October, 2018 - Listening Faithfully

Examine Yourselves!

Do you not know that Jesus Christ is in you?

“Even in the darkness of our sufferings Jesus is close to us”, 1994 (oil on panel)
by Elizabeth Wang

THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – WK II

Ant. 1 (Day Time Prayer) “What better can we do than take refuge in the Lord! His love will never fail, alleluia.”

In Troubled Times!

Dear Brothers and Sisters, this week has been filled with true evil and true hatred for the messager’s voice which sows separation, intolerance, fear, and rebellion has now shown its ugly hateful face yet again! For during the course of this week – because of these spiteful words being spewed for the sole purpose of personal gain and to retain power unto himself – one man, (follower), sought to kill eleven top leaders in our country with pipebombs! Another man, (follower), shot and killed eleven wounding six others in a Synagogue in Pittsburgh this past Saturday, October 28, 2018. From the deepest parts of my soul and from a broken heart do I offer my condolences for all these people who have been targeted and who have been killed by these horrific acts of two men, (followers), who have obviously heard the evil words which sew contempt and chaos in these troubled times! For they heard and complied – carrying out a campaign of terror! I offer my prayers for all their victims! I lift up my hands to God and ask Him to console those left behind and those who have now passed to be with God in His eternal rest. May God surround each and every one of them with His mighty love and protection.

O’Lord we pray for;

David Rosenthal, 54, of Squirrel Hill (Cecil’s brother)
Cecil Rosenthal, 59, of Squirrel Hill
Richard Gottfried, 65, of Ross Township
Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, of Edgewood Borough
Irving Younger, 69, of Mt. Washington, City of Pittsburgh
Daniel Stein, 71, of Squirrel Hill
Joyce Fienberg, 75, of Oakland, City of Pittsburgh
Bernice Simon, 84, of Wilkinsburg
Sylvan Simon, 86, of Wilkinsburg (Bernice’s husband)
Melvin Wax, 88, of Squirrel Hill
Rose Mallinger, 97, of Squirrel Hill

Welcome Home – is a work of art that has spanned the globe and been a comfort to millions. Many who have lost a loved one have brought this print as a… more
by Danny Hahlbohm

So it is boldly and sharply I tell you all that now is the time to look away from evil and look deep into your own hearts and discern what you truly believe and who you believe in. For it was written,

“Examine yourselves, seeing whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not know that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified.”
2 Corinthians 13:5 – Modern English Version (MEV)

Contemplating Jesus through Mary of Nazareth – by Catholic Exchange

Remembering always that our tongues are a flame that has the power to kill, bringing forth a world of evil – the harbingers of demons. So, it is that I say to you that what we say matters, how we say it matters, and the words we speak will sew emptiness or righteousness depending what is first in your heart. For it was also written,

“²¹For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adultery, fornication, murder, ²²theft, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. ²³All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
Mark 7:21-23 – Modern English Version (MEV)

Therefore, do not be a fruitless messenger, do not be that fool who speaks the words of the evil doers, for they have filled their hearts with the foolish errands coming from Satan himself. Knowing full well that even Satan and all his demons, all the horrors within the pit of Hell knows God is real for they too are believers! Only by testing yourselves can you determine you have not been deceived into thinking your words are righteous when in fact they are anything but! The dangers I speak of are ever present in every one of us, for it is indeed possible that a person of faith to be deceiving his or herself by saying all the right things but in their actions, their faith is empty and fruitless. For James reminds us too,

“Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man viewing his natural face in a mirror. He views himself, goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”
James 1:22-24 – Modern English Version (MEV)

T he 10 F’s of Bible Study | Faithlife Blog

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be both hearers and doers. Live your lives within the wisdom that comes from above as again James reminds us that,

“The Wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
James 3:17-18 – Modern English Version (MEV)

CONSIDERATIONS ON THE JOURNEY TO WISDOM | The Northern Gate The Northern Gate
She derives her wisdom from the “father” (woman’s positive connection with spiritual animus) (Wise Old Man)

God knows what is in your heart, he sees you as you are, He loves you unconditionally and only wants what is best for you. But to be found qualified you must,

“²³With all vigilance guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life.”
Proverbs 4:23 – New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Finally, when you have finished testing yourselves and you prove your heart is right with God, your deeds are in line with His divine will, and you are free from partiality then you will truly know God and be in His rest. For,

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Proverbs 3:34 –Modern English Version (MEV)

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LET US PRAY!

