Celtic Cross Old Catholic Church

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Romans 12:19

The Christian life is but a constant re-beginning, a return to grace every day, sometimes even every hour, through Him who, after each failure, pardons so that all things should be made new. Robert Schutz #reflections

The best argument for Christianity is Christians; their joy, their certainty, their completeness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christianswhen they are sombre and joyless, when they are self-righteous and smug in complacent consecration, when they are narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths. Sheldon Vanauken #reflections

Giving Without a Whisper But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in, secret himself shall reward thee openly. - Matt 6:3-4 No promise is made to those who give to the poor to be seen of men. They have their reward at once and cannot expect to be paid twice.... Let us hide away our charity yes, hide it even from ourselves. Give so often and so much as a matter of course that you no more take note that you have helped the poor than that you have eaten your regular meals. Do your alms without even whispering to yourself, How generous I am! Do not thus attempt to reward yourself. Leave the matter with God, who never fails to see, to record, and to reward. Blessed is the man who is busy in secret with his kindness: he finds a special joy in his unknown benevolences. This is the bread, which eaten by stealth, is sweeter than the banquets of kings. How can I indulge myself today with this delightful luxury? Let me have a real feast of tenderness and flow of soul. Here and hereafter the Lord Himself will personally see to the rewarding of the secret giver of alms. This will be in His own way and time; and He will choose the very best. How much this promise means it will need eternity to reveal.

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. Luke 9:23-24

The more a person loves, the closer he approaches the image of God. Martin Luther #REFLECTION

November 5,2020 Today’s Good News Homily/Reflection From +Bishop Nicholas Cucchiaro Celtic Cross Old Catholic Church... Light a Candle on my website Stmichaelsaocc.org Go to menu on the left scroll and click on prayer requests You can also donate to help me with veterans and our ministry to feed children rice in Liberia. Scripture: Luke 15:1-10 Homily We spend a certain amount of our time looking for something, and that is certainly true if you are as prone to loosing things as often as I am. We also find ourselves looking for people in various ways. Parents look for their children if they ramble off. Men and women look for someone they can share their lives with. We all look for friends, people with whom we can journey and who want to journey with us. Underneath all this searching and longing is a more fundamental search for God who alone can satisfy the deepest longings in our hearts. Saint Augustine wrote that our hearts are restless until they rest in God. Even more fundamental than our search for God is God’s search for us. God’s search for us took flesh in the person of Jesus. He said of himself that he came to seek and to save the lost; Jesus gave expression to God’s longing to be in communion with us. The shepherd who searches for his lost sheep and the woman who searches for her lost coin in this morning’s two parables are images of Jesus’ search for us, of God’s search for us in Jesus. God never ceases to seek us out because we are all lost in different ways. Our search for God is always in response to God’s search for us. In the words of the first letter of Saint John, ‘We love because God first loved us’. If we open our hearts to God’s searching love for us in Jesus then we will be moved to search for God. Spiritual Holy Communion Let us Pray: My Jesus I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

What is Love? Love when sent by God will hold you Hugging and cuddling Will talk with you not at you... And most importantly Wants not needs to be with you Author +Bishop Nicholas J Cucchiaro Celtic Cross Old Catholic Church https://youtu.be/H9694K85Xc8

What Is Painful Will End I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls; which I have made. - Isa 57:16 Our heavenly Father seeks our instruction, not our destruction. His contention with us has a kind intention toward us. He will not be always in arms against us. We think the Lord is long in His chastisements, but that is because we are short in our patience. His compassion endureth forever, but not His conten...tion. The night may drag its weary length along, but it must in the end give place to cheerful day. As contention is only for a season, so the wrath which leads to it is only for a small moment. The Lord loves His chosen too well to be always angry with them. If He were to deal with us always as He does sometimes, we should faint outright and go down hopelessly to the gates of death. Courage, dear heart! The Lord will soon end His chiding. Bear up, for the Lord will bear you up and bear you through. He who made you knows how frail you are and how little you can bear. He will handle tenderly that which He has fashioned so delicately. Therefore, be not afraid because of the painful present, for it hastens to a happy future. He that smote you will heal you; His little wrath shall be followed by great mercies.

