And there entered a thought into them, which of them should be greater. But Jesus seeing the thoughts of their heart, took a child and set him by him, And said to them: Whosoever shall receive this child in my name, receiveth me; and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth him that sent me. For he that is the lesser among you all, he is the greater. And John, answering, said: Master, we saw a certain man casting out devils in thy name, and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said to him: Forbid him not; for he that is not against you, is for you.
Luke 9:46-50 (Douay-Rheims)
Prayer
Dear Father a child's mind is simple in thought, there is no deception nor lack of trust. It is us Lord that breaks a child's trust when we hurt them. Instead of us accepting these in your name, we chose to mold them in our ways, often in the way we are deceitful. Teaching them to lie, to love sin rather than love you. Woe to us then. We may receive them in your name but often turn them away from you to be molded in our ways, not necessarily your ways. In so doing we often reject you when we cause our little one's to sin. Dear Father let us not be against you but with you in all the ways of our life. God you are love and in this love we conquer the evil that invades our thoughts and deeds. It is with this love that we cast out evil and bring forgiveness. Dearest Father you gave us love to live our lives by. You gave us forgiveness when we erred. The power of your love restores. May I love in a deeper sense those around me and offer forgiveness for any sleight or hurt that comes without thought from others. Let my love shine as a lamp for those in darkness and may that love cast out evil in you name. Amen
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Monday, October 01, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Children
At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who thinkest thou is the greater in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them, And said: Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. And he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me.
See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
What think you? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray: doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go to seek that which is gone astray? And if it so be that he find it: Amen I say to you, he rejoiceth more for that, than for the ninety-nine that went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14 (Douay-Rheims)
Prayer
Dear Father how we forget to keep ourselves as little children as we grow into adults. But Jesus was also talking about the children themselves too. To not harm them or despise them, yet we do harm them and despise them. Why? Because we don't want to be reminded of how carefree they are and unsullied. Oh how we once were and how soon we forget the faith of a child. But we also know that Jesus will search for one stray sheep as well as ninety-nine if they become lost. Please don't let any become lost because of our selfishness. May Jesus in his beautiful heart have mercy on us for causing the little one's to suffer. Amen
See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
What think you? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray: doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go to seek that which is gone astray? And if it so be that he find it: Amen I say to you, he rejoiceth more for that, than for the ninety-nine that went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14 (Douay-Rheims)
Prayer
Dear Father how we forget to keep ourselves as little children as we grow into adults. But Jesus was also talking about the children themselves too. To not harm them or despise them, yet we do harm them and despise them. Why? Because we don't want to be reminded of how carefree they are and unsullied. Oh how we once were and how soon we forget the faith of a child. But we also know that Jesus will search for one stray sheep as well as ninety-nine if they become lost. Please don't let any become lost because of our selfishness. May Jesus in his beautiful heart have mercy on us for causing the little one's to suffer. Amen
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs
When the magi had departed, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
"Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you.
Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him."
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night
and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod,
that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,
Out of Egypt I called my son.
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi,
he became furious.
He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity
two years old and under,
in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.
Matthew 2:13-18
Reflection:
The innocents have suffered a terrible death at the hands of a man who wanted it all. Herod wanted to be king of everything, including heaven it seems. What a sad day to read of the massacre of the young. To be ripped from their mother's arms. And did the women who were pregnant loose their life too to have their child torn from their body.
Such evil Herod did on that day, and it continues to this day. We tear the unborn from the mother's wombs. Yet we find ways to preserve dead bodies. When it is life we should be preserving. It is the little one's we should be nurturing, not terminating their life like Herod has done.
But we do as Herod, out of selfishness because we don't want more than one or two children for fear that we will not be able to fill our bellies with food or clothe our bodies or get extravagant furnishings. So we make a choice to kill the unborn to control the population in some countries and in our own lives. We are like Herod for certain, we seek power as he did.
It's not pretty when we imitate dead rulers that have killed innocent children out of fear.
the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
"Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you.
Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him."
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night
and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod,
that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,
Out of Egypt I called my son.
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi,
he became furious.
He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity
two years old and under,
in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.
Matthew 2:13-18
Reflection:
The innocents have suffered a terrible death at the hands of a man who wanted it all. Herod wanted to be king of everything, including heaven it seems. What a sad day to read of the massacre of the young. To be ripped from their mother's arms. And did the women who were pregnant loose their life too to have their child torn from their body.
