach the cross with the figure of Christ upon it and usually kiss one of the wounds. Many believe that they are kissing the wound that they believe their sins caused Jesus to receive.
The cross is venerated because, it through it the sins of all died on the cross with Jesus, by that act of Jesus giving over of himself we were renewed and given a chance to live a life given over to God and obtain the renewing grace of forgiveness for our sins and the promise of everlasting life with Almighty God when our earthly days are ended.
On Holy Saturday this entire renewal process is brought to fulfillment. The evening vigil liturgy is a powerful and moving living liturgy that renews all. The Liturgy begins in a darkened place, just as the tomb of Christ was dark. The liturgy begins with the blessing of the New fire, representing Christ as the Light of the World, the glory of Christ’s and the New hope Christ brought into the world.
From the new fire The Easter Candle is Blessed and lit and from it all those attending light their individual candles indicating that Jesus brought the light of truth into their lives.
Following the proclamation of the word, the candidates to be received into the faith community are renewed in Baptism and all the faithful renew their Baptismal vows. With this the entire faithful have renewed their lives in Christ.
On Easter Sunday morning, we rejoice in our renewal and the renewal Christ brought to all people with his resurrection.
The message for is is, with Christ, all people have a future, all people of the world have the opportunity to share in everlasting life with God and all the Elect. Christ came to bring salvation to all of God’s children. Just as Christ did not discriminate in who he received into His company, the gift of renewal and salvation earned by Christ was for every human being on the face of the earth.
As true followers of Christ we do not have any justification for deciding who will and who will not be welcome in the presence of God.
As we journey through this most sacrad and wondrous week let us rejoice and be glad, that through Christ, we have been given a total and complete renewal of our lives.
Let us rejoice and give thanks to God for giving us His only begotten son as the sacrificial lamb to renew us.
On Easter morning let us rejoice and be glad and proclaim joyously that Christ has risen. For Easter is the remembrance of God’s giving us the opportunity to completely renew ourselves into persons who respect the diversity and uniqueness of God’s creatures and people who foster and promote the message of love that Christ brought to us. “Love one another as I have loved you” these words of Christ should echo in our minds and heart, for Christ showed us how much he loved us by being willing to suffer and die the ignominious deat on the cross just so we could have the promise of forgiveness and everlasting life with God. The coming days are truly, the days of the Lord.
Let us rejoice and be glad. Let us shout our HOSANNAH, HOSANNAH TO THE SON OF DAVID, HOSANNAH TO CHRIST OUR REDEEMER AND SAVIOR. THROUGH YOU WE HAVE BEEN RENEWED.
LET US GO FORWARD FROM THIS DAY ONWARD WITH THE VOW TO LOVE AND SERVE GOD AND EACH OTHER. AMEN
Friday, February 16, 2007
A Reflection on Trusing in God
My Hope Is In God My Savior
A message of Faith, Hope Trust and Love
A reflection for Quinquagesima Sunday
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFa
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 18:31-43, Psalms 30, 76, 99, 118
How appropriate it is that the Sunday following the day set aside to hone lovers and love the message we hear from the readings is one of affirmation and an example of how trusting and loving God can bring untold peace and miracles. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians we hear Paul explain that without love all things are useless. “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
In his letter he also tells us what true love is and what it is not. We are told that a person who is in love is patient, kind, considerate, does not give in the envy or become boastful, is never rude or self-seeking and never gives in to anger and hatred or hold grudges against those who they perceive have done them wrong. In order to comply with all this we face an awesome task, especially in a world that praises wealth, power and fame. Paul goes on to tell su that prophecies and speaking in tongues and even those who claim to have great knowledge will all cease when the promised kingdom of God arrives.
The Introit Psalm and the Gospel back up the affirmation of Paul’s message with proof that by putting all our trust and faith in God and Loving God with our entire being miracles can and do happen. When we call upon the Lord He hears us and He always answers us even if the answer is not what we were seeking but it is the answer that is best for us according to God. This is where the trust has to be, that God’s will is what is best. This also is another difficult thing for us, especially for those who are used to getting their own way, to accept. “O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Psalm 30: 2-5)
In this same passage we are reminded that God’s anger at us because we have failed to live according to His desires, lasts only but a brief moment for His love for us far outweighs His anger. This was the lesson of the story of the Prodigal Son. The father will always forgive. With complete trust and faith in God our sadness and tears will be wiped away just as the rainbow follows the storm.
The Gospel story is a perfect example of having faith and trust even when all those around you are trying to dissuade you and call you away from having faith in God and do not want to hear you talk about God. “He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" “What do you want me to do for you? Lord, I want to see, he replied. Jesus said to him, Receive your sight; your faith has healed you. Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God” (Luke 18: 38-43). “Your Faith has healed you” said Christ. There is a lesson to be learned in those words also, Christ said “Your Faith” He did not say the faith of others. True Christ also told us “Where ever two or three are gathered in my name so too am I in their midst”
Every day I receive requests for prayers for peoples intentions, healing or a special request that a person has to make to God and I always offer up my prayers for that person. I believe that the person who has asked for the prayers needs to pray even harder than I and give themselves over to having complete trust and faith in God healing them just as the blind man did.
