Be Free!

When Jesus set you free you are free indeed! John 8:36

Our world has a way of controlling our minds and ultimately controlling our habits. But Jesus came to show us who we really are. Jesus in our Gospel Portion today, St. Luke 4:14-2, makes His mission clear and with it, we can find the peace that we need living in this world.

We read,

And there was given Him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set liberty to those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

And He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke 4: 17-21

This is one of the Epiphanies of the ministry of Jesus. In the reading He did and the proclamation He made, we hear that He fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah. If we truly follow Jesus, we will experience inner freedom that He provides.

Will we allow Jesus to free us?

Jesus comes to us with the gift of His presence. In His presence we know what the world may say about us does not matter. We know that we are loved and we have a purpose.

Society changes but the dignity given to us from Jesus does not change!

In Jesus, we are free, indeed our innermost being can not enslaved!

Have a blessed week!

Pax. The Hermit of Peace.

https://gofund.me/033e2079

They Have No Wine!

Bring Your Concerns to the Lord!

Today we enter the mystery of the Wedding at Cana by reading our Gospel Portion, St. John 2:1-11. Let us concentrate on the following,

When the wine failed, the Mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”

And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

His Mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” John 1:3-5

The Miracle at the Wedding of Cana was the first sign in Jesus ministry that pointed to His Divine Purpose. It was initiated at the intercession of His Mother. Mary would not take no for an answer. And Jesus did exactly what she wanted. Because of the action of Jesus, the wedding was saved! Water was changed into the best wine. The Discipline realized that Jesus had power over the elements and they started to see Jesus with a new understanding.

This is an Epiphany!

Now for us, what can we learn from this event?

Mary gives us the example, tell Jesus what you need. He can change our situation and possibly make it exceedingly better for us.

Talk to Jesus, ask Him and trust in Him.

Sunday Blessings!

Pax. The Hermit of Peace.

https://gofund.me/033e2079

Let Us Take Christmas with Us!

May the spiritual gifts of Christmas sustain us now and forever! Amen!

We come to the end of Christmastide for most of the Western world (some cultures conclude Christmas with the Presentation of the Lord, Candlemas Day, 2 February). The key is that we need Christmas! Our Advent-Christmas-Epiphany Journey ends with the Words of Father God, with the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit at the Baptism of the Lord. Holding onto these events and their meanings will bring peace.

Our Gospel Portion is St. Luke 3: 15-22. And our segment is,

And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from Heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.” Luke 3: 22

Jesus has completed His early life and must lead us to salvation. Jesus did not need to be baptized for Himself, He did it for us. His words and example are for us! With them our lives are being transformed!

Live the transformation! We need Christmas because evil does not stop, therefore Christmas must continue in our lives! We must know that we are loved even when we experience the opposite in our lives, from external experiences and with internal “stinking thinking”!

God knows what we need and God gave us Christmas! Use it and stay in peace!

May the Spiritual Gifts of Christmas stay with us throughout the year and throughout our lives!

Pax. The Hermit of Peace.

https://gofund.me/033e2079

Wise People Still Seek Jesus!

Happy Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord!

Today we enter the Season of Epiphany which ends with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, next Sunday. We have followed the Lord from Advent, through Christmas and now celebrating the Epiphany Season. Actually tradition has this day as the Sixth of January and today is the Twelve Day of Christmas.

It is wonderful to celebrate Jesus! It is awesome to delve into the mysteries surrounding His Birth! Our lives will be changed entering into the Life of the Lord!

Catch Jesus and be transformed!

Our Gospel Portion for today’s meditation is, St. Matthew 3:1-12. Our selection is,

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2: 10-11

Please allow the Scripture to speak to our lives!

Wise people still seek Jesus!

There is darkness in our world, but it cannot destroy us it we keep looking for the Light of The World, Jesus! The Magi were fulfilled! They gave their best to Jesus, and they left transformed!

Are we giving our very best to Jesus?

When darkness seems to be great among us, seek the Light and be fulfilled!

Epiphany Blessings!

Pax. The Hermit of Peace.

https://gofund.me/033e2079

Holy Family, Teach Us How to Live!Let The Holy Family Guide Us!

Happy Fifth Day of Christmas!

On this Sunday we remember the Holy Family. From this family we have World Salvation! As Jesus is the model of Divine Living in the world, His Family models for all humankind the family. And we know that the family is the the source of human society. Our Gospel Portion today is, St. Luke 2: 22-40. We read from this text,

And a there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe tribe of Asher; she was of great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the Temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.

And the Child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon Him. Luke 2: 36-40.

Mary and Joseph had an awesome responsibility, and they handled it well! Each step, Father God gave them the encouragement to do their job of raising their Son. But as we see, they had to do their part. In the scene above, we see Mary and Joseph at the Temple performing the rite of Presentation of Jesus. And they met a holy widow. That must have been a tremendous blessing! They would go to their home, and they would both faithfully raise Jesus and He would be taught everything he needed to know to be an adult and at thirty years of age would begin His Ministry- World Salvation.

