Teacher, doesn't it matter to you that we are going to drown? (Mark 35:38)

Sometimes it's economics, sometimes it's interpersonal relations, sometimes it's health. But every one of us has had times when we have cried out, "Lord, don't you care that I'm drowning?"
The answer is, of course He cares. He cares deeply, far more deeply than we can see. Sometimes our "drowning" is part of His salvation. By living through what we do, we are raised up with Him.

In these times of crisis we must keep in mind the calmness, serenity, and care of the Lord who watches over us. Jesus blesses us, keeps us, and loves us. He cannot do otherwise. He is the God who loves us.

Spend some time with Him. Ask Him why He loves you, and then listens as He answers. You will be surprised at what He has to say.

A CW song idea

Because I am in Bakersfield, the hometown of Buck Owens, I can't go anywhere without hearing country-western music. So naturally, when I was trying to put a finger on how I feel this week, I couldn't help but come up with a country-western song title--"Sometimes You're the Hammer, Sometimes You're the Nail".

I am definitely the "nail" this week.  Nothing I have planned has run smoothly, and problems just keep "hammering" at me.  Please pray that things go a little easier the last few days of the week for me.

Living by faith

O, to be like one of the disciples, to whom Jesus explained everything in private as the Gospel lesson in Mark tells us. What did He tell them about the Kingdom of God that He did not tell the crowds of ordinary people to whom He spoke through parables? Did He make God’s message clearer to them? I don’t know the answer to that. But what can be much clearer than the image of a tiny mustard seed growing to become a large plant or a kernel of corn growing to a plant that yields a thousand fold in the harvest? Even a child can understand these images of the Kingdom of God as a reality that expands miraculously as our faith grows.


But can we simply live by faith? While the idea is not complicated, the practice seems to be for most of us. We lose our confidence and our faith dims. We struggle with suffering and we draw back, seeking more certainty, more details, and more reassurance. But the Old Testament lesson and the Psalm tell us that during times of affliction, we should be even more confident that God’s will and the Kingdom of God are our refuge. Even while suffering, we need to endure and continue to do the will of God to keep our lives on track. Trusting in the Lord and doing the will of God will make our steps surer and give us more confidence in God’s promises.

We will experience times in the midst of life’s distresses where we will lose our confidence in ourselves and our faith. Those distresses could shake our beings and threaten our sense of our very identities. When that happens, we should draw on our baptism experience and the promises God made to love us and care for us as a member of the body of Christ. Drawing closer to HIm is how we can experience the Kingdom of God and live by faith in confidence and without fear. That enlightenment also means that we should readily and without judgment welcome others into the Kingdom through our church communities. We were reminded that if we would love each other and reassured each other of God’s love, we would see the Kingdom of God grow miraculously. Today I pray that church communities everywhere could confidently love all who seek the Kingdom of God.

God's light is a bright light, indeed!

In Mark’s Gospel (Mark 4:21-25) we are called to let our light shine. What is this light? Do we really have anything to offer, to make any difference in this world?


This light, for one thing, is nothing that we have put together ourselves. It is the many blessings and graces that God has bestowed on each one of us. When we open ourselves to the working of the Holy Spirit, things of the ordinary take on new meaning, such as the things we see and the things we hear. We see the miracles of God each day in a very simplistic and profound way. We hear God's voice in Sacred Scripture as well as through the prophets of yesterday and today.

All these things we receive from God and are called to humbly share with others, to let our light—God’s light—shine forth upon the world. It does make all the difference in the world, to share and let shine the glory of the Lord. It dispels the darkness of all things.

Faith is a gift to be shared

Faith comes to us as a gift, but we must take custody of this gift and nurture it. The gift can grow cold and unused if we are not careful, or we can make it a source of warmth and light for others. Good, praying mothers like Eunice and Lois—the mother and grandmother of Timothy—are the source of nurturing love that extends its warmth, light, and power through generations. (I am blessed to have one of those mothers, too. Thanks, Mom!)

The Gospel of Mark (Mark 4:1-20 ) has a familiar passage about the sower and the travails of growing things in difficult soils. Some may view this story as a rather immutable judgment about different kinds of people. But that’s a rather dire picture, if you ask me. If we look honestly at the course of our own lives, we know that sometimes the fruit is bitter and not so desirable, and few can claim complete triumph over weeds that creep in to our fields. I have come to understand that any of us can experience each of these conditions in the parable from time to time. And we also need to remember that God can break up rock, provide water, and even apply herbicide on the thorns; despite these conditions, it is still possible to break free and be fruitful.

