The Gift of Heart Consciousness

"Compassionate love, shown in kind deeds of mercy, can speak a language of its own when no other means of communication is possible." ~Fr Andrew Apostoli, "Walk Humbly with Your God"

This quote closely resembles the kind of heart to heart talks that I have come to realize are my particular gift from God.

I have spent alot of time during my life trying to dissuade myself from the reality of this gift. It first came to me when I asked God to allow me to show someone what true love is, because I couldn't express it.

The Lord gave me this gift and I went from wildly ecstatic when it manifested itself perfectly to disbelief when it didn't. 

I have busied myself with other duties and chores for my Lord, but those have lacked the power inherent in having heart to heart conversations with those whom the Lord gives me to love.

They also lack the joy and delight from recognizing the Lord in these conversations. 

So, this year, I asked God to help me unpack the gifts I have been given and to use them for His glory. I asked this through the Christmas Anticipatory prayer which begins on the Feast Day of St. Andrew and concludes on Christmas eve.

I had no expectation of what the gift(s) were or how it would manifest itself.

So, imagine my surprise and delight when the gift of having true heart to heart conversations with those I love was reaffirmed.

It has been described elsewhere as heart consciousness. 

Lord, show me how to show kind deeds of mercy to those in need of compassionate love, deeds which You make known to me through our heart to heart conversations.

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Two thoughts

Two readings struck me this day:

1) "Love begins in the heart--in our thoughts--and is usually expressed initially in our words. But it must not stop there; it must be lived out in our actions. ~Fr Andrew Apostoli in "Walk Humbly with Your God"

And 

2)a quote from St. Padre Pio about (paraphrasing) how we are never alone because we have our guardian angels.

Both of these remind me to always be aware of those who may be hurting for reasons of which I have no knowledge.

Lord, let my actions always reflect the love I have and may I never leave someone alone who is hurting.

Amen

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Joyful Gift of Love

"But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:6-7

These words speak to my heart as it soars in joy for the gifts I have been granted this Christmas.

I saw You, Lord, in the touching and heartwarming gift of another's presence this evening.

It is so joyous because it was a direct answer to a heart to heart conversation I had last night and earlier today.

What is truly joyous for me is that I was addressing my words to You and the person responded as if he heard that truly heart to heart conversation.

That has always been my deepest desire..to share that gift of Your Love with this person and it seems as if it might be happening.

I was so moved  as I watched this person (who wasn't aware I was watching) as he prayed to you, wondering where I was after having heard the earlier heart to heart between You and I.

It moved me so deeply because I have been where he was as he agonized in prayer over what he thought  and I could hear his heart's agony as he pondered whether he was mistaken.

I tried to extend the knowledge I have of Your love and care as I sat and prayed while watching him.

It was a gift to me because I have longed for this special gift and want to use it to its fullest potential for You and Your Glory.

Thank you, my God, for Your wonderful presence in this person. That is the truth of it. I recognize You in this person and my heart sings with the wonder and joy of it.

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Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and thank you  for the most precious gift of all, Your Son.

Thank you Mary and Joseph, for saying yes to God's plan.

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4th Sunday of Advent

Come, Almighty God and Father 

Come, Lord Jesus, come. 

Come Creator Spirit come.

I have striven, admittedly imperfectly, to prepare myself for your coming among us to save us from our sins.

I will never be able to properly prepare myself for such a wonder, for such an incredible honor, yet I ask you to come live in me that I might make your love known wherever you take me.

Come, my Lord and help me to make of my life whatever you will for I am yours totally and completely. 

I love you, my God. 

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Advent, Day 21, Redemption draws near

"Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand."

~The responsorial to today's Psalms readings.

Yea he is coming, whether we are ready for him or not. We must spend our time in preparing specifically for his coming.

We must open our hearts to receive the Christ child. Hallelujah! He is coming.

Thank you, God my savior for giving us such exquisite gifts as the Holy Family. Let me always be respectful of such fine  gifts, never forgetting to place them first in my life. 

