Love Is Patient and Kind
A Reflection for Saint Valentines Day
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://gropups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud (1 Corinthians 13:4)
February 14th had been celebrated by the church for centuries as the day to honor the three Saint Valentine’s but in 1969 it was removed from the church official calendar but is extremely popular as a commercial holiday set aside to give special recognition to your loved ones. According to history St. Valentine was a priest in the Roman Empire who helped hide and save persecuted Christians during the reign of Claudius II, was thrown in jail and later beheaded on Feb. 14. There is supposed to be another St. Valentine who was the Catholic bishop of Terni and was also beheaded during the reign of Claudius II. According to some historians there was a third St. Valentine who secretly married couples when marriage was forbidden in Africa and was later beheaded. The one common factor for all the St. Valentines is that they lost their heads over love. Possibly that explains why so many men and women seem to loose their heads when they think they are in love.
There was also a conventional belief in Europe during the middle Ages that birds chose their partners in the middle of February. Thus the day was dedicated to love, and people observed it by writing love letters and sending small gifts to their beloved. Legend has it that Charles, duke of Orleans, sent the first real Valentine card to his wife in 1415, when he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. (He, however, was not beheaded, and died a half-century later of old age.)
These words from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians sums up what love really is “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud” It is not the sexual or physical attraction that counts, but the deeper spiritual actions one puts forth toward others. Mother Teresa put it nicely when she would tell people “Give your hands to serve and your hearts to love.'' - Mother Teresa
Christ, himself, told us that love was the greatest commandment, Love of God and Love of your neighbor. Today the word love is far too often confused with sex and nothing could be further from the truth. When two people are deeply in love, yes sex is a means of sharing and expressing that love and in the case of heterosexual couples of creating a physical expression of their love in children. But for true love to blossom and bloom there has to be understanding, honesty, trust cooperation and devotion. Both parties have to be willing to give 100% of themselves to the other.
Galatians 5:22 reminds us that love is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit and therefore it is a special gift that comes from Almighty God “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness”, (Galatians 5:22) and like all gifts from God it should not be taken lightly but appreciated and used in accordance with God’s intentions. Take special not of the gifts that follow love and its placement as the first gift.
On Saint Valentines day (even though the Roman church no longer celebrates it as a feast day) let us show our love for God’s children by doing more than sending a special greeting to a few friends and lovers, but put into actions that show all our love for God and for all God’s children by voicing our indignation for the actions of governments and individuals who promote hatred, bigotry, discrimination and violence. Let’s speak out in favor of funding for quality affordable health care for all, adequate affordable housing, affordable quality education for every child. “The Lord is waiting for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who seek his help”. (Isaiah 30:17-19)
“But love your enemies, do well to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. (Luke 6:35) these words from Luke even advise us to love our enemies and one way to show that love is to pray for them. Pray that God will open their hearts to find solutions to the things that have caused the discord.
I close this reflection for Valentines Day with this prayer from 2 Thessalonians 2 : 16-17 “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” AMEN
May Almighty God’s love overflow within your hearts and out on to all those with whom you come in contact with.
Have a Blessed St. Valentines Day.
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 Love of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love of God. Show all posts
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Septuagesima Sunday Reflection
gesima,A Time of Reflection, Sacrifice, and Renewal
A Reflection for Septuagesima Sunday
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA, Mission St. Sergius & Bacchus
Holliston MA
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
February begins the countdown and beginning of the church season set aside to remind us of what Christ was willing to do for us and how we are doing, as followers of Christ, in living according to His instructions.
We are reminded during the weeks leading up to the official start of Lent on Ash Wednesday to begin our period of reflection and preparation by the titles of the Sundays leading up to Ash Wednesday.
The 17-day period beginning on Septuagesima Sunday is intended to be observed as a preparation for the season of Lent, which is itself a period of spiritual preparation.
In the Catholic liturgy, the Alleluia ceases to be said during the liturgy, effective at First Vespers of Septuagesima Sunday, and is not sung again until Easter. Violet Vestments are worn, except on feast days, during the period from Septuagesima Sunday until Holy Thursday. The readings of the Divine office during this time are from the Books of Genesis which describe the Creation of the universe, the human race and the fall from grace of man by disobedience of God’s law, the sin of Cain and Abel and continue with the promises of redemption and the Messiah made to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses. The Gospel Story for Septuagesima Sunday is that of the Prodigal son and is meant to remind us of the forgiving and infinite merciful way of God.