On Wednesday we begin the season of Lent and it is a wonderful time for us to take inventory of our relationship with Almighty God and how we live out our daily lives with trust, faith and most of all love of Almighty God. Over the last few weeks I have reflected on ways that we show our love and trust in God by our actions. Today’s readings tell us the things we cannot have in our lives if we truly love God. Anger, greed, jealousy, pride, envy, discrimination, gossip, and being self-serving have no place in our lives if we are to truly follow the path of Christ.
To live in this manner is extremely difficult in this modern world but then neither was it easy for Christ to endure the way of the Cross and Calvary in order for us to be able to gain the promise of everlasting life and forgiveness of our sins.
We have choices in almost every thing we do, we can choose to try to live a life in accord with the teachings of Christ or we can pick and choose those things that are comfortable for us to do and reject the ones that might cause us some difficulty. What we choose and what our rewards will be depends solely on us. We can travel the smooth and easy road or take the more difficult but shorter road to our eternal reward. The choice is ours. In order to be able to travel the more difficult road we need to put our trust and faith in God and to continually talk to God with the knowledge that with Him we have the best friend in the world and He will give us the means to overcome the difficulties if we truly want to serve Him faithfully.
Let us give ourselves over to Him completely with boundless confidence in Him, since God is our Father and loves us more than any other person. Let us pray;
Father, into your hands I commend my soul, for I so need to surrender myself unto you and trust in and have faith in you in all things. Let your will be done in me always and lead me in your ways so that I may serve you in all things. Almighty God, Grant unto me your gifts of forgiveness to all who have harmed me, compassion toward all those in need, acceptance of all your children, and mercy and charity toward all I encounter. I ask this in the name of your beloved son, Jesus Christ, my redeemer and savior who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit as one God now and forever. AMEN
A message of Faith, Hope Trust and Love
A reflection for Quinquagesima Sunday
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFa
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 18:31-43, Psalms 30, 76, 99, 118
How appropriate it is that the Sunday following the day set aside to hone lovers and love the message we hear from the readings is one of affirmation and an example of how trusting and loving God can bring untold peace and miracles. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians we hear Paul explain that without love all things are useless. “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
In his letter he also tells us what true love is and what it is not. We are told that a person who is in love is patient, kind, considerate, does not give in the envy or become boastful, is never rude or self-seeking and never gives in to anger and hatred or hold grudges against those who they perceive have done them wrong. In order to comply with all this we face an awesome task, especially in a world that praises wealth, power and fame. Paul goes on to tell su that prophecies and speaking in tongues and even those who claim to have great knowledge will all cease when the promised kingdom of God arrives.
The Introit Psalm and the Gospel back up the affirmation of Paul’s message with proof that by putting all our trust and faith in God and Loving God with our entire being miracles can and do happen. When we call upon the Lord He hears us and He always answers us even if the answer is not what we were seeking but it is the answer that is best for us according to God. This is where the trust has to be, that God’s will is what is best. This also is another difficult thing for us, especially for those who are used to getting their own way, to accept. “O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Psalm 30: 2-5)
In this same passage we are reminded that God’s anger at us because we have failed to live according to His desires, lasts only but a brief moment for His love for us far outweighs His anger. This was the lesson of the story of the Prodigal Son. The father will always forgive. With complete trust and faith in God our sadness and tears will be wiped away just as the rainbow follows the storm.
The Gospel story is a perfect example of having faith and trust even when all those around you are trying to dissuade you and call you away from having faith in God and do not want to hear you talk about God. “He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" “What do you want me to do for you? Lord, I want to see, he replied. Jesus said to him, Receive your sight; your faith has healed you. Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God” (Luke 18: 38-43). “Your Faith has healed you” said Christ. There is a lesson to be learned in those words also, Christ said “Your Faith” He did not say the faith of others. True Christ also told us “Where ever two or three are gathered in my name so too am I in their midst”
Every day I receive requests for prayers for peoples intentions, healing or a special request that a person has to make to God and I always offer up my prayers for that person. I believe that the person who has asked for the prayers needs to pray even harder than I and give themselves over to having complete trust and faith in God healing them just as the blind man did.
On Wednesday we begin the season of Lent and it is a wonderful time for us to take inventory of our relationship with Almighty God and how we live out our daily lives with trust, faith and most of all love of Almighty God. Over the last few weeks I have reflected on ways that we show our love and trust in God by our actions. Today’s readings tell us the things we cannot have in our lives if we truly love God. Anger, greed, jealousy, pride, envy, discrimination, gossip, and being self-serving have no place in our lives if we are to truly follow the path of Christ.
To live in this manner is extremely difficult in this modern world but then neither was it easy for Christ to endure the way of the Cross and Calvary in order for us to be able to gain the promise of everlasting life and forgiveness of our sins.
We have choices in almost every thing we do, we can choose to try to live a life in accord with the teachings of Christ or we can pick and choose those things that are comfortable for us to do and reject the ones that might cause us some difficulty. What we choose and what our rewards will be depends solely on us. We can travel the smooth and easy road or take the more difficult but shorter road to our eternal reward. The choice is ours. In order to be able to travel the more difficult road we need to put our trust and faith in God and to continually talk to God with the knowledge that with Him we have the best friend in the world and He will give us the means to overcome the difficulties if we truly want to serve Him faithfully.
