The Preaching of the Gospel by Actions

 Actions speak louder than words would be true in describing the life of Francis.  I believe he has many followers that are following his teachings without knowing of his life.  We are seeing the rebirth of something that has been long silent or hidden in the world.  For all of those who are baring the burdens and losses through the natural disasters that have been occurring there is a light that is growing brighter.  Through their losses they have found hope.  Through their grief they have found comfort and love from neighbors.  The loss of material goods has brought out the humility of accepting help from a stranger.  Through their faith they will envision a better tomorrow.  Some might say they are being born again in the likeness of their creator.  He had nowhere to lay his head.  The clothes on his back were all that he owned.  He relied on the charity of others for his daily bread.  Yes, they are living in the lifestyle of Francis but not by choice.  They are being taught what the words of the Gospels' mean but not by preachers.  Man's humanity to man, love one another, care for each other, bare one another's burdens, each of these actions have been and continue to be carried out daily by those who have listened to the word of God and put it into practice by their actions.  GOD BLESS YOU!!!

Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.

HAPPY NEW EASTER

"This is my commandment:  "Love one another as I have loved you." There is no greater love than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command you.

It was not you who chose me, it was I who chose you to go forth and bear fruit. Your fruit must endure, so that all you ask the Father in my name he will give you.

The command I give you is this, that you love one another."

These words in John's Gospel Chapter 15 are just a few of the words spoken just before Jesus was arrested. 

As we head into the final week of Lent next week let us remember these words.  Let us put these words into action.  Let this Easter be the beginning of our New Year with resolutions to read, pray and follow the Gospels as did St. Francis in his life.  Then put all of this into action as St. Francis also did.

GOD BLESS YOU and THE JOYFUL SERVANTS wish all of you a blessed and faith filled EASTER!

Lord, Hear Our Prayers

As we ponder today, as we feel compassion for Japan, as we listen to the overwhelming conflicts in the world, our aware of the battles in our daily lives, or hear of the pain and sufferings of others, we must pray, pray, pray and then pray somemore.  The evening prayers are so applicable.

Father,

Without  you we can do nothing.

By your Spirit help us to know what is right and

and to be eager in doing your will.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever

James 4: 7-10

Submit to God: resist the devil and he will take flight.

Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you.

Cleanse your hands, you sinners: purify your hearts, you backsliders.

 Begin to lament, to mourn, and to weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning

and your joy into sorrow.  Be humbled in the sight of the Lord and he will raise you on high.

Good Master, teach us to love you in our neighbor,

-and in serving them to serve you.

Season of Renewal, Forgiveness and Always Love

We will begin the Season of Lent on Ash Wednesday, March 9, 2011.  Let this Lenten Season renew in each of us our Hope in our troubling times.  Dear Jesus, we love you, we adore you, our hope is in you. 
Dear Jesus, forgive us as we forgive others.  Dear Jesus, strengthen in us the love that we have for our neighbor.  As St. Francis lived the life of the Gospels in his daily interactions with all he met, may we spread the Gospel by our actions, words and deeds.  We pray to you, Our Lord, for guidance as we go forth.

In the account of "History of the Monks of Egypt", the last days of the fabled Abba Paphutius, we are told, that as his end approached, he "entreated the Lord to show him his like upon earth."  The Lord showed him a street musican who had been a thief, the very busy headman of a local village, and a wealthy Alexandrine merchant.  As the priests gathered around him he said that the Lord had revealed to him, that no one in this world ought to be despised, let him be a thief, or an actor on the stage, or one that tilled the ground and was bound to a wife, or was a merchant and served a trade: for in every condition of human life there are souls that please God and have their hidden deeds wherein he takes delight; whence is it plain that it is not so much profession or habit that is pleasing to God as the sincerity and affection of soul and honesty of deed.
May God Bless each of you!

Beginning a Joyful New Year

As we begin a new year, 2011 we wish everyone to know God's love, his mercy, his forgiveness.  We wish for you peace in your hearts with the comfort that the Lord is always with you and wishes for you to know that.

Some of you might have made New Year's resolutions to change some bad habits, get more exercise or eat better.  When you make your resolutions, please include resolutions to improve your prayer life, feed your soul with healthy readings, and exercise of virtues that we might have forgotten along our daily paths.

Life has brought many challenges in our lives that at times will overwhelm us.  Talk to our Lord, pray for his guidance and trust in him.  With him all things are possible, without him we can do nothing.

As much as you take time to eat, to sleep, to work and to enjoy, include time to pray, to nourish your heart, your soul, your thoughts to grow spiritually.

Keep a rosary in your car to say as your run errands or drive back and forth to work.  Make the sign of the cross and tell Jesus you love him.  Smile and thank him for all gifts you received this day.  Make the sign of the cross as you lay your head on your pillow at night and talk to him about your day, your hopes, your sorrows and your gratefulness of unexpected happenings.  Remember God's loves you as if you were an only child and has all the time in the world for you.  The cost is nothing and the rewards are plentiful.

Make a resolution to develop your daily prayer life.  It will make a difference in your life and in others as you include them in your thoughts and prayers.

God Bless you and HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Happy All Souls and All Saints Days

We pray in Thanksgiving for all those we have been blessed with knowing and have gone before us. May the Gates of Heaven be open to the Souls waiting for entrance through these Heavenly Gates.  As we enter into the days of preperation for the Holidays take time to stop and thank the Lord for all our blessings in the past year.  Each of us has so much to be thankful for.
If today we were able to eat, If today we have a shirt on our back and If today we know where we will lay our head for shelter then we have much to be THANKFUL for.  Let us not forget those who do not share in these basic comforts. 
Could we leave our homes and live like Francis did?  Could we beg for our food?
Could we dance in the woods and praise God for the Sun and the birds?  We pray that we will grow in our prayer life, in our love, in our spirit of giving and caring and in gratitude for all that the Lord has blessed us with. May we spread the Spirit of St. Francis through living the Gospel messages by our actions and using words if need be.

Interesting facts:

Did you know: Padre Pio was a Capuchin Franciscan, his Baptism name was Francesco, he was in the military service, he had the stigmata, he suffered many illnesses in his life, he offered his first Mass at the parish church of Our Lady of the Angels and  restoration work on this chapel was later undertaken by the Padre Pio Foundation of America. In one of Padre Pio's letters, he states that he remained patient in the midst of his trials because of his firm belief that Jesus, Mary, his Guardian Angel, St. Joseph and St. Francis were always with him and helped him always.
Some have stated that he was the second St. Francis.  In reading about St. Francis and Padre Pio's lives there are many similarties.

We love you Lord, we thank you for our many blessings.  May we too follow your Gospels as did St. Francis and Padre Pio in they're lives on this earth.