Interfaith Religious News Service

We Are Called to Sanctification

A Reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent

Based on 1 Thess. 4. 1-17, 2 Timothy 1:8-10, Matthew 17:1 – 9

By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA

Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus

www.missionstsergius.org

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry

God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto sanctification: in Christ Jesus our Lord. (I Thess. 4. 1-17 )

We are called to a life of sanctification according to the reading today from Paul’s letter to the people of Thessalonica after his departure in 51 or 52 A.D.

If we are called to a life of sanctification then we need to diligently work toward that goal.

A life of sanctification means to live in God, meaning to live as Jesus instructed us, in other words to abhor degradation, hatred, violence, prejudice and war.

The only war we should be carrying out is the war against Satan and the minions of Satan.

Looking around the world today we see the fruits of Satan’s temptations all around us. We even see it in the actions of some who claim to represent Jesus Christ.

We see it in those who minds are closed to exploring the truth and those who accept everything that is fed to them by individuals who are paid to disseminate, sometimes inaccurate, information in order to sell a product, a candidate or a special interest point of view.

Jesus said; “Seek and you will find” To seek means to explore, to open ourselves up and reflect on the historical truths, to investigate all claims that people make including claims made by those who say they are teachers of God’s word.

Holy Scripture MUST be taken in light of the times and customs in which it was written. Those who wrote the Scriptures, although under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, did so within the understanding and customs of their times. This must be taken into account when interpreting and using Scripture, especially when dealing with many contemporary issues.

We need to ask ourselves, for example, if Jesus were on earth today what role would He give to women in the church today. It is very clear to me, considering how much respect He had for the woman who faithfully followed him and their prominence in His ministry, that women would have had a much more prominent role in ministry today. The fact is that in the early early church, they did, we have reference to Phoebe and other women and the qualities a woman deacon should possess written in Paul’s Epistles. We know that women had a place in ministering the Eucharist and in leading liturgies, so why are they relegated in this modern world to lesser roles?

You and I have been called by God, to live a life that reflects the teachings of Jesus. The prime teaching of Christ could not be any clearer. LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. When you love someone, you do not, under any circumstances, want to be the cause of pain and suffering. When you love someone, you try to shield them from harm. You gently advise them of their mistakes and guide them. If necessary you try to obtain healing for them. That is Love. Last Thursday we celebrated St. Valentine’s Day, a day set aside to honor those we love. But like most things, that day has become more of a commercial venture and less about love.

If today, we had more love for all God’s creatures and children the world would not be in the mess it is in.

You and I are being called to actively live a life of sanctity, a life that reflects to all we encounter God’s infinite love. We are being called to do all within our power to bring about a change in the attitudes that are causing so much pain and suffering in this world. Every tiny thing we do that makes progress toward this call from God to a life of sanctity will bring us a deeper love for God and God will love us more and live within us thereby giving us the strength we need to continue His work here on earth.

Paul begins his second letter to Timothy with these words, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher”. (2 Timothy 1:8-10)

We must always keep in mind the revelation that is found in all the accounts of the transfiguration from God “This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favor. Listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5)

I will end this reflection with the admission that to live a life of sanctity is not easy and to be afraid that we will not measure up to it is natural. Mother Teresa of Calcutta even had her doubts or “dark moments” as she called them but if we have faith and trust in God we can endure. Keep in mind what Christ told his apostles after God spoke on that mountain top; “Stand up,’ he said ‘do not be afraid.”. Matthew 17:7

Our message today is the knowledge that God is there for us and hears our cry and will give us the strength to endure if we but seek Him and His truth. Let us continue to prepare ourselves for the resurrection of our last days by living a life of Faith, Trust, and Godly Love for all God’s children here on earth. AMEN

Celebrating the Feast of our Missions Patron Saints

 By Rev. Robert Johnnene, OFA, Pastor,

Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus, A Franciscans of the Annunciation Mission

www.missionstsergius.org

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry

On this the feast day of the patron saints of our mission I am reprinting a reflection I wrote on a previous years feast day entitled “Little Known, Forgotten and Hidden Saints”

