Christian Reflection and Prayer

O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola

Quote for the Day

Jessie Wallace Hughan
Founder of the War Resisters League
(1876-1955)

"War, rather than any foreign state, is the supreme enemy of country
and mankind. One day citizens will covet for this nation the prestige
of being the first to escape the shackles of war."

Scripture: The Resurrection (Matthew 28: 1-20


Reflection:

The believer must never lose sight of the significance
of the resurrection...There are 2 questions we should
ask as a result of the resurrection: Do our lives
demonstrate that we serve a risen Lord and Savior?
and Do we possess the hope, peace, and strength
that the reality and power of His resurrection gives
to the Christian? I look at my life and I ask these
questions. You see that is what makes our faith
so unique. We do not serve a mere prophet, a
teacher, a king who are all dead. We serve a
risen Savior, a risen prophet, a risen teacher, a
risen king. We serve the Son of God! He is not
dead but alive. Can people look at us and know
we are serving a living, breathing, loving God. Do
we demonstrate our Savior in our lives. Do we
have the hope, peace, and strength that the very
reality of the Resurrection gives to us as Christians.
Is your life filled with this hope and peace and do
you have the strength to carry on. You see we
we receive all of this from the fact that our
Savior Jesus Christ died and was resurrected.
In His final time on earth Jesus Christ told us
to go and preach the Gospel to all people. Does
your life posses the power of the resurrected
Christ to proclaim to all the love and power of
a risen Savior?

Prayer:

Resurrection Prayer

O Risen Lord,
the way, the truth and the life,
make us faithful followers
of the spirit of your resurrection.
Grant that we may be inwardly
renewed; dying to ourselves
in order that you may live in us.
May our lives serve as signs
of the transforming power of your love
Use us as your instruments
for the renewal of society,
bring your life and love to all
and leading them to your Church.
This we ask of you, Lord Jesus,
living and reigning with the Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God forever. Amen

Let's Talk About Forgiveness

Scripture:

Luke 6 41 Why do you see the speck in your
brother's eye, but do not notice the log in your
own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your
brother, "Friend, let me take out the speck
in your eye," when you yourself do not see
the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first
take the log out of your own eye, and then
you will see clearly to take the speck out
of your brother's eye.

Reflection:

Has somebody come along and changed
the rules? Has the teaching's of Jesus
some how changed? Aren't we Christians
because we belief in forgiveness? We are
all aware of the stupid and prejudice statements
of Don Imus, it has some how become a priority
on the news. Don Imus and his producer said
some terrible things on the airwaves. I think
everybody agrees. He has apologized and
asked for forgiveness a number of times. And
I personally think his requests have been
sincere. Then where is the forgiveness. I have
never been so embarrassed as to watch some
of my brother minister's, you know the ones' who
have the Rev. in front of their names, get up
in front of the news media and pass judgment.
I guess they forgot about the logs in their own
eyes. It sure is easy to pass judgment on others
isn't it. Well I got news for these "brothers", I know
of the logs in my own eyes and I remember the logs
in their eyes. I'm taking care of the logs in my eye's,
I refuse to pass judgment on their logs, and I hope
we are outraged but forgive Don Imus. Above
all it's passed time to change our own attitudes.

Prayer:

Let us love one another, and leave the judgment
to you. THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD!