“Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne,
and from the Lamb.”

It is good to meditate on where we are in our faith as Children of God and where we are going. Where we are going meaning our ultimate destination to become one with our Creator and one with all those who have gone before us and those who are with us now. We are all on a spectacular journey which began at the exact moment that we were conceived within our mother’s womb. Entering this world, we became a part of God’s Creation; the most important part of it. Created out of love we are commissioned to love everything and everyone. With that in mind, it must be realized that our ultimate destination is also that of love. So, on this day, the Solemnity of All Saints, we look towards that ultimate end and celebrate all of our brothers and sisters who are now with God. They are there, with God, waiting for us and living with us as we continue forward.

We are celebrating the Story of Salvation and the promise of eternal life. Our faith teaches us that what we are living now is but a small part of our existence and there is so much more that lies beyond in the Spiritual World. Even though we are separated from it physically, we are united with it through our spirituality. When we pray, all barriers between the physical and spiritual are lowered and we are invited to experience the mystical side of our existence; that which is God and everything that he created. Our flesh may rebel against this experience because we are urged through the influence of Satan and society to ignore it but through perserverance and faith we can overcome these obstacles and enter into a new state of being guided by God.

God longs for us to envelope ourselves in his love and to cry out to him with joy, sadness, pain, and suffering. He wants all that we do and say; all of our actions and deeds to be prompted with the thoughts of him in our hearts, body, and soul. When we do this, we become a celebration of him who is our Father. This celebration is ajoined with the celebration of those who are with him: all the saints who are now in paradise in everlasting communion with him. They sing with him, give glory to him, and love him eternally. They also look to us, praying for us to soon experience what they are experiencing. They are our advocates and protectors. Gone from this part of creation they are still with us, for nothing can separate us from our God and his creation.

While living here we need to recognize the eternity that is God’s creation. We cannot limit ourselves or our experiences; numbing our senses to only that which is in front of us. To do that puts limits on us and God. He is limitless and us as his children have that capability also if we just accept him as he is: eternal. We are all a part of that eternity and have the capability of experiencing it now. If we open ourselves up as receptors to God’s Grace now then we can also experience that which awaits us. Each day becomes a revelation. Why deny that which can bring us joy now and forever.

 

Deacon Tom

"La salvación viene de nuestro Dios, que está sentado en el trono,
y del Cordero ".

Es bueno meditar sobre dónde nos encontramos en nuestra fe como hijos de Dios y hacia dónde vamos. ¿Dónde vamos significa nuestro destino final para convertirse en uno con nuestro Creador y uno con todos aquellos que nos han precedido y los que están con nosotros ahora. Estamos todos en un espectacular viaje que comenzó en el momento exacto en que fuimos concebidos en el vientre de nuestra madre. Al entrar en este mundo, nos convertimos en una parte de la creación de Dios; la parte más importante de la misma. Creado por amor nos encargamos de amar a todo ya todos. Con esto en mente, debe tenerse en cuenta que nuestro destino final también es la del amor. Así, en este día, la solemnidad de Todos los Santos, miramos hacia ese fin último y celebrar todos nuestros hermanos y hermanas que están ahora con Dios. Ellos están ahí, con Dios, esperando por nosotros y viviendo con nosotros mientras seguimos adelante.

Estamos celebrando la historia de la salvación y la promesa de la vida eterna. Nuestra fe nos enseña que lo que estamos viviendo ahora no es más que una pequeña parte de nuestra existencia y no hay mucho más que está más allá en el Mundo Espiritual. A pesar de que estamos separados de él físicamente, estamos unidos con él a través de nuestra espiritualidad. Cuando oramos, se bajan todas las barreras entre lo físico y lo espiritual y se nos invita a experimentar el lado místico de nuestra existencia; lo que es Dios y todo lo que él creó. Nuestra carne puede rebelarse contra esta experiencia porque se nos insta a través de la influencia de Satanás y la sociedad para ignorarlo pero a través de la perseverancia y la fe podemos superar estos obstáculos y entrar en un nuevo estado de ser guiado por Dios.

Dios desea para nosotros para envolver a nosotros mismos en su amor y clamamos a él con alegría, la tristeza, el dolor y el sufrimiento. Él quiere que todo lo que hacemos y decimos; todas nuestras acciones y hechos que se impulsó con los pensamientos de él en nuestro corazón, cuerpo y alma. Cuando hacemos esto, nos convertimos en una celebración de lo que es nuestro Padre. Esta celebración se adjunta con la celebración de los que están con él: todos los santos que están ahora en el paraíso de la eterna comunión con él. Cantan con él, dar gloria a él, y amarlo eternamente. También buscan a nosotros, orando por nosotros para experimentar pronto lo que están experimentando. Ellos son nuestros defensores y protectores. Gone de esta parte de la creación que todavía están con nosotros, porque nada puede separarnos de nuestro Dios y su creación.

