SALT AND LIGHT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OCTOBER 29^th, 2012

 

 

SALT AND LIGHT

 

 

Jesus told us

You are the salt

Of the earth

You are the light

Of the world

 

But what does

It mean

To be salt and light

In today’s world

 

2000 years ago

Salt was the principal seasoning

That was used to cook

 

2000 years ago

There was no electricity

So light was a scarcity

And at a premium

 

So how

Can we

How will we be

Light in today’s world

It can be as simple

As a smile

Or an encouraging word

To someone

Who is having a bad day

 

Or it can be

To have a listening ear

For someone

Who needs to be heard

 

It can be as simple

As sending someone

A birthday card or get well card

Or it could be

Visiting a sick neighbor

In the hospital

 

Maybe we can’t

Change the whole world

As Jesus did

Just maybe

We can change someone’s world

 

Love, forgive, and be kind

I dear say

My friend

That if you do these things

You will be

 

SALT AND LIGHT

In today’s world

 

Robert P. Wallman

2-8-11

 

Ps       Idea originated from a message given by Father Bernard Kirlin at Saint Mary

          Magdalene Church

 

“You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made

Salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled

By men.”

 

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it

On its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way,

Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise

Your Father in heaven.”                                                                             Matthew 5:13-14

 

 

 

 

10-29-2020

CONTINUING HIS WORK!

 

CONTINUING HIS WORK!

Jesus and his APOSTLES=

Did all the WORK

Some 2,000 years ago

But WHO=is doing the work

Today=who is

MOVING the Christian movement

Forward today?

I dare say=my FRIENDS=it is

UP to us=to you and me

To CONTINUE the work=

To see that love-forgiveness-and KINDNESS

Become prevalent-

IN modern day society=once again

CONTINUING HIS WORK!=it is

UP to you and me

“........whoever believes in me-

Will do the WORKS

That I do

And will do

Greater ones than these

Because I am

Going to the Father”                                                                                                 John 14:12

I don't know about that

I don't know

That we can

Do greater work

Than JESUS

But I do KNOW

It is up to us

To make God and Jesus

KNOWN AGAIN=in today's world

NOT just

Paying lip service

But bringing God the Father

And Jesus

INTO the fore front

Of society once again

We need to

CONTINUE HIS WORK!=

The work of God=the apostles=Saint Paul

And all the other

SAINTS and disciples of Jesus

“Therefore-my dear friends-

You have always obeyed--------

Not only my presence=but now

Much more in my absence--------

CONTINUE TO WORK

Out your salvation

With fear and trembling

For it is God

Who WORKS IN YOU

To will

And to act=in order

To fulfill his purpose”                                                                                            Philippians 2:12-13

“But as for you

CONTINUE IN=

What you have learned

And have=become convinced of-

Because you know those

From whom-you learned it”                                                                                          2 Timothy 3:14

Jesus spoke CONFIDENTLY

Of our ability=to do HIS WORK

When we work for JUSTICE-

Protect the innocent-

HELP the poor-

SHELTER the homeless

And love those

Who LIVE ON

The margins of society=

We CONTINUE to do

God and Jesus' work

We are to WORK for God

We are to work for Jesus

In today's world

We need to REACH THE HEARTS

Of those in need=and let them know

That God and Jesus

Are STILL ALIVE=living in us

That we are CONTINUING their work=

His work=Jesus' work

Putting  GOD'S WILL

Above our very own

In the names of Jesus=and our FROREVER WORKING=Lord God the Holy FATHER!

