Be Not Afraid
A reflection for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
June is World Wide Pride Month
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Divine_Mercy_Franciscans
Have you ever felt afraid, unwanted and rejected? We all have at one time or another.
This weeks Gospel tells us: :"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gahanna”. Who is that? It is Satan who uses fear, rejection and the sense that you are alone to turn you against God.
There are some groups of people who have experienced some of the worst form of rejection from people because of how God created them. I am talking about the GLBT community, the handicapped, and people of color and immigrants to a new country.
The pain is even greater when the people who reject you are your parents, relatives and friends. What we must remember is that even Christ was rejected by both family, and neighbors.
I myself, have experienced rejection from family and friends because I disagree with the way churches have treated the children of God because God created them with a same sex attraction.
We must remember that we are never completely alone. Holy Scripture has many passages that affirm that. My personal favorite is; “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
Today’s Gospel also explains that God considers each of His children far more precious than sparrows whom God protects and is completely aware of their existence with these words; “So do not be afraid; you are worth more than sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my Heavenly Father”.
We also must remember that to trust completely in, and follow Christ faithfully is to experience rejection by those who often feel they are superior because of a misguided belief they know God‘s will better than God does Himself.
Jesus Christ, The only begotten Son of God, was rejected by the chief priests of His religion and eventually sentenced to die because they feared that His teachings would undermine the faith. Christ, as we know, became the foundation stone of all Christian Religions.
“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone ; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes” (Matthew 21:42) ( Mark 12:10)
If you live your life completely and faithfully as Christ instructed us you will experience rejection because what Christ taught is contrary to the popular conception of our society.
Today’s popular concept is one of self gratification, greed, and oppression of those who disagree with Christ’s New Commandment; "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34)
To love someone is to never reject them, to always forgive them, to have compassion for those in need and those that others reject.
If we believe in and follow Christ and live our life not just for ourselves but with compassion, understanding and true brotherhood for all God’s children we are living it as Christ lived His and most certainly we will be rejected by many.
We have been told “But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation' (Luke 17:25) and so too will we, who attempt to follow Christ will be rejected by our generation.
Keep in mind that everything God created, especially you, is precious and good in God’s eyes as we are told in 1 Timothy 4:4; “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving”
Do not be discouraged and feel that God does not love you, He does. AMEN
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time/ Pride Week Reflection
Let Us Return To The Lord
A Reflection for the Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus
http://www.missionstsergius.org
http://www.missionstsergius.org/Franciscans_of_Divine_Mercy/
For the mass Readings this week we can choose from Genesis 12:1-9 or Hosea 5:15-6:6, Psalm 33:1-12 or Psalm 50:7-15,Romans 4:13-25 and Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26. They all have a common theme and it is one of Promise, Repentance, a God who is Faithful, Loves Justice and Fairness has Infinite Steadfast Love for ALL His Children.
Paul’s letter to the Romans tells us of God’s grace and how it will lead us to righteousness.
The Gospel emphasizes the point that with faith all things are possible. It begins with Jesus saying to Matthew “Come, follow Me” and without hesitation or any question as to why, Matthew followed Jesus and, of course, is attributed to be the writer of the Gospel.
When all the readings are taken together they give us good reason to follow Christ and in so doing, to be faithful to Almighty God who created us.
This weeks message is very powerful for many reasons. The reading from Genesis tells of the blind faith and trust in God that Abraham, whom Paul calls in his letter to the Romans, “The father of all of us”, and Sarah left friends, family and all things to follow God’s command and how they believed in His promise.
This is very fitting for this day and age when people use discrimination to justify their actions against others. Abraham, as father of all nations is acknowledged by Jews, Arabs and Christians as the source of their nations and the foundation of their faiths, yet they do not act as a loving family but as enemies toward each other. The question we need to ask ourselves is “WHY?”
A possible answer is that they do not have complete faith in God as the woman in the Gospel story had when she thought to herself "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus sensing her thoughts turns to her and says; "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.”
Absolute faith is complete trust in God, placing God before all else. That is what we need to do today just as Abraham and Sarah did. If we do this, God will, in His mercy, justice and love grant unto us what we are asking.Christ did not come to earth to lead and guide those with complete faith and trust in God, he came to let us know that no matter how we may have strayed or sinned, we can still return to God because God is a loving and merciful God who never stops loving us. We are reminded of that also in the Gospel story when Christ is challenged by the Pharisees for eating with tax collectors and sinners to which Christ replied "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
In many areas of the world this week begins what has come to be called “Gay Pride Week” and Boston is one of those cities in the US. These readings also contain a message for the GLBT community and those who discriminate against them and immigrants. Just as Abraham and Sarah left Haran, to follow God’s instruction, GLBT folks are often forced to leave family and friends and immigrants leave their homes for a better life in a country they believe is one of acceptance and hope.
We, who claim to be followers of Christ’s teachings, must leave our fears and prejudices behind and respond to the call of God to “Love one another as I have loved you”. Far too often, a break with family happens for LGBT folks under conditions that are characterized by alienation, hostility, violence and even suicide brought on by how their families and friends and peers treat them.