Let us give ourselves over to Him completely with boundless confidence in Him, since God is our Father and loves us more than any other person. Let us pray;
Father, into your hands I commend my soul, for I so need to surrender myself unto you and trust in and have faith in you in all things. Let your will be done in me always and lead me in your ways so that I may serve you in all things. Almighty God, Grant unto me your gifts of forgiveness to all who have harmed me, compassion toward all those in need, acceptance of all your children, and mercy and charity toward all I encounter. I ask this in the name of your beloved son, Jesus Christ, my redeemer and savior who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit as one God now and forever. AMEN
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Sexagesima Sunday Reflection, Let Your Light Shine Forth
Let Your Light Show Forth
A Reflection for Sexagesima Sunday
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
"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)
These words are from the last line of the Gospel of Luke’s reading for Sexagesima Sunday and I have chosen them because they inform us that we should never hide our faith and be ashamed of believing in God.
They follow the parable story of the farmer who sowed his seed which represented the word of God that has been sown to us through Holy Scripture. Christ explained the parable in this way; “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”.(Luke 8:11-15)
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?
During this time of the liturgical year when we are preparing ourselves for the season of lent and taking inventory of our spiritual live we need to examine which of the people Christ describes we are.
Are we the seeds that fell along the path but allowed Satan to trample upon them and harden our hearts against God because of the actions of people who are supposed to represent God here on earth but in reality are doing the work of Satan?
Are we like the seeds that fell upon the rocks who have heard the word but claim the Holy Scripture is just a lot of myths and fables and has nothing to do with God or how we should act and live our lives and even go so far as to say there is no God but that we are all masters of our own destiny?
Possibly we are among those who are like the seeds that have fallen on thorns, we believed when we were young but because of the difficulties we had to face or our need to follow a road that gives us more pleasure, fame and riches have let our faith die.
Hopefully, we are among the people who like the seeds that fell on fertile soil and have been nourished through prayer, the sacraments and by our living according the Christ’s teachings by being kind, generous, loving, merciful and welcoming to all of God’s children.
If you believe that you belong to the latter group, be sure not to be boastful about it, instead take heed from the words of the Epistle for this Sunday; “My power is strongest when you are weak. So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am. Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Paul acknowledges that it is Christ that provides us with the strength to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Almighty God and it is when we recognize that we can only follow Christ by admitting our weaknesses and attempting to overcome them that God sends us the ability to do so.
The one common denominator of almost all the saints, and certainly those who are revered among the greatest saints, is their admitting how sinful they were and their constant 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. During the time of inventory before the season of lent let us take a good inventory of our life and where we are in the journey and then make the necessary plans to follow a road that is most desirable and will bring us to the promises of Christ.
AMEN
A Reflection for Sexagesima Sunday
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
"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)
These words are from the last line of the Gospel of Luke’s reading for Sexagesima Sunday and I have chosen them because they inform us that we should never hide our faith and be ashamed of believing in God.
They follow the parable story of the farmer who sowed his seed which represented the word of God that has been sown to us through Holy Scripture. Christ explained the parable in this way; “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”.(Luke 8:11-15)
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?
During this time of the liturgical year when we are preparing ourselves for the season of lent and taking inventory of our spiritual live we need to examine which of the people Christ describes we are.
Are we the seeds that fell along the path but allowed Satan to trample upon them and harden our hearts against God because of the actions of people who are supposed to represent God here on earth but in reality are doing the work of Satan?
Are we like the seeds that fell upon the rocks who have heard the word but claim the Holy Scripture is just a lot of myths and fables and has nothing to do with God or how we should act and live our lives and even go so far as to say there is no God but that we are all masters of our own destiny?
Possibly we are among those who are like the seeds that have fallen on thorns, we believed when we were young but because of the difficulties we had to face or our need to follow a road that gives us more pleasure, fame and riches have let our faith die.
Hopefully, we are among the people who like the seeds that fell on fertile soil and have been nourished through prayer, the sacraments and by our living according the Christ’s teachings by being kind, generous, loving, merciful and welcoming to all of God’s children.
If you believe that you belong to the latter group, be sure not to be boastful about it, instead take heed from the words of the Epistle for this Sunday; “My power is strongest when you are weak. So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am. Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Paul acknowledges that it is Christ that provides us with the strength to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Almighty God and it is when we recognize that we can only follow Christ by admitting our weaknesses and attempting to overcome them that God sends us the ability to do so.
The one common denominator of almost all the saints, and certainly those who are revered among the greatest saints, is their admitting how sinful they were and their constant 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. During the time of inventory before the season of lent let us take a good inventory of our life and where we are in the journey and then make the necessary plans to follow a road that is most desirable and will bring us to the promises of Christ.