As I write this reflection, I think the past couple of days were such that the soil of my heart was being tilled. Did you ever find yourself grumbling about various problems, indignities, and struggles of life, all of which interfered with your own plans for the day? I felt pressed for time, other demands were going wanting, I had things to do! Add the fact that I do not particularly like hospitals or long drives. But I kept on going, intent on resuming my own agenda.

You know what? After getting back to my “regularly scheduled programming” today, I encountered customers and co-workers who had bigger inconveniences than mine. Suddenly my own agenda did not seem quite so important. I was grateful for the gift of spending time with Mom, even if it was in the hospital!

I often resist exposure to the suffering of others. Yet somehow that exposure is needed to remind us of our common humanity and our common need for grace. Grace sometimes comes to us in our suffering, but sometimes suffering even brings grace to others in ways we do not understand. It made me think anew about this parable, causing me to realize that the good soil we need is not always where we think it might be, and the “weeds” we sometimes want so desperately to cut away may in reality be herbs that we need to heal us.

So I’m grateful for those who help to transmit gifts of life, faith, and hope--whether knowingly or unknowingly. And may God open our eyes to see Him working in our midst.

Flowers for "Papa"

For several weeks (at least since before Christmas!) I have been carrying around in my car some artificial flowers that my mother-in-law asked me to place on my father-in-law's (Papa) grave.  The task fell to me because I've been going back and forth to Bakersfield quite a bit and when I travel along I-5 I go right past the cemetery where he is buried.  Also because Patty (my MIL) is not able to travel as far or as frequently as she used to and she knows I visit Papa's grave pretty often to pray for him and my uncle and a church friend who are all buried there. 

Mission accomplished!  By the Grace of the Holy Spirit, that is!  I had planned to leave Bakersfield for home earlier today, but one thing led to another and I didn't get out of there until the afternoon.  I thought I might still make it before the cemetery closed at 5pm, but it was going to be close.  And I was driving a large truck while towing my van behind me--not very good if I had to maneuver in tight spaces or worse, make a u-turn on a narrow road! 

I had not reached Santa Nella (my exit) by 5pm and the sun was setting fast.  I was still 10 minutes away.  I said out loud, "Oh well, I guess it will have to wait AGAIN!"  I immediately heard that "inner voice" say, "You should go anyway.  Ask the Holy Spirit to keep the gates open a little while longer or at least give you a place to turn around if that's not possible."

So I said a prayer to Jesus through the Holy Spirit saying, "Jesus, I trust in You.  I believe You want me to visit Papa, say some prayers for him and leave these flowers for Patty.  But if not, I'll understand.  But I'd really like to do this!"  In hindsight, it sounds like a small child asking his father for a favor.  And like any loving Father, He listened and made a decision.

At 5:15 I headed down the narrow road toward the gate.  As I approached, I noticed the sign that said "Cemetery Hours--8am to 5pm"  and "Gates will open and close automatically".  Just beyond that sign, I saw that the gate was still open!  As I drove through, I thanked Jesus for understanding my wishes and went directly to Papa's grave and left the flowers.  I said a quick prayer for him and for all who are buried there, especially my uncle Lawrence and friend Joe McDonald.  I saw no one else around any of the grave sites, nor did I see any maintenance vehicles or evidence that anyone was on the property. But I didn't want to press my "luck" (even though I believe it was Holy Spirit looking out for me) and get stuck inside the cemetery, so I left for home. 

I have been to the cemetery before right at closing and the gates do close by themselves right on the dot.  I think they're on a timer.  Maybe the timer was broken, and maybe not.  In any event, I felt I had to write of this experience today and thank my Lord one more time for His hand in this.

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Decisions, decisions

Have you ever noticed that when there was something really important to be done, Jesus went one of two places: the mountain or the desert? As He was getting ready to name the apostles, He went up the mountain for a time to pray and to be certain that what He was doing was in the Father's perfect will.


In doing so, He set the example for us. If each of us would take the time to go a little way apart and pray before any important decision in our lives, I think we might be surprised at how much improved our lives might be.

