The Voice that speaks in court

"When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities,g do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say.
For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”  (Luke 12: 11 - 12)

Who is the Voice that speaks in court?  The Holy Spirit is the voice that speaks in court.  Have you used this Attorney?  He is highly recommended.

How beautiful upon the mountains

"How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the one bringing good news,
Announcing peace, bearing good news,
announcing salvation, saying to Zion,
“Your God is King!”  (Isaiah 52: 7)

Today is the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist.  St. Luke wrote the Gospel according to St. Luke.  It is amazing to realize that in hundreds of thousands of Masses all over the world today, this saint is remembered by millions of people. Jesus Christ promised:

"And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life."  (Matthew 19: 29)

Tell me any other historic figure that can lay to such a remembrance.  The feast of St. Luke occurs every year on October 18.  On this day every year, we witness the same outpouring of affection for this man who died about 2000 years ago.  It encourages my faith to see the predictions of Jesus Christ come fulfilled.

Isaiah 52: 7 is one of the many scriptures that are read in the Mass of St. Luke.

"How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the one bringing good news,
Announcing peace, bearing good news,
announcing salvation, saying to Zion,
“Your God is King!”  (Isaiah 52: 7)

St. Luke is the one with the beautiful feet who brings the good news.  The promise of Isaiah 52: 7 is not closed.  It is still open for you and for me to enjoy.

One with Christ is a majority

"Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me."  (Galatians 2: 20)

By faith I know that Christ lives in me. I no longer try to live and work as a natural man all by myself.  Everything I do now, I factor in Jesus.  One with Jesus is always a winner, a majority.  When I think of the future without Jesus, I become frightened.  But if I think of the future and think of Jesus who is always with me, I smile.  I know that nothing can ever shake Jesus.

Christ in me the hope of glory.  (Colossians 1: 27)

My soul waits in silence

"My soul rests in God alone,
from whom comes my salvation.
God alone is my rock and salvation,
my fortress; I shall never fall."  (Psalm 62:  2 - 3)

My soul waits in God alone.  I will wait for you O God till you answer.  Make haste my God to help me. I trust in your mercy.

"“Come,” says my heart, “seek his face”;
your face, LORD, do I seek!"  (Psalm 27: 8)

"Wait for the LORD, take courage;
be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!"  (Psalm 27:  14)

"Surely, I wait for the LORD;
who bends down to me and hears my cry,
Draws me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the muddy clay,
Sets my feet upon rock,
steadies my steps,
And puts a new song in my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
Many shall look on in fear
and they shall trust in the LORD."  (Psalm 40: 2 - 4)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek."  (Romans 1: 16)

Lord Jesus, help me never to be ashamed of the Gospel. Help me never to reject the challenges you send to train me. May I grow everyday in the knowledge of what you want me to do and at the same time increase in the strength to do it.  Amen!

Chosen, called and anointed to lead people to the obedience of faith.

"Through him we have received the grace of apostleship, to bring about the obedience of faith, for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles."  (Romans 1: 5)

Through Christ Jesus we too have received this tremendous calling to be apostles so that we can lead people to the obedience of faith.

The Lord choose us, called us and anointed us for this task.

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

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

"In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."  (1 Thessalonians 5: 18)

What disappointment do I need to give thanks to God here and now?

My heart is broken by the news I got this afternoon that a dear couple, both of whom I love dearly and admire very are separated.  I call it separation because I don't believe in divorce.  God does not make mistakes.  God never fails. At the news,  I cried out, "O what a sad news on a Sunday."  For me, Sunday is the Day of the Lord; the Day of the Son.  It is a Day of joy.  Nothing should disturb the peace or joy on a Sunday.  The Day of the Resurrection.   As I grieved this news this afternoon,  I asked Jesus to place His hand on my heart and help me to be calm and think rationally. Then  I remembered the scripture verse of today:
"In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

So I decided to give thanks for the separation of these two dear friends.  I was at their wedding.  It reminded me then of the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. I was also in London the Saturday the prince and princess wedded.  Now I am consoled by this word of God below:

"We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified."  (Romans 8: 28 - 30)

Dear friends, join me in praying for N & M.
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