 October 7^th is the Feast day of Sts. Sergius and Bacchus, (This year the feast is celebrated on Monday the 8^th of October) the patron Saints of our little mission here in Massachusetts serving the entire New England area and, through cyberspace, the entire world. I have often been asked “who are Sts. Sergius and Bacchus?”  Most people have never heard of them because they do not fit the current Church political positions and stated views on same sex relations.   I myself had never heard of them before and I had read the LIVES OF THE SAINTS from cover to cover for more than 60 years of religious work as teacher and minister. Sts. Sergius and Bacchus were soldiers in the Roman army. They were Christians. Moreover, they were lovers. Yes you read that correctly, Lovers.  However, it was not for their sexuality these young men were canonized. It was for their faith – one of history’s most poignant ironies, given the Church’s unflinching campaign against committed loving relationships.I came across their Icon when I was on retreat at the Benedictine monastery in Weston, Vermont, trying to perceive how and under whose patronage I would establish a ministry to the GLBT community similar to the one I worked in under Cardinal Mahoney in the Los Angeles Diocese.   While in the gift shop I noticed the Icon of Sts. Sergius and Bacchus and wondered who they were.   When I turned the Icon over and read their history I was totally surprised.   I immediately knew that God had sent me to find them. They, by the way, are not the only saints who were in committed same-sex relationships within the early church.Sts. Sergius and Bacchus were ordered to participate in a sacrificial ceremony to the god Jupiter; they refused. The lovers were stripped of their arms and badges of rank, dressed in women’s clothing and led through the street. For a Roman soldier this was abject humiliation. They were sent to Resapha in Syria, where Bacchus was whipped until his flesh was raw. He died October 1st AD 290, confessing his faith in Christ. Sergius’ faith faltered with the death of his lover, but was reinforced when Bacchus appeared to him in a vision saying, “I am still with you in the bond of our union.” Sergius kept the faith and after a great deal more torture, he was beheaded on October 7. Like his lover, he died a martyr for the love of Christ.The tomb of St. Sergius at Resapha became a famous shrine and was honored by great gatherings of Christians because of the frequent miracles there. Sergius and Bacchus became heavenly protectors of the Byzantine army. Their “acts” are preserved in Latin, Greek and Syrian. In AD 431, Bishop Alexander of Hierapolis built a magnificent church in Sergius’s honor. In AD 434, the town of Resapha was raised to the rank of an episcopal see, was named Sergiopolis, and soon became one of the greatest pilgrimage centers of the East. Many churches in many towns bore the name of Sergius (sometimes with Bacchus) and in the 7^th century, a church was dedicated to them in Rome. There have been two popes named after Saint Sergius. During the middle Ages, the relationship of Sergius and Bacchus was considered an exemplar of compassionate union, and possibly even marriage, based on agape (brotherly love) and mutual respect. In the East, Sergius and Bacchus were universally honored.I end with a prayer I wrote in honor of the patron saints of our ministry:Almighty and merciful God, Your Holy Martyrs, Sergius and Bacchus, loved each other and You with such complete abandon that they were pleased to suffer torments and give their earthly lives rather than deny you. They were subjected to disgrace, humiliation and ridicule in an attempt to embarrass and discredit them and force them to renounce you, O Lord. Their love for each other and You, O Lord, sentenced them to earthly degradation and loss of their earthly lives but gained for them eternal life and glory with you.  I pray that they will intercede on my behalf to you, O Blessed Lord, and plead my case so that I may join them and all the Saints, when my days here on earth are over, in giving endless praise, honor and glory to You Almighty God and Father. Amen. 

Be A Witness Unto the Lord

A reflection for the 19^th Sunday after Pentecost and the 27^th Sunday of Ordinary time

By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA, Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus, Holliston, MA

