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,
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
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
Friday, March 28, 2014
4th Sunday of Lent Reflection
Let God’s Light Illuminate The Dark
A Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Lent or Laetare Sunday
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
This week’s TV Show link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKth4KUgmYc&list=UU8RuEVHpV5f7lEzckyVHKOg
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
“The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want” This is the Responsorial psalm for this Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent and I must tell you that if you believe it in your heart, you will find nothing is truer.
In the Gospel we hear Christ say; “I have come into this world, so that those without sight may see and those with sight turn blind’. John 9:39
The opening prayer for this Sunday is: Rejoice, O Jerusalem: and come together all you that love her: rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolation”
We are rejoicing because of the message of God’s infinite mercy and love is proclaimed loudly in all this Sundays Readings and prayers.
Christ is the light that brings truth and justice to all who believe, Christ came to enlighten us and to teach us the way to seek our happiness here on earth as well as to gain for us Eternal happiness.
Paul's letter to the Ephesians he tells us: “You were darkness once, but now you are light in the Lord; be like children of light, for the effects of the light are seen in complete goodness and right living and truth. Try to discover what the Lord wants of you, having nothing to do with the futile works of darkness but exposing them by contrast. …. That is why it is said: Wake up from your sleep, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:8 – 14
All around us today we see darkness and it is necessary for us to turn on the light to dispel that darkness. So how do we bring the light of truth into the world? We do it by placing our lives in God's hands and by living according to the way Christ taught us. First we have to acknowledge that every person on the face of this planet is a child of God and deserves respect, dignity, compassion and love.
I recall a quote of Mother Teresa of Calcutta who said; “God told us, "Love your neighbor as yourself." So first I am to love myself rightly, and then to love my neighbor like that. But how can I love myself unless I accept myself as God has made me?” ( Mother Teresa)
By accepting our self as God made us and making the best of the gifts God gave us for the benefit of all our brothers and sisters in Christ, we take a huge step toward dispelling the darkness that depresses us and discourages us.
The Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday is a prayer attributed to King David. It is a prayer that, if we say it daily, can remind us of all God does for us and of how much we need to attempt to return the favor by helping those who are caught in the darkness of discontent, poverty, and illness. We need to reject the enticement of those who listen to the voice of darkness by seeking only self-glorification, power, money and physical pleasure.
The Lord is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. …. Truly goodness and kindness will follow me all the days of my life. For long years I shall live in the house of the Lord. Psalm 22 (23)
Mother Teresa reminds us: “Words which do not give the light of Christ increase the Darkness”.
In the Chinese Han philosophy the world is divided into two segments, Yin (Earth) and Yang (Heaven).
Yin is depicted as black or darkness and Yang is depicted by White or light. Many also describe Yin and Yang as being Good and Bad, Day and Night, and all agree that they are in opposition to each other but also they exist in all things, just as the inclination for good and evil exist in every person which may well be that often there is a spot of black in the white and white in the black.
The concept is that people who do not know what bad is cannot know what good is. Christ clearly came to enlighten us as to what good is and how we were to act as children of God. Christ came to dispel the darkness.
Think about your favorite horror movie and how most evil things happen in the darkness.
Safety Officers tell us that having lights around our house at night is a deterrent to thieves. Light dispels darkness and fear and the light Christ brought into the world was a light of truth, justice and God's will for us.
The Gospel of John 9:1-41 is the story of how Jesus cured the blind man. It is another reminder of how Christ brings light into the world. A man born blind has lived his entire life in darkness. The story tells how after Jesus brought sight to the blind man he went to the Synagogue and how the Pharisees
claimed Christ was from Satan because he cured the man on the Sabbath “This man cannot be from God: he does not keep the Sabbath” when they questioned the man's parents they replied thusly “We know he is our son and we know he was born blind, but we do not know how it is that he can see now, or who opened his eyes. He is old enough: let him speak for himself.’ His parents spoke like this out of fear of the Jews, who had already agreed to expel from the synagogue anyone who should acknowledge Jesus as the Christ.”
In my mind, not much has changed today. There are still people who refuse to acknowledge Christ and some who do select the parts of Christ's teachings that suit their own agenda but reject the most important teaching of Christ “Love one another as I have loved you”. They do not accept ALL God's children but only those that reflect their skin color or nationality or social and political orientation.
Christ welcomed all who came to Him. Just as His father will welcome and love ALL His children even those who have wandered away like the Prodigal son's father welcomed his son who had strayed away with joy and feasting when he returned humble and sorrowful for his actions. God, Our heavenly Father, will welcome all also who return to Him with sorrow for their failures.
When the darkness is dispelled and we walk in the light of Christ, even the most difficult situations seem to have a ray of hope.
The Gospel story ends with these words “It is for judgment that I have come into the world, so that those without sight may see...........If you were blind you would not be guilty but since you say “We See” Your guilt remains.”
In his Lenten letter, Pope Francis focused the theme on relieving the poverty that invades so many areas of life these days.
Here are a few comments from that letter we might want to ponder upon; As Lent draws near, I would like to offer some helpful thoughts on our path of conversion as individuals and as a community. These insights are inspired by the words of Saint Paul: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich" (2 Cor 8:9). What do these words of Saint Paul mean for us Christians today? What does this invitation to poverty, a life of evangelical poverty, mean to us today? Christ’s grace
First of all, it shows us how God works. He does not reveal himself cloaked in worldly power and wealth but rather in weakness and poverty: "…. God’s becoming man is a great mystery! But the reason for all this is his love, a love which is grace, generosity, a desire to draw near, a love which does not hesitate to offer itself in sacrifice for the beloved. Charity, love, is sharing with the one we love in all things. Love makes us similar, it creates equality, it breaks down walls and eliminates distances.
God did not let our salvation drop down from heaven, like someone who gives alms from their abundance out of a sense of altruism and piety. Christ’s love is different!
It has been said that the only real regret lies in not being a saint (L. Bloy); we could also say that there is only one real kind of poverty: not living as children of God and brothers and sisters of Christ.
Our witness
In imitation of our Master, we Christians are called to confront the poverty of our brothers and sisters, to touch it, to make it our own and to take practical steps to alleviate it. Destitution is not the same as poverty: destitution is poverty without faith, without support, without hope. There are three types of destitution: material, moral and spiritual.
