Feast of Epiphany 2017

A New Year Message for peace

A New Year Prayer, A Resolution for Peace On Earth, 

A Reflection for January 1 2017

By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFM

Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus

Order Franciscans of Mercy

www.orderfranciscansofmercy.org

www.missionstsergius.org

 

As we prepare to make our resolutions for the New Year 2017, how about we try this one on for size?

I based this reflection on the words to a once very popular prayer/song “Let There Be Peace on Earth” written and copy written in 1955by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson. 

In this time of world turmoil and after one of the most contentious elections in history which has left our country seemingly divided, I feel we need to focus on the issues that have been tearing nations, churches and people apart and make a resolution to do our part to change the direction the world seems to be headed

Every day the news is filled with reports throughout the world, of strife, conflicts over territory and in some countries genocide, poverty, and starvation caused by Religious intolerance.

A radical group of individuals calling themselves Muslims are causing innocent people, especially Christians to suffer and die all over the globe as I mentioned in the Christmas Message.

These individuals are so far away from being true Muslims than Heaven is from Hell and I believe they are minions of the Prince of Darkness.

The Islamic Faith does not tolerate the slaughter of innocent people; in fact it specifically forbids it.

The true followers of the Islamic Faith worship the same God as Christians and Jews, the God of Isaiah, Abraham, Moses, Isaac, David the Father of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Did not Christ Himself say “Let those among you that is without sin, cast the first stone” We all are sinners to one degree or another; we need to acknowledge that and be repentant for our own misdeeds and assume we are better than the others.

We need especially to turn too God and ask him to inspire world leaders to find a way to bring about peace on earth, Good will toward all person, and end to poverty, injustice, homelessness, hunger and guide researchers to find cures for Cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, HIV/Aids, and all the other depilating diseases that devastate so many lives.

The words of this wonderful prayer/song are very poignant.   It not only makes a request but it points out that it all must start with each of us individually; “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.” This is a lesson to us that we cannot wait for others to set the ball in motion; we need it to begin within ourselves. 

We need to make a move in our own lives to settle any disagreements we might have with members of our own family, friends, neighbors or employees. 

If each and every person would work toward the goal of peace in their own live the result would be like a snowball rolling down a very steep hill, it would keep building and growing larger and faster as it traveled along.  Each individual action would cause a similar reaction from others and it could spread throughout the world.

The second line in this message written in 1955 is also powerful as it directs us to the source of all peace; “Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God as our Father.”  In order to achieve any kind of lasting and meaningful peace we need to turn to the source, Almighty God.  We need to place Him at the center of our lives and live according to the way His beloved son, Jesus Christ instructed us.  We need to look around us and be thankful for the gifts we have been given and stop grumbling about the things we think we need.   We need to come to the realization that we are all children of the same God and therefore brothers and sisters of each other as the prayer/song explains; “brothers all are we, Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony.”

As we contemplate what kind of resolution we are going to make to change our lives in this new year I suggest that each of us place this as number one and that we make sure that we keep this resolution even if all the others are forgotten as the year progresses; “Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now, With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow, To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.”.

Peace is not something to be wished for, it is something one has to work hard to achieve.  If these words “ Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me!” are to ever be realized we all have to work together to make it a reality. 

We cannot be satisfied as long as there is one child of God that is being oppressed because social or economic status, suffering discrimination for any reason, dying because of lack of proper food or medicine, homeless due to inadequate affordable housing, or being violently murdered over drugs or gang disputes.  As children of God and followers of Jesus Christ we are called to live the Gospel message not just preach it.

Let us resolve to begin this New Year with one single purpose, to do our part in bringing about changes that will make the prayer/songs words a reality.

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me,
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now,
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow,
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me!  AMEN

I am also adding the prayer of the seraphic father of our order and all the Franciscan orders, Saint Francis which helps us to understand the things we need to do to achieve a true and lasting peace.

Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love;
when there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much 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

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

New Year 2017 Reflection

4th Sunday of Advent 2016

Is God Calling You?

Is God Calling You?

Do you feel God Calling you to serve him and his beloved children?

