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Mar
02

Gospel of Mark 9, Jesus' Power of Prayer

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Day 37, Mark 9

Good Day everyone! Today we begin March and we are half way through the Gospel of Mark!  Many congratulations for completing Matthew and being half way through Mark!

There are 28 day until Palm or Passion Sunday!  Today’s Gospel Chapter should get you fired up to get in the game and be prepared for holy week!!!

Today is all is going to be lifting our eyes toward heaven!  There is a lot of POWER in this action packed chapter!

We pray for eyes that can see!!!

I see three transformational points in this chapter:

  1. The Casted Shadow
  2. YOU CAN – With Faith!
  3. Salted with Fire

1- The Casted Shadow -

Of course I am so happy to be back in the Transfiguration of our LORD! 

I noticed some words that were different or I didn’t notice them in Matthew.  First of all — remember that the last this that happened in chapter 8 was Peter’s Confession! 

So we see Jesus first of all saying Amen – there are many – standing here -that won’t taste death until the son of man comes in POWER –

- well there is power right out of the gate today!

What does this mean Jesus? 

Well — basically you know as Christians we are supposed to die! We are supposed to be dead to sin!  Alive in Christ! 

So we are not supposed to have desires to satisfy our flesh but to be living for and in the kingdom of God!  So he says some are not dying to themselves and to sin but alive to their flesh — that is what he means -

- and He said some that are standing right here — on the inside –the inner circle with JESUS – the ones who should be living dead to sin- those in the pews!

Then Jesus makes a point in the first sentence to say that after six days…. OH MY GOODNESS!

The key here is Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah — and that leads us after six days… to what ?  The Seventh Day!  The LORD”S day!

So all that we are going to see is happening on the seventh day!

This forshadows that the DAY of GLORY of the LORD — and Resurrection will be on SEVENTH DAY!  There is something significant about this  – the sixth day – it was mentioned in Exodus!

Why did Peter, James, and John go up the Mountain with JESUS — because Jesus was calling Peter, James and John to special tasks that they were going to require seeing this event in order to remember what they saw!

I was also taken by the “WHITEness”  the dazzling white of Jesus clothes - 

“whiter that any fuller on earth” could get them –

I guess the fuller was the bleacher — making things white — and we see this mentioned a lot in prophecy!

Then we see Peter saying to Jesus,

“Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 

My understanding is that the “TENT” he was referring to had to do with a tradition, in Hebrew “booths” that the prophet Nehemiah had instructed them to build on their terraces and roof tops- made out of palm branches – to worship the Lord — and I believe it was for the feast of tabernacles!

Pretty interesting… you can write to us in a post anything you might know about this and share it with us! 

So Peter wasn’t thinking of a tent like you and I do at a camping trip — but a dwelling that was customary to worship!

And how did Peter know that it was Moses and Elijah — I mean Moses lived what 820 BC?  And they didn’t have photo’s to know– oh look hey there is Moses!

So Jesus must have told him or it was revealed — but the key is Peter was moved to worship but also scared out of his mind!

And now comes the main point — right at that moment a cloud came casting a shadow over them –

the same shadow that OVERSHADOWED the Blessed Mother in the annunciation –

the same shadow that is casted from PETER and that heals people if they are touched by it in Acts of the Apostle .

And from the cloud came a voice… “This is my beloved Son — Listen to HIM”

WELL there you have it!!!

(By the way — check out Psalm 2 — this is where you can see these words prophetically!!! In Matthew’s Transfiguration God says YOU are my Son and I am pleased with you — Mark tells it as “this”)

Suddenly it was over —-

In this Cloud is God the Father — of course it is His voice — the shadow is the Holy Spirit –

When the three are standing there MOSES< JESUS< ELIJIAH

we see the Trinity — and the BIBLE — Word of GOD — Old Testament – MOSES the LAW — ELIJIAH – the prophets, JESUS the New Testament –

And — on the way down from the mountain — the three of them questioned what rising from the dead meant!

