Worship Closet-Danny Gokey

A song of hope.

Hope in Christ does not disappoint

Hope in Christ does not disappoint – Romans 5: 2-5

Thinking and praying through todays topic, I noticed how easy it is to become dejected especially during these times. We live in times of both geopolitical and economic uncertainties and it seems as if there is always a consistent presence of negative occurrences somewhere in the world’s landscape; From upheavals and news of possible upheavals in the middle east, to political instability in some parts of Africa to the rise of right wing hate movements in Europe and to the projection of stagnating world trade. In all of these, there appears to always be a dark cloud on the horizon. Even in our individual lives there could be one challenge or the other, from work, to school and to living in our respective communities. However, St. Paul gives all of us a simple and direct message today- the message of hope.

St. Paul seeks to remind us that, for us our hope is not based on the happenings around us but our hope is based on what happened on the cross on calvary, the redemptive act of Jesus. He begins in versus 1 to 2 reminding the church in Rome that through faith in Christ they enjoy access into the grace of God and thus they can boast in the hope of the glory of God, who is Christ Himself. So why is this reminder important. It is crucial because it presents the facts right from the beginning, that the bedrock of the hope of the Roman church and indeed that of ours as well is the cross of Christ. His redemptive act manifests the glory of God throughout humanity, and as the book of Hebrews reminds us that this sacrifice was once and for all, it cannot be shaken, cannot be undone. Thus, it is apt that our hope is based on this solid standing and not on a weak base of our own accomplishments and will.  

Brothers and sisters our hope in Christ does not disappoint because through Him, with Him and in Him the battle has already been won. That is why I believe that Paul could continue in versus 3-4 where he writes that “ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope.” He encourages them despite their suffering, because he is convinced that the battle has already been won through Christ. Beloved this should be our song, that regardless of the storm clouds, regardless of the apparent challenges we will move ahead with hope in Christ because the battle has already been won. The step by step nature of versus 3-4 also shows that hoping in Christ through our challenges doesn’t necessarily come easy. We must remind ourselves daily of His promises for us through the study of scripture, we must be willing to encourage one another, bearing ourselves up in prayer and we must endeavor to remain at His feet to pray and listen. 

In verse 5 St. Paul reminds us that this hope we have will not put us to shame. This is because this not a fleeting hope. It is not a façade or is it based on empty arguments. The spine of this hope is God’s love, and since God is love (1 John 4:8) then God Himself holds together our hope in Him. He Himself provides us with the grace and strength to keep up our hopes. Again, this point is crucial because it reminds us of the constant presence of God with us His children. Beloved, today I may not know the exact situation you find yourself in but what I know is that through it all God is with you, God is with us. I will like to end my sharing with Psalm 46 which mirrors the exact thoughts expressed by St. Paul in today’s text:

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.^[c]

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

⁷ The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

⁸ Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields^[d] with fire.
¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

¹¹ The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Amen.

Purposeful living

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham . . . (Matthew 1:1) 

Reflecting on the miracle of Christmas, St. Paul wrote, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption” (Galatians 4:4-5). Today’s Gospel shows us that this “fullness of time” comprises many generations, each one peopled with colorful individuals whose stories still speak to us. 

Included in this list of Jesus’ ancestors are many kings and powerful warriors. It’s interesting—and a bit comforting—that the Hebrew Scriptures tell us, not only about their heroic exploits, but also about their selfish and destructive choices. David, for instance, was not only “a man after [God’s] own heart.” He was also a schemer, an adulterer, and a murderer (Acts 13:22; 2 Samuel 12:1-12).

Matthew’s list also includes many common people and some who were far from admirable. What’s more, considering the cultural barriers that women faced at the time, the fact that Matthew’s genealogy mentions women at all shows this is a different sort of history. Something unique, intriguing, and mysterious is at work, and God is behind it!

There are also many people in this list about whom sacred Scripture is otherwise silent. For instance, we know nothing at all about many of those who lived “after the Babylonian exile” (Matthew 1:12). These names all point to the “silent saints” who have served (and who continue to serve) the Lord in their hidden lives of prayer, sacrifice, and obedience.

Besides the fact that this genealogy testifies to Jesus’ historical existence, it can give us great encouragement. Whether we know a great deal or nothing at all about them, every single person on this list was an essential link in the plan God formed long ago for our salvation.

It’s not too great a stretch of the imagination to believe that each of us also plays an important role in what God is doing in this outpost of his eternal kingdom. In his wisdom, God has placed each one of us right where he wants us. Let’s humbly ask him to help us further his plan.

“O Wisdom, breath of the Most High, pervading and permeating all creation, come and save us.”

from wau.org

Hope

They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength. (Isaiah 40:31) 

Every human being has times of discouragement, times when we “faint and grow weary . . . stagger and fall” (Isaiah 40:30). It’s easy to identify with Jacob when he says, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God” (40:27). It’s in times like these that we are most vulnerable to the lies and half-truths of the devil. And so the prophet in today’s first reading gives us ammunition against such attacks.