Mientras vivía aquí tenemos que reconocer la eternidad que es la creación de Dios. No podemos limitarnos o nuestras experiencias; adormecer nuestros sentidos para sólo lo que está delante de nosotros. Para ello pone límites a nosotros y Dios. Él es ilimitado y nosotros como sus hijos tienen esa capacidad también si simplemente lo aceptan como es: eterna. Todos somos parte de esa eternidad y tienen la capacidad de experimentar ahora. Si nos abrimos como receptores a la gracia de Dios ahora, entonces también podemos experimentar lo que nos espera. Cada día se convierte en una revelación. ¿Por qué negar lo que nos puede traer alegría ahora y para siempre.

Diácono Tom

Suggested Reading: MARK 10: 46-52

                                

For many of us our faith is very personal and secretive. When we gather in community to worship God we still feel a little uncomfortable professing our faith. Being open about our relationship with God can be difficult and even sometimes embarrassing. Overall, the preference seems to be silence and secrecy. Yet, we are encouraged to do the complete opposite. Coming forward to worship god should be not only a personal experience but a collective experience as well. Jesus does not want us to hide his love away. This has a repressing effect on what his presence can do for us. He is very explicit about this when he tells his disciples that they are the Light of the World. “No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house.” This is intended for us also. As receivers of God’s Love we must react to this openly and publicly. There is no more dwelling in the shadows. We are Children of the Light.

In the Gospel Reading today Bartimaeus cries out to Jesus, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.” Our prayers, our joys, and our lamentations should be approached the same way. For it is through professing our love for God that we receive relief, comfort, and indescribable joy. Jesus demonstrates this through the healing of Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus expressed his faith and his prayers were answered. His faith also transformed his life from a beggar to a follower of Jesus. Our prayers can be answered. Our lives can be transformed through an open, honest, and trusting relationship with Our God. Arguably this is directly against what society wants us to do. In comparison, society tries minimize the influence of Jesus; coercing us into a shallow relationship with God; enticing us to rely more on it than that which should be central to our existence: a full acceptance and celebration of our creator. It is a trap set by Satan who seeks to divide us with thoughts of disbelief and material longing.

God, through the Prophet Jeremiah, commands us to “Shout with joy for Jacob,
exult at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise” It should not be our intention to remain silent or be embarrassed at who we are or what we are becoming. Our relationship with God should be a joyous event; one that we must bear witness to all of our days. It is through the lowering of our self-created barriers that we can experience God more fully and completely. The impact this can have on our existence is immeasurable by human standards. God has put us in the forefront of all nations and all of creation. That is how much he loves us and wants us to experience indescribable joy. How can we shy away from this? So much is offered and yet we are hesitant about grasping it? Jesus is all about fulfilling the Human Experience which is undoubtedly connected with becoming closer to him. It is through Jesus that we all can see the world and the entire universe as it was intended for us to see it: through Christ and with Christ.

 

Deacon Tom

Lectura sugerida: Marcos 10: 46-52
                               
Para muchos de nosotros nuestra fe es muy personal y secreta. Cuando nos reunimos en comunidad para adorar a Dios todavía nos sentimos un poco incómodo profesar nuestra fe. Ser abierto sobre nuestra relación con Dios puede ser difícil e incluso a veces embarazoso. En general, la preferencia parece ser el silencio y el secreto. Sin embargo, se nos anima a hacer todo lo contrario. Viniendo adelante a dios adoración debe ser no sólo una experiencia personal, sino una experiencia colectiva también. Jesús no quiere que ocultar su amor lejos. Esto tiene un efecto represor sobre lo que su presencia puede hacer por nosotros. Él es muy explícito acerca de esto cuando dice a sus discípulos que ellos son la luz del mundo. "Nadie enciende una lámpara para ponerla debajo del celemín, sino sobre el candelero, y alumbra a todos en la casa." Con ello se pretende también por nosotros. Como receptores del Amor de Dios que debemos reaccionar ante esta abierta y públicamente. No hay más que habita en las sombras. Somos Hijos de la Luz.

