Forever Reign

My Wife

Article written about Venessa
http://nativestrength.com/2011/10/08/procurement-specialist-ready-to-help-indian-companies-sell-to-feds/

Gospel Matthew7:21-27

A Reading from the gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’ “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” The Gospel of the Lord

Once upon a time there were three little pigs. We should all remember the nursery rhyme. They do not build their home out of the proper material and the big bad wolf comes and huff and puffs and blows their house down and eats them.
Brother and Sisters the Big Bad Wolf is alive and well and ready to blow your house down and keep you from your inheritance of Heaven.
We hear in this Gospel that it is not works that we are saved, but unconditional service that is not our will but that of God himself. In the new English translation of the Mass we invite Jesus to Come under our roof. Every home has one. We invite Jesus in unity with God the Father and the Holy Spirit into our home. If we give ourselves unconditionally over to Jesus our house will be built on solid rock.
Jesus built his Church on Solid rock and we must build our house through the Church, and live Sacramental lives surrendering to God’s will.
It may not be easy, but as the storms rage in our lives, as the flood waters rise and the winds blow we must be strong and turn from the ruin of sin. It is only after the storm that the Sun rises and lights the way to eternal paradise.

Gospel Matthew 5:13-16

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp stand, where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” The Gospel of the Lord

We all have our favorite food. We know exactly how we like it. When we know it is going to be served, there is an anticipation that cannot be explained, you know it is going to be good.
Now, what happens when it is over seasoned, or the recipe was changed? It will not taste the same. As a matter of fact it will be a major let down. This is what happens when a little too much of ourselves gets intermingled with Jesus.
How well do we know the recipe to our salvation? If we believe that we have it, it leaves no possibility for imperfection. Jesus knew we could not do it on our own. He gave us the Holy Spirit, guardian angels, many people in our lives and reconciliation to bring us back to the right ingredients for his glory.
I am asked the question on regular basis, what do I do to evangelize if all I am doing is making people uncomfortable and unwilling to talk. "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words." — St. Francis of Assisi also said, "All the darkness in the world can't extinguish the light from a single candle." Are you the lamp that is shining the light and love of Jesus Christ to the world?
If we are Disciples of Christ, the Holiness is evident. The joy, peace, and compassion we display are unmistakable. It is in and through our selfless abandonment to the world and surrender to Love that is Jesus that shines bright as the sun on a clear morning in May. We cannot give a maybe to God; it has to be a yes. As we pray: “God may our every action be a yes to our lives being for your glory, and as an instrument of salvation to those in the darkness. “

Reflection First Sunday of Advent Mattew 24:37-44

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark.

They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.

Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill;
one will be taken, and one will be left.

Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into.

So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” The Gospel of the Lord

The beauty of Christmas is approaching. When I was a boy I longed for the mornings when I woke up to find that it had snowed overnight. Everything covered so neatly in snow. It was bright and clean.
This is what Jesus is telling you that when he comes back he wants to find you faithful and clean.
How many of us are looking forward to the Holiday as a time to party and receive instead of a time to be thankful and give.
We cannot expect mercy but be worthy of it. If we know we are worthy of it then we are too proud to know the truth.
If you are truly faithful and truly concerned for your soul and everyone else, you would not be busy making a Christmas wish list, but you would be praying and serving.
Jesus reminds us of a time when everyone took everything for granted. They lived in excess and envy for more, instead of rejoicing in the gift of life.
God found a few faithful people and put them on a boat and cleansed the earth with a flood.
May this be the year that the love of Christ floods your heart and may that love overflow to the world.
That upon the return of Christ he will find us all as beautiful and pure as a bright white snow on Christmas day.

Reflection Second week of Advent Matthew 3:1-12

A Reading form the Holy Gospel according to Matthew,

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them,
“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’

For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
The Gospel of the Lord

Danger, Danger Will Robenson! When I was a boy I loved reruns of, “Lost in Space.” It was about a family, a pilot, a Doctor, and a Robot. The robot could sense when trouble was coming and would warn the young man, waving his arms, Danger, Danger. The robot was created to do so.

What are we created for? John the Baptist wore camel’s hair and a belt, and ate bugs in the desert. He was created to prepare us for the coming of Jesus. This was God’s plan and was prophesied by Isaiah. God wanted us to know John the Baptist.

John warns us today, that we cannot take salvation for granted. We must be aware that we offend God and most repent.

Have you taken a good look lately? What is your life producing, is it good or bad? The chaff will be burned with unquenchable fire. Chaff is defended as worthless material. If you have no idea what it is you should do be doing pray. Pray that God will reveal to you what is his will. That you will always understand the good from the bad.

Let us produce the good fruit. That we will all be working from the perspective of Love. That our every moment will be filled with work that creates goodness for an eternity in God’s Kingdom.

Reflection Third Sunday of Advent Matthew 11:2-11

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew,
When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,
“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear,
the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John,
“What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet?

Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” The Gospel of the Lord

When we were kids we used to make treasure maps, X marks the spot. From childhood we dream of buried treasure, than later it becomes dreams of winning the lottery.
Always dreams of something happening that gives us an easy life without effort.

Jesus question to the people ask, “What are you looking for?” We learn it is not right to look for truth from people in fine cloths, and false profits.

This reminds me of a song from the 80’s, “Looking for Love in all the wrong places.”

Do not put your faith in worldly things for there is no truth there. The Messiah states, “I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist.” Born of woman, we are not to follow prophets born of the world. John the Baptist, born from Elisabeth, Jesus born from Mary, Deacon’s, Priest’s, and Bishop’s, born from Mother Church.

