IT'S DECEMBER AGAIN, SHORT DAYS, LONG NIGHTS AND FINALLY, CHRISTMAS

December Already !! The month when throughout the world many celebrate the Birthday of our King Jesus, the Christ, the Baby born in Bethlehem. Happy Birthday King Jesus, Son of David !!
Many have read, and heard, throughout their lives the statement that Gabriel, an Archangel, who was sent to Mary,
daughter of Anna, of the House of David. “Hail !!  Full of Grace !!...” 

Many have even prayed these words, in private or in larger assemblies. Some pray these words daily with their families.
Lets take a look at these words, pronounced by the Archangel Gabriel. The first word we see is ‘Hail’ this word is an early addressing word used - to call, to awaken to attention, and is used today during military, and naval ceremonies, for the call of assembly. ‘Hail’ may have come from the Hebrew word Hallel – Praise be. Gabriel may have used this
word Hallel when addressing Mary .
The second word is "full," a word we use to describe contents of a container, filled to the top. 
The word "Grace" is next. This word is used for the prayer said before a meal, often. Yet the word "Grace" is also used in many other ways with other meanings. "Grace" is used to describe Beauty, not the attractive, glamorous type, but the Beauty that is presewnt when the discipline needed to achieve quality presentations rules.  Example-
“The skater glided across the ice with such grace.”
Another use of this word "Grace," is the Favor of God, given by God, because of His Love. This use of "Grace" is found in the
New Testament, many times. "Grace" is found in the Letters, the Epistles, of the disciples of Christ. A few occurrences where this word "Grace" is used are the following Scriptures: II Corinthians 8:7—As you abound in everything, Faith,
Utterance, Knowledge, Diligence, see that you abound in Grace, also. II Corinthians 9:8---God is able to make all Grace abound in you, having sufficiency in all things, we may abound to do good work. Romans 5:2---This "Grace" in which we stand, Rejoicing in the Hope of the Glory of God.  We can perceive that Grace is-----where Blessings are. Our Lord’s desire is that Grace be received by us and that we make of ourselves a channel of His action as well.
The Grace of our Lord can be received and applied to every area of our lives, when we ask in prayer, for the area to be Blessed.
Grace is also found when the Presence of God appears. The Throne of His Presence and Glory, is also known as the Throne of His Grace, we can find this noted in Hebrews, Ch. 4 . “Lets arrive boldly, to the Throne of His Grace, obtaining Mercy, finding Grace to help us in our times of need.” 
So with this word "Grace"  *The Blessing, and Favor, of God !!* as a focus during this Christmas Season, lets remind each other to receive by prayer, and partake in Eucharist, Grace. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Baby of Bethlehem, purchased for us through Grace. So lets be *Thankful* for this Gift !!!
Br. Phil Bara 
Merry Christmas !! Feliz Navidad !! Joyeux Noel !! Wesolych Swiat !! Chuck Myung Jien Sien !! Buon Natale !!!

I PROMISE YOU THIS, TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN MY KINGDOM

http://frail.deviantart.com/

when I saw you for the first time, you were hanging with a theif
and I knew my hands were dirty
and I dropped my gaze






but you said I was forgiven.

"Frail"

"theif" is purposely done by the artist, Frail,  to add symbolism to the piece.




We heard an OK sermon this morning but like so many others on the topic of Christ the King, it missed a key point that hardly any priest ever, if ever at all, makes.  It is the point that there are some times in the Gospel when a "pagan" converts on the spot before Jesus and begins to see.  It is strange that this miracle which happens three times in the story of the Passion and Death of Jesus is rarely made the centerpiece of a Sunday morning sermon, or Good Friday instruction.  The first one of the three is Pontius Pilate himself.  He calls Jesus, "King of the Jews."  At one point after this, Pilate even gets a little huffy and asks Jesus, "I'm not a Jew, am I?"  Pilate even has it written on the Cross in the three major languages of the day, Latin, Greek and Hebrew.  Furthermore, when he is challenged about what he wrote his answer is a firm, "What I have written, I have written."  Did he convert?  We don't know.  We do know that he fell our of favor with the authorities back at the home office.  After that, no one dared to pursue the argument, neither Roman nor Jew.  The two other conversions take place at the foot of the Cross.  One Roman and the other Jewish.  The centurion who was on guard at the foot of the Cross says, "Truly this man was the Son of God." [Mark, 15; 39]  We are just as familiar with the thief who asked forgiveness and was promised heaven by Jesus Himself.  
The universality of the Power of God exercised by Jesus is on full display in these stories and we rarely hear anyone make the point.
So, today, I am making the point.  So think about it and pray over it.

Paul

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR, BUT IT'S BETTER TO ASK THAN NOT

Solomon had just been anointed as king.  As the story goes.

7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
8 Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”   [2 Chronicles]

"Son of David, have pity on me!"
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
"What do you want me to do for you?"
He replied, "Lord, please let me see."
Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."
[Luke 18, 40 - 42]

What Jesus is doing here is repeating what His Father did for Solomon.   In both cases He is telling us that He and His Father expect us to ask.  It is also important to realize that He expects us to ask for the right thing.  It is important that we think it over carefully before jumping out in front of Him and asking for the thing that we want more than for the thing that we need.
We must be prepared to carry with us the obligation to use the gift that is given in response to our prayers for the greater glory of God.  The gift of God is not proffered solely for our own comfort.  The gift of God is given to enhance the vision that we have of ourselves in our relationship with Him.  That relationship with Him is what enhances our relationship with our fellow humans.  Jesus gave the blind man his physical sight back.  In so doing He also gave the man the ability to see himself and his surroundings in a different light.  Jesus gave the man a brighter light of faith.
There are two things here that move me:  If you fear wanting to see more clearly through faith, don't ask; if you fear the responsibility that comes with clearer sight, don't ask.
Problem then is, what is the price of not asking?

That's up to God to answer, not me.

WE ARE ONE

We each are important to everyone that we meet. Throughout our daily rendezvous we all encounter many opportunities that can reveal the *Kingdom of God*. 

I myself have willingly met with people that sit with alms-bowl in front of markets.  The many military cans with

the ensigns of homeless  associations inscribed upon them, are being filled with the coins and currency of the markets patrons. I have placed a few coins in these ‘Hope’ containers.

I have also done as the Early Disciples, mentioned in Acts of the Apostles,  did. I have stated the declaration of Faith to the person seeking a handout. The words that are pronounced by me to the amazed panhandler are “Silver and Gold I have not to give, yet that which I have I give......in the Name of our Lord Jesus, *Box* be filled !!”

Strange for these doubting days, yet I believe that the *Box* has been filled. I have been greeted with much pleasure, a few days later by the ‘beggar’ seated.  I do not take any of the credit for any of the changes that have occurred . I only thank our King Jesus, and reflect upon the Reality, that we (you, me, and all Christ’ians)  are united as the Body of

Christ Jesus, with Him as Being the Head !!! 

In closing this I pose this question:  How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? 

The answer to this is, because we are United!!

                                                                            Br.Phil Bara

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