En el Evangelio de lectura hoy Bartimeo grita a Jesús: "Jesús, Hijo de David, ten compasión de mí." Nuestras oraciones, nuestras alegrías y nuestras lamentaciones debe ser abordado de la misma manera. Porque es a través de profesar nuestro amor a Dios que recibimos alivio, consuelo y alegría indescriptible. Jesús demuestra esto a través de la curación de Bartimeo. Bartimeo expresó su fe y sus oraciones fueron contestadas. Su fe también transformó su vida desde un mendigo a un seguidor de Jesús. Nuestras oraciones pueden ser contestadas. Nuestras vidas pueden ser transformadas a través de una relación abierta, honesta y de confianza con nuestro Dios. Podría decirse que esta es directamente en contra de lo que la sociedad quiere que hagamos. En comparación, la sociedad intenta minimizar la influencia de Jesús; nos coaccionar a una relación profunda con Dios; incitándonos a confiar más en él que el que debe ser el centro de nuestra existencia: la aceptación plena y celebración de nuestro creador. Es una trampa tendida por Satanás, que busca dividirnos con pensamientos de incredulidad y material de anhelo.

Dios, por medio del profeta Jeremías, nos manda a "Grita de alegría por Jacob,
exultar a la cabeza de las naciones; proclamará tu alabanza "No debe ser nuestra intención de permanecer en silencio o ser avergonzado por lo que somos o lo que nos estamos convirtiendo. Nuestra relación con Dios debe ser un acontecimiento feliz; uno que debemos dar testimonio de todos nuestros días. Es a través de la reducción de nuestras barreras de creación propia que podemos experimentar a Dios más plena y completamente. El impacto que esto puede tener sobre nuestra existencia es inconmensurable para los estándares humanos. Dios nos ha puesto en la vanguardia de todas las naciones y toda la creación. Eso es lo mucho que nos ama y quiere que experimentemos la alegría indescriptible. ¿Cómo podemos rehuir esto? Tanto se ofrece y sin embargo, son reticentes a captarlo? Jesús tiene que ver con el cumplimiento de la experiencia humana que, sin duda, está conectado con llegar a ser más cerca de él. Es a través de Jesús que todos podemos ver el mundo y todo el universo, ya que fue pensado para que lo veamos: por Cristo y con Cristo.

Diácono Tom

Suggested Reading: MARK 10: 17-30

                                

There is no doubt that the country that we live in has a lot to offer. From the best hospitals, schools and entertainment to employment opportunities. The poorest of the poor here are considered fortunate compared to those in other countries. The roads to success are many. For those who find themselves in crisis or in dire straits, there are an abundance of resources available to help. The amount of monies given to charities is astounding. We find ourselves discussing problems and issues beyond those that involve just the basic necessities for living. It is a fact that this country, the United
States of America, has the capability of producing enough food to feed the entire world. There is so much abundance that over 25% of all food is thrown away and farmers are paid not to produce so as to inflate market prices.

There is still a lot of pain and suffering. There are still many problems that need to be addressed, especially with those that may have been left behind while others prosper. Yet, we all have the capability to focus on these problems. This is another often ignored advantage of being in this country: there is time and energy available to address social issues if we want to. There is actually an ongoing debate of how to spend resources to lift up the disadvantaged while in other countries the disadvantaged are oftentimes ignored. We are very fortunate but with worldly prosperity comes blindness to our spirituality and how Jesus wants to live our lives. We are challenged to look beyond everything that is physical in the world and embrace that which remains: The Love of God. This should be in the forefront of our thoughts and actions if we are to truly be the followers of Jesus Christ. Love of God and Love of neighbor should be the overriding factor in comparison to anything else. Through this love our true selves can be revealed.

This is not an easy task especially in a society that measures the importance of a person through his or her monetary worth. This constant measuring is so prevalent that it is oftentimes done subconsciously. When we see someone, it is difficult to look beyond the clothes that they wear, where they live, or even what kind of car they drive. All of our interactions are filtered through this mechanism that is truly dictated by the influences of Satan. We are then further influenced by this studying someone’s faults and behaviors. If a person has more material wealth than what is said or done, for whatever reason, will suffer less consequences than someone who has less and did the same thing. It is no mistake that white-collar crime or corporate misdeeds have lighter punishments than other crimes. Where there is wealth there is corruption and forgiveness since the same people who take advantage of the less fortunate also wield the greater power.

Jesus challenges us to strip this all away. He commands us to get rid of our material wealth and power, discounting it as a great weakness and fault that will ultimately cause us to stumble and fall. Wealth and power lead to temptation and sin. They are not of God. Only love is from God and if we are to experience the fruits of our relationship with him, we cannot be impeded by anything that might create an obstacle to the Salvation Experience. This includes a focus on the material.

It is very hard to reprogram ourselves to discount everything that society embraces but it must be done. It is part of our transformation process. If we are to treat everyone as Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ than we must love everyone with abandon and start celebrating God and God alone. Everything else must become secondary. Our faith isn’t just about following the rules. It is about loving one another and putting that love into action. Through this process we will know naturally what to do. God will speak to us and guide us to complete joy.

 

Deacon Tom