If so consider The Order Franciscans of Mercy an all affirming, welcoming inclusive Franciscan Community of the Reformed Catholic Church, an Independent Old Catholic denomination

Visit our web site  www.orderfranciscansofmercy.org to learn about our order and go to the Syllabus tab to learn the application process.

We welcome dedicated men and woman, single, married or partnered who feel called to serve God as a Brother, Deacon, Priest, or Professed Sister.

We serve ALL God’s children especially those who are often forgotten, maligned, abused, and homeless; the aged and sick through our street ministry, nursing home, prison and hospice ministries in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, New York City and in Kennesaw GA.

We understand our calling from God is to proclaim the Infinite Mercy and Love of God for ALL his children regardless of their race, creed, nationality, sexual orientation or gender identification or marital status.

2nd Sunday of Advent Dec 4, 2016

Homily for 1st Sunday of Advent

1st Sunday of Advent 2016

By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFM

Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus

Order Franciscans of Mercy

Link to All Reflections TV Shows; http://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn

Link to Mission Web Site: www.missionstsergius.org

 Link toOrder Franciscans of Mercy Web Site: www.orderfranciscansofmercy.org

 

This Sunday we begin the new liturgical year A with a reading from the book of Isaiah that helps us understand what we need to do to prepare to meet our God.

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. And many people shall go and say, Come you, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come you, and let us walk in the light of the LORD”

The reading also foretells of the coming of the Redeemer and Savior and the light of God‘s truth came into being.

 The second reading from Paul’s letter to the people of Rome reads thusly; Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put you on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”

For Christians, the season of Advent anticipates the coming of Christ from two different perspectives. The season offers the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, and to be alert for his Second Coming. The word itself comes from the Latin adventus which is the translation of the Greek word Parousia which refers to the Second Coming of Christ at the last days.  

The message of the readings for the first Sunday of Advent is to be prepared, to be prepared for the time when God calls us home and we face our judgement by God on how well we lived our lives in accord to the teachings Christ gave us.

If we are to be prepared we need to examine how well we are living our daily lives now and then make any necessary changes that need to be made in order to truly be living reflections of Christ’s teachings.

The Gospel from Matthew 24 proclaims the following; “As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man shall be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. ….. Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord does come. But know this, that if the manager of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be you also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes.”

Every year during the church season of advent we are asked to review how we are living in accord with God’s will and a time of preparing for our eternal life not just preparing to celebrate Christmas the holiday that celebrates the birth of our redeemer and Savior, Jesus Christ, not the arrival of Santa Clause and the presents we might receive.

We are being called to prepare ourselves to meet our creator and answer to Him as how well we have used the gifts He has given us.

How will we meet Him? Will we meet him with tattered clothing or will we meet Him with clean and shining souls which are the clothing that God sees.

In a Broadway musical JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR there is a chant that proclaims “Prepare ye the way of the Lord” It says exactly what we are called to do while living on here on God’s planet. 

God put every person on earth for the explicit reason of preparing ourselves to meet him when our time here on earth is over and we have that judgment by God on how well we did.

We will be asked questions like; “Did we care for His all His creations by being mindful of the environment and protect it?” 

“Did we have compassion for the poor and disadvantaged and share our gifts with those who were not as well off as we were?”

“Did we treat all those we met on our life’s journey with respect by recognizing them as one of our brothers and sisters in Christ and not discriminate against them?”

“Did we use the Gifts God provided us with in a manner that they were intended for or did we misuse them only for personal pleasure and/or financial gain?

Did we go about our being self-centered, caring only for our own comfort and pleasure without regard for how our actions affected others?”

“Did we thank God daily for the gifts we have no matter how small and did we appreciate the people who were placed in our lives, even those who criticize us and pointed out our faults and pray for those who have caused us pain and suffering?”

These are some of the questions God expects us to be able to answer in the affirmative because that is how God instructed us to live our lives.

So many of us go about our daily lives without ever taking the time to recognize what is around us or what gifts we have been given, we only turn to God when things go badly.

I do not want to count the many times I have heard people say, “Where is God when people are dying from Cancer, Aids, or other divesting diseases, why God allows innocent children and the poor to suffer so much?”

