Remember the Saints?

No we are not thinking of any football team named after a saint of dubious credibility, but those good people who have died after spending their earthly life doing good for others.

Today we celebrate the feast called "All Saints Day", the day on which Catholics celebrate all the saints, known and unknown. It is no coincidence that last night we celebrated Halloween. Well, some people did. The name Halloween comes from the old English words which mean "Evening before All Halloweds" and is a surprisingly old feast. It arose out of the Christian tradition of celebrating the martyrdom of saints on the anniversary of their martyrdom. When martyrdoms increased during the persecutions of the late Roman Empire, local dioceses instituted a common feast day in order to ensure that all martyrs, known and unknown, were properly honoured.
But in fact today we remember all those people whom we knew in life who were good and lived a blessed life and have now assumed their rightful place in Heaven. They may not ever get canonised by the Church (this honour is seldom bestowed on anyone who has not lived a vowed life of celibacy, obedience to the Church and/or poverty) but they are never-the-less Saints, recognised for their holiness or goodness.
We ask God on this day to give us a share in their "goodness" and we ask them to intercede for us on our earthly pilgrimage. I remember today especially my beloved grandparents Jack & Nellie McGrath as well as Edward & Anne Lee (whom I have never met).

How many real friends do you have? (Not Facebook friends)

A true friend is rare to find but as the Book of Sirach says, “He who finds a faithful friend, finds a rare treasure” (Sirach 6:14-16).

I believe the difference between a happy successful person and a loser is the quality of friendships.

After 20 years of making and culling friends, this has become my ABC of friendship. Check your friends by this list:

(A)ccepts you as you are

(B)elieves in you

(C)alls you just to say "Hi"

(D)oesn't give up on you

(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)

(F)orgives your mistakes

(G)ives unconditionally

(H)elps you

(I)nvites you over

(J)ust hangs with you

(K)eeps you close at heart

(L)oves you for who you are

(M)akes a difference in your life

(N)ever judges

(O)ffers support

(P)icks you up

(Q)uietens your fears

(R)aises your spirits

(S)ays nice things about you

(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it

(U)nderstands you

(V)alues you

(W)alks beside you

(X)plains things you don't understand

(Y)ells when you won't listen and

(Z)aps you back to reality when you start to forget your humanity.

For a large part of my life, Jesus was uniquely all these things to me. Since my “fall from grace” I have found a very few people who exercise most of these roles. Its not important how many friends you have who tick all of these boxes, as long as you have someone who does. In my case now its my wife.

However, as I say to people who feel depression destroying their will to live, “Don’t count how many friends you have, count how many people you are a friend to”. Its more important to create friendships than to find friends.  As one wise person said, “Seek to be a friend and you will indeed attract friends to you”.

 

 

What lesson can a thief in the night teach us about the Kingdom of God?

