3rd Sunday of Lent 2017

Homily for Sunday March 12, 2017

We Are Called to Sanctification

A Reflection for the 2nd Sunday of Lent, March 12, 2017

Genesis 12:1-4, Psalm 33,  2 Timothy 1:8-10, Matthew 17:1 – 9

By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFM

Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/ Order Franciscans of Mercy

www.missionstsergius.org

www.orderfranciscansofmercy.org

 

 

God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto sanctification: in Christ Jesus our Lord. (I Thess. 4. 1-17 )

We are called to a life of sanctification according to the readings from Paul’s letter to the people of Thessalonica after his departure in 51 or 52 A.D.

If we are called to a life of sanctification then we need to diligently work toward that goal.

A life of sanctification means to live in God, meaning to live as Jesus instructed us, in other words to abhor degradation, hatred, violence, prejudice discrimination, bullying and war and constantly speak out against them.

The only war we should be carrying out is the war against Satan and the minions of Satan.

Looking around the world today we see the fruits of Satan’s temptations all around us. We see it in the actions of some of those who claim to be representatives of Jesus Christ; we see it in our elected officials, in corporate leaders and entertainment personalities.

We see it in those who minds are closed to exploring the truth and those who accept everything that is fed to them on the internet by individuals who are paid to disseminate, often times inaccurate, information in order to sell a product, a candidate or a special interest point of view.

Jesus said; “Seek and you will find” To seek means to explore, to open ourselves up and reflect on the historical truths, to investigate all claims that people make including claims made by those who say they are teachers of God’s word.

Holy Scripture MUST be taken in light of the times and customs in which it was written. Those who wrote the Scriptures, although under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, did so within the understanding and customs of their times. This must be taken into account when interpreting and using Scripture, especially when dealing with many contemporary issues.

We need to ask ourselves, for example, if Jesus were on earth today what role He would give to women in the church today.

It is very clear to me, considering how much respect He had for the woman who faithfully followed him and their prominence in His ministry, that woman would have had a much more prominent role in ministry today. 

The fact is that in the early church, they did, we have reference to Phoebe and other women and the qualities a woman deacon should possess written in Paul's Epistles. 

We know that women had a place in ministering the Eucharist and in leading liturgies, so why are they relegated in this modern world to lesser roles?

You and I have been called by God, to live a life that reflects the teachings of Jesus. The prime teaching of Christ could not be any clearer. LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.

When you love someone, you do not, under any circumstances, want to be the cause of pain and suffering.

When you love someone, you try to shield them from harm. You gently advise them of their mistakes and guide them. If necessary you try to obtain healing for them. That is Love. 

If today, we had more love for all God’s creatures and children the world would not be in the mess it is in.

You and I are being called to actively live a life of sanctity, a life that reflects toward everyone we encounter God’s infinite love.

We are being called to do all within our power to bring about a change in the attitudes that cause so much pain and suffering in this world.

Every tiny thing we do that makes progress toward our call from God to a life of sanctity will bring us closer to God and God will reward us by giving us the strength we need to continue His work here on earth.

Paul begins his second letter to Timothy with these words, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher”. (2 Timothy 1:8-10)

We must always keep in mind the revelation that is found in all the accounts of the transfiguration from God “This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favor. Listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5)

I will end this reflection with the admission that to live a life of sanctity is not easy and to be afraid that we will not measure up to it is natural.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta even had her doubts or “dark moments” as she called them but if we have faith and trust in God we can endure. 

Keep in mind what Christ told his apostles after God spoke on that mountain top; “Stand up,’ he said ‘do not be afraid.”. Matthew 17:7

Our message today is the knowledge that God is there for us and hears our cry and will always give us the strength we need to endure if we constantly seek Him and His truth.