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Advent, Day 20; Mary's Magnificat

"My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior." ~1 Samuel 2:1

This verse makes my heart sing, literally, as I hear it proclaimed. Thank you, Lord, for your Blessed Mother and for her Yes!

In today's Gospel, Mary proclaims what the Church has come to call her Magnificat..the beautiful prayer of her fiat, her yes to the request to be Your Mother.

Oh, how humble a picture this paints of you, my Lord. You, who could command anything in the universe, humbly send an angelic  messenger to ask Mary to be the ark which will house the Word made flesh.

And, in her Magnificat, she rejoices in telling her relative Elizabeth about this wonderful event, which is coming ever closer as Advent draws closer to it's conclusion and we enter into the Christmas season.

Praise God for His wonderful loving care of us.

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Advent, Day 19

As I sit here, trying to be grateful even though I am sick with a gastrointestinal virus, I am mindful of those who suffer far more than I do.

Folks who are chronically ill but who maintain their goodwill and are pleasant in spite of their illness.

Oh my God, please forgive me for being such a whiner and please accept the offering up of my sickness to relieve the illness of someone who hurts more than I do.

Thank you. I love you.

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Advent Day 18

Oh, some days I struggle so with devotion to spirirual growth.

Forgive me, my Lord and my God.

Please bless me with greater control over my desires, that they might be more pleasing to you and doing your will.

As you draw nearer, please help me to focus more on you.

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Advent, Day 17

The day draws near and I am filled with joy and gratitude for the Gift the Father has bestowed upon all humanity.

Thank you, Father for the Gifts of Your Son and Your Holy Spirit.

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Joseph's obedience, Advent Day 16

"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

~ Matthew 1: 24-25

Joseph had doubts in his heart about Mary and the child she carried. He must also have been deeply hurt by her betrayal of him.

In his sleep, an angel commands him and he obeys. He chooses to disregard the doubts and hurt in his heart and trust in God and His messenger. 

He chooses to trust and in so doing is granted a unique role in salvation history. 

What joy Joseph must have experienced at the birth of the Savior, the one who would save his people from their sins.

He surely rejoiced in knowing he made the right choice. 

We also get to choose. Why do we resist choosing our Lady and her Son?

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The Light of Christ, Advent Day 15

Joy. The joy of being a Christian. As St. Paul said, 

"Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Thank you, my God for all you have given me and forgiven me. 

I give you a photo of the view from my window.

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Christ our Light, Advent Day 14

Jesus, be my light. Make my path towards thee straight and true.

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Time with Christ, Advent Day 13

"This Advent, try to put aside for a while all the to-do items on your list. Start first with the only task that will truly satisfy your heart: time with the Lord!"

"Jesus, I want to prepare for your coming this Christmas. Help me to recognize my thirst for you so that I can drink deeply of your love."

Both of these quotes are from "The Word Among Us" daily meditation on the day's scripture readings. 

Thank you Lord, for this resource.

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Advent, Day 12

Sometimes all I can give you, my Lord, is the gift you have given me today. A photo.

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Advent Day 11 The Yoke of Christ

The Gospel reading is from Matthew 11:28-30:

"Jesus said to the crowds: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

Yoking ourselves to Christ is what makes the burden light because He will accompany us where ever we go, making it easier for us.

The great illusion is that joy will come from filling up the ego with goods. In fact, it will come from emptying out, from turning one's life over to the direction of God.~ from Bishop Barron's Advent Gospel meditation for this day.

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Our Lady of Guadalupe, Advent Day 10

"Am I not here who am your Mother? Do not grieve or be disturbed by anything?"

 ~ Our Lady of Guadalupe's words to Juan Diego and to us.

That is what is important here..her words are as much for us and all her children who have been redeemed by the blood of her son as they were for Juan Diego.

How comforting and reassuring. It makes my heart leap for Joy as St. John leapt for joy when our Lady brought him close.

Thank you, Blessed Mother and Our Lady of Guadalupe for bringing Jesus to us. Pray for us.

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Advent Day 9; Healing power

"The power of the Lord was with him for healing."

This is the verse that struck me today. The healing power of God was with him. Or upon him that day so that people crowded around blocking the friends of the paralytic from entering through the door. So they took him on the roof and loerted him through the tiles. 

Thank you Lord for the power of healing.

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Prepare the Way of the Lord, Advent Day

"Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.'" Mark 1:2-3

As the second week of Advent begins, I continue to wonder how I might prepare for the Lord's coming into my life this Christnas.

I ask for guidance as I unwrap the gifts already given me and put them to good use for the Lord's Kingdom. 

As I put my Advent decorations up, preparing for Christmas, I am reminded that my soul needs preparations as well.

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Advent, Day 7

Although death during Advent is hard for those who lose loved ones, it is also true that as Christians we are to celebrate their lives and rejoice that they are in heaven.

Still, the grief that comes from these losses puts a damper on the underlying joy of preparing for the Coming of the King.

In our community we have lost three people who were longtime residents. Their lives filled our community with knowledge and history and joy. 

We must take comfort that they have been faithful Christians so I know they will be welcomed by our Lord and Savior. 

In that sense, they already know more about "the coming of the King" than those of us who have yet to face our Maker.

"On the day the LORD binds up the wounds of his people,
he will heal the bruises left by his blows." ~ Isaiah 30:26

Lord, please comfort those who suffer from the loss of loved ones. 

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Day 6, Immaculate Conception

Today is the very special solemnity when we honor God and His Son and Holy Spirit for the great honor done to Mary by allowing her to be free from the stain of original sin from the moment of her conception. 

"In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved." ~Ephesians 1:5-6

Adopted by God as his sons and daughters. Never to be forsaken, honored as one chosen simply because He loves us and wants to fill us with the grace with which he filled Mary at her conception.

God can do all things so if He chooses to preserve one from original sin, he certainly can do so.

Why then, doesn't he preserve us all from the stain of original sin.

Mary answered "Be it done to me according to your will."

God wants us to say yes to the same Christ who saved Mary. We get to choose to participate or not, as did Mary.

Praise you, God for giving us this choice.

Amen.

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Day 5, Hope

"One obtains from God all that one hopes from Him." ~St. John of the Cross

I wonder if this profound and deep statement by St. John of the Cross means that if we only receive small things that we do not have sufficient hope for great things? 

Lord, please grant me the grace of a great hope, expectant wonder of experiencing the gifts of God to the fullest of my ability to joy and love and live. Amen.

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St. Nicholas, Advent Day 4

St. Nicholas has been my patron saint for the past year, a year in which I started off strong asking for his aid, but then gradually let slip my devotion to him.

As this year draws to a close, I find I must apologize to him.

I am deeply sorry for this lapse and indeed for the similar lapse in devotion to Our Lord and His Mother.

During the summer, our tourist oriented business is very busy (praise God) and I start off the busy season praying but gradually lapse as I focus on taking care of clients. 

Thank you for taking such good care of me this past year, St. Nicholas.

An interesting thing I discovered about you today is that your relics exude myhrr on this feast day. So cool.

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A Spiritual Toolbelt, Advent day 3

I was so disappointed in myself for my failure to upload my Advent day 2 reflection yesterday. I started it, saved it as a draft and even took a photo to accompany it...then just forgot to finish and didn't remember until the middle of the night. 

Today's reflections:

"The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him." ~Isaiah 11:2

Jesus had all the gifts of the Spirit that today's first reading from Isaiah mentions..the same gifts that we receive in the Sacrament of Confirmation:

"a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A Spirit of counsel and of strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord."

~Isaiah 11: 2-3

A reflection in "The Word Among Us" notes that these gifts are not merely abstract gifts, but practical gifts that fill our spiritual toolbelt so that we can navigate life.

I found that reflection interesting because as I am praying the Christmas Anticipation Prayer of St. Andrew, I have been praying that I be open to receive whatever gifts God wants to share with me and know how to use them.

This seems to answer that prayer already by letting me know that I have already received the best gifts of the Holy Spirit but need to use them in my daily life. More reflection needed on how to do this.

The other interesting reading today was on

today's Saint...Saint Sabas, known as the father of Eastern monasticism. 

He, as so many early spiritual leaders, lived in a desert cave while practicing prayer and penance. He became a priest and went on to found many monasteries.

Sometimes I have thought being a hermit would be a welcome refuge from life's travails. Surely, these devout and holy men and women utilized to the best of their abilities the tools in their spiritual toolbelts. 

What would living "in a desert cave" look like today?

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Advent, Day 2

"For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples." 

~Isaiah 2:3

The scripture verse that leaped out at me from today's readings is this one from Isaiah.

At first, in reading this passage, I wasn't aware of the personhood implied by "For from Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."

It took the next verse to show me that the Word would be judging nations and imposing terms. 

Because Jesus is the Word, it is He who will go forth from Jerusalem, filled with the Holy Spirit to give instruction in the Father's will and to judge nations rightly, imposing terms upon them.

The phrase "imposing terms" implies to me that the nations will be surrendering..."terms of surrender."

That filled me with hope because it is further prophetic evidence of the victory that will be won by the Babe that is coming soon, the Babe of Bethlehem.

Praise you, Lord, one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

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Advent 2017, Day 1

"Why do you let us wander, O Lord, from your ways..." ~Isaiah 63:17

From today's Psalm response: "Lord, make us turn to you."

I am struck by the opposition of these two Biblical readings. In the first, God LETS us wander away and in the second, we ask him to MAKE us turn to him.

The first seems to me more like the God I know. He doesn't want us to wander away and calls to us in many ways to keep us in His will, but if we choose to wander away from Him or ignore Him, He allows it.

Yet, in the response, we ask Him to MAKE us turn to him.

A prime example our weakness and our humanity.

I think deep down we really want to do God's will, but we often wander off, putting ourselves into difficult situations.

When we are facing difficult choices, we often want someone else to make the decision for us and who better than God?

Yet, the gift of free will is such a wise and loving one. Nothing coerced will have the same dedication as something of which we are convinced.

Lord, please fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I might never turn away from you and will remain watchful until your coming.

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Exchange

"Oh God, who by the wonderful exchange effected in this sacrifice have made us partakers of the one supreme Godhead, grant we pray, that, as we have cone to know your truth, we may make it ours by a worthy way of life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen" ~ prayer over the offerings

This is what jumped out at me today and what caused my heart to leap for joy. 

The exchange of Christ's goodness for my sorry sinfulness is what happened to me yesterday through Blessed Mother's intercession.

She has been granted the power from the Triune Godhead to take our sorry sinfulness and offer it in exchange it for the goodness and holiness of Christ, her son who died making this exchange possible.

And I think that once exchanged, our sinfulness becomes cleansed, and can then be sent from heaven as a blessing for others, perhaps specifically those whom I was having difficulty with yesterday.

Thank you Lord for allowing Blessed Mother to intercede for me in asking you to exchange my pitiful thoughts for thoughts that are noble and true. Amen

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The ugliness of sin

It never ceases to amaze me how easily I let go of the sweetness and wonder of Easter love.

This week, starting with Sunday, has been fraught with all types of ugliness and negativity spewing forth from my heart.

I have been so angry and judgemental with many people. I don't know why these thoughts are plaguing me now and why the anger seems to encompass everyone with whom I have had even a small disagreement but I start ranting against them in my mind and find myself growing angrier with each rant.

The ugliness of such sin is astounding to me. Astounding and appalling

At time like these, the only way out for me is to ask Blessed Mother to exchange my ugly pettiness for her love and understanding.

She always helps me through these times of ugliness with such love and generosity. I am so grateful for her help and love. Especially because it must be excruciatingly painful for her to take my ugliness and sinfulness and exchange it for her goodness.

During one particularly vile rant against a loved one, I wondered if these negative rants might be affecting those against whom they are directed? Does my negativity so expressed actually impact how that person is thinking, feeling?

What if such bad thoughts caused someone to harm another or themself because they don't know how to ask Our Lord or His mother to take the vileness from them?

Oh my Lord and my God, I am so sorry for any harm I may have caused any of your other children by my sinful thoughts and words against them, even if uttered in the silence of my heart. 

Forgive me. Amen

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Food for souls

Today's Gospel reading is the feeding of the 5000 with five barley loaves and two fishes.
The people were amazed at this and who wouldn't be interested in following someone with such power?
There is so much more to this story, however, that bears reflection.
Ultimately a story about the Eucharist and how Christ feeds us with his Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity each time we receive Him in the Eucharist, I am puzzled about why men and women who would follow so readily someone who feeds their bodies often balk at following someone who feeds their souls.
Thank you for giving us Your body as spiritual food to nourish us. Amen.

The Gift of Confirmation

Tonight I joined with other members of our parish as we celebrated the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament some of our younger parishioners.

Thank you, my Lord and God for calling these young people deeper into the light of your life, your glorious life.

Please bless them eith the outpouring of your most Holy Spirit and keep them in the way they should go.

Update: I should mention that because our newly appointed Bishop has not yet been installed and because the Dean could not make it to our small community, our parish priest was granted the authority to bestow the Sacrament of Confirmation on these young people.
Thank you, Almighty God and Father, for giving us the gift of priests and bishops to minister and shepherd to us on all our life journeys. Bless them with your protection and strengthen them to withstand the assaults of the devil as they witness to the life of Jesus in word and deed.
Amen.

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Praise and Thanksgiving

I will bless the Lord at all times. (Psalm 34:2)

There are such blessings being poured out upon mankind during this Easter season, and I thank you, Lord, for the many blessings you grant to me and also to the whole world.

I am fascinated with prophecy, especially end times prophecy. While I don't know if we are nearing the end times, it certainly seems that things are coming to a point where "something's got to give." 

The number of blasphemous attacks upon our Lord and His Blessed Mother as well as the Body of Christ--His disciples--grows daily it seems. 

With each new attack, our consciences become just a little more numb to the atrocities and it seems we slip further into the abyss.

Yet, there are still causes and reasons for praise to our Almighty God. We trust that You are able to bring good out of even the most horrible atrocity, Lord. And we thank and praise you for that.

Oh my Jesus! Please save us as things grow increasingly godless and demented. Please don't allow us to slip away from Your loving mercy and grace. Amen.

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Gifts of Divine Mercy

The thought occurred to me today that blind obedience as I understood it the other day, complete trust, is similar to trusting Our Lord or Our Lady to know what's best.

For example, I often offer prayers for my specific intentions or for the intentions that Our Lady deems most important, trusting her to apply whatever value there is in them to where the need is greatest.

Of course, I think the real value in doing so is that she then takes my puny offering and dresses it up, so to speak, so that it is more worthy.

In this light, I am able to view blind obedience as something good rather than something horrifying as it first sounded to me.

I consider this insight to have been a gift of Divine Mercy as well as the gift of spotting the blooms on the cactus. The gift of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also a gift of Divine Mercy.
The Lord is so good to me and I give Him thanks and praise for everything He allows in my life.
Thank you, my Lord. Amen.

Divine Mercy

I am longing for the sweetness of realizing God's Divine Mercy tomorrow on Divine Mercy Sunday.
I have eagerly prayed the Divine Mercy novena and know that God has oceans of mercy awaiting those most in need of His merciful, generous and bounteous love.
Oh, thank you my Lord.
You are so wonderful and I can't wait to celebrate tomorrow's Mass with, in and for You.
Amen.

Trust

As I was pondering the question I had yesterday regarding blind obedience, it came to me that one is able to blindly obey someone whom you trust completely.
So blind obedience goes hand in hand with trust.
That is both an answer and a personal failing, at least at this point. Because I am able to obey and trust in certain matters, yet I fall short in that I do not obey nor trust totally.
For that, my Lord, I ask that you might grant me the graces I need to do both..trust You so completely that I completely and totally would obey you in whatever situation arises.
I think there might be more to blind obedience that hasn't yet occurred to me, but for now I am hoping that I can learn total trust so that I might be able to obey, blindly or otherwise.
Thank you. I love you, Jesus and Blessed Mother. Amen.

Blind Obedience

"True devotion to Our Lady is holy; that is to say, it leads the soul to avoid sin and to imitate the virtues of the Blessed Virgin, particularly her profound humility, her lively faith, her blind obedience, her continual prayer, her universal mortification, her divine purity, her ardent charity, her heroic patience, her angelic sweetness and her divine wisdom. These are the ten principal virtues of the most holy Virgin."

—

 St. Louis De Montfort

Blind Obedience. That was the attribute of Our Lady that gave me pause today as I pondered upon the above quote by a

St. Louis De Montfort

I must consider it more because it is one of those things that initially fills me with horror.

Being blindly obedient is not something I am culturally inclined to want to imitate. So, please Blessed Mother and Dear God, one God in three divine persons...please show to me what this means to each of you. 

Thank you. Amen.

4

Alleluia

Alleluia Alleluia, hearts to heaven and voices raised
Alleluia Alleluia sing a song of joyful praise.
Thank you, God almighty for all the blessings you bestow.
You are my true love, my life, my salvation
Thank you! Alleluia, Amen!

Being Loved

I had an epiphany today about change.
I have struggled with many things over the years; smoking, drinking, eating, procrastination. But, when I  want to get past one of my addictions, it has always come much easier when I want to get beyond it because of love.
When I feel the love of God in my life and in my actions, the struggle to overcome seems so much easier.
I want to be free of things that separate me from the love of God and I do so much better in practicing disciplines that help me to overcome when I feel the love of God.
Thank you, my Lord and my God for loving me and filling me with such joy.

The one difficulty I seem to have is in maintaining the level of certain knowledge of Your love and how to get past the things that separate me from You.
It can be so easy to fall back into old ways and old habits and lose the sense of being loved and cherished by You.
Please grant to me the grace to keep this sense of love and joy.
Thank you.
Amen.

Easter Joy

"My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day." ~ Acts 2:29

It is precisely because there is no tomb for Christ...at least no tomb with bones...that I find makes a compelling argument for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We know of His temporary resting place but there is no body, no bones, and there hasn't been since three days after His death.

Moreover, He was seen by eyewitnesses. Lots of eyewitnesses. Alive and glorified. Alleluia!

Experiencing the sweetness of the fully alive and resurrected Christ in my life; meeting Jesus in the Eucharist; meeting Jesus in others; seeing Him and experiencing the sweetness of His love for me is something I want my children and grandchildren to know and cherish.
It is true love and it is "the hidden pearl" of great and stupendous value.

Oh my Jesus. Thank you so much for revealing Yourself to me in many varied and wonderful ways.
Thank you for this Easter joy.
Amen.

The Resurrection of Our Lord

The gift you gave me so many years ago on Easter, sweet Jesus was the following verse: John 17:20-21

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you sent me." NIV

You renewed that gift on this Easter, my Lord and I am so delighted and filled with Easter joy. Thank you, thank you.

Oh, the sweetness of knowing Your love us so much that You want to be one with us. How incredible this is, my Lord. 

I was stewing about an insult that You and I both also received this day by someone we both love-my daughter. 

She has been resisting Your love for her for some time. Today she was trying to give away a gift I gave her..the book "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young.

As I was praying for her and also seeking Your mercy for those who have held fast to the faith, the intentions specified for the third day of the Divine Mercy novena, I was filled with peace and joy.

You will give me the answers I must bequeath to my daughter and the grace to speak as You would speak to her. Thank you, sweet Jesus.

It was about this time that You granted to me the remembrance of our past Easters and renewed the commitment we have to love one another in You. You gave me the sign You have ever given to me when reminding me of this promise.

It is such a sweet gift my Jesus. Thank you. Thank you.

