He's here! Don't be afraid!

Prayer for the Day

Eternal Father,

I offer up to you the burden of my fears for the conversion of sinners, for the forgiveness of sins, in reparation for sins and for the salvation of all souls.  Amen

Reflection

How many things are out there in the darkness in our lives? How many make us afraid?  For me, the list is large; the state of the world in general.  Throw in all the fighting and wars, of course.  I am afraid for the health of several friends with serious illnesses.  Fear for the future of my soul and the souls of my family gives me great pause.  Responsibilities that become overwhelming at times are a source of fear for me. I fear most of the time about my mother’s well-being, as well as my mother-in-law’s.  And I worry about the price of gas lately: (just a little levity while discussing a pretty serious issue).

There in the dark of our lives is that shapeless, formless fear. Our natural tendency is to run from fear.  So, like the disciples of Jesus described in John 6: 16-21, we climb into a boat to escape the fear and row through the dimness, confident that we are fleeing it. Where is Jesus? He said He would be here. We wait for Him but He doesn’t come. And so we row our heavy boat, not realizing that our little craft is weighed down with the baggage of our own fear. We imagine that we’re leaving it behind in the fog and darkness that hangs over the water. If only Jesus would come to us we could feel the peace we long for so much.

From across the water, we see Him. Jesus walks over the waves towards us. Our hearts jump at the audacity of this kind of power and we row harder, fleeing the calm and the love on His face and wanting to escape the miracle we witness with our eyes. He is here and we are terrified.  Why?

What if He tells us to stop rowing?  Won’t the fears catch back up to us?

How would we react if He calmed the seas and lit the skies and we saw that the terrors looming in our lives were simply the stuff of life?  If there was nothing more to dread, where would we focus our lives? What would it cost us to let go of the fears that drive us each day?

“Don't be afraid”, He says. “I'm here with you. I'm always here with you, even when it's dark and you can't see me. “

He stands next to the boat smiling at us and we allow ourselves to put the oars down. We don't have to be afraid. Life is not easy, but He is always next to us, inviting us to rest in the gaze of His eyes, so full of love for us. The terror subsides as we look into His gentle eyes, feel His courage fill us and realize that rather than being lost at sea, our boat is gently bumping the edge of the shoreline.

We love because He loved us first

Happy Birthday, Dick!

I woke up this morning thinking about your birthday tomorrow.  I hope you don't mind, but I'm posting the same picture I did for your birthday last year.  It reminds me of the times you took me fishing as a kid. 

But then again, this picture is more appropriate now:

Prayer for the Day

Who is Jesus to me?

Jesus is the Word made Flesh.
Jesus is the Bread of Life.
Jesus is the Victim offered for our sins on the Cross.
Jesus is the Sacrifice at Holy Mass for the sins of the world and mine.

Jesus is the Word - to be spoken.

Jesus is the Truth - to be told.
Jesus is the Way - to be walked.
Jesus is the Light - to be lit.
Jesus is the Life - to be loved.
Jesus is the Joy - to be shared.
Jesus is the Sacrifice - to be given.
Jesus is the Bread of Life - to be eaten.
Jesus is the Hungry - to be fed.
Jesus is the Thirsty - to be satiated.
Jesus is the Naked - to be clothed.
Jesus is the Homeless - to be taken in.
Jesus is the Sick - to be healed.
Jesus is the Lonely - to be loved.
Jesus is the Unwanted - to be wanted.
Jesus is the Leper - to wash his wounds.
Jesus is the Beggar - to give him a smile.
Jesus is the Drunkard - to listen to him.
Jesus is the Little One - to embrace him.
Jesus is the Dumb - to speak to him.
Jesus is the Crippled - to walk with him.
Jesus is the Drug Addict - to befriend him.
Jesus is the Prostitute - to remove from danger and befriend her.
Jesus is the Prisoner - to be visited.
Jesus is the Old - to be served.

To me Jesus is my God, Jesus is my Spouse, Jesus is my Life, Jesus is my only Love,

Jesus is my All in All, Jesus is my Everything.

Amen.

(By Mother Teresa of Calcutta.)
Blessed Mother Teresa, Pray for us.

Reflection

A little over 2 weeks ago we all shared in God’s love of humanity when Jesus sacrificed Himself for our eternal salvation. This is a love so passionate and powerful that it spread across the globe and through time to Christians the world over. Yet it does not dissipate as the year progresses because God’s love is shared with us each and every day.

