lumierecharity

[lumierecharity]

ARE CHURCHGOERS HYPOCRITES?

Catherine Nicolette

Imagine my surprise when I opened a spiritual magazine recently and found an article questioning whether churchgoers are hypocrites. The query reminded me of many years ago . . .

As a young child and member of a devout church-going family, I was called aside one day by one of my little peers. She explained to me that all churchgoers are hypocrites. By eschewing to attend Mass, she explained, she was not a hypocrite pretending to be holy. As, she explained, I was. Her remedy was for me to leave the church and thus no longer be a cause of dismay to other more enlightened little peers.

I was completely nonplussed, faced with my ardent hypocrisy for attending church. Further, I inwardly shuddered at the thought of telling Sean and Luky Whittle that their little daughter would not toe the line and attend church. That most certainly would not have gone down well. Finally, my heart wept at the thought of not visiting the Blessed Sacrament regularly. What to do?

Then all of a sudden I knew how I felt about this issue. I looked at my little friend, and told her,  "I know I am not perfect." As there was no surprise there, she nodded sagely. I went on,  "That's exactly why I go to church. Because I need help from God. We all need to go. You should go, too."

Having put her hand to the plough, my little peer was not going to give up. She replied, "There is no need for me to go to church. I can stand in a field in nature and worship God quite well." I asked her, "And when last did you worship in a field?" She hesitated, then flushed and turned away. I heard her mutter later, "It's no good arguing with that one. She's got all the answers!"

She got me thinking, however. In later years, I often pondered over her words, especially when, sighing, I realize that I haven't measured up to Christ's expectations of me - yet again. But, you know, I don't lose hope. I just keep on trying. Reality helps to give rational perspective. I realize I can't go it alone. Thus, I go to church, to pray to God to ask for help. Spiritually sick need the Divine Physician for healing - and there is not one of us who does not have a soul hurt or spirit wound needing His care. Basically, churchgoers don't go to church because they are perfect. They go because they are not.

Every time I pass a field, I think of my little friend from long ago. My answer to whether churchgoers are hypocrites is that churchgoers are realists. All have but one life, and each will be called upon to account to Almighty God as to how that life has been spent. Why not both attend church and pray in fields while we still can to help us towards serenity on that day? 

As the sunflower turns towards the sun, let us all turn our faces towards God. . .

With thanks to free clipart library

[lumierecharity]

MIRACLES HAPPEN ALL THE TIME

Luky:

There was a song we used to sing in church when my eldest daughter played the organ. Our best singer would sing each verse, and we'd all join the refrain:

"I believe in miracles; I've seen a soul set free / Miraculous the change in one redeemed through Calvary / I've seen the lily push its way up through the stubborn sod / I believe in miracles, for I believe in God. "

Do you believe in miracles? I do. Plenty have happened to me in my life.

I was there

The big ones I don't talk about much, because people always get an odd little smile on their faces when I do, as if to say "poor fanatic - and you can see she actually believes it. "

Well, I do, because I was there when they happened. And it's those who believe in miracles that they do happen to.

If you truly believe that a piece of bread and a drop of wine change into the Body and Blood of Christ when the words of consecration are spoken by an ordained priest, then the little miracles that have happened to me are puddysticks by comparison. But, being human, I love my little miracles and get much comfort from remembering them.

Lord said it

At one time I was praying in a certain way, and got the feeling that I was unworthy to pray that way because of my sinfulness. That very day I opened a dusty volume of an old Dutch series of books about our Lord's revelations to Saint Gertrude.

Sweet memory

My eye fell on a paragraph which quotes our Lord as saying to the saint: "why do you feel reluctant and unworthy to pray to me (in the way I was praying)? Do you not know that the fragrance of the perfume is not impaired by the simplicity of the container?"

That day sweetness filled my heart and mind, and the memory of it still fills me with joy.

In a smaller way, something strange happened some years ago. I was having an argument with one of my children (that's not strange; it's normal.)

The child had mowed the lawn and tidied the garden, and was demanding payment. I felt as though I had failed in bringing up my children.

I said, "How can you, as a Christian, demand payment from your parents for lending a hand? If you need money, tell me how much and I'll make a plan. But surely you don't expect payment for helping your hard-working parents?"

