Creator Credit

~~~ Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin ~~~

~~~ Wisdom 13:1-9 ~~~ Psalm 19 ~~~ Luke 17:26-37 ~~~

All men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of God,
and who from the good things seen did not 
succeed in knowing him who is...

How does one marvel at the beauty of all creation
or the power and energy of storms and yet not see God.

All things originate in God...
all beauty, all strength, all energy, all power...
All that is comes from God, but we still
have those who do not believe in him.

If you rely on science to explain all that surrounds you,
eventually you will come to a dead end.

It is right to give the creator credit for all
that exists in the universe.

If you see beauty...you see God.

If you feel the wind upon your face...you feel God.

If you witness s sunrise or a sunset...you experience
the grandeur of God.

The evidence that God does exist is all around you.

What purpose would it serve to deny
 the existence of God?

Look around...open your eyes...
where do you witness God manifesting himself today?

Become more present with the world in which you live;
this is where God makes himself visible...real.

Any work of art is the result of the artist
being inspired by God to create.

Inspiration comes from the spirit of God.

Nothing can compare to the creativity
 of what God has made for us.

Many times an artist is inspired by the patterns
 or the beauty of nature in making their own creation.

Find God in a place where you least
expect him to be present.

There is a piece of God in all of creation.

~~~Peace~~~

Can You Visualize the Kingdom?

~~~ Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr ~~~

~~~ Wisdom 7:22B–8:1 ~~~ Psalm 119 ~~~ Luke 17:20-25 ~~~

“The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed,
and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’
For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”

Being human, we would all like to have some early announcement
of the coming of the Kingdom of God.

You would probably like to do a little advance planning...
some Spring cleaning perhaps.

Of course, God does not operate that way.
He does not post information on Twitter and Facebook
about His Kingdom.

Instead God tells up to see the Kingdom all around.
The Kingdom of God resides within each one of you.

You were created out of the nothingness
that is also the substance of heaven.
You cannot see the Kingdom of God, but you
can be a witness to it.

If the Kingdom of God is among us
 then we all are part of it.

Why do you search for something that
already includes you?

The Pharisees were standing face to face with Jesus
yet they were asking him for signs of the Kingdom.

The Pharisees could not imagine a Kingdom
 that did not exist in the physical world.

They along with many others in the time of Jesus
were expecting some sort of palace to be built in the Kingdom.

They wanted to make sure they did not miss it.
After all they were part of the ruling class.

They were interested in collecting
the taxes on this 'Kingdom'.

They were appointed to oversee the prescribed
functions of such a Kingdom.

Consequently they were confused by Jesus
 suggesting that the Kingdom was already present.

The Kingdom is not something far off in the distance...
It is here now just as it was the day Jesus spoke those words.

Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion,
and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity.
For she is an aura of the might of God
and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty

The Pharisees were missing this vital component in their heart...

They were missing wisdom.
Wisdom comes from God.
Wisdom... the ability to discern or judge
 what is true, right, or lasting; insight.

Godly wisdom is deep within your soul.
Godly wisdom points you toward the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is all around us.
Seek the his Godly Wisdom
so that you will be able to see more clearly.

Walk humbly with God.
 He will reveal to you the wonders of his Kingdom
 here within and around you.

God always Blesses those who seek his wisdom.
Blessings for a closer relationship.
It is through a closer relationship with Jesus
that your eyes will be opened.
Once your eyes are opened
you will be able to visualize the Kingdom
all around you.

~~~Peace~~~

Desiring the Word

 ~~~ Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop ~~~

~~~ Wisdom 6:1-11 ~~~ Psalm 82 ~~~ Luke 17:11-19 ~~~

Desire therefore my words;

long for them and you shall be instructed.

Have you ever thought about desiring the words of God?
Desire is a passionate word.
Are you passionate about God's words?
Do you long for them to become a
vital part of your being?

The word of God is the essence of who he is.
If you want more of God then you must
 be passionate about his words.

His words are the words of life.

His words are the words of spirit.

His words are the words of comfort.

His words are the words of mercy.

His words are the words of peace.

“Go show yourselves to the priests.”

As they were going they were cleansed. 

The words of Jesus sent these sick men off to prove
 their healing to the high priests.

They were not yet healed, but Jesus sent them on their way.
It was his very words that cleansed and cured
them of their afflictions.

These men were surely passionate about being healed.
They had a driving desire to be reunited with their family.

As they were on their way to show proof,
their healing occurred.

Jesus did not require them to wait
until the healing had taken place.
His words were enough to set into motion
 the process of their healing.

If you desire the words of Jesus in your life
you will experience wonders.

His words are alive.
His words are specific to you...
meant for you to hear.

He is the word made flesh...

Desire and long for his words;
you will be Blessed.

~~~Peace~~~

Why Are You Here?

~~~ Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church ~~~

~~~ Wisdom 2:23–3:9 ~~~ Psalm 34 ~~~

~~~ Luke 17:7-10 ~~~

Growing up with the Baltimore Catechism,

there was one question always asked...

'Why are you here?'

The answer...'To know, love, and serve the Lord

 with our whole heart, mind, and body'.

Today the topic of service is highlighted in the Gospel.

When you have done all you have been commanded, say,

‘We are unprofitable servants;

we have done what we were obliged to do.’

You are called to serve the Lord...

to serve out of love.

Service to the Lord is not a bargaining chip.

Service to the Lord cannot be bought or traded.

Service to the Lord is something you do willingly...out of love.

From the moment you took your first breath 

you were one breath closer to your death.

The better you know the Lord...

the more you desire to love the Lord...

the more you love the Lord

the more you desire to serve him.

Serving the Lord must be done without expectations.

Serving the Lord must be done out love.

