Another day to celebrate?

Thanksgiving Triduum ‘2013

 

            So here is my idea for this time of year for what it is worth. I don’t suppose anybody on the planet shares this view with me; still I imagine, though it isn’t worth the powder at this time: we should have an international religious holiday on November 3^rd every year, a Thanksgiving Day. American Thanksgiving is too late in the year, too close to Christmas, Canadian Thanksgivings is too early in the year and they are only arbitrary dates anyway. It would help create good neighbourly relations between the two countries, good for families to have the same date to visit each other, and good for business to not duplicate things commercially. November 3^rd is pretty much right in between the two thanksgiving days. Other countries might start to celebrate the date. Great Britain might change its Harvest Home holiday, whenever that is, in favour of International Thanksgiving Day. The present Thanksgivings Day wherever has lost its religious meaning. It’s just turkey day in most people’s lives now. If it followed Hallowe’en, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day, it could be another triduum, like Easter, a celebration, as is Christmastime, more than just the one day. We could be thankful for the trick or treat shell out candy, thankful if you don't live in a house of horrors like we see displayed in every neighbourhood in North America. Give thanks for belonging to a culture of life, not a culture of death, which is very vividly portrayed today, thanks for the kingdom of light, after so many children dress up as those from the kingdom of darkness. It could dispel the depression that worsens as the seasons change and days become shorter. We should be so full of thanksgiving, for the Saints, for the Souls of the dearly and faithfully departed, for the harvest of souls, for the provisions of our land, and for the Light and Life of Christ that we share another festive occasion and our bounty with the rest of Earth of every nation. God has blessed this continent so we must so help others. This Triduum is just an idea.

The Proposal and a Song for St. Jude

From Sunday, October 20^th, ‘2013

            This weekend I’ve gone to 2 Masses, one other church service, seen the show Triumph, spent time in the Parish Centre, in a men’s group, in the Hall, and Perpetual Adoration Chapel. You can see my main interest in life is religious, if you haven’t read my blog before and couldn’t tell from that.

            First let me tell you about Triumph. It’s a story about Medjugorge of former Yugoslavia. It is predominately about peace and the apparition of Our Lady of Peace. It talks about how the Islamic, the Orthodox and the RC have the same God and can have peace.

            Second let me say that one of the most gallant, noble and daunting deeds done in the world today is the proposal of marriage. Against all odds a gentleman goes down on one knee to propose wedlock to a lady, which is to stand the test of time. That is what God proposes to us today. The new covenant is like a life-long contract in which we are the bride of Christ set aside for the marriage of the Lamb.

            When you are Baptised, have your first Communion, your first Confession and are Confirmed in Catholicism you are accepting the proposal of the Lord God. Why go to Confession to a priest? Peter was told he could bind of loose on earth or heaven. Matt 16:19 During the great commission to forgive sins was given with the breath of the Holy Spirit. John 20:21-23 It is a deed of humility to see a priest, who represents Christ and the Church and has more education and experience than a counselor or therapist. ``… giving such authority to people.`` Matt 9:8 ``… confess your sins to one another … pray … you will be healed … a good person has a powerful effect.`` James 5:16 above scripture from TEV

            In the homily this weekend for World Mission Sunday, Pope Frances was quoted as saying we are not to impose our religion on others but propose it. I found peace in our parish and Christ`s message is to propose to everybody peace. The mission of the church is to share this proposal to all the World.

            The other sermon I heard was centred on ``Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.`` Romans 3:2 from NIV Christians of all faiths have been intrusted with the Word of God and should share the same message, mission and way of peace. We all need to accept God`s proposal to us to forgive us, forgive others and love each other, no terms, forever, which is my third and final point. Peace of Christ and God bless.

From today a Song for St. Jude

            My life was out of sync. I didn`t play the called for tune. I prayed to God and asked St. Jude to get me on track. I made further petition and got in the groove. Now I just plea – St. Jude don`t let me cross over to the past track record. I don`t want to skip any of the spiral into a perfect code which the Triune God has for me. I don`t want to scratch the wonderful vinyl pressed upon my new formed life sacramentally. Whether my life becomes a cut burned in MP3, copied on CD or even just vaulted tape, may I make music of thanks to my Redeemer, all praise and glory be. And thank you St. Jude, be my well-worn, old and mouldy gold.

