St.Jude Feast & Novena ~ 2017, Church of St.Jude Rawang

Feast of St.Jude Thaddeus

20 ~ 29 October, 2017

Your Names are Written in Heaven

Do you know and experience in your personal life the joy of the Lord? The Scriptures tell us that " the joy of the Lord is our strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). Why does Jesus tell his disciples to not take joy in their own successes, even spiritual ones? Jesus makes clear that the true source of our joy is God himself, and God alone. Regardless of the circumstances, in good times and bad times, in success or loss, God always assures us of victory in the Lord Jesus Christ.

JESUS, I come to you, my Savior and Lord help me

Jesus I come to you in humility and humbleness, help me my Savior and Lord. Jesus, forgive me for any sin that are weighing heavily on my soul. I know I am not worthy of you, but you still care for a sinner like me. Forgive me Lord, and forsake me but help me in my urgent and desperate need. I am going through a situation in my life which is beyond my capability to solve, Lord only you can bring out of this situation because nothing is beyond you. All my trust and hope is in you alone in the midst of this difficult situation. I feel your mercy and love. Lord, thank you for loving me and your mercy. If I wasn't certain of your love for me, Jesus, I would surely resort to other choices. You know my voice and call me by name. I know your name and want to hear your voice more distinctly than any other voice. So shepherd me now, Jesus, to your glory and my healing. Your word shall not return void and it will never fail to achieve what your desires You are the Victorious King of Kings and I am sure you will make me victorious over the difficult situation that I am in now. In your mighty and holy name JESUS, I pray. Amen.

The Kingdom of God has Come Near to You

What kind of harvest does the Lord want us to reap today for his kingdom? When Jesus commissioned seventy of his disciples to go on mission, he gave them a vision of a vast field that is ready to be harvested for the kingdom of God. Jesus frequently used the image of a harvest to convey the coming of God's reign on earth. The harvest is the fruition of much labor and growth - beginning with the sowing of seeds, then growth to maturity, and finally the reaping of fruit for the harvest.

Fit for the Kingdom of God

Are you ready to follow the Lord Jesus wherever he may lead you? With the call the Lord gives the grace to respond and the strength to follow all the way to the end. Why does Jesus issue a challenge with the call? Jesus was utterly honest in telling people what it would cost to follow him. When a would-be disciple approached Jesus and said he was ready to follow, Jesus told him it would require sacrifice - the sacrifice of certain creaturely comforts. 

Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi ~ 4 October 2017

Saint Francis, founder of the Franciscan Order, born as Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone (known as as Francesco) at Assisi, Umbria in the circa of 1181 or 1182. Francis was a man of action and his simplicity of life extended to ideas and deeds. Humility was, no doubt, his ruling virtue. Francis wrote the beautiful Canticle of the Sun that expresses his brotherhood with creation in praising God. In the canticle, Francis refers to the sun, wind, air, and fire as his brothers, and to the moon, stars, earth, water, and death as his sisters. He died on 4 October, 1226 at the age of 45. Saint Francis is the patron saint of animals, merchants and the natural environment. Each October, many animals the world over are blessed on his feast day.

Here are two famous story about Francis,

• Francis preached to hundreds of birds about being thankful to God for their wonderful clothes, for their independence, and for God's care. The story tells us the birds stood still as he walked among him, only flying off when he said they could leave.
• A wolf that had been eating human beings. Francis intervened when the town wanted to kill the wolf and talked the wolf into never killing again. The wolf became a pet of the townspeople who made sure that he always had plenty to eat.

Canticle of the Sun

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, 

All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.

To you alone, Most High, do they belong, 

and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,

especially Sir Brother Sun,

Who is the day through whom You give us light.

And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,

Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,

In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,

And fair and stormy, all weather's moods,

by which You cherish all that You have made.

Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,

So useful, humble, precious and pure.

Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,

through whom You light the night and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,

Mother Earth

who sustains and governs us,

producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.

Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon 

for love of You and bear sickness and trial.

Blessed are those who endure in peace, 

By You Most High, they will be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,

from whom no-one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.

No second death can do them harm. 

Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,

And serve Him with great humility.

October 2017 Prayer Intentions ~ Pope Francis

Workers and the Unemployed ~ That all workers may receive respect and protection of their rights, and that the unemployed may receive the opportunity to contribute to the common good.

Acts 20:35 �In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, �It is more blessed to give than to receive.��

In any case we clearly see, and on this there is general agreement, that some opportune remedy must be found quickly for the misery and wretchedness pressing so unjustly on the majority of the working class.... 

source: RERUM NOVARUM, Encyclicals of Pope Leo XIII on Capitol and Labor

Armour of God Prayer

Dear God, today we put on the full armor to guard our lives against attack. We put on the belt of truth to protect against lies and deception. We put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect our hearts from the temptations we battle. We put the gospel of peace on our feet, so we�re ready to take your light wherever you send us this day. We choose to walk in the peace and freedom of your Spirit and not be overcome with fear and anxious thoughts. We take up your shield of faith that will extinguish all the darts and threats hurled our way by the enemy. We believe in your power to protect us and choose to trust in you. We put on the helmet of salvation, which covers our minds and thoughts, reminding us we are children of the day, forgiven, set free, saved by the grace of Christ Jesus. We take up the sword of the Spirit, your very Word, the one offensive weapon given to us for battle, which has the power to demolish strongholds, alive, active, and sharper than any double-edged sword.

We ask for your help in remembering to put on your full armor every day, for you give us all that we need to stand firm in this world. Forgive us God for the times we�ve been unprepared, too busy to care, or trying to fight and wrestle in our own strength.

Thank you that we never fight alone, for you are constantly at work on our behalf, shielding, protecting, strengthening, exposing deeds of darkness, bringing to light what needs to be known, covering us from the cruel attacks we face even when we�re unaware. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

by Debbie McDaniel, All rights reserved.

In Ephesians 6:14-17, God lays out His armor.

1. Belt of Truth � to protect us against Satan, the deceiver and liar.
2. Breastplate of Righteousness � to represent our positional righteousness before God.
3. Shoes of the Gospel of Peace � to ensure we are at peace with everyone and ready to go wherever God calls.
4. Shield of Faith � to quench all of Satan�s fiery darts.
5. Helmet of Salvation � to ensure we know we are a saved child of God, covered by Jesus� blood, possessing the mind of Christ.
6. Sword of the Spirit � the Word of God and our only offensive weapon.

Saint Michael the Archangel

War broke out in heaven;

Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.

The dragon and its angels fought back,

but they did not prevail

and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

(Rev 12:7-12)

Jesus, King of MERCY