Aug 19, 2012
Reflections on the book "The Shack"
I recently finished reading the fiction book "The Shack". From my perspective it was a book about a man whose daughter was murdered and his journey back from that place of despair and questioning God to psychological and spiritual healing and a right relationship with God and how that affected the other relationships in his life toward the end. Perhaps you've read it too?
This is what specifically struck me about the book: the way the author described and personified the Trinity. Now, we are human beings so no author will ever be able to do justice to that topic, but the author tried. It made me think about my perceptions of the Holy Trinity and what did I learn about the Trinity from "The Shack"?
I was touched by the interplay between the Father, Son, and Spirit in this book. The author humanized the Trinity in a way that was not disrespectful at all. It was a little whimsical at times, but I think the author had some good points to make. I liked how he demonstrated a very intimate and loving relationship between the Three Persons of the Trinity. I liked the sense of humor displayed and how the Trinity is very interested in each one of us.
I didn't like the digs on ritual and the comment that Jesus did not make a religion. To me that clearly stated that the author was not Catholic or very fond of the Church when he wrote that. However, I could be mistaken. Jesus did indeed give Peter the keys to the Kingdom and told him that upon him, Peter, "this rock" he would build His "Church". But those were minor annoyances compared to the rest of the book, which I found interesting.
I typically only read non-fiction. I had some co-workers hound me to read this book for over a year before I relented. After all, I'd rather read something with more truth and meat to it than a fiction book. But I must say I was pleasantly surprised over all with "The Shack". Congrats to the author for tackling a tough subject - trying to explain the Holy Trinity.
There is one line in the book that I remember and I hope I get it right when I quote it here. It said "God's love is bigger than your stupidity." or something like that. I like that because there are some days when I am a very stupid person and I'm grateful that God still loves me despite my flaws and sinfulness.
Thank you for listening. God bless your day.
Aug 12, 2012
This blog is connecting with people around the world!
When I started this blog in the winter of 2010 I was excited to get my words out to the entire world. A few friends suggested that I start a blog and I checked with someone who pointed me to this particular website to get one going. I was amazed because I am low tech and was able to get it set up within twenty minutes or so. Overall, blogs were, and still are for the most part, a challenge for me. I post, but I don't know how to do fancy things like tweek my design or add photos and things like that.
However, in the last week or so I have discovered that there are things I can click on in the "behind the scenes" part of the blog that give me a list of countries where people are reading my blog. This is very exciting to me because it tells me that there are some people out there who are reading my words and that means a lot. I hope some of my words are helping others or maybe I'm just saying a few things that resonate with people.
For instance, I have people reading this blog not only in the USA, but also in South Korea, Russia, Latvia, Poland, and even Austrailia ! And those are just a few of the countries listed !!
So I want to say to everyone - thank you for reading my words! Please pray for me and I will pray for you! Of course, the blog info doesn't say who is reading, just the countries and the count, but I am grateful and feel like I am connecting with others around the globe.
Thank you for reading!
However, in the last week or so I have discovered that there are things I can click on in the "behind the scenes" part of the blog that give me a list of countries where people are reading my blog. This is very exciting to me because it tells me that there are some people out there who are reading my words and that means a lot. I hope some of my words are helping others or maybe I'm just saying a few things that resonate with people.
For instance, I have people reading this blog not only in the USA, but also in South Korea, Russia, Latvia, Poland, and even Austrailia ! And those are just a few of the countries listed !!
So I want to say to everyone - thank you for reading my words! Please pray for me and I will pray for you! Of course, the blog info doesn't say who is reading, just the countries and the count, but I am grateful and feel like I am connecting with others around the globe.
Thank you for reading!
Jul 27, 2012
Humiliation - Part 2
What happens after a person is totally humiliated...totally brought low so their face is smashed right into the ground leavng at least a 2 inch crater? When someone is at the lowest of the low, how do they rise from it? Because when you are that low you have no power at all. You have no energy or sense of purpose. Your body may lay still on the preverbial ground, appearing dead, but your soul is spinning out of control in utter confusion and despair. How does someone rise from that?
The answer is simple: They can't. At least not on their own power. The only thing that will get someone up and back into life again is God's grace. Don't laugh at me as if this is a simplistic, naive answer. I speak the truth. I also speak from personal experience. I've been in that place a few times in my life and if you have been there too, then you know it is "not fun" and it is a very dangerous place to be. It is dangerous because a person is very fragile and if they are not receptive to God's grace, then they are sunk.
God's grace is sufficient for us - so says Scripture. God's grace is capable of raising someone up instantaneously from the mire. However, most of the time it is a gradual process. Why is it gradual? Well, the "gradual" part is for our benefit. Even though we'd like the pain to go away instantaneously, sometimes God helps us rise slowly. In the slow rising we learn lessons and we gain wisdom and strength that will serve us well if this should ever happen again.
When we are in the place of humiliation....when our entire being is as low as one can go, we pray and beg for clarification, for healing, and we want it NOW. But the slow rising is sort of like baking clay in a kiln for hours and hours and hours at incredibly hot heat. It turns us into a new being and it solidifies us from the core of our being. We become a new creation and we APPRECIATE the process once it is through. I think sometimes when it happens fast we focus solely on the MIRACLE of the healing, which is cool, but we don't realize how far down from up really is. When we rise slowly we can look at everything on the way up, like a glass elevator slowly moving between floors. We appreciate the journey and really especially appreciate the destination once we get there.
The Holy Spirit lifts us up, heals us. We lay there and let Him do it. There is nothing else we can do. We are like a bird still in the egg, waiting to be born. A tiny bird lays there while God does the work. It is only when God gives the OK that the bird is able to kick and peck its way out of the egg. Until then, he just rests.
Resting implies patience, something modern peole do not have much of. Patience and resting can be a painful and frustrating thing. But if we are going to ever become saints, this is something we have to tolerate and learn from. This is the hardest thing, even if we believe and know that God's grace will eventually heal us, we get impatient because we do not yet know the reason for God taking so long. He is God after all and can do anything quickly if he wants to, so we wonder why.
When in this stage we can become very angry at God. He expects it. The anger can make us feel even worse because we start feeling guilty for being angry at God. This just perpetuates our humiliation.
In time, when we are tired of struggling, and are so exhausted, we just rest again, and then we start to see the value of patience. We pray for patience. We practice patience. That is all we can do. It is like when St. Peter said to Jesus "To whom else can we go Lord, you have the words of eternal life?". He has all the control.
The final stage of humiliation before we rise is realizing that although we are sons and daughters of God, we are also made out of nothing and are nothing without the grace of God. In this stage of nothingness lies acceptance of who we are, and then a feeling of gratefulness starts to well in our souls for the great love of God that has caused us to be. That is true humility - knowing our place before God. God is God and we are not. We are so not.
The gratefulness that wells up in our souls just for being allowed to BE starts to energize us. We have now received a "right perspective". Our hearts turn towards God - or they start to turn slowly - ever slow slowly. In time, we pick our little heads up and look around through the mire caked on our eyelids. God's grace falls like rain and slowly washes the mire away. Our vision becomes clearer. The water of His grace nourishes us. Soon we can sit up. Silence remains as we get our bearings. Soon after that we can kneel. And we kneel with in the space of a real humility and then we start to pray as never before, lifting up hands of gratitude.
We stay in ths kneeling place - either interiorly or exteriorly - it doesn't matter because the soul really has no legs - it is just an expression. We kneel. We kneel. We kneel.
After sufficient prayer and being filled up and healed by God's grace, we stand in His presence. We are new creatures, for we realize that we are just that - creatures. Creatures that are loved in a fantastical way and who have rights and privileges that are beyond our wildest dreams. We realize that we are children of the King of Kings. We are princes and princesses. But now, we know better. We don't puff with pride that we are royalty for our King is a Servant King, and being His servants is a privilege. Following in His footsteps is a privilege.
The end of Humiliation part 2 is the realization that we must learn the art of simulataneously keeping ourselves low before the King, but also realizing that it is this same King that will raise us up and bless us to the Heavens with His grace. So, we walk a tight rope of humility as we follow our King, and .....and this is the clincher.....after being through all that horrible mire and being near death and as miserable as we have felt for so long....we realize that He is the potter and we are the clay and that humiliation gives us the gift of humility. The gift of humility brings us to gratitude. Gratittude opens us up to be able to receive God's grace and gifts. God's grace and gifts, once received, fill us with humility once again.
So, I am learning that if we are truly called to be saints, and want to be saints, then we have to be open to this process when walking "The Way", following our servant King. If we are to be like Him, we have to do what He did, and allow ourselves to be humiliated as He was humiliated.
After all, our sweet King Himself, knows humiliation exponentially, doesn't He? He took on the sins of us all, mere creatures. He felt each one of them. He allowed the devil to ground Him into the earth. He allowed His own creatures to spit on Him, to mock Him, hit Him, scourge Him, strip Him naked, laugh at Him, nail Him to a cross, and crucify Him. So, the next time I get, or you get, into a place where you feel totally humiliated, think about HIM.
Humiliation makes us one with Jesus - and that is the goal of every life whether we realize it or not - to be ONE with Jesus.
These are the thoughts I wanted to share with all of you tonight, whoever you are.
The answer is simple: They can't. At least not on their own power. The only thing that will get someone up and back into life again is God's grace. Don't laugh at me as if this is a simplistic, naive answer. I speak the truth. I also speak from personal experience. I've been in that place a few times in my life and if you have been there too, then you know it is "not fun" and it is a very dangerous place to be. It is dangerous because a person is very fragile and if they are not receptive to God's grace, then they are sunk.
God's grace is sufficient for us - so says Scripture. God's grace is capable of raising someone up instantaneously from the mire. However, most of the time it is a gradual process. Why is it gradual? Well, the "gradual" part is for our benefit. Even though we'd like the pain to go away instantaneously, sometimes God helps us rise slowly. In the slow rising we learn lessons and we gain wisdom and strength that will serve us well if this should ever happen again.
When we are in the place of humiliation....when our entire being is as low as one can go, we pray and beg for clarification, for healing, and we want it NOW. But the slow rising is sort of like baking clay in a kiln for hours and hours and hours at incredibly hot heat. It turns us into a new being and it solidifies us from the core of our being. We become a new creation and we APPRECIATE the process once it is through. I think sometimes when it happens fast we focus solely on the MIRACLE of the healing, which is cool, but we don't realize how far down from up really is. When we rise slowly we can look at everything on the way up, like a glass elevator slowly moving between floors. We appreciate the journey and really especially appreciate the destination once we get there.
The Holy Spirit lifts us up, heals us. We lay there and let Him do it. There is nothing else we can do. We are like a bird still in the egg, waiting to be born. A tiny bird lays there while God does the work. It is only when God gives the OK that the bird is able to kick and peck its way out of the egg. Until then, he just rests.
Resting implies patience, something modern peole do not have much of. Patience and resting can be a painful and frustrating thing. But if we are going to ever become saints, this is something we have to tolerate and learn from. This is the hardest thing, even if we believe and know that God's grace will eventually heal us, we get impatient because we do not yet know the reason for God taking so long. He is God after all and can do anything quickly if he wants to, so we wonder why.
When in this stage we can become very angry at God. He expects it. The anger can make us feel even worse because we start feeling guilty for being angry at God. This just perpetuates our humiliation.
In time, when we are tired of struggling, and are so exhausted, we just rest again, and then we start to see the value of patience. We pray for patience. We practice patience. That is all we can do. It is like when St. Peter said to Jesus "To whom else can we go Lord, you have the words of eternal life?". He has all the control.
The final stage of humiliation before we rise is realizing that although we are sons and daughters of God, we are also made out of nothing and are nothing without the grace of God. In this stage of nothingness lies acceptance of who we are, and then a feeling of gratefulness starts to well in our souls for the great love of God that has caused us to be. That is true humility - knowing our place before God. God is God and we are not. We are so not.
The gratefulness that wells up in our souls just for being allowed to BE starts to energize us. We have now received a "right perspective". Our hearts turn towards God - or they start to turn slowly - ever slow slowly. In time, we pick our little heads up and look around through the mire caked on our eyelids. God's grace falls like rain and slowly washes the mire away. Our vision becomes clearer. The water of His grace nourishes us. Soon we can sit up. Silence remains as we get our bearings. Soon after that we can kneel. And we kneel with in the space of a real humility and then we start to pray as never before, lifting up hands of gratitude.
We stay in ths kneeling place - either interiorly or exteriorly - it doesn't matter because the soul really has no legs - it is just an expression. We kneel. We kneel. We kneel.
After sufficient prayer and being filled up and healed by God's grace, we stand in His presence. We are new creatures, for we realize that we are just that - creatures. Creatures that are loved in a fantastical way and who have rights and privileges that are beyond our wildest dreams. We realize that we are children of the King of Kings. We are princes and princesses. But now, we know better. We don't puff with pride that we are royalty for our King is a Servant King, and being His servants is a privilege. Following in His footsteps is a privilege.
The end of Humiliation part 2 is the realization that we must learn the art of simulataneously keeping ourselves low before the King, but also realizing that it is this same King that will raise us up and bless us to the Heavens with His grace. So, we walk a tight rope of humility as we follow our King, and .....and this is the clincher.....after being through all that horrible mire and being near death and as miserable as we have felt for so long....we realize that He is the potter and we are the clay and that humiliation gives us the gift of humility. The gift of humility brings us to gratitude. Gratittude opens us up to be able to receive God's grace and gifts. God's grace and gifts, once received, fill us with humility once again.
So, I am learning that if we are truly called to be saints, and want to be saints, then we have to be open to this process when walking "The Way", following our servant King. If we are to be like Him, we have to do what He did, and allow ourselves to be humiliated as He was humiliated.
After all, our sweet King Himself, knows humiliation exponentially, doesn't He? He took on the sins of us all, mere creatures. He felt each one of them. He allowed the devil to ground Him into the earth. He allowed His own creatures to spit on Him, to mock Him, hit Him, scourge Him, strip Him naked, laugh at Him, nail Him to a cross, and crucify Him. So, the next time I get, or you get, into a place where you feel totally humiliated, think about HIM.
Humiliation makes us one with Jesus - and that is the goal of every life whether we realize it or not - to be ONE with Jesus.
These are the thoughts I wanted to share with all of you tonight, whoever you are.
Jul 23, 2012
A little Luxury please.....
I am overall a "plain and simple" person. I live very thriftily. I work hard. I have worked hard my whole life and usually have worked more than one job at a time - sometimes even three jobs with tiny odd jobs on the side. Still, I cannot get ahead financially. Just when I think I am doing okay, I get blindsided with something.
So my prayer, selfish as it is, is to have just a little Luxury in my life. I'm not necessarily talking expensive things, but things that might help me feel a little better and give me some joy or help me feel like I belong somewhere. A little Luxury for me could be simple things such as being greeted in a really friendly way by a sales clerk, or someone at church taking the time to introduce themselves or smile when they walk by me (sadly, this hardly ever happens at church. I am quite invisible there.), or a little Luxury could be getting to relax a half hour in my hammock.
Of course, it would be cool to have a little bigger Luxury thing like getting to stay in a really fancy Disney Hotel. I wouldn't scoff at something like that! Then again, I would like to be able to hire someone to finish fixing my house so I can finally get some furniture like a rug, chair and a couch or maybe finish my kitchen so I could actually put things in the cabinets.
The biggest Luxury of all, and the one that would mean the most, is feeling some consolation from the Holy Spirit....to feel God really really close to me so I can feel secure and loved and like the future will be okay.
So my prayer, selfish as it is, is to have just a little Luxury in my life. I'm not necessarily talking expensive things, but things that might help me feel a little better and give me some joy or help me feel like I belong somewhere. A little Luxury for me could be simple things such as being greeted in a really friendly way by a sales clerk, or someone at church taking the time to introduce themselves or smile when they walk by me (sadly, this hardly ever happens at church. I am quite invisible there.), or a little Luxury could be getting to relax a half hour in my hammock.
Of course, it would be cool to have a little bigger Luxury thing like getting to stay in a really fancy Disney Hotel. I wouldn't scoff at something like that! Then again, I would like to be able to hire someone to finish fixing my house so I can finally get some furniture like a rug, chair and a couch or maybe finish my kitchen so I could actually put things in the cabinets.
The biggest Luxury of all, and the one that would mean the most, is feeling some consolation from the Holy Spirit....to feel God really really close to me so I can feel secure and loved and like the future will be okay.
Jul 4, 2012
The Gates of Hell will not prevail against us
Scripture promises us that no matter how bad it gets out there, satan will not win. The gates of Hell will not prevail. We have to hold on to this as we continue to walk into this challenging time in our church history. We are being assaulted both inside and outside of the church walls.
Inside the walls we have a few priests who are giving us a bad name by doing stupid and criminal things with our precious children, finances, etc... and people tend to generalize that all priests are like that, and they are not. There are many good priests around and I think they are stressed out by what those few bad priests are doing and it makes their work even more challenging. We have a very discouraged laity and only 30% of Catholics actually going to Mass on Sunday. They need their priests to be courageous and speak much more boldly in their homilies.
