Black and White

To live in the "Black and White" areas of life - following all the rules - is often easier than living with tension. Some people hide within the rules and "shoulds" of life. But the essence of life cannot always be found by coloring within the lines. Life is not always so cut and dry, not always so easy as just following the rules. God is more often than not encountered in the gray areas of life, where things are not so clear or shiny or new or clean. Often God is in the margins and shadows and murky areas of life and relationships - right where we live.

Parable of the Twins

Parable of the Twins

Once upon a time, twin babies were conceived.

Weeks passed and the twins developed. As their awareness grew, they laughed for joy: "Isn't it great that we were conceived? Isn't it great to be alive?"

Together the twins explored their worlds. When they found their mother's cord that gave them life, they sang for joy! "How great our mother's love is, that she shares her own life with us!"

As weeks stretched into months, the twins noticed how much each was changing. "What does it mean?" one asked." It means our stay in this world is drawing to an end." said the other.

"But I don't want to go," said one. "I want to stay here always."

"We have no choice," said the other. "But maybe there is life after birth."

"But how can there be?" responded one. "We will shed our life cord and how can life be possible without it? Besides, we have seen evidence that others were here before us, and none of them has returned to tell us there is life after birth. No, this is the end. Maybe there is no mother after all."

"But there has to be," protested the other. "How else did we get here? How do we remain alive?"

"Have you ever seen our mother?" asked one. "Maybe she only lives in our minds. Maybe we made her up because the idea made us feel good."

So the last days in the womb were filled with deep questioning and fear. Finally, the moment of birth arrived.

When the twins had passed from their world, they opened their eyes and cried for joy — for what they saw exceeded their fondest dreams.

“What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard,

and what has not entered the human heart,

what God has prepared for those who love him,”

1 Cor 2:9

Self Care

 

May I Have Courage Today

Stained Glass

People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out; but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light within.

- Elisabeth Kuebler-Ross

Today's Meditation:

What kind of light shines from inside of me? Does any light shine at all? When a complete stranger sees me on the street, does that person notice anything different about me, or is the light that comes through me and from me just about the same as everyone else's?

I ask myself this often because I see people who seem to shine, who seem to have a brilliant internal light that shines through in their eyes and in their smiles, and I would love to be like that.

But is that something that we're born with or without? Or something that we can develop?

If I'm to have that glow that comes from inside, then I truly must love myself. I must treat myself well and believe truly in my worth. I must accept myself as I am and not subject myself to artificial expectations. I must be me, and only me, and proud to be me.

I do have plenty of beauty inside of me--every creature that has been created on this planet does, so why would I be any different? But does that beauty shine forth as a beacon for others, as an example of what we can be, or do I keep it hidden by refusing to acknowledge it?

We all will go through periods of darkness, but darkness outside doesn't mean that things have to be dark on the inside.

You have a beautiful light that shines inside of you, a unique light that is yours alone.

Can you make it grow so that it's visible to all who meet you?

- From Living Life Fully​

Saying a Prayer

There is a story about a sea captain who in his retirement skippered a boat taking day-trippers to Shetland Islands.

One day, the boat was full of young people. They laughed at the old captain when they saw him say a prayer before sailing out to sea, because the day was fine and the sea calm.

However, they weren’t long at sea when a storm suddenly blew up and the boat began to pitch violently. The terrified passengers came to the captain and asked him to join them in prayer.

But he replied, “I say my prayers when it’s calm. When it’s rough, I attend to my ship.”​

4th Sunday of Lent

Last Sunday the Gospel message was, “repent or perish.” Today’s message is about the healing that occurs in reconciliation. According to the Marian Webster Dictionary reconcile means “to restore to friendship or harmony”; it implies healing an existing relationship. In our readings today we hear about a lost son returned to his father and we receive a reminder that God calls all of us to be ministers of reconciliation to the world.

Many great writers call the prodigal son the finest short story ever written. In about five hundred words Jesus explains the foundation of our faith: God is merciful and loves us unconditionally. No matter what we do, no matter how horrible we think our sin is or how far we stray, God our loving father who “formed [our] inmost being” (Ps 139: 13) wants to restore our relationship with him. God loves sinners!

