An Advent Suggestion
The Franciscans of Divine Mercy and Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus follow the rule of St. Francis and Begging for the needs of our ministry. “I firmly command all the friars, that in no manner are they to receive coins or money for themselves except for the necessities of the sick, poor infirm and for the needs of the ministries as they see expedites necessity. Let those friars, to whom the Lord gives the grace to work, do so faithfully and devotedly, in such a way that their labor provides for their individual needs as well as any excess be used for the needs of their friars what is for the necessity of the body accepting coins or money humbly, as befits the servants of God and the followers of most holy poverty.” (excerpts from the rule of St. Francis)
We also desire to follow a suggestion of St. Francis concerning the needs of our brothers and sisters the animals, birds of the air and fish of the sea with whom Francis felt a deep kinship with all God’s creatures calling them "brother" and "sister," knowing they came from the same Source as himself.
In 1223: Francis wrote "If I ever have the opportunity to talk with the emperor I'll beg him, for the love of God and me, to enact a special law: no one is to capture or kill our sisters the larks or do them any harm. Furthermore, all mayors and lords of castles and towns are required to scatter wheat and other grain on the roads outside the walls so that our sisters the larks and other birds might have something to eat … And on Christmas Eve, out of reverence for the Son of God, whom on that night the Virgin Mary placed in a manger before the ox and the ass, anyone having an ox or an ass is to feed it a generous portion of choice fodder. And, on Christmas Day, the rich are to give the poor the finest food in abundance." (TAKEN FROM MIRROR OF PERFECTION, 114)
We therefore suggest that all Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus members, family and friends and all Christian Faith Communities plan to distribute food to the needy during Advent, distribute bags of bird seed each week to those attending Services to be scattered for the birds to eat and plan to make a special visit bringing a small gift to the sick, elderly persons shut-ins who are alone in the spirit of Christian Charity therefore exhibiting God’s infinite love for ALL his children human as well as our Brothers and Sisters the birds of the air, fish of the sea and other animals..
By doing this we will be actively spreading the gift of God’s love and reflecting God by our actions.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
October Financial Report For Franciscans of Divine Mercy Ministry
Mission Sts. Sergius &Bacchus/Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Parish Financial Report for October 2010
NEW BALANCE AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
NEGATIVE $3844.55
Income for October 2010
Personal Donations $ 600.00
Total Income for October 2010 $ 600.00
NEW BALANCE BEFORE EXPENSES AS OF OCT. 30, 2010
NEGATIVE $3244.55
EXPENSES
Gas/Oil/Tolls &Transportation $ 98.82
Auto Insurance (Final 2010 Pmt.) 47.50
Postage 16.03
Office Supplies /Printing/ Ink 12.50
Phone/Fax/Cell/DSL @ 33 % $ 87.96
Web Site Domain 15.00
Transmission & other Repairs on Mission Car $ 1321.40
Liturgy Planning calendar 2011 & Altar Supplies 91.85
Total Expenses $1691.06
NEW BALANCE AS OF OCTOBER 29TH, 2010
NEGATIVE $4935.61
Donations Received From
Michael & Mary J., Dr. Richard G, Ms. Nel Sharkey, Mr. & Mrs. Brian C.
We have succeeded in having the mission Car’s transmission and a few other mechanical problems fixed and have resumed visits to Mission Members locally as well as in Vermont, The Cape & New Haven Conn. We are in discussions for locations for regular weekly masses in the Worcester and Franklin areas. We will however have to meet the Credit Card payments incurred by having the work done on the Mission Car and your help would be appreciated.
Please consider making a donation BY CREDIT CARD using the PAYPAL links ON THE MISSION WEB SITE WWW.MISSIONSTSERGIUS.ORG
Or
send donations directly to the Mission's Bank Account.
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus,
c/o Middlesex Savings Bank
830 Washington Street, Holliston, MA 01746
All Materials are copywriten (c) Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Parish Financial Report for October 2010
NEW BALANCE AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
NEGATIVE $3844.55
Income for October 2010
Personal Donations $ 600.00
Total Income for October 2010 $ 600.00
NEW BALANCE BEFORE EXPENSES AS OF OCT. 30, 2010
NEGATIVE $3244.55
EXPENSES
Gas/Oil/Tolls &Transportation $ 98.82
Auto Insurance (Final 2010 Pmt.) 47.50
Postage 16.03
Office Supplies /Printing/ Ink 12.50
Phone/Fax/Cell/DSL @ 33 % $ 87.96
Web Site Domain 15.00
Transmission & other Repairs on Mission Car $ 1321.40
Liturgy Planning calendar 2011 & Altar Supplies 91.85
Total Expenses $1691.06
NEW BALANCE AS OF OCTOBER 29TH, 2010
NEGATIVE $4935.61
Donations Received From
Michael & Mary J., Dr. Richard G, Ms. Nel Sharkey, Mr. & Mrs. Brian C.
We have succeeded in having the mission Car’s transmission and a few other mechanical problems fixed and have resumed visits to Mission Members locally as well as in Vermont, The Cape & New Haven Conn. We are in discussions for locations for regular weekly masses in the Worcester and Franklin areas. We will however have to meet the Credit Card payments incurred by having the work done on the Mission Car and your help would be appreciated.
Please consider making a donation BY CREDIT CARD using the PAYPAL links ON THE MISSION WEB SITE WWW.MISSIONSTSERGIUS.ORG
Or
send donations directly to the Mission's Bank Account.
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus,
c/o Middlesex Savings Bank
830 Washington Street, Holliston, MA 01746
All Materials are copywriten (c) Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Thursday, October 28, 2010
A Reflection for Sunday October 31st, 2010
Words of Wisdom and Truth
A Reflection for the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
North American Old Catholic Church
Franklin, MA
www.missionstsergius.org
The words from the first reading for Sunday October 31st, All Hallows Eve this year, is from the Book of Wisdom 11:22-12:2 and worth more than a billion words and sermons.
The reading should most certainly open our hearts and minds to God’s infinite mercy and love for all His children regardless of their race, nationality, gender, or religious denomination.
When we take into consideration the other readings for this Sunday we have not only a message affirming God’s love and mercy for us all but also advice on how we can and will be welcomed and found pleasing in God’s eyes.
“In your sight the whole world is like a grain of dust that tips the scales, like a drop of morning dew falling on the ground. Yet you are merciful to all, because you can do all things and overlook men’s sins so that they can repent. Yes, you love all that exists, you hold nothing of what you have made in abhorrence, for had you hated anything, you would not have formed it. And how, had you not willed it, could a thing persist, how be conserved if not called forth by you? You spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life, you whose imperishable spirit is in all. Little by little, therefore, you correct those who offend, you admonish and remind them of how they have sinned, so that they may abstain from evil and trust in you, Lord.”
When the words from St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians chapter 1:11-2:2 are taken into consideration we become strengthened even more in the knowledge of God’s love for us; “all that you have been doing through faith the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. To turn now to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we shall all be gathered round him: please do not get excited too soon or alarmed by any prediction or rumor or any letter claiming to come from us, implying that the Day of the Lord has already arrived.”