Outside the church we have the attack on religious freedom in the United States. Many are blind to that as well but they too, in time, will be forced to choose whose side they are on. It is obvious that the media and our culture in general is anti-Catholic by the way our church is portrayed on TV, or ignored, or the way people think it is okay now to use God's name in vain on TV and radio. That said, I was impressed to see that the TODAY show just had a positive piece on a priest from Holy Cross College in MA. So there are pockets of positivity out there showing that the Gates of Hell will not prevail.
As a result of these interior and exterior attacks, the Church's people are suffering. The Church has an image problem. The Church is being persecuted. The Church is weary and sad. That sad: we can't lose heart. We have to hang on to Jesus because He will get us through this time in history.
What can WE do as individuals ? Well, here are my thoughts..... Our good priests can pray more and work on becoming more holy than they currently are. Our good priests can be bold in preaching the Good News and in consoling their flocks. The laity can also pray more and work on their own holiness. The laity can work on increasing their knowledge of the faith and both priests and laity need to stay close to the sacraments. The laity can prayerfully support their priests.
Not that I am anyone special at all, but in my life's experience, I would like to offer the following prescription to my fellow and fella Catholics - lay and clergy alike:
1. Increase your prayer time - especially in front of the Blessed Sacrament whenever possible.
2. Read the daily readings or go to daily Mass if you can. Meditate on them. Live them.
3. Be nice to each other.
4. Practice the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
5. Go to regular confession.
6. Don't be afraid to practice your faith in public: say grace before meals, wear religious jewelry, speak of your love for Jesus.
7. Read other good books about our faith, the saints, the Catechism, etc...
8. Support each other. Priests should not be afraid to get to know their flock. Laity should pray for their clergy.
9. Avoid as much temptation as possible becuase the draw these days is very strong and the devil is being creative in the ways in which he snatches people.
10. Pray the rosary. Ask for Mary's intercession. Ask for the saints to intercede as well.
Inside the walls we have a few priests who are giving us a bad name by doing stupid and criminal things with our precious children, finances, etc... and people tend to generalize that all priests are like that, and they are not. There are many good priests around and I think they are stressed out by what those few bad priests are doing and it makes their work even more challenging. We have a very discouraged laity and only 30% of Catholics actually going to Mass on Sunday. They need their priests to be courageous and speak much more boldly in their homilies.
Outside the church we have the attack on religious freedom in the United States. Many are blind to that as well but they too, in time, will be forced to choose whose side they are on. It is obvious that the media and our culture in general is anti-Catholic by the way our church is portrayed on TV, or ignored, or the way people think it is okay now to use God's name in vain on TV and radio. That said, I was impressed to see that the TODAY show just had a positive piece on a priest from Holy Cross College in MA. So there are pockets of positivity out there showing that the Gates of Hell will not prevail.
As a result of these interior and exterior attacks, the Church's people are suffering. The Church has an image problem. The Church is being persecuted. The Church is weary and sad. That sad: we can't lose heart. We have to hang on to Jesus because He will get us through this time in history.
What can WE do as individuals ? Well, here are my thoughts..... Our good priests can pray more and work on becoming more holy than they currently are. Our good priests can be bold in preaching the Good News and in consoling their flocks. The laity can also pray more and work on their own holiness. The laity can work on increasing their knowledge of the faith and both priests and laity need to stay close to the sacraments. The laity can prayerfully support their priests.
Not that I am anyone special at all, but in my life's experience, I would like to offer the following prescription to my fellow and fella Catholics - lay and clergy alike:
1. Increase your prayer time - especially in front of the Blessed Sacrament whenever possible.
2. Read the daily readings or go to daily Mass if you can. Meditate on them. Live them.
3. Be nice to each other.
4. Practice the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
5. Go to regular confession.
6. Don't be afraid to practice your faith in public: say grace before meals, wear religious jewelry, speak of your love for Jesus.
7. Read other good books about our faith, the saints, the Catechism, etc...
8. Support each other. Priests should not be afraid to get to know their flock. Laity should pray for their clergy.
9. Avoid as much temptation as possible becuase the draw these days is very strong and the devil is being creative in the ways in which he snatches people.
10. Pray the rosary. Ask for Mary's intercession. Ask for the saints to intercede as well.
Jun 12, 2012
Kicking the devil out of the kitchen
Tonight I am marveling about how many people have blinders on and do not see the chaos that is coming down the road.
We know we have a financial crisis in our world that is getting worse. We know that families are breaking apart faster and more often. We know that there have been enviornmental crisies in nature and those seem to be increasing. I'm sure you can name more than these things.
But, who sees the spiritual chaos that is oozing into our hearts and souls? How can we see it when the majority of people are not concerned with real spiritual growth in themselves or their children or their spouses ?
The devil from down below has been working quietly and steadily. He has been wreaking all sorts of havoc in our world. It is the opposite of what St. Theresa the Little Flower has done. She has done lots of little works of love that accumulate into wonderful things. But the devil does the opposite. He has done lots of little works of hate and chaos and those are starting to mount upon us.
I've referenced before the example of the frog put in cool water and then slowly the pot gets hot and because it happens so slowly the frog acclimates itself to the water and without realizing it, is being cooked to death. That is what is happening in our society.
What is the solution? The solution is silence and prayer. In silence and prayer people reflect on life, the meaning of life, their role in this world, and what is really important. In this atmosphere we will not only realize that we frogs are cooking, but we will also realize that we need to shut off the stove and kick the devil out of the kitchen too!
There is indeed chaos coming down the road. If we think it is rough now, just wait. Unless we act and pray and surrender to Jesus, we will not be able to withstand what is coming towards us. When that time comes, and it will soon be here, it will be the people who have held fast in their faith that others will seek out. They will be sought out for strength, for protection, and for answers to what is going on.
Oh Jesus, please strengthen us. Open our eyes. Fill us with a deep desire for prayer and union with you. Save us, Jesus. You're the only one who can. Protect us from evil. Kick the devil out of our kitchens. Amen.
We know we have a financial crisis in our world that is getting worse. We know that families are breaking apart faster and more often. We know that there have been enviornmental crisies in nature and those seem to be increasing. I'm sure you can name more than these things.
But, who sees the spiritual chaos that is oozing into our hearts and souls? How can we see it when the majority of people are not concerned with real spiritual growth in themselves or their children or their spouses ?
The devil from down below has been working quietly and steadily. He has been wreaking all sorts of havoc in our world. It is the opposite of what St. Theresa the Little Flower has done. She has done lots of little works of love that accumulate into wonderful things. But the devil does the opposite. He has done lots of little works of hate and chaos and those are starting to mount upon us.
I've referenced before the example of the frog put in cool water and then slowly the pot gets hot and because it happens so slowly the frog acclimates itself to the water and without realizing it, is being cooked to death. That is what is happening in our society.
What is the solution? The solution is silence and prayer. In silence and prayer people reflect on life, the meaning of life, their role in this world, and what is really important. In this atmosphere we will not only realize that we frogs are cooking, but we will also realize that we need to shut off the stove and kick the devil out of the kitchen too!
There is indeed chaos coming down the road. If we think it is rough now, just wait. Unless we act and pray and surrender to Jesus, we will not be able to withstand what is coming towards us. When that time comes, and it will soon be here, it will be the people who have held fast in their faith that others will seek out. They will be sought out for strength, for protection, and for answers to what is going on.
Oh Jesus, please strengthen us. Open our eyes. Fill us with a deep desire for prayer and union with you. Save us, Jesus. You're the only one who can. Protect us from evil. Kick the devil out of our kitchens. Amen.
May 18, 2012
Abiding in God's Love
Abiding in God's Love is something I am trying to do on a daily basis. It is difficult though because the world comes against me in so many ways and tempts me to sin. I try to stay alert. I try to focus on Jesus. But that little creep from the netherworld tries to give me grief and sometimes I fall into his traps. The answer to this? Well for me, I'm trying to keep my prayer schedule going and even if I don't feel like praying, I at least go to church and BE in Jesus' presence.
When I was a kid I lived through a lot of things like being picked on - mercilessly - and being laughed at, among other things that are not relevant to my points here so there is no need to expound on them..... As I became more involved in my Catholic faith, sometimes I would be laughed at or ridiculed for being someone who takes God's word seriously. As a matter of fact, that still happens sometimes.....usually at work, and sometimes from the mouths of fellow Catholics as well. Oh well...such is life. (I will never be ashamed of Jesus and people can get on me all they want. I know the truth.)
Sometimes I wonder why I don't keep my mouth closed and stay silent, but then the Holy Spirit inspires me to speak up and then the little creep delights in trying to slam me down.
Now, I have to say, that I am truly nothing more than a speck on this earth. I am nobody special, except in God's eyes. I am a normal, ordinary, regular human being. I have so many faults, failings, and weaknesses. I am well aware of them and it really cracks me up when others try and point them out to me because I could run circles around them in regards to listing off my inadequacies. But, I am coming to know that I am a speck that sometimes God uses to make a difference in someone's life. This is my truth....my experience of how God works in me.
I would love to be a canonized saint someday. I probably have a fat chance to have that happen but I believe in that saying that goes "a saint is a sinner that just kept trying". So I try. I fail. I try again.
What I know is that there are some blessings that God gives to people who seriously devote themselves to prayer and they are unique to everyone. It is not a "high" or anything incredibly outrageous where people claim to levitate and all of that. But there are blessings that are given which are felt deep in the soul. Sometimes there is a quiet, but strong presence of God in the midst of the prayer time. Sometimes there is just the sense that "I'm in the best place on earth right now, and that is before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament".
Granted, wherever we go we are abiding in God's love, but in today's world, if someone is a true christian, I think that he/she needs to try hard to keep that reality in the midst of everything they do, especially when things come against them. Things come against me constantly, but the older I get, the more I see that when something evil comes against me, the Holy Spirit is right there to chase it away.
Abiding in God's Love .... the vine and the branches.....my priest recently gave a talk where he talked about the vine and the branches reading from John's Gospel. He reminded us that sometimes the gardener lops off the branches so close to the edge that it might appear that they are dead, never to grow new life. That can be a painful thing. He said the gardener does that because it will promote new growth, despite its appearance. I related to that because about a year and a half ago, or so, I was pruned so far back that there was barely no life that I could see within my soul. There was nothing I could do, but to wonder why the gardener cut me so close to the ground. I had no voice. I was silent. All I could do was feel the pain. All I could do was wait.
After much waiting, new life has begun to sprout. New things are happening within my soul. Things I can't explain. They are not crazy or miraculous (although everything God does is a miracle), but there are things happening. It seems as if, somehow, this pruning I have gone through has grafted me even tighter and more firmly into the Vine, Jesus Himself.
I don't understand really.....but I suppose it isn't my business to understand. My business is to trust the gardener completely for He knows what He is doing. Still....I can marvel at the tiny growth I see budding from my scared and lopped off parts.... feeling a tiny bit of hope that someday I will be a fruitful soul again..... at church now, with the new Roman Missal, the Mass ends with the priest saying " Go in peace, glorifying God with your life." That is all I'm trying to do.
When I was a kid I lived through a lot of things like being picked on - mercilessly - and being laughed at, among other things that are not relevant to my points here so there is no need to expound on them..... As I became more involved in my Catholic faith, sometimes I would be laughed at or ridiculed for being someone who takes God's word seriously. As a matter of fact, that still happens sometimes.....usually at work, and sometimes from the mouths of fellow Catholics as well. Oh well...such is life. (I will never be ashamed of Jesus and people can get on me all they want. I know the truth.)
Sometimes I wonder why I don't keep my mouth closed and stay silent, but then the Holy Spirit inspires me to speak up and then the little creep delights in trying to slam me down.
Now, I have to say, that I am truly nothing more than a speck on this earth. I am nobody special, except in God's eyes. I am a normal, ordinary, regular human being. I have so many faults, failings, and weaknesses. I am well aware of them and it really cracks me up when others try and point them out to me because I could run circles around them in regards to listing off my inadequacies. But, I am coming to know that I am a speck that sometimes God uses to make a difference in someone's life. This is my truth....my experience of how God works in me.
I would love to be a canonized saint someday. I probably have a fat chance to have that happen but I believe in that saying that goes "a saint is a sinner that just kept trying". So I try. I fail. I try again.
What I know is that there are some blessings that God gives to people who seriously devote themselves to prayer and they are unique to everyone. It is not a "high" or anything incredibly outrageous where people claim to levitate and all of that. But there are blessings that are given which are felt deep in the soul. Sometimes there is a quiet, but strong presence of God in the midst of the prayer time. Sometimes there is just the sense that "I'm in the best place on earth right now, and that is before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament".
Granted, wherever we go we are abiding in God's love, but in today's world, if someone is a true christian, I think that he/she needs to try hard to keep that reality in the midst of everything they do, especially when things come against them. Things come against me constantly, but the older I get, the more I see that when something evil comes against me, the Holy Spirit is right there to chase it away.
Abiding in God's Love .... the vine and the branches.....my priest recently gave a talk where he talked about the vine and the branches reading from John's Gospel. He reminded us that sometimes the gardener lops off the branches so close to the edge that it might appear that they are dead, never to grow new life. That can be a painful thing. He said the gardener does that because it will promote new growth, despite its appearance. I related to that because about a year and a half ago, or so, I was pruned so far back that there was barely no life that I could see within my soul. There was nothing I could do, but to wonder why the gardener cut me so close to the ground. I had no voice. I was silent. All I could do was feel the pain. All I could do was wait.
After much waiting, new life has begun to sprout. New things are happening within my soul. Things I can't explain. They are not crazy or miraculous (although everything God does is a miracle), but there are things happening. It seems as if, somehow, this pruning I have gone through has grafted me even tighter and more firmly into the Vine, Jesus Himself.
I don't understand really.....but I suppose it isn't my business to understand. My business is to trust the gardener completely for He knows what He is doing. Still....I can marvel at the tiny growth I see budding from my scared and lopped off parts.... feeling a tiny bit of hope that someday I will be a fruitful soul again..... at church now, with the new Roman Missal, the Mass ends with the priest saying " Go in peace, glorifying God with your life." That is all I'm trying to do.
Mar 25, 2012
Lent - a Time for Change
This Lent is two years since I've started this blog. I just wanted to say that. Now, on to my topic...
Lent is a time for change and improvement. Change is difficult sometimes. There have been times in my life that I have welcomed changed and worked hard at it. Most of my days, actually... but there are some aspects of my personality that I really would like to change and I am having a difficult time with it. Sometimes I think these things cannot be changed. Other times I think it is a matter of just being self-aware and focused and then I will be "new and improved".
At other times I think God made me this way, or allowed me to become the way I am, for a reason.
I was thinking recently about who I was as a child and if I am still the same, and if so, then perhaps that is the way God made me so that I could use that aspect of my personality for the world ( however big or small my world is at any particular time). When I was really small, maybe 8 years old, I remember breaking up a conflict between my sister and this little mean kid from the neighborhood. I remember today that I negotiated and literally stood between the two of them, as in a UN deal. I remember preventing the violence.
I remember many other times in my life when I stood up for injustice even though it made me quite unpopular. As a rule, I am a first class chicken. I am generally gentle and polite, but when an injustice pops in front of my face, I have to speak up. It is very hard for me to do so and I get nervous/anxious and think to myself to be quiet. But then something wells up within me. I have come to know that "something" ( most of the time anyway ), is the Holy Spirit telling me to act. There are times, to be honest, when it is not the Holy Spirit and my emotions that take over, but I have come to know the signs when it is the Holy Spirit. Do you want to know what those signs are?
Well, one sign is that it is a consistent impulse from inside to speak up and the words flood into my mind, or the actions that I'm supposed to do. I try to ignore it, rationalize it, try not to focus on it, etc....but it keeps coming back. It is a haunting type of feeling. It was the prophet Jeremiah wasn't it that stated for him it was like burning coals in his mouth until he spoke. Sometimes that is how it is with me - like burning coals. Then, once I speak it, then the pressure subsides and I get a feeling of peace inside. Later on though, I may think twice and feel incredibly stupid, but as the days go by and I reflect on my words or actions, then I usually know that I said or did the right thing.
Some people have told me that I am brave. I don't think that because many times when I have spoken up I get backlash. I can get ostracized. I have been rejected. I have been misunderstood. In a strange way though, all those things tell me I did the right thing. The ultimate knowing though, is a deep sense of peace that I listened to the Holy Spirit.
I don't know if any of you understand what I am trying to say. You know in Scripture where it says ..."when I am weak, He is strong"? Well, that is sort of how it is. I am a chicken and a weakling. I am basically a nobody on this planet. I have done nothing great or massive (yet!). I don't have lots of money. I don't have fancy things. I don't fit in to alot of what the world offers and to be honest, I don't even feel like I fit into my Catholic Church anymore. I do not have a place there - well I do.....I shoudl be honest...I have moved myself from the "third pew" to the back pew. Literally. Even though I am quite an under-ordinary person, God still uses me to fight injustice when it comes in front of me.