AMEN
Friday, January 26, 2007
Hve Faith, Love and Trust in God
Have Faith, Love and Trust In God
A Reflection for the Fourth Sunday After Epiphany
Readings: Romans 13:8-10, Matthew 8:23-27,
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
The readings for this Sunday sum up the basic truths of Christ and God’s desire for the human race. I believe that if we do not start to implement this every day in our lives that the situation the world finds itself in will only get worse. We first need to Love God totally and completely for the day is fast approaching when we will need to answer for the way we lived our life. The Epistle reading clearly states how the writer of the letter to the Romans understood what Jesus taught when He was asked what the greatest commandment was and Christ replied “Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, mind, soul and body is the first and most important commandment and the second is like unto it, Love your neighbor as yourself” Today we hear the words from the letter to the Faith community of Rome which is very clear and precise; Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet, and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:8-10
“Love is the fulfillment of the law” Love of God and love for all God’s children.” If we love someone we do not go about causing them pain and suffering. When we love someone we attempt to insure that they are comfortable, well fed, healthy, and safe. We do not intentionally place someone we love in the way of danger or somewhere that they are apt to be killed. I will elaborate more on this after I introduce the second part of today’s message, the need to put our complete trust in Almighty God. The second reading is the story of how the disciples and Jesus had gone out on the lake and a sudden storm arose while Jesus was asleep in the bow of the boat. The apostles became very frightened and woke Jesus with these words; "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" Jesus replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" Matthew 13:25-27 The lesson here is one of faith and trust in God. How often have we gone into a panic about something and totally forgotten to turn to God and place the result into His hands?
Granted, the results we desire are not always the results that God will provide, but they are His answer and we have to accept those results as being God’s will. We have to trust that God has a very good reason for things turning out the way they do and if we do trust God we eventually will learn God’s reason. I can testify to that myself. So many times in the past things have happened that I did not understand why and I agonized over what I might have done to cause what I perceived was a negative result. The events usually forced me to make changes in my life that I had not planned on. The strange thing was that each time I found myself being led closer and closer to what eventually became my current life. I must admit I had some help in accepting the changes. When I was in the depths of depression of one of the climatic changes in my life I actually was contemplating ending it all but in a moment of desperation and I must admit anger, I threw open the Bible and it opened to the Book of Job. I read the story of Job and it was like a spotlight was beaming down upon me. I realized that I had spent most of my life searching for fame and fortune I thought important because of the gifts I was blessed with instead of seeking out what it was that God wanted me to do with those gifts.
When I stopped living according to me plans and began to ask God to lead me where He wanted me things became clearer and though not always smooth my road was mapped out for the remaining journey of life.
Each day I awake thankful for another day to try to do God’s will and to proclaim to all that I can of the everlasting mercy and love of God for all His children. God is Love, not vengeance, retaliation, discrimination, hatred, or condemnation. God asks us only to love and trust in Him, to accept His desire for us and to live our life in a manner that does not hurt anyone else.
Today our world is embroiled in conflicts between political parties, nations and even churches. This is not God’s way. Conflict is the domain of Satan and He uses it to tear families, governments and nations apart in order to cause pain and suffering and to attempt to turn people away from God just as he did with Job.
Our country is following in a pattern that has caused the downfall of every great empire and kingdom since the beginning of time. When the great empires tried to force their religious and cultural ideologies on others and expand their land holdings and wealth and domination of other cultures, they eventually came to a crashing demise. That history has been repeated from the Ancient Babolonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Roman, Spanish, English, and French and Prussian empires.
Without respect and love for others there will never be peace. Love has to begin with loving ourselves and loving and accepting the way God created us. We cannot truly love others until we love and accept ourselves.
In order to comply with the teaching of the lesson from scripture this week we need to begin the process by accepting who we are, and then going about and making the best of the gifts we have been given by actively promoting peace and brotherhood in our families, neighborhoods and speaking out against injustices we observe being done to others by our friends, neighbors, government and churches. By doing that we are demonstrating our love of God and the love He has for all His children. We become a beacon of God’s love here on earth to all we encounter.
I end with the words of St. Francis’s Peace Prayer;
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 seek to 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
A Reflection for the Fourth Sunday After Epiphany
Readings: Romans 13:8-10, Matthew 8:23-27,
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
The readings for this Sunday sum up the basic truths of Christ and God’s desire for the human race. I believe that if we do not start to implement this every day in our lives that the situation the world finds itself in will only get worse. We first need to Love God totally and completely for the day is fast approaching when we will need to answer for the way we lived our life. The Epistle reading clearly states how the writer of the letter to the Romans understood what Jesus taught when He was asked what the greatest commandment was and Christ replied “Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, mind, soul and body is the first and most important commandment and the second is like unto it, Love your neighbor as yourself” Today we hear the words from the letter to the Faith community of Rome which is very clear and precise; Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet, and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:8-10
“Love is the fulfillment of the law” Love of God and love for all God’s children.” If we love someone we do not go about causing them pain and suffering. When we love someone we attempt to insure that they are comfortable, well fed, healthy, and safe. We do not intentionally place someone we love in the way of danger or somewhere that they are apt to be killed. I will elaborate more on this after I introduce the second part of today’s message, the need to put our complete trust in Almighty God. The second reading is the story of how the disciples and Jesus had gone out on the lake and a sudden storm arose while Jesus was asleep in the bow of the boat. The apostles became very frightened and woke Jesus with these words; "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" Jesus replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" Matthew 13:25-27 The lesson here is one of faith and trust in God. How often have we gone into a panic about something and totally forgotten to turn to God and place the result into His hands?
