Good News ReflectionFriday of the 30th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 30, 2009
Tomorrow is Halloween. What are you doing with it to bring God's kingdom more fully to earth?http://wordbytes.org/occult/halloween.htm
Today's Readings:Rom 9:1-5Ps 147:12-15,19-20Luke 14:1-6http://www.usccb.org/nab/103009.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_30.mp3
The sorrowful soul of an effective evangelizer
Does anyone cause you "great sorrow and constant anguish" because of their lack of faith in Jesus Christ? We, like Saint Paul in today's first reading, should care about the eternal souls of others so much that when they make bad decisions that reject Jesus, instead of feeling condemnation for them, we feel great inner pain.
When we know what others are missing in their refusal to turn to the healing love of Christ, it hurts to see them continue to turn away from it. When we know that their sins are destroying them and hurting others as well, if we truly care, we feel tremendous sorrow.
Before we can do much good in evangelizing these people, we have to get in touch with this pain. If their sins are making us angry, our efforts to help them come across as judgmental. We must first go through a process of forgiveness and letting go of the anger. Only then can we reach the spiritual state where we actually feel sorrow for them.
If their unhealthy behaviors are triggering our own unhealthy reactions, our love for them gets warped and twisted into a sick counterfeit that enables them to continue in their erring ways. We must first turn to God and let him strengthen our holy, healthy understanding of the issues.
This leads to a deep, inner anguish over the sorrowful condition of their souls. This kind of pain is not something to avoid! It gives us a pure, holy motivation to pray for them and evangelize them.
If you've forgiven them but don't yet feel such anguish, meditate on God's love for them and then let that love become your love for them. Yes it hurts when we love them that much. The tears of love for those who reject the love of God are indications that we are experiencing an advanced degree of holiness.
This is the same depth of caring that Jesus felt for the man with dropsy in the Gospel passage today. In this case, it was someone's physical suffering that triggered an outpouring of love. But how did he feel about the scholars of the law and the Pharisees who condemned him for breaking a religious law? We can be sure that Jesus suffered deeply in his soul over their legalism and lack of Godly compassion. It's what motivated him to die for them.
Often when we read about Jesus dealing with the Pharisees and scribes, we see his condemnation of their sins but neglect to read between the lines to get in touch with the utter anguish he felt over the emptiness in their souls. When we're aware of sins being committed, we are called to speak up as much as possible to condemn the sins and help the sinner find the redemption of Christ. But we won't succeed if we don't first reach the depth of love where we feel anguish over the damage that the sinners are doing to themselves.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Thursday, October 29, 2009
Keep your eyes on Jesus
Good News ReflectionThursday of the 30th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 29, 2009
Halloween's almost here. What's the right perspective about it? See my Good News WordByte on it:http://wordbytes.org/occult/halloween.htm
Today's Readings:Rom 8:31b-39Ps 109:21-22, 26-27,30-31Luke 13:31-35http://www.usccb.org/nab/102909.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_29.mp3
Keep your eyes on Jesus
Do you feel overwhelmed? Is a problem causing you anguish, or distress, or persecution, or a famine of unmet needs, or a feeling of being too vulnerable, or putting you in danger?
In today's first reading, Saint Paul assures us that, in reality, it's not the problems that are overwhelming. It's our victory over the problems: "We conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us."
While in the midst of trials, it's difficult to feel the closeness of God and see his plan of action and understand why he's allowing us to suffer. We miss seeing this truth because we're focused on who's causing the problem and what's happening in the visible world.
We need to put our focus back on Jesus! Since he loved us so much that he sacrificed his life for us, we have proof that his love is so strong it will always embrace us. Jesus will always take good care of us, doing what's best for us as well as for all those who are involved in the same situation (he loves your trouble-makers as much as he loves you).
When it seems like God has abandoned us or neglected our needs or ignored our prayer requests, that's when we most need to put our eyes back on Jesus and take a good look at who God really is and what his personality is really like. God is love, and it's impossible for love to stop loving.
Whatever is causing us to feel anguish or distress, whatever we're worried about, because of our relationship with God it's never as bad as it seems. Evil can never succeed. No troubles can come between us and the Lord. God's love won't fail to intervene and protect us and guide us to the best solutions. Even while it seems to take "too long", he is helping us.
We certainly can fail to receive his help, we can make bad decisions that lead us into more trouble, and we can let others control our moods if we depend on them for our joy, but God's love never stops ministering to us, never stops providing us with everything we need, never stops being a cause for joy.
The only thing that's impossible for love to do is to stop loving us. The only way for evil to defeat this love is for us to believe – whole-heartedly – that such undying love isn't really what we want. And that's how people end up in hell.
Evil creates a false illusion that it's going to win against God's power. Evil has momentary victories when we take our eyes off of Jesus and let the sources of our troubles control our faith. Yet, even before we reclaim our faith by choosing to trust God, God's love is covering us, surrounding us, seeking a way into our hearts so it can fill us, always making itself available.
God's love overwhelms all strategies of evil and all potentials for disaster. Our trust in this love overwhelms our negative emotions and produces lasting joy. Choose to trust!
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Halloween's almost here. What's the right perspective about it? See my Good News WordByte on it:http://wordbytes.org/occult/halloween.htm
Today's Readings:Rom 8:31b-39Ps 109:21-22, 26-27,30-31Luke 13:31-35http://www.usccb.org/nab/102909.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_29.mp3
Keep your eyes on Jesus
Do you feel overwhelmed? Is a problem causing you anguish, or distress, or persecution, or a famine of unmet needs, or a feeling of being too vulnerable, or putting you in danger?
In today's first reading, Saint Paul assures us that, in reality, it's not the problems that are overwhelming. It's our victory over the problems: "We conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us."
While in the midst of trials, it's difficult to feel the closeness of God and see his plan of action and understand why he's allowing us to suffer. We miss seeing this truth because we're focused on who's causing the problem and what's happening in the visible world.
We need to put our focus back on Jesus! Since he loved us so much that he sacrificed his life for us, we have proof that his love is so strong it will always embrace us. Jesus will always take good care of us, doing what's best for us as well as for all those who are involved in the same situation (he loves your trouble-makers as much as he loves you).
When it seems like God has abandoned us or neglected our needs or ignored our prayer requests, that's when we most need to put our eyes back on Jesus and take a good look at who God really is and what his personality is really like. God is love, and it's impossible for love to stop loving.
Whatever is causing us to feel anguish or distress, whatever we're worried about, because of our relationship with God it's never as bad as it seems. Evil can never succeed. No troubles can come between us and the Lord. God's love won't fail to intervene and protect us and guide us to the best solutions. Even while it seems to take "too long", he is helping us.
We certainly can fail to receive his help, we can make bad decisions that lead us into more trouble, and we can let others control our moods if we depend on them for our joy, but God's love never stops ministering to us, never stops providing us with everything we need, never stops being a cause for joy.
The only thing that's impossible for love to do is to stop loving us. The only way for evil to defeat this love is for us to believe – whole-heartedly – that such undying love isn't really what we want. And that's how people end up in hell.
Evil creates a false illusion that it's going to win against God's power. Evil has momentary victories when we take our eyes off of Jesus and let the sources of our troubles control our faith. Yet, even before we reclaim our faith by choosing to trust God, God's love is covering us, surrounding us, seeking a way into our hearts so it can fill us, always making itself available.
God's love overwhelms all strategies of evil and all potentials for disaster. Our trust in this love overwhelms our negative emotions and produces lasting joy. Choose to trust!
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Saintliness is in our DNA
Good News ReflectionWednesday of the 30th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 28, 2009
Today's Feast: Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles Pray for help in desperate situations:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/Jude.htm
For a printer-ready copy of "Successful Faith in a Family of Sinful Saints", which is an alternative reflection for today and is useful in RCIA and other church groups, please visit Catholic Digital Resources at http://catholicdr.com/calendar/October/Simon-Jude.htm
Today's Readings:Rom 6:12-18Ps 124:1b-8Luke 12:39-48http://www.usccb.org/nab/102109.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_21.mp3
Saintliness is in our DNA
You and I are brothers and sisters, members of the same household. We belong to a growing family that includes all the saints in heaven as well as the unfinished saints who still live on earth. In today's first reading, St. Paul says that we form a building (the Church), the foundation of which is the apostles and prophets. The cornerstone is Jesus, and he holds us all together.
In the Gospel reading, Jesus discerned which of his disciples should be trained as future leaders of the Church. Today we celebrate the sainthood of two of them: Simon who was called a Zealot because he was zealous about obeying both Jewish law and Canaanite law, and Jude (or Judas) the son of James and a relative of Jesus.
Jude is our brother in desperate situations; in his New Testament letter he stressed that we must persevere in difficulties. Yet Jude told Jesus at the Last Supper that he should show himself to the whole world after his resurrection (see John 14:22). How much easier the Apostles' work would have been if Jesus had made public appearances after conquering death!
Think of someone you've been praying for, someone you've been trying to convince to come to Mass, or someone who refuses to repent of sinful behavior. Wouldn't it be great if Jesus appeared to them and spoke directly to them? How much easier your ministry to them would be! St. Jude knows how to help us persevere in the difficulties that come with being an evangelizer.
Simon is the brother of those who find security in legalistic observance of Church and civil laws. His saintliness increased when he learned from Jesus that the highest law is the Law of Love. As he listened to Jesus and observed his behavior, his understanding of obedience expanded. When we forget that all Church laws were made to benefit Christians, not enslave us, St. Simon knows how to help us get our priorities right.
The saints in heaven are available to help us in our earthly lives, because we belong to the same family, united and enlivened by Jesus. Jesus is the blood that flows through the family tree. Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Sainthood Causes, has said: "Holiness ... belongs to the very nature of the Church, to its DNA."
In other words, we all have saintliness in our DNA. Only a few are called to such heroic sainthood that they're canonized as examples of holiness; however, according to Scripture, a saint is anyone who's a member of the household of God. Yes, that means that you too are a saint, made holy by the Holy Spirit when you were baptized, growing in holiness as you learn to live according to your baptismal likeness of the Divine Father.
