Approaching God in Faith

Transcription

1 NEWSLETTER September 2017 VOL. XXV NO. 28 Spiritual Insights Reports Formation Program Updates September Every Thursday Memorial Mass for the enrollees in the CLJ! Memorial Burse September 3 22nd Sunday in September 10 23rd Sunday in September 17 24th Sunday in September th Sunday in Approaching God in Faith Mark 5: Living evidence of genuine faith is asked from all who approach our Lord. Numerous texts in the Gospels refer to the importance of faith. No cures are mentioned in the Scriptures which are not the result of an expression of faith. Jesus referred to this fact often. He asked for an explicit faith from the father in anguish before the cure of his child (Mark 9:23); and of Martha as she wept before the raising of Lazarus (John 11:26). Faith is evidenced at the home of the centurion (Matthew 8:10) and at the home of the Canaanite (Matthew 15:28). From his apostles, Jesus asked a total faith, without reserve (Matthew 8:26; Mark 14:40; John 20:29). With faith even the size of a mustard seed, we could move mountains. Faith allows us to know God as a God of Miracles. Without question, all things are possible through our Awesome God. Romans 1:17 tells us the just man shall live by faith. Living by faith allows us to know this God of Truth and live in his company. In faith, we act and speak in his presence and listen to him in silence. Warm and radiant faith is total adhesion to Christ and to the Church without reserve. In faith we live more in the invisible than with the visible and discover Jesus in everyone. When all of life is directed by faith our work is animated with supernatural motives and the Gospel becomes spirit and life. Faith allows us to speak his words and love with his heart. This great gift of God allows us to bear fruit. By exercising it often, we give it strength. We become his instruments of healing. As CLJ! members, we model Acts 2:42: And they devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. The scripture which follows indicates the profound results of a group edified with faith. It states that many signs and wonders were done through them! May our lives of devotion lead us to approaching God in faith and ministering to our world in need. Marianne Hebert, Outreach Administrator

2 The Power of Faith In asking Jesus for an increase of faith the apostles were looking for that charismatic power that would enable them to perform marvels. They had tried unsuccessfully to cure a demented boy, whereas Jesus cured him with ease (Mt 17:14-21). The disciples also saw Jesus cause a fig tree to wither up simply through a word of command (Mt 21: 18-22). They wanted that same kind of power. Each time Jesus had told them it was because they had such little trust that they were unsuccessful (Mt 17: 20; 21:21-22). You will receive all that you pray for, provided you have faith. Jesus assured them (Mt. 21:22). That is why the apostles said, Increase our faith (Lk 17:5). In response to their request for an increase of faith, Jesus said that faith the size of a mustard seed could cause a tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea (Lk 17:6); such faith could move a mountain; nothing would be impossible for them (Mt 17:20). These stupendous examples show us the power of ordinary, humble faith. They bring out the disproportion between simple faith (like a tiny mustard seed) and the marvelous results that it accomplishes (like uprooted trees and mountains moved). In response to their petition for an increase of miracle-performing faith Jesus says that it is not so much a large amount as the kind of genuine faith that they need for the Christian life. This seemingly insignificant power of faith will bring about a remarkable transformation in a person s life. Faith brings about the transition from sense to spirit, from human to divine, from sin to virtue, from sadness to joy, from despair to hope, from hate to love, from addiction to freedom, from self to God, from darkness to light, from anxiety and turmoil to peace and tranquility, from earthly to heavenly existence. All of this marvelous, seemingly impossible transition will be made to take place because of simple faith. It starts off very small, but grows into humongous proportions (Mt 13:31-32). This will surely happen because faith, like a mustard seed, has power to give life. The reason for this is that faith connects us to God. Faith is an infused virtue that is given to us at baptism. This theological virtue, whose function is to attain God, opens us up to the divine life. Sanctifying grace received in baptism gives us a share in God s life. When faith, which is one of the powers of sanctifying grace, is perfected by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it has the power to revolutionize our human lives. We receive divine illumination. We become children of God (1 Jn 3:1-2) and can live holy lives, lives wholly directed to God, lives of innocence unadulterated by disordered self-love. Such purity of heart enables us to see God (Mt 5:8). The impossible is accomplished through the simple virtue of faith. It brings about the transformation from a mere human to a divine existence. But for this to happen we must tenaciously trust in God s power. God will bring this change within us and in our whole world. This change is far more glorious and spectacular than simply transferring a tree from one place to another or even moving a mountain. Our modern earth-moving equipment can accomplish this easily enough. What faith does is effectively bring about the change of forms and orders, from the physical to the spiritual, from the earthly to the heavenly, from the human to the divine. We are in awe over God s mighty power to cause such a metamorphosis in us by the hidden, humble virtue of faith. We must persevere in this power of trust in God, and believe in his love for us. This is the quality of faith that Jesus says is so efficacious and brings such remarkable results. We must cling to him in our ups and downs, in the midst of plenty and want, in succcess and failure, and in our sorrows, trials, and troubles. We must remain connected to God through faith, and believe all he has revealed to us in his holy Catholic Church. We must remain faithful to our God. He will use everything that happens to us to bring about a whole new world for us. (See Romans 8:28). by Father Conley Bertrand 2

