The Power of Prayer

“Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They wider their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

                                    -Matthew 23:1-12

 

I want you to hear some of the love this country has - Some of the amazing people of this place…some of the stories that show that Love is here…

 

The mission I am at is called Mission Liberia.  It consists of a compound (the St. Martin House) that houses 96 boys and 25 girls.  It has a 20-acre farm.  There is a church (St. Michael the Archangel).  And there is also a school (St Anthony of Padua) on the property of Mission Liberia.

 

The mission was founded in 2003 by a man named Dave Dionisi.  Dave is involved in more than a few projects, including the Our Lady of Fatima Rehab Center about twenty minutes from Mission Liberia site, which is Lower Careysburg, or Blacktom Town, Liberia.

 

The Rehab center is a mission that houses, takes care of and educates special needs children.  Now that is an awesome mission by itself when you think about the special needs programs we have back home, but if this place wasn’t here most of these kids would be dead.  You see, once again, this is Africa.  And in Africa, if a children is born like this they are thought to be a curse, or a punishment for the parents wrong-doings, or a plague on the village.  These children are  (at best) thrown into a corner of the hut and thrown scraps of the already scarce food supply.  Yes it is awful.

 

 That is why the Rehab center and its mission are so beautiful.  Maybe not in view, but its purpose, its mission, its service – its Love – is a beautiful thing.

 

Until recently, a Nun named Sister Sponsa ran the rehab center.  Sister Sponsa is a frail blind, 5’2’’, 84-year-old woman from the states.  She served and loved these children when no one else did.  And when the war broke out, and all the volunteers left the country, Sister stayed with the children…

 

Well the center was not spared by the rebels, and they tore down the gate and stormed the property…

 

They decided to pull all of the children and Sister Sponsa out of the chapel at gunpoint and put them in a circle… and for kicks and giggles they decided they would douse them with kerosene….

 

They were going to burn all of them alive…

 

Sister told everyone, “Don’t stop praying…”

 

A crazy thing happened.  When the rebels attempted to set ablaze this circle of mentally and physically handicapped plus a near-blind-80 year–old –nun, Not one of the rebels could get a match to light…

 

The now frustrated Commander of the rebel infantry demanded that they all be shot to death since his pyro-driven imagination seemed to be foiled by “luck”.

 

Again, sister said the same thing… “Don’t stop praying…”

 

None of the rebels guns would work…They all tried to fire on the circle of victims (covered in kerosene), but none of their guns would fire…

 

…Now I want to remind you that a lot of the rebels were children and had been taken from their villages, brainwashed, taught to kill, and turned into ruthless, blood-thirsty child soldiers…

 

So sister looked at one of the rebels, whom she had formally taught, and said, “This is not what I taught you.”  His only response was, “Yes sister.”  The young rebel took off running.  He later returned with a truck and drove the children and sister out of the country and to safety…

 

Right after they left the compound, Sister’s phone rang.  It was a young Muslim girl she had known. “Sister, what did you just do?” the girl asked profoundly. “God just moved me in the most beautiful way.”… When I heard this story I got chills.  But that is what happens when we put our trust in the Lord…He provides.

 

Stories of these type of miracles during the war are all around this country, and all around Africa as a matter of fact.  I hear people ask “How can God let this sort of thing happen?” referring to the war, poverty, terrorists attacks, etc….Since I have been here, I have learnt my response to that question, and this is how it goes…

 

“Mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind”

                                    -JFK

 

We are all at war – with ourselves, with each other, and with God himself. When will we see that our wars cover every dimension?  When will we truly find Truth and Justice – Peace and Love?

 

 

“Isreal” means “those who wrestle with God”

 

Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.

                                    -Romans 12:12

 

“Whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Humility consists in both acknowledging our real nothingness and acknowledging God’s infinite greatness. Self-abasement that fails to look to heaven is not humility. For from heaven, God promises the humble, “Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow.” The scribes and Pharisees “refuse and resist” such humility. Christ begs us today to “be willing and obey.”

                                    Magnificat 3/10/09

 

 

Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves.

                                    -Philippians 2:3

 

By the grace given to me I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than one ought to think, but to think soberly, each according to the measure of faith that God has apportioned.

            Love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation.

                                    -Romans 12:3,10,16

 

This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

                                    -John 13:35

 

If the world hates you, realize that is hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

                                    -John 15:18-20

 

The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

                                    -Matthew 20:28

 

 

 

God is everywhere.  And those things that happen are either caused by our action or lack of action.  God put the control into our hands when we received free will.  He is always there when we need him, but the killing, the greed, the poverty, are effects of the actions or neglect we have caused.

 

Hope all is well! Laugh and Love!

 

Life, Love, and Peace

 

Uncle Matthew