Left to Die Alone

~~~ Jonah 1:1-2:1-2, 11 ~~~ Psalm Jonah 2:3, 4,5,8 ~~~

~~~ Luke 10: 25-37 ~~~

You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.

Jonah was tossed from the boat, swallowed by a big fish

and the stormy seas became calm.

The mariners on the boat were spared because 

Jonah admitted he was the most probable cause of the disturbance.

God will open Jonah's eyes while he is overboard...

outside the safety of the boat.

Jesus uses a Samaritan, 

in the gospel, to drive home the point of his story.

Who will stop to care for the victim on the side of the road?

Not the priest, nor the Levite, but the Samaritan is the one 

who renders aid to the stranger.

Samaritans were the enemies of the Jews in that time period.

This does get the attention of the young lawyer.

The Samaritans, in the eyes of a Jew, were lesser human beings.

They were considered to be like 'dogs'.

Jesus is always drawing us to something bigger...

He paints the picture of the Samaritan as acting with kindness

 and compassion toward this injured stranger.

It is the Samaritan who is showing how to love beyond.

Who are you most like...

do you cross to the other side of the road

to avoid that which makes you feel uncomfortable?

What frightens you when you begin to face the question,

 Who is your neighbor?

It is up to you to take a closer look at all of your neighbors,

not just the ones who share similar life views.

The Samaritan showed great mercy in caring for this stranger.

They did not know one another and yet the Samaritan

 left extra financial aid to be used in his absence. 

God calls us to look farther than our eyes can see.

Looking farther requires to look through 

the unfiltered eyes of the heart.

Can you see through these unfiltered lens?

Blessings to show mercy to those left on the side of the road...

the less fortunate...those left to suffer deteriorate...

those left to die alone.

~~~Peace~~~

If...Then

~~~Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time ~~~

~~ Genesis 2:18-24 ~~ Psalm 128 ~~ Hebrews 2:9-11 ~~ 

~~~ Mark 10:2-16 ~~~

...what God has joined together,

no human being must separate.

Traditional marriage between one man 

and one woman 

has recently been challenged.

God made each man and each woman

 in his likeness...

to love and serve him...

to be loved by him...the creator.

Same sex couples are given

 the same blessings by God.

Marriage to me will always mean 

a union between man and woman..

male and female. 

It is the concept and interpretation 

of the word marriage that I want to preserve.

The union between two persons of the same sex 

may certainly be blessed by God,

but perhaps we should have called

 this union something special...a new word.

We create new words for the English language every year.

By using the same word it seems 

to imply that it is the same relationship...

clearly it is a completely unique and different relationship.

May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.

The Lord blesses all the days of our life no matter who we are...

no matter who we love.

He also blesses us throughout our lives.

We receive blessings for each stage of our life,

for at each stage we need different blessings.

Blessings to find the right partner...

Blessings to grow together in relationship...

Blessings to foster and rear a family...

Blessings for our aging years...

Blessings for the surviving spouse.

These are just a few of the days of our lives.

If we love one another, God remains in us

and his love is brought to perfection in us.

This verse gives us much to for reflection.

This is an 'if...then' verse...

cause and effect.

Love is the critical link...

If we do not love all people than God's love 

can not be brought to perfection in us.

God is love.

We have this same love in us..

how can we deny it to others?

This post only reflects my personal perspective

on the meaning of marriage.

It is not meant to judge or condemn anyone.

God blesses all the days of your life

just as he blesses the days of all of his creatures...

men and women.

~~~Peace~~~

Pope Francis Inspires...

~~~ Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~~~

~~~ Numbers 11:25-29 ~~~ Psalm 19 ~~~ 

~~~ James 5:1-6 ~~~ Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 ~~~

...the decree of the LORD is trustworthy,

giving wisdom to the simple.

Instead of writing this post I have been mesmerized

 by the broadcast of Pope Francis at the 

Festival of the Families in Philadelphia. 

The words of wisdom from the Pope inspires families everywhere.

Before God created the world he was love..

The love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was so

great that he created the world.

God created the world to be a place of love.

Jesus came into a family.

The family is love...

the family is the best expression of love.

The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

Pope Francis inspires us to rise above 

whatever is wrong in ourselves, our families,

 our country, and our world.

Pope Francis invites us to be better...

to be more than we think we can be...

to live up to the potential God has planted within our soul.

 ...whoever is not against us is for us.

Pope Francis walks the talk with joy in his heart.

Because we see his joy we are inspired

to latch on to this same joy.

Thank you God for sending us your humble servant,

our beloved Pope Francis.

Pope Francis speaks from the heart...

a heart fertile with his great love for the Lord.

We are Blessed to have him visiting here in our country.

He truly is the People's Pope.

~~~Peace~~~

Pay Attention...

~~~ Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15A ~~~ (Psalm) Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12AB, 13 ~~~

~~~ Luke 9:43B-45 ~~~

I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the LORD,
and I will be the glory in her midst.

Every year we see the terrific wild fires.
They race across the land consuming all in the path of the flames.
The Lord tells the prophet that his fire will be one of protection.
The Lord's fire will create a wall circling around Jerusalem.

This will be a time of great joy...
a time to sing and dance.
The Lord will come to dwell with the people;
he will be the glory in their midst.

The Lord continues to live among us...with us...
the glory of his presence is with us even today.

Do you recognize the glory of the Lord
in our world today?

The Lord continues to encircle us with us...
not with fire but with his great love and protection.
This is the permanent yet invisible protection he extends to you.

Jesus said to his disciples,
“Pay attention to what I am telling you.
The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” 

Jesus was speaking to those physically present before him,
but his command to pay attention
is relevant for us today.

