WORSHIP

I don’t get anything out of it!  It’s so boring!  I don’t understand what is going on!  Sunday morning is the only time I have to get caught up on my sleep, can’t I just pray at home?

Does this sound like you?  If so, you are not alone.  Many teenagers feel the same way.  They want answers that will explain why going to Sunday Mass is so important.  They want to know – what’s in it for me?  The answer is easy when you think about Mass in a different way.

Imagine how not eating or drinking anything for a week might affect your health.  Would you become starved, dehydrated or maybe even worse?  Would you have the strength, energy or even the desire to think about anything other than staying alive?  That is, if by that time, you could even think clearly at all.  In fact, well before the seventh day, your judgement probably would begin to fail you as fear and desperation would replace confidence and reason.

Many people are in the same condition – spiritually.  They don’t realize that their spiritual health depends on nourishment just like their physical health does.  That’s why, as Catholics, we believe that Sunday Mass is so important.  In this beautiful Sacrament, God refreshes our souls and nourishes us through the gifts of His Word and the Body and Blood of His Son Jesus Christ.  In coming together as a community, we honor God by joining with Christ in a sacrifice of love and thanksgiving.  Most importantly, in taking part in Mass every week, we honor God in obedience of the Third Commandment to “Keep holy the Sabbath” and we honor Christ in following his command to “Do this in memory of Me.”

Wow!  It’s pretty clear what God expects of us on Sundays.  Before you hesitate, just think about the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.  Isn’t our small commitment of only an hour a week the least we can do?

How about you?  Are you spiritually nourished?  Do you regularly open this unique gift from God?  If so, then you already recognize that special feeling of grace poured out on you and a feeling of being prepared for a new week ahead.  These are God’s rewards for your decision to meet Him at Mass every Sunday.

What Jesus Did – At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan!  It is written: ‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship and Him alone shall you serve.’” – Matthew 4:10

What Jesus Said – But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth;  and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. – John 4:23

A Point to Ponder

How you worship says a lot to others about why you worship.

A Disciples Prayer About Worship

Dearest Jesus, help me to think of worship as everything I do that brings God pleasure and praise.  Help me to see worship not as an obligation but as an opportunity to honor and glorify You.  Forgive me for my sins when I have fallen short of prayerful worship of You.  In Your name I pray, Amen.

Wednesday Words of Wisdom – Intolerance

You know what they say, “You only get one chance to make a first impression.”  Some experts even go so far as to say your one chance lasts only 3 seconds.  Studies have shown that within the first 3 seconds that you meet someone new, you will have sized them up to be: rich or poor, smart or dull, uptight or laid back, exciting or boring, nice or mean, and an array of other labels and stereotypes.  And the sad part is you won’t even realize you are doing this.

Why is it so natural for humans to decide to automatically judge?  God challenges us to look beyond the exterior.  It’s too easy to be narrow-minded;  to not want to go out of our way to be accepting of others.  But oh, the rewards we are missing out on.  Think about how boring the world would be if we were all the same.  Our individuality is what makes us unique.

Christ doesn’t care if we are rich or poor, black or white or if we are different from each other in any other way.  He only cares about what is in our hearts and how we treat each other.  He invites us to see Him in others.  Promoting acceptance and diversity in races, religions, gender, physical and mental abilities, etc.  is proof that we are responding to this invitation.

What Jesus Did

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the kingdom of heaven before human beings.  You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.” – Matthew 23:13

The scribes and Pharisees who challenged Jesus had a big problem.  They didn’t practice what they preached.  And, Jesus’ intolerance of this hypocrisy was very clear.  Matthew 23:13-39 reveals just how strongly Jesus condemned both their actions and their attitudes.  He also spells out here how serious the consequences can be for anyone who is a hypocrite in matters of faith.  Religious hypocrisy would cost them the very salvation of their souls.

We are held to the same standard in how we process and practice our faith.  Yet, how many teens do you know who do like the Pharisees and just “go to church for show?”  Have you ever found yourself passing judgement on someone else for the very thing that you have been guilty of?

It could be that our offense is something as simple as choosing not to pay attention at Mass or feeling self-righteous when thinking about other Catholic teens who do not go to Mass.  Just as He did with the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus sees our hypocrisy clearly because He understands our motivations for doing the things we do.  The good news is, it’s easy to avoid hypocrisy.  Just do as Jesus did and practice what you preach.  Remember, always be intolerant of sin.  But be sure that your intolerance stops there.  That is where love begins.

