Mary, Holy Mother Of God, By Saying “Yes” To God’s Will, Intercedes On Our Behalf With Her Son!

Prior to my acceptance into Diaconate formation in 2000, I along with other candidates was asked to submit a paper on our spiritual journey.  My submission included three women who influenced me to believe in God and become a follower: My mom, dad’s mom and my wife.  Each one of them in their own way reminded me of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother of God.

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season When We Openly Practice Our Faith So All Can Receive God’s Salvation

For those who have visited the birthplace of Jesus in the town of Bethlehem near the city of Jerusalem, the word “Humble” may not be an apt description of this cramped cave where Mary, Jesus and Joseph spent the first day of the Son of God’s human birthday.  In fact, it reminds me of the many homeless encamped under the freeways with very little protection in what I term as “Squalor.”  And yet this is where our salvation begins in earthly terms with a forced move for a worldly census of the Roman Empire.

Acceptance Of God’s Plan Of Life For Us Makes The Difference For Our Salvation! Let Us Deny Our Sinfulness That Leads Us Astray!

Things don’t always seem to be what we believe they are or should be based on our viewpoint.  This Sunday’s readings and Gospel are indicative of that, especially in light of God’s plan for our lives.  It often seems contradictory, because our beliefs propagated by what the world has put into place don’t always agree with God’s.  The question for us is: “With whom do we place our trust, man or God, no matter how difficult the situation, if we seek eternal life”?

Experience The Joy Of Salvation By Healing, Wholeness And Holiness As We Offer Christian Joy Which We Ourselves Have Received

We are called to prepare the way for Jesus to come into ours and other people’s hearts so we can experience the joy of salvation, healing, wholeness and holiness for which we long and gives real meaning to our lives.  But, how do we do that when we are imprisoned into a world of sin as was St. John the Baptist?

As We Prepare For The Coming Of Christ, Let Us Practice Peace And Offer Justice To Situations That Harm Us In So Many Ways!

Connected through the ages of time, we still prepare during Advent for the coming of Christ in our lives beginning with his birth, suffering, death, resurrection, ascension and return. Both readings and St. Matthew’s Gospel illustrate how God’s plan was meant for us whether we were known as an Israelite or Gentile prior to or after implementation of Christianity.  Our preparation is for acceptance of who Jesus is as told to us through the scriptures and to find ways we can be repentant, have a personal change of heart and a transformation or conversion as we help to bring peace and justice as Jesus did.

Prepare The Way of The Lord!

DEAR FRIENDS –

TODAY’S BLOG MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE THIRD-YEAR (CYCLE “A”) I HAVE BEEN SHARING IN “A CATHOLIC DEACON’S PERSPECTIVE.”  AS I WROTE IN THE PAST, MY HOPE IS THAT IT GIVES YOU A DEEPER INSIGHT INTO YOUR JOURNEY WITH THE LORD.  JUST AS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS “B” AND “C“ BLOG SUBMISSIONS HAVE REMAINED ON THIS SITE TO REVIEW OR COMPARE, YEAR “A” WILL BE ADDED FOR THE SAME REASON. OUR PRIMARY GOSPEL PROVIDER FOR YEAR “A” IS ST. MATTHEW.  

PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU REMAIN IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AS WE TRAVEL A PATH TO FOLLOW JESUS TO HIS PROMISE OF EVERLASTING LIFE FOR THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL TO HIS TRUTH OF LOVE, MERCY AND FORGIVENESS. 

GOD BLESS,

DEACON JIM MERLE

Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done If We Accept God’s Call To Be One With Him!

Benevolent monarchies without a spiritual force behind it rarely exist to offer the fullness of what Jesus, a Christian King, provides for us through His love of all that exists in His realm with His Father and the Holy Spirit.  If that were not enough of a challenge, outside influences based on fulfilling one’s personal needs of wealth, fame and power all but destroy human decency, morals and integrity so that nothing can exist without negativity in all facets available for peaceful co-existence.

Practicing Patient Endurance Focuses Us To Live Each Day Fully In The Company Of Jesus!

It is interesting that as one ages, patience takes on a different meaning than when we were young.  Things had to happen quicker in our early years because there was so much of life that needed to be experienced.  Waiting slowed our pace and caused us to possibly miss something which might be helpful to get ahead in our lives.  Consideration for taking time to learn what we wanted or needed to know was less important because we could pick it up on the fly; or so we thought.

“The Lord Is Not God Of The Dead, But Of The Living.”

“Death is but a passing from this life to the next,” is how I define eternal life.  Where that eternal life is depends on how you live your current life.  If you are like the Sadducees in St. Luke’s Gospel today, you will spend it in hell.  If you follow Jesus’ logic, you will be heaven in love with everyone you have ever loved on earth.  After all, isn’t love God’s focus?

God In His Love And Mercy Calls Us To Change For The Better

Has this ever happened to you?  Just when you think everything is going smoothly, something goes awry that gives you cause to pause.  Doubt comes into the picture and you begin to wonder why now and what you did that changed your life condition.  The path you have been taking seems unsure and you become stymied as you contemplate what to do next.

O God, Have Mercy On Me! O Lord, Open My Lips And My Mouth Shall Declare Your Praise! My Sacrifice…A Humbled, Contrite Heart You Will Not Spurn!

