The Lord protects strangers and immigrants - Psalm 146

"If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead."  (Luke 6: 31 NLT)

Who are the Moses and the prophets of today?  Jesus founded the Church as the Sacrament of Salvation to continue His saving work which is not finished.

 “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,  baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.   Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28: 18 -  20 NLT)

He also assured them that whoever listens to them listens to Him.  (Luke 10: 16)

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Pay attention to what I am telling you.

"They were afraid to ask him about this saying."  (Luke 9: 45 NABRE)

When Jesus spoke about His passion and death, the apostles did not understand but at same time were afraid to ask Him for clarification.  Are you afraid when you hear phrases like "no cross, no crown; no thorns, no triumph?"
Don’t be afraid to ask Jesus about anything.  He is waiting to give you understanding into any perplexing situation.  Ask and you shall receive.  (Matthew 7: 7, Luke 11: 9)

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart."  (Psalm 90: 12)

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Lord send the time to laugh and dance.

"There is an appointed time for everything,  and a time for every affair under the heavens."  (Ecclesiastes 3: 1 NABRE)

Are you waiting on God for any special favors?  Perhaps on health, family, finances, job, home, car, etc.
Do not be frustrated because it may not be the right time.  God does nothing except in the fullness of time.  Now may be a time to weep.  But the time to laugh is round the corner. (Ecclesiastes 3: 4)

Open your heart to Jesus in faith.  He knows exactly what you need and when you need it.  (Matthew 6: 8)

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If you seek Me with all your heart you will find me.

”And he kept trying to see him." (Luke 9: 9 NABRE)

Herod the Tetrach who beheaded John the Baptist kept trying to see Jesus.  Do you have a burning desire to encounter Jesus?  In spite of disappointments, obstacles and delays, do you still keep trying to see Jesus?

Jesus promises that those who seek Him will find Him.   (Matthew 7: 7-8, Jeremiah 29: 13, Proverbs 8: 17)

What do you seek most in your life?  Money, fame, pleasure, health?
Seek first Jesus and His Kingdom and you will have everything you need.   (Matthew 6: 33 - 34)

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I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.

[Jesus] said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him."  (Matthew 9: 9 NABRE)

Was Matthew qualified to be an apostle?  He was chosen and qualified by Jesus.  We have hope.

"And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified."  (Romans 8 : 30 NABRE)

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Hear the word and do the word. Know the word and do the word.

“My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”  (Luke 8: 21 NKJV)

What is it that produces change/transformation in us?  It is not what we know that produces transformation.  It is what you do every day.

Sow a thought and you reap an act.  Sow an act and you reap a habit.  Sow a habit and you reap a character.  Sow a character and you reap your destiny. 
Watch out!  Your character is your Destiny.

Everyone who hears the word of Christ and does it is a wise man. (Matthew 7: 24)

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They shall live in peace who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe from the innocent.

"To anyone who has, more will be given."  (Luke 8: 18 NABRE)

Two types of riches:  Dishonest riches and Genuine riches of faith, hope and charity.   If you grow and exercise your faith, hope and love, you become richer in these virtues.   It is said and it is true that the greatest gift on earth is faith.  He who has faith has everything.  The most slippery thing is dishonest riches.  Filthy lucre and filthy lust go together.  Both lead to perdition.

"From the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”  (Luke 8: 18)

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9-19

"To anyone who has, more will be given."  (Luke 8: 18 NABRE)

Two types of riches:  Dishonest riches and Genuine riches of faith, hope and charity.   If you grow and exercise your faith, hope and love, you become richer in these virtues.   It is said and it is true that the greatest gift on earth is faith.  He who has faith has everything.  The most slippery thing is dishonest riches.  Filthy lucre and filthy lust go together.  Both lead to perdition.

"From the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”  (Luke 8: 18)

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No servant can serve two masters.

"You cannot serve both God and money.”  (Luke 16: 13 NIV)

Are you tempted to do this to see if you can defy Jesus Christ?
Dishonest wealth also called filthy lucre is tempting.  Like the apple in the Garden of Eden.

Bible teachers instruct that filthy lucre follow filthy lust as night follows day.

God gives us this incredible promise:

"Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.” (Hebrews 13: 5 NABRE)

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Blessed is the servant, whom his Lord finds awake when he comes and knocks at the door.

"Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance."  (Cf Luke 8: 15 RM)

If you embrace the word of God with a generous heart and bear fruit through perseverance, all thanks to Jesus who is the Evergreen Cypress Tree.  It is because of Him that we are faithful and fruitful.   (Hosea 14: 8)

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It is you who have stood by me in my trials, and now I confer a kingdom on you.