Got soft

Well, my child gave as good as he got. Gone are the old days when I was strict and they would have run a mile before they dared to answer me back - I became soft in my old age.

Just then a song started playing on Springbok Radio. Rooted in my tracks, I listened; then I hauled the child in to listen too.

You may have heard the song. It's about a boy who brought his mother an invoice, detailing various chores he had performed for her and stating what each cost.

The mother produced a pen and wrote out an invoice of her own. "To nine months carrying you in my womb - no charge; to bringing you into the world in sorrow and pain - no charge; to the tears I shed for you - no charge."

Nothing owing

By now I was shedding some tears of my own and ducked into the sitting room, but I could hear the end of the song. The boy wrote at the bottom of his invoice: "Paid in full."

My heart was full, because I felt that again our Lord had performed a little miracle. The child was very quiet too, looking rather taken aback.

I'm no diplomat. I like pressing home my advantage, so I wiped my tears and said:

"I was trying to tell you something in the passage there, but I hadn't the eloquence. So our Lord allowed a small miracle to happen by inspiring the disc jockey to play that very song to show you how He would feel about your demanding payment.

"As a rule, Jesus doesn't go in for performing miracles; He has nothing to prove. So if you're wise, you'll remember this one for the rest of your life"

The child still regarded me mutinously, so I added:

"That piece of advice comes to you at no charge." 

Catherine Nicolette

My, it is many years since I thought of that beautiful hymn we used to play. As a teenager I loved the words and melody.

Now in my mature years, I have experienced many signs and wonders of God in my life. Having travelled in many countries, it has been amazing how God cared for me in many ways, small as well as large.

The greatest miracle, however, is to be part of the wonder when the moment of grace comes for an individual. We never know when one word, one prayer, one sermon or one song is the one which will change the road for another from struggle to the grace of faith.

As Mom said on so many occasions about Jesus Christ, "For one drop of His Blood Which for sinners was spilt,

Is sufficient to cleanse the whole world from its guilt."

The price is already paid, the miracle already granted. Jesus came to earth, lived and died for us and we had to make no payment. The Son of God took the consequences of sin and death upon Himself, conquered death through resurrection and gave us remedy for sin through baptism and sacraments.

We did not have to pay anything in order for God's Son to love us and set us free.

Let us pay Christ the compliment of our deepest love, respect and sincere gratitude for the price He paid.  

[lumierecharity]

Miraculous medal, front and back

Luky:

THE SEVENTH of November has always been a red letter day in my life, as it marks the birthday of a near and dear one. When she was small she'd be counting the weeks and days leading up to it for months, giving us no chance to forget it.

One year's birthday was probably a lot different. As mother (at the time) of two and expecting her third child in another six months' time, she had enough to occupy her mind.

All the same, I phoned her that morning and she enthused about the lovely gifts her husband had brought her.

Unsuspecting

I on my side had good news too. My own husband, having successfully got over his operation, was coming home the next morning. We mutually expressed our pleasure and rang off.

Little did I know then that I was about to remember November the 7th for quite a different reason.

Just before ten that morning one of the matrons of the local hospital telephoned me. My husband was back in the intensive care unit of the surgical ward, she said, and she was sure I'd be wanting to see him to encourage him as soon as I could.

A nod is as good as a kick to a willing horse, so I went to my boss and got permission to go to the hospital.

Plugged in

Having arrived there I found my husband lying on a bed, tubes and bottles attached to several parts of his body. He was barely able to speak but the matron had explained to me that he had either got a clot in the lung, known a a pulmonary embolism, or in the heart; called a coronary thrombosis.

He had complained of a very severe pain across his chest. "I've nursed Mr Whittle for years", the matron said, "and I know him well enough to be aware that by the time he finally complains there is something seriously wrong."

Strong friend

I can't tell you how kind everyone was. As parents of one of the hospital's student nurses at the time, we received VIP treatment.

My old neighbour grabbed me as I was leaving the hospital on my way to I know not where and steered me back to the ward. She's a nursing sister and midwife and was a tower of strength to me in the eight years we lived next door to each other. It was like living next door to my doctor.

