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Mar
06

Gospel of Mark 13, Jesus says "WATCH"

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Day 41, Mark 13

Good day everyone!  We’ve been Gospel Journeying now for over 40 days – many congratulations to you!  God’s grace be with you!

We have turned the corner in the Gospel of Mark and we are heading with JESUS right up to Calvary!  Only three more chapters to go!

I am so fired up on this First Saturday!

If you look at this chapter you will see that the ENTIRE CHAPTER IS JESUS SPEAKING!!!  How cool is that!

SO — I have a bible where JESUS words are all in red! And I can see that there are only two or three sentences where it is not JESUS and the whole rest of the chapter are HIS WORDS! 

This is a riveting chapter that we must read and pray about without ceasing!

We are not to be afraid — we are to have a sense of urgency –

I see three urgent points in this chapter:

  1. Labor Pains
  2. Coming in POWER
  3. Be Watchful!

1- Labor Pains -

OK this word labor pains really struck me when I read the account of the Signs of the End!

Remember that as long as we are here, we are never going to know everything that is behind God’s plan -

- but we know a few things with certainty – our hope secure…

- that God wants us to be with Him forever in Heaven — that He is our good Father and that He sent His Son Jesus to come and get us and to be OUR WAY to HIM!

We are called to be simple people of simple minds — not over think it or we fall into fear and become paralyzed! 

But we must have a sense of urgency when it comes to us being ready and making an effort everyday to study and try to understand!!!  We must desire and ask for understanding!

When He talks about signs…Jesus says that deception will come- and wars and nations rising up against nations!  OK so it sounds like we are there!!! 

Right?

Peace be with you!

But this is what really has my eye today —

“There will be EARTHQUAKES from place to place and there will be famines”

OK so didn’t we just have one in Haiti and now in Chile?

We’ve had all kinds of natural disasters for years — they just seem to be more frequent –

But think of His words — “THESE ARE THE BEGINNING OF THE LABOR PAINS”

You see… man was created in the image and likeness of God — the fact that we come into the world through the labor of a woman should remind us that the way we will get to eternal life will be through labor -

- now for us it will be through JESUS CHRIST and the labor of ”THE WOMAN” — The Blessed Virgin Mary who labored at the cross and suffered spiritually while Christ suffered physically and spiritually-

– do you see that she is our example as co redemptrix — that she stood in our place to show us that we are to be working in the mission of redemption together with JESUS — at the cross —- offering our prayers — internal sufferings- external sufferings — making them all spiritual offerings in prayer and joining them to Calvary as Mary did! 

 This is the greatest labor of love — that you lay down your life for your friends!

I remember listening to Johnnette Benkovic -Catholic Speaker and Author and Founder of Living His Life Abundantly which is a TV and Radio Show on EWTN, speak right after losing her son who was suddenly killed in a car accident —

I will never forget these words she told us — she said that her whole body was in terrible, terrible pain after his death — to the point where she was woken up at night — I mean she would double over because the pain was in her womb!!! 

She was praying for it to go away and then the Lord said to her — and I know the Blessed mother was with her too — but she heard these words…

“You labored in pain to give your son human life, will you not labor in pain for his eternal life?

After that moment she prayed to God not to let her waste one minute of any pain without having it be redemptive for her son!

She must have pleased the LORD —

I believe less than two years later her husband died of cancer!

I got to see her speak live again right after her husband died — and what a woman of faith — she had so many beautiful insights — her husband died with redemption on his mind — knowing that he was saving souls!!!

I will never forget that as long as I live — her pain and suffering was having redemptive power in heaven for her son – and now for her husband!

And again we can see this same thing happen for all of us as OUR LADY, OUR MOTHER SUFFERED at Calvary for all of us!!!!! She was made our mother at the CROSS by JESUS himself!!!

I am so fired up that this is on OUR LADY ON SATURDAY in 2nd week of LENT!

So these LABOR PAINS — are the sufferings getting the world ready for JESUS to come and getting us all ready for eternal life – remember when JESUS said in Matthew that He went into the heart of the world — to set the captives free– the world must be redeemed — there is just too much to say here so I will stop —

But just keep in mind when we see these things that it is the beginning of the end as JESUS puts it here — and that labor pains are our sign.

Remember that Peter, James, John and Andrew are here asking JESUS on the side, in person, for a sign — this was it —

2-  Coming in POWER –

Now Jesus talks a lot about not being misled — because He knows that there will be so much deception and people will be following leaders who will totally deceive them!

Haven’t we seen this already — people are at a low point and they follow the leader who seems like he will be able to solve all their problems!!

Look at Hitler for example!  And many other corrupt governments! 