Usually during this week I try to spend time reflecting on the past year and how well I did in living up to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Was I kind and considerate of others, even those who were not so nice to me? Did I give back to God a portion of what he provided me with, sometimes called tithing, in time or financial resources? Did I care for the sick and needy? Did I discriminate against anyone or put anyone down? Did I cause anyone to become angry and if so, did I apologize and try to make amends? I ask myself how I can become a better person and how I can best serve God. Where I find weaknesses in my life or when I think of ways to improve myself, I write them down as something to put on my list of things I need to do.
Sexagesima” is Latin for “sixtieth”; this Sunday is so called because it is roughly sixty days from Easter. Sexagesima brings us a firm warning that as we work for Christ and His Kingdom, we must always be aware that any success we may see is not due to our own efforts, but to God’s direction and His Grace. This Sunday is a perfect time to reflect on where we are and why and how we got here and what part and for what reason God placed us here. During this week I ask if I am doing all that I can to be a true servant and disciple of Christ.
Quinquagesima Sunday marks the period of fifty days before Easter. It begins with the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, called Dominica in Quinquagesima or Esto Mihi from the beginning of the Introit of the Eucharistic Liturgy; it is a Sunday of the second class, and the Color for the vestments of the Mass is violet. In the past, for early Christians it was the beginning of fasting period, and is called “The days without Meat” by many nationalities. This is the Sunday that I usually have my list of things that I need to do to improve myself in living according to the teachings of Christ prepared and posted somewhere that I can see it every day.
This year Ash Wednesday begins on the 21st of the month and on this day, worshippers are blessed with ashes by the priest. The priest or minister marks the forehead of each participant with black ashes, in the shape of a cross, and the worshipper traditionally retains until washing it off after sundown as a reminder of their mortality and sinfulness. The symbolism echoes the ancient Near Eastern tradition of throwing ash over one's head signifying repentance for the sins one has committed (as related numerous times in the Scripture). The priest marks the forehead of the person with one of these three blessings: "Remember, man that you are dust and unto dust you shall return." (Latin: Memento homo, quia pulvis es, ET in pulverem reverteris.) From Genesis 3:19 or "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel." Or "Repent, and hear the good news."
The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday and mixed with olive oil; as a fixative. Ash Wednesday is observed by both fasting and abstinence and is a day of contemplating one's transgressions. The ashes are not a Sacrament but a Sign or Sacramental. (A Sacramental is something that aids one’s devotion to God but is not a sacrament.) Sacramentals are commonly divided into six classes: prayer, anointing, eating, confession, giving, and blessings.
As the title of this reflection indicates this is a time for us to reflect on our past and how well we are doing in coming closer to God and on what we might have to change from our current way of life and to plan for making those changes. It is a time of Sacrifice, of giving up some of the comforts we are accustomed to, reflecting the sacrifice Christ offered up for us and also of the forty days and nights that Christ fasted in the desert.
It is a time of Renewal, a time to make our selves over so that we better reflect Christ in our day to day lives.
God placed us here to achieve the promise of everlasting life with Him and all the heavenly elect but we have to earn that by living our lives in accord with the way Christ instructed us. We need to adhere to what Christ Called the two great commandments “Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, soul, mind and body and the second is like unto it, Love your neighbor as you love yourself” AMEN
A Reflection for Septuagesima Sunday
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA, Mission St. Sergius & Bacchus
Holliston MA
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
February begins the countdown and beginning of the church season set aside to remind us of what Christ was willing to do for us and how we are doing, as followers of Christ, in living according to His instructions.
We are reminded during the weeks leading up to the official start of Lent on Ash Wednesday to begin our period of reflection and preparation by the titles of the Sundays leading up to Ash Wednesday.
The 17-day period beginning on Septuagesima Sunday is intended to be observed as a preparation for the season of Lent, which is itself a period of spiritual preparation.
In the Catholic liturgy, the Alleluia ceases to be said during the liturgy, effective at First Vespers of Septuagesima Sunday, and is not sung again until Easter. Violet Vestments are worn, except on feast days, during the period from Septuagesima Sunday until Holy Thursday. The readings of the Divine office during this time are from the Books of Genesis which describe the Creation of the universe, the human race and the fall from grace of man by disobedience of God’s law, the sin of Cain and Abel and continue with the promises of redemption and the Messiah made to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses. The Gospel Story for Septuagesima Sunday is that of the Prodigal son and is meant to remind us of the forgiving and infinite merciful way of God.