So many who claim to be preaching the word of God have tried to frighten people with the admonition that dooms day is at hand, and have done so from the earliest days of the church but Christ himself told us; “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows." (Mark 13:32)
The message from Sunday’s Gospel is also comforting and affirming in that it reminds us that Christ did not head the admonishments of the Religious of His time. It also makes clear that God and Christ is there for everyone who believes and tries to live in a way that is pleasing to God according to the teachings that Christ proclaimed.
Unfortunately there are some who believe that they are the “chosen ones” because of their position, their wealth or because or their devotional practices and attendance at church but when they leave the confines of the church, and sometimes even while there, they do not practice Christina Charity and often demean others because of how they dress, or the color of their skin or their nationality.
The Gospel tells us: “When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: “Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.” And Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Christ joyfully. Others complained when they saw what was happening. “He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house” they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, “Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount" And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost” (Luke 19:1-10)
We might also make note of what Zacchaeus said to Christ about giving half of his property to the poor and needy and making right any injustices or cheating he might have done since it is also one of the major teachings of Christ to be mindful of the needs of others and to share our gifts with those who have not.
Christ has told us time and again that being aware of others and having compassion and generosity are keys to entering into heaven. We might want to think about who of the candidates that we will vote for in Tuesday’s election will do the most for the poor and disadvantaged and then vote for them.
The Seraphic Father of our order, The Franciscan’s of Divine Mercy, knew this message so very well. St. Francis is known to have said “I acknowledge that all my possessions were given to me by God, and now here I am ready to give them back to Him”
Everything we have comes from God and therefore we need to give thanks for the gifts we have received and not hoard them to ourselves but share then according to our ability.
We need to open our eyes to the needs of others around us and to put aside our prejudices and self centered interests and open our hearts to being more receptive to living the great commandment of Christ every moment of our life here on earth.
“Love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, mind, soul and body and love your neighbor as you love yourself” “Love one another as I have loved you”
Let us go forth from this day putting these words of Christ into action by being more concerned about the needs of others especially the poor, sick and aged and seek opportunities to share our gifts that God has given us with others.
If we do this we will be living the Gospel in our daily life and be opening our door into everlasting glory with The Father, Son and Holy Spirit and all the heavenly elect. AMEN
A Reflection for the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
North American Old Catholic Church
Franklin, MA
www.missionstsergius.org
The words from the first reading for Sunday October 31st, All Hallows Eve this year, is from the Book of Wisdom 11:22-12:2 and worth more than a billion words and sermons.
The reading should most certainly open our hearts and minds to God’s infinite mercy and love for all His children regardless of their race, nationality, gender, or religious denomination.
When we take into consideration the other readings for this Sunday we have not only a message affirming God’s love and mercy for us all but also advice on how we can and will be welcomed and found pleasing in God’s eyes.
“In your sight the whole world is like a grain of dust that tips the scales, like a drop of morning dew falling on the ground. Yet you are merciful to all, because you can do all things and overlook men’s sins so that they can repent. Yes, you love all that exists, you hold nothing of what you have made in abhorrence, for had you hated anything, you would not have formed it. And how, had you not willed it, could a thing persist, how be conserved if not called forth by you? You spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life, you whose imperishable spirit is in all. Little by little, therefore, you correct those who offend, you admonish and remind them of how they have sinned, so that they may abstain from evil and trust in you, Lord.”
When the words from St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians chapter 1:11-2:2 are taken into consideration we become strengthened even more in the knowledge of God’s love for us; “all that you have been doing through faith the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. To turn now to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we shall all be gathered round him: please do not get excited too soon or alarmed by any prediction or rumor or any letter claiming to come from us, implying that the Day of the Lord has already arrived.”
So many who claim to be preaching the word of God have tried to frighten people with the admonition that dooms day is at hand, and have done so from the earliest days of the church but Christ himself told us; “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows." (Mark 13:32)
The message from Sunday’s Gospel is also comforting and affirming in that it reminds us that Christ did not head the admonishments of the Religious of His time. It also makes clear that God and Christ is there for everyone who believes and tries to live in a way that is pleasing to God according to the teachings that Christ proclaimed.
Unfortunately there are some who believe that they are the “chosen ones” because of their position, their wealth or because or their devotional practices and attendance at church but when they leave the confines of the church, and sometimes even while there, they do not practice Christina Charity and often demean others because of how they dress, or the color of their skin or their nationality.
The Gospel tells us: “When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: “Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.” And Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Christ joyfully. Others complained when they saw what was happening. “He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house” they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, “Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount" And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost” (Luke 19:1-10)
We might also make note of what Zacchaeus said to Christ about giving half of his property to the poor and needy and making right any injustices or cheating he might have done since it is also one of the major teachings of Christ to be mindful of the needs of others and to share our gifts with those who have not.
Christ has told us time and again that being aware of others and having compassion and generosity are keys to entering into heaven. We might want to think about who of the candidates that we will vote for in Tuesday’s election will do the most for the poor and disadvantaged and then vote for them.
The Seraphic Father of our order, The Franciscan’s of Divine Mercy, knew this message so very well. St. Francis is known to have said “I acknowledge that all my possessions were given to me by God, and now here I am ready to give them back to Him”
Everything we have comes from God and therefore we need to give thanks for the gifts we have received and not hoard them to ourselves but share then according to our ability.
We need to open our eyes to the needs of others around us and to put aside our prejudices and self centered interests and open our hearts to being more receptive to living the great commandment of Christ every moment of our life here on earth.
“Love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, mind, soul and body and love your neighbor as you love yourself” “Love one another as I have loved you”
Let us go forth from this day putting these words of Christ into action by being more concerned about the needs of others especially the poor, sick and aged and seek opportunities to share our gifts that God has given us with others.
If we do this we will be living the Gospel in our daily life and be opening our door into everlasting glory with The Father, Son and Holy Spirit and all the heavenly elect. AMEN
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
A Journey of 75 years
Looking back on 75 Years of the journey of Life
A Reflection by Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans Of Divine Mercy
North American Old Catholic Church
www.missionstsergius.org
At 2:30 of the afternoon of November 16, 1935 in Boston Massachusetts my life adventure began and as I prepare to enter the 76th year of my journey down the highway of life I look back on the past 75 years with wonder and amazement.
My journey at times was on smooth Super Highways and at other times unpaved bumpy roads. All the time I dared to dream the Impossible dream and some times it was achieved and at others it crashed in flames.
I have been told that I was born under the part of the sign of Scorpio that is attributed to the Phoenix and there have been times I seemed to be like the Phoenix and rose from the flames to have a new life while remembering the mistakes of the past one.
I have also realized how the events of my life have shaped my life, the ministry I am attempting to do for the greater honor and glory of God and the Franciscans of Divine Mercy.
God has most certainly blessed me with an abundance of his blessings and lifted me up and guided me onto the path He wanted me to follow especially in the darkest moments of life.
The fact I actually came into this world at all was considered a miracle since my mother had lost two other baby boys and was advised not to try to have any more but she prayed and trusted in God and I came into being.
