Vocations (10/21/2012)

Hebrews 4:14-16
Brothers and sisters:
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Know the plans that I have for you.

Jesus knows.  He was there.  He will be here and He is always in your heart.

Brothers and Sisters, you have been called by name, and before He made you in your mother's womb, he knew you.

Your God loves you.  He has a plan for you.  It's written in your very being.  In your DNA and in your personality.  In every inch that you are and every thought in your mind and on your heart.

Jesus is about to join us.  Here, on His Altar.  He is going to listen to you.  He is going to hear you.

The Father has created you to answer a call.  To respond.  To listen to His almighty and all knowing voice.  You may have a plan in mind for how you want to live your life.  It may be what you are called to do. Then again it may be not.  The key is to listen.

In Hebrews today, we learned more of Jesus, our high priest and redeemer. 

He has suffered what you have suffered.  He has faced what you have faced.  He is both human like you and me and listening and loving His father.  But, unlike you and I, He is without sin.  He has faced and defeated it.  He has overcome.

The Scripture tells us to draw close to His almighty throne with confidence.  It's because he is YOUR savior.  He won't leave you hanging.  He WILL respond.

Every joy, every pain, every triumph and every temptation.  Offer it to Him.  He will make your paths straight.  He has overcome.  He will fill you with His Grace if you would just let Him.

With that Grace, you will have His confidence. You will answer your Father's call.

You are all at a critical point of your lives where you have a choice to answer your Father's Call or try to do it all on your own.

As we officially kick off our semester on Vocations, ask yourself: Am I ready to listen? Am I ready to allow Jesus to overcome the obstacles that I have in my heart?

Know the plans I have for you.

Are you listening?  He is going to tell you.

Kickoff Proclaim (10/7/2012)

Hebrews 2:9-11

Brothers and sisters:
He "for a little while" was made "lower than the angels, "
that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

For it was fitting that he,
for whom and through whom all things exist,
in bringing many children to glory,
should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.
He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated
all have one origin.
Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them 'brothers.'

God never wanted us to be alone.

As we begin the school year and our time together, He wants you to know.

You were never meant to be alone.

God created women to be companions to men.  To draw them closer to following God.  We know that a lot of times (or more like all the time) we let each other down.  We forget appointments, to call, to check on people.  We put other things as more important in our hearts.  School, sports, drama, hanging out with other friends.

He set an expectation.  He trusted us to follow Him above all else.  To obey his commandments. To surrender anything and everything to serve Him because He is your Papa God. 

And like the same way we let down our friends and our family, and like they can let us down.  We fail.  Time after time.

But He wants you to know that despite all that you do that divides you between Him and you THAT YOU ARE NEVER ALONE.

He came down.  God the Son, below the Angels to suffer with you.  To die for you.

He makes all that you do, New.  He KNOWS how you feel.  He felt what you are feeling on the Cross.

He will never leave you or forsake you.  His bond with you is Permanent.  Through your Baptism, He has made a home in your heart.

Like the author said in Hebrews, He came down from Heaven to be with you.  You get to see Him at Mass, and you will see Him again tonight.

My Brothers and Sisters, He will be on His Altar, there for you.  To be with you and you alone.

Your bond with Him cannot and will not be undone.  It is forever.

Offer up your problems, your joys, your sorrows to Him.

And just let Him love you.