On a different note: Halloween's almost here. What's the right perspective about it? See my Good News WordByte on it:http://wordbytes.org/occult/halloween.htm
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Today's Feast: Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles Pray for help in desperate situations:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/Jude.htm
For a printer-ready copy of "Successful Faith in a Family of Sinful Saints", which is an alternative reflection for today and is useful in RCIA and other church groups, please visit Catholic Digital Resources at http://catholicdr.com/calendar/October/Simon-Jude.htm
Today's Readings:Rom 6:12-18Ps 124:1b-8Luke 12:39-48http://www.usccb.org/nab/102109.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_21.mp3
Saintliness is in our DNA
You and I are brothers and sisters, members of the same household. We belong to a growing family that includes all the saints in heaven as well as the unfinished saints who still live on earth. In today's first reading, St. Paul says that we form a building (the Church), the foundation of which is the apostles and prophets. The cornerstone is Jesus, and he holds us all together.
In the Gospel reading, Jesus discerned which of his disciples should be trained as future leaders of the Church. Today we celebrate the sainthood of two of them: Simon who was called a Zealot because he was zealous about obeying both Jewish law and Canaanite law, and Jude (or Judas) the son of James and a relative of Jesus.
Jude is our brother in desperate situations; in his New Testament letter he stressed that we must persevere in difficulties. Yet Jude told Jesus at the Last Supper that he should show himself to the whole world after his resurrection (see John 14:22). How much easier the Apostles' work would have been if Jesus had made public appearances after conquering death!
Think of someone you've been praying for, someone you've been trying to convince to come to Mass, or someone who refuses to repent of sinful behavior. Wouldn't it be great if Jesus appeared to them and spoke directly to them? How much easier your ministry to them would be! St. Jude knows how to help us persevere in the difficulties that come with being an evangelizer.
Simon is the brother of those who find security in legalistic observance of Church and civil laws. His saintliness increased when he learned from Jesus that the highest law is the Law of Love. As he listened to Jesus and observed his behavior, his understanding of obedience expanded. When we forget that all Church laws were made to benefit Christians, not enslave us, St. Simon knows how to help us get our priorities right.
The saints in heaven are available to help us in our earthly lives, because we belong to the same family, united and enlivened by Jesus. Jesus is the blood that flows through the family tree. Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Sainthood Causes, has said: "Holiness ... belongs to the very nature of the Church, to its DNA."
In other words, we all have saintliness in our DNA. Only a few are called to such heroic sainthood that they're canonized as examples of holiness; however, according to Scripture, a saint is anyone who's a member of the household of God. Yes, that means that you too are a saint, made holy by the Holy Spirit when you were baptized, growing in holiness as you learn to live according to your baptismal likeness of the Divine Father.
On a different note: Halloween's almost here. What's the right perspective about it? See my Good News WordByte on it:http://wordbytes.org/occult/halloween.htm
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Monday, October 26, 2009
The reign of God in the midst of our sufferings
Good News ReflectionTuesday of the 30th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 27, 2009
Today's Saint: FrumentiusPray about the plans that have gone awry:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/Frumentius.htm
Today's Readings:Rom 8:18-25Ps 126:1b-6Luke 13:18-21http://www.usccb.org/nab/102709.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_27.mp3
The reign of God in the midst of our sufferings
One of the signs that God's kingdom is here, now, rather than only in heaven or after the Second Coming of Christ, is the fact that in times of trouble there is hope. There is faith. There is trust in God. There's even joy!
These proofs of God's reign usually start very small, like tiny mustard seeds or granules of yeast, as Jesus points out in today's Gospel reading. If we have even the smallest hope, a tiny portion of faith, a wee bit of trust, or a little joy, and if we plant it in the soil of our sufferings where our tears water our prayers, or if we knead it in the dough of our struggles and let it rise in the warmth of our friendship with Christ, it grows. We reap countless blessings.
The Kingdom of God is a kingdom of ministry. Jesus ministers to you and asks you to minister to others. The field of our hardships can either produce pointless sufferings and wasted time and destruction, leaving us with scars that never fully heal and grief that never ends, or it can produce a ministry of outreach and compassion, blessing others as Jesus ministers to them through us, and giving us many reasons to rejoice.
To experience the reign of God in our lives right now, right here in our present pain, we must turn to Jesus to be ministered to and allow him to use our sufferings for the sake of others, like he showed us to do by the example of his own life. It's only when we can see good coming from our hardships that our grief becomes joy and our tears become seeds that sprout into blessed fruits of God's Kingdom.
Today's first reading shows us the attitude of one who lives in God: "I consider the sufferings of the present to be as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed in us." The reign of God is not a quick fix nor a snap of God's almighty finger to produce a magical solution that stops every evil that we cover in prayer. It takes time. And for good reason!
As more dough gets added to our lives, more yeast is required, but the result is a bigger bread that can feed more people. The larger the field that gets fertilized and tilled when we get plowed over with life's difficulties, the more seeds of God's Kingdom we can sow, producing a larger crop and providing more of God's Kingdom to the world.
The reign of God is the glory revealed even – maybe even especially – in the midst of our sufferings. It's the glory that's revealed IN you and me and THROUGH you and me. It's, as Saint Paul calls it, hope.
Our hope is based on the redemptive power of Christ's sacrificial love. Someday, our earthly sufferings will end at the redemption of our bodies as we leave earth in the embrace of Jesus. In the meantime, by his redemptive love, our willingness to minister to others transforms all of our sacrifices into great goodness and tremendous glories here on earth.
On a different note: Halloween's almost here. What's the right perspective about it? See my Good News WordByte on it:http://wordbytes.org/occult/halloween.htm
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Today's Saint: FrumentiusPray about the plans that have gone awry:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/Frumentius.htm
Today's Readings:Rom 8:18-25Ps 126:1b-6Luke 13:18-21http://www.usccb.org/nab/102709.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_27.mp3
The reign of God in the midst of our sufferings
One of the signs that God's kingdom is here, now, rather than only in heaven or after the Second Coming of Christ, is the fact that in times of trouble there is hope. There is faith. There is trust in God. There's even joy!
These proofs of God's reign usually start very small, like tiny mustard seeds or granules of yeast, as Jesus points out in today's Gospel reading. If we have even the smallest hope, a tiny portion of faith, a wee bit of trust, or a little joy, and if we plant it in the soil of our sufferings where our tears water our prayers, or if we knead it in the dough of our struggles and let it rise in the warmth of our friendship with Christ, it grows. We reap countless blessings.
The Kingdom of God is a kingdom of ministry. Jesus ministers to you and asks you to minister to others. The field of our hardships can either produce pointless sufferings and wasted time and destruction, leaving us with scars that never fully heal and grief that never ends, or it can produce a ministry of outreach and compassion, blessing others as Jesus ministers to them through us, and giving us many reasons to rejoice.
To experience the reign of God in our lives right now, right here in our present pain, we must turn to Jesus to be ministered to and allow him to use our sufferings for the sake of others, like he showed us to do by the example of his own life. It's only when we can see good coming from our hardships that our grief becomes joy and our tears become seeds that sprout into blessed fruits of God's Kingdom.
Today's first reading shows us the attitude of one who lives in God: "I consider the sufferings of the present to be as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed in us." The reign of God is not a quick fix nor a snap of God's almighty finger to produce a magical solution that stops every evil that we cover in prayer. It takes time. And for good reason!
As more dough gets added to our lives, more yeast is required, but the result is a bigger bread that can feed more people. The larger the field that gets fertilized and tilled when we get plowed over with life's difficulties, the more seeds of God's Kingdom we can sow, producing a larger crop and providing more of God's Kingdom to the world.
The reign of God is the glory revealed even – maybe even especially – in the midst of our sufferings. It's the glory that's revealed IN you and me and THROUGH you and me. It's, as Saint Paul calls it, hope.
Our hope is based on the redemptive power of Christ's sacrificial love. Someday, our earthly sufferings will end at the redemption of our bodies as we leave earth in the embrace of Jesus. In the meantime, by his redemptive love, our willingness to minister to others transforms all of our sacrifices into great goodness and tremendous glories here on earth.
On a different note: Halloween's almost here. What's the right perspective about it? See my Good News WordByte on it:http://wordbytes.org/occult/halloween.htm
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Sunday, October 25, 2009
The Spirit of Adoption
Good News ReflectionMonday of the 30th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 26, 2009
Halloween's almost here. What's the right perspective about it? See my Good News WordByte on it:http://wordbytes.org/occult/halloween.htm
Today's Readings:Rom 8:12-17Ps 68:2, 4, 6-7ab, 20-21Luke 13:10-17http://www.usccb.org/nab/102609.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_26.mp3
The Spirit of Adoption
What does Saint Paul mean when he says, in today's first reading, that we received a "spirit of adoption"?
The Holy Spirit of God, he says, bears witness – testifies – that we are God's children. We are his heirs, which implies a wonderful inheritance. We were born as mere humans, totally lacking God's supernatural nature, but we have been adopted into his loving family with all the riches of our Father's kingdom.
In the Creed, we say that "we believe in one God, the Father of all." He was our Father since the moment he created us in our human mother's womb. He's the only true (i.e., perfectly loving) Father that we've ever had. So – why do we need a spirit of adoption?
When we sin, we break the spiritual connection between us and our Creator. It's like the rebellious son who rejects the teachings of his parents and adopts a contrary lifestyle. He cannot break the birth bond. He cannot put an end to his blood connection with his parents, not even if he changes his name. However, the family's spiritual connection has been broken. When the son finally reconciles with his parents, the spiritual bond must be restored: Trust has to be rebuilt and hearts need to be healed.
When we reconcile with God, how can we rebuild trust? He knows that we'll sin again. Although we sincerely want to be good children, he knows he cannot trust us to remain sinless. So he gave us a spirit of adoption. It's a gift from the Father's tremendous, unconditional love for us. Because of this spirit of adoption, it doesn't matter that we cannot be trusted. The Father trusts his own Holy Spirit, and "the Spirit bears witness that we are God's children."
Our Father does not hold our past sins against us. He does not base our future with him on how we treated him in the past nor on what we're capable of doing again. The past has nothing to do with his acceptance of us or his desire to partner with us in ministry. Rather, our Father bases everything on the spirit of adoption.
Were we sincere in wanting to reconcile with him? That's all that matters.
If we stay connected to him through the spirit of adoption, as true children of our Daddy-God, we treat others with the same mercy. When a bond has been broken and trust has not been rebuilt, if the person sincerely wants to reconcile with us, we have to place our trust in the spirit of adoption – not on human flesh, but on God's own Spirit. It's the only way we can be healthy and holy in our dealings with those who have hurt us and now hope to restore a good relationship with us.
