John,
Chapter 9, Verse 22
His
parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had
already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Messiah, he would be
expelled from the synagogue.
In
like manner I just noticed that createspace which I use to publish this work
has just suppressed two of my books, with no explanation and will not allow
them for sale-hmmm-I wonder if I have been expelled from the synagogue.
Christ
had healed a man born blind to these parents on the Sabbath and in this verse
the Jews questioned them about it and they were frightened as to the outcome.
The
synagogue and the academy were the two institutions which preserved the essence
of the Judaism of the Diaspora and saved it from annihilation. As the place of
public worship, the synagogue became the pivot of each community, just as the
Sanctuary at Jerusalem had been the center for the entire people. The
synagogue, consequently, is the most important feature of the Jewish community,
which is inconceivable without it.[1]
This
was the equivalent to a social and spiritual death. To be expelled was alike to
being made a leper and having a life of living death.
It
was worse than being defriended on Facebook!
“When Jesus heard that they had
thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may
believe in him?” Jesus said to him,
“You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him. (John 9: 35-38).
Do you belong to any human
organizations that have blinded you to the truth? Are you afraid of being expelled by others if you truly believed?
Walk into the light of Christ and “Be not afraid”.
"Watching baseball on TV don't make you a baseball player
anymore than going to Mass makes you a catholic-" Dave's Mom
·
“Divine filiation is the foundation of
the spirit of Opus Dei,” said its founder, Saint JosemarÃa Escrivá. A Christian
is a child of God by virtue of baptism. Thus the formation provided by the
Prelature seeks to foster among the Christian faithful a deep awareness of
their being children of God, and helps them act accordingly. It fosters
confidence in divine providence, simplicity in their dialogue with God, a deep
awareness of the dignity of each human being and of the need for fraternity
among all people, a truly Christian love for the world and for all human
realities created by God, and a sense of calm and optimism.
·
Ordinary life. “It is in the midst of the most
material things of the earth that we must
sanctify ourselves, serving God and all mankind,” said Saint JosemarÃa. The
family, marriage, work – all of our activities – are opportunities for drawing
close to and imitating Jesus, trying to practice charity, patience, humility,
diligence, integrity, cheerfulness, and all the other human and Christian
virtues.
·
Sanctifying work means to work with the spirit of
Christ, to work competently and ethically, with the aim of loving God and
serving others, and thus to sanctify the world from within, making the Gospel
present in all activities whether they be outstanding or humble and hidden. In
the eyes of God what matters is the love that is put into work, not its human
success.
·
Prayer and sacrifice. The formation given by Opus Dei
encourages prayer and sacrifice in order to sustain the effort to sanctify
one’s ordinary occupations. Thus members strive to incorporate into their lives
certain practices of Christian piety, such as prayer, daily Mass, sacramental
confession, and reading and meditating on the Gospel. Devotion to our Lady
occupies an important place in their
hearts. Also, in striving to imitate Christ, they try to acquire a spirit of
penance by offering up small sacrifices, particularly those that help them
fulfill their duties faithfully and make life more pleasant for others, such as
renouncing small pleasures, fasting, almsgiving, etc.
·
Unity of life. Saint JosemarÃa explained that
Christians working in the world should not live “a kind of double life. On the
one hand, an interior life, a life of union with God; and on the other, a
separate and distinct professional, social and family life.” On the contrary:
“There is just one life, made of flesh and spirit. And it is this life which
has to become, in both soul and body, holy and filled with God.”
·
Freedom. The members of Opus Dei are
ordinary citizens who enjoy the same rights and are subject to the same
obligations as any other citizen. In their professional, family, political,
financial or cultural activities, they act with freedom and personal
responsibility, not involving the Church or Opus Dei in their decisions, nor
presenting those decisions as the only Catholic solutions. This implies
respecting the freedom and the opinions of others.
·
Charity. To meet Christ is to find a
treasure that one cannot stop sharing. Christians are witnesses to Jesus and
spread his message of hope among their companions, with their example and their
words. “Side by side with our colleagues, friends and relatives and sharing
their interests, we can help them come closer to Christ,” wrote Saint
JosemarÃa. The wish to make others know Christ, which is a direct consequence
of charity (that is, love of God above all things and of one’s neighbor as
oneself), cannot be separated from the desire to contribute to finding
solutions to the material needs and social problems of one’s surroundings.
The Way[3]
"Read
these counsels slowly. Pause to meditate on these thoughts. They are things
that I whisper in your ear-confiding them-as a friend, as a brother, as a
father. And they are being heard by God. I won't tell you anything new. I will
only stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so
you will better your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in
the end you will be a more worthy soul."
1. Don't
let your life be barren. Be useful. Make yourself felt. Shine forth with the
torch of your faith and your love.
With your apostolic life, wipe out the trail of filth and slime left by the corrupt sowers of hatred. And set aflame all the ways of the earth with the fire of Christ that you bear in your heart.
With your apostolic life, wipe out the trail of filth and slime left by the corrupt sowers of hatred. And set aflame all the ways of the earth with the fire of Christ that you bear in your heart.
Today serves to draw awareness to the need for action and cooperation in order to achieve a drug-free world. Illicit drugs and their trafficking pose a large health threat to humanity. Drug problems and dependencies put a great deal of pressure on health care systems and constitute a threat to the safety and well-being of humans all around the globe. Long-term drug abuse has been linked to poor general health, contraction of diseases through needle sharing, trouble with the law, poor self-hygiene and alienation from loved ones, psychological illnesses and death from overdose. In December 1987, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was designated by the United Nations. It is celebrated annually on June 26, a symbolic day that commemorates the dismantling of the opium trade in Guangdong. The day also serves as an opportunity for Member Nations to reaffirm their support for UN Conventions that attempt to control the world's drug supply.
Facts & Quotes
·
The
UN estimates that in 2007, the value of the illegal drug trade is 322 billion
dollars per year.
·
Approximately
51 billion dollars is spent on the war on drugs in the US every year.
·
40%
of all violent crimes occur under the influence of alcohol.
·
No
one is immune from addiction; it afflicts people of all ages, races, classes,
and professions. – Patrick J. Kennedy, American democratic politician and
former US representative for Rhode Island.
Top Events and Things to Do
·
Donate
to one of the many addiction and substance abuse
recovery charities.
http://www.cccsos.org/programs-services/substance-use-treatment/
·
Watch
a movie on the perils of the war on drugs on society, government and the
citizens involved. Some suggestions are: Dallas Buyers Club (2013), Sicario
(2015), Requiem for a Dream (2000), Christiane F (1981) and Blow (2001).
·
Attend
the World Drug Report 2016, which is organized by the United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime, by watching the webcast online.
·
Spread
awareness by using the hashtags #InternationalDayAgainstDrugAbuseandIllicitTrafficking,
#saynotodrugs and #warondrugs on social media.
·
Read
a book on the dangers of drug use and the problems with the war on drugs. Some
suggestions are: Smoke and Mirrors, Chasing the Scream, and Drug Wars.
Build a wall to stop the drug
cartels?
Daily Devotions
·
Please
pray for me and this ministry
·
Please
Pray for Senator
McCain and our country; asking Our Lady of Beauraing to
intercede.
Comments
Post a Comment