Receiving what He is sending

The scriptures were written with inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Shouldn't you be reading them with the Holy Spirit?

Repent and Believe - Daily Conversion is Necessary

I was saddened on Friday when, after hearing a middle of the road say nothing type Inaugural speech from our new President on how we have many challenges ahead and the road will be difficult both home and aboard, the President choose quickly to sign a policy lifting the ban on federal tax dollars to support international abortion groups. What I especially found difficult was he did it right after the 36th annual March for Life Rally in Washington D.C. It discouraged me so much that I sent an email to some of my closest friends complaining. Something I don’t normally do. I sat and wondered how, with all these educated people, on at least Inaugural Day, say they owed everything to God their Divine Maker and how, if we hold true to our founding fathers original documents, we will again be a great nation. I believe we are still a great nation and that it became great because the founding fathers placed God at the forefront and with God’s assistance these God fearing men wrote these beautiful documents and formed a great nation.

With this on my mind, I struggled through my Evening Prayer time on Friday and Morning Prayer on Saturday. Finally while meditating on the Sunday scriptures a peace came over me. I came to some understanding of repent and believe and that daily conversion is necessary for salvation especially in these difficult times. The scripture readings for the 3rd Sunday in ordinary time (cycle B – Jonah 3:1-5, 10, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, and the Gospel Mark 1:14 – 20) all speak to repentance, belief, and conversion. In these readings, focus on the words repent and believe. Repent means to examine yourself to see where you have separated yourself from God or weakened your relationship with Him (sin). Believe means simply not only say the words or phrases of our faith, but to think about and understand what those words or phrases mean. With Jesus’ words on repentance and belief he was making disciples out of each one of us. When He made disciples out of people He did not just say, go and preach the Good News. It wasn’t a onetime conversion of faith. Jesus invited them to be with Him, eat with Him, travel with Him, and pray with Him. This daily interaction with Jesus helped the disciples through their struggles and to their daily conversion and understanding of Christ in their lives.

Since we are disciples (priests) by our baptism we need to examine our lives daily; repent and believe. Being a disciple is not a onetime conversion of faith (experience). Because if it were people would become stale or cold, we need to hear Jesus’ message again and again REPENT AND BELIEVE.

Though we have real hard challenges ahead of us nobody should think that these are the most important things. The most important thing is the salvation of souls. A single soul is everything. Everything else is small in comparison. Someday the United States along with all other nations or countries will be non-existent. You and I, we will be beginning our eternal existence with God. In our second reading from Corinthians Paul says, “weeping as not weeping, rejoicing as not rejoicing, using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away.” The message is that good , bad, or indifferent this time, this era will pass, and though we must live, work, and participate fully in its events remember we live in this world but are not of this world. What counts for us as Disciples of Christ is our love and treatment of our fellow man. Living the Beatitudes enables us to achieve the salvation of souls. Living the Beatitudes brings us all into the presence of God. Where is there a better place to be?

Though recent events are discouraging, with prayer and the grace and mercy of God, we the Disciples of Christ by our actions will make this world a better place.

Pilot Sully the Good Shepherd

The Governor of NY called it “A miracle on the Hudson”; the mayor called him a “hero” and has offered Pilot Chesley “Sully” B. Sullenberger III the keys to the City of New York. On January 15, 2009 a commercial airliner plane flight # 1549 was heading for Charlotte, NC when it is believed a flock of geese may have struck the two engines of the commercial airliner forcing and emergency landing. Pilot Sullenberger was now faced with the dilemma of how to land his jet safely and protect of lives of his passengers and crewmembers. While air traffic controllers provided several options to either return to the airport or land at Teterboro airport in New Jersey, Sullenberger knew his only option was to land the plane in the Hudson River.

Was it a miracle or was it his faith that allowed him to remain calm with his crewmembers and passengers when he indicated just before impact to “brace for impact because we’re going down”. Pilot Sully, a career pilot with the love and passion of flying had been an employee of US Airways for 29 years and even started his own consulting business for the safety of others.

