Saturday, April 4, 2015
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Reflecting on the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi
A Reflection for the Feast of Our Seraphic Father St.
Francis of Assisi
October 4&5, 2014
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius &
Bacchus
This Friday
and Saturday all Franciscan Communities around the globe honor the
feast of the passing or Transitus of St Francis of Assisi (1181 – 1226) for
this earth to his heavenly abode. St. Francis is the Seraphic Father of the
Franciscans of Divine Mercy just as he is to all Franciscan Communities.
The following is a brief reflection about the life of
St. Francis and why our order tries to live up to the principals St. Francis had when he founded the lesser
Brothers, as he called what has become one of the largest religious communities
of men and woman in the world now known as The Franciscan
order.
It is very
fitting that in the Gospel for this Sunday Jesus asks the chief Priests and the
elders of the people “The stone that the
builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful to behold” since the stones St. Francis started to use
to rebuild that small broken down chapel, have turned into a powerful religious
community of dedicated men and woman who have furthered the Good News of
Salvation preached by Jesus Christ.
St. Francis
was the son of a prosperous cloth merchant in Assisi. One day while Francis was
praying before an ancient crucifix in the forsaken wayside chapel of St.
Damian's below the town, he heard a voice coming from the crucifix saying: "Go,
Francis, and repair my house which as you see is falling into ruin."
Today, in
this day and age, another Francis is attempting to carry out that direction
given to St. Francis, I refer of course to Pope Francis who chose the name
Francis because of the dedication to the poor, outcasts of society and the
Gospel that St. Francis of Assisi had.
Pope Francis
has taken on the task of rebuilding the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church and
he has asked his Bishops and Priests to live simple lives as the apostles and
St. Francis did, giving up fancy clothes and residences and to get out among the
people God has sent them to serve, just as Jesus served and healed all he
encountered. Pope Francis has chosen to live in a simple studio apartment in a
hotel rather than the palatial Palace of the Vatican, he wears a simple Iron
cross and simple garments rather than the ermine and gold of previous popes just
as St Francis discarded his fancy clothes.
When his
father objected to having his goods sold without his consent to pay for the
restoration of the chapel Francis heard the voice speaking from the cross which
Francis believed to mean that he should rebuild the chapel, his father begged
the bishop to commanded Francis to repay the money he had used to buy stones to
rebuild the small chapel to him.
Francis not
only returned the money but stripped himself of all his clothing which his
father had paid for and tossed them at the feet of the father. He also renounced his father. The Bishop
quickly placed his cope on Francis to cover his
nakedness.
He even later
gave the few garments the people of the town clothed him with to a beggar and
instead clothed himself in the coarse woolen rustic material of brown somewhat
like that used for flour sacks making, as he named it, a tunic of "beast
color".
It was the kind of clothing then worn by the
poorest of the Umbrian peasants, and tied it round him with a knotted rope,
Francis went forth at once exhorting the people of the country-side to have
penance for their sins, to have
brotherly love towards all, and find ways to achieve peace among the warring
factions of the various towns of Italy.
Ten years
later 5,000 men were wearing the simple clothing; a hundred years later Dante
was buried in it because “it was more glorious than cloth of gold”.
This simple
peasant garment is worn to this day by all Franciscan communities all over the
globe and found in many different Christian Denominations. There are Franciscans
not only in the Roman Church, but in the Anglican, Lutheran, Old Catholic like
our Franciscans of Divine mercy, and there are Lay or third order communities as
well.
Each year, on
the Feast of St. Francis, all Franciscans renew their commitment to live our lives for others
rather than ourselves as Francis did, especially when performing official duties
as a brother or priest.
We also wear
the image of the Cross St. Francis heard talking to him, often called the San
Damiano Crucifix, as a reminder that it is our mission to rebuild and strengthen
the Universal church by preaching God’s infinite love for ALL His children since
that was what Francis came to understand was the message he received. Francis
often spoke out against the excesses practiced by the hierarchy and their
failure to live the teachings of Christ, just as Pope Francis has on many
occasions.
Francis began
a life of perfect evangelical poverty, living by begging and even then only
accepting the worst food that people had to give. Franciscans, even today, rely
on donations to fulfill their missions work and often perform secular labor to
supply their daily needs.
Francis
preached to all the love of God and the love of the created world; because, he
celebrated everything he received, or saw, or heard, as a gift from God who
created everything for good and a purpose known only to
God.