You might rightly point out that a great many of us have neither a mountain nor a desert nearby to retire to. And you would be right. As with all such inconveniences, we would need to make our own desert. It might be a corner of a study or it could be the path we take to walk the dog. It might be an hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament, or the time we devote to gardening and taking care of our homes.

Wherever it may be, that time spent in prayer will bring about the greatest fruitfulness that your life has ever seen. The decisions you make, whether right or wrong, will give you greater peace of mind and heart than you have ever experienced. The next time an important decision must be made, try it.

I think the Apostles set the standard for us. They went up the mountain with Jesus, “that they might be with him.” They followed Jesus away from the hustle and bustle of their lives to hear what He had to say. And upon hearing Jesus, they went forth to preach; the apostles just listened and acted, no questions asked. It is not enough to simply check in with God and get His two cents; we are called for more. His call is two-fold. We are called to discern God’s will for us through prayer and communion with Him, and then follow the call. Are we really prepared to do this, though?

This is where the importance of a strong prayer life comes into play. Without it, we neither will have the patience to hear God’s call, nor the strength to follow it. It’s been three weeks from the start of the New Year, when many people make their resolutions for bettering their lives. But few of us take steps to make real improvements in the area that really matters, in our relationship with God. It’s not too late.

Make this be the year that we really make God our first priority. Maybe we can stop in at church more to pray during the week, attend one more Mass each week, or go to confession more often. Frequent the sacraments. If we take some real, concrete steps in strengthening our relationship with God, living for Jesus won’t be a radical way; Jesus will be the real way.

What to do while waiting for the inevitable

It was tough to concentrate today. We had very special visitors in our area today—all of the top echelon of our company was touring our stores checking for compliance on company programs, policies and procedures.  While I would like to think I don’t worry about such things, I do.  Not because I'm afraid of losing my job, but because I want to do a good job.  The anticipation of the visit and the knowledge that my and my team's observance and adherence to company policies would make the visit either a success or a failure played a big part in my reflections on tomorrow's readings today.  How did we do?  Except for a few really minor, easily correctable issues, the visit went well.  So we're done.  No more worrying about "the visit".  Until next time.  And I know that will come sooner than I expect.  I have to keep teaching and reteaching the "company line" until then. Even more importantly, I have to set the example.  If I let up, the next visit may not be as successful. 

Advent is over. Christ has come! The waiting is over—or is it?  No, we’re not done waiting because we also await His second coming and our entrance into the heavenly kingdom. The first reading shares with us Jesus’ position as the High Priest in heaven, which He obtained through His crucifixion and resurrection. His position and power in heaven are comforting. We know He will be there in the end, having prepared the way with His death.

Yet we must first accept Christ, we must do His will. We cannot sit idly by and just wait for heaven to come to us. The Psalm reminds us that we must proclaim His justice to the world, to the vast assembly, in order to do His will. I’ve reflected on my own work for the Kingdom, asking myself, 'what exactly have I done? Am I doing enough with my prayer, service and advocacy on behalf of the poor and oppressed?' The Psalm answers this – I’m not doing enough. When I seek justice I restrain my lips, we all do, we don’t want to step on toes or incite conflict.

We can’t do that. We must not restrain our lips when we announce Christ’s justice. He didn’t restrain His lips. This is why people descended from the surrounding cities to hear Jesus speak at the sea. People were drawn to His ministry, not because He held back His voice, but because He proclaimed the truth and challenged those who were subverting it.

As we await His second coming we are asked to proclaim His justice in the interim. We are not to go about this timidly but loudly, proclaiming to the vast assembly of those here on earth that our high priest in heaven, Jesus Christ, wants a just world for His return. While I find it comforting knowing that He is there for us, we must make ourselves uncomfortable, we must unfasten our lips and advocate for justice, regardless of the situation.

Prayer must be preeminent

Sometimes it's difficult to understand Holy Scripture; we think we understand some of what is written, then there comes a line or two that really doesn't seem to go with what proceeds or follows.
Take, for instance, unshrunken cloth and new wine skins.  Is it a commentary, of sorts, on the value of new things? Or is it rather a lesson on the importance of having some "order of precedence" in our lives: that is, doing what is most important and fundamental before charging ahead with things that are not?

Prayer must be the preeminent activity in my life, lest I damage the cloak given for my salvation or have an old tired-out heart unprepared to receive the ever-new love of God.

