Are You Looking Back?

~~~ Genesis 19:15-29 ~~~ Psalm 26 ~~~ Matthew 8:23-27 ~~~

Search me, O LORD, and try me;

test my soul and my heart.

The angel was sent to warn Lot to take his family and leave
before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.
God spared Lot because in searching his heart
God found Lot to be a good man.

As they were fleeing the city
they were warned not to look back.
Don’t look back or stop anywhere on the Plain.

But Lot’s wife looked back, 
and she was turned into a pillar of salt.

Why did Lot's wife look back?
Did she not trust Lot?
Did she not believe the admonition from the angel?

It can be difficult to walk away
from a situation without looking back.
We are curious by nature. 

Did Lot's wife want to see the disaster
God was raining down upon her hometown?

Today we have the news media to satisfy
 our curiosity for disasters.

Looking back keeps us from freely moving forward.
When we hold on to the past our growth is stunted.
When we hold on to the past we put ourselves
 into a position of constantly comparing,

In looking back we deprive ourselves
of the present happiness.
Lot's wife needed
to look forward
because God was saving her family.

Lot's wife could not let go of their former life.
She doubted the plans God had for her and her family.
If she had trusted her husband she would have
 kept her eyes on him.

Through the mercy of God our past sins are forgiven...
we are advised to not look back.
We are told to go and sin no more.

May you be Blessed
to move forward on your journey to eternal salvation.

~~~Peace~~~

What is Your Answer?

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 12:1-11 ~~~ Psalm 34 ~~~

~~~ 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 ~~~ Matthew 16:13-19 ~~~

“But who do you say that I am?”

Jesus asks Peter this question during 

one of their many conversations.

This is the same question you must answer.

Before you can answer this question 

you must know who you are first.

How you answer may vary depending on where you are in your life.

How you answer may even depend on who is listening.

Peter began his answer by telling Jesus 

what the community was saying.

Jesus pressed Peter into going within his own heart.

Jesus wanted to know what was in the mind and heart of Peter.

If Peter was to head the church after Jesus returned to the Father,

Jesus needed to know exactly who Peter thought Jesus was in his heart.

How can you reach out to others in the name of Jesus

if you do not know who he is in your own life?

For generations those who follow Jesus

 must eventually answer the question.

Unless you are confident in your belief of who Jesus is

you will forever find yourself in situations

that cause conflict in your heart.

Who Jesus is remains constant until the end times.

I invite you to take some time today

to visit your answer to this question.

Is your answer dependent on things going your way?

Is your answer different in good times and in bad times?

Saints Peter and Paul were vigilant about their answer.

They kept their faith in Jesus alive in their hearts.

We are invited to do the same.

Blessings from the One Lord and God.

Blessings from the One who is always with you.

Blessings from the One who loves you into being.

~~~Peace~~~

Twelve and Twelve

~~~ Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~~~

~~~ Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24 ~~~ 

~~~Psalm 30 ~~2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15~~ Mark 5:21-43 ~~~

“Daughter, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

I have written here on this blog
many times about this Gospel story.
It is one of my favorites.

This story has something for everyone...
man, woman, adult, child, young, old,
lengthy illness, sudden illness,
military, civilian and much more
than I even realize today.

The story begins with Jairus coming to Jesus on behalf
of his own daughter who has taken ill.

He risked a great deal by stepping
away from the military protocol.

In the crowd was the woman with the blood issue.
She had lived her last twelve years as an outcast...unclean.
She was not allowed to associate with others.
She also risked a great deal by mingling
with the crowd on the street that day.

Perhaps she felt that she could get lost
within the crowd and gradually work her way close enough
 to reach the hem of Jesus' garment.

She had no idea that Jesus would be able to detect the power
 of healing releasing from his body.

The soldier had no way of knowing that the very call
from the lips of Jesus would restore life to his daughter.

 “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”

The little girl of twelve had her whole life ahead of her.
The adult woman had been suffering for twelve years.
She had lost twelve years of her life.

The soldier interceded for his daughter.
The woman came to Jesus on her own behalf.

God recognizes and responds to our faith.
He also reminds us that there is no need
 to have fear when we have our faith.

Faith will sustain us when fear is trying to weaken our spirit.

“Do not be afraid; just have faith.”

This verse is important for us today.
No matter what you are facing in your life today
the faith you have in God is stronger.

Blessed in times of greatest need.
~~~Peace~~~

