24 Aug Where We Are From (Jn 1:46) by Rosemary Bernth
Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors. LIFE Minute radio.
“But Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come from Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.'” ~ Jn 1:46 (full readings)
Rosemary’s Reflections: Certain places come with stereotypes: New Yorkers are rude and impatient; Texans are all ranchers with cowboy hats and boots; Californians are hippies; and Nebraskans are all farmers surrounded by nothing. Those of course aren’t true for everyone. From Nathanael’s reaction, Nazareth doesn’t sound like an ideal place for the Savior of the World to call home. Yet once he witnesses Jesus in action, he is amazed and becomes a believer. Where we are from can help build our character but doesn’t necessarily define who we are. How many success stories have we heard about people growing up in the projects? But let’s also include the womb–Doesn’t a child conceived from rape deserve the right to life? Why should he/she be punished for the sin of the father? Yes, rape is a terrible thing. But that doesn’t mean the child will grow up to be terrible. These children actually have potential to be something great, despite the label. For example, seven-time World Champion surfer Layne Beachley was one. We don’t get to pick where we start our own Life Race, but we can control how we run to the finish.
*Rosemary Bernth (LIFE Runner) was a journalist for the Diocese of Sioux City’s newspaper and is now a writing/travel graduate student at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA.
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Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, Priests for Life, Vatican, Project Rachel.
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Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
Feast Day: St. Bartholomew
Faith Quote: “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.” ~Abraham Lincoln
Through Christ Our Lord,
Rosemary
2 Tim 4:7
* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion (images) is #1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.
* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Mt 28:19.