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Opinions expressed in this Blog do not necessarily represent views of the Bishop for OFE, Abbot General for OFE, the OFE Board, the Abbey Board, the OFC Advisory Board, or any other members of OFE, OFES, COFE, Sanctification of Families Union of Saint Francis of Assisi, Theotokos Association of Catholic Priests, and OFE Charters.
19
Aug '19
“…doing the impossible.”
19
Aug '19
“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” (St. Francis of Assisi)
18
Aug '19
Save Me, O Lord!
18
Aug '19
Saint John Chrysostom uses the example of charcoal, in order to console sinful people. A lit charcoal will burn you. If, however, you throw this lit charcoal into the sea, which will prevail? The sea or the charcoal? The sea, of course. As soon as the charcoal hits the water, it is extinguished and disappears.
Sin is a charcoal that scorches and burns our insides. What excruciating pain! Don’t allow this condition to persist. Take hold of it during the life-saving moment of confession and throw it into the sea of God’s compassion. Your charcoal of sin will immediately be extinguished and disappear.
If you tell me that you have not only one charcoal but many sins that are burning you, I will respond that God’s mercy is not just a sea: it is an entire ocean. Actually, it is something infinitely larger. The sea and the oceans have a certain limit, boundary, and end. God’s compassion, however, is incalculable, limitless, and endless. (Elder Ephraim of Arizona)
10
Aug '19
Seek What Is Above
10
Aug '19
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)
07
Aug '19
“Power of Planting a Seed…”
07
Aug '19
“We can’t force someone to hear a message they are not ready to receive, but we must never underestimate the power of planting a seed.” (Good People News)
05
Aug '19
“More compassion and caring… “
05
Aug '19
“God places us in the world as his fellow workers-agents of transfiguration. We work with God so that injustice is transfigured into justice, so there will be more compassion and caring, that there will be more laughter and joy, that there will be more togetherness in God’s world.” (Archbishop Desmond Tutu)
25
Jul '19
“You are not the judge of creation…”
25
Jul '19
“Do not look for the faults of your friend. Do not repeat the short comings of your neighbors in you talk. You are not the judge of creation… Be the judge of your own sins, and chastise your own transgressions.” (Saint Ephrem the Syrian)
23
Jul '19
“God loves…”
23
Jul '19
“Satan loves to take what’s beautiful and ruin it. God loves to take what’s ruined and make it beautiful.” (Get Through The Week)
21
Jul '19
“All life demands struggle. “
21
Jul '19
“All life demands struggle. Those who have everything given to them become lazy, selfish, and insensitive to the real values of life. The very striving and hard work that we so constantly try to avoid is the major building block in the person we are today.” (Pope Paul VI)
14
Jul '19
“Seek God…”
14
Jul '19
“You can, you must try to seek God in every human life. Although the life of a person is land full of thorns and weeds, there is always a space in which the good seed can grow. You have to trust God.” (Pope Francis)
10
Jul '19
“I will not reject anyone…”
10
Jul '19
“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me.” (John 6:37)
07
Jul '19
“The Church must be…”
07
Jul '19
“The Church must be a place of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel.” (Pope Francis)
04
Jul '19
Unfulfilled Potentials
04
Jul '19
“Consult not your fears but your hopes and dreams. Think not your frustrations, but your unfulfilled potential.”
(Pope John XXIII)
02
Jul '19
“Justice of God incarnate”
02
Jul '19
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord!” (Luke 1:46) When I recently prayed anew over Mary’s beautiful Magnificat proclamation, I realised what a wonderful exception this is. A prophetic, powerful word, so necessary to be heard, is not silenced – even though spoken by a young woman! Mary proclaims a revolutionary Savior who casts down the mighty and feeds the hungry. Justice of God incarnate! Surely a message for today. But today the episcopal and canonical structures of our Church – not the evangelical and grace-filled structures – would not allow Mary to vote in official church gatherings, hold key leadership roles in Vatican offices, and participate in decision-making structures. Truly, our Catholic Church has no future if we continue to silence God’s words spoken and lived through women. As a male in today’s Catholic Church, I don’t want Mary and her companions silenced any longer….And I believe Jesus is with me.” (Cf. https://overcomingsilence.com/. Pete Henriot, S.J. Member Zambia-Malawi Jesuit Province)
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