My response, which seems logical to me is; so that you will have reasons to practice the Beatitudes and to open your eyes to how well God has blessed you.  Those things give you the opportunity to thank God for the gifts you have been given by using them to reach out to those who are suffering.

God wants to see if you will just sit back being complacent or do you live as Jesus and the saints did speaking out against injustice, fighting poverty, working for equality for all people and seeking peaceful means to settle disputes.

Advent is the time that reminds us that we have to remain diligent, be awake to what is going on around us and respond in a Christ like way.

We need to give God private time each day, morning and evening, where we examine how we went about the day and where we can improve ourselves.

We need to be mindful of the blessings we have been given by God.  We must take time daily to thank God for bringing us through the day.

We need to be preparing ourselves for the day when we will meet Christ dressed not in filthy clothing but in our finest raiment.

Let us begin the season of Advent preparation by seriously evaluating ourselves and if we are prepared to meet God at our final judgment.

Let’s be honest with ourselves when we take our inventory on how we are living as Christians and make whatever adjustments are necessary to life in accord with the teachings Christ.

Let’s make sure our gift to Christ on the celebration of his birth is a more perfect self this Christmas.  AMEN

 

1st Sunday of Advent 11/27/2016

November 20, 2016 show

Nov. 13, 2016 Homily

33^rd Sunday of Ordinary Time 2016

November 13, 2016

MalachI 3:19-20A, Psal 98, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12, Luke 21:5-19

By Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFM

Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus

Order Franciscans of Mercy

http://www.missionstsergius.org

www.orderfranciscansofmercy.org

 

 

The readings for this Sunday seem to be preparing us for the coming season of Advent from the first readings admonition; “The day is coming now, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and the evil-doers will be like stubble. … But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will shine out with healing in its rays.”; and the final Gospel reading where Christ is telling those around him at the Temple of Jerusalem the following; “ , Jesus said, ‘All these things you are staring at now – the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another: everything will be destroyed. Those around him poised this question: ‘Master,’ they said ‘when will this happen, and what sign will there be that this is about to take place?’  Take care not to be deceived,’ Christ said ‘because many will come using my name and saying, “I am he” and, “The time is near at hand.” Refuse to join them. And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened, for this is something that must happen but the end is not so soon.” ….. “You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives.”

This week is a very good time to contemplate how Equality and Justice could be insured to all our citizens and in all the nations of the world and what we could do on our part to work toward that goal.

There is a dire need today of finding ways to put an end to the torture, bigotry, hatred, and injustices that plague our society and so many countries in the world.

Sadly we have seen and heard about so many young people who have either taken their lives because of being bullied or have suffered brutal beatings and even death by people who felt that they were superior to those they bullied and tortured or felt that their religious or political beliefs were the correct one.

We must remember that every human being on the face of the earth is a child of God, created in God’s image and likeness.

Therefore, every human being on the face of the earth is our brother and sister in Jesus Christ.

Christ’s message of the Gospel tells us that if we have faith and put our trust in God we can overcome any injustices.

People who have been the victims of bullying or those who have had any violent act committed against them may well think that the end is near. 

Survivors and victims of crimes often have feelings of denial, fear, anger, vindictiveness.

Often they do not understand why the crime happened to them, and are often unable to forgive.

But we MUST forgive just as Christ did when he hung on the cross and proclaimed “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”

It is true, many who commit the violent acts, especially one of prejudice and hatred, do so because they have been taught prejudice and hatred by bigoted people who are either ignorant of God’s teachings or just don’t care about living as God desires. They well may even be minions of the prince of Darkness himself.

All too often the victims of prejudice, hatred and violence are often overlooked and forgotten about but the trauma that they experienced lives forever in their mind and heart and gives them fear often deep enough for them to believe that their world has ended.

During this week, and in fact every day of the year, we are called by God to bring hope to hopeless victims. 

Giving people the knowledge of God’s infinite love and mercy and a  spiritual well being can bring comfort and help to people in pain, As it says in our first reading from the prophet Malachi, “Those who have knowledge and faith (Fear) in God the sun of justice with its healing rays.” There is something each of us can do to advance this process of justice and equality for all as promised in the Declaration of Independence of the United States, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” In doing so, we can be carried through suffering to glory along with Jesus. And we will be living out the final words found in Psalm 97; “ You that love the LORD, hate evil“

Will be delivered out of the hand of the wicked.”

