Exhortation to Uprightness

Walking in the Ways of Righteousness

TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – WK IV

Antiphon “Come, let us sing to the Lord, and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us, alleluia.”

FIRST READING

THE WICKED SAY:   12  “Let us lie in wait for the righteous one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.” Wisdom 2:12 (New American Bible -Revised Edition) (NABRE)

The Wisdom of Solomon is a book every person should carry with them making it easy to grab, in order to consult and to discern. It specifically should be the code all Judges and all lawmakers before acting or asking questions of others uprightness. If Jesus was here today – in person I tell you, my brothers and sisters, He would not have approved of how our government is being run or those who run it. Jesus would not approve of this rush to power attitude some of our Senators have conducted themselves with as it relates to the nomination of Judge Cavanaugh especially after they refused to allow Former President Obama’s nominee to even get a hearing. Hypocrisy is what Jesus would call it, “Hypocrites all!”, would be his cry! Why do I say that you ask? Well let’s look at what people in power would do if they did consult The Wisdom of Solomon; 1:1 “Love righteousness, you rulers of the earth, think of the Lord in goodness and seek Him with sincerity of heart;” ~ (NABRE). If our rulers did this then every day their words and actions would reflect their love for the people, all the people. But sadly for the Republican Judiciary, their words and actions do not reflect any kind of love for anyone but their own self-serving interest. So let them be warned – their hypocrisy is in full view of the nation, their double standards are on full display before the Lord! For how they sound like the wicked in our first reading, (Wisdom 2:12) For I tell you, my brothers and sisters, a heart that is filled with love and, “For a holy and disciplined spirit will flee from deceit and will leave foolish thoughts behind, and will be ashamed at the approach of unrighteousness.”(Wisdom 1:5 ~ NABRE). Based solely on those two scriptural verses I have shown how the Republican Judiciary is unfit to be in office themselves and the only good they do will be for themselves, and ill for the country!  This is a modern-day example of the same cancer that Jesus Himself talked about two thousand years ago in a parable of the wicked tenants, (Mark 12:1-12 ~ NABRE) So I ask, how are we any different as human beings who receive everything from God and who are currently simply tenants? For those who rule unjustly and with unrighteousness are no different than the scribes Jesus warned us about as well. (Mark 12:38-40). 

Reflection Question:

Think deep my brothers and sisters, what does this say about all of us today? How have we improved our standing with God if we still allow hypocrites to serve as our lawmakers, Presidents, Judges, or even our Justices when they themselves are corrupt and sew wickedness? 

Walking in Uprightness

6For wisdom is a kindly spirit, yet she does not acquit blasphemous lips; Because God is the witness of the inmost self and the sure observer of the heart and the listener to the tongue.” ~ Wisdom 1:6 New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

To walk in the ways of the Lord should be everyone’s first goal in life! Why? Because, when you walk with God you no longer seek to gratify self-serving motivations. Instead one seeks to glorify God with every action bring good into the world that the receiver may have outside your hearing had prayed for and thus God sent you. In this, amazement fills the heart of the receiver and galvanized their soul with truth and the knowledge handing them proof that God is listening faithfully to every word, plea, and cry we utter in prayer. In being sent as a messenger of God we sew love, peace, and come to the defense of the weak or the sick, many times unknowingly of Gods greater plan. When we give all praise to God for acts of kindness what we ourselves physically do for others God rewards us faithfully for doing. For it is true what is written, “Because the spirit of the Lord has filled the world, and that which holds all things together knows what is said, therefore those who utter unrighteous things will not escape notice, and justice when it punishes, will not pass them by.” ~ Wisdom 1:7-8 (NABRE). Therefore, do not be fooled into unjust acts which bear evil and wickedness in your own lives, do not be foolish in mind or spirit, and do not allow others to bully you into doing things that you know are morally wrong; for those actions will be punished all the same. Instead, walk in uprightness and receive everlasting life with God. For the upright know the power of prayer, they know the majesty of a pure heart, and they recognize the value of wisdom which is, “a reflection of eternal light, a spotless minor of the working of God and image of His goodness.” (Wisdom 7:26). Finally, when you walk with God sweat Wisdom, “Although she is but one, she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things, in every generation, she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets; for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom.” (Wisdom 7:27-28).

LET US PRAY!

The Lord Upholds My Life

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?” PSALM 54

Ant. “Come, let us sing to the Lord, and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us, alleluia.”

54 O God, save me by your name and vindicate me by your might.

Ant. “Come, let us sing to the Lord, and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us, alleluia.”