Granted, the results we desire are not always the results that God will provide, but they are His answer and we have to accept those results as being God’s will. We have to trust that God has a very good reason for things turning out the way they do and if we do trust God we eventually will learn God’s reason. I can testify to that myself. So many times in the past things have happened that I did not understand why and I agonized over what I might have done to cause what I perceived was a negative result. The events usually forced me to make changes in my life that I had not planned on. The strange thing was that each time I found myself being led closer and closer to what eventually became my current life. I must admit I had some help in accepting the changes. When I was in the depths of depression of one of the climatic changes in my life I actually was contemplating ending it all but in a moment of desperation and I must admit anger, I threw open the Bible and it opened to the Book of Job. I read the story of Job and it was like a spotlight was beaming down upon me. I realized that I had spent most of my life searching for fame and fortune I thought important because of the gifts I was blessed with instead of seeking out what it was that God wanted me to do with those gifts.
When I stopped living according to me plans and began to ask God to lead me where He wanted me things became clearer and though not always smooth my road was mapped out for the remaining journey of life.
Each day I awake thankful for another day to try to do God’s will and to proclaim to all that I can of the everlasting mercy and love of God for all His children. God is Love, not vengeance, retaliation, discrimination, hatred, or condemnation. God asks us only to love and trust in Him, to accept His desire for us and to live our life in a manner that does not hurt anyone else.
Today our world is embroiled in conflicts between political parties, nations and even churches. This is not God’s way. Conflict is the domain of Satan and He uses it to tear families, governments and nations apart in order to cause pain and suffering and to attempt to turn people away from God just as he did with Job.
Our country is following in a pattern that has caused the downfall of every great empire and kingdom since the beginning of time. When the great empires tried to force their religious and cultural ideologies on others and expand their land holdings and wealth and domination of other cultures, they eventually came to a crashing demise. That history has been repeated from the Ancient Babolonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Roman, Spanish, English, and French and Prussian empires.
Without respect and love for others there will never be peace. Love has to begin with loving ourselves and loving and accepting the way God created us. We cannot truly love others until we love and accept ourselves.
In order to comply with the teaching of the lesson from scripture this week we need to begin the process by accepting who we are, and then going about and making the best of the gifts we have been given by actively promoting peace and brotherhood in our families, neighborhoods and speaking out against injustices we observe being done to others by our friends, neighbors, government and churches. By doing that we are demonstrating our love of God and the love He has for all His children. We become a beacon of God’s love here on earth to all we encounter.
I end with the words of St. Francis’s Peace Prayer;
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 seek to 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
Friday, January 05, 2007
Baptism of Jesus, The Beloved Son
This Is My Beloved Son In whom I am Well Pleased
A Reflection for The Baptism Of Christ/First Sunday After Epiphany
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
Holliston, MA
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
“Console my people, console them, says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1) These are the opening words of one of the first Readings for this feast celebrating the Baptism of Christ. The Reading for this feast whether it is celebrated Sunday January 7th as in the Roman church or on January 13th as in many Eastern and other churches, are words that shout clearly Almighty God’s desire for all people.
In all the readings assigned for this day there is found words of affirmation, comfort and a clear truth that all should embrace. The truth, Jesus Christ is the Son of God made man, He is the Messiah promised to all the prophets. Jesus came to bring us the truth and to be the light that would lead us to the father. In Luke 3:15 - 22 we hear John The Baptist proclaim; “someone who is more powerful than I am, and who I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals will come; he will Baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Now when all the people had been Baptized, and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my flavor rests on you’.
In John 1:29-34 we find further affirmation of the event as John the disciple was an observer of the event and recorded it in His Gospel “ The next day when John was Baptizing by the Jordan River and He saw Jesus coming toward him he exclaimed “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I told you about when I said, "Someone else will come. He is greater than I am, because he was alive before I was born." I didn't know who he was. But I came to baptize you with water, so that everyone in Israel would see him.” The passage goes on to tell us what happened after Christ was baptized with water; “I was there and saw the Spirit come down on him like a dove from heaven. And the Spirit stayed on him. Before this I didn't know who he was. But the one who sent me to baptize with water had told me, "You will see the Spirit come down and stay on someone. Then you will know that he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I saw this happen, and I tell you that he is the Son of God.”Another reading assigned to this feast, from Titus 2:11 and 3:7, provides us with even more of God’s truth and another reason for us to not only be thankful to Almighty God but to have hope. “You see, God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus. But when the kindness and love of God our savior for mankind were revealed, it was not because he was concerned with any righteous actions we might have done ourselves; it was for no reason except his own compassion that he saved us, by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit which he has so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our Savior. He did this so that we should be justified by his grace, to become heirs looking forward to inheriting eternal life”.
I personally do not know how things could be made any clearer to us. When we read these words of the readings for the Feast of The Baptism Of Christ and couple them with the teachings Christ gave us with his words and actions how can we possibly claim to be followers of Christ is we continue to discriminate against others, allow people to go hungry while others luxuriate in excesses? How can we justify the taking of another person’s life in the name of justice? How, as Christians can we take upon ourselves the rite to question why God creates people differently? How can we accept the old rule of “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, when Christ said: “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”If we are to actually live our lives as followers of Christ, and we acclaim Jesus as our Redeemer and our Savior we need to begin to set aside the petty differences that have caused the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic church to be divided into many segments and look to the basic truths of Christ as the glue that should bind us and hold us together. In the early church priests were married, Commitments between same sex individuals were blessed, There were women deacons, Bishops, priests lived simple lives and used simple vessels to celebrate the Eucharist and did not wear jeweled encrusted clothing but simple home spun clothing.
