"On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you" (John 2:1-5). The mother of Jesus has been echoing this message ever since. Are there times in your life that you feel your running out? What is it you are running out of? Time, money, patience, happiness? Are you being challenged? What are some things Jesus said?
"Come follow me"!
Are you following Jesus? My Son Nathan wrote a song in 2000 called "No Tomorrow" which says, "What would you do if today was your last, what would you do if you knew it was true? Would you follow Christ"?
That is an excellent question. Are you like one of the Lord's Disiples who dropped their nets to follow Christ or are you like the rich man who could not part with his many possessions?
Are you ashamed to be identified as a follower of Jesus?
Are you ashamed to be Catholic? Jesus said, "Come Follow me"!
When the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary, she accepted the will of God based on faith, hope, and love.
We should imitate Our Lady in following our Lord regardless the cost. Eternal salvation is far more important that any earthly good that separates us from the love of God. Love God, hate sin!
Jesus said, "your light must shine before others"!
Do you give witness to the gospel by the way you live your life? We are known primarily by what we say, by what we do, and by what we love!
Early Catholic tradition says, "If you were going to be arrested for being a Christian, could you be arrested upon evidence"?
Our example is far more important, St. Francis encouraged us to go preach the gospel and when necessary, use words"! Are you giving witness to Christ through your life?
When I was deployed in another Country, I tried to represent my Country by being respectful to the local people. I wanted people to have a good image of America.
Our faith experience should be something like that. Jesus continues saying, "let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father".
This is so important for the family, especially children. It all starts at home!
Jesus said, "This is how you are to pray":
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not suject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one".
Does this prayer mean anything to you? Do you pray this reflecting on the words.
Do you forgive those who have wronged you? Sometimes we just got to let it go. It is not healthy to hold things in by not forgiving those who wronged you.
Sometimes you have to give it to God. Sometimes the wrongs are so terrible, you have to find a way to release yourself from the wrong done to you.
This is easier said than done and it might take a lifetime to get over something, but you must not go by feelings or emotions. You have to go by the will because it is the right thing to do.
Jesus said, "Do unto others whatever you would have them do to you".
The famous "Golden Rule", are we killing someone because of hurtful remarks we say about others, are we persecuting people because we think we can?
How do you want to be treated? Are you fair in your judgments. In my experience in the Army, I tried to make every decision based from my core values.
I tried to see things as Jesus would see things, that famous bumper sticker, "WWJD", "What Would Jesus Do"?
We are to judge people fairly. Does this mean that we are to be a punching bag for those who seek to take advantage over you, that you can't defend yourself?
No, not at all, but we should use wisdom and understanding in dealing with those who seek to attack you. I've been told that the "pen is mightier than the sword"! Truth is important and we should defend it.
Jesus said, "I did not come to call the righteous but sinners".
Do we think we are better that everybody else? Do we think we are perfect?
The challenge is that we come before God in humble thanksgiving, to "humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord." Let Jesus raise you up.
Jesus would leave the 99 to go after the one who who hasw gone astray.
We should not be filled with compromise, but committed to pick up our cross and following the Lord.
Do we ask for a price? Do we look to those who might pat us on the back and shake our hand? Do we really seek justice and mercy towards the sinners.
My heart dances when a fallen Catholic returns home to the vinyard, the holy Catholic Church.
Jesus said, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind".
Do you place the Lord as #1 in your life, to you seek to do his will in all things.
Jesus said that no greater love that a man can have than to lay down your life for your friends. This is an action to live by. To die to self everyday.
Pope Pius XII said that in the later part of the 20th century and beyond, to be a true Christian, they would have to be a "living martyr" because the attack on the family will be so severe.
Whose side are you on? Do you cave in to the social norms that encourages you to fall to the least line of resistance to temptation?
Do you obey the Commandments, the precepts of the Church? Do you offer the Lord you heart, soul, mind, and strength?
Do you offer him your sword, your life? Or do you cave in to Hollywood and the drive by-media? Do you walk by faith and not by sight?
Jesus said, "do this in memory of me".
Do you go to Mass? Do you renew the Covenant with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
Do you honor the Commandments to honor the Lord God and to kep holy the Lord's Day?
Do you participate often and receive the Sacraments? Do you go to Confession and strive to live a holy life?
From the Mass we are to take the Lord whom we received out into the highways, the streets, the world at large.
Do you have family devotions and instill prayer into your children. How blest it is when a young child says they love God!
Jesus said, "It is finished".
Do we reflect what Christ did on the cross for our salvation?
Sometimes, when I look at the crucifix, I think of the crowning of thorns, the physical abuse Jesus absorbed for love of us.
For the sins of men whose minds thought only the pleasure of sin.
How men refuse to submit their hearts to God. When I think of the nail that pierced his right hand, how that represents the things I did that hurt others, those sins that cause my Lord to suffer in those I hurt.
When I think of the nail that pierced his right hand, I am reminded of those things I should have done but didn't because I was afraid what others would think.
Maybe its just because of my own laziness. When I think about the nail that pierce our Lord's feet, I am reminded of the times I refused to go where Jesus wanted me to go. Like Jonah, I chose to go the other way.
When I think of the spear that penetrated the heart of our Lord, he emptied himself out completely on my behalf.
May I receive strength from the Lord when I honor his passion for my sake. "For the sake of his sorriful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world, Amen".
Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me will never die".
Do you believe? When you walk up to receive the Eucharist, do you believe? Do you say, "Amen"?
Jesus said, "If you forgive mens sins, they are forgiven them", do you believe?
Do you go to Confession? Jesus said, "Yes, I am coming soon", will you be ready?
Like St. John, do you say "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus?"
Like St. Paul, "let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith."
Mother Mary said, "Do whatever He tells you", may the children of God recognize these words of their Mother, and follow the whole word of God.
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