Sunday, February 28, 2010

Reflect On Our Faith And Possibilities ~ by Ronnie Archer


On this Second Sunday of Lent and last Sunday of Black History Month, we were blessed to have Deacon Calvin Bailey from St. Mary's Basilica in Norfolk deliver our homily. Both sections of the following contain some of his remarks.

The Lord God had come to Abram in a vision, telling him "not to be fearful, I am your shield, and will make your reward great." But Abram and his wife, Sarai, were very much up in age and had been childless, which he expressed to God.

The first Reading of Genesis today, gives us the account of how God promised Abram that he would have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, as well as abundant land. God made a covenant with Abram that his promise would be fulfilled. Abram was to prepare the chosen animals for a ritual where literal cuts would be made by God to establish a covenant between Abram and God. Abram put his faith and trust in God and was rewarded.

In speaking to the Community of Phillipi, St. Paul tells them to beware of the evildoers, who are enemies of the cross of Christ... their end is destruction. "Our citizenship is in Heaven and we eagerly await a savior, Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body."

Peter and his companions had been asleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw that while Jesus was praying, His face changed appearance and His clothes became dazzling white. They also saw Moses and Elijah. Peter suggested they erect three tents; one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. Peter did not realize what he was saying and became frightened when they all saw a cloud cast a shadow over them. The voice from the cloud told them,"This is My chosen Son... listen to Him." Peter did not understand; he felt that he had seen all the glory; he wanted to stay on that mountain top, not realizing that there was more GLORY to come.

Peter didn't see the possibilities. He couldn't see that our bodies would be glorified to look like Jesus.

From a human viewpoint, it was an impossible point of view to realize that Abram and Sarai would have many descendants, being elderly and childless, but Abram saw the possibilities and he put his faith and trust in God.

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Many of us here at St. Elizabeth's are now sitting in the presence of our forefathers and our foremothers in a church that has not always embraced the culture of African Americans. Our ancestors, as did Abram, also put their faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ and saw the possibilities of having that faith and trust.

Some of our young people do not know what struggles they went through to get us to the place that we are now in. Some of them might not have heard any of the "stories" of those struggles. Those of us, who are now "elders" need to share our "stories" with our young people, so they can better appreciate the places where we are now, and not take their opportunities for granted.

Our elders had conviction and the belief that they were the Body of Christ. They knew that we were baptized into Christ's death, as well as His Resurrection. They knew that we were baptized into a life of "ridiculous faith." They became Holy Elders by living a life of "ridiculous faith." They knew that life would not always be easy, but they knew that we were washed in the Precious Blood of Jesus. Even when we break our promises, we know that Jesus' Precious Blood is still there.

We know that we will be sick sometimes, cry sometimes, but we believe in the possibilities and know that the Blood is there. Our elders would say that "nobody told me the road would be easy" ...but the Precious Blood is still there and it will never lose its Power!

We celebrate our ancestors who have gone through the struggles to open up the opportunities that we can now avail ourselves to because of them.

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Sunday, February 21, 2010

Guides For Our Journey ~ by Barbara Williford







First Sunday of Lent








The forty day season of Lent allows us to journey. We journey as a community each week at Mass. Readings from this Sunday from Deuteronomy, Romans and Luke remind us that God loves us and will guide us on our journey.

While the Israelites wandered in the desert, God cared for them every day. They were unfaithful to Him at times but He never abandoned them St. Paul tells the Romans that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved". We know that evil exists. The devil tempted Jesus. Can we expect to be free from temptations? No, the temptations are not the sins - yielding to the temptations causes us to sin. The devil tempts those who try to live holy lives.

It was possible for Jesus to overcome temptations because He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He knew who He was and He was aware of His mission. Like Jesus, we can follow His example and avoid the daily temptations to our spiritual life. Most of our temptations center around us. We have an unhealthy need for stability and security; we fear failure and we desire to be successful at any cost. Giving in to these temptations will lead us away from God.

