The Feast of the Annunciation is always celebrated during the Lenten season. It seems a bit jarring, doesn’t it? We are in a penitential season, thinking about the Incarnate Son of God and his Passion and death. The birth and mission of the One who would die and rise from the dead were announced long ago to a maiden in Nazareth.
When the archangel Gabriel came to Mary and proclaimed this Good News, it signaled a new reign had arrived in the history of Israel. The miraculous conception of the Savior by the Holy Spirit would mean that the reign of sin would be over. It meant that the heavenly Kingdom would be opened. That’s what the Good Thief heard on Good Friday, “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).
Mary’s fiat at the Annunciation ushered in the era of the eternal Kingdom. Jesus desires to make us citizens of that eternal Kingdom. All we must do is follow him and do his will, and hopefully, we will be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Many thanks to the Virgin Mary for saying yes!! Mother Teresa once said, "No Mary, no Jesus." "One day, through the Rosary and the Sacpular, Our Lady will save the world." St. Dominic. Mary's intercession is powerful.
******* Starting a 40-day prayer journal specifically for my daughter, Katie, the self proclaim agnostic to come back and walk with Jesus, her Savior and soon to be Lord ✝️ *** Day Sixteen - Lord God, You are full of grace and truth! John 1:14, “The Word became a human being. He made His home with us. We have seen His glory. It is the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father. And the Word was full of grace and truth!” *** For a long time I understand God’s glory being this blinding light that I can’t look at or touch directly because it is holy! I was blind and now I see…as I prepared the BSF student lesson last week, I learned the definition of Glory - God’s Glory is all of His attributes perfectly reflected in the person of Jesus Christ! ✝️ *** I praise You, Lord God! May Katie experience personally Your glory in all of Your attributes perfectly reflected in the person of Jesus Christ ✝️ Psalm 72:18-19, “Give praise to the Lord God, the God of Israel. Only He can do wonderful things. Give praise to His glorious name forever. May His glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen!”
Happy Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord! May we follow Mary in giving everything to Jesus. Jesus will take care of everything. We just have to get out if his way! God Bless !
Father thank you for your inspiration. We strive each day to be all we can be in God's eyes and in the world. May his love guide us each day. Blessings to all the LFF, especially those with extra needs these days. May the Holy Spirit guide our President and all his staff to lead this country under God! May each of us live each day in Gods will and spread his love through all the world.
AMEN!
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. Praying for Ukraine and its people.
My prayer "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury let me sow pardon. Where there is doubt let me sow faith. Where there is despair let me give hope. Where there is darkness let me give light. Where there is sadness let me give joy. (Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226) "
Amen!
Amen
Amen!
Amen
Amen
It is so interesting to read, “Good Thief!” with caps? Is there anyone “good?” *** No one is “good” except God Mark 10:17-18, “As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him. He fell on his knees before Jesus. “Good teacher,” he said, “what must I do to receive eternal life?” “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good except God!” *** The bad news brings us to the “Good News” of Jesus Christ in Romans 3:23-24, “Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God’s glory. The free gift of God’s grace makes us right with him. Christ Jesus paid the price to set us free!” *** We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners! ******* Here are the steps the thief took in Luke 23:40-43, “(1 - Believe Jesus is God) But the other criminal scolded him. “Don’t you have any respect for God?” he said. “Remember, you are under the same sentence of death. (2 - Confess your sins) We are being punished fairly. We are getting just what our actions call for. But this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” (3 - Ask for forgiveness) Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (4 - Salvation is given) Jesus answered him, “What I’m about to tell you is true. Today you will be with Me in paradise.” It is that simple…the thief did not do anything to deserve to be with Jesus in paradise, Just believe, confess, ask for forgiveness and God’s grace and mercy will be your gift in Salvation ✝️ *** Romans 10:9-10, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved,” *** 1 John 1:8-9, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness!” *** Ephesians 2:8-9, “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it!”
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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.