His Kingdom: Open to ALL
Opening Versicles
V. O God, come to my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
R. Amen. Alleluia.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15
V. (14) I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
R. O LORD, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand
my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar.
V. I praise you for I am wonderfully made.
R. Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.
V. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
R. My soul also you knew full well; nor was my frame unknown to you When I was made in secret,
when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.
V. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
Canticle
V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
R. Amen.
Homily
Romans 8:26-27:
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Tonight let us reflect on three important things: the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, the Kingdom of God and the final judgment.
Romans 8:26-27 reminds us that the Spirit of God resides in the lives of all disciples and not in the lives of some of them. Those who do away with the Word of God are simultaneously closing the doors of their heart to the vivifying Spirit of God. As Paul emphasizes, it is the Holy Spirit who is our mentor in prayer, our help in weakness and our guide in understanding the richness of God's Word. The first disciples had Jesus himself to help them understand the teachings which he imparted to them. We, in turn, have the Holy Spirit who helps us to understand God's Word and live out its implications in our everyday life.
It can happen that when we see people around us who do not welcome the seed of God's Word in their lives, we end up judging them left right and centre. The fact that good wheat and cockle (tares) get left to grow together might upset us. If we think in these terms, we would be miles away from understanding that God sent his only Son into the world for everybody, both for the righteous and for the wicked. His Kingdom is a gift offered and left open to all, even to the most wretched evil-doers whom we automatically are so ready to exclude. Thank God that our Good Lord does not envisage things the way we do!
God alone knows the time when the good wheat will be separated from the cockle. The parable of the seed and the sower (Matthew 13:24-43) presents a fearful image of this moment of separation, which alludes to the final judgment. The tares get gathered up and bound into bundles to be burnt, while the good wheat gets collected into the sower's barn. Yet we know God as not only just but merciful. His power is not manifested in his vengeance for our faults but in his readiness to be merciful towards us. As the 5th verse of Psalm 85 states: "You, O Lord, are sweet and merciful, rich in goodness to all that call upon you."
May we too be strong in the conviction that, in spite of our sinfulness, God does not fear our sins but desires us to come close to Him so that our lives may be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. May we never forget the most worthy lesson of the Scriptures as repeated in 2 Peter 3:9, that The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God gives sinners ample time for repentance!
Canticle Magnificat
V. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour--me, his lowly handmaiden.
R. Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for
me. His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him.
V. He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from
their thrones; but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he
has sent away empty.
R. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to
our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.
V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is
now, and ever shall be, world without end.
R. Amen.
Liturgical Prayer
V. Jesus brings peace to weary souls. Brethren, let us bring our prayers before him: Most loving King, take pity on us.
R. Jesus, holy temple of God, thrown down by men and raised up again by the Father, make the Church a tabernacle of the Most High.
V. Jesus, you love us with an everlasting love and in your mercy you draw us to yourself: renew your covenant with each one of us.
R. Jesus, you are peace and reconciliation. You renew mankind in unity and bring all men together in peace; by your cross you destroy all enmity: open for us the path to God.
V. Jesus, our life and our resurrection, you lighten burdens and give rest to the soul: draw sinners to yourself.
R. Jesus, your overflowing love made you obedient even to death on a cross: to all who sleep in your peace bring resurrection.
Lords Prayer
Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory
Now and forever: amen.
Closing Versicles
V. Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by
paths yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not
knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Benediction:
V. May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.
R. AMEN
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/04/2008 01:22PM by Moriah Conquering Wind.
Post by Moriah Conquering Wind on 07/04/2008 12:59PM
0 comment(s)
He Met Them Where They Were
He Met Them Where They Were
Opening Versicles
V. O God, come to my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is
now, and ever shall be, world without end.
R. Amen. Alleluia.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15
V. (14) I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
R. O LORD, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand
my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar.
V. I praise you for I am wonderfully made.
R. Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother?s womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.
V. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
R. My soul also you knew full well; nor was my frame unknown to you When I was made in secret,
when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.
V. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
Canticle
V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
R. Amen.
Homily
God expected the Jews to be a separate people. For this reason He instituted special laws and rituals for them to perform. He established a culture unlike any the world had known before that time. However, as the culture progressed, it became more and more legalistic. While God never intended for Jews to shut out outsiders, it soon became a mandate that gentiles were to be avoided. Observant Jews weren't even allowed to break bread with them.
Then, it became necessary to separate themselves from people who weren't quite up to standards. The Samaritans were driven out because their blood wasn't pure enough. Next, it was people who didn't conform to what 'good' Jews ought to be. Salvation was restricted to only the blessed few who were of the correct lineages and idealogies.
Along came Jesus. He didn't give a fig for these man-made rules of separation. He didn't require that people perform all the correct rituals of purification before he would sit and eat with them. He didn't require them to even be observant Jews. Instead, he sat with the prostitutes, the beggars, the tax collectors. There was no separation between him and those who needed God more than anything.
Modern Christians have fallen into some of the same errors of thinking. They try to maintain themselves separate in all ways from those who don't believe or are (even worse) apostates in their thinking. The lines of division are strong. It's ok to witness to such as these, to try to win them back to Christ, but to actually socialize and hang with them--unthinkable.
