Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Luke 14:13-14 (New International Version)

13But when you give a banquet, invite
the poor, the crippled, the lame, the
blind, 14and you will be blessed.
Although they cannot repay you,
you will be repaid at the resurrection
of the righteous."

Luke 4:18-19 (New International Version)

18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom
for the prisoners and recovery of
sight for the blind, to release the
oppressed,19to proclaim the year
of the Lord's favor."[a]

Reflection:

There is the story of 2 soul's meeting
each other between heaven and Hell.
The soul from hell started complaining,
"It is terrible in hell I'm so hungry. The
Devil said we could eat all the food we
want, but there was one condition. We
must use 3 foot long forks to eat our
food. We can't eat." The soul from
heaven said, "Oh we have the same
rule in heaven." The soul from hell
asked, "Then how do you eat" The
soul from heaven responded, "We
feed each other!"

Please keep this in mind for the
coming year. As the Creator and
Ruler of the universe has taught,
through His Holy Scripture and Holy
Spirit, take care of each other and
others who need our help. Pass on
the "Good News" to the poor, feed
them and take care of them. Proclaim
freedom to all those who are oppressed
and prisoners in life. Help those who are
lost and need help finding their way. And
release all who are oppressed by
depression, anger, and other problems
that weigh so heavily on them. In other
words be there for others! There are a
lot of people who need our help. In 2009
let's make a special effort to help others,
what better resolution is there!

Prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred . . . let me sow love
Where there is injury . . . pardon
Where there is doubt . . . faith
Where there is despair . . . hope
Where there is darkness . . . light
Where there is sadness . . . joy
O, Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled . . . as to console
To be understood . . . as to understand,
To be loved . . . as to love
For it is in giving . . . that we receive,
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned,
It is in dying . . . that we are born to eternal life.