Usually during this week I try to spend time reflecting on the past year and how well I did in living up to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Was I kind and considerate of others, even those who were not so nice to me? Did I give back to God a portion of what he provided me with, sometimes called tithing, in time or financial resources? Did I care for the sick and needy? Did I discriminate against anyone or put anyone down? Did I cause anyone to become angry and if so, did I apologize and try to make amends? I ask myself how I can become a better person and how I can best serve God. Where I find weaknesses in my life or when I think of ways to improve myself, I write them down as something to put on my list of things I need to do.
Sexagesima” is Latin for “sixtieth”; this Sunday is so called because it is roughly sixty days from Easter. Sexagesima brings us a firm warning that as we work for Christ and His Kingdom, we must always be aware that any success we may see is not due to our own efforts, but to God’s direction and His Grace. This Sunday is a perfect time to reflect on where we are and why and how we got here and what part and for what reason God placed us here. During this week I ask if I am doing all that I can to be a true servant and disciple of Christ.
Quinquagesima Sunday marks the period of fifty days before Easter. It begins with the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, called Dominica in Quinquagesima or Esto Mihi from the beginning of the Introit of the Eucharistic Liturgy; it is a Sunday of the second class, and the Color for the vestments of the Mass is violet. In the past, for early Christians it was the beginning of fasting period, and is called “The days without Meat” by many nationalities. This is the Sunday that I usually have my list of things that I need to do to improve myself in living according to the teachings of Christ prepared and posted somewhere that I can see it every day.
This year Ash Wednesday begins on the 21st of the month and on this day, worshippers are blessed with ashes by the priest. The priest or minister marks the forehead of each participant with black ashes, in the shape of a cross, and the worshipper traditionally retains until washing it off after sundown as a reminder of their mortality and sinfulness. The symbolism echoes the ancient Near Eastern tradition of throwing ash over one's head signifying repentance for the sins one has committed (as related numerous times in the Scripture). The priest marks the forehead of the person with one of these three blessings: "Remember, man that you are dust and unto dust you shall return." (Latin: Memento homo, quia pulvis es, ET in pulverem reverteris.) From Genesis 3:19 or "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel." Or "Repent, and hear the good news."
The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday and mixed with olive oil; as a fixative. Ash Wednesday is observed by both fasting and abstinence and is a day of contemplating one's transgressions. The ashes are not a Sacrament but a Sign or Sacramental. (A Sacramental is something that aids one’s devotion to God but is not a sacrament.) Sacramentals are commonly divided into six classes: prayer, anointing, eating, confession, giving, and blessings.
As the title of this reflection indicates this is a time for us to reflect on our past and how well we are doing in coming closer to God and on what we might have to change from our current way of life and to plan for making those changes. It is a time of Sacrifice, of giving up some of the comforts we are accustomed to, reflecting the sacrifice Christ offered up for us and also of the forty days and nights that Christ fasted in the desert.
It is a time of Renewal, a time to make our selves over so that we better reflect Christ in our day to day lives.
God placed us here to achieve the promise of everlasting life with Him and all the heavenly elect but we have to earn that by living our lives in accord with the way Christ instructed us. We need to adhere to what Christ Called the two great commandments “Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, soul, mind and body and the second is like unto it, Love your neighbor as you love yourself” AMEN
Sunday, January 28, 2007
A Twenty First Century Saiont
A 21st Century Saint
A Reflection of Franciscan Priest and Martyr Mychal Judge OFM
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
On September 11, 2001 a son of Saint Francis paid the ultimate sacrifice while doing the job that he believed Christ called him to do. Fr. Mychal Judge OFM was the chaplain of the New York City Fire Department and had answered to call when extremist militants destroyed the World Trade Center and claimed the lives of over 3000 American citizens. There are many people who feel that, just a Christ died in order to save the all people and and so many martyrs died believing and living according to the teachings of Christ, Fr. Mychal also died believing that hwat he was doing was what Christ would have done. Michael Ford, in his FR. MUCHAL JUDGE, AN AMERICAN HERO, writes some of Fr. Michal’s words which are words we should all live by and use often.