Material destitution is what is normally called poverty, and affects those living in conditions opposed to human dignity: those who lack basic rights and needs such as food, water, hygiene, work and the opportunity to develop and grow culturally. In the poor and outcast we see Christ’s face; by loving and helping the poor, we love and serve Christ. Our efforts are also directed to ending violations of human dignity, discrimination and abuse in the world, for these are so often the cause of destitution. When power, luxury and money become idols, they take priority over the need for a fair distribution of wealth. Our consciences thus need to be converted to justice, equality, and simplicity and sharing.
No less a concern is moral destitution, which consists in slavery to vice and sin. …. How many people no longer see meaning in life or prospects for the future, how many have lost hope! And how many are plunged into this destitution by unjust social conditions, by unemployment, which takes away their dignity as breadwinners, and by lack of equal access to education and health care. In such cases, moral destitution can be considered impending suicide. This type of destitution, which also causes financial ruin, is invariably linked to the spiritual destitution which we experience when we turn away from God and reject his love. If we think we don’t need God who reaches out to us though Christ, because we believe we can make do on our own, we are headed for a fall. God alone can truly save and free us.
Dear brothers and sisters, Let us not forget that real poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without this dimension of penance. I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt.
May the Holy Spirit, through whom we are "as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything" (2 Cor 6:10), sustain us in our resolutions and increase our concern and responsibility for human destitution, so that we can become merciful and act with mercy. In expressing this hope, I likewise pray that each individual member of the faithful and every Church community will undertake a fruitful Lenten journey. Let us rejoice in the Light of God’s infinite mercy and love and extend that love to all we encounter”.
We have been shown the Light, the Way and provided with the Truth in Jesus Christ. This week begins with Laetare Sunday when the Church interrupts her Lenten mournfulness and instead of purple, rose-colored vestments, flowers adorn the altar and music is are used so there is a contrast between Laetare Sunday and the other Sundays of Lent is thus emphasized, and is emblematic of the joys of this life, restrained rejoicing mingled with a certain amount of sadness. The message for this Sunday is one of hope because it speaks of God's truth and the promise of finding truth in the Light of Christ.
As the light of the world, Jesus has come to enlighten people about God and show us the way to gain everlasting life. The blind man represents us and Jesus curing the man born blind represents how Jesus Teachings bring the message of God's truth to us and lights our way to salvation if we live our lives in a manner consistent with Christ's teachings.
I close this reflection with the opening prayer for this Sunday: “Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.”
The Eucharist we receive is the bread of life because the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ - which provides us with the graces - or “Spiritual vitamins”- to persevere in our journey of following the light of Christ in our daily lives.
It is not enough for us to say “I believe” but we need to also live the faith by having our actions reflect the teachings of Christ and thereby keep the light of truth bright. AMEN
A Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Lent or Laetare Sunday
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
This week’s TV Show link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKth4KUgmYc&list=UU8RuEVHpV5f7lEzckyVHKOg
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
“The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want” This is the Responsorial psalm for this Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent and I must tell you that if you believe it in your heart, you will find nothing is truer.
In the Gospel we hear Christ say; “I have come into this world, so that those without sight may see and those with sight turn blind’. John 9:39
The opening prayer for this Sunday is: Rejoice, O Jerusalem: and come together all you that love her: rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolation”
We are rejoicing because of the message of God’s infinite mercy and love is proclaimed loudly in all this Sundays Readings and prayers.
Christ is the light that brings truth and justice to all who believe, Christ came to enlighten us and to teach us the way to seek our happiness here on earth as well as to gain for us Eternal happiness.
Paul's letter to the Ephesians he tells us: “You were darkness once, but now you are light in the Lord; be like children of light, for the effects of the light are seen in complete goodness and right living and truth. Try to discover what the Lord wants of you, having nothing to do with the futile works of darkness but exposing them by contrast. …. That is why it is said: Wake up from your sleep, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:8 – 14
All around us today we see darkness and it is necessary for us to turn on the light to dispel that darkness. So how do we bring the light of truth into the world? We do it by placing our lives in God's hands and by living according to the way Christ taught us. First we have to acknowledge that every person on the face of this planet is a child of God and deserves respect, dignity, compassion and love.
I recall a quote of Mother Teresa of Calcutta who said; “God told us, "Love your neighbor as yourself." So first I am to love myself rightly, and then to love my neighbor like that. But how can I love myself unless I accept myself as God has made me?” ( Mother Teresa)
By accepting our self as God made us and making the best of the gifts God gave us for the benefit of all our brothers and sisters in Christ, we take a huge step toward dispelling the darkness that depresses us and discourages us.
The Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday is a prayer attributed to King David. It is a prayer that, if we say it daily, can remind us of all God does for us and of how much we need to attempt to return the favor by helping those who are caught in the darkness of discontent, poverty, and illness. We need to reject the enticement of those who listen to the voice of darkness by seeking only self-glorification, power, money and physical pleasure.
The Lord is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. …. Truly goodness and kindness will follow me all the days of my life. For long years I shall live in the house of the Lord. Psalm 22 (23)
Mother Teresa reminds us: “Words which do not give the light of Christ increase the Darkness”.
In the Chinese Han philosophy the world is divided into two segments, Yin (Earth) and Yang (Heaven).
Yin is depicted as black or darkness and Yang is depicted by White or light. Many also describe Yin and Yang as being Good and Bad, Day and Night, and all agree that they are in opposition to each other but also they exist in all things, just as the inclination for good and evil exist in every person which may well be that often there is a spot of black in the white and white in the black.
The concept is that people who do not know what bad is cannot know what good is. Christ clearly came to enlighten us as to what good is and how we were to act as children of God. Christ came to dispel the darkness.
Think about your favorite horror movie and how most evil things happen in the darkness.
Safety Officers tell us that having lights around our house at night is a deterrent to thieves. Light dispels darkness and fear and the light Christ brought into the world was a light of truth, justice and God's will for us.
The Gospel of John 9:1-41 is the story of how Jesus cured the blind man. It is another reminder of how Christ brings light into the world. A man born blind has lived his entire life in darkness. The story tells how after Jesus brought sight to the blind man he went to the Synagogue and how the Pharisees
claimed Christ was from Satan because he cured the man on the Sabbath “This man cannot be from God: he does not keep the Sabbath” when they questioned the man's parents they replied thusly “We know he is our son and we know he was born blind, but we do not know how it is that he can see now, or who opened his eyes. He is old enough: let him speak for himself.’ His parents spoke like this out of fear of the Jews, who had already agreed to expel from the synagogue anyone who should acknowledge Jesus as the Christ.”