www.missionstsergius.org

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry  The tridentine liturgies introit for this Sunday reminds us of God’s promise “I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord: in whatever tribulation they shall cry to Me, I will hear them; and I will be their Lord forever”.– (Ps. 121. 1).Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, fourth chapter verses 23-28 carry’s on the theme by telling us to “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new person, who according in God is created in justice and holiness of truth. Therefore, put away lying, speak the truth with your neighbor, for we are all members of one another. Be angry, and sin not. Do not let the sun go down upon your anger” and the gospel from Matthew ends with these words “For many are called, but few are chosen.” The Epistle from the Novus Ordo Liturgy reminds us “never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord” and the Gospel proclaims the words of Christ telling us, “Were your faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you”The messages from both rites for this Sunday are reminders to us that we must never be afraid to proclaim our faith and love of God, that if our faith in God is strong enough we can overcome all adversity and rejection. We are to be open to the Holy Spirit and willing to be renewed in the Spirit and become a new person casting aside all worldly cares and desires and to desire to be of service to Almighty God.  The Franciscan’s of the Annunciation finished meeting in their general chapter on Friday and during that time we focused on the example of St. Francis and St. Clare and heard writings from both saints. In every one of them the same message that the readings for this of salvation and the responsibility that it’s Lord entrusted unto it for the proclamation and concretization of the Gospel, the church must renounce prestige and any form of power and domination if it does not want to be separated from its Lord.  This is the choice the church must make at any price.”.   As we listened to these words,  I wondered how we have could have strayed so far from this ideal as a church especially in light of all that we hear in the letters of the Apostles and the teachings of Jesus Christ.In a world where material things have taken priority over spiritual and where God’s name is often invoked by many but often ignored when it comes to worship and living according to His teachings the example of Saints  Francis and Clare and so many other saints and holy people should awaken in us the desire to serve God.  On a visit to a Lutheran School this week to make a presentation to the students on St. Francis we learned of a truly blessed program that a group of people in the Fargo/Moorhead area are embarking on this weekend.  Basically what is happening is that whole families are called to experience what it is to be homeless.  For twenty four hours the families renounce all the comforts of life, are given a cardboard box to shelter themselves, renounce all food, money and wear clothing from Good Will.  Each member who participates pledges $365 or one dollar for each day of the year, the cost of what is needed to feed one person for a day, in addition to what they have pledged they beg passersby for money and/or food donations which they bring at the end of the 24 hour day to the food banks and shelters of the area.  They cannot partake of the food donations and funds they obtain but they bring them to the homeless shelters at the end of the twenty four hours where they feed the residents before they themselves break their fast and eat what remains. Those who have experienced this program in the past have said it is something that remains with them for life.  Since this is not the first year it has happened, those who have gone through the experience usually pledge and spend many hours each year advocating and looking out for the less fortunate of this world.  Last year they raised more than $15,000.  Just imagine if every Christian church and parish were to embark on a similar program the difference that could be made and the impact it would have on the world.If all who proclaim they follow Christ would live the Gospel and believe the promise of the Gospel every day of their life, our world would become a more wonderful place in which to life and people might actually respect every person and all God’s creation putting an end to hunger, homelessness, and possibly even discrimination and prejudice.  Let us heed Paul’s call to put on a new self and let’s emulate the example our orders seraphic Father Francis and St. Clare, Mother Theresa  and all who have lived according to the Gospel and be assured that we would be one of those who are called and chosen by God to share in His glory.  AMEN

Following in the Footsteps of St. FrancisA Reflection in honor of the Transitus and Feast of St. FrancisBy Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA, Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchuswww.missionstsergius.orghttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry 

Greetings and blessings to you from The Franciscan’s of the Annunciation and Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus from St. Clare Convent, Moorhead, MN home of Lake Woebegone and Garrison Keeler.  As we come to the middle of our biannual general chapter of the Franciscan’s of the Annunciation of the infinite love of God and approach the feast honoring the passing of our seraphic father, St. Francis from this earthly plane to His heavenly reward and the Feast day celebrating his life and pious example, I thought it only fitting that we reflect on that life and the precious legacy he has left behind.  Last evening our Father General, Bishop Roger LaRade and members of the order  gathered together and watched  THE RELUCTANT SAINT, FRANCIS OF ASSISI a documentary based on the biography of St. Francis by Donald  Spoto.  As we watched, I could not help but think how similar the world of today is to that of St. Francis.When Francis returned from a war between Assisi and a neighboring city state, sick and disenchanted, just as many of our young people do today he was very disillusioned.  Francis also became disgusted with how the hierarchy of the church seemed totally consumed with the desire for luxurious living and had even given in to carnal desires rather than live up to their vows of chastity.  Francis finally became appalled over how the people of that time were obsessed with money and power and completely disregarded the poor and suffering just outside their doors.  As Cities States fought other city states for domination and the wealth they could acquire, Francis sought peace and brotherhood not only in Italy but as Christians attempted, through the crusades, to impose their will and way on others whose faith was different he traveled to Egypt even though severely sick, seeking to bring about peace with the SultanThis description of Francis’s world could very easily be applied to our world today.  As a Franciscan I feel that those of us who love God and Christ teachings have been called, as Francis was, to preach the same message he did, brotherhood between all peoples, love, peace and a deep and abiding faith in Almighty God.  We are called to speak out against the alienation and discrimination being imposed on those our society has cast as outcasts.  Before Francis went off to fight proudly for his City State of Assisi and do his patriotic duty he was nauseated by the smell of the leper colony outside of Assisi and could not go to within 2 miles of it but after his awakening to God’s grace he went and cared for and dressed the wounds of those poor souls who society had cast off.  Today’s lepers could well be those who are living with HIV/AIDS all over the globe.Francis, because of his behavior and actions, which was contradictory to the society of his day, was considered crazy and laughed at by many but His actions also touched the hearts and minds of many young people who began to follow after him, rejecting the pleasures and riches of society in favor of a life as a begger and a servant to God’s less fortunate children.  Francis preached the Gospel of God’s infinite love and he respected everything in nature that God had created especially the poor and marginalized.Since our world today closely resembles that of the time of St. Francis, we need to hear his call to serve the Lord God and begin to re-evaluate our lives and strip ourselves of the greed and lust that has taken hold in our society and work hard to seek God’s graces through the Holy Spirit in order to become more like St. Francis.  We should keep our eyes on the treasures we can build up in heaven and not those of earth.  We should become more caring for those members of our society that have been cast aside or considered undesirable by some in our society and reach out to them, proclaiming God’s infinite mercy and love for all His children.As the prayer created during world war one in honor of St. Francis and his known writings which was first published in a French magazine called La Clochette (The Little Bell) and attributed to an anonymous writer proclaims. Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen.  