A rich man
sold everything and joined him in living next to a leper colony; a canon from a
neighboring church gave up his position and joined them also. They looked into
the Gospel and saw the story of the rich young man whom Jesus told to sell
everything; they saw Jesus telling his disciples to take nothing with them on
their journey; they saw Jesus saying that his followers must also carry his
cross. And on that basis they founded an order.
Francis went
to Rome himself and persuaded the Pope to sanction it, though it must have
seemed at once impractical and subversive, to set thousands of holy men
wandering penniless round the towns and villages of Europe begging alms but that
is what the rule St. Francis Drew up required them to do and we still go begging
to fulfill the needs of our ministries.
There is too much to say about Francis to fit here.
There is too much to say about Francis to fit here.
Francis died in 1226, having started a
revolution. As I said in the beginning of this reflection, the Franciscans of
Divine Mercy strive to continue the traditions of St. Francis by spreading God’s
message of love to every person especially the poor, alienated and those who
society rejects just as Francis did.
This week our
ministry, Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus will also on the 7th
of the month be celebrating the feast of our mission’s patron
Saints.
Saints
Sergius and Bacchus were two Christian Roman soldiers who were ordered to enter
the Temple of Jupiter to participate in a sacrificial ceremony to the god, they
refused.
For this act
of defiance, the friends were stripped of their arms and badges of rank, dressed
in women's clothing and led through the streets of Arabissus (near Comana in
Cappadocia) which, for a Roman soldier, was abject humiliation.
Then they
were sent to Resapha in Syria (Augusta Euphratesiae in Mesopotamia), where they
were tortured.
Bacchus was
whipped until his flesh was raw and he died October 1st AD290, confessing his
faith in Christ
Sergius's
faith faltered with the death of his best friend, but was reinforced when
Bacchus appeared to him in a vision saying, "I am still with you in the bond of
our union." Sergius kept the faith and after a great deal more of torture, he
was beheaded on October 7 AD290. He died a martyr for the love of
Christ.
The tomb of
Saint Sergius at Resapha become a famous shrine and was honored by great
gatherings of Christians because of the frequent miracles there.
Sergius and
Bacchus became the heavenly protectors of the Byzantine army, with the two
Theodores, Demetrius, Procopius and George.
Their "acts"
are preserved in Latin, Greek and Syria.
In AD431,
Bishop Alexander of Hierapolis built a magnificent church in Sergius’s honor.
In 434, the
town of Resapha was raised to the rank of an episcopal see, was named
Sergiopolis, and soon became one of the greatest pilgrimage centers of the East.
Many churches
in many towns bore the name of Sergius (sometimes with Bacchus) and in the
seventh century, a church was dedicated to them in Rome.
There have
been two popes named after Saint Sergius.
During the
middle Ages, the relationship of Sergius and Bacchus was considered an exemplar
of compassionate union, and possibly even marriage, based on agape (brotherly
love) and mutual respect.
In the East,
Sergius and Bacchus were universally honored.
Since the
seventh century they have had a celebrated church in Rome. Christian Art
represents the two saints as soldiers in military garb with branches of palm in
their hands.
I strongly
recommend that all who love Christ and believe that he is our savior and
redeemer take it upon themselves to read the many histories of the church, not
just the Roman version, but the versions preceding the establishment of Rome as
the “central” seat of the church.
What we now
call the Eastern Orthodox churches were all, except for Russia, established
before Rome and their historical records are more intact and open than those of
Rome.
This
week is a week of special feasts and a time for all who profess to love Christ,
to begin or continue to live as Christ, St. Francis, and the martyrs Sergius
& Bacchus did, giving their all for the love of God and serving all those in
need as St. Francis of Assisi did with the lepers and as Pope Francis is asking
us to care for the poor, homeless, sick, unemployed and the refugees from all
the worn torn lands. Christ, St. Francis and Sergius & Bacchus all have
shown us the way, let us follow the path of righteousness and by living in that
way, achieve everlasting life with Almighty God and all the saints.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
A Reflection for July 27th, 2014
Seek and you will find
A Reflection for Sunday July 27th 2014
By Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
An All Inclusive and Welcoming Old Catholic Parish and Ministry
Of the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas
Link to Mission Web Site: www.missionstsergius.org
Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Web Site: www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
Link to all Fr. Bob’s REFLECTIONS TV Shows http://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn
Link to St. Joseph Cupertino Parish: http://stjosephcupertino.com/index.html
Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FranciscansDivineMercy?fref=ts
Link to the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas http://www.iccamericas.org
Email Address: Divinemercyparish@msn.com
Today’s readings from Holy Scripture are all about Love, God’s love to be exact and how we should return that love to God.