So this Lent I am trying to change and improve myself. It is difficult. The most difficult thing I'm experiencing this Lent is a dryness and distractedness in prayer. I have not cut short my prayer time, but during that time, my mind wanders. But I think they say that 90% of life is just showing up? Well, I show up in front of the tabernacle....and look at Jesus hidden there and Jesus looks back at me.
Despite everything though.......I am hoping that this Lent is changing me, despite my limitations.
Lent is a time for change and improvement. Change is difficult sometimes. There have been times in my life that I have welcomed changed and worked hard at it. Most of my days, actually... but there are some aspects of my personality that I really would like to change and I am having a difficult time with it. Sometimes I think these things cannot be changed. Other times I think it is a matter of just being self-aware and focused and then I will be "new and improved".
At other times I think God made me this way, or allowed me to become the way I am, for a reason.
I was thinking recently about who I was as a child and if I am still the same, and if so, then perhaps that is the way God made me so that I could use that aspect of my personality for the world ( however big or small my world is at any particular time). When I was really small, maybe 8 years old, I remember breaking up a conflict between my sister and this little mean kid from the neighborhood. I remember today that I negotiated and literally stood between the two of them, as in a UN deal. I remember preventing the violence.
I remember many other times in my life when I stood up for injustice even though it made me quite unpopular. As a rule, I am a first class chicken. I am generally gentle and polite, but when an injustice pops in front of my face, I have to speak up. It is very hard for me to do so and I get nervous/anxious and think to myself to be quiet. But then something wells up within me. I have come to know that "something" ( most of the time anyway ), is the Holy Spirit telling me to act. There are times, to be honest, when it is not the Holy Spirit and my emotions that take over, but I have come to know the signs when it is the Holy Spirit. Do you want to know what those signs are?
Well, one sign is that it is a consistent impulse from inside to speak up and the words flood into my mind, or the actions that I'm supposed to do. I try to ignore it, rationalize it, try not to focus on it, etc....but it keeps coming back. It is a haunting type of feeling. It was the prophet Jeremiah wasn't it that stated for him it was like burning coals in his mouth until he spoke. Sometimes that is how it is with me - like burning coals. Then, once I speak it, then the pressure subsides and I get a feeling of peace inside. Later on though, I may think twice and feel incredibly stupid, but as the days go by and I reflect on my words or actions, then I usually know that I said or did the right thing.
Some people have told me that I am brave. I don't think that because many times when I have spoken up I get backlash. I can get ostracized. I have been rejected. I have been misunderstood. In a strange way though, all those things tell me I did the right thing. The ultimate knowing though, is a deep sense of peace that I listened to the Holy Spirit.
I don't know if any of you understand what I am trying to say. You know in Scripture where it says ..."when I am weak, He is strong"? Well, that is sort of how it is. I am a chicken and a weakling. I am basically a nobody on this planet. I have done nothing great or massive (yet!). I don't have lots of money. I don't have fancy things. I don't fit in to alot of what the world offers and to be honest, I don't even feel like I fit into my Catholic Church anymore. I do not have a place there - well I do.....I shoudl be honest...I have moved myself from the "third pew" to the back pew. Literally. Even though I am quite an under-ordinary person, God still uses me to fight injustice when it comes in front of me.
So this Lent I am trying to change and improve myself. It is difficult. The most difficult thing I'm experiencing this Lent is a dryness and distractedness in prayer. I have not cut short my prayer time, but during that time, my mind wanders. But I think they say that 90% of life is just showing up? Well, I show up in front of the tabernacle....and look at Jesus hidden there and Jesus looks back at me.
Despite everything though.......I am hoping that this Lent is changing me, despite my limitations.
Mar 24, 2012
Standing up for Religious Freedom
On March 23rd I went to one of the nationwide rallies standing up for Religious Freedom. I took the day off from work to go. I'm not a very political person, but I am a spiritual person and so I am worried about the direction our country is going and how Obama is trying to take away our religious freedom.
The rally was really interesting. I met people from all across my state who came to stand up for the Church. Most of the people there were Catholics but there were others who were from other christian denominations. There were about 25 seminarians and some priests, as well as a few school buses of Catholic school children / teens.
Someone gave me a "Stand Up for Religious Freedom" sign and that was my mission for the rally! I stood at the curb near the intersection, amongst the other people, and held up my sign and waved to the people in cars driving by. It was at an intersection so some of the cars had a chance to stop and see what the rally was about. There were quite a few people who honked in agreement with us. There were some Obama fans. One car drove by and yelled "O-bam-a" over and over, while another lady drove by and yelled "Obama is dangerous!". We got a variety of thumbs up and thumbs down too. Lots of honking cars though.
Because I was so busy "working the curb" with my sign, I didn't hear the talks, but that was okay. We each had a role to play. There were some news people there and I did see the rallies mentioned on one TV station with some video. I was hoping for more though.
I can't understand why perfectly intelligent people think what Obama is doing is right and good for our country, and that is not a political statement. I mean, if someone really looks at what he is doing, it is plainly anti-Catholic and anti-religion. He is the most pro-death president we have had. He thinks partial birth abortion should be allowed. A few days after becoming president, on the heals of the March for Life in DC, he signed a bill allowing MY tax dollars to be used to fund abortions in other countries. He has no idea how dangerous contraception is for women.
Well, I did my small part and I prayed, and will continue to pray. One thing I know: our country is heading into, and we are already there, a time of persecution on all fronts, and religion is one of them. Our country has lost its morality and focus on virtues, goodness, and God. We are creating a big problem for ourselves in the future, but the people who are supposed to be intelligent like Obama, Peliosi, and Biden, the latter two supposedly are Catholics, aren't really smart at all. I don't know if it is just stupidity, ignorance, or arrogance, but to me, it is blatantly diabolical.
More than ever, we have to pray. We have to be with Jesus. We have to listen to Him, read the Bible, go to Mass, read good spiritual things like the lives of the saints. We need to pray the rosary. Why? Because the times that are coming will be quite dark and we have to focus on being lights to the world.
I'm standing up for Religious Freedom, and lots of other good things too. Lucky for me, I know the end - Jesus wins, but it is the "in between" that can be nerve wracking.
The rally was really interesting. I met people from all across my state who came to stand up for the Church. Most of the people there were Catholics but there were others who were from other christian denominations. There were about 25 seminarians and some priests, as well as a few school buses of Catholic school children / teens.
Someone gave me a "Stand Up for Religious Freedom" sign and that was my mission for the rally! I stood at the curb near the intersection, amongst the other people, and held up my sign and waved to the people in cars driving by. It was at an intersection so some of the cars had a chance to stop and see what the rally was about. There were quite a few people who honked in agreement with us. There were some Obama fans. One car drove by and yelled "O-bam-a" over and over, while another lady drove by and yelled "Obama is dangerous!". We got a variety of thumbs up and thumbs down too. Lots of honking cars though.
Because I was so busy "working the curb" with my sign, I didn't hear the talks, but that was okay. We each had a role to play. There were some news people there and I did see the rallies mentioned on one TV station with some video. I was hoping for more though.
I can't understand why perfectly intelligent people think what Obama is doing is right and good for our country, and that is not a political statement. I mean, if someone really looks at what he is doing, it is plainly anti-Catholic and anti-religion. He is the most pro-death president we have had. He thinks partial birth abortion should be allowed. A few days after becoming president, on the heals of the March for Life in DC, he signed a bill allowing MY tax dollars to be used to fund abortions in other countries. He has no idea how dangerous contraception is for women.
Well, I did my small part and I prayed, and will continue to pray. One thing I know: our country is heading into, and we are already there, a time of persecution on all fronts, and religion is one of them. Our country has lost its morality and focus on virtues, goodness, and God. We are creating a big problem for ourselves in the future, but the people who are supposed to be intelligent like Obama, Peliosi, and Biden, the latter two supposedly are Catholics, aren't really smart at all. I don't know if it is just stupidity, ignorance, or arrogance, but to me, it is blatantly diabolical.
More than ever, we have to pray. We have to be with Jesus. We have to listen to Him, read the Bible, go to Mass, read good spiritual things like the lives of the saints. We need to pray the rosary. Why? Because the times that are coming will be quite dark and we have to focus on being lights to the world.
I'm standing up for Religious Freedom, and lots of other good things too. Lucky for me, I know the end - Jesus wins, but it is the "in between" that can be nerve wracking.
Mar 10, 2012
Today I am sighing because I am waiting for our church leaders, clergy and lay alike, to rise up and speak with courage. Yes, the bishops are speaking about the HHS Mandate and they are probably doing things behind the scenes. But I haven't heard much about it in the local parishes I've attended within the last month. It doesn't seem to be such a big deal in the local church.
It seems to me that daily little happenings take presidence over the bigger dangers that lurk just outside the church doors - like a fire breathing dragon waiting to destroy the church. Yes, the gates of hell will never prevail against the church, but they will push and shove and try and in the process, some will be lost. We need to minimize the casualties.
And so tonight I ask...where is the strong leadership we need? Why are some leaders acting like there is nothing going on? Do they not see the domino effect here....that once Obama's administration makes this happen, that it will affect many other things within the church as well?
I do not say this to criticize.....well, maybe I do. I don't know. Maybe I am the dumb one? Maybe they are all doing things behind the scenes to take care of us lowly sheep who are blinded by our culture? Or maybe they are not doing anything and they are as blind as the sheep?
How come what the bishops are doing is not trickling down to the local parishes? The first week or two there was talk about this, now there doesn't seem to be anything said.
Truly we are like a lobster in a pot of warm water that is getting hotter. Slowly we are cooking and dying and many are not even aware of it.
So, what do I want to see? I want to see our leaders speaking loudly, consistently and boldly. I want to see them rallying the troops ( us ) to action. I guess I want to hear a battle cry, but not a cry for violence, but action.
Are our leaders afraid? I don't understand the silence. Where are the lay Catholics in the media and why aren't they saying anything? With only 30% of Catholics attending Church, and some of them not believing in the Real Presence or even living by the Church's teachings, how can they be so SILENT ?
So, besides being critical, I guess I am feeling angry as well. Today the Gospel was about Jesus getting angry in the temple and chasing out the vendors and buyers. Why aren't our church leaders doing the same? Like Jesus, I feel like I want to tip things over and chase people. Ha ha ha ha....the big difference here is that Jesus had the power to do that and I have absolutely no power at all except to pray (and that is something good).
Oh, how I wish the bishops would speak louder to our other church leaders and tell them to speak up and to keep speaking, and to pray and to keep praying, and to mobilize the sheep so we can make a change before it is too late.
Sigh.........IF I ONLY HAD A PULPIT !
Lord, I ask for patience, wisdom, discernment and to know your will. Why do you give me such passion for You and desire to speak out on Your behalf and no place to speak except this dot in cyberspace?
Amen.
It seems to me that daily little happenings take presidence over the bigger dangers that lurk just outside the church doors - like a fire breathing dragon waiting to destroy the church. Yes, the gates of hell will never prevail against the church, but they will push and shove and try and in the process, some will be lost. We need to minimize the casualties.
And so tonight I ask...where is the strong leadership we need? Why are some leaders acting like there is nothing going on? Do they not see the domino effect here....that once Obama's administration makes this happen, that it will affect many other things within the church as well?
I do not say this to criticize.....well, maybe I do. I don't know. Maybe I am the dumb one? Maybe they are all doing things behind the scenes to take care of us lowly sheep who are blinded by our culture? Or maybe they are not doing anything and they are as blind as the sheep?
How come what the bishops are doing is not trickling down to the local parishes? The first week or two there was talk about this, now there doesn't seem to be anything said.
Truly we are like a lobster in a pot of warm water that is getting hotter. Slowly we are cooking and dying and many are not even aware of it.
So, what do I want to see? I want to see our leaders speaking loudly, consistently and boldly. I want to see them rallying the troops ( us ) to action. I guess I want to hear a battle cry, but not a cry for violence, but action.
Are our leaders afraid? I don't understand the silence. Where are the lay Catholics in the media and why aren't they saying anything? With only 30% of Catholics attending Church, and some of them not believing in the Real Presence or even living by the Church's teachings, how can they be so SILENT ?
So, besides being critical, I guess I am feeling angry as well. Today the Gospel was about Jesus getting angry in the temple and chasing out the vendors and buyers. Why aren't our church leaders doing the same? Like Jesus, I feel like I want to tip things over and chase people. Ha ha ha ha....the big difference here is that Jesus had the power to do that and I have absolutely no power at all except to pray (and that is something good).
Oh, how I wish the bishops would speak louder to our other church leaders and tell them to speak up and to keep speaking, and to pray and to keep praying, and to mobilize the sheep so we can make a change before it is too late.
Sigh.........IF I ONLY HAD A PULPIT !
Lord, I ask for patience, wisdom, discernment and to know your will. Why do you give me such passion for You and desire to speak out on Your behalf and no place to speak except this dot in cyberspace?
Amen.
Feb 18, 2012
If I could give a homily...
If I could give a homily to all the Catholics, and all christians in general, in the entire world, I would have a strong message. I would tell them that they need to pray more than ever before because the evil one is out to get them and he is serious about it. I would tell them that he is hot on our tracks and if they are not careful they may be the next victim. I would tell them that we have to stick together. We have to read scripture. We have to pray all sorts of prayers - loud charismatic prayers, silent contemplation, meditative rosaries, lectio divina, etc.... and we must go to Mass and we must keep vigilant over the status of our souls. These are the things I would say.
I would challenge the priests and ministers in the world to not be afraid to speak out with courage in the face that evil presents to us today. They have a huge responsibility and I don't think that some of them are aware of that fact because some have become complacent in their positions of power in their churches and communities, while others have become lazy or so overwhelmed that they have lost their focus. I would challenge them to be mature shepherds, to trust the Holy Spirit to give them the wisdom and words they need to minister and to lead. I would also challenge them to let the laity minister to them as well, encourage them, and work with them hand in hand. We must face this ugly foe together, for none of us can do it alone.
So, we must pray. We must surrender to Jesus. We must listen. We must wait. We must support and encourage one another. We must lift each other up when someone is failing and we must reach out to the sad, the anxious, the fearful, and the lost. To disregard someone in need is a terrible thing for when we do that we are ignoring Jesus Himself.
Please, my Catholic brothers and sisters, my christian brothers and sisters from other denominations, my Jewish brothers and sisters, we must stand united. For we are coming upon a time not seen before in human history. We will be tested. We will be assaulted by the evil one even more than now. We must reach into Heaven from our knees. We must listen with our hearts. We must move swiftly when Jesus tells us to move - with trust in His providence.
As PJPII, my favorite pope, said many times: "Be Not Afraid". (Jesus said that too by the way!)
Well, these are my thoughts for this evening.
I would challenge the priests and ministers in the world to not be afraid to speak out with courage in the face that evil presents to us today. They have a huge responsibility and I don't think that some of them are aware of that fact because some have become complacent in their positions of power in their churches and communities, while others have become lazy or so overwhelmed that they have lost their focus. I would challenge them to be mature shepherds, to trust the Holy Spirit to give them the wisdom and words they need to minister and to lead. I would also challenge them to let the laity minister to them as well, encourage them, and work with them hand in hand. We must face this ugly foe together, for none of us can do it alone.
So, we must pray. We must surrender to Jesus. We must listen. We must wait. We must support and encourage one another. We must lift each other up when someone is failing and we must reach out to the sad, the anxious, the fearful, and the lost. To disregard someone in need is a terrible thing for when we do that we are ignoring Jesus Himself.
Please, my Catholic brothers and sisters, my christian brothers and sisters from other denominations, my Jewish brothers and sisters, we must stand united. For we are coming upon a time not seen before in human history. We will be tested. We will be assaulted by the evil one even more than now. We must reach into Heaven from our knees. We must listen with our hearts. We must move swiftly when Jesus tells us to move - with trust in His providence.
As PJPII, my favorite pope, said many times: "Be Not Afraid". (Jesus said that too by the way!)
Well, these are my thoughts for this evening.
Jan 21, 2012
Step by Step
Have you ever taken a walk and been very mindful of everything you were doing and everything you were looking at along the way? By that I mean...were you aware of each step and how it felt to put your feet on the ground...how the muscles felt in your feet when they moved? Were you aware of the air on your face, and the sounds around you ?
Sometimes, in our daily lives, we lose sight of things like this. We are so busy and we are so technologically minded these days. Technology can be a good thing, but it can also be something that separates us from real life.
I'm not a big technological person. I blog - that is about as high tech as I get. I have a basic cell phone that doesn't take pictures, or surf the web, or anything like that. To me, technology is a burden most of the time. In many ways, it has come to rule our lives. I work with people who are so caught up in technology that they are always connected, always texting, or tweeting, or whatever it is called.