Like the younger son in the story all we have to do to reconcile our relationship to God is come to our senses, acknowledge our pigpen of sinfulness, repent (change our behavior and leave the pigpen behind) and walk back toward God. Reconciliation comes only after repentance. This is hard work. But there is an even bigger challenge.

St. Paul tells us in today’s second reading from 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, that since we are reconciled to God through the sacrifice of Jesus, we are obligated to be God’s ambassadors of reconciliation to others. God does not count our sins against us therefore we should not count the sins of other people against them. There is a bit of the older son skulking in all of us. Our job is rise above our self-righteousness so we can bring about reconciliation in our families, our neighborhoods, our parish, our schools, our jobs, our country and the world. True reconciliation begins when each one of us reaches out to reconcile with each other.

God of compassion,

you await the sinner’s return

and prepare a feast to welcome home the lost.

Save us from the temptations

that draw us away from you.

Lead us back by the constancy of your love,

that we may take our place in your household

and gladly share our inheritance with others.

Grant this through Christ, our liberator from sin,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

holy and mighty God for ever and ever.

AMEN.

Matter of Focus

My friend Marge had an experience aboard a plane bound for Cleveland, waiting for takeoff. As she settled into her seat, Marge noticed a strange phenomenon. On one side of the airplane a sunset suffused the entire sky with glorious color. But out of the window next to her seat, all Marge could see was a dark and threatening sky, with no sign of the sunset.

As the plane's engines began to roar, a gentle Voice spoke within her. "You have noticed the windows," He murmured beneath the roar and thrust of the takeoff. "Your life, too, will contain some happy, beautiful times, but also some dark shadows. Here's a lesson I want to teach you to save you much heartache and allow you to "abide in Me" with continual peace and joy. You see, it doesn't matter which window you look through; this plane is still going to Cleveland.

So it is in your life. You have a choice. You can dwell on the gloomy picture. Or you can focus on the bright things and leave the dark, ominous situations to Me. I alone can handle them anyway. And the final destination is not influenced by what you see or feel along the way. Learn this, act on it and you will be released, able to experience the "peace that passes understanding."

by Catherine Marshall in "Touching the Heart of God"​

Carrying Burdens

A folktale tells of a monarch long ago who had twin sons. There was some confusion about which one was born first. As they grew to young manhood, the king sought a fair way to designate one of them as crown prince.

Calling them to his council chamber one day, he said, "My sons, the day will come when one of you must succeed me as king. The burdens of sovereignty are very heavy. To find out which of you is better able to bear them cheerfully, I am sending you together to a far corner of the kingdom. One of my advisors there will place equal burdens on your shoulders. My crown will one day go to the one who first returns bearing his burden like a king should."

In a spirit of friendly competition, the brothers set out together. Soon they overtook a frail and aged woman struggling under a heavy weight. One of the boys suggested that they stop to help her. The other protested: "We have a burden of our own to worry about. Let us be on our way."

So the second son hurried on while the other stayed behind to help the woman with her load. On his journey to the kingdom's edge, the same young man found others who needed help; a sightless man who needed assistance home; a lost child whom he carried back to her worried parents; a farmer whose wagon needed a strong shoulder to push it out of the mud.

Eventually he did reach his father's advisor, where he secured his own burden and started home with it safely on his shoulders. When he arrived back at the palace, his brother met him at the gate and greeted him with dismay. "I don't understand," the brother said, "I told Father the burden was too heavy to carry. How did you manage it alone?"

The future king replied thoughtfully, "I suppose when I helped others carry their burdens, I found the strength to carry my own."

Don't Change to Please Others

It’s easy to feel uncared for when people aren’t able to communicate and connect with you in the way you need. And it’s so hard not to internalize that silence as a reflection on your worth. But the truth is that the way other people operate is not about you. Most people are so caught up in their own responsibilities, struggles, and anxiety that the thought of asking someone else how they’re doing doesn’t even cross their mind. They aren’t inherently bad or uncaring — they’re just busy and self-focused. And that’s okay. It’s not evidence of some fundamental failing on your part. It doesn’t make you unlovable or invisible. It just means that those people aren’t very good at looking beyond their own world.

But the fact that you are — that despite the darkness you feel, you have the ability to share your love and light with others — is a strength. Your work isn’t to change who you are; it’s to find people who are able to give you the connection you need. Because despite what you feel, you are not too much. You are not too sensitive or too needy. You are thoughtful and empathetic. You are compassionate and kind. And with or without anyone’s acknowledgment or affection, you are enough​.