If you're facing a difficult reconciliation with someone, use my e-book "The Path to Healing in Difficult Relationships"; download it from http://catholicdr.com/ebooks/relationships.htm.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Halloween's almost here. What's the right perspective about it? See my Good News WordByte on it:http://wordbytes.org/occult/halloween.htm
Today's Readings:Rom 8:12-17Ps 68:2, 4, 6-7ab, 20-21Luke 13:10-17http://www.usccb.org/nab/102609.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_26.mp3
The Spirit of Adoption
What does Saint Paul mean when he says, in today's first reading, that we received a "spirit of adoption"?
The Holy Spirit of God, he says, bears witness – testifies – that we are God's children. We are his heirs, which implies a wonderful inheritance. We were born as mere humans, totally lacking God's supernatural nature, but we have been adopted into his loving family with all the riches of our Father's kingdom.
In the Creed, we say that "we believe in one God, the Father of all." He was our Father since the moment he created us in our human mother's womb. He's the only true (i.e., perfectly loving) Father that we've ever had. So – why do we need a spirit of adoption?
When we sin, we break the spiritual connection between us and our Creator. It's like the rebellious son who rejects the teachings of his parents and adopts a contrary lifestyle. He cannot break the birth bond. He cannot put an end to his blood connection with his parents, not even if he changes his name. However, the family's spiritual connection has been broken. When the son finally reconciles with his parents, the spiritual bond must be restored: Trust has to be rebuilt and hearts need to be healed.
When we reconcile with God, how can we rebuild trust? He knows that we'll sin again. Although we sincerely want to be good children, he knows he cannot trust us to remain sinless. So he gave us a spirit of adoption. It's a gift from the Father's tremendous, unconditional love for us. Because of this spirit of adoption, it doesn't matter that we cannot be trusted. The Father trusts his own Holy Spirit, and "the Spirit bears witness that we are God's children."
Our Father does not hold our past sins against us. He does not base our future with him on how we treated him in the past nor on what we're capable of doing again. The past has nothing to do with his acceptance of us or his desire to partner with us in ministry. Rather, our Father bases everything on the spirit of adoption.
Were we sincere in wanting to reconcile with him? That's all that matters.
If we stay connected to him through the spirit of adoption, as true children of our Daddy-God, we treat others with the same mercy. When a bond has been broken and trust has not been rebuilt, if the person sincerely wants to reconcile with us, we have to place our trust in the spirit of adoption – not on human flesh, but on God's own Spirit. It's the only way we can be healthy and holy in our dealings with those who have hurt us and now hope to restore a good relationship with us.
If you're facing a difficult reconciliation with someone, use my e-book "The Path to Healing in Difficult Relationships"; download it from http://catholicdr.com/ebooks/relationships.htm.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Saturday, October 24, 2009
Good News ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: November 1, 2009Solemnity of All Saints, Cycle B
Good News ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: November 1, 2009Solemnity of All Saints, Cycle B
Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA: For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection, please go to Catholic Digital Resources:http://catholicdr.com/calendar/November/31stB.htm - Preview a sample
Next Sunday's Readings:Rev 7:2-4, 9-14Ps 24:1bc-61 John 3:1-3Matt 5:1-12ahttp://www.usccb.org/nab/110109.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_11_01.mp3
Did you hear the story of the overweight man who couldn't mount his horse? While struggling, he prayed, "All you saints of heaven, help me!" He then leaped up onto the horse, flew over the saddle and tumbled down the opposite side. "All right," he said, "only half of you help me next time!"
How much help do you get from the Saints? Do you know why the Catholic Church makes such a big deal out of declaring that some dead people are Saints and that we should honor them, have statues of them, and pray to them. Actually, theologically, we don't pray "to" any Saint (not even to the Blessed Mother of Jesus), but we do ask them to pray with us and for us (as in the Hail Mary: "pray for us sinners...").
Do you ask your friends here on earth to pray for you? And with you? How much better it is to have friends in heaven!
The canonization of a Saint is the Church's official assurance that here is a person who has arrived in the full glory of unity with God in heaven. The canonization process reaches this conclusion after extremely careful scrutiny and investigation and undeniable proof that the Saint's prayers have produced miracles.
Rev. 7:2-14 depicts the communion of saints. All friends of Jesus share in this communion. Any friend of Jesus is your friend, especially the ones who live in perfect unity with God in heaven. "Those who love you for his sake ... will never desert you," said Saint Teresa of Avila (The Way of Perfection, Chap. IX, 3).
However, to feel their friendship and become aware of their love and their caring support, we must first develop an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, for it is in God's Spirit that our relationships with the Saints exist.
Which Saints are your friends? Develop (or improve) your connection to them. Read about them. Read their own words in books or search for information about them on the internet. Ask Jesus to introduce them to you. Through the Holy Spirit, tell them what's going on in your life and what extra help you need in your spiritual growth.
Even when we're not aware of what the Saints are doing for us, they are doing something, especially if it will help us grow in holiness.
Questions for Personal Reflection:Which Saints are your special friends? What are you doing to improve those relationships?
Questions for Community Faith Sharing:How has a Saint influenced your life? Share the story of a time when you asked for help from a Saint. What happened?
STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org* To join and become a member, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA: For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection, please go to Catholic Digital Resources:http://catholicdr.com/calendar/November/31stB.htm - Preview a sample
Next Sunday's Readings:Rev 7:2-4, 9-14Ps 24:1bc-61 John 3:1-3Matt 5:1-12ahttp://www.usccb.org/nab/110109.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_11_01.mp3
Did you hear the story of the overweight man who couldn't mount his horse? While struggling, he prayed, "All you saints of heaven, help me!" He then leaped up onto the horse, flew over the saddle and tumbled down the opposite side. "All right," he said, "only half of you help me next time!"
How much help do you get from the Saints? Do you know why the Catholic Church makes such a big deal out of declaring that some dead people are Saints and that we should honor them, have statues of them, and pray to them. Actually, theologically, we don't pray "to" any Saint (not even to the Blessed Mother of Jesus), but we do ask them to pray with us and for us (as in the Hail Mary: "pray for us sinners...").
Do you ask your friends here on earth to pray for you? And with you? How much better it is to have friends in heaven!
The canonization of a Saint is the Church's official assurance that here is a person who has arrived in the full glory of unity with God in heaven. The canonization process reaches this conclusion after extremely careful scrutiny and investigation and undeniable proof that the Saint's prayers have produced miracles.
Rev. 7:2-14 depicts the communion of saints. All friends of Jesus share in this communion. Any friend of Jesus is your friend, especially the ones who live in perfect unity with God in heaven. "Those who love you for his sake ... will never desert you," said Saint Teresa of Avila (The Way of Perfection, Chap. IX, 3).
However, to feel their friendship and become aware of their love and their caring support, we must first develop an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, for it is in God's Spirit that our relationships with the Saints exist.
Which Saints are your friends? Develop (or improve) your connection to them. Read about them. Read their own words in books or search for information about them on the internet. Ask Jesus to introduce them to you. Through the Holy Spirit, tell them what's going on in your life and what extra help you need in your spiritual growth.
Even when we're not aware of what the Saints are doing for us, they are doing something, especially if it will help us grow in holiness.
Questions for Personal Reflection:Which Saints are your special friends? What are you doing to improve those relationships?
Questions for Community Faith Sharing:How has a Saint influenced your life? Share the story of a time when you asked for help from a Saint. What happened?
STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org* To join and become a member, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Friday, October 23, 2009
Overcoming our wretchedness
Good News ReflectionFriday of the 29th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 23, 2009
Today's Readings:Rom 7:18-25aPs 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94Luke 12:54-59http://www.usccb.org/nab/102309.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_23.mp3
Overcoming our wretchedness
Earlier in his letter to the Romans, Saint Paul said that sin no longer has power over us due to the grace of God. In today's reading, we see the inner struggle he had – and which we all have – to remain in that grace.
Although we were made good, in the image of God himself, the Original Sin of ignoring God's laws has affected our nature. We live by the Law of Entropy. In science, "entropy" is the natural deterioration of everything. In the spiritual world, it's our holiness that naturally decays.
It takes effort to grow in holiness. If we don't put forth that effort, we fall back into sin. We do what we don't want to do. And we keep doing it again and again! Plus, we often don't do the good things that our consciences recommend. As Paul and many other saints have said, "What a wretch I am!"
Being made in God's image, we experience the greatest satisfaction, the most joy, the fullest peace when we handle daily situations the way Jesus would, i.e., when we are patient, kind, forgiving, etc. For proof of this, think about how you feel when you're impatient, mean, or angrily holding a grudge, in other words, when your flesh-nature is controlling your mood. That's not a pleasant feeling, huh?
Oh sure, there IS a good feeling behind each sinful action we take, or else we wouldn't do it. But that "good" feeling is like drinking water that's full of toxic waste. Smelling the stink of it and tasting the bad flavor doesn't stop us when our flesh says, "I'm thirsty! Gotta have a drink!" We gulp it down for quick satisfaction.
And then we get sick.
Utilizing the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the penitential prayers of reconciliation during Mass is like going to the doctor. We tell him: "When I drink this water, I don't feel so good." His prescription: "Stop drinking that water. Other water IS available." Duh! We knew that, but the bad water was easier to get.
What wretches we are!
Who can free us from this? "All praise to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Since we're so easily ruled by our flesh-nature and the Law of Entropy, we need the help of someone who successfully overcame that problem. The doctor's prescription for enjoying who we are as creatures made in God's image is the prayer: "Lord Jesus, BE my patience" or "BE my kindness toward that person who's driving me nuts" or "BE my ability to forgive when I feel angry."
Then, Jesus substitutes himself for us, in us, until our Godliness becomes second-nature.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Today's Readings:Rom 7:18-25aPs 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94Luke 12:54-59http://www.usccb.org/nab/102309.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_23.mp3
Overcoming our wretchedness
Earlier in his letter to the Romans, Saint Paul said that sin no longer has power over us due to the grace of God. In today's reading, we see the inner struggle he had – and which we all have – to remain in that grace.
Although we were made good, in the image of God himself, the Original Sin of ignoring God's laws has affected our nature. We live by the Law of Entropy. In science, "entropy" is the natural deterioration of everything. In the spiritual world, it's our holiness that naturally decays.
It takes effort to grow in holiness. If we don't put forth that effort, we fall back into sin. We do what we don't want to do. And we keep doing it again and again! Plus, we often don't do the good things that our consciences recommend. As Paul and many other saints have said, "What a wretch I am!"
Being made in God's image, we experience the greatest satisfaction, the most joy, the fullest peace when we handle daily situations the way Jesus would, i.e., when we are patient, kind, forgiving, etc. For proof of this, think about how you feel when you're impatient, mean, or angrily holding a grudge, in other words, when your flesh-nature is controlling your mood. That's not a pleasant feeling, huh?