Then they asked why the scribes say that Elijah must come first before the Messiah –

Jesus says yes — according to the prophets Elijah must come first and the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt!

Jesus says that Elijah will indeed come and restore all things — and that he had already come –

so how can this be possible — Well we have Elijahwho did come — the prophet — we have John the Baptist who did come — both of them treated horribly –

and Elijah — will come to restore all things… that is the prefigurement of the HOLY SPIRIT who will come in fullness after Jesus suffers greatly and dies on the Cross — and after the Ascension –

But what they experienced was the overshadowing of the HOLY SPIRIT right on that MOUNTAIN top — a foreshadowing of what they would experience at Pentecost!

2- You Can – with FAITH -

OK I am so fired up about this one!!! This is so cool because we may have read before about the man who had the son who was possessed by a demon…

Anyone ever think their boy or girl was possessed?

I’m sure you know how this man must have felt — at his wits end — I am so impressed that he came and sought out Jesus even after his disciples couldn’t do it!

This man did not give up!!  I love it!!  And he was willing to humble himself — desperate as he was and ask again!

If there was the slightest chance — he would ask –

NOW what blew me away was what ends up happening with JESUS!

But first …. why did this all start with the man arguing with the scribes?

Then it says on seeing them the crowd greeted and ran up to JESUS!

I wonder if the scribes were saying that it wasn’t possible — happy that the demon could not be driven out –

Anyway back to Jesus!!!  He asks some questions of the man about the boy –

and when He hears that His own disciples couldn’t drive out the demon… JESUS says…

“O faithless generation, how long will I be with you?”

Then He said to bring the boy to him!

Now as I read this again — I am just wondering what JESUS thinks of us today?  I mean are His disciples praying for people to be set free? 

I mean our struggles are all internal today that manifest on the outside — but addictions and mental illness —

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick — why do we see it only once or twice a year as a parish — I know that you can go and ask for it if you are dying or if you are having a major surgery —

I know a parish where the anointing of the sick is celebrated every Saturday during the Mass — I am not totally sure if this liturgically correct- I think it is – I will ask to confirm — but it is really beautiful that he just asks anyone if they require the sacrament — and it is right after the offertory –

I also connected with a boy in 9th grade recently who when I asked him what His favorite sacrament was…. he said the Anointing of the Sick — I said really why?

He said that His grandfather had Cancer and after the anointing of the sick he was cured forever!

OK now that blew me away and here is this 9th grader in high school with a vibrant faith and witnessing to me about the sacrament! He loves the Catholic Church!

OK back to the story… now is JESUS a little ticked… like my kids don’t clean the bathroom well enough so I have to do it over again… ugh!

WELL I don’t think JESUS is upset because He has to do this again — but HE is bringing to light that there is NO FAITH — I mean I don’t know about you but I am getting tired of hearing JESUS say this…

I MEAN it makes me want to really exercise faith everyday!!  IT must be so pleasing to JESUS to see us grow in faith!!  It gets HIM FIRED UP!

OK so this is the best part!

The Man says to Jesus, “IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING, HAVE COMPASSION ON US AND HELP US”

and what does Jesus say?  I mean we just read how compassionate He was to the crowd…

this time JESUS says — “IF YOU CAN!” 

“EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE TO ONE WHO HAS FAITH!”

OK I am beside myself!  I mean I just wrote this book– Faith on Fire and the Holy Spirit led me to so many verses — and maybe even this one that I included in the book about faith…

but I never saw this in context like this! 

This is what JESUS is saying to us today —- we don’t sit around waiting for JESUS to just do EVERYTHING — it is a relationship and YOU have to do SOMETHING!  We ask for the grace… and then we HAVE TO HAVE FAITH!!!

We have it if we have asked — but do we exercise it?  Do we rely on it!

EVER DAY!  Not just on Sunday — and not just when things are not going our way — and not just at a prayer meeting or a retreat!

This man knew right at that moment that HE WANTED FAITH — and he showed the grace to ask Jesus for it!

