Liturgical Year End

As the Liturgical Year comes to a close, apocalyptic themes appear in the Liturgy of the Word. As St. Paul reminds us; "... the world as we know it is passing away." 1 Cor. 7:31.  It is not uncommon to hear people making definitive statements as to how and when. In Matthew 24: Jesus speaks of end times, but adds; "... but concerning that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven nor the Son, but only the Father."  Fr. Thomas Rosica of Salt&Light has an excellent article on how to approach apocalyptic scriptures. Here is the LINK.

Meditation for the 32nd Sunday

Brothers and sisters: May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word . . . . But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thess. 2:16

As we enter these final weeks of this liturgical year, it is a good time to look back and assess the impact this year has had on our spiritual lives. The gospel of Luke has been the featured gospel for our instruction. Luke’s combination of his gospel account together with his Acts of the Apostles, focused on the Holy Spirit, the very source of the Christian Life. Jesus reminded his apostles that apart from him their efforts to live a truly holy life would be fruitless. But Jesus revealed, that it was in the Father’s plan that Jesus would sent the Holy Spirit to them, to empower them to bear the fruits of a truly holy life – empowerment because at every level they would be opposed by the vicious attacks of the Evil One. In the second reading for todays liturgy of the word, St. Paul is reminding us that in our struggle to live a holy life, “that the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.” In his letter to the Ephesians St. Paul gives this instruction, "Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. • So stand fast with your loins girded in TRUTH, • clothed with RIGHTEOUSNESS as a breastplate, • and your feet shod in readiness for the GOSPEL OF PEACE. • In all circumstances, hold FAITH as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. • And take the helmet of SALVATION • and the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD of GOD. Ephesians 6:10 Once again, it is in prayer that we acquire this necessary armor. It is important that we have a clear understanding of nature and purpose of prayer. Prayer is not an isolated, personal thing that we like to take up when convenient, not unlike a hobby. Rather, prayer is an essential, component part of the wider Christian spiritual life. Prayer is a school, where we study under the Master's instruction, how to live a full and rich and productive Christian Life.  It is in prayer that: we meet Christ through a personal encounter. We forsake all other possible directions for our lives, choosing to make Jesus' way, our way, and the direction our life will take. we hear his voice speaking to us, we learn directly and personally from the Master, what our unique calling will be. the scriptures are opened up to us, and we see the bigger picture, understanding that we are part of the master plan of salvation for all the world. we learn that there is a highly intelligent agent opposing God's plans. We learn how evil works, using lies to deceive good people of good intention; twisting them into actual opponents against God's purposes. we are healed of our "wounds of sin", and give fresh hearts to engage in the struggle of good over evil.

Voices From Happy Valley-Goose Bay Labrador

Look for updates to Voices for the next several days through to the end of October by clicking the link above. 

Model of Faith - Model of Salvation

Entrusting Yourself to Him

Meditation for the 28th Sunday

"Your Faith has saved you." The term leprosy in the new testament, actually referred to any visible skin condition a person might have, including leprosy. People with these conditions were greatly feared as contagious. Anyone showing signs would be quarantined and forced to live in colonies apart from the community. They were required to announce themselves as unclean to anyone with whom they crossed paths. Their living conditions were appalling and a painful death awaited them.  "The Encounter" On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” The text does not indicate exactly what they might have been hoping to get from Jesus. Perhaps they were hoping Jesus might be able to persuade the authorities to let them have better access to the resources of the community to improve their desperate lives. What they received was unimaginable. "The Birth of Faith" And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” Faith is the act of ENTRUSTING one's self into the hands of Jesus. Those with true faith live with the certainty that no matter what may come against them in life they are secure in God's providence. God will see them through. People who think of themselves as self sufficient, having control of all that they need for a full and happy life, may see little purpose for faith in their life. That is why Jesus said that it is hard for the wealthy to find their way to the Kingdom. The poor have little blocking their view. While poverty regarding the things of this earth may begin our understanding of what it is to be poor, "poverty of spirit" is where the full meaning of poverty known. The human spirit that lives not in communion with God through faith but relies solely on itself, is in the most retched of all conditions. "Rich In Mercy" Those who pursue a life of prayer quickly realize how highly contagious are the sinful values of the world, corrupting the human spirit like a leprous condition. Only when we are willing to examine ourselves in the light of the gospel will we come to realize how retched our condition has become - then we too will cry out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on me.” Each new day, through prayer and the pursuit of the spiritual life, our condition is restored to wholeness again.  “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”  Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17 In Leviticus Chapter 13 we read . . . “When anyone has a swelling or a rash or a shiny spot on their skin that may be a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest. The priest is to examine the sore on the skin, and if the hair in the sore has turned white and the sore appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling skin disease." . . . . . The priest is to examine that person, and if the rash has spread in the skin, he shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease." Today, skin diseases are well understood medical conditions. Doctors have replaced priest as examiners and they prescribe appropriate healing remedies.  But the dreaded condition of moral corruption continues to require careful examination and discernment. The Prayer of Examine now replaces Leviticus Chapter 13. but the urgency for its use remains.  ... Prayer of Examine [link] ...