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Thursday, August 29, 2013

THE NOSE KNOWS

If one walks around with the nose in the air, one is going to end up flat on one`s face. In which case, the nose would then have been brought down, by none other than the very owner of the nose in question.  But if one is content to be simply oneself, keeping one’s nose on the level and pointed in the direction of righteousness, one will become more than oneself."

 This statement is for me one of the areas that I need to persevere in. Having years of studying the Scriptures and many other Holy Writings, I on many occasions must keep my ego in check.  The Pharisees and Scribes of Jesus’ day knew all the answers to the many questions. Yet they arrogantly could not recognize the Son of God, the Messiah standing a mere nose-length in front of them.  My prayer is that I always recognize Jesus, in the many faces that appear before my nose on any given day, every day of every week.  It’s in these faces, the ones with which I come in contact everyday that I pray to see Jesus.  I need to remember that others, like me, are created in the Image and Likeness of God.
Also along with this, Scripture mentions that Angels may be the strangers with whom I converse now and then.   And not it's just me;  it's you too.  It's all of us, walking in God’s garden, side by side with one another every day. 
So let’s together remind ourselves that we are to Love others even as Jesus Christ Loves us!!

Bro.Phil Bara -- 8/29/2013

Saturday, August 3, 2013

A MODERN DAY PARABLE

Dung Heap Worms are found in many shapes and sizes. These can be small, so small that a microscope is needed.
There are also some large enough to be seen from a distance.    These Dung Heap Worms have the ability to blend with the surroundings, blending into other forms of life. The grouping of some of these grubs seem to consist of a very high social order. Sharing the environment with each other, these primary life forms even seem to have a `spiritual` order. Wherever decay, decomposition, and death is, there will be found the presence of these critters.
There are also Dung Heap Worms that can be found in our daily lives. These worms will infiltrate areas of life wherever change, growth, and progress is occurring. The sound of these Dung Heap Worms is the sound of the many voices clashing. The voices shout out loudly all the reasons why change, growth, and progress, should not occur. These worms will creep in and whisper about all the pain, and discomfort that will happen.
To get these Dung Heap Worms to squirm wildly, all one has to do is begin to pray, with sincerity. These worms detest Spiritual activities. These creatures crawl and multiply in the darkest areas.  Wherever the Light is shining and the warmth of Life is present these crawlers shrivel.

One finds in Scripture an example where the Dung Heap Worms caused a person to live insanely in a graveyard.
Reading chapter 5, verses 1-19, of the Gospel of Mark, the community of the village could not rid the person of these destroying eaters.     One also reads that the only solution to free the person from this miasmic condition is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Even the apostles asked Jesus how He did it.  The social activities of the village, the `pot lucks`, the parades, the reading of books, the long hours spent in tears could not rid the person of these Dung Heap Worms.

The accepting of the worms with the affirmations that ‘they always have been, so they must always be’, will not cause the devouring to stop.
  As  previously mentioned there is a solution !!  These Life stealing worms are eliminated in a way that many find, only because all the many other ways have failed.  The solution is found when one sincerely, with a humble willingness to pray, to fast and request the Lord Jesus Christ, to order these Dung Heap Worms to leave.
Many times the exorcism of the Dung Heap Worms will happen during the simple act of the "possessed soul to take advantage of the sacrament of Reconciliation or during the celebration of Holy Mass, the praying of the Holy Rosary, and by loving service to others.  The Presence of our Great Physician, Jesus Christ, will also Reconcile all areas that have been chewed upon by these Dung Heap Worms to Himself !!!
                                                                                                       With Reconciling Restoration!!  Lets be Thankful !!
                                                  Br.Phil Bara         6-21-13