The Gospel is most fitting for the feast of Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More. Both lost their heads, literally, because they refused to approve King Henry VIII’s illicit wedding to Ann Boleyn and recognize their children as rightful successors to the throne. Both suffered grievously for their decision to follow their conscience and remain true to the Church and the Pope. As More stood on the scaffold awaiting death, he declared he was “the king’s good servant, but God’s first.”
Today, we are often tempted by other masters. Perhaps it is a political ideology. Perhaps it is our worries about finances or careers. Perhaps it is for luxuries or pleasure. Jesus says we must “seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Like St. Thomas More, we must be God’s servant first.
Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to all those experiencing natural disasters, Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur, the Sudan, and all those suffering around the world - also for their strength, courage and resilience to continue walking in faith. Send them your light. Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and on the whole world! You sent Your Son, the Prince of Peace, for the salvation of the world. We pray that the Peace of Christ will reign in Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur and Sudan. Please protect and send aid to those in need and all who are at-risk. We pray for peace and rebuilding– we who are working towards it and for all those who are suffering or in danger from conflicts. We pray for an end to violence and war – we pray for wisdom for all leaders who have a hand in this. Lord God please help those in most need of thy mercy. Amen.
The primary sins that brought me to my reckoning with God were dishonesty, selfishness, and immorality. I am proud to say that after fully accepting reconciliation from God and with the Holy Spirit as my paraclete I have been free of those sins for over five months. That being said, Satan does not give up that easily. He’s a crafty devil and tries to sow doubt as I continue through this period of isolation and separation from my family. It’s a delicate daily balance between the genuine feelings of loneliness, isolation, and suffering God uses to build my endurance, faith, and reminder that he is always with me and the temptations of immediate gratification and pleasure from the crafty one.
Amen.
*** The example of serving other masters in 2 Chronicles 24:17-19, "After Jehoiada died, the officials of Judah came to King Joash. They bowed down to him. He listened to them. They turned their backs on the temple of the Lord, the God of their people. They worshiped poles made to honor the female god named Asherah. They also worshiped statues of other gods. Because Judah and Jerusalem were guilty of sin, God became angry with them. The Lord sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him. The prophets told the people what they were doing wrong. But the people wouldn’t listen!" *** 'The King's good servant' Zechariah spoke the truth and ended up being killed in 2 Chronicles 24:20-22, "Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the priest. He was the son of Jehoiada. Zechariah stood in front of the people. He told them, “God says, ‘Why do you refuse to obey My commands? You will not have success. You have deserted Me. So I have deserted you.’ ” But the people made evil plans against Zechariah. The king ordered them to kill Zechariah by throwing stones at him. They did it in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple. King Joash didn’t remember how kind Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had been to him. So he killed Jehoiada’s son. As Zechariah was dying he said, “May the Lord see this. May He hold you responsible.” *** Gold held Joash responsible in the death of Zechariah as Zechariah aksed in 2 Chronicles 24:23-25, "In the spring, the army of Aram marched into Judah and Jerusalem against Joash. They killed all the leaders of the people. They took a large amount of goods from Judah. They sent it to their king in Damascus. The army of Aram had come with only a few men. But the Lord allowed them to win the battle over a much larger army. Judah had deserted the Lord, the God of their people. That’s why the Lord punished Joash. The army of Aram pulled back. They left Joash badly wounded. His officials planned to do evil things to him. That’s because he murdered the son of Jehoiada the priest. They killed Joash in his bed. So he died. He was buried in the City of David. But he wasn’t placed in the tombs of the kings!" ******* Do you have Asherah poles or statues of gods that you worship besides or in addition to God? What does the modern day Asherah poles or statues of gods look like? Why did God allow His servant, Zechariah, die speaking to the people by the power of the Holy Spirit? Why did God allow the army of Aram to kill all the leaders of the people? Why did God allow evil to kill? Why did God allow war killing people to take place? Remembering a question from my BSF student, "If God is good, why didn't He make us not sin?" *** Joshua 24:14-15, "So have respect for the Lord. Serve Him. Be completely faithful to Him. Throw away the gods your people worshiped east of the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord. But suppose you don’t want to serve Him. Then choose for yourselves right now whom you will serve. You can choose the gods your people served east of the Euphrates River. Or you can serve the gods of the Amorites. After all, you are living in their land. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” ***THE FAMILY PRAYER SONG - (As For Me & My House, We Will Serve The Lord) https://youtu.be/1wz61tlXlAM?si=SN75xWtC2Hd4oRix *** Matthew 6"33-34, "But put God’s kingdom first. Do what He wants you to do. Then all those things will also be given to you. So don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own!"
Greg your words inspire us to keep strong out faith and believe. That is so very hard to do these days in this "ME" world. Blessings to all the LFF. May those with extra struggles find relief and may we all go out and spread Gods love throughout all the world.
"If there be a true way that leads to the Everlasting Kingdom, it is most certainly that of suffering, patiently endured." St. Colette
This morning I paid attention to the Image and the devotional.
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Thank you for the devotional today Greg. I’m late in posting today. Blessings to all. Amen.