Oh sure, there IS a good feeling behind each sinful action we take, or else we wouldn't do it. But that "good" feeling is like drinking water that's full of toxic waste. Smelling the stink of it and tasting the bad flavor doesn't stop us when our flesh says, "I'm thirsty! Gotta have a drink!" We gulp it down for quick satisfaction.
And then we get sick.
Utilizing the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the penitential prayers of reconciliation during Mass is like going to the doctor. We tell him: "When I drink this water, I don't feel so good." His prescription: "Stop drinking that water. Other water IS available." Duh! We knew that, but the bad water was easier to get.
What wretches we are!
Who can free us from this? "All praise to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Since we're so easily ruled by our flesh-nature and the Law of Entropy, we need the help of someone who successfully overcame that problem. The doctor's prescription for enjoying who we are as creatures made in God's image is the prayer: "Lord Jesus, BE my patience" or "BE my kindness toward that person who's driving me nuts" or "BE my ability to forgive when I feel angry."
Then, Jesus substitutes himself for us, in us, until our Godliness becomes second-nature.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The peace of Christ, the fire of the Spirit
Good News ReflectionThursday of the 29th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 22, 2009
Today's Readings:Romans 6:19-23Ps 1:1-4, 6Luke 12:49-53http://www.usccb.org/nab/102209.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_22.mp3
The peace of Christ, the fire of the Spirit
In today's Gospel passage, Jesus says that he did not come to bring peace to earth. And yet elsewhere in scripture (plenty of elsewheres!) he says, "My peace I give to you." Is that a contradiction?
Consider to whom Jesus was talking and what kind of peace they were expecting. They hoped for a political peace, but Jesus came to bring us peace in our souls, which only happens through conversion and letting God take charge of our lives every moment of every day.
People were looking for a Messiah who would bring peace to Israel by defeating the Romans. Instead, they got a Messiah who divided those who learned true inner peace from those who were looking for worldly peace.
Today, we're praying for world peace and protection from terrorists. But there is never a time when all wars have ceased and all danger is gone – not before the Second Coming of Christ. It's certainly right to pray for an end to war, and John Paul II during his papacy asked us to pray the Rosary for this very purpose.
However, the more important prayer is to ask for the inner peace that only Christ can provide. This is the new evangelization that John Paul II was calling for. Evangelization is the greatest weapon against the true enemy, which is Satan and his terrorizing, soul-destroying cohorts.
Jesus came to light a fire on the earth. Evangelization spreads that fire. The blaze for which he was longing with great anguish was the fire of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus poured out upon the world after his baptism of death and resurrection. It was at that time that the Reign of Peace began. Since then, anyone who wants true peace can have it, whether the world is at war or not, and whether our lives are undergoing personal battles or not.
The fire that burns within us, impassioning us to spread the peace of Christ, is the Holy Spirit's presence. The purpose of this passion is to change the world in which we live by distributing Christ's peace to those who are ready to receive it.
The anguish of Jesus is the same anguish that we feel when we see a need for the Holy Spirit to burn evil out of a person or a situation. Jesus had to put his whole heart and soul AND body into the mission. What does God want you to do so that the holy fire of his Spirit can descend upon and overshadow the evil that you've been yearning to stop?
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Today's Readings:Romans 6:19-23Ps 1:1-4, 6Luke 12:49-53http://www.usccb.org/nab/102209.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_22.mp3
The peace of Christ, the fire of the Spirit
In today's Gospel passage, Jesus says that he did not come to bring peace to earth. And yet elsewhere in scripture (plenty of elsewheres!) he says, "My peace I give to you." Is that a contradiction?
Consider to whom Jesus was talking and what kind of peace they were expecting. They hoped for a political peace, but Jesus came to bring us peace in our souls, which only happens through conversion and letting God take charge of our lives every moment of every day.
People were looking for a Messiah who would bring peace to Israel by defeating the Romans. Instead, they got a Messiah who divided those who learned true inner peace from those who were looking for worldly peace.
Today, we're praying for world peace and protection from terrorists. But there is never a time when all wars have ceased and all danger is gone – not before the Second Coming of Christ. It's certainly right to pray for an end to war, and John Paul II during his papacy asked us to pray the Rosary for this very purpose.
However, the more important prayer is to ask for the inner peace that only Christ can provide. This is the new evangelization that John Paul II was calling for. Evangelization is the greatest weapon against the true enemy, which is Satan and his terrorizing, soul-destroying cohorts.
Jesus came to light a fire on the earth. Evangelization spreads that fire. The blaze for which he was longing with great anguish was the fire of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus poured out upon the world after his baptism of death and resurrection. It was at that time that the Reign of Peace began. Since then, anyone who wants true peace can have it, whether the world is at war or not, and whether our lives are undergoing personal battles or not.
The fire that burns within us, impassioning us to spread the peace of Christ, is the Holy Spirit's presence. The purpose of this passion is to change the world in which we live by distributing Christ's peace to those who are ready to receive it.
The anguish of Jesus is the same anguish that we feel when we see a need for the Holy Spirit to burn evil out of a person or a situation. Jesus had to put his whole heart and soul AND body into the mission. What does God want you to do so that the holy fire of his Spirit can descend upon and overshadow the evil that you've been yearning to stop?
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Tuesday, October 20, 2009
By the grace of God
Good News ReflectionWednesday of the 29th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 21, 2009
Today's Saint: UrsulaPray for teachers in Catholic schools:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/Ursula.htm
Today's Readings:Rom 6:12-18Ps 124:1b-8Luke 12:39-48http://www.usccb.org/nab/102109.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_21.mp3
By the grace of God
Saint Paul says in today's first reading that if we offer ourselves to God, sin no longer has power over us.
Oh yeah? Then how come I keep falling back into sin? Why do I behave selfishly? Why do I still do the hurtful things that I really don't want to do? (You too, huh?)
It's grace that empowers us to resist sin. Without it, we repeatedly fail. This is why the Sacrament of Confession is extraordinarily helpful. Since this avenue of forgiveness is a sacrament, we receive more than forgiveness: We receive God's grace.
However, if we offer ourselves to God before we sin, we put ourselves into his grace and live there. The Blessed Mother was able to avoid sinning because she was full of grace. Grace is God's supernatural gift to help us rise above our sinful tendencies.
The more Christ-like we become, the easier it is to resist temptation. However, holiness is a difficult journey. Desiring to be Christ-like isn't enough to keep us from sinning. We need supernatural grace.
Grace empowers us. Without grace, we're enslaved to sin, which leads to death – the death of our souls. With grace, we choose the path of obedience, doing what God wants us to do, because we love him and appreciate him, rather than doing what we're tempted to do apart from God. By choosing to place ourselves under his benevolent authority, we accept the holy power of our Good Master, and this enables us to be righteous.
Surrender (offering ourselves to God) is the catalyst that turns a temptation into a victory. Thus, if I feel hurt by an injustice done to me and vengeful anger begins to dictate my response, I can choose to pause and place myself under God's grace. This means choosing to be merciful to those who treated me unfairly, praying for them and, if appropriate, finding a good deed to do for them, treating them better than the way they treated me. Under God's grace, I can take this holy approach. Under God's grace, with the anger gone, I can figure out how he wants me to bring justice to the situation.
Surrender and obedience stop temptation and prevent sin. Handling others gracefully gets our focus off of their sins and helps us pay attention to how Jesus himself is giving us the love and the goodness that others have denied to us.
Only under God's grace can we successfully do the opposite of what we're tempted to do. Only under God's grace are we able to be victorious in our walk of holiness. By the grace of God, we are live in righteousness and change the world around us.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Today's Saint: UrsulaPray for teachers in Catholic schools:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/Ursula.htm
Today's Readings:Rom 6:12-18Ps 124:1b-8Luke 12:39-48http://www.usccb.org/nab/102109.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_21.mp3
By the grace of God
Saint Paul says in today's first reading that if we offer ourselves to God, sin no longer has power over us.
Oh yeah? Then how come I keep falling back into sin? Why do I behave selfishly? Why do I still do the hurtful things that I really don't want to do? (You too, huh?)
It's grace that empowers us to resist sin. Without it, we repeatedly fail. This is why the Sacrament of Confession is extraordinarily helpful. Since this avenue of forgiveness is a sacrament, we receive more than forgiveness: We receive God's grace.
However, if we offer ourselves to God before we sin, we put ourselves into his grace and live there. The Blessed Mother was able to avoid sinning because she was full of grace. Grace is God's supernatural gift to help us rise above our sinful tendencies.
The more Christ-like we become, the easier it is to resist temptation. However, holiness is a difficult journey. Desiring to be Christ-like isn't enough to keep us from sinning. We need supernatural grace.
Grace empowers us. Without grace, we're enslaved to sin, which leads to death – the death of our souls. With grace, we choose the path of obedience, doing what God wants us to do, because we love him and appreciate him, rather than doing what we're tempted to do apart from God. By choosing to place ourselves under his benevolent authority, we accept the holy power of our Good Master, and this enables us to be righteous.
Surrender (offering ourselves to God) is the catalyst that turns a temptation into a victory. Thus, if I feel hurt by an injustice done to me and vengeful anger begins to dictate my response, I can choose to pause and place myself under God's grace. This means choosing to be merciful to those who treated me unfairly, praying for them and, if appropriate, finding a good deed to do for them, treating them better than the way they treated me. Under God's grace, I can take this holy approach. Under God's grace, with the anger gone, I can figure out how he wants me to bring justice to the situation.
Surrender and obedience stop temptation and prevent sin. Handling others gracefully gets our focus off of their sins and helps us pay attention to how Jesus himself is giving us the love and the goodness that others have denied to us.
Only under God's grace can we successfully do the opposite of what we're tempted to do. Only under God's grace are we able to be victorious in our walk of holiness. By the grace of God, we are live in righteousness and change the world around us.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Are you "burning ready"?
Good News ReflectionTuesday of the 29th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 20, 2009
Today's Readings:Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-21Ps 40:7-10, 17Luke 12:35-38http://www.usccb.org/nab/102009.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_20.mp3
Are you "burning ready"?
"Let your lamps be burning ready," Jesus says in today's Gospel reading. To "gird your loins" means to be ready for action. Is the light of Christ within you "burning ready"? Not just lit, but ready to join the Master on an adventure conquering the territory of darkness?
What's the fire in you? What do you feel passionate about that's useful to the Lord? A fire cannot burn long without the fuel of desire.
