Thursday May 16, 2024: God is ever with me

Analise will be dealing with some personal issues during the month of May so Mark Gates will be substituting for her. Since he does not have his own login, I will be posting his reflections on my login. Analise will be fine but she could use some prayers over the next week or two. Thank you to Mark for filling in at the last catholic moment (pun intended).

After reading today’s Word from God, it would be truly difficult not to
feel loved, or to feel alone. Our God as the Blessed Trinity is ever with us…
and YES, even in difficult times. I’m sure that all of you can attest to an
event or situation that you were able to struggle through! But with your
20/20 hindsight glasses, you also wonder ‘How? Why?’ It surely wasn’t me.
God comes to Paul’s aid with some pretty quick thinking on Paul’s part.
I would call it the Holy Spirit myself!
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some
Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a
Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the
dead.” When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and
Sadducees, and the group became divided. For the Sadducees say that there
is no resurrection
or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.
A great uproar occurred…. The following night the Lord stood by Paul and
said, “Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in
Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”
My title today, comes from my interpretation of today’s Psalm as well
as the 1 st reading. My Lord, You are ever with me.
Ps 16:11 You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your
presence, the delights at your right hand forever.
(R.) Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
Jn 17:20-26 Please read this in entirety Lifting up his eyes to heaven,
Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will
believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father,
are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe
that you sent me.

I feel that this scripture really needs to be prayed on!! I read this Word,
prayed, and then read it again. Whew! This is an incredibly heartfelt,
authentic prayer of petition by Jesus for his Apostles and followers unto the
end of time. Not today, but BEFORE Jesus was crucified, while he was still
alive Jesus prayed for me, and you, and you, and you….
Shalom and may All of God’s Love be with you !!

I am Mark Gates, your servant. I currently live with my wife in Peosta, Iowa and have retired. I have spent my whole life as a God-fearing Christian, Mass Lector and cradle Catholic.  In 1996 after a Charismatic Conference, My spirituality ‘Exploded’. The Holy Spirit has blessed me with personal revelations and events in times of needed admonishment, teaching or encouragement. Having a personal belief and true affection for The Real Presence of Christ in Eucharist and also a very sweet, tender, and special relationship with our Holy Spirit, I believe that our world is in dire need of Good News. I want my spirituality to ‘start conversations’!   Please allow these musings to start your own conversations.

About the Author

Hello! My name is John Ciribassi. I live in Carol Stream, IL in the USA. My wife Elise and I are parishioners at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. We have two adult daughters. One lives in Senegal, West Africa with her husband and her 3 sons. The other teaches Anthropology at the University of Oslo, Norway. We also have a home in Mainesburg, Pa in the North Central part of Pennsylvania. My wife and I are both retired veterinarians, and my specialty is in animal behavior. I attended college and veterinary school in Illinois, where I met my wife who is from the Chicago area, and the rest is history! My hobbies include Racquetball, Pickleball, Off Road Motorcycle Riding, Hiking and Camping. I continue to enjoy the opportunity to offer what little insight I have on the scriptures. But I have always felt that the scriptures can speak for themselves. My job is just to shine a little light on them for people who maybe don't have the time to look into the readings deeply. I hope you enjoy and find value in my writings. I continue to be grateful for this opportunity.

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8 Comments

  1. Thank you Mark.Those words of Jesus are so powerful and worthy of deep reflection.As a cradle Catholic it’s good to ponder what I so often take for granted.

  2. Thank you Mark for a great reflection and for helping out the ACM Team. For so many of us it’s the way we start our day. It’s clear the Holy Spirit is using you as an instrument.

    Prayers for Analise

  3. Thank you Mark. Today’s readings give us every reason to carry on and love one another…Paul getting beat up and trying to state his case for Christ…Jesus petitions the Father though the most genuine of prayers for all of us. Amazing moments!!! Love in all it’s glory!!! Peace with you my brother.

  4. Thank you, Mark. It is so very clear you are a true believer.

    Analise, continued prayers for you. Take your time. You have been serving EVERYONE but YOU!! You deserve your “me” time. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

  5. Thank you, Mark for your reflections. It is quite clear you are a true enthusiastic believer.
    Analise, continued prayers for you. You have been serving EVERYONE but YOU. Take all the “me” time you need and deserve . 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

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