Jesus will help us to change who we are, what we are doing, those things that keep us from living the best lives we can. When you work, use your God-given talents to honor Him.

During Lent, use every available opportunity to pray, to read the Scriptures, to attend Stations of the Cross at church or say them at home daily. You can also offer sacrifices, do penances and make a good confession, believing in God's forgiveness and to renounce the evil one daily.

It is not enough to know what to do; we must do it!

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Saturday, February 20, 2010

Gather the People!





Ash Wednesday 2010






In the words of the prophet Joel found in the First Reading:

"Gather the people,
Notify the congregation,
Assemble the elders...
...Spare, O Lord, your people..."

Today, as we begin our Lenten journey, we realize that we are not to journey alone. In order to truly experience the Resurrection that is at the end of our journey, we must travel together as a community.

No one can travel alone. We are not independent of each other; but we must rely on each other, even as we remain dependent on God.

As we receive our ashes in the form of a cross on our foreheads, we are also reminded that we are sinners and need reconciliation with God. Lent is the "acceptable time" (2 Cor.) as we take up the three duties that we find in the Gospel of Matthew: fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Jesus encourages us not to make a big show of doing these things. We are to fast with a cheerful demeanor, to pray in secret and to give alms in such a way that our left hand does not know what our right hand has done. In this way, only God knows what we have done and thus He will reward us in heaven. Our sacrifices are never in vain.

With a spirit of humility, we begin our Lenten journey with this prayer:

"A clean heart create for me, O God
And a steadfast spirit renew within me." (Ps. 51)

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Friday, February 19, 2010

A Belated Valentine Wish!


Best Wishes from Fr. Andrew and the Staff!


Frederick & Veronica Archer
Frank & Peggy Beverly
Walker & Cassandra Bland
Howard and Laverne Braxton
Berhane & Hanna Desta
Burton & Rosalie Robinson
Howard & Thelma Neal
Henry & Doris Taylor
Joseph & Catherine Smith
Ronald & Mieko Timmons
Sam & Mary Walker
Kenneth & Althea Williams
Willie & Jackie Hall
Vince & Diane Neylan
Larry & Barbara Williford
Clifton & Paulette Wright
Arthur & Cathy Woodson
Thomas & Sheryl Smith
Jay & Patrice Schwermer
Christopher & Mary Jaquez
Frank & Joyce Coy
Senon & Christina Davis
Kenneth & Keeya Majors
Robert Fitzgerald & Lula Lamb
Stanley & Barbara White
Thomas & Marva Williams
Louis & Karen Carter Brown
Roscoe & Debra Moon
Kaestner & Jackie McDonnough
Ya-Sin & Erica Miller
James & Maeola Strother
Eugene & Grace Ponton
James & Lucy Thompson
Gregory & Angel Troublefield
Phil & Meghan Barbato
Kenneth & Jennifer Soistman
William & Gladys Lee
Johnathan & Genelle Frizzelle
Stanley & Venus Glover
Scott & Kathleen Stell
Phillip & Grace Alexis
Arteria & Lisa Moore
Gov. Timothy & Anne Holton Kaine
Takwi & Wekongho Chita
Timothy & Tracey Lamb

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Monday, February 15, 2010

Blessed Are Those Who Trust In The Lord ~ by Ronnie Archer


Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

On this Sunday, St. Valentine's Feast Day, we hear the connection in the readings of trusting in the Lord and following HIS ways.

In the Jeremiah reading, the Lord says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in humans, who seeks strength in flesh, and whose heart turns away from the Lord."

We should ask ourselves today, "Where is our heart?" Is our heart open to God's ways, or are we following the ways of the flesh? Total trusting in the Lord should be expressed in our everyday living. We cannot just say we trust God, we have to implement it in our everyday living.

The second reading emphasizes the fact that resurrection is what it is all about... "If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all..." BUT,"Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." (1 Cor. 15:20) Resurrection means there is another life.

