The Working of God’s Providence

"If one prays with faith, even today, the Lord does not fail to perform miracles of healing. But God's providence ordinarily works through responsible commitment, through the resources of intelligence, of science, of appropriate medical and social assistance." (Pope John Paul II)

How does God providence work?

God providence works through the most direct and natural medium available here and now. The working of God's providence is marked by utter simplicity. This simplicity can deceive the senses. It requires the eyes of faith to see and appreciate the operation of God's providence.

Character is destiny2

"It is for this destiny that God himself has been shaping us; and as a pledge of it he has given us the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 5: 5)

The destiny:

• Friend and companion of Jesus
  
• His ambassador
  
• Ministry of reconciliation
  

How has God been shaping me for this destiny?

SJC, CSSP, SJ, Ife, Kano, London, Lagos, Abidjan, Paris, Lagos, Houston, AJS, QOP, 1414, Enterprise.

The Real Presence of Christ in the Mass

Christ is present in the Mass:

• In the person of his minister
  
• Especially under the Eucharistic species
  
• He is present in his word, since it is himself who speaks when the Holy Scriptures are read in the Church.
  

The Mass because it is an action of Christ the priest and his Body the Church, is a sacred action surpassing all others. No other action of the Church can match its claim to efficacy, nor equal the degree of it.

The Liturgy is the summit towards which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time, it is the fountain from which all her power flows. The renewal in the Eucharist of the Covenant between the Lord and man draws the faithful into the compelling love of Christ and sets them afire. From the Eucharist as from a fountain, grace is channeled to us.

DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH (Vatican Council II)

CONSTITUTION ON THE LITURGY (Vatican Council II)

The Laity in the Church

Christ is the Supreme and Eternal Priest.

Christ wills to continue his ministry and serve through the laity too.

He therefore vivifies them in the Spirit and unceasingly urges them on to every good and perfect work.

Christ intimately associates me too in his life and mission.

He also gives me a share in his priestly function of offering spiritual worship for the glory of God and the salvation of men.

During the celebration of the Mass, I have the opportunity to offer my:

• Works
  
• Prayers/desires
  
• Apostolic endeavors
  
• Home life
  
• Mental and physical relaxation
  
• Hardships of life
  

To the Father along with the Lord. Through this means, I consecrate the world to God.

DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH (Vatican Council II)

Mind of Christ

"Put on the mind of Christ." (Philippians 2:5)

The basic point is this: We bring our thinking in line with Christ's understanding of life today.

How I wish I could say with St. Paul "But we have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinthians 2: 16)

The Mass

What is the Mass?

It is the great mystery of our faith. The word mystery comes from the Greek word, mysterion which is translated by the Latin, sacramentum. It signifies a secret, something hidden and unknown. It could be a secret religious rite to which only the fully initiated are admitted.

What happens in the Mass is that God's mysterious plan, conceived from all eternity and brought to its fulfillment in his Divine Son's passion, death and resurrection is made present.

The Mass is a marvelous drama jointly produced by Christ and his Church.

During the Mass, we receive the Body and Blood of Christ in Communion. "Communion" has its roots in the Greek koinonia, which includes the notions of fellowship, unity, sharing and community. Communion is first with the Lord and from that to all believers.

The Bible and the Mass, Stravinskas

Open Door

"I know about your activities. Look, I have opened in front of you a door that no one will be able to close – and I know that although you are not very strong, you have kept my commandments and not disowned my name." (Revelation 3:8)

The Lord knows about my activities. He knows everything about my job, the joys, the successes and the frustrations. Jesus knows all about me.

The Lord opened many doors in my life:

• UACN
  
• UEF
  
• QOP
  
• AJS
  

All these doors are now closed. There are many things in life that are transient. There are a few that are permanent. Jesus promises in Revelation 3:8 to open a door that will be permanently open for me. That door is Christ himself. Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

The Lord also knows all about my weaknesses.

Weakness:

• Gideon's clan was the weakest in Manasseh (Judge 6:15)
  
• We have no power against their great army (2 Chronicles 20: 12)
  
• We are unable to build the wall (Nehemiah 4: 10)
  
• Without me you can do nothing (John 15: 5)
  
• I know you have only a little power (Revelation 3: 8)
  

  
   

• I will boast of my weakness (2 Corinthians 11: 30; 12: 5, 9)
  
• I am content with weakness, for when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12: 10)
  
• They won strength out of weakness (Hebrews 11: 34)
  
• Christ's power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12: 9)
  

  
   

• Help the weak (1 Thessalonians 5: 14)
  
• Strengthen the weak knees (Hebrews 12: 12)
  

  
   

• God chose what is weak (1 Corinthians 1: 27)
  
• The Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8: 26)
  
• A high priest able to sympathize in our weakness (Hebrews 4: 15)
  

  ROGET'S THESAURUS OF THE BIBLE