How and why do we love? Whom do we love?  John 6:1-15 gives us an answer, “We love because he loved us first.” It’s a love that must be shared between ourselves and those around us and above all else, God. We must celebrate this love everyday by caring for those around us, especially those who God loves preferentially. We must emulate Christ’s ministry of bringing good news to the poor, as we read in Acts 5:34-42.  God so loved the world that He sent His Son to heal the blind, release the captives and “let the oppressed go free.” It is through God’s love for us that we ourselves are able to love. We must in turn share this love with our friends and family as well as the prisoner, the poor, and the blind.

Programming suggestion

If you get a chance, watch  EWTN LIVE with Father Pacwa this week.  His guest is Father Peter John Cameron, and the topic is The Mysteries of the Blessed Virgin Mary--Living Our Lady's Graces.  Lots of good ideas for meditation while saying the Rosary, as well as getting a deeper understanding of the magnificence of Our Lady. If you watch it this week, you will have to watch on "live streaming" or on TV.  If you wait until next Monday, you can watch it on a video at the website.  It's a great show!  Thanks, Father Pacwa!

Recognizing the Spirit within us

In an effort to nurture my own spiritual growth, I’m going to try (notice the emphasis) to add a “Prayer for the Day” to my entries before I present my reflections on the scriptures.  I hope to have the prayer be related in some way to my meditation.
Prayer for the Day

“Holy Spirit, let me recognize You in my everyday life. I am not always aware of the gifts You offer me so easily, and sometimes I don't want to be patient or gentle. I want to be crabby and selfish. Send down the fire of Your love and let me burn with a new desire to be loving and generous. Let me share that fire with those I meet today.”

Reflection

I would like to picture myself as one who exudes a loving peace and calm, leading a constant interior prayer life and always connected in some mystical way the Holy Spirit. ....But, to be honest, I'm not like that—not always.

Instead I am impatient, tapping my feet and drumming my fingers while in lines, waiting in traffic, enduring frustrating situations, and on and on and on. Occasionally, I am flooded with the grace of patience and a peace in the midst of a situation that would normally be stressful. I can recognize it right away and always feel grateful to the Holy Spirit for this new patience and peace that I am certain does not emanate from me.***

In Acts 5:27-33 there is a good example of some of the graces that come with the Holy Spirit. For instance, we see the formerly cowardly Peter now peacefully standing in court calmly saying, “We must obey God rather than men.” After recounting what those court officers had done to Jesus, Peter adds, “We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” He feels the peace and calm of the Holy Spirit and recognizes it, much to the fury of the court officials.

And in John’s Gospel (John 3:31-36) he notes that the gifts of the Spirit are not rationed. Instead those graces are given with a generous and overflowing love. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are clear in our lives when we recognize them. They include peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, charity and joy. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.

And the opposite of these gifts are also clear. When our days are filled with gossip, criticism and judgments, we have lost touch with the Spirit. If we can easily see how others could improve their lives and we hold tightly to the grudges in our hearts, we have forgotten the generous heart of the Spirit who is constantly pouring down graces on us.

***Sometimes, I can’t recognize Him speaking to me right away!  What a sense of humor He can have when He is reminding me of this fault!  At Mass tonight, Father was making a joke that the Book of Acts can read like a soap opera, if you’re not careful.  Think about it.  Acts could be retitled, “As the World Turned”—As the world turned toward Christianity, first by a few, then by hundreds, then by entire communities, and eventually, the world. 

Anyway, as Father was speaking, I thought, “I remember that I got so caught up reading Acts one night that I didn’t get much sleep.”  I remember thinking at the time that it was—as Father said tonight—just like a soap opera.

I just found the blog entry that I mentioned the incident.  Look at the date.  It was the same date as today, May 5!   Like I said, a sense of humor.

A brush with Holiness, a breath of fresh air, and an answer

I have been watching all of the programs on EWTN concerning Blessed Pope John Paul II’s beatification yesterday.  There are so many people who were touched by his holiness, including me.  In the very first entry of this blog in April of 2008, I related my own personal brush with him.  It has had a very big impact on my life ever since.
 
In 1987 His Holiness Pope John Paul II visited San Francisco. I really wanted tickets and I was disappointed when I found out they were sold out almost as quickly as they became available. So I resolved to just watch the hoopla on TV and pray for those who, like me, were unable to attend. I was at work the evening before his Candlestick Park appearance when Marilyn called me. She said that some last minute tickets had become available and that our neighbor Darlene had a ticket for me if I would agree to drive her and some of her friends to the Mass at Candlestick. Evidently, one of Darlene’s friends had agreed to drive, but got ill at the last minute and she called me out of desperation. Of course I accepted the offer. I expected, since these were late-release tickets that they would be in the “nose-bleed” section of the stadium. Imagine my surprise when we were directed to the playing field, no more than about 100 feet from the Holy Father! These were prime seats. The first thought I had when I knelt down to thank God for this opportunity was (Matt 20:16) “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” I think I cried through most of the Mass, overwhelmed to just be in the presence of a very holy man.  I had a profound sense of his holiness—it was like I was in the presence of St. Peter himself!  It was a very personal encounter for me that I will never forget. “Il Papa” exited the stadium by walking right past me. If I had been about 5 feet closer, I would have been able to actually touch him! I remember saying a prayer right then, “Dear Jesus, thank You for sending your Vicar here, to see me.  Someday, I hope to return the favor and visit You and the Holy Father in Rome!”