The first reading for this Sunday is from 1 Kings 3:5 “The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” and it called to my mind another similar passages from Holy Scripture.
One is found in Deuteronomy7 4:29 “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Another is found in 1 Chronicles 28:9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” and still another in Matthew 7 :7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Each of these passages are a solid reminder of God’s promise and love for ALL His children who embrace Him and seek Him for solace and forgiveness as well as healing and strength.
Today’s Gospel from Matthew 13:44-52 relates the parable that Christ used to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” Once we have found the truth of Christ’s message and recognize that Almighty God, the Father and creator of all things is a loving, compassionate and forgiving God who has created all things good, we need to hold on to that message and value it as the most precious thing we have.
In Paul’s letter to the Romans 8:28, which is the second reading for this Sunday, Paul reaffirms this knowledge by saying “Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.” Combined, these words should hearten us and lift us up when we feel depressed, forlorn or abandoned.
Recently Pope Francis told us the following about God’s love and our love for God; “It is more difficult to let God love us than to love Him! The best way to love Him in return is to open our hearts and let Him love us. Let Him draw close to us and feel Him close to us. This is really very difficult: letting ourselves be loved by Him. And that is perhaps what we need to ask today …‘Lord, I want to love You, but teach me the difficult science, the difficult habit of letting myself be loved by You, to feel You close and feel Your tenderness ! May the Lord give us this grace.” This is a wonderful prayer for us to pray daily, especially if we feel that God does not love us. God’s love for us is unlimited and infinite.
Pope Francis has emphasized the love of Christ when he said; “The Lord loves us tenderly, The Lord knows that beautiful science of caresses, the tenderness of God. He does not love us with words. He comes close – closeness – and gives us His love with tenderness. Closeness and tenderness!
“The Lord loves us in these two ways, He draws near and gives all His love even in the smallest things: with tenderness. And this is a powerful love, because closeness and tenderness reveal the strength of God’s love.”
We need to remember that we are never completely alone as long as we hold on to the love of God and believe the message that Christ gave us.
It is not the rules of man, or a church organization that should establish how God perceives us but what is embedded deep in our hearts.
If we live our lives to serve God with our whole heart and with a willing mind, as the reading from Chronicles reminds us, GOD WILL NEVER REJECT US!
If we welcome and accept the truths found in today’s readings we will understand it is God Himself who looks into our hearts and decides who will attain heaven.
It is not any humans place to usurp God’s decision. We are taught in today’s readings; “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” “know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him” “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
On May 22nd in his homily to those gathered for Thursday Mass at Casa Santa Marta.
Pope Francis had the following to say about God’s love and our love for God; “The Christian vocation is this: to remain in the love of God, that is, to breathe, to live of that oxygen, to live of that air, Jesus' love is a love that comes from the Father. The loving relationship between Him and the Father is also a relationship of love between Him and us. He asks us to remain in this love, which comes from the Father,”
The Pope was focusing on Jesus’ exhortation from the Gospel of John, “remain in my love.” The sign of remaining in this love is “keeping the commandments.”
“When we remain in love,” the pontiff said, “the Commandments follow on their own, out of love.” Love “leads us to naturally fulfill the Commandments. The root of love blossoms in the Commandments.”
In essence, if we live by what Christ called the two greatest Commandments: “Love the Lord, your God, with your whole mind, body and soul and love your eighbor as you love yourself” or when he said; “Love one another as I have loved you” God will NEVER reject anyone who comes to him and has faithfully followed those teachings.
We must always remember the motto of our Ministry; “God loves ALL His children exactly as He created them”
Therefore, go forth and seek God with your heart, mind and entire being and follow Him with love toward individual you encounter on your journey of life and you will have the gates of heaven opened to you and hear God say; “Well done my good and faithful servant”. AMEN
A Reflection for Sunday July 27th 2014
By Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
An All Inclusive and Welcoming Old Catholic Parish and Ministry
Of the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas
Link to Mission Web Site: www.missionstsergius.org
Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Web Site: www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
Link to all Fr. Bob’s REFLECTIONS TV Shows http://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn
Link to St. Joseph Cupertino Parish: http://stjosephcupertino.com/index.html
Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FranciscansDivineMercy?fref=ts
Link to the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas http://www.iccamericas.org
Email Address: Divinemercyparish@msn.com
Today’s readings from Holy Scripture are all about Love, God’s love to be exact and how we should return that love to God.