Let us go forth from this moment forward doing all we can preparing ourselves for the resurrection of our final days by living a life of Faith, Trust in God and extending a, Godly Love toward all God’s children we encounter as we travel the highway of life. AMEN

2nd Sunday of Lent 2017

1st Sunday of Lent 2017

8th Ordinary & Ash Wednesday Feb. 26, 2017

8th Ordinary

7th Ordinary Sunday 2017

6th Ordinary SundayFeb. 12, 2017

5th Ordinary Sunday 2017

How We Are Called to Live as Christians

How we live life as Christians

January 29, 2017

By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFM

, Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/ Order Franciscans of Mercy

www.orderfranciscansofmercy.org

www.missionstsergius.org

Based on; Zephaniah 2:3 - 3:13, 1 Corinthians 1:26 - 31, Matthew 5:1 - 12

 

This week’s readings are instructions on how to live our life as a true Christian and please God.

By asking ourselves a few questions we can determine if we are truly following God’s will as instructed by Jesus Christ’s.

The first reading from the book of Zephaniah gives a clear instruction on how to live our daily life. “Seek the Lord, all you, the humble of the earth, who obey his commands. Seek integrity, seek humility: you may perhaps find shelter on the day of the anger of the Lord.”  “ They will do no wrong, will tell no lies; and the perjured tongue will no longer be found in their mouths. But they will be able to graze and rest with no one to disturb them”

Paul’s letter to the Corinthians continues the theme by instructing us on who God looks upon as favorable “at the time when you were called: how many of you were wise in the ordinary sense of the word, how many were influential people, or came from noble families? None, God chose what is foolish by human standards, those whom the world thinks common and contemptible; they are the ones that God has chosen”

And the Gospel reading, referred to as the Sermon On The Mount or The Beatitudes spells out for us they way to achieve God’s infinite love and gain everlasting life with Christ in heaven..

According to the dictionary Beatitude means “Heavenly Happiness or Bliss”

Let us examine these Beatitudes one by one and try to decipher what they mean.

“How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  What exactly does it mean to be “Poor in Spirit”?  It means that we understand our own guilt and helplessness, that we see in its true light the tendency in us to everything evil, in short, it means that we admit our fallibility and our need for God’s help through the Holy Spirit to overcome our weaknesses.

Happy the gentle:  they shall have the earth for their heritage. Being gentle is so often misunderstood as a sign of weakness but in reality being gentle means being agreeable and tolerant. Being a person who is respectful of others.  So often in this modern world of the twenty-first century we see a total lack of tolerance and respect for the concerns and need of others and more self-indulgence.  This is not living the way Christ instructed.

 

Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted. To mourn is to feel and show sadness because something has been lost or no longer exists.  We mourn the loss of a child, friend relative not only with words but with action.  In Jewish and many other customs when a family is grieving neighbors bring food for the family and try to bring comfort into their lives by doing common tasks in order to allow them to come to grips with their loss.  But we can also mourn the loss human compassion people show by not looking out for the wellbeing of God’s less affluent people and the total lack of concern for the stabilization of our environment.

 

Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied. To hunger and thirst means to have a craving or a great need or desire for something. There are people who live in many countries including our own that are deprived basic rights every human should be entitled to. Like the right to decent housing, affordable adequate medical care and healthy food to eat.  As long as people ignore these problems they are not living as Christians and they may well not ever be satisfied for it is in caring and giving that happiness is found.

 

Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.  To be merciful is showing mercy or compassion to the poor, sick, aged and being open and welcoming to all who come with honest desire to worship God.

 

Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God. Being Pure of heart is having pure motive. Our hearts should be characterized by single-mindedness and undivided devotion. William Barclay, the famous Scottish New Testament scholar, says that this verse can be translated in the following way: "Blessed is the man whose motive is always entirely unmixed, for that man shall see God."  Watching the political debates on  morality and the direction our nation should take is fascinating.  I am not entirely sure that the politicians really understand what true morality is and where it comes from and that their motives are pure or just glory and power seeking.

Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God.  This one is easy, being a peacemaker is a person who brings about peace and reconciliation between others and will do everything in their power to achieve that rather than use force or violence to achieve a goal.  Sadly so many who advocated that goal, like Gandhi, Brother Roger of Taize, and Martin Luther King Jr. who were all killed for advocating peace.

 

Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Throughout history people who have tried to advocate what is right and just have all too often been ridiculed and ignored because they were looked upon as being different or in many cases crazy. 

Our society likes to place people in certain niches and when someone does not fit comfortably into the niche others think they should be in they receive scorn.

God created a world of diversity and to try to change that into a world of conformity is to not accept God’s will.
The last paragraph of the Sermon on the Mount sums up what lies in store for those who endure the rejection, scorn, alienation and disenfranchisement and still hold onto their faith in God.  “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.”  Matthew 5:12

 

Beginning now let’s evaluate ourselves using the Beatitudes, Let us ask ourselves the difficult questions and answer them honestly as if we were facing God and answering him. 

Let’s put into action the changes we need to make to more fully live Christ’s teachings every hour of every day.

Making major changes in our life styles can be difficult especially when those changes do not fit with our current society.

God expects us to speak up loudly when we see injustice, poverty, deceit, corruption, or greed being used to subjugate any of His children and to always Seek integrity, seek humility  (Zephaniah 2:3)      AMEN

4th Sunday Ordinary time 2017

What is the Reformed Catholic Church and their ministries

Homily for Sunday Jan. 22, 2017

How would You Answer Christ‘s Call,

A Reflection for the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, 2017

January 22, 2017

BY Rev. Robert Johnnene OFM

Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus

Order Franciscans of Mercy

Reformed Catholic Church

www.orderfranciscansofmercy.org

www.missionstsergius.org

Based on Readings from Isaiah 8:23 - 9:3, 1 Corinthians 1:10 - 17,& Matthew 4:12 - 23  

 

The Gospel for today is the story of Christ calling the first apostles to follow him and how they dropped everything on the spot to do so.

It had me wonder on how I, or anyone in this the twenty first Century would respond to Christ’s call and what was it about Christ that common men left everything to follow a very poor carpenter.

The same might also be asked about why so many, 5000 in a very short space of time, choose to follow our Seraphic Father Francis of Assisi when many of his towns people considered him crazy, just as many considered Christ crazy.

The Gospel story tells us ;“From that moment, Jesus began his preaching with the message, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand’.  …‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men’…

If you lived at that time or in fact even today,and heard someone saying He would make them “Fishers of Men” what would you think?

Probably the same thing that people thought in both Christ’s and Saint Francis time, this person is a lunatic.

One thing I do know is that today, vocations to religious life are way down from when I was a child. In most Catholic families, mothers all prayed that one of their sons might aspire to be called to the priesthood or a daughter to be a nun. Today, sadly, that kind of thinking is the furthest ffrom most parents thinking.

Sadly, even when someone does come forward seeking to be a member of our Franciscan community or feels they are being called by God to be a deacon or a priest, they do not want to put in the time and the effort required in studying that is required in order for them to achieve their perceived vocation.

It is like many things in our society, we seek instant gratification and that is not always the best or even most enjoyable and pleasant.

Repeatedly, week after week through the readings from Holy Scripture we hear how Christ fulfilled all the prophecies that foretold of the coming of the messiah, this week is no different. 

The prophet Isaiah refers to the one to come, Christ, as “a great light” one that will bring those who walk in darkness into the light.”

Christ did indeed bring light into a world full of darkness and gloom, not unlike the world we live in today. 

In order for that light to break through Christ had to take on the pain and suffering of rejection and doubt and ultimately die the ignominious death of a criminal on the cross just so we could achieve the forgiveness of our sins and transgressions and have the opportunity to gain eternal life free of pain and suffering.

Christ began by exhorting all to “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand”

Today, in a world where there is more emphasis on worldly things and less emphasis on living according to the teachings of Christ and giving God a portion of our daily time, we need to reflect on what Christ brought to us and how he instructed us to live. 