Step by step, technology is taking us away from silence and from listening to God and the world He made for us. Even while walking, many people are still connected to their cell phones, ipods or...what are those other things........ear buds?
So, in being low-tech.... I like to spend time 1:1 with Jesus in Church. Alone. Whole church to myself. Me and Jesus. It is silent. I've shared that with some people at work and they think I am strange because they can't handle silence. Perhaps it is because they will be afraid of what they will hear in the silence...namely, their own soul crying out for meaning and purpose in a very cold and high-tech world. And dare I say...they might also hear God's voice too? Once I knew someone who had five TVs in her house. While I was there visiting I asked her if she wanted to shut them off so we could talk and she said no, she leaves them all on because otherwise she has to "think" and thinking was uncomfortable for her.
Step by step, we have to start walking back to silence and put technology in its place. Technology is good if we use it in moderation and to help us. But when we become addicted to it and when we allow it to steal our silence, then it becomes a problem.
So, the next time you go for a walk, I challenge you to keep the cell phone in your pocket. Pay attention to your steps and where you are going in life and in your relationship with Jesus.
Sometimes, in our daily lives, we lose sight of things like this. We are so busy and we are so technologically minded these days. Technology can be a good thing, but it can also be something that separates us from real life.
I'm not a big technological person. I blog - that is about as high tech as I get. I have a basic cell phone that doesn't take pictures, or surf the web, or anything like that. To me, technology is a burden most of the time. In many ways, it has come to rule our lives. I work with people who are so caught up in technology that they are always connected, always texting, or tweeting, or whatever it is called.
Step by step, technology is taking us away from silence and from listening to God and the world He made for us. Even while walking, many people are still connected to their cell phones, ipods or...what are those other things........ear buds?
So, in being low-tech.... I like to spend time 1:1 with Jesus in Church. Alone. Whole church to myself. Me and Jesus. It is silent. I've shared that with some people at work and they think I am strange because they can't handle silence. Perhaps it is because they will be afraid of what they will hear in the silence...namely, their own soul crying out for meaning and purpose in a very cold and high-tech world. And dare I say...they might also hear God's voice too? Once I knew someone who had five TVs in her house. While I was there visiting I asked her if she wanted to shut them off so we could talk and she said no, she leaves them all on because otherwise she has to "think" and thinking was uncomfortable for her.
Step by step, we have to start walking back to silence and put technology in its place. Technology is good if we use it in moderation and to help us. But when we become addicted to it and when we allow it to steal our silence, then it becomes a problem.
So, the next time you go for a walk, I challenge you to keep the cell phone in your pocket. Pay attention to your steps and where you are going in life and in your relationship with Jesus.
Jan 1, 2012
Fear Not, little flock!
Do you all realize ( and I think you do ) that there is an enemy at work in the world? He is the enemy of Heaven and he seeks to destroy all things and people that are good.
If you don' t realize this, you are probably one of those that think the enemy is just a myth. That's what he wants you to think anyway. This is his greatest lie...making people believe that he isn't real when he is. He is wreaking havoc around the world as I write this.
He is attacking good people. I know some of them personally. The funny thing is....although he is a big pest and does cause damage, he will never win. He knows that and it makes him furious. He is so full of hate and pride and anger that he will never surrender to Christ and ask for forgiveness. So he roams the world trying to make people as miserable as he is and he is getting more bold about "in your face" about it.
The enemy is advancing on people who are serious about their faith in order to stop them from doing good. He is attacking them in their minds, in their relationships, and in their churches. He is going after them physically. He is going after clergy and lay people alike and is putting up a tough fight, but he will lose. He does lose, on a daily basis.
The anectode and quickest ways to get rid of the enemy are to pray, stay close to the Eucharist, and to sincerely live as a Christian no matter what. That is difficult. I know of someone right now who has a terrible time with "all things church". This person is assaulted even inside the church and is terribly distracted during Mass, is angry, restless and leaves feeling worse than when they entered the church...and this is someone who loves Mass !
What we can do to counteract the enemy is to be very aware of his tricks so there is minimal damage, if any, in this war with him. And it is true, that God's grace will kick in when we need it and we won't be lost when a battle ensues.
Scripture talks about putting on the entire armor of God, and we need to listen to it.
I know someone who was recently in a tangle with him and won. Hands down. How? Because this person's soul simply called on the name of Jesus and the enemy fled in an instant, and peace reigned once again. Interestingly enough, as rough and tumble and scary as this situation was, the person was never afraid. Annoyed yes. Surprised yes. Fighting for life, yes. But not afraid. This is because this person knew his tricks and knew what to do...
We have to pray daily for strength, especially in these times. We need to pray for faith, strength, courage, humility, love, and hope. We need to trust, as hard as it is sometimes, we have to try hard to trust.
If you don' t realize this, you are probably one of those that think the enemy is just a myth. That's what he wants you to think anyway. This is his greatest lie...making people believe that he isn't real when he is. He is wreaking havoc around the world as I write this.
He is attacking good people. I know some of them personally. The funny thing is....although he is a big pest and does cause damage, he will never win. He knows that and it makes him furious. He is so full of hate and pride and anger that he will never surrender to Christ and ask for forgiveness. So he roams the world trying to make people as miserable as he is and he is getting more bold about "in your face" about it.
The enemy is advancing on people who are serious about their faith in order to stop them from doing good. He is attacking them in their minds, in their relationships, and in their churches. He is going after them physically. He is going after clergy and lay people alike and is putting up a tough fight, but he will lose. He does lose, on a daily basis.
The anectode and quickest ways to get rid of the enemy are to pray, stay close to the Eucharist, and to sincerely live as a Christian no matter what. That is difficult. I know of someone right now who has a terrible time with "all things church". This person is assaulted even inside the church and is terribly distracted during Mass, is angry, restless and leaves feeling worse than when they entered the church...and this is someone who loves Mass !
What we can do to counteract the enemy is to be very aware of his tricks so there is minimal damage, if any, in this war with him. And it is true, that God's grace will kick in when we need it and we won't be lost when a battle ensues.
Scripture talks about putting on the entire armor of God, and we need to listen to it.
I know someone who was recently in a tangle with him and won. Hands down. How? Because this person's soul simply called on the name of Jesus and the enemy fled in an instant, and peace reigned once again. Interestingly enough, as rough and tumble and scary as this situation was, the person was never afraid. Annoyed yes. Surprised yes. Fighting for life, yes. But not afraid. This is because this person knew his tricks and knew what to do...
We have to pray daily for strength, especially in these times. We need to pray for faith, strength, courage, humility, love, and hope. We need to trust, as hard as it is sometimes, we have to try hard to trust.
Dec 30, 2011
Longing for Ordinary Time
Don't get me wrong...I love the entire liturgical year, but most of all I love Ordinary Time. Why? Well, in Ordinary time things are .....well....ordinary. There is a beauty and a rhythm to Ordinary Time and to me that makes it as special as the other seasons.
In Ordinary time we are reminded that it is the regular things of daily living that make us feel human and give us meaning. For me, I equate Ordinary Time and ordinary days when I can do, and appreciate, normal ordinary things. Things like: doing the dishes, sweeping the floor, puttsing in the yard, running errands.
I've had some times in my life that are anything but Ordinary: either really great or really bad. And in both of those times I long for Ordinary Time. Again, there is a pace, a rhythm to the Ordinary that makes it special.
How many times have I heard homlies in which the priest talks about how Jesus speaks to us in ordinary ways through ordinary people. And wasn't it Abe Lincoln who also said "God must have loved the ordinary people - he made so many of them."
Ordinary Time means there is no suped up choir with trumpetts and screechy sopranos sounding off from the choir loft, and an over enthusiastic organist playing so loud that voices of the people below are drowned out and the building shakes! It means there is no very long procession to start Mass. It means that the vestments are green - a nice earthy, ordinary color. Calming. There is no need to shop for gifts like when it is Advent/Christmas. It is just plain and simple....ordinary.
But again.....if you examine ordinary time through the eyes of faith, we realize that so much of the ordinary in life helps us become the people we are supposed to be. It just happens quietly. Day after day. Moment after moment. It is like a baby growing into a child and into an adult. If we see a baby every day, we don't see how they grow. But if we see a baby at baptism and then again at their high school graduation, we see a huge difference in the baby because now he/she has grown up. Ordinary time is like seeing ourselves every day...we change in incremental ways. Small ways, but in time we become who we are supposed to be.
Some people love the pomp and circumstance of setting up poinsettas and Christmas trees, and candles and all sorts of decorations and some people love focusing on the denial called for during Lent with all its purple spirituality. Those are cool things in their own right, but for me....as someone who used to be proud of saying she is a "Lenten person" and "I could live in Lent all the time".....now I am changing. Now I like ordinary time.
I guess as I am growing in faith, I am seeing not that Jesus is the reason for the season ( thinking of Advent and Christmas), but in fact, Jesus is the reason for ALL the seasons, and Ordinary Time is a gift to us.
So, I am longing for Ordinary time.
In Ordinary time we are reminded that it is the regular things of daily living that make us feel human and give us meaning. For me, I equate Ordinary Time and ordinary days when I can do, and appreciate, normal ordinary things. Things like: doing the dishes, sweeping the floor, puttsing in the yard, running errands.
I've had some times in my life that are anything but Ordinary: either really great or really bad. And in both of those times I long for Ordinary Time. Again, there is a pace, a rhythm to the Ordinary that makes it special.
How many times have I heard homlies in which the priest talks about how Jesus speaks to us in ordinary ways through ordinary people. And wasn't it Abe Lincoln who also said "God must have loved the ordinary people - he made so many of them."
Ordinary Time means there is no suped up choir with trumpetts and screechy sopranos sounding off from the choir loft, and an over enthusiastic organist playing so loud that voices of the people below are drowned out and the building shakes! It means there is no very long procession to start Mass. It means that the vestments are green - a nice earthy, ordinary color. Calming. There is no need to shop for gifts like when it is Advent/Christmas. It is just plain and simple....ordinary.
But again.....if you examine ordinary time through the eyes of faith, we realize that so much of the ordinary in life helps us become the people we are supposed to be. It just happens quietly. Day after day. Moment after moment. It is like a baby growing into a child and into an adult. If we see a baby every day, we don't see how they grow. But if we see a baby at baptism and then again at their high school graduation, we see a huge difference in the baby because now he/she has grown up. Ordinary time is like seeing ourselves every day...we change in incremental ways. Small ways, but in time we become who we are supposed to be.
Some people love the pomp and circumstance of setting up poinsettas and Christmas trees, and candles and all sorts of decorations and some people love focusing on the denial called for during Lent with all its purple spirituality. Those are cool things in their own right, but for me....as someone who used to be proud of saying she is a "Lenten person" and "I could live in Lent all the time".....now I am changing. Now I like ordinary time.
I guess as I am growing in faith, I am seeing not that Jesus is the reason for the season ( thinking of Advent and Christmas), but in fact, Jesus is the reason for ALL the seasons, and Ordinary Time is a gift to us.
So, I am longing for Ordinary time.
Dec 2, 2011
Heavenly Treatment for Human Weakness
I haven't written in a while. I've been busy.
Tonight I am writing about human weakness - specifically, mine.
We are all weak. None of us is perfect. If you look at the most together person you know, the reality is that they are not really together, at least not all the time. We all make mistakes. Lots of them. We are very hard on ourselves and others. I know I am extremely hard on myself when I mess up or don't measure up to my own high standards. I am always amazed at the intensity of my weaknesses.
I can promise myself to have self-control and then two minutes later the self-control goes right out the window. This happens a lot with eating and with talking. Lucky for me, Jesus already knows all the weaknesses I will display in my life today and ten years from now.
We are all called to be saints. That is foremost in my mind most days. When I have an opportunity to do the saintly thing sometimes I can do it and other times I can't. I get down on myself for being weak. I pray for strength and grace. I hope that God will take me from the mire that I often find myself in and will raise me up to be a saint. But, I can tell you right now, it will only be by his power and grace and not of my own doing. I cannot do it. I cannot be a saint without the help of the Holy Spirit.
Some days I feel I will never make it to sainthood and my heart cries deep inside. Other days, when I do well, I think that there is actually a chance for me to succeed.
I have been doing something lately that I think is helping me. You know how people go for medical treatments? Perhaps they need dialysis or chemo or physical therapy. They go to the doctor and let the doctor do what he/she has to do and they just cooperate and say yes. So, lately I've been going for "treatment" before the master physician - Jesus Himself. I go into the church when nobody is there. I lay down face first in front of the tabernacle and I say a prayer of surrender and then I just stay there. I try and clear my mind and imagine that God's grace is doing whatever He wants it to do. Like a medical treatment. I am the patient. Jesus is the doctor.
I am noticing that there is a difference inside of me due to these heavenly treatments. I feel His grace kicking in at different times and I feel more connected to Him. I am hoping in time that my weaknesses will fade away some and I will once again have courage and strength.
You see, I so much want to be the person that Jesus wants me to be. The church tells us we are called to be saints. I want to be one. I really do. Jesus help my faith increase. Help me to be open to your grace. Bless me with the gift of discernment. Heal my weaknesses. Thank you Jesus.
Tonight I am writing about human weakness - specifically, mine.
We are all weak. None of us is perfect. If you look at the most together person you know, the reality is that they are not really together, at least not all the time. We all make mistakes. Lots of them. We are very hard on ourselves and others. I know I am extremely hard on myself when I mess up or don't measure up to my own high standards. I am always amazed at the intensity of my weaknesses.
I can promise myself to have self-control and then two minutes later the self-control goes right out the window. This happens a lot with eating and with talking. Lucky for me, Jesus already knows all the weaknesses I will display in my life today and ten years from now.
We are all called to be saints. That is foremost in my mind most days. When I have an opportunity to do the saintly thing sometimes I can do it and other times I can't. I get down on myself for being weak. I pray for strength and grace. I hope that God will take me from the mire that I often find myself in and will raise me up to be a saint. But, I can tell you right now, it will only be by his power and grace and not of my own doing. I cannot do it. I cannot be a saint without the help of the Holy Spirit.
Some days I feel I will never make it to sainthood and my heart cries deep inside. Other days, when I do well, I think that there is actually a chance for me to succeed.
I have been doing something lately that I think is helping me. You know how people go for medical treatments? Perhaps they need dialysis or chemo or physical therapy. They go to the doctor and let the doctor do what he/she has to do and they just cooperate and say yes. So, lately I've been going for "treatment" before the master physician - Jesus Himself. I go into the church when nobody is there. I lay down face first in front of the tabernacle and I say a prayer of surrender and then I just stay there. I try and clear my mind and imagine that God's grace is doing whatever He wants it to do. Like a medical treatment. I am the patient. Jesus is the doctor.
I am noticing that there is a difference inside of me due to these heavenly treatments. I feel His grace kicking in at different times and I feel more connected to Him. I am hoping in time that my weaknesses will fade away some and I will once again have courage and strength.
You see, I so much want to be the person that Jesus wants me to be. The church tells us we are called to be saints. I want to be one. I really do. Jesus help my faith increase. Help me to be open to your grace. Bless me with the gift of discernment. Heal my weaknesses. Thank you Jesus.
Nov 13, 2011
Less than Ordinary
There are tons of ordinary people in the world. Lincoln himself said "The Lord must have loved ordinary people - he made so many of them." That is true, isn't it? Ordinary people live day to day lives doing "normal" things like going to work, raising a family, etc... They make no huge long lasting imprint on the world except to bring forth life that will continue after they are gone from this earth. Their children will be ordinary too, multiply, and pass on. They will make ordinary choices, fit in with the "status quo", but all in all, they won't make a huge difference in the world.
There are people that are extra-ordinary too....those special people who excel at certain things. It could be sports, or entertainment, or holiness, or business, or loving, or in motivating others, or they are people that are just so charismatic that everyone wants to be around them.
Then there are those people who are less than ordinary by human standards. These are people that never really measure up to anyone's standards - not the standards of society, their family, and they even have lots of trouble living up to all the standards listed in the Bible. Lucky for them, the Bible also says that we all fall short of the glory of God. We are all sinners. Less than ordinary people have potential if even to be ordinary, but for some reason, it doesn't happen.
I consider myself to be one of the less than ordinary people. Today's gospel reading was about the people who God gave talents to and some multiplied their talents, and one person buried them and had nothing to give back in return. I feel like I have been given talents. I really do. I also feel that at this point in my life it doesn't matter where I offer them, or try to invest them, they are just not wanted. I am not burying them, I am actually standing up yelling to God "Pick me! Pick me!". But He stands silent. Therefore at this time in my life, I feel less than ordinary.
So, this is related to my last blog entry on humility and humiliation. I am waiting. I'm surrendering. I'm waiting to be rebuilt. I'm holding onto my talents and holding them out there...sort of like a beggar on a street corner. But instead of holding out my hand to get donations, I'm holding out my hands to give something to those who pass by. There have not been any takers in quite some time. I am accepting that to the best of my ability.