What Jesus Said

“Stop judging and you will not be judged.  Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” – Luke 6:37

More times than not, Jesus’ teaching focused on the things we should do in order to lead a Christian life.  But in Luke 6:37, Jesus makes it very clear that when it comes to intolerance of others, there are things that we sometimes do that should be put to a stop.  We should never tolerate sin.  But when we begin to be intolerant of the sinner (instead of just the sin) we have gone too far.  More importantly in the Scripture, Jesus teaches us that intolerance of others can, and will, result in their own intolerance of us.

Do you fall victim to this temptation from time to time?  You probably can think of a few times when you have become intolerant of others – and not just their behavior.  Are you tolerant of your brothers and sisters?  Are you tolerant of your parents?  It could be a teacher, your boss, or someone at work that drives you crazy.  When you feel it happening to you, remember how clear Jesus’ words of warning are in this Scripture.

What Does the Bible Say About Intolerance

I Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel: Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him.  God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance.  The Lord looks into the heart.”

Luke 6:36 “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Psalm 34:18-20 “The righteous cry out, the Lord hears and he rescues them from all their afflictions.  The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.  Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”

A Point to Ponder

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” – Mother Theresa

A Disciples Prayer for Tolerance

“Heavenly Father, help those blinded by pride to see that everyone was created in Your likeness.  Bless those hurt by rudeness, numbed by neglect and crippled by the injustice of the intolerance in the world.  Turn our eyes to You for tolerance, healing and renewed faith in You.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.”

Wednesday Words of Wisdom – CHOICES

Posted on November 29, 2011 by admin

Each day your life unfolds as a result of a series of choices you make.  What time you get up, what to eat, who to hang with, whether to study or not, what movie to see, how to spend your free time and how much sleep to get at night are all examples.  Even though others may influence you in making them, these choices are only yours to make.

The good news is, when you live as God hopes you will, your choices will produce rewards and positive consequences.  But, if you ignore God’s will in your choices, you will not only separate yourself from Him, but you will have to live with the negative consequences as a result.  And sometimes, these consequences can last a lifetime.

What Jesus Did

John 15:16 “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.”

Doesn’t it seem like having faith, especially among teens today, is a “Take it or leave it proposition?”  We live in a world of unlimited choices…and choosing whether to believe in Jesus, and live as He asks us, is just one of many that we make.  To many around you, this choice is as inconsequential as deciding what jeans to wear or what movie to see on any given weekend.

But, John 15:16 makes it clear that YOU are not “just another teen.”  Just like His first disciples, Jesus has chosen you to be His witness in the world around you.  It is hard to do that in our culture today.  You might run the risk of being made fun of because of your expression of faith.  There are a lot of people who will resist you.  Or, you might sometimes feel overwhelmed or even confused about how to keep Jesus at the center of all the choices you have to make.  But always remember that in this same verse Jesus also promises that He will give you everything you need to succeed.  All you have to do is ask God for it in His name.  You were chosen by Christ.  Only you get to choose how to respond.

What Jesus Said

Luke 14:24  “For, I tell you, none of those men were invited will taste my dinner.”

In Luke 14:15-24, Jesus tells the story of a King who gave a wedding feast.  Rather than sitting down to the banquet, one after another, the guests who were first invited excused themselves to take care of some other concern in their life.  Their choices costs them dearly.  Because their focus was on worldly things, the King invited others instead.  The original guests who were invited to the ceremony missed out on the reward.

Family, friends, school, sports, cars and even clothes.  Wow!  The list goes on and on!  You might think, “How can I be expected to focus on anything else?”  Doesn’t it just seem like these define who you are as a teen?  This was as true in Jesus’ time as it is today.  He understands how these and other concerns about life can consume you.  That’s why He only asks one thing of you.  When you make out the list of things that define your life, simply put His name first.  For example, think of Jesus’ plan for you when you first wake up each morning.  Then, thank Him for the opportunities He gave you to fulfill that plan each night before you go to sleep.  When you do that (and live like you mean it) you will be surprised at how easily the other things will fall into place.  And, even more importantly, you will be a guest at the eternal banquet in heaven after a life dedicated to Him.

What Does the Bible Say About Choices?

I Corinthians 6:12 “Everything is lawful for me,” but not everything is beneficial.  Everything is lawful for me,” but I will not let myself be dominated by anything.  – Be strong and make your own choices in life.