Then the boy’s father cried out, “I DO BELIEVE, HELP MY UNBELIEF!”

No I will be honest — I don’t know why but I don’t remember this here…

I had it in my head that it was St. Thomas… I thought that is what he says… but he says – the doubter afterwards — MY LORD AND MY GOD!

I would like to say to you that in the book Faith on Fire I mention “heart felt prayers” these are prayers — little short ones that we can say all day long to practice the presence of God –

These are two of mine!!  And My Lord and My God I also pray when the Sacred HOST is lifted by the priest (acting in the person of Christ) during the consecration! 

I read that a saint used to do that and it stuck ever since and I think I learned that saying that in your heart at that moment –used to be taught in the church —

So this is a prayer that we must pray to increase faith —

JESUS – on seeing the crowd gathering — rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it

“Mute and deaf spirit, I command you; come out of him and never enter him again!”

The rest you read that the boy was set free — but the disciples later want to know why they couldn’t drive it out ?

Jesus says — “THIS KIND CAN ONLY COME OUT THROUGH PRAYER”

Ok so — then it must mean that prayer increases faith — since before HE referenced  faithless generation!

If we are in constant disciplined prayer then we will have the faith necessary to rebuke all the evil that blocks the grace of God in our life and increase our spiritual vision!

3- Salted with Fire -

Now there is so much here in this chapter but I want to fast forward to the Simile of Salt!

And first mention that we entered into the fourth section of Mark -

- IV THE FULL REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY

So we are at a turning point after yesterday being Chapter 8 and today 9 we have turned the corner in the journey to Calvary! 

And so we saw in 8 the first prediction of the PASSION and today in 9 we see the Second Prediction of the Passion -

- Jesus gets much more specific about His death and His rising and the disciples — were too afraid to ask HIM — but they did not understand!

Now in the full revelation section we see — the Greatest in the Kingdom –

I love seeing that whoever is not for us is against us and whoever is not against us is for us — and whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, will surely not lose his reward –

- I like to see here all the people who cannot see Christ but perhaps do good works to help you in ministry or things that you need as an act of charity –

my neighbor who is a plumber— is not against God — but is not practicing any faith — but he will assist me in any way especially when it comes to God!

All I want to do is have him baptized and into the KINGDOM OF GOD!

He tells me that he doesn’t want to go to heaven because two reasons… he heard there is no Budweiser beer there — and two …all his friends are in hell!

OK but yesterday he called me hysterical and with a sense of urgency he made me write something down –

He said that he was on a plumbing job and he was, for some reason, suspended in the air very high up with no scaffolding or protection from a fall — he said that even for him — who is so daring — he had to think to himself…

“What would I do if I fell?”  “What could save me?”

He said that what He thought about was that if he fell — the beer couldn’t save him — his buddies couldn’t save him — he couldn’t call anyone on his cell  phone –

- so HE said that HE would have called God — but that he wouldn’t need a cell phone or computer –

So end of story — HIS BRAINCHILD — He had this original thought and wants me to make bumperstickers and all kinds of items with this thought and sell them on this website!!!

Ready…

“PRAYER… THE ORIGINAL WIRELESS CONNECTION”

OK so he was so excited — and since I call him the prophet plumber -he wants his signature on all the items- we will be collaborating on this effort! 

So stay tuned!

Anyway — God is moving even when we think that someone has no faith!! We can’t see the inside of a person!

SO never judge — that was the Gospel today! I love it!

OK so what I love about the Simile of Salt that I never saw before is the first sentence!!!

Verse 49 “Everyone will be salted with fire”

WOW — and He says

“keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another!!”

Salt with a promise!  So what is this fire?  THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Now supposedly it says in my bible that some other manuscripts add, every sacrifice will be salted with salt.

Here we see salt used — which to them meant purifying and preserving use of salt in food! 

The fire is the refinement of the Holy Spirit — so the two used together make an awesome simile!