According to my mother, there were serious doubts I would survive even when I was born as I was dehydrated and mother claimed that the first 6 months was touch and go and required me to have round the clock attention including being bathed in warm Olive Oil three times a day.
Since then I have been blessed with relatively good health and even though the last few years have had me making many trips to doctors and hospitals with bouts of cancer and serious stenosis of the spine limits how long I can stand and how far I can walk, I consider myself greatly blessed, especially when I see people much younger than I with far more serious illnesses unable to get around at all or sometimes remember their family and friends.
I was blessed to have parents that exposed me to all the fine and performing arts. I was at the 1939 Worlds fair, saw the original production of THE KING AND I with Gertrude Lawrence. By my 13th year I had traveled and visited 44 of the contiguous United States.
I received an excellent education from devoted nuns and priests and eventually entered the seminary in my junior year of High School. I was on the verge of being ordained a Josephite priest in 1957 when they recommended that I take some time off to be sure of my vocation, so, I followed my second love, Theater.
I never became famous, but I did get to work with people like Julie Andrews, Liza Minnelli, Hal Prince, Carol Burnett, Elizabeth Montgomery Jean-Claude Van Damme, Robert Mitchum, Peter Graves, Jan-Michael Vincent, Richard Burton, Shani Wallace and so many others on stage in New York, on Television and Films.
I actually got to write, produce and direct a show that was in the 46th Street Theater in New York City.
In 1960 I met the woman who would become my wife and the mother of my three children. Even though the marriage did not last for many reasons which are not worth covering at this time, I believe now that it was all part of God’s grand plan for me.
When ever I thought the gifts and talents I had were of my own doing and started to wander away from the principals I had been taught, God found a way to get me back on track.
The desire to serve God as a religious existed as far back as the first grade and I even had an altar complete with tabernacle in my room.
I was devastated when the Josephite’s told me to take time off to contemplate my perceived vocation and even though I was no longer in the seminary I continued keeping up on my theology, the changes of Vatican 2, taught in Catholic Schools in Boston and California often serving as a DRE (Director of Religious Education) in the parishes I lived in.
There were times I became upset and depressed and it was in those moments that God saved me from doing something drastic and gave me proof of His infinite love, mercy and healing power.
On one of those occasions when I was in deep depression and contemplating suicide, I tossed the Bible on the floor in anger but was compelled to read the pages that it opened to; It was the book of Job.
I realized then that if I kept my trust and faith in God and did not give up or blame Him for the trials I was having, He would lead me where He wanted me, and He did.
I often pray the prayer I said then, “God, what is it you want from me? I am not good on subtle hints God, I need you to push me, no shove me where it is you want me”
I was led back to teaching in the Catholic schools, from there I became fully immersed in parish ministry and in 1980 was ordained a Deacon just after my mother had come to visit me in California and she decided to stay there until the day God called her home in 1987.
Throughout the past 75 years I have been witness to many joyful events of history such as the end of WWII, the inauguration of the first Catholic President, Mans first landing on the moon, The signing of Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to the election of the first African American President Barack Obama.
Unfortunately I also have vivid memories of some of histories darkest moments since I was born at the end of the Great Depression and will never forget that December 7th Sunday when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese and the words of FDR echoing from the radio “Today is a Day that will go down in Infamy”.
Television allowed us to watch in horror the assassinations of John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, the atrocities of the Vietnam war, the slaughter in Rwanda and genocide in the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In 1986 Cardinal Roger Mahoney founded a ministry within the Los Angeles Diocesan offices for the Lesbian and Gay community and Divorced Catholics, I began working in it while also teaching and parish duties.
In 2001, at age 67, I decided that it was time to stop teaching teen age children and move back to Massachusetts closer to my family and children.
When I returned here I found there was not much being done ministering to the LGBT community or Divorced Catholics and felt that a ministry to them was badly needed but no parish in the area that would sponsor one. While on retreat at the Weston Priory in Vermont I came across the Icon of Saints Sergius & Bacchus and upon reading their life I felt it was God’s way of telling me to start a ministry even without church approval.
Since 1980 when I was ordained a Deacon I had been submitting my records for consideration to various religious orders but always received rejections because; “You are over our age limit for admission” “You are still married and would need to get an annulment” ( I was divorced in 1973 and neither of us ever remarried); but I still continued my quest.
I began Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus as a ministry to those who have been rejected by the church because of their being divorced or sexual orientation or other reasons.
Shortly after starting the ministry I received an acceptance letter from the Servant Franciscans of the Immaculata which has since become the Franciscans of the Annunciation of the Infinite Love of God and is based in Canada.
They had reviewed my records and transcripts, conferred with bishops and decided that I was worthy, not only to be a member of their order but also to be ordained a priest.
What I did not know at the time was that they were an Old Catholic Franciscan Order not Roman but that did not matter as I again took it as God’s plan and on August 15th, the feast of the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady, I was ordained a priest in Washington DC.
My first public Eucharistic Liturgy was on September 17, the feast of my patron Saint, Robert Bellarmine and of The Stigmata of St. Francis.
Again I believed this was a sign of Almighty God’s blessing and acceptance, especially since I always had a deep affection and devotion to St. Francis from the time I was a child and often visited the Franciscan church here in Boston. I even remember a psychiatrist Franciscan Priest, Fr. Fulgence, my mother dragged me to when she discovered that I was Gay.
He told her that I was well grounded and living my life in a wholesome way, not being promiscuous, and had respect for the gift of sexuality that God had given me.
Now here I am, entering my 76th year of life, realizing that every thing has been a part of God’s grand plan. I also realize that all my past life experiences have made me better able to be an honest and better servant of God than if I had been ordained back in 1957.
I have to admit that my heart becomes heavy when I see and hear children of God being turned away from participating in giving God glory and praise within a faith community, being denied the Eucharist because they are divorced or have been created by Almighty God with a same sex orientation.
Sadness fills me when I see dedicated men and women being rejected to serve God because they are married, or worse still, just because their gender is female.
I thank God daily that I have been given the opportunity to be his humble servant and especially that he led me to be a follower of St. Francis whom God told “rebuild my church”.
I realize that I would not have been prepared to minister to all those that I am encountering in this ministry if I had not had the life experiences I have had.
What ever time God gives me to remain on this earthly plane, I totally give over to him. As the prayer I wrote back in the 1980's says; “Let Your will be done in me, I ask no more than this” or as Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane “Not my will but your will be done”
I pray that I may be able to be a small part of reunifying and rebuilding The One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church as it was in the beginning, welcoming and serving everyone who asked to partake of and know the infinite mercy and love of Almighty God.
I pray I may be able to reach out and bring back into the Mystical Body of Christ all those who have felt rejected, unwanted and alienated from Almighty God by the dictates of mere humans who act like those Christ admonished with these words; “But woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men” (Matthew 23:13)
As I enter these Autumn days of my life I pray for forgiveness for all the mistakes I have made and I pray that any that I may have hurt along my journey down the road of life will forgive me.
I ask God for the strength, courage and the resources to go where I am needed and to be a humble servant to all those that seek to know, love and serve God.