God, in Jesus, did not need fancy things, He needed Love and hard-working parents. Can we apply this to our families? Following the Holy Family of Nazareth, we may participate in the transformation of society!

Merry Christmas!

Pax. The Hermit of Peace.

https://gofund.me/033e2079

Bring the Gift of Jesus to Each Other!

Healing is Available Though Us!

Happy Fourth Sunday of Advent!

Today our Gospel Portion (St. Luke 1: 39-45) is a wonderful reminder that we have to bring Jesus wherever we go! It will change our world and will change us too!

We read,

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zachariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1: 39-41

We have two of the most important people in Christian history interacting and this interaction speaks volumes about how we are to love each other. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, comes to assist Elizabeth, the Mother of John the Baptist. Mary is pregnant with Jesus and upon her encounter with her cousin, Her cousin and her nephew are filled with the Holy Spirit and are transformed.

We give many gifts during these festive days, but the most important gift is the reason for the season, Jesus!

May we not lose sight of what people need during Christmas. We need the love that is Divine!

May our encounters be filled with Divine Grace! May we be transformed in love!

Pax. The Hermit of Peace.

https://gofund.me/033e2079

Rejoice, Christmas Is Near!

Repair Our Lives!

We are close to Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus! And we have a Gospel Portion that challenges us to be ready to receive Him anew this Christmas.

Celebrating Jesus requires us to look at ourselves and see how our lives will welcome Him. Our Gospel Portion, St. Luke 3: 10-18, gives us St. John the Baptist’s Preparation Plan For Receiving Jesus. We read,

And the multitude asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”

Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than is appointed you.” Luke 3: 10-13

Sharing with those who do not have and being honest are keyways of being open and ready to receive Jesus anew. These are very concrete steps we must take to receive the Lord Jesus. We can open our hearts if we are charitable and honest in the way that we live our lives.

It is beautiful that it is an uncomplicated way to be open to receive Jesus!

This approach is an all-inclusive approach! It is a daily approach to receive Jesus, because Jesus is always available to be born again in our lives.

We need Advent every year so that we will do what we need to do every day of our lives!

Have a fantastic 3^rd Sunday of Advent!

Pax. The Hermit of Peace.

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Prepare A Pathway for Jesus!

Be Open and Receive Him!

As we come closer to the great Feast of the Lord’s birth, we are reminded that we must look at St. John the Baptist. Our Gospel Portion for today is St. Luke 3: 1-6. We read,

…the word of God came to John the son of Zachariah in the wilderness and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his path…” Luke 3: 2-4

Christmas time is perhaps the most special time of the year and the season makes so many demands on us that we may forget that we need Christmas for our spiritual health.

We must make a pathway to receive Jesus anew in this very special Holiday Season! This is a decision we need to make for our spiritual wellness!

The pathway to receive Jesus will not make itself! Find time to read Holy Scripture and pray and in doing so, all the busyness of the Season will make more sense.

Focus on the Reason for the Season, Jesus, and peace will take over our preparations for the Season.

Happy Second Sunday of Advent.

Pax. The Hermit of Peace

https://gofund.me/033e2079

Have Hope!

Hope In the Lord!

We begin again the mystery of faith! Advent begins our yearly journey in the Word of God! Today we begin with the Gospel Portion, St. Luke 21: 25-36, and it is fearful scene, yet we must be hopeful through it all! We read,

“But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 2: 36

Our world can become dangerous and terrifying, but Jesus gave us the answer to our life situations in good times and bad times. That answer is to be connected to Him! We do this by prayer! Regardless of what we have to go through, and I am sure each of us have experienced terrifying times, peace is maintained in union with Jesus!

Jesus is the answer to handle everything life throws at us!

Happy First Sunday of Advent! May this Season fill us with Grace

Pax. The Hermit of Peace.

https://gofund.me/033e2079

Jesus is King!

Let Him Reign!

We are coming to the end of another cycle of liturgical readings. Today we look at Jesus who we can choose to be our King. It always our choice, but it is the choice that leads us to peace. Our final Gospel Portion for Ordinary Time 2024 is St. John 18: 33-37. We read,

Pilate said to Him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.” John 18: 37

We have followed Jesus many Sundays of 2024 and He has given the truth to us. We have followed Him from His Incarnation, birth, early life, mission, Passion, Death, Resurrection and Post- Resurrection appearances. We have experienced the Truth! We need to do this each year!

Let the Truth Set Us Free!

Reviewing the Holy Word, Sacred Scriptures, bathes us in the Truth. This Truth will free us from the lies of this world.

Jesus gave us Himself so that we can be truly our real selves. He will keep us free!

Happy Christ the King Sunday!

Pax. The Hermit of Peace.

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