PRAYER REQUEST

For our Sister in Christ SHIRLA

Ant. 1 What better can we do than take refuge in the Lord! His love will never fail, alleluia.

Dear Lord, God in heaven, who better to come to for refuge? Who else will heal our broken bodies, damaged hearts, and wounded souls than you? The one who loves us!

Ant. 1 What better can we do than take refuge in the Lord! His love will never fail, alleluia.

So it is to you my Lord we the family of Shirla come to you and ask reverently for your hands of healing, to mend her broken hip, to reach down into her bloodstream and cure her of low hemoglobin so her blood can flow with the life-giving oxygen her body so desperately needs.

Ant. 1 What better can we do than take refuge in the Lord! His love will never fail, alleluia.

O’ Lord of love and grace, God of mercy, who better to calm Shirla’s rapid heartbeat, her abs which flair with pain, and her many trips back and forth from the hospital which is where she has suffered far too long in agony.

Ant. 1 What better can we do than take refuge in the Lord! His love will never fail, alleluia.

My God, Our Savior, it is with a sincere heart, and urgent call do we ask these many things on our sister’s Shirla’s behalf. For we also implore you O’ Lord that for your mighty cloak of reassurance be wrapped around all the members of Shirla’s immediate family, most particularly Cheryl – Shirla’s daughter who loves her mother with all her heart and soul. Give her your peace of mind in these troubled times, give her your sure-footedness and strength to carry on.

Ant. 1 What better can we do than take refuge in the Lord! His love will never fail, alleluia.

Within your invitation, O’ God do we humbly come, hearing your words, for your son Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Therefore, Lord Jesus we the faithful have assembled before you asking for Shirla’s recovery and her rest in your holy name.

Ant. 1 What better can we do than take refuge in the Lord! His love will never fail, alleluia.

In Jesus’s name, Amen.

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May the Lord bless you, protect you from all evil and bring you to everlasting life.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Saint Joseph, Pray for us. ~ Sancte Ioseph – ‘ora pro nobis,’

NOW GO SPREAD THE WORD!!

FRIENDS WHO LIKE LISTENING FAITHFULLY COMMUNITY

REAFFIRMING OUR MISSION

To Always Image Christ in Mind, Heart, Body, and Soul.

Be a part of spreading the word of God by giving what you can today.

“Let’s grow together as children of God”

Listening Faithfully Blog written by Brian K. Stark, M.S.Ed.

The Power of Service

Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve.

TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – WK I

Ant. 3 (Evening Prayer) “All power is yours, Lord God, our mighty King, Alleluia”

Jesus the Great High Priest

¹⁴Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Let us, therefore, approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. ~ Hebrews 4:14-16 New Revised Standard Addition (NRSV)

Reflection – Perseverance, Prayer, and Endurance!

We can come to God unafraid knowing what he will do for us!

Reflection Question: What does it mean to enter into God’s Rest?

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As human beings, we are undeniably weak in our faith and because of this, we are also lackadaisy with our prayer lives. These two attributes of the Christian life are connected in profound ways. Namely within our struggles with the lack of perseverance when tempted or ridiculed because of what we believe. Jesus himself talked about this weakness in Mark 4:14-17;

**The Gospel of Mark, Chapter 4 – Free Bible Images**http://www.bibleimages.ca

“¹⁴The sower sows the word. ¹⁵These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. ¹⁶And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. ¹⁷But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.”

