For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

Reflection:
Jesus serves us in all our needs. But do we serve him. There are so many things that we do in our everyday life that we could be serving one another. But most of the time we think of our wants and needs. We tend to look away when we are uncomfortable, rather than take that extra step. I say this because, in my insecurities I too have done it. I should have stepped closer and reached out. It's in those moments when I no longer resemble Christ whom I base my life on, I have become a hypocrite then. I strive for a different type of perfection, yet I encounter flaws.

I remember when I was a kid; at recess we would form teams. As a young person I wanted to be chosen first, not out of popularity, but I was afraid I would be chosen last of all. It ended up that way anyway, I always ended up last. I didn't mind, since I had to realize that it was my fear. But it was also whose team I may have ended on. Was it the good team or the bad team. None of us were bad, but it was usually the teams that looked like misfits verses the one's with all looks and graces. As a kid this is silly, but as I write this, it is coming to mind.

I remember once how I wanted to sit up at a table close to the main guest, only to be moved. Talk about embarrassing! I did what the Gospels speaks about then, putting myself in a spot not reserved for me. I learned a good lesson that day. I'm not perfect, but when I make mistakes I learn from them.

When he points out something to learn, then I listen all the harder. Today's Gospel is a lesson in humility, I am humbled by his Word.

Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows.
Luke 12:6-7

Reflection:
There is something about knowing that when we go against God, he sheds light on what we have hidden. It is when we continue to go against God, we will soon find our way to Gehenna.

We were all given a free will to live our life as we choose. We also were given special laws to follow, to help us live this free will in a just an upright moral way. For example; knowing the fact that we have broken one of the commandments, but in this we continue to morally degrade ourselves for our so called pleasure or the pleasure of another, then we have placed ourselves on the edge of the abyss, if not a good way into it.

What many do not realize the purpose God had in giving us these rules. It was to safeguard us from placing ourselves where we do not belong. If anything, I can say with absolute certainty, that when another person tries to change you for their pleasure and try to corrupt your moral fiber to suit them, then by all means run as fast as you can away from the path that is put before you. This is one test in my life that I am deeply thankful for God's teaching, that he knows every hair on my head and that I am worth all to him to be saved from a life of death.

Please for all that you are worth heed his words and follow his path, you will find no regret in doing so. It is with regret that we veer away from him. God Bless you all for living a life lived in him and with him.

Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.
Luke 11:51-52

Reflection:
The scribes and Pharisees didn't like this at all, they became quite hostile in fact. Their sole purpose now was to destroy Jesus. And Jesus in his own beautiful way has shown the world the power of evil in high places.This happened two thousand years ago, but we too can identify with this.

Haven't we seen people assasinated that would have done good for our world. Just as we have seen people assasinated that would have created a world of evil. This doesn't change the fact that Jesus addressed this very thing already.

With this on record for our own good, we continue to to kill off any knowledge. We attempt to stop faith and any knowledge of it. We hide behind a curtain of secrecy. Lest people find out how truly evil we have become.

In Jesus' time he went after them to expose the truth of their ways, so if we did this with those of power we can be assured of marytyrdome. But just like Jesus, when we speak loudly of the truth of our ways, we turn against those who dare to speak the truth. Unfortunately this encompasses everyone who lives and breathes. So how do we turn a negative world inot a positive one, when we hide in the shadow of evil? From the looks of things and all the strife, disease, poverty, and war we could make a difference in this world if only we stop being selfish and start being more honest.

A poem for you by V.A. McCloud:

Just Pray
by V. A. MCCLOUD
Friday, August 29, 2003

JUST PRAY

I bow my head unto you Lord
I kneel down unto you
I lift my eyes toward the sky
I lift my heart toward heaven
And I pray unto the Father

Act 12:5
The church prayed without ceasing, the chains fell off, prison doors opened and Peter was delivered

1 King 18:41
Elijah prayed for rain, and there was rain

Matthew 9:20
The lady with an issue of blood for 12 years prayed, touched Jesus and was healed

What did the people do?
They prayed unto the Highest God, Jesus Christ

For they prayed
For they prayed
For they knew they could trust in him when they prayed
For they knew there was power in the name of Jesus when they prayed

Father, in Jesus name
I bow my head unto you Lord
I kneel down unto you Lord
I lift my eyes toward the sky
I lift my heart toward heaven
With a pure heart
I pray unto the Father

That you would bless our country
That you would bless the broken hearted
That you would heal the land from sickness and disease
From poverty, destruction and crime

If we would only humble ourselves and pray, he will heal our land

For the fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much power

For He will hear our prayers

Act 12: 5
The church prayed without ceasing, the chains fell off, prison doors opened and Peter was delivered

1 King 18:41
Elijah prayed for rain, and there was rain

Matthew 9:20
The lady with an issue of blood for 12 years prayed, touched Jesus and was healed

What did the people do?
They prayed unto the Highest God, Jesus Christ

For they prayed
For they prayed
For they knew they could trust in him when they prayed
For they knew there was power in the name of Jesus when they prayed

They prayed unto the Highest God, Jesus Christ

When we pray
He hears us
Trust in Him

He is waiting for us to pray
Just call on his name
Where we will lay our burden down
Where we will cast our cares upon him
Where we can cry out for help
To our Father in Heaven

On our knees, Lord, we pray
With a pure heart

He will hear our prayers

For we know the power of prayer
Releases healing in the land
Releases your love, your grace and mercy

The power of prayer breaks bonds, yokes and strongholds in our lives

The power of prayer releases riches and safety in our land
The power of prayer releases peace in the land

It will change our lives
It will remove pain and hurts
It will remove strife and bitterness
It will remove prejudice

There is power in prayer

If you need deliverance
Healing, Wisdom
Removal of a stony heart, a broken heart
A clean life
Whatever you may need

Just pray, Just pray
He is waiting for us to pray
Just call on his name
Just call on his name

We need prayer in the land
We need prayer in the land
People we need to pray

Father, I yield my heart to you and I pray

Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Luke 10:5-6

Reflection:
They were asked to say this upon entering each household "Peace to this household," for a reason. They were after all out there in hopes of gathering a harvest. A harvest we know of today about vocations to the religious life.

But what was it about first saying peace to this household, and if a peaceful peson lives there, your peace will rest on him, but if not it will return to you. How often do we visit places and say this ourselves, or even think it. I know I haven't, except once and that was recent.

There is something to this, because too many households lack any peace. Imagine if we all paid visits and did this how peace could be attached to those households. And if not it would come back to us. What a blessing we would be doing.

I was just thinking about something, how at times when visiting I came upon tension unknowing that I just missed an argument, how giving peace to a household would somehow clear the air of bad feelings. And peace would be felt. Now that I think about this, if I truly did my part in following the Gospel I would be doing this all the time.Yet I just started with this not long ago.You know something, it does make a difference.