So this is all about the fire — and that we must stay in the fire — the other big part of the Faith on Fire book — so this is a great chapter!!

Please share your insights and thoughts and we can start a holy bonfire with faith sharing!!

God bless you with a faith on fire today!

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  • Anonymous

    I like how with Matthew then Mark we can read the same thing and yet get a different slant on it, Is it because they are writing to two different peoples one the Jews and the other the Gentiles?

    The Transfiguration always confused me; now reading Elijah and Moses represented the Law and the Prophets I am still a little confused but at least not so much as I was. At least I now get the representation part.
    It must have been very scary indeed for the 3 Apostles, I know I would be too. But the fact that Jesus allowed them to be part of it – wow were they ever chosen!! ! – Being chosen by God scares me and I definitely feel chosen because faith is a gift so God chose to give it to me.
    BTW – I read the same explanation about the tents.
    I did read the same thing as you put in your comments about the “tents”.

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    This is great that you see that you are chosen — and you have to know that grace is why you say yes — this is why Jesus says DO NOT BE AFRAID! He knows that fear is the enemy’s number one tactic — and how easily we will let fear keep us from the will of God! The transfiguration is worth contemplating until we go to heaven — for it is the glory of God made manifest — for a reason –
    Matthew and Mark — will be slightly different because of the audience and also because of their perspectives — they are all ONE Gospel — and the first three are called the synoptic Gospels — they are so similiar —
    then John’s Gospel tends to deal more with spirituality — and so it isn’t called synoptic — but they are all “THE GOSPEL” together as ONE —

  • Anonymous

    tell roger that i already have a sweat shirt with that saying which is sold in a magazine – the abbey press. how amazing that we think of God when something scary happens. we sort of grab Jesus’s hand.

    i like the Jesus prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a poor sinner. there is a rosary for this prayer that has 100 continious beads. i have one that the nuns from a greek orthodox convent make – each bead is made of 7 Crosses. the story is this: a monk in the desert was praying with a rope full of knots to keep count of the prayers. every night the devil would come and unravel the knots so he couldnt tell if he had done the prescribed prayers. Our Lady (some stories say st. michael) came one night and taught him how to make these beads with 7 crosses. when the devil saw the crosses he fled and never bothered him again.

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Oh NO wait till he hears that the HOLY SPIRIT gave that to someone else first — Truly amazing how God can speak to anyone He wishes and how we should not judge!!! I’d OH I love that story about the beads — thanks for that share!! WE always have protection from evil ready and waiting for us — we just have to ask!

  • judystefencavage

    I like how with Matthew then Mark we can read the same thing and yet get a different slant on it, Is it because they are writing to two different peoples one the Jews and the other the Gentiles?

    The Transfiguration always confused me; now reading Elijah and Moses represented the Law and the Prophets I am still a little confused but at least not so much as I was. At least I now get the representation part.
    It must have been very scary indeed for the 3 Apostles, I know I would be too. But the fact that Jesus allowed them to be part of it – wow were they ever chosen!! ! – Being chosen by God scares me and I definitely feel chosen because faith is a gift so God chose to give it to me.
    BTW – I read the same explanation about the tents.
    I did read the same thing as you put in your comments about the “tents”.

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    This is great that you see that you are chosen — and you have to know that grace is why you say yes — this is why Jesus says DO NOT BE AFRAID! He knows that fear is the enemy's number one tactic — and how easily we will let fear keep us from the will of God! The transfiguration is worth contemplating until we go to heaven — for it is the glory of God made manifest — for a reason –
    Matthew and Mark — will be slightly different because of the audience and also because of their perspectives — they are all ONE Gospel — and the first three are called the synoptic Gospels — they are so similiar —
    then John's Gospel tends to deal more with spirituality — and so it isn't called synoptic — but they are all “THE GOSPEL” together as ONE —

  • marionraffa

    tell roger that i already have a sweat shirt with that saying which is sold in a magazine – the abbey press. how amazing that we think of God when something scary happens. we sort of grab Jesus's hand.

    i like the Jesus prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a poor sinner. there is a rosary for this prayer that has 100 continious beads. i have one that the nuns from a greek orthodox convent make – each bead is made of 7 Crosses. the story is this: a monk in the desert was praying with a rope full of knots to keep count of the prayers. every night the devil would come and unravel the knots so he couldnt tell if he had done the prescribed prayers. Our Lady (some stories say st. michael) came one night and taught him how to make these beads with 7 crosses. when the devil saw the crosses he fled and never bothered him again.