Tonight‘s prayer for the world From: +Bishop Nicholas J Cucchiaro Celtic Cross Old Catholic Church ... 11/4/2020 Lord This country is more divided than it has been since the days of the Civil War. What divided us then continues to tear at the seams of the fabric of this nation. We are a United Divided States. Help us help us to remember your call to us to love one another as you love us. In the midst of our sense of defeat, help us to remember that you still reign; you alone are worshiped; you alone are God. Help us to put aside our own feelings and reach out in service of others, our families and friends and neighbors here and around the world. Help us remember your high calling to us to be agents of forgiveness and reconciliation, love and peace, healing and hope in a world made dark by fear and hatred and brokenness. Help us to rebuild this nation by seeking out your image in the face of others, finding the best in us to serve those who are the least, the lost and the lonely. We are your people. You know us by many names. You are our God. We know you by many names. May we find strength in our diversity. For only in you can we live in safety. Only in you will we find justice. Only in you will we know the peace that passes all human understanding. Amen.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

What is Love? Love when sent by God let’s you let your gypsy out It frees your mind body and spirit It does not get in the way of your rebel heart... It does not tame you It lets you love as wild as you want to be With no manipulation or control Author +Bishop Nicholas J Cucchiaro Celtic Cross Old Catholic Church https://youtu.be/rX57RBmD3eI

11/4/2020 Wednesday Prayer Requests From +Bishop Nicholas J Cucchiaro Celtic Cross Old Catholic Church... Let us Pray Special Prayers for Miracles for Louise and her Unborn Baby And Mia Prayer To St. Nicholas For A Sick Child Saint Nicholas, who like the Savior, loved children so tenderly and gave generously to those in need, listen to us who plead for this sick child who is so dear to our hearts. We thank God for the great gift of children. and we pray that He relieve this child of the illness both he/she and Louise are going through. Give her hope when discouraged, and joy when downhearted. May the Lord, through your intercession, restore perfect health if such be His divine will. Amen From +Bishop Nicholas J Cucchiaro Please put your requests in comments Light a candle at Stmichaelsaocc.org PLEASE PRAY FOR BISHOP BENNY His wife Marley and their families ; Kayden, For Brookdale Dublin care facility staff and residents ; Reverend Deacon Natalie Romano, Reverend Deacon Kelmy Rodriquez, For The World and Especially Italy suffering from the Corona Virus Santo and the boys ; Mike Bruskin and his family ; JOE GRADO. STEPHANIE PRADO HER FAMILY, ANGEL BONOMO PADUANO, DEBBIE ECONOMIDES AND HER FAMILY; CHRISTOPHER BELTRANTE; Victoria Beltrante, Angelica Beltrante. DEBBIE CANCEMI KAVARYANTS AND HER FAMILY, DENISE STOUT KANGAS AND HER FAMILY, DR ELANA, JOSEPH AND TERESA CARAMICO, LAURIE OAKS JACQUELINE CROSS, MARISSA REINHARD, RALPH T, GREG AND TONYA SAVILLE ANNETTE LUBERTO AND HER FAMILY ROCKY AND GRACE, ROBERT DESCH , ROBERT NASE , BABY GLENN, IZZY, DOMINATOR Emy Ramos, Jim R, THE REVEREND MONSIGNOR Nick AND HIS WIFE KATIE, BOB GETH-ARD , BRETT ANNE BEATTY, ROSARIO GAMBINO, TONY GAMBINO, JOEY GAMBINO, ANNMARIE , MARK, JOANN DEAN AND HER FAMILY, A CHILD SUFFERING FROM CANCER, ANTOINETTE, FOR THE MENTALLY AND THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED FOR ALL WHO WERE ABUSED AT THE HANDS OF THOSE THEY TRUSTED;FOR ALL WHO WERE ABUSED AT THE HANDS OF CLERGY. Carman&Rosanne Notoris; Ad Anthony Javed, For The Country of Pakistan, Reverend Father Jeff Windy, Frank For patients and staff at the Palms Care facility in Ventura California, Michael, Amy Houser, Karen The Lee family, Ryan, Monica, Louise and Adam, Lou, Christine Virgil, Virgil, Rev. Evangelist Alton Chatman for mental and physical health, Michael, Reverend Pastor Craig Griffith, Vito Romano, Charlene, Alyssa Luberto, Kishore From India St. Jude Novena O Holy St. Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return, I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St. Jude pray for us all who invoke your aid. Amen