The Jesus Nut

I read a little story about helicopters recently that I imagine is true, and I would like to share it with you. Also, I have often wished I had a helicopter and could fly it. They can go just about anywhere and land anywhere. Neat! But that is pie in the sky. Anyhow, the story I read pointed out how complex a machine the helicopter is and went on to say that despite its complexity the whole thing depends on that whirly blade or rotor that keeps it in the air and moving. The story said that these rotors are held in place by one simple hexagonal nut. And the name given to that nut is “the Jesus nut.”

Jesus, the one who comes from above, the one who speaks the words of God, is also the one who holds our lives together and permits us to “fly”

Presence

"Where shall I look for enlightenment?"
"Here?"

"When will it happen?"
"It is happening right now."

"Then why don't I experience it?"
"Because you do not look."

"What shall I look for?"
"Nothing. Just look."

"At what?"
"Anything your eyes light upon."

"Must I look in a special kind of way."
"No. The ordinary way will do."

"But, don't I always look in the ordinary way?"
"No."

"Why ever not?"
"Because to look you must be here. You are mostly somewhere else."


Fr Anthony de Mello, SJ​

The Coat Hanger

A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her small daughter was very sick with a high fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication.

She got back to her car and found that she had accidently locked her keys in the car. She didn't know what to do, so she called home and told the babysitter what had happened.

The babysitter told her that the fever was getting worse, and said, 'You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door.'

The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been left on the ground, possibly by someone else, who at sometime, had locked their keys in their car.

She looked at the hanger and said, 'I don't know how to use this.' She bowed her head and asked God to send her help. Within five minutes a beat up old motorcycle pulled up, with man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head.

The woman thought, 'This is what you sent to help me?' But, she was desperate, so she was also very thankful.

The man got off of his cycle and asked if he could help.

She said, 'Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?

He said, 'Sure.' He took the coat hanger and walked over to the car. In less than a minute, the car was opened.

She hugged the man and through her tears, she said, 'Thank you so much! You are a very nice man.'

The man replied, 'Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison today. I was in prison for car theft.'

The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud, 'Oh, Thank you, God! You even sent me a professional!'

Is GOD GOOD - or what?

3rd Sunday of Lent

Right now, in the midst of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many people are asking, why are such horrible things happen to innocent people? Why does there seem to be so much evil in the world? The people of Eastern Australia are asking why are we suffering from 1000-year flooding that has displaced millions of people? And in the meantime, the people of Asia and the Pacific Nations are struggling with a new variant of COVID. Why are they suffering? Natural disasters, human disasters, war, calamities, sickness and death can strike any of us at any time. And most of the time we are helpless as individuals to do anything about it.

In today’s Gospel, Luke 13: 1-9, Jesus confronts the question, why do bad things happen to people? Why did Pilate kill and desecrate Jews from Galilee? Jesus counters with the question “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way, they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?” What about “the eighteen people who died when the tower Siloam fell on them”? He tells his questioners “If you do not repent, you will all perish as they did”! At first reading Jesus’ response seems very harsh. All of us are going to die. Does Jesus mean that if we do not repent that some calamity will happen to us?

No, Jesus reminds us through these two tragic examples and the parable of the fig tree that God does not judge us on how we die. Rather, God judges us on how we live. A barren fig tree is useless in God’s eyes. However, under the care of a good gardener and with cultivation and fertilizer it has the potential to bear fruit. God wants us to weed out our sinfulness, prune away our bad behavior and free ourselves from anything that might strangle the roots that help us grow in his love. God calls us to repent so that we can become productive citizens of the Kingdom. All of us are sinners. Our only hope is repentance, total conversion to new life, through the good news of salvation offered to us by the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And the reason we have to repent now is, as St. Matthew reminds us " you do not know on which day your Lord will come…. be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” (Matt. 24: 42, 44).

For those of you who aren’t afraid to struggle with some of these seemingly unanswerable questions, I have a reading suggestion, a book called SERIOUSLY GOD? Making Sense of Life Not Making Sense by Michael White and Tom Corcoran published by Ave Maria Press. It is not a difficult book to read and it may help.