The Beatitudes in today's Gospel help us to understand exactly what Christ wants in us. They clearly let us know what is needed to be a Christian. The Beatitudes can be fulfilled when hope and trust really connect.

Unity comes from one word, and that word is trust. We cannot be united without trust.

Let's ask God to empty our hearts of all that is not of Christ and fill them with His love, mercy and His peace.

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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

"They Left Everything and Followed Him"


Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Mass was postponed Sunday until the roads were safe after another snowfall in the area. A baptism had been scheduled for this day so we gathered for Mass in the afternoon to celebrate the Baptism of Quentin Mekhi Sullivan.

In the Old Testament reading of Isaiah, as well as in Luke's Gospel and in the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians, we see the reaction of people to the presence of God in their midst.

Isaiah sees a vision of the Lord and realizes right away that he is unworthy to see the Lord of Hosts and believes he is doomed to die. But the Lord has other plans for Isaiah and sends one of the seraphim to purge his sin with a burning ember to his lips. Isaiah is then immediately prepared to do the Lord's Will and responds: "Here I am...send me!" when the Lord calls.

We all know the story of the conversion of Paul. In the reading from First Corinthians, Paul explains how despite the fact that he persecuted the Christians relentlessly and knows he is not worthy to be called an apostle, the grace of God has effectively changed his life and now he is handing on what he has received.

In Luke's Gospel, Jesus directs Peter to lower his nets in a specific spot. In doing so, Peter and his partners caught such a large number of fish that the boat was in danger of sinking. When he saw what Jesus had done for them, Peter recognized immediately that he was in the presence of holiness and that he was not worthy. Peter fell to his knees saying, "Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful man."

But Jesus had other plans for Peter, James and John. After he told them not to be afraid, Jesus invited them to follow him: "...from now on you will be catching men." Peter, James and John left everything they had previously taken for granted: their successful fishing business, their families, their former lives...

The apostles' encounter with Jesus had the same conversion elements that Paul and Isaiah experienced. None of them could return to their previous existence. Everything had changed.

Through our Baptism, we are also called by God. Our call is to bear witness to God's love in our lives and to proclaim His Kingdom to all we meet.

"Here I am...send me!"

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Monday, February 01, 2010

Gospel Reflection on a Snowy Sunday ~ by M.A. Allen


Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Heavy snow caused cancellation of our Sunday Mass today; but most of us parishioners no doubt read the readings of the day anyway. This passage touched my heart...

"But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away."

Jesus had a remarkable escape from death in this incident recorded by Luke, especially since the Gospel began on such a promising note. After Jesus stated that scripture had been fulfilled in their hearing, the people "all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth."

But then, something happened! In an instant, the atmosphere changed as the people of Nazareth began to question Jesus' words because of who he was. Wasn't he only the son of Joseph? How could he be the fulfillment of any prophecy?

Jesus recognized their hypocrisy and reminded the people that prophets were never accepted in their own hometown. The gracious words with which he had captivated the people of Nazareth were gone as he enumerated the stories of Old Testament prophets who had helped strangers rather than their own people because their own refused to believe in them.

When Jesus accused the people of Nazareth of the same unbelief, the people became so infuriated that they decided to kill him.

Can you just picture this mob of people dragging Jesus out of the town to the top of a hill, ready to throw him over the cliff?

But in that moment, something wonderful happened. Somehow (we know it was God's grace at work), in the confusion of an unruly and distracted crowd, their attention was diverted. And Jesus walked away untouched to safety.

It was not yet Jesus' time to die. This incident took place at the beginning of Jesus' ministry so we know he still had much to do and to teach before he began his final journey to Jerusalem to fulfill his destiny.

As we pray in today's Psalm 71: "O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked." We know his Heavenly Father did that very thing!


Art by Deborah A. Reeder
Holy Bible Sketch Pad.com

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