The first reading for this Sunday is from 1 Kings 3:5 “The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” and it called to my mind another similar passages from Holy Scripture.
One is found in Deuteronomy7 4:29 “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Another is found in 1 Chronicles 28:9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” and still another in Matthew 7 :7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Each of these passages are a solid reminder of God’s promise and love for ALL His children who embrace Him and seek Him for solace and forgiveness as well as healing and strength.
Today’s Gospel from Matthew 13:44-52 relates the parable that Christ used to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” Once we have found the truth of Christ’s message and recognize that Almighty God, the Father and creator of all things is a loving, compassionate and forgiving God who has created all things good, we need to hold on to that message and value it as the most precious thing we have.
In Paul’s letter to the Romans 8:28, which is the second reading for this Sunday, Paul reaffirms this knowledge by saying “Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.” Combined, these words should hearten us and lift us up when we feel depressed, forlorn or abandoned.
Recently Pope Francis told us the following about God’s love and our love for God; “It is more difficult to let God love us than to love Him! The best way to love Him in return is to open our hearts and let Him love us. Let Him draw close to us and feel Him close to us. This is really very difficult: letting ourselves be loved by Him. And that is perhaps what we need to ask today …‘Lord, I want to love You, but teach me the difficult science, the difficult habit of letting myself be loved by You, to feel You close and feel Your tenderness ! May the Lord give us this grace.” This is a wonderful prayer for us to pray daily, especially if we feel that God does not love us. God’s love for us is unlimited and infinite.
Pope Francis has emphasized the love of Christ when he said; “The Lord loves us tenderly, The Lord knows that beautiful science of caresses, the tenderness of God. He does not love us with words. He comes close – closeness – and gives us His love with tenderness. Closeness and tenderness!
“The Lord loves us in these two ways, He draws near and gives all His love even in the smallest things: with tenderness. And this is a powerful love, because closeness and tenderness reveal the strength of God’s love.”
We need to remember that we are never completely alone as long as we hold on to the love of God and believe the message that Christ gave us.
It is not the rules of man, or a church organization that should establish how God perceives us but what is embedded deep in our hearts.
If we live our lives to serve God with our whole heart and with a willing mind, as the reading from Chronicles reminds us, GOD WILL NEVER REJECT US!
If we welcome and accept the truths found in today’s readings we will understand it is God Himself who looks into our hearts and decides who will attain heaven.
It is not any humans place to usurp God’s decision. We are taught in today’s readings; “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” “know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him” “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
On May 22nd in his homily to those gathered for Thursday Mass at Casa Santa Marta.
Pope Francis had the following to say about God’s love and our love for God; “The Christian vocation is this: to remain in the love of God, that is, to breathe, to live of that oxygen, to live of that air, Jesus' love is a love that comes from the Father. The loving relationship between Him and the Father is also a relationship of love between Him and us. He asks us to remain in this love, which comes from the Father,”
The Pope was focusing on Jesus’ exhortation from the Gospel of John, “remain in my love.” The sign of remaining in this love is “keeping the commandments.”
“When we remain in love,” the pontiff said, “the Commandments follow on their own, out of love.” Love “leads us to naturally fulfill the Commandments. The root of love blossoms in the Commandments.”
In essence, if we live by what Christ called the two greatest Commandments: “Love the Lord, your God, with your whole mind, body and soul and love your eighbor as you love yourself” or when he said; “Love one another as I have loved you” God will NEVER reject anyone who comes to him and has faithfully followed those teachings.
We must always remember the motto of our Ministry; “God loves ALL His children exactly as He created them”
Therefore, go forth and seek God with your heart, mind and entire being and follow Him with love toward individual you encounter on your journey of life and you will have the gates of heaven opened to you and hear God say; “Well done my good and faithful servant”. AMEN
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Via Dolorosa/ Stations of the Cross
Journey with Christ as he travels the Via Dolorosa, The Road of Sorrows, and endures the passion of his Scourging, Bearing the Wood of the Cross upon which he would be nailed to die, and his burial by meditating upon the Stations of the Cross with depictions of the Stations of the Cross by artist Svitozar Nenyuk, known primarily for his religious paintings,
Thursday, April 3, 2014
April 6th Reflection, 5th Sunday of Lent
I Am The Resurrection, Do You Believe?
