Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Let's Follow in HIS Footsteps

Walk the Path that Jesus Walked!

Part of Reflection by Catherine de Hueck Doherty (1896-1985)

As we approach the call to EVANGELIZE and spread the GOOD NEWS we need to be extremely flexible in what we do and be attentive to NEW OPPORTUNITIES, OPENINGS, POSSIBILITIES, that cut across our preconceived notions and beckon into ways and situations that we have barely assessed or perhaps never thought of. Be prepared for constant changes. We cannot be rigid in any way or undesirous of change. We seek a deeper impenetration or presentation of the Good News. It is important for us to use all modern means of communication and technology to put across the message of Christ.

Flexibility needs to be prepared for by OBSERVING, THINKING, RESEARCHING, AND PRAYER. But it is important that we do all these together, as united community. WE NEED TO BEG THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LEAD US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. If we look for the PATHS that God is already laying out for us, a new awareness, a new vitality, and new sense of challenge and adventure will come into our hearts. WE DID TO BE READY TO FOLLOW CHRIST WHEREVER HE GOES, for Christ has a way of going into unexpected places. He often directs us toward an end that we don't yet perceive but is just around the corner.

Amen.

Peace

Year of Faith

"Let's Follow in His Footsteps"

grandpazach@yahoo.com 

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Is God Communicating with YOU?

Book about God Coincidences

1. From This Day:

Within the Word

The Spirit in the Christian Life

Every other year, the Saturday of the twenty-ninth week in Ordinary Time (last Saturday) through Thursday of the thirtieth week (this Week), the daily Lectionary reads through the whole of Romans 8, and with good reason. It is in this chapter more than any other that Paul develops his THEOLOGY OF THE SPIRIT.

Those who live according to the Spirit, then, view reality from God's point of view. While they live in the world and in the body, they live by the power of God's Spirit, which enables them to do what they could not do when they were in the old Adam. The power of God's own Spirit empowers them to fulfill God's law as God intended. Thus the Spirit is the power and source of their moral life.

2. Romans 8: 26-28    (tomorrow's Mass) :

Brothers and sisters: The Spirit comes to the aid of our WEAKNESS; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones according to god's will.

3. "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love."

4. Notes:

In those special little moments when everything just seems to fall into place---- what do you think it is that just happened? Was it Fate? Serendipity? Providence? Chance? Happenstance? Destiny?

Last week I received a small book, as a gift, by Squire Rushnell, titled, "When God Winks at you---- how God Speaks Directly to You Through the Power of Coincidence."

From the back cover:

Those Extraordinary little events in your life happen for a reason, a coincidence--- sometimes a silly little thing--- CHANGES the course of your day.... or even your life. Is it chance, is it luck, or is GOD COMMUNICATIONG WITH YOU?

xxxxxxx

This week I'm working on a paper about the Holy Spirit in my life and I seem to flooded with these "God Winks and God Incidents+ --- this mornings  reflections about today's Gospel are prime examples.

Amen.

Peace

Year of Faith

grandpazach@yahoo.com    



Monday, October 28, 2013

We are all Apostles!

We are all Apostles!

1. Feast: St. Simon and St. Jude Apostles (First Century)

Of all the original twelve apostles, St. Jude is perhaps the most commonly invoked in prayer. He enjoys widespread popularity as the "patron of hopeless cases."

Both of these saints have long been celebrated together---- possibly owing to the legend that they were martyred in Persia on the same day.

2. From the Magnificat---- a reading they used for morning Prayers--- one of my favorites.
James 1: 22-25

BE DOERS OF THE WORD, and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a DOER, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like. But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a DOER WHO ACTS, SUCH A ONE SHALL BE BLESSED FOR WHAT HE DOES.

3. From "Saint of the Day"

"As in the case of all the apostles except Peter, James and John, we are faced with men who are really unknown, and we are struck by the fact that their holiness is simply taken  to be a GIFT FROM CHRIST. He chose some unlikely people; a former Zealot, a former (crooked) tax collector, an impetuous fisherman, two "sons of thunder" and a man named Judas Iscariot.

It is a reminder that we cannot receive too often. Holiness does not depend on human merit, culture, personality, effort or achievement. It is entirely God's creation and gift. God needs no zealots to bring about the kingdom by force. Jude, like all the saints, is the saint of the impossible; Only God can create his divine life in human beings. And God wills to do so, for all of us.

"Just as Christ was sent by the Father, so also he sent the apostles, FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT."

4.From Father Burke Masters
"The Apostles were regular men like me and you. The Lord DID NOT CALL THE EQUIPPED, BUT HE EQUIPS THE CALLED. Jesus turned these twelve ordinary men into a group of super-evangelists with the help of His grace. The Holy Spirit descended upon these men on that first Pentecost and the world would never be the same .

The Lord also calls me and you, despite our weakness and sinfulness . The Lord's call is not just for the apostles, but it is for every single  one of us. He sets high ideals for all of us. He calls us to be holy as our heavenly Father is holy. He calls us to be merciful as the Lord is merciful to us. He loves us more than we can possibly imagine. And He gives us the grace to live out this life of discipleship.

How are you responding to God's call in your life?"

Let's All be Apostles!
Grandpazach