You Make the Trenches And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches. For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. - 2 Kgs 3:16-17 Three armies were perishing of thirst, and the Lord interposed. Although He sent neither cloud nor rain, yet He supplied an abundance of water. He is not dependent upon ordinary methods but can ...surprise His people with novelties of wisdom and power. Thus are we made to see more of God than ordinary processes could have revealed. Although the Lord may not appear for us in the way we expect, or desire, or suppose, yet He will in some way or other provide for us. It is a great blessing for us to be raised above looking to secondary causes so that we may gaze into the face of the great First Cause. Have we this day grace enough to make trenches into which the divine blessing may flow? Alas! We too often fail in the exhibition of true and practical faith. Let us this day be on the outlook for answers to prayer. As the child who went to a meeting to pray for rain took an umbrella with her, so let us truly and practically expect the Lord to bless us. Let us make the valley full of ditches and expect to see them all filled.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

November 3,2020 Today’s Good News Homily/Reflection From +Bishop Nicholas Cucchiaro Celtic Cross Old Catholic Church... Light a Candle on my website Stmichaelsaocc.org Go to menu on the left scroll and click on prayer requests You can also donate to help me with veterans and our ministry to feed children rice in Liberia. Scripture: Luke 14:15-24 Homily In today’s Scripture Jesus was participating in a banquet where he advised the host to reserve admission to the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind and so to become eligible for God’s reward at the resurrection. One of Jesus’ fellow-guests commented on the blessedness of those who are invited to attend the Heavenly banquet hosted by Yahweh to honor His Chosen People. Jesus used the occasion to highlight the cost of refusing God’s invitation for the Heavenly banquet with lame excuses by telling a parable of a banquet hosted by a very rich and influential landowner. The invited VIP guests in this parable who had accepted the first invitation to participate in the banquet, refused the second invitation sent a few days before the banquet, giving lame excuses like the inspection of a newly-bought field, the testing of a newly-bought five yoke of oxen and honeymooning with a newly-married wife. The angry landowner instructed his servants to invite everyone in the surrounding areas in order to fill the banquet hall. Jesus directed this parable to the religious and civic leaders who had accepted the Covenant but had refused to accept his invitation for God’s salvation, the endpoint of the first Covenant, and had attacked his preaching and healing ministry. Jesus explained through this parable why he was befriending tax collectors and sinners, promising them eternal salvation and participation in the Heavenly banquet! God invites us through Jesus and his Church to the banquet of the word of God, to the banquet of the Body and Blood of Jesus, and to the banquet of His grace through His Holy Spirit via the Sacraments So let us take the time to examine ourselves to discover whether we, too, are refusing God’s invitation and giving lame excuses to show how busy we are because of our work or career duties, our addictions our obsession to entertainments and hobbies or our preoccupation with family matters. We may not get a better chance or more opportunities to accept God’s invitation to pray deeply, to join the Eucharistic celebration or to do serious study of and refection on the word of God or service in the community. Amen Spiritual Holy Communion Let us Pray: My Jesus I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

In God's Time For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. - Hab 2:3 Mercy may seem slow, but it is sure. The Lord in unfailing wisdom has appointed a time for the outgoings of His gracious power, and God’s time is the best time. We are in a hurry; the vision of the blessings excites our desire and hastens our longings; but the Lord will keep His appointme...nts. He never is before His time; He never is behind. God’s word is here spoken of as a living thing which will speak and will come. It is never a dead letter, as we are tempted to fear when we have long watched for its fulfillment. The living word is on the way from the living God, and though it may seem to linger, it is not in reality doing so. God’s train is not behind time. It is only a matter of patience, and we shall soon see for ourselves the faithfulness of the Lord. No promise of His shall fail; it will not lie. No promise of His will be lost in silence; it shall speak. What comfort it will speak to the believing ear! No promise of His shall need to be renewed like a bill which could not be paid on the day in which it fell due-it will not tarry. Come, my soul, canst thou not wait for thy God? Rest in Him and be still in unutterable peacefulness.

God is God, and we must never reduce Him to anything less. Edith Schaeffer #REFLECTION