3 Anniversary Mass - Immaculate Heart -Crowley LA Welcoming our new groups- Assumption of the Virgin Mary- Mire & St. Francis of Assisi-Breaux Bridge Recent & Upcoming Events Diocesan & Area Coordinators Meeting - Aug 23 Presentation to Youth - St. Joseph Loureville - Aug 23 New Leader Workshop - Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales - Morgan City - Aug 26 Presentation to Youth - Notre Dame - St. Martinville - Aug 30 Leaders Seminar - Our Lady of Fatima - Lafayette - Sept 23 Outreach Campaign - Holy Cross - Morgan City - Oct 7-8 Anniversary Mass - St. Luke the Evangelist - Slidell - Oct 14 Church Parish Representatives Meeting - St. Patrick - Lafayette - Nov 11 3

4 Roxie Landry Church of the Assumption Franklin, LA Group Name: Led by the Spirit 4 Dear Father Bertrand, I would like to thank you for giving the Church the great gift of the Come, Lord Jesus! program. As I reflect, I am convinced that the CLJ! program has played an important role in my growth and eventual call to Seminary. Yours in Christ, Jace Gyles Testimo Heavenly Father, We thank you for the gift of Come, Lord Jesus!. We especially thank you for the wonderful turnout, to celebrate 20 years of Come, Lord Jesus! in our community. We thank you for Father Bertrand and ask that you continue to bless him, and his efforts to spread CLJ! throughout our country and beyond. Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! I have been blessed to be a member of Come, Lord Jesus! from the very beginning in our area. Our first meeting was in November of 97. Come, Lord Jesus! has been an integral part of my faith life for these many years. Delving into Holy Scripture each week has allowed me to encounter our Lord in a deeper and more meaningful way, to truly understand how much he loves me and how much he loves us. I begin each morning with gratitude for the many blessings he has allowed in my life especially my family, my friends, but most of all my faith. As we break open the Word each week we come to know Jesus and his teachings and have a deeper appreciation of the Mass. Our members, all different ages, backgrounds and life experiences, come with one common goal: to share our love for Jesus and for each other. We look forward to Mass and the specific Reading that we focused on and often times we are able to place ourselves in the midst of the Reading. The ladies, my sisters have truly become very dear to me. We have shared our deepest hurts and our greatest blessings and we are truly blessed as we pray for each other and our intentions. We have discovered endless treasures over the last 20 years. For me the most meaningful are the words, Do this in remembrance of me ; Mary, our Mother, intercede for us ; and the indwelling presence of the Blessed Trinity, living within me and within each one of us. Roxie Landry