Complicated prang

When I pranged my car that morning, trying to get out of a parking place, three men helped to liberate me. If you gave me five thousand rand to repeat what I must have done to steer my car into such a position, I'd have to decline because I just don't understand how I managed it.

Please pray

Early next morning I telephoned my sister. My husband was on the critical list and my brother-in-law came to the phone and asked what he could do.

"Take all your children to church now on their way to school and have them pray a Hail Mary for their uncle", I pleaded.

He did that and more. That afternoon as I arrived again at the hospital, he was sitting outside my husband's ward. He had taken the day off and spent four hours driving my mother and sister to see me. I've always thought that man was a jewel; now I have proof.

My mother stayed and looked after the children for the next few days, much of which I spent as hospital.

It's good to have a family.

More to come

A second clot was to pass through my husband's lung before his agony was over. I received a letter from my colleagues at the office; all of them had gone into one office and prayed together for my husband's recovery. Everybody was praying, especially the lady who worked for us. 

"I was so scared Mr Whittle was dying", she said.

The younger children, aware of the tension, became unbearable, looking for attention, arguing and quarrelling and crying hysterically over nothing.

Interesting incident

The day I knew things would improve I was seated in a little room outside the intensive care unit, talking to my daughter. I had been given permission to look in at my husband on the half-hour.

She had taken off her miraculous medal and handed it to me to put round her father's neck.

We were talking and I was gesticulating with the hand which held the medal. Suddenly I looked down on my knee, and there to my astonishment I found that the chain had arranged itself into the shape of that peculiar broad flat "M" on the back of the miraculous medal.

People have laughed at my assertions of miracles all my life so I said nothing about it. I wanted to make sure I wasn't mistaken.

'That's odd", I said to my daughter, "What does this remind you of?"

"The M on the back of the miraculous medal", she said. "And look next to it, that's a heart shape, also found on the back of the medal."

"Your father will be all right now", I said after marvelling for a little while, and handed her back her chain. "He won't need this."

I went into the ward and spoke to the heart specialist.

"Your husband is improving", he informed me, "though he's not out of danger yet."

It was all I could do not to tell him he was wrong. With such a powerful patroness as our Lady showing her very personal concern, I knew that no power on earth could prevent my husband from recovering.

Catherine Nicolette

Dad went on to make an uneventful recovery - an amazing turnaround as he had been critically ill. I have great devotion to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and both Mom and I received much comfort from the configuration of the chain. Do I believe this was a sign from God? The comfort I received when I saw the symbols of holiness was deep. In that moment I knew: all will be well.

Having been witness to many signs and wonders from God throughout my life, I would encourage you to look out in your own life for those moments in which God is present with comfort and hope.

The Miraculous Medal is a holy devotion which brings special spiritual protection and comfort. Why not find out more?

Visit for petition to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

at https://lumierecharitymarian.blogspot.com/2017/08/petition-to-our-lady-of-miraculous-medal.html

[lumierecharity]

COFFEE BREAK ISSUE ONE - THE BLOG OF MOTHER AND DAUGHTER LUKY AND CATHERINE NICOLETTE

Welcome to Coffee Break, the blog of mother and daughter Luky Whittle and Catherine Nicolette Whittle.

Together we will tell you about life in the family lane over the past 50 years, together with snippets of interest such as photographs, articles, books, and family happenings which have been a rich source of amusement to us both over our years together.

So sit down, take up a cup of steaming coffee, open your laptop and enjoy!  

Coffee Break is followed by 144 countries

Please enjoy this Coffee Break Issue One

COFFEE BREAK ISSUE ONE 

ARTICLES

How Coffee Break began

Finding the baby

Happy New Year

Love and loss

I remember Papa

Fascinating Maud Gonne

Zoute drop with Irish stew

Mary, Joseph and the humble stable

Miss Marks' last day at the office

An open hand is never empty

My teenage dreams

Download your issue at the following link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BOy6qrfBhkj6hwarc3PXceheHfu1x009/view?usp=drive_link

[lumierecharity]

ART AND MUSIC: NOTHING IS BETTER THAN MUSIC

NOTHING is better than music. When it takes us out of time, it has done more for us than we have the right to hope for. It has broadened the limits of our sorrowful lives; it has lit up the sweetness of our hours of happiness by effacing the pettinesses that diminish us, bringing us back pure and new to what was, what will be and what music has created for us.

