Sunday Reflection (October 2, 2022)

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Think of the Holy Spirit as the transmission that transfers energy from the engine to the wheels. The engine is the story of God’s love and compassion revealed in Jesus Christ, and the wheels are Christ’s Church empowered by the Holy Spirit to embody and share God’s love and compassion with the world. For almost 2,000 years, this one, apostolic, catholic, Church has transmitted and continues to transmit the story of God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ. Christ’s Church will continue to do so until Christ comes again.
 
Christ’s Church is Apostolic in that the Apostles and all the generations of Christians before us passed this message to us. Christ’s Church is catholic in that it is universal throughout the world of which we and the Roman Catholic Church are a part as well as Baptists, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, Episcopalians, Lutherans, and so forth. All Churches have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them and among them to transmit the story of God’s love in word and deed. May we embody this message (2 Timothy 1:11-14).

Prayer for the Week (October 2, 2022-October 8, 2022)

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Let us pray that our faith be strong and bold: Lord our God, you desire that our lives be full of truth and love. You have entrusted it to us as a task to be brought to a good end in partnership with you. Give us, your servants, a trusting faith, firm, loyal, enduring, and bold. May we grow in the conviction that you can overcome might and evil with what is weak and little and that your kingdom will come by the power and love of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

   (Claretian Publications)

                         

Devotion September 28, 2022

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Devotion September 27, 2022

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Sunday Reflection (September 25, 2022)

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First Timothy points out that the craving for riches distorts our perspective on life and damages our relationship with God and other in that the love of money, or power, or fame alienates us from God and neighbor (1 Timothy 6:9-10). Yet, what shall we do if we have abundance? Paul has an answer and I paraphrase: Those with abundance give thanks and share (6:17-19)!
Doing good, being generous, and being ready to share brings contentment with godliness (6:6-8). How often do we miss the small things in life that are truly valuable and priceless because we chase after the wrong things? Contentment combined with godliness is great gain! May what we do from everyday activities to politics be rooted and grounded in love and compassion.

Prayer for the Week (September 25, 2022-October 1, 2022)

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Let us pray to God for compassionate and generous hearts: Our generous and loving God,
your Son Jesus is risen from the dead and tells us to see the needs of the poor and to give them food and drink.
May we recognize your Son in them.  We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

   (Claretian Publications)

                         

Devotion September 21, 2022

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Devotion September 20, 2022

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Sunday Reflection (September 18, 2022)

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The early Christians such as those addressed in 1 Timothy were a minority religion,
and as in any society a minority religion could easily become a scapegoat and
suffer persecution. The early Christians did not want to send the wrong message
|to the world around them. This does not mean they forsook the faith, rather they
witnessed to outsiders by living a peaceful quiet life in godliness and dignity.
They were not a hotbed of political activism that could easily lend itself to violence,
rather they were a soothing healing influence upon society (1 Timothy 2:1-8).

This certainly speaks to us even today, no matter the circumstance or who is in office,
we are urged to pray, not only for certain persons or those of our political persuasion,
or only a certain class of people; we are urged to pray in a universal sense for all people
and even our governmental leaders. This does not mean we always agree with
what our leaders do or say, but that we pray in the hope of healing and restoration.
Through godliness and dignity, we represent Christ to the best of our abilities.

Prayer for the Week (September 18, 2022-September 24, 2022)

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Let us pray to the Lord that we be fair and generous to all:  Just and merciful God,
may we neither adore money and possessions nor sacrifice the poor to them.
May our hearts be gentle and compassionate so that we not neglect the dispossessed
and those trampled upon.  May we share with them in your name,
Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

   (Claretian Publications)