I give myself totally over to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, His Almighty Father our creator to proclaim the Good News of Salvation and always do their will with the grace and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
With the words; “Your are a priest forever like Melchizedek of Old”, a person goes from being a simple follower of Jesus Christ to an individual whose live must be totally dedicated to serving God and all His children as Christ would have..
It is an awesome responsibility, shepherding all God’s children. You need to be there to give solace and comfort to those in pain even when you yourself are not feeling well.
You need to remember to always affirm God’s love, mercy and forgiveness even when confronted with distain lies and vitriol.
This can only be achieved as St. Padre Pio said; "Pray, hope and Don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayers. Prayer is the best weapon we have, it is the key to God‘s heart”
So with that in mind I ask everyone who reads this reflection on my 75 years of the journey here on God’s great planet earth, please pray that God will continue to bless me and give the ministry what it needs to be of service to all those that have looked to our humble mission for spiritual enrichment, solace and hope.
I sincerely hope that my experiences of the last 75 years help you understand my faith, trust in God and the perseverance with which I have pursued these last 6 years attempting to proclaim, to all who would listen, how much God really loves us and why we need have God at the center of our being allowing Him to work His way with us.
Please remember me often as you pray and remember also that this ministry and all ministries are not the work of one individual but the work of the entire Faith community, their family, relatives, friends and friends of friends who believe in the objectives and work the ministry is attempting to achieve and who desire to be a part of the service to Almighty God.
May God continue to bless this ministry, all the Bishops, priests, brothers, benefactors, and all who read this story of my life excursion and this most humble simple servant as the journey continues. AMEN
A Reflection by Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans Of Divine Mercy
North American Old Catholic Church
www.missionstsergius.org
At 2:30 of the afternoon of November 16, 1935 in Boston Massachusetts my life adventure began and as I prepare to enter the 76th year of my journey down the highway of life I look back on the past 75 years with wonder and amazement.
My journey at times was on smooth Super Highways and at other times unpaved bumpy roads. All the time I dared to dream the Impossible dream and some times it was achieved and at others it crashed in flames.
I have been told that I was born under the part of the sign of Scorpio that is attributed to the Phoenix and there have been times I seemed to be like the Phoenix and rose from the flames to have a new life while remembering the mistakes of the past one.
I have also realized how the events of my life have shaped my life, the ministry I am attempting to do for the greater honor and glory of God and the Franciscans of Divine Mercy.
God has most certainly blessed me with an abundance of his blessings and lifted me up and guided me onto the path He wanted me to follow especially in the darkest moments of life.
The fact I actually came into this world at all was considered a miracle since my mother had lost two other baby boys and was advised not to try to have any more but she prayed and trusted in God and I came into being.
According to my mother, there were serious doubts I would survive even when I was born as I was dehydrated and mother claimed that the first 6 months was touch and go and required me to have round the clock attention including being bathed in warm Olive Oil three times a day.
Since then I have been blessed with relatively good health and even though the last few years have had me making many trips to doctors and hospitals with bouts of cancer and serious stenosis of the spine limits how long I can stand and how far I can walk, I consider myself greatly blessed, especially when I see people much younger than I with far more serious illnesses unable to get around at all or sometimes remember their family and friends.
I was blessed to have parents that exposed me to all the fine and performing arts. I was at the 1939 Worlds fair, saw the original production of THE KING AND I with Gertrude Lawrence. By my 13th year I had traveled and visited 44 of the contiguous United States.
I received an excellent education from devoted nuns and priests and eventually entered the seminary in my junior year of High School. I was on the verge of being ordained a Josephite priest in 1957 when they recommended that I take some time off to be sure of my vocation, so, I followed my second love, Theater.
I never became famous, but I did get to work with people like Julie Andrews, Liza Minnelli, Hal Prince, Carol Burnett, Elizabeth Montgomery Jean-Claude Van Damme, Robert Mitchum, Peter Graves, Jan-Michael Vincent, Richard Burton, Shani Wallace and so many others on stage in New York, on Television and Films.
I actually got to write, produce and direct a show that was in the 46th Street Theater in New York City.
In 1960 I met the woman who would become my wife and the mother of my three children. Even though the marriage did not last for many reasons which are not worth covering at this time, I believe now that it was all part of God’s grand plan for me.
When ever I thought the gifts and talents I had were of my own doing and started to wander away from the principals I had been taught, God found a way to get me back on track.
The desire to serve God as a religious existed as far back as the first grade and I even had an altar complete with tabernacle in my room.
I was devastated when the Josephite’s told me to take time off to contemplate my perceived vocation and even though I was no longer in the seminary I continued keeping up on my theology, the changes of Vatican 2, taught in Catholic Schools in Boston and California often serving as a DRE (Director of Religious Education) in the parishes I lived in.
There were times I became upset and depressed and it was in those moments that God saved me from doing something drastic and gave me proof of His infinite love, mercy and healing power.
On one of those occasions when I was in deep depression and contemplating suicide, I tossed the Bible on the floor in anger but was compelled to read the pages that it opened to; It was the book of Job.
I realized then that if I kept my trust and faith in God and did not give up or blame Him for the trials I was having, He would lead me where He wanted me, and He did.
I often pray the prayer I said then, “God, what is it you want from me? I am not good on subtle hints God, I need you to push me, no shove me where it is you want me”
I was led back to teaching in the Catholic schools, from there I became fully immersed in parish ministry and in 1980 was ordained a Deacon just after my mother had come to visit me in California and she decided to stay there until the day God called her home in 1987.
Throughout the past 75 years I have been witness to many joyful events of history such as the end of WWII, the inauguration of the first Catholic President, Mans first landing on the moon, The signing of Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to the election of the first African American President Barack Obama.
Unfortunately I also have vivid memories of some of histories darkest moments since I was born at the end of the Great Depression and will never forget that December 7th Sunday when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese and the words of FDR echoing from the radio “Today is a Day that will go down in Infamy”.
Television allowed us to watch in horror the assassinations of John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, the atrocities of the Vietnam war, the slaughter in Rwanda and genocide in the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In 1986 Cardinal Roger Mahoney founded a ministry within the Los Angeles Diocesan offices for the Lesbian and Gay community and Divorced Catholics, I began working in it while also teaching and parish duties.
In 2001, at age 67, I decided that it was time to stop teaching teen age children and move back to Massachusetts closer to my family and children.
When I returned here I found there was not much being done ministering to the LGBT community or Divorced Catholics and felt that a ministry to them was badly needed but no parish in the area that would sponsor one. While on retreat at the Weston Priory in Vermont I came across the Icon of Saints Sergius & Bacchus and upon reading their life I felt it was God’s way of telling me to start a ministry even without church approval.
Since 1980 when I was ordained a Deacon I had been submitting my records for consideration to various religious orders but always received rejections because; “You are over our age limit for admission” “You are still married and would need to get an annulment” ( I was divorced in 1973 and neither of us ever remarried); but I still continued my quest.
I began Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus as a ministry to those who have been rejected by the church because of their being divorced or sexual orientation or other reasons.