I Samuel 15:26 But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, because you rejected the word of the Lord and the Lord has rejected you as king of Israel.” – Saul faced consequences just like the rest of us.

Psalm 143:10 “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your kind spirit guide me on ground that is level.” – Pray to God that He might help you make good choices.

Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” - Choose to use your time wisely.

Exodus 23:2 “You shall not follow the crowd in doing wrong.” – Following the crowd is not an excuse for making bad choices.

A Point to Ponder

If you choose to live your life dedicated to Christ then the right choices become clearer.

A Disciples Prayer in Making Choices

“Heavenly Father, I praise You for Your goodness and thank You for Your gifts.  Let the choices I make reflect my praise and thanksgiving every day and in every way.  Give me courage to stand up for You and the discipline I will need to never falter.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

Wednesday Words of Wisdom – Guilt

When we decide to follow God’s will in our lives, He blesses us in many ways.  But few of those blessings are as rewarding as a clear conscience.  Every time we decide to avoid sin and strive to do what is right, we hear from God in our thoughts.  When your conscience is clear, you feel self-assured.

The Bible reminds us that our efforts to lead a Christ-like life will always be rewarded.  At the same time, it cautions us to beware of the consequences if we don’t.  A guilty conscience (when it is justifiable) means something is wrong with your relationship with God.  It’s a reminder to you that you need to right a wrong you have done and repent and confess your sin.  Once you have done that, both the sin and the guilt that accompanies that sin will be removed forever.  That’s a small price to pay for the blessings of a clear conscience.

Guilt Gone Wrong

When you sin on your own, you are fully responsible for an action or thought that hurts another.  But when you are made to feel guilty for another’s sins or for circumstances beyond your control, then this is guilt gone wrong.

Perhaps there is a divorce in your family or a bad situation between some of your friends.  Your first thought might be to blame yourself.  Sometimes you may feel like these circumstances are a result of something you should or shouldn’t have done.  You think the situation could be your fault and so you blame yourself.  Don’t do that!

Guilt has its place only when it is deserved by us.  But, when it is handed out by others or self-inflicted as a means of justifying a problem, it’s simply an attempt to hide from the truth.  When you feel guilty, be honest with yourself but be fair with yourself too.

What Does the Bible Say About Guilt?

Psalm 32:5  Then I declared my sin to you;/my guilt I did not hide./ I said, “I confess my transgression to the Lord,”/ and you took away the guilt of my sin.

Leviticus 5:1   If a person, either having seen or come to know something, does wrong by refusing as a witness under oath to give information, that individual shall bear the penalty;

Psalm 32:2  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputes no guilt,/ in whose spirit is no deceit.

Acts 24:16  Because of this, I always strive to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

Like Baptism that washes away the stain of Original Sin, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is designed to forgive your sin and take away guilt.  As Catholics, we believe that it is not enough just to admit your sins to yourself or to confess them to God only in your thoughts.  Through absolution by the priest in this powerful Sacrament, God offers you a “new Baptism,” a new shower of grace to remove your sin bringing you closer to Him.  Instituted by Christ, this Sacrament of cleansing makes it easy for you to begin again, free from guilt and sin.  When you find yourself separated from God, He waits with loving patience for you to decide to return to Him in this gift of love.

A Point to Ponder

“Is it possible that all the horrible things you have ever done have been forgotten by everyone except yourself?”

A Disciple’s Prayer about Guilt

Dear Lord, help me recognize that when I feel guilty, it is because I have separated myself from You.  Give me the courage to return to You in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to be one with You again.  Give me peace when I feel weary.  Give me Your peace when I feel alone.  Give me the strength I need to conquer guilt and sin and the grace to recognize that You are always near.  In Your name I pray,  Amen.

Wednesday Words of Wisdom – Service

 

Wednesday Words of Wisdom – Anger

ANGER

Experiencing emotion is a reminder that we are created in the likeness of God.  God loves.  God has compassion.  God expresses sorrow when we are distant from Him.  Scripture tells us that God, in the person of both the Father and the Son, even experienced anger.  It’s an emotion as old as time itself.

In and of itself, anger is not evil.  There are times and instances where anger is justified.  However, when we hold on to it, act on it in revenge, or use it to justify thoughts or acts that separate us from God or from each other, it is no longer just an emotion, anger become a sin.

What Jesus Said About Anger

“Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” – Matthew 5:23-24

What this passage reveals is that anger at another person not only damages the relationship we have with them, but unless it is resolved, can cloud our very relationship with God.  It teaches us that we can never be fully reconciled with God until, and unless, we seek reconciliation with the person we have wronged in the first place.