Our true treasure is found through the Word of Christ, and a life worthy of always receiving Jesus in the Eucharist at Mass. As great is John the Baptist he is not as great as the least in Heaven. To be a true Saint is our focus.

Jesus in New-York

Do you know him?

Representative Politics Today

The system of Representative Government in the United States does not honor God. The compromise of a person’s ideology creates an egocentric instead of a representative of the people. An individual must demoralize in order to win an election. Societies reliance on idolism has build a wall between people and God.
The Republic of the United States is no longer about sustaining freedom of the pursuit of happiness. Everyday we are bombarded with materialistic messages attempting to convert our desires to the pursuit of wealth and fame. The United States is no longer a country of the people, for the people, and by the people, we have become a country of me, myself, and I. Secularism makes it impossible to love. Yahweh calls us to humble, and care about our neighbors as ourselves. Today if we cannot make money from our works then it is not profitable to get to know our neighbors, let alone go out of our way to make sure their basic needs are met. The society of greed has kept us from honoring our Lord with the pursuit of holiness and replaced it with an evil selfishness for our own benefit.
Today the mainstream American knows of the most popular man and woman of the minute, but not of God. Fame is a sought after prize by our culture of naive, un-catechized, ignorant slaves of Lucifer. American politics is the Hollywood for people that cannot make it in entertainment. Instead of people discerning a vocation of service that brings glory to their creator, people choose to go into politics for power and fame. The past as proclaimed by our Apostolic brothers tells us of the danger to our salvation when we venture from the love of the father. The demigods of today need to examine their heart and pray for the will of God. The campaigns of today are for an individual’s glory that benefits no one.
An individual that believes in a society that is Universal, Holy, Apostolic, and One does not have a chance of winning an elected office. Today it is not popular to support life. Women believe that it is their choice whether or not to accept God’s choosing them to be the mother of his creation. A modern secular woman does not think twice about damnation or salvation but whether to kill the life they have been entrusted. In order to be chosen to represent the public a person has to decide that they will not choose God first. They turn to sin by compromising logic over truth. Selfish pursuits of man have long roots, what is planted for individual gain grows out to influence future ideas. The environment of the present can become the culture of a generation. One must end desires of pride in order to build a future prosperous with love.
As our current existence continues to decline it is the few with fear of losing the promises of Christ that will make the difference. When we were born until the time we become dependant of those responsible to raise us to a mature understanding, we do not realize from where we come. Society tells us that we are individuals born from man. We have to realize that we are life given by God. Our life is to honor the Father, through the son. Our reality is to love all that the Father created. Until as a civilization we can end our worship of glorified people in their fifteen minutes of fame, we will never be fishers of men. We have to follow our Shepherd and Lord in order to represent a salvific future for our brothers and sisters.

Who Really Knows Christ

Christ is present with us. When we call him, he will answer us with the will of our Father. We are called to the Church building for Mass. It is a time to assemble as one body in worship and communion with the word, and Sacrament.

Our brothers and sisters in Christ make up the assembly for Mass. Do they understand the meaning of Church? People think that the building is the Church. Each one of us makes up the Church. Our parish is a mission territory commissioned by Christ to each of us that call a particular Catholic community home. We assemble as the Body of Christ in a Church building in remembrance of Jesus the head of the Church and the Body. Few people of the assembly would ever think to do anything offensive to God while on Parish grounds. We are a member of the Church twenty-four hours a day seven days a week. We need to realize that we can offend God anytime. Through proper catechism, all of the members of the Body of Christ should realize that every moment of life is an experience with Christ. If we would realize the gift Christ gave to us, the reverence of each of us as a gift would elevate the joy and peace through grace for all.

In Persona Christi, our holy Priest stands as a vicar of Christ in remembrance of Jesus. The head of the Church is represented through one from amongst the assembly, the Priest. The charisma of the celebrant brings us into full active participation in the sacred Mass, calling us to share in Christ through the word and Body and Blood that is our salvation. The Paschal mystery is at the heart of our faith as Christ’s Church. It fuels our hope.

Proclaiming God’s word leads us to a personal and communal relationship with Christ. As his body, assembled scripture moves us to reflect on what God is saying to us. It speaks of our responsibility as children of God to the community, and leads to communion with Christ. The congregation needs to understand the gift of scripture delivered through the prophets to each of us in the word. The word read at Mass should be absorbed and passed down from generation to generation through the domestic Church. The word of God, through the word, music, and the Good News of Christ in the Gospel brings us into the sacrifice of Christ for all of humanity.

Jesus Christ, his body and blood through transubstantiation becomes the Sacramental Species. Through the gift of the community in the Mass at the hand of the celebrant, salvation is delivered. Christ made flesh by Lectors, the Choir, Congregation, and the celebrant serving in unison as one body. Glorious mysteries are unfolding on heaven and earth but, many of our members present are not aware. When did we fail the faithful Mass attendants that do not understand? As a Church, why have they not been taught to share in the sacrifice of the Mass? Has our prayer been too selfish and exclusive to exclude our brothers and sisters in Christ?

Jesus sacrifice did not exclude any of us. His commission did not either. It is in the best interest of all of humanity to invite all people to full and active participation. It is “through Him, with Him, in Him, in unity of the Holy Spirit, that we are called to exist. We have to ask God to reveal how he wants us to bring Christ to the world, not what God will do for us!