WE ALL NEED TO BE A SIGN - Comments by Fr Hayden -17th Feb 2010

 

 

 



"We all need to be a sign and the first place to look for it, is in the Holy Bible. As mentioned in the Bishops' Lenten pastoral 2010, that emphasized, that everything that we do should start from the Word of God. Activities that do not come from the Word of God, are useless efforts that burden the Church. The Word of God must be the fountain from which we 'drink'. We find in the Scriptures how God chose certain people to be a sign - Like Ezekiel and Hosea - to show that even though man turns away from Him, God remains faithful to him.
You are in need of a SIGN when you are at the most unaware moment, when you have lost direction, when you are so lost that words are not enough. God, in all His mercy, gives us signs that shock us, that shake us, that make us question. Sometimes these signs are surprisingly 'rough', as when Our Lady weeps in Her apparitions and images - signs that draw the attention of the distracted world, even the Church. Something is happening; something that Heaven wants to speak to the human being by a sign. Jesus once said “I tell you, if they keep quiet the stones will cry out!” (Luke 19:40). WEEPING STATUES ARE THE STONES THAT SPEAK OUT, SPEAKING WITHOUT WORDS. We are so distracted that sometimes we need such signs. Sometimes these signs can be also the persons - as during St Francis of Assisi, when the church and the world were passing through difficult times, God gave a sign through him by the stigmatas, through his personal change, his new way of living, his new way of reasoning. He was a 'thorn' to those around him and he was made fun of and passed as a mad man. God wanted him to be a sign - without words, even through his strange way of dressing...with his example of the free person whom only God is the security, only God is the only One who will dress him, who will give him the dignity of the whole person. He was mocked at as a fool...but he shocked them ! He made them conscious - Through his nakedness, he crushed their pride, their thirst for money, even in the church. St Francis was not sick, but he was a sign that shook, and shook from the depth.

God gives this vocation to certain people, to be a sign - a shocking sign as at the presentation in the Temple, Simeon says of baby Jesus ( even Jesus was a sign), to Joseph and Mary, - Luke2:34 "And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against"

God wants to give you the vocation to be a SIGN, a sign of humility - in your family, in the church, in the community. Do not be afraid to receive this grace from God, to be a sign to others; when you see a sign from God in others, that seems strange or without sense in your mind, or that confuses you - learn to silence yourself.
When facing the sign, do not try to reason it out - just stop, silence yourself and let the sign speaks to you. Let God tell you what He wants you to know from the sign. Silence your mind, the logic, your reasoning - let God tell you what He wants to say to you. Many times God uses simple things, which seem silly, even useless, to bring to nothing the wisdom of the Wise, the wisdom of the person who thinks he is wise.

-1- Let us not be afraid to accept God's call to be a sign

-2- When we see in others that they are a sign to us, with all humility we should welcome him/her, accept him/her and accept him/her as a gift to us from Heaven."
               

LEARNING TO PRAY

Learning to pray

...the Spirit...makes intercession for us... Romans 8:26

Prayer isn't natural to us. Our natural inclination is to depend on ourselves. Some of us haven't learned how to pray. Others don't pray enough to be comfortable with it. Still others don't understand enough of God's Word to pray biblically and get results. Whatever the case, we've no excuse not to pray. The Holy Spirit who lives within us can clarify, correct and change our prayer so that by the time it reaches God it's all sorted out. The Bible says, '...the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us...Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose' (Romans 8:26-28 NKJV). Who do 'all things work together for good' for? Just anybody and everybody who believes? No, those who 'love God.' And more importantly, those who have learned to allow the Holy Spirit within them to pray, because what He asks for will always be in line with God's will. Learning to pray is like learning a foreign language. The best way to learn it is to hang out in an environment where the language is spoken. So if you want to learn to pray you must a) take the time to do it b) spend time with those who know how to do it c) allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you.


UCB Word for Today - 23/Jan/10

How to overcome in troubled times - John 14:27

'...Let not your heart be troubled....' John 14:27
Jesus said, 'My peace I leave with you...Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid' (John 14:27 NKJV). Underline the words, 'Let not.' You can't control what goes on around you, but Jesus said you can control what goes on inside you. How? By doing two things:

1) Filling your mind with God's Word. Jesus said, 'These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world' (John 16:33 NKJV). Rearrange your priorities and take time to read God's Word each day. Process it, apply it to each circumstance, and stand on it in times of difficulty. You'll be amazed at the results!

2) Praying about the situation, then leaving it confidently in God's hands. Here's a prayer to help you do that: 'Lord, everything seems to be falling apart around me. Everybody wants a piece of me. There's far too much to do and never enough time to do it. My head is clogged with all kinds of junk and my heart is ready to break. Lord, where are You? I feel like the disciples in the storm, the waves are too big for me. My cry is the same as theirs, "Somebody go and get Jesus - I'm about to drown out here!" Prince of Peace I need you. Father, who never slumbers nor sleeps; take charge. Let me find in You a quiet place, a place where I can pillow my head on Your breast, hear Your loving heartbeat and feel secure knowing You'll work things out for me. This I pray, believing, in Jesus' name, amen.'

UCB WORD FOR TODAY 15Jan10

JESUS IS THE WAY

..."I am the way..." John 14:6

Judaism sees salvation as a judgement day decision based on morality. Hindus anticipate multiple reincarnations in the soul's journey through the cosmos. Buddhism guides your life according to the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eight-fold Path. Muslims earn their way to Allah through the Five Pillars of Faith. Many philosophers deem life after death as hidden and unknown, 'a great leap in the dark.' Some people clump Christ with Moses, Mohammad, Confucius, and other spiritual leaders. 'Jesus said..."I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."' John 14:6 (NKJV). Many object, 'All roads lead to heaven.' But how can they? Buddhists look toward Nirvana, achieved after no less than 547 reincarnations. Christians believe in one life, one death, and an eternity of enjoying God. Humanists don't acknowledge a creator of life. Jesus claims to be the source of life. Spiritualists read your palms. Christians consult the Bible. Hindus perceive a plural and impersonal God. Christ-followers believe '...there is only one God' (1 Corinthians 8:4 NLT). Every non-Christian religion says, 'You can save you.' Jesus says: 'My death on the cross saves you.' All roads don't lead to London, all ships don't sail to Australia, and all flights don't land in Rome. Every path does not lead to God. Jesus blazed a stand-alone trail void of self-salvation. He cleared a one-of-a-kind passageway uncluttered by human effort. He offers us a unique invitation in which He works and we trust, He dies and we live, He invites and we believe. '..."The work God wants you to do is this: Believe the One he sent"' (John 6:29 NCV).

UCB WORD FOR TODAY 26DEC09