  • Anonymous

    roger is an accident waiting to happen. he is going to fall so deep when his time comes. just like father corapi. lets pray to st.gema galgani for his conversion. you have laid the foundation very nicely.

  • Ann

    Awwwwwwww Roger, a miracle in the waiting. God has him right where He wants him, in the palm of His right hand, Roger just doesn’t realize it yet. Just tell him there is a better brand of beer in heaven. Is there a saint Roger?
    St. Gemma is a great saint Marion, I named my kitten after her one day last October when Marie stopped for a visit and mentioned her. Three times that day I heard the name Gemma and I looked her up in the Saints and loved the story. So Gemma Joy lives at my house.

    Now to the more serious stuff, I never understood about the tent, so thank you for the explanation. I don’t know if after seeing and hearing that I would have been able to utter a word. Can you only imagine the sight!

    You wrote, Listen to Him. To my right side is a prayer for the priests and in it it says, “Do whatever He tells you to do” Jn2:5, and to my left on a paper I copied is yesterdays devotional by Joel Olsteen, “…Whatever He says to you to do, do it. ” Jn2:5. So that means I must open my spiritual ears and be ready to hear from God at all times,not just listen but also obey Him,now it becomes harder. Each day of Lent I try harder………..

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Oh NO wait till he hears that the HOLY SPIRIT gave that to someone else first — Truly amazing how God can speak to anyone He wishes and how we should not judge!!! I'd OH I love that story about the beads — thanks for that share!! WE always have protection from evil ready and waiting for us — we just have to ask!

  • Anonymous

    Hi, Marie ,you opened my eyes about the transfiguration the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Prayers increase Faith I hope so.I don’t know if my family has any faith. But i loved what you said about salt. Every sacrifice will be salted with salt and the salt is the Holy Spirit well then pour it on me and salt me with the fire of the Holy Spirit now and forever!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • marionraffa

    roger is an accident waiting to happen. he is going to fall so deep when his time comes. just like father corapi. lets pray to st.gema galgani for his conversion. you have laid the foundation very nicely.

  • Ann

    Awwwwwwww Roger, a miracle in the waiting. God has him right where He wants him, in the palm of His right hand, Roger just doesn't realize it yet. Just tell him there is a better brand of beer in heaven. Is there a saint Roger?
    St. Gemma is a great saint Marion, I named my kitten after her one day last October when Marie stopped for a visit and mentioned her. Three times that day I heard the name Gemma and I looked her up in the Saints and loved the story. So Gemma Joy lives at my house.

    Now to the more serious stuff, I never understood about the tent, so thank you for the explanation. I don't know if after seeing and hearing that I would have been able to utter a word. Can you only imagine the sight!

    You wrote, Listen to Him. To my right side is a prayer for the priests and in it it says, “Do whatever He tells you to do” Jn2:5, and to my left on a paper I copied is yesterdays devotional by Joel Olsteen, “…Whatever He says to you to do, do it. ” Jn2:5. So that means I must open my spiritual ears and be ready to hear from God at all times,not just listen but also obey Him,now it becomes harder. Each day of Lent I try harder………..