Experience the Marvelous

~~~ Genesis 18:1-15 ~~~ 

~~~ (Psalm) LUKE 1:46-47, 48-49, 50 AND 53, 54-55 ~~~

~~~ Matthew 8:5-17 ~~~

He took away our infirmities 

and bore our diseases.

Three visitors came to the tent of Abraham.

They too confirmed that Sarah would indeed conceive 

and bear a son in spite of her old age.

Sarah laughed as I would as well.

A woman is only able to conceive a child while her body

 is producing the proper hormones. 

Is anything too marvelous for the LORD to do?

These three men reminded Abraham and Sarah

that when God enters into the picture

things may not follow the expected rules.

God's plans are not bound by even the laws of nature.

In our hearts we do believe that God can do anything,

this is our motivation for many of our prayers.

We turn to God when we are presented 

with impossible situations.

Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;

only say the word and my servant will be healed.

At every Eucharistic celebration we come to the table 

of the Lord with all of our infirmities, shortcomings, and desires.

We humbly acknowledge that we are not worthy 

to receive the Lord into our bodies.

At the same time, in faith, we trust that God 

will enter into our soul with his healing presence. 

We believe that he does marvelous things...

things we could never dream possible.

God will always be God

even when he does not respond to our liking.

It must be our faith that carries us forward into our doubts.

Without faith the centurion would not have asked 

Jesus to heal his servant.

It is this same faith that we pray before 

receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist.

May our marvelous God

continue to Bless you in all ways.

~~~Peace~~~

Daily Presence

~~~ Genesis 17:1, 9-10, 15-22 ~~~ Psalm 128 ~~~ Matthew 8:1-4 ~~~

God further said to Abraham:

“As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai;

her name shall be Sarah.

In Biblical times when God changes your name

 he has chosen you for a special purpose.

This is what happens with Abraham's wife Sarai.

God had a plan for Sarai to bear a son, Isaac.

Nice plan, but Sarai was way beyond her child bearing years.

Until now she had been infertile.

Until now she had long given up any dreams of giving birth.

Until now Abraham had accepted their inability to conceive.

But now God revealed his plan to Abraham 

beginning with changing Sarai's name to Sarah.

God's plan was for Abraham and Sarah 

to pass on to their descendants God's covenant.

I will maintain my covenant with him as an everlasting pact,

to be his God and the God of his descendants after him.

It was important that God's covenant with Abraham

 be passed down through his blood line.

Of course Abraham laughed even as he

 was prostrating before God.

He and Sarah were both too 

old to have any children.

God calls each of us to be his own.

Your name or your age is no issue for God.

God's desire for us is to be

 in his presence all the days of our life.

Blessings today as you stay close to the Lord.

~~~Peace~~~

Spring in the Wilderness

~~~ Genesis 16: 6B-12, 15-16 ~~~ Psalm 106 ~~~ Matthew 7:21-29 ~~~

Abram, Sarai, and the other woman, Hagar.

For ten years Sarai had been unable to conceive 

and bear a son for Abram.

As was the ancient custom Sarai gave her slave

 to her husband to conceive in her place.

Sarai was infertile and frustrated.

This was seen as a disgrace and completely 

the fault of the woman.

Sarai took her maid, Hagar the Egyptian,

and gave her to her husband Abram to be his concubine.

The decision to give her slave to her husband eventually

caused problems between the women.

Hagar knew about Sarai's infertility

 and consequently judged her.

Sarai becomes angry when Hagar 

successfully conceives a child with Abram.

Even though this was Sarai's idea she grew

 increasingly jealous of Hagar.

Abram gave her his consent to discipline 

Hagar...abuse her.

“Your maid is in your power.

Do to her whatever you please.”

Sometimes we make decisions 

that later we wished we had not made.

Sarai had not anticipated her own feelings

 when offering Hagar to her husband.

It was not possible for her to anticipate how she would feel 

if her slave conceived with her husband.

Once Hagar was with child there 

was no turning back for Sarai,

One day when Hagar could take no more she ran away.

The LORD’s messenger found her by a spring in the wilderness...

The messenger from the Lord found Hagar
in the wilderness beside a spring of living water.
Although Hagar was feeling all was lost even though
she was with child
God sent a messenger to her.

This spring of water was in the wilderness.

Even in the wilderness God finds a way to speak to our heart.
The waters of the spring were signs of life and hope.

Hagar returned and gave birth to Abram's son, Ishmael.

God makes all things work toward good.

May you be Blessed with a spring
in the wilderness of your life.
~~~ Peace~~~