This is a time not of endings or finality but of hope and a time to begin to turn away from accepting violence and hatred and turning to being a loving and caring child of God who extends the kind of love Christ exhibited toward all who came to him.

This is a time to become open and affirming toward all God’s children regardless of their nationality, race, gender identity, marital status or sexual orientation. 

Every person on the face of this earth is a child of God and deserves to have dignity, equality and justice and the freedom to live without fear. Let us make this our goal for the coming season of Advent as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Our redeemer and Savior.  Let us work hard to restore Justice to ALL God’s children all over the globe.               AMEN

November 13 2016 Show

Sunday Nov. 6, 2017 Reflection

A God of Infinite Love

32^nd Sunday of Ordinary Time November 6, 2016

A Reflection on 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:15-3:5; Luke 20:27-38.

By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFM

Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus

Order Franciscans of Mercy

www.orderfranciscansofmercy.org

www.missionstsergius.org

 

 

At the end of Sunday’s Gospel passage, Jesus explains the reason why there must be life after death. "Those who are deemed worthy to attain the coming age and the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels."…… "That the dead will rise, even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called out 'Lord, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,' and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."

Some people ask “Where in that is the proof that the dead rise?” The answer is; Since God is called the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and Jesus calls God a God of the living, not of the dead, then one must conclude that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are alive somewhere, even if they had been dead for centuries at the time God spoke to Moses from the bush.

In the preface of the Mass for the dead, the liturgy says “that with death life is changed, not taken away" That means that we or at least the one thing that separates us humans from all other creatures of God, our soul, lives on. 

The material shell may disintegrate and it returns back to the earth from which scripture says “God created the human from the slime of the earth”  and which we are reminded of every Ash Wednesday when we place the sign of the Cross on the forehead with these words, “Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return”  Therefore after mortal death we continue living but in an altered state and specifically a state of perfection.

We will be living in the perfection of God, a state unlike anything that is possible here on earth. The love for the people we loved here on earth will be enhanced to perfection and those things that annoyed us or separated us will be wiped away for they were not of perfection.

Christ, in His response to the Sadducees, meant that which is an integral part of our life, even a marriage that did not last here on earth, will be perfected in the love that united the two individuals in the first place even if only for a brief time.  

I personally believe, a marriage that did not last but one that began with true love for each other was according to a plan God had for reasons known only to Him. 

It could well be that the children born of that marriage had to come into being to fulfill some plan God has for them. 

The defects, misunderstandings, pain or suffering that the two people inflicted on each other, will be forgotten when they are rejoined in heaven and only the love that brought them together will remain.

In God, all things are understood, all transgressions will be excused, all sin is forgiven. We exist in perfection.

Even those who have legally remarried (This was the concept presented in the Gospel story) will have their feelings enhanced and their love continue because God is Love and all love is objectively a good coming from God, that cannot be dissolved.  

Rivalry, jealousy, hatred, prejudice, bigotry have nothing to do with love and indeed are the total opposite to Love but tools of Satan.

Heaven is a state of perfection and the ultimate expression of Love; THE LOVE OF GOD.  St. Bartolomé Blanco Márquez, one of the Spanish martyrs who was canonized a few years ago wrote "Let My Memory Always Remind You There Is a Better Life" in a letter to his fiancé the day before he died and ended it with the following advice “Goodbye, until that moment, then, dearest Maruja! Do not forget that I am looking at you from heaven, try to be a model Christian woman, since, in the end, worldly goods and delights are of no avail if we do not manage to save our souls.”
This Tuesday we will be called to vote for the person who will lead this great nation for the next 4 years. I will not tell you who I plan on voting for but I will tell you the qualities that the person you do vote for should be committed to carry out.

The next president should be one who is not going to eliminate programs that help the poor, the elderly who live on low fixed incomes because they never knew in their day the kinds of salaries people receive today so their Social Security which they paid into from their salaries is very low and not adequate for today’s cost of living. The next president should not be advocating cuts in Medicare which allows seniors to receive quality health care.

