Thoughts for the week of April 26th 2009

Living According To Christ’s Word
A reflection for the Third Sunday of Easter 2009
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus / Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Reformed Catholic Church International of New England
http://www.missionstsergius.org/

Throughout all of history we humans have treated Almighty God as though he has human temperament, thinking, emotions and even form and therefore desired, reacted and responded in the same way as we humans. Church leaders dress in fancy clothes, maintain homes more than 65% of the world’s population can not afford. Some even promote elaborate liturgies wearing gold and jeweled encrusted vestments whose cost could feed a whole town for a year or build a hospital, or secure homes for hundreds. .Trillions have been spent to build beautiful palaces as monuments and places of worship to God in spite of the fact that Christ did most of His preaching under the open skies of His Father‘s cathedral.I believe that God wants us to live our lives with compassion for others, being more mindful of the needs of others and not just our own needs, comfort luxuries and edification. Yes, we need a place for a faith community to gather together out of natures elements, a simple plain building with the necessary space for people to gather, a place where we can celebrate our love and honor Almighty God and partake in the Eucharistic Feast. Simple cups made with earths elements, just as I am certain Christ used at the Last Supper, would be proper instead of the golden bejeweled ones so popular in many churches. Yes, we need to be able to travel to visit His faithful who are unable to gather at the place of worship but we do not need luxury model cars but reliable and simple energy efficient transportation that will get us from one place to another safely.In the 5 years since this ministry was begun on the internet with only 1 friend as a member, we have grown to reach over 1500 people all over the globe. We make visits to those who are confined to hospitals, nursing homes or their own residences due to age, illness or other issues. I counsel on average 15 people a week on the telephone and even more through email. My Chalice was an extra from another faith community, my vestments were hand me downs or gifts from family and friends. The mission expenses exceeded the income so I try to make up the differences using my personal credit which is now maxed out.I have learned that God will provide what you need just as we are told in Matthew 6:25-27 “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
We need to call to mind the words found in the gospel of Matthew 25:34-40 “Then the King will say to those on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungry, you fed me: when I was thirsty, you gave me drink: when I was a stranger, you took me in: When I was naked, and you clothed me: when I was sick, and you visited me: When I was in prison, and you came to counsel me. Then the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and fed you? or thirsty, and gave you drink? Saw we you a stranger, and took you in? or naked, and clothed you? Or saw we you sick, or in prison, and came to you? And the King answered and said to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me.”
We need to heed and live according to Christ’s sermon on the mount found in Matthew 5:3-12. Christ made God’s will very clear but I fear we often try to make being a follower of Christ difficult by imposing a lot of man made rules and supposed regulation. Christ said the most important commandments were “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. ( Luke 10:27) and God’s will for is and Christ’s intent is made clear also in Matthew 25 :44-47 “I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you, and persecute you; That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love them which love you, what reward have you? do not even the publicans do the same? And if you salute your brothers only, what do you more than others? do not even the publicans so? Rather then try to be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.”
What a different world this would be if all people, regardless of their religious beliefs, would practice these basic teachings which preach peace and brotherly love, and worked as hard at finding a way toward living in peace with one another rather than fighting wars and causing devastation, genocide, starvation and homelessness. Our Seraphic Father, Saint Francis, realized how little the riches of the world meant compared to the riches of eternity. He stripped off all His fancy clothes and donned the clothes of a peasant. He shared his simple loaf of bread with the poor on the streets. Mother Theresa realized this. Padre Pio and Martin De Pores did also, as did many others who tried to show the way and were rewarded with sainthood but still there message and that of Christ continued to be ignored or made difficult or confused by rules and regulations whose only purpose is to insure wealth, power and control over others.The world, in spite of economic recessions, continue elaborate shows as a means of praising God. For some reason, we just can not seem to grasp God's desire.Looking at the Christ's list things that defile and comparing them against the way people, leaders of corporations, governments and Religious denominations are living today, seeking to gain profit at the expense of the less fortunate who barely are able to maintain a decent living, desiring material trappings rather than having compassion for those in need, using deceit, lies or religious domination to justify war, indulging in indiscriminate sexual behavior rather than committed loving relations, promoting sensuality and narcissism to sell unnecessary products to increase the bottom line and the profit margin for select individuals, One has to ponder where we are headed and how God is looking upon all this and what He might feel is needed to happen in order for our hearts to begin to live according to the teachings proclaimed by His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.I believe the time is now for us to take a good hard look at the way we are living and make a concerted effort beginning this Easter season to change our ways and strive to live the Gospels in our actions as well as our words. AMEN