Shortly after starting the ministry I received an acceptance letter from the Servant Franciscans of the Immaculata which has since become the Franciscans of the Annunciation of the Infinite Love of God and is based in Canada.
They had reviewed my records and transcripts, conferred with bishops and decided that I was worthy, not only to be a member of their order but also to be ordained a priest.
What I did not know at the time was that they were an Old Catholic Franciscan Order not Roman but that did not matter as I again took it as God’s plan and on August 15th, the feast of the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady, I was ordained a priest in Washington DC.
My first public Eucharistic Liturgy was on September 17, the feast of my patron Saint, Robert Bellarmine and of The Stigmata of St. Francis.
Again I believed this was a sign of Almighty God’s blessing and acceptance, especially since I always had a deep affection and devotion to St. Francis from the time I was a child and often visited the Franciscan church here in Boston. I even remember a psychiatrist Franciscan Priest, Fr. Fulgence, my mother dragged me to when she discovered that I was Gay.
He told her that I was well grounded and living my life in a wholesome way, not being promiscuous, and had respect for the gift of sexuality that God had given me.
Now here I am, entering my 76th year of life, realizing that every thing has been a part of God’s grand plan. I also realize that all my past life experiences have made me better able to be an honest and better servant of God than if I had been ordained back in 1957.
I have to admit that my heart becomes heavy when I see and hear children of God being turned away from participating in giving God glory and praise within a faith community, being denied the Eucharist because they are divorced or have been created by Almighty God with a same sex orientation.
Sadness fills me when I see dedicated men and women being rejected to serve God because they are married, or worse still, just because their gender is female.
I thank God daily that I have been given the opportunity to be his humble servant and especially that he led me to be a follower of St. Francis whom God told “rebuild my church”.
I realize that I would not have been prepared to minister to all those that I am encountering in this ministry if I had not had the life experiences I have had.
What ever time God gives me to remain on this earthly plane, I totally give over to him. As the prayer I wrote back in the 1980's says; “Let Your will be done in me, I ask no more than this” or as Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane “Not my will but your will be done”
I pray that I may be able to be a small part of reunifying and rebuilding The One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church as it was in the beginning, welcoming and serving everyone who asked to partake of and know the infinite mercy and love of Almighty God.
I pray I may be able to reach out and bring back into the Mystical Body of Christ all those who have felt rejected, unwanted and alienated from Almighty God by the dictates of mere humans who act like those Christ admonished with these words; “But woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men” (Matthew 23:13)
As I enter these Autumn days of my life I pray for forgiveness for all the mistakes I have made and I pray that any that I may have hurt along my journey down the road of life will forgive me.
I ask God for the strength, courage and the resources to go where I am needed and to be a humble servant to all those that seek to know, love and serve God.
I give myself totally over to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, His Almighty Father our creator to proclaim the Good News of Salvation and always do their will with the grace and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
With the words; “Your are a priest forever like Melchizedek of Old”, a person goes from being a simple follower of Jesus Christ to an individual whose live must be totally dedicated to serving God and all His children as Christ would have..
It is an awesome responsibility, shepherding all God’s children. You need to be there to give solace and comfort to those in pain even when you yourself are not feeling well.
You need to remember to always affirm God’s love, mercy and forgiveness even when confronted with distain lies and vitriol.
This can only be achieved as St. Padre Pio said; "Pray, hope and Don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayers. Prayer is the best weapon we have, it is the key to God‘s heart”
So with that in mind I ask everyone who reads this reflection on my 75 years of the journey here on God’s great planet earth, please pray that God will continue to bless me and give the ministry what it needs to be of service to all those that have looked to our humble mission for spiritual enrichment, solace and hope.
I sincerely hope that my experiences of the last 75 years help you understand my faith, trust in God and the perseverance with which I have pursued these last 6 years attempting to proclaim, to all who would listen, how much God really loves us and why we need have God at the center of our being allowing Him to work His way with us.
Please remember me often as you pray and remember also that this ministry and all ministries are not the work of one individual but the work of the entire Faith community, their family, relatives, friends and friends of friends who believe in the objectives and work the ministry is attempting to achieve and who desire to be a part of the service to Almighty God.
May God continue to bless this ministry, all the Bishops, priests, brothers, benefactors, and all who read this story of my life excursion and this most humble simple servant as the journey continues. AMEN
Friday, March 5, 2010
Seeking God, Part Five
Parts one through four of this series of reflections can be found on the missions web site http://www.missionstsergius.org/ and on the missions blogs on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, YAHOO, EVERLASTING LOVE OF CHRIST and FRANCISCANS OF DIVINE MERCY groups on Yahoo.
Seeking God, Part Five
A Reflection for the Lenten Season of 2010
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD, Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.missionstsergius.org
This series of reflections has been titled SEEKING GOD so I have decided that we really need to determine exactly what seeking means and how one goes about it and what it entails.
According to the Dictionary Seeking is both a transitive verb and an intransitive verb and it means; “1. To go to, to resort to, 2. go in search of, look for, try to discover, 3. To ask for or request or seek advice, 4. To try to acquire or gain, aim for 5. To make an attempt or try, as an intransitive verb it means to make a search or an inquiry.
When the object of the search is God, I would have to say that all the definitions are usable and correct.
Now the question arrives as to how you want to search and how important your search is to you and how much time and effort do you want to put into your search.
I don’t know about you, but when we are talking about finding God and our relationship with God and the end result is everlasting life or damnation, I would say such a search might just be the most important one any human has ever endeavored upon.
Now every major search and discovery comes with setbacks, dangers, moments of elations and moments of depression. A search for God will only have those things multiplied to a greater extent because there is one nemesis, Satan, who will do everything in its power from you finding God and gaining God in your life.
That is why I find the book of Job to be my inspiration. As mentioned in an earlier segment, Job never gave in and had faith and trust in God and even after he lost everything, family, health, wealth he continued to place his faith in God for which he was rewarded 10 fold.
When a person really decides to seek God and claim God as the center of their life, they will certainly be ridiculed and probably be looked upon as a fanatic. They may well loose family and friends who think that God is not as important as gaining fame, wealth, or other material things.
Seeking God, like prayer, which we discussed in section, four of this series, must be taken seriously and requires you to work on your search every day of your life from the moment you decide to go on your quest.
All quests are journeys toward a set goal. All Quests require great exertion on the part of the hero and the overcoming of many obstacles. A hero’s initial response may be a rejection of that return, as J. Campbell describes in THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES
My favorite stories of Quests are Le Morte de Arthur, Don Quixote, The Lord of The Rings, The Wizard of Oz, and the movie series featuring Indiana Jones and his quests.
Therefore, our search for God, if we actually embark on it seriously, will have obstacles to overcome and disappointments and even possibly rejection by family and friends but if we find God, the rewards are greater than any earthly treasure.
