Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, approached the chief priests
with an offer to hand Jesus over to them. They were delighted to
hear it, and promised to give him money; and he looked for a way
of betraying him when the opportunity should occur" (Mk.
14:10-11).

Reflection:

I was watching TV the other night and was interested in watching something
on ABC's Prime Time, actually there was something on all three networks,
It was called the "Gospel of Judas" and I admit it peaked my interest.
Apparently there has been a discovery of an ancient papyrus that talks about
Judas, one of the followers of Jesus Christ. Somehow the conclusion was
drawn that Judas did not betray, Jesus Christ. There is no doubt about it,
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' closest followers, betrayed the Lord for money.
There is an important reason for this account of betrayal. For me I can
identify with Judas. First of all Judas made a decision to be a follower
of Jesus, I have also made this decision. As Judas I follow the teachings
and I follow the spirit of Christ. Also Judas made a decision to betray Jesus
Christ, unfortunately there are times when I betray Christ. I'm not talking
about the wrong word used, or the admiration of a beautiful woman, etc.
I'm talking about real betrayal, when I put money or things before the Lord,
when I see a homeless person in need and do nothing, when I do not love
my neighbor or my enemy, when I do not turn the other cheek, when I
show no compassion for others, when their are people who are starving
and I do nothing, when I am not a peacemaker but a war maker, when I watch
babies die and don't care, and finally when I don't love, I don't hate, but I just
don't care. That's when I, like Judas, betray my Lord. How about you,

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for Your grace and love. Help me to be a better person, and
a better Christian. Lord I want to follow You and no one else. Help me not
to betray You, but to embrace You. Help me not to follow others, or people
who interpret You, but to follow You and Your teachings. Lord let me serve
You and serve others. THANK GOD FOR BEING GOD!
In Jesus Name Amen.

Scripture:

"I was born for this; to bear witness to the truth" (John 18:37).

(Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalms 31:2,6,12-13,15-17,25;
Hebrews 4:14-16;5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42)


Reflection:

Good Friday- If I may I would like to tell you what Good Friday means to me.
On Good Friday I stand at the foot of the Cross of Jesus Christ and I see God's
love, I see "Agape", pure unconditional love. I am humbled to believe that
before me is the Son of God who has given the ultimate sacrifice. He has
given his life for you and me. I feel such love and such deep, deep, faith.
My response to this love is that of repentance. I feel such a desire to tell
Christ of all the wrongs, all the terrible deeds, all the sins that I have done.
As the scripture writers tell us, I take an honest look at how I have hurt my-
self and how I've hurt others, and I have done this many times. I atone myself
not to do those sins anymore, and to thank God for His forgiveness. I believe in
a Christ who was mocked, humiliated, tortured, and nailed on a cross, and
through all of this asked his Father to forgive them. You see thats what Good
Friday means to me, unconditional love, sacrifice, and forgiveness. My friends
open your lives to the meaning of the cross, there are people who need you.
Serve the cross of Christ, don't let the cross be a symbol in your life of
execution and death, but a very real meaning in your life of love, sacrifice,
and forgiveness. BY SERVING GOD, SERVE YOURSELF, AND SERVE
OTHERS.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank You for Your sacrifice, thank You for that love, and thank
You for Your forgiveness. May I take that love, sacrifice, and forgiveness
and worship You and serve others. THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD!!!!
In Jesus name amen.
­

TRUTH

IS NOT WHAT I BELIEVE.

TRUTH

IS FACT.
I MAY NOT BELIEVE IT.
THAT DOES NOT CHANGE IT.
IT IS THERE NEVERTHELESS,
WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED AND BELIEVED.

TRUTH

DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE
UNSETTLED, CHANGING OPINIONS OF MEN.
IT WAS TRUTH BEFORE IT WAS BELIEVED.
IT REMAINS TRUTH
WHETHER I BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
REASON DOES NOT ORIGINATE OR CREATE-
IT MERELY DISCOVERS IT.
CONSEQUENTLY, REASON IS NOT A SOURCE.

TRUTH

GOES BACK BEYOND REASON.

SANCTIFY THEM THROUGH THY TRUTH: THY WORD IS TRUTH.
(JOHN: 17:17)