 

            I see the need of those all around me as my own needs: predominantly spiritual and physical; but economic and emotional too. And education needs are to be met too. I hope this replete like liner notes, my Opus, a life for the Master, in progress.

notes from my Journal

bits collected from: St. Norbert Day ’13, June 6^th, Holiday Inn, Montreal;

a litany of our very human Hope

Jesus my Heart

Body of promise

Blood Whom art my rescue

Soul my sanity

Divinity of peace

Abba our transport

Father of inspiration

Dad of wonder

Origin of grace

Spirit so grand

Holy One comfort

Ghost giver of wisdom

Triune by our side

Magnificent healer

Demons out caster

Most generous friend

Constant companion

Dearest delight

Fairest judge

Here ‘till the end

cont. on Sacred Heart Day ’13, June 7^th on the pilgrimage

Banquet secured

Rock solid

Mystery known

and 1^st Martyrs of Rome Day ’13, June 30^th, University Residence, Corner Brook

Reassurance of victory

Sanctity of sleep

Companion of travellers

Wealth of the poor

Benefactor of needy

Dominion of security

Gracious friend

Benevolent authority

Reliable friend

Eternal grace

’13, Sept. 5^th, back at home

Have mercy on us and bless us Amen,  

Bless us, be with us, stay with us Holy Lord, Holy Daddy, Holy Spirit, in fill us and illumine us this day we ask in the Holy Name of Jesus Amen.

Labour Day in honour of St. Joseph, provide ’13, Sept. 2^nd

Master Spirit, Master Lord, Master Daddy, Triune God help me this day to not be too bogged down with its challenges to dwell on failures or be too elated with the success of the day to always return thanks to You for needed resources. It’s not a contest, test or trial but a gift from You, a present to be unwrapped and enjoyed. To be a part of Your life, death and resurrection, to be celebrated, in its living: with Holy Communion; it’s with happiness and thanksgiving Amen. Forgive us Triune God for when we’ve let You down, been found wanting, not lived up to our name, or returned you love. May we seek Your forgiveness each time we’ve lost, failed, or been ruled against today. But too, may we seek Your success, others gain and Confess when we seek our own profit. May we be free from Mortal sin and forgiving others, be forgiven, by partaking of the Blessed Sacrament, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost Amen. May we be proud of the name Catholic and live up to the name, to our Baptism, empowered by the gift of the Spirit received then and at Confirmation Amen. May I love my wife today, honour the priesthood and receive Last Rites should the need arise Amen.

paragraph on unification and a verse

Open up the gates to me

That eternity I see

Mary said you know I did

To my Son you I bid

 

Open the portholes for me wide

That I might cling to the Wounded Side

Jesus said you know you may

I am you take Amen you say

 

Open a door that I may be blessed

Be a one whom enters the rest

The creator said come into mine

The family of God is now thine

 

Open the entrance to everlasting peace

To all that praise may never cease

You know the Spirit says come

Feast with the Bridegroom forever home

 

Open a turnpike Way to Heaven

So all may take “the slow train comin’”

Hear the Triune God say

Join up take part enter in the Way

 

Unification

            What would it take for Orthodox and Roman Catholics to be one Church of God again? Isn’t it a shame that Catholics and Protestants, including myself, make repeated references to our differences and fail to think only about what we have in common as pilgrims of the Master; Whom we both call Lord? We are quick to think about those we think in another camp as unable to answer many questions beginning with: why do you…? when we haven’t any answers ourselves to their questions. We feel we need not try and help someone to see our side and we are not really on opposite sides in the first place. We both believe in heaven but do we think there is one heaven we will see each other in one day? I believe in angels who see the Father eyes and long to see us see eye to eye. The Saints in Glory and those with the gift of prophesy here below found the Triune One; we all call in brotherly or sisterly love upon Him. Any lack there of, before a final judgement, which we all in Christendom hold to coming, separates us from our God and from one and other.

 

See: Luke 12:48-52, John 7:39-44, I Cor. 1:9-11;3:1-3;11:17-19, Titus 3:9-11, Jude 1:18-20 for warnings on “division” & Deut. 33:46, Joshua 11:1-3, Judges 20:10-12, II Sam. 5:5-7, I Mac. 2:41-44, Col. 2:1-3, Heb. 4:1-3 and Acts 1:14;2:1 for “united” references. United with Mary for prayer was the early church before Pentecost. Find places in the Bible where the advantage is to be “joined”: II Kings 23:2-4, Ezra 6:21, Neh. 11:35-:36, Judith 14:9-11, Esther 9:27, I Mac. 3:1-11;11:72-74, II Mac. 8:22-24;13:11-13, Ecclesiastes 9:3-5, Acts 17:4,34, Eph. 2:20-22;4:15-17. And let’s not forget “Whoever is not against us is for us.” Mark 9:40. In the Roman Catholic Catechism: 789-11, 2305-111 and 542-111 there is further reference.

