I am a Certified Spirit Medium and ordained minister with a private practice in Tampa, Florida. I was ordained as a minister through Harmony Church in Tampa and currently serves at People’s Spiritualist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. I am publishing many of my sermons online as they may both benefit you, and illustrate additional spiritual services that I can provide to you at weddings or other gatherings.

I would like to speak to everyone today about Celebration. In the dictionary it says: To perform (a ritual), to commemorate (an anniversary, holiday, with festivity. To honor publicly, and to have a good time. Celebration is Love. I’m sure all of you have heard of Gasparilla. It is a good example of a celebration. It also is a parade that is an ongoing event in Tampa and has been since 1904. This is Tampa’s version of Mardi gras. Hundreds of thousands of spectators line up and down streets in Tampa to watch the Krewe of Gasparilla, the buccaneers and celebrate Tampa’s version of Mardi Gras. The event originated with the mythical character Jose Gaspar, who in local legend roamed West Florida’s coast in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Legend has it he burned 36 ships in 12 years. He meet his fate with what he thought was a merchant ship, only to find it was a US Navy warship in disguise.

I was given the opportunity to join The Unsinkable Krewe of Molly Brown. This is one of many groups that participate in the Gasperalla celebration. I was quite excited because this meant I would be on a float and in the parade throwing beads to everyone. Throwing beads is one of the fun things also getting to meet new people, hanging out all day in the sun and not working. Not working was definitely a plus for me. It was Party time, time to celebrate, time to have some fun. I was ready.

Well the music started up and the float started moving. It was a beautiful day and the streets were full of people. They were lined up for blocks and blocks. We started throwing our beads out to everyone and what a good time. I saw so many things as I threw the beards out. I saw happiness, kindness, love, calmness, politeness and so much goodness. There was so much warmth and good energy. Who would think that a crowd that big could generate all of that. But it did.

Does God not want us to be happy, loving individuals? Don’t you feel he wants us to enjoy and celebrate life as much as possible? Did Jesus not go in crowds and try to help the people? Do you think that when he saw the crowds that maybe he felt the same as I. I’m sure he saw goodness, kindness and much love. I would like to read for you: Matthew chapter 5 verses 1 thru 9. The Sermon on the Mount *When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciple came to him. He began to teach them, saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

I would like to say one thing about Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. The many policemen and women that were at that parade directing, guiding and helping deserve much credit. I feel because of that and the good energy of the people a great parade was created. They should all be called children of God. If we look at Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God I could say because of the goodness that I saw I know there were many that were clean of heart. Just as I look out at each and every one of you I see many of those qualities I saw in the parade.

I’m sure Jesus had great feelings and love for everyone around him, or else he could not have spoken this well. He would have wanted us to have a good time and enjoy life as much as possible. He would have wanted that then and He would want that for us now.

I have a paragraph here that I would like to read to you from the World Scripture: Project of the International Religious Fdn.

The purpose of human life is an ideal which transcends the mundane goals of human existence, for it is based upon the vision of God or Ultimate Reality. The beautiful vision, divine joy, and uniting with the divine will or divine nature are some of the ways in which this purpose is expressed. At the same time, since the human being is grounded in this Ultimate, the purpose of life coheres with the essential nature of human beings. The highest and best of human values – love, truth, beauty, goodness, joy, and happiness – are aspirations grounded in the original human nature. Therefore, the purpose of life may also be conceived as the realization of what is most essentially human. That is, true human beings manifest the Ultimate in themselves, (you do it yourself)
through manifesting the perfections of purity, wisdom, impartiality, integrity, (which is most important) and compassion in their own lives. The fulfillment of humanity is also the sanctification of humanity. Please take this with you and know that life is and can be a celebration.