There are many stories told in every age of man where the faithful are tested and in some regard fails to pass the test of faith. One of the greatest stories on this topic is Saul of Tarsus who for many years ruthlessly tortured and persecuted Christians until his fateful run-in with Jesus in the desert as he was headed to Damascus, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” ~ Acts 9:4. Truly I say to you; all of use in some way deny the truth of Christ’s Death, we all try to impose our own plan much like Saul – perhaps with less violence but the malice is all the same. Before Saul, there was King David who yes, did many good things but he had a history of making profoundly bad mistakes as well which included, murder (2 Samuel 11:17; 12:9), lying (2 Samuel 11: 7-8, 12-13), adultery (1 Samuel 11:4), coveting a neighbor’s wife (2 Samuel 11:3) and even stealing another man’s wife (2 Samuel 12:9). Before King David, we have the case of Moses one of two crowned princes of Egypt who at the age of 40 became incensed when he discovered an Egyptian taskmaster beating a Hebrew slave. So Mose murdered him in cold blood then buried him in the sand. ~ Exodus 2:11-12. Women have also been tested and have fallen such is the case with Tamar, who left her family to marry into the house of Judah. After some time and three brothers later who she had married in preceding order after each one of them had died all leaving her childless she dressed as a prostitute, then coerced her father-in-law, Judah, to have sex with her. She conceived twins one of which was the ancestor of King David—a direct lineage to Christ.~ Genesis 38:15-18. The list goes on and on right up to this very day of our human weakness and lack of keeping Gods covenants. However, all of these famous people of the Old Testament found favor with God, they were redeemed, and so it is possible for all of use to also be redeemed in the eyes of God. We can enter into Gods rest by hearing, understanding, persevering, and by enacting the power of prayer. These things Jesus also commented on back in Mark 4:20;

^{20 “}But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”
Mark 4:20

The possibility of entering into Gods rest is founded upon the very idea that Jesus Christ, the Son of the One true Living God, who was also tested in many of the same ways we are daily and who without sin prevailed. “For since He Himself suffered while being tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrew 2:18) Jesus did not blindly come to fulfill scripture but yet was willing from the very creation of all things. Jesus intently listened to His father faithfully, Jesus persevered against the temptations of sin daily, and Jesus prayed constantly. His overall message to humanity was one of service, doing for others such as advocating for the helpless, giving comfort to the sick and those in need. Jesus stood for the poor, the downtrodden, oppressed, those who face tyranny, and who are martyred for their faith. But Jesus was not the only person who was connected to God in such ways for there was another who foreshadowed Jesus; a priestly king named Melchizedek, (Genesis 14:17-20), then again appearing in a prophecy of Psalms 110:4 – “The Lord has sworn and will not change, ‘You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.'” For according to this
Melchizedek was truly a great priest and king, whose very name means, “King of Righteousness”, and then also being King of Salem which means, “King of Peace.” (Hebrews 7:2). This King like Jesus had no Father, no Mother, no earthly accounting of descent, but rather made like Jesus the son of God so that he and his order of priests who Jesus was the greatest shall forever remain a priest. (Hebrews 7:3) This revelation not widely preached basically states that Jesus is the High Priest in an order of Priests greater than that of the Order from Aaron who represented the earthly temple, but Melchizedek’s Order represents the Heavenly Order of Priesthood. In this way, we can come before a thrown that is not one of damnation, but rather one of grace, mercy, love, and peace. We come before a God who is a servant first, giving to us what we need. In accepting Christ as our personal savior then going on to lead a life of service; in this way, we show that the seeds Jesus sowed within us surely have been planted in rich soil and have become fruitful many times over. Again, in this way, we enter into God’s rest – His everlasting forgiveness clean of any sin and reborn in Christ’s likeness as a son or daughter of God. “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of temptation in the wilderness where your fathers tested Me and tried Me and saw My works for forty years.'” (Hebrews 3:7-9). I urge you all to think hard about the meaning of the words Jesus left us with as he ascended into heaven;

²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
John 14:27

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LET US PRAY!

Praise of God’s Power and Providence

Psalm 33: 1-22

Ant. “All power is yours, Lord God, our mighty King, Alleluia”

I

¹Rejoice, you righteous, in the Lord;
    praise from the upright is fitting.
²Give thanks to the Lord on the harp;
    on the ten-stringed lyre offer praise.
³Sing to him a new song;
    skillfully play with joyful chant.
⁴For the Lord’s word is upright;
    all his works are trustworthy.
⁵He loves justice and right.
    The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.