The next president should be one who wants to insure that our veterans receive quality health care including mental health care for those who suffer from PTSD because of the atrocities they witnessed while serving our country.

The next president should work to find ways to end all the senseless violence that permeates our nation and get weapons of war off our streets.

The next president needs to insure that that big business and the richest of our citizens pay the same rate of taxes and the individual working for minimum pay, speaking of which, the person you choose to elect should be committed to making sure that the minimum pay is commensurate with the cost of living and that everyone receives equal pay for equal work.

In two weeks we will be celebrating Thanksgiving, let us hope that everyone, including the poor, homeless, and elderly can all enjoy the festivities of the day We need to remind ourselves of the final admonishment of St. Bartolomé Blanco about worldly goods and delights and think about how we can share some of the things we have been given with those who are in need. 

Let us put aside the petty human disagreements that may have divided family and friends and reach out to mend them. 

Let us go forth in the spirit of love and brotherhood, reaching out in friendship and Christian love to the disenfranchised and our Asian, Latino, Moslem, Arab, Jewish, and all other nationalities who are our brothers and sisters in Christ and therefore children of God.

Let us work diligently to put an end the bullying, violence, hatred and bigotry that separates people from love and full participation in God’s love and has caused pain, suffering and even death to so many innocent people.

I end this reflection with the words of St. Paul from Sunday’s second reading, “ Pray that the Lord’s message may spread quickly, and be received with honor and pray that we may be preserved from the interference of bigoted and evil people, for true faith is not given to everyone. But the Lord is faithful, and he will give you strength and guard you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 2:16 - 3:5)

May the Lord turn our hearts towards the infinite love of God and may we find fortitude in Christ to live our life in a way that is pleasing to God and which will assure our perfection with God in Eternity.  AMEN

November 06, 2016 Reflections Show

Sunday October 30, 2016 Reflection

Words of Wisdom and Truth

A Reflection for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time 10/30/2016

By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFM

Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus

Order Franciscans of Mercy

Link to Reflections TV Shows;  http://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn

Link to Mission Web Site:  http://www.missionstsergius.org

Link to Franciscans of Mercy web site www.orderfranciscansofmercy.org

 

The words from the first reading for the 31^st Sunday of Ordinary Time is from the Book of Wisdom 11:22-12:2 and worth more than a billion words and sermons.  

The reading most certainly should open our hearts and minds to God’s infinite mercy and love for all His children regardless of their race, nationality, gender, or religious denomination.

When we take into consideration the other readings for this Sunday we have not only a message affirming God’s love and mercy for us all but also advice on how we can and will be welcomed and found pleasing in God’s eyes.

The reading from the book of Wisdom 11 verses 22 through Wisdom 12:verse 2 says; “Before the Lord the whole universe is like a grain of dust that tips the scales,or like a drop of morning dew falling on the ground. Yet you are merciful to all, because you can do all things and overlook men’s sins so that they can repent. Yes, you love all that exists; you hold nothing of what you have made in abhorrence, for had you hated anything, you would not have formed it.   And how, had you not willed it, could a thing persist, how be conserved if not called forth by you? You spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life, you whose imperishable spirit is in all.  Little by little, therefore, you correct those who offend, you admonish and remind them of how they have sinned, so that they may abstain from evil and trust in you, Lord.”

When coupled with, are taken into consideration from St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians chapter 1:11-2:2 we become strengthened even more in the knowledge of God’s love for us; “all that you have been doing through faith the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. To turn now to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we shall all be gathered round him: please do not get excited too soon or alarmed by any prediction or rumor or any letter claiming to come from us, implying that the Day of the Lord has already arrived.”

So many who claim to be preaching the word of God have tried to frighten people with the admonition that dooms day is at hand, and have done so from the earliest days of the church but Christ himself told us; “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. (Mark 13:32)

The message from Sunday’s Gospel is also comforting and affirming in that it reminds us that Christ did not heed the admonishments of the Religious of His time. It also makes clear that God and Christ are there for everyone who believes in them and tries to live in a way that is pleasing to God according to the teachings that Christ proclaimed.

