“There is need of only one thing”

As we know, even Jesus’ heart felt a special love toward certain persons, but the principal way by which he manifested his love was his sacrifice on the cross and in his abandonment.

Jesus forsaken is our style of love. He teaches us to empty ourselves of everything inside us and around us, to “make ourselves one” with God; he teaches us to put aside our thoughts and attachments, to mortify our senses, to drop even our own inspirations so that we can “make ourselves one” with our neighbors, which means to serve them, to love them.

The radicalness that characterized our first choice of Jesus forsaken, the decision to see nothing else, strikes us even today as a message, a specific and urgent invitation to renew our choice of him as the only love of our life. It comes to us like a warning not only to embrace and see in all our pains a meeting with a beloved Spouse, expected and consequently welcomed “always, immediately, and joyfully,” but to look at him as the gauge of our love of neighbor: a measureless measure in our duty to give our all, reserving nothing for ourselves…to imitate his manner of loving, even to the heroic practice of all the virtues included in love.

Chiara Lubich

God of Consolation, Look on us, pilgrims in a strange land, preserve us from Slander and deceit, show us the truth and give to our soul the peace of Christ. Mary our Mother guide us. Amen

Pop Christianity Vs Authentic Christianity

‘Let’s look at the Christian who is like seed sown on rocky ground, the one who has no roots. Practically speaking, this is the person who could be described as a “pop-Christian.” Fashion Christians”. It’s the persons who professes faith in Christ when it’s popular and well accepted by others. When it’s easy and convenient, this person is all in. But as soon as there is some challenge given to the Gospel, to the Word of God, to their lives and faith beliefs, or suddenly following Christ is not popular within the culture, this person is quick to choose the culture and the world over the Truth.This is a very real phenomenon in our day and age. The culture and the world as a whole are becoming more and more hostile toward the truth of our Christian faith. The world is becoming stronger, more influential, more of a bully, and appears to be winning the battle. This is a problem. And the real problem stems from too many Christians who lack deep roots in their life of faith.The ideal is to have the Word of God sown deep into our hearts where there is rich soil. When this happens, the Word grows and becomes strong and stable. And in the midst of a cultural or social “storm,” the Christian with deep roots and deep faith will not waver.Reflect, today, upon whether or not you are absolutely willing to stand with Christ and for the Truth no matter how hard or unpopular it may be. Are you willing to endure the ridicule and misrepresentation the world gives to the Truth? Are you willing to stay strong in your faith in the midst of an increasingly secular society? If you struggle with being a “pop-Christian,” pray that God will sink His roots down deep into your heart so that you will be unwavering no matter the cost.’

The Feast Day of St. Benedict

From chapter 4 of the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict. “Prefer nothing to the love of Christ.”

To prefer nothing to Christ’s love means to seek Him in everything and everywhere.

In everything you do and wherever you go, make it your task to find Christ. Where is He to be found? 

Let us pray: O God,
who made the Abbot Saint Benedict
an outstanding master in the school of divine service, grant, we pray, that, putting nothing before love of you, we may hasten with a loving heart in the way of your commands. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.

Who is Jesus to you?

But then the Lord said to them, “But who do you say that I am.” Matthew 16

When Jesus is asking this question he is asking us directly. He doesn’t want to know who others say he is. Read the verse like this: (Your name), who do YOU say that I am.

What Jesus is asking in that question is, is he our Lord. Are we His followers.

Ponder in your heart the question that Jesus is asking us. Why is it that you can or cannot say Jesus is your Lord? Think about that too. Remember, I am always here for you and ready to introduce you to the Lord. I love you hope your day is blessed.

+Bishop Jordan Morgan, SMMC

Loving God above all else

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – 2020

Jesus said to his apostles: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:37-38

What does the Lord mean when he is telling this to us? Does the Lord rather us to hate our family and only love Him? Are we suppose to completely deny them and cut them off and turn them away? No. The complete opposite in fact. How can we hate anyone of God’s children? You cannot do this and claim to be a follower of God.

So what does it mean? It is God’s will that we all love him and obey his commands and live a life according to those commands. The Lord has told us to love one another as he has loved us. The Lord does not contradict himself when he says to love another and then says none of us are worthy of him if we don’t love him more than our family. No. What the Lord means is, if we allow our family or friends to distract us from him then we are not loving him. Let’s say your getting ready for mass but your brother calls and say hey I got those tickets to the game, let’s go. If you go, you are loving your brother more than God. How? By pleasing your brothers wishes in going to the game rather than Mass. But there’s always next week is there not? Tomorrow is not promised.

John 21:15 – When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

My friends, if we gonna be about God and Gods commands. We have to be all about God. Walk the walk. Talk the talk. There is no grey area for us to please our family and friends who would rather do another things then go to Mass. We cannot say, God knows I love him, he won’t mind. If we love God, then we go to Mass and we take our family and friends with us.

As we prepare for another week, I invite you look at those things that try to distract you. It does not always have to be family, it can be yourself. How can you strengthen your desire to love God above all else? If we love our family and friends, imagine how much more we can love them if God is our first love.

Lord, I give to You my whole mind, heart, soul and strength. Help me to love You above all things and in all things and, from that love, help me to love those whom You have put in my life. Amen.

Bishop Jordan Morgan, SMMC.