Fr. Mychal has often said “Is there so much love in the world that we can afford to discriminate against any kind of love”? When asked why he was a priest and how he viewed his life he responded "The life I have is not what I planned on, but I had no idea what life I'd have. You just don't know, so you just go and take one day at a time. I don't get into tomorrow because God hasn't created it yet. So I live in today as best I can for the glory of God and His people." Describing his day he said I start the day with this prayer, 'Lord, show me, take me, mold me, fashion me, show me what You want, take me where you want me to go, let me meet who You want me to meet, tell me what to say and keep me out of Your way.'Many believe that Fr. Mychal should be declared a saint but that is unlikely to ever happen if the Church of Rome continues to proclaim their current teachings. Through the centuries they have almost successfully buried many saints from the the early church history from common knowledge for the same reasons that they will probably never canonize Fr. Mychal.
The reason, he like Saints Sergius, Bacchus, Polyeuct, and Nearchus, and so many others was an openly gay man.
The saints I mention above all have dates assigned to them on the Roman calendar but most people have never heard of them.
Nearly 3,000 participated in his funeral Mass Sept. 15. He is buried in the friars' plot of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa, N.J.
I would like to suggest that you visit a web site dedicated to Fr. Mychal where so many more inspiring stories about the brother of St. Francis who lived a saintly life can be found at: www.SaintMychal.com and also plan to see the wonderful documentary about his life entitles SAINT OF 9/11.
A Reflection of Franciscan Priest and Martyr Mychal Judge OFM
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
On September 11, 2001 a son of Saint Francis paid the ultimate sacrifice while doing the job that he believed Christ called him to do. Fr. Mychal Judge OFM was the chaplain of the New York City Fire Department and had answered to call when extremist militants destroyed the World Trade Center and claimed the lives of over 3000 American citizens. There are many people who feel that, just a Christ died in order to save the all people and and so many martyrs died believing and living according to the teachings of Christ, Fr. Mychal also died believing that hwat he was doing was what Christ would have done. Michael Ford, in his FR. MUCHAL JUDGE, AN AMERICAN HERO, writes some of Fr. Michal’s words which are words we should all live by and use often.
Fr. Mychal has often said “Is there so much love in the world that we can afford to discriminate against any kind of love”? When asked why he was a priest and how he viewed his life he responded "The life I have is not what I planned on, but I had no idea what life I'd have. You just don't know, so you just go and take one day at a time. I don't get into tomorrow because God hasn't created it yet. So I live in today as best I can for the glory of God and His people." Describing his day he said I start the day with this prayer, 'Lord, show me, take me, mold me, fashion me, show me what You want, take me where you want me to go, let me meet who You want me to meet, tell me what to say and keep me out of Your way.'Many believe that Fr. Mychal should be declared a saint but that is unlikely to ever happen if the Church of Rome continues to proclaim their current teachings. Through the centuries they have almost successfully buried many saints from the the early church history from common knowledge for the same reasons that they will probably never canonize Fr. Mychal.
The reason, he like Saints Sergius, Bacchus, Polyeuct, and Nearchus, and so many others was an openly gay man.
The saints I mention above all have dates assigned to them on the Roman calendar but most people have never heard of them.
Nearly 3,000 participated in his funeral Mass Sept. 15. He is buried in the friars' plot of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa, N.J.
I would like to suggest that you visit a web site dedicated to Fr. Mychal where so many more inspiring stories about the brother of St. Francis who lived a saintly life can be found at: www.SaintMychal.com and also plan to see the wonderful documentary about his life entitles SAINT OF 9/11.
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
Thursday, January 25, 2007
From Sinner To Saint
From Great Sinner to God’s Messenger
A Reflection on the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
Today is the feast commemorating the conversion of St. Paul possibly one of the most influential of the messengers of Christ’s light of truth. The story of Saint Paul should be an inspiration to every person on the face of the earth. Here was a man who was among the educated elite of the Jewish faith, a Pharisee, who so despised and feared the teachings of Christ that he went about persecuting and killing those followers of Christ’s teachings. On the way to Damascus a blinding light struck him blind and he, according to his writings found in the Acts of the Apostles and Paul’s Epistles, heard the voice of Christ asking him “Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
We need to notice the words Christ used in addressing Paul. He did not say “Saul, why do you persecute my followers” but “Why are you persecuting me”
Christ himself by those words acknowledges that once we are baptized and acknowledge Christ as the promised messiah of God we become one with Christ. We become one in the Mystical Body of Christ. In short, we become the church, not some building, some city, or some group, we become and are the church.