All the trappings that we have come to associate with the celebration of the liturgies and the vestments worn by the clergy came about when the hierarchy began to consider themselves equal with royalty. They even began to call some PRINCES OF THE CHURCH, a title that is still being used in some circles.
All religious are called and have accepted to be Christ’s servant and instrument here on earth. Our task is to be the instrument through which the compassion and mercy of Almighty God are made known to all people. We should not be driving people away, but trying to bring them home like the shepherd searching for the lost sheep.
On this day which confirms the truth of Christ being the Son of God, the creator and father of all things, let us evaluate ourselves and seek out what changes we need to make in our lives to completely and joyfully truly live as followers of Christ and believers in God. Then let us go forth to turn our decisions into actions that will bring about changes for the betterment of the human race. Let us work hard to bring about the changes that will improve the environment. Let us do our part in ending oppression, hunger, homelessness, discrimination, and division and become an instrument of Almighty God and a true follower of Christ working to bring peace to all God’s children. AMEN
A Reflection for The Baptism Of Christ/First Sunday After Epiphany
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
Holliston, MA
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
“Console my people, console them, says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1) These are the opening words of one of the first Readings for this feast celebrating the Baptism of Christ. The Reading for this feast whether it is celebrated Sunday January 7th as in the Roman church or on January 13th as in many Eastern and other churches, are words that shout clearly Almighty God’s desire for all people.
In all the readings assigned for this day there is found words of affirmation, comfort and a clear truth that all should embrace. The truth, Jesus Christ is the Son of God made man, He is the Messiah promised to all the prophets. Jesus came to bring us the truth and to be the light that would lead us to the father. In Luke 3:15 - 22 we hear John The Baptist proclaim; “someone who is more powerful than I am, and who I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals will come; he will Baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Now when all the people had been Baptized, and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my flavor rests on you’.
In John 1:29-34 we find further affirmation of the event as John the disciple was an observer of the event and recorded it in His Gospel “ The next day when John was Baptizing by the Jordan River and He saw Jesus coming toward him he exclaimed “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I told you about when I said, "Someone else will come. He is greater than I am, because he was alive before I was born." I didn't know who he was. But I came to baptize you with water, so that everyone in Israel would see him.” The passage goes on to tell us what happened after Christ was baptized with water; “I was there and saw the Spirit come down on him like a dove from heaven. And the Spirit stayed on him. Before this I didn't know who he was. But the one who sent me to baptize with water had told me, "You will see the Spirit come down and stay on someone. Then you will know that he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I saw this happen, and I tell you that he is the Son of God.”Another reading assigned to this feast, from Titus 2:11 and 3:7, provides us with even more of God’s truth and another reason for us to not only be thankful to Almighty God but to have hope. “You see, God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus. But when the kindness and love of God our savior for mankind were revealed, it was not because he was concerned with any righteous actions we might have done ourselves; it was for no reason except his own compassion that he saved us, by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit which he has so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our Savior. He did this so that we should be justified by his grace, to become heirs looking forward to inheriting eternal life”.
I personally do not know how things could be made any clearer to us. When we read these words of the readings for the Feast of The Baptism Of Christ and couple them with the teachings Christ gave us with his words and actions how can we possibly claim to be followers of Christ is we continue to discriminate against others, allow people to go hungry while others luxuriate in excesses? How can we justify the taking of another person’s life in the name of justice? How, as Christians can we take upon ourselves the rite to question why God creates people differently? How can we accept the old rule of “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, when Christ said: “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”If we are to actually live our lives as followers of Christ, and we acclaim Jesus as our Redeemer and our Savior we need to begin to set aside the petty differences that have caused the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic church to be divided into many segments and look to the basic truths of Christ as the glue that should bind us and hold us together. In the early church priests were married, Commitments between same sex individuals were blessed, There were women deacons, Bishops, priests lived simple lives and used simple vessels to celebrate the Eucharist and did not wear jeweled encrusted clothing but simple home spun clothing.
All the trappings that we have come to associate with the celebration of the liturgies and the vestments worn by the clergy came about when the hierarchy began to consider themselves equal with royalty. They even began to call some PRINCES OF THE CHURCH, a title that is still being used in some circles.
All religious are called and have accepted to be Christ’s servant and instrument here on earth. Our task is to be the instrument through which the compassion and mercy of Almighty God are made known to all people. We should not be driving people away, but trying to bring them home like the shepherd searching for the lost sheep.