As Matthew 6:19-21 tells us “Don't store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” and in Luke 12-21 we read; “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
In Luke 11:19 Christ is said to have told his disciples; “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” In one of the more famous “Gnostic” Gospels the Coptic Gospel of Thomas which is just a transcript of the secret sayings of Jesus to his apostles. The first saying is; “Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death” The second saying I found to be so much like that of Luke 11:19 and it is this; “Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. When he finds he will become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he will be astonished and he will rule over all”
Throughout the Coptic Gospel of Thomas one cannot but notice that many of the sayings are exactly like or similar to the sayings of Christ found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Saying 3 in the Gospel of Thomas has the following “ Rather, the (Father's) kingdom is within you and it is outside you. When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty."
I believe that “Living in poverty and you are in poverty” simply means that until we get to know God and find God within ourselves we will always feel an emptiness within ourselves.
In chapter four of Peace of the Soul by Fulton J Sheen entitled IS GOD HARD TO FIND? There is a quote from the poet Francis Thompson which was based on an idea put forth by Saint Thomas Aquinas and it goes like this;
O world invisible, we view thee
O world intangible, we touch thee
O world unknowable, we know thee
Inapprehensible, we clutch thee.
To which Fulton Sheen follows up with these words; “God is easy to discover in at least a confused and primitive sort of way through every striving and aspiration of our will and our heart” “God is not hard to find, because He gives himself to us as the Divine Gift. Natural life itself is a gift. The soul has to come into the body from without, directly as a gift from the hands of God”
Throughout all of human existence the human race, according to historians and archeologists has sought and worshiped a higher power which they often ascribed the title God. Many people have had things to say and relate about God, here are just a few I found worth pondering in our seeking God Quest.
“I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.” ~Mother Teresa
“Prayer is when you talk to God; meditation is when you listen to God.” ~Diana Robinson
“Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway.” ~Mary C. Crowley
“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” ~St. Augustine
“They say that God is everywhere, and yet we always think of Him as somewhat of a recluse.” ~Emily Dickinson
“What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.” ~Eleanor Powell
“God is not what you imagine or what you think you understand. If you understand you have failed.” ~Saint Augustine
“I don't know if God exists, but it would be better for His reputation if He didn't.” ~Jules Renard
“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.” ~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
“The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too.” ~Teresa of Avila
“But I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things.” ~Vincent van Gogh,
“People see God every day, they just don't recognize him.” ~Pearl Bailey
“God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame.” ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning
“When we can't piece together the puzzle of our own lives, remember the best view of a puzzle is from above. Let Him help put you together.” ~Amethyst Snow-Rivers
“Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” ~Garth Brooks
“God enters by a private door into each individual.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Remember this. When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from light, the light continues to be bright in itself but they are in darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God.” ~St. Augustine
And one that I find so very, very true and worth thinking about; “Don't look for God where He is needed most; if you didn't bring Him there, He isn't there.” ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966
In the Sixth and final ( sort of but not really because I will continue to try to guide and lead and inspire those who read my humble simple reflections to find God and to know his infinite love and mercy) installment of this series on Seeking God I will attempt to sum up all that I have written over the last week and hopefully have inspired you to look deeper within yourselves and the universe created by a power much greater than any human in your quest for finding and securing God in your life and then reflecting God to all those you encounter. AMEN
Seeking God, Part Five
A Reflection for the Lenten Season of 2010
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD, Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.missionstsergius.org
This series of reflections has been titled SEEKING GOD so I have decided that we really need to determine exactly what seeking means and how one goes about it and what it entails.
According to the Dictionary Seeking is both a transitive verb and an intransitive verb and it means; “1. To go to, to resort to, 2. go in search of, look for, try to discover, 3. To ask for or request or seek advice, 4. To try to acquire or gain, aim for 5. To make an attempt or try, as an intransitive verb it means to make a search or an inquiry.
When the object of the search is God, I would have to say that all the definitions are usable and correct.
Now the question arrives as to how you want to search and how important your search is to you and how much time and effort do you want to put into your search.
I don’t know about you, but when we are talking about finding God and our relationship with God and the end result is everlasting life or damnation, I would say such a search might just be the most important one any human has ever endeavored upon.
Now every major search and discovery comes with setbacks, dangers, moments of elations and moments of depression. A search for God will only have those things multiplied to a greater extent because there is one nemesis, Satan, who will do everything in its power from you finding God and gaining God in your life.
That is why I find the book of Job to be my inspiration. As mentioned in an earlier segment, Job never gave in and had faith and trust in God and even after he lost everything, family, health, wealth he continued to place his faith in God for which he was rewarded 10 fold.
When a person really decides to seek God and claim God as the center of their life, they will certainly be ridiculed and probably be looked upon as a fanatic. They may well loose family and friends who think that God is not as important as gaining fame, wealth, or other material things.
Seeking God, like prayer, which we discussed in section, four of this series, must be taken seriously and requires you to work on your search every day of your life from the moment you decide to go on your quest.
All quests are journeys toward a set goal. All Quests require great exertion on the part of the hero and the overcoming of many obstacles. A hero’s initial response may be a rejection of that return, as J. Campbell describes in THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES
My favorite stories of Quests are Le Morte de Arthur, Don Quixote, The Lord of The Rings, The Wizard of Oz, and the movie series featuring Indiana Jones and his quests.
Therefore, our search for God, if we actually embark on it seriously, will have obstacles to overcome and disappointments and even possibly rejection by family and friends but if we find God, the rewards are greater than any earthly treasure.
As Matthew 6:19-21 tells us “Don't store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” and in Luke 12-21 we read; “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
In Luke 11:19 Christ is said to have told his disciples; “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” In one of the more famous “Gnostic” Gospels the Coptic Gospel of Thomas which is just a transcript of the secret sayings of Jesus to his apostles. The first saying is; “Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death” The second saying I found to be so much like that of Luke 11:19 and it is this; “Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. When he finds he will become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he will be astonished and he will rule over all”
Throughout the Coptic Gospel of Thomas one cannot but notice that many of the sayings are exactly like or similar to the sayings of Christ found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Saying 3 in the Gospel of Thomas has the following “ Rather, the (Father's) kingdom is within you and it is outside you. When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty."
I believe that “Living in poverty and you are in poverty” simply means that until we get to know God and find God within ourselves we will always feel an emptiness within ourselves.
In chapter four of Peace of the Soul by Fulton J Sheen entitled IS GOD HARD TO FIND? There is a quote from the poet Francis Thompson which was based on an idea put forth by Saint Thomas Aquinas and it goes like this;
O world invisible, we view thee
O world intangible, we touch thee
O world unknowable, we know thee
Inapprehensible, we clutch thee.
To which Fulton Sheen follows up with these words; “God is easy to discover in at least a confused and primitive sort of way through every striving and aspiration of our will and our heart” “God is not hard to find, because He gives himself to us as the Divine Gift. Natural life itself is a gift. The soul has to come into the body from without, directly as a gift from the hands of God”
Throughout all of human existence the human race, according to historians and archeologists has sought and worshiped a higher power which they often ascribed the title God. Many people have had things to say and relate about God, here are just a few I found worth pondering in our seeking God Quest.