We are living in blessed times here in the USA because we have no war HERE — we have freedom to practice our faith without being shot over it or tortured in any way — we have daily Eucharist and many Masses to cho0se from –

We should wonder if we realize how good we really have it!  We can read the bible as much as we want too!

If everything was to change what would you do?  How would you handle it?

We have to live our lives ready for anything — and work to lead people to JESUS -

- you see I believe instead of using our energy to complain about what is going on — and to argue with people — we should be praying and educating people in the faith! 

This is where the real POWER is — it is in GOD –

Jesus didn’t tell us these things to scare us but to wake us up!  He talks about the COMING of the SON OF MAN –

- and that when HE comes HE WILL come in POWER — what does this mean?

Remember in the last chapter that Jesus said that in order not to be misled you must KNOW SCRIPTURE and you must KNOW THE POWER OF GOD!

This is so that you will KNOW HIM when HE comes in POWER!!!

What does that look like? 

Well all I can do is look at how He has moved in my life!  I know the times that things have taken place that I could never have done and yet they happened!! 

When GOD’S POWER comes it is like a movement that is hard to explain in words but all things fall into right order and anything that is not meant to be falls out of importance —

Maybe we can share about the POWER of God today — because JESUS is coming and He will come exactly as He says right here!

Jesus will come in the clouds — as that is God — right — God was in the cloud during Jesus Baptism — during Transfiguration — and when He returns!

3- Be Watchful –

These are JESUS’ words!  Be Alert, Be watchful!  Jesus says to “WATCH”!

He says: “Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at a cockcrow, or in the morning”

he goes on…

“May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: WATCH!”

For no one knows…  no one in heaven either — not the angels — not even JESUS — ok so –

He makes this point so crystal clear — be ready!

Now, He doesn’t say this to make us afraid!!  If we are fearful we can be paralyzed -

- but this really should give you a sense of urgency to transform your life — and to share this message with others — there is no time to waste!

Jesus says everything is going to pass away— everything but HIS WORD — so thank GOD that you are studying HIS WORD and that you are doing something about it right now by being here!

We are to live our lives like it is over — I mean like it is your last!

I mean there is a good chance that most of us will die before Jesus returns in the cloud — this is also a “coming”  because we don’t know the hour – it might be the evening of our lives, the morning, the midday — to me this also means the time in our life when we will be called to meet JESUS!

 How does your day end — do you recollect and make an examination of conscience — every day you can do this in prayer with God and constantly be offering up yoursins to JESUS even before you get to the Sacrament of Confession! You can also offer up to Him your sacrifices and sufferings!

We are to be watchful meaning to be awake — not asleep — like many of us know what it meant to be asleep and now what it means to be awake!  Keep the fire of the Holy Spirit burning in your heart —

That is why I wrote the book Faith on Fire — to give people a practical way to keep the fire turned up to an all time HIGH!

So that when JESUS returns — you can be like the people on a deserted island who have the fire burning so that they can be identified and found!!!

SOS

SAVE OUR SOULS!!!

There is just way too much to capture everything in this chapter today — I think this will really rely on all of you to fill in the gaps and add your take aways!  As in every day I am so grateful to OUR LORD for how HE has used this blog to minister to me and I pray to all of you present!

When we share we are all blessed!  So I thank God for all of you and if you are so moved — in honor of our LADY today — please share you insights from this chapter…

simply click below, then create a username and password really quickly if you haven’t already!! Type and click post!

May God bless you with a spirit of watchfulness!

And May Our Lady Bless  you and Keep you as you honor Her to be her child today!

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  • frken

    A deacon candidate told me yesterday that he had forgoten his notes and left them home when he was due to give his homily in class. So he did it off the cuff. His classmates told him that it was the best he had done, and he ought to leave his notes home all the time. Verse 10-11 says: don’t worry about what you are to say, it will be given to you.
    Priests have kidded each other that they rely too much on the “dabitur” (it will be given). Prayerful preparation is to be made, but sometimes things come out of people’s mouths, and event they are surprised by what they said.
    The gospel quotes refers to one who is taken into custody and what will be said in ones defense, but the quote can be applied to many situations in life where one may feel challenged as how to reply. We just hope God puts the right words in our mouth.