Sometimes our situation seems so hopeless that we are convinced there is nothing God can do for us. But Isaiah reminds us to lift our eyes to the power that God displays as he holds the whole universe together. Nothing is impossible for God!

Sometimes we feel as if God doesn’t know what’s happening to us. Here, Isaiah reminds us. “His knowledge is beyond scrutiny” (Isaiah 40:28). Not even the smallest detail escapes his notice.

It’s tempting to think that God has more important things to worry about than our little lives. But again Isaiah corrects us: “He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound” (Isaiah 40:29). This promise also puts an end to the lie that God doesn’t care about our struggles or trials.

We may think that we don’t deserve God’s help and that we may even bear part of the blame for how things have gotten so bad. But don’t get mired in guilt. God’s mercy is always available, even when we don’t deserve it. That’s the definition of mercy after all! Yes, “he pardons all your iniquities” (Psalm 103:3).

When thoughts like these arise, don’t just wish things were better. Christian hope is an active virtue. It urges you to bring your need to the Lord and leave your problem in his capable hands. Then you can expand your heart by praising him for his power, his knowledge, his wisdom, and his unconditional love. Finally, see if there is a step you can take that will help build God’s kingdom—some act of service you can do. Isaiah promises that if you do, you’ll find your own strength invigorated. 

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (Psalm 103:1-2)”

from wau.org

Reason for Hope

God proves his love for us. (Romans 5:8) 

Numerous studies have shown that babies raised in environments like crowded orphanages, where there is very little affirmation or human interaction, can suffer lasting emotional and psychological damage. These studies prove a basic truth of our faith: we are made for love. When we know we are loved, we are more peaceful and confident. We feel valued and begin to understand our worth.

This is why knowing and receiving God’s love are fundamental. They help us see how precious and valuable we are to him. They give us the confidence we need to live in this world.

How can we see God’s love for us? Here are a few ways:

• Listen to the Scriptures. In today’s second reading, St. Paul makes it clear: he does not want anyone to doubt that God’s whole desire is for us to be with him, now and for eternity. Why else would he send his Son to die for our sins? Why else would he pour his Holy Spirit into our hearts?

• Prayerfully receive the Eucharist. Each time we receive Communion, we receive God’s love. Each time we hear “the Body of Christ” and say “Amen,” we are agreeing: God is still laying down his life for us out of love.

• Sharpen your eyes of faith. As you start paying attention, you’ll begin to see more evidence of God’s love in your everyday life. You might recognize how he guided you through a complicated decision. You might see that he helped you arrive somewhere at just the right time. He is intimately involved in the details of your life because he loves you.

You are loved by God—never forget that! So practice cultivating your spiritual perception. Every day, ask for another glimpse of his love. Let it give you the confidence and peace of a treasured child, a beloved friend. 

The more convinced you are of God’s love, the more confidence you can have for your loved ones who have gone before you. On this All Souls Day, let’s ask the Lord to bless all of them. Let’s ask him to continue to purify them and bring them fully into his presence. 

“Lord, show me your love. You are the reason for my hope!”

from wau.org

There is HOPE

Nothing is new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9) 

Sixty years ago, the song “Que Sera, Sera” burst onto the scene: “Whatever will be, will be.” It’s the same note that the writer of Ecclesiastes originally sounded centuries ago as he contemplated the same old sameness of human existence.

Don’t you sometimes feel that way too? Nothing new happens; it’s the same old routine. We see new technologies and new discoveries all around us, but nothing changes. We may have the latest smartphone or the newest television, but it doesn’t make a dent in who we are or how we relate to other people.

What the writer of Ecclesiastes couldn’t yet see, and we sometimes fail to see, is that there really is something new “under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). All because of Jesus!

Because of his resurrection, we can start each day in hope. Matthew was collecting taxes, and Nathanael was lying under a tree when Jesus called them and changed their lives forever. As he did for them, so he does for you. He is calling you out of the dullness of a life that ends with death and inviting you into a new life with far wider horizons, a life that offers you greater and greater transformation into his image.

The resurrection changes everything. It’s not just an article of our faith; it is a promise that can become the foundation of our hope and joy. It’s also something we can begin to experience here and now as we ask the Holy Spirit to give us a taste of Jesus’ love. 

The author of Ecclesiastes looked out on a bleak landscape and saw nothing worth getting excited about. All he saw was a meaningless endless cycle of life and death, leading to nothing. That doesn’t have to be your vision! Today may look like every other Thursday of your life, but in God’s eyes, it is brimming with potential. Jesus has new things he wants to show you. He has new areas of your life in which you can experience his love and compassion, wisdom and joy. 

Every day brings new opportunities—because every day brings new challenges. Every day, there absolutely is something new under the sun!

“Jesus, thank you for the resurrection. Help me find joy in knowing that I belong to you forever.”

from wau.org

He is there.

Their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. (Luke 24:16)

Let’s not be too hard on poor Cleopas and his companion. It had been a devastating several days. As disciples of Jesus, they had invested so much time, energy, and emotion into him and his teaching. But then, the anticipation and excitement they felt a week earlier, when Jesus had entered triumphantly into Jerusalem, was abruptly cut short by his gruesome death. It’s no wonder that their thoughts were troubled and that they could see nothing but a bleak future! And so they left the other disciples back in Jerusalem and set out for Emmaus. After all, they were only human!