"If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied."  (1 Corinthians 15: 19 NIV)

Do you believe in the Resurrection of the dead?  Have you considered the truth that God never requires us to believe in anything that is unreasonable?  God always provides the grounds for belief.  In the case of the certainty of our Resurrection, God reminds us that we are surrounded by clouds of witnesses.  (Hebrews 12 : 1)  Then there is the inward testimony to the truth: Do you seriously think that your departed loved ones have vanished forever?

Our faith is not in vain. Christ is risen.  We shall rise.

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Standing by the cross of Jesus was His Mother.

"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother."  (John 19: 25 NIV)

Some of us have watched on  television the execution of a criminal by lethal injection or by some other means.  I have never identified a mother among the small crowd watching the most gruesome sight ever.

When the prophet Simeon said to Mary, "your own soul a sword will pierce," (Luke 2: 35),  did Mary take this literally?
Her destiny in the plan of our salvation was to stand close by the cross of Jesus, hear His very last words and share intimately His suffering.  After 3 hours on the cross, Jesus said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son." Then to the disciple, John, "Behold, your mother."  (John 19: 27)

With this great example of Mary, may we accept with serenity the sufferings we can not avoid.

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Christ emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave.

"With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses."  (Numbers 21: 4-5 RM)

Our life is a Journey of Faith from earth to our true Homeland.  How do you sustain your spirit so that your patience is not worn out by the inevitable problems on the Road?
Christ Jesus has given us great and effective tools:  Prayer, Word of God, Holy Communion, Sacrament of Reconciliation, etc.

Happy Journeying!

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Sing joyfully to the Lord; Give thanks to Him; bless His holy name.

"Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts."  (1 Corinthians 12: 31 NABRE)

What is your greatest spiritual gift?
For me, it is the gift of prayer.  Prayer can dig you out of any hole.
I believe in prayer.  I believe in the word of God.  I believe in miracle.  I leave the rest to God.
St John Chrysostom, Church Father and Doctor of the Church, whose feast day is today says of prayer:
"Prayer is a treasure undiminished, a mine never exhausted, a sky unobstructed by clouds, a haven unruffled by storm."

St Augustine, another Church Father and Doctor of the Church says:  "If you pray well, you live well; if you live well, you die well.  If you die well, all is well."

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To do Your will, O My God, is My delight.

"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes."  (1 Corinthians 11: 26 NABRE)

What is "this bread and cup?"  St Paul refers to the Eucharist or Holy Communion.  Why did he say that in participating in the Eucharist, we acknowledge and proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes?  We come to the Eucharist acknowledging that the death of Jesus Christ on the cross is a sacrifice for the Redemption of the world and not a Roman execution of a criminal.

Do the Eucharist often in remembrance of Jesus.

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How precious is Your mercy, O God!

"I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief."  (1 Timothy 1: 13 NABRE)

Those who are called according to His purpose, Jesus justified. (Romans 8: 28 - 30) Jesus wiped out our sins excusing our wrongdoings and saying 'that one, he was ignorant of my will and acted in unbelief.'

What a gracious and merciful Savior.  Praise Him now and always.   Amen!

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Flee from the worship of idols.

"Therefore, my beloved, avoid idolatry."  (1 Corinthians 10 : 14  NABRE)

What are the common idols of our day?
1. Are you consumed with  lust for money and material possessions?
2. Is your job a higher priority than worshipping God on Sunday and and observing the Sabbath?
3.  Do you love wife, husband, child, friend more than you love Jesus?
4. Are you prompt to obey every law of the land while the laws of God are barely known?

Anything you place above God becomes your idol.  This is forbidden by the First Commandment: 
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Matthew 22: 37)

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The Lord withholds no good thing from those who walk in sincerity.

"I offer the gospel free of charge."  (1 Corinthians 9: 18 NABRE)

Lord Jesus grant me freedom from foolish and unnecessary worries so that I can offer the Gospel free of charge.

Yes Lord, I have received freely. With the help of Your grace, I will give free of charge.  (Matthew 10: 8)

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Let us be filled with joy in celebrating the Birthday of Mary!

"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”  (Matthew 1: 21 NKJV)

A sin-filled vessel cannot hold a sinless holy God.  So the first person to be saved from sin was Mary, who through the foreseen merits of Jesus Christ was conceived without sin.
"I am the Immaculate Conception", Mary said to St Bernadette.

Today is the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Happy Birthday O dear Mother.  We your grateful children love you so much!

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Thank You Jesus for honoring Your word through the life and promotion of St Teresa of Kolkata.

“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God."  (Luke 6: 20 NIV)

Most of us dread poverty.  Yet Jesus says that those who are poor are not only blessed here and now but after their death will inherit the Kingdom of God.
Mother Teresa embraced poverty and the poor.  She was certainly filled with joy and happiness while she lived among us.  On Sunday, September 4th, she was canonized as St Teresa of Kolkata.  Jesus confirmed through the Church that the Kingdom of God is truly hers forever and ever.

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