slave to the Handmaiden of the Lord
JMJ Jesus said to him: It is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Know Your Enemy-Doubt In the Temptation in the Desert, The Devil taunts Jesus: Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him upon the pinnacle of the temple, And said to him: If thou … Continue reading Fighting the Spiritual Battle: Part 1C: Know Your Enemy-Doubt
JMJ Turn these stones into bread Know Your Enemy-Isolation If often seems the struggle for the Kingdom of Heaven is an internal one. Driven by the Holy Spirit, a man enters the desert alone and there he is tempted as though lost behind enemy lines he becomes the sole resistance. This is another trick of … Continue reading Fighting the Spiritual Battle: Part 1B: Know Your Enemy-Isolation
JMJ I think the most fundamental necessities of going in to a battle are as follows: define the enemy: to actually have an enemy is absolutely essentialdetermine your allies: know who is on your sideknow what victory looks like: have clear stated objectivesamass the weapons and tools: go into battle well armedunderstand the battlefield: where … Continue reading Fighting the Spiritual Battle: Part 1A: Know Your Enemy-the “Evil One”
JMJ What was Christ telling Us? For people to bring the teaching of Christ to bear in their lives and the world essential to the propagation of the Kingdom of God, a vigorous debate concerning the meaning of Christ's words concerning His Kingdom is necessary since cultural paradigms can skew original meanings. It is contrary … Continue reading We do not create the Kingdom of God, we become the Kingdom of God
JMJ Saint Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, canonized a Saint by Pope Francis 14 October 2018, served his people and God during a time of great political strife in El Salvador. He led a persecuted Church under an oppressive regime. The people of El Slavador were caught in a violent conflict between right- and … Continue reading Saint Oscar Romero on the Cancel Culture
JMJ There is much talk today of spiritual combat and things such as prayer warriors. I do not dispute the basic principle of this, but I must ask: Where is the battle? There is no real battle. Only the question: Which side are you on? A battle implies an unknown outcome. A battle suggests a struggle … Continue reading Spiritual combat? Yes. But Where is the Battle?
JMJ Beware of those who say: All you need do is accept Jesus into your heart and you this once being saved, will always be saved. It simply isn't so. They will quote scripture out of context. What is the context? The context is the Good News of Our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ. They … Continue reading Once Saved, Twice Saved and Saved Again and Again
JMJ Far be it for me to comment on this particular text when so many great scholars, past and present have undertaken this task. The homily given at our church today by our deacon, who is a most devout man, "frankensteined" many of these commentaries, along with his own pious commentary and ruminations and was … Continue reading I Do. The Wedding at Cana.
JMJ To simply say: Yes. Coming to God, seeking holiness is not an act of will beyond surrendering our own will pinned under our fallen nature to God. We cannot by our own strength lift the boulder that presses us into the mud. We can only cry out from the miry clay: Help! Rescue me, … Continue reading Let It Be
JMJ Who am I that I should be arrogant enough to claim myself worthy to be a slave to the Handmaiden? How dare I claim acceptance to Her court? Let it be that these lofty ambitions be a prayer. O Holy Spirit, I implore Thee, allow me, by the Grace of God, to serve Him … Continue reading Born Anew Through Mary; Born into the Family of Christ.
For Lourdes Sake 