(From Psalm 51 – The Miserere: Prayer of Repentance – of King David)

Each day I start my morning prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours with an examination of conscience in the following way:

“Lord, forgive my inequities, cleanse me from my sin, help me to be one with You in all that I am and in all that I do in thought, word and deed as well as Faith, Hope and Love.  Give me courage, strength, wisdom, understanding, peace, joy and grace to be obedient to your will.  For all those for whom I pray, may they receive your care, comfort and healing.”

Faith Requires Perseverance In All Facets Of Our Life, Especially In Communications With God Through Prayer

A religious from Europe active in missionary work in Zambia at a hospital and orphanage and more recently in the Ukraine, shared yesterday at Mass about a four-day ordeal he had in a basement of an apartment building in which 13 children were hiding after being wounded by a Russian missile.  Though he was able to help because of his work in Zambia, it was through perseverance in prayer that helped him and the children to cope with what happened and how they will be able to face an uncertain future.  This incident brings our Gospel and readings this weekend to life and hopefully us in how we live as practicing Catholics.

God, Who Created Us Out Of Love, Is Always Here For Us, No Matter Who We Are As Long As We Are Grateful For All That He Does

It is interesting to note how people react to illnesses and accidents, especially when they are either a part of it or have avoided it.  In the latter instance, most people express how lucky they were.  It was a close call, but they beat the odds.  Those who experienced a setback due to being affected either are upset because they have a problem which may be life-changing or are grateful because it was something minor.

Faith Calls Us To Be Proactive When It Threatens Those In Need With Social Justice Issues

Dear Readers And Subscribers, Please Forgive The Lateness In producing My Weekly Blog For The 27^th Sunday In Ordinary Time And “Respect Life Sunday,” Based On Pope St. John Paul Ii’s 1995 Encyclical “Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel Of Life).  I Was Struggling With Some Personal Issues As Well As How To Best Express My Perspective On Such An Important Topic During This Time Of Great Worldwide Stress.  Thank You For Your Understanding.  Following Is My Blog.

Today is Respect Life Sunday based on Pope St. John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical “Evangelium Vitae” (The Gospel of Life) held every October to reaffirm the value and inviolability of every human life and to appeal to all people to respect, protect, love and serve every human life. 

Jesus Calls Us To Be Selfless In Taking Care Of The Needy Or Face Possible Condemnation

For those who live in urban areas, seeing a poor person like Lazarus in St. Luke’s Gospel is a normal scenario.  Exit ramps from highways, expressways and freeways are filled with people begging for help due to being homeless or hungry.  Whether it is a lone figure or a family, the cardboard signs with dark writing cannot help but catch the eye of those passing by.  And, most do just pass by without an offer to help.

Disciples Of Jesus Are Asked To Share In Justice And Fairness The Gifts God Has Given Us With Those In Need.

Have you ever heard the saying: I would rather be clever than smart?  I even used it myself when I was much younger.  It was a trait that peaked my imagination to allow me to be creative.  People seemed to be more responsive when I said or did something either because it seemed to make sense or it made me look like I knew something they did not.

God Actively Seeks To Bring Sinners Back Into A Loving Relationship With Him, Why Do We Find It So Hard To Accept?

Once a month the clergy of our parish meet for Morning Prayer followed by a light breakfast to discuss what is happening in the Church, our parish and in our lives.  Several weeks ago the topic landed on the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the feedback clergy hear from those who take advantage of this sacred rite.  The consensus was that though the laity initially accepts their forgiveness by God through the priest, they linger with the thought that it may be more of a pacifier for what is happening.  The belief being that God still holds it in His heart when it comes to making decisions about our life and afterlife.

Being True And Faithful To Jesus Requires Much Worldly Sacrifice

Our world is into self-preservation.  It is a mantra for almost every culture.  In and of itself, it is not wrong.  How we go about self-preservation is the crux of most people’s lives.  That is what our readings and Gospel are bringing into light if we espouse Christian discipleship as the mainstay of our lives. 

Jesus Calls Us To Be Humble To Serve Those In Need!

Like Jesus’ parables on honor, respect and humility in St. Luke’s Gospel today, it is interesting to note that regular church goers often have favorite seats in which they sit.  Others like to sit at the ends of a pew rather than move toward the center when other people enter so they have to step over them to be in “their” pew.  I have been in some churches that actually have a plaque with someone’s name where they sit and in others where initials are carved in certain pews to mark a place where someone sits.

Jesus Invites Us To Enter The Narrow Gate To Save All Souls By Introducing Them To Joy, Peace And Everlasting Life

Last week’s readings and St. Luke’s Gospel reminded us that we are called to bring God’s love and peace to all we meet.  Our Baptism brings the fire of the Holy Spirit into our being so that we can spread God’s word toward purification of sinfulness and acceptance of God’s Kingdom.  Today, we add another dimension in which we reach out to the whole world even in times of great difficulty because no one is to be excluded from the Kingdom of God.  Salvation is offered to everyone.

Baptized With The Fire Of The Holy Spirit, We Are Called To Bring Of God’s Love And Peace To All We Meet

In the realm of relationships each one is unique even though there are identifying traits that psychologist, psychiatrists and scientists have data that often proves the outcomes are consistent no matter the person involved.  The uniqueness comes when we interact with one another and the outcome produces or provides an avenue of action to change something for better or worse.

Trust In God Allows Faith To Grow So We Can Spread Jesus’ Gospel Teachings

 

On the last Saturday of July I received a card from the wife of a man I have known for 61 years.  After four and half years of suffering from stage four colon cancer he passed. Joe, not his real name, was one of my oldest friends and we considered each other as brothers because neither of us had siblings.