Serving the Lord must be carried out with a pure heart.

...as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.

I pray that when your final days come,

 you may be able to offer back to God

 the very life he so freely gave to you.

I pray that your life of service to him 

will bring you into greater understanding...

an understanding of how well you served him,

but also an understanding of when you 

could have served him more completely.

You do not the hour in which God 

will call you to come back to him,

but until that time comes you 

can serve him in love.

Those who trust in him shall understand truth,

and the faithful shall abide with him in love

Know the Lord.

Love the Lord.

Serve the Lord.

Longing to here the words,

Well done my good and faithful 

servant.

Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation,

for there is no conflict without an enemy,

no victory without strife.

Saint Leo the Great.

May the Lord Bless you

 and keep you from harm.

~~~ Peace ~~~

Steel Reinforced

~~~ Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 ~~~ Psalm 46 ~~~ 

~~~ 1 Corinthian 3:9C-11, 16-17 ~~~ John 2:13-22 ~~~

...each one must be careful how he builds upon it,

for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there,

namely, Jesus Christ.

The foundation of any structure is the most important part.

If the foundation is weak or flawed

the entire structure is less stable.

When you take the time to carefully 

create a solid reinforced foundation the 

whole structure will be stronger.

Sticks and stones...brick and mortar

your spiritual foundation 

needs only faith in God.

“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”

Death only appears to destroy your temple.

The soul's foundation must be reinforced with the steel

 beams of the love of Jesus.

The soul is the foundation of everlasting life.

The temple of your soul cannot be destroyed...not even in death.

Fires and floods may destroy your home but 

the foundation will still be in place.

The foundation remains because of the 

permanence of reinforced concrete.

Jesus laid the foundation in your soul

 at the moment of your conception.

It is up to you to build upon this foundation.

It is through your conscious spiritual practice

 that your foundation is built upon.

If you do not build upon this

 foundation it just remains within.

...you are the temple of God,

and the Spirit of God dwells in you...

If the foundation appears to be damaged

the love and mercy of God

can repair the chips and cracks.

Blessings to keep your foundation strong;

crack and chip free.

~~~Peace~~~

When Less is More

~~~ Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time ~~~

~~~ 1 Kings 17:10-16 ~~~ Psalm 146 ~~~ 

~~~ Hebrews 9:24-28 ~~~ Mark 12:38-44 ~~~

You always have something to contribute.

It may be a small handful of flour...a little cake...two small coins.

Nothing is insignificant for God.

I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar

and a little oil in my jug. 

In Kings and in Mark today

the widow is used as an example.

These two women become teaching opportunities.

A woman had a very low place at that time,

but to be a widow was an even lower place.

The death a woman's husband left her abandoned and helpless.

She was often looked upon with pity.

She had no husband to offer protection.

She was most vulnerable.

Widows were often taken advantage of,

because they had no one to tend to their financial affairs.

A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.

God consistently turns less into more without fail.

In the time of Jesus, to be a widow was to be in jeopardy.

The widow literally had no source of income.

For these two women to give from their meager means

was worth drawing our attention.

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The women today gave from their poverty.

They could have chosen to carefully guard what they had,

but instead they chose to give.

What about you?

How do view what you have in comparison

 to what you are willing to give?

For some this may be a difficult question.

When have you given enough?

Can you give too much?

Who should be the recipient of what you give?

These are all legitimate questions.

The examples today confirm that no matter

 what you have to give 

God will bless you with abundance.

In what we give to God there is always abundance.

God has no limits...he sees all gifts in context of your means.

The widows had little...

The scribes, who had much, expected to be given more.

They often found ways, legal or otherwise, to get more. 

They made a mockery

 of those who gave from their poverty.

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Whatever you have God will make it more than sufficient.

God does turn less into more every day.

He blesses you with enough.

~~~Peace~~~

The 'Holy Kiss'

~~~ Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27 ~~~ Psalm 145 ~~~ Luke 16:9-15 ~~~

The person who is trustworthy in very small matters

is also trustworthy in great ones...

How trustworthy do you consider yourself to be?
Are you reliable...dependable...honest and truthful?

What would you consider to be small matters?
Is it a good representation of who you are
 if you are trustworthy in small matters?
Is it more important for you to be trustworthy
 in large matters.

Once you have broken trust how can you restore it?

We have a God whom we can completely trust.

God knows your hearts...

Whatever your motives are within your heart
may fool another person or deceive another,
but God knows.

To be a trustworthy person one must make it their practice
 to be truthful and honest in all situations.
Not to say that we must be brutally honest
when it would only serve to hurt another person.

Being trustworthy is not just about keeping secrets.
It is about keeping your word.
It is about being dependable
 in all situations and all circumstances.

Greet one another with a holy kiss.

In this country it is not the custom to greet another with a formal kiss.
Perhaps we should try it...just a simple kiss on the side of the face.

Perhaps it would change the way we look at others.

Perhaps it would help us to see Christ in the other person.

Would you be willing to kiss a stranger?
Is a kiss too intimate...too close?

Jesus most likely greeted others with a holy kiss.
Today we are leery of getting too close to a stranger,
but in Biblical times a holy kiss was equivalent to our hand shake.

For Christians it was an expression of brotherly love.

A 'holy kiss' is not in any way connected with a lovers kiss.

A 'holy kiss' represents sincere affection and friendship.

Recalling just now how Judas betrayed Jesus with a 'holy kiss'
identifying who he was to the soldiers.
Jesus had previously found Judas to be trustworthy.
How disappointing...

We have many ways of bonding with one another.
The 'holy kiss' is one such gesture.

May you be blessed with trust from those around you.
I invite you to greet at least one person
 this week with a 'holy kiss'

Observe their reaction.
Let it be your gesture of Peace.