The wisdom of the Church

At the beginning of this year of grace, the Letter to the Hebrews gives exhortations and practical instructions on living the Christian life. For Jesus, the High Priest, who has been "tested in every way through what He suffered, is able to help those who are being tested" (Hebrews 2:18).

How grateful I am to be tested. I go to the foot of the Cross, the place of His greatest test and manifestation of glory, the place of the Priest, the Altar and the Lamb of Sacrifice. And there, I gaze up and see Him, the Word of God. Our blessed Lord Jesus, the Word of God, described by John as the One through Whom all were made, is "living and effective, sharper than any two-edge sword."

I gaze up with no fear, but bearing shame, for He knows the account I must give. "Everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to Whom we must render an account." Only with humility as my guide, can I tell the truth and then He can minister His mercy and healing compassion. What parent does not know that correction best follows confession by the child?

What joy there is in knowing that "we have a great high priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God." We realize that the Word of God is first and foremost Jesus, the Word made flesh, the Emmanuel. Our vision and hearts of love are lifted up to Him on His throne, which we see as the Cross. So, sinner, "let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help."

He is right here to help, right now. Call on Him.

THE At The Foot Of The Cross PRAYER

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

I will go to the altar of God.
To God who gives joy to my youth.
Judge me, O God,
and take up my cause against the nation that is not holy.
Free me from the unjust and deceitful man.
For You, O God, are my strength,
why have You cast me off?
And why do I walk in sorrow,
while the enemy troubles me?
Send forth Your light and Your truth,
they have led me,
and brought me to Your holy hill,
and to Your dwelling.
I will go to the altar of God,
to God who gives joy to my youth.
To You, O God, my God,
I will give praise upon the harp,
why are you sad, O my soul?
And why do you trouble me?
Hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
the salvation of my countenance and my God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

A child's simple faith leads to certain knowledge

I have written before regarding my feelings about chain letters of any kind, especially if they involve receiving blessings and “good things” on certain days or times of day. Those make me feel “forced” to tell of my love for Jesus Christ to others simply to receive that one special thing I’ve been looking for. As any of you who are regulars to this site know, I need no such prompting. I did receive one this morning from my brother Bill that I will share. I am sharing it not because of the special favor granted by “passing it on to 5 of my friends” (although if it happens, Praise God!), but because it is a story that reminds us of the simple faith of a child.


The smell of rain

A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas as the doctor walked into the small hospital room of Diana Blessing. She was still groggy from surgery. Her husband, David , held her hand as they braced themselves for the latest news.

That afternoon of March 10, 1991, complications had forced Diana, only 24-weeks pregnant, to undergo an emergency Cesarean to deliver couple's new daughter, Dana Lu Blessing.

At 12 inches long and weighing only one pound nine ounces, they already knew she was perilously premature. Still, the doctor's soft words dropped like bombs.

'I don't think she's going to make it,' he said, as kindly as he could. 'There's only a 10-percent chance she will live through the night, and even then, if by some slim chance she does make it, her future could be a very cruel one'

Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the doctor described the devastating problems Dana would likely face if she survived.

She would never walk, she would never talk, she would probably be blind, and she would certainly be prone to other catastrophic conditions from cerebral palsy to complete mental retardation, and on and on.'No! No!' was all Diana could say.

She and David, with their 5-year-old son Dustin, had long dreamed of the day they would have a daughter to become a family of four. Now, within a matter of hours, that dream was slipping away.

 









But as those first days passed, a new agony set in for David and Diana. Because Dana 's underdeveloped nervous system was essentially 'raw', the lightest kiss or caress only intensified her discomfort, so they couldn't even cradle their tiny baby girl against their chests to offer the strength of their love. All they could do, as Dana struggled alone beneath the ultraviolet light in the tangle of tubes and wires, was to pray that God would stay close to their precious little girl.

There was never a moment when Dana suddenly grew stronger. But as the weeks went by, she did slowly gain an ounce of weight here and an ounce of strength there.

At last, when Dana turned two months old. her parents were able to hold her in their arms for the very first time.



And two months later, though doctors continued to gently but grimly warn that her chances of surviving, much less living any kind of normal life, were next to zero, Dana went home from the hospital, just as her
mother had predicted.

Five years later, when Dana was a petite but feisty young girl with glittering gray eyes and an unquenchable zest for life. She showed no signs whatsoever of any mental or physical impairment. Simply, she was everything a little girl can be and more. But that happy ending is far from the end of her story.

