Christmas Thoughts

Christmas Thoughts:

In just a few days we will celebrate Christmas, the birth of Christ.   It may be the happiest and most beloved of religious holidays or holy days.   We hope with anticipation for Christmas morning.  As children we can barely sleep the night before hoping for the gifts we will receive Christmas morning.  As adults we spend weeks or even months in preparation for Christmas morning and the Christmas meal and fellowship with family members and friends.

I believe that Christmas is a day of hope.   Jesus is born.  This is the beginning of His redemptive work.  He is the Word of the Father.  He will teach us and show us how to live.  He will by His suffering and death atone for our sins.  We hope to be able to receive the pardon of our sins and the grace necessary so that through His merits we may obtain everlasting life.  We hope indeed.

I think that children can understand that the anticipation and hope that they feel about receiving Christmas presents is a foreshadow of the anticipation and hope they will feel as adults at the coming of Jesus.   Jesus is the Father's present to us, and so we give presents to each other.

So this Christmas let's take time to remember that Jesus is the Father's present to us, because he loves us so much and wills our salvation.   As you enjoy the Christmas season with family and friends, and especially  if you experience any Christmas magic, remember that, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those  who love Him." (1Corinthians2:9)

Have a Happy Christmas.  God love you!

Being a Blessing

Being a Blessing:

In Genesis 12:2 God tells Abraham, "I will bless you and make your name famous, and you will be a blessing to many others.  In Proverbs11:25 it says "The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.  Jesus's whole life was spent blessing others.  Even while he was suffering on the cross he was looking out for others, the thief, who was crucified next to him, His mother, and everyone of us.

I believe we are called to be the same, a blessing to others.  God wants us to be vessels of his mercy and goodness.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:12, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets."  In John 15:12 He says, "This is my commandment that you love one another, just as I have loved you."

Being a blessing is being sensitive to the needs of those around us.  Those who are a blessing are full of kindness and compassion.  Their goal is to show God's love and mercy everywhere they go.  They lift the fallen, and restore the broken.  They encourage the discouraged.  They love the unlovable, forgive the haughty,  and  give to those who cannot repay. 

As you go about your business have a smile on your face and a kind word for everyone.  Be patient and slow to anger.  Be the one who is always ready to lend a hand.  Be generous.  Share your time, talents, and treasure.   As you do these things you will find that you will receive blessings in abundance.  Concentrate on helping others with their problems and God will solve your problems.  

God love you!

Do you have false gods in your life?

 

 

Do you have false gods in your life?

In the Bible God says, " I am Jehovah your God who liberated you from your slavery in Egypt.  You may worship no other god than me.  You shall not make yourselves any idols: no images of animals, birds, or fish.  You must never bow or worship it in any way for I, the Lord your God, am very possessive.  I will not share your affection with any other god."  (Exodus 20, 2-5)

 

I think in the twenty-first century we can rule out the "golden calves", so what gods do we worship?    Anything that you love more than God is your idol.  What do you make the most of?  What is it that you think the most about and are most concerned with?

 

A person may make a god of him/her self.  We call this pride.   Your right or wrong stems from what is desirable and pleasing to you, not God.  Any other false god can be traced back to pride.    You think that whatever thing you choose has more value than God and following his commandments and the teachings of Jesus. 

 

We may make a god of ourselves, a child, a mother, or of some precious gift that God has bestowed  upon us.  We may forget the Giver and let our heart go out in adoration to the gift.  Many make a god of pleasure, that is what their hearts are set on.  Others take fashion as their god.  They give their time and thought to dress.  They fear what others will think of them.   It may be the god of money.    We trust wealth to keep us from want and supply our needs.    We are susceptible whether rich or poor, learned or unlearned.

 

Jesus says in Matthew 16, 19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where rust and moth consume, and where thieves break in and steal.  For where thy treasure is, there also will be thy heart."   He also tells us to trust in God and not to worry about food or  clothing .  In Matthew 6, 31-33  He continues, "Therefore  do not be anxious, ....... for your Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all theses things will be given you besides.

 

So keep God first in everything you do.  Pray, and read the scriptures.

 

God love you!

 



 

 



 



Are you required to go to church on Sunday?

 Are you required to go to church on Sunday?

 

In the Ten Commandments it states:  "Remember to observe the Sabbath as a holy day.  Six days  a week are for your daily duties and your regular work, but the seventh is a day of Sabbath rest before the Lord your God.  (Ex 20:8-10)   In Exodus 31: 13-15 God tells Moses , "Tell the people of Israel to rest on my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a reminder of the covenant between me and you forever, it helps you to remember that I am Jehovah who makes you holy.  Yes, rest on the Sabbath, for it is holy."  God himself rested and was refreshed on the seventh day. 

 

In his book "To Life" Rabbi Harold Kushner states that we are commanded to rest on the seventh day.  Sabbath rest, he says, is defined as leaving the world alone,  freedom from obligation,  and detaching ourselves for a day from all our problems.  In other words we do not have to do anything, not even go to church.  

 

The Sunday celebration of the Lord's Day and also his Eucharist is at the heart of Christian Church life.  Sunday is the day on which the Paschal mystery (the Resurrection)  is celebrated according to apostolic tradition.  So, Christians celebrate the Lord's Day on Sunday.  In his Letter to the Hebrew St. Paul reminds the faithful "not to neglect to meet together to encourage one another."   The practice of the Christian assembly dates from the beginnings of the apostolic age. 

 

In Mark 2: 27 Jesus says "The Sabbath was made for man,  and not man for the Sabbath.   So , there is no biblical directive to attend church on Sunday.  The directive is to rest.  In the Christian church attendance at church on Sunday is a tradition that has become a precept of the Church.