The story of Paul’s conversion is also a message of hope for all who feel that they are not welcome or that they cannot be accepted because of their past sins or transgressions. How much more affirming can that message be for us because if a person who actual inflicted pain and suffering and murdered children of God can be forgiven and become one of the greatest evangelist of all time we can be assured that we can also achieve the promise of everlasting live with God.
It was also Paul who proclaimed that the message of salvation was not for a select few but for all people of all nations. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians makes it crystal clear when he wrote “There is one body. But it has many parts. Even though it has many parts, they make up one body. It is the same with Christ. We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit into one body. It didn't matter whether we were Jews or Greeks, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink. The body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts. Suppose the foot says, "I am not a hand. So I don't belong to the body." It is still part of the body. And suppose the ear says, "I am not an eye. So I don't belong to the body." It is still part of the body. ……….But God has joined together all the parts of the body. And he has given more honors to the parts that didn't have any. In that way, the parts of the body will not take sides. All of them will take care of each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy. You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it. This last line is of great importance when we look at how some churches have caused pain to parts of the body of
Christ by turning away people because they were divorced or have a same sex orientation.
In Galatians 2:6 Paul wrote “Some people in Jerusalem seemed to be important. It makes no difference to me what they were. God does not judge by what he sees on the outside. Those people added nothing to my message.” This passage makes it very clear that the high priests and those who set up rules and regulations added nothing to the message of Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 Paul tells us that He is only proclaiming what Christ made clear to him, What I received I passed on to you. And it is the most important of all. Here is what it is. Christ died for our sins, just as Scripture said he would. 4 He was buried. He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as Scripture said he would be.” These lines tell the whole story of our redemption and salvation as promised throughout the Old Testament to all the prophets, we have been saved by Christ’s gift of himself to us. Just as Paul, a sinner who committed the gravest of sins became on of God’s great messengers of the light of truth found in Christ’s teachings so we also will be welcomed by God if we live as Christ taught us in 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 you love yourself”
Let us go forth from this day forward letting the light of Christ shine forth from us as a beacon to all we encounter. Let us not be afraid to live and act in ways that are befitting to a follower of Christ. Let us follow the instruction from Jesus found in Mark 16: 15 “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Who ever believes and is Baptized will be saved”
Just as Paul went from great sinner to Evangelist, so too we can go from being a passive believer to becoming an active participant in the Mystical Body of Christ, the church, by our deeds and actions. Prayer alone is not enough, for prayer is a conversation with God and as we all know from the actions of so many in today’s world, especially those who are supposed to lead us, “Talk is cheap if not followed up by action”.
Paul went from contempt of Christ to a staunch believer and put his entire faith and trust in God, so too must we.
Our human nature is only a fleeting thing, but our spiritual salvation is forever. Let no human make you turn away from God by what they have done or said but listen to the truth found in Christ’s teachings and follow them.
God is love and God is forgiving and welcoming. Remember the teaching found in Luke 15:6-8 “In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!”
Let us praise God from whom all blessings flow. AMEN
A Reflection on the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
Today is the feast commemorating the conversion of St. Paul possibly one of the most influential of the messengers of Christ’s light of truth. The story of Saint Paul should be an inspiration to every person on the face of the earth. Here was a man who was among the educated elite of the Jewish faith, a Pharisee, who so despised and feared the teachings of Christ that he went about persecuting and killing those followers of Christ’s teachings. On the way to Damascus a blinding light struck him blind and he, according to his writings found in the Acts of the Apostles and Paul’s Epistles, heard the voice of Christ asking him “Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
We need to notice the words Christ used in addressing Paul. He did not say “Saul, why do you persecute my followers” but “Why are you persecuting me”
Christ himself by those words acknowledges that once we are baptized and acknowledge Christ as the promised messiah of God we become one with Christ. We become one in the Mystical Body of Christ. In short, we become the church, not some building, some city, or some group, we become and are the church.
The story of Paul’s conversion is also a message of hope for all who feel that they are not welcome or that they cannot be accepted because of their past sins or transgressions. How much more affirming can that message be for us because if a person who actual inflicted pain and suffering and murdered children of God can be forgiven and become one of the greatest evangelist of all time we can be assured that we can also achieve the promise of everlasting live with God.
