'Remain in me, and I in you.'

 

John 8:58, Jesus replied: ’I tell you most solemnly, before Abraham ever was, I Am’. As well as, I am the bread of life, I am the light of the world, I am the door, I am the good shepherd, I am the resurrection and the life, I am the way, the truth, and the life, I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

We should not live-in fear but rather live with faith, our faith will always see us through. I love the end of the movie Paul, Apostle of Christ and Paul speaks what he has written to Timothy and one of the things he says, “I have kept the faith.”

Women of Faith and Hope, there will be times when people will be afraid or will not quite believe that we too are disciples of Jesus Christ. Maybe it is the way we look, or maybe it is our past or the mistakes we have made but we must remember the words that are spoken to us and take them to heart to fight the good fight with faith and good conscience for our weapons. 1 Timothy 1:18-20 May the good Lord be with your spirit and the Grace be with you always, for we are his children, children of truth, our love is more than words rather something real and active.

I think it is clear what is expected of us in this weeks Gospel and that is to believe and love one another, if we keep his commandments and remain in him, his words will remain in us. Make your home in him, Women of Faith and Hope and he will make his home in you.

We might like to think we can do this all on our own, we cut ourselves off and we become a bare branch with nothing to show. Do not cut yourself off, or throw yourself away, but remain in me, that is what he is asking of us all to do, ‘Remain in me.’ Life is hard, and sometimes it is unbearable, we believe that nothing we ever do is good enough, we try so hard to fit in, to do what is right, to belong, to be someone we are not and if we are not like the rest, we are rejected and excluded from groups, from the community, when you return they huddle and whisper and it’s hard to avoid the stares as if you are the enemy.

If they do not see or hear the Christ who lives in you, know their hearts are still far from him, yes, their lips may honor him, but their hearts are nowhere as close as our hearts are. Remember, who you are, who you belong to and to keep your hearts, minds and spirits opened to the word of God, your faith and in no time, you will see much fruit.

‘We are to remain in Christ and Christ will remain in us.’

May God Bless Always, Women of Faith and Hope

                    Written and created by My Mother Rose.

' I am the Shepherd.'

 

“Gentle Shepherd

There’s no other we turn to who can help us face another day, Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us, for we need you to help us find our way”

Author Unknown

 

Why is it when we come close to the ultimate love in our lives, we get ready to run?

What are we afraid of?

I mean this is something we have always needed, and longed for, to be found and brought back home to live life with joy and peace in our hearts. Why do we look for it, if we are only going to stray, or wander off again?

Recently, I was reminded of the parable of the Lost Sheep Luke 15:4-7, Matthew 18:12. I have heard people say before, “your priest is your shepherd,” I do not believe this to be true, I would say though a priest is more like the hired man or the incompetent shepherd, not many would bother about the lost, look for the strays, have the time to heal the wounded, or support the weary Zechariah 11:15-17 because it wouldn’t matter how far I ran, or the distance I can sometimes create, no one would chase after me or leave the other sheep behind to come and look for me but only my true shepherd would, the good shepherd who would lay down his life for me and for you. In saying this, I think of the love God has for each one of us and that we are all his children and that is what we are, his sheep, he knows us, and we know him.

There are times in our lives when we go astray like sheep, taking on our own ways and like Jesus, he uses his own free will to lay down his life and no one can take that from him. He has the power to lay it down and power to take it up again. You see, Women of Faith and Hope, we are his sheep, we will never be lost, and no one will ever steel us for we have the power to belong, to hear his voice and to follow our Good Shepherd who gives eternal life.

A lamb at the throne became our shepherd, leading us to living water and all our tears will be wiped away. Jesus said to Peter once “feed my lambs.” We are his people, the sheep of his flock. Psalm 99:3

Ezekiel 34:15-16

I will pasture my sheep; I will show them where to rest- it is the LORD who speaks. I shall look for the lost one, bring back the stray, bandage the wounded and make the weak strong. I shall watch over the fat and healthy. I shall be a true shepherd to them.

 Luke 15:4-7, What man among you with a hundred sheep, losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the missing one till he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbors? “Rejoice with me,” he would say “I have found my sheep that was lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner that over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance.