Internal Reset

~~~ Nativity of Saint John the Baptist ~~~

~~~ Isaiah 49:1-6 ~~~ Psalm 139 ~~~ 

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 13:22-26 ~~~

~~~ Luke 1:57-66, 80 ~~~

John heralded his coming 

by proclaiming a baptism of repentance

to all the people of Israel...

John the Baptist was chosen by God 

from his conception to prepare the way of Jesus.

His parents never had to wonder who John would become,

although they were still skeptical.

Every year as we celebrate this feast

 it is a reminder of how God's plan to save us.

It is a time to reset our direction.

John pointed the way to Jesus.

John pointed the way to the New Testament.

John pointed the way to salvation.

John new that his place in life

 was to prepare the people for something new.

He went into the desert to prepare himself...

to empty himself of any selfish desires 

he might have encountered.

Recently my cell phone required me

 to reset the internal 'gps' system.

The direction indicated I should rotate

 the phone side too side then forward and backward.

Somehow these actions would reset 

the internal device location system.

Today as we commemorate the feast of John the Baptist

let it be a time for you to reset your direction

toward Jesus.

John went through his life with one purpose...

proclaiming the coming of the one who would 

release us all from the snares of sin.

When our intention is to also lead others to Jesus

we can be humble like John.

John knew that his calling was never

 for his personal honor and glory.

John knew his entire life was to be 

who the Lord had chosen him to be...

John was chosen to be holy...clothed in humility.

You have also been chosen to be holy.

May the Blessings of God

help us to lead others back to him.

Saint John the Baptist,

pray for us.

~~~Peace~~~

Narrow or Wide Path?

~~~ Genesis 13:2, 5-18 ~~~ Psalm 15 ~~~ Matthew 7:6, 12-14 ~~~

Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.

This is only works well if you have a healthy respect for yourself.
If you abuse yourself then it is less likely for you to respect others.
Loving others begins with loving yourself.

If you are negative with yourself then you will be inclined
 to be negative toward others.
Treating others with respect begins within
and radiates out to others.
If we are cultivating peace within our heart
then we will extend peace toward others.

How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.

Why is it so difficult to find this road?
Is it disguised? It is overgrown with weeds?
Is it too challenging?

The easier wider path ultimately leads
 away from the narrow gate we must pass through.
It fools us because it appears to be the more traveled path.

The narrow gate...is it only wide enough for one way traffic?
The constricted road may only be worn foot path.
A foot path in the woods is easy to miss.

There are no road signs...no direction markers.

If you strive to treat others with love and respect,
when you die the narrow path will exist just for you.

Suddenly you will be able to see clearly.
Perhaps the path will be illuminated,
life the airport runway.

Take time to care for yourself...to love yourself
so that you will be able to love others more purely.

There is no 'yellow brick' road to heaven,
but there is a path that leads us to the gate.
When you pass through the gate

the path becomes your only choice.
You will be on your way home to heaven.

Once again the choice is yours...
will you take the well worn path or the narrow less traveled one?
How you treat yourself and how you treat others
 is a good indication of which one you are choosing.

May God bless you with
the ability to find the narrow path of eternal life.