Robert P. Wallman

5-02-2021 and 10-29-2026

Ps      INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Deborah A. Meister

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOD

 

 

 

 

 

 

OCTOBER 28^th, 2012

 

 

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOD

 

 

All things

Work together for God

Have you ever heard that saying

I have

 

I believe it is true

My life is living testimony

I don’t even know

How I’ve made it through

 

Living testimony for God

Living testimony for my neighbor

Living testimony for everyone

Including myself

 

How have I stayed  alive

I don’t have a clue

The medical profession has helped

But if you asked them

I don’t think they could tell you either

 

Living testimony for God

Living testimony for my neighbor

Living testimony for everyone

Including myself

 

They say

All things work together for God

If my testimony is true

I am living proof

 

I am living proof

I am living proof

 

Robert P. Wallman

6-12-06

 

Ps        Today is the feast day of Saints Simon and Jude

            Saint Jude is the patron Saint of the IMPOSSIBLE

 

“You diligently study the Scriptures

Because you think by them you possess eternal life

These are the Scriptures that TESTIFY about me

Yet you refuse to come to me to have life”                           John 5:39-40

 

“Jesus looked at them and said,

“With man this is IMPOSSIBLE

But with GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE”                   Matthew 19:26

 

“I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac

And the God of Jacob

He is NOT the God of the dead

But the GOD OF THE LIVING”                                           Matthew 22:32                                         

 

 

 

 

 

KEEPING OUR COMMITMENTS and PROMES TO GOD=AND OTHERS

 

KEEPING OUR COMMITMENTS

AND PROMISES TO GOD AND TO OTHERS

Have you ever made

A commitment or promise

To God

Or a commitment or PROMISE

To another human being

Maybe in a marriage-

Perhaps

Well-if you have

And you have done

Your BEST

To keep that promise

Or commitment 

Your life is

A BLESSING IN ACTION

“EVERY DAY

Will I bless you........”                                                          Psalm 145:2

Well

As most of you know

I made a deathbed promise-

Commitment-or my own PERSONAL COVENANT

To God

“TO LIVE

For my family-friends-

And ALL people-

EVERYWHERE”

And you know

What happened?

WHEN I got to be

In my 30's

I PRAYED to God

To RELEASE me

From my promise

That I needed a woman

And family of my own

And the Lord said “NO”

(A promise is a promise)

“May your UNFAILING LOVE

Come to me Lord

Your salvation

According to your promise”                                                    Psalm 119:41

“My comfort

In my suffering is this

Your promise PRESERVES my life”                                           Psalm 119:50

And a few years later

I rededicated my life

TO LOVING God

And LIVING for others

And I have

Never looked back

And my life is

At least-I HOPE

A BLESSING IN ACTION

For others

“Blessings

CROWN the head

Of the righteous”                                                                 Proverbs 10:6

And I am indeed

A BLESSED human being

In this world-for oh

So many reasons

But today

We CELEBRATE

Another great man

Another great Saint-

Peter Claver

A man whose parents

WORRIED about Peter's inability

To make up his mind

About his future

Peter vacillated

About entering the Jesuits 

But eventually

He was sent to-

Cartagena, Columbia

One of the principal ports 

Of the sea trade

And he never looked back

And his life

Became a BLESSING IN ACTION

For others

As yours can

As mine can

IF we keep our commitments

And promises to God and to others

MAY we follow

Our example of Jesus-

Of Peter

And may they HELP US

KEEP our commitments and promises

As we turn our lives

Into BLESSINGS in action

For others

Robert P. Wallman

9-8-15 and 10-28-2026

Ps     INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sister Bridget Haase, O.S.U.

Saint Jude=THE PATRON SAINT OF HOPELESS CASES

 

 

 

 

 

SAINT JUDE---PATRON SAINT OF HOPELESS CASES

 

Do you ever feel hopeless

I know that I do

 

Well I have some good news for you

In addition to Jesus

 

 

There is a Saint that we can pray to

Or at least ask to intercede for us

On our behalf

 

His name is Jude---Also known as Thaddeus

 

Jude was the ½ brother of James the lesser

Both original Apostles

And ½ brothers of Jesus

 

There was little devotion

To Saint Jude

Because his name was so close to that of Judas

The traitor

That devotion to him became discouraged

 

But devotion

Began to pick up in the 14^th century

When our Lord himself

Directed Saint Bridget of Sweden

To turn to Saint Jude in faith and confidence

 

Our Lord told Saint Bridget

That the name of Thaddeus means

“Amiable and loving---and---

He will show himself most willing to help”

 

Saint Jude’s father’s name was Cleophas

And he was murdered

Because of his outspoken devotion

To the Risen Christ

 