Is not the real underlying story here, Pilot Sully stands here before us in faith and principal, who took personal responsibility to protect and serve the needs of others before thinking of himself? Pilot Scully actions were that of the “Good Shepherd” as he remained focus on the safety of others during this frightening and unimaginable experience to land his aircraft as quickly and safely as possible. Making sure to the best of his ability that every passengers and crewmember were removed from the plane before disembarking the aircraft himself.

While not knowing his religious background, God had to have provided his “belief in faith” to be able to bring all those who were on that flight home safely and to be reunited with their loved ones. Our reflection on this story is to not only see the “miracle” that has happened here, but the works of God and how by having faith within ourselves and believing in Him, all good deeds are possible. God Bless you always Pilot Sully, for you shall have your reward in Heaven.


Deac#6

Article Posting

Brothers - The blog site is set up right now to view the last 12 blog posts. All the blog posts that are created will reside in the left column listed by date present to past. If we want to change this format it can be discussed on our next trip to class

FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act) means no freedom for all!

The crew knows that through contacts and involvement in different ministries I am able to participate in Mass at different churches in my area. Today, I had the pleasure of hearing a homily that was both prudent to say and wonderful to the ear and soul of the human person. The priest spoke on the two reading today (1Samuel 3:3b – 10; 19 and 1 Corinthians 6:13c – 15a, 17 – 20) and how God is calling us to service. He used the analogy of the cell phone, which most of us have now a days and our ability to look at the phone and know who is trying to communicate with us. It also gives us an option to speak with that person, or put them to voice mail and maybe listen to it later.
The priest went on to say, if God was calling would we answer the call, or let it go to voice mail so we can get a good night’s sleep. In his homily, he moved from our responsibility to be a servant of God (Here I am Lord, I’ve come to do your will) to our responsibility to promote life and the support of the Right to Life movement and the devastating effects that FOCA www.respectlifetoday.com/article_detail48.php will bring to our great country. His statement was FOCA (the Freedom of Choice Act) is really NO FREEDOM FOR ALL. This act will strip away our ability to provide health and welfare services to human beings in a way that stays true to our beliefs and moral values as a Catholic Church. This act takes dead aim at our hospitals, orphanages, adoption agencies, Right to Life services that the Catholic Church provides in a loving and caring way. FOCA will take away funding and aid because we hold a different and higher value on life and moral standards. He went on to say, “How does this Act stand up to our American creed of Home of the free and land of the brave. Where are the guiding principles found in the Declaration of Independence where it states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and pursuit of Happiness?
For a country that seemingly prides itself on ridding discrimination, it will actively discriminate against people who believe that life at any stage is valuable and important not only to society, but to our salvation as a people. I highly encourage you to read the article provided by the link to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ campaign to oppose FOCA. Pray on it and use your right as an American citizen to write your public officials stating your opposition to this un-American and devastating law.

Duck Hunting

One of the guys was supposed to go duck hunting Friday morning. It was cold enough for me, without standing around in the open. This was his third hunting trip. I hope you bag one this time, Lou! Let us know that you got back safe and sound.

God's Moon Rising

It was about 9:50pm when the crew broke loose from the Pastoral Center on Thursday night heading back to the shore area. We just finished our first session on World Religions. First up was Buddhism. It was a great night and the information was very informative. On our drive back, we all commented on the overly large bright yellow moon that seemed to be touching the earth on the eastern horizon. What a sight it was. I was amazed once again at God’s creation. I was up early the next day getting ready for work and the first sight I take in is the moon once again, but this time sitting high and bright in the early morning sky. God’s love and creation is all around us for our human enjoyment and spiritual growth and closeness to God.

Agenzia Fides - Reports 20 Church workers slain in 2008

I read this report online. first time I've read it. I really wasn't aware that the annual report existed for public view. The short article and link to the document is given below. As we offer our intentions during morning and evening prayer let us remember those who have given their life in God's service.

December 30, 2008
The Fides news service has released a list of 20 priests, religious, and lay catechists who were killed while serving on Church assignments in 2008. The list is headed by Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of the Chaldean diocese of Mosul, Iraq. Fides shows 8 Church workers killed in Asia (Iraq, India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Nepal); 5 in the Americas (Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil); 5 in Africa (Kenya, Guinea Conakry, Nigeria, and Congo); and 2 in Europe (Russia).
Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.
The names of Catholics killed while on mission in 2008 (Fides)