~~~Peace~~~

Whittle the Beam

~~~ Genesis 12:1-9 ~~~ Psalm 33 ~~~ Matthew 7:1-5 ~~~

...remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.

It is best to clean your own house before
expecting others to clean their house.
We can fall into the habit of being critical of others
while excluding our own faults.

We are used to seeing the big picture of our lives.
We often make excuses for how we are...
how we act...what we say.

There was a woman who was always
complaining about everything all the while failing to see
those good things in her life.

This gospel is about judging others mainly for their faults.
We are so fast to criticize another person...
Their words, actions, even how they dress
 and their physical appearance.
When we look beyond, there we will find their essence.

...the measure with which you measure 

will be measured out to you...

To me this is just another way of stating the golden rule
of doing unto others...

If you judge you will be judged.
If you view others as you would want them to view you
everything changes.
Judging others is a self-centered waste of your time.

I invite you to look for that which is good in others.
If we can learn to be honest with ourselves
we will be able to see those around us differently.

In life the only person we can truly change is yourself.
As we come into a closer relationship with God
he alone can teach us how to whittle down
the beam in our soul.

As we chip away at the beam in our eye
the splinters in the eye of our neighbor will
no longer be a bother for us. 

Chipping away at your own beam is the only way
to see beyond the splinters in the eyes of others.

This takes time...whittling is tedious...
it takes patience and attention.

May God Bless you
with an understanding heart.

~~~Peace~~~

Father's Day...a Celebration of Love

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

~~~ Job 38:1, 8-11 ~~~ Psalm 107 ~~~ 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 ~~~

~~~ Mark 4:35-41 ~~~

The love of Christ impels us...

Father's Day is a celebration of this love.
 It is this love of Christ that compels us to love not just our children,
but others who come across our path.
A strong desire to love has been instilled deep within our heart.

For some it may not be realized in its true
depth until they have a child.
The love a father has for his child explodes within his heart.
This love compels a father to have the strength
to lay down his life for his children.

...whoever is in Christ is a new creation...

Every time we see the sleeping Jesus in our boat
we must renew our faith.
Every time we renew our faith
the possibility of a new creation
can then become a reality.

Even though Jesus is asleep in the boat...
even though you may feel as if you are about to perish;
the sleeping Jesus is with you.

May the God who commands the wind and sea to be still
bless you to day and every day.

~~~ Peace ~~~

God Bless all Father's
and those who are father figures in our life.

The Color of Grace

~~~ 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 ~~~ Psalm 34 ~~~ Matthew 6:24-34 ~~~

“My grace is sufficient for you,

for power is made perfect in weakness.”

The beautiful message today is 

God will provide all that you need.

It is not useful to worry or to be anxious.

The grace of God will meet you where you are.

His grace will make up for all that is lacking in you.

His grace will place people in your life for your good.

He is not seeking those who are already perfect,

but rather those who are on the journey.

Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.

Every season God paints our land with the colors

 of the wild flowers.

These flowers spread across fields

 with yellow, red, blue and white.

They remind me of how grace comes into our life.

His grace is sufficient, but it also changes depending on our needs.

If grace came in colors it would be like the wild flowers.

The many colors and forms of wild flowers

are like the many forms of grace we receive.

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

We are surrounded by the goodness of God;

grace is one way it is manifest to us.

Enjoy the good things of today.

Look for the way in which God is making 

visible to you his goodness and grace.

Taste and see...

His grace is sufficient...

Enjoy the wild flowers...their lovely colors...

their beauty across the fields.

God's grace is more beautiful than a field covered in flowers.

Do not waste your time and energy with worry.

Let the flowers be a sign of his love for you.

May the grace of God

saturate your soul.

May you be Blessed to taste and see

His goodness.

~~~Peace~~~

Pile of Hardships

~~~ 2 Corinthians 11:18, 21-30 ~~~ Psalm 34 ~~~ Matthew 6:19-23 ~~~

...store up treasures in heaven...

Whatever trials, tribulations or hardships

 we endure during our life they are not in vain.

Our suffering while here on earth 

is building up treasure for us in heaven.

Paul endured much suffering while

 he was ministering to the people.

He was tortured, imprisoned, beaten and starved

just to name a few of his hardships.

Paul never gave up he remained true to his calling...

he was resolved to do the will of God.

He believed that the reward for his faithfulness 

would come in the next life...

his life in heaven.

Consider this vision for a moment.

As you go through life with various hardships,

eventually many of them pass.

Suppose these difficulties where to be set in a pile?

Every time a hardship comes along 

I invite you to mentally put it

 into your personal 'pile of hardships'.

As time progresses some of your piles may be quite high.

Perhaps some are toppling off the sides

falling to the ground just to be noticed once again.

Some may be poking out the side of the pile.

...store up treasures in heaven... 

What if when we get to heaven, when our eyes are opened,

we discover that all of these things have been transformed.

What if what we believed to be hardships 

were actually turning to gold.

