He Looks Down

~~~ Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr ~~~

~~~ Ephesians 1:11-14 ~~~ Psalm 33 ~~~ Luke 12:1-7 ~~~

There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.

There is no way to keep something hidden forever.
You may be familiar with the saying...
you can fool some of the people all of the time,
but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.

Unfortunately our media is caught up in reporting that is less
 than accurate or too biased thus leading to mis-information.
We have instant social media that spews
out stuff without getting all of the facts clear.

The word of God is truly living word.
Who could have guessed when the Gospel for today was chosen
 that we would be in the midst of a health crisis with a deadly virus.

Too many of the entities involved may have not been
 as forth coming with the facts as might have believed.

Things that were said in private are now coming into the public domain.

Why did the nurses not have the best protective
covering when they did their job?

The concerns and fears spoken behind closed doors
are being proclaimed on the rooftops...the numerous
news reports from those closest to the situation.

Do not be afraid.

Really tough words to fully embrace depending
 on where you are in the country today.

This may sound crazy but I believe it was a hidden blessing
for us to have had our first case of Ebola here,
because in light of all that has happened our health care system
 has had a giant wake up call.

this wake up call will certainly make a huge difference going forward.
I join others in praying for the full recovery of those
health care workers who have been infected.

From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind.

God sees all, knows all, and cares for each of us.
He has counted all the hairs on our head...
he loves...he knows what is best for us.

I invite you to read Psalm 63 today.

http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/63

This psalm expresses the intimate relationship between God and us.
My soul clings fast to you;
your right hand upholds me. Ps. 63:9

The Lord is with us we shall not want...
Be not afraid...

In him you also, who have heard the word of truth,
the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit...

God is with us, he is watching over us.
Not even the best mother has knowledge
of the number of hairs on the head of their child.
But God does know.
Put your trust in the Lord and be not afraid.

Stand in the light...proclaim from the rooftops...
The kindness of the Lord fills the Earth.
We continue to be Blessed even when
 we have questions that trouble our hearts.

Place complete trust in the Lord...
there are no coincidences only opportunities
 to view God's hand at work.

~~~Peace of Christ be with you.~~~

Look for the Hidden Blessings

~~~ 1Cor 7:25-31 ~~~ Psalm 45 ~~~ Luke 6:20-26 ~~~

 

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:
"Blessed are you............"

 

Life is funny; the more you have the more you want.

There is always something more we can convince ourselves we 'need'.

 

The reading today focus on blessings.

Many famous and wealthy people are not happy with their life.

They have everything money can buy...houses, cars, exotic vacations,

cosmetic surgical procedures.

Yet the one thing they cannot seem to purchase is peace of heart.

 

We are being invited to day to look at our life from a different viewpoint.

That is; 'How is our life filled with blessings from God?'

 

God blesses each person according to their own needs.

It does not matter if you are married, single, widowed,

ruler, pauper, farmer, factory worker.

 

We all have blessings given just to us.

 

The readings today place our blessings in the balance scale.

So many times in my life God has surprised me with unexpected blessings.

Getting a new position at work, bringing a special person

into my life at just the right time,

showing me a solution to a problem are just a few examples.

 

Sometimes we cannot see our blessings until they disappear.

Once they are gone we realize

they were indeed a blessing we sadly took for granted.

When you are in turmoil it is much harder to see those blessings.

 

Why would someone who just lost all of their belongings

in a hurricane view it as blessing?

But surprisingly some are able to view even that situation as a blessing.

They are able to concentrate on what they do have;

mainly their life and the lives of loved ones.

 

Often what we perceive as the important blessings

turn out to be burdensome.

Luke is saying be aware that things have a way of changing.

Do not get caught up in believing your blessings

can or should only look a certain way.

Instead become a person who can weather all circumstances

with the focus on the all-inclusive blessings.

The package deal, blessings come with pain and sorrow.

 

"Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!

 

For you will truly realize just how blessed you are

if you can make all things blessings.

 

 

I friend once told me to look for the hidden blessings each day.

How wise are her words.

This is a much better way to live.

Having more and more material things does not give us a blessed life. 

 

There are blessings in your life right now...

some may be like tiny sparks while others may be larger than life itself.

Can you see them?

Will you look for them?

How will you respond to the blessings of today?

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:
"Blessed are you............"