ALL WHO JOURNEY WITH THE LORD BY FOLLOWING HIS WAYS ARE SAINTS. HOW IS YOUR ROAD TRIP GOING?

To date, I have only seen up close one canonized saint of the Catholic Church. To the best of my knowledge, he never boasted he was one. From everything I have read or seen in videos, all are humble and avoid anything that would deter them from doing God’s work. This includes saints who lived a sinful life before committing fully to God’s ways. Remember, except for Jesus and Mary who were born without sin and John the Baptist who had his original sin removed in the womb, all are sinners.

WORLDLY HAPPINESS IS FLEETING AT BEST. INSTEAD, SEEK PEACE AND JOY TO REALIZE THE EVERLASTING HAPPINESS OF HEAVEN!

 

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines happiness as a state of well-being and contentment (Joy) or as a pleasurable or satisfying experience.

CAREGIVING, THOUGH DIFFICULT, CAN BE A BLESSING, WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE

In the United States first responders are appreciated for their efforts to take care of situations that can cause damage to lives and properties. Fire fighters, doctors, nurses, police officers, veterans and clergy are the most prominent one sees when something happens that can harm people. Whether it is in their DNA, it comes from one’s background or learned, those who first answer the call to be there to help do so at their own risk.

As Life Challenges Us Daily, How Do We Adapt to God’s Ways?

There is a certain truth that with age comes wisdom. The importance of understanding this is based on what decisions we make based on our state of mind and in what condition our life is in. The comic relief and sadness about what we do is centered around what we remember or do not.

EASTER! PROMISE OF EVERLASTING LIFE FULFILLED!

Easter, especially the Triduum, is a continuous historical and spiritual reminder to Christian believers of the greatest love story that ever happened in our reality nearly 2000 years ago.  Without it, a massive amount of those would have no connection with God except at creation and at the end of one’s life for judgment.  The years in between would be aimless based on one’s free-will decisions that may or may not lead to a relationship with God.  The Blessed Trinity in their infinite wisdom provides a plan for each of us that circumvent what could have been a tragedy for all: A world without a Christian God who created us out of and for love.   

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord gives us messages of praise (Hosanna) and of hate (Crucify Him). Our response is a cry of understanding and acceptance when we shout: GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME!

 In St. John’s Gospel at the procession of Jesus into Jerusalem, we hear a great crowd of followers crying out: “Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel.”

Dear Subscribers

Dear Subscribers -

Due to technical difficulties, I was not able to send my blog for last weekend (March 16 - 17, 2024).  Please accept my apologies.  I am in the process of having technicians look at the reasons for this situation and ask that you bear with me while it is being fixed.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter,

Deacon Jim Merle

TRUST IN GOD’S PLAN TO GIVE YOU THE LIGHT OF EVERLASTING LIFE

 

Nicodemus, a Pharisee, leader and teacher among the Jews, is confused by an itinerant preacher from the province of Gallilee named Jesus.  Instead of confirming the covenant God made with Moses some 1,513 years prior as the only way to have salvation, Jesus talks about a new covenant in which He will suffer, die and rise from the dead to provide the chosen people with everlasting life.

THE MEANING OF “THE FEAR OF THE LORD.”

 

Every writer, worth his or her salt, comes to the conclusion that other writers are better at explaining certain aspects of life.  I was reminded of that 23 years ago during Lent when I was reading my morning prayers from Volume II of the Liturgy of the Hours.

REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL

 

“All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.”          Rom. 3:23

I, an ordained deacon in the Roman Catholic Church, am a sinner.  I write this not as a boast, but out of humility for regrettable personal decisions I have made in denying God’s love.  In essence, I have at times placed myself first and God second because of my need or want for instant gratification.

Communicating with God in Prayer

 

It is interesting to me that those who say they believe in answered prayer, also complain how difficult it is to pray at times.  They seem to be caught up in making sure their phrasing is so correct that whatever they are praying for or about will convince God that not only is it important but that He will not be confused by what is being said.  Below is a Scripture passage from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians from the New Testament of the New American Bible which I believe answers their trepidation.

‘Bless me father, for I have sinned.’

 

For those of us who frequent the Sacrament of Reconciliation, it is how we begin to ask God for forgiveness for those times we have offended Him in sin through our thoughts, words and/or deeds or by omission.  It is our hope through our sincerity in going to Confession that God, through the priest, will give us absolution if we are truly repentant.

TRUST IN GOD ALWAYS

 

‘Trust me, I’ve got your back.’  How many times have you heard someone in good faith tell you that?  A dozen, two dozen, more?  How many times have you agreed to do just that?  And, how many times did the promise of protecting you work?  How many times did it not work?

JESUS IS OUR TRUTH

 

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me.”                                                                               John 14:6

 

In seeking a relationship of love with God through wisdom and faith, we begin to look for the truth of what all this means to us now and for the future.  As we search, we are provided with numerous paths that take us in multiple directions; many away from God and His ways.  Often, this will confuse us because what we are learning is that there are many truths that can provide us with positive outcomes with or without God.  It is then that we need to focus on the path which directly connects us with God, avoiding any and all distractions which can lead us toward a life of purpose and meaning.   

FAITH TO BELIEVE

 

“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”                                                                                                                                                       Hebrews 11:1

 

Of all the topics indexed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Faith has the most references to provide the clearest picture of all aspects of our theology.  For purposes of this blog, I will refer to Paragraphs 26 (Profession of Faith) and 150 (Belief in God).

WISDOM to UNDERSTAND

 

For those who want a relationship of love with God, it requires wisdom to understand what is required to follow His ways.  The Book of Proverbs, in its introduction tells us it is a book of an anthology of didactic poetry, and has as its primary purpose to teach wisdom.  The book covers a wide field of human and divine activity, ranging from matters purely secular to most lofty moral and religious truths beginning with “fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”                                                   Proverbs 1:7.

RELATIONSHIP OF LOVE

 

Belief in a Supreme Being such as God is based on one’s acceptance that such an entity has one’s best interest in mind. This God, therefore, would have the ability to provide one with a life of peace and joy on earth and eternal happiness after death if he or she follows His ways provided in a plan with parameters for that purpose.