What Does the Bible Say About Anger

“Blessed is your good judgement and blessed are you yourself. Today you have prevented me from shedding blood and rescuing myself with my own hand.” – I Samuel 25:33       Anger is a choice!  Have a plan for the next time you get angry.

Be angry but do not sin;  do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil. – Ephesians 4:26-27  Settle your differences each day.

The start of strife is like the opening of a dam; / check a quarrel before it bursts forth! – Proverbs 17:14  Realize that an argument can lead to the serious sin of anger.

A Disciple’s Prayer in Dealing with Anger

“Loving Jesus, I share with You the human emotions that make me whole.  Help me to follow Your examples in being angered at sin, evil and injustice in the world but be with me when anger might lead me into sin.  Give me self-control to avoid anger and, when it comes as temptation, the wisdom to let it go.  In Your name I pray, Amen.”

Wednesday Words of Wisdom – Discouragement

Have you ever felt like life is crashing down around you?  Maybe you’ve experienced a loss or a big disappointment, or maybe sometimes you feel like you just don’t belong – or you don’t even exist.  You might wonder to yourself, “Has anyone else ever felt so abandoned or felt like they had every reason to give up?”

JESUS DID!  Even though he was the bearer of the best news in the history of the world.  He was rejected at every turn.  Only a few believed in Him while the powerful people around Him plotted to destroy Him.  During the whole time, Jesus saw very plainly what was ahead of Him. He had every reason to run, to hide or to take an easier way out.  Instead, even in His darkest hour of despair, Jesus knew that God had a bigger plan for Him.  That’s why he responded with courage to His Father in prayer by proclaiming “…not my will but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

God has a plan for you, too.  But in order to realize it, you must allow Him the time and space to make it happen.  It’s hard to accept that the tough times in your life are actually a part of that plan.  But everything happens for a reason in God’s plan.  Perhaps the challenges you face have been put there to make you stronger.  Or, maybe He just plans to use your difficulty as the means to allow someone else to “do His will.”  Have you every considered that allowing someone to help you when you are in need might mean as much to them as their help means to you?

That’s why it is so important to not get discouraged.  Just like Christ did, turn your challenges over to God. Then, talk to family members, friends or anyone you trust to help you deal with them.  When you do that, you’ll discover how much God loves you and how important the people around you can be.  In the process, it might actually be hard to determine who is really helping whom.

What Does the Bible Say About Discouragement

Romans 5:5  “…and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”

Psalm 71:14  “I will always hope in you / and add to all your praise.”

Romans 8:18  “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.”

Lamentations 3:26  “It is good to hope in silence / for the Lord’s deliverance.”

Romans 8:28  “We know that all things work for the good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

A Disciples Prayer in Regard to Discouragement

“Dearest Jesus, even You faced discouragement from time to time.  When I am there, inspire me to turn to You in prayer for help and encouragement.  Give me the strength to avoid the temptation for self-centered sin by helping me to focus on others and not myself as a way to recover balance in my life.  In Your name I pray, Amen.”

 

Wednesday Words of Wisdom – Courage

It must not have been easy for David, a young shepherd boy, to face Goliath, a Philistine with an extremely large build and a bad temper.  Yet David proclaimed to Saul, “My lord should not lose heart. Let your servant go and fight this Philistine.”  (1 Samuel 17:32) Just as courageously, in the devotions of the Stations of the Cross, we recall how Veronica stepped toward in the face of danger to wipe the face of Jesus on his way to Calvary.

We are called to be courageous.  Actually, when you think about it, God gives us opportunities every day to show our courage.  How do you respond to the new kid at school that no one talks to, the kid that everyone picks on because he’s overweight, or the crowd that makes fun of people who proclaim their Christian faith?  Are you like David or Veronica?

You may think so now, but what you do and what you say can make a big difference in other people’s lives.  Sure you can run the risk of being made fun of in the process.  You may even be ridiculed when you try and help another.  God never said being brave would be easy.  Paul reminds us: “Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong”.  (1 Corinthians 16:13)

Like David, you will find out that courage based in faith makes it possible to face any obstacle with confidence.  Like Veronica, you will find that courage will give you the compassion to be a source of comfort for your family and friends through even the toughest times.  Along the way, God will conquer the evils, fears or doubts you may have.  And, He will bless you with a good feeling about yourself and a sense of peace and well-being.

