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connection | Deacon Allen Tatara Catholic Speaker

connection | Deacon Allen Tatara Catholic Speaker

On the Inside; On the Outside


 
Jan 02 2020
Love1

Remain in Christ

Posted by | Everyday Life | 2 Comments

In our first reading (1 John 2:22-28), John tells us that as we have received the anointing from Christ, that anointing must remain in us. When the anointing remains in us, it teaches us about everything and is true. When that teaching remains in us, then we will remain in Christ.

The word “remain” really means persistence. When we “remain” in someone, that means that we are persistently living in that location. When we are persistently living in Christ, then our life is all about him and we are staying with him. In the same way, when John said that the anointing abides in us, this means that we need to think about the word of God persistently living in us and directing our lives. When we pray the words, “remain with us,” we are asking for the Lord to stay with us through all of life’s good times and bad times. We are asking for the Lord to persistently hold on to us and never let go. John is calling for us to live our lives in Christ and in his word, and not in the world.

To remain in Christ daily requires us to do three things:

  1. We must have a life-giving connection or relationship with God. This is a mutual union where we are united with Jesus always; for when we have no connection, we have no life.
  2. We are to be dependent on Jesus and rely on Him for everything. Are we spending consistent and regular time with the Lord in prayer? When we are apart from God, we find that we can do nothing.
  3. Lastly, we must continue to always remain in Jesus. We must persevere in His teaching by living out the Gospel. Are we meditating on God’s Word and applying it to our daily lives? To remain in Christ means to have a new relational direction.

So, as we begin this new year, let us make this our daily mantra: that we have a constant connection with God, are dependent upon God, and continue to remain in God. For when we remain in Christ, Christ will remain in us and abide with us always.

Mar 01 2017
Love0

It’s All About the Connection

Posted by | Everyday Life | One Comment

I love social media! In fact, I’m all over social media. I’m on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, and LinkedIn. You can find me @DeaconAllenT. Make sure you check me out.

What’s great about social media is that you can make a connection with people across the globe in seconds flat. You can instantly communicate what is happening at any moment of your life. And it’s an excellent way to stay in touch with your family and friends wherever they may be. I just love social media!

However, there is a downside to social media. We often become so self-centered and making things all about us, getting consumed with how many likes we receive or how many people are following us. When we make things about us (which is a nasty form of vanity), we often neglect, we criticize, we say rude and crude things about others, and we spread lies and rumors in order to make us look better or more superior. Sometimes, we are just downright mean and not very Christian-like. And it doesn’t matter if we are not on social media. We all find ourselves doing these exact same things without being online.

We are living in a constantly-connected world but have somehow allowed ourselves to become disconnected from our God.

During Lent, we are asked to turn away from evil and return to the good. We are asked to repent sincerely, to openly recognize and admit that we are sinners and need to re-connect with God through fasting, prayer and sincere sacrifice. And this all needs to begin with internal conversion of our mind and heart.

I challenge all of us this Lent to stop the lies, negativity, anger, and hatred toward one another – whether on social media or in face-to-face reality. Let’s start this right now, by truly feeling the cross that will be traced on our foreheads. Conversion of our mind and of our heart must lead to loving God and others. It’s all about connecting with the One who leads us to conversion. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.