Maybe one day soon somebody (the church in particular) will be interested in what I have to offer. If not, at least I won't feel guilty for burying my talents. God knows that I'm trying to fit in and I believe that someday he will honor that.
There are people that are extra-ordinary too....those special people who excel at certain things. It could be sports, or entertainment, or holiness, or business, or loving, or in motivating others, or they are people that are just so charismatic that everyone wants to be around them.
Then there are those people who are less than ordinary by human standards. These are people that never really measure up to anyone's standards - not the standards of society, their family, and they even have lots of trouble living up to all the standards listed in the Bible. Lucky for them, the Bible also says that we all fall short of the glory of God. We are all sinners. Less than ordinary people have potential if even to be ordinary, but for some reason, it doesn't happen.
I consider myself to be one of the less than ordinary people. Today's gospel reading was about the people who God gave talents to and some multiplied their talents, and one person buried them and had nothing to give back in return. I feel like I have been given talents. I really do. I also feel that at this point in my life it doesn't matter where I offer them, or try to invest them, they are just not wanted. I am not burying them, I am actually standing up yelling to God "Pick me! Pick me!". But He stands silent. Therefore at this time in my life, I feel less than ordinary.
So, this is related to my last blog entry on humility and humiliation. I am waiting. I'm surrendering. I'm waiting to be rebuilt. I'm holding onto my talents and holding them out there...sort of like a beggar on a street corner. But instead of holding out my hand to get donations, I'm holding out my hands to give something to those who pass by. There have not been any takers in quite some time. I am accepting that to the best of my ability.
Maybe one day soon somebody (the church in particular) will be interested in what I have to offer. If not, at least I won't feel guilty for burying my talents. God knows that I'm trying to fit in and I believe that someday he will honor that.
Nov 7, 2011
About Humiliation....
I'm thinking about the words Humiliation, Humility, Humble. The words come from "humus" which means from the earth.
Humiliation - is when someone else brings you low to the ground (symbolically speaking ). It is not a choice. You are brought low emotionally or socially or in other ways. Most of the time it is a painful thing to the person being humliated.
Humility - is knowing one's place before someone who is greater. In my mind, I equate that with God. We know our place before God. We lower ourselves becuase He is greater. This is a choice.
Humble - to me, this is an action. We can be humble in certain situations. Humbleness is the act of humility. It is the behavior that acts out how we feel inside. It is a choice, but lived long enough, it becomes absorbed into someone's personality, so eventually it is just a way of being in the world.
The greatest example of all of these words is Jesus. Mary, being second. If they are our examples, then we are called to imitate them. We too are called to be humble, and to demonstrate humility before God.
Tonight I am thinking about humiliation, as when someone is treated in a way to almost crush their spirit and bring them low to the ground; the kind that is allowed by God. Human humiliation has a purpose only to degrade someone, but the kind of humiliation God allows is not to degrade, but ultimately to lift up.
Why does God allow certain things to happen that feel as if we will be humiliated and broken forever? He allowed Jesus to be humiliated to the point that he was totally vulnerable and at the complete mercy of His creatures. So, we can't expect to experience anything less than that in our own lives, can we?
God has allowed me to be totally humiliated several times during my life. Well, maybe not several, but at least a few times. I'm not talking about the kind of humiliation that makes someone blush for a few seconds and then the awkward moment passes and all goes on normally again. I'm talking about humiliation in that one's spirit is brought so low to the ground that it is almost non-existent and yes, that it only exists by the grace of God. I'm talking about head spinning, soul splitting, face in the mud humility with devils all around laughing type of humility that goes on not for just a moment, but sometimes for days, and even months.
Some of you reading this will understand exactly what I am talking about. Others, who have not had this "privilege" will not understand at all. Mark my words though....your time is coming. Part of being human is getting a perspective, an understanding, of the role of humiliation in one's life. Part of being human is learning that humiliation has a purpose, but there are two ways to go with this. One can fight humiliation and get angry with it and curse God for allowing it to happen. Yes, we all do that. But if we stop there we will not learn its lessons. The second way is to allow humiliation to collapse you so that you are nothing but a speck, and to lay there, motionless and in complete vulnerability, much like Jesus did on the cross. It is only then that the lessons learned in humiliation can benefit the soul.
What are the lessons we can use by allowing God to let us be humiliated ? Notice please that I am firmly saying that God is not the one who humiliates us. However, He allows us to be humiliated by outside sources. Our God is a God of goodness and love. He does not humiliate. But in a rather paradoxical way, He allows it, but only in so far as it can benefit us. So then....what are the lessons learned in being humiliated? Here is my list:
Lesson 1: It allows us to stop and consider why we need to be humiliated. What is God's purpose in allowing it? There is always a reason. Maybe it is to break our pattern of pride. Maybe it is like the pot in Jeremiah that is allowed to be broken and reformed? Maybe, just maybe, the breaking and humiliation will ultimately result in a much needed healing and regrowth?
Lesson 2: It allows us to see that we need God. It allows us a "time out" to think and to cry out to God "Save me!". It can reunite us with our Savior.
Lesson 3: If we hang in there long enough and allow God to work on us during this total humiliation, the regrowth gives us a new start on more than one level. It gives us a new perspective on life and our reason for being. It shows us what is important.
Lesson 4: It helps us to realize that ultimately we depend on God for everything - even our very breath and very existence.
Lesson 5: It makes us more compassionate to others who will go through this process in the future. Since we have been through it before, we can become mentors or guides. ("wounded healers")
Lesson 6: It makes us reach out to others for help. This is something that is difficult for us to do because we all like to think we don't need anyone else. This interdependency is a strong lesson from God. We need Him. We need others as well.
Lesson 7: It teaches us patience because when we are in such a base place, and cannot move, or cannot think, or don't know which way is up, there is nothing to do but working on developing patience. Crying and wailing and cursing God will not help because we are not truly humiliated, truly broken, truly back at the beginning until we give all that up. We must lay silent and wait. This can be the hardest lesson of all.
Lesson 8: It teaches us to pray better. When we can do nothing but wait, our soul is moved to develop prayers so we can become aware of what we need and how to ask God for it. Our prayer changes when we are humiliated. We become like the publican in the Bible, who is in the back of the church praying for God's mercy while the tax collector is praying in front of the church being all proud and showy.
Lesson 9: We find that after being so humiliated and crushed beyond recognition, we finally are given the strength to pick up our hearts and realize that we have become stronger. Others may not see this strength, but we notice it. It is a quiet strength full of wisdom and trust that we know who we are in the sight of God, and we are aware of the immense grace that God has bestowed on us in letting us live once again.
Lesson 10: Our spiritual life is radically different once a period of humiliation is over. We realize that this may not be the last time we will experience humiliation, but knowing that we've lived through it once, teaches us that if it happens again we will make it through once again.
This is what I wanted to say to everyone tonight. Hope it makes sense.
Humiliation - is when someone else brings you low to the ground (symbolically speaking ). It is not a choice. You are brought low emotionally or socially or in other ways. Most of the time it is a painful thing to the person being humliated.
Humility - is knowing one's place before someone who is greater. In my mind, I equate that with God. We know our place before God. We lower ourselves becuase He is greater. This is a choice.
Humble - to me, this is an action. We can be humble in certain situations. Humbleness is the act of humility. It is the behavior that acts out how we feel inside. It is a choice, but lived long enough, it becomes absorbed into someone's personality, so eventually it is just a way of being in the world.
The greatest example of all of these words is Jesus. Mary, being second. If they are our examples, then we are called to imitate them. We too are called to be humble, and to demonstrate humility before God.
Tonight I am thinking about humiliation, as when someone is treated in a way to almost crush their spirit and bring them low to the ground; the kind that is allowed by God. Human humiliation has a purpose only to degrade someone, but the kind of humiliation God allows is not to degrade, but ultimately to lift up.
Why does God allow certain things to happen that feel as if we will be humiliated and broken forever? He allowed Jesus to be humiliated to the point that he was totally vulnerable and at the complete mercy of His creatures. So, we can't expect to experience anything less than that in our own lives, can we?
God has allowed me to be totally humiliated several times during my life. Well, maybe not several, but at least a few times. I'm not talking about the kind of humiliation that makes someone blush for a few seconds and then the awkward moment passes and all goes on normally again. I'm talking about humiliation in that one's spirit is brought so low to the ground that it is almost non-existent and yes, that it only exists by the grace of God. I'm talking about head spinning, soul splitting, face in the mud humility with devils all around laughing type of humility that goes on not for just a moment, but sometimes for days, and even months.
Some of you reading this will understand exactly what I am talking about. Others, who have not had this "privilege" will not understand at all. Mark my words though....your time is coming. Part of being human is getting a perspective, an understanding, of the role of humiliation in one's life. Part of being human is learning that humiliation has a purpose, but there are two ways to go with this. One can fight humiliation and get angry with it and curse God for allowing it to happen. Yes, we all do that. But if we stop there we will not learn its lessons. The second way is to allow humiliation to collapse you so that you are nothing but a speck, and to lay there, motionless and in complete vulnerability, much like Jesus did on the cross. It is only then that the lessons learned in humiliation can benefit the soul.
What are the lessons we can use by allowing God to let us be humiliated ? Notice please that I am firmly saying that God is not the one who humiliates us. However, He allows us to be humiliated by outside sources. Our God is a God of goodness and love. He does not humiliate. But in a rather paradoxical way, He allows it, but only in so far as it can benefit us. So then....what are the lessons learned in being humiliated? Here is my list:
Lesson 1: It allows us to stop and consider why we need to be humiliated. What is God's purpose in allowing it? There is always a reason. Maybe it is to break our pattern of pride. Maybe it is like the pot in Jeremiah that is allowed to be broken and reformed? Maybe, just maybe, the breaking and humiliation will ultimately result in a much needed healing and regrowth?
Lesson 2: It allows us to see that we need God. It allows us a "time out" to think and to cry out to God "Save me!". It can reunite us with our Savior.
Lesson 3: If we hang in there long enough and allow God to work on us during this total humiliation, the regrowth gives us a new start on more than one level. It gives us a new perspective on life and our reason for being. It shows us what is important.
Lesson 4: It helps us to realize that ultimately we depend on God for everything - even our very breath and very existence.
Lesson 5: It makes us more compassionate to others who will go through this process in the future. Since we have been through it before, we can become mentors or guides. ("wounded healers")
Lesson 6: It makes us reach out to others for help. This is something that is difficult for us to do because we all like to think we don't need anyone else. This interdependency is a strong lesson from God. We need Him. We need others as well.
Lesson 7: It teaches us patience because when we are in such a base place, and cannot move, or cannot think, or don't know which way is up, there is nothing to do but working on developing patience. Crying and wailing and cursing God will not help because we are not truly humiliated, truly broken, truly back at the beginning until we give all that up. We must lay silent and wait. This can be the hardest lesson of all.
Lesson 8: It teaches us to pray better. When we can do nothing but wait, our soul is moved to develop prayers so we can become aware of what we need and how to ask God for it. Our prayer changes when we are humiliated. We become like the publican in the Bible, who is in the back of the church praying for God's mercy while the tax collector is praying in front of the church being all proud and showy.
Lesson 9: We find that after being so humiliated and crushed beyond recognition, we finally are given the strength to pick up our hearts and realize that we have become stronger. Others may not see this strength, but we notice it. It is a quiet strength full of wisdom and trust that we know who we are in the sight of God, and we are aware of the immense grace that God has bestowed on us in letting us live once again.
Lesson 10: Our spiritual life is radically different once a period of humiliation is over. We realize that this may not be the last time we will experience humiliation, but knowing that we've lived through it once, teaches us that if it happens again we will make it through once again.
This is what I wanted to say to everyone tonight. Hope it makes sense.
Oct 4, 2011
Prayer Problems, or not?
It is very important to try your hardest to be open to the Holy Spirit. It is not always easy to do that. No matter how hard we might want to totally surrender, sometimes it is difficult to truly be as open as we should.
There are so many distractions around us - even, and sometimes especially, when we are in prayer. Thoughts come into our minds. Intrusive thoughts. Sounds are heard. A phone rings. The temperature isn't right. Our clothes don't feel comfortable. Sometimes no matter how hard we try, and even though we are praying the right words, somehow "it" just doesn't happen. We are left frustrated with our prayer time, almost as if we have accomplished nothing at all.
This happens to me. Lately, it has been happening quite often. However, one day, as I was talking to Jesus about this, it came to me, quite clearly as a matter of fact, that our prayer time is not a waste of time even in those circumstances. Why? Because when we are taking the time to try and quiet ourselves, God honors that. He sees that. He knows we are trying.
It came to my mind the other day, when I was kneeling in front of the tabernacle at my little church, that I had been there for quite some time and didn't feel that I was accomplishing any real prayer time, or any real connection with Jesus. But then, clearly once again, it dawned on me that God was pleased just that I was taking the time to be there. For a minute I felt all puffed up with pride - that here I was, the only one in the church while the "rest of the world" was whizing by in cars, running around like chickens with their heads cut off. For a split second I felt "holy" but then I felt like a horrible sinner becuase I was experiencing such pride. I was quickly humbled.
One thing that resonated with me was that even though we can't always pray as we desire to, and sometimes even when prayer is impossible, "just being there" matters to God. It is a testament of faith that He is there and we are in His presence. Whether we pray or not, we are still receiving His grace and we are being reverent, if only by being silent and aware that He is there.
Prayer, to me anyway, shouldn't be such hard work. We should talk to Jesus from our hearts and then we should try to listen. I think in my next blog entry I will talk to you about some of the many ways I've discovered to pray and perhaps some of them might help you in your prayer.
It is important to be open and to surrender, and to talk. But sometimes when we have trouble with all of those things, for whatever reasons, then we should just BE. Just be in God's presence...like a kitten curled up on a lap, doing nothing per se, but also being totally present at the same time.
There are so many distractions around us - even, and sometimes especially, when we are in prayer. Thoughts come into our minds. Intrusive thoughts. Sounds are heard. A phone rings. The temperature isn't right. Our clothes don't feel comfortable. Sometimes no matter how hard we try, and even though we are praying the right words, somehow "it" just doesn't happen. We are left frustrated with our prayer time, almost as if we have accomplished nothing at all.
This happens to me. Lately, it has been happening quite often. However, one day, as I was talking to Jesus about this, it came to me, quite clearly as a matter of fact, that our prayer time is not a waste of time even in those circumstances. Why? Because when we are taking the time to try and quiet ourselves, God honors that. He sees that. He knows we are trying.
It came to my mind the other day, when I was kneeling in front of the tabernacle at my little church, that I had been there for quite some time and didn't feel that I was accomplishing any real prayer time, or any real connection with Jesus. But then, clearly once again, it dawned on me that God was pleased just that I was taking the time to be there. For a minute I felt all puffed up with pride - that here I was, the only one in the church while the "rest of the world" was whizing by in cars, running around like chickens with their heads cut off. For a split second I felt "holy" but then I felt like a horrible sinner becuase I was experiencing such pride. I was quickly humbled.
One thing that resonated with me was that even though we can't always pray as we desire to, and sometimes even when prayer is impossible, "just being there" matters to God. It is a testament of faith that He is there and we are in His presence. Whether we pray or not, we are still receiving His grace and we are being reverent, if only by being silent and aware that He is there.
Prayer, to me anyway, shouldn't be such hard work. We should talk to Jesus from our hearts and then we should try to listen. I think in my next blog entry I will talk to you about some of the many ways I've discovered to pray and perhaps some of them might help you in your prayer.
It is important to be open and to surrender, and to talk. But sometimes when we have trouble with all of those things, for whatever reasons, then we should just BE. Just be in God's presence...like a kitten curled up on a lap, doing nothing per se, but also being totally present at the same time.
Sep 24, 2011
Between the Desert and the Mountaintop
We are in a stretch of rainy weather. The seasons are changing, summer to fall. Many of us change our focus during this time of year - preparing the outside home area for the cooler weather, perhaps putting away summer clothes and pulling out the sweaters; some have gone back to school while others are slowly preparing for the cooler weather and maybe even starting to mentally plan their Christmas lists.
As the song by "Peter, Paul, and Mary" goes...."these times, they are a changing".
It makes me think how we have seasons in our spiritual life as well. Times when we feel very close to Jesus and other times, complete desolation. Sometimes we are "so-so", perhaps just going through the motions of our faith life.
Sometimes I think of one's relationship with Jesus as that of a married couple, which in many ways it is just like that. When love is new everything is wonderful and exciting, but as time goes on and the couple gets very comfortable with each other, things change. By that I mean that perhaps life isn't so exciting because they know each other's habits and even their thoughts. As time goes on they know more and more about their partner's life before they were married and so perhaps there isn't so much to discover anymore.
I think our relationship with Jesus can be like that sometimes. The older we get and the more Jesus is the center of our lives, the more we know His habits, and yes, even His thoughts. Sometimes we can take it for granted that Jesus is in our lives. This is sad, but true. There is always something new to learn about Jesus though and so in that regard it is different than an ordinary marriage on earth.