If you're uncertain about what the Lord wants to do through you that will help fill this world with his light and make it more heavenly, look for the fire within you. God placed it there.
Look for the fire that burns because of the hardships you've endured. Look at any burning desire: What do you secretly (or openly) wish you could do for the kingdom of God? In your parish? In your home? In your workplace? When you imagine yourself doing it, does your heart pound with an energetic yearning? If so, you've found your calling. Don't overlook this fire. God put it there for his purposes and plans. The path he's laid before you might not be clear, but put a foot forward and start moving! Jesus will reveal the next step and then the next and then the next.
If you're like me, you want to run ahead of him because of all the passion that's pumping through your soul, but we must let Jesus lead the way. He knows far better than we do about the perfect timing, the right strategies, and the true path to success.
If you feel inadequate and overwhelmed by the task ahead, take a closer look at today's first reading: "Where sin abounds, grace abounds the more." God's grace, combined with your passion, will make a difference in this world, despite how small and insignificant your light seems to be!
God's power so greatly surpasses all evil, and his love and concern for us is so strong, that when we smother our flames with our sins, he provides grace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and in the Penitential Rite at Mass. If, for example, you need help in loving someone who's been causing you problems, ask God to give you his supernatural love for that person, and by his grace you will receive it. You really will!
God's abundant grace is always readily available to increase our faith, to strengthen our resolve, and to make us successful when we say no to evil and yes to replacing it with God's goodness. However, to make use of this grace, we have to be "burning ready," eager.
To succeed in conquering the territories of darkness, we have to feel so passionately about it that Christ's light glows brightly within us.
It's not we who change the world. It's the presence of God within us, burning like a furnace in which no evil can survive. All we have to do is (1) be burning ready, and (2) follow Jesus every step of the way.
Are you ready for an adventure?
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Today's Readings:Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-21Ps 40:7-10, 17Luke 12:35-38http://www.usccb.org/nab/102009.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_20.mp3
Are you "burning ready"?
"Let your lamps be burning ready," Jesus says in today's Gospel reading. To "gird your loins" means to be ready for action. Is the light of Christ within you "burning ready"? Not just lit, but ready to join the Master on an adventure conquering the territory of darkness?
What's the fire in you? What do you feel passionate about that's useful to the Lord? A fire cannot burn long without the fuel of desire.
If you're uncertain about what the Lord wants to do through you that will help fill this world with his light and make it more heavenly, look for the fire within you. God placed it there.
Look for the fire that burns because of the hardships you've endured. Look at any burning desire: What do you secretly (or openly) wish you could do for the kingdom of God? In your parish? In your home? In your workplace? When you imagine yourself doing it, does your heart pound with an energetic yearning? If so, you've found your calling. Don't overlook this fire. God put it there for his purposes and plans. The path he's laid before you might not be clear, but put a foot forward and start moving! Jesus will reveal the next step and then the next and then the next.
If you're like me, you want to run ahead of him because of all the passion that's pumping through your soul, but we must let Jesus lead the way. He knows far better than we do about the perfect timing, the right strategies, and the true path to success.
If you feel inadequate and overwhelmed by the task ahead, take a closer look at today's first reading: "Where sin abounds, grace abounds the more." God's grace, combined with your passion, will make a difference in this world, despite how small and insignificant your light seems to be!
God's power so greatly surpasses all evil, and his love and concern for us is so strong, that when we smother our flames with our sins, he provides grace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and in the Penitential Rite at Mass. If, for example, you need help in loving someone who's been causing you problems, ask God to give you his supernatural love for that person, and by his grace you will receive it. You really will!
God's abundant grace is always readily available to increase our faith, to strengthen our resolve, and to make us successful when we say no to evil and yes to replacing it with God's goodness. However, to make use of this grace, we have to be "burning ready," eager.
To succeed in conquering the territories of darkness, we have to feel so passionately about it that Christ's light glows brightly within us.
It's not we who change the world. It's the presence of God within us, burning like a furnace in which no evil can survive. All we have to do is (1) be burning ready, and (2) follow Jesus every step of the way.
Are you ready for an adventure?
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Faith and righteousness
Good News ReflectionMonday of the 29th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 19, 2009
Today's Memorial: Sts. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, and their companions, martyrs
Today's Readings:Rom 4:20-25Luke 1:69-75 (with 68)Luke 12:13-21http://www.usccb.org/nab/101909.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_19.mp3
Faith and righteousness
In a later chapter of Saint Paul's letter to the Romans, he says that all things (even the bad, even the frightening, even what seems destructive) can work together for the good of those who love the Lord (v. 8:28). How is that possible? How does it happen? The answer is found in today's reading.
Like Abraham's faith, our faith in God is credited to us as righteousness. Unlike Abraham, who was a model of outstanding faith, you and I are not fully convinced that God will do everything that he has promised. Otherwise, we'd never despair or fear or lose hope. But the good news is this: Jesus was handed over to death for our sins and raised up by the Father for our JUSTIFICATION. In other words, Jesus paid the price of our sins. Justice has been served, and if we have faith in the gift of his sacrifice, we are righteous – we are holy.
Our righteousness can only be truly understood in the context of God's salvation plan.
By having faith in Christ's ability and his desire to take upon himself the destruction that we've caused with our sins, and by having faith in the power of God the Father to raise Jesus from the dead FOR OUR REDEMPTION, we are righteous, we are holy. We receive the redemption of our souls (giving us eternal life in heaven) and in our everyday circumstances (turning bad situations into blessings).
By the mercy of God, what was bad is redeemed. Our sins, when we regret them, lead us to Christ's redemption. Our need for forgiveness becomes our path of holiness.
The same holds true in everything else that's bad. By letting Christ be the Redeemer of everything that's not heavenly in our lives, tragedies become opportunities for great triumphs as they strengthen us in compassion and endurance and other fruits of holy living.
Diseases and hardships become purificators that cleanse us of selfishness and teach us to offer our sufferings to Christ for the sake of the redemption of others.
Difficult relationships become lessons in learning how to love everyone unconditionally.
Hardships become ministries that reach out to others, enabling us to make a difference in ways that would otherwise be impossible.
Because we place our faith in Jesus as Redeemer, we are righteous. The more we rely on this truth, the more we're empowered by faith to live righteously.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Today's Memorial: Sts. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, and their companions, martyrs
Today's Readings:Rom 4:20-25Luke 1:69-75 (with 68)Luke 12:13-21http://www.usccb.org/nab/101909.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_19.mp3
Faith and righteousness
In a later chapter of Saint Paul's letter to the Romans, he says that all things (even the bad, even the frightening, even what seems destructive) can work together for the good of those who love the Lord (v. 8:28). How is that possible? How does it happen? The answer is found in today's reading.
Like Abraham's faith, our faith in God is credited to us as righteousness. Unlike Abraham, who was a model of outstanding faith, you and I are not fully convinced that God will do everything that he has promised. Otherwise, we'd never despair or fear or lose hope. But the good news is this: Jesus was handed over to death for our sins and raised up by the Father for our JUSTIFICATION. In other words, Jesus paid the price of our sins. Justice has been served, and if we have faith in the gift of his sacrifice, we are righteous – we are holy.
Our righteousness can only be truly understood in the context of God's salvation plan.
By having faith in Christ's ability and his desire to take upon himself the destruction that we've caused with our sins, and by having faith in the power of God the Father to raise Jesus from the dead FOR OUR REDEMPTION, we are righteous, we are holy. We receive the redemption of our souls (giving us eternal life in heaven) and in our everyday circumstances (turning bad situations into blessings).
By the mercy of God, what was bad is redeemed. Our sins, when we regret them, lead us to Christ's redemption. Our need for forgiveness becomes our path of holiness.
The same holds true in everything else that's bad. By letting Christ be the Redeemer of everything that's not heavenly in our lives, tragedies become opportunities for great triumphs as they strengthen us in compassion and endurance and other fruits of holy living.
Diseases and hardships become purificators that cleanse us of selfishness and teach us to offer our sufferings to Christ for the sake of the redemption of others.
Difficult relationships become lessons in learning how to love everyone unconditionally.
Hardships become ministries that reach out to others, enabling us to make a difference in ways that would otherwise be impossible.
Because we place our faith in Jesus as Redeemer, we are righteous. The more we rely on this truth, the more we're empowered by faith to live righteously.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Good News ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: October 25, 200930th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Good News ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: October 25, 200930th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA: For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection, please go to Catholic Digital Resources:http://catholicdr.com/calendar/October/30thB.htm - Preview a sample
Next Sunday's Readings:Jer 31:7-9Ps 126:1-6Heb 5:1-6Mark 10:46-52http://www.usccb.org/nab/102509.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_25.mp3
After Jesus touches our lives – answers a prayer, gives us a healing, provides a life-changing insight, or makes any other kind of difference – what do we do next? Our life has been changed by divine grace. Do we make the most of this new opportunity?
God never forces us to take a new direction or follow a certain path, not even if we've made a bargain with him, like for example: "Lord, if you heal me, I will go to Mass every day."
Jesus says to us what he said to Bartimaeus, the man he healed in next Sunday's Gospel reading: "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Go where?
Sometimes his instructions are a little more informative than that. When he cures someone from sin, he adds: "Go and sin no more". Okay, but go where?
Every step we take is important. Where we go and what we do next makes a difference that ripples off into the future with ramifications (blessings and/or woes) that are impossible for us to predict. Jesus isn't down-playing the significance of this. Rather, what happens next is so important that he wants us to have full control over it.
Jesus told Bartimaeus "Go YOUR way." And what did Bartimaeus do with that freedom? He "followed HIM on the way." He opted for the best possible direction. His life changed dramatically, not only because he had been blind and now he had good eyesight, but because he wanted to learn from Jesus and become one of his followers.
How many times have we returned to the old familiar path after an encounter with Christ? If following him means taking a new direction, getting involved in a new ministry, or changing careers or friends, we too often settle back into the same routines as before. But following Jesus is a life-changing adventure if we're sincere about our faith.
Following Jesus and learning from him should be our highest priority. Every encounter with Christ should change us – even at Mass when we reunite ourselves to him in the Eucharist.
Questions for Personal Reflection:Think of the last time Jesus responded to your need for help. What changed afterward? How long did the change last?
Questions for Community Faith Sharing:Describe a time when you changed directions in your life because of an encounter with Christ. What did Jesus do for you? How did you figure out which way to go afterward?
STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org* To join and become a member, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA: For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection, please go to Catholic Digital Resources:http://catholicdr.com/calendar/October/30thB.htm - Preview a sample
Next Sunday's Readings:Jer 31:7-9Ps 126:1-6Heb 5:1-6Mark 10:46-52http://www.usccb.org/nab/102509.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_25.mp3
After Jesus touches our lives – answers a prayer, gives us a healing, provides a life-changing insight, or makes any other kind of difference – what do we do next? Our life has been changed by divine grace. Do we make the most of this new opportunity?
God never forces us to take a new direction or follow a certain path, not even if we've made a bargain with him, like for example: "Lord, if you heal me, I will go to Mass every day."
Jesus says to us what he said to Bartimaeus, the man he healed in next Sunday's Gospel reading: "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Go where?
Sometimes his instructions are a little more informative than that. When he cures someone from sin, he adds: "Go and sin no more". Okay, but go where?
Every step we take is important. Where we go and what we do next makes a difference that ripples off into the future with ramifications (blessings and/or woes) that are impossible for us to predict. Jesus isn't down-playing the significance of this. Rather, what happens next is so important that he wants us to have full control over it.
Jesus told Bartimaeus "Go YOUR way." And what did Bartimaeus do with that freedom? He "followed HIM on the way." He opted for the best possible direction. His life changed dramatically, not only because he had been blind and now he had good eyesight, but because he wanted to learn from Jesus and become one of his followers.
How many times have we returned to the old familiar path after an encounter with Christ? If following him means taking a new direction, getting involved in a new ministry, or changing careers or friends, we too often settle back into the same routines as before. But following Jesus is a life-changing adventure if we're sincere about our faith.
Following Jesus and learning from him should be our highest priority. Every encounter with Christ should change us – even at Mass when we reunite ourselves to him in the Eucharist.
Questions for Personal Reflection:Think of the last time Jesus responded to your need for help. What changed afterward? How long did the change last?
Questions for Community Faith Sharing:Describe a time when you changed directions in your life because of an encounter with Christ. What did Jesus do for you? How did you figure out which way to go afterward?
STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org* To join and become a member, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Thursday, October 15, 2009
Dare to speak the truth
Good News ReflectionFriday of the 28th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 16, 2009
Today's Saint: Margaret Mary AlacoquePray for the Sacred Heart of Jesus to provide you with comfort in your afflictions, peace in your home, and abundant blessings in all your undertakings:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/MargaretAlacoque.htm
Today's Readings:Rom 4:1-8Ps 32:1b-2, 5, 11 (with 7)Luke 12:1-7http://www.usccb.org/nab/101609.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_16.mp3
Dare to speak the truth
What truths are you whispering about behind closed doors because you're afraid to make them known publicly? Are you afraid of the repercussions? Have you been told to keep silent by someone who's frightened you?
Perhaps you're not afraid but you simply do not have the opportunity to be heard by those who need to learn the truth. Sometimes the fear is: "What if I don't ever get to say it?"
Any fear can be very unsettling. It robs us of the peace that God has given us. But Jesus says in today's Gospel reading, "Fear nothing!"
His first promise in this scripture is a good fear-buster. He assures us that we can rely on God to reveal whatever truth needs to come out into the open. We can pray: "Lord Jesus, You are the light of the world. Expose the truth in Your holy light so that the people who need to know this truth will become aware of it. Use the circumstances and the other people in their lives to make the truth plainly obvious to them."
Life is so much easier when God chooses to reveal the truth through others, right? We'd rather not do it ourselves. Yet he tells us not to be afraid to expose the truth. Yes, we could get persecuted for it, yes we might experience more hardships, but we should not be afraid of that. We should not fear the suffering; what we should fear is the consequences of saying no to God when he gives us something to say. The results of our silence could be far more devastating and affect many more people than what might happen to us if we speak the truth.
(For the sake of those readers who live in countries where persecution against Christianity is very strong, let us all join in prayer right now for their protection as they worship Jesus and serve his kingdom. I praise God for allowing me the opportunity to share these Good News Reflections with people who live where they often have no Bibles, no churches, no priests, and no freedom to share their faith publicly.)
The second promise that Jesus gives us in this scripture is another fear-buster. We are so very, very important – precious! – to God that he will always take good care of us, no matter how bad or scary a situation gets. Even if we become martyrs for the faith, our murderers cannot claim any victory over us. If their persecution makes daily life difficult, we will become more aware of Jesus, more aware of our how connected we are to his trials and his redemptive passion. If they kill our bodies, our souls are embraced by God and we immediately enjoy eternal rewards in heaven.
Do not be afraid! From persecution comes greater holiness than we would otherwise achieve. Persecution is not fun, but it's a mark of a growing Christian. If we're not being persecuted by anyone, we're not speaking the truth loudly and boldly enough.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Today's Saint: Margaret Mary AlacoquePray for the Sacred Heart of Jesus to provide you with comfort in your afflictions, peace in your home, and abundant blessings in all your undertakings:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/MargaretAlacoque.htm
Today's Readings:Rom 4:1-8Ps 32:1b-2, 5, 11 (with 7)Luke 12:1-7http://www.usccb.org/nab/101609.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_16.mp3
Dare to speak the truth
What truths are you whispering about behind closed doors because you're afraid to make them known publicly? Are you afraid of the repercussions? Have you been told to keep silent by someone who's frightened you?
Perhaps you're not afraid but you simply do not have the opportunity to be heard by those who need to learn the truth. Sometimes the fear is: "What if I don't ever get to say it?"
Any fear can be very unsettling. It robs us of the peace that God has given us. But Jesus says in today's Gospel reading, "Fear nothing!"
His first promise in this scripture is a good fear-buster. He assures us that we can rely on God to reveal whatever truth needs to come out into the open. We can pray: "Lord Jesus, You are the light of the world. Expose the truth in Your holy light so that the people who need to know this truth will become aware of it. Use the circumstances and the other people in their lives to make the truth plainly obvious to them."
Life is so much easier when God chooses to reveal the truth through others, right? We'd rather not do it ourselves. Yet he tells us not to be afraid to expose the truth. Yes, we could get persecuted for it, yes we might experience more hardships, but we should not be afraid of that. We should not fear the suffering; what we should fear is the consequences of saying no to God when he gives us something to say. The results of our silence could be far more devastating and affect many more people than what might happen to us if we speak the truth.
(For the sake of those readers who live in countries where persecution against Christianity is very strong, let us all join in prayer right now for their protection as they worship Jesus and serve his kingdom. I praise God for allowing me the opportunity to share these Good News Reflections with people who live where they often have no Bibles, no churches, no priests, and no freedom to share their faith publicly.)
The second promise that Jesus gives us in this scripture is another fear-buster. We are so very, very important – precious! – to God that he will always take good care of us, no matter how bad or scary a situation gets. Even if we become martyrs for the faith, our murderers cannot claim any victory over us. If their persecution makes daily life difficult, we will become more aware of Jesus, more aware of our how connected we are to his trials and his redemptive passion. If they kill our bodies, our souls are embraced by God and we immediately enjoy eternal rewards in heaven.
Do not be afraid! From persecution comes greater holiness than we would otherwise achieve. Persecution is not fun, but it's a mark of a growing Christian. If we're not being persecuted by anyone, we're not speaking the truth loudly and boldly enough.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Heavenly faith
Good News ReflectionThursday of the 28th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 15, 2009
Today's Memorial: Saint Teresa of AvilaPray to overcome your limitations in prayer:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/TeresaAvila.htm
Today's Readings:Romans 3:21-30Ps 130:1-6Luke 11:47-54http://www.usccb.org/nab/101509.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_15.mp3
Heavenly faith
Somehow or other, it got into the Catholic psyche that we can earn our way into heaven by doing good works. This is one of the reasons why some Protestants mistakenly think we're not saved, for as today's first reading explains clearly, we overcome the power of sin and death to enjoy eternal life in heaven, not by doing good deeds and obeying Church rules, but by the grace of God through the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus and the power of his resurrection, and by placing our faith in that truth.
Good deeds and obedience are not tolls we pay to cross the bridge into heaven; they are fruits of the journey.
A good example of this is the Catholic teaching that it's a mortal sin to miss Mass (we'll go to hell if we don't go to church). When the reasons behind this teaching are not considered, people assume that showing up on Sundays is all they have to do. That's why Catholic churches have larger crowds than Protestant services but smaller collections. It's why there's poor attendance at other events of the parish and fewer people involved in ministries. Lots of folks attend Mass without being changed by their encounter with Christ in the Eucharist, because they're only using Mass as an insurance policy.
If you sit in your garage for an hour a week, will you become a car? How about if you live in the garage every day and make engine noises? "Vrroom, vrroom!" Likewise, we can sit in church and even sound like Christians outside of church, but we only become free of the hellish forces of sin by wanting to receive the grace of Christ's redemption. We can only become Christ-like by wanting to be changed during our personal encounters with him in the Eucharist.
Thus, the Church has always taught that if we prefer to stay out of church because (the motive is important!) we want to stay away from Christ or because we don't want to be changed by Christ in the Church, we are killing our souls – we are committing mortal sin. It's less destructive if we stay away from Mass due to laziness or not understanding the importance of the Eucharist, but it's still detrimental to our souls.
Trying to work our way into heaven by what we do without first having faith in Christ makes us like the scribes and Pharisees in Luke 11:47-54 to whom Jesus said, "Woe!" We could make a large donation to build statues of the saints as decorations in the church, but if we are not learning from those very same saints, following their example of holiness, we are condemning ourselves by the contrast between our lives and theirs.
True faith motivates us to do good works, not because we want to get into heaven, but because we appreciate the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross and we know that he's taking us to heaven.
True faith motivates us to do good works because we want to be like Jesus! We want to obey the rules of the Church because we understand their heavenly origin, even if we don't understand why they are heavenly.
Obedience and good deeds are the products of a faith that's alive and truly holy.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Today's Memorial: Saint Teresa of AvilaPray to overcome your limitations in prayer:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/TeresaAvila.htm
Today's Readings:Romans 3:21-30Ps 130:1-6Luke 11:47-54http://www.usccb.org/nab/101509.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_15.mp3
Heavenly faith
Somehow or other, it got into the Catholic psyche that we can earn our way into heaven by doing good works. This is one of the reasons why some Protestants mistakenly think we're not saved, for as today's first reading explains clearly, we overcome the power of sin and death to enjoy eternal life in heaven, not by doing good deeds and obeying Church rules, but by the grace of God through the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus and the power of his resurrection, and by placing our faith in that truth.
Good deeds and obedience are not tolls we pay to cross the bridge into heaven; they are fruits of the journey.