I am saddened that the news of Prince William’s and Princess Kate’s wedding and the death of Osama bin Laden so overshadowed JPII’s beatification that it was relegated to a small article in the back of the local newspaper and virtually non-existent on the internet news services.  Of course, I’m not surprised, just saddened.

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I had a very moving experience yesterday when attending a holy hour and Benediction with Mom and her neighbor Rose at St. Anne’s Church.  The holy hour was held a 3:00—THE “Hour of Mercy”.  For those who are not familiar with a holy hour and Benediction service, it begins with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament while a hymn is sung.  Then the readings—usually the New Testament reading and the Gospel of the day are read.  Yesterday’s Gospel was John 20: 19-31.  Father Joe began reading the Gospel:

"On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Right at that moment, I became very aware of a breeze coming through the door and sweeping over me.  I know.   It probably wasn’t the Holy Spirit and I definitely was not being “ordained.”  It was a semi-breezy day and the doors at either end of the church were opened to keep the church cool, but the breeze put me “in the moment” with the Apostles that evening of the first day of the week.  I took a deep breath to “catch” all the graces I could.  It was exhilarating!  I thank God for these “eternal glimpses” of His Love.
====================================================================
Last night, when the news of the death of Osama bin Laden came over on the news, I was confused.  “How am I, as a Christian, supposed to react to this news?  Osama bin Laden bore the most serious responsibility for spreading divisions and hatred among populations, causing the deaths of innumerable people, and manipulating religions for this purpose. Is it OK to feel a gladness that he is gone?  No, that can’t be right.  I know I should pray for his soul, but am I strong enough to forget the horrors he was responsible for?  I am also ashamed for those who were singing “We Are the World” in front of the White House. What is the answer?”

Jesus answered my questions today through a Facebook post from Sarah.  She wrote: I’m gonna have to agree with the Vatican on this one:  “In the face of a man’s death, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibilities of each person before God and before men, and hopes and works so that every event may be the occasion for the further growth of peace and not of hatred.”

To which I replied, “Amen.”

What else is there to say today?

I can't think of anything else to say today!  I just want to spend Divine Mercy Sunday thanking Jesus for His infinite mercy and compassion!

Divine Mercy

For the secular world, Easter is over until next year.  For those of us who are Catholic, Easter is an eight-day (the "octave of Easter) celebration that ends with Divine Mercy Sunday.  In fact, the 50 days after the Resurrection until Pentecost are filled with lots of exciting and profound Feast Days, that I will try to give my thoughts on as they come up over the next 6 weeks or so.

And as an "extra bonus" at no cost to you! (lol), Pope Benedict has chosen this weekend to beatify Pope John Paul II, who declared the second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday.  Blessed Pope John Paul II, pray for us.

In honor of Divine Mercy Sunday I thought it is appropriate to post a good examination of conscience I found on-line at beginningcatholic.com.

A good Catholic examination of conscience can be a great help in making a new start in the life of faith.

We use an examination of conscience to help call to mind our sins and failings during a period of quiet reflection before approaching the priest in Confession.

It's important for a good Catholic examination of conscience to be thorough. This will help you learn about things that you may not be aware of. It's also a chance to develop your conscience. This is a critical aid for the beginning Catholic.
 
To make an examination:

• Set aside some quiet time for reflection.
• Start by praying to the Holy Spirit, asking for help in making a good examination to prepare for Confession.
• Read through the items on this list and honestly reflect on your behavior for each item.
• If necessary, take this list or some brief notes (keep them private!) to Confession to help you remember things.

A Catholic examination of conscience traditionally follows the outline of the Ten Commandments and the Precepts of the Catholic Church.

The Ten Commandments

First Commandment

I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.

Have I...