What Does The Bible Say About Courage?

Joshua 1:9  I command you: be strong and steadfast!  Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.

John 16:33  I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.  In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.

Psalm 27:14  Wait for the Lord, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the Lord!

Acts 4:31  As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

A Disciples Prayer for Courage

“Jesus, You showed me that courage of convictions can change the world.  Give me the courage to always imitate You regardless of what others may think or say.  Make me humble. Make me strong.  Help me courageously face all fear and doubt in standing up for the truth of the Gospel in the face of challenges just as You did for me.  In Your name I pray, Amen.”

 

Wednesday Words of Wisdom – Relationships

Part of who you are is defined by the relationships you have with God and with others.  As a Christian, your responsibility is to develop and nurture those relationships just as Christ did with His Father in Heaven and with those around Him.

As a teen, that can be tough. It’s hard enough sometimes figuring out your own problems and deciding for yourself just who you are – never mind your responsibility for figuring out how you fit in.

Fortunately, in Matthew 7:12, Christ has given you a simple rule to follow, “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.”

Did you know that this simple instruction is recognized as so profound and so important to maintaining healthy and happy relationships that several faiths outside of Christianity hold it as a central teaching – all in imitation of Christ?

Sound simple? It is!  But it’s not always easy to do.  But, when you consider the rewards you’ll receive for making this decision, being “easy to do” doesn’t really seem to matter.

What Jesus Says About Relationships

“But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:27-28

Jesus knew that maintaining healthy relationships with those who care for us as much as we care for them was easy to do.  But what He also knew is that our relationships with others, especially our enemies or people that curse us or persecute us was just as important – maybe even more important to our well being.  At first glance, that may be hard to understand.  But when you think about how He did that very thing, even to the people who crucified Him, you will begin to realize what that can really mean.

Maybe this lesson is close to you than you think.  Perhaps your family or a family you know has gone through a bitter divorce?  Often, when that happens, persecution, mistreatment  and even hate come to the surface in what people say and do.  Out of hurt and resentment, we can convince ourselves that loved ones are our enemies.  Pain, anger and disappointment sometimes turn parents into people we don’t even know.  And, it’s not uncommon for the children who love them both to feel trapped in the middle.  Jesus’ example shows us that love and forgiveness through prayer is the answer to mending these broken relationships.  Even in the darkest of times, if we turn to Him, He will heal all our broken relationships.

Saints Relate

Have you heard about St. Scholastica and St. Benedict?  If not, you should know that these two saints were related in a very interesting way.  These saints were twins. Born in Italy, each lived devout, prayerful lives.  St. Benedict lived as a hermit part of his life while St. Scholastica consecrated her life to God at a very early age.  St. Benedict founded the Benedictine order and compiled the Rule of St. Benedict. He instructed his followers to study and put into practice the sacred Scriptures.

A Disciples Prayer About Relationships

Dear God, through the intercession of Saints Benedict and Scholastica, give me the wisdom I need to value my relationship with You more than any other.  Help me to be mindful of the relationships in my life that need to be cared for and tended to.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

 

Wednesday Words of Wisdom – Peer Pressure

Peer Pressure

Like a blacksmith’s hammer, the world pounds away at you in an attempt to form you into someone it thinks you should be.  Unfortunately, too many of these blows come from the people who are closest to you, especially if you are a teen.  But the good news is that unless the iron is hot, even the blacksmith can’t change it’s shape.  Like that iron, when you decide to remain cool in the heat all around you and not allow others to mold you into something they want you to be, then you will have taken the first step in becoming the person God wants you to be.

What Does the Bible Say About Peer Pressure?

From time to time, everyone is pressured to fit in with their peers.  Unfortunately, sometimes you will feel pressure to make decisions contrary to what God wishes you would.  Here are just a few of the stories in the Bible that will help you when you feel…

• Pressure to Use Foul Language – James 3:5-10, Ephesians 4:29
• Pressure to Drink Alcohol – Galatians 5:19-21
• Pressure to Follow the Crowd – Proverbs 1:10-12, Exodus 23:2
• Pressure to Deny Your Faith in Christ – Matthew 26:69-75

A Disciples Prayer about Peer Pressure

“Lord Jesus, help me put my faith in You and to obey God so that no matter what pressure I feel, I will not make bad decisions.  Increase my faith so I can follow You and change the world for the better in my example for others. In Your name I pray Amen.”