Join In Praying The Divine Mercy Novena

Join In Praying The Divine Mercy Novena Today join in praying the Divine Mercy Novena. The Catholic Church will pray each day this novena leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday, the Sunday which follows Easter. Let us pray daily that we may receive God’s mercy rather than judgment at the time of our death. (The following information has been copied from http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/ Background of the Divine Mercy Devotion From the diary of a young Polish nun, a special devotion began spreading throughout the world in the 1930s. The message is nothing new, but is a reminder of what the Church has always taught through scripture and tradition: that God is merciful and forgiving and that we, too, must show mercy and forgiveness. But in the Divine Mercy devotion, the message takes on a powerful new focus, calling people to a deeper understanding that God’s love is unlimited and available to everyone — especially the greatest sinners. Living the Message of Mercy The devotional practices revealed through Saint Faustina were given to us as "vessels of mercy" through which God's love can be poured out upon the world, but they are not sufficient unto themselves. It's not enough for us to hang The Divine Mercy image in our homes, pray the Chaplet every day at three o'clock, and receive Holy Communion on the first Sunday after Easter. We also have to show mercy to our neighbors. Putting mercy into action is not an option of the Divine Mercy Devotion; it's a requirement! To learn more visit: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/

being An Exemplary Model

Being An Exemplary Model “That is disgusting! I would never touch that, but you can clean it up for me.” “Do as I say, not as I do.” Jesus traveled to many places to teach people how to care for one another. He never asked anyone to do anything he wouldn’t do himself. You are the hands of the resurrected Christ. You are the eyes of the exalted Lord. You are the heart of God’s church. Live as Jesus lived so that you might be an exemplary model for your family and friends to pattern themselves after. “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example,,that you also should do as I have done to you.” John 13:1-8,12-15 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

You Are The Face Of Christ

You Are The Face Of Christ “It wasn’t me who took your money.” “Why would you lie to me? I saw you do it.” We are bold enough to lie to someone’s face. But are we really so shameless to lie to the face of Christ? Each of us has been created by God, and like His Son, are made in His likeness. We should not fool ourselves, what we do to each other we do blatantly to the face of Christ. Matthew 26:14-25 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What will you give me if I betray him to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'" So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?" He answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born." Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He replied, "You have said so."

Graceful Moments of Resurrections

Graceful Moments of Resurrections “I can’t believe you stood by me, after the terrible way I’ve treated you.” “I’m so blessed to have you with me again. Given my past behavior I feel I don’t deserve you.” “I treated strangers better than you. And still you forgave me.” Our selfish human behavior gets us in trouble. But when we are people who live with the passion of Christ, we will always forgive and be forgiven, we will grant allotments and receive another opportunity, and we can believe we will never be left alone. This is the promise of Christ. Place Jesus first in your life, and your life will always have many graceful moments of holy resurrections. John 13:31-33, 36-38 Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterwards." Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.

Love Should Not Be Put Off

Love Should Not Be Put Off “Why would you want to spend the last day of your trip with poor and desolate people you don’t even know?” “I know you must be tired of caring for him. Why don’t you leave that for someone else to finish?” “Leave her alone. She saved that money so she could give it to the poor.” We may not understand someone’s reason for giving just a little more. Someone’s emotional thought process may not make sense to the intellectual mind, but it does to the caring heart. Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it (perfume made of nard) so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” We may have years, months and even just days left with one another. Therefore the time we spend caring, consoling, uplifting, promoting and loving should not be put off. John 12:1-11 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 'Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?' (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, 'Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.' When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.

With The Eyes Of Christ

With The Eyes of Christ We may find that someone looks suspicious or another’s approach is different than ours. Although we do not on the face believe in each other because we are different, believe in good the works that you witness. Jesus proclaimed, “The Father is in me, and I am in the Father.” When you look at other people with the eyes of Christ then you’ll know how to treat them, how to think of them, and ultimately how to love them. John 10: 31-42 The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?" The Jews answered, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God." Jesus answered, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, you are gods'? If those to whom the word of God came were called 'gods' - and the scripture cannot be annulled - can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, 'I am God's Son'? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, "John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true." And many believed in him there.