• Disobeyed the commandments of God or the Church?
• Refused to accept what God has revealed as true, or what the Catholic Church proposes for belief?
• Denied the existence of God?
• Nourished and protected my faith?
• Rejected everything opposed to a sound faith?
• Deliberately misled others about doctrine or the faith?
• Rejected the Catholic faith, joined another Christian denomination, or joined or practiced another religion?
• Joined a group forbidden to Catholics (Masons, communists, etc.)?
• Despaired about my salvation or the forgiveness of my sins?
• Presumed on God's mercy? (Committing a sin in expectation of forgiveness, or asking for forgiveness without conversion and practicing virtue.)
• Loved someone or something more than God (money, power, sex, ambition, etc.)?
• Let someone or something influence my choices more than God?
• Engaged in superstitious practices? (Incl. horoscopes, fortune tellers, etc.)
• Been involved in the occult? (Seances, ouija board, worship of Satan, etc.)
• Formally left the Catholic Church?
• Hidden a serious sin or told a lie in confession?

Second Commandment

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

Have I...

• Used the name of God in cursing or blasphemy?
• Failed to keep vows or promises that I have made to God?
• Spoken about the Faith, the Church, the saints, or sacred things with irreverence, hatred or defiance?
• Watched television or movies, or listened to music that treated God, the Church, the saints, or sacred things irreverently?
• Used vulgar, suggestive or obscene speech?
• Belittled others in my speech?
• Behaved disrespectfully in Church?
• Misused places or things set apart for the worship of God?
• Committed perjury? (Breaking an oath or lying under oath.)
• Blamed God for my failings?

Third Commandment

Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.

Have I...

• Set time aside each day for personal prayer to God?
• Missed Mass on Sunday or Holy Days (through own fault w/o sufficient reason)?
• Committed a sacrilege against the Blessed Sacrament?
• Received a sacrament while in the state of mortal sin?
• Habitually come late to and/or leave early from Mass without a good reason?
• Shop, labor, or do business unnecessarily on Sunday or other Holy Days of Obligation?
• Not attend to taking my children to Mass?
• Knowingly eat meat on a forbidden day (or not fasting on a fast day)?
• Eat or drink within one hour of receiving Communion (other than medical need)?

Fourth Commandment

Honor your father and your mother.

Have I...

• (If still under my parents' care) Obeyed all that my parents reasonably asked of me?
• Neglected the needs of my parents in their old age or in their time of need?
• (If still in school) Obeyed the reasonable demands of my teachers?
• Neglected to give my children proper food, clothing, shelter, education, discipline and care (even after Confirmation)?
• Provided for the religious education and formation of my children for as long as they are under my care?
• Ensured that my children still under my care regularly frequent the sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion?
• Educated my children in a way that corresponds to my religious convictions?
• Provided my children with a positive, prudent and personalized education in the Catholic teaching on human sexuality?
• Been to my children a good example of how to live the Catholic Faith?
• Prayed with and for my children?
• Lived in humble obedience to those who legitimately exercise authority over me?
• Have I broken the law?
• Have I supported or voted for a politician whose positions are opposed to the teachings of Christ and the Catholic Church?

Fifth Commandment

You shall not kill.

Have I...

• Unjustly and intentionally killed a human being?
• Been involved in an abortion, directly or indirectly (through advice, etc.)?
• Seriously considered or attempted suicide?
• Supported, promoted or encouraged the practice of assisted suicide or mercy killing?
• Deliberately desired to kill an innocent human being?
• Unjustly inflicted bodily harm an another person?
• Unjustly threatened another person with bodily harm?
• Verbally or emotionally abused another person?
• Hated another person, or wished him evil?
• Been prejudiced, or unjustly discriminated against others because of their race, color, nationality, sex or religion?
• Joined a hate group?
• Purposely provoked another by teasing or nagging?
• Recklessly endangered my life or health, or that of another, by my actions?
• Driven recklessly or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs?
• Abused alcohol or other drugs?
• Sold or given drugs to others to use for non-therapeutic purposes?
• Used tobacco immoderately?
• Over-eaten?
• Encouraged others to sin by giving scandal?
• Helped another to commit a mortal sin (through advice, driving them somewhere, etc.?
• Caused serious injury or death by criminal neglect?
• Indulged in serious anger?
• Refused to control my temper?
• Been mean to, quarreled with, or willfully hurt someone?
• Been unforgiving to others, when mercy or pardon was requested?
• Sought revenge or hoped something bad would happen to someone?
• Delighted to see someone else get hurt or suffer?
• Treated animals cruelly, causing them to suffer or die needlessly?

Sixth & Ninth Commandments

You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.

Have I...