Unfortunatly there are some who believe that they are the “chosen ones” because of their position, their wealth or because or their devotional practices and attendance at church but when they leave the confines of the church, and sometimes even while there, they do not practice Christian Charity and often demean others because of how they dress, or the color of their skin or their nationality.

The Gosple tells us:  “When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: “Zacchaeus come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.” And Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Christ joyfully. Others complained when they saw what was happening. “He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house” they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, “Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount”And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost”   (Luke 19:1-10)

We might also take note of what Zacchaeus said to Christ about giving half of his property to the poor and needy and making right any injustices or cheating he might have done since it is also one of the major teachings of Christ, to be mindful of the needs of others and to share our gifts with those who have not.

Christ has told us time and again that being aware of others and having compassion and generosity are keys to entering into heaven.

The Seraphic Father of our order, The Franciscan’s of Divine Mercy and love of God, our official name, knew this message so very well.  

St. Francis is known to have said “I acknowledge that all my possessions were given to me by God, and now here I am ready to give them back to Him”

Everything we have comes from God and therefore we need to give thanks for the gifts we have received and not hoard them to ourselves but share then according to our ability. 

We need to open our eyes to the needs of others around us and to put aside our prejudices and self centered interests and open our hearts to being more receptive to living the great commandment of Christ every moment of our life here on earth.

“Love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, mind, soul and body and love your neighbor as you love yourself” “Love one another as I have loved you”

Tomorrow, Monday, we celebrate the eve of All Saints Day called All Hallows Eve.

The traditions we have of dressing up like ghosts and gobblins and witches dates back to ancient times when the people of a village would dress up and carry torches and banged on drums in the belief that they could chase evil spirits away from the village.

We, Catholics, should spend time recalling and praying for those loved ones who have passed on to their eternal reward.

In fact, since this Tuesday is the feast of All Saints, and a time we should attend Mass, and Wednesday is the feast of All Souls, spending this week meditating on the lives of those who have been called home to the Lord and also meditating on how well we are living our lives in accord with the teachings Christ gave us as the means to gain everlasting life with Almighty God, His Blessed Mother and all the heavenly elect.

To bring forth the idea of what these two feast days are all about all I had to do was write two of the readings from scripture for the feasts days because the readings sum up everything we have to do in order to gain everlasting life and also fulfill God’s desire for us while we inhabit this planet.

The Second Reading for All Saints day is from the first gospel of John verse 3:1-3 and states;

“Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are.  Because the world refused to acknowledge him, therefore it does not acknowledge us.

My dear people, we are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is.   Surely everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ”.

The Gospel from Matthew 5:1-12 continues on with what is often called “The Sermon on the Mount” in which Christ talks about how we should live our life here on earth. “Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them: ‘How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   Happy the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage. Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted.  Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.   Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.   Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God.   Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God.   Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.”

Let us go forth from this day forward, putting these words of Christ into action by being more concerned about the needs of others especially the poor, homeless, unemployed, sick, aged as well as those society has disenfranchised, maligned as well as those who are less fortunate than we are and go out of our way to find every opportunity to share the gifts that God has given us with them.

If we do this we will be living the Gospel every day of our life and by doing so not only be an inspiration to those who we encounter in our daily life but we will also be opening the door into our partaking in the everlasting glory in heaven with Almighty God our Father and creator of all things, His beloved Son, our redeemer and savior Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and all the heavenly elect.         

May God bless you and keep you, may his light shine upon you and may you be filled with the comfort and peace that comes from God.  AMEN

 

 

Oct 30 2016 All SaintsSouls show

Sunday October 23, 2016 Reflections Show

Sunday Oct. 16, 2016 Reflection

God’s Justice Will Be Done

A Reflection for the 29^th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2016

October 16, 2016

 by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFM

Based on readings from; Psalm 121; 1-8, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2, Luke 18:1-8

Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus

Order Franciscans of Mercy

Web site: www.missionstsergius.org

Franciscan Web Site: www.orderfranciscansofmercy.org

 

 

The Gospel for this Sunday is the parable about the judge in a certain town who had neither fear of God nor respect for man and our need to pray continually and never lose heart. Which ends with a promise from Christ and also a question that is worth our considering in this age and time, “will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them??  I promise you, He will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?”