The light that Christ brought wiped away the darkness that enveloped the world by showing us that Love of God and love and respect of each other and all God created was the way to live.

Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians could also be speaking to those of us who live in the world today “I appeal to you, brothers, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, to make up the differences between you, and instead of disagreeing among you, to be united again in your belief and practice.”

Over the centuries that divide us from the time of Christ to this twenty first century there have been many changes made to the words of Christ. Man has taken the simple message of Love, charity, Compassion, and forgiveness that Christ preached and added many that have nothing to do with knowing, loving and serving God but a lot to do with control, power, and sadly, greed.

Through the years these manmade rules and regulations have divided the Church that the apostles formed based on the teachings of Christ.

In my opinion events of recent years like speaking out in favor of a return to allowing married priests and the ordination of women as deacons, as they were in the time of Paul is The Holy Spirit attempting to awaken us to greater possibilities of serving God and his ever enlarging flock.

There are so many people who are hearing the call “Follow me and I will make you fishers of people” but are being denied that opportunity because they are married or are women. 

Virtually all Protestant denominations including those that are a part of The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church like the Anglicans and Lutherans and, reformed Judaism, have women serving as priests, ministers, or rabbis.

The Second Vatican Council's Decree on Ecumenism acknowledges the action of the Holy Spirit in other denominations (Ch. 1, Art. 3); and states "Whatever is wrought by the grace of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of our separated brothers and sisters can contribute to our own edification." (Ch. 1, Art. 4).

It would seem that Catholicism has something to learn in our journey toward true ecumenism.

With so much dissention and strife in this world, with poverty, hunger, and war claiming so many lives we need to return to the ways Christ instructed.

We need to let His light illuminate the road we will travel, and use the truth of His teachings as our roadmap to bringing about a time of brotherly love and Christian unity. 

Only by doing that we will again gather together as one united faith community in service to the  Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and be living out the great commandments proclaimed by Christ “Love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, mind and soul, and love your neighbor as you love yourself.” 

We begin by accepting ourselves as God made us and accepting the diversity that God created for purposes know to Him alone.

We are all children of God, Jew or Gentile, Greek, Italian, Irish, Spanish or German, all are created by God and are His children, let us respect each other and love each other as Christ instructed.

Let us not shut out the light that Christ brought to the world but let us allow the Holy Spirit, the enlightener, to open us up to think beyond the status quo and realize that Christ challenged the norm of His day so we may well have to challenge the norms of today.

Let us actively seek to find ways to, as St Paul advised to the Corinthians, “make up the differences that separate us”, and seek out a way of unifying the entire Mystical Body of Christ.

 

I close this reflection with the words of Benedict XVI who ended his statement on Ecumenism with these words “May his example (St. Paul’s) be an encouragement for everyone to accept the Word of salvation and to translate it into daily life, in faithful discipleship of Christ." AMEN

3rd Ordinary Sunday Jan 22 2017

Sunday Jan. 15, 2017 Homily

Homily for 2^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here I am Lord, I come to do your will!

January 15:2017

By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFM

, Mission Sts. Sergius& Bacchus/ Order Franciscans of Mercy

Reformed Catholic Church

www.orderfranciscansofmercy.org

www.missionstsergius.org

 

Sacrifice or offering you wished not but ears open to obedience   Here I am Lord, I have come to do your will. (from Psalm 40)

The question we need to ask ourselves is “Are we serving God and doing his will?”

Psalm 40 which we heard today reminds us that we are called to be servants of God while the gospel tells the story of how John the Baptist reacted when he saw Christ approaching him. The Baptist said: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.” and St. John tells us that he witnessed what occurred with this comment “And I saw, and bore record that this is the Son of God.”

The psalm instructs us to place our trust in God and not in the proud which might very well be considered today to be those who seek after glory, power, fame and wealth.