  • Anonymous

    To say the truth, every time I see this reading, I read through. I don’t want the details of what will happen. The only thing I care and read and keep in my heart is his commandment to be alert and persevere, because He will come in glory. ANd if I have to suffer any, he will be there and the Holy Spirit. SO all I have to do is hang uon to Him.
    Fr Ken’s story reminded me of a story when I was young (about 19, almost 40 yrs ago. I went to Vneezuela to give a retreat with a preacher from the charismatic renewal, which was starting then. I went as the “music minister.” It was athree day retreat. This woman was there and kept asking the preacher and myself to talk to her son, who was in the retreat and was very confused. I don’t know why, but we never found the time to talk to him. At the closing of the retreat, after the Mass, we had a thnks giving adoration session. And we all prayed in tongues. The preacher, a “country boy” from Puerto Rico, started praying in tongues louder than the rest. When we stopped, the woman came to us. We thought she was going to yell at us, becasue we didn’t talk to her son. She was crying and started thanking us. Ahe was a Spanish woman from the north of Spain, from the Basque country. Their dialect is different from the other dialects in Spain and they say it is dificult to learn. I don’t know this. Well, when the preacher was praying in tongues, she says he was talking in basque and he said exactly what this boy needed to hear. and only she and her son understood this language.
    From that day on, everytime we went to give a retreat we really prayed in preparation for it, got ready, but really let the Holy Spirit lead the way. If he wants to speak, and we are willing to listen, He will speak any way He has to do it. Through us or like thunder from the Sky. We don’t have to worry. I used to sing as part of the music ministry. And I never sang better than when I sang in Church, and it touched people. If I wanted to show off elsewere, it didn’t work.
    So, again, faith will save us. I hang on to Him and believe He is with me, will save me, even if I have to go through rough times, persecution, tribulation, and He will speak through me anyway He needs to do it, so I don’t need to worry. Just be ready. Isn’t is cool?????

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    That is so cooool! Thanks for these shares — I think the key here is balance and again that good ole theological principle of the Church — Both… and…
    We prepare by praying — listening — maybe even thinking about what God might want to say — and then when we get there — we let God speak through us — if we have studied and prepared everything we need is in our heart and mind –
    then we can just let the Lord lead!!! I agree that we shouldn’t worry at all — but we must know that this is exactly what Jesus said — He wouldn’t have included it if we didn’t need to know it! These are all His words so there is a purpose not to be afraid but to realize that this is the truth — and the truth is no joke — it is real! God bless!!! And amen!

  • frken

    A deacon candidate told me yesterday that he had forgoten his notes and left them home when he was due to give his homily in class. So he did it off the cuff. His classmates told him that it was the best he had done, and he ought to leave his notes home all the time. Verse 10-11 says: don't worry about what you are to say, it will be given to you.
    Priests have kidded each other that they rely too much on the “dabitur” (it will be given). Prayerful preparation is to be made, but sometimes things come out of people's mouths, and event they are surprised by what they said.
    The gospel quotes refers to one who is taken into custody and what will be said in ones defense, but the quote can be applied to many situations in life where one may feel challenged as how to reply. We just hope God puts the right words in our mouth.

  • Anonymous

    God’s grace be with you Marie!! What a chapter!!! It kind of scares me. I like it when Jesus is going to come with great power and glory then to send the angels to gather the elect. well I tell you I want to be in that elect!!!!!!!!!! So I have to have faith and be obedient to study the bible and to be on Fire for the Lord!!!! You opened my eyes about the labor pains. When you wrote about Johnnette Benkovic all i can say is WOW!! I don’t know if I have faith like her. And I can only hope I’ll be ready when the LOrd comes!!!!!!!!!! To make my way to Him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!whoooo tell me how can I lead my family to Jesus??
    Peace be with you and your family

  • Anonymous

    Oh, I know we have to know, but I think people dwell too much in this reading, and get scared and try to predict when it will happen. We read it, we heard, we know what can happen, and we get ready. The good and hopeful part is that we will not be alone. We will be ready and strong and full of love. Like those first christian when they went into the circus to face the lions and tigers or the fire or the cross. They were ready. And though people who saw them might have thought it was terrifying, they went through it hanging on to the Lord. We shouldn’t dwell in the terrifying things that will happen, but in the comming of the Lord.

  • Anonymous

    i have a friend who is greek orthodox. they do not believe in redemptive suffering. i told her what a consolation it is to know you can offer your pain and sufferings to save sinners and souls in purgatory. she thinks it is strange this belief, but when i offer even sitting in traffic – just the smallest thing i know i am saving someone it gives meaning to my little peanut life, what a blessing to be able to save souls with this little simple nothing life – how amazing that God would want to use my nothingness to save souls.

  • Anonymous

    I like what Fr Kennedy said about God putting the right words in our mouths. There have been times it has happened to me and I marvel at how well I made my point(s).

    Regarding the end times; I have to laugh to myself every time I read that a cult or sect is telling everyone when the world is going to end. Now we are hearing that the Myan Calendar does not go beyone 2012 (is that the date?) and also that there is not going to be another delete that garbage when Pope after this present one. There is so much trash going around regarding things like that. I have learned – after talking to FrKen about it- that it is best to delete it, don’t even finish reading it. The Pope says to spread the Gospel through the Internet; however there is also the opposite problem of spreading fear and chaos (that is not of God) through it. I pray that I will be “ready”.

