Trusting in God's Abundance of Caring

In today's Gospel, Matthew 8: 5-17, a Roman centurion, a Gentile and a leader in Rome's occupying army, boldly approaches Jesus, asking that Jesus heal one of his servants. When Jesus responds affirmatively to his request and says He will come down to Capernaum and heal his servant, the centurion says: "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed."  What love, faith and humility!  Jesus is amazed at how the centurion reacted and says to is disciples, and to us, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel (substitute so there statement is applicable to where you live) have I found such faith."

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow as He was when he literally walked through the streets or along the roads of Galilee!  Do I have the faith of the centurion? Would I ask Jesus to come down and heal a family member or a relative,  a friend, a parishioner, an employee, a coworker? If not, why not?  Do I have the faith to bring to Jesus' attention, as did Mary at the wedding feast of Cana, that the "wine containers" are empty?  Jesus, "they have no wine."  Jesus says to her in effect, "Why are you bothering me?"  Mary does not feel rebuffed, nor does she back down. She says to the servants: "Do whatever He tells you!"   Her faith in Jesus/in God is unshakable!

What about your faith/my faith?  How solid is it? How firm is it? How unshakable is it?  Do I use it daily in all circumstances, in moments when a healing of mind, body or soul is needed; in circumstances when a life is in danger, when violence is erupting, when corruption seems to have the upper hand, when victims of criminal activities seem abandoned by law enforcement and legal teams who find loopholes to set criminals free,  when world leaders make decisions that will make life for future generations extremely dangerous environmentally and difficult in many other way? Or am I, are you, unconcerned about future generations of any race or creed or culture?

May God open our eyes to our call to see other peoples' afflictions, hear their cries for help, know and care about what others are going through, and take action to help in some way! God did so for the Israelites and Jesus did so for those whom He encountered who needed help!  Now it is your turn and mine to carry on the mission of building God's Kingdom here on earth.  That is why we are here!

The truth spoken

A friend of mind sent me the following email. I am sharing it with all of you, as Minister Joe Wright did not water down the truth that needs to be told!

This is absolutely great ! ! ! There might be hope yet! A Pastor with GUTS! Thought you might enjoy this interesting prayer given in Kansas at the opening session of their Senate. It seems prayer still upsets some people... When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask
your forgiveness and to seek your direction and
guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those
who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we
have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed
our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it
the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it
welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it
choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it
justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our
children and called it building self-esteem..

We have abused power and called it
politics.

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions
and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and
pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values
of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts
today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Amen!

----------------------

The response was immediate. A number of
legislators walked out during the prayer in
protest.

In 6 short weeks, Central Christian
Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than
5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls
responding negatively.. The church is now receiving
international requests for copies of this prayer
from India , Africa and Korea .

With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep
over our nation and wholeheartedly become our
desire so that we again can be called

'one nation under God.'