Sunday Sept. 27th Reflection DOING THE WORK OF THE LORD

[Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD]

Doing the Work of The Lord
A Reflection on the Readings for September 27th 2009
Numbers 11:25-29, Psalm 18, James 5:1-6, Mark 9:38-48
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus / Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Reformed Catholic Church of New England
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry


This Sunday’s readings have, it seems to me, a very important message
for all who claim to be Christians and followers of Christ. One of the
most important is found in the message of the Psalm which affirms the
truth about Almighty God. That truth is that He listens to us and
answers our prayers. If we put our lives in God’s hands, He will
protect us and make life safe for us. There is, of course, one
condition and it is, we have to live according to how Christ’s
instructed us.
“I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and
my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my
shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the
LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. For I
have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning from
my God.” (Psalm 18)
A second and even more powerful message is that by placing our measure
of success in material things we are leading ourselves to possible
destruction. The message found in James 5 is crystal clear, on several
points.
One concerns how we gain our earthly wealth. If we have accumulated
profit at the expense of others that profit will be like a fire that
consumes you. It also places blame for many of the problems that our
world is facing on those who live for material and financial gain
without concern for those who are in need.
“Now an answer for the rich. Start crying; weep for the miseries that
are coming to you. You stored up as your treasure for the last days a
burning fire. Laborers mowed your fields, and you cheated them –
listen to the wages that you kept back, calling out; realize that the
cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. On
earth you have had a life of comfort and luxury; in the time of
slaughter you went on eating to your heart’s content. It was you who
condemned the innocent and killed them“. (James 5).
The third message found in this weeks’ readings concerns those who
seem to feel that they speak for God and can decide who is worthy to
participate in offering honor, praise and glory. .They firmly believe
that their path is the only path to God and that they can decide who
is worthy and who is not.
In the Gospel reading when the apostles told Jesus that they tried to
stop people who were not of their group from prophesying and
performing miracles in the name of Almighty God Jesus said: “You must
not stop them: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to
speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us. If anyone
gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ,
then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’
anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who
have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone
round his neck”. (Mark 9)
Lastly, the reading from numbers has a very interesting and thought
provoking idea for us to ponder.
It concerns a supposition about what the world would be like if
everyone was given the gift of prophesy by God. "If only the whole
people of the Lord were prophets, and the Lord gave his Spirit to them
all!" (Numbers 11)
Imagine if every follower of God had the gift of prophesy. If that
were actually the case, the world might not be so quick to declare war
against other nations. People would be more likely to be concerned
about the needs of the poor, hungry, aged, sick, and more likely to be
more compassionate and less judgmental. People would realize that a
pure love between two people is a good thing not to be disparaged and
condemned.
As we contemplate the messages of this week’s readings and how well we
are living our daily lives in accord with them let us keep in mind
what the scriptures taught us on what God expects of us.
He put us here to gain the greatest wage and wealth of all,
Everlasting life in His presence.
We have been sent out into the vineyards to be the hands, feet, mouth
and spirit of Almighty God and to actively wage the battle against the
powers of darkness who are attempting to replace His infinite mercy,
love, and compassion with hatred, discrimination, war, violence, greed
and self-gratification.
The following is a prayer I offer each day as I attempt to go about my
daily life humbly serving God as best I can while seeking God’s
strength to improve.


O Lord, you are my rock, my fortress and my deliverer in whom I take
refuge.
Almighty God, I give you my hands to do Your work; I give you my feet
to go Your way;
I give you my eyes to see as You do; I give you my tongue to speak
Your words; I give you my mind that You may think in me; I give you my
spirit that You may pray in me;
Above all, I give you my heart that You may love in and through me all
to whom I come in contact with each and every day. I dedicate myself
to doing Your will in all things and to become an instrument through
which You might bring about peace and harmony to all your children
here on earth. AMEN (Written by Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD in 1991 for a
retreat weekend)