Meditation based on the Gospel Luke 12:39-48

Should we be surprised to see a thief making off with a great treasure left unguarded?
What does this say about the treasure which God has entrusted to you and me? When God offers us his kingdom he gives us a priceless treasure (see the hidden in a field and the pearl of great price in Matthew 13:44-46).
What is this treasure of immeasurable value? The Lord Jesus himself is our treasure (Job 22:22-23)and the kingdom he offers us is a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). The Lord offers us a relationship with God the Father as his sons and daughters and the promise of eternal life as well. This treasure is of far greater value that any earthly treasure because nothing can diminish its insurpassable worth or destroy it. But it's possible to lose this great treasure if we do not guard it with our heart, mind, soul, and strength. We can lose heaven and
eternal friendship with God if we allow Satan the deceiver and father of lies to rob us of our faith and make us deny God's word of truth!
The Lord Jesus fortunately does not leave us on our own he stands watch with us to guide, direct, and keep us from the snares of the evil one.
Do you keep vigilant watch over the treasure which God has entrusted to you?
Jesus ends his teaching on watchfulness and vigilance with another parable about a master and his servants (similar to the parable in Matthew 24:.45-49).
The storyline is similar. There is an element of surprise the master suddenly returns home expectedly, probably from a long journey. He rewards the dutiful servant for his faithfulness to his master. He has performed his service with diligence and has done all that the master required of him. The master punishes the other servant who behaved wickedly. This servant was not only irresponsible he was frequently absent from work and spent his master's money by throwing endless parties with his friends. The wicked servant also abused his fellow workers with physical force and violence probably to make them do the work he was supposed to do for his master.
The master not only strips him of his job and a secure place to live, but removes him from the joy and fellowship of the people he lived and worked with. The wicked servant is cast into a prison of like-minded rebels, trouble-makers, thieves, and murderers. Can you imagine a place of endless
quarreling, strife, hatred, envy, jealousy, and constant abuse and fighting?
Should we be surprised to see the master acting with such swift judgment?
After all the master is only giving back to the wicked servant what he has given to others through his abusive and irresponsible behavior. The master rewards the faithful servant with promotion, honor, and friendship, and he punishes the unfaithful servant who stole from his master and
used his position to abuse others by removing him from his position of trust. The Lord has entrusted each one of us with his gifts and grace the grace to love God with faithfulness, trust, and obedience and the grace to love our neighbor as ourself. Do you want to be faithful and reliable as the Lord is faithful and trustworthy?
The Lord loves faithfulness and richly rewards those who are faithful to him. What is faithfulness? It's keeping one's word, promise, and commitments no matter how tough or difficult it gets. Faithfulness is a key character trait of God and one that he expects of us. Fortunately God gives the grace and strength to remain faithful. He also rewards faithfulness. The joy and privilege of being a son or daughter of God carries with it an awesome responsibility. The Lord expects us to make good use of the gifts and graces he gives to us. The more he gives, the more he requires. The temptation
while the Master is away is to put off for tomorrow what we know the Master expects us to do today. How can we grow in faithfulness? God's grace shows us the way. When we are faithful in the little tasks and promises we make, we learn to be faithful in the bigger and more important responsibilities
and tasks entrusted to us.
The Lord Jesus calls us to be vigilant in watching for his return and to be ready to meet him when he calls us to himself. The Lord gives us his Holy Spirit so that we may have the wisdom, help, and strength we need to turn away from sin to embrace God's way of love, justice, and holiness.
The Lord's warning of judgment causes dismay for those who are unprepared, but it brings joyful hope to those who eagerly wait for his return in glory.
God's judgment is good news for those who are ready to meet him. Their reward is God himself, the source of all truth, beauty, goodness, love and everlasting life.
Lord Jesus, you have captured my heart and it is yours. Take it that I may have you alone as my treasure and joy. Make me strong in faith, steadfast in hope, and generous in love that I may seek to please you in all things and bring you glory.

The following reflection is courtesy of Presentation Ministries (c) 2012. Their website is located at presentationministries.com

OUR JOB AND OUR JOY

"Who in your opinion is that faithful, farsighted steward whom the Master will set over His servants to dispense their ration of grain in season?" Luke 12:42

When Jesus comes back today or later, what will you be doing? Will you be quarreling with the other servants of Jesus (Lk 12:45) or dispensing the "ration of grain in season"? (Lk 12:42) Will you be feeding His sheep (Jn 21:17) with God's Word? (Mt 4:4) Will you be sharing your faith in Jesus? The Lord has given us so much. Many of us are privileged to receive daily in Holy Communion the Gift of gifts, Jesus Christ, God Himself. The Lord has made us new creations by His death and resurrection. The Holy Trinity even lives within us. "Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man" (1 Cor 2:9) what God has already done for us. "When much has been given a man, much will be required of him. More will be asked of a man to whom more has been entrusted" (Lk 12:48). The Lord, out of love for a lost world, rightly expects us to share our faith at every opportunity (see 1 Pt 3:15). On Judgment Day, He will hold us accountable for doing this. When He returns, He will expect to see us dispensing the grain, feeding the sheep, sharing our faith. Most of you have heard this message before. This is not the first time you have read today's Gospel reading. However, you may not have obeyed it. Repent, ask for the Holy Spirit, and give people the opportunity to hear about, know, and love Jesus.

Prayer: Father, I will not deceive myself by only hearing Your word but not doing it (Jas 1:22).
Promise: "Through the Church, God's manifold wisdom is made known to the principalities and powers of heaven, in accord with His age-old purpose, carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Eph 3:10-11)

Praise: Living a life of love for Christ, St. Anthony wrote and published almost two-hundred spiritual books or pamphlets throughout the years of his apostolate.

Why I believe in God, not the Bible..

Please read the following email exchange from an athiest and me which explains why I believe in God, not the Bible.

Mark starts by debunking my belief in angels and saints and then launches into why he finds the contradictions in the Bible supporting his claim that there must be no god.

 

Mark Smith July 29 at 10:17pm

Kev,
you enjoy your imaginary friend..I'll enjoy mine. But the "God" you hold so dear gives kids cancer, kills thousands via acts of "God"..Since you like to quote the bible, care to purchase my Fijian slaves???

"However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance...(Leviticus 25:44-46)"

Hey, according to the Bible, God's word, I can have sex slaves..

"When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment.(Exodus 21:7-11)"

Hang on that's mans interpretation of Gods word??? Given his "power" where is the correction?

That's right I forgot..Jesus, the son of God, came to earth in a vain attempt to take our sin upon himself, thereby freeing man to approach God...Yet The New Testament also condoned slavery..

"Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so that the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed. If your master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You should work all the harder because you are helping another believer by your efforts. Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. (1 Timothy 6:1-2)"

You quoted Timothy yet in his "Gospel" he endorses slaves. So what's the real truth?

I can go on..I was brought up in a religious household and was forced to read and memorize the bible from an early age. Thankfully I also grew a questioning brain that takes nothing for granted. I will never force my children to endure the mental child abuse that is Christianity. It's a lovely fairy story. And, normally I never debate the belief systems of any body until they question mine. If a faith in a cosmic puppeteer gets you through the day, great. But don't tell me I'm wrong in my interpretation of "Gods" message. God doesn't exist.

Kevin Lee August 10 at 3:23pm

Hi Mark, nice to hear from you. I do sympathise with you being brought up in a Bible-bashing family. I was inspired by non-Bible reading parents who nourished our relationship with God on good example and a love thats put into action for the down-trodden. We would be regularly taken to the city and shown the homeless as my mother would bring them sandwiches and coffee and call them "my brother" and "my sister". They would then tell us that we do this because Jesus told us that we are all brothers and sisters.

We never read the Old Testament because my parents told us "its all a fairy tale for Jews". Jesus came to show the Jews how wrong they were.
And as for 'God giving kids cancer' or causing floods & typhoons etc, there are those who argue that its what "Man" is doing to the environment that is causing so called natural disasters and our fetish for processed foods that is causing rampant rates of cancer. And anyway, why do people have more sympathy for a child getting cancer than an old person getting it? I work with police as a counsellor and I often find them getting all teary eyed over a kid killed in a car accident and having no emotion for an older lady killed in the same accident. Why does a person get less emotional over an adult's death? They are just a baby that has grown old.. They are technically the same person. With God, we are all children. He cares about all of us and unlike you, His view of death is not as a punishment but as an early mark! When you die before your time, God is saying "You get to go to Heaven without having to endure the drudgery and hardships of life on earth!"
I agree with you about all the apparent contradictions in the Old Testament. That's why I am not a Jew.

I also dont support all the views held by St Paul because he is not God and therefore I dont see his opinions as "The Word of God". Maybe your views on organised religion and Christianity might be different if you were not tarnished by religiosity in your youth. I find many young people readily accepting Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular when they were not brought up as one.
In conclusion, you might find the following an entertaining spin on what the Bible says and how illogical it is..

Importance of keeping God’s Law

Laura Schlessinger is a US radio personality, who dispenses advice to people who call in to her Radio talk show. On her program recently, she said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an ‘abomination to the Lord’according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as thought-provoking.

Dear Dr. Laura: Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is, my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev.24:10-16). Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.20:14) I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your adoring fan,

Natalie Vassilaka

Who would give his son a snake if he asked for an egg?

What can we expect from God, especially when we recognize that He doesn't owe us anything and that we don't deserve his grace and favour? Jesus used the illustration of a late-night traveller to teach his listeners an important lesson about how God treats us in contrast to the kind of treatment we might expect from good neighbors. The rule of hospitality in biblical times required the cooperation of the entire community in entertaining an unexpected or late-night guest. Whether the guest was hungry or not, a meal would be served. In a small village it would be easy to know who had baked bread that day. Bread was essential for a meal because it served as a utensil for dipping and eating from the common dishes. Asking for bread from one's neighbor was both a common occurrence and an expected favor. To refuse to give bread would bring shame because it was a sign of inhospitality.
If a neighbor can be imposed upon and coerced into giving bread in the middle of the night, how much more hospitable is God, who, no matter what the circumstances, is generous and ready to give us what we need. Augustine of Hippo reminds us that "God, who does not sleep and who awakens us from sleep that we may ask, gives much more graciously." In conclusion Jesus makes a startling claim: How much more will the heavenly Father give!
The Lord is ever ready to give us not only what we need, but more than we can expect. He gives freely of his Holy Spirit that we may share in his life and joy. Do you approach your heavenly Father with confidence in his mercy and kindness?
"Heavenly Father, you are merciful, gracious and kind. May I never doubt Your love nor hesitate to seek you with confidence in order to obtain the gifts, graces, and daily provision I need to live as your disciple and child."

STIFLING THE SPIRIT (1 Thes 5:19)

        "After beginning in the Spirit, are you now to end in the flesh?" —Galatians 3:3

        Approximately one billion people on the earth have received the Holy Spirit. This may come as a surprise because you'd think the world would be in better shape with all these "Spirit-filled" people. Nonetheless, just because a billion have received the Holy Spirit does not mean they are living in the Spirit. Many of the billion have stifled the Spirit by yielding to the flesh (Gal 5:17). Like Esau, too many of us have sold our birthright — life in the Spirit — for petty, selfish pleasures (Gn 25:33-34). We've fallen into the temptation of depending on worldly things instead of on Jesus. We have thereby denied Him as our only Lord and Savior (Jude 4). We have gone out of our minds (Gal 3:1) and no longer recognize Jesus as the only One Who died on the cross for us and rose from the dead. Jesus is Life (Jn 14:6; Phil 1:21). Everything is rated as loss in His light (Phil 3:8). When we recommit our lives to Jesus, He will stir up the Spirit in our lives (2 Tm 1:6).