Spiritual Maturity Provides Swift Answers To Fiery Emotions

Spiritual Maturity Provides Swift Answers To Fiery Emotions We can be angry at a circumstance and want to throw something or perhaps infuriated at a person’s ways and want to take them by the shoulders and shake some sense into them. If anger overwhelms you, quickly filter through the negative mental emotions if you must. Be careful not to stay there in your turmoil. Be even more vigilant not to be angry at your God who loves you. The strength and depth of your spiritual wisdom will determine and resolve how your human intelligence will proceed with its petty and vital qualms. Spiritual maturity provides swift answers to fiery emotions. John 8:51-59 Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.’ The Jews said to him, ‘Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, “Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.” Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, “He is our God”, though you do not know him. But I know him; if I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word. Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.’ Then the Jews said to him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.’ So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Do What Feels Right

Do What Feels Right What does God ask of you? Do you feel free from conviction of people to do what God puts on your heart? Joseph took Mary as his wife and accepted Jesus the baby, created by the Holy Spirit, as his. What glorious plans God has for all of us. Be willing to do what feels right. There is no need to wait for acceptance by others. If we waited on each other to come to an agreement for righteousness we may never see our blessings and the gloriousness of God in our lives. Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.' When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.

Make A Positive Contribution To Society

Make A Positive Contribution To Society When there is a good person among us and others want to disparage him will you join in? You may not know what gives him the courage to stand up before the doubtful. You may not believe that you could do the same alone. But would you support him in his good cause and go against the grain of society? Make choices that are for the good of humanity. Turn away from selfish, dishonorable, cowardly and destructive behavior. Whatever you do today, either contributes to the evil grain or positive change of our society. John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near. Jesus at the Festival of Booths But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then he also went, not publicly but as it were in secret. Is This the Christ? Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, 'Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.' Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, 'You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.' Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come.

Living The Life God Intended For You

Living The Life God Intended For You If it weren’t for the existence of God, would your neighbor know that you are extraordinary? Do your works roar with delight of the miraculous gifts that come to you from God? Is what comes from your mouth worthy to speak aloud in Heaven? Is your heart filled with compassion and forgiveness worthy of sharing with Jesus? The works that the Father has given you to complete, the very works that you are doing, should testify on your behalf that you are a child of God and are living the life He intended for you. John 5:31-47 ‘If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true. You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent. ‘You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings. But I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?’

A Model For Our Lives - Jesus

March 13,2013-The Catholic Church has a new Pope. Pope Francis 1. I pray that we the people will feel inspired by his leadership but also to realize that it is up to us individually to look to ourselves for change & spiritual growth by way of our own households, relationships, and social circles. To bring into fruition the heightening of our morals & values, forgiveness that promotes healing, and ideals of charity and compassion. We will do so when we spend time learning and imitating our only model Jesus Christ. God help us. Amen

Walk With Faith

Walk With Faith Don’t believe just because you are not standing at the front of the line you won’t get the best promotion, gift or healing from God. When times are good, troubling or mediocre God is working for you just the same. Take steps of faith that will lead you closer to God’s presence. It is there that your eyes will be opened to receiving His gifts of mercy, healing and love. His hand is gloriously at work through all your state of affairs. Stand up. Release all that troubles you. Walk with faith. John 5:1-3, 5-16 After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids--blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me." Jesus said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, "It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat." But he answered them, "The man who made me well said to me, 'Take up your mat and walk.'" They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take it up and walk'?" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had disappeared in the crowd that was there. Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you have been made well! Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the sabbath.

See What God Sees

See What God Sees “I don’t know why people think you are so special. You’re just a regular mom.” We may take for granted the value of the things that we know and the gifts of the people around us. Become aware of when you speak of the ordinariness of people. God made everyone special. Live to see what God sees. Luke 4:24-30 And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.