Nadia Boulanger

[lumierecharity]

ART AND MUSIC: THE PRIESTS CAME OUT OF THE HOLY PLACE

THE priests came out of the holy place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard to their divisions, and all the levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kindred, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters). 

It was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD,

"For He is good,

 for His steadfast loves endures forever,"

the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of GOD.

2 Chronicles 5:11-14

[lumierecharity]

Superb musician in India. Photograph taken with musician permission

MUSIC IS A MORAL LAW

MUSIC is a moral law.

It gives soul to the universe,

Wings to the mind,

Flight to the imagination,

A charm to sadness,

Happiness and life to everything.

It is the essence of order

And lends to all that is good

And just and beautiful.

Plato

Fourth century BCE

[lumierecharity]

ART AND MUSIC: A WOMAN KNOWS THE HISTORY OF HUMAN FLESH, SHE KNOWS ITS COST" - ARTWORK BY LUMINOUS DINA CORMICK

Some years ago I found the work of luminous artist Dina Cormick. The first artwork I viewed struck me to the heart. A stark visual of a woman whose face appears to be carved in the immediacy of incredible grief, holding up what appears to be a deceased child to the heavens. Her mouth is open in what may be a wail or soundless cry of agony at the fate of the little one. The words "a woman knows the history of human flesh, she knows its cost, Olive Shreiner",  appears to the right of the image.

I found this depiction both deeply moving and meaningful. A woman goes through agony to give birth to a child, sacrifices deeply to ensure care for the child of her body until her little one reaches adulthood. Thus a woman who has experienced what it means to grow a child within, to bear that child and to nurture her offspring, knows the physical, emotional, spiritual and financial cost of bringing a child into the world and nurturing that child.

This is not to imply that fathers do not know the history of human flesh or its cost. Of course they do. Acknowledgement of the incredible role of fatherhood in the life of a child is always due. The point of this particular artwork however, to my mind, emphasizes the woman's role of motherhood: that a woman understands in her bones and flesh what the making of a child entails. 

This artwork touched my heart so deeply as it made connection for me between motherhood and war. Witnessing the fruit of your body, and the pride and joy of your heart, being sent to war possibly to be maimed or killed is so tragic. 

War has long shadows. There are countless stories of wars which had such profound and sorrowful impact on so many lives.

I pray for an end to the wars, suffering and death which are sweeping our beautiful planet at this time. Truly, a woman knows the history of human flesh, she knows its cost. If we, in our societies, realize the wonder of the cost of lives, surely we will come to value our children - and those of others of all species - with all our hearts.

The Mother of Jesus Christ knew the unbelievable pain of the loss of her Son Who died in the cosmic war to defeat satan from wrongful usurpation of the destiny of humankind. She knew the cost of human flesh received through the Incarnation being discarded, disrespected and swept away in torture and death. All mothers may turn to the example of Mother Mary in the Bible, for comfort in their darkest hours of grief and loss. There is hope again - there will one day be resurrection for all lost on earth and in war. Eternal life in the bliss of heaven will be experienced by all the fallen, all lost at sea or buried in unknown graves. The wail of the mother in the artwork of Artist Cormick will be tenderly changed to eternal joy in the reunion of mothers and children, fathers and children, families and their loved ones in the New Jerusalem. And that will be an eternal reunion and life of happiness which will never end.

I know what sober and realistic thoughts the work by Artist Dina Cormick evoked in my mind. Sorrow for past and present loss of life. Respect and reverence for women who value life, Respect and reverence for men who are devoted fathers. Acknowledgement to God in the heavens that, at the end of the day, no matter how grim reality seems, He is in control. And hope, hope for the future - that as women know the history and sanctity of life, all may come to respect and love all living beings. If not in this world, then in the next.

Thank you, Artist Dina, for your incredible mission as artist.

Click in the following link about Artist Dina Cormick, if you wish to view the artwork described above:

With thanks to creativewomartist.com

[lumierecharity]

EXPRESS FAITH AND DEVOTION IN SONG

ONE cannot find anything more religious and more joyful in sacred celebrations than a whole congregation expressing its faith and devotion in song. Therefore the active participation of the whole people, which is shown in singing, is to be carefully promoted.