5 July 2017 Gift Bags Received Thank you for your generosity! Catahoula LA: Judy Bernis Cecilia LA: Lika Bordelon, Judy Frederick Delcambre LA: Rowena Gaudin,Theresa S.Peltier Franklin, LA: Elizabeth Hebert Houma, LA: Betty Prosperie, Beverly Toups, Estela Brooke Jefferson, LA: Ann M. Buchel Lafayette, LA: Jennifer Guidry Lake Charles LA: Arlo Larentz, Kevin Castille, Jeanne Delahoussaye, Claire Rider Mermentau, LA: Linda Gautreaux New Iberia, LA: Terry Broussard, Kathrine Broussard New Orleans, LA: Mary Kulas Smith Opelousas LA: Jane Ann Roth, Jane Savoy Rayne, LA: Patsy A. Johnson Scott, LA: Paul Calaway, Jayne Calaway Ville Platte, LA: Mary Rodriguez Youngsville, LA: Mike Woodruff Abbeville Arnaudville Basile Baton Rouge Bayou Vista Bell City Borger, TX Breaux Bridge Broussard Carencro Cecilia Chackbay Church Point Coteau Cow Island Dalhart,TX Delcambre DeRidder Duson Elton Erath Estherwood Eunice Franklin Grand Prairie Harvey Houma Jefferson Judice Kaplan Kenner Kinder Krotz Springs Lacombe Lafayette Lake Charles Lawtell Leonville Leroy Loreauville Lufkin,TX Lyons Point Maurice Metairie Milton Mire Morgan City Morse New Iberia Oberlin Opelousas Parks Patterson Pierre Part Pine Prairie Prairie Ronde Rayne Schriever Slidell Sulphur Ville Platte Washington Youngsville Returning Members Returning Member New Iberia, LA: Enella Broussard New Groups Attention Leaders and Co-Leaders New Iberia, LA: Stephan Viator... Leader Faye E. Boudreaux, Philip demahy,beth demahy The annual Leader Seminar will be held on Sirena Rogers Saturday September 23, 2017 at Our Lady of Fatima Breaux Bridge,LA: Megan Roberts...Leader in Lafayette. Registration forms were mailed out to all Mildred Alexander, Lisa A. Alexander leaders on August 11th. Bridgette Auguillard, Margaret Carron Clarence Celestine,Marie Celestine,Ruby Celestine Leaders please be sure to register yourself and your coleader (or a substitute) if you plan to attend. The seminar Beatrice Collins,Denise Cormier, Janice M. Demouchet, Anna Ferraro,Betty John is only for leaders and co-leaders (or substitutes). Jalyne Landry, Louanna Sampy, Melissa Sampy, Co-Leaders please check with your leader to be sure that Elizabeth Stagg you are registered. Only the leaders will receive a form in the mail. 5

6 JULY 17- AUGUST 16,2017 Memorial Burse Donations Celeste Franchebois Leo Gaudin Jr. Gregory C. Gossen Curvin Johnson Bud LeBlanc Robert Hart Buddy Littell Dr. James Russell Romero Gaylan Trahan Betty Miller Ulmer Condolences September 2017 o member Wanda Trahan of Kaplan, LA of the death of Ther husband, Gaylan Trahan, Condolences also to his daudaughters, Jenny Broussard and Paula LeMaire who are CLJCLJ! members. o member Jeanette Leger of Rayne, LA on the death of Ther brother, Lawrence Guidry. o member Sheila Richard of Rayne, LA on the death of Ther brother-in-law, Gary Rivers. o member Dee Daigle of Lafayette, LA on the death of Ther father, Robert Hart Buddy Littell. o member Maggie Barbara of St. Rose, LA on the death Tof her sister, Betty Miller Ulmer. o the members of My Delight group in Church Point, TLA on the death of their member, Erline Thibodeaux. o member Rose Johnson of Basile, LA on the death of her T husband, Curvin Johnson. o member Janice Bergeron of Metairie, LA on the death Tof her sister, Marion Swain. Come, Lord Jesus! 1804 W. University Ave. Lafayette, LA Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Lafayette, LA Permit No. 729