| Seeking God, A Reflection for Sunday July 27th |
|
| |
Seek and you will Find A Reflection for Sunday July 27th 2008 By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFMission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy www.missionstsergius.org
The first reading for this Sunday is from 1 Kings 3:5 “The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” and it called to my mind another similar passages from Holy Scripture. One is found in Deuteronomy7 4:29 “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Another is found in 1 Chronicles 28:9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” and still another in Matthew 7 :7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Each of these passages are a solid reminder of God’s promise and love for ALL His children who embrace Him and seek Him for solace and forgiveness as well as healing and strength. Today’s Gospel from Matthew 13:44-52 relates the parable that Christ used to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. “Jesus said to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” Once we have found the truth of Christ’s message and recognize that Almighty God, the Father and creator of all things is a loving, compassionate and forgiving God who has created all things good, we need to hold on to that message and value it as the most precious thing we have.In Paul’s letter to the Romans 8:28, which is the second reading for this Sunday, Paul reaffirms this knowledge by saying “ Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.” Combined, these words should hearten us and lift us up when we feel depressed, forlorn or abandoned. We need to remember that we are never completely alone as long as we hold on to the love of God and believe the message that Christ gave us. It is not the rules of man, or a church organization that should establish how God perceives us but what is embedded deep in our hearts. If we live our lives to serve God with our whole heart and with a willing mind, as the reading from Chronicles reminds us, GOD WILL NEVER REJECT US! Over the past week there has been much written about in the Boston and National press about the three women who were “ordained” to the “Catholic” church as priests. There have been statements by the Roman clergy and others about the validity of these ordinations. Among them this statement which to my mind was in direct contradiction to the Roman churches own teachings; “Christ had no female disciples”. The truth is that there were female disciples and the church has called them thus even to recognizing them as saints. They were Mary and Martha the sisters of Lazarus, Mary the mother of James, Mary the mother of Jesus and our Blessed mother, Mary Madeline on whose feast day I am writing this reflection and others. It was the women along with the youngest of the apostles that stayed with Christ through the entire passion and death on the cross while all the other apostles including Peter hid away in fear. As far as women deacons we find mention of the qualities a women deaconess must have in Paul’s letter to Timothy and in Romans when Paul talks about Phoebe a women deaconess. The reality of it all is that the Roman church has had in its past not only women deacons, but also priests and in the past has had married priests. So why the divergence of truth? I do not know for certain, but can only surmise that it has something to do with control, power and domination as well as finances.
Another statement was; “The Roman Catholic church is the only true church and salvations outside it is not possible”. This also contradicts past teachings since the church excommunicated Fr. Feeney for making that very same statement. If there is no salvations outside of the Roman church, I feel that an enormous number of God loving, fearing followers of the teachings of Christ who accept the basic truths of the Christian Faith as found in the Nicene Creed have been excluded from heaven by the Roman church which has placed their contradictory teachings above those of the writers of the scriptures quoted above. According to the readings I have used, it is God Himself who looks into our hearts and decides who will attain heaven. It is not any humans place to usurp God’s decision. We are taught in today’s readings; ““But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” “know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him” “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” God will NEVER reject anyone who comes to him and has faithfully followed his teaching to; LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU” Remember “God loves ALL His children exactly as He created them” Therefore, seek him with your heart, mind and entire being and follow Him with love toward ALL His children and you will have the gates of heaven opened to you. AMEN |
|
Subscribe to this blog
back to top