The Gospel story could very well be speaking about the many people who live in this world today and seem to have little or no fear of God or the consequences of how they are living their daily lives and who also have no respect for anyone but their own self interests. 

Our world today is very narcissistic and a great many people seek out fame, fortune, (even I sucumed to that desire in my younger years) and power and seem to care not about God or the plight of their brothers and sisters in Christ.

Sadly some of the candidates running for the highest office in this nation, congress and even down to local governmental office are advocating the elimination of programs that assist the poor, sick, elderly and those members of society who are often targeted for violence because of ingrained discrimination often perpetrated by clergy.

 

A recent survey has pointed out a decline in the last few decades of those who attend church on a regular basis. According to the poll this trend has increased in the last decade at an alarming rate which might account for the massive closing of churches and schools throughout the United States and in other nations.

The attacks on Just the mere mention of God and the display of any Christian symbols in public places as well as an attempt to prevent prayers that use the word GOD or CHRIST at military funerals or any Government function have also increased and with it we have seen the decline of all moral values and simple courtesy and respect and an increase in violence.

Hardly a day goes by that we don’t hear of a report of someone being gunned down on the streets of this country or senseless mass killings by some fanatical group, often doing it in the name of God.

The only God that I am aware of that would condone such acts of violence is the lord of the netherworld.

Far too many use God to justify their violence, discrimination and prejudice toward ethnic and other groups of people who do not fit their idea of the ideal individual.

One can but not wonder what God perceives of all this and how He is going to judge us when it is our time to justify how we lived our life.

We might want to think about the words of Christ at the end the Gospel reading “when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?”

I believe that He will find some who have tried to live according to God’s will and the teachings of Christ.

He will find some who have “Loved their neighbor as they have loved themselves” and who have practiced the Beatitudes and looked out for the well being of those who are sick, aged, poor and needy. Christ, when He comes again, will also find people who sought to know and love God in spite of rejection and ridicule from others.

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy 3:14-4:2, Paul tells timothy to “Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed and remember from whom it was taught”

The teacher was God’s master teacher, His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Believing in God and accepting Jesus Christ as our redeemer and Savior is not enough, we are called to live our faith every day we live.  We are called to put our lives in God’s hands and to trust God’s will for us. 

We must make it our life’s goal to live our lives with respect for all God’s creation especially all His children regardless of their race, creed, nationality, social position or sexual orientation.

A recent newspaper story about the condition of seniors and how they are having a greater struggle every year especially those who live on only their Social Security and even when those on fixed incomes do receive a COLA, it does not actually keep up with the actual increase in the cost of living. 

In the last decade seniors have actually lost 52% of their purchasing power and that will increase through the year 2017. 

Many seniors have already given up all forms of simple entertainment and had to cut back on , what many consider esentials.   

Calls by all the organizations that serve the elderly to change the COLA wis calculated have fallen on deaf ears. 

This is just one example of the desire for greater profits for the corporations so their investors can obtain bigger dividends and become wealthier while neglecting needs of those who are suffering because of inadequate health care, shelter, food and medicine. 

Everywhere in our society there are many examples of a total disregard of the needs of the less fortunate.

As Christians and followers of the teachings of Jesus Christ, we need to actively speak out against all injustices and do everything in our power to force changes in the laws of this country and the attitude of governments all over the globe.

We need to rethink our own individual priorities and make sure that we set aside at least 10% of the gifts God has given us returning some of it back to help the needy or those that serve the less fortunate like church ministries, food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters for battered men and women.

God desires justice done in all things. The Gospel reminds us of what Christ said of God; “I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily.    AMEN 

Sunday October 16 2016 Reflections Show

Sunday October 9, 2016 Reflection

 

With Faith, All Things Are Possible

28^th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Reflection for Sunday October 9, 2016

Based on readings from: 2 Kings5, Psalm 98, second Timothy 2, Luke 17:11-19

By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFM

Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus

Order Franciscans of Mercy

Link to All Fr. Bob’s TV Shows;  http://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn

Link to Mission Web Site:  www.missionstsergius.org

Link to Order Franciscans of Mercy Web Site:  www.orderfranciscansofmercy.org

The Good News message for this Sunday is “with faith in God, all things are possible”.