And so, we pray:

Patient God, 

we are reluctant and slow 

to make the change of heart we need.
Give us the time to understand 

the extent of your mercy and your love,
which your Son Jesus showed us 

in its fullness in his suffering and death.
Recognize your own Son in us 

and accept us in our poverty.
Raise us up, and change us, 

so we may proclaim your persistent love,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

Feast of St. Patrick

Patrick’s Loricum or Breastplate has the famous Celtic prayer, centered on Christ:

Christ be with me, Christ surround me,
Christ be in my speaking, Christ be in my thinking,
Christ be in my sleeping, Christ be in my waking,
Christ be in my watching, Christ be in my hoping,
Christ be in my life, Christ be on my lips,
Christ be in my soul, Christ be in my heart,
Christ be in my sufficing, Christ be in my slumber,
Christ be in my ever-living soul,
Christ be my eternity.

Patrick prayed for the Irish people on the mountain in Mayo which bears his name (Cruach Padraig). 

Here’s a prayer for you on his feast day.

May you recognize in your life the presence,
power and light of Christ in your soul.

May you realize that you are never alone,
for He is always with you;
that your soul, in its brightness,
connects you with the Lord and with the rhythm of the universe.

May you always realize that the shape of your personality is unique,
that you have a special destiny behind the facade of your ordinary daily life.

May you be able to see yourself with the same delight and expectation
with which God sees you in every moment.

And may the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and the rain fall soft upon your fields.

And, until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand

St Patrick

The Knots Prayer

 

Regret City

I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it. This is my annual "Guilt Trip.

I got tickets to fly there on "Wish-I-Had" airlines. It was an extremely short flight. I got my "baggage," which I could not check. I chose to carry it myself all the way. It was loaded down with a one thousand memories of "what might have been."

No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret City International Airport. I say international because people from all over the world come to this dismal town. As I checked into the "Last Resort" Hotel, I noticed that they would be hosting the year’s most important event; the annual "Pity Party."

I wasn’t going to miss that great social occasion. Many of the towns leading citizens would be there. First, there would be the "Done" family; you know, "Should have," "Would Have" and "Could Have." Then came the "I Had" family. You probably know old "Wish" and his clan. Of course, the "Opportunities" family; "Missed and lost," would be present. The biggest family there would be the "Yesterday’s."

There are far too many of them to count, but each one would have a very sad story to share. Of course," Shattered dreams" would surely make an appearance. "It’s Their fault" family would regale us with stories (excuses) about how things had failed in their life. Each story would be loudly applauded by the "Don’t blame me" and "I couldn’t help it" committee.

To make a long story short, I went to this depressing party, knowing full well there would be no real benefit in doing so. And, as usual, I became very depressed. But as I thought about all of the stories of failures brought back from the past, it occurred to me that this trip and subsequent "pity parties" Could be canceled by me!

I started to realize that I did not have to be there. And I didn’t have to be depressed. One thing kept going through my mind, I can’t change yesterday, But I do have the power to make today a wonderful day. I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as being encouraging.

Knowing this, I left Regret City immediately, and didn’t leave a forwarding address. Am I sorry for mistakes I’ve made in the past? Yes! But there is no way to undo them. So, if you’re planning a trip back to Regret City, please cancel all those reservations now. Instead, take a trip to a nice place called: "Starting Again." I like it so much that I made it my permanent residence. My neighbors, the "Been forgiven" and the "We’re saved" are so very helpful. By the way, you don’t have to carry around the heavy baggage anymore either.

That load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival. Just thank God for salvation.

If you need directions, just look into your heart, and enter by "Grace way." No taxes or other cost. God’s Son paid the price, in full, for all sins and transgressions, a long time ago. Look me up if you’re ready for a total change in your life. I now live on "His Will Way."

Sincerely,

"Born again.”

Source Unknown

My Creator,

You are before me … and behind me.

You are above me … and beneath me.
You are to my right … and to my left.
You all around me … and You fill me with Your Presence.

I surrender myself to You today.
Lead me where You want me to go.
Show me what You want me to see.
Let me meet whom You want me to meet.

Give me the words You want me to speak.
Strengthen me to do what You want me to do.
Please grant me the Gift of Peace today.
Help me to love You, to love others,
and to experience Your Love and Your Grace this day.

Canticle of the Sun and Moon

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, 

All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor and all blessings.