• Practiced the virtue of chastity?
• Given in to lust? (The desire for sexual pleasure unrelated to spousal love in marriage.)
• Used an artificial means of birth control?
• Refused to be open to conception, without just cause? (Catechism, 2368)
• Participated in immoral techniques for in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination?
• Sterilized my sex organs for contraceptive purposes?
• Deprived my spouse of the marital right, without just cause?
• Claimed my own marital right without concern for my spouse?
• Deliberately caused male climax outside of normal sexual intercourse? (Catechism, 2366)
• Willfully entertained impure thoughts?
• Purchased, viewed, or made use of pornography?
• Watched movies and television that involve sex and nudity?
• Listened to music or jokes that are harmful to purity?
• Committed adultery? (Sexual relations with someone who is married, or with someone other than my spouse.)
• Committed incest? (Sexual relations with a relative or in-law.)
• Committed fornication? (Sexual relations with someone of the opposite sex when neither of us is married.)
• Engaged in homosexual activity? (Sexual activity with someone of the same sex.)
• Committed rape?
• Masturbated? (Deliberate stimulation of one's own sexual organs for sexual pleasure.)
• Engaged in sexual foreplay (petting) reserved for marriage?
• Preyed upon children or youth for my sexual pleasure?
• Engaged in unnatural sexual activities?
• Engaged in prostitution, or paid for the services of a prostitute?
• Seduced someone, or allowed myself to be seduced?
• Made uninvited and unwelcome sexual advances toward another?
• Purposely dressed immodestly?

Seventh & Tenth Commandments

You shall not steal.
You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.

Have I...

• Stolen? (Take something that doesn't belong to me against the reasonable will of the owner.)
• Envied others on account of their possessions?
• Tried to live in a spirit of Gospel poverty and simplicity?
• Given generously to others in need?
• Considered that God has provided me with money so that I might use it to benefit others, as well as for my own legitimate needs?
• Freed myself from a consumer mentality?
• Practiced the works of mercy?
• Deliberately defaced, destroyed or lost another's property?
• Cheated on a test, taxes, sports, games, or in business?
• Squandered money in compulsive gambling?
• Make a false claim to an insurance company?
• Paid my employees a living wage, or failed to give a full day's work for a full day's pay?
• Failed to honor my part of a contract?
• Failed to make good on a debt?
• Overcharge someone, especially to take advantage of another's hardship or ignorance?
• Misused natural resources?

Eighth Commandment

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Have I...

• Lied?
• Knowingly and willfully deceived another?
• Perjured myself under oath?
• Gossiped?
• Committed detraction? (Destroying a person's reputation by telling others about his faults for no good reason.)
• Committed slander or calumny? (Telling lies about another person in order to destroy his reputation.)
• Committed libel? (Writing lies about another person in order to destroy his reputation.)
• Been guilty of rash judgment? (Assuming the worst of another person based on circumstantial evidence.)
• Failed to make reparation for a lie I told, or for harm done to a person's reputation?
• Failed to speak out in defense of the Catholic Faith, the Church, or of another person?
• Betrayed another's confidence through speech?

The Precepts of the Church

First Precept of the Church

You shall attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.

• (see examination under the Third Commandment)

Second Precept of the Church

You shall confess your sins at least once a year.

Have I...

• Made a good Confession of my mortal sins least once a year?
• Purposely omitted telling my mortal sins in my last Confession?
• Performed the penance I was given?
• Made reparation for any harm I have done to others?

Third Precept of the Church

You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.

Have I...

• Fulfilled my Easter duty to receive Holy Communion at least once between the First Sunday of Lent and Trinity Sunday?
• Received Holy Communion while in the state of mortal sin?
• Fasted an hour before receiving Holy Communion?
• Received Holy Communion more than twice in one day?

Fourth Precept of the Church

You shall keep holy the Holy days of Obligation.

• (see examination under the Third Commandment)

Fifth Precept of the Church

You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.

Have I...

• Done penance every Friday, if not abstaining from meat, then some other form of penance?
• Abstained from meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent (if I am 14 years of age or older)?
• Fasted on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (if I am between the ages of 18 and 59)?
• Spent time in prayer, doing spiritual and corporal works of mercy, and practicing self-denial?

Sixth Precept of the Church

You shall contribute to the support of the Church.

Have I...

• Contributed a just amount of my time, talents and money to support my parish and the work of the Church?

Seventh Precept of the Church

You shall observe the laws of the Church concerning marriage.

Have I...

Been living in a valid and licit marriage according to the

• laws of the Catholic Church?
• Abandoned my spouse and family by separation or divorce?
• Kept company with someone whom I cannot marry in the Catholic Church?
• Given scandal by living with a member of the opposite sex without the benefit of a marriage blessed by the Catholic Church?
• Entered into marriage with more than one person at the same time?

This detailed Catholic examination of conscience should help you reflect on how you are responding to the demands made by the love of God.