  • cuquilavergne

    To say the truth, every time I see this reading, I read through. I don't want the details of what will happen. The only thing I care and read and keep in my heart is his commandment to be alert and persevere, because He will come in glory. ANd if I have to suffer any, he will be there and the Holy Spirit. SO all I have to do is hang uon to Him.
    Fr Ken's story reminded me of a story when I was young (about 19, almost 40 yrs ago. I went to Vneezuela to give a retreat with a preacher from the charismatic renewal, which was starting then. I went as the “music minister.” It was athree day retreat. This woman was there and kept asking the preacher and myself to talk to her son, who was in the retreat and was very confused. I don't know why, but we never found the time to talk to him. At the closing of the retreat, after the Mass, we had a thnks giving adoration session. And we all prayed in tongues. The preacher, a “country boy” from Puerto Rico, started praying in tongues louder than the rest. When we stopped, the woman came to us. We thought she was going to yell at us, becasue we didn't talk to her son. She was crying and started thanking us. Ahe was a Spanish woman from the north of Spain, from the Basque country. Their dialect is different from the other dialects in Spain and they say it is dificult to learn. I don't know this. Well, when the preacher was praying in tongues, she says he was talking in basque and he said exactly what this boy needed to hear. and only she and her son understood this language.
    From that day on, everytime we went to give a retreat we really prayed in preparation for it, got ready, but really let the Holy Spirit lead the way. If he wants to speak, and we are willing to listen, He will speak any way He has to do it. Through us or like thunder from the Sky. We don't have to worry. I used to sing as part of the music ministry. And I never sang better than when I sang in Church, and it touched people. If I wanted to show off elsewere, it didn't work.
    So, again, faith will save us. I hang on to Him and believe He is with me, will save me, even if I have to go through rough times, persecution, tribulation, and He will speak through me anyway He needs to do it, so I don't need to worry. Just be ready. Isn't is cool?????

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    That is so cooool! Thanks for these shares — I think the key here is balance and again that good ole theological principle of the Church — Both… and…
    We prepare by praying — listening — maybe even thinking about what God might want to say — and then when we get there — we let God speak through us — if we have studied and prepared everything we need is in our heart and mind –
    then we can just let the Lord lead!!! I agree that we shouldn't worry at all — but we must know that this is exactly what Jesus said — He wouldn't have included it if we didn't need to know it! These are all His words so there is a purpose not to be afraid but to realize that this is the truth — and the truth is no joke — it is real! God bless!!! And amen!

  • marylatini

    God's grace be with you Marie!! What a chapter!!! It kind of scares me. I like it when Jesus is going to come with great power and glory then to send the angels to gather the elect. well I tell you I want to be in that elect!!!!!!!!!! So I have to have faith and be obedient to study the bible and to be on Fire for the Lord!!!! You opened my eyes about the labor pains. When you wrote about Johnnette Benkovic all i can say is WOW!! I don't know if I have faith like her. And I can only hope I'll be ready when the LOrd comes!!!!!!!!!! To make my way to Him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!whoooo tell me how can I lead my family to Jesus??
    Peace be with you and your family

  • cuquilavergne

    Oh, I know we have to know, but I think people dwell too much in this reading, and get scared and try to predict when it will happen. We read it, we heard, we know what can happen, and we get ready. The good and hopeful part is that we will not be alone. We will be ready and strong and full of love. Like those first christian when they went into the circus to face the lions and tigers or the fire or the cross. They were ready. And though people who saw them might have thought it was terrifying, they went through it hanging on to the Lord. We shouldn't dwell in the terrifying things that will happen, but in the comming of the Lord.

  • marionraffa

    i have a friend who is greek orthodox. they do not believe in redemptive suffering. i told her what a consolation it is to know you can offer your pain and sufferings to save sinners and souls in purgatory. she thinks it is strange this belief, but when i offer even sitting in traffic – just the smallest thing i know i am saving someone it gives meaning to my little peanut life, what a blessing to be able to save souls with this little simple nothing life – how amazing that God would want to use my nothingness to save souls.

  • judystefencavage

    I like what Fr Kennedy said about God putting the right words in our mouths. There have been times it has happened to me and I marvel at how well I made my point(s).

    Regarding the end times; I have to laugh to myself every time I read that a cult or sect is telling everyone when the world is going to end. Now we are hearing that the Myan Calendar does not go beyone 2012 (is that the date?) and also that there is not going to be another delete that garbage when Pope after this present one. There is so much trash going around regarding things like that. I have learned – after talking to FrKen about it- that it is best to delete it, don't even finish reading it. The Pope says to spread the Gospel through the Internet; however there is also the opposite problem of spreading fear and chaos (that is not of God) through it. I pray that I will be “ready”.