Will we stand for what we believe in, even to death?
In today's reading from Daniel we hear about three men who did just that. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were confront by King Nebuchadnezzar and told that they were to worship his gods and the statue that he had made or they would be thrown into the white-hot furnace. They refused to do so. Saying that even if their God that they serve did not save them from the white-hot furnace, they would would still rather die then serve King Nebuchadnezzar's gods or statue. "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who send his angel to deliver the servants who trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God." (Daniel 3:28)
How we all wish that we could have the faith that this three men showed. The only thing to know is that we can have this faith. These were three ordinary men that did an extraordinary thing and that is what Christ ask of us. He does not ask of to be perfect, he knows we can't. He doesn't ask of us to be more than who he made us to be. No, Christ everyday invites us to be ourselves, ordinary sons and daughters of him. But he ask us to say yes to Him, to put our faith in him, to do His will and he take us ordinary people and use us to do extraordinary things in this world. I know that we can all see that this world is in such need of people who are willing to say yes and do extraordinary things. I pray that myself along with all of you will have this faith and that we are able to say yes to the things that God ask of us and to continue to dot he will of our Lord and Savior.
Peace be with you
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday March 21st 2010
My favorite scripture verse that I have been having for awhile was in the second reading this Sunday from Philippians.
Philippians 3: 12-14 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus as made it His own. Brothers, I do not consider to have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
I feel like this scripture verse goes along with the gospel from John this Sunday were the scribes and Pharisees bring this woman that was caught in the act of adultery to Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees were not concerned about the woman and were her soul would end up but rather only cared about what she had done and trying to test and trap Jesus. However, we see Jesus with all of His love, compassion, and mercy did not just condemn the woman but looked further. Jesus was not concerned with what she had done, in other words "forgetting what lies behind". No he went forward and not condemning the woman but called her out of her sin and into a better life of joy and happiness.
There are so many times we are so quick to judge others in our lives or sometimes we get upset and angry with our family or friend and don't want to forgive them for what they have done. Sometimes we even get upset or angry with God because of things that happen in our live and it takes us weeks, months, and even years to forgive him. But in Sundays gospel when see Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior in less then a second not only did he not judge the woman but forgive her for what she has done. So if this is how our Lord shows us to forgive should we not do the same.
So guys it is not that we have already obtained this or that we as brothers and sisters are already perfect, but we do press on to make this ours. And we do this by: forgetting what lies behind us and moving forward forgiving and not judging and loving one another, we press on toward our goal for the ultimate prize which is the call to eternity in heaven.
Peace be with you
Philippians 3: 12-14 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus as made it His own. Brothers, I do not consider to have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
I feel like this scripture verse goes along with the gospel from John this Sunday were the scribes and Pharisees bring this woman that was caught in the act of adultery to Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees were not concerned about the woman and were her soul would end up but rather only cared about what she had done and trying to test and trap Jesus. However, we see Jesus with all of His love, compassion, and mercy did not just condemn the woman but looked further. Jesus was not concerned with what she had done, in other words "forgetting what lies behind". No he went forward and not condemning the woman but called her out of her sin and into a better life of joy and happiness.
There are so many times we are so quick to judge others in our lives or sometimes we get upset and angry with our family or friend and don't want to forgive them for what they have done. Sometimes we even get upset or angry with God because of things that happen in our live and it takes us weeks, months, and even years to forgive him. But in Sundays gospel when see Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior in less then a second not only did he not judge the woman but forgive her for what she has done. So if this is how our Lord shows us to forgive should we not do the same.
So guys it is not that we have already obtained this or that we as brothers and sisters are already perfect, but we do press on to make this ours. And we do this by: forgetting what lies behind us and moving forward forgiving and not judging and loving one another, we press on toward our goal for the ultimate prize which is the call to eternity in heaven.
Peace be with you
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Saturday March 20th 2010
Who is Jesus to you? And are you ready to give Him your full self? In todays gospel reading from John, there is a lot of division between the people. Some believed Jesus was a prophet, some the Messiah, and some believed he was niether.There will come a time, if it hasn't already in our lives when we will have to stand up for Jesus and his gospels. And though we are all called to do this does not mean that it will always be easy. But with Christ by our side we know that we can face anything that comes our way. So we must figure who Christ is to us and then stand up and fight for what we believe in. We will always encounter people who will believe different things then we do and it is not our job to judge. Are you willing to be loyal to Christ no matter what it may cost you?
Peace be with yo
Peace be with yo
Friday, March 19, 2010
Friday March 19th 2010
Are we willing to obey the Lord in everything we do?
That is the question that I along with many others I'm sure struggle with on on any given day. Joseph throughout his life was put to the test. In the gospel reading today from Matthew, Joseph's faith was tested when he found out his wife was with child. But being the just man that he was and not wanting to hurt Mary in any way he decided to divorce her quietly. But as he was considering this (which I think means praying about this) it says "the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream" John 7:20 The angel told him not to fear and to take Mary as his wife and that Mary would have a child and that Joseph was to call him Jesus. Joseph followed the call of God and obeyed that Lord. God put His trust in Joseph to raise, protect, teach and train Jesus as a child. And Joseph accepting this call and putting his trust in God did just that and became a model for all those who are entrusted with the care, instruction, and protection of the young.
Are we willing to obey and put our trust in the Lord who will help us with all the responsibilities that he puts before us. God gives strength and guidance to those who seek his help. Where do we need God's Guidance in our lives? And are we willing to obey and say yes to what God ask of us?
Peace be with you.
That is the question that I along with many others I'm sure struggle with on on any given day. Joseph throughout his life was put to the test. In the gospel reading today from Matthew, Joseph's faith was tested when he found out his wife was with child. But being the just man that he was and not wanting to hurt Mary in any way he decided to divorce her quietly. But as he was considering this (which I think means praying about this) it says "the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream" John 7:20 The angel told him not to fear and to take Mary as his wife and that Mary would have a child and that Joseph was to call him Jesus. Joseph followed the call of God and obeyed that Lord. God put His trust in Joseph to raise, protect, teach and train Jesus as a child. And Joseph accepting this call and putting his trust in God did just that and became a model for all those who are entrusted with the care, instruction, and protection of the young.
Are we willing to obey and put our trust in the Lord who will help us with all the responsibilities that he puts before us. God gives strength and guidance to those who seek his help. Where do we need God's Guidance in our lives? And are we willing to obey and say yes to what God ask of us?
Peace be with you.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Thursday March 18th 2010
Even today we have people who doubt that Jesus Christ is the Lord or Messiah.
In the first reading from Exodus we see Jesus along with Moses being faced with huge obstacles with the Egyptians being stubborn and also harding their hearts. We can see how so often in our own lives we have this same tendency to be stubborn and even sometimes harden hearts. However, just like 2000 year ago Jesus does not give up on us. Christ along with faithful followers persevere and wait with love for us to see the light and return with open arms to our Lord and Savior.
In the gospel from John, the Jewish authorities are questioning Jesus and His claims of being the Son of God. He gives them many different reason: the testimony of John the Baptist, His own miracles and teachings and yet the Jewish leaders still did not believe and accept him. What could Christ do? He showed them and us still to this day the most convincing proof, which was giving us His own life, offered as a sacrifice. Through the gift of Himself in the Eucharist we have proof of Jesus' commitment to us. In the readings we can hear the words that reveal His life to us. The homily opens our hearts and minds to see how it relates to our own lives. But at Communion we receive Him and there is no way we can question that He is the one and only Son of God.
Peace be with You
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