Even when relations are less strained, differences in experiences and ways of life can make LGBT people feel as removed from their families of origin as those who travel great distances and endured great trials to reach this country.Yet the story of Abraham reminds us that coming out of one situation and traveling into another has always been a part of the journey of faith.
Neither the difficulties nor the joys encountered during his travels where completely revealed to Abraham in advance. Similarly, our own future difficulties and joys are seldom revealed to us. Nevertheless, "hoping against hope," and sustained by "the steadfast love of God" referred to in Psalm 33:5, we, like Abraham and Sarah, come out of current circumstances to journey towards God's welcoming arms and infinite love for each of us.
Our blessings, moreover, are not only for ourselves. As God tells Abraham, "all the families of the earth shall be blessed" when people "come out" to a journey chosen by God.
Hosea 6:6 reminds us “For I desire goodness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.” which are the same words Jesus replied to those who questioned his sitting with sinners.Let us return to God giving Him our complete faith, trust and love and live our lives as Christ instructed us by loving one another as He loved us.
Let us put an end to discrimination, rejection and alienation of those who may have different religions beliefs, sexual orientation of national roots and remember that Abraham was father to ALL Nations and therefore we are all BROTHERS AND SISTERS in Christ and children of GOD.
A Reflection for the Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus
http://www.missionstsergius.org
http://www.missionstsergius.org/Franciscans_of_Divine_Mercy/
For the mass Readings this week we can choose from Genesis 12:1-9 or Hosea 5:15-6:6, Psalm 33:1-12 or Psalm 50:7-15,Romans 4:13-25 and Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26. They all have a common theme and it is one of Promise, Repentance, a God who is Faithful, Loves Justice and Fairness has Infinite Steadfast Love for ALL His Children.
Paul’s letter to the Romans tells us of God’s grace and how it will lead us to righteousness.
The Gospel emphasizes the point that with faith all things are possible. It begins with Jesus saying to Matthew “Come, follow Me” and without hesitation or any question as to why, Matthew followed Jesus and, of course, is attributed to be the writer of the Gospel.
When all the readings are taken together they give us good reason to follow Christ and in so doing, to be faithful to Almighty God who created us.
This weeks message is very powerful for many reasons. The reading from Genesis tells of the blind faith and trust in God that Abraham, whom Paul calls in his letter to the Romans, “The father of all of us”, and Sarah left friends, family and all things to follow God’s command and how they believed in His promise.
This is very fitting for this day and age when people use discrimination to justify their actions against others. Abraham, as father of all nations is acknowledged by Jews, Arabs and Christians as the source of their nations and the foundation of their faiths, yet they do not act as a loving family but as enemies toward each other. The question we need to ask ourselves is “WHY?”
A possible answer is that they do not have complete faith in God as the woman in the Gospel story had when she thought to herself "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus sensing her thoughts turns to her and says; "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.”
Absolute faith is complete trust in God, placing God before all else. That is what we need to do today just as Abraham and Sarah did. If we do this, God will, in His mercy, justice and love grant unto us what we are asking.Christ did not come to earth to lead and guide those with complete faith and trust in God, he came to let us know that no matter how we may have strayed or sinned, we can still return to God because God is a loving and merciful God who never stops loving us. We are reminded of that also in the Gospel story when Christ is challenged by the Pharisees for eating with tax collectors and sinners to which Christ replied "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
In many areas of the world this week begins what has come to be called “Gay Pride Week” and Boston is one of those cities in the US. These readings also contain a message for the GLBT community and those who discriminate against them and immigrants. Just as Abraham and Sarah left Haran, to follow God’s instruction, GLBT folks are often forced to leave family and friends and immigrants leave their homes for a better life in a country they believe is one of acceptance and hope.
We, who claim to be followers of Christ’s teachings, must leave our fears and prejudices behind and respond to the call of God to “Love one another as I have loved you”. Far too often, a break with family happens for LGBT folks under conditions that are characterized by alienation, hostility, violence and even suicide brought on by how their families and friends and peers treat them.
Even when relations are less strained, differences in experiences and ways of life can make LGBT people feel as removed from their families of origin as those who travel great distances and endured great trials to reach this country.Yet the story of Abraham reminds us that coming out of one situation and traveling into another has always been a part of the journey of faith.
Neither the difficulties nor the joys encountered during his travels where completely revealed to Abraham in advance. Similarly, our own future difficulties and joys are seldom revealed to us. Nevertheless, "hoping against hope," and sustained by "the steadfast love of God" referred to in Psalm 33:5, we, like Abraham and Sarah, come out of current circumstances to journey towards God's welcoming arms and infinite love for each of us.
Our blessings, moreover, are not only for ourselves. As God tells Abraham, "all the families of the earth shall be blessed" when people "come out" to a journey chosen by God.
Hosea 6:6 reminds us “For I desire goodness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.” which are the same words Jesus replied to those who questioned his sitting with sinners.Let us return to God giving Him our complete faith, trust and love and live our lives as Christ instructed us by loving one another as He loved us.
Let us put an end to discrimination, rejection and alienation of those who may have different religions beliefs, sexual orientation of national roots and remember that Abraham was father to ALL Nations and therefore we are all BROTHERS AND SISTERS in Christ and children of GOD.
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