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joel
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In the two
speeches that make up this book, Joel uses an agricultural crisis to measure
his audience’s knowledge of its God, warn them of a worse disaster if they
ignore his preaching, and express his conviction that all faithful Judahites
would someday enjoy a secure future. Inadequate winter rains and a spring
locust infestation have devastated Judah’s grain fields, vineyards, and
orchards. Because the people carry on with business as usual, unaware that this
crisis is the work of the Lord in their midst, Joel fears that the Lord may
soon deliver a death blow by withholding the rains that normally fall in the
late autumn. However, Joel’s efforts to avert this crisis are successful. The
first speech ends with Joel’s assurance that at the end of the next
agricultural year the people will enjoy a superabundant harvest. The second
speech begins with the prophet’s hope that Judah’s God will one day destroy its
enemies and make Jerusalem secure once and for all. This divine intervention
will create a more inclusive community, cutting across boundaries of gender,
class, and age. The rest of Joel’s second speech uses the imagery of drought
and locusts from the first speech and introduces the metaphor of a grape
harvest and wine making to describe the attack of the Lord’s heavenly army on
Judah’s enemies. In the renewal of Judah’s hillsides by the winter rains, the
prophet sees the revitalization of the people because the Lord dwells with
them.
aPRIL 22 Fourth Sunday after Easter
EARTH DAY
Joel,
Chapter 2, Verse 21-22
21 Do not fear, O land! Delight and rejoice, for the LORD has done great
things 22Do not fear, you animals in the wild, for the wilderness pastures sprout
green grass. The trees bear fruit; the fig tree and the vine produce their
harvest.
Notice
the prophet here acknowledges that God in his power has complete control over
nature. They do not fear. They
are perfectly happy because nature does not have freewill and cooperates with
God living their existence in accordance with their created
function. Yet we because we were created in the image and likeness of God we
have a choice. To do good or to do evil. Daily we must decide if we are for
ourselves and pursue the things of the world or are we going to follow Christ
by picking up our cross daily.
“You
shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall
be well with you”. It is clear from the very first pages of the Bible that work
is an essential part of human dignity; there we read that “the Lord God took
the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it” This is why any charity must include some
type of work to preserve the dignity of the person such as the practice of
gleaming or the use of loans in the Old Testament for food. Labor also
makes possible the development of society and provides for the sustenance,
stability and fruitfulness of one’s family. The Book of Proverbs also presents
the labor of mothers within the family; their daily work is described in detail
as winning the praise of their husbands and children. Paul was so convinced of
the necessity of work that he laid down a strict rule for his communities: “If
anyone will not work, let him not eat”. This having been said, we can
appreciate the suffering created by unemployment and the lack of steady work,
as reflected in the Book of Ruth, Jesus’ own parable of the laborers forced to
stand idly in the town square, and his personal experience of meeting people
suffering from poverty and hunger. Sadly, these realities are present in many
countries today, where the lack of employment opportunities takes its toll on
the serenity of family life. Yet, those that employ are often trapped by their
own greed and power and instead of using the joy in their work; they are
selfish and instead of founding living sustainability with their work their
actions often lead to the desertification of the earth By our work we are to
build up a garden and make, no create with God, a better world, not rape it and
by love make it better.
The meekness and
patience of Christ's flock and an explanation of the necessity of the Ascension
GOSPEL. John xvi. 5-14.
At
that time Jesus said to His disciples: I go to Him that sent Me; and none of
you asketh Me: Whither goest Thou? But because I have spoken these things to
you, sorrow hath filled your heart. But I tell you the truth: it is expedient
to you that I go: for if I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you: but if I
go, I will send Him to you. And when He is come, He will convince the world of
sin, and of justice, and of judgment; of sin: because they believed not in Me.
And of justice: because I go to the Father: and you shall see Me no longer. And
of judgment: because the prince of this world is already judged. I have yet
many things to say to you: but you cannot bear them now. But when He the Spirit
of truth is come, He will teach you all truth; for He shall not speak of
Himself; but what things so ever He shall hear, He shall speak, and the things
that are to come He shall show you. He shall glorify Me: because He shall
receive of Me, and shall show it to you.
Why did Jesus say, “I go to My
Father”? To reprove
His disciples for giving way to excessive sorrow over His departure, which was
to be the means of purifying and strengthening their virtue, and of perfecting
the work of redemption, for them and for all the world. Learn from this, not to
give way to too much sorrow in adversity.
How has the Holy Ghost convinced
the world of sin, of justice, and of judgment? He has convinced the world,
1. Of sin, by making the Jews know
and lament the monstrous crime which they committed against Christ, and this He
effected particularly at Pentecost.