Mary Cleophas---the Mother of Saint Jude

Was present at Christ’s crucifixion

And after her death

Many miracles were attributed

To her intercession

 

Jude---like his brother James

Did not believe that Jesus

Was the Son of God

Until after the Resurrection

 

After the Resurrection

Jude---along with his companion Simon

Preached and taught in Mesopotamia

For ten years

Converting many to Christianity

 

His teachings

Were primarily against Gnosticism---

The teaching that the sins of the body

Does not affect the sins of the soul

And against the people of his day---

Bearing false witness---about Jesus

And our Christian walk

 

He taught that Christians

Need to be aware of false teachers

Infiltrating the church

 

Certainly---at least in my mind

As true today---as it was back then

Maybe more so---just turn on your television set

 

But maybe---in my mind

His most important teaching

Was that believers

Should be merciful to unbelievers

 

He and Simon

Made more converts in Persia

Where he was clubbed to death

 

We all face hopeless situations

In today’s world

Maybe more so than ever

 

We may lose hope

Because of our health diagnosis

The loss of a loved one

Our finances

A broken relationship within the family

Or for many other reasons

 

“And we rejoice

In the hope of the glory of God

Not only so

But we also rejoice in our suffering

Because we know that suffering

Produces perseverance; perseverance---character

And character---HOPE

And hope does not disappoint us

Because God has poured out his love

Into our hearts by the Holy Spirit

Whom he has given us”                                           Romans 5:3-5

 

So when we are feeling hopeless

And like our Lord told Saint Bridget about Saint Jude

We can be confident that:

 

“HE WILL SHOW HIMSELF MOST WILLING TO HELP”

 

Robert P. Wallman

10-22-11

 

Ps        Today---October 28^th---is his feast day---my sister Terri---her middle name Judith

            Is after our Saint Jude---THE PATRON SAINT OF THE IMPOSSIBLE

 

 

10-28-14

10-28-15 and 10-23-18 10-28-19 and 10-28-2020 and10-28-2026

 

 

Ps        TODAY IS=also THE FEAST OF Saint Simon

 

Saint Simon=is called “THE ZEALOT”=he PROBABLY=Belonger to a GROUP=

CALLED THE ZEALOTS=an extremely Nationalistic anti-Roman REVOLUTIONARY PARTY=Masada Rock=On the DEAD SEA was their LAST STRONG HOLD

 

He disappeared=from the RECORDS  after Pentecost=But it is BELIEVED

That he PREACHED=In Egypt=and then HOOKED UP =with saint Jude=Where they

BOTH SUFFERED MARTYRDOM=In Sufian or Siani

 

THEIR FEAST DAY is September 28^th=May we all POSSESS THE FAITH

Of Saint Jude and Saint Simon=and BE APOSTLES FOR THE CAUSE of Our Lord

And The Holy Father God

 

In Jesus’ name=and OUR HOLY FATHER GOD’S

 

Robert P. Wallman

10-27-2026

WITHOUT CHRIST

 

 

 

 

 

 

OCTOBER 27^th, 2012

 

 

WITHOUT CHRIST

 

 

As Jesus

Got closer and closer

To his destiny

And his teaching

Got harder and harder

Many of his disciples

Walked away

 

I wonder

If they lived

Happy and fulfilled lives

 

I wonder

If they found solace

In money

If that replaced our Lord

I wonder

If they found happiness

In being accepted by society

If that replaced

The teaching of our Lord

 

Dear God

Please help us

To always be

Like Saint Peter who said

“To whom shall we go Lord

You have the words

Of everlasting life”

 

If we left our Lord

Where would we go

For truth

 

If we left our Lord

Would we still live

By the golden rule

 

And what about death

How could we face death

Without God and Christ in our lives

 

Our Lord

Is our model

He is

Our standard for living

 

Of course

We will come up short

If we compare ourselves

To our Lord

 

But death

Will be our loveliest moment

Because

Our Lord did indeed

Possess the words of eternal life

 

Lord

We ask you for the courage

To never run away

From you

 

And be

Like Saint Francis and say

“Welcome Sister Death”