“I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.” ~Mother Teresa
“Prayer is when you talk to God; meditation is when you listen to God.” ~Diana Robinson
“Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway.” ~Mary C. Crowley
“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” ~St. Augustine
“They say that God is everywhere, and yet we always think of Him as somewhat of a recluse.” ~Emily Dickinson
“What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.” ~Eleanor Powell
“God is not what you imagine or what you think you understand. If you understand you have failed.” ~Saint Augustine
“I don't know if God exists, but it would be better for His reputation if He didn't.” ~Jules Renard
“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.” ~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
“The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too.” ~Teresa of Avila
“But I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things.” ~Vincent van Gogh,
“People see God every day, they just don't recognize him.” ~Pearl Bailey
“God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame.” ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning
“When we can't piece together the puzzle of our own lives, remember the best view of a puzzle is from above. Let Him help put you together.” ~Amethyst Snow-Rivers
“Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” ~Garth Brooks
“God enters by a private door into each individual.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Remember this. When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from light, the light continues to be bright in itself but they are in darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God.” ~St. Augustine
And one that I find so very, very true and worth thinking about; “Don't look for God where He is needed most; if you didn't bring Him there, He isn't there.” ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966
In the Sixth and final ( sort of but not really because I will continue to try to guide and lead and inspire those who read my humble simple reflections to find God and to know his infinite love and mercy) installment of this series on Seeking God I will attempt to sum up all that I have written over the last week and hopefully have inspired you to look deeper within yourselves and the universe created by a power much greater than any human in your quest for finding and securing God in your life and then reflecting God to all those you encounter. AMEN
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Ash Wednesday Reflection
Ash Wednesday Reflection 2010
by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Joel 2:12-18, Psalm 51, 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
www.missionstsergius.org
The first reading for Ash Wednesday is from Joel 2:12-19 and it encourages us with the following words, “The Lord says, Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your heart Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.”
Do not tear your clothing or cover yourself with ashes but tear your hearts instead. What we are being told here is that we need to open ourselves up to being more compassionate and caring. We need to change our ways from being selfish and greedy and open ourselves up toward more generous and forgiving.
Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. With these words God is telling us, in no uncertain terms, that he is not out to inflict vengeance and condemnation upon us but is very merciful and forgiving. Let the priests, who minister in the Lord’s presence, pray, “Spare your people, Lord! Don’t let your special possession become an object of mockery. Don’t let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners” I understand the last sentence to indicate that as priests of God we should never allow those who do not accept God or Jesus Christ and His teachings to dictate to us how we should think and behave. So many people laugh and talk about what church leaders of all denominations have done or preached in the name of God and remark how that does not seem to be what Christ had to say. I have heard many say about religious leaders “They talk the talk but they do not walk the walk” meaning of course they preach the words but their actions are the exact opposite of the teachings.
If we but begin to live according to the teachings of Jesus Christ and work to bring about justice and peace to all the people of the earth then we have the following promise from God that; “The Lord’s Promises Restoration, Then the Lord will pity his people and jealously guard the honor of his land. The Lord will reply, “Look! I am sending you grain and new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy your needs. You will no longer be an object of mockery among the surrounding nations.”
The second reading of the day comes from Matthew 6:16-21 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Again we are promised a reward for living our lives without seeking out special recognition from other and living our life for God’s recognition. The passage goes on further to instruct us on how we should perceive our possessions. “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Everything we do in this live should be directed toward our Eternal life and not toward this fleeting existence on this earth. This is brought very clearly to focus when we receive the sign of the cross on our forehead with the words “Remember, you are dust and unto dust you shall return.” This life is not an everlasting one, we are here only for a short time and it is what and how we live our life here on earth that will determine how our eternal life will be.
There are so many opportunities to serve God according to Christ’s teachings in this world today. The guide I personally use for what I need to do is found in the Corporal Works of Mercy which tell us to; Feed the hungry, Give drink to the thirsty, Clothe the naked, Shelter the homeless, Visit the sick, Visit those in prison, and Bury the dead. These are the criteria by which God will judge us. We will not be judged by how many rosaries we say or how many times we go to church but by whether or not we practiced these actions for the sake of all God’s children and not just for our own personal recognition.
In Matthew 25:34-39 Christ makes this clear when He tells us “Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me, I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
On this Ash Wednesday let us allow the ashes to remind us of the briefness of our time here to build up our heavenly treasure and the frailty of our nature and attempt as much as possible to become a fervent follower of Christ and child of God by our actions in His honor. Let us work fervently to seek a lasting peace and brotherhood between all of God’s children and not be the cause of friction and dissent but of compassion and forgiveness. Let us put our words into action and let our actions speak louder than our words. We are the masters of our destiny here on earth. God has given us the directions all we need to do is follow them. Christ made clear the will of the Father, He clarified the teachings of the Old Testament and gave us the New Covenant now all we have to do is realy live our daily life by it. AMEN
by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Joel 2:12-18, Psalm 51, 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
www.missionstsergius.org
The first reading for Ash Wednesday is from Joel 2:12-19 and it encourages us with the following words, “The Lord says, Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your heart Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.”
Do not tear your clothing or cover yourself with ashes but tear your hearts instead. What we are being told here is that we need to open ourselves up to being more compassionate and caring. We need to change our ways from being selfish and greedy and open ourselves up toward more generous and forgiving.
Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. With these words God is telling us, in no uncertain terms, that he is not out to inflict vengeance and condemnation upon us but is very merciful and forgiving. Let the priests, who minister in the Lord’s presence, pray, “Spare your people, Lord! Don’t let your special possession become an object of mockery. Don’t let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners” I understand the last sentence to indicate that as priests of God we should never allow those who do not accept God or Jesus Christ and His teachings to dictate to us how we should think and behave. So many people laugh and talk about what church leaders of all denominations have done or preached in the name of God and remark how that does not seem to be what Christ had to say. I have heard many say about religious leaders “They talk the talk but they do not walk the walk” meaning of course they preach the words but their actions are the exact opposite of the teachings.
If we but begin to live according to the teachings of Jesus Christ and work to bring about justice and peace to all the people of the earth then we have the following promise from God that; “The Lord’s Promises Restoration, Then the Lord will pity his people and jealously guard the honor of his land. The Lord will reply, “Look! I am sending you grain and new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy your needs. You will no longer be an object of mockery among the surrounding nations.”
The second reading of the day comes from Matthew 6:16-21 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Again we are promised a reward for living our lives without seeking out special recognition from other and living our life for God’s recognition. The passage goes on further to instruct us on how we should perceive our possessions. “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Everything we do in this live should be directed toward our Eternal life and not toward this fleeting existence on this earth. This is brought very clearly to focus when we receive the sign of the cross on our forehead with the words “Remember, you are dust and unto dust you shall return.” This life is not an everlasting one, we are here only for a short time and it is what and how we live our life here on earth that will determine how our eternal life will be.
There are so many opportunities to serve God according to Christ’s teachings in this world today. The guide I personally use for what I need to do is found in the Corporal Works of Mercy which tell us to; Feed the hungry, Give drink to the thirsty, Clothe the naked, Shelter the homeless, Visit the sick, Visit those in prison, and Bury the dead. These are the criteria by which God will judge us. We will not be judged by how many rosaries we say or how many times we go to church but by whether or not we practiced these actions for the sake of all God’s children and not just for our own personal recognition.
