Archive for September 14, 2019

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: September 14, 2019 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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Seeking the Lost: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:

Exodus 32:7–11, 13–14
Psalm 51:3–4, 12–13, 17, 19
1 Timothy 1:12–17
Luke 15:1–10

The episode in today’s First Reading has been called “Israel’s original sin.” Freed from bondage, born as a people of God in the covenant at Sinai, Israel turned aside from His ways and fell to worshipping a golden calf.
Moses implores God’s mercy, just as Jesus will later intercede for the whole human race. Just as He still pleads for sinners at God’s right hand and through the ministry of the Church.

Israel’s sin is the sin of the world. It is your sin and mine. Ransomed from death and made His children in Baptism, we fall prey to the idols of this world. We remain a “stiff-necked people,” resisting His will for us like an ox refuses the plowman’s yoke (see Jeremiah 7:26).

Like Israel, in our sin we push God away and reject our divine sonship. Once He called us “my people” (see Exodus 3:10; 6:7). But our sin makes us “no people,” people He should, in justice, disown (see Deuteronomy 32:21; 1 Peter 2:10).

Yet in His mercy, He is faithful to the covenant He swore by His own self in Jesus. In Jesus, God comes to Israel and to each of us—as a shepherd to seek the lost (see Ezekiel 34:11–16), to carry us back to the heavenly feast, the perpetual heritage promised long ago to Abraham’s children.

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” Paul cries in today’s Epistle. These are the happiest words the world has ever known. Because of Jesus, as Paul himself can testify, even the blasphemer and persecutor can seek His mercy.

As the sinners do in today’s Gospel, we draw near to listen to Him. In this Eucharist, we bring Him the acceptable sacrifice we sing of in today’s Psalm—our hearts, humbled and contrite.

In the company of His angels and saints, we rejoice that He has wiped out our offense. We celebrate with Him that we have turned from the evil way that we might live (see Ezekiel 18:23).

Sharing by a Sister in Christ

Posted: September 14, 2019 by CatholicJules in Testimonies
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Eileen from our CG LOL Small Christian Community

Bear with me, my lol brothers and sisters. I’d like to share my christ encounter with you.

Svdp had corporal works of mercy today. I didn’t sign up for old folks home but was posted there. I knew God had a reason for putting me in the aged home instead of children’s home.

We had colouring activity. This old catholic man refused to colour any of the pictures (flowers, gumball, ice cream) because he did not like any of them. He insisted on a lighthouse picture but we did not have. He was adamant about a lighthouse picture with boats. I didn’t think I could draw well so asked a 21 year old girl to draw. She couldn’t draw too and i ended up copying the pic from Google.
I drew a lighthouse and boats that he wanted. I didn’t think I did a good job with the drawing and colouring. The old man told me he fell in a lighthouse before.
I also wrote a bible verse at the bottom of the picture.
“Oli, you are the light of the world.” (Matt5:14)
And around the lighthouse, I wrote “Jesus is the eternal light.”
He looked at my picture n the words and repeated the verse. I think he was moved because he took off his specs twice and rubbed his teary eyes. I was moved too. The lighthouse meant a lot to him and to me. There were many people who were lighthouse to me, in my moments of darkness. Others brought light and christ to me, now it was my turn to bring light n christ to him.
The old man took my lighthouse pic (he was so delighted!), went to his bedside and wedged the picture in his bible. 😭

Reflection over breakfast with Jesus

Posted: September 14, 2019 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys, Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Today over a ‘breakfast with Jesus’ session the group shared about how the Israelites in the first reading complained incessantly about everything not unlike the culture we live in. There was mention of how some complaints might be viewed as feedback while another shared that when he asked a lady colleague why she complained about everything her reply intrigued him. She told him that she complained so she could get what she wanted, if it was just feedback she got nothing!

I started my sharing by quoting Philippians 2:14 then an insight came upon me. Think about it, I said, ”People who complain do not have God dwelling within them for if they did, they would have nothing to complain about.” The Israelites had no teal love for God and was far from Him. Even in tomorrow’s first reading they apostasised EX 32:7-11, 13-14, they wanted only what they wanted. And even though the Lord our God detested their sins to the point of destroying them in their sins, still He relented through the intercession of Moses His servant who prefigured the coming of His only Begotten Son who would intecede for us thereafter lay down His life for us to free us from all sin. So that through our repentance we can be fully reconciled so as to live fully in His loving embrace and love.

Let us never empty the meaning of the Cross and its value. 🙏❤️

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 14, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Today as we gaze upon the crucifixes in our homes, around our necks, in our Parish, let us ponder over the word in John’s Gospel, the Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. Indeed it is Not so much a symbol as it is a truth of God’s great love for us! Of how our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ suffered death to liberate us once for all from the clutches of sin. A victory over death and sin won for each and everyone of us by His very own death and Resurrection!

We are drawn to eternal life with Him, when we willingly take up our cross to follow Him. So on this feast day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, let our hearts and minds be also raised, as we set our sights to the Heavenly Banquet that awaits us through Christ our Lord. Amen

First reading

Numbers 21:4-9 ·
If anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked up at the bronze serpent and lived

On the way through the wilderness the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.’
At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. The people came and said to Moses, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede for us with the Lord to save us from these serpents.’ Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord answered him, ‘Make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live.’ So Moses fashioned a bronze serpent which he put on a standard, and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived.

Gospel

John 3:13-17
God sent his Son so that through him the world might be saved

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

‘No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven,
the Son of Man who is in heaven; and the Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.
Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.
For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.’