One blistering afternoon in the summer of 1996 near her home in Irving, Texas, Dana was sitting in her mother's lap in the bleachers of a local ball park where her brother Dustin's baseball team was practicing.

As always, Dana was chattering nonstop with her mother and several other adults sitting nearby, when she suddenly fell silent. Hugging her arms across her chest, little Dana asked, 'Do you smell that?'

Smelling the air and detecting the approach of a thunderstorm, Diana replied, 'Yes, it smells like rain.'

Dana closed her eyes and again asked, 'Do you smell that?'
Once again, her mother replied, 'Yes, I think we're about to get wet. It smells like rain.'

Still caught in the moment, Dana shook her head, patted her thin shoulders with her small hands and loudly announced, 'No, it smells like Him. It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest.'

Tears blurred Diana's eyes as Dana happily hopped down to play with the other children. Before the rains came, her daughter's words confirmed what Diana and all the members of the extended Blessing family had known, at least in their hearts, all along.

During those long days and nights of her first two months of her life, when her nerves were too sensitive for them to touch her, God was holding Dana on His chest and it is His loving scent that she remembers so well.

Harden not your hearts

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”


How often this refrain from Psalm 95 appears in the liturgy. And how often we ignore it assuming it doesn’t apply to ourselves as ordinary Christians. But it does!

The Good News of the Gospel is not complete with the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Good News continues onto the sending of the Holy Spirit by the Father and Jesus at Pentecost. Indeed, the descent of the Spirit upon the disciples is the culmination of the Paschal Mystery. Now through the Holy Spirit the Kingdom of God is present on earth!

And this descent has profound implications for Christian life. The Spirit totally transformed the lives of those disciples gathered in the Upper Room for fear of the Jews — the frightened apostles now became fearless witnesses of Christ. And the descent of the Spirit upon Christians through faith and baptism has equal implications. We are transformed and become new creations in Christ. Paul does not hesitate to dub us “Temples of the Holy Spirit” and “the Body of Christ.”

Through the Spirit we receive a new identity! How then are we to live this new identity? Paul exhorts us to respond to this new interior law of the Spirit of Christ written on our hearts -- and not simply to be observant of the external written law. And the Church teaches that this voice of God emerges within our consciences. Listen to this message from Vatican Council II from “The Church in the Modern World.”

“For man has in his heart a law written by God. To obey it is the very dignity of man: according to it he will be judged. Conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of man. There he is alone with God, whose voice echoes in his depths. In a wonderful manner conscience reveals that law which is fulfilled by love of God and love of neighbor.”(paragraph 16)

God guides us directly through our consciences! We are invited to listen and to respond to God by attending to the deepest voice within us — God’s! And so we have the immense counter-cultural challenge of arranging our busy schedules to include regular rhythms of withdrawal from activity to be in silence and solitude with our God.

Our model for listening is Jesus himself. Jesus regularly left the crowds and went off alone to be with his most dear Father. In these desert places Jesus found communion with God and strength and guidance for his life. Recall especially the forty days in the desert after his baptism by John before beginning his public ministry and the prayer in Garden of Gethsemane before his passion and death.

Like Jesus we are called to listen -- and to respond -- to God’s voice: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”

Why go to Mass? Out of Love for Jesus!

After work today, I wanted to spend some time in Adoration of the Eucharist.  Fortunately, there are two parishes (that I know of) which offer perpetual Adoration.  One is St. Joseph's, that I have written about so many times in this blog, and the other is St. Francis of Assisi.  I like St. Joseph's because they have a 5:30 pm Mass that ends my Adoration hour with a reception of the Holy Eucharist.  I had not visited St. Francis for Adoration before (although they have the only 6:30 am Mass in Bakersfield which fits in nicely with my usual Bakersfield workdays) so I thought today would be a good day.  I would be able to spend about 45 minutes there, then drive to St. Joe's across town for Mass. 

When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they now have a 5:30 Mass as well!  Just as I entered the chapel (Mary's Chapel) there was all sorts of literature and topics for one to meditate on while in Adoration.  One that caught my eye was THIS PUBLICATION .  It is approved for reading by the bishop of the diocese where the woman resides and is said to be without doctrinal error.  The pastor at St. Francis is ultra-orthodox and approved the publication in his parish, so I felt comfortable I wouldn't be offending our Lord by reading it.  We are free to believe or not believe the woman's testimony, but the content is certainly thought-provoking.  I know that I have plenty of room for improvement in my observance of the Mass, after reading it.

