A New Years Prayer
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.missionstsergius.org
Almighty and merciful God we come to you this first day of the New Year in thanksgiving for the gifts you have bestowed upon us and with petitions for the coming year.
We pray, O God, that you will inspire world leaders to end the wars, violence, and genocide that have overtaken so much of this world.
We pray that those whom you have blessed with abundance will have compassion and generosity for those who are suffering from poverty, homelessness, and inadequate affordable health care.
We pray that people will stop judging others by the color of their skin, their sexual orientation, marital status or nationality and recognize that we are all brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ and children of God.
We pray that all leaders of all Christian denominations will evaluate the differences that have separated your One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church established by the chosen apostles of your beloved son and return to the fundamental truths taught by Christ.
We pray that all the children of Abraham will unite together in peace and stop the bloodshed that envelops the Middle East.
We pray for the newly elected president of the United States and his chosen cabinet will be able to turn the economy around while seeing to the needs of the poor, elderly, sick, homeless and unemployed and insure equality and justice for all the citizens of this country.
We pray that science will find cures for all cancers, ALS, Macro degeneration, Alzheimer’s, and the other diseases that deprive so many of the simple joys of life.
We pray that we will be able to be faithful to you in our service to those you bring to us and fill them with the knowledge of your infinite mercy and love and give them the hope of Everlasting life through trust and faith in you.
Lord as 2008 comes to an end and 2009 begins, we promise to strive to serve you through living our lives consistent with how your beloved son lived His life and through prayer and daily devotion to you and all your children.
May you accept our humble attempts and continue to inspire us through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We ask this in the name of your beloved son, our redeemer and savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. AMEN
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
A Christmas Message
A Christmas 2008 Reflection
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Reformed Catholic Church International of New England
www.Missionstsergius.org
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to men who enjoy his favor.” (Luke 2:14) “Glory to God in the highest, and peace to all people on earth with whom He is Pleased. Today is born unto us a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”. (John 2:14, 11) “ His name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6)
What a glorious gift was given to us when Christ was born in a simple stable. The King of Kings, Lord of Lords was not born in a palatial palace. He was not born in the warmth comfort of a home or inn. No, he was born in a humble stable surrounded not by nurses and doctors and relatives but only His parents,Mary and Joseph and the animals of the barn. Jesus first visitors were simple shepherds, not the elite of the world. This birth was a message to us that we should live simply. Riches, fame, and fortune are not what matters , but compassion for the marginalized of the world, love of family and friends, sharing the gifts God has given us with others and trust and faith in God are what matters.
Christ is referred to as “The Light of the World” this means He was sent to illuminate the way for us, like a brilliant beacon that guides ships away from dangerous shoals and reefs toward a safe harbor. Christ was born to teach us how to dispel the darkness of fear, doubt, hatred and anger and to find comfort in times of distress.
“God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great God and savior Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for us in order to set us free from all wickedness and to purify a people so that it could be his very own and would have no ambition except to do good “(Titus 2:11-14)
The miraculous birth that we celebrate at Christmas brought to earth God made flesh. God gave us a human image to equate to; a human being that had to endure all the human feelings, emotions, problems and joys that each of us experience on our journey of life.
Christ endured the pain of a loss of a parent and friends, He experienced the joy of a wedding of a friend. He became angry at the greed and callousness of the priests and temple employees.
Christ also told us how to live a life that would insure everlasting peace. His message was one of Love, forgiveness, compassion and generosity.
On this day that we celebrate God’s gift to us of His only son and the new promise of salvation to all his children, let us present an offering to Him that reflects the way of life He advised us to lead.
Let us begin to be more compassionate to those who are suffering from hunger, illnesses such as AIDS and cancer, poverty, substandard housing and discrimination. Let us work diligently to eliminate these ills from the world and bring about a world where every one of God’s children is treated with equality in all matters and given the same rights and privileges as every other person.
On this day that we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace let us make a concerted effort to bring peace into the world beginning with our own families, friends and neighbors with whom we might be have a disagreement. If all of us begin in this small way, we can make a huge difference. As Neil Armstrong said upon landing on the moon, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. Let us take our small step in the direction of bringing peace into our own lives which just prod others to do the same and eventually a “Virus of Peace” could envelope the whole world.
I end my Christmas message with these words of Jesus Christ and pray that the Peace of Christ will invade your hearts today and all the days of your life. God bless you and have a blessed Christmas Holiday. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27) Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Reformed Catholic Church International of New England
www.Missionstsergius.org
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to men who enjoy his favor.” (Luke 2:14) “Glory to God in the highest, and peace to all people on earth with whom He is Pleased. Today is born unto us a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”. (John 2:14, 11) “ His name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6)
What a glorious gift was given to us when Christ was born in a simple stable. The King of Kings, Lord of Lords was not born in a palatial palace. He was not born in the warmth comfort of a home or inn. No, he was born in a humble stable surrounded not by nurses and doctors and relatives but only His parents,Mary and Joseph and the animals of the barn. Jesus first visitors were simple shepherds, not the elite of the world. This birth was a message to us that we should live simply. Riches, fame, and fortune are not what matters , but compassion for the marginalized of the world, love of family and friends, sharing the gifts God has given us with others and trust and faith in God are what matters.
Christ is referred to as “The Light of the World” this means He was sent to illuminate the way for us, like a brilliant beacon that guides ships away from dangerous shoals and reefs toward a safe harbor. Christ was born to teach us how to dispel the darkness of fear, doubt, hatred and anger and to find comfort in times of distress.
“God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great God and savior Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for us in order to set us free from all wickedness and to purify a people so that it could be his very own and would have no ambition except to do good “(Titus 2:11-14)
The miraculous birth that we celebrate at Christmas brought to earth God made flesh. God gave us a human image to equate to; a human being that had to endure all the human feelings, emotions, problems and joys that each of us experience on our journey of life.
Christ endured the pain of a loss of a parent and friends, He experienced the joy of a wedding of a friend. He became angry at the greed and callousness of the priests and temple employees.
Christ also told us how to live a life that would insure everlasting peace. His message was one of Love, forgiveness, compassion and generosity.
On this day that we celebrate God’s gift to us of His only son and the new promise of salvation to all his children, let us present an offering to Him that reflects the way of life He advised us to lead.
Let us begin to be more compassionate to those who are suffering from hunger, illnesses such as AIDS and cancer, poverty, substandard housing and discrimination. Let us work diligently to eliminate these ills from the world and bring about a world where every one of God’s children is treated with equality in all matters and given the same rights and privileges as every other person.
On this day that we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace let us make a concerted effort to bring peace into the world beginning with our own families, friends and neighbors with whom we might be have a disagreement. If all of us begin in this small way, we can make a huge difference. As Neil Armstrong said upon landing on the moon, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. Let us take our small step in the direction of bringing peace into our own lives which just prod others to do the same and eventually a “Virus of Peace” could envelope the whole world.
I end my Christmas message with these words of Jesus Christ and pray that the Peace of Christ will invade your hearts today and all the days of your life. God bless you and have a blessed Christmas Holiday. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27) Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD
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