Pleasing to God

Beloved: First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ who gave himself as ransom for all. This was the testimony at the proper time. For this I was appointed preacher and Apostle (I am speaking the truth, I am not lying), teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.

Consideration: Saint Paul tells us that there is one mediator between God and men, he who gave himself as ransom for all, Jesus Christ. Our faith, hope, and trust are in the Lord; His grace is the guiding light that will lead us to His beloved Son, Jesus. Amen.

He Shall Reign

Looking for answers in a world of distress; is there any hope left?

Empty promises to clean up the mess; we walk in the wilderness.

Chatter says the end is near; walking on the edge of endless fear.

Never give in, never lose hope, never cave; the King is on the way.

Everything we need; healing misery; transform darkness to light; all in a moment's time.

The wait is over, keep the faith, blessings will shower amazing grace.

Tears will dry, the lame healed, in a moment's time his glory revealed! 

All will witness, every eye shall see, the Son of Man in all his majesty.

The promise, magnificent splendor, choir of Angels chanting glory be.

In a moment's time, the earth will be still, the power of darkness shaken down by his will.

 
He shall reign, he shall reign, he shall reign, with all his power, all his glory, he shall reign!

He shall reign, he shall reign, he shall reign, with all his power, all his glory, he shall reign!

He shall reign, in all his splendor he shall reign, the Son of Man in all his majesty shall reign!

The choir of Angels chanting glory be; Christ the King in all his majesty..."He Shall Reign"!!!

Set Enmity Aside

Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. The vengeful will suffer the Lord's vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor's injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from Lord the Lord? Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself, can he seek pardon for his own sins? Remember your last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin! Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor; Remember the Most High's covenant, and overlook faults. 

Consideration: This very important message from the Book of Sirach is explained in simple and understandable words. Vengeance is not the way the Lord expects us to deal with adversity and pain in our lives that may have come from others in our families or meet along the journey of life. We are told to extend mercy and forgiveness to our offenders if we expect to be pardoned from the Lord for our shortcomings as well. Love always wins in the end, set enmity aside, and the peace you seek inside of you will be released through mercy. Amen.

Rotten Fruit and Structure

Jesus said to his disciples, "A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but do not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like that comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid a foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against the house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it , it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed." 

Consideration: A man who has spent a lifetime toiling in the soil and building structures understands fully that the words of Jesus are so true. To produce good fruit the poor soil must be cultivated and nourished to bring forth a healthy harvest. In the same way a structure will only resist the forces of nature if it is built on a solid foundation. The end result will only produce a positive result only if there was sacrifice, effort, and hard work applied through the entire process. Nothing worthwhile is easy, but when all is said and done, a bounty of fruit will shine forth, and the structures built on solid ground will endure for a lifetime and beyond. Amen.

A Blind Guide

Jesus told his disciples a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into the pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brothers eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,' when you do not notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your own eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother's eye."

Consideration: Jesus once again points out the hypocrisy of people. Are we guilty of this serious sin? Before we condemn another person for any reason we should reflect on our actions as well. If we were guilty of the same sin and acknowledged our sinfulness to the Lord, we may be in a better position to help another person trapped in the same way to a way of freedom from the issue. Amen.

Love Your Enemies

Jesus said to his disciples, "To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person that strikes you on the cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person that takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love only those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your father is merciful. "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you."

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Consideration: "Do to others as you would have them do to you." These words sum up this entire scripture message. To follow this message is not easy for us to understand because Jesus is telling us to extend love in all of its many forms even when we have been victims of those we are called to love. May God extend to us the graces necessary to overcome the voices in our hearts that will demand us to expect what is ours in return, rather than extend to others what is of God; total surrender and love. Amen.

The Great Reward

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. "Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in the same way

Consideration: Does Jesus want us to be poor, hungry, weeping, hated, excluded, insulted, denounced; no, he does not. He is telling us that if we endure all of these things on his account; if we are slandered and ridiculed because we profess our love for him; we should rejoice and leap for joy. He tells us, " Behold, your reward will be great in heaven." How many saints are enjoying their eternal reward because they were steadfast in their faith in our Lord, Jesus. How many?...Amen!