Prayer: "To the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!" (Rv 5:13)

Promise: "If you, with all your sins, know how to give your children good things, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him." Lk 11:13

Praise: Marcia is in her eighties, and still prays instantly with whoever asks her for prayer. Numerous times, God has answered her prayers by the end of the same day.

Lord, teach us how to pray...

Meditation on Scripture readings of 10/10/12:
Do you pray with joy and confidence?

The Jews were noted for their devotion to prayer. Formal prayer was prescribed for three set times a day. And the rabbis had a prayer for every occasion. It was also a custom for rabbis to teach their disciples a simple prayer they might use on a regular basis. Jesus' disciples ask him for such a prayer.
When Jesus taught his disciples to pray he gave them the disciple's prayer, what we call the Our Father or Lord's Prayer. What does Jesus' prayer tell us about God and about ourselves?
First, it tells us that God is both Father in being the Creator and Author of all that he has made, the first origin of everything and transcendent authority, and he is eternally Father by his relationship to his only Son who, reciprocally is Son only in relation to his Father (Matthew 11:27). All fatherhood and motherhood is derived from him (Ephesians 3:14-15).
In Jesus Christ we are rebornand become the adopted children of God (John 1:12-13; 3:3).
Jesus teaches us to address God as "our Father" and to confidently ask him for the things we need to live as his sons and daughters. We can approach God our Father with confidence and boldness because Jesus Christ has opened the way to heaven for us through his death and resurrection. When we ask God for help, he fortunately does not give us what we deserve.
Instead, He responds with grace and mercy. He is kind and forgiving towards us and He expects us to treat our neighbor the same. We can pray with expectant faith because our heavenly Father truly loves each one of us and and he treats us as his beloved children. He delights to give us what is good.
His love and grace transforms us and makes us like himself.
Through His grace and power we can love and serve one another as Jesus taught with grace, mercy, and loving-kindness. Do you treat others as they deserve, or do you treat them as the Lord Jesus would with grace and mercy?
Jesus' prayer includes an injunction that we must ask God to forgive us in proportion as we forgive those who have wronged us. God's grace frees us from every form of anger, spite, resentment, envy, and hatred. Are you ready to forgive others as Jesus forgives you?

Prayer:

"Father in heaven, You have given me a mind to know You, a will to serve You, and a heart to love You. Give me today the grace and strength to embrace Your holy will and fill my heart with your love that all my intentions and actions may be pleasing to you. Help me to be kind and forgiving towards my neighbour as you have been towards me".


 "THE CHURCH OF THE POOR"

"Be mindful of the poor." Galatians 2:10

When Paul laid out his ministry for the scrutiny of the leaders of the Jerusalem church, the only stipulation they made was that he "should be mindful of the poor" (Gal 2:10). This was the one thing that Paul "was making every effort to do" (Gal 2:10). We also should be making every effort to be mindful of the poor when we buy anything, talk, pray, work, plan church activities, parent our children, watch TV, drive our cars, have parties, go to school, etc. In our financially segregated culture, it is easy to forget about the poor who live in areas we do not have to travel through. Not many people who can afford comfortable housing live in areas where beggars like Lazarus are readily visible (see Lk 16:20ff). God our Father invites us to "bring in the poor" to His heavenly feast (Lk 14:21). However, many are tempted to be more mindful of their possessions and comfort than of sharing God's kingdom with the poor (Lk 14:18-21). To not be mindful of the poor is to forget about Jesus Himself (Mt 25:41-45). Pope John Paul II called every person and group in the Catholic Church "to carry out a sincere review of their lives regarding their solidarity with the poor" (Mission of the Redeemer, 60). "We need to turn to a more austere way of life" (Mission of the Redeemer, 59). "The Church all over the world wishes to be the Church of the poor...she wishes to draw out all the truth contained in the Beatitudes of Christ, and especially in the first one: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit' " (Mission of the Redeemer, 60).

Prayer:
Father, I will not only help the poor but be willing to be poor.

Promise: "Forgive us our sins for we too forgive all who do us wrong; and subject us not to the trial." Luke 11:4

Praise: Irene, a single mother, has faced her many financial and parental issues with an unwavering trust in the providence and mercy of God. Please keep her & all solo parents in your prayer intentions today.