September 13th 2009 Reflection

[Rev. Bob]

Reasons to Love The Lord, Our God
A Reflection for the 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2009
Based on readings from Isaiah 50:5-9, James 2:14-18, Mark 8:27-35
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Reformed Catholic Church of New England
www.missionstsergius.org


“The Lord has opened my ear. For my part, I made no resistance,
neither did I turn away. I offered my back to those who struck me, my
cheeks to those who tore at my beard; I did not cover my face against
insult and spittle.” (Isaiah 50:5-9)
These words from the book of Isaiah foretold how Jesus Christ would be
treated and how Jesus would react to the ridicule and ultimate
sacrifice He would endure.
These words also should remind us that we might have to endure taunts
and even rejection because of our love for God and because the way of
Christ is not the way of today‘s society.
Christ taught compassion, love, mercy, and forgiveness. These are
qualities that are in short supply in today’s world.
“What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has
not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill clad
and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace,
be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the
body, what does it profit?
So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But some one will
say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from
your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.” (James
2:14-18)
These words of James, the brother of Christ and head of the church at
Jerusalem, explain how we need to act in order to proclaim our faith.
In no uncertain words they say that we live our faith by our actions.
This has been the theme of the last few weeks and a constant theme of
Christ’s teachings.
Many people proclaim to be followers of Jesus Christ, but they have
blinders on towards the suffering and pain that exists all around
them. If they are aware of it, they seem to have no desire to put an
end to it.
Our nations leaders who for the most part claim to be Christians are
engaged in discussions to make our health plans more affordable and
the best in the world for all people regardless of their income yet
they resist because of what it might cost or because of their party
affiliations.
What happened to the idea of “Government for the people”
So many people give lip service but somehow little is really done to
bring and end to homelessness, poverty, affordable medical assistance
for the poor and seniors on low fixed incomes and affordable quality
education for every person.
The Government can find trillions to explore space, wage wars, give
tax breaks and incentives to the rich and corporations that pay their
executives exorbitant salaries, often a thousand time greater than the
average worker receives.
"If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his
cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and
whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save
it.” (Mark 8)
These words of Christ tell us that to become followers of Christ, we
must be willing to endure the crosses we are given. We must deny
ourselves things that are considered luxuries so we can care for the
needs of those who are poor, ill and unable to care for themselves
without help.
Every day I pray to God asking him to provide me with the tools to do
His work here on earth and be able to bring comfort and the sacraments
to those who cannot get to church or have been told they were not
wanted.
I try to spread The Good News of God’s everlasting compassion,
infinite love and mercy for all His children.
God always hears our prayers, but He only answer us with what is best
for us and at the appropriate time. When people who are sick, need a
job or desire to sell their house or some other need ask God’s help,
He hears them, but always gives them what is best for them.
Sometimes he calls the sick person home to him as the best way of
ending their suffering.
It leaves us feeling sad, lonely, and sometimes angry but we need to
realize that God did what was best for them. That is what it means to
deny ourselves. We must accept God’s will in our lives, just as Christ
in the Garden of Gethsemane pleaded “Lord remove this cup from me, but
not my will, but yours be done”
Maybe if we make that prayer the qualification of all our petitions
to God we will not be dissatisfied with God‘s answers to our prayers.
I have found that when God deems it right He provides those things I
need. My favorite poem FOOTSTEPS reminds us how God sometimes carries
us when we thought He had abandoned us. God never leaves us but we
often leave God out of our lives. I have learned that God needs to be
a major part of our life and in a perfect world God is the center of
our life.
We cannot allow ourselves to give up on God, worshiping Him and asking
Him to be with us just because some have told us we are unwanted, or
others try to claim that God is a myth, and still others who are
supposed to represent Him have committed heinous crimes. We need to
put our trust in God and love Him with all our being. Jesus
instructed us with these words; “LOVE THE LORD, YOUR GOD, WITH ALL
YOUR HEART, MIND, SOUL AND BODY AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOU LOVE
YOURSELF” (Mark 12:30) Christ also said “LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE
LOVED YOU” God loved us so much He was willing to die so that our
sins could be forgiven and we could attain everlasting life with Him
forever. AMEN



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