2. Of justice, by teaching the
innocence and holiness of Jesus, on account of which God gave Him a kingdom,
and required men to worship Him as the true God.
3. Of judgment, by everywhere
overcoming the prince of darkness, destroying his kingdom, casting down the
temples of idolatry, and in their place, by seemingly weak means, establishing
the kingdom of truth and virtue.
How does the Holy Ghost teach all
truths? By
preserving the pastors and teachers of the Church from all errors, in their
teaching of faith and morals, and by instructing each, member of the Church in
the truths of salvation.
"Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers
into his harvest". As a climax to a prayer that is continually offered
throughout the Church, it affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that
concerns vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life. While
appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on
vocations to the ordained ministries
(priesthood and diaconate), to the Religious
life in all its forms
(male and female, contemplative and apostolic), to societies of apostolic life, to secular
institutes in their
diversity of services and membership, and to the missionary life, in the
particular sense of mission "ad gentes".
2018 marks the 55th Anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations
These three aspects were also present at beginning
of Jesus’ own mission, when, after his time of prayer and struggle in the
desert, he visited his synagogue of Nazareth. There, he listened to the word,
discerned the content of the mission entrusted to him by the Father, and
proclaimed that he came to accomplish it “today”
Listening: The Lord’s call – let it be said
at the outset – is not as clear-cut as any of those things we can hear, see or
touch in our daily experience. God comes silently and discreetly, without
imposing on our freedom. Thus it can happen that his voice is drowned out by
the many worries and concerns that fill our minds and hearts.
Discerning: When Jesus, in the synagogue of
Nazareth, reads the passage of the prophet Isaiah, he discerns the content of
the mission for which he was sent, and presents it to those who awaited the
Messiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to
bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim
the year of the Lord’s favour.
Living: Lastly, Jesus announces the
newness of the present hour, which will enthuse many and harden the heart of
others. The fullness of time has come, and he is the Messiah proclaimed by
Isaiah and anointed to liberate prisoners, to restore sight to the blind and to
proclaim the merciful love of God to every creature. Indeed, Jesus says that
“today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing”.
Earth Day seeks to highlight and promote efforts dedicated to the protection of the environment. We face many environmental crises, including global warming, deforestation, endangered wildlife, shortages of potable water and widespread pollution, all which negatively affect our planet’s resources and can have adverse effects on our long-term lifestyle and health. In 1970, a US Senator named Gaylord Nelson was inspired to bring about mass public awareness of environment problems. He heavily promoted the day across the nation in an effort to gather the largest amount of public support possible and ultimately, in the hopes of elevating environmental protection onto the national political agenda. This day in 1970 marked the creation of United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts. Today, Earth Day is celebrated by billions of people around the world and is observed in over 190 countries. Worldwide, Earth Day celebrations utilize educational programs to inform people of ways that can help protect the environment and its natural resources. It is observed annually on April 22nd and is celebrated as International Earth Day.
Earth Day Facts & Quotes
·
During
the 2015 UN Conference in Paris, France, participating nations concurred on the
need for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The countries cooperatively
pledged to keep global temperature rise below 2C (3.6F). In celebration of
Earth Day 2016 on April 22nd, the landmark agreement that testifies to this
global commitment was signed at the UN Headquarters in New York by 175
participating nations
·
Energy
Star rated LED light bulbs use at least 75% less energy, and last 25 times
longer, than incandescent lighting. Switching entirely to LED lights over
the next two decades could save the U.S. $250 billion in energy costs, reduce
electricity consumption for lighting by nearly 50 percent and avoid 1,800
million metric tons of carbon emissions.
·
In
the past 50 years, humans have consumed more resources than in all previous
history. - U.S. EPA, 2009. Sustainable Materials Management: The Road Ahead.
·
We
do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. -
Native American Proverb
Earth Day Top Events and Things
to Do
·
Organize
a group of volunteers to help clean up and restore a green space. Some
suggestions include planting trees and adding waste receptacles.
·
Try
to go the whole day without creating any garbage, • Try not to use your car for
the entire day. Instead, use public transit, walk or ride your bicycle.
·
Change
your traditional incandescent light bulbs to energy saving LED or CFL light
bulbs.
·
Watch
a documentary or movie that touches on an ecological issue. Our favorites are:
An Inconvenient Truth (2006), the Burning Season (1993, 2008), Elemental (2012)
and The Day after Tomorrow (2004).
·
Read
one of many books that relate to environmental issues such as, The World
Without Us (Alan Weisman), Hell and High Water (Joseph Romm) and Natural
Capitalism (Hawken, Lovins and Lovins)
Daily Devotions
·
Manhood of
the Master-Day 7 week 12
·
Please
pray for me and this ministry
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