Musicam Sacram, Instruction on Music in the Liturgy, no. 16

With thanks to vatican.va

Image with thanks to Freepik AI generated content by CN Whittle

[lumierecharity]

THE CHOSEN - MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS CHRIST

Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ, supported Him from His Incarnation to His Resurrection, and beyond.  We honour the Mother of the Son of God and we honour all mothers. Motherhood is a calling which demands much love and self-sacrifice.

With thanks to The Chosen and Youtube

[lumierecharity]

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH - MODULE 77: GLORY OF THE WORD OF GOD

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY

MODULE 77

SERMON ON THE MOUNT: 

GLORY OF THE WORD OF GOD

Jesus was born into humble circumstances

Jesus was born in a stable. The Son of God experienced life as a refugee child in Egypt. As trade, Jesus learned carpentry from His foster-father Joseph. The life of Jesus unfolded as He faithfully performed the duties of youth at home. The Plan of God offered Jesus opportunity to carry out human tasks, as He engaged the greatest task in all the world - that of Messiah, our Redeemer. 

The Plan of God 

The Plan of God makes provision for us all to perform manifold small tasks of learning, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, humbling of personal pride and development of individual personality within society.  We are blessed with a patient God Who delights in our daily achievements and growth within our individual abilities and according to our personal talents with which the Almighty has gifted us.

When Jesus went to the desert for forty days and forty nights, He spent much time in prayer alone with the Father. Jesus was given the perfection of the fulness of the Law of the Kingdom to teach us. These words of Divine Law and wisdom are laid out in the Sermon on the Munt, and are there to set us spiritually free.

Do not judge, lest you yourself be judged

Jesus explained during the great Sermon that we are not to judge others. The Son of God teaches that we are not to notice a speck of sawdust in another's eye, when we have a full plank in our own. This carpenter's symbol illustrates how we may be alive to the faults of others, and oblivious of our own.

Jesus makes it quite clear that no-one is able to judge another. Only God knows the full facts about the other person, the painful history, the personal difficulties, the joys and tragedies and the mental and physical health problems which affect that individual. 

The person blessed with fine parents does not know the painful burden another with difficulties in heredity carries. The one brought up in a comfortable house, trained in the commandments of God from early youth, knows nothing about the temptations of another brought up parentless in a violent environment.

As we do not know the whole person, so, too, we are never wholly impartial. Only the perfectly faultless has the right to look for faults in others. As Jesus pointed out, none of us is without sin. We have enough to do to rectify our own lives without seeking censoriously to rectify the lives of other people.

The message of Jesus is clear; we must concentrate on remedying our own faults - a full-time job - and leave the faults of others to God. 

We are not the final court

This teaching is dependent upon common sense. Jesus is teaching us not to spend our lives searching out the faults of others, often in a spirit of schadenfreude. If we exercise uncompassionate judgement, we may cause harm to others. We are not the final court - the final court is in Heaven at God's Throne. 

A judge maintains law and order

This does not include the situation where an individual wreaks havoc upon another through crime or assault. From ancient times, a judge appointed to weigh the situation weighs evidence and brings about justice.  Measure of surcease may be taken in order to prevent the possibility of further instances of injustice. The dignity of the ministry of judge is to maintain law and order, as well as to prevent anarchy.

The role of priests

As priests, let us remember that we are others' support towards God; not their judge. The sacrament of confession is meant to bring healing and forgiveness, not further condemnation through insensitive handling of the souls of our brothers and sisters who grapple with the intricacies and suffering of daily life.

The penitent should see the compassion of God the Father within the priest, not condemnation of the individual undertaking the sacred clerical ministry.

The priest helps the person who has transgressed to peace of soul from guilt and inner torment, if such there is. The priest further assists the penitent to make reparation insofar as possible. This is a delicate and godly task, not to be undertaken lightly, and not to be carried out without due training and proven ability to deal with the fabric of the lives of others.

Sift the actions of others through fingers of kindness

Thus the rule of thumb in daily interaction is to sift the actions of others through fingers of kindness. Let the sand of actions or attributes which annoy or dismay us flow through our fingers back to the seashore where God will deal with them, if needed. Retain within our fingers the gold nuggets of the inner beauty which resides within another.