Divine Mercy Sunday Reflection

Divine Mercy Sunday
A Reflection by Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Reformed Catholic Church International of New England
www.missionstsergius.org
“And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened”. Luke 11:9-10 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you: For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened”. Matthew 7:7-8
The above statement is found in two of the four gospels and I have chosen to use it to emphasize my reflection for this Divine Mercy Sunday which is also the anniversary of the founding of the Franciscans of Divine mercy. The readings for this Sunday have one very important point to make and that is the infinite mercy and love of God for everyone on this planet earth. Therefore it is very appropriate that this Sunday be dedicated to Divine Mercy. In the reading from 1 John 5:1-6 we hear these words : “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world:”
In Deuteronomy 6:5 we read “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” Which Christ quoted when asked what the greatest commandment was in Matthew 22: 34-40 to which he added “the second is like unto it, love your neighbor as you love yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”. In John 13:34 Christ told us “A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” LOVE is the main element and LOVE is what God is. Where there is LOVE there is God and where God is there is infinite mercy and love.
So how do we show that love? We might do as those early followers did in the reading from the Acts of the Apostles 4:32-37 are said to have done; “for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made to every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet”. Which is one of the principals St. Francis wanted in his rules, which Innocent III approved 800 years ago last Tuesday the 14th, for the order he founded later to be known as “THE FRANCISCANS”, that they own nothing of their own and use what they receive for the benefit of spreading The Good News of Salvation and to help the poor, sick, aged and societies outcasts.
The gospel relates how Jesus appeared to the apostles and disciples who had locked themselves in a room for fear that they would be persecuted and gave them the powers which have been handed down to all priests ever since at their ordination when they are anointed “Jesus and stood in the middle, and said to them, Peace be to you. And when he had so said, he showed to them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be to you: as my Father has sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, Receive you the Holy Spirit: Whosesoever sins you remit, they are remitted to them; and whosesoever sins you retain, they are retained ……these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name.” John 20:19-31
I often feel that the problems we have in this world are primarily due to the fact that so many do not love themselves and therefore they are incapable of loving anyone else let alone loving someone they do not know or try to get to know and understand. The troubles, strife, greed, genocide, poverty, war, discrimination that have and still cause so much grief in this world are the result of people not loving themselves and/or loving the God who created them. People look for the faults in, not only others, but themselves and dwell on them rather than on what is good. People tend to hold on to the negative things of their life rather than look at the good around them. I have seen this attitude cause people to actually be physically sick.
As followers of Christ we are called to seek out the light of God’s truth, to ask God to help us to know His will, to knock on the door of heaven and we have been told that if we doo this we will be heard, the door will be opened and what we seek we will find. That is what the infinite and unlimited Divine Mercy and Love of God is all about.
I begin each day with this prayer in the hopes that God will be light my way and let me know his will.
Prayer for God’s Infinite Love
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD, March 24th 2006
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Divine_Mercy_Franciscans

Almighty and merciful God, open my mind, my heart, and my soul to your infinite love. Instill within me the knowledge of your truth. Guide me in your ways in all the things I do so that I may be to others a reflection of your love towards them. Allow the light of your truth to flow through me towards all I encounter this day in order that they may come to know you better. I pray that all those with whom I come in contact each and every day may be brought into a closer union with you and enjoy your promise of salvation earned through your beloved son, Jesus Christ, in His passion, death, resurrection and ascension.
I humbly ask this in the name of your beloved son, Jesus Christ, who lives, and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever unto the ages of ages. AMEN

Easter 2009 Reflection

Do Not Be Afraid, He is Risen
An Easter Reflection
By Rev. Robert Francis Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine mercy
Reformed Catholic Church International of New England
www.missionstsergius.org