In my mind, not much has changed today. There are still people who refuse to acknowledge Christ and some who do select the parts of Christ's teachings that suit their own agenda but reject the most important teaching of Christ “Love one another as I have loved you”. They do not accept ALL God's children but only those that reflect their skin color or nationality or social and political orientation.
Christ welcomed all who came to Him. Just as His father will welcome and love ALL His children even those who have wandered away like the Prodigal son's father welcomed his son who had strayed away with joy and feasting when he returned humble and sorrowful for his actions. God, Our heavenly Father, will welcome all also who return to Him with sorrow for their failures.
When the darkness is dispelled and we walk in the light of Christ, even the most difficult situations seem to have a ray of hope.
The Gospel story ends with these words “It is for judgment that I have come into the world, so that those without sight may see...........If you were blind you would not be guilty but since you say “We See” Your guilt remains.”
In his Lenten letter, Pope Francis focused the theme on relieving the poverty that invades so many areas of life these days.
Here are a few comments from that letter we might want to ponder upon; As Lent draws near, I would like to offer some helpful thoughts on our path of conversion as individuals and as a community. These insights are inspired by the words of Saint Paul: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich" (2 Cor 8:9). What do these words of Saint Paul mean for us Christians today? What does this invitation to poverty, a life of evangelical poverty, mean to us today? Christ’s grace
First of all, it shows us how God works. He does not reveal himself cloaked in worldly power and wealth but rather in weakness and poverty: "…. God’s becoming man is a great mystery! But the reason for all this is his love, a love which is grace, generosity, a desire to draw near, a love which does not hesitate to offer itself in sacrifice for the beloved. Charity, love, is sharing with the one we love in all things. Love makes us similar, it creates equality, it breaks down walls and eliminates distances.
God did not let our salvation drop down from heaven, like someone who gives alms from their abundance out of a sense of altruism and piety. Christ’s love is different!
It has been said that the only real regret lies in not being a saint (L. Bloy); we could also say that there is only one real kind of poverty: not living as children of God and brothers and sisters of Christ.
Our witness
In imitation of our Master, we Christians are called to confront the poverty of our brothers and sisters, to touch it, to make it our own and to take practical steps to alleviate it. Destitution is not the same as poverty: destitution is poverty without faith, without support, without hope. There are three types of destitution: material, moral and spiritual.
Material destitution is what is normally called poverty, and affects those living in conditions opposed to human dignity: those who lack basic rights and needs such as food, water, hygiene, work and the opportunity to develop and grow culturally. In the poor and outcast we see Christ’s face; by loving and helping the poor, we love and serve Christ. Our efforts are also directed to ending violations of human dignity, discrimination and abuse in the world, for these are so often the cause of destitution. When power, luxury and money become idols, they take priority over the need for a fair distribution of wealth. Our consciences thus need to be converted to justice, equality, and simplicity and sharing.
No less a concern is moral destitution, which consists in slavery to vice and sin. …. How many people no longer see meaning in life or prospects for the future, how many have lost hope! And how many are plunged into this destitution by unjust social conditions, by unemployment, which takes away their dignity as breadwinners, and by lack of equal access to education and health care. In such cases, moral destitution can be considered impending suicide. This type of destitution, which also causes financial ruin, is invariably linked to the spiritual destitution which we experience when we turn away from God and reject his love. If we think we don’t need God who reaches out to us though Christ, because we believe we can make do on our own, we are headed for a fall. God alone can truly save and free us.
Dear brothers and sisters, Let us not forget that real poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without this dimension of penance. I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt.
May the Holy Spirit, through whom we are "as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything" (2 Cor 6:10), sustain us in our resolutions and increase our concern and responsibility for human destitution, so that we can become merciful and act with mercy. In expressing this hope, I likewise pray that each individual member of the faithful and every Church community will undertake a fruitful Lenten journey. Let us rejoice in the Light of God’s infinite mercy and love and extend that love to all we encounter”.
We have been shown the Light, the Way and provided with the Truth in Jesus Christ. This week begins with Laetare Sunday when the Church interrupts her Lenten mournfulness and instead of purple, rose-colored vestments, flowers adorn the altar and music is are used so there is a contrast between Laetare Sunday and the other Sundays of Lent is thus emphasized, and is emblematic of the joys of this life, restrained rejoicing mingled with a certain amount of sadness. The message for this Sunday is one of hope because it speaks of God's truth and the promise of finding truth in the Light of Christ.
As the light of the world, Jesus has come to enlighten people about God and show us the way to gain everlasting life. The blind man represents us and Jesus curing the man born blind represents how Jesus Teachings bring the message of God's truth to us and lights our way to salvation if we live our lives in a manner consistent with Christ's teachings.
I close this reflection with the opening prayer for this Sunday: “Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.”
The Eucharist we receive is the bread of life because the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ - which provides us with the graces - or “Spiritual vitamins”- to persevere in our journey of following the light of Christ in our daily lives.
It is not enough for us to say “I believe” but we need to also live the faith by having our actions reflect the teachings of Christ and thereby keep the light of truth bright. AMEN
Friday, February 7, 2014
Reflection for Sunday February 9th, 2014
You Are the Salt of the Earth
A Reflection for the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time 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 Franciscans of Divine Mercy Web Site: www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
Link to Mission Web Site: www.missionstsergius.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
Based on readings from: Isaiah 58, Psalm 11, 1 Corinthians 2, and Matthew 5:13-16
“You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste what can make it salty again”, Our Gospel reading began with these words and they are more than worth pondering over.
Think about the attributes of salt. Without salt most foods are bland and have little taste. Salt is an essential part of our body. Our tears and sweat are salty. Salt can melt ice and when mixed with certain chemicals can cause and explosion.
When Christ tells us that we are the salt of the earth he means that without us, the world would be bland and tasteless.
The Gospel goes on by telling us that salt, when it loses its flavoring ability; “is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled under people's feet.”
Like salt, if we lose our flavor for God we become worthless as disciples of Christ and messengers of God‘s love.
The next passage of the Gospel proclaims; “You are light for the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
The meaning of this passage is very clear, you cannot hide your faith, trust and love of God from others but you need to be proud and wear your faith like a badge of honor.