I guess for me, I am in a so-so phase. I must say, if you've read my blog a few months ago, a so-so phase is a huge improvement from the spiritual desert I was wandering in. So this is probably good news. I continue to pray and go to Mass and do my usual spiritual things and think of Jesus a lot and how He wants me to live in the world and what He may want me to do in the future. At this point in time, I am still longing for that excitment of faith that I used to have before I was thrust head first into the desert, landing with a mouthful of sand, no flashlight and no map.
I did have a special blessing last week though. I was praying in church and pleading with the Holy Spirit to show me some physical manifestation of His presence so I can have a sense of optimism and acknowledgement ( ok, proof ) that He was listening to me. I truly prayed from the heart. As I ended my prayer time and walked out of the church - on a blue skyed, bright sunny September day - there in the sky before me was a rainbow. Now, a rainbow is the sign of God's covenant with humanity dating all the way back to Noah. I knew in the depth of my soul that there was no logical weather reason why that rainbow should have been there and directly in my sight upon leaving the church. The Holy Spirit answered my prayer - a physical manifestation was provided for me. I felt heard from Heaven.
Still, I am a thick, stupid human and within a matter of hours I went back into my so-so mood. That is okay though becuase, again, it is much better than the desert. Perhaps , as the earth is right now, I am in a spiritual in-between season? As the earth is between summer and fall, so too is my soul somewhere between the desert and the mountaintop.
So I will walk on, trusting to the best of my human ability that Jesus is very close to me and guiding me, and praying He is leading me to a mountaintop because honestly, I could really use a break.
As the song by "Peter, Paul, and Mary" goes...."these times, they are a changing".
It makes me think how we have seasons in our spiritual life as well. Times when we feel very close to Jesus and other times, complete desolation. Sometimes we are "so-so", perhaps just going through the motions of our faith life.
Sometimes I think of one's relationship with Jesus as that of a married couple, which in many ways it is just like that. When love is new everything is wonderful and exciting, but as time goes on and the couple gets very comfortable with each other, things change. By that I mean that perhaps life isn't so exciting because they know each other's habits and even their thoughts. As time goes on they know more and more about their partner's life before they were married and so perhaps there isn't so much to discover anymore.
I think our relationship with Jesus can be like that sometimes. The older we get and the more Jesus is the center of our lives, the more we know His habits, and yes, even His thoughts. Sometimes we can take it for granted that Jesus is in our lives. This is sad, but true. There is always something new to learn about Jesus though and so in that regard it is different than an ordinary marriage on earth.
I guess for me, I am in a so-so phase. I must say, if you've read my blog a few months ago, a so-so phase is a huge improvement from the spiritual desert I was wandering in. So this is probably good news. I continue to pray and go to Mass and do my usual spiritual things and think of Jesus a lot and how He wants me to live in the world and what He may want me to do in the future. At this point in time, I am still longing for that excitment of faith that I used to have before I was thrust head first into the desert, landing with a mouthful of sand, no flashlight and no map.
I did have a special blessing last week though. I was praying in church and pleading with the Holy Spirit to show me some physical manifestation of His presence so I can have a sense of optimism and acknowledgement ( ok, proof ) that He was listening to me. I truly prayed from the heart. As I ended my prayer time and walked out of the church - on a blue skyed, bright sunny September day - there in the sky before me was a rainbow. Now, a rainbow is the sign of God's covenant with humanity dating all the way back to Noah. I knew in the depth of my soul that there was no logical weather reason why that rainbow should have been there and directly in my sight upon leaving the church. The Holy Spirit answered my prayer - a physical manifestation was provided for me. I felt heard from Heaven.
Still, I am a thick, stupid human and within a matter of hours I went back into my so-so mood. That is okay though becuase, again, it is much better than the desert. Perhaps , as the earth is right now, I am in a spiritual in-between season? As the earth is between summer and fall, so too is my soul somewhere between the desert and the mountaintop.
So I will walk on, trusting to the best of my human ability that Jesus is very close to me and guiding me, and praying He is leading me to a mountaintop because honestly, I could really use a break.
Sep 14, 2011
Be Alert - the world needs more lerts!
Today I am thinking of the spiritual battle that rages in the world. The unseen battle between good and evil rages on as it has for eons, but is now taking on a new intensity. The battle used to be a bit more subtle and invisible, living primarily in pockets of evil throughout the world and in the hearts of evil people. Now there has been a shift, and I am not a prophet saying this.....if you read and watch, others have said the same things throughout the last century or so.....others who are much more holy and intelligent than I am. However, it doesn't take a prophet to see all of this, just a simple christian who is prayerful and alert.
Evil today is now "in your face". It is on TV, it is on radio, it is on the silver screen. It is in our computers and on our lips more than ever before. There has been such a massive errosion of attentiveness to God and in particularly of silence, that now the invisible curtain between the spiritual battle and the physical world is coming down. Now, we can see that each day we are walking in the midst of this battle, and if we are not careful, we can become its victims.
What is our recourse to all of this? How can we stay safe? How can we protect ourselves? We have to look at what Jesus offers us through His church. What are the "weapons" he provides for us? What are the means of protection He has put in place for us? I will tell you some of them. I say "some" because I am still discovering new ways. He has given us the Eucharist - His very self in Holy Communion. We "can do all things through Christ who strengthens us", as St. Paul says. The more we have Jesus in our lives, the better off we are, and the stronger we are to fight the battles we find ourselves in. Also, the rosary. Padre Pio used to use the terminology "get me my weapon", meaning the rosary. We must rely on Mary's intercession and our focus on meditating on Jesus' life to help us. We have adoration - spending time before the Blessed Sacrament. His graces will fill us and give us strength. We have the Word of God - ever before us in our homes ( hopefully ) and in our churches. Some people even keep their Bibles at work too.
These are just a few protections we have to aid us in this battle. We also have to add the sacrament of reconciliation to this mix too.
The other thing I want to say is that the evil one delights in harming God's children, so sometimes we will be his target. Therein lies suffering. Suffering is a mystery humanity has grappled with for eons too. What is its purpose ? Why does God allow it ? My thoughts on that are that God does not cause suffering, but does allow it, as He allowed Jesus to suffer and die for us. In that capacity, suffering is redemptive. There too, I believe that when we join our sufferings with Christ's, our suffering can also be redemptive. There is also the meaningless suffering that takes place and we have some control over that and we can stop a lot of suffering by using the gifts God gave us. Sometimes though, evil seems to be winning. I've experienced that in my own life so many times. There are times when I"ve been spiritually weak and have not been able to withstand some of his assaults. But even though I have come to the brink of extinction or exhaustion, I have not been totally destroyed. It may have felt like it, but God has sent His life giving breath on me once again and brought me back to life.
So, I am being way too winded this morning. But I want to encourage whoever reads this to dedicate yourselves to God every day, and continually throughout the day. Say a little prayer such as "Jesus, I give you everything." or "Jesus I surrender to you"....things like that. Or even "Jesus help me to trust". These short little prayers can be said as you go through your work day.
Try also to keep heavenly things on your mind. As you are walking in the mall you can also be pondering the reality of the angels being around you or you can try to see the face of Christ in everyone who walks by you.
Anyway, that is what I wanted to say today. Thank you for listening /reading. Always remember, BE ALERT because the world needs more LERTS.
Evil today is now "in your face". It is on TV, it is on radio, it is on the silver screen. It is in our computers and on our lips more than ever before. There has been such a massive errosion of attentiveness to God and in particularly of silence, that now the invisible curtain between the spiritual battle and the physical world is coming down. Now, we can see that each day we are walking in the midst of this battle, and if we are not careful, we can become its victims.
What is our recourse to all of this? How can we stay safe? How can we protect ourselves? We have to look at what Jesus offers us through His church. What are the "weapons" he provides for us? What are the means of protection He has put in place for us? I will tell you some of them. I say "some" because I am still discovering new ways. He has given us the Eucharist - His very self in Holy Communion. We "can do all things through Christ who strengthens us", as St. Paul says. The more we have Jesus in our lives, the better off we are, and the stronger we are to fight the battles we find ourselves in. Also, the rosary. Padre Pio used to use the terminology "get me my weapon", meaning the rosary. We must rely on Mary's intercession and our focus on meditating on Jesus' life to help us. We have adoration - spending time before the Blessed Sacrament. His graces will fill us and give us strength. We have the Word of God - ever before us in our homes ( hopefully ) and in our churches. Some people even keep their Bibles at work too.
These are just a few protections we have to aid us in this battle. We also have to add the sacrament of reconciliation to this mix too.
The other thing I want to say is that the evil one delights in harming God's children, so sometimes we will be his target. Therein lies suffering. Suffering is a mystery humanity has grappled with for eons too. What is its purpose ? Why does God allow it ? My thoughts on that are that God does not cause suffering, but does allow it, as He allowed Jesus to suffer and die for us. In that capacity, suffering is redemptive. There too, I believe that when we join our sufferings with Christ's, our suffering can also be redemptive. There is also the meaningless suffering that takes place and we have some control over that and we can stop a lot of suffering by using the gifts God gave us. Sometimes though, evil seems to be winning. I've experienced that in my own life so many times. There are times when I"ve been spiritually weak and have not been able to withstand some of his assaults. But even though I have come to the brink of extinction or exhaustion, I have not been totally destroyed. It may have felt like it, but God has sent His life giving breath on me once again and brought me back to life.
So, I am being way too winded this morning. But I want to encourage whoever reads this to dedicate yourselves to God every day, and continually throughout the day. Say a little prayer such as "Jesus, I give you everything." or "Jesus I surrender to you"....things like that. Or even "Jesus help me to trust". These short little prayers can be said as you go through your work day.
Try also to keep heavenly things on your mind. As you are walking in the mall you can also be pondering the reality of the angels being around you or you can try to see the face of Christ in everyone who walks by you.
Anyway, that is what I wanted to say today. Thank you for listening /reading. Always remember, BE ALERT because the world needs more LERTS.
Sep 4, 2011
Spiritual Mittens
Summer is slowly starting to fade away. Soon it will get cooler and then fall and winter will descend upon us. "It is always winter in New England" is a saying of mine. Summer is too short. Hallmark puts out its Christmas products in July. Winter clothes start coming into the stores in late July too. We are always in a state of focusing on the future and the future is always cold in New England. It is cold in so many souls as well, regardless of the time of year.
It is a challenge to keep the warmth of Christ as our focus isn't it? So many things come against us. We are living in times that are perilous for the soul. We are under attack in so many ways and sometimes it is a struggle to live up to the name of Christian. Thank God for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
How can we ever merit Heaven? We can't, at least not on our own. We so desperately need God's grace to intervene, to save us. Hence, He sent Jesus to live, suffer, die, and rise for us. Even 2000 some odd years hence, we still struggle with accepting that. The early followers of Jesus were experiencing who Jesus was/is as it went along. But we have hindsight on our side. We have all the facts, the full story, and yet, we are mini-Thomases, demanding proof even though proof has already been provided.
We need God's mercy or we will surely perish into the fiery pit. Lucky for us, God wants to send us His mercy. But we are so stupid that we don't even ask Him for it. He holds out his mercy and grace to us and we don't even see it. We don't acknowledge it. Worse yet, we turn our backs and walk away from it. Why?
Why are we afraid to ask for, to beg for, God's mercy and grace? He is our loving God and we should feel comfortable going right to Him and asking Him for it as a child would run up to a parent in the super market with a package of gum and relentlessly say to their parent " Buy this for me....please?".
Yet, so much more is at stake than a package of gum and yet we don't ask. We don't even think about asking. Many of us are not even aware that there is "gum" to be had. Why?
That is something to think about, isn't it? God gives us SO MUCH and yet we reject it on a daily basis. It is always winter in New England, and it is always winter in our souls. Our souls have an innate desire for summer and yet we get stuck in winter. Why? What are we afraid of?
I will tell you what we are afraid of. We are afraid of letting go of who we are and everything we have in order to surrender to the one Truth of Jesus and who He is. It is easier, albeit colder, to cling to what we do know in this sensuous world. We would rather stay in the mire that we do know, than take a step out of the boat into the raging waters and trust Jesus. We are afraid that we will lose too much of ourselves, our own power, our American individuality, or our sense of control over our lives.
Well....that is true. When we surrender totally to Jesus we take the risk of losing all of that and probably other things that we aren't even aware of. But see....that is the clincher....if we lose our life for Christ, it is then , and only then, that we will find it. We want to hold onto a fistfull of dimes when Jesus wants to give us a billion dollars ! And just because we don't see the billion dollars, we choose the dimes.
It is all about fear, and fear is not of God. I know that first hand because I've struggled with fear practically my entire life. Sometimes it has almost crippled me, but other times I have had the courage given by the Holy Spirit, to rise and walk through the fear. Sure, I've trembled and almost wet my pants (example only!), but with the grace of God I made it through.
Fear is a horrible, horrible thing to experience. (That is one reason why I'll never understand why people like horror movies....why should I pay money to feel fear? That makes no sense to me. Anyway, I digress....) I think humanity will always have to deal with fear because fear is of that little weasel in the fiery furnance and he will chase us and try to ruin us until we enter the pearly gates.
So, we have to fight fear. We have to fight the winters of our souls. We have to plead for God's mercy and grace. We have to pray, pray, pray, pray. We have to surrender and ask Jesus, the saints, and angels to help us. We have to ask Mary to bring us to her Son.
Only by doing such things and focusing on our goal: to be with Jesus in Heaven forever, will we have the courage to weather all the winters of New England and all the winters of our souls.
Jesus is the only one who can give us our "spiritual mittens" anyway. I don't know about you, but I'm getting on my knees and asking for the mittens because it is only going to get colder, and quite soon too, and I'm gonna need my Jesus mittens.
It is a challenge to keep the warmth of Christ as our focus isn't it? So many things come against us. We are living in times that are perilous for the soul. We are under attack in so many ways and sometimes it is a struggle to live up to the name of Christian. Thank God for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
How can we ever merit Heaven? We can't, at least not on our own. We so desperately need God's grace to intervene, to save us. Hence, He sent Jesus to live, suffer, die, and rise for us. Even 2000 some odd years hence, we still struggle with accepting that. The early followers of Jesus were experiencing who Jesus was/is as it went along. But we have hindsight on our side. We have all the facts, the full story, and yet, we are mini-Thomases, demanding proof even though proof has already been provided.
We need God's mercy or we will surely perish into the fiery pit. Lucky for us, God wants to send us His mercy. But we are so stupid that we don't even ask Him for it. He holds out his mercy and grace to us and we don't even see it. We don't acknowledge it. Worse yet, we turn our backs and walk away from it. Why?
Why are we afraid to ask for, to beg for, God's mercy and grace? He is our loving God and we should feel comfortable going right to Him and asking Him for it as a child would run up to a parent in the super market with a package of gum and relentlessly say to their parent " Buy this for me....please?".
Yet, so much more is at stake than a package of gum and yet we don't ask. We don't even think about asking. Many of us are not even aware that there is "gum" to be had. Why?
That is something to think about, isn't it? God gives us SO MUCH and yet we reject it on a daily basis. It is always winter in New England, and it is always winter in our souls. Our souls have an innate desire for summer and yet we get stuck in winter. Why? What are we afraid of?
I will tell you what we are afraid of. We are afraid of letting go of who we are and everything we have in order to surrender to the one Truth of Jesus and who He is. It is easier, albeit colder, to cling to what we do know in this sensuous world. We would rather stay in the mire that we do know, than take a step out of the boat into the raging waters and trust Jesus. We are afraid that we will lose too much of ourselves, our own power, our American individuality, or our sense of control over our lives.
Well....that is true. When we surrender totally to Jesus we take the risk of losing all of that and probably other things that we aren't even aware of. But see....that is the clincher....if we lose our life for Christ, it is then , and only then, that we will find it. We want to hold onto a fistfull of dimes when Jesus wants to give us a billion dollars ! And just because we don't see the billion dollars, we choose the dimes.
It is all about fear, and fear is not of God. I know that first hand because I've struggled with fear practically my entire life. Sometimes it has almost crippled me, but other times I have had the courage given by the Holy Spirit, to rise and walk through the fear. Sure, I've trembled and almost wet my pants (example only!), but with the grace of God I made it through.
Fear is a horrible, horrible thing to experience. (That is one reason why I'll never understand why people like horror movies....why should I pay money to feel fear? That makes no sense to me. Anyway, I digress....) I think humanity will always have to deal with fear because fear is of that little weasel in the fiery furnance and he will chase us and try to ruin us until we enter the pearly gates.
So, we have to fight fear. We have to fight the winters of our souls. We have to plead for God's mercy and grace. We have to pray, pray, pray, pray. We have to surrender and ask Jesus, the saints, and angels to help us. We have to ask Mary to bring us to her Son.
Only by doing such things and focusing on our goal: to be with Jesus in Heaven forever, will we have the courage to weather all the winters of New England and all the winters of our souls.