A Reflection for the Fifth Sunday of Lent April 6. 2014
Based on Ezekiel 37:12 - 14, Psalm 129 (130), Romans 8:8 - 11, John 11:1 - 45
By Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
An All Inclusive and Welcoming Old Catholic Parish and Ministry
Of the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas
Link to Mission Web Site: www.missionstsergius.org
Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Web Site: www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
Link to April 6th TV Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzP6OJ5pxKw&list=UU8RuEVHpV5f7lEzckyVHKOg
Link to St. Joseph Cupertino Parish: http://stjosephcupertino.com/index.html
Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FranciscansDivineMercy?fref=ts
Link to the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas http://www.iccamericas.org/
Email Address: Divinemercyparish@msn.com
This week’s readings are filled with hope and promise for us. The reading from the book of Ezekiel has the following instruction for us: “hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is kindness and abundant redemption” (Ezekiel 37:12 - 14).
By believing in God and living according to God’s will there is kindness and redemption for us. Notice that KINDNESS is a part of the promise. Almighty God is a God of kindness and love not an avenging God. The Gospel story tells of how Christ raised Lazarus from the dead and it demonstrates the kindness and love that Christ exhibited toward His friends. Kindness has many manifestations in life, such as caring for the poor, aged and sick; reaching out to those who are struggling with addictions and trying to help them; being responsible in life and electing individuals who demonstrate concern for those who are not as privileged as others. These are all ways to live a life that reflects God.
The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said of Kindness: “Kindness and love, the most curative herbs and agents in Human intercourse are such precious finds that one would hope these balsam like remedies would be used as economically as possible; but this is impossible. Only the boldest Utopians would dream of the economy of kindness.” And the Dalai Lama had this to say about kindness: “When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace. Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each of us individually. Peace, for example, starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us.”
Our world today is so filled with bigotry, war, genocide and complete disregard for the needs of the poor, aged, sick, hungry, homeless and our environment that there does seem to be a severe lack of KINDNESS.
I believe that we need to pray the words of the Psalm for this week: Out of the depths I have cried to you, Lord: Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears listen out for the voice of my pleading (Psalm 129 (130).
We need in these final weeks of Lent to turn our hearts and minds to God and plead with Him to hear our cries for relief from all the ills that are plaguing our world.
The Gospel relates how Jesus informed the disciples that Lazarus was dead: “Jesus put it plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead; and for your sake I am glad I was not there because now you will believe”, and that by restoring Lazarus to life people might finally believe that Christ was sent by God and was indeed the Promised One of the ages and the Son of God.
Those of us who believe and accept Christ and His teachings have received a special gift from God in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Paul in Romans 8 tells us: Spirit of God has made his home in you (Romans 8:8 - 11).
Every time we seek God’s help and allow ourselves to put complete trust in God we live the Hope that Ezekiel speaks of and we also are inspired by the Holy Spirit to live with a God like kindness.
Last week I spoke of how Christ was the Way, the Truth and the Light sent by the Father to open our eyes and bring us out of the Darkness of sin and ignorance. In today’s Gospel Christ says the following: “A man can walk in the daytime without stumbling because he has the light of this world to see by; but if he walks at night he stumbles, because there is no light to guide him.’ … ‘I am the resurrection. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this” (John 11:1 - 45)?
How do you answer Christ’s question? Do you believe?
Lent is a time for us to take inventory of our lives and determine what we need to do to reflect Christ and His teachings in our daily lives and to become more God like by extending Kindness toward all we come in contact with and in our responsibilities and duties because as the Dalai Lama reminds us: “Responsibility lies with each of us individually”.
In today’s world there are many ills that need addressing and correcting, Many - if not most leaders, both world and church officials seem to cater to special interests and the rich and powerful and have lost site of the plight of the common individual. We as followers of Christ can make a difference by making our voices heard by our elected officials and by becoming more generous in our assistance to those in need. We can contribute a portion of the proceeds we save from our Lenten fasting to causes that are practicing kindness toward the poor, homeless, sick and aged.
Let our voice resound through our daily lives and actions with the words Martha spoke: “Yes, Lord,’ she said ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world”.
