We have been organizing events for years and years, on a voluntary basis.  Most of the Speakers spoke on the different aspects of Divine Mercy.....this year we became an official entity- fully Catholic, spreading the message of Love and Mercy, and as instructed by the church to go forth with the New Evangelization.  When naming the entity, I racked my brains for the name, and it was the Gospel Reading of today...Both Elizabeth and Zechariah answered when asked, "His name shall be John."  And todays first reading is the direction for which this expo follows. "he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."  So there you have it, that it how God named "John Leaps", because the name was wrought out of the reading of the day-  and what is the first thing we heard John do when his mom was greeting by Mary (both John and Jesus were in there mothers womb)....well, he leapt!!!  He leapt for Joy at the presence of Jesus!  Happy Feast of John the Baptist, everyone!   Like John the Baptist, may you leap with joy at the presence of Jesus!
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Today's topic is all about giving. I always like to include gratitude when entering this topic. If we focus our thoughts on God's goodness each day, even for just a couple of minutes...our hearts will swell remembering all that He has given us. His generosity is so grand, and never ending. He gave us another chance through His son Jesus, sent him down to us.. He taught us, touched us, healed us, loved us...up to the eventual giving His Life for us. By doing that, He reunited us with the Father for those who repented and accepted Him as their Lord and Savior...After He ascended up to Heaven (giving us awe) He send His very own Spirit to accompany us through our life...at our calling. He gives us His own Body and Blood each day in the sacrament of the Eucharist and fully in ALL the sacraments...he's such a Giver....so, it is through His example we should become givers, too. Because He has given us so much, and we can see it in the evidence of our every day life...we should be shouting with joy, dancing with glee, full of gratitude. Because God is not prejudice, for it rains on the good and bad, He wants us to not be prejudice, too, when giving. He wants us to give, with a cheerful disposition, passing on the blessing of giving which first originated with Him, flowing through us to the next recipient. This is how we let grace continue to flow and multiply, if we allow it. If you are in a bad mood , the secret is, giving!!!! It is the total antidote to get out of that funk....try it if you don't believe me...its been tested and tried by yours truly and many others....because all the things He wants us to do is good for our well being, anyway!!!
I truly believe that prosperity is not only in spirituality, not only materially but also psychologically. "he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully"- So sow bountifully, willfully, joyfully, generously- and see how His wondrous works in your Life as you receive prosperity in all ways.
Dear Father in Heaven,
Thank you for sending Jesus, the perfect prototype, the example that I can live by. Thank you for all that I have, which completely surpasses all that I don't have. Send me you Holy Spirit every day, so I may ask for the attitude of gratitude and then when I give, it will be aligned with the right disposition. Help me to see that all I have is from You, and all I give to others, I am giving back to You. I love you , My God and Father the great Giver of all

All the early Christians gave all they had, money, resources, prayers and service to the poor and oppressed- they knew the secret.. this brought them the hidden treasure of joy, the treasure of perfection. The works of mercy reaps the indescribable joy that is borne in the heart and it could be ours!!!!!..Furthermore, all those that are your enemies must be in your heartfelt prayers…for this mirrors the example of the Heavenly Father..it is in that, that we can attain to be perfect for our Heavenly Father is perfect.
Heavenly Father, it is only thru your Holy Spirit that we can commit to doing the very difficult things that you want us to do- forgiving the unforgivable to show mercy to those who have hated us, to pray for the undeserving...It is in the free will of our decision to obey this that we can prove to You that we truly love You. Jesus said in His Word, "Be perfect for Your Heavenly Father is perfect"....executing Love in our actions brings us into the realm of Your Perfection.. Love is all.
Thank You Father...Son..and Holy Spirit...