Matthew 18:12-14, Tell me Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays; will he not leave the ninety-nine that did not stray at all. Similarly, it is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

 Zechariah 11:15-17, Next, the LORD said to me, ‘Now take the gear of an incompetent shepherd. For I am now going to raise an incompetent shepherd in this country. He will not bother about the lost; he will not look for stray; he will not heal the wounded; he will not support the weary; but he will only eat the flesh of the fat beasts and tear off their hoofs. Trouble is coming to the worthless shepherd who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm wither entirely, may his eye be totally blinded?

Revelations,7:17, Because the Lamb who is at the throne will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Jesus said to Peter, ‘Feed my Lambs.’ John 21:15

May God Bless Always, Women of Faith and Hope.

Written and created by My Mother Rose

 

'Understand!'

 

Proverbs 2:2-11

My children, take my words to heart, if you set store by my commandments, turning your ear to wisdom, and applying your heart to truth: yes, if your pleas is for clear perception, if you cry out for discernment, if you look for it as if it were silver, and search for it as for buried treasure, you will then understand what the fear of the LORD is, and discover the knowledge of God. For the LORD himself is giver of wisdom, from his mouth issue knowledge and discernment. He keeps his help for honest men and women, he is the shield of those whose ways are honorable; he stands guard over the paths of justice, he keeps watch on the way of his devoted ones. Then you will understand what virtue is, justice and fair dealing, all paths that lead to happiness. When wisdom comes into your heart and knowledge is a delight to you, then prudence will be there to watch over you, and discernment be your guardian.

Ghosts say ‘Boo!’ Jesus says, ‘Peace be with you!’

Why are we afraid of the things we do not understand or believe could be true?

This is where our Faith is called into action, it does not matter how little or big our faith is, we are called Women of Faith and Hope to be witnesses for Christ. I get it, it is hard to understand our place or position, leave it to the leaders, priests, pastors, or minsters of the Church. But here is the thing, we are all called to be a witness for Christ, to be Women of Faith and Hope who go out and preach and teach, we are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.

Who though can honestly say, “I know him?”

I cannot honestly say I know Jesus; I am on a journey to find out and everyday I learn something new, whether that be through scripture, word of mouth, strangers or my children who say the most bizarre things, yet somehow it makes sense to me. We are not always going to understand fully our roles or God’s plan for our lives, each day though we need to keep an opened mind to the possibilities and opportunities that await us. I like to think we are Women of Faith and Hope who are learning and coming into our own understanding of God, as we go on our spiritual journey, growing, flourishing as beautiful flowers who might feel at times a little faded but knowing what remains in our hearts are words and wisdom that enrich our lives. I want to finish with this thought, people surprise us, teach us and are examples of God’s love, kindness, patience, and compassion. Maybe we are looking or chasing after a ghost, but we need to realize Jesus is not a ghost he is a being, he is flesh dwelt among us. We are told to recognize another Brother or Sister in Christ, but I say we understand Christ is in everyone and everything, Christian or non-Christian, Catholic or non-Catholic. Jesus is everywhere, we need to see with faith and listen with faith in our hearts to understand.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” Author, Helen Keller.

May God Bless Always,

Women of Faith and Hope

Written and created by My Mother Rose. 

 

 

 

Begotten!

 

Hebrews 10:23

‘Let us keep firm in the hope we profess, because the one who made the promise is faithful’.

The wind was strong not fierce but beautiful and glorious. Kind of like the disciples on the boat and Jesus saying, “Where is your faith?” God loved the world so much, that he gave us his only son and there he hangs on the cross, yet resurrected, living among us.

I get that we must forgive, because any forgiveness we hold onto will be retained but the easy part is over now, and it is time to reconcile. Always though that part is skipped over, pushed to the side and it continues. Only if I allow it to continue.

While camping for those few days, I started reading the book, The Saint Monica Club, how to wait, Hope, and pray for Your Fallen-Away Loved Ones by Maggie Green. It made me realize how easy it is to fall away from Christ. "Our hearts are restless until they rest in you" St Augustine. Proposing to talk to someone so we can reconcile, resolve any issues, is not an easy task or a successful one.

So, while I was reading the book, it dawned on me that reconciliation is available through the body and blood of Christ and that I need to take all the pain, hurt, anger and frustrations to the altar and offer it to God. ‘In Jesus, I trust’.

This weekend I feel as though we need to make a clear and strong-willed profession of faith, our profession needs to make a difference, a difference in our own lives, the lives of others and God. If we believe Jesus is the Christ, then we will be begotten, we will be brought into new life, creation, sent out to make a change in the world.

 ‘As the Father sent me,

so am I sending you’

John 20:19-31.