Ant. “All power is yours, Lord God, our mighty King, Alleluia”

II

⁶By the Lord’s word the heavens were made;
by the breath of his mouth all their host.
⁷He gathered the waters of the sea as a mound;
he sets the deep into storage vaults.

Ant. “All power is yours, Lord God, our mighty King, Alleluia”

III

⁸Let all the earth fear the Lord;
    let all who dwell in the world show him reverence.
⁹For he spoke, and it came to be,
    commanded, and it stood in place.
¹⁰The Lord foils the plan of nations,
    frustrates the designs of peoples.
¹¹But the plan of the Lord stands forever,
    the designs of his heart through all generations.
¹²Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
    the people chosen as his inheritance.

Ant. “All power is yours, Lord God, our mighty King, Alleluia”

IV

¹³From heaven the Lord looks down
    and observes the children of Adam,
¹⁴From his dwelling place he surveys
    all who dwell on earth.
¹⁵The One who fashioned together their hearts
    is the One who knows all their works.

Ant. “All power is yours, Lord God, our mighty King, Alleluia”

V

¹⁶A king is not saved by a great army,
    nor a warrior delivered by great strength.
¹⁷Useless is the horse for safety;
    despite its great strength, it cannot be saved.
¹⁸Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him,
    upon those who count on his mercy,
¹⁹To deliver their soul from death,
    and to keep them alive through famine.

Ant. “All power is yours, Lord God, our mighty King, Alleluia”

VI

²⁰Our soul waits for the Lord,
    he is our help and shield.
²¹For in him our hearts rejoice;
    in his holy name we trust.
²²May your mercy, Lord, be upon us;
    as we put our hope in you.

Ant. “All power is yours, Lord God, our mighty King, Alleluia”

NEED HELP OR ENCOURAGEMENT?

If you would like to receive ongoing encouragement, to help you stay focused, and/or need some guidance in where to look for motivational scriptures in the bible then please become a subscriber by submiting you name and email below. Remember you’re never alone.

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May the Lord bless you, protect you from all evil and bring you to everlasting life.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Saint Joseph, Pray for us. ~ Sancte Ioseph – ‘ora pro nobis,’

NOW GO SPREAD THE WORD!!

FRIENDS WHO LIKE LISTENING FAITHFULLY COMMUNITY

REAFFIRMING OUR MISSION

To Always Image Christ in Mind, Heart, Body, and Soul.

Be a part of spreading the word of God by giving what you can today.

“Let’s grow together as children of God”

A Time To Revere Wisdom

Wisdom – Knowledge is Greater Than Gold!

Edinburgh University Library Blogs – University of Edinburgh Collection: University of Edinburgh; Persons: N/A; Event: N/A; Place: McEwan Hall; Edinburgh; Scotland; UK; Category: University Buildings; Description: Details from the ceiling space of the McEwan Hall during the 2016 refurbishment of the building.

TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – WK IV

Ant. 2 (Evening Prayer) “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for holiness; they will be satisfied.”

Solomon’s Respect for Wisdom

⁷Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called on God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. ⁸I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her. ⁹Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, and silver will be accounted as clay before her. ¹⁰I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light because her radiance never ceases. ¹¹All good things came to me along with her and in her hands’ uncounted wealth. ¹²I rejoiced in them all because wisdom leads them, but I did not know that she was their mother. ¹³I learned without guile and I impart without grudging; I do not hide her wealth, ¹⁴for it is an unfailing treasure for mortals; those who get it obtain friendship with God commended for the gifts that come from instruction. ~ Wisdom 7:7-14 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Reflection One – Wisdom Lost on the World!