Alleluia, Alleluia “This is the Day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad” (Psalm 118:24). “Do not be Afraid, You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified, He is not here, He has risen” (Mark 16:6). “Why do you search for the living among the Dead” (Luke24: 5 ) “He is not here, He has been raised, exactly as He had promised” (Matthew 28:6). “Rabbouni (Hebrew for teacher) ….I have seen the Lord” (John 20:18).All the above quotes taken from the four gospels telling of the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ should have special meaning for us. My Favorite and one I keep deep in my heart is “Do Not Be Afraid” simply put, if you have faith in God and the promises of Christ, there is nothing in life that you need to be afraid of. By trusting in God’s will and believing that everything in life has a purpose, even the dissention, suffering, the recession or depression or events that cause separation, bickering, and even the power hungry who profess to be followers of Christ, all have their reason for being, it is up to us to attempt to learn what we can and grow from them. How foolish we mere mortals are. We allow pride, greed and envy to cloud our eyes so that we forget the message taught by Jesus in His resurrection. The message that with God, all things can be conquered, even death.
Christ not only conquered death, he conquered our sins because by His death and resurrection he brought us forgiveness. Jesus came to us from Almighty God to be the supreme “Rabbouni” teacher to us. He came to teach us the way to attain own salvation and glory. The sad thing is we all too often do not follow or listen to what he taught us. We need to affirm, as Mary Magdalene did when she proclaimed “Rabbouni” that Jesus was the ultimate teacher sent by God to make clear God‘s intentions and desires. Jesus was, is, and always will be the head of the church. He directs those who believe in Him through the Holy Spirit, “the giver of life who proceeds from the Father and the son. With the Father and the son, is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets.” (Nicene Creed)We need to acknowledge our love of God by seeking the truth and living in accord with the teachings of Christ. We need to live our daily lives in the manner that Jesus instructed us. “Why do you search for the living (Jesus) among the dead? “He has been raised, exactly as He promised” Jesus is alive; he is alive in the hearts and souls of all those who have been reborn through Baptism and who faithfully live according to His instructions. He is alive in us every time we partake of the Eucharist, His body and blood given us on that first Holy Thursday. Christ is the “living Bread”. He gave himself to us so that we could carry on His work here on earth while he and the Father watch over us. On this glorious day when we celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Let ALL who believe in Him and accept His call to “Come Follow Me” (Luke 18:22) work together and make a concerted effort to repair the breaches that have torn Christ’s church apart into so many segments. There is only one creator God, There is only one Jesus Christ, He established one church and one Universal faith. We are all called to be His servants, His disciples. Especially we, who have been called as shepherds to His flock, need to work with one voice just as Jesus spoke with one voice. We need to stop the exclusion of some, the name calling, seeking control and power and cone together in unity with one message, the message of God‘s infinite mercy and love for ALL His children. Let us shout, loudly. Alleluia, Alleluia, This is the Day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be Glad, Jesus Christ has risen, Jesus is alive. Alleluia, Alleluia.
May God's infinite blessings fill your heart with comfort and peace.

A Paschal Triduum Reflection

What Distinguishes a Christian?
A Reflection for Paschal Triduum
By Rev. Robert Francis Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Reformed Catholic Church International of New England
www.missionstsergius.org

In these final days of Lent, I think about how we betray Christ with our unchristian actions every day. All around us we see and hear governments, churches and individual people proposing things that fly in the face of what Christians are supposed to be thinking and doing. A few years back there was a song sung often in church that said; “THEY WILL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE”. "We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, And we pray that all unity may one day be restored, And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. They will know we are Christians by our love, We will work with each other, we will work side by side, We will work with each other, we will work side by side, And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride, And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, by our love And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love…..And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land, And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love…. Love is patient, love is kind, Never boasts, not full of pride, Always hopes, always trusts, The evidence of Christ in us. They will know we are Christians by our love, By our love, by our love, And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, They will know we are Christians by our love”.
What has happened to this basic concept of the Christian faith? Instead of working together for a better world we seem to be fighting each other. Instead of Guarding everyone’s dignity and saving each one’s pride we seem to be degrading people because of how God created them. Even in these times of recession people seem to be so wrapped up in themselves and in acquiring material goods and wealth that they have lost sight of the poor and needy.We have a government that has spent trillions bailing out the corporations that used the bailout monies to reward their executives and stockholders . Attempts have been made to prevent people from receiving medical help unless they can prove they are citizens. These are not the qualities of a people who are supposed to have compassion, mercy, forgiveness and love for ALL God’s children. When did the basic Christian ideals change?In these final days as the Passover feast is celebrated today, the moment that Jesus gave us a lasting memorial to his being and gave us the Bread of life in the Eucharist, And before Good Friday when Christ took upon himself the sins of the world and put them to death, a death on the cross, I think we need to examine our individual life styles to determine if we are living the truths Christ taught us. Ask ourselves if we practice in our daily lives the compassion, forgiveness, mercy, generosity that Christ told us to live. Let’s prepare ourselves to welcome the Resurrection of Christ on Sunday with a resolve to live our lives in keeping with Christ’s teachings and more like the words of song so that, Everyone we encounter will know we are Christians by our love for ALL of God’s Children not just the select few that fit our comfort zone. The evidence of Christ in us will be if we practice St. Paul’s words; “Love is patient, love is kind, Never boasts, is not full of pride, Always hopes, and trusts” Let’s always show our faith and love of God by doing the correct things. AMEN
May the blessings and promise of this Paschal Season and Christ's Resurrection give you peace and comfort to sustain you in your daily lives.