  • Anonymous

    Wow!! Great connect the dots of scripture….your writing is truly inspired God send to many. I absolutely LOVE the prayer “My Lord and My God!” My story is that when I was younger, my absolutely favorite person, my Nana, (God rest her soul–Susan (Assunta) please say a little prayer for her) lived in Long Island and we hardly ever saw her…but when we did she salted her simple conversation with phrases that I can still recall vividly today….Let’s just say the many seeds took root. The Holy Spirit really worked powerfully through this little humble simple woman. Most thought ‘How could she know anything?” but I felt someway she was very special and so loving. Ok Im sure everyone feels this way about their wise Italian Nana who may not have gotten more than 8th grade education. But I recall once in Mass she leaned over when the Host was being risen and said, “always at this point, touch your Heart and say, “My Lord and My God!” (later added ‘ I believe! HELP MY UNBELIEF!”) So now when I am sacrificing and offering up for a loved one who rejects the faith and this hurts so deeply….I pray silently “My Lord and My God, I Believe!! HElp OUR Unbelief”….I think these heart felt prayers can pierce a soul with incredible light…but perhaps not for me to know…..but MY LORD AND MY GOD< I BELIEVE< HELP MY UNBELIEF!! Also, Please pray for Nana's sons and daughter who have all left the faith…how can this be from such a faith filled and prayerful mother? But I can tell you one thing for certain, I witnessed that she never gave up praying and believing" She was also the one who taught…"Offer it up!" and "Oh Pray for them"(whenever I told her about a mean person) Thank you Lord for the holy Nana's who truly deposit the faith!

    The Annunciation….the overshadowing of the HOLY SPIRIT….a new beginning…..TRANSFIGURATION…..overshadowing of the Holy Spirit…..a new beginning, a ministry…..begins w the FIRE….A new life….baptism….begins w the FIREof Holy Spirit….I BELIEVE In JESUS CHRIST who was conceived by THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT…a new Testament…I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord the Giver of Life……Jesus told His Holy Mother, ' You see Mother, I make all things NEW!" AMEN.
    Marie…I thank you for bringing the scriptures to life for me since reading them is very very difficult for me… I can try and read and try and read and read, read, read them and I feel like a dunce… I am unable to get the depth of the meaning…but I know it is good to read them and so I continue to try. My Lord and My God, I believe, Help my unbelief!! So this is not a gift Ive been given, but when I pray and lay hands…Pow! FIRE HEAT!! All praise and glory be to God! Come Holy Spirit! Come! By means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary you r well beloved spouse!!!"(another short heartfelt and POWERFUL prayer)….My Jesus, MERCY!!……Jesus I TRUST in YOU……Have Mercy on us and on the Whole world!/ g'night

  • marylatini

    Hi, Marie ,you opened my eyes about the transfiguration the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Prayers increase Faith I hope so.I don't know if my family has any faith. But i loved what you said about salt. Every sacrifice will be salted with salt and the salt is the Holy Spirit well then pour it on me and salt me with the fire of the Holy Spirit now and forever!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • PBoJ

    Wow!! Great connect the dots of scripture….your writing is truly inspired God send to many. I absolutely LOVE the prayer “My Lord and My God!” My story is that when I was younger, my absolutely favorite person, my Nana, (God rest her soul–Susan (Assunta) please say a little prayer for her) lived in Long Island and we hardly ever saw her…but when we did she salted her simple conversation with phrases that I can still recall vividly today….Let's just say the many seeds took root. The Holy Spirit really worked powerfully through this little humble simple woman. Most thought 'How could she know anything?” but I felt someway she was very special and so loving. Ok Im sure everyone feels this way about their wise Italian Nana who may not have gotten more than 8th grade education. But I recall once in Mass she leaned over when the Host was being risen and said, “always at this point, touch your Heart and say, “My Lord and My God!” (later added ' I believe! HELP MY UNBELIEF!”) So now when I am sacrificing and offering up for a loved one who rejects the faith and this hurts so deeply….I pray silently “My Lord and My God, I Believe!! HElp OUR Unbelief”….I think these heart felt prayers can pierce a soul with incredible light…but perhaps not for me to know…..but MY LORD AND MY GOD< I BELIEVE< HELP MY UNBELIEF!! Also, Please pray for Nana's sons and daughter who have all left the faith…how can this be from such a faith filled and prayerful mother? But I can tell you one thing for certain, I witnessed that she never gave up praying and believing” She was also the one who taught…”Offer it up!” and “Oh Pray for them”(whenever I told her about a mean person) Thank you Lord for the holy Nana's who truly deposit the faith!