An unknown poet put it well,

"Judge not the workings of his brain,

     And of his heart thou cannot see.

     What looks to thy dim eyes a stain,

     In God's pure light may only be,

     A scar brought from some well-won field

     Where thou wouldst only hint and yield." [1]

[1] Bible Portal. Judge not, that you be not judged. Sept 30, 2022. 

Accessed 5/7/2024. 

With thanks to Youtube

[lumierecharity]

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH - MODULE 76: AVOID USELESS ANXIETY

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY

MODULE 76

SERMON ON THE MOUNT: 

AVOID USELESS ANXIETY

Don't waste time in useless worry

Jesus counsels us not to waste time in useless worry, but to trust that God the Father will provide. Many of us, when we reflect on the past, cannot believe how we came through such difficulties. The answer is simple: Divine Providence never failed to provide.

It is Jesus' teaching that we need to completely trust in Almighty God. Jesus draws parallels from nature. Birds survive without storehouses and anxious hoarding. Field-flowers burned as fuel in ovens are beautiful in appearance. Jesus reassures us that if God the Father takes such good care of the tiny bird and attends to the beauty of the passing flower, how much more will the Almighty take care of us, His human children, the crown of His creation?

Live in the present

On the practical level, undue anxiety may lead to nervous exhaustion, tension and health problems. Jesus counsels us to cultivate inner quiet and serenity.

Jesus bids us to trust more in our Provident God and that we live in the present. The past is gone and cannot be revisited. We may repent the past, but we cannot change what has happened. Tomorrow is not yet here, and, for some of us, an earthly tomorrow may no longer be - we may be called to the shores of heaven during the night. Today is what we have; let us deal with it, serene and secure within the Father's Love.

Jesus does not bid us to be imprudent. We need to take necessary care for our lives, for our families, for the future. Savings for a rainy day are important. Sufficient clothing for the climate is a necessity. Balanced food and water is a must. Adequate shelter is a requirement and a blessing. 

Live lives full of peace and joy

Yet, in the midst of this, our pursuit of life-necessities should not be a frenzied search for material goods and a stockpiling of items. We should eschew unnecessary anxiety that creates inner turmoil. We should control our emotions and actions, and live lives full of peace and joy.

"Jesus is not advocating a shiftless, thriftless, reckless, thoughtless, improvident attitude to life; he is forbidding a care-worn, worried fear, which takes all the joy out of life." [1] 

Jesus counsels us firstly to seek the things of God, and to work for His heavenly Kingdom. All the rest shall follow after. "Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat and what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you - you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat? " or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."  [2] 

[1] Barclay, William. Matthew. Page 255

[2] The Bible, Gospel of St Matthew, Chapter 6, verses 25-34

Birds with thanks to Free Clipart Library and Youtube The Chosen

[lumierecharity]

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH - MODULE 75: ENSLAVEMENT BY UNDUE NEED FOR MONEY AND MATERIAL POSSESSIONS

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY

MODULE 75

SERMON ON THE MOUNT: 

ENSLAVEMENT BY UNDUE NEED FOR MONEY AND MATERIAL POSSESSIONS

Undue need of material possessions can enslave one

Jesus explains that undue need of material possessions can enslave us. The need for wealth, houses, estates, clothing and various items can tap into our sinful natures, and cause us to become blinded to reality and to pursue material goods unendingly.

Jesus issues a stark warning; no-one can be slave of two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other. In the same way, it is not possible to have full allegiance to God and to be enslaved by undue love of money. The reason is simple; in the mindless pursuit of wealth and material possessions, we may leave devastation in our wake.

We may gain possessions in a manner in which we would be glad that Jesus Christ should see; or we may gain these in a way we would like to hide from the Son of God. We may gain our wealth by dishonest practice, cheapening our spiritual fiber. We may become powerful and wealthy by knowing destruction of the reputations and lives of others, causing much devastation in their lives.

Possessions may be poorly used, hoarded, utilised for selfish needs only. An individual may use wealth malignantly, using personal possessions to bribe others and corrupt them. One can use personal possessions to persuade others to do things they have no right to do, to sell things they have no right to sell. 