 

For with Christ

We are never lost

 

Robert P. Wallman

2-15-11

 

Ps       Inspired by the teaching of Father Leo Clifford

THE REALNESS OF OUR JESUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE REALNESS=OF OUR JESUS

 

Have you LIVED=through moments of anguish=despair=and HEARTBREAK=

In your life?=IF you are REAL=You have=and NO ONE=was more real=Than

Our Jesus=and his apostles=PARTICULARLY Saint Thomas=Whose feast day=

Was July 3^rd=and Thomas was FEELING all those things above

 

But then Jesus=PROVED to Thomas=He had in fact=RESURRECTED from

The dead=Listen to Thomas’ response=”Thomas answered and said to him=’

MY LORD=and my God’”                                                                                                                    John 20:28

 

OFTEN TIMES in life=OUR MOMENTS of anguish=and of heartbreak=are

Followed by INTENSE moments of CLOSENESS=with our God and SAVIOR=Jesus=

This was the case=with our Saint Thomas=as he did experience=THE REALNESS=

OF OUR JESUS=The closeness=and the COMFORT=Of our Lord=and HIS FATHER=

The ever LIVING=ever loving LORD OF ALL!

“For my flesh=is REAL FOOD=and my blood is REAL DRINK”                                             John 6:55

“Then Jesus told him(Thomas)’=’Because you have seen me=You have believed=

Blessed are those=who have not seen=and yet BELIEVED’”                                         John 20:29

“These are a shadow of the things that=Were to come=THE REALITY=however-

Is Found in Christ”                                                                                                                                  Colossians 2:17

 

I think=there is SOME DOUBT=in everyone of us=Just like Thomas=We NEED to

See=in order to BELIEVE=But that is WHEN=My dear brothers and sisters=we need

OUR own PERSONAL FAITH=Just like running a MARATHON=Or climbing the Alps=We

Can SEE the REALNESS of Jesus=living in us=If we just BELIEVE=If we reach down=Into

OURSELVES=just like Thomas did=For in modern times=IT SEEMS=Like science=Many

Of us need to SEE=to BELIEVE=In the REALNESS=OF OUR JESUS!=Where is our FAITH?

 

“If anyone=Causes one of these little ones=-------THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN ME------to stumble=

It would be better for them=To have a large millstone=Hung around their neck=and to be drowned

IN the depths of the sea”                                                                                                                                Matthew 18:6

“The time has come’=He said=’The kingdom of God has come near=Repent and

BELIEVE=the good news”                                                                                                                          Mark 1:15

“He said to them’=’How foolish you are=and how SLOW TO BELIEVE=all that the prophets

Have spoken!=Did not the Messiah=have to suffer these things=and then enter his

Glory?’”                                                                                                                                                                 Luke 24:25-26

 

YES=we need a SAINT=for our modern times=WHERE none of us believe anything=

Unless=we SEE it with our own eyes first=Saint Thomas’ story PROVES=once and

FOR ALL TIME=That Jesus was and still is=THE MAN FOR OUR TIMES=Just like everyone

Of us=CARRYING a seed of doubt=But through FAITH=KNOWING Jesus is THE ONE

We have been LOOKING FOR=all of our LIVES=THE REALNESS=OF OUR JESUS!

“Have FAITH in God’=Jesus answered=’Truly I tell you=If anyone says to this mountain’=

‘Go throw yourself into the sea’=and does NOT DOUBT it=in their heart=But believes=

That what they say will happen=It will be DONE FOR THEM”                                          Mark 11:22-23

 

Dear friends=when you are RUNNING OUT OF STEAM=running on FAITH=CLING

To the story of Saint Thomas=and his doubt=He is a SAINT=FOR our times=and for=

THE REALNESS=OF OUR JESUS!=He lives!

 

In Jesus’ name=and in the name=of OUR EVER LIVING=ever loving=EVER BELIEVING=

Our Holy Father God!

 

Robert P. Wallman

7-1-2025 and 10-27-2026

 

 

Ps        INSPIRDE by=an article=IN LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE=by Kristin Armstrong