September 25th 2016 - 26th Sunday in ordinary time

1st Reading Amos 6:1, 4-7

Amos blames the wealthy for the collapse of the nation of Israel. The people of his time were living luxuriously and were not caring about "Joseph",a patriarch like Jacob and Judah , their names are used to specify Gods people.

Responsorial Psalm 146

God needs our hands to feed the hungry,clothe the naked give water to the thirsty and care for the dying.

2nd Reading 1 Timothy 6;11-16
Timothy is reminded of Paul's profession of faith at his baptism. Our professions of faith are renewed every year at Easter and we do it every Sunday as well. Make it significant!

Gospel Luke 16:19-31

Luke tells us a message almost identical to Amos in the first reading. it is a "woe" to the wealthy that they better not say they did not know  about poverty in their neighborhood. Read your Bible prayerfully and walk your path of life by the message it has for us.

The readings today warn us about loving splendor and not being concerned about the poor. We have Moses and the prophets,The Bible, apply its message to our daily lives.

God Bless You
Randy

The gift of friendships

 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. (1 Samuel 18:3, NASB

Close friendships immerse us in what Saint Benedict called "a school of service for the Lord." In friendships we have an ideal environment in which to grow the godlike qualities of love and loyalty, perseverance, and courage. The famous friendship of Jonathan and David in the Scriptures offers a particularly poignant example of the way friends can sharpen one another. Jonathan and David ought to have been rivals. Both of these men were seen as potential heirs to the throne of Jonathan's father, King Saul.

Yet, these two men had a deep friendship based on a promise they had made to one another (see today's Dig Deeper). Jonathan made his friendship covenant with David even though it would cost him the favor of his father King Saul and the throne itself. David in turn committed to Jonathan by promising to show unending kindness to Jonathan and his family. David had a true friend in Jonathan—and Jonathan in David—because they willingly made sacrificial commitments to each other.

We know who our true friends are by recalling those who didn't abandon us when we went through difficult circumstances. A real friend, like Christ, stands shoulder to shoulder with us in times of trouble and hardship to make our burden lighter by carrying it with us.

25th Sunday In Ordinary Time - September 18th, 2016

When we are successful in our daily dealings some may claim that success for themselves. Not acknowledging that we are Gods partner, and with God, accountable, to  make the world a better place. There is no absolute ownership. The Bible reminds us of that. We are partners with God. without him, we are nothing.

In the first reading, Am 8:4-7, we read of a well known prophet,Amos of Tekoa (750 B.C.) He is better known as the prophet that champions social justice. He lives in the southern kingdom of Israel and goes to the northern kingdom to the sanctuary of Bethel to deliver God's message. Amos, a stranger stands to deliver it. His message that day was to admonish those who were persecuting the just and cheating them.

We should all be concerned for the rights of the poor. "He raises up the lowly from the dust."
(Responsorial Psalm)

The 2nd reading,1 Tim 2:1-8, Christ is our mediator, We pray in Jesus' name for everyone, even our politicians and people of authority, who make us so angry at times, for all human beings may be saved.

The Gospel reading, Lk 16: 1-13, "The Wily Manager". The word Wily can be replaced by shrewd, clever, sharp,astute, canny or smart. Jesus praises the stewards decisiveness in a crises. Even though he was dishonest, he regained the trust of his master.

If we sever the management of our possessions from our faith, we will be living a double standard. "You can not serve both God and Mammon". If  we serve and follow God in all things, only then can He trust us.

God Bless You!
Randy Rarden

I Love America

     I love America because America is not  just a country,It's an idea. You see my country, Ireland , is a country, but it is not an idea. America is an idea, but it's an idea that brings with it some baggage, like power brings responsibility.
    It's an idea that brings with it equality, but equality even though it is the highest calling, it's the highest to reach. The idea that anything is possible.that's one of the reasons why I am a fan of America.It's like hey,look there's the moon,let's take a walk on it, bring back a piece of it.That's the kind of America that I'm a fan of.
     In 1771 one of your founders, Mr. Franklin, spent three months in Ireland and Scotland to look at the relationship they had with England to see if this could be a model for America,whether America should follow there example and remain a part of the British Empire. Franklin was deeply ,deeply distressed by what he saw.In Ireland he saw how England had put a stranglehold on Irish trade,how absentee English landlords exploited Irish tenant farmers and how those farmers,in Franklin's words  "lived in wretched hovels of mud and straw ,were clothed in rags and subsided chiefly on potatoes" Not exactly the American dream. So instead of Ireland becoming a model for America, America became a model for Ireland....

Bono, Lead singer for U2 ... in his commencement address to the 2004 University of Pennsylvania graduating class on May 17, 2004

#oldfasioned is the movie to watch this weekend. Steer clear of "50 Shades of Grey" says EWTN's Theresa Tomeo.

Please read #TeresaTomeo's fantastic article on "#FiftyShadesofGray" below and share it with everyone you know. Teresa, who hosts "Catholic Connection" on #EWTN Radio, writes: "According to a report in the Journal of Women’s Health, one-third of subjects who read “Fifty Shades” were more likely to enter abusive relationships. Social science and family studies experts insist the book depicts 'pervasive violence against women' and adds to a social narrative that normalizes violence against women." She suggests you take your daughters to see "#OldFashioned," which premieres this weekend as well. Show them how a man SHOULD treat a woman -- and the kind of respect a woman should insist upon. Take it from women who have been married happily for years, "50 Shades" will lead you to nothing but unhappiness and heartbreak. Women deserve better!

