Devotion
The Kingdom is near, the Kingdom is here!
David Jacobs
It is easy to get wrapped up in the hustle-and-bustle of our daily lives: Work, school, spouses, children, finances. There are so many things that seem to require our attention that is often easy to neglect that which is most important: our relationship with God. I often take God's love for granted, coming to Him when I need and not when He needs. I need to remember what the Kingdom of Heaven is truly about.
Above all, our surrender to the will of God and God's desire to bring us healing, peace, victory, and salvation are central to the Kingdom of Heaven. How can surrender be victory? Think about the teachings of the gospels: is surrender and faith in God not the central teaching of Jesus? These verses serve to remind us about our vital roles during our time on earth. We have a responsibility to one another, to believers and non-believers, to act in accordance with God's word. We owe a debt to all of humanity, a debt of love and service, and God asks that we do not judge those that will not receive us. When we surrender to God, we soon realize that the Kingdom of Heaven is not just waiting for us, it is already all around us. Thanks be to God.
Prayer
Blessed Father, I ask your forgiveness for not fully surrendering to you at times. I have blocked the Kingdom of Heaven at times from fully being realized in my heart and mind. Lord, with these words I hope that I can come a bit closer to you, a bit closer to the Kingdom of Heaven, and a bit closer to my fellow man. Help me not to judge others that are struggling with this same battle, merciful Father, and grant me the wisdom, like St. Barnabus, to give generously for the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel. I pray all of this in your name, my Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Amen.
Devotion
Abraham is Father of All
Frances Taylor
There are questions in every age about the importance of the Old Testament for Christians. Abraham is considered to be the Father of Faith for Jews, Christians and Muslims. We forget that it was Abraham who believed in the doctrine of only one God. It is through him and his descendants that this tradition comes down to us. Another fact that we can overlook is that Jesus was Jewish. He was born a Jew, lived as a Jew, died, rose and ascended into heaven as a Jew. Because we believe that he was the Messiah, the Christ, and we follow him, we are called Christian. Without the Old Testament, we wouldn't understand the promise of salvation; we wouldn't understand why it was important for Jesus to be of the family of King David. We would not understand his teaching either, because Jesus quoted from Scripture – the Old Testament – frequently. He told us that he came to fulfill the Scriptures, not to abolish them. In the same way, we can ...