    The Annunciation….the overshadowing of the HOLY SPIRIT….a new beginning…..TRANSFIGURATION…..overshadowing of the Holy Spirit…..a new beginning, a ministry…..begins w the FIRE….A new life….baptism….begins w the FIREof Holy Spirit….I BELIEVE In JESUS CHRIST who was conceived by THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT…a new Testament…I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord the Giver of Life……Jesus told His Holy Mother, ' You see Mother, I make all things NEW!” AMEN.
    Marie…I thank you for bringing the scriptures to life for me since reading them is very very difficult for me… I can try and read and try and read and read, read, read them and I feel like a dunce… I am unable to get the depth of the meaning…but I know it is good to read them and so I continue to try. My Lord and My God, I believe, Help my unbelief!! So this is not a gift Ive been given, but when I pray and lay hands…Pow! FIRE HEAT!! All praise and glory be to God! Come Holy Spirit! Come! By means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary you r well beloved spouse!!!”(another short heartfelt and POWERFUL prayer)….My Jesus, MERCY!!……Jesus I TRUST in YOU……Have Mercy on us and on the Whole world!/ g'night

  • Anonymous

    ooops…I lost a day! Left you ph message about FR Corapi on 1570am @8am this morning.
    I was so inspired by the teachings on faith you’ve been leading us through that when I happened to be in the kitchen w my scratchy AM radio in the background FR Corapi’s unmistakable voice boomed out with the clear word “FAITH”, FAITH!!
    Then he began an amazing teaching as well….referencing that GOd say without faith we can not be pleasing to Him. He did NOT say with out understanding….or works or etc….FAITH!! Well I just picked that phone right up and dialed your ph# from memory and then I was too excited to get the other details right like today IS wednesday and it IS 3/3!!!

    Happy St Katherine Drexel Feast Day Marie!!

    By the way, I read about Roger’s testimony and my firm belief is that Roger has the last laugh here! He is already powerful in his gifts of evangelization in his very essence and character (and HOOOO wheeewwww what a Character!!) He is so much more profoundly simply learned in ways of heart that we all s/b humbled. I firmly believe that it is Roger who uses his gift of shock to shake up the people who claim to have faith sending a jolt…to challenge where one really is versus where on think one is in their faith journey. I agree with you that he is already God’s powerful prophet and can really insight a healthy sparring about the faith…isnt this what it is really all about? Christ’s Disciples mission…TO aflict the comfortable and to comfort the afflicted…isnt this Roger to the core? He is a gift and I hope he is ok after that shake-up he suffered (he can dole out a good shakin up with the best of ‘em…just like FR Corapi as the other blogger marionraffa had said) May God call more laborers (plumbers) to the vineyard.

  • PBoJ

    ooops…I lost a day! Left you ph message about FR Corapi on 1570am @8am this morning.
    I was so inspired by the teachings on faith you've been leading us through that when I happened to be in the kitchen w my scratchy AM radio in the background FR Corapi's unmistakable voice boomed out with the clear word “FAITH”, FAITH!!
    Then he began an amazing teaching as well….referencing that GOd say without faith we can not be pleasing to Him. He did NOT say with out understanding….or works or etc….FAITH!! Well I just picked that phone right up and dialed your ph# from memory and then I was too excited to get the other details right like today IS wednesday and it IS 3/3!!!

    Happy St Katherine Drexel Feast Day Marie!!