"....my OBSERVANCE of the Mass".  Did I just write that?  Maybe that's my problem!  I am not supposed to OBSERVE the Mass, but PARTICIPATE in it!  By the way, I just love this picture I copied off of the above-mentioned website.  It pretty much tells the story of what happens at every Mass, every day, in every chapel or church, everywhere in the world.  With God, all things are possible.

Sacramentals, anyone?

I was thinking about “sacramentals” today. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sacramentals are sacred signs instituted by the Church to prepare us to receive the fruit of the sacraments and to sanctify different circumstances of our lives (no. 1677).


They are the images, actions and blessings that are unique to our faith; those sometimes humble reminders of what the Catholic faith is all about, like the crucifix on our wall.

Sacramentals are varied, from blessings of consecrated virgins to articles such as relics and rosaries. Some, such as holy water, are used by almost every Catholic. Others are more personal, such as devotionals to a particular saint.

Sacramentals are not superstitions, holdovers from pre-Christian days, or Catholic substitutes for the longing of pagans to dance around trees and mutter spells. There is a part of us that longs for something tangible we can hold on to, something to look at, something to touch, something to sing, chant or recite, something that interacts with the senses. The sacraments, those sacred mixtures of matter and the Holy Spirit, fulfill that need. And so, in a lesser way, do sacramentals.

What is the difference between correct use of the sacramental and superstition? It has to do with an inner attitude, for superstition is second cousin to magic. The superstitious person says, "If I sprinkle holy water here, say these prayers and cross myself, I will make God or His saints do this for me." But the person using a sacramental properly says. "I want to be closer to God—to be constantly and effectively reminded of the power of His love and glory, of His protection, forgiveness and mercy. So I will cross myself when I pass a church to remind myself of His passion. I will make a novena to ask God's saints for their prayers. I will do these things, not because I am strong and have the power to make God and His saints do my will, but because I am weak, distractable and forgetful, and need to remind myself of True Reality."

Making lemonade?

There’s a saying, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!”  I don’t think the guy who made that saying up ever saw lemons this big!  Just for comparison’s sake, the “small” lemons on this tree would be considered “large” in the grocery store.   For another visual image, I'll tell you the large lemons reminded me of the ball that is used for rugby.  The woman who owns the tree says she cut one open and the “flesh” was white.  She was afraid to taste it.  I told her that was probably a wise move.  I also asked if she had seen any UFO’s recently.

It's not a good picture--it was taken with my cell phone through a glass door from about 10 feet away.

Focus

When I was shopping in a store that caters to industrial safety customers today, I saw a dry-erase board behind the counter that had poignant or funny quotes written on them. I found out, after asking the girl who was waiting on me about it, that some of the sayings were written by customers. I thought it was a neat idea! One of the statements that I thought was pretty funny was, “Some people are like ‘slinkys’. They’re not very useful but they’re fun to watch when you push them down the stairs.” Another that was food for thought was a drawing of a guy with one of those “finger gloves” that you see at ball games to signify “We’re #1!” But this guy’s glove had 3 fingers. He said “I’m number 3!” Right next to it was a list: #1---God. #2---Others. #3---Me. Pretty good. He obviously understands Matthew 22:38.
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I was so tired after work today that I actually thought I might miss Mass. I said to myself, “It’s not like it’s a First Friday!” as a means of justifying my reason for not going. Then I realized it IS the first Friday of January, so I went. I’m so glad I did. If I had not, I would not have heard the homily that the priest, an African Marian missionary, gave. He started out with, “Humans look for insurance. God delivers assurance.” It has given me a couple of hours of good fodder for meditation!
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Saturday, January 8 is the last day of the Christmas Season. The nativity scenes that have not been removed already from the Churches will probably be so before tomorrow, the First Sunday of Ordinary time. It always seems a little sad to see the end of the Christmas Season in the Church calendar. Yet it is not the end; there can be a new Christmas gift for us whenever we receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Jesus will “come” to us whenever we allow ourselves to be open to his presence in our prayers and in our daily activities. We can celebrate and treasure his coming throughout the year.