This may not be true in all cases. Wealthy benefactors are known to use wealth for great good for others. Yet the time spent in having to maintain and administrate wealth may tap into personal time and freedom.

The individual who follows the ways of God cannot bow to the dictates that relentless pursuit of undue wealth and material possessions forces upon one. Allegiance to God as our Lord and Master frees us from the need to place money and material possessions on a pedestal. Following the ways of God allows us to use money and material possessions in sensible manner, instead of being enslaved to the need for more and more.

This does not mean that each one of us does not require possessions in order to function in a material world. Of course we do. We require shelter, clothing, food, health care and many other supports. Prudence dictates that we make use of finances and possessions in calm and orderly manner. Money and requirements should remain just that - finances and possessions as a means to an end. We cannot exercise due care as stewards during our earthly time in this world without some finances and support. However, money and possessions are just that - a means to an end, not an end in themselves.

Be free. Don't bow down before the falsity of undue obsession with money and material possessions.

Bow down before the Eternal Throne of Almighty God alone. 

With thanks to Youtube

[lumierecharity]

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH - MODULE 74: KEEP A CLEAR EYE

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY

MODULE 74

SERMON ON THE MOUNT: 

KEEP A CLEAR EYE

The pure eye

Jesus speaks of the eye as the lamp of the body. If the window of the eye - by which light gets into the body - is strong, the individual will have good sight. If the eye is compromised, light will be diminished, dirtied or distorted.

We have to guard the light of our eyes. In the same way, the light which passes into the soul, the inner spirit, comes through the spiritual eye. The one whose inner eye vision is distorted by jealousy, suspicion, hatred, avarice, prejudice or self-conceit will have distortion of spiritual vision, instead of pure spiritual light within.

Jesus has come - 'the Light of the World' - to clear our spiritual vision of individual malaise and restore us to perfect inner sight.  "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" [Matthew 6:22-23]

A clear inner eye beams in generosity of spirit, selfless action, compassion for others, realistic and humble self-image, a deep love for God. Clear inner vision leads to peace of soul.  

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, told us, "I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." [John 8:12]

Let the Light of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, shine in through your spiritual eye upon your soul. Let His Light shine upon your heart and change you, day by day. In this way, you will become holy.

[lumierecharity]

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH - MODULE 73: CELESTIAL TREASURE

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY

MODULE 73

SERMON ON THE MOUNT: 

CELESTIAL TREASURE

Humankind was born for greatness

In the Sermon on the Mount, the Law of the Kingdom is clearly laid out by Jesus in Chapters 5 to 7. The reality of Biblical history is that humankind was born for greatness. "God created man in His own Image, in the Image of God He created him." [Genesis 1:27]    Clearly, there is something infinitely lovely here. Man and woman were essentially born to be royal within the Kingdom of God.

The spiritual history of humankind within the Bible shows that humankind lost their greatness. Instead of achieving royalty through being servants of God, humankind became the slaves of sin.

Jesus, our Saviour, came to this world from Heaven to show us that humankind can regain our greatness. Even after the disaster and distress of the Fall and the abandonment by our ancestors of the Plan of God, God did not allow humankind to be destroyed by our own folly. Rather, He sent His Son Jesus Christ into our world to liberate us from the shackles of sin and so that we could regain full fellowship with God.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us the Law of the Kingdom and the royal road to greatness.

Celestial Treasure

Jesus counselled us not to think only of the present, but to store up for the eternal future. Those who scurry after wealth, prestige and power on this earth search for a phantom which will melt away when earth's day is done.

No house, no silver, no gold, no finery can be taken with us when we go to God. We leave this world at the moment of death to face our personal judgement with God, with no earthly goods at our side. What items we have accumulated on earth will not stand to our good in heaven. Through His Blood shed on the cross, Jesus Christ paid the penalty of sin and satisfied the demands of Divine Justice, reconciling humankind with God. 

The Son of God triumphed over sin, death and the power of the devil over humankind. Jesus secured redemption for each person in the past, the present and the future. It is up to us whether we accept the Saviour's redemption and the grace which His resurrection won for us. Our true treasure in Heaven are our efforts to do good, give alms, be kind, do godly actions. 

