Fr. Tamiru Atraga
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Thank you for writing this book to help many young people who lose their lives because of addiction in our Country. I am glad to meet you and your family when I was assigned at St. Bridget and Holy Ghost church in Whitman, MA. I always admired your family’s faith in Jesus, Mary, and the Church. I know the love of your son Nick McWilliams led you to start the Family Healing and Recovery Ministry. I was with you when you grieved with the loss of Nick. It is your absolute trust in Gods’ mercy that led you to start this ministry to help young people who are under the bondage of addiction. I remember our beautiful healing service I started at St. Bridget church. As you witnessed it, Jesus was healing and delivering people who were under the bondage of physical or spiritual bondage of the Devil. I am glad the Holy Spirit guided you to start a healing ministry through Rosary prayer specifically to help those who are under slavery of addiction.
I had a privilege to come to know Nick in more personal way through spiritual direction. Nick was an honest, prayerful, mature, and wise person. I was always impressed with his strong faith and love of Jesus and His church. He used to come to see me for confession and spiritual direction regularly. During spiritual direction, he used to tell me honestly about his struggle with addiction and he did not know how to overcome it. I was advising him, the devil has no power over you. Jesus destroyed the power of the devil, sin, and death for us. Jesus destroyed the power of the Devil, sin, and death by dying on the cross. Nick was aware of the devil tactics and strategies but could not resist all the tactics and lies of the enemy. I believe the reason we are under some form of addiction or personal sin is we do not know all the tactics of the devil to resist him or we do not pray for grace to resist temptation. The young people need to be aware the devil still exists but has no power over them. In any personal addiction or sin, the devil is a real enemy who tempts the person. We are dealing with a cruel enemy who came to kill and destroy. Jesus calls him accuser, tempter, and the father of all lies. Despite all his best spiritual practices, Nick passed from this temporal death to eternal life. The enemy thought he had power over Nick, but we hope that Nick is in a better place with Jesus for all eternity. This is our faith and our hope in Jesus who rescued us from the power of sin and death. We believe that Nick is now praying for many young people who suffer with addiction. Jesus has set free and we are indeed free.
Fr. Tamiru Atraga
Scripture Teachings by Fr. Tamiru Atraga
1. Let us reflect on the following scripture passage:
"Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear,
the dead are raised,
and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me." (Matthew 11: 2-11)
When I reflect on Christian’s life today, this is the scripture passage comes to my mind:
17‘ We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge, but you did not mourn.; (Matthew 11: 16-17)
2. What else can God do to make us joyful, and hopeful more than what He has already done by sending His only son to save us from the power of sin and death? If this does not make us joyful and hopeful what will make us joyful? Why is there no joy and peace in Christian’s life today?
The answer is simple; we do not want to surrender our will to the King of kings. The ruler of this world is influencing Christians more than they want to surrender to Jesus.
3. My favorite encyclical is Pope Pius XI's 1925 encyclical,
Quas Primas established the Feast of Christ the King and powerfully argues that lasting peace for nations depends on accepting Christ's rule. He linked global unrest, secularism, and atheism to humanity pushing Christ out of public life, stating true, lasting peace (the "peace of Christ") could only be found in His kingdom, necessitating submission to His divine law individually and politically.
10' The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
11* e For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. (Luke 2: 10-11)
Peace is Tranquility of order (St. Augustine) The peace that surpassed all understanding.
Joy is the abiding presence of Jesus in our soul regardless of the difficult circumstances we go through in life. We become happy or sad depends upon our circumstances, But the joy of the lord is our strength when we go through trials and difficult time in our life.
The joy of the Lord is our strength Nehemiah (8: 10)
Drawing on the First Reading, from the Book of the Prophet Nehemiah, Pope Francis reflected on the people of Israel, who, after long years of exile, had at last returned to Jerusalem. He recalled that, in the years of Babylonian captivity, the people always remembered their homeland. After so many years, the day of return finally came, and with it the rebuilding of Jerusalem, as narrated in the First Reading. Nehemiah asked the scribe Ezra read to the people the Book of the Law, and the people were happy, “They were weeping in their joy, and felt God's Word; the experienced joy, and also weeping, all together,” he said.
The Canticle of Mary.
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.
47my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
We can learn this joy from the saints, especially the Queen of All Saints, our mother Mary. It is true that she was Our Lady of Sorrows at various events in her life, especially at the foot of the cross. But her faith was such that in those sorrowful mysteries, she persevered with great love. She cooperated in the mystery of our redemption. She did not wallow in her sorrows. She endured them with a love that would fill her heart with joy. She teaches us the surpassing joy of knowing, loving, and serving her Son.
Reading I
Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment!
Reading II
Brothers and sisters:
Rejoice in the Lord always.
I shall say again: rejoice!
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The people at my healing service asked; Are we able to maintain our joy in all circumstances?
St. Teresa of Avila said, “Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God.” No one wants to be around gloomy people. Joy is contagious! “
Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” John (15:11)
The saints give us such a powerful witness to this complete joy.
St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, “Joy is prayer. Joy is strength. Joy is love. Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. ... A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love. Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget the joy of the Christ risen.”
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How do we get Christ Joy in our life?
We get Christ Joy by fixing our relationship with God. The Holy Trinity works simultaneously in our life.
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The Father draws people to Christ. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. (John 6:44)
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Jesus converts people (The story of Zacchaeus) Luke 19: 1-10)
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The holy spirit pours out God’s love in our heart. and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.d ( Roman 5:5)
The tax collectors and the soldiers asked John the Baptist “What should we do to receive the Joy of Christ?” John the Baptist told them fix your relationship with God.
The gift of love automatically produces Joy in our life. We need to distinguish two things to maintain the joy of Christ in our life.
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Do we have a right relationship with God?
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Do we realize we are loved by God?
Fr. Tamiru Atraga