O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.

Ant. “Come, let us sing to the Lord, and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us, alleluia.”

For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Selah

Ant. “Come, let us sing to the Lord, and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us, alleluia.”

Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.

Ant. “Come, let us sing to the Lord, and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us, alleluia.”

He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them.

Ant. “Come, let us sing to the Lord, and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us, alleluia.”

With a freewill offering, I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.

Ant. “Come, let us sing to the Lord, and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us, alleluia.”

For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

Ant. “Come, let us sing to the Lord, and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us, alleluia.”

Special Prayer for Dr. K. – My God Mother

Prayer for Health & Healing: 

Dear Lord, Today a special prayer I offer for one of your most faithful of servants, Dr. Kallay, who constantly finds ways to uplift the spirits of those around her and who is steadfast in the defense of those who cannot defend themselves when troubled times come knocking. I plead with you O’Lord that in her time of need you hear this cry of all those who pray with me in this simple but most urgent of prayers. 

Dear Father, your word promises healing for your children of which Dr. Kallay is one, therefore I come before you and humbly ask with a sincere and pure heart that you remember your promise of healing. That you touch her heart and heal her ailments allowing her physical pain to be gone and her physical heart be restored to a healthy beat. 

For you know that Dr. Kallay’s body is one of your grandest and gloriest of temples and all her days she has filled it with the workings of the Holy Spirit. It is in your wisdom I cry out for your hand to restore this temple allowing her good deeds to continue and to flourish unimpeded without pain restoring her to good health. For you know her effectiveness, her love, her life’s’ work better than anyone who may pray these prayers on her behalf. I ask these things in Jesus’s name. Amen.

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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 feel free to email me at listeningfaithfullyblog@gmail.com with your request. Remember you’re never alone.

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,’

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Acceptance of the Unchangeable Thinks


8  “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8  (NRSVACE) 

My brothers and sisters in Christ, I say to you… I hear your voices, your many pleas for things I cannot provide you. Instead, I offer these words of wisdom: In times when our lives spiral out of control or when people with power over us decide to do ungodly things or when rudeness through favoritism overcomes that special place in associates hearts; know your place and stifle your frustrations, choosing instead to do what is good.  For what will come from a confrontation when the other person or members of a group have already twisted your words or have bore falsely against you?  For I say to you if they have done it once what is stopping them from doing again? Instead, let the love of goodness overtake you and give your frustrations to God. Therefore, goodness in your hearts will be preserved in the eyes of our Saviour, our actions will then have confirmed the sacrifice of the cross.

A wise man once offered this prayer; “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” ~ Reinhold Niebuhr

Remember my brothers and sisters in Christ, that when walking with God you have serenity, love, peace, forgiveness, absolution, from God; therefore you are blessed and made holy. Let not temptation bring you down by allowing your mind to be filled with the many things you would like to change but have not the power to make happen. Let not your heart be deceived by the actions of a few who would lead you to ruin. Instead, make preparations for only those things you have the power to change, and when you take action let those choices be filled with goodness done for the sake of holiness only.  Fill your heart with courage to make the tough choices, to take action on them, to carry out fully the goodness of the needed change. Forget not to pray to our Lord in Heaven, asking Him alone for the path which you must follow and be confident that God will give you the wisdom to tell the difference between what you can and cannot change.

6 “For wisdom is a kindly spirit, but will not free blasphemers from the guilt of their words; because God is witness of their inmost feelings, and a true observer of their hearts, and a hearer of their tongues.” ~ Wisdom 1:6 (NRSVACE) 

Thus, my brothers and sisters in Christ, your obligations have also been given to you through the Holy Spirit which loves kindness and who is gentle to the people of God. Stay away from those who curse the Lord, those who have filled their hearts with hypocrisy,  walk away from the blasphemers for all these individuals will be judged accordingly. Rest assured the twisted words and actions will come calling upon them and for the holy – such as you – my brothers and sisters, for you surely do not want to see this judgment when it comes. Hence walk away and be confident in the power and uprightness of our God. Know there will always be those who profess to be Christian and thus dwell among you the faithful flock of God yet they are truly sent by Satan to do the work of evil; be aware of whom you speak to, befriend only those you can trust and have professed their faith in public. For God hears all, sees all, knows all, and will give you the rights to make only the changes which he wills to be changed that which fits within His overall plan for your life. Therefore, you have heard it said,

14 ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.’ ~ John 14:1 (NRSVACE)

Amen,

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