Prophetic Words & Scripture Readings at Live Stream October 13, 2021

Scripture Reading Psalm 9:1-2 - "I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.  I will be glad and exult in you.  I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."

The Lord can bring light out of darkness.  

Scripture Reading Matthew 5:14-16 - "You are the light of the world.  A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lampstand where it shines for everyone in the house.  In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven."

Scripture Reading Psalm 111:1-2, In Praise of Divine Attributes - "I give thanks to Yahweh with all my heart where the virtuous meet and the people assemble.  The works of Yahweh are sublime, those who delight in them are right to fix their eyes on them."

Vision/Prophecy - I heard, "Make straight your path."  I saw this path and it's showing the way to go.  And then I saw like a marching band and they're all joined together.  Basically, we're all like a marching band, together, on a street.  And I heard, "Keep hold of me."  This time together in praising is important.  Our Lord wants us together in this way, as one walking straight together down the road in praising him." 

Prophecy - "My power is great and it's yours, my children.  Use it wisely.  Use it to heal, use it to minister, to love, especially those that are hard to love.  My power is free.  It's a gift for you, to use as my Spirit leads.  I love you, my children."

Prophecy - "Put on the armour of God and stay awake and alert."

Confirmation of vision/prophecy - John 10:14-16 - "I am the good shepherd.  I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep.  And there are other sheep that are not of this fold and I must bring those too, they too will listen to my voice and there will be only one flock, one shepherd."

Scripture Reading Hebrews 4:14 - "Let us, then, hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we have a great High Priest who has gone into the very presence of God - Jesus, the Son of God."

Teaching

The teaching was on St. Benedict's life, entitled "Rhythm of Prayer".  St. Benedict and his twin sister, Scholastica, were born in 418 at Norcia, Italy.  He had a profound encounter with God in a cave.  As a result of that, it would transform Christianity throughout the world, especially in Britain.  We know St. Benedict best for his humane and thoughtful rule of life that he would write for his fellow monks which has been used for over fifteen hundred years.  Pope Gregory the Great tells us that as a young man, Gregory went to Rome to study, expecting to become a successful lawyer.  Didn't like the pagan practices and moral decay there.  Decided to imitate the monks of Egypt.  He walked into the hills, settling near Subiaco.  In a cave, lived as a hermit.  12 monasteries founded in this area.  People were drawn to him and his way of living out Christianity.  During these hours of silence and solitude, he saw how vital community life would be for anyone who would want to deepen and sustain the spiritual life.  This is true in the quietness of the hills or the busyness in the world.  Many miracles occurred here, including the raising of the dead, one of the monks who had died.  Scholastica also founded a community for women in the valley.  As the numbers grew, so did the jealousy, animosity towards Benedict.  To protect his work, he left with a few monks in 540.  Benedict founded Monte Cassino monastery where he lived for 18 years, died and is buried there.  He completed his rule here.  It's a rule in the sense of a ruler, namely it's the thing that holds us on the straight path by its insights.  The largest part of the rule is prayer, daily rhythm of prayer, spending some time in silence.  Benedict wants you to be realistic about yourself.  He wants you to have the humility, in that silence to look at yourself and say, "I am a person made of flesh and blood.  I'm not an angel," and to accept the reality, but also at the same time, that Christ offers you healing  and grace in those moments of recognition and silence.  What is passed on to us from St.Benedict is:  1) daily rhythm of prayer and 2) our need of support of a vibrant faith community.  Benedict was a layman and it was a movement of laymen and women.