If we could only see the true beauty of our hardships

maybe we would not be so reluctant to accept them.

The treasures we store up in heaven 

are directly related to our life here on earth.

Whatever trials you are experiencing 

God will turn into gilded blessings.

There will be no more tears and suffering in heaven.

May God teach us to see our hardships

as building up our treasure in heaven.

~~~Peace~~~

Pray with Attention

~~~ 2 Corinthian 11:1-11 ~~~ Psalm 111 ~~~ Matthew 6:7-15 ~~~

...do not babble...

Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Jesus gives us the His prayer in response to the

disciples confusion about how to pray.

The Lord's Prayer is so perfect that we teach it to little children.

Before they can know whet the words mean they recite this prayer.

For us as adults we have to be cautious to pray the 

Our Father with understanding.

How many times have you said the words,

without thinking about their meaning?

Is that what it means to babble?

If our prayers become so automatic

 that they no longer hold meaning...

are they then just babble?

It is up to us to make sure that our common prayers

 do not become common babble.

When we rush through our prayers

 we cannot be praying with the right attention.

Is it more important to say as many prayers as possible

 in a prescribed time or is it better to slowly 

say just a few prayers?

How long do you think it takes you to say the Our Father?

Today, I invite you to truly pray the Our Father.

As you begin consider who the Father is to you.

Why is just his spoken name so precious?

How do you feel about his kingdom?

How often do you embrace his will in your life?

Do you trust in his promise to provide all that you need?

Then comes the toughest part...

forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those 

who trespass against us.

How different this prayer would be if 

Jesus had not included this part.

Jesus knew that we would need his help to keep away

 from the ever changing temptations of this world.

The evil one is very adept at morphing 

into constant forms of temptations.

So do not let your prayers turn into 

thoughtless babble.

Pray with attention and intention.

Pray so as to allow the words to transform you.

Pray to keep your connection with God current.

Babble soon becomes distant and stale.

Babble becomes routine and thoughtless.

Blessed to be given this special prayer

from Jesus himself.

Pray with Attention.

~~~Peace~~~

Gratitude and Grace

~~~ 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 ~~~ Psalm 112 ~~~ Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 ~~~

God is able to make every grace abundant for you,

so that in all things, always having all you need,

you may have an abundance for every good work.

The grace God gives us if to be used for every good work.

We are promised nor just sufficient grace,

but an abundance of grace.

If we are to receive the most grace it is imperative

that we perform good works.

This grace we give out to others is returned to us in abundance.

When we give to others we put our own needs in second place.

By putting the needs of others ahead of our own

we can clearly see how we are blessed

with God's grace.

What you do for others,

even if you cannot see it, comes back to you as grace.

You are being enriched in every way for all generosity,

which through us produces thanksgiving to God.

When we give to others we also must give 

thanks for being in a position to be able to give.

Gratitude and grace go hand and hand.

Allow God to lead you to who and where you are needed most.

Blessings...

You can make a difference.

You have been given an abundant grace.

~~~Peace~~~

'Perfect' and 'Genuine'

~~~ 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 ~~~ Psalm 146 ~~~ Matthew 5:43-48 ~~~

 ...to test the genuineness of your love

by your concern for others.

Years ago C.S. Lewis wrote,

"We must lay before Him what is in us, 

not what ought to be in us.” 

Once we face who we really are inside we become

a genuine person.

For some they are only genuine

 when they are standing alone at their sink.

The early Christians expressed who they really were 

through their concern for others.

Too often we are influenced by the people around us.

Living a genuine life is being who you are

especially when faced with a crisis.

Some people are very skilled at keeping

 their true self hidden inside.

Too often we become concerned

 about what others think about us.

When this happens there is the chance

 that we may sacrifice our true self. 

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Jesus did not expect us to be 'perfect' in the way we might think.

Of course we could never be as perfect

 as our heavenly Father,

for he is God.

When we are living in a genuine manner

we are approaching being a whole person.

The person we let people see and the person we privately are

 must be the same if we strive to be whole...to be perfect.

Jesus is perfect because

 he was genuine in all situations.

Jesus never pretends to be anyone 

other than who he is, God.

Those who followed Jesus most closely

 were also the ones who were most genuine.

The genuineness of Jesus was a true inspiration

 for the disciples to be just as genuine.