You must be willing to speak out against the ills that surround us every day that are contrary to what we are called to do as followers of Christ.
As Pope Francis recently said on his visit to Assisi said; “Unfortunately, society is polluted by the “throw away” culture, which is opposed to the culture of hospitality. And the victims of the throw away culture are in fact the weakest and most fragile persons”. “To serve with love and with tenderness persons who are in need of so much help makes us grow in humanity, because they are true resources of humanity”.
Paul in his letter to the Corinthians explains that he is not a great orator nor did he use mystery and high faulting language but simply explained the truth of Christ’s message and God’s love for all His children.
He explains that he came with fear and trembling and with the full recognition of his weakness and his failings.
In other words he recognized that he was a simple human being that God picked out to proclaim the Good news of Salvation to all he encountered.
He did not use Great theological, philosophical and psychological language but the simple language and Christ’s words to let people know that Christ came for everybody on the face of the earth.
Paul makes it clear that we cannot depend on human knowledge and manmade rules and regulations to earn the kingdom of heaven but we need to listen to that inner voice which is usually the Holy Spirit, guiding us and leading us to a deeper knowledge and love of God.
We need to put complete faith and trust in God and continually ask God to assist us in getting to know, love and serve Him and to have the courage and the strength to “Let our light of faith shine brightly for all to see”
Pope Francis has reminded us that we should, as he says it: “God who reveals himself to those who have a simple heart, to the little ones, to the humble, to those who we often consider the least, you also, dear friends need to do this as well:
We have to be like Salt and give a wonderful flavor to our message of God’s power, love, mercy by letting the light of our faith in God shine forth every day having our daily actions emulate the Beatitudes that we heard last week and the Great commandment Christ gave us; “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law of the Prophets hangs on these two commandments.”
We must always remember that; “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” (1 Jn 4:16).
Remembering this we can always have the courage and not be afraid to let our Faith and love of God shine forth like a beacon to keep away the darkness and despair that often can overtake people who have lost their faith or who have never known the Good News of Salvation that Christ earned for us.
We can be the spice of life and a beacon of faith to lead others to the promised land of everlasting life in heaven with the creator and all the heavenly elect.
I close this reflection for the 5th Sunday of Ordinary time with the words of Francis, the Bishop of Rome and the Pope or “Papa” of the Roman people and the Roman Church. “So many of you have been despoiled by this savage world, which doesn’t give work, which doesn’t help, which is not concerned that there are children who die of hunger in the world; it doesn’t matter that so many families have nothing to eat, do not have the dignity to bring bread home; it doesn’t matter that so many people must flee from slavery, from hunger and flee seeking freedom. How often with so much grief we see that they meet with death. These things are done by the spirit of the world. It is in fact ridiculous that a Christian – a true Christian – that a priest, that a Sister, that a Bishop, that a Cardinal, that a Pope want to go on the path of this worldliness, which is a homicidal attitude.
Spiritual worldliness kills! It kills the soul! It kills persons! It kills the Church! May God give us the strength and the courage to become reflections of Christ to all we encounter and to be proud to speak out against all injustices and the wisdom and fortitude to know God’s will for us. AMEN
A Reflection for the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time 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 Franciscans of Divine Mercy Web Site: www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
Link to Mission Web Site: www.missionstsergius.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
Based on readings from: Isaiah 58, Psalm 11, 1 Corinthians 2, and Matthew 5:13-16
“You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste what can make it salty again”, Our Gospel reading began with these words and they are more than worth pondering over.
Think about the attributes of salt. Without salt most foods are bland and have little taste. Salt is an essential part of our body. Our tears and sweat are salty. Salt can melt ice and when mixed with certain chemicals can cause and explosion.
When Christ tells us that we are the salt of the earth he means that without us, the world would be bland and tasteless.
The Gospel goes on by telling us that salt, when it loses its flavoring ability; “is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled under people's feet.”
Like salt, if we lose our flavor for God we become worthless as disciples of Christ and messengers of God‘s love.
The next passage of the Gospel proclaims; “You are light for the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
The meaning of this passage is very clear, you cannot hide your faith, trust and love of God from others but you need to be proud and wear your faith like a badge of honor.
You must be willing to speak out against the ills that surround us every day that are contrary to what we are called to do as followers of Christ.
As Pope Francis recently said on his visit to Assisi said; “Unfortunately, society is polluted by the “throw away” culture, which is opposed to the culture of hospitality. And the victims of the throw away culture are in fact the weakest and most fragile persons”. “To serve with love and with tenderness persons who are in need of so much help makes us grow in humanity, because they are true resources of humanity”.
Paul in his letter to the Corinthians explains that he is not a great orator nor did he use mystery and high faulting language but simply explained the truth of Christ’s message and God’s love for all His children.
He explains that he came with fear and trembling and with the full recognition of his weakness and his failings.
In other words he recognized that he was a simple human being that God picked out to proclaim the Good news of Salvation to all he encountered.
He did not use Great theological, philosophical and psychological language but the simple language and Christ’s words to let people know that Christ came for everybody on the face of the earth.
Paul makes it clear that we cannot depend on human knowledge and manmade rules and regulations to earn the kingdom of heaven but we need to listen to that inner voice which is usually the Holy Spirit, guiding us and leading us to a deeper knowledge and love of God.
We need to put complete faith and trust in God and continually ask God to assist us in getting to know, love and serve Him and to have the courage and the strength to “Let our light of faith shine brightly for all to see”
Pope Francis has reminded us that we should, as he says it: “God who reveals himself to those who have a simple heart, to the little ones, to the humble, to those who we often consider the least, you also, dear friends need to do this as well:
We have to be like Salt and give a wonderful flavor to our message of God’s power, love, mercy by letting the light of our faith in God shine forth every day having our daily actions emulate the Beatitudes that we heard last week and the Great commandment Christ gave us; “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law of the Prophets hangs on these two commandments.”
We must always remember that; “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” (1 Jn 4:16).
Remembering this we can always have the courage and not be afraid to let our Faith and love of God shine forth like a beacon to keep away the darkness and despair that often can overtake people who have lost their faith or who have never known the Good News of Salvation that Christ earned for us.
We can be the spice of life and a beacon of faith to lead others to the promised land of everlasting life in heaven with the creator and all the heavenly elect.
