Fatherhood

Our Father, great and mighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, I love you,

Master of the Universe, nothing would exist if not for your Divine Will,
All things that occupy space and time were placed by the hand of Love,

Dad, the man God chose to go forth and multiply, and listened, I love you,
The only person his ten children have the honor of calling Father and Dad,
A man of sacrifice, firmness, ethics, compassion, and faith, we love you,

All Fathers, living and deceased, thank you for your selflessness and love,
Those who sacrificed for their families; working tirelessly out of pure love,
That paved the way for future generations as their fathers before them,

Almighty God and Father, the gift of being a father is an honor and grace,
More than ever, the world needs the grace of fatherhood to flourish anew,
Bless all fathers who tirelessly give all for love to those entrusted by you. Amen.

Two Masters

Jesus said to his disciples: "No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon. "Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky, they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your lifespan? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wildflowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for the day is its own evil."

Consideration: Lord Jesus, you know all things. Why should we worry about the things of this world that are all quickly passing and fading away. Give us the grace to stay focused on our final destination; where we will spend all of eternity will you in paradise. Amen. 

Treasures in Heaven

Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also your heart will be."The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be."

Consideration: The glamour of the world comes to us in many forms; and the evil one is waiting for us to be enticed by lures that he puts before us. Be strong; because when we are grounded to Jesus, nothing in or out of this world will break that bond. Amen.

Our Father

Jesus said to his disciples, "in praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your heavenly Father knows what you need before you ask him. 
"This is how you are to pray: 'Our Father who art in heaven, hollowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.' 
If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

Lord Jesus, thank you for teaching us how to pray to the Father. These words are simplistic; full of power; and glorify the Father as well. When we pray to you Lord, open our hearts, and fill them with your love. It is there, Lord, that we will enter into a union with you; and without rattling off words, our hearts will be joined to your heart in a loving and personal way. Amen.

The Hypocrites

Jesus said to his disciples, ""Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, to do blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your heavenly Father who sees in secret will repay you. "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.  "When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you." 

Consideration: Jesus, once again, explains to us that we must conduct our private and public lives without the appearance of pride. Our Father in heaven sees all things, and those who do works to be noticed by others, will not be rewarded by the Father. Humility, in prayer and all forms of generosity are seen by the Father, and he will repay us for our sincerity and love shown to him and to others.

The world, today, is drowning in pride, selfishness, and most of all hypocrisy. Let us pray to our Father, to receive from the Holy Spirit the grace of humility, that we may do his will, and be pleasing our Father. Amen.

Together...for Love!

I don’t know what it is, I’m feeling it 

In every person, place and thing, seeing it

Even sleeping at night, I’m dreaming it

I don’t know what it is…but it’s real

 
Turning soil, the pushing, pulling, of hoeing 

Planting seeds, pruning limbs, pulling weeds

Watching the plants growing so amazingly 

I don’t know what it is…but it’s alive

 
In every smile and tear, happiness and pain

In friendships that have separated, mended

Families, split and broken, together again

 
I don’t know what it is, but you can sum it up like this, 

It is something we all need, it’s the human thing, 

When all things work together for love!

 
Back to basics where everything started 

Where hard work was a blessed thing to do

Raising families was a joy of selflessness 

 
This is the truth we need to get back to 

 
I can’t sleep, but I still dream, I see everything renewed; 

People laughing; smiling again; stories telling with friends; 

Families mended; tears ended; just like it used to be,

It’s the human thing, all things work together…for love!

Be Perfect

Jesus said to his disciples, "You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and cause the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brother only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Consideration: Jesus is bringing to our attention that to love means, love everyone. We are to rise above the wisdom of the world and always work toward peace, even with our enemies. God cares for all of his children, the good, and bad alike. Jesus asks us to be perfect, just as the heavenly Father is perfect. He knows this is not easy, but we are to rise above the instincts of our human nature and strive to do his will. Amen.