Saturday September 24, 2022

For you this week:

• Reflection for Saturday: What does whole-hearted faith look like?
• Inside the Ministry: My personal journey

Saturday September 24, 2022

Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:8
Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17
Luke 9:43-45
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092422.cfm
Podcast:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/2022-09-24-usccb-daily-mass-readings

Saints Calendar:
gnm.org/saints-find/saints-calendar

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. Return, O LORD! (From Saturday’s responsorial Psalm)

Reflection for Saturday:
What does whole-hearted faith look like?

Jesus calls us to whole-heartedness. What does that look like?

Total surrender, throwing ourselves and our lives at the feet of Christ so he can do whatever he pleases with us. Jesus accomplishes much with (in and through) those who are totally available to him. God calls us to this life of surrender and whole-hearted love, worship, adoration and ministry right where we are, in our ordinary lives, in our struggles and sufferings and imperfections.

When God invites us to do anything, we must give him our “yes”, even if we doubt we can do it, otherwise we sin. Any “no” we say to God has ramifications that are not good.

When we feel spiritually dry or confused or blocked, or if it seems like we’re in a battle with demonic forces and our victory is elusive or temporary, it’s often because we’ve said “no” to God somewhere, sometime, perhaps a long time ago.

When you’re invited to do something good, do it! The Lord will work out the details. God equips us for success based on our “yes”, not on our “maybe after I feel ready for it”. Not sure if the invitation is from God? Say yes anyway! He’ll protect you from doing what he is not asking you to do (if you’re listening).

What do you need to repent from in order to give God your 100 percent very best? Go to the Sacrament of Confession for this before it’s too late. All of this Saturday’s readings remind us of the reality of death. Time is short. Why not give God your very best — all the time, every day while he is still giving you time on earth to make a difference?

We could die at any moment. Even if we live to a very old age, will we be able to say that we gave God our very best? Time is precious, because the “now” moment is gone before we can finish saying the word “now”.

This moment right now is a gift from God. And the next and the next and all the way until we reach eternity. Why not commit your life whole-heartedly to giving God your very best today? Right now!

Giving God our best starts with a personal relationship with Jesus as our Savior and Redeemer. But that is just the beginning. We also need to have a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit because this is the Person of God that Jesus gave us to empower us to be holy. The Holy Spirit guides us in our calling to continue the mission of Christ using. The Holy Spirit helps us to excel in the use of the gifts and talents and resources that God has given us.

Come Holy Spirit, renew me!
Come Holy Spirit, fill me.
Come Holy Spirit, help me to become whole-hearted in my faith.
Come Holy Spirit, You have my permission to change me.
Amen!

Inside the Ministry:
My personal journey

It’s very odd. A year ago, I thought the Father was telling me repeatedly that 2022 was going to be a good year. Now I wonder if he and I have the same definition for “a good year.”

It’s been a year full of illness, backaches, hospitalizations (my mom, then Ralph, then Ralph again, and now me too. Late last Sunday, I went to the Emergency Room for the second time in less than two weeks with severe abdominal pain. All tests came back negative; the second time I showed up in ER, they admitted me into the hospital for observation and more tests. An endoscopy found some red, inflamed tissues. The biopsy results are not back yet.

One last test (on the day of my discharge, Wednesday), found parasites called Cryptosporidium parvum. So now I’m working on getting rid of those little pests.

This incident has messed up my schedule. I’m trying to get caught up while my brain is still foggy from this illness. But one thing I know for sure: God is with me! He has allowed the hardships of 2022 for a good reason. I wish I knew what it is, but undoubtedly we will reach the other side of this jungle-infested journey.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and prayer support.

And that’s the end of today’s newsletter.

God bless you!

Every morning, I lift up in prayer everyone who helps Good News Ministries in any way (donors, volunteers, prayer supporters, etc.) and all the prayer requests posted on our site. What can I cover in prayer for you? Post your prayer request.

How else can the team and I serve you today? Visit our homepage.

Let’s connect in GNM’s own SmartCatholics community, called Good News Faith Builders. I’m available to interact with you there.

Thank you for reading this newsletter.

Your servant in Christ,
Terry Modica, Executive Director
Good News Ministries
gnm.org

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