We need to be following Jesus' example instead of following some man-made rules about separating ourselves from the world. We need to be real, without erecting barriers between ourselves and those we consider to be 'in the world.' Jesus didn't differentiate. He ate with the Pharisees, and he ate with the 'sinners.' So should we.
Canticle Magnificat
V. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour ? me, his lowly handmaiden.
R. Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for
me. His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him.
V. He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from
their thrones; but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he
has sent away empty.
R. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to
our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.
V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is
now, and ever shall be, world without end.
R. Amen.
Liturgical Prayer
V. Jesus brings peace to weary souls. Brethren, let us bring our prayers before him: - Most
loving King, take pity on us.
R. Jesus, holy temple of God, thrown down by men and raised up again by the Father, make the Church a tabernacle of the Most High.
V. Jesus, you love us with an everlasting love and in your mercy you draw us to yourself:
renew your covenant with each one of us.
R. Jesus, you are peace and reconciliation. You renew mankind in unity and bring all men
together in peace; by your cross you destroy all enmity: open for us the path to God.
V. Jesus, our life and our resurrection, you lighten burdens and give rest to the soul:
draw sinners to yourself.
R. Jesus, your overflowing love made you obedient even to death on a cross:
to all who sleep in your peace bring resurrection.
Lords Prayer
Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the
Closing Versicles
V. Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by
paths yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not
knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Benediction:
V. May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.
R. AMEN
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 06/24/2008 02:27PM by mnphysicist.
Post by belindap on 06/24/2008 01:43PM
1 comment(s)
When Satan Invades the Fellowship
Opening Versicles
L: O God, come to my aid.
R: O Lord, make haste to help me.
L: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
R: Amen. Alleluia.
First Reading
Galatians 5:19-21a, 22-23a
L: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, HATRED, variance, emulations, WRATH, STRIFE, seditions, heresies, ENVYINGS, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like...
R: But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, PEACE, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance...
Second Reading
1 Corinthians 13:13
L: And now abideth faith, hope, LOVE, these three; but the greatest of these [is] LOVE.
Third Reading
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
L: LOVE suffereth long, [and] is KIND; love envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
R: Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Canticle
L: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
R: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Homily
This devotion comes from a prophecy that God gave to one of his followers and is posted [http://christianforums.com/showpost.php?p=42473782&postcount=2]here[/http] It is a description of what goes on when Satan invades the fellowship of believers. Let me quote the relevant paragraph:
'The Lord gave me a vision of the body of Christ, many many people. As I watched, these people were slandering each other. They were speaking horrible words about each other, and as they spoke iron collars were being put on their necks. Each of these collars had a long iron chain attached to it. Almost every person had a collar and chain. I looked up above to see where all these chains went. Above the group was a large goat's head, a symbol of Satan, that held all these chains. These people were taken into captivity! Not just a few, either, almost all of the people had a collar around their neck, and a chain controlled by Satan. Their evil words were entrapping them, not only themselves, but the people they were speaking against as well. Yet in the vision no one saw the chains, the collars or even Satan himself. They were blinded by their own sin, I realized, for with sin comes deception.'
This has happened to us all, and we have all been used by the Enemy at some point. Satan loves to destroy anything that can be a force against him. We must always be on our guard against this. Any time that we start seeing strife between brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to be aware that Satan is there, egging it on.
How do we fight this? First, we must realize that it doesn't matter who is right or wrong. What matters is that Satan has ahold of people and that he needs to be cast from the midst of the believers. Any time there is strife between the believers, we should all hit our knees and ask God for guidance and forgiveness. I think we will often find that our grievances with one another will fade from view as God's glory is revealed.
Canticle Magnificat
L: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.
R: For he has shown me such favour ? me, his lowly handmaiden.
L: Now all generations will call me blessed,
because the mighty one has done great things for me.
R: His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him.
L: He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from their thrones;
R: but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
L: He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.
R: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Liturgical Prayer
L: Jesus brings peace to weary souls. Brethren, let us bring our prayers before him:
R: Most loving King, take pity on us.
L: Jesus, holy temple of God, thrown down by men and raised up again by the Father, make the Church a tabernacle of the Most High.
R: Jesus, you love us with an everlasting love and in your mercy you draw us to yourself: renew your covenant with each one of us.
L: Jesus, you are peace and reconciliation. You renew mankind in unity and bring all men together in peace; by your cross you destroy all enmity: open for us the path to God.
R: Jesus, our life and our resurrection, you lighten burdens and give rest to the soul:
draw sinners to yourself.
L: Jesus, your overflowing love made you obedient even to death on a cross: to all who sleep in your peace bring resurrection.
Lords Prayer
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Closing Versicles
L: Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths yet untrodden, through perils unknown.
R: Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Benediction
L: May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.
R: AMEN
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/2008 01:11PM by belindap.
Post by belindap on 06/18/2008 01:03PM
2 comment(s)
Online Users
Guests:
6
Record Number of Users:
3
June 11, 2009
Record Number of Guests:
70
March 23, 2010