To you alone, Most High, do they belong, 

and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,

especially Sir Brother Sun,

Who is the day through whom You give us light.

And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,

Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,

In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,

And fair and stormy, all weather's moods,

by which You cherish all that You have made.

Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,

So useful, humble, precious and pure.

Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,

through whom You light the night and 

he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,

Mother Earth

who sustains and governs us,

producing varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon 

for love of You and bear sickness and trial.  

Blessed are those who endure in peace, 

By You Most High, they will be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,

from whom no-one living can escape. 

Woe to those who die in mortal sin! 

Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.

No second death can do them harm. 

Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,

And serve Him with great humility.

St Francis of Assisi

A Friend

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing, and face us with the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.

~ Henri Nouwen

2nd Sunday of Lent

Just as the Gospel for every first Sunday of Lent focuses on the temptation of Jesus, the Gospel for every second Sunday of Lent presents the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. The temptation of Jesus frames our observance of Lent. St. Luke’s account of the Transfiguration gives us a glimpse of Jesus’ glory and prepares us for His suffering, death and resurrection, the “exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem” (Luke 9:31).

What captured my attention as I reflected on today’s readings were the experiences of Abram in the first reading and Peter, James and John in the Gospel. In these readings all four men experienced a transforming encounter with God. And for all four men it was terrifying. We begin with childless Abram to whom the Lord promised descendants as countless as the stars and land that Abram and his descendants would possess. But Abram needed more tangible proof so he asked, ““Lord GOD, how will I know that I will possess it?” God asked Abram to prepare a sacrifice of animals which he did. Then God put Abram into a trance “and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him” (GN 15:12). God sent Abram a vision of a “smoking fire pot and a flaming torch,” (signs of God’s presence) which passed between the sacrificed animals and Abram was assured that God’s promise would be fulfilled. However, he would never see it himself. All he gets is the promise of a peaceful death.

While Peter, James and John had an experience similar to that of Abram, the imagery is dramatically different. Instead of a vision of a flaming torch or smoking pot, they see Jesus’s face transformed and his clothing become “dazzling white.” With Jesus they see Moses and Elijah in their glory. God speaks to them, “This is my chosen son, listen to him.” The sense I get is of radiance and hope. Although the disciples don’t understand what has happened, they, unlike Abram actually will see the fulfilment of God’s glorious promise. Yes, they will witness the horror of the crucifixion, but they also will see the resurrected Christ. They will share in the New Covenant; our liberation from sin and death through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

We too are partners in the New Covenant. St. Paul makes the message real for us when he reminds us in the 2nd reading from Philippians 3:20-21 that, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.” Our transformation occurs when we listen to Jesus. It occurs when we immerse ourselves in scripture. It occurs when we take the message of the Gospel to heart. It occurs when we allow the light of Christ to shine through us. Transfiguration is not just something that occurred thousands of years ago. It can happen every day to each of us. “This is my chosen son, listen to him.”

Great and holy God,

on his journey to his suffering and death 

 you gave your Son Jesus a glimpse of the glory

that was awaiting him when he would rise from the dead. 

In the drabness and sufferings of our lives 

and in our frustrated efforts to transform this earth, 

let a ray of hope shine on us and all our brothers and sisters; 

hope that lifts us up and sustains us on the way to you 

and on the often difficult road toward

your justice and love in this world.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. 

 Amen

Dandelions

A man who took great pride in his lawn found himself with a large crop of dandelions. He tried every method he knew to get rid of them. Still they plagued him.

Finally, he wrote the Department of Agriculture. He enumerated all the things he had tried and closed with the question: “What shall I do now?”

In due course the reply came: “We suggest you learn to love them.”

“… accept the things we cannot change…”

Prayer

Almighty God, I humbly pray,
Lead me, guide me through this day.
Cast out my selfishness and sin,
Open my heart to let You in.

Help me now as I blindly stray
Over the pitfalls along the way.
Let me have courage to face each task,
Invest me with loving patience, I ask.

Care for me through each hour today,
Strengthen and guard me now, I pray.
As I forgive, forgive me too,
Needing Your mercy as I do.

Oh, give to me Your loving care,
Never abandon me to despair.
Yesterday's wrongs I would seek to right,
Make me more perfect in Your sight.

Oh, teach me to live the best I can,