We need to keep the promise Christ makes in the Gospel story in the forefront of our daily life by showing the Kindness of God to all we encounter because then Christ assures us; “Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” AMEN
A Reflection for the Fifth Sunday of Lent April 6. 2014
Based on Ezekiel 37:12 - 14, Psalm 129 (130), Romans 8:8 - 11, John 11:1 - 45
By Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
An All Inclusive and Welcoming Old Catholic Parish and Ministry
Of the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas
Link to Mission Web Site: www.missionstsergius.org
Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Web Site: www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
Link to April 6th TV Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzP6OJ5pxKw&list=UU8RuEVHpV5f7lEzckyVHKOg
Link to St. Joseph Cupertino Parish: http://stjosephcupertino.com/index.html
Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FranciscansDivineMercy?fref=ts
Link to the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas http://www.iccamericas.org/
Email Address: Divinemercyparish@msn.com
This week’s readings are filled with hope and promise for us. The reading from the book of Ezekiel has the following instruction for us: “hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is kindness and abundant redemption” (Ezekiel 37:12 - 14).
By believing in God and living according to God’s will there is kindness and redemption for us. Notice that KINDNESS is a part of the promise. Almighty God is a God of kindness and love not an avenging God. The Gospel story tells of how Christ raised Lazarus from the dead and it demonstrates the kindness and love that Christ exhibited toward His friends. Kindness has many manifestations in life, such as caring for the poor, aged and sick; reaching out to those who are struggling with addictions and trying to help them; being responsible in life and electing individuals who demonstrate concern for those who are not as privileged as others. These are all ways to live a life that reflects God.
The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said of Kindness: “Kindness and love, the most curative herbs and agents in Human intercourse are such precious finds that one would hope these balsam like remedies would be used as economically as possible; but this is impossible. Only the boldest Utopians would dream of the economy of kindness.” And the Dalai Lama had this to say about kindness: “When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace. Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each of us individually. Peace, for example, starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us.”
Our world today is so filled with bigotry, war, genocide and complete disregard for the needs of the poor, aged, sick, hungry, homeless and our environment that there does seem to be a severe lack of KINDNESS.
I believe that we need to pray the words of the Psalm for this week: Out of the depths I have cried to you, Lord: Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears listen out for the voice of my pleading (Psalm 129 (130).
We need in these final weeks of Lent to turn our hearts and minds to God and plead with Him to hear our cries for relief from all the ills that are plaguing our world.
The Gospel relates how Jesus informed the disciples that Lazarus was dead: “Jesus put it plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead; and for your sake I am glad I was not there because now you will believe”, and that by restoring Lazarus to life people might finally believe that Christ was sent by God and was indeed the Promised One of the ages and the Son of God.
Those of us who believe and accept Christ and His teachings have received a special gift from God in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Paul in Romans 8 tells us: Spirit of God has made his home in you (Romans 8:8 - 11).
Every time we seek God’s help and allow ourselves to put complete trust in God we live the Hope that Ezekiel speaks of and we also are inspired by the Holy Spirit to live with a God like kindness.
Last week I spoke of how Christ was the Way, the Truth and the Light sent by the Father to open our eyes and bring us out of the Darkness of sin and ignorance. In today’s Gospel Christ says the following: “A man can walk in the daytime without stumbling because he has the light of this world to see by; but if he walks at night he stumbles, because there is no light to guide him.’ … ‘I am the resurrection. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this” (John 11:1 - 45)?
How do you answer Christ’s question? Do you believe?
Lent is a time for us to take inventory of our lives and determine what we need to do to reflect Christ and His teachings in our daily lives and to become more God like by extending Kindness toward all we come in contact with and in our responsibilities and duties because as the Dalai Lama reminds us: “Responsibility lies with each of us individually”.
In today’s world there are many ills that need addressing and correcting, Many - if not most leaders, both world and church officials seem to cater to special interests and the rich and powerful and have lost site of the plight of the common individual. We as followers of Christ can make a difference by making our voices heard by our elected officials and by becoming more generous in our assistance to those in need. We can contribute a portion of the proceeds we save from our Lenten fasting to causes that are practicing kindness toward the poor, homeless, sick and aged.
Let our voice resound through our daily lives and actions with the words Martha spoke: “Yes, Lord,’ she said ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world”.
We need to keep the promise Christ makes in the Gospel story in the forefront of our daily life by showing the Kindness of God to all we encounter because then Christ assures us; “Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” AMEN
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