Monday, January 28, 2008

Tribute to a King: A Sign from Heaven


Pope Benedict XVI called for Christian unity on Friday, January 26, during a vespers service at Rome's Basilica of St. Paul's. He said during a prayer service that "Unity with God and our brothers and sisters is a gift that will come from on high." My response to Pope Benedict's statement is for the Catholic faith to respectfully consider honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Beatification. The following story will provide insight to the issue:

Tribute to a King is written in honor of the great legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr with words flowing in revelation. In the early 1990s, the Spirit of the Lord imparted me with a vision of our world gifted and Blessed in Peace during a spiritual visitation. Through discernment, the Lord is preparing our Millennium for the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy by building a bridge of peace and unity between people and cultures, including reconciliation amongst religious denominations.

In Revelation 19:9, the following is conveyed: 'Then the angel said to me, "write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These words are true; they come from God." '

I discussed the matter with my spiritual advisor, Father Richard Tartaglia of Saint Mary's Church, Denville, NJ, and indicated that God's Will is to usher in an era of peace with unity. I also disclosed that through a spiritual locution/impartation, our Lord conveyed that Dr. King is "a saint of my kingdom."

The following is noted in Psalm 145:21, "My mouth will speak your praises, Lord; all flesh will bless your Holy name forever." With the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord indeed speaks through the faithful. As a Christian and Catholic, the legacy of Dr. King should be remembered for not only his great dream, but for courage in following in the footsteps and gospels of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Quoting the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr : "So I say to you, seek God and discover Him and make Him a power in your life. Without Him all of our efforts turn to ashes and our sunrises into darkest nights. Without Him, life is a meaningless drama with the decisive scenes missing. But with Him we are able to rise from the fatigue of despair to the buoyancy of hope. With Him we are able to rise from the midnight of desperation to the daybreak of joy. St. Augustine was right - we were made for God and will be restless until we find rest in Him."

Dr. king also said, "Love is the most durable power in the world. This creative force, so beautifully exemplified in the life of our Christ, is the most potent instrument available in mankind's quest for peace and security."

Not only a great civil rights leader, but Dr. King was a Babtist Minister and a co-pastor with his father at Ebenezer Baptist Church from 1960 until his death in 1968. The Catholic faith should respectfully consider honoring King as a doctor of the church with Sainthood. Canonization should not be limited to Catholics, but also be considered for virtuous Christians of other denominations as well. I believe changes are needed in the church in order to help bring forth unity amongst all Christians and Catholics.

The following is conveyed in Isaiah 55: 9 and 11, "As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts. So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it."

In Psalm 37, Verse 4-6, the following is noted: "Find your delight in the Lord who will give you your heart's desire. Commit your way to the Lord; trust that God will act and make your integrity shine like the dawn, your vindication like noonday."

Let us not forget that in the house of God all are equal! In unified prayer all is possible through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The vision will come to pass with God's timing. I give praise and glory including thanks to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for all the gifts and spiritual wonders unfolding. (To read poem, please click on image)

Copyright 2008 Loci B. Lenar


Sunday, January 27, 2008

Pope urges prayers for Christian unity



(The article below is published on the website of The Star Phoenix)

Pope Urges Prayers for Christian Unity

Reuters
Published: Saturday, January 26, 2008

ROME (Reuters) -- Pope Benedict on Friday urged Christians around the world to intensify their prayers for unity of their divided Churches.

"We are ever more aware of how much the work of recomposing unity, which requires all of our energy and strength, is above our possibilities," he said at an evening vespers service at Rome's Basilica of St. Paul's.

"Unity with God and our brothers and sisters is a gift that will come from on high," he said at an ecumenical prayer service marking the end of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, head of the World Council of Churches, which groups most non-Catholic Christian faiths, attended the service along with representatives of other Christian Churches. Earlier in an interview, Kobia, the WCC Secretary General, called for full communion among all denominations by the middle of this century. He told the Vatican daily L'Osservatore Romano he was convinced relations between Catholicism and the Protestant and Orthodox churches in the Geneva-based Council would grow stronger in coming years.

The Vatican bars intercommunion because of disagreements about the Eucharist, the central act of worship in many Christian churches. Many Protestant churches allow members of other denominations to share their consecrated bread and wine.

Intercommunion would symbolize unity among Christians and ease practical problems in countries such as Britain, Germany and the United States where mixed marriages are frequent.

© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2008