    By the way, I read about Roger's testimony and my firm belief is that Roger has the last laugh here! He is already powerful in his gifts of evangelization in his very essence and character (and HOOOO wheeewwww what a Character!!) He is so much more profoundly simply learned in ways of heart that we all s/b humbled. I firmly believe that it is Roger who uses his gift of shock to shake up the people who claim to have faith sending a jolt…to challenge where one really is versus where on think one is in their faith journey. I agree with you that he is already God's powerful prophet and can really insight a healthy sparring about the faith…isnt this what it is really all about? Christ's Disciples mission…TO aflict the comfortable and to comfort the afflicted…isnt this Roger to the core? He is a gift and I hope he is ok after that shake-up he suffered (he can dole out a good shakin up with the best of 'em…just like FR Corapi as the other blogger marionraffa had said) May God call more laborers (plumbers) to the vineyard.

  • Ann

    I love it, more, more Nana stories! See, Jesus is using you to touch me through this blog, thank you all!

  • Ann

    I love it, more, more Nana stories! See, Jesus is using you to touch me through this blog, thank you all!

  • Anonymous

    Hi Ann, thanks for your response…I firmly believe that Nana’s are the world’s true miracle workers! Their prayers are powerful capable of healing families in a single breath! When I was a young mother and still fortunate to have my Nana , she encouraged my faith by listening to my many new mom anxieties and then she simply said, “Pray to St Anne”. and “God never refuses the prayer of a mother”. and “God always answers a mother’s prayers”! Beautiful Truth!
    Another beloved Nana saying was “waste not, want not” and boy did this one stick with me and prove invaluable throughout my life from early years when I had to be an industrious babysitter, through the starving college years, young new mom years, yucky difficult divorce years and now too in guiding teen years. She taught through this sayig, that I can be content with whatever I have and even further I can give a little more of myself no matter the situation or circumstances. She taught a certain joy filled poverty which makes room for the peace of Jesus to dwell. God Bless you Ann and thank you for the opportunity to remember and share my Nana’s beautiful love!

    ________________________________

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Hi There — I just saw this great commentary — I received you call and it was too late — not meant to be but I LOVE FR> Corapi — so thanks so much for thinking of me and thanks so much for being on here — you are a great great writer and so good that you are using your gifts — these commentaries really bless people as well as blessing ourselves!! PRaise God!!! Keep the faith!!! Peace — and many blessings to you this lent — keep it going!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    OH great — this is fantastic — I am reading this now and so blessed — you must pray to read the scriptures — God wants to reveal His truth through His words — just read the one chapter and then read this — and with one chapter a day — you will soon finish a Gospel — it is a must — like our vitamins and supplements — so glad you are here reading this and growing in faith!!! Blessed be God!

  • PBoJ

    Hi Ann, thanks for your response…I firmly believe that Nana's are the world's true miracle workers! Their prayers are powerful capable of healing families in a single breath! When I was a young mother and still fortunate to have my Nana , she encouraged my faith by listening to may many anxieties and then she simply said, Pray to St Anne. and God never refuses the prayer of a mother. God always answers a mother's prayers!
    Another beloved Nana saying was “waste not, want not” and boy did this one stick with me and prove invaluable throughout my life from early years when I had to be an industrious babysitter, through the starving college years, young new mom years, yucky difficult divorce years and now too in guiding teen years. God Bless you Ann and thank you for the opportunity to remember and share my Nana's beautiful love!

    ________________________________

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Hi There — I just saw this great commentary — I received you call and it was too late — not meant to be but I LOVE FR> Corapi — so thanks so much for thinking of me and thanks so much for being on here — you are a great great writer and so good that you are using your gifts — these commentaries really bless people as well as blessing ourselves!! PRaise God!!! Keep the faith!!! Peace — and many blessings to you this lent — keep it going!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    OH great — this is fantastic — I am reading this now and so blessed — you must pray to read the scriptures — God wants to reveal His truth through His words — just read the one chapter and then read this — and with one chapter a day — you will soon finish a Gospel — it is a must — like our vitamins and supplements — so glad you are here reading this and growing in faith!!! Blessed be God!