4 prophetic words to inspire your prayer life.

 God does hear your prayers. In fact, He loves to hear you pray and wants you to keep crying out.

I have shared prophetic words the Holy Spirit has spoken to my heart over the years during times of prayer, worship and just everyday living. I believe these four prophetic utterances the Holy Spirit shared with me will inspire your prayer life.

1. I Love to Hear You Pray

I love to hear your voice in prayer every morning when you awake. It's one of My favorite parts of the day. When you awake and begin declaring your love for Us, it moves Our heart. When you inquire of Me, it is My pleasure to answer. When you speak to My heart, it is My joy to speak back to yours. I hear your voice even when the hectic pace of life makes it difficult for you to hear Mine. So keep lifting your voice to Father in prayer. Keep telling Me about your struggles, fears, dreams and victories. I'm listening.

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 63:1; Psalm 27:4; Psalm 34:15

PRAYER: Remind me to begin each day praising Your name and lifting up my petitions to Father's throne—and help me, because I do not know how to pray as I ought. I trust in You to help me touch Father's heart in prayer.

2. Keep Crying Out

Sometimes when you stand up for what is right, people around you will call you a fanatic and say you are overreacting. But truth is truth, and you are called to proclaim it. Sometimes when you pursue Jesus with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul and all your strength, people will say you are too fervent. But fire is fire. Remember blind Bartimaeus! He needed a touch from Jesus, so instead of remaining silent when the Messiah went by, he cried out to Him. The people around him told him to quiet his mouth, but he cried out all the more. Don't stop crying out for truth. Don't stop crying out for a touch from Jesus. Don't let anyone put out your fire. We love it!

SCRIPTURE: Luke 10:27; John 14:6; Mark 10:46-52

PRAYER: I want to burn and shine for You even when people don't understand my love for You. Help me to share Your heart with the people around me so they can know You the way I do and burn and shine with me.

3. You Can Tell Me Anything

You can trust Me. I am your Confidant. I am your Counselor. You can tell Me anything. Share your God-given dreams with Me, and I will help you bring them to pass. Share your fears with Me, and I will help you overcome them. Share your prayers with Me, and I will help you lift them to Father. You can trust Me. Seeing you walk in everything Jesus has for you—helping you reach your destiny in Christ—is part of My mission. I am on your side! I am for you, not against you.

SCRIPTURE: John 14:26; Romans 8:26; Romans 8:31

PRAYER: I need Your help more than I realized. Please hear my heart and help me to lean and depend on You as the Lover of my soul. Deliver me from evil, and help me become all Jesus died and rose again for me to be. Help me to trust You more.

4. I Can Do More Than You Can Imagine

Take the limits off. Do you realize that the power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead dwells in you? Do you know that I am able to do more—much, much more—for you than you can ever imagine? Do you know that I want to? Will you believe in Me the way I believe in you? Take the limits off! Dream with Me! Let your eyes see, your ears hear and your heart dwell on what I have prepared for the one I love. Your best is yet to come. Only believe.

SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 1:19-20; Ephesians 3:20; 1 Corinthians 2:9

PRAYER: Your promises are glorious, and I want to walk in every one of them. I want to see things the way You see them. Reveal to me the things You have prepared for me in love. Stir my heart to follow You toward Your perfect will.

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Coastal Georgia

"Where is he who has been born king of the Jews "(Matthew 2:1–2 ). Part 2 of a 3 part series

      

                       Part 2

     You have had 2 weeks to to consider how intense this moment was. Magi have come from the east to worship the Messiah. The reigning King is afraid the Messiah has been born; yet the religious leaders merely acknowledge the location, choosing to show allegiance to Herrod rather than submit to this Messiah. Why didn't these leaders come to worship the Messiah along with the Magi? With all the signs playing out before them,they chose to do nothing. Their actions fulfill the prophesy of Isaiah 53,which states that the Messiah would be rejected by his own.

     Than Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them the time the star had appeared,And he sent them to Bethlehem , saying" Go and search diligently for the child ,and when  you find him,bring me word,that I too may come and worship him" (Matthew 2:7-8)

     Notice that Herod summoned the Magi secretly.It is clear that he did not want anyone to know his plans. He did not want to draw anymore attention to this issue. He believed that the scriptures enough to know that the Messiah had been born, but he did not love God enough to submit to Him. Herod wanted to know when the star had appeared so he could get an idea of how old the baby was. If the star had appeared when the baby king was born, discerning the time of its first appearance would help him to know who to look for.Then Herod lied to the Magi,telling them to look for the Messiah so he could worship Him,when instead his only purpose was to eliminate any and all threats to his rule.(Matthew 2:16-18).He wanted the position that God said no one could ever have. Thus he was fighting against the rule of God.

     Herod was not the only person to experience fear in regards to the coming of Jesus. In a certain sense, we all experience fear, because when we come face to face with Jesus the Messiah, we have to submit to Him. We can not rule ourselves,we cannot be in charge, and  we cannot think that we can do what we want. We must submit to his sovereign rule. The truth threaten power hungry  leaders. Herod had come face to face  , not just with a one year old baby,but with the King of kings who would ultimately dethrone him and make him a servant

To be continued in part 3.