The following are words given by participants at the streamed meeting. 1 Corinthians 14:29 says that "Two or three prophets should speak, and the others weigh carefully what is said." 1 Thess 5:19-21 tells us not to despise prophecies, but to test everything and retain what is good.
Opening prayer taken from today's Mass, Collect - "O God, who raised up Saint Ignatius of Loyola in your Church to further the greater glory of your name, grant that by his help we may imitate him in fighting the good fight on earth and merit to receive with him a crown in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen."
Scripture Reading John 3:11-16 - "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."
Scripture Reading Tobit 14:8-9 - "Now, my children, follow my instructions. Worship God sincerely and do what is pleasing to him. Bring up your children to do what is right. Teach them that they must give to the poor and must always remember to praise God with all sincerity."
Scripture Reading Matthew 5:14-16 - "You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all your house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father ."
Scripture Reading Psalm 9:9-10 - "The Lord will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in time of trouble; and those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You."
Prophetic Sense/Prophecy - While we were singing the song, In The Name of Jesus, the Lord revealed to me that no matter where we go, as long as we keep saying his name everywhere we go, different areas of the city, anywhere at all, the strongholds will come down. We are protected by the name of Jesus. Never forget, the Word says to keep saying his name. That's a praise. Every time we say Jesus, we are praising him. The Lord said, "Keep praising me. Keep saying my name. Watch what happens in your neighborhood, in your family, in your work, when you say my name which is the name above all names."
Prophetic Sense - During the last song, I had a sense of the overwhelming, all-encompassing love of the Lord for all of us. The sense of the whole thing was the love was so overpowering and overwhelming, it took on everything, it heals everything; and the sense to never be afraid to bring whatever it is to Jesus because that love will take care of everything.
Prophecy/Scripture Reading - During the last song, I, too, got the words; it was almost in bold: "Courage." All of us need to be courageous. And he gave me Joshua 1:9 - "Be strong and of good courage! Do not be afraid nor be dismayed but the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go."
God empowers his people to go beyond reading, reciting and remembering where to find bible verses. He enables us to stay on the path of purity by living according to the Scriptures. God wants us to seek and obey him.
Prophecy - "My children, you have eyes to see, you have ears to hear. But many people do not use their eyes nor their ears to see what is in the unseen. Tonight, my people, I desire that you open them because I am going to reveal to you tonight my glory; my glory in the Resurrection, my glory that has come from the Passion. And it will be in the unseen. Yet, it will be seen. I want to give you, my children, a deeper gift of faith. And when you go to church this weekend, I want you to see with eyes of faith what you cannot see. For I am truly present in the holy sacrifice of the Mass. I am alive, not dead. I heal, not endanger and I desire that you come to know that healing love within the Eucharist, that you come to see my love in my eucharistic people, you, my people, my eucharistic people, my people who offer the sacrifices for the love of others, my people who give of themselves to the family, to the sick or to those who have been in prison. My children, it is so easy for you to see if you but open your eyes for I am there in the midst of every area of suffering that is in this world. Yes, my children, see, open your eyes and listen with your ears."
Our talk was given by Chris Stefanik on sharing the Good News. There is a God. He created us for a purpose that's good. John 3:16: "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever should believe in him would not perish but have eternal life."
He shared the story of his son, Joseph, who, when he was four years old, wandered off when they were camping. Chris thought he must have drowned in a nearby pond and a prayer exploded from his heart. It came from what he was as a father which is an echo of who God is. In the prayer, he thanked God for all the blessings that had been given to him; and he said to God to take it all back and give back his son to him. In that moment, God the Father showed the smallest glimpse of his love. Every time we wander into sin, he says, "Take my life, I'll be your food in the Eucharist, I'll be waiting for your confession. I just want my son/daughter to come home."
This is the love that we're reminded of at every Communion. And we come to Mass with the question, "Do I matter?" We hear God's answer, "Body of Christ." Don't be the same person you were last week. Become a saint.
Share the Gospel with confidence, that Almighty God loves you, gives himself to you and calls you to give yourself radically back to him and live a new life in the Holy Spirit.
People's hearts have not changed. People's hearts are made for the Gospel. People need a Savior. Back to basics. Jesus loves you. Spread the love of Jesus. Chris shared about the time his wife's grandma was dying. She never went to church. Chris told her about the thief who was crucified with Jesus. He never did anything good. But at the end of his life, he said to Jesus, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom." And Jesus said, "Today, you will be with me in Paradise." Chris told her that that guy went to heaven not because of what he had done, but because of what Jesus did for him. The next day she was reconciled to God and was received into the Catholic church and the day after that, she died.
If God opens the door, you open your mouth. Sometimes, it's big and sometimes it's small. You don't have to be a fire hydrant all the time, just be a sprinkling system. i.e. grocery store check out - thank you and God bless you.
Rejoice in the Lord's love. Be a person of joy. Paul and Silas in prison praising the Lord. This is the key in keeping your heart and mind on the things above. Praise changes things.
Pray to want to be a saint, drawn to holiness. When you're faced with the beauty of sanctity, you're just drawn to it. Don't be afraid to be radical. Don't be afraid of what the neighbors say when they hear praise and worship blasting from your car. Do the things you would do if you were a saint. Pretend to be that saint.
You not alone. "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses in Judea, in Samaria." (name your city) Let's stop asking too small. Let's ask for the grace that he promised to make us his witnesses. "Make me a river of living water flowing into a searching world." Go and announce the gospel of the Lord. 2/3 of God's name is GO!
Leslie B. has been asking us to pray for her priest a lot and she has noticed differences, and she thanks God for that.
Monika shared that her son and fiancee got married in the church last week. She thanked the Lord for stirring their hearts and pulling them into his arms, an answer to prayer.
Maria K. praised the Lord for changing her choir meetings from Wednesday to Tuesday, something they said would never happen. This is an answer to prayer. Now, Maria will be able to join our meetings every Wednesday.
Rosalie can see her daughter getting closer to the Lord. She's asking for prayer a lot. Rosalie is thankful to the Lord and to all who have prayed for that.
Maria M. shared that her grandchildren were at a bible camp. They loved it so much and want to go back next year. This was the answer for which she had been praying so hard. Thank you, Lord.
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