Devotion June 29, 2022

/in /by

Devotion June 28, 2022

/in /by

Prayer for the Week (June 26, 2022-July 2, 2022)

/in /by

Let us pray to God for the strength to follow Jesus wherever he leads us: Strong and kindhearted Father, in Jesus your Son, you reveal to us that love is a gift from you calling us to give ourselves without hesitation.  Open our ears to his call to commit ourselves with open hearts and hands to follow him in faithful and joyful service.  We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

(Claretian Communications)

                         

Sunday Reflection (June 26, 2022)

/in /by
As Christians, when we think of fleshly sins, we usually think of sexual sins, and Paul mentions them, but he also mentions other fleshly sins: Envy, jealousy, and quarrels: Have you considered those as fleshly sins? Our politics is full of such fleshly issues, yet we also experience them on personal levels, which we may call drama, but it is more than that: It is the misuse of our freedom of choice (Galatians 5:1, 13, 19-21). If we are not considerate of others and lack love and compassion, we will bear bad fruit (Galatians 5:16-18 22-26).

Fleshly sins reflect unnecessary conflict and division, but before pointing out the rotten fruit of others, may we examine ourselves and discover our own lack of good fruit which Paul describes as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” We entrust ourselves to God’s faithfulness and the leading of the Holy Spirit and given the opportunity the Holy Spirit will produce good fruit in our lives, yet what do we do with freedom? Freedom in the sense that Galatians gives it is the freedom “to serve others in love” (Galatians 5:13-16).  What fetters prevent you and me from serving others in love?

Devotion June 22, 2022

/in /by

Devotion June 21, 2022

/in /by

Sunday Reflection (June 19, 2022)

/in /by

Christ liberates and frees us to do good from the heart. Stop worrying about the foul-ups you have done and accept forgiveness. Move on in doing the good and right thing from the heart. Make the most with what you have and rejoice (Galatians 3:25-26).

When you fail, when I fail, ask ourselves why and move on because we are now clothed with Christ. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to grow in love and compassion. We find our primary identity in Christ (Galatians 3:27-29). We may not always do the right thing because of our limitations in knowledge, and our failures to understand how we are connected with others; however, in all things may we act with love and compassion that arises out of a pure and sincere heart.

Prayer for the Week (June 19, 2022-June 25, 2022)

/in /by
Let us pray that we grow in union with the One who fulfills our heart’s desire:  Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in your love. Lead us by your Spirit so that we live to your glory and in the life to come enjoy you forever.  We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

                                                                                (NZPB)

Tuesday Devotion June 14, 2022

/in /by

Sunday Reflection (June 1, 2022)

/in /by

Through the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ, God invites us into a closer communion with God and others, but it is not always easy. The afflictions and troubles of life have the potential to turn us bitter, hardhearted, and vindictive, but it does not have to be that way because the Holy Spirit pours God’s love into our hearts (Romans 5:1-5).

“God reaches through the Son in the Spirit to reconcile, transform, and lead the Church and the world in the Spirit through the Son back to the Father” (Killian McDonnell, The Other Hand of God, 207). Divine love poured into our hearts not only transforms us, it also flows from us to others. If they respond to that love, they too will be caught up in a deepening communion with God and others through the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ: Our access points to God. Listen to the Holy Spirit; listen to Jesus Christ and learn of God’s great love for us and the world: Dwell in the mystery of the Holy Trinity.