How Will God Judge UsA reflection for Sunday September 30, 2007By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA, Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchuswww.missionstsergius.orghttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry 

There is little that I can add to the message of this week’s Gospel from Luke 16:19-31, the messages found in it are extremely clear, What lies in store for us at the final judgment depends on how we share the bounty God gives us with those that are in need if we hope to achieve the everlasting peace and presence of God.  A reading of the gospel makes the message crystal clear. “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
‘In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his bosom. So he cried out, “Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames”. “My son,” Abraham replied “remember that during your life good things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony. But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to stop anyone, if he wanted to, crossing from our side to yours, and to stop any crossing from your side to ours.” ‘The rich man replied, “Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father’s house, since I have five brothers, to give them warning so that they do not come to this place of torment too”. “They have Moses and the prophets,” said Abraham “let them listen to them.”. “Ah no, father Abraham,” said the rich man “but if someone comes to them from the dead, they will repent.” Then Abraham said to him, “If they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead”. Luke 16:19 - 31Many people believe the parables and stories found in Holy Scripture as just that, wonderful stories derived to inspire people as to how to live their life while others cast them aside as just some fable created by men to bring people to the church in order to gain wealth and power.  The Bible, which is the inspired word of God, meaning that God did inspire people to write all the accounts there as a means of telling people about the beginnings of the world God created and how they should live their life in order to gain everlasting life and more importantly how to know and achieve true and lasting happiness. 

Today’s gospel story is an example of what I am referring too.  It sets the stage by creating a very vivid picture of a rich man living in splendor while outside his door is a sick and extremely poor man covered with sores just like the lepers that Mother Therese of Calcutta and Father Damien cared for and similar to all those who are dying of HIV/AIDS all over the globe.  The rich man ignored the plight of the poor man outside his door and went about his luxurious life style without giving a thought to the man just outside his door. 

The story goes on to show what awaited each of these men when they died and had to face their creator for a determination of their reward, just as each of us will have to do.  Many people wonder and many have asked me why God gives sickness and poverty to people and my answer is usually “because it is to allow us to practice the Beatitudes and to be charitable and compassionate and give us an opportunity to share the gifts God has provided us with those who are in need.”  The story ends with a very clear message, If we fail to heed the writings and teachings of the prophets of old and the teachings of Christ who came to make His Father’s will clear for all time, not even a person who came back from the dead, As Jesus did, could change the minds of those who refuse to be concerned about anything but themselves.As we go forth in our daily lives let us be aware of those around us who are in need and find a way to make their life a little or even a great deal better.  Let’s guarantee that when we are called home to face our final judgment we will be welcomed into the bosom of Abraham and Almighty God and not cast away to spend eternity in agony because of the separation from God.     AMEN 

In Memoriam 

Twenty nine years ago today, Pope John Paul I, Albino born Lucianni from Belluno Italy, whose pontificate lasted on 33 days, died.  Albino was born October 17, 1912 and died September 28, 1978 under what some call mysterious circumstances. Pope John Paul was favored by both Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI and is said to have been their choice to eventually become a pope in order to fully carry on the work of Vatican II.One of the desires of Pope John Paul 1 was to bring our separated brethren back into full communion and to also do more to serve the poor and less fortunate of the world.It is also said that he favored the return of Married priests and expanded roles for women in the church hierarchy.  In my estimation John Paul 1 life was cut short because he would have made some drastic changes that too many of the entrenched hierarchy did not want to happen because it would have meant that they would be required to change their way of life and loose some of the royal trappings that they have become accustomed to.I believe that if John Paul 1 had lived the church would be a lot stronger today than it is, that we would be more accepting and welcoming than the church is and that the church would be doing more to help the poor, aged, sick and more receptive to the diversity created by Almighty God.It is know that John Paul 1 welcomed the ministry to GLBT Catholics and encouraged the formation of ministries to bring the rejected and lost back into the Mystical Body of Christ, the church.On this memorial of Pope John Paul I death, let us pray that his hopes for unity & brotherhood between all the separated members of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic church be realized, his desire for greater charity and compassion for the poor and ill of the world, and his openness to the church become a truly welcoming and affirming church to all who desire to worship and praise Almighty God in accordance with the teachings of Christ not be forgotten but become a mission to be completed as a memorial to this pope who was a brilliant light for the church that was extinguished far too soon.

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