John the Baptist provides an excellent example of a loving openness to Jesus. John was very successful and highly regarded by his followers, but people began questioning when both he and Jesus were baptizing. He compared his relationship with Jesus to that of the best man who rejoices in the presence and joy of the bridegroom. John was able to celebrate Christ’s coming in all that he did. He clearly saw his own role as a supportive one.

In any type of ministry it is possible for us to lose sight of its true purpose. If the ministry is successful, it is very tempting to get caught up in the success and accolades from others while forgetting that the success was because of Jesus’ presence and direction. If the ministry is a failure, it is tempting to lay blame on someone else or on oneself rather than to examine whether Jesus was allowed to direct our actions. John the Baptist teaches us about a true humility when he identifies the need for him to decrease his own presence, and for Jesus to increase his. Can we do the same, always keeping Jesus in the front of all that we do? Can we be ever mindful that we are only instruments and that Jesus will direct everything that we do as long as we allow him to and get out of the way?

Today, let’s consider consciously setting aside time to sit with Jesus to discern His truth for our lives. Let Him delight in us, His children. Let Him love us where we are at and become the focus of our lives once more. Let’s ponder His love for us deeply today, wherever we are, whatever we do. Let the Lord increase Himself in each of us this day. Focus, focus, focus.

An amazing Love story (It's interactive, too!)

The greatest love story ever told: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. And through Jesus, we came to have eternal life. John says (through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) that Jesus came through not only water but water and blood. These symbolize how we obtain life through the living water of baptism and also through the Blood of Christ, the Eucharist, which cleanses us from sin. Yet, to gain eternal life we first have to let Him into our lives and trust in Him. John stresses the efficacy of faith when he says that whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life. We have to ask ourselves if we truly and completely believe and trust in Jesus Christ during all times in our lives – the good and the bad. Do we turn to prayer in our time of need? Do we live our lives in Christ? Do we have complete confidence in Him?

There’s even more to this love story: God loves us so much that He forgives our sins when we ask for His mercy. In Luke, leprosy represents a physical example of the invisible reality of sin – the incurable disease that affects us all. Jesus saves us from sins. No matter how bad our sins may be, when we ask Him God grants us forgiveness because of the sacrifice of His Son. Like the leper who begged for Jesus to cleanse him, we too can ask for forgiveness. Jesus reached out and touched the leper – a person whom others were not even supposed to get close to, much less touch. But Jesus, who is completely clean and pure, reached out and cleansed his leprosy. Jesus can do the same to us: He can forgive our sins and cleanse us if we ask for His forgiveness. Luke also says that the leper fell on his face when he saw Jesus. We must all come down from our pride and self-righteousness all the way to the feet of Christ to be forgiven and cleansed. I am a sinner. I continuously fall, but God never ceases to forgive me and lift me back up. God shows His immense love by giving me mercy every time I come down from my pride and my sins to fall at His feet. And this is one of the most beautiful things – God never stops forgiving and He never stops loving. As St. Augustine said, “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” Jesus reached out and cleansed the leper even though there were hundreds of others. We are the leper. We can all ask for forgiveness and be cleaned. We must not forget the love and mercy that He shows.

Take time out of each day to reflect on God’s immense love for us and the eternal life that He has given to us if we believe and trust in Him. We are called to be like the leper: to let go of our pride and ask for God’s never-ending mercy. I heard or read somewhere that, “God is love. He doesn’t need us. But He wants us. And that is the most amazing thing.”

Very intriguing..

   You can find out more about this really intriguing picture at the Artist's website.

Love makes the world go 'round

The readings for Tuesday present the same theme over and over again: Love


Love is the bond that allows us to interact with each other, whether in the workplace, at home, or among friends. It is also this sacred connection that allows us to be intimate and to understand our Creator (as much as our finite minds can understand Him). And in the same way, just as God wants to continuously remind us that we are truly and uniquely loved by Him, we must also practice this same value with each other.

We are not measured by how much we do for one another, but by God’s grace. With Tuesdays readings in mind, I suggest we practice the same love we are given by God with our brothers and sisters (1 John 4:7-10). Whether it is saying 'hi' to an old friend, getting to know your boss a little better, or striking up a conversation with a co-worker that you see sitting by him or herself at lunch, let people know that they are loved. And just as Jesus fed over five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, let’s practice giving to those in need, spiritually or emotionally. Remember, we may be imperfect and flawed, but in every moment we will always be truly loved by the One who knows all things.