After yesterday's Morning Prayer

May 4th,’13
Constant
“Unceasing care” in my Prayer
Of this morning I ask of Thee
Your love is unchanged
Unlike shifting shadows:
Yesterday, today and for eternity.
Not a passing compulsion
Like infatuation
But this endures.
No? Day to day
Jesus pays attention
To more of my needs
As less the devil allures.
When I’m tired, when I’m weary
You lift me up.
When I’m fed up
And my vision bleary
And I’m hungry
You say come; let’s sup.
So I celebrate you
The Bread of Life fills me with joy
Like the Manna from Heaven
Sustained the Chosen Few,
As the Bread of the Presence
Only eaten by their Priests
Was sacred and holy
You are my stay,
My stable feast.

Easter Monday

March ’13, 31st, Easter Morning
Momentum

    My life has momentum. Dad made the necessary changes to the auditory practice of the CMHC in terms of decentralizing and centralizing to give the government and banking the momentum to move from prewar to postwar reality. So he is in Who’s Who. That would have been WWII involvement followed by the first concepts of infrastructure. Slums to ghettos the critics said. He fought Nazi and Canadian corruption in his lifetime. He had enemies in all levels of strata. His life had momentum. After he retired he championed affordable housing for seniors, halfway houses for people with mental illness and housing for people in the evangelical church he attended all his life.
    My Mom’s life had momentum too. She was raised on a Quebec farm in a period she refused to call the good old days: before infrastructure, running water and electricity; horse a buggy days. She got a job in the big city of Montreal. She discovered she needed to make her “body and living sacrifice” to God. She started practicing her faith. He local church had an “in as much club” and she believed in their sacrificial giving. 20% of the family income was charitable donations. She helped organize the Ottawa Christian Business Women’s Society. She fought Depression. She never stopped praying for a son who had lost the faith. Such family momentum is contagious.
We are part of the family of God. The momentum of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is contagious. Our struggle, years of decline or demise eventuate in eternal happiness in Heaven. If you’re not going anywhere this year go to church. If you renew a Confirmation in Christ every morning your day will have momentum.
My life has had a born again momentum ever since I underwent the RCIA program in our parish. The SASE courses in our diocese refresh the Christian. Our church has momentum. I’ve taken Emmaus and New Life and look forward to John. Christ appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus after He died. They were going away from Jerusalem but his Word and breaking Bread gave momentum to them to return. This is one of the many reports of the Resurrection in the Bible. It is a love of Sacred Scripture which is a theme of the Emmaus course.
Another time the resurrected Jesus appeared to disciples is after they returned to their former occupation as fishermen. The risen Lord had fish cooking even before they had brought in their miraculous catch. God doesn’t need our sacrifices but he wants our heart, praise and thanks. No wonder our lives have momentum. We have new life with the Divine Mercy in the Spirit.
Today the culture of death: New Age, Gothic, abortion, euthanasia and same sex all lead to a stagnate society. In Ontario we face an election in which for me the choice is obvious to vote for my fellow BCMF guy, Neil Ford and the Family Coalition Party. If we are going to have the momentum to return to a culture of life we are not going to be able to partner with a liberal agenda but an evangelical conservatism.

A Couple of Days Late and a Dollar Short

World Water Day
Where, oh where;
Is my God:
Do I know?
He’s seated;
At the right hand,
Of Abba in Heave!
Lordie: the shade,
On my right hand.
“Living on the inside;
Roaring like a Lion!”
Holy Spirit fills me,
Drunk with new Wine.
The Bread, the Bread,
He is in the Sacred Bread.
He is the Bread of Life.
He is the Living water.
A well;
Never dry.
I have running water:
Thank the Lord;
Give $5,
To Development and Peace.
How many peoples;
Have we let:
Die of drought,
Or bad water?
Like we’re bad blood?
Mercy!
God is there!
Precious Blood,
And water flows
From His precious wound.
Divine mercy;
Forgiveness in Him,
Can be found.
God is
Everywhere.
In His Church,
The broken Body.
We need
To forgive.
We see Him
In the needy.
A cup of water,
Did we give?
In as much,
As we did it,
To the least of these;
We did it:
Unto Him!
Abba, Creator:
Seen in the wonderment
Of the Universe;
Made His space,
In my heart.