A good example of this is the Catholic teaching that it's a mortal sin to miss Mass (we'll go to hell if we don't go to church). When the reasons behind this teaching are not considered, people assume that showing up on Sundays is all they have to do. That's why Catholic churches have larger crowds than Protestant services but smaller collections. It's why there's poor attendance at other events of the parish and fewer people involved in ministries. Lots of folks attend Mass without being changed by their encounter with Christ in the Eucharist, because they're only using Mass as an insurance policy.
If you sit in your garage for an hour a week, will you become a car? How about if you live in the garage every day and make engine noises? "Vrroom, vrroom!" Likewise, we can sit in church and even sound like Christians outside of church, but we only become free of the hellish forces of sin by wanting to receive the grace of Christ's redemption. We can only become Christ-like by wanting to be changed during our personal encounters with him in the Eucharist.
Thus, the Church has always taught that if we prefer to stay out of church because (the motive is important!) we want to stay away from Christ or because we don't want to be changed by Christ in the Church, we are killing our souls – we are committing mortal sin. It's less destructive if we stay away from Mass due to laziness or not understanding the importance of the Eucharist, but it's still detrimental to our souls.
Trying to work our way into heaven by what we do without first having faith in Christ makes us like the scribes and Pharisees in Luke 11:47-54 to whom Jesus said, "Woe!" We could make a large donation to build statues of the saints as decorations in the church, but if we are not learning from those very same saints, following their example of holiness, we are condemning ourselves by the contrast between our lives and theirs.
True faith motivates us to do good works, not because we want to get into heaven, but because we appreciate the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross and we know that he's taking us to heaven.
True faith motivates us to do good works because we want to be like Jesus! We want to obey the rules of the Church because we understand their heavenly origin, even if we don't understand why they are heavenly.
Obedience and good deeds are the products of a faith that's alive and truly holy.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
The true meaning of justice
Good News ReflectionWednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 14, 2009
Today's Readings:Rom 2:1-11Ps 62:2-3, 6-7, 9 (with 13b)Luke 11:42-46http://www.usccb.org/nab/101409.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_14.mp3
The true meaning of justice
Justice and love. This is what Jesus is calling for in today's Gospel reading. Without these, woe are we!
Justice and love go hand-in-hand. Justice is not revenge, nor is it punishment. It's fairness. Love is the heart of Christian living; justice is its hands and feet.
Justice is NOT fairness as in: "Anything is okay as long as no one gets hurt". If it's not in accordance with the laws of God, people do get hurt. Not even the smallest sin can be justified. The sinner gets hurt by his separation from God, even if he or she does not recognize the separation. The target of the sin gets hurt of course, as does the whole Body of Christ, because the effect of the sin ripples farther than any of us can see.
Sometimes we think that justice means retaliation. It's "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth", but this is an unredeemed sort of justice. When Jesus came to redeem the world, he gave us the Golden Rule of "do to others what you'd like them to do to you, even though they might not do it to you, because you love your enemies and you're willing to go the extra mile for them".
Jesus raised us above the pre-redemption attitude of "do to others what they did to you, ha-ha, now we're even." In Christ, justice means protecting ourselves from further harm without a spirit of vengeance. We care about our enemies while taking good care of ourselves.
Sometimes we think that if no one demands their God-given right to be treated fairly, it's okay to overlook injustices, or if we don't see a way to resolve the unfairness, it's okay to do nothing about it. This is why bullies in the workplace are allowed to continue doing harm, prejudices continue to keep the downtrodden down, and insulting remarks about others are accepted as merely a brief lapse in good manners – even in the Church!
Woe are we for the injustices of society when we who are the Church are not teaching what true justice looks like!
True justice is described in today's first reading. "Affliction and distress will come upon everyone who does evil." This is not the punishment of a revenging God. It's a "woe to you" reaping what you sow. God's anger is based on a genuine concern for those who are caught in the traps of sin. He's upset about the choices we make that cause our woe-full self-inflicted anguish.
The challenge before us is to learn what we can do about the injustices that God brings to our attention, then discern when and where and how to take action, caring for the victims AND ALSO caring about those who are committing the injustices. If we don't say yes to this challenge, woe are we!
This is so important, so very very important, that I will repeat it: No injustice can be justifiably ignored, not for any reason! Woe are we – and many others as well – when we do nothing about the injustices that we witness.
Here's a printable hand-out you can share with others. It's a scripture-based prayer service or private meditation to inspire and encourage action against injustices.Use it in staff and ministry meetings, Social Justice events, Respect Life events, or as a bulletin insert or in the parish newsletter. "Social Justice: The Calling of Every Christian" – order it from Catholic Digital Resources at http://catholicdr.com/faithbuilders/prayers/socialjustice.htm.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Today's Readings:Rom 2:1-11Ps 62:2-3, 6-7, 9 (with 13b)Luke 11:42-46http://www.usccb.org/nab/101409.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_14.mp3
The true meaning of justice
Justice and love. This is what Jesus is calling for in today's Gospel reading. Without these, woe are we!
Justice and love go hand-in-hand. Justice is not revenge, nor is it punishment. It's fairness. Love is the heart of Christian living; justice is its hands and feet.
Justice is NOT fairness as in: "Anything is okay as long as no one gets hurt". If it's not in accordance with the laws of God, people do get hurt. Not even the smallest sin can be justified. The sinner gets hurt by his separation from God, even if he or she does not recognize the separation. The target of the sin gets hurt of course, as does the whole Body of Christ, because the effect of the sin ripples farther than any of us can see.
Sometimes we think that justice means retaliation. It's "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth", but this is an unredeemed sort of justice. When Jesus came to redeem the world, he gave us the Golden Rule of "do to others what you'd like them to do to you, even though they might not do it to you, because you love your enemies and you're willing to go the extra mile for them".
Jesus raised us above the pre-redemption attitude of "do to others what they did to you, ha-ha, now we're even." In Christ, justice means protecting ourselves from further harm without a spirit of vengeance. We care about our enemies while taking good care of ourselves.
Sometimes we think that if no one demands their God-given right to be treated fairly, it's okay to overlook injustices, or if we don't see a way to resolve the unfairness, it's okay to do nothing about it. This is why bullies in the workplace are allowed to continue doing harm, prejudices continue to keep the downtrodden down, and insulting remarks about others are accepted as merely a brief lapse in good manners – even in the Church!
Woe are we for the injustices of society when we who are the Church are not teaching what true justice looks like!
True justice is described in today's first reading. "Affliction and distress will come upon everyone who does evil." This is not the punishment of a revenging God. It's a "woe to you" reaping what you sow. God's anger is based on a genuine concern for those who are caught in the traps of sin. He's upset about the choices we make that cause our woe-full self-inflicted anguish.
The challenge before us is to learn what we can do about the injustices that God brings to our attention, then discern when and where and how to take action, caring for the victims AND ALSO caring about those who are committing the injustices. If we don't say yes to this challenge, woe are we!
This is so important, so very very important, that I will repeat it: No injustice can be justifiably ignored, not for any reason! Woe are we – and many others as well – when we do nothing about the injustices that we witness.
Here's a printable hand-out you can share with others. It's a scripture-based prayer service or private meditation to inspire and encourage action against injustices.Use it in staff and ministry meetings, Social Justice events, Respect Life events, or as a bulletin insert or in the parish newsletter. "Social Justice: The Calling of Every Christian" – order it from Catholic Digital Resources at http://catholicdr.com/faithbuilders/prayers/socialjustice.htm.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Curing our plundering hearts
Good News ReflectionTuesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 13, 2009
Today's Saint: Edward the ConfessorPray for politicians:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/EdwardConfessor.htm
Today's Readings:Rom 1:16-25Ps 19:2-5Luke 11:37-41http://www.usccb.org/nab/101309.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_13.mp3
Curing our plundering hearts
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus declares that the Pharisees were filled with plunder and evil. Some bibles translate this as "rapaciousness." To be rapacious means to covet what others have, and to live on prey. In other words, the Pharisees preyed on others, plundering what did not belong to them.
What were they plundering? The root cause of their legalistic emphasis on proper rituals was their covetous greed. This is why Jesus assigned almsgiving as this man's penance, in case he wanted to become truly holy. The Pharisee in today's story enjoyed pointing out what Jesus did wrong. He was trying to make himself superior to Jesus. He was coveting Christ's authority.
Jesus passionately condemned this self-righteous focus on the "wrong-doings" of others, because it puffs up the self while preying on the self-esteem of those who get scolded. Self-esteem is essential for being able to love one's self, which is absolutely primary for being able to love others unconditionally (rather than codependently).
When we get into arguments and insist that we are right and our opponents are wrong, we're in a battle of winners and losers. Do we really want the other person to be a loser? Analyze your motives: Do you really want to win the argument for the sake of helping the other person – or to feel superior?
When we think we need to feel superior, it's because we can't handle being wrong due to our own low self esteem.
We do care about others, and so we want to help them understand the truths that we're trying to explain. However, this helpfulness is never accomplished in the heat of battle. Both sides get too defensive to let in any new insights.
To end the argument and bring the discussion into God's victory, we need to separate our holy goal of being helpful from our selfish goal of defending ourselves. We need to hand over to Jesus the hurt that we're feeling to let him heal us rather than expecting others to make us feel better.
Later, when we're alone with Jesus, we can let him build up our self-esteem as we complain to him (and only to him) about our problems. But for now, we must lay down our lives for the sake of the other person.
When our love becomes more evident than our need to win the argument, others begin to feel safe with us. Feeling safe, they become willing to listen. And if they also feel heard, they no longer feel threatened by the insights we share, and then they listen even more closely. However, this process can take a long time, so be patient and persistent in conveying your love.
Christ doesn't want anyone to be a loser. Even when they disagree with us and we're right, he wants them to feel lifted up into the victorious realm of love, where we are all winners.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Today's Saint: Edward the ConfessorPray for politicians:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/EdwardConfessor.htm
Today's Readings:Rom 1:16-25Ps 19:2-5Luke 11:37-41http://www.usccb.org/nab/101309.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_13.mp3
Curing our plundering hearts
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus declares that the Pharisees were filled with plunder and evil. Some bibles translate this as "rapaciousness." To be rapacious means to covet what others have, and to live on prey. In other words, the Pharisees preyed on others, plundering what did not belong to them.
What were they plundering? The root cause of their legalistic emphasis on proper rituals was their covetous greed. This is why Jesus assigned almsgiving as this man's penance, in case he wanted to become truly holy. The Pharisee in today's story enjoyed pointing out what Jesus did wrong. He was trying to make himself superior to Jesus. He was coveting Christ's authority.
