FROM YOUR PASTOR

What is ‘The WORD OF GOD?’ How do we ENCOUNTER IT? How do we LIVE IT — especially in COVID Times?

The Old Testament, the Psalms, the New Testament – – HOLY SCRIPTURE… the DIVINELY INSPIRED WORD OF GOD. It is not only the Story of Salvation from the Beginning of Time to Their Time…it is the KEY to Our Salvation — YOURS AND MINE — from OUR TIME into ETERNITY.

The WORD OF GOD is not just a book of good ideas, it is the GUIDE BOOK TO ETERNAL LIFE with Our Heavenly Father…not the WANNA DOs but the GOTTA DOs for SALVATION.

The Holy Father understood this in September 2019 as he set aside the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time  as WORD OF GOD SUNDAY. His intent is to FOCUS OUR LIFE — in the Spiritual World and the Secular World — on the WORD OF GOD…TOTALLY — THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED.

RADICAL…You Bet! CONSUMING…You Bet! ESSENTIAL…You Bet!

For Who? Ironically, FOR GOD AND FOR YOU!

WHY? Our Heavenly Father has KNOWN EACH OF US FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME…before we were formed in our Mother’s womb. SO, NO LIFE IS AN ACCIDENT…every life has a PERFECT PLAN and a PERFECT TIME in GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN.

GUESS WHAT? THIS IS YOUR TIME to live HIS PLAN FOR YOU…a PLAN that is the SOLE PURPOSE OF YOUR EXISTENCE!

How are you using the WORD OF GOD to REVEAL THAT PLAN, to INFUSE you with the VIRTUES TO LIVE THAT PLAN, and to GRANT you the GRACE TO ENDURE THAT PLAN?

Well, YOU HAVE A PLAN PARTNER! In the beginning was the WORD…The WORD WAS GOD. JESUS is the WORD MADE FLESH. So, JESUS THE WORD must be the CENTER OF YOUR LIFE!

JESUS IS YOUR PLAN PARTNER! So, what is the WORD OF GOD calling you to do? How have you chosen to respond? Have you FLED FROM THE WORD or have you FOLLOWED THE WORD?

JESUS IS YOUR PLAN MODEL! He taught us to DETACH OURSELVES from the Mores of the Prevailing Culture.  He taught us to ABANDON OUR FREE WILL to the Will of Our Heavenly Father. Neither are easy,  nor will they increase our popularity.

But God said to the  Apostle Paul: ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Cor 12:9)…that is OUR WEAKNESS! Living the WORD OF GOD, HE can work WITH US AND THROUGH US to accomplish HIS MISSION ON EARTH.

So, how do we live OUR MISSION FOR GOD during CIVID Times?

First, we remember that Jesus went to people’s houses, and that he had meals with people. This reminds us that in EVERY DAY SETTINGS the WORD OF GOD can be put INTO ACTION… if we MAKE IT SO.

Second, when Jesus entered a house, he said,  ‘Peace be with you.’ This PEACE  is the PEACE FOUND in LIVING the WORD OF GOD in our daily lives. It is NOT a SENTIMENT OR EMOTION… it is a WAY OF LIFE.

Third, It is from the home, and from the family unit, that the MISSION OF EVANGELIZATION — spreading the WORD OF GOD — emanates through OUR CORPORAL AND SPIRITUAL  WORKS OF MERCY for those whom God has placed in our care.

Ask yourself…IF JESUS ENTERED MY HOUSE, WHAT WOULD HE FIND?…IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD LIVED IN MY HOUSE?…HAVE I EXPERIENCED THE JOY OF SERVING OTHERS?…WOULD HE FIND THE SPIRIT OF THE HOUSE OF MARY AND JOSEPH IN NAZARETH?

Your ANSWERS will determine the measure to which YOU ARE LIVING THE WORD OF GOD in your daily life. If you are, it will DEFINE YOU in this life as it PURIFIES YOU for the next…

+May God  Bless  You and Keep You+