A Message from Father Vessels
NOV 23, Christ the King: Ezek 34.11-17; 1Cor 15.20-28; MT 25.31-46
I MYSELF WILL PASTURE MY SHEEP, SAYS THE LORD GOD. THE LOST I WILL SEEK, THE STRAYED BRING BACK, THE INJURED BIND UP, THE SICK HEAL.
"Come, you blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. I was hungry & you gave me food..."
DURING THE DAY
Don't be distracted: feed the hungry! Nourish others; spiritually, culturally, physically, however. Give of yourself; serve generously--not needs, the needy! You're made in God's image: Be Godlike!
ABOUT PRAYER
Prayer is spiritual awareness, memory recalling the hidden truths we've chosen to believe about ourselves & God. Prayer ponders, judges--then the will kicks in again & chooses to be available for whatever God disposes. No second thoughts.
Nov 16, 33rd of yr: Proverbs 31.10-13,19-20,30-31; 1Thes 5.1-6; MT 15.14-15,19-21
WHEN ONE FINDS A WORTHY WIFE, HER VALUE IS FAR BEYOND PEARLS.
"Well done, good & faithful servant! Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy."
DURING THE DAY
Share the joy of those you serve. Give of yourself generously to your responsibilities. Be worthy of gratitude & praise, but give God the credit. Your honest humility assures yet greater & more important service.
ABOUT PRAYER
Prayer is the intimacy of communion with the One whose responsibilities you share. It's the will of Another you fulfill, his the wisdom of the plan you execute, the strength with which you do so. Prayer is the connector between Source & servant.
NOV 9, Lateran Basilica: Ezek 47.1-2,8-12;
1Cor 3.9-11,16-17; JN
2.13-22
THE ANGEL BROUGHT ME TO THE TEMPLE. I SAW WATER FLOWING FROM BENEATH. 'WHEREVER THE RIVER FLOWS EVERY LIVING CREATURE THAT CAN MULTIPLY SHALL LIVE.'
"Destroy this temple and in 3 days I will raise it up." He was speaking about the temple of his body.
DURING THE DAY
Don't loan, give to the poor. Call it a loan, for dignity's sake, but accept it back for that reason only. What you have is God's, his gift to you; share it with those who received the gift of poverty. You'll be the one to gain.
ABOUT PRAYER
Prayer muses. Ponders laws. Analyzes prophecies (i.e. truths foreseen). Prayer is the mind awaiting enlightenment, open to grace. What comes into focus isn't always rational, at times quite the opposite. No matter. Prayer flows into action, the other's needs are served. God is pleased. Faith grows.
NOV 2, Faithful Departed: Wisdom 3.1-9; Rms 5.5-11; JN 6.37-40
THE SOULS OF THE JUST ARE IN THE HAND OF GOD, AND NO TORMENT SHALL TOUCH THEM. GOD TRIED THEM, AND FOUND THEM WORTHY OF HIMSELF.
This is the will of the One who sent me,that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life.
DURING THE DAY
Look around at love. Believe in it. Practice it. Love and life are inseparable: to love is to live, to live is to love. God is love--Lover and Beloved. Whoever recognizes with gratitude the Giver in the gift of love lives the life of the Giver forever.
ABOUT PRAYER
Prayer eternalizes our daily thoughts, words and deeds. Magnetic response to the power of God's creative and redemptive love, prayer fulfills the will to be possessed by possessing. Eternally.
OCT 26, 30th of yr: Ex 22.20-26; Thes 1.5-10; MT 22.34-40
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.
DURING THE DAY
Don't loan, give to the poor. Call it a loan, for dignity's sake, but accept it back for that reason only. What you have is God's, his gift to you; share it with those who received the gift of poverty. You'll be the one to gain.
ABOUT PRAYER
Prayer muses. Ponders laws. Analyzes prophecies (i.e. truths foreseen). Prayer is the mind awaiting enlightenment, open to grace. What comes into focus isn't always rational, at times quite the opposite. No matter. Prayer flows into action, the other's needs are served. God is pleased. Faith grows.
OCT 19, 29th of yr: Is 45.1,4-6; 1Thes 1.1-5; MT 22.15-21
I HAVE CALLED YOU BY NAME, GIVING YOU A TITLE, THOUGH YOU KNEW ME NOT. I AM THE LORD, AND THERE IS NO OTHER.
"Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man, not concerned with anyone's opinion, and do not regard a person's status."
DURING THE DAY
Be truthful, coherent in judgments, and transparent in loyalty to the them. If humble enough to learn from others and grow in truth, you'll be free, a friend sought by all.
ABOUT PRAYER
Prayer keeps us tuned to truth, the Unknown God. Being of the will rather than the intellect, prayer grasps the ungraspable. Prayer chooses to believe and serve,trusting love rather than evidence; or rather, on the evidence of being loved, life a gift of the Lover unseen.