 

Holy Saturday

Today is a day of preparation for tbose of us who celebrate Easter tomorrow and that is how I have spent this day.
Working with my precious daughter to prepare a meal for our family, cleaning and cooking, we discussed our differing views on how things should be done.
It was sometimes tense because we seemed to be butting heads on everything, but it ultimately doesn't matter because I love her with the love of Christ and I pray daily for her salvation.
As I do all my children and grandchildren. I pray for them because I fear they do not realize how serious a matter it is that they have left the church and God for their worldly concerns.
Ah, my sweet Jesus, as you redeemed the souls from Hades this day, please grant to my children and grandchuldren the grace to live in Your love and find their way to You through the blessings and mercies offered through the Catholic Church.
Amen

Good Friday

"Yet it was our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed." ~ Isaiah 53: 4-5

Thank you, my Lord and my God for loving me so much that You willingly suffered the chastisement I should bear for my sins.
Help me Lord, my God to draw ever closer to You and to live as You would have me live.

3:00

The hour when blood and water gushed forth from the heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy for the whole world.

Wow. Just wow. Think about that for a minute. Mercy for the entire world, including all those we deem "enemies." Such sweet and powerful mercy that it is able to redeem the entire world and all of its inhabitants, past, present and future. Mercy that covers the entire gamut of our sins, failures, excesses and selfishness. Mercy.

Thank You for the extended period of mercy You have granted to us for the salvation of our souls. I pray that many souls will accept the gift of Your great mercy so they don't have to experience Your divine justice.

Thank You, sweet Jesus for giving us the gift of Your Mother, Blessed Mary, from the cross to be our mother. Help me to accord to her the respect, love and obedience that I cherish receiving as a mother myself and that I should always grant to her and to my mother and mother-in-law. Forgive me for the times I have neglected to do so.

Thank you for this day and the sacrifice of Your Son that we might become Your Sons and Daughters and so enter into eternal life with You, Your Son, the Holy Spirit, Blessed Mary and all the Angels and Saints.
Amen.

Maundy Thursday

My first reaction when asked to be one of the people who would have their feet washed during tonight's Mass was "No, not me. Surely there are others who would be better to receive this gift."
But then everything I read today seemed to be God calling out to me to receive the gift of being washed clean, having my feet washed by the humble priest on his knees.
It is a humbling experience and I am so delighted that I listened to the voice of God and gave my "fiat" to this wonderful honor.
Thank you, my Lord and my God for washing my feet that I might have all of you, that I might go forth along whatever path you have chosen for me.
Thank you. I am humbled and honored at the same time.

Spy Wednesday

I had never heard the term "spy Wednesday"  for the Midweek day before the Triduum of Easter begins but it was referred to that way in one of my readings.
Wednesday is the day when the chief priests and elders "spied" on Jesus to find a way to arrest him.
I wondered, too, if it was the day when Judas Iscariot made his deal with them for the betrayal of Jesus.
Much to ponder.

Counting My Blessings

There is so much to be thankful for in my life.

God has blessed me greatly in where I live, in my spouse and children, my parents and siblings, my in-laws and all of my family, friends and co-workers.

Lord, I thank You so much for all of these blessings.

I thank You for calling me to the Catholic Church and for all the priests whose gift of Holy Orders has so enriched my life.

Thank you for Blessed Mother and all the brothers and sisters in the saints and angels that You have allowed to love and intercede for me in my times of trouble and sorrow.

Thank You for my country and for the many blessings of living here.

Oh, my Lord! When I think of all I have to be thankful for and of all the blessings You have bestowed on me, I wonder if I am so blessed because I am not capable of withstanding some of the sorrows that seem to afflict the rest of the world?

How does it happen that I seem to have so little trouble in this world that is filled with more trouble and sorrow each day?

Even so, I give You thanks and praise my Lord and my God for all of the blessings listed here and also for those blessings of which I am unaware or have forgotten.
Thank you! Thank you!

I would be remiss if I didn't thank You for the one thing of which I am most appreciative each day...hot and cold running water. But most especially, hot running water that I so appreciate each time I step into the shower.
Thank You, my Lord and My God.

Please bless me with the grace to give up any and all of these blessings if it be Your most holy will. Lord grant me whatever strength and graces I need to accomplish my life's mission.
Amen.

