7/24/11 cblog FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, ALL THINGS WORK FOR GOOD polycarp, m: "[this asian priest often begins with a biography of a famous person, often who went from being an unbeliever to believer ] "Jeremy Levin (?)..Bureau chief in beirut for cnn..kidnapped by shiite muslims..was chained to wall ..6 weeks..tried to keep spirits up thru pos thinking. But couldn't take away his loneliness..longed to talk to somebody ....he started thinking about god ..he had been an avowed atheist..but the thoughts didn't go away ...then one day..could I talk to god he wonderd..he could never talk to god he thought..that's the world of make believe ..loss of reality ...but the thoughts continued..soon jeremy became preoccupied..later..even tiny things he had read in bible came back to him ..cursing man opening mouth to raindrops... this from april 10 1984 he awoke.12 days bf easter...did somthing he dreamed he never would ..made act of faith to god..spoke 1st words "oh father, please take care of my wife & fam, please re-unite us ." Then he forgave his captors..asked god to forgive them..1st time I felt whole he said ..months ahead..he was moved around.guards b/c more friendly..christmas eve .what do u want 4 christmas they asked..he said "a bible"..2 days later he received a small red bound new testament..he was especially moved by Jesus words.."all that u ask for.." Believe u shall receive it & it will be yours..." ..1985 feb 13.. months after capture..chance to escape..guard careless...barefoot down frozen mount to safety. Jeremy levin is cnn bureau chief in wash dc ..now..shares w audience his faith...in 2nd reading..all things work for good who love god ..many exprnce tragedy in our lives..asked why did this happen to us ..jeremy levin asked same..never became angry or bitter ..god eventually answered jeremys question..found faith ..how respond to trial tragedy? Anger? Blame god? Or keep open mind.heart, as jeremy did .so message in 2nd reading..one of most imp in entire bible.."for those who love god..all things work for good.." revelation sometimes hard to believe..but we see it verified in the lives of those who have kept their hearts open to god ..don't let tragedy destroy..but let god turn it into blessing..."
1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12 The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” Solomon answered:“O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act. I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?” The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request. So God said to him:“Because you have asked for this— not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies but for understanding so that you may know what is right— I do as you requested I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.” Responsorial Psalm
em. The revelation of your wojjrds sheds light giving understanding to the simple.
R. Lord, I love your commands. Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified and those he justified he also glorified.
Matt 13
Jesus said to his disciples“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.“Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” And he replied,“Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.”