Such evil Herod did on that day, and it continues to this day. We tear the unborn from the mother's wombs. Yet we find ways to preserve dead bodies. When it is life we should be preserving. It is the little one's we should be nurturing, not terminating their life like Herod has done.
But we do as Herod, out of selfishness because we don't want more than one or two children for fear that we will not be able to fill our bellies with food or clothe our bodies or get extravagant furnishings. So we make a choice to kill the unborn to control the population in some countries and in our own lives. We are like Herod for certain, we seek power as he did.
It's not pretty when we imitate dead rulers that have killed innocent children out of fear.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.
Luke 2:16-17
Reflection:
The angels told the shepherds about Jesus' birth. Now it was up to them to go and witness this beautiful occasion. They were able to recount the message given to them to our Blessed Mother, so she could contemplate God's message.
If Mary can do this about a message given to shepherds, then we too should be able to listen to the Word made Flesh. Jesus was born to us this day to bring us love and forgiveness. Do we listen to the Word of God and live it's message as our Holy Mother has done. Do we try to bring about love and forgiveness among our neighbors.
Are the walls we have built around us so strong that we cannot tear them down with love. Mary's love for God was so great that she said "YES," and for that we have a savior who tears down the walls we build, that keep him out.
God gave us his Son to bring us much needed love. He gave us all the ultimate gift of himself, the love in his heart in the flesh of his Son. As parents don't we give that much of ourselves too for the sake of our children, out of love for them.
When we think of the love we have for our children and what we would do for them, then think about how much God does for us in a hidden way.
Luke 2:16-17
Reflection:
The angels told the shepherds about Jesus' birth. Now it was up to them to go and witness this beautiful occasion. They were able to recount the message given to them to our Blessed Mother, so she could contemplate God's message.
If Mary can do this about a message given to shepherds, then we too should be able to listen to the Word made Flesh. Jesus was born to us this day to bring us love and forgiveness. Do we listen to the Word of God and live it's message as our Holy Mother has done. Do we try to bring about love and forgiveness among our neighbors.
Are the walls we have built around us so strong that we cannot tear them down with love. Mary's love for God was so great that she said "YES," and for that we have a savior who tears down the walls we build, that keep him out.
God gave us his Son to bring us much needed love. He gave us all the ultimate gift of himself, the love in his heart in the flesh of his Son. As parents don't we give that much of ourselves too for the sake of our children, out of love for them.
When we think of the love we have for our children and what we would do for them, then think about how much God does for us in a hidden way.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Friday of the Second Week of Advent
Advent Prayer
God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, But delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2
Reflection:
Plain and simple this psalm speaks. Blessed is the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked, but delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night.
What a remarkable feat to do this. When we are in the company of others and in the back of our minds the law of the Lord is always there. So when we hear things that go against God's law we know better.
How often have we sat among others and heard things that we know are wrong and thought to ourselves that is not what God desires from us. That is not his way. And yet in those moments we do nothing and say nothing to correct it. We don't often say, gee you know something, but your behavior or the way you dress is not in with God's plan for you.
Or what we do to constantly break his laws to bring the wrath of God upon us, yet God is a God of love and patience. When we see how we are with our families and how we push our own parents to the limit then we understand how at times we too have pushed God beyond his limit, because he has far more children to look after than any family on earth. And we are all his baptized children, who often run amok in our own desires and not the desires of God.
Take a moment today and reflect on our own behavior, do we follow and keep his law or do we follow the way of the wicked. It's your choice! But choose wisely
God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, But delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2
Reflection:
Plain and simple this psalm speaks. Blessed is the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked, but delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night.
What a remarkable feat to do this. When we are in the company of others and in the back of our minds the law of the Lord is always there. So when we hear things that go against God's law we know better.
How often have we sat among others and heard things that we know are wrong and thought to ourselves that is not what God desires from us. That is not his way. And yet in those moments we do nothing and say nothing to correct it. We don't often say, gee you know something, but your behavior or the way you dress is not in with God's plan for you.
Or what we do to constantly break his laws to bring the wrath of God upon us, yet God is a God of love and patience. When we see how we are with our families and how we push our own parents to the limit then we understand how at times we too have pushed God beyond his limit, because he has far more children to look after than any family on earth. And we are all his baptized children, who often run amok in our own desires and not the desires of God.
Take a moment today and reflect on our own behavior, do we follow and keep his law or do we follow the way of the wicked. It's your choice! But choose wisely
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