Jesus is the only one who can give us our "spiritual mittens" anyway. I don't know about you, but I'm getting on my knees and asking for the mittens because it is only going to get colder, and quite soon too, and I'm gonna need my Jesus mittens.
Aug 27, 2011
These times we are experiencing....
This is what I want to say tonight:
This afternoon while I was praying in church before Mass I was reflecting on the times we are living in and all the crazy things that are happening in the world: earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, immorality, perversions of every kind, disregard for fellow human beings, unbelief in the reality of sin, the disregard for God, a sense of entitlement, rampant abuses of self and others, and so much more....
I was thinking of the book a read a few months ago on chastisements and wondering if that is what is happening now and wondering, as a friend said, the chastisements are a manifestation of God's anger at humanity for our sinfulness. While I was pondering this, Jesus seemed to say to me that what is happening is not a result of his anger. He loves us. He is allowing this because, as a loving Father, he is using it to discipline his children. These situations are starting to force people to think about their lives and the state of the world. They are meant as a " wake up call". Some will wake up while some will continue sleeping. God loves us. Because the weeds co-exists with the wheat, even though the lessons may be for those who are weeds, the wheat feel it too because the weeds and the wheat are all mixed together. What is meant for one (weeds) affects the other (wheat).
So, in essence, while, if this is a time of chastisements, they will pass once they accomplish their goal: to give a wake up call and bring humanity ( God's children ) back in line. In the end, these rough times will have been a blessing in disguise for those who listen, pray, and work at transforming their lives.
This afternoon while I was praying in church before Mass I was reflecting on the times we are living in and all the crazy things that are happening in the world: earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, immorality, perversions of every kind, disregard for fellow human beings, unbelief in the reality of sin, the disregard for God, a sense of entitlement, rampant abuses of self and others, and so much more....
I was thinking of the book a read a few months ago on chastisements and wondering if that is what is happening now and wondering, as a friend said, the chastisements are a manifestation of God's anger at humanity for our sinfulness. While I was pondering this, Jesus seemed to say to me that what is happening is not a result of his anger. He loves us. He is allowing this because, as a loving Father, he is using it to discipline his children. These situations are starting to force people to think about their lives and the state of the world. They are meant as a " wake up call". Some will wake up while some will continue sleeping. God loves us. Because the weeds co-exists with the wheat, even though the lessons may be for those who are weeds, the wheat feel it too because the weeds and the wheat are all mixed together. What is meant for one (weeds) affects the other (wheat).
So, in essence, while, if this is a time of chastisements, they will pass once they accomplish their goal: to give a wake up call and bring humanity ( God's children ) back in line. In the end, these rough times will have been a blessing in disguise for those who listen, pray, and work at transforming their lives.
Aug 19, 2011
A rose is a rose is a ROSE from Heaven
Have you heard how sometimes people are graced with the scent of Heavenly roses? Well, tonight I want to share that I have experienced that grace from time to time.
Why do I bring it up now? Well, that is becuase late this afternoon I was in my little Catholic Church praying the rosary, and out of the blue, the scent of roses filled my nostrils. It was unmistakably roses.
I will share with you two other times this happened to me. One time, years ago, I was alone in my car driving in Vermont. It was winter. Snow was everywhere. Summer was only a distant memory. All the car windows were closed. I had the radio on. I wasn't thinking of anything "religious" per se and was listening to the radio. After some time I started talking to Jesus. All of a sudden the car filled with the wonderful aroma of roses. Again, unmistakably, they were roses. It was incredible. I opened the car window just to double check that perhaps there was some sort of rose smell outside, but it was just clean Vermont winter air. Closed the windows again, and .... roses !
I will share with you another story. I was in Medjugorje, Yugoslavia. It was the first night there. Many of us were in the parish church just prior to the time of Mary's apparition. I was sitting part way back in the church, on the right side. There was a break in the pews and so I had maybe five or six feet in front of me (that is how I remember it anyway). Everyone was praying the rosary. I didn't have a kneeler in front of me due to the space between the pews. I closed my eyes and prayed. A little bit into the prayer time it felt as if someone pushed my head down and right into a huge bouquet of roses. It startled me so much that I opened my eyes to see if that had actually happened, but nothing was in front of me. I sat there and continued to experience the fragrance. This fragrance happened exactly at the time that the apparation of Mary was happening up in the tower ( we were in the church, like I said ).
I think the fragrance of roses must be a consolation from God. The roses I smelled this evening lasted for maybe three minutes or so. I was inside the church. No roses present. Windows were closed as the AC was on so it is not like a whiff of it could come in from a rose bush outside.
I had a rough week at work and it is Friday. ..... Maybe Mary or Jesus thought I deserved a little reminder that they were close to me. I've experienced this scent at various times throughout my life, but it is not like it happens all the time and it is not like I wish it upon myself or psychosomatically think it is real. When it happens, it comes out of no where and I am certainly not thinking "oh I wish I could smell roses right now". It always takes me by surprise.
Why did I share that tonight ? I dunno.... felt like it I guess....... have a good night. I always wonder though.....does this fragrance mean that Mary is there or is it St. Therese? Maybe both?
Why do I bring it up now? Well, that is becuase late this afternoon I was in my little Catholic Church praying the rosary, and out of the blue, the scent of roses filled my nostrils. It was unmistakably roses.
I will share with you two other times this happened to me. One time, years ago, I was alone in my car driving in Vermont. It was winter. Snow was everywhere. Summer was only a distant memory. All the car windows were closed. I had the radio on. I wasn't thinking of anything "religious" per se and was listening to the radio. After some time I started talking to Jesus. All of a sudden the car filled with the wonderful aroma of roses. Again, unmistakably, they were roses. It was incredible. I opened the car window just to double check that perhaps there was some sort of rose smell outside, but it was just clean Vermont winter air. Closed the windows again, and .... roses !
I will share with you another story. I was in Medjugorje, Yugoslavia. It was the first night there. Many of us were in the parish church just prior to the time of Mary's apparition. I was sitting part way back in the church, on the right side. There was a break in the pews and so I had maybe five or six feet in front of me (that is how I remember it anyway). Everyone was praying the rosary. I didn't have a kneeler in front of me due to the space between the pews. I closed my eyes and prayed. A little bit into the prayer time it felt as if someone pushed my head down and right into a huge bouquet of roses. It startled me so much that I opened my eyes to see if that had actually happened, but nothing was in front of me. I sat there and continued to experience the fragrance. This fragrance happened exactly at the time that the apparation of Mary was happening up in the tower ( we were in the church, like I said ).
I think the fragrance of roses must be a consolation from God. The roses I smelled this evening lasted for maybe three minutes or so. I was inside the church. No roses present. Windows were closed as the AC was on so it is not like a whiff of it could come in from a rose bush outside.
I had a rough week at work and it is Friday. ..... Maybe Mary or Jesus thought I deserved a little reminder that they were close to me. I've experienced this scent at various times throughout my life, but it is not like it happens all the time and it is not like I wish it upon myself or psychosomatically think it is real. When it happens, it comes out of no where and I am certainly not thinking "oh I wish I could smell roses right now". It always takes me by surprise.
Why did I share that tonight ? I dunno.... felt like it I guess....... have a good night. I always wonder though.....does this fragrance mean that Mary is there or is it St. Therese? Maybe both?
Aug 3, 2011
Ready or not, here it comes
I was watching EWTN the other day and there was a statement made that the time we are living in has the most Christian persecution than any other time in history.
That made me think:
Am I ready to be persecuted? Am I not already being persecuted? The ways may be subtle, but yes, I am already being persecuted for my faith. I think all Catholic Christians worth their salt are being persecuted.
It is nice that there is a small, but swelling movement in the church where people are being encouraged to be more proud and open about our faith: saying grace in restaurants, speaking up when others use Jesus' name in vain, telling people we will not do certain activities on Sundays, and in increasing our family prayer time, and more. Even priests are getting a little more bold and that is nice to see too because that encourages the rest of us, after all, they are our leaders and models. If they are proud and open about their faith it will trickle down to us.
There is more persecution coming .... more struggles and challenges to our faith. More people will be coming forward and try to squash us.
And again I ask myself....are we ready? Are we ready for even more persecution? My feeling is that we must really be "prayed up" for the future because it is coming, and in ever more not so subtle ways.
How can we become ready if we are not now ready? Here are my thoughts and ideas. You can do with them what you will:
1. Beef up your time in prayer.
2. Go to Mass more often.
3. Do more spiritual reading.
4. Hang out with people and talk about your faith.
5. Read the Bible daily and pray with it (Ignatian style works well).
6. Go to Reconciliation more often.
7. Wear blessed objects or keep them in your pocket.
8. Pray the rosary.
9. Watch EWTN - lots of great information there.
10.Stick up for our faith when it is being bashed.
11.Get more silence in your life so you can think about what is important.
12.Ask for the saints' intercession.
13.Pray outside of Mass in small prayer and faith sharing groups.
14.Attend Catholic events in your diocese - missions, talks, conferences, trainings.
15.Simplyfy your life.
16.Make contacts with others to build a network of support in your community, parish, diocese.
17.Pray the chaplet of divine mercy.
18.Seek to be a saint and try harder every day to be who you are called to be.
19.Think about creating a plan of how you will respond when your faith is attacked or you are put down because of your faith. Work it out in your mind so when it happens you will be ready to respond.
20.Fast.
These are my thoughts tonight. Please think about them.
That made me think:
Am I ready to be persecuted? Am I not already being persecuted? The ways may be subtle, but yes, I am already being persecuted for my faith. I think all Catholic Christians worth their salt are being persecuted.
It is nice that there is a small, but swelling movement in the church where people are being encouraged to be more proud and open about our faith: saying grace in restaurants, speaking up when others use Jesus' name in vain, telling people we will not do certain activities on Sundays, and in increasing our family prayer time, and more. Even priests are getting a little more bold and that is nice to see too because that encourages the rest of us, after all, they are our leaders and models. If they are proud and open about their faith it will trickle down to us.
There is more persecution coming .... more struggles and challenges to our faith. More people will be coming forward and try to squash us.
And again I ask myself....are we ready? Are we ready for even more persecution? My feeling is that we must really be "prayed up" for the future because it is coming, and in ever more not so subtle ways.
How can we become ready if we are not now ready? Here are my thoughts and ideas. You can do with them what you will:
1. Beef up your time in prayer.
2. Go to Mass more often.
3. Do more spiritual reading.
4. Hang out with people and talk about your faith.
5. Read the Bible daily and pray with it (Ignatian style works well).
6. Go to Reconciliation more often.
7. Wear blessed objects or keep them in your pocket.
8. Pray the rosary.
9. Watch EWTN - lots of great information there.
10.Stick up for our faith when it is being bashed.
11.Get more silence in your life so you can think about what is important.
12.Ask for the saints' intercession.
13.Pray outside of Mass in small prayer and faith sharing groups.
14.Attend Catholic events in your diocese - missions, talks, conferences, trainings.
15.Simplyfy your life.
16.Make contacts with others to build a network of support in your community, parish, diocese.
17.Pray the chaplet of divine mercy.
18.Seek to be a saint and try harder every day to be who you are called to be.
19.Think about creating a plan of how you will respond when your faith is attacked or you are put down because of your faith. Work it out in your mind so when it happens you will be ready to respond.
20.Fast.
These are my thoughts tonight. Please think about them.
Jul 31, 2011
Catholicism and Community Building
Tonight I am writing about Catholicism and Community building.
Catholicism holds the fullness of Truth. Catholicism is the home of the Eucharist - the "Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity" of Jesus. We are led by the Pope, the Vicar of Christ on earth. Catholicism is THE RELIGION to be and any rational person who takes steps towards the Catholic Church, in time, will find all this to be true.
But still, our wonderful Catholic Church, founded by Jesus Christ Himself, is not only divine, but is human as well. It is humanity that creates all the problems. We are weak and sinful and lazy. The problem "is us".
I love the Catholic Church with my whole being. I am so glad that this is the faith I profess. I have no problems with the teachings of the church. (Well, except for the one that says animals dont' go to Heaven. I believe that they do go to Heaven.)
The current struggle I have with our Church revolves around the lack of TRUE community in parishes. Personally, I find Catholic parishes to be quite cold and unwelcoming. I know of many other Catholics who feel the same way.
The question I am pondering lately is HOW CAN WE CHANGE THAT? These are my thoughts on the value of building community and the "how to" of building communtiy:
1. Bishops, Pastors, Deacons, and Lay Ministry Leaders have to take the lead in this. They have to encourage community. They have to live community. They have to teach people HOW to live with a community spirit. They have to be inclusive. They have to be pro-active and help their parishioners become a Christian community.
2. Each parish should have a "community-forming" committee whose sole purpose is to think of different ways that a sense of community can be developed in the parish.
3. There needs to be a realization that some people may be hesitant or shy when it comes to reaching out or getting involved( for many different reasons ) and those are the people that need a little extra TLC and encouragement. They are often the hidden treasures of a parish who have been jaded by previous negative church experiences and are in need of healing or just simply an invitation to use their gifts. There should not be anyone in the parish who is left out of the community building effort.
4. There needs to be a realization that with a focus on community building everything else at the parish will improve. There will be more service to the parish and to the wider community. There will be more financial donations because people will have a real sense of family and will want to help by donating money in addition to their time and talents. Attendance and attention at Mass will be increased because people will feel comfortable with others at Mass and will truly feel like they belong.
5. With a greater sense of community comes more outreach ( service, as mentioned above) and this gives automatic help to pastors who are often stretched for time due to the current lower count of priests. It would be easier for pastors to get the parish's needs met because there would automatically be more volunteers when a need arises, leaving the priest to focus on his main priestly responsibilities while parishioners take care of the ancillary needs.
6. There needs to be a realization that with a focus on community there will also be more joy because people will be more connected to their parish family, more will get done at the parish for the parish famiy and wider community, and people will feel more like they are truly part of the Body of Christ.
7. This sense of parish community will strengthen families because it will be modeled in the parish, brought home to each family, and will help create families who naturally evangelize others just by being who they are called to be. It will make the Catholic church even more enticing for those outside of the faith.
8. Those who belong to a parish alone will be welcomed into the greater parish family.
So, these are my thoughts for this evening.
Catholicism holds the fullness of Truth. Catholicism is the home of the Eucharist - the "Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity" of Jesus. We are led by the Pope, the Vicar of Christ on earth. Catholicism is THE RELIGION to be and any rational person who takes steps towards the Catholic Church, in time, will find all this to be true.
But still, our wonderful Catholic Church, founded by Jesus Christ Himself, is not only divine, but is human as well. It is humanity that creates all the problems. We are weak and sinful and lazy. The problem "is us".
I love the Catholic Church with my whole being. I am so glad that this is the faith I profess. I have no problems with the teachings of the church. (Well, except for the one that says animals dont' go to Heaven. I believe that they do go to Heaven.)
The current struggle I have with our Church revolves around the lack of TRUE community in parishes. Personally, I find Catholic parishes to be quite cold and unwelcoming. I know of many other Catholics who feel the same way.
The question I am pondering lately is HOW CAN WE CHANGE THAT? These are my thoughts on the value of building community and the "how to" of building communtiy:
1. Bishops, Pastors, Deacons, and Lay Ministry Leaders have to take the lead in this. They have to encourage community. They have to live community. They have to teach people HOW to live with a community spirit. They have to be inclusive. They have to be pro-active and help their parishioners become a Christian community.
2. Each parish should have a "community-forming" committee whose sole purpose is to think of different ways that a sense of community can be developed in the parish.
3. There needs to be a realization that some people may be hesitant or shy when it comes to reaching out or getting involved( for many different reasons ) and those are the people that need a little extra TLC and encouragement. They are often the hidden treasures of a parish who have been jaded by previous negative church experiences and are in need of healing or just simply an invitation to use their gifts. There should not be anyone in the parish who is left out of the community building effort.
4. There needs to be a realization that with a focus on community building everything else at the parish will improve. There will be more service to the parish and to the wider community. There will be more financial donations because people will have a real sense of family and will want to help by donating money in addition to their time and talents. Attendance and attention at Mass will be increased because people will feel comfortable with others at Mass and will truly feel like they belong.
5. With a greater sense of community comes more outreach ( service, as mentioned above) and this gives automatic help to pastors who are often stretched for time due to the current lower count of priests. It would be easier for pastors to get the parish's needs met because there would automatically be more volunteers when a need arises, leaving the priest to focus on his main priestly responsibilities while parishioners take care of the ancillary needs.
6. There needs to be a realization that with a focus on community there will also be more joy because people will be more connected to their parish family, more will get done at the parish for the parish famiy and wider community, and people will feel more like they are truly part of the Body of Christ.
7. This sense of parish community will strengthen families because it will be modeled in the parish, brought home to each family, and will help create families who naturally evangelize others just by being who they are called to be. It will make the Catholic church even more enticing for those outside of the faith.
8. Those who belong to a parish alone will be welcomed into the greater parish family.
So, these are my thoughts for this evening.
