"Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone"
--John 8:7 NAB
This Bible verse has been swimming in my head lately. It seems that the media is ready to cast stones at the Catholic Church based on issues from the cleregy sex scandal to the Bishop's opposition to the Obama Health Care Bill. We need to remember the Church is the Bride of Christ. To attack the Church is to attack Jesus. Had he not suffered enough through his Passion and Crucifixion? Our duty as Christians is to spread the good news, and take care of the Church.
The sex scandal is a horrible thing and no child should ever have to endure such evil. What is disturbing is this doesn't just happen with the Catholic Church. This happens in other groups, with other Christians, in our families, in other religous groups, etc. The group with the least occurance? Believe it or not - the Catholic Church. It is UNCOMMON in the church, but you would never believe it based on the news reports.
To get a better perspective, check out these articles defending Mother Church:
Defense of Catholic Clergy
and
Here Comes Everybody
These points reiterate the bible verse mentioned in the beginning of this post: Let those who are without sin cast the first stone. Instead of creating more problems, we should pray. Pray for the victims. Pray for the parish priests, pray for the clergy involved. God heals. Yes - those involved in committing the crimes will be punished by the law - but even worse - they will have to face God with these sins. God is a loving God - and a just God. But what everyone involved needs is not MORE hurt - but more HEALING. Rid yourselves of the stones and arm yourselves with prayer. It's much more effective.
God Bless.
On this feast of St. Joseph, the feast of the foster father of Jesus and a member of the Holy Family, America is battling laws on abortion. Is it fitting? Or is it a sign of hope from God? Only He knows this very minute.
Inspired by the world's events, I offer this prayer:
St. Joseph, pray for us.
St. Joseph, long ago you protected your son, Jesus, from the Slaughter of the Innocents. You risked your home and life in protection of your family and the Son whom God entrusted into your care.
Come to our aid now, where we are also facing the Slaughter of the Innocents. Protect our unborn children as you protected Jesus. Those who are lost in this battle, present them to our Lord to enjoy eternity forever. Guide decision makers and voters in choosing to respect life. I ask this through Christ our Lord, AMEN.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Please Pray and Repost!
Prayer for our Nation's Health Care Reform
by Fr. Frank Pavone
Lord, Jesus, you are the Divine Physician,
And the source of all life and health.
Guide our nation at this critical moment,
As our government seeks health care reform.
Giver our elected officials the humility to know
That they are servants, not masters.
Give them the wisdom to realize
That every life has equal value.
Give them the strength to resist the idea
That some lives can be sacrificed to save others
Or that killing the unborn is a part of health care.
Give your people the courage to speak up
And to hold public officials accountable for their actions.
Save us, Lord Jesus, from a culture of death.
And let every reform in our public policy
Be based on the reform of our hearts and minds
In the light of your Gospel.
For you are Lord forever and ever. Amen
http://www.prolifeprayers.com/
One of my favorite devotions other than the Rosary and talking to God in my own words is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The prayer itself is miraculous. Of course it is - it was given to Saint Faustina from Jesus himself.
One day, I was listening to EWTN Catholic Radio and the Divine Mercy Chaplet in song came on. It was and is the most beautiful song I've ever heard. It is produced by Trish Short and a sample of the song and a video can be found on www.divinemercyinsong.com .
The images in the video were wonderful. Some brought me to tears, others brought great comfort. Viewing the short part of the video reminded me of what Jesus did for us. Who else would love us that much? If we, His people, really reflect on what Jesus did to save us from ourselves, we would detest all sin. From the most minor ones to the most serious.
This Lenten season. let us reflect on what Jesus did for us. Let us remember it most when we are about to sin so that we can avoid that temptation. And while we're at it, we could always offer a chaplet. The greatest distraction from sin is prayer.
JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU!
Our Sinking World
By: Jennifer Gladen
The world is melting before our eyes,
The heat of sin is scorching our lives.
Headed down a slippery slope,
Society cheers the diminishment of hope.
Abortion, divorce, and values waning,
Points for the Enemy, is what we’re gaining.
Stop! And Listen! Change your ways,
Unless you desire more perilous days.
God wants us with Him-beyond the skies,
We must see the world through only His eyes.
We’re taught to value such precious things,
As gold, jewels and fancy rings.
But they all fade away – what good will they do,
When your time is come and God judges you?
Turn your hearts, now, toward Him,
Avoid eternity laced with grim.
Live as Christ lived while He was here,
To bypass eternal pain and fear.
©2010 Jennifer Gladen
O Child of God
By: Jennifer Gladen
My soul is weeping for what was to be.
My ears are piercing from laughter silenced.
My eyes are burning from tears of the lost.
My mouth is praying for the unborn tossed.
My heart is hoping an angel is guiding
The little ones to our Holy Mother true.
Mother Mary present those tiny souls to your Son.
Let them live in Peace and join the body of One.
Their short time of suffering causes great pain
And robs from the world what it could’ve gained.
Fly up to Heaven you child of God
And pray for all those who caused you such woes.
“Father forgive them, they know not what they do.”
For Jesus will say those words with you.
Dedicated to the millions children we’ll never see here.
© 2010 Jennifer Gladen
A Spiritual Bouquet to March for Life
Today, hundreds of thousands of people gathered to march on Washington DC for the annual March for Life. It occurs every year on the anniversary of the Roe V Wade decision legalizing abortions. March for life not only acts as a voice for the unborn, but also the elderly and all those facing end-of-life care and decisions.
As Editor-in-Chief of a Catholic Magazine, I was disappointed I couldn’t make the march this year. I still wanted to do something to show my full support for this cause as I watched on TV speakers, children, adults and others stand up for life.
In that moment I decided that prayers for these supporters and their cause will go a long way. They need the strength of the Holy Spirit to persevere for they are fighting for God and His children. Therefore, My Light Magazine decided we will present a spiritual bouquet to the March for Life Organization.
Please pledge your prayers in support of all the marchers in the March for Life. Send My Light your designated prayer and any short words of encouragement. Some great prayers are the Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Mass, etc.
We will collect all the prayer intentions and present them to the March for Life organization. Each pledge will be represented by an illustrated flower as part of the bouquet. We will list your name and your prayer pledge. If we have too many contributors, we will provide a list of all the prayer pledges along with a beautiful illustrated bouquet. Illustrator and My Light’s paper doll designer, Candace J Hardy will design the illustration for the bouquet.
The goal is if we can support the marchers with our prayers we are helping the cause. We are helping not only get their voices heard, but we are helping to save lives, including unborn children. Press release to soon follow.
To begin e-mailing your prayer pledges, send them to bouquet@mylightmagazine.com