Unfortunately some still do not understand
the significance of the actions of Jesus.

His death overcame the darkness of sin.
His death becomes the glory that lives with us.
You participate in this glory if you so chose.

We have the opportunity to share the glory of God
every day as we engage with our neighbors.

Allow yourself to always be amazed by the Lord.
Our Lord, who has power to tame the flames of fire
forming them into a protective circle.

Our Lord, who defied death
to bring us to everlasting life with him.

There is nothing greater than the glory of God.
It is more than we can comprehend...
greater than the sun...
more powerful than fire and water.

"Pay Attention..."
there is more to come...
you do not want to miss what God has planned for you.

Jesus destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.

Blessings to be the heart and soul
of the glory of the Lord.

~~~Peace~~~

Why Ask the Question?

~~~ Haggai 2:1-9 ~~~ Psalm 43 ~~~ Luke 9:18-22 ~~~

 ...my spirit continues in your midst;
do not fear!

Once again today's gospel contains the question...
Who do you say that I am?
This question along with your personal answer
must be taken seriously.
Jesus did not ask this question in the rhetorical manner.
Jesus asks this question of all his people.
He expects your answer.

If Jesus were to abandon us now that our salvation has been secured,
there would be no need for you to answer the question.

However, the reality is that Jesus
'continues in our midst'.
His spirit is with you always...
until the end of time.

We are reminded so often to consider our answer to his question,
because we live in an ever changing environment.

Jesus remains the "Christ of God".
He is the anointed one sent down to us by the Father.

The apostles and the people of the day
recognized there was something very different about Jesus.

It was Peter who was able to verbalize the truth
about Jesus.

It is good for your soul to keep your
answer to his question on the surface of your heart
so that your soul has constant access.

You must know your answer...
no matter when you are asked.

It is the ever present spirit of Jesus
 that solidifies your answer.

The essence of Jesus is permanent,
but our relationship with him is often a work in progress.

Hold on to who you believe Jesus is for you...
do not fear when your conviction is challenged.
Write in your journal who Jesus is to you.

When you are feeling unsure or insecure
in your life journey 

return to this page and read your
own words aloud to yourself.

You are not alone...
Jesus will never abandon you.
His spirit is always with you...
always Blessing you.
In your heart you do know who Jesus is.

~~~Peace~~~

God Bless Pope Francis
 as he continues his historic visit
in America.
He is truly showing who Jesus
 is for all of us to witness.

Consider Your Ways!

~~~ Haggai 1:1-8 ~~~ Psalm 149 ~~~ Luke 9:7-9 ~~~

Consider your ways!

Herod had John the Baptist killed while he was intoxicated.
Later, when he was sober, the guilt of his sin began to haunt him.
He was mentally tormented from what he was hearing about Jesus.

Herod heard things and saw things but the sad state of his soul
prevented comprehension.
Herod needed to 'consider his ways'
but he could not do it.

His guilt was so great that it overpowered his mind.
Herod was unable to think straight,
even without being under the influence of alcohol.

We too can become intoxicated with our own sins.
We too can become intoxicated with our guilt.

The invitation for us today is from the book of Haggai.
Consider your ways!

What needs to change in your life?
This is the time to overcome any residual guilt
that lingers in your soul.

 The Lord takes delight in his people.

We have the most loving and forgiving God.
There is no reason...no excuse
to harbor guilt within your heart.

Herod could not find a way to rid his heart of guilt,
but you have Jesus...you know Jesus.
Bring any guilt you have to Jesus;
he is ready to lift it from your soul.

The Lord takes delight in his people.

He is waiting for you to consider your ways
 so that you can believe that Jesus takes delight in you.

Herod clung to his troubled heart,
but you have an alternative choice.

Blessed to have a God
who takes delight in you.

~~~Peace~~~

Cause for Bright Eyes

~~~ Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest ~~~

Padre Pio

~~~Ezra 9:5-9 ~~~TOBIT 13:2, 3-4A, 4BEFGHN, 7-8~~~

~~~ Luke 9:1-6 ~~~

...mercy came to us from the LORD, our God,

who left us a remnant and gave us a stake in his holy place;

thus our God has brightened our eyes...

You are invited to recognize and accept God's mercy for us.

The mercy which comes from God is greater than you can imagine.

When the mercy of God is allowed to live in your 

heart your eyes too can be brightened.

There is a saying that the eyes are the window to the soul.

Your eyes reveal much about your state of mind.

Consider the eyes of one who is happy...

they seem to dance and twinkle.

In contrast consider the eyes of one who

 is grieving, in pain, or depressed...

they are often dull, distant, and fixed.

Everything about your relationship with God gives

cause for your eyes to be bright.

The love and mercy you receive from God 

must escape from your soul as joy.

...shake the dust from your feet...

Whatever seems to rob you of joy;

turn and walk away.

What you cannot change you must leave behind...

just as Jesus advises the Apostles.

There are many times,

if you could just remember these six little words

your day would be much better.

I leave you today with these beautiful words of Padre Pio...

Prayer is the best weapon that we possess.

It opens the heart of God.

Don't allow any sadness to dwell in your soul,

for sadness prevents the Holy Spirit from acting freely.

In the spiritual life, you must take one step forward each day

 in a vertical line, from the bottom up.

Pray, pray to the Lord with me, 

the whole world needs prayer...

You are Blessed with numerous resources 

to help you shake the dust from your feet.

Today you have Saint Padre Pio...

pray for us.

~~~Peace~~~

Celebrating Pope Francis' visit to America.

Cause for happiness that shines 

brightly from your eyes.