Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Forgave Him The Debt


BEADS OF JOY 03-06-18
“Forgave Him The Debt”
©2018 James Dacey, Jr. OFS

My Friends,


Today’s Gospel: 
Matthew 18:21-35 (The Parable of The Unforgiving Servant)
“Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So, the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, `Pay what you owe.' So, his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also, my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

Reflection:
Almighty God has given us the greatest security we can ever ask for in our lives. No it’s not an IRA or a stock pile of cash or gold, or shares of stock; none of that can ever equal, even a mere fraction of God's wealth and security that are available to all of us. Even if Bill Gates himself, put on the table all that he had, it wouldn't have any value in relation to the gift God has given us. God's gift is beyond magnificent, and it was Jesus who paid our debt in full; which was necessary to be paid for us, in order that we to might receive the gift of eternal life. There is no price, or amount of wealth that can ever pay for eternity with Jesus. How can the false security of this world possibly have any value before God? I believe God only sees value, if what we have, we share. In other words, God will bless us, as we use what we have, to bless others. If we protect and selfishly embrace the blessings God has given us, I don't believe we will be blessed the same way.

Our enemy the devil, is trying his hardest to convince us; that staying attached to our wealth here is the way to go. When indeed all it will do, is become a wedge between us and God. We have to "let go" of everything here, and grab hold of Jesus. Until we fully let go of all these things, including the money and the wealth, the ego and the pride; there is no way that we honestly can grab and hold on to Jesus. See satan has an objective, if he can fill our lives with enough meaningless distractions, we won't have the time, or the patience or the desire to see, hear, listen to, learn from or hold Jesus. And that would make him very happy. Just as satan was separated from God, he wants to have us separated from God. Our detachment from the (so called) securities here keeps us closer to Jesus.

The only thing we should be focusing on here, is relationships, starting with our relationship with Jesus. Then with His mom (Our Lady), and the Holy Spirit, God the Father, and then family and friends. There is nothing else in this world that has any true lasting value. Open your heart, and make friends in fellowship, sharing Jesus even further and deeper in prayer together. There is a certain synergy that radiates off of believers, and when we get together, it's like a super nova exploding. In other words, it’s very hard to hide, we can only be true to ourselves, by being true to God. Here are some scriptures sharing God's eternal security with us.

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand." John 10:27-19

"...for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable." Romans 11:29

"All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." John 6:37

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13-14

Pondering these thoughts today: Take the time to consider some of the following questions that you alone can answer.
-What do you consider the most secure future?
-How much have you seriously invested in Jesus?
-Have I made Jesus the Master of my life?
-What do all my possessions do for me, for "eternity"?
(Consider others today, forget about your possessions,
build relationships, focus on the forgotten.)
Think about family and friends you know are lonely. 

LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!

Your brother in Christ Jesus 
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS

Today is Tuesday: We pray the Sorrowful Mysteries:

The Sorrowful Mysteries

1. Agony on the Garden (Sorrow for sin) –Matt 26:36-46
2. Scourging at the Pillar (Purity) –Mark 15:1-16
3. Crowning with Thorns (Moral Courage) –Matt 27:27-31
4. Carrying of the Cross (Patience) –Mark 15:20-22
5. The Crucifixion (Perseverance) –Luke 23:33-46

Thank you Lord for loving us so much…


MY FIRST BOOK. MORE TO COME…

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