It was also Paul who proclaimed that the message of salvation was not for a select few but for all people of all nations. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians makes it crystal clear when he wrote “There is one body. But it has many parts. Even though it has many parts, they make up one body. It is the same with Christ. We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit into one body. It didn't matter whether we were Jews or Greeks, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink. The body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts. Suppose the foot says, "I am not a hand. So I don't belong to the body." It is still part of the body. And suppose the ear says, "I am not an eye. So I don't belong to the body." It is still part of the body. ……….But God has joined together all the parts of the body. And he has given more honors to the parts that didn't have any. In that way, the parts of the body will not take sides. All of them will take care of each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy. You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it. This last line is of great importance when we look at how some churches have caused pain to parts of the body of
Christ by turning away people because they were divorced or have a same sex orientation.
In Galatians 2:6 Paul wrote “Some people in Jerusalem seemed to be important. It makes no difference to me what they were. God does not judge by what he sees on the outside. Those people added nothing to my message.” This passage makes it very clear that the high priests and those who set up rules and regulations added nothing to the message of Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 Paul tells us that He is only proclaiming what Christ made clear to him, What I received I passed on to you. And it is the most important of all. Here is what it is. Christ died for our sins, just as Scripture said he would. 4 He was buried. He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as Scripture said he would be.” These lines tell the whole story of our redemption and salvation as promised throughout the Old Testament to all the prophets, we have been saved by Christ’s gift of himself to us. Just as Paul, a sinner who committed the gravest of sins became on of God’s great messengers of the light of truth found in Christ’s teachings so we also will be welcomed by God if we live as Christ taught us in 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 you love yourself”
Let us go forth from this day forward letting the light of Christ shine forth from us as a beacon to all we encounter. Let us not be afraid to live and act in ways that are befitting to a follower of Christ. Let us follow the instruction from Jesus found in Mark 16: 15 “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Who ever believes and is Baptized will be saved”
Just as Paul went from great sinner to Evangelist, so too we can go from being a passive believer to becoming an active participant in the Mystical Body of Christ, the church, by our deeds and actions. Prayer alone is not enough, for prayer is a conversation with God and as we all know from the actions of so many in today’s world, especially those who are supposed to lead us, “Talk is cheap if not followed up by action”.
Paul went from contempt of Christ to a staunch believer and put his entire faith and trust in God, so too must we.
Our human nature is only a fleeting thing, but our spiritual salvation is forever. Let no human make you turn away from God by what they have done or said but listen to the truth found in Christ’s teachings and follow them.
God is love and God is forgiving and welcoming. Remember the teaching found in Luke 15:6-8 “In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!”
Let us praise God from whom all blessings flow. AMEN
Friday, January 19, 2007
Living In Peace and Harmony With All People
Reflection for Third Sunday after Epiphany
Living in Peace, Harmony in Compliance With God’s Will
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus, Holliston, MA
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
From Romans 12:16-21, Psalm 101:16-17, Matthew 8:1-13,
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position, do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord.” On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 16-21)
These powerful words from the Epistle of Paul to the Romans seem to have fallen on the deaf ears of the powerful world leaders if one looks at their actions. Instead of attempting to live in harmony they prefer to cause strife and war. Their actions cause pain and suffering and huge loss of innocent lives.
The same can also be said of some leaders of the Christian churches who it seems would rather exclude whole sections of people because they feel that they do not fit their life style and reject the truth that God creates all things and people for purposes known only to God alone.
It is also clear that many of the hierarchy of churches did not pay attention to the section of the reading that says; “Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody”, for if they did they never would have allowed pedophile priests to continue in positions where they could abuse children by transferring them around.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord.” On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Instead of adhering to this teaching people seem quite willing to live by the adage “Revenge is Sweet”.
The time has come, if we ever hope to actually know a time of peace and brotherhood, for all people, especially those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, to stop traveling the road leading to strife and misery, the road that causes suffering and pain to so many parents and children by the loss of their mother, father, sister or brother. We need to stop using bombs and guns to bring about peace and begin using food and medicine, education and diplomacy to promote stability and peace. The road we have traveled is not working, it has not worked in the past and it certainly is not working now.