Jesus passionately condemned this self-righteous focus on the "wrong-doings" of others, because it puffs up the self while preying on the self-esteem of those who get scolded. Self-esteem is essential for being able to love one's self, which is absolutely primary for being able to love others unconditionally (rather than codependently).
When we get into arguments and insist that we are right and our opponents are wrong, we're in a battle of winners and losers. Do we really want the other person to be a loser? Analyze your motives: Do you really want to win the argument for the sake of helping the other person – or to feel superior?
When we think we need to feel superior, it's because we can't handle being wrong due to our own low self esteem.
We do care about others, and so we want to help them understand the truths that we're trying to explain. However, this helpfulness is never accomplished in the heat of battle. Both sides get too defensive to let in any new insights.
To end the argument and bring the discussion into God's victory, we need to separate our holy goal of being helpful from our selfish goal of defending ourselves. We need to hand over to Jesus the hurt that we're feeling to let him heal us rather than expecting others to make us feel better.
Later, when we're alone with Jesus, we can let him build up our self-esteem as we complain to him (and only to him) about our problems. But for now, we must lay down our lives for the sake of the other person.
When our love becomes more evident than our need to win the argument, others begin to feel safe with us. Feeling safe, they become willing to listen. And if they also feel heard, they no longer feel threatened by the insights we share, and then they listen even more closely. However, this process can take a long time, so be patient and persistent in conveying your love.
Christ doesn't want anyone to be a loser. Even when they disagree with us and we're right, he wants them to feel lifted up into the victorious realm of love, where we are all winners.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Sunday, October 11, 2009
Are you a religious fanatic?
Good News ReflectionMonday of the 28th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 12, 2009
Today's Readings:Rom 1:1-7Ps 98:1-4Luke 11:29-32http://www.usccb.org/nab/101209.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_12.mp3
Are you a religious fanatic?
Today's responsorial Psalm says: "The Lord has made known his salvation." What do you need his salvation for in your life today?
If we want Jesus to save us from whatever evil is going on in our lives, well, what are we waiting for? He's already made his help available to us! If we want him to save us from the inner turmoil or anxieties or addictions or other disabling problems that have a hold on us, why are we still unhealed? He has already offered his power to overcome it!
Do we allow the good news of Jesus to penetrate every area of our lives? Is he really the Lord of our lives – completely?
In the Gospel reading, Jesus warns that the example of repentance given by the Ninevites is a condemnation of those who refuse to avail themselves of his saving power. There are plenty of signs when something's wrong, but unremorseful sinners reject every sign they don't want to see.
The modern-day Ninevites are those of us who have become excited about God's saving love after recognizing our sins and regretting them, having turned to God and finding his forgiveness and mercy. We're so excited that we work very hard to remain in God and to reject unGodly ways. Others call us "religious fanatics", because they feel uncomfortable around our example of holiness. Our zeal for holy living feels like condemnation to those who do not want to live the same way. There is such a thing as being too fanatical. But we'd better not assume we can judge a so-called fanatic's heart, because we might be condemning ourselves! Years ago, I daily witnessed a lady shuffling on her knees through the church on a very hard floor as she prayed all the Stations of the Cross. Was she too fanatical? Or was I merely unwilling to offer this kind of penance myself?
When we sin, we're condemned by the ways that other people avoid the same sin. But if we believe in the sign of Jonah (the death and resurrection of Jesus), we are free from this condemnation. There is no condemnation when we give Christ full Lordship of our lives, increase our zeal for holiness, and practice a faith that's charged up from knowing God's love and power.
A true (healthy and holy) fanatic is a Christian who's excited about the awesome partnership of "God and me" working together to overcome every inner turmoil, every source of anxiety, every addiction, and all other disabling problems, while recognizing that this is a long process, AND without condemning those who don't work on their own purifications faster.
Lord, help me to become more fanatical!
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Today's Readings:Rom 1:1-7Ps 98:1-4Luke 11:29-32http://www.usccb.org/nab/101209.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_12.mp3
Are you a religious fanatic?
Today's responsorial Psalm says: "The Lord has made known his salvation." What do you need his salvation for in your life today?
If we want Jesus to save us from whatever evil is going on in our lives, well, what are we waiting for? He's already made his help available to us! If we want him to save us from the inner turmoil or anxieties or addictions or other disabling problems that have a hold on us, why are we still unhealed? He has already offered his power to overcome it!
Do we allow the good news of Jesus to penetrate every area of our lives? Is he really the Lord of our lives – completely?
In the Gospel reading, Jesus warns that the example of repentance given by the Ninevites is a condemnation of those who refuse to avail themselves of his saving power. There are plenty of signs when something's wrong, but unremorseful sinners reject every sign they don't want to see.
The modern-day Ninevites are those of us who have become excited about God's saving love after recognizing our sins and regretting them, having turned to God and finding his forgiveness and mercy. We're so excited that we work very hard to remain in God and to reject unGodly ways. Others call us "religious fanatics", because they feel uncomfortable around our example of holiness. Our zeal for holy living feels like condemnation to those who do not want to live the same way. There is such a thing as being too fanatical. But we'd better not assume we can judge a so-called fanatic's heart, because we might be condemning ourselves! Years ago, I daily witnessed a lady shuffling on her knees through the church on a very hard floor as she prayed all the Stations of the Cross. Was she too fanatical? Or was I merely unwilling to offer this kind of penance myself?
When we sin, we're condemned by the ways that other people avoid the same sin. But if we believe in the sign of Jonah (the death and resurrection of Jesus), we are free from this condemnation. There is no condemnation when we give Christ full Lordship of our lives, increase our zeal for holiness, and practice a faith that's charged up from knowing God's love and power.
A true (healthy and holy) fanatic is a Christian who's excited about the awesome partnership of "God and me" working together to overcome every inner turmoil, every source of anxiety, every addiction, and all other disabling problems, while recognizing that this is a long process, AND without condemning those who don't work on their own purifications faster.
Lord, help me to become more fanatical!
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Good News ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: October 18, 200929th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Good News ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: October 18, 200929th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA: For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection, please go to Catholic Digital Resources:http://catholicdr.com/calendar/October/29thB.htm - Preview a sample
Next Sunday's Readings:Is 53:10-11Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22Heb 4:14-16Mark 10:35-45 http://www.usccb.org/nab/101809.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_18.mp3
To be great in the kingdom of God means to be a servant, says Jesus in next Sunday's Gospel passage: We are to serve the needs of others for the benefit of the kingdom.
This does not mean that our own needs and desires and dreams don't matter. Being a servant for God is not slavery; it's an honor and a blessing, because it unites us to the salvation servanthood of Christ.
Being a servant like Christ means that we are treated by the Father the same way Jesus was treated. Our Master will not belittle us, disrespect us, nor over-work us.
The alternative is to be a slave to our worldly passions and possessions and the ways of the world. Worldly enslavement does belittle us. It reduces us to less than what God created us to be.
The ways of Christ empower us to be like Christ himself: Free to enjoy all of the benefits of the kingdom of God, free to live a holy life, and therefore, free to be great in the eyes of our Father.
In this freedom, there is great joy. However, the ways of Christ are not easy and sometimes lead to the Cross, but this cup of suffering increases our holiness and makes us even greater in heaven. When we make sacrifices for the benefit of others and we understand that our sufferings are part of our growth in holiness, they become much more bearable, because what had seemed like a curse is redeemed into a very significant blessing.
Do you know anyone whose prayers have not been answered? It's not because God doesn't care, nor because he can't help them. He answers the prayers of others through our servanthood. Jesus serves others through us.
Our top priority must always be our own relationship with God, so that we receive an abundance of whatever he wants us to share with others in service to their needs. We cannot give what we don't have. We cannot serve others well – we cannot be the presence of Christ for them – unless we ourselves have first been served by Jesus.
Questions for Personal Reflection:What has God blessed you with abundantly? What insights, gifts, talents, wisdom, etc., do you have? How are these indications that Jesus has served you?
Questions for Community Faith Sharing:How has Jesus been a servant to you? Share how you have passed this service onto someone else (or would like to). For example, how has he served you with his unconditional, forgiving love? Or how has he served you by meeting an unmet need? In turn, how has this helped you to be a servant for others?
STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org* To join and become a member, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA: For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection, please go to Catholic Digital Resources:http://catholicdr.com/calendar/October/29thB.htm - Preview a sample
Next Sunday's Readings:Is 53:10-11Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22Heb 4:14-16Mark 10:35-45 http://www.usccb.org/nab/101809.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_18.mp3
To be great in the kingdom of God means to be a servant, says Jesus in next Sunday's Gospel passage: We are to serve the needs of others for the benefit of the kingdom.
This does not mean that our own needs and desires and dreams don't matter. Being a servant for God is not slavery; it's an honor and a blessing, because it unites us to the salvation servanthood of Christ.
Being a servant like Christ means that we are treated by the Father the same way Jesus was treated. Our Master will not belittle us, disrespect us, nor over-work us.
The alternative is to be a slave to our worldly passions and possessions and the ways of the world. Worldly enslavement does belittle us. It reduces us to less than what God created us to be.
The ways of Christ empower us to be like Christ himself: Free to enjoy all of the benefits of the kingdom of God, free to live a holy life, and therefore, free to be great in the eyes of our Father.
In this freedom, there is great joy. However, the ways of Christ are not easy and sometimes lead to the Cross, but this cup of suffering increases our holiness and makes us even greater in heaven. When we make sacrifices for the benefit of others and we understand that our sufferings are part of our growth in holiness, they become much more bearable, because what had seemed like a curse is redeemed into a very significant blessing.
Do you know anyone whose prayers have not been answered? It's not because God doesn't care, nor because he can't help them. He answers the prayers of others through our servanthood. Jesus serves others through us.
Our top priority must always be our own relationship with God, so that we receive an abundance of whatever he wants us to share with others in service to their needs. We cannot give what we don't have. We cannot serve others well – we cannot be the presence of Christ for them – unless we ourselves have first been served by Jesus.
Questions for Personal Reflection:What has God blessed you with abundantly? What insights, gifts, talents, wisdom, etc., do you have? How are these indications that Jesus has served you?
Questions for Community Faith Sharing:How has Jesus been a servant to you? Share how you have passed this service onto someone else (or would like to). For example, how has he served you with his unconditional, forgiving love? Or how has he served you by meeting an unmet need? In turn, how has this helped you to be a servant for others?
STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org* To join and become a member, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe
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