The Gospels tell stories of people being cured because of their faith.  In the Gospel from The Gospel from Luke 17:11 – 19 is the story of the healing of lepers and that faith in God was the reason for the cure. As Christ entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests’. Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. These made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.”

Why is it that for some it often takes a miracle for some people to believe in God? Why is it that some people only turn to God when there is a problem in their lives?

Far too often in this day and age we only turn to God seeking a favor and but when it is granted, we often forget to thank God and we feel we deserved it. 

Today, everywhere we look we find people who are seeking material things,the perfect figure, the perfect home, the classiest car, big fancy houses, the latest electronic gadgets, the latest fashions and ever more money. 

Far too few who have been blessed with an abundance of God’s gifts rarely think of sharing those gifts with the less fortunate or if they do so they need to have public recognition for their acts and it is usually a ptiance of what they have received and certainly not 10%.

In the United States alone there are thousands who do not have adequate medical assistance, food or shelter.  All over the globe people are suffering because of the few who seek to control the many. 

A few years back, while in Fargo North Dakota, I became aware of a program sponsored by the Lutheran Church called HOMELESS AND HUNGRY.

This program’s purpose is to raise awareness of the plight and struggles of the homeless by having people pledge to fast for 24 hours and live on the street in cardboard boxes like the homeless and to beg for food stuffs and money.

Every participant pledges $365.00 each which is the cost of feeding one person each day of the year. 

The money collected that year reached a staggering total of over $75,000 and more than 5000 pounds of food was collected.  Those who participated said they never knew how hard it was for the “Street People” and how they were discriminated against. Many described how they were called names and insulted and some actually described how people would cross the street to avoid being near them.

What became clear to me was that we all need to do more to address this despicable condition in the richest country in the world.

For those conditions to exist is a major blemish on the nation as a whole and especially the political leaders rant and rave against spending any tax payer money when ever a program to help those in need is suggested by government.

To have Faith in God is much more than saying prayers and attending church but it is also having our actions reflect the teaachings of Christ to “Love one another as I have loved you” and “Love God with your whole mind, soul, and body and love your neighbor as you love yourself”

In last weeks gospel lesson we learned who our neighbor is and that we should always act like the Good Samaritan of last weeks Gospel and the Samaritan of this weeks gospel who returned to thank God for curing hem.

Part of the message this week is also about putting our full trust in God because when we do anything is possible and as we learned last week, by having faith as small as a mustard seed we could move mountains.  Having Faith in God is not just seeking God’s healing when we are sick but believing that it is possible and also doing those things we need to do to keep ourselves and all God’s children in good health. 

People can not be healthy if they do not have proper nutrition and medical care.

Our Nation has been blessed with an abundance of God’s gifts but at every opportunity there are people who do everything in their power to remove all mention of God in public places.

The ranks of those who claim there is no God is growing at an alarming rate according to the latest statistics.

Without a living faith, a practiced faith, without believing in a supreme being and a loving and merciful God our nation will continue to experience more and more violence and continue to decay just as every great nation before it that turned away from the basic values found in most religions; peace, brotherhood, compassion, mercy, forgiveness and love for all God’s creation.

As the gospel for today say’s; ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.”

Without faith and by that I mean a living faith that is more than words but action in our daily lives, how can we ever expect to be cured of the ills that plague us? 

The time is now for us to turn to God and ask God for His healing graces.

Now is the time to begin living our lives in accord with the teachings of Christ and not those imposed by mere humans for the purpose of domination and control.

Only God can judge and determine who is and who is not saved. 

We who are Christians have been told how God expects us to live and how to attain everlasting life. 

We will be judged on how well we lived that life in not only word but in our deeds.

Now is the time to seek God’s guidance to overcome our weakness. 

We need to place our trust and faith in God because when we do, we too will be healed as those in the gospel of today were healed.              AMEN