It may be a good time for us to inspect our own

ability to be genuine, not just when it is safe

but in all circumstances.

What keeps you from being more genuine?

To be 'perfect' and 'genuine' 

requires us to love our neighbor.

This is made possible through

the blessings of grace from God.

~~~Peace~~~

The Iridescence of Grace

~~~2 Corinthians 6:1-10 ~~~ Psalm 98 ~~~ Matthew 5:38-42 ~~~

 ...we appeal to you

not to receive the grace of God in vain.

What do you think?

Is it possible to receive the grace of God in vain?

More importantly, how do you believe

 that you receive the grace of God?

Is this a way to remind us to never take

 the grace of God for granted?

If we begin to ignore this grace will it 

someday be withheld from us?

If we ignore this grace will 

it be more difficult to experience it in the future?

What does God expect us to accomplish with his grace?

Is it just for us, or is it to be used for others?

Is grace missed like the humming bird that passes by our window?

Instead Paul says we must let this grace thrust us into action.

We must not waste this grace from God.

This grace can manifest wonderful things in our life.

God's grace puts us in a position 

to cooperate more fully with his salvation plan.

How sad for us if we miss his grace.

For if we miss his grace what else might we miss?

God's grace completes what is lacking in our heart.

God's grace makes it possible to desire to do more...to be better.

If grace is like a hummingbird it hovers

and it quickly comes and goes.

If grace is like a hummingbird it causes

 our soul to glisten in the light.

Grace is the iridescence of God's love for you.

Grace gives us the full spectrum of God.

When you have the opportunity to observe iridescence in nature

let it be a reminder of God's grace in your soul.

May God's grace bless your soul in multiple ways.

It is freely given to you...

put it to good use.

~~~Peace~~~

Courageous Trust Walk

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

~~~ Ezekiel 17:22-24 ~~~ Psalm 92 ~~~ 

~~~ 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 ~~~ Mark 4:26-34 ~~~

We are always courageous,
although we know that while we are at home in the body
we are away from the Lord,
for we walk by faith, not by sight.

St. Paul is writing his second letter
 to his friends from Corinth.
In spite of  trials and frustrations
Paul remains courageous.

I am sure you have met people
whom you would consider to be courageous.

Men and women, who when faced with illness
or seemingly impossible tasks
 draw on their courageous spirit within.

I wonder do we all have this ability to be courageous?
Is it reserved for only the brave and fearless?
Is it necessary to make a conscious effort to be courageous?

Paul goes on to say that while we are at home in the body
this is not being with the Lord.
We are at home with the body because
 the body is what we know the best.
We have been in our body from the beginning
 of our existence as a person.

Here is where we activate our courage...
We walk by faith...
We believe that this body, that we know so well,
 is not all that there is to our existence.

We cannot see what lies ahead for us,
but we believe...
We believe that there must be something better.
Something that is closer to the Lord himself.

While in the body we can exercise our courage;
it is the body itself that keeps us from being with Jesus.

We walk by faith, not by sight.
We are prevented from seeing all
 that has been prepared for us.
Our final judgment
will give us the whole picture of our life.

Perhaps it will be like watching a motion
 picture of your life...
narrated by God.

For God knows what is the motivation
 within your heart for all of your actions.

There will be no need for us to defend our actions.

God will spotlight where we acted with him
and where we acted in opposition.
God sees when we walk by faith.
God knows our desire to see.

Blessings to courageously walk in trust.