In Matthew 25:34-39 Christ makes this clear when He tells us “Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me, I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
On this Ash Wednesday let us allow the ashes to remind us of the briefness of our time here to build up our heavenly treasure and the frailty of our nature and attempt as much as possible to become a fervent follower of Christ and child of God by our actions in His honor. Let us work fervently to seek a lasting peace and brotherhood between all of God’s children and not be the cause of friction and dissent but of compassion and forgiveness. Let us put our words into action and let our actions speak louder than our words. We are the masters of our destiny here on earth. God has given us the directions all we need to do is follow them. Christ made clear the will of the Father, He clarified the teachings of the Old Testament and gave us the New Covenant now all we have to do is realy live our daily life by it. AMEN
Friday, February 12, 2010
God's Love, Greatest Love of All
God’s Love, The Greatest Love of All
A Reflection for Saint Valentines Day
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.missionstsergius.org
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud (1 Corinthians 13:4)
February 14th had always been celebrated by the church for centuries as the day to honor the three Saint Valentine’s but in 1969 it was removed from the church’s official calendar. It is still extremely popular as a commercial holiday set aside to give special recognition to your loved ones.
According to history St. Valentine was a priest in the Roman Empire who helped hide and save persecuted Christians during the reign of Claudius II, was thrown in jail and later beheaded on Feb. 14. There is supposed to be another St. Valentine who was the Catholic bishop of Terni and was also beheaded during the reign of Claudius II. According to some historians there was a third St. Valentine who secretly married couples when marriage was forbidden in Africa and was later beheaded. The one common factor for all the St. Valentines is that they lost their heads over love. Possibly that explains why so many men and women seem to loose their heads when they think they are in love.
There was also a conventional belief in Europe during the middle Ages that birds chose their partners in the middle of February. Thus the day was dedicated to love, and people observed it by writing love letters and sending small gifts to their beloved. Legend has it that Charles, duke of Orleans, sent the first real Valentine card to his wife in 1415, when he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. (He, however, was not beheaded, and died a half-century later of old age.)
These words from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians sums up what love really is “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud” It is not the sexual or physical attraction that counts, but the deeper spiritual actions one puts forth toward others. Mother Teresa put it nicely when she would tell people “Give your hands to serve and your hearts to love.'' - Mother Teresa
Christ, himself, told us that love was the greatest commandment, Love of God and Love of your neighbor. Today the word love is far too often confused with sex and nothing could be further from the truth. When two people are deeply in love, yes sex is a means of sharing and expressing that love and in the case of heterosexual couples of creating a physical expression of their love in children. But for true love to blossom and bloom there has to be understanding, honesty, trust cooperation and devotion. Both parties have to be willing to give 100% of themselves to the other.
Galatians 5:22 reminds us that love is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit and therefore it is a special gift that comes from Almighty God “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness”, (Galatians 5:22) and like all gifts from God it should not be taken lightly but appreciated and used in accordance with God’s intentions. Take special not of the gifts that follow love and its placement as the first gift.
On Saint Valentines day (even though the Roman church no longer celebrates it as a feast day) let us show our love for God’s children by doing more than sending a special greeting to a few friends and lovers, but put into actions that show all our love for God and for all God’s children by voicing our indignation for the actions of governments and individuals who promote hatred, bigotry, discrimination and violence. Let’s speak out in favor of funding for quality affordable health care for all, adequate affordable housing, affordable quality education for every child. “The Lord is waiting for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who seek his help”. (Isaiah 30:17-19) “But love your enemies, do well to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. (Luke 6:35) these words from Luke even advise us to love our enemies and one way to show that love is to pray for them. Pray that God will open their hearts to find solutions to the things that have caused the discord.
I close this reflection for Valentines Day with this prayer from 2 Thessalonians 2 : 16-17 “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” AMEN
May Almighty God’s infinite and abundant love overflow within your hearts and out onto all those with whom you come in contact with.
Have a Blessed St. Valentines Day.
A Reflection for Saint Valentines Day
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.missionstsergius.org
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud (1 Corinthians 13:4)
February 14th had always been celebrated by the church for centuries as the day to honor the three Saint Valentine’s but in 1969 it was removed from the church’s official calendar. It is still extremely popular as a commercial holiday set aside to give special recognition to your loved ones.
According to history St. Valentine was a priest in the Roman Empire who helped hide and save persecuted Christians during the reign of Claudius II, was thrown in jail and later beheaded on Feb. 14. There is supposed to be another St. Valentine who was the Catholic bishop of Terni and was also beheaded during the reign of Claudius II. According to some historians there was a third St. Valentine who secretly married couples when marriage was forbidden in Africa and was later beheaded. The one common factor for all the St. Valentines is that they lost their heads over love. Possibly that explains why so many men and women seem to loose their heads when they think they are in love.
There was also a conventional belief in Europe during the middle Ages that birds chose their partners in the middle of February. Thus the day was dedicated to love, and people observed it by writing love letters and sending small gifts to their beloved. Legend has it that Charles, duke of Orleans, sent the first real Valentine card to his wife in 1415, when he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. (He, however, was not beheaded, and died a half-century later of old age.)
These words from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians sums up what love really is “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud” It is not the sexual or physical attraction that counts, but the deeper spiritual actions one puts forth toward others. Mother Teresa put it nicely when she would tell people “Give your hands to serve and your hearts to love.'' - Mother Teresa
Christ, himself, told us that love was the greatest commandment, Love of God and Love of your neighbor. Today the word love is far too often confused with sex and nothing could be further from the truth. When two people are deeply in love, yes sex is a means of sharing and expressing that love and in the case of heterosexual couples of creating a physical expression of their love in children. But for true love to blossom and bloom there has to be understanding, honesty, trust cooperation and devotion. Both parties have to be willing to give 100% of themselves to the other.
Galatians 5:22 reminds us that love is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit and therefore it is a special gift that comes from Almighty God “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness”, (Galatians 5:22) and like all gifts from God it should not be taken lightly but appreciated and used in accordance with God’s intentions. Take special not of the gifts that follow love and its placement as the first gift.
On Saint Valentines day (even though the Roman church no longer celebrates it as a feast day) let us show our love for God’s children by doing more than sending a special greeting to a few friends and lovers, but put into actions that show all our love for God and for all God’s children by voicing our indignation for the actions of governments and individuals who promote hatred, bigotry, discrimination and violence. Let’s speak out in favor of funding for quality affordable health care for all, adequate affordable housing, affordable quality education for every child. “The Lord is waiting for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who seek his help”. (Isaiah 30:17-19) “But love your enemies, do well to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. (Luke 6:35) these words from Luke even advise us to love our enemies and one way to show that love is to pray for them. Pray that God will open their hearts to find solutions to the things that have caused the discord.
I close this reflection for Valentines Day with this prayer from 2 Thessalonians 2 : 16-17 “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” AMEN
May Almighty God’s infinite and abundant love overflow within your hearts and out onto all those with whom you come in contact with.
Have a Blessed St. Valentines Day.
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