Before we become too full of ourselves, this message from Revelation helps us to see our lives from God’s point of view. We can hear the tone of a patient, loving teacher praising us before giving a strict reminder that we are capable of doing better. To live the Gospel with our lives calls us to forgive always and to love like Jesus did while we walk humbly with our Lord. The hardest time, perhaps, to live Gospel lives is when we are suffering heartache or feeling frightened and forgotten. God knows we will stumble sometimes, grow weary and become self-focused. Yet, even then, God remembers our faithfulness and urges us to begin again.
Let us pray…
Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to all those experiencing natural disasters, as well as those in Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur, the Sudan, in addition to 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
Please God… please… Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of, Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly - (make your request here) - and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen
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"Good, better, best. Never let it rest. 'til your good is better & your better is best." St. Jerome. A quote that seems to go with today's reflection & is sure to put a smile on some faces!
Love this one Irene!
*** What the church of Ephesus has done right in Revelation 2:2-3, “I know (1) your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you (2) cannot tolerate the wicked; you (3) have tested those who call themselves Apostles but are not, and (4) discovered that they are impostors. Moreover, you (5) have endurance and (6) have suffered for My Name, and you (7) have not grown weary.” *** What the church of Ephesians has not done right in Revelation 2:4, “Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first!” *** Why would God even say that the Ephesians have lost their first love? They have done so much and suffered for God and yet without weary! Doesn’t that reflect their love for God by doing good work without being weary? Well, God said that they have lost the love they had at first for Him! So they have turned their eyes away from Jesus and focus more in their good works :-( ******* How about you? Does that commendations and accusation describe you? *** Listen to God’s warning and promise to the church of Ephesians in Revelation 2:7ab, “Whoever has ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches. Here is what I will do for anyone who has victory over sin!” *** As a matter of fact, the warning and promise are repeated to all seven churches Revelation 2:11ab (Smyrna), 17ab (Pergamum), 29, 26a (Thyatira), 3:6, 5a (Sardis), 13, 12a (Philadelphia), 22, 21a (Laodicea)! *** I’m pretty sure that is also true for our churches today! So REPENT of our sins and LISTEN to the Holy Spirit ❤️✝️❤️
Deborah thank you for those words. It's nice to know that we are not alone in our struggles to live by Gods words. A work in progress is so true at any age. My heart hurts when I recall my dad on his deathbed was so worried that Jesus wouldn't forgive him for his role in WWII. He was 90 years old and still worried. LFF you are all amazing people and a wonderful inspiration to me and many. Thank you everyone! May this "work in progress" go out today and find the strength to do Gods loving will. Blessings to all the LFF, especially those needing an extra hand these days and may we all find that strength to be Gods disciples.
I see that many of us have ascended to the 70s age bracket and are retired. We have a new "job" in life now. Pray for the young families, those who still don't believe and those struggling in earthly life. It is a most important job and I hope it will happen as in the reading today. I want to see, Lord. His sight was given and he continued praising God.
AMEN!
Peace to everyone. Amen!
Never ceases to amaze me that a passage I’ve read time and time again has something new to say to me. Today this passage speaks out—“You have lost the love you had at first”. As a young girl and woman I loved people from all walks of life, I nursed bikers , homeless, drug abusers, and the 80 year old lady that walked to mass every morning, all on an orthopedic unit. I loved them all. It’s not quite that I “don’t” love people anymore but I identify with Stormi’s feelings many days of how the world as a whole is less caring, dare I say not up to par. It’s in my grumbling and frustration where I find the lack of love and not in my treatment of anyone but I know it is my heart that I lack. I listen to the drug dealer zooming past my home over and over and over all hours of the day/night that I find myself wishing his tires would fall off instead of praying that his life would take a better track. And of course, the enemy knows this so he sends an even more sinister temptation and that is to have anger over the top at the people negatively involved in my son’s accident. But then, in the Almighty’s grand plan there is a passage for me, and so very many I’m sure, to turn my face from the temptation of the devil toward His loving guidance and find love for those who don’t love back and do the only thing I can do and that is pray they use the opportunities God gives them to love too. Blessings to you all (including big “J”ane and little “j”ane lol), may you all feel love today.
Vicky, I walk with you here. It didn’t feel good, but I know I started to feel this way at work. I felt like I was caring for others so much and they had such a little bit care for anyone else. Not that I was entitled, but my caring started to become less heart and more “work.” I want them to do better, but I need to do better, too. God loves them how they are and God loves me how I am. Lord help me see how you see. We all have room to be better. Amen.
Good morning LFF. Thank you Vicky G. for telling it like it is. I just love down to earth people.
AMEN!
Vicky G. You took the words right out of my mouth! Ditto to what Vicky G. said :)
I too am a Work In Progress at age 74. I have made great strides, but still have work to do. Thanks to the LFF for inspiration.
Thank you, Deborah. And Good Monday Morning LFF! A new week to begin again :))
Amen.☮️
Good morning LFF.... thanks Deborah for your reflection today...I am quickly learning by the Grace of God, to put my fears aside and stop the worrying, I am a work in progress to forgive myself and I know of God's limitless love to heal...Jane, thanks for your many blessings yesterday to lift me up as I face my difficult but enjoyable job this week that the Lord had provided me with... lots of love to everyone today
Cheryl!!!!! Happy Monday. Ken’s beloved Kathy used to say, “yes honey, but you’re not progressing!” Somehow I think we’re all making progress, but we are on God’s time, not ours. Hope you have a spectacular week.
Cheryl, welcome to the WIP club which I am a member!
Cheryl...I smiled when I read your words "I'm still a work in progress". My fears also weigh me down, and then I get reassurance that "it's" all OK. I'm blessed that at 73, God continues to love me as a "work in Progress". God Bless Us All And ALL Who We Love & Pray For.
Amen!
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Deborah - spectacular reflection today. Lord, please drive with our friend Ken as he’s cruising in his new wheels. Ken…what color and kind of car is it. We love celebrating with you. Also, Susan is improving so much. She is walking with a walker now…yeah!!! She’s skinny as a rail, but gaining her strength. I took her over a homemade nut roll (my family is Slovak and she loves these) and she ate almost half a roll!!! Huzzah. Blessings to all of us who continue to be works in progress. Amen.