But that’s just the point. They couldn’t recognize Jesus when he joined them on the road because their faith, which had suffered a troubling blow, needed to be supplemented with divine revelation. That’s exactly what Jesus inserted into their animated conversation. He explained the Scriptures to them from his heavenly perspective. His words stirred something deep in their hearts, and they began to feel a sense of hope again. Then it all came together when Jesus blessed and broke the bread: the word of God, the power of revelation, and hearts newly set on fire. Finally, they saw Jesus!

Isn’t this the story of our lives as well? So often, we think about our circumstances, our families, or the world around us—as any normal human being would. Sometimes that leaves us discouraged or believing that Jesus isn’t close to us. But nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus is never absent; he’s walking with you! He longs to stir your heart through his word and through his presence. He longs to tell you that he has a plan for your life and that you can rely on him.

The disciples in today’s Gospel reading had to slow down to listen to Jesus; they had to stop their discussions to hear him. What a great model for us! Slow down and listen today. Stop and let Jesus touch your heart with divine insight. Sit down, pull out your Bible, and ask him to open the Scriptures to you. Gaze on him at Mass. You will see that he was there all along: he’s there in God’s word; he’s there in the bread and wine; he’s in your heart! 

“Thank you, Jesus, for walking with me. Help me slow down and sense your presence. Lord, I want to see you!”

`taken from wau.org

Earthquake

I don't know much about earthquakes and I know I could google about it and paste the info here, but I wanted to be honest right from the start...I don't know much about earthquakes. All I do know is that, the earth is shaken and things shift. So why this title?

The answer lies in Isaiah 7:9b which says '...if you so not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.' (New Living Translation). This scripture brings to mind a picture of someone standing on a shaky ground, trying so maintain the balance. Sad to say but today that is what I am going through.

I was supposed to post the second part to How I spent my Christmas holidays but today I can't seem to do so.

I have been having a wonderful relationship with my Lord since last December and I have enjoyed it...till today. Today I feel like I am standing on a raft in the ocean with waves hitting against the raft or like on the roadside and an earthquake just came through. Today I can't seem to pray. Today I can't seem to have faith that everything will be alright. Today I am worn out.

Yet this passage from Isaiah is ringing in my head constantly along with Don Moen's 'Heal me O Lord' as though to say I need not lose hope. Assuring me that I may be still standing in my faith or that I should remain standing in my faith. I do not know because I can't discern to know what the message is but one thing I do know is I received this scripture in December 2013 as a message for 2014 along with 'your faith will be shaken but stay strong' and I prayed earnestly from then on for an increase in faith. So maybe my Spirit is down but my soul is cashing in the 'faith' cheque I wrote that is why I am receiving assurances from the Lord and my soul is praising my Lord and asking to heal my dampen spirit.

All I am saying is, I am writing this on a sad and dreary day for me but I have hope in me and I have not completely lost faith in my situation probably because I made an investment. Just like how if you make an investment and an earthquake destroys your home, you can rely on that to take care of the family. So whatever you are doing right now stop and pray now for an increase in faith in the times when your faith is shaken. Trust me, you will value the results so much.

#shakenbutnotfallen

Because of the hope … (Colossians 1:5)

Paul had probably never visited the Colossians, and yet he knew something personal and significant about them: their love for “all the holy ones” (Colossians 1:4). It was a love so impressive that news of it had reached him even in prison. It was a love that bound them together in harmony and engendered freedom in those who were moved by it. Of course, the Colossians had problems. False teachers among them were advancing incorrect philosophies and austere, legalistic tendencies. But “because of the hope reserved for them in heaven,” they had love (1:5). And that love covered a multitude of sins.

Hope. One day we will see God face-to-face. One day we will know him as deeply as we are known by him. One day we will live completely and forever immersed in his love. We taste it here and now, as the Holy Spirit works in us. We experience a little of it as we live in a restored relationship with God. We receive it as he pours it into our hearts and makes it overflow to other people, just as it did in the Colossian church. 

Because. So much lies in that one word! Because of the hope reserved for you in heaven, you can find strength to shake off temptation when it rears its ugly head. Because of the hope of heaven, you can put to death what is earthly: jealousy, impurity, covetousness, gossip, lying, and intemperance. Because of the hope of heaven, you can forgive more readily, love more easily, and serve more joyfully. Because of the hope of heaven, you can grow in compassion, kindness, gentleness, grace, and mercy. 

Because of the hope of heaven, you can walk through the day with a spring in your step and a song in your heart. Joy can overflow from the hope that one day your heavenly Father will hold you close, soothe all your hurts, and tell you plainly of his love for you. Because of the hope of heaven, love and peace, unlike that which the world offers, can brighten your outlook and shine on your face.

And most important, because of the hope of heaven, you can learn to love all your brothers and sisters in Christ—all the “holy ones” around you!

“Father, fill me with hope so that I can love as truly as you love.”

Taken from wau.org.