I close this reflection for the 5th Sunday of Ordinary time with the words of Francis, the Bishop of Rome and the Pope or “Papa” of the Roman people and the Roman Church. “So many of you have been despoiled by this savage world, which doesn’t give work, which doesn’t help, which is not concerned that there are children who die of hunger in the world; it doesn’t matter that so many families have nothing to eat, do not have the dignity to bring bread home; it doesn’t matter that so many people must flee from slavery, from hunger and flee seeking freedom. How often with so much grief we see that they meet with death. These things are done by the spirit of the world. It is in fact ridiculous that a Christian – a true Christian – that a priest, that a Sister, that a Bishop, that a Cardinal, that a Pope want to go on the path of this worldliness, which is a homicidal attitude.
Spiritual worldliness kills! It kills the soul! It kills persons! It kills the Church! May God give us the strength and the courage to become reflections of Christ to all we encounter and to be proud to speak out against all injustices and the wisdom and fortitude to know God’s will for us. AMEN
Friday, January 17, 2014
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Epiphany Homily Reflection
HOMILY FOR FEAST OF EPIPHANY
January 5, 2014
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans Divine Mercy
Independent Catholic Church of the Americas
This week’s TV Reflection: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQBes0hcAd8
Link to All Reflections TV Shows; http://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn
Link to St. Joseph Cupertino Parish: http://stjosephcupertino.com/index.html
Link to Mission Web Site: www.missionstsergius.org
Link Divine Mercy Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FranciscansDivineMercy?fref=ts
Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Web Site: www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
Link to the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas http://www.iccamericas.org/
The Dictionary defines EPIPHANY as; an appearance, to show forth, to manifest.
All these meanings explain the feast we celebrate January 5th this year .rather than January 6th
The Epiphany of Our Lord is the day in which we celebrate Almighty God’s eternal plan of Salvation.
This particular feast is one of the oldest celebrated by the universal church.
Often it is known as Three Kings’ Day
As with most aspects of the Christian liturgical calendar, Epiphany has theological significance as a teaching tool in the church.
The Gospel for this Feast day is from Matthew 2 verses 1 through 12 and reads like this: “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”
The Wise Men or Magi who brought gifts to the infant Jesus were the first Gentiles, (non-Jews) to acknowledge Jesus as "King" and so were the first to "show" or "reveal" Jesus to a wider world as the incarnate Christ.
The gifts they are said to have presented represented the Kingship of Christ (Gold), The Son of God (Frankincense used as an offering to God) and Myrrh which was used to dress the mortal body of those who died thereby proclaiming the death and resurrection of Jesus.
This act of worship by the Magi, which corresponded to Simeon’s blessing that this child Jesus would be "a light for revelation to the Gentiles" (Luke 2:32), was one of the first indications that Jesus came for all people, of all nations, of all races, and that the work of God in the world would not be limited to only a few.
This is a time of focusing on Christian brotherhood and fellowship, especially in healing the divisions of prejudice and bigotry that we all too often created separations between God’s children.
God’s children are separated from the Sacraments and members of a family because they do not conform to the desires of others. It doesn’t matter that they live a good life not hurting others, being generous and forgiving of the hurts inflicted on them.
Today many who proclaim to be believers of Christ’s teaching try to exclude people for proclaiming their love of God because they have been divorced or God created them with a homosexual orientation. They use passages from scripture to try to justify their positions. Unfortunately they use translations out of context. Nowhere in scripture did Jesus ever preach or say anything about homosexuality.
In three of the Gospels we read these words; “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”(Luke 10:27; Mark 12:30;Matthew 22:37) which Jesus is said to have proclaimed.
At this time of the Church year, we are called to reflect on the truths found in the teachings of Jesus.
We are called to heal in the same way that Christ healed.
In the last few years I personally have experienced the healing power of God in many ways, I have been cured so far of 4 diffenert forms of cancer and continue to be able to get around to visit nursing homes, hospitals, shut-ins and to celebrate Mass in spite of being diagnosed with acute stenosis of the spine, back, neck and shoulders.
When one gives their life over to God with complete trust that God will provide and do what is best for you is when miracles seem to happen.
Other aspects of living in accord with the teachings of Christ is the forgiving of those who have done us wrong, being generous to those in need, having compassion for those who are ill and reaching out to the homeless, unemployed and elderly who often are alone and welcome joyfully a visit from someone.
As anyone who has ever undergone an operation knows, healing takes time, it does not happen overnight but if we work at it each and every day healing will occur.
In today’s world, there are many ills that need to be healed.
We need to address the separation between the haves and the have-nots.
All around the globe, even here in the United States, people are going without proper nutrition because they cannot afford to buy groceries and their necessary medicines. In spite of this, some members of our government have voted to reduce Food Stamp benefits which have cost many a loss of enough funds to buy a couple of days groceries. These same people are trying to get rid of programs that allow the poor and low income people adequate affordable housing and medical care. These actions are not in accord with the teachings of Christ and for those who have voted this way and call themselves Christians; I want to tell them that they are not acting like Christians but like minions of the Power of Darkness.
We need to look around and find those who need help, the aged, the parentless children, the struggling faith community that needs some financial assistance to develop programs or repairs or just to pay the rent on their worship space. All religious ministries require help in meeting their expenses yet many report a drop in donations which causes them to struggle to maintain.
If we open our eyes and hearts we can all find a way of discovering, within ourselves, the message of this feast of Epiphany.
We can put the message Christ’s taught us to work here on earth now, just by making some changes and becoming more aware of the needs of others and then giving a gift to the Christ child by gifting those in need.
We learned in the Gospel of Matthew 25 that by doing for others we are doing for God; For 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? ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
By Baptism we have been called to be the hands, heart and soul of Christ, we are called to be copartners in His promise, we are called to be His disciples living and acting as Christ would act if he were here on earth.
Let us begin this New Year by vowing that we will increase our commitment to the love of God and His beloved Son and Our Blessed Mother by living our faith not only in word but through our actions.
I close with the alternative opening prayer from the liturgy of the feast of Epiphany.
Father of light, unchanging God, today you reveal to men of faith the resplendent fact of the Word made flesh.
Your light is strong, Your love is near; draw us beyond the limits which the world imposes, to the life where Your Spirit makes all life complete. We ask this through Christ our lord and savior.
Amen.