Jul 24, 2011
Blindfolds, sheep, and shepherds
There is a youth ministry activity that I used to do with teens that focused on trying to hear God's voice amidst the clamour of the world. This is how it worked: One person was "it". This person would be blindfolded and placed in the center of a room. Lots of other people would be around that person. The blindfolded person simply had to listen to my voice ( which represented the voice of God ) and walk over to me. Sounds simple, yes? Not really because the job of all the other people in the room was to talk and yell and call the blindfolded person's name. The blindfolded person had to listen carefully for the sound of my voice over the voices of the others. My voice was of normal volume and I repeatedly and gently called the persons' name. Ex: "John, come here. I'm calling you. Come to me." What was going around the blindfolded person was lots of loud voices yelling " John !! Hey John ! Come over here!". These people could also move closer to the blindfolded person and I was near a wall. After doing the activity, which could take as much as 15 minutes or so to complete, we would have a discussion. The blindfolded person always shared how hard it was to stay focused on my voice and how hard it was to purposely ignore the other voices. We would then relate the activity to our faith walk and how sometimes it is very hard to focus on God's voice when our culture can be so much louder and makes it harder to focus.
I share that because that is how I feel lately - like the blindfolded person trying to listen to God's voice. I'm finding that I need more time in quiet prayer to get away from the culture and even then, listening is difficult because the noise in my mind can overshadow the still small voice that is God's. My thoughts are loud and insistant and it sometimes takes quite a long time to be able to hear His voice.
That little weasel, the devil himself, is very good at causing distractions, especially in this day and age. We have to be vigilant and disciplined as we walk through the world today. There are so many false prophets and arrogant people in our midst today. We can easily become desensitized to the dangers of the culture and given enough time and sloth on our part, soon we are tuned in only to the voices of the culture instead of the voice of God.
So, if there is anyone out there reading this, I urge you to be vigilant in your faith. Try your best to walk away from temptation and pray, pray, pray. Go to Mass. Read Scripture. Read other spiritual reading ( good, solid stuff ). Use discernment - even, and especially, within the Church. Just because someone is associated with the Church doesn't always mean you can believe everything they say, or that they live out their faith once they walk out of the church doors, or that we can believe that they are a credible witness of Christ. Remember, the fox is in the henhouse, so we have to be prayerful and discerning. We have to pray for our priests to be holy and to have the courage to stand up to those who are not holy - whether they are in the pulpit or in the pews.
It is my feeling that with the fox in the henhouse (the wolf in the sheepfold...whatever terminology you want to us) that the sheep are scattering in confusion and they are looking for the shepherds God has sent to watch over them. They are trying to catch up to the shepherds who are walking to fast, to find the shepherds who are hiding, to talk to their shepherds for encouragement and direction, and some also are trying to challenge the shepherds to live up to their calling.
All sheep are like the blindfolded person in the youth ministry activity: we are trying to follow His voice amidst the noise of the day. Shepherds are supposed to help us hear His voice. Jesus please let the sheep and shepherd walk together in peace and community and don't let the wolf get any of us. Amen.
I share that because that is how I feel lately - like the blindfolded person trying to listen to God's voice. I'm finding that I need more time in quiet prayer to get away from the culture and even then, listening is difficult because the noise in my mind can overshadow the still small voice that is God's. My thoughts are loud and insistant and it sometimes takes quite a long time to be able to hear His voice.
That little weasel, the devil himself, is very good at causing distractions, especially in this day and age. We have to be vigilant and disciplined as we walk through the world today. There are so many false prophets and arrogant people in our midst today. We can easily become desensitized to the dangers of the culture and given enough time and sloth on our part, soon we are tuned in only to the voices of the culture instead of the voice of God.
So, if there is anyone out there reading this, I urge you to be vigilant in your faith. Try your best to walk away from temptation and pray, pray, pray. Go to Mass. Read Scripture. Read other spiritual reading ( good, solid stuff ). Use discernment - even, and especially, within the Church. Just because someone is associated with the Church doesn't always mean you can believe everything they say, or that they live out their faith once they walk out of the church doors, or that we can believe that they are a credible witness of Christ. Remember, the fox is in the henhouse, so we have to be prayerful and discerning. We have to pray for our priests to be holy and to have the courage to stand up to those who are not holy - whether they are in the pulpit or in the pews.
It is my feeling that with the fox in the henhouse (the wolf in the sheepfold...whatever terminology you want to us) that the sheep are scattering in confusion and they are looking for the shepherds God has sent to watch over them. They are trying to catch up to the shepherds who are walking to fast, to find the shepherds who are hiding, to talk to their shepherds for encouragement and direction, and some also are trying to challenge the shepherds to live up to their calling.
All sheep are like the blindfolded person in the youth ministry activity: we are trying to follow His voice amidst the noise of the day. Shepherds are supposed to help us hear His voice. Jesus please let the sheep and shepherd walk together in peace and community and don't let the wolf get any of us. Amen.
Jul 16, 2011
Be alert.....the world needs more lerts.
Just before starting to write tonight's blog, I asked Jesus to give me a topic. He said to tell you about his great love for humanity. He pines for the lost sheep every day. We need to wake up and be people of action and prayer. The world is on the precipice of a cliff. The church is being attacked in many ways and in many places in the world. Take China for example. Clergy are actually having to hide so as not to be forced into supporting a state sponsored catholic Church.
God's love wants to pour out on all humanity but many are too busy to listen, so the devil marches on, thinking he is winning. Of course we all know that he will have a huge surprise at the end of time. Well, maybe not actually because he knows scripture so he knows he loses at the end. It is us - humanity - who do not know scripture well enough.
We are living lives in the fog of secularism. We are like horses with blinders on. We are like blind and deaf people because we don't see or hear what is happening right before us. We are like the frog in the warm water and the water is slowly heated up so the frog doesn't realize that soon it will be cooked and dead. We are like that.
Some of us are alert however. The world needs more lerts. :) I'd like to put myself in that category. I am not a tremendously smart person, but I am a person of faith and I know how to see with the eyes of faith ( when I am in good space that is ). I know a few other people that are on the same wavelength, but to be honest, many Catholics I see, and christians in general, are not aware of the spiritual battles going on....that is how cunning the devil is. He has tricked so many people.
Heck, he has even tricked Fr. Corapi and he was one of our good priests. Or maybe he was just a wolf in sheep's clothing all along? What is going on with him is purely diabolical and we all have to pray to Jesus to save him from himself and we have to ask Mary to go after her lost priest.
There are so many attacks on humanity every day that go unseen. We are slowly becoming hotter like the frog in the pot. Those of us who are alert must pray our little Catholic hearts out for all that is going on: for protection, discernment, love, peace, patience and more.
That is enough for tonight. St. Michael the Archangel defend us in battle.
God's love wants to pour out on all humanity but many are too busy to listen, so the devil marches on, thinking he is winning. Of course we all know that he will have a huge surprise at the end of time. Well, maybe not actually because he knows scripture so he knows he loses at the end. It is us - humanity - who do not know scripture well enough.
We are living lives in the fog of secularism. We are like horses with blinders on. We are like blind and deaf people because we don't see or hear what is happening right before us. We are like the frog in the warm water and the water is slowly heated up so the frog doesn't realize that soon it will be cooked and dead. We are like that.
Some of us are alert however. The world needs more lerts. :) I'd like to put myself in that category. I am not a tremendously smart person, but I am a person of faith and I know how to see with the eyes of faith ( when I am in good space that is ). I know a few other people that are on the same wavelength, but to be honest, many Catholics I see, and christians in general, are not aware of the spiritual battles going on....that is how cunning the devil is. He has tricked so many people.
Heck, he has even tricked Fr. Corapi and he was one of our good priests. Or maybe he was just a wolf in sheep's clothing all along? What is going on with him is purely diabolical and we all have to pray to Jesus to save him from himself and we have to ask Mary to go after her lost priest.
There are so many attacks on humanity every day that go unseen. We are slowly becoming hotter like the frog in the pot. Those of us who are alert must pray our little Catholic hearts out for all that is going on: for protection, discernment, love, peace, patience and more.
That is enough for tonight. St. Michael the Archangel defend us in battle.
Jul 10, 2011
Beware: the wolf is in the fold
I believe that anyone who spends a good amount of time each day in prayer and reflection, especially in front of the Blessed Sacrament, must be becoming keenly aware that the wolf is in the sheep fold.
Even considering the horrid scandals that have attacked the dignity of God's Holy Church and harmed so many children, the wolf has still been doing a fairly good job of being unnoticed, but he is getting more bold. He is stepping up his attack and is starting to stalk certain sheep, and even going after the shepherds as well. Will there be more casualties? Will we have the discernment to know what to do to avoid further situations?
The answer is simple, although not easy. Here it is: We need to pray more, receive the Eucharist and Reconciliation more often. Seriously. We need to not only beef up the amount of time we pray, but out intensity of prayer has to increase as well. We need to keep alert and aware. We need to pray especially for discernment, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
We need to pray for our priests and bishops to be protected. We need to pray that the faithful will remain just that: faithful.
We need to be aware that the wolf is in the flock and we have to test to make sure that the person who is talking to us is of God and not of the enemy for the wolf is a master of disguises ( an angel of light ).
This is the sad reality of where we are right now. God will prevail. The gates of hell will not prevails against the church. The little weasel may try, but he will not win. He cannot win. We cannot give in. When in doubt we must wait and pray. In that way, we will experience discernment and hear our Good Shepherd's voice.
St. Michael the Archangel defend us in the battles that are before us. Amen.
Even considering the horrid scandals that have attacked the dignity of God's Holy Church and harmed so many children, the wolf has still been doing a fairly good job of being unnoticed, but he is getting more bold. He is stepping up his attack and is starting to stalk certain sheep, and even going after the shepherds as well. Will there be more casualties? Will we have the discernment to know what to do to avoid further situations?
The answer is simple, although not easy. Here it is: We need to pray more, receive the Eucharist and Reconciliation more often. Seriously. We need to not only beef up the amount of time we pray, but out intensity of prayer has to increase as well. We need to keep alert and aware. We need to pray especially for discernment, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
We need to pray for our priests and bishops to be protected. We need to pray that the faithful will remain just that: faithful.
We need to be aware that the wolf is in the flock and we have to test to make sure that the person who is talking to us is of God and not of the enemy for the wolf is a master of disguises ( an angel of light ).
This is the sad reality of where we are right now. God will prevail. The gates of hell will not prevails against the church. The little weasel may try, but he will not win. He cannot win. We cannot give in. When in doubt we must wait and pray. In that way, we will experience discernment and hear our Good Shepherd's voice.
St. Michael the Archangel defend us in the battles that are before us. Amen.
Jul 8, 2011
What I want to tell the world
A 39 year old man fell at a ball park this week and died. He was simply trying to catch a ball for his little son and he fell 20 feet and died.
Death can come quickly. It doesn't always give notice. So, we must all be ready because "ya never know" when your "number will come up".
So, just in case tonight is my last night on this planet and I wake up dead tomorrow, I would like to say the following:
1. It's all about Jesus. Everything is. He is the first and last after all.
2. I wish I would have had the opportunity to feel like I belonged somewhere: in a family or in the church.
3. Give "different" people a chance. Usually people who are different have a lot to offer, but because they are, well...different.....some people do not give them the chance.
4. Eat chocolate. Drink Coca Cola.
5. Reflect on life and the things you experience each day in addition to praying daily.
6. We are all in this mess together.
7. Catholics in a parish really need to learn how to be community. They need to stay away from cliques and they need to be more welcoming and hospitable.
8. All people, in addition to priests, need to practice what they preach.
9. There are so many lonely people in the world.
10. Having to worry about money stinks. We are slaves to these little green pieces of paper that we call money. Humanity created money. We can do away with it and just learn to give and share.
11. God DOES talk to people. Most people don't take the time to listen to what He is saying.
12. I feel like I have a lot to give to the world but nobody wants my gifts.
13. Sadness would be almost totally eradicated if people would be gentle with one another and smile and encourage one another.
14. Catholics: clergy, religious, and lay people need to focus on being more humble and less arrogant.
15. Cinderella is really just a fairy tale.
16. Learning to love is hard, if not impossible.
17. God holds all the cards so we have to "deal" with it ( no pun intended).
18. Sleep is bliss.
19. Buying a new car is a waste of money.
20. Stop fighting. Play nice.
21. Pray always.
Death can come quickly. It doesn't always give notice. So, we must all be ready because "ya never know" when your "number will come up".
So, just in case tonight is my last night on this planet and I wake up dead tomorrow, I would like to say the following:
1. It's all about Jesus. Everything is. He is the first and last after all.
2. I wish I would have had the opportunity to feel like I belonged somewhere: in a family or in the church.
3. Give "different" people a chance. Usually people who are different have a lot to offer, but because they are, well...different.....some people do not give them the chance.
4. Eat chocolate. Drink Coca Cola.
5. Reflect on life and the things you experience each day in addition to praying daily.
6. We are all in this mess together.
7. Catholics in a parish really need to learn how to be community. They need to stay away from cliques and they need to be more welcoming and hospitable.
8. All people, in addition to priests, need to practice what they preach.
9. There are so many lonely people in the world.
10. Having to worry about money stinks. We are slaves to these little green pieces of paper that we call money. Humanity created money. We can do away with it and just learn to give and share.
11. God DOES talk to people. Most people don't take the time to listen to what He is saying.
12. I feel like I have a lot to give to the world but nobody wants my gifts.
13. Sadness would be almost totally eradicated if people would be gentle with one another and smile and encourage one another.
14. Catholics: clergy, religious, and lay people need to focus on being more humble and less arrogant.
15. Cinderella is really just a fairy tale.
16. Learning to love is hard, if not impossible.
17. God holds all the cards so we have to "deal" with it ( no pun intended).
18. Sleep is bliss.
19. Buying a new car is a waste of money.
20. Stop fighting. Play nice.
21. Pray always.
Jul 2, 2011
Coasting
A few times within the last week I have asked Jesus to please let life become a little easier for me for the next little while. I feel like I have had so many big struggles since 2005 and here it is 2011 already. It has been a bumpy ride and I am ready for a little luxury ( emphasis on little ), a little peace, a little joy, and other good things.
I don't deserve anything good. I am aware of that. But still I am asking. I am feeling healthy and that is a huge blessing right there as I have had my share of health issues since 2005 in addition to everything else. I think I have rolled with the punches to the best of my ability. I have tried to be faithful despite all my strong emotions about so many things. I have not, at any time, given up my prayer life, but I have wandered in a spiritual desert and have felt very disconnected to the Church that I love with my entire heart - my Catholic Church.
I have been weary of the struggle, and I just would like a "time of grace". A time where I don't have to worry so much about things, or work so hard. I work incredibly hard and I try my best. I am reminded of Jesus' words that He has come to give us Life and to give it Abundantly. I know He didn't mean materialistic abundance, but probably more of a spiritual, fulfilling sense of abundance. I am open to having either at this point.
It feels like I work so hard - and it is always uphill, at least since 2005. I would like the ride to be a little downhill for a while.
The other week I took my bike out. Going up the hills reminded me of my life these last few years, and going down hill, when I could coast, was so much better. I didn't have to pedal. I could feel the breeze. I could look at the sights. Up hill on the other hand was just like my life - always having to peddle hard and breathe, and focus on the road.
I would like a time of coasting. Jesus, this is my prayer. Again, I know I don't deserve it because who am I to complain? But, still, being your mere creature who is wondering about Your will for her life, I am asking you for the next turn in my life, to be a down hill slope, with a breeze and a view....and a chance to breathe.
Amen.
I don't deserve anything good. I am aware of that. But still I am asking. I am feeling healthy and that is a huge blessing right there as I have had my share of health issues since 2005 in addition to everything else. I think I have rolled with the punches to the best of my ability. I have tried to be faithful despite all my strong emotions about so many things. I have not, at any time, given up my prayer life, but I have wandered in a spiritual desert and have felt very disconnected to the Church that I love with my entire heart - my Catholic Church.
I have been weary of the struggle, and I just would like a "time of grace". A time where I don't have to worry so much about things, or work so hard. I work incredibly hard and I try my best. I am reminded of Jesus' words that He has come to give us Life and to give it Abundantly. I know He didn't mean materialistic abundance, but probably more of a spiritual, fulfilling sense of abundance. I am open to having either at this point.
It feels like I work so hard - and it is always uphill, at least since 2005. I would like the ride to be a little downhill for a while.
The other week I took my bike out. Going up the hills reminded me of my life these last few years, and going down hill, when I could coast, was so much better. I didn't have to pedal. I could feel the breeze. I could look at the sights. Up hill on the other hand was just like my life - always having to peddle hard and breathe, and focus on the road.
I would like a time of coasting. Jesus, this is my prayer. Again, I know I don't deserve it because who am I to complain? But, still, being your mere creature who is wondering about Your will for her life, I am asking you for the next turn in my life, to be a down hill slope, with a breeze and a view....and a chance to breathe.
Amen.
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