The time is now for us to be more mindful of the needs of others who have not been as blessed as we have. We need to learn to appreciate the cultural artistic and religious differences of countries and stop trying to make all carbon copies of the US. We need to search for the things we have in common with each other and not focus on the differences; this applies to all the religious denominations that claim to believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ.
All around us we see the glorification of excess. Ads promote treatments not for disease that are killing people like cancer, Parkinson’s, AIDS but for the search for the fountain of youth and beauty or to enhance ones sexual pleasure. Every other advertisement in the papers, television, magazines, radio and now over the internet promotes items that pander to the carnal nature of man or greed. People put themselves in debt to acquire things like 60” flat screen home theater systems so they can impress their neighbors.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” The final sentence of Paul’s letter to the Romans implores us to not allow ourselves to be overcome by evil but for us to overcome evil by doing good. As we reflect on this reading I suggest that we look within ourselves and seek out the places in our lives where we can make a difference. What can I do to make a change for the good in my personal life, in my families’ lives, in the neighborhood and in the world?
I will close with this prayer:
Almighty and Merciful God instill within me the knowledge and truth of your teachings, guide me in all my actions, thoughts, words and deeds through the gifts of the Holy Spirit to better serve you. Inspire me as to ways that I can make a difference in my own live and in the lives of all those with whom I touch. Help me to better serve you and all your children each and every day. Forgive me for any transgressions I may have committed in though, word, deed or action in the past and lead me on your road to eternal life. I ask this through your beloved son, Jesus Christ, my redeemer and savior who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN
Living in Peace, Harmony in Compliance With God’s Will
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus, Holliston, MA
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
From Romans 12:16-21, Psalm 101:16-17, Matthew 8:1-13,
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position, do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord.” On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 16-21)
These powerful words from the Epistle of Paul to the Romans seem to have fallen on the deaf ears of the powerful world leaders if one looks at their actions. Instead of attempting to live in harmony they prefer to cause strife and war. Their actions cause pain and suffering and huge loss of innocent lives.
The same can also be said of some leaders of the Christian churches who it seems would rather exclude whole sections of people because they feel that they do not fit their life style and reject the truth that God creates all things and people for purposes known only to God alone.
It is also clear that many of the hierarchy of churches did not pay attention to the section of the reading that says; “Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody”, for if they did they never would have allowed pedophile priests to continue in positions where they could abuse children by transferring them around.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord.” On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Instead of adhering to this teaching people seem quite willing to live by the adage “Revenge is Sweet”.
The time has come, if we ever hope to actually know a time of peace and brotherhood, for all people, especially those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, to stop traveling the road leading to strife and misery, the road that causes suffering and pain to so many parents and children by the loss of their mother, father, sister or brother. We need to stop using bombs and guns to bring about peace and begin using food and medicine, education and diplomacy to promote stability and peace. The road we have traveled is not working, it has not worked in the past and it certainly is not working now.
The time is now for us to be more mindful of the needs of others who have not been as blessed as we have. We need to learn to appreciate the cultural artistic and religious differences of countries and stop trying to make all carbon copies of the US. We need to search for the things we have in common with each other and not focus on the differences; this applies to all the religious denominations that claim to believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ.
All around us we see the glorification of excess. Ads promote treatments not for disease that are killing people like cancer, Parkinson’s, AIDS but for the search for the fountain of youth and beauty or to enhance ones sexual pleasure. Every other advertisement in the papers, television, magazines, radio and now over the internet promotes items that pander to the carnal nature of man or greed. People put themselves in debt to acquire things like 60” flat screen home theater systems so they can impress their neighbors.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” The final sentence of Paul’s letter to the Romans implores us to not allow ourselves to be overcome by evil but for us to overcome evil by doing good. As we reflect on this reading I suggest that we look within ourselves and seek out the places in our lives where we can make a difference. What can I do to make a change for the good in my personal life, in my families’ lives, in the neighborhood and in the world?
I will close with this prayer:
Almighty and Merciful God instill within me the knowledge and truth of your teachings, guide me in all my actions, thoughts, words and deeds through the gifts of the Holy Spirit to better serve you. Inspire me as to ways that I can make a difference in my own live and in the lives of all those with whom I touch. Help me to better serve you and all your children each and every day. Forgive me for any transgressions I may have committed in though, word, deed or action in the past and lead me on your road to eternal life. I ask this through your beloved son, Jesus Christ, my redeemer and savior who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN
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