January 5, 2014
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans Divine Mercy
Independent Catholic Church of the Americas
This week’s TV Reflection: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQBes0hcAd8
Link to All Reflections TV Shows; http://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn
Link to St. Joseph Cupertino Parish: http://stjosephcupertino.com/index.html
Link to Mission Web Site: www.missionstsergius.org
Link Divine Mercy Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FranciscansDivineMercy?fref=ts
Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Web Site: www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
Link to the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas http://www.iccamericas.org/
The Dictionary defines EPIPHANY as; an appearance, to show forth, to manifest.
All these meanings explain the feast we celebrate January 5th this year .rather than January 6th
The Epiphany of Our Lord is the day in which we celebrate Almighty God’s eternal plan of Salvation.
This particular feast is one of the oldest celebrated by the universal church.
Often it is known as Three Kings’ Day
As with most aspects of the Christian liturgical calendar, Epiphany has theological significance as a teaching tool in the church.
The Gospel for this Feast day is from Matthew 2 verses 1 through 12 and reads like this: “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”
The Wise Men or Magi who brought gifts to the infant Jesus were the first Gentiles, (non-Jews) to acknowledge Jesus as "King" and so were the first to "show" or "reveal" Jesus to a wider world as the incarnate Christ.
The gifts they are said to have presented represented the Kingship of Christ (Gold), The Son of God (Frankincense used as an offering to God) and Myrrh which was used to dress the mortal body of those who died thereby proclaiming the death and resurrection of Jesus.
This act of worship by the Magi, which corresponded to Simeon’s blessing that this child Jesus would be "a light for revelation to the Gentiles" (Luke 2:32), was one of the first indications that Jesus came for all people, of all nations, of all races, and that the work of God in the world would not be limited to only a few.
This is a time of focusing on Christian brotherhood and fellowship, especially in healing the divisions of prejudice and bigotry that we all too often created separations between God’s children.
God’s children are separated from the Sacraments and members of a family because they do not conform to the desires of others. It doesn’t matter that they live a good life not hurting others, being generous and forgiving of the hurts inflicted on them.
Today many who proclaim to be believers of Christ’s teaching try to exclude people for proclaiming their love of God because they have been divorced or God created them with a homosexual orientation. They use passages from scripture to try to justify their positions. Unfortunately they use translations out of context. Nowhere in scripture did Jesus ever preach or say anything about homosexuality.
In three of the Gospels we read these words; “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”(Luke 10:27; Mark 12:30;Matthew 22:37) which Jesus is said to have proclaimed.
At this time of the Church year, we are called to reflect on the truths found in the teachings of Jesus.
We are called to heal in the same way that Christ healed.
In the last few years I personally have experienced the healing power of God in many ways, I have been cured so far of 4 diffenert forms of cancer and continue to be able to get around to visit nursing homes, hospitals, shut-ins and to celebrate Mass in spite of being diagnosed with acute stenosis of the spine, back, neck and shoulders.
When one gives their life over to God with complete trust that God will provide and do what is best for you is when miracles seem to happen.
Other aspects of living in accord with the teachings of Christ is the forgiving of those who have done us wrong, being generous to those in need, having compassion for those who are ill and reaching out to the homeless, unemployed and elderly who often are alone and welcome joyfully a visit from someone.
As anyone who has ever undergone an operation knows, healing takes time, it does not happen overnight but if we work at it each and every day healing will occur.
In today’s world, there are many ills that need to be healed.
We need to address the separation between the haves and the have-nots.
All around the globe, even here in the United States, people are going without proper nutrition because they cannot afford to buy groceries and their necessary medicines. In spite of this, some members of our government have voted to reduce Food Stamp benefits which have cost many a loss of enough funds to buy a couple of days groceries. These same people are trying to get rid of programs that allow the poor and low income people adequate affordable housing and medical care. These actions are not in accord with the teachings of Christ and for those who have voted this way and call themselves Christians; I want to tell them that they are not acting like Christians but like minions of the Power of Darkness.
We need to look around and find those who need help, the aged, the parentless children, the struggling faith community that needs some financial assistance to develop programs or repairs or just to pay the rent on their worship space. All religious ministries require help in meeting their expenses yet many report a drop in donations which causes them to struggle to maintain.
If we open our eyes and hearts we can all find a way of discovering, within ourselves, the message of this feast of Epiphany.
We can put the message Christ’s taught us to work here on earth now, just by making some changes and becoming more aware of the needs of others and then giving a gift to the Christ child by gifting those in need.
We learned in the Gospel of Matthew 25 that by doing for others we are doing for God; For 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? ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
By Baptism we have been called to be the hands, heart and soul of Christ, we are called to be copartners in His promise, we are called to be His disciples living and acting as Christ would act if he were here on earth.
Let us begin this New Year by vowing that we will increase our commitment to the love of God and His beloved Son and Our Blessed Mother by living our faith not only in word but through our actions.
I close with the alternative opening prayer from the liturgy of the feast of Epiphany.
Father of light, unchanging God, today you reveal to men of faith the resplendent fact of the Word made flesh.
Your light is strong, Your love is near; draw us beyond the limits which the world imposes, to the life where Your Spirit makes all life complete. We ask this through Christ our lord and savior.
Amen.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Reflection for Sunday Dec. 22nd
4th Sunday of Advent 2013 Reflection
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Independent Catholic Church of the Americas
Email: Divinemercyparish@msn.com
Link to Mission Web Site: www.missionstsergius.org
Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FranciscansDivineMercy?fref=ts
Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Web Site: www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
Link to the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas http://www.iccamericas.org/
Link to All Reflections TV Shows; http://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn
Link to St. Joseph Cupertino Parish: http://stjosephcupertino.com/index.html
Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.' these words from the Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Advent indicates how powerful the child in the womb of Mary was.
A good thing to remember also is that Elizabeth and Zechariah her husband who was a priest in the Jewish Temple were not young, they had long past the child bearing age but Zechariah was chosen by lot one morning to offer incense in the Holy Place, the temple's inner chamber where only priests were allowed.
As Zechariah was praying, the Angel Gabriel appeared at the right side of the altar. Gabriel told the old man that his prayer for a son would be answered. Zechariah's wife would give birth and they were to name the baby John. Further, Gabriel said John would be a great man who would lead many to the Lord and would be a prophet announcing the Messiah.
Zechariah was doubtful because of his and his wife's old age.
The angel then struck him deaf and mute because of his lack of faith, until the child would be born.