Jesus told us not to lay up treasures upon this earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but to lay up for ourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Jesus tells us, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  [Matthew 6:21]

Spiritual treasure

Spiritual treasure are the holy moments which shape the journey of our lives, where God touches our hearts not to pursue people, money, and objects with no thought to the Commandments of God. Spiritual treasure are actions of justice, kindness and godliness which will stand to our good stead when we have to answer to God for our actions and inactions during our earthly lives. 

Do not be afraid of your judgement

Do not be afraid of your judgement. Do the best you can, and entrust the rest to God. We are but made of the earth, and are frail. God understands this. Yet, we are not only made of earth. We are also made in the Image and Likeness of God. God does not expect us to manage our lives all on our own. God stoops to us, and assist us to deeds of mercy, justice, compassion, understanding, forgiveness and godliness. Turn to God when you need Divine Help and Grace to rise above natural tendencies to pride, anger, avarice, greed, lust and jealousy. God will surely help.

The teaching of celestial treasure has as kernel the reality that if one places one's treasure in Heaven, that is where one's heart and attention also will be.

Godly actions

Godly actions are not to trumpet your good deeds in front of others [Matthew 6:1].  Give assistance and alms to the needy {Matthew 6:2-4]. Pray to God the Father in privacy [Matthew 6:5-8]. Fast [that is, be temperate in your eating and drinking] and do this in Honour of Almighty God [Matthew 6:16-18]. Thus, good deeds, alms, prayer and fasting are supports which store up treasure in Heaven. 

Our true and lasting treasure consists of our love for God, our respect for His ways, our striving to do good in His Name. Alms in good spirit, fasting in faith-filled way, prayer in intimate relationship with God, love for others and good self-respect, kind deeds in the Name of God; these are the true treasure we must store up for Heaven.

Fine clothes disintegrate over time

Fine clothes disintegrate over time; wealth can be stolen; paper currency may be destroyed. Houses, estates and palaces may be lost or fall into ruin. 

Royal testimony of character

Yet the celestial treasure of following the Ten Commandments and the Law of the Kingdom as laid out by the Son of God in the Sermon on the Mount will stand to our good and be our royal testimony of character, forever in Heaven. [Matthew 6:19-21]

[lumierecharity]

ART AND OUR SPIRITUAL ROAD

                  Art and our spiritual road

So, the questions remains. Is art spiritual?

I believe so.

God is the First Artist. To His Portfolio as it were

lies the innovation of the creation of colour with

subtle palette of hues, the subject matter of the

creation of the universe, and the gift to

humankind of evocation of feelings, memories or

images to the conscious mind.

Art can inspire us, teach us, amuse us, enrich us or degrade us. 

Sr Bernwarda OP, my art teacher through whose tutelage many came to unlock their own artistic talents, told me many years ago to stand and look at art in silence for a while. 

And to let the art speak to me.

A dutiful little girl, I used to do just that. 

With one of two results; nothing very much, 

or a deep quieting of the senses, and a feeling 

of breathless awe and listening.

On a number of occasions, I have been moved to tears by truly great art. 

Be of good cheer. 

We will still win through  to Heaven. . . 

[lumierecharity]

COFFEE BREAK ISSUE ONE - THE BLOG OF MOTHER AND DAUGHTER LUKY AND CATHERINE NICOLETTE

Welcome to Coffee Break, the blog of mother and daughter Luky Whittle and Catherine Nicolette Whittle.

Together we will tell you about life in the family lane over the past 50 years, together with snippets of interest such as photographs, articles, books, and family happenings which have been a rich source of amusement to us both over our years together.

So sit down, take up a cup of steaming coffee, open your laptop and enjoy!  

Coffee Break is followed by 144 countries

Please enjoy this Coffee Break Issue One

COFFEE BREAK ISSUE ONE 

ARTICLES

How Coffee Break began

Finding the baby

Happy New Year

Love and loss

I remember Papa

Fascinating Maud Gonne

Zoute drop with Irish stew

Mary, Joseph and the humble stable

Miss Marks' last day at the office

An open hand is never empty

My teenage dreams

Download your issue at the following link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BOy6qrfBhkj6hwarc3PXceheHfu1x009/view?usp=drive_link

Image with thanks to Canva