It is my belief we are being asked, if we so choose, to avoid serving those human gods of Greed, power, domination, discrimination, materialism and self-effacement and serve the son of god, Jesus Christ by living our lives being kind, generous, compassionate and continually speaking out against injustice, hatred, discrimination and bullying.

Are we a person who avoids the poor person begging on the street by walking on the other side, or do we reach down into our pocket and drop a quarter or dollar  or a gift card to Burger King into his hand without being judgmental of why they are on the streets begging?

We are being called to serve God, the same God of Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Isaiah and Mohammed.

 

Throughout history, people have acknowledged that there is a supreme being that governs this planet.

We find it in the histories of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Aztecs, Mayans, Native American Tribes, in fact every known group of people that ever lived on this earth have sought and believed in a supreme power.

We have been blessed through the writings of Holy Scripture to know that supreme power, Almighty God the Father, through his beloved son Jesus the Christ...

The need to recognize a supreme power or God is one of the natural emotions and needs all humans throughout history have had.

When Almighty God made himself known in Exodus 3:verse 14 with the words;“"I am who I am. Here is what you must say to the Israelites. Tell them, 'I am has sent me to you.' " we were told who we should give honor, praise and reverence to and whom we should always try to serve.

When Jesus Christ was transfigured God clearly stated who Jesus was with these words; “"This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Matthew 17:4-6).

God, told us to listen to what Jesus was teaching us.

When we read the teachings of Christ, we find clear concise guidelines on how we are expected to live our lives.

They are found in the lessons of the Sermon on the Mount, and in the “GREAT COMMANDMENT”.

When Jesus was asked what the most important commandments were  He answered;  "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is like unto it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-30)

Christ’s teachings could not be any clearer, but human beings continually try to make worshiping God extremely difficult by injecting manmade rules and regulations which prevent peoplefrom giving God the praise, honor and glory due him.

When we decide what God means by twisting them around to fit our personal ideologies and discriminations and using that convoluted translation to deny anyone the opportunity to worship Almighty God, we cannot claim to be serving God or being a follower of Jesus Christ, since Christ rejected no one who came to him, even those that his Jewish faith forbade him from associating with.

Jesus sat and ate with those that Jewish law forbade sharing a meal with. Jesus spoke with women as equals.

If we believe that Almighty God created all things, and we believe that Jesus was the Son of God made man, then we cannot even think about acting like a god and making judgments that are the exclusive property of Almighty God.

We can dislike the way another person acts; we can reject their choices when their actions or choices hurt others or themselves such as drug and alcohol addiction.

We may not appreciate their actions when they invade our space and deny us our freedom or safety.

But when we decide to discriminate against someone because of the color of their skin, nationality, sex, race or their way of worshiping the one God,  we have stepped way beyond our boundaries into an area that is exclusively God‘s domain.

When we decide that power, money, prestige, fame, greed or sexual gratification are more important to us than living according to God’s will, we are not serving God.

We need to remember what Scripture has instructed “But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.” (Rom. 14:10) and “Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.“ (Matthew 7:1-2) as well as “Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it.” (James 4:11) .

The law of God is very clear we are not the ones to judge a person because of how things appear “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. Our Law does not judge a man, unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” ( John 7:24, 51

The way we need to judge someone is by asking; “Do they feed the poor? Do they clothe the Naked? Do they respect and care for the planet God gave into our care? Do they give shelter to the homeless? Do they give honor, glory and praise to Almighty God by whatever name they worship the Supreme Being?

If a person is living a just and good life and respecting the rights and property of all God’s children and creation then we do not have a right to reject them and discredit them for any reason.

We do not have a right to deny them the same rights and privileges that we enjoy.

The question poised at the beginning of this reflection was, Do you serve the Lord ?

You do if you live as Christ instructed and do not make judgments according to human standards but by living God desire for us by having our actions reflect always the teachings of Christ.

AMEN

2nd Ordinary Sunday 2017

2nd Ordinary Sunday 2017

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

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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