On this day which confirms the truth of Christ being the Son of God, the creator and father of all things, let us evaluate ourselves and seek out what changes we need to make in our lives to completely and joyfully truly live as followers of Christ and believers in God. Then let us go forth to turn our decisions into actions that will bring about changes for the betterment of the human race. Let us work hard to bring about the changes that will improve the environment. Let us do our part in ending oppression, hunger, homelessness, discrimination, and division and become an instrument of Almighty God and a true follower of Christ working to bring peace to all God’s children. AMEN
Epiphany Reflection
Jan. 6th Feast of Epiphany
Also known as Three Kings Day
A Reflection by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
If we look up the word EPIPHANY in a dictionary you find it has more meanings than just a feast we celebrate on January sixth celebrating the presentation of gifts by the Three Wise Men to the Infant Jesus and the Holy Family. One of the meanings is “manifestation of a divine being”; the other meaning is “A Sudden intuitive leap of understanding or faith, especially through an ordinary but striking occurrence”.
The feast of The Epiphany fits both definitions. God mad His son known to the world through the Three Wise Men’s visit after following a star that they, as astronomers and astrologers believed foretold of the birth of the king of all kings. , The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates the feast as the baptism of Jesus Christ.
The event certainly fits both definitions; a manifestation of a divine being and an intuitive leap of understanding or faith through an ordinary but striking occurrence, for that is exactly what happened. The three wise men believed an astrological sign and followed a star which was not one they knew and which seemed to be a beacon traveling through the sky to Bethlehem to behold the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. The birth of such a child had also been prophesized not only in Jewish writings but in the writings of other religions, probably those who trace themselves back to Abraham.
In Hispanic and Latin cultures, as well as some places in Europe, the feast day is known as Three Kings’ Day. Because of differences in church calendars, mainly between the Eastern Orthodox and the western Catholic and Protestant traditions, both Christmas and Epiphany have been observed at different times in the past. Today, most of the Eastern Orthodox traditions follow the western church calendar. The exceptions are some Greek Orthodox Churches and related traditions. The Russian and Serbian Orthodox churches still follow the older calendar and celebrate Epiphany as the Feast of Theophany (From the Greek, Theo (God), and phainein (to show forth), Theophany means an appearance of God to man.) on January 19th.
Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas Season and the Twelve Days of Christmas, which are usually counted from December 25th until January 5th. In most traditions, the day before Epiphany is the Twelfth Day of Christmas, the evening of which is called Twelfth Night. This is an occasion for feasting in some cultures, including the baking of a special King's Cake as part of the festivities of Epiphany. Polish people celebrate the feast by marking the initials of the three Kings, (Casper, Melchior, Balthasar) over their door with the numerals of the year in the following manner; (20CMB07) which they believe will bring them good fortune throughout the year and their dining table upon which they feast is covered with straw under a linen cloth to simulate the manger where Christ was born.
What we need to reflect on is the wonderful manifestation of God’s only Son, who came to us as a poor infant human with all the characteristics and difficulties of the human race and what that should mean to each of us.
God in His goodness and wisdom made himself visible to us in Jesus Christ. Prior to this all the recorded manifestations of God to humans were in tongues of fire, a burning bush, a cloud, but never in human form. In fact the Jewish people and even the prophets believed that looking directly at God would mean death. Not exactly the picture of a loving, merciful, forgiving God.
I believe that God decided that it was time to reveal the true God and the best way for God to do that was through the birth of Jesus. Jesus came, as He himself told us, to give us a new covenant. Jesus came to make clear to us the way, the truth and the life. Jesus is the light which would guide us to the Father.
Jesus said: “Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Fathers who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” (John 14:5-11)
Jesus came to teach us the way to the father, Jesus gave us the two great commandments “Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, mind, soul and body and the second is like unto it Love your neighbor as yourself”
In John 14:15-21 Jesus makes the reason for his being sent to earth for all men to see and touch completely clear, He was not a disjointed voice booming out of clouds or in a burning bush, He was flesh and blood. He said: “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. I will send The Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you, No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
The manifestation of God in the person of Jesus Christ that we celebrate on the feast of Epiphany came about in an ordinary way, not as a sudden appearance but in a natural birth that followed the nine month pregnancy of Mary, the Theotokos. The pronouncement of the birth of the King of Kings by the Wise men to Herod and the world and how they arrived in Bethlehem certainly was a striking occurrence.
The birth of Christ and the pronouncement of that event brought into the world a message of hope, forgiveness and the promise of everlasting life for all people, not just the Jewish people. Christ promised us that by living justly and as He instructed and gave an example we would all find a peace that the world can not give.
In this time of trouble throughout the world each of us needs to acknowledge Christ and love Him and through Him, the Father who sent Him. We need to look to them for our deliverance from the worlds and churches’ troubles and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit for a way of ending the divisions that separate us and are causing so much pain and strife for so many. We need to express our love more, we need to open our hearts to forgiveness and mercy, we need to pray more and seek self gratification less. As Christ has promised; "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching and My Father will love him. We will come to him and make our home with him. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. The words you hear me say are not my own. They belong to the Father who sent me. (John 14:23-24)
On this feast of Epiphany, take time to reflect on Christ’s teachings, take time to offer thanks to God for the things He has given you, set aside time to talk to God and Christ using your own words or by reading aloud a portion of scripture or the Psalms or just recite the Our Father. Make a visit to a church and partake of the liturgy and most especially, the Eucharist. Give God honor and praise by living your life according to Christ’s example and teachings. Practice you love of God by your deeds. I can think of no better way to praise God and to celebrate our thanks for God’s decision to make known to us His truth by sending us His beloved son to live among us as a human.
“Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” AMEN
Also known as Three Kings Day
A Reflection by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
If we look up the word EPIPHANY in a dictionary you find it has more meanings than just a feast we celebrate on January sixth celebrating the presentation of gifts by the Three Wise Men to the Infant Jesus and the Holy Family. One of the meanings is “manifestation of a divine being”; the other meaning is “A Sudden intuitive leap of understanding or faith, especially through an ordinary but striking occurrence”.
The feast of The Epiphany fits both definitions. God mad His son known to the world through the Three Wise Men’s visit after following a star that they, as astronomers and astrologers believed foretold of the birth of the king of all kings. , The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates the feast as the baptism of Jesus Christ.
The event certainly fits both definitions; a manifestation of a divine being and an intuitive leap of understanding or faith through an ordinary but striking occurrence, for that is exactly what happened. The three wise men believed an astrological sign and followed a star which was not one they knew and which seemed to be a beacon traveling through the sky to Bethlehem to behold the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. The birth of such a child had also been prophesized not only in Jewish writings but in the writings of other religions, probably those who trace themselves back to Abraham.
In Hispanic and Latin cultures, as well as some places in Europe, the feast day is known as Three Kings’ Day. Because of differences in church calendars, mainly between the Eastern Orthodox and the western Catholic and Protestant traditions, both Christmas and Epiphany have been observed at different times in the past. Today, most of the Eastern Orthodox traditions follow the western church calendar. The exceptions are some Greek Orthodox Churches and related traditions. The Russian and Serbian Orthodox churches still follow the older calendar and celebrate Epiphany as the Feast of Theophany (From the Greek, Theo (God), and phainein (to show forth), Theophany means an appearance of God to man.) on January 19th.
Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas Season and the Twelve Days of Christmas, which are usually counted from December 25th until January 5th. In most traditions, the day before Epiphany is the Twelfth Day of Christmas, the evening of which is called Twelfth Night. This is an occasion for feasting in some cultures, including the baking of a special King's Cake as part of the festivities of Epiphany. Polish people celebrate the feast by marking the initials of the three Kings, (Casper, Melchior, Balthasar) over their door with the numerals of the year in the following manner; (20CMB07) which they believe will bring them good fortune throughout the year and their dining table upon which they feast is covered with straw under a linen cloth to simulate the manger where Christ was born.
What we need to reflect on is the wonderful manifestation of God’s only Son, who came to us as a poor infant human with all the characteristics and difficulties of the human race and what that should mean to each of us.
God in His goodness and wisdom made himself visible to us in Jesus Christ. Prior to this all the recorded manifestations of God to humans were in tongues of fire, a burning bush, a cloud, but never in human form. In fact the Jewish people and even the prophets believed that looking directly at God would mean death. Not exactly the picture of a loving, merciful, forgiving God.
I believe that God decided that it was time to reveal the true God and the best way for God to do that was through the birth of Jesus. Jesus came, as He himself told us, to give us a new covenant. Jesus came to make clear to us the way, the truth and the life. Jesus is the light which would guide us to the Father.
Jesus said: “Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Fathers who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” (John 14:5-11)
Jesus came to teach us the way to the father, Jesus gave us the two great commandments “Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, mind, soul and body and the second is like unto it Love your neighbor as yourself”
In John 14:15-21 Jesus makes the reason for his being sent to earth for all men to see and touch completely clear, He was not a disjointed voice booming out of clouds or in a burning bush, He was flesh and blood. He said: “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. I will send The Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you, No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
The manifestation of God in the person of Jesus Christ that we celebrate on the feast of Epiphany came about in an ordinary way, not as a sudden appearance but in a natural birth that followed the nine month pregnancy of Mary, the Theotokos. The pronouncement of the birth of the King of Kings by the Wise men to Herod and the world and how they arrived in Bethlehem certainly was a striking occurrence.
The birth of Christ and the pronouncement of that event brought into the world a message of hope, forgiveness and the promise of everlasting life for all people, not just the Jewish people. Christ promised us that by living justly and as He instructed and gave an example we would all find a peace that the world can not give.
In this time of trouble throughout the world each of us needs to acknowledge Christ and love Him and through Him, the Father who sent Him. We need to look to them for our deliverance from the worlds and churches’ troubles and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit for a way of ending the divisions that separate us and are causing so much pain and strife for so many. We need to express our love more, we need to open our hearts to forgiveness and mercy, we need to pray more and seek self gratification less. As Christ has promised; "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching and My Father will love him. We will come to him and make our home with him. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. The words you hear me say are not my own. They belong to the Father who sent me. (John 14:23-24)
On this feast of Epiphany, take time to reflect on Christ’s teachings, take time to offer thanks to God for the things He has given you, set aside time to talk to God and Christ using your own words or by reading aloud a portion of scripture or the Psalms or just recite the Our Father. Make a visit to a church and partake of the liturgy and most especially, the Eucharist. Give God honor and praise by living your life according to Christ’s example and teachings. Practice you love of God by your deeds. I can think of no better way to praise God and to celebrate our thanks for God’s decision to make known to us His truth by sending us His beloved son to live among us as a human.
“Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” AMEN
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