Now when Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was in the last month of her pregnancy our Gospel story tell us of what Elizabeth experienced and how she knew that the child Mary was carrying was the promised Messiah.
We also must remember that Mary accepted the will of the Lord in spite of the possibility that in doing so she could be stoned to death.
Now we need to ask ourselves how willing are we to do God's will even when it will be difficult.
That is the lesson and the question I believe we need to think about this last Sunday before we celebrate the birth of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Many popes and saints have urged us to follow the example of Mary and give birth to Christ this Christmas spiritually in our hearts and minds.
I am reminded of the words of St. Francis concerning the birth of Christ; "We give birth to him through holy works, which should shine forth as an example for others. How holy and dear, pleasant, humble, peaceful, lovable and desirable above all things it is to have such a brother and such a son, our Lord Jesus Christ!"
As we go through life often times we are faced with problems or trials that we would rather not have to deal with. I have experienced it as well as many others when the doctors give you the news that you have cancer or a serious health condition. But I also have found that with faith and trust that God will bring you through that difficulty, especially if you turn to him and pray often to him putting your trust in his will you will come through the difficulty. Often, the most difficult times are lessons sent by God to lead us toward the place he desires us to be or tests like those Job had to endure as proof of our complete trust and love of God.
St. Franics tells us that when we love God with a sincere heart we give birth to Christ spiritually especially when we accomplish deeds that manifest Christ's teachings to the world.
What would have happened, I wonder, if Mary had told Gabriel "You have got to be kidding? You want me to bring forth a child without being married?" "No Way!" "I could get stoned to death as a harlot"
It is with complete faith in God, The God that Mary knew from the Hebrew Scriptures, that Mary accepted God's invitation even though it could create a very heavy burden for her.
I sometimes wonder what this world would be like is Mary had not accepted God's call.
If Jesus had never been born and therefore we never head the Good News of Salvation that Christ came to enlighten us with through that light lead us on the path that would bring us to everlasting life.
Christ was sent by the Father, Almighty God, to teach us the truth of God's will and to rebuke all the man made rules and regulations that had been imposed over the years..
Christ came to give us the keys to open the doors to heaven for all who desire to follow the path He taught us. The path of Christ is a simple one; "Love God with all our being and love each other as Christ loved us"
Christ loved us enough to die for us. There is no greater love than that.
Mary's acceptance of God's will was the first step in our redemption.
If she had refused Christ would not have been born and the prophet's fulfillment would not have happened which means we would not be celebrating Christmas this Wednesday. On Christmas Day let us attempt to follow Mary's complete trust in God and accept His will for us. Let us learn to be happy with how God created us and to accept others as God created them.
Let us give each other the gifts of brotherly/sisterly love and diligently try to bring about a time of justice, equality, truthfulness and fairness to every individual on the face of the earth since we all are children of God no matter what nationality or religious denomination.
This Christmas let us renew our efforts to bring about a time of peace and justice to all. Let us dig down and support those who are in need and support those charities that are trying to help others. Let us make God a major focal point in our daily schedule.
Let us place our complete faith and trust in God as May did and tell God "Not our will but your will be done unto us according to your word"
On Christmas Day, let us consider what a glorious gift was given to us on that night when our savior was born in a simple stable. The King of Kings, Lord of Lords was not born in a palatial palace.
He was not born in the warmth comfort of a home or inn. No, he was born in a humble stable surrounded not by nurses and doctors and relatives but by Mary and Joseph, who had accepted God's will for them even though it could have left them open to criticism. They were there with only God's other creations, the animals of the barn whose breath provided warms for the new born child.
Jesus first visitors were simple shepherds, not the elite of the world.
God gave us a sign by this choice for His only son's birth.
God is trying to tell us to live our lives simply and not go seeking fame or fortune. We have been given a message that the simple things in life are what count. Not riches, fame, fortune, but the simple things of life like family, friends, and the beauty of nature.
In every event recorded of Christ's life in scripture, we find a message of acceptance, compassion and forgiveness. Christ welcomed all who came to him. He sat and ate with those considered sinners.
Christ is referred to as "The Light of the World" which means He was sent to light the way for us, like a brilliant beacon that guides ships away from dangerous shoals and reefs toward a safe harbor, Christ showed and taught us how we need to live our life.
Christ was born to clarify God's will for us and dispel the darkness that prevailed and still causes so much pain and suffering.
Christ came to comfort us in times of distress by assuring us that there is a great reward awaiting us at the end of our earthly life if we follow his example.
The miraculous birth we celebrate on Wednesday is that of God made flesh. God gave us a human image to equate to; a human being that had to endure all the human feelings, emotions, problems and joys that each of us has to experience in our journey of life.
Christ endured the pain of a loss of a parent and friends, He experienced the joy of a wedding of a friend. He became angry at the greed and callousness of the priests and temple employees.
Christ also told us how to live a life that would insure everlasting peace. His message was one of Love, forgiveness, compassion, mercy and generosity.
On this day that we celebrate God's gift to us of His only son and God's promise of salvation to all his children, let us present an offering to Him that reflects the way of life He advised us to lead.
Let us begin to be more compassionate to those who are suffering from hunger, illnesses such as AIDS and cancer, poverty, substandard housing, and discrimination. Let us work hard to eliminate these ills of our society and bring about a time of equality and justice for ALL God's children.
On this day that we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace let us make a concerted effort to bring peace into the world beginning with our own families, friends and neighbors whom we might be have hurt in some way. If all of us begin toward this goal, we can make a huge difference in the world.
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27) With these words of Christ I end this joyous message the last Sunday before the celebration of the birth of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, with a prayer that the Peace and infinite mercy and love of Christ will invade your hearts today and all the days of your life.
Have a truly wonderful Merry Christmas. AMEN
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Independent Catholic Church of the Americas
Email: Divinemercyparish@msn.com
Link to Mission Web Site: www.missionstsergius.org
Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FranciscansDivineMercy?fref=ts
Link to Franciscans of Divine Mercy Web Site: www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
Link to the Independent Catholic Church of the Americas http://www.iccamericas.org/
Link to All Reflections TV Shows; http://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn
Link to St. Joseph Cupertino Parish: http://stjosephcupertino.com/index.html
Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.' these words from the Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Advent indicates how powerful the child in the womb of Mary was.