Washed Clean

As we head into Holy Week it felt right to go to a penance service and confession,
in order to prepare myself for the extraordinary honor of being saved by the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh to maintain the cleanness of being washed clean in the Sacrament of Confession.
Oh what a gift is the Church Christ gave us to administer His Sacraments and help fill us with His grace.
I thank you, Lord, for this precious gift which has cleaned my heart in preparation for Your resurrection.
Would that I could stay clean forever so that Your coming into my heart would be so much sweeter.

Another photo day

A photo of one of the sites from my home.

The Final Approach

We draw nearer to the culmination of the long journey through Lent to the joyous day of Resurrection and Life.
Ah, what happiness lies before us as we witness to the love of our Lord by living lives worthy of this last week of happiness and torment.
Tomorrow is the Feast Day of Palm Sunday, marked by happy hosannas as Jesus enters into the city of Jerusalem.
Then later during this Holy Week  comes the institution of the Eucharist as the Christ offers His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity for our salvation.
And the indescribable pain and suffering of Good Friday, when He pays the price for our sins and disobedience.
Then, the utter desolation of thinking Him gone only to awaken on Easter Sunday morning with such joy as we begin to grasp that life, eternal life is ours, bought and paid for by our Lord and brother.
Ah, sweet Jesus.  Thank you for your love for us.
Help me to make a good final approach to that glorious day. Amen.

Mission

"Do you believe that God wants to work powerfully through you? That he wants to use you to help build his kingdom? People need to know God’s love and power. So many are suffering from wounds, both physical and emotional, and God has called us to offer them his healing touch!" ~ The Word Among Us reflection on daily reading

I pray that I might fulfill my mission, Lord.
Amen.

Whispers of War

Today, the U. S. fired missiles at an airbase in Syria in retaliation for the chemical bomb unleashed by someone upon Syrian people.
Some allege that the was unleashed upon civilians by the Syrian leader himself.

More than 80 people were killed in this atrocity.

I am so sad that this has happened.


Although there are many who claim the attack today was necessary and just, it seems like an empty gesture, something designed merely to show that our current president is not as feckless as the last U.S. president.

Yes, the missile attack today damaged the airbase and hopefully the chemical weapon depot as well. Perhaps that will be enough to discourage further attacks but I don’t know if it will because it purposefully was designed not to kill people.

I certainly do not wish for more people to be killed in this ugly war, but how do you stop a despot like the Syrisn leader by merely damaging his airfield? Will he not find a way to continue to lash out against anyone within reach?

Oh, my Lord Jesus. I pray for all the innocent people in Syria and the whole Middle East. I ask for your protection for them from all the forces of war arranged against them.
Lord, protect the world. I know we do not deserve your Mercy but I pray You will be merciful. Lord, spare us from your judgment. Amen.

Weakness

"Your weakness is not a deterrent to being filled with My Spirit; on the contrary, it provides an opportunity for My Power to shine forth more brightly." ~ Excerpt from April 5 reflection, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

After reading more prophecy today I was pondering just how often and how badly I have failed You, my Lord and My God.
In an attempt to satiate my hunger for You, I began poring through all the inspirational books I have, trying to come up with something to inspire and comfort me.
I finally read the above and it did just that. Thank you for guiding me to just exactly what I needed this day.
Help me also to strive to always be an instrument You can use to bring others to you. I love you.
Amen.

The Army of God

"O Holy Mary! My Mother; into thy blessed trust and special custody, and into the bosom of thy mercy, I this day, and every day, and in the hour of my death, commend my soul and body. To thee I commit all my anxieties and sorrows, my life and the end of my life, that by thy most holy intercession, and by thy merits, all my actions may be directed and governed by thy will and that of thy Son."

— St. Aloysius Gonzaga

It is such a wonderful thing, to know that the Mother of God is always there to help us get closer to her Son. 

What a wonderful commander we have to lead us into heaven.

Thank you, sweet and beautiful Mother.

Help me to do better tomorrow in my Lenten journey. Thank you for saying Yes to God. Amen.