Too good to be true

"And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it."  (John 14: 13 - 14)

Lord Jesus, grant me deep faith in this sweeping promise.  I know it is true but it sounds too good to be true

Adoration and Worship

Adoration Chapel's Blessed Sacrament Altar
Psalm 27:8

8 You have said, “Seek my face.”My heart says to you,“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

Share the Gospel

"And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."  (Mark 16:15)

"Every soul with Christ is a missionary ; every soul without Christ is a mission field."  -  (Our Daily Bread)

"I have chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last."  (John 15: 16, 19)

"I will bear witness to you in the world, O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers."  (Psalm 17: 50; 21: 23)

Do not conform

Romans 12:2
Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

The antidote or medicine for not being conformed to the world is the word of God. Daily and constant intake of the precious word renews our minds. As our mind is renewed, it is transformed and made strong to withstand the lies of the Father of lies.

The Enterprise Word

Acts 5:38-39
"For if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!”

My sheep follow me

"My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me."  (John 10: 27)

I am one of the sheep of Jesus.  He says in John 10: 27 that He knows me.  I hear His voice and I follow Him.  Where do I hear the voice of Jesus?

I hear Jesus speaking to me in His word.  I hear Him at Mass and at the Blessed Sacrament.  I hear His voice when I pray.  I am surprised how often I hear Him when I blog.

Yes Jesus, I am beginning to recognize your voice.  I like what I hear all the time because I have come to trust you to lead and guide me to green pastures and protect me even when I stray into the valley of death.

Abundant life

"I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly."  (John 10: 10)

What is this abundant life?  When we look at the life that Christ lived while on earth, it is clear that He does not mean the ordinary life we live here and now even when our material goods and possessions are multiplied.  Christ made a distinction between worldly or material riches and genuine riches.  We can infer  that abundant life means life that is filled with genuine riches.

Who provides abundant life?  Genuine riches or abundant life is provided by the One who is described as Lord and Giver of Life, the Holy Spirit.

When does the Holy Spirit provide  abundant life?  The Holy Spirit provides and builds on the abundant life through the Sacraments of Initiation.  The Sacraments of Initiation are Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.   When the Christian is baptized, the Holy Spirit comes to live in him and fills the soul with sanctifying grace.  Sanctifying grace is the life of God in the soul.  It is the presence of the Most Holy Trinity in the soul.  This presence or life is enhanced through the Eucharist and strengthened through the Sacrament of Confirmation.  This is the abundant life that Christ speaks of in John 10: 10.

Missionary and Mission

"Every soul with Christ is a missionary ; every soul without Christ is a mission field."  -  Our Daily Bread

The Blood of the Lamb

"“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."  (Revelation 7: 14)

This scripture read in today’s second reading may prove a useful arsenal in  hospital and other outreach ministries.

"“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."  (Revelation 7: 14)

“Time of great distress” is also time of downtime through illness, financial challenges, family upheaval, loss of job and income, and more.  How do we react during these inevitable crisis of life?  Revelation 7: 14 gave the answer:  “they washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb.”  They did not reject their cross.  Pope Benedict XVI taught that rejection of the cross is rejection of Jesus Christ.  When you accept your cross, you get your crown.  When you embrace your thorns, you receive your triumphs.  The Church has never compromised on this teaching.  The TRUTH on this is indivisible and perennial.  There is no choice with the truth.  The choice is “hairesis” (Greek for choosing what you want to believe) and is a rejection of Jesus Christ and the Cross.