Palm Sunday 2009 Reflection

In truth this man was a son of God

A Reflection for Palm Sunday 2009

Based on the Readings from Isaiah 50:4-7, Psalm 22, Philippians 2:6-11, Mark 14:1-15:47

By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy

www.missionstsergius.org

‘Abba (Father)!’ he said ‘Everything is possible for you. Take this cup away from me. But let it be as you, not I, would have it.” These words cried out by Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane should be a constant reminder to us that it is alright to ask God to lift a burden from us. The Gospel reading for this Sunday of the three year cycle is from Mark 14 and it tells of the events leading up to and through the passion and death of Christ.One curious passage in the Gospel relates an incident that many choose to overlook and it is just one line long it is part of the story that tells how the disciples and apostles abandoned Christ. “And they all deserted him and ran away. A young man who followed him had nothing on but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the cloth in their hands and ran away naked.” The symbolism here is clear to me that we are naked and exposed by our actions. So many try to hide their dirty laundry with fancy clothes but before God we are all seen naked for exactly who we are. The Gospel story today is a telling of the entire passion and a different story than the celebration that Palm Sunday commemorates, the triumphant entry into Jerusalem where we hear the people shouting; “Hosanna! Blesses is He who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel” It can be assumed that many of those same people who were shouting Hosanna, four days later were in the crowds shouting, “Crucify Him” because he did not meet their expectations or because they succumbed to greed and accepted bribes from officials of the temple. Further on in the Gospel reading it is related how Christ Called out “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you deserted me?” which, I believe , allows us the right to ask the same of God when we feel He might have abandoned us. The essence and the truth is summed up in the words of the centurion who witnessed Christ crucifixion and death on the cross, “In truth this man was a son of God”.Paul’s letter to the Philippians sums up the essence of Christ’s life, “But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father”. Over the last few years books and movies have attempted to raise questions about Jesus Christ’s life and soon a new movie is coming out that follows up on THE DIVINCI CODE, HOLY BLOOD-HOLY GRAIL AND THE LOST GOSPELS. Some claim they should change our beliefs concerning Christ and our Faith. The truth is Jesus Christ lived, Christ died, Christ rose from the dead. Christ was sent to earth by God to save all people of the world, not a select few. All these so called new discoveries and stories should only serve to strengthen our faith and belief in Almighty God. They change nothing about the main facts. Who cares if Christ had a relationship with Mary of Magdala, the fact is Christ was a real person and proclaimed a new covenant with God which carried on and followed that made with Moses. All the numerous non-religious historical documents acknowledge that Jesus was real. All of them affirm that he gave us a new covenant, “LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART, MIND, SOUL AND BODY AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU” All based on writings of the early Christians; in many cases, they support what is written in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Gospels we know are the Gospels accepted, mainly on the advice and writings of St. Irenaeus, the bishop of Lyons about the year 180, who called the other Gospels “Heresies”. The Gnostic Gospels, as the lost Gospels are called, proclaimed that salvation could be achieved by knowledge. That is true also, Knowledge of who God is, Knowledge of how we can serve God, Knowledge of God’s intent; all of these are necessary in order for us to faithfully serve God. Did not Jesus Himself say, “Seek and you will find, Knock and it will be opened to you, Ask and you shall receive” (Matthew 7:6-9) None of these “recent” findings change a thing. The Passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ opened the road to salvation to us. Even if the most recent “Gospel of Judas” has any truth, it affirms that Jesus had to die in order for our salvation to be assured. In it, it is purported to state, “For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me." By that, Gnostic scholars conclude Jesus meant “by helping him get rid of his physical flesh, Judas would act to liberate the true spiritual self or divine being within Jesus.” During this Week, let us stop the dissentions that separate all who believe in Jesus Christ and work together to come together as the one family of Christ. Let’s begin living the message of Jesus Christ in our actions, thoughts, words and deeds. Let us be completely faithful to Almighty God and Jesus Christ proclaim loudly, “HOSANNA, HOSANNA, TO THE SON OF DAVID, HOSANNA! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST! AMEN