Two weeks ago the American people witnessed the spectacle of a contested Supreme Court Nomination in which all wisdom was forfeited for political self-interest. Two years ago the American people for the second time witnessed the spectacle of a Presidential election be won by someone who did not win the majority of the vote and which to this day their presidency is both contested and under investigation for a multitude of election tapering violations; again for the political-self interest of a few. This past week we have been watching the spectacle of a leader who may have ordered the murder of a Saudi born journalist named Jamal Khashoggi who was an American Green cardholder at the time of his alleged killing in Turkey because he simply held views that were different from the young Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Who for good measure has many business deals with the aforementioned American President. We also prior to all these more recent events for decades have been embroiled in what has become a political debate where the powerful have engaged in beating down the scientific community on the topic of ‘Global Warming’. A topic which affects every human being on planet earth because to change how we produce energy would radically affect a minority who are heavily invested in how we create, sell, and thus turn a profit in the modern energy markets. Once again, we are witnessing the destruction of a world we all were born on and therefore will live and die on as well. We need nature – nature does not need us! The simple common sense that has been lost on our world of greedy… powerful… tyrants!

Reflection Two – Wisdom in Stark Contrast!

I bring these issues up because each one of them defies logic, they completely ignore wisdom, and are upheld by just a very small minority of the people who benefit while the supremely larger majority of human beings do not. That static by itself is outside the box of moral thought! Morally speaking in the eyes of God no one man or women is better than any other man or women. The poor are just as valid as the rich. God sent His only son for the salvation of the entire human race, Jews and Gentiles alike. Once more as a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. we all were given the responsibility to uphold justice, protect the innocent, stand up against immoral behaviors, and to love your fellow human being! All of which is the signpost of God’s wisdom, God’s morality, and God’s final covenant with the human race. Therefore, my brothers and sisters there is no room for people of any color or greed, religion or belief, and or status as mankind calculates it to be so blinded by the very idea of wealth, power and influence that they put into jeopardy the larger – remainder of peoples who simply do not benefit or share in any of the mega prosperity that so few enjoys. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against rich people in general, rather I truly believe that wealth for the sake of wealth, power for the sake of power, and greed for the sake of greed is a mortal sin; a plague thrust upon us humans. All too often our petty weakness does nothing more than to create more needless sin and unrest. Moreover, the resources of earth were given to mankind to protect not to destroy, or to use up, and or to profit from! There is no wisdom in any of those things. The son of King David could have been just like the Saudi Crown Prince – drunk on his wealth, ordering the murder of those he disagreed with. Solomon could have been just like Trump ignoring the laws which bind us together just for his own blinded greedy self-interest. But as the Bible tells us that here was a man who loved only one thing above all the wealth and power he wielded and that my friends was wisdom. For Solomon prayed to God for wisdom, he called out to God and was given the Holy Spirit which showed him truth and justice. In his own words, Solomon writes,

” 7:8 I preferred her to specters and thrones and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her.”
Wisdom 7:8 – New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Because of this very idea, core belief, and righteous understanding, Solomon found the panicle of fair play and became a just ruler. I have always said if you want to rule, be the boss, then be fair and just and your leadership will stand the test of time. But that of the jealous malevolence of a tyrant; they will always be hated and loathed standing as an example of what not to do. In stark contrast, history reflects that King Solomon was the opposite of most of the powerful leaders we see today. In fact, Solomon further draws the distinction between the worth of wisdom over the monetary worth of gold and silver as he continues in the very next verse,

“7:9 Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, and silver will be accounted as clay before her.”
Wisdom 7:9 – New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

For this reason, we have the words, “WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING”, written in all caps in the Edinburgh University Library. For once again my brothers and sisters, knowledge trumps greed and blind self-interest. That is also why people who live for power often times seek to subdue the scholarly and those who pursue wisdom. Men of the world will always be at war with themselves and the world at large, everything to them is a competition – always having to come in first place, for they shall never find peace of heart and the wisdom to be an effective force for good.

Modern Day Wisdom – Call to Action!

So I say to you my brothers and sisters, make no time for lies in your life. Make no room in your heart for part-time friends. Make no concessions for the deeds that you know are evil. Make truth your only reality. Make your words trusted among all you meet. Make your life’s journey full of love, laughter, and happiness and show mercy where needed! Show love in the face of hate and our creator shall love you back! Be the color of God – the color of everyone and be one with all creation. Make your stand with purity of heart and know you are always loved!

LET US PRAY!