~~~Peace~~~

In Good Times and Bad Times

Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

~~~ 2 COR 5:14-21~~~ Psalm 103 ~~~ MT 5:33-37 ~~~

Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’

Anything more is from the Evil One.”

Mary, the mother of Jesus,

 never wavered from her 'yes'.

From the minute she agreed

 to be the hand maiden of the Lord,

she never hesitated or turned back. 

She remained committed through 

the good times and the bad times.

Her heart was so in love with the Lord 

that she found the grace to endure all hardships.

Mary let her heart sing of her love for Jesus.

Mary let her heart be touched by the heart of Jesus.

Mary is a real example of how to love with your whole heart.

There may have been times in her life

 when Mary had questions...

Did her son really have to suffer and die

 like a common criminal?

He indeed died for all,

so that those who live might no longer live for themselves

but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Before Jesus suffered and was crucified

Mary was no longer living for herself.

Every breath she took was for her son, Jesus.

She nurtured and cared for him who was to die for us.

The heart of Mary was pure and gentle.

The heart of Mary was strong and courageous.

God bestowed upon her his divine graces.

She kept her heart open for the greatest of love.

There is no greater love than to lay down

 your life for your brother.

Likewise, there is no greater love than to give your 

beloved son to die on the cross.

Mary released Jesus out into the world to do as much 

good as he could accomplish in only three years.

In only three years he was able to lay

 the foundation for Christians of all times.

Mary stood by as her heart was filled with sadness. 

Her son laid down his life for those who would 

never know him as she knew him.

So we are ambassadors for Christ...

It is the heart of Mary which teaches

 us how to be the best follower of Christ.

Whenever you find yourself tempted to say 'no'

remember you are saved because

Mary said 'yes'.

Her 'yes' was for you,

right now, today.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits.

Thank you, Blessed Mother.

We are Blessed through the love of your heart.

~~~Peace~~~

A Father's Tenderness

Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

~~ Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8C-9 ~~Psalm 12~~Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19 ~~ 

~~~ John 19:31-37 ~~~

The tenderness of God is usually overlooked.

We tend to focus on the power and majesty of God.

We are awed by his great works of creation.

But today the prophet Hosea calls us to focus 

on God as the loving Father.

 ...it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,

who took them in my arms;

I drew them with human cords,

with bands of love;

I fostered them like one

who raises an infant to his cheeks...

What beautiful images...

God teaching us to walk...

God drawing us up in his arms to beside his cheeks.

Only a loving God could give us such a vision.

Hosea was inspired to give us this 

picture of God that seems to get lost.

When we are praying this is usually not 

the way we envision God.

While God is God and not a man,

still we have this human like image.

Hosea gives an image that we can relate to.

We can close our eyes and picture 

a father holding his child close to his cheeks.

The best way for God to connect with us

 is through that which means something to us.

As Father's Day approaches our media is focusing on father's.

This is the perfect time for us to be reminded 

of the Father we all have in God.

Whatever beautiful images we have of earthly fathers

loving their children God shares with us too.

God first loved us as a father loves his children.

The heart that loved us first was also pierced 

for us as Jesus hung upon the cross.

...one soldier thrust his lance into his side, 

and immediately blood and water flowed out.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus,

we adore you and worship you.

You have redeemed us with your holy blood.

The love God has for us as our father

is also the love that created the sacrifice to save us.

Blessings flow to you from the 

Sacred Heart of Jesus.

~~~Peace~~~

When are You a Christian?

Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 11:21B-26; 13:1-3 ~~~ 

~~~ Psalm 98 ~~~ Matthew 10:7-13 ~~~

 ...it was in Antioch that the disciples

were first called Christians.

Those who came to believe the teachings of Jesus 

came to be known as Christians.

It took many years before they were known

 by who and what they believed.

Being called a Christian is more than just a label.

Christians are not just tagged as a believer.

Being named a Christian must be earned and recognized

by the manner in which one lives their life.

Being called a Christian is not about going

 through the prescribed rituals.

Being worthy of being called a Christian

is a direct reflection of how one lives their life.

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Here is our commission...

We, as Christians, are to reveal Christ to others.

If we want to called Christians then our words 

and actions must be one with those of Christ.

We can pretend for only so long,

for eventually our actions will give us away.

It is through our actions and words that others 

come to know us as Christians.

Jesus instructs his disciples to take nothing

 with them for their journey,

because they were to be 

living examples of his message.

If we want to be called Christians

 then we must live in the same manner.

There should never be any question

 as to whether or not we are Christians.

If someone asks you if you are a Christian

 then you should be embarrassed.

Either they do not know you

or your actions are in contradiction

 to those who are Christian.

Two different songs come to mind here...

They will know we are Christians by our love,

and Live like you believe.

To live like you are a Christian

 is not just for when you come to church.

To live like you are a Christian means

to be the face of Jesus every day, everywhere, 

in every situation.

Is this an easy task?

For me the answer is No.

It is not always easy to consistently live like Jesus.

Is the grace of God visible 

to others when they come into your world?

One reason those of Antioch were called Christians

is because God's grace was visible.

I invite you to pause,

examine your actions and words.

Are they of God's grace?

Do they set you apart as a Christian?

When you make God's grace visible

you are Blessed.

There is no need to carry anything else with you.

May the peace of Christ

be with you.

Graffiti Letters

~~~2 Corinthians 3:4-11 ~~~ Psalm 99 ~~~  Matthew 5:17-19 ~~~

...our qualification comes from God,

...qualified us as ministers of a new covenant,

not of letter but of spirit;

for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

Graffiti is typically considered something negative,

but is it always?

