Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

You are probably wondering why I am sending out a meditation minute on Sunday. By now you have realized that I write these messages during the week. Well, we have one of our fellow brothers in a foreign country where it is not safe to go to mass and the Eucharist is not widely available to him. He has asked that I prepare a mediation minute for him this Sunday so he can reflect upon the Gospel reading. Therefore, we are bring the Eucharistic Table to him so he can still share in the Gospel of Christ. Please pray for him and his safety that he may be able to experience the power of the Holy Spirit through these messages.

"Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 7:21-27

21 "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.' 24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it."

Today’s Gospel reading fits right into the request from our dear Brother in Christ. Jesus talks about our final judgment and that it will take more than just fainting cry to God to get into heaven. "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven.” God knows when we are sincere. He knows our inner heart and our inner desires. Jesus tells us that it is simply not enough to cry out, but that we must do the will of our Father in Heaven. Our faith must have a solid foundation. It must be like the house built upon the rock. That way when Satan rains down upon us and the floods come, our faith will remain solid. The type of foundation we construct will determine how well we can survive the hard times. Satan throws many things our way trying to divert us from our journey, yet we have to be strong and face the storm.

Are you building your faith and preparing the way for the Truth and the Light? Is your faith rock solid or are you treading on shifting sands? We cannot wait until our judgment day to call out to our Lord for Salvation. A house built on the foundation of the rock of our faith will not be destroyed. We will have the strength to defend ourselves against evil. However, a faith built upon a weak foundation will topple in the storm. How many times have we had to face hardships trials or situations which tried the fabric of our faith? As young adults, your peers try to pressure you into situations which you know are wrong, but with a strong faith you can weather the storm. We are constantly bombarded with advertising, TV Shows and media which challenges the moral fiber of our Faith. TV programs and mass media which show adultery and sin with no consequence and glorify these actions tear away at the very foundation of your faith. We are judged by our actions, by our words and by our choices. We must learn to make good choices if we are to make it through the thin gate to heaven. These choices are learned actions which must be exercised daily through the teachings of Christ. Listen to His Words because “he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” will make it through the gate.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Christ, builder of my faith.

Help me build a solid foundation on your rock.

I am weak and you are strong, with your help my foundation can also be strong.

Give me the wisdom and strength to form myself to your will.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

PS. Lord God, take care of your lamb as he journeys out. Protect him from those who would cause him harm. Provide him the strength to Say Lord, Lord through his actions, his words and his faith. Let the people of this country see the Christ present in him and that he may be the light and the truth for others. Send my guardian angel to look over him and protect him. May Michael the Archangel be his guard. Amen