It’s tempting to think that, because of our faith, things should come easy. Of course, God will take care of me! I’ve been faithful to him, remembered my prayers and lived a good-enough life. Haven’t I earned a little peace?
I’ve certainly been guilty of assuming this in my life. And yet, I still have challenges, sorrows and failures to face. Should I despair and conclude that God doesn’t love me as much as he does other people who are more successful?
On the contrary: The example of the great saints and biblical figures shows us that the life of a disciple isn’t necessarily easy. God tests his faithful ones both as chastisement for their sins but also to help them practice the virtues necessary to grow in holiness. The trials he sends our way are meant to strengthen us through our faithful, patient endurance.
Love this!
Thank you, Jonathan, for this reflection. With God at our side, we can meet all challenges! "Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven." St. Rose of Lima
Amen.
Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to all those in need. Come to the side of those experiencing violence in Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur, and the Sudan. Please hear the pleas of all those suffering around the world - and give them 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.
AMEN!
I KEEP the LORD always before me. Psalm 16:8 Always on my mind The long distance runner experiences ups and downs along the course.The runners "high is only experienced after many miles of running and many hours of training. What helps the runner continue when every fiber in his body cries out to stop? It's the finish line! Keep your eyes fixed on the finish line, and that will focus your heart and mind. JESUS, may You be our focus from sun up to sun down. Amen
Amen
There is no Good News without the bad news!!! *** Sometimes we only want the good news, and when bad news came...we lost it! Have you ever told someone that if they believe in Jesus and pray, then their sickness or illness will be healed because the Bible tells us that whatever we ask God will give it to us in Matthew 7:7-8, Luke 11:9-10!!! And when God let the sickness or illness continue, they lost their shallowed faith (belief) :-( *** Have you ever heard the bad news and didn't even hear the Good News within the same conversation? The disciples did in today's Gospel (the Good News) in Mark 9:30-32, "They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were. That was because He was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be handed over to men. They will kill Him. After three days He will rise from the dead.” But they didn’t understand what He meant. And they were afraid to ask Him about it.!" *** Why were the disciples afraid to ask Jesus about 'it?' what was 'it?' You see, they only heard and focus on the bad news 'they will kill Him' part! The disciples didn't hear the Good News, 'After three days He will rise from the dead!' part! ******* The bad news, "We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners!" The Good News, "Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, willingly and obediently suffered death on the cross in our place (justice) and God raised from the dead so we have the opportunity to return to God (mercy)!" *** Justice and mercy of God are the two sides of the same coin! Do you feel justice is fleeting in this world and pray for God's justice be done like right now? Do you feel the bad people don't deserve God's mercy but you do? *** Listen to both the bad news and the Good News in Romans 3:23-24, "Everyone has sinned.No one measures up to God's glory. The free gift of God's grace (and mercy) makes us right with Him. Christ Jesus paid the price to set us free!" *** Listen to the bad news and the Good news in 2 Peter 3:8-10, "Dear friends, here is one thing you must not forget. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years. And a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow to keep His promise. He is not slow in the way some people understand it. Instead, He is patient with you. He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed. Instead, He wants all people to turn away from their sins. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar. Fire will destroy everything in them. God will judge the earth and everything done in it!" ******* Listen to the reality in Ephesians 2:8-10, "God’s grace (and mercy) has saved you because of your faith in Christ. Your Salvation doesn’t come from anything you do. It is God’s gift. It is not based on anything you have done. No one can brag about earning it. We are God’s creation. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus. Now we can do good works. Long ago God prepared these works for us to do!" Amen, thank God!!!
My prayer "Lord Jesus, by your cross you have redeemed the world and revealed your glory and triumph over sin and death. May we never fail to see your glory and victory in the cross. Help us all to conform our life to your will and to follow in your way of holiness." Amen
Praying for the Pope. Praying for immigrants, for workers losing their jobs, and for the poor, hungry and sick across the world who are in need of food and medical aid.
Amen!
Today’s reflection and scripture reminded me of the unwavering faith of my mom who died a few years back at the age of 100. She had polio as a little girl and walked with a limp her entire life. My dad died when she was only 43. There were still seven of us at home. My youngest sister was only 5. I wrote the following on FB around the time of her death to share her strength and faith: My brother Tommy. Mom and dad finally had a boy. And he was all boy! One day while my mom was going back and forth from the basement to the back yard to hang the laundry, she had tied a long rope to Tommy’s suspenders to keep him close. When she got to the back yard with the laundry basket Tommy was gone! Just decided he didn’t need those suspenders still tied to that long rope! The family loved Tommy, especially my dad. He so loved that boy after having 5 girls. My sisters all doted over him! Tommy died at the age of three, 2 days before Thanksgiving, from spinal meningitis. My mom said she would never be happy again. But it was soul crushing to my dad who couldn’t muster the will for Christmas. My still mourning mom got help from my oldest sister to put up a tree that year and buy presents. She is a rock. My mom faced some rough patches in her life but never lost her joy or trust in the Lord. She remained faith filled and joyful till the end. I felt like the Holy Spirit wanted me to share this today.
Kevin M...Thank you for sharing your memory of your Mom with us. What a resilient woman of faith! Reading between the lines, I believe the old adage of "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree", applies to you! You have a God Blessed memory of your Mom.
Kevin, Thank you for sharing this heartfelt story. Your mother is experiencing true peace now.
Amen.☮️
Amen! No Pain, no Gain, no Cross no Crown! Father we thank You for the countless examples and experiences of and for spiritual awakening in our lives. Every moment of our lives is an opportunity for growth and spiritual evolution. It's a time to transcend from being who we are humanly into becoming who God wants us to be. As much as we try to live up to the mark, the trials will be. Let God be the centre of, the focus, let us keep our eyes fixed on the prize, painful as it may seem, the reward is greater. Let go and let GOD! Prayers and blessings for all with special intentions and needs today. Blessings Living Faith Family.
Love this. Especially love the no cross, no crown!! Amen.
Amen... thank you Jonathan for this ultra reflective piece today...Lord, give us the strength, faith and grace to face the many trials that come our way as we face this life
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Thank you, Jonathan, for this reflection. With God at our side, we can meet all challenges. " Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven." St. Rose of Lima