Graffiti is defined as writings or drawings

 that have been scribbled, drawn, or painted illicitly

 on a wall or other surface, often in a public place.

Defacing another's property without

 permission is considered a crime.

A crime using painted letters.

The letters standing alone by themselves 

appear to hold no meaning.

Graffiti, while considered to be vandalism,

may represent a greater message.

Graffiti is often an expression of a social or political issue.

...for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

The letters of graffiti hold meaning

 only within the spirit in which they were created.

The ones who can decipher the letters are the ones 

who also know the spirit in which they were written.

Gangs may use specific graffiti

 to claim their particular territory.

The early disciples with Paul drew on the spirit 

of what had been passed on to them.

It was the spirit of Jesus that ultimately

 gives new meaning to the letters of the law.

Graffiti is growing into an art form all its own.

Some may see it as art while others see it only as vandalism.

Some saw only the exact letters of the law,

while Jesus delved into the true Spirit of the law.

...not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter

will pass from the law,

until all things have taken place.

Jesus was not content with the mere letters.

Jesus was the one who brought forth the Spirit.

Without Jesus fulling the laws they remain trapped

 within the letters themselves.

The death and crucifixion of Jesus 

completed all the things that had to take place.

His death and resurrection is the complete fulfillment 

of every letter of the law.

Ancient forms of graffiti, left behind by our ancestors,

provide us with valuable information about 

who they were as a people.

The letters of the laws of the Old Testament

reveal to us much about who Jesus was 

and who he would become for us.

I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

May our God of fulfillment

Bless you beyond what you can see.

His grace runs very deep within your soul.

~~~ Peace ~~~

Just a Pinch of Salt

~~~ 2 Corinthians 1:18-22 ~~~ Psalm 119 ~~~Matthew 5:13-16 ~~~ 

We are called and challenged to be salt and light

to the world.

Unless we can open our heart to saying 'yes' to the Lord

we can never be either salt or light.

 ...the one who gives us security with you in Christ

and who anointed us is God;

he has also put his seal upon us

and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.

The 'yes' that Jesus proclaimed to the Father resulted in our salvation.

All of the most holy men and women we encounter

from the past, present, and future have one thing in common...

they all say 'yes' to the Lord.

They say 'yes' to being one of his chosen...

one of his beloved children.

They say 'yes' to be an active part of God's divine plan for all of us.

So what about you and me; can we declare the same 'yes'?

Can we speak it with the same conviction and commitment?

Or is it easier, less risky to sit back and watch others

live out their 'yes' to the Lord?

Our 'yes' makes it possible to be 

the salt and the light for the kingdom of God.

Every time we are the salt for another 

we are motivated because of our yes.

Each time we are the light for another we draw 

from the source of our yes to the Lord.

The salt that you are will eventually 

loose its seasoning

 if you are not continuing 

to renew your 'yes' to the Lord.

If we cannot continue to say 'yes' 

our salt will gradually loose its flavor.

Being a light to the world is no simple task.

All around us there are people would like 

nothing more than to extinguish your light.

For without salt and light we are stagnant Christians.

Without salt and light our purpose becomes insignificant.

We are not here just for ourselves alone;

we are here to be models for others

leading them to the Lord.

We are here to be the one who's 'yes' 

leaves no doubt in the hearts of those 

whom we encounter.

Blessings that follow in saying 'yes'

keep your salt tasty and your light bright.

Sometimes it only takes a pinch of salt

 to complete the flavors in a recipe.

Sometimes it only takes light 

from one small candle to illuminate 

an entire space.

Be firm with your 'yes';

your salt and light will increase in intensity.

You are the salt of the earth.

You are the light of the world.

Reaping the Blessings of 'Yes' each day.

~~~ Peace~~~