In memoriam

As I was growing up, my mom's sister "Aunt Gennie" was always there when Mom needed her. In my mom's family of 10 kids, Mom was born 1st, then Aunt Gennie.  If I can get  Mom blogging again, I'll bet she has a lot of stories about Genevieve.  I can't tell you how many times Aunt Gennie came over to take us all to Mass.  Or to come and get my brother Tom and I and let us spend the day with her while Mom and Dad were busy with something else.  Or simply came over to visit Mom and keep her company.  She took my mom to the cemetery every day for the first couple of weeks after Dad died, until Mom told her she was OK with his passing and that they both needed to move on.  After the first Northridge earthquake in 1971, Mom and I took Tom over to her house because it just seemed safer to us than an upstairs apartment.  Eventually, she and my Uncle Phil moved into the apartment across the parking lot from Mom in Lodi and continued to help Mom and Grandma get to church, go grocery shopping and provide support, until they both passed away.  She was so kind and generous and giving.  When I saw that today was the feast day of St. Genevieve, a whole bunch of fond memories popped into my head, too numerous to tell of here.  Instead, I'll just post an icon of St. Genevieve that I found on-line today with an explanation of the icon:

The symbols associated with her are:

A loaf of bread because she was generous to those in need. (Just like my Aunt!)
A coin suspended around her neck symbolizing her consecration to God.
A candle which it said she used as she walked to church at night and which stayed lit despite the devil’s attempts to extinguish it
The clothing of a shepherdess because she grew up tending to flocks.

If you would like more information on Saint Genevieve, "google" her name.  There's a lot out there on her.  The biggest bit of trivia that hit me like a ton of bricks???  Her tomb is at the church of  Saint Etienne du Mon in Paris, France.  I don't believe in coincidences.  Etienne, as I mentioned a couple of days ago, is French for Stephen.  No wonder I'm so blessed.  It seems like every time I research something, the Holy Spirit sends me to resources to remind me that we are all called to be saints.

The big time?

Finally!  Another new flag on my flag counter!  Italy!  Do you think it may be Rome?  Wouldn't THAT be cool????  Or maybe even one of Marilyn's distant cousins?  That would be very cool, too! 

Accomplishments

I’m pretty proud of myself today. I finished a jigsaw puzzle I’ve been working on for about 6 months. On the box, it said, “3-5 years”….so I guess I’m ahead of schedule! (Sorry- I couldn’t resist!)

We, as human beings, are the authors of our own lives. We control the decisions we make and how we wish to live our lives. However, nothing would be possible without the help of God. God is our creator and He has put us all on earth to succeed in His name. “We receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.” (1John 3:22) This is very powerful and has great meaning as to how we should live our lives. God will do everything He can to aid us in our lives and He will grant us the ability to succeed as long as we show respect towards Him and His mission. "For I know the plans I have for you," said the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Part of God’s mission for us is to help spread His word to anyone and everyone who is willing to listen. The Epistle of John says that anyone who belongs to God will listen openly to us. We can have a great effect on another person’s life by simply spreading the loving Word of God. Jesus went all over to preach to the sick, poor, and oppressed, and His preaching affected the lives of so many, saved their souls and brought them closer to God. If we as human beings can help one person draw closer to God, then our dedication to the Lord and His mission will be a success.

Seeing Heaven in the "heavens"

Every so often, I go to one of the internet sites that display the Hubble photographs in order to get a sense of the immensity of God’s power concentrated in the tiny babe of Bethlehem.  I've posted a couple of them here along with descriptions of what I see when I look at them. 

The Trinity?

What humility God shows.  He who tosses stars and planets about like toys placed Divine Existence in the body and soul of a lovely little boy conceived by and born from the body of a young maiden of Israel. 



Madonna and Child?





Madonna and Child



Even more humility does God show to learn from us how to exercise his human limits – how to speak and walk, how to love as a human loves, how to build and destroy as a human does.  God, source of all that is, chooses to join us in our limitations as one of the poor.  This is the wisdom, the glory and the power of God . . . it shapes the human heart and shapes the universe of love. “No one has ever seen God.  The only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed God.”

Three Wise Men

Three Wise Men?



"He humbled Himself to become one of us"

A Child in the womb?

The saints and angels in Heaven giving praise to Christ (Center)?



I hope you enjoyed a little something different on this post.  I certainly enjoyed researching the photos and letting the Holy Spirit guide me in interpreting what I saw in them.