A good thing to remember also is that Elizabeth and Zechariah her husband who was a priest in the Jewish Temple were not young, they had long past the child bearing age but Zechariah was chosen by lot one morning to offer incense in the Holy Place, the temple's inner chamber where only priests were allowed.
As Zechariah was praying, the Angel Gabriel appeared at the right side of the altar. Gabriel told the old man that his prayer for a son would be answered. Zechariah's wife would give birth and they were to name the baby John. Further, Gabriel said John would be a great man who would lead many to the Lord and would be a prophet announcing the Messiah.
Zechariah was doubtful because of his and his wife's old age.
The angel then struck him deaf and mute because of his lack of faith, until the child would be born.
Now when Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was in the last month of her pregnancy our Gospel story tell us of what Elizabeth experienced and how she knew that the child Mary was carrying was the promised Messiah.
We also must remember that Mary accepted the will of the Lord in spite of the possibility that in doing so she could be stoned to death.
Now we need to ask ourselves how willing are we to do God's will even when it will be difficult.
That is the lesson and the question I believe we need to think about this last Sunday before we celebrate the birth of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Many popes and saints have urged us to follow the example of Mary and give birth to Christ this Christmas spiritually in our hearts and minds.
I am reminded of the words of St. Francis concerning the birth of Christ; "We give birth to him through holy works, which should shine forth as an example for others. How holy and dear, pleasant, humble, peaceful, lovable and desirable above all things it is to have such a brother and such a son, our Lord Jesus Christ!"
As we go through life often times we are faced with problems or trials that we would rather not have to deal with. I have experienced it as well as many others when the doctors give you the news that you have cancer or a serious health condition. But I also have found that with faith and trust that God will bring you through that difficulty, especially if you turn to him and pray often to him putting your trust in his will you will come through the difficulty. Often, the most difficult times are lessons sent by God to lead us toward the place he desires us to be or tests like those Job had to endure as proof of our complete trust and love of God.
St. Franics tells us that when we love God with a sincere heart we give birth to Christ spiritually especially when we accomplish deeds that manifest Christ's teachings to the world.
What would have happened, I wonder, if Mary had told Gabriel "You have got to be kidding? You want me to bring forth a child without being married?" "No Way!" "I could get stoned to death as a harlot"
It is with complete faith in God, The God that Mary knew from the Hebrew Scriptures, that Mary accepted God's invitation even though it could create a very heavy burden for her.
I sometimes wonder what this world would be like is Mary had not accepted God's call.
If Jesus had never been born and therefore we never head the Good News of Salvation that Christ came to enlighten us with through that light lead us on the path that would bring us to everlasting life.
Christ was sent by the Father, Almighty God, to teach us the truth of God's will and to rebuke all the man made rules and regulations that had been imposed over the years..
Christ came to give us the keys to open the doors to heaven for all who desire to follow the path He taught us. The path of Christ is a simple one; "Love God with all our being and love each other as Christ loved us"
Christ loved us enough to die for us. There is no greater love than that.
Mary's acceptance of God's will was the first step in our redemption.
If she had refused Christ would not have been born and the prophet's fulfillment would not have happened which means we would not be celebrating Christmas this Wednesday. On Christmas Day let us attempt to follow Mary's complete trust in God and accept His will for us. Let us learn to be happy with how God created us and to accept others as God created them.
Let us give each other the gifts of brotherly/sisterly love and diligently try to bring about a time of justice, equality, truthfulness and fairness to every individual on the face of the earth since we all are children of God no matter what nationality or religious denomination.
This Christmas let us renew our efforts to bring about a time of peace and justice to all. Let us dig down and support those who are in need and support those charities that are trying to help others. Let us make God a major focal point in our daily schedule.
Let us place our complete faith and trust in God as May did and tell God "Not our will but your will be done unto us according to your word"
On Christmas Day, let us consider what a glorious gift was given to us on that night when our savior was born in a simple stable. The King of Kings, Lord of Lords was not born in a palatial palace.
He was not born in the warmth comfort of a home or inn. No, he was born in a humble stable surrounded not by nurses and doctors and relatives but by Mary and Joseph, who had accepted God's will for them even though it could have left them open to criticism. They were there with only God's other creations, the animals of the barn whose breath provided warms for the new born child.
Jesus first visitors were simple shepherds, not the elite of the world.
God gave us a sign by this choice for His only son's birth.
God is trying to tell us to live our lives simply and not go seeking fame or fortune. We have been given a message that the simple things in life are what count. Not riches, fame, fortune, but the simple things of life like family, friends, and the beauty of nature.
In every event recorded of Christ's life in scripture, we find a message of acceptance, compassion and forgiveness. Christ welcomed all who came to him. He sat and ate with those considered sinners.
Christ is referred to as "The Light of the World" which means He was sent to light the way for us, like a brilliant beacon that guides ships away from dangerous shoals and reefs toward a safe harbor, Christ showed and taught us how we need to live our life.
Christ was born to clarify God's will for us and dispel the darkness that prevailed and still causes so much pain and suffering.
Christ came to comfort us in times of distress by assuring us that there is a great reward awaiting us at the end of our earthly life if we follow his example.
The miraculous birth we celebrate on Wednesday is that of God made flesh. God gave us a human image to equate to; a human being that had to endure all the human feelings, emotions, problems and joys that each of us has to experience in our journey of life.
Christ endured the pain of a loss of a parent and friends, He experienced the joy of a wedding of a friend. He became angry at the greed and callousness of the priests and temple employees.
Christ also told us how to live a life that would insure everlasting peace. His message was one of Love, forgiveness, compassion, mercy and generosity.
On this day that we celebrate God's gift to us of His only son and God's promise of salvation to all his children, let us present an offering to Him that reflects the way of life He advised us to lead.
Let us begin to be more compassionate to those who are suffering from hunger, illnesses such as AIDS and cancer, poverty, substandard housing, and discrimination. Let us work hard to eliminate these ills of our society and bring about a time of equality and justice for ALL God's children.
On this day that we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace let us make a concerted effort to bring peace into the world beginning with our own families, friends and neighbors whom we might be have hurt in some way. If all of us begin toward this goal, we can make a huge difference in the world.
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27) With these words of Christ I end this joyous message the last Sunday before the celebration of the birth of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, with a prayer that the Peace and infinite mercy and love of Christ will invade your hearts today and all the days of your life.
Have a truly wonderful Merry Christmas. AMEN
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