 

 

Attending church avails us of the celebration of the Eucharist, the central mystery of liturgical life. Attending church provides fellowship with other believers to encourage us in faith.  Attending Church provides communal prayer and instruction  to strengthen and increase our faith.  

 

So, going to church is a conscious choice we make to honor God and grow in faith in fellowship with our brothers and sister.  It is good freely chosen.  If we did not make it this week, we do not need to feel guilty.  But if we did make it, we have every reason to feel good.  Go!

 

God love you!

Prayer

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Prayer:

Prayer is defined as raising one's mind and heart to God, or the requesting of good things from God.  In prayer we can speak to God and also listen for what he may tell us.  Different forms of prayer include praise, thanksgiving, and petition.  We praise the almighty God or give him thanks for all  we have received.  We petition God for the needs of ourselves, or others, or for the forgiveness of sin.

 

The Psalms constitute the masterwork of prayer in the Old Testament.  They are suitable for men of every condition and time.  Jesus gives us  The Lord's Prayer as the perfect model of prayer in the New Testament.   Often done in solitude and in secret the prayer of Jesus involves a loving adherence to the will of  the Father and an absolute confidence in being heard.  Further, Jesus teaches his disciples to pray with a purified heart, and with lively and persevering faith.

 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "The name of Jesus is at the heart of Christian prayer.  All liturgical prayers conclude with the words 'through our Lord Jesus Christ'.  The Hail Mary reaches its high point in the words 'blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus'.  The Eastern Church prayer of the heart, the Jesus Prayer, says, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'  Many Christians, such as St. Joan of Arc, have died with the one word  'Jesus' on their lips."

 

In Matthew 7: 7-11 Jesus says, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock,  and it shall be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened.  Or what man is there among you, who, if his son asks him for a loaf, will hand him a stone; or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent?  Therefore, if you, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"    In 1 Thessalonians 5: 17-18 St. Paul says, " Pray without ceasing.  In all things give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus regarding you all.

 

Over three centuries ago there was a lay brother who was a cook at the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Paris.  He was given the name Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection.   Brother Lawrence wrote very little and little of that survived.  Abbe de Beaufort put together some of his letters and wrote down what he could remember from his conversations  with Brother Lawrence.  Brother Lawrence's thoughts have influence generations of people, and he continues  even today to point the way toward the practice of the presence of God.  Brother Lawrence said that we should settle ourselves firmly in God's presence by constantly talking to Him, and that we should be ashamed when we let our thoughts of trivial and silly things break into the conversation.  That we should feed our souls by thinking of God, and that this devotion to God would give us great joy.   I encourage you to  read The Practice of the Presence of God.

 

So, keep praying.  God is listening.  God love you!

 



 

 

What does God want?

 

What does God want?

What do you give someone who has everything?  God is all powerful.. He can create whatever he wants.  What could he possibly want from us.  What can we give him  that he cannot give Himself?

So, what is the will of God?  Well, there is God's Will of Decree, Sovereign Will.   That is God's control over all that comes to pass.  We, as God's children, do not have any control over these occurrences.  One example might be a hurricane.  No earthly being causes a hurricane.  It is an act of God.  We attribute it to the Will of God.  God has a plan for the world. We do not understand everything he does, but in faith we believe that he has a plan for good and will used whatever he has allowed for His purposes.   God has set up certain laws and principles upon which the natural world works.  Sometimes they work to our disadvantage, but we trust that in the end God will use them for good.  That works for people too.  Some times people do bad and hurtful things.  God allows these things to take place, but in the end He will use them for our good and to attain his purposes.  It is for us to accept these things.

Then there is God's will of Command.  This is what he commands us to do.   In Judaism God's will is said to be the 10 Commandments and the Mitzvah (613 commandments given in the Torah and 7 rabbinic commandments issued later for a total of 620).  In Christianity we also look to the 10 Commandments and also the teachings of Jesus.  These teachings of the mind and heart of Jesus are found in the Gospel of Matthew Chapters 5, 6, and 7.  They include, among other things,  the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer.

So, we have the plan of God and the rules God has set out for us in order to fully participate in his plan.   There is one other thing, though.  God gives us a free will.  We can choose to obey his commands or not.  While we cannot change what God does, we can accept it in faith or not.  Herein lies what I believe God really wants.  He could have created being that would always accept and obey.  He did not choose to do that.  What I believe God really wants is good freely chosen.  The rest is details. 

The best part is that we have a loving and forgiving God.  So, if for whatever reason we do not choose the good,  we can repent and he forgives and welcomes us with open arms.

So, there you have it.  Good freely chosen.  Take some time to read Matthew's Gospel Chapters 5, 6, and 7. 

God love you!

This is the beginning.....

This is a new blog for me about faith matters.  I don't have any academic credentials in matters of religious faith.  I do have a lifetime of belief in God.  I was brought up in the Roman Catholic tradition.  Yes, I was an altar boy.  I attended Catholic schools for eleven years, and then taught in them for six years.  In parish life I was a teacher of religious instruction as my children were going through.  I also served as a lector and Eucharistic minister.   So, that is my background in faith matters. 

In this blog I will talk about what I think and have come to believe.  To be sure, while it will reflect what I have been taught,  I do not represent any particular faith tradition.  I will share my faith in God, Our Father, and Jesus Christ, His Son.  If I can bring anyone closer to them, I will be rewarded.

Faith:

Faith can be defined as a belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.   Ultimately we choose to believe.  What we have seen, or been taught, or experienced, or otherwise learned  leads us and convinces us to believe in God.  We are taught that faith is a gift from God.  We can pray to God for an increase.in faith.  Faith grows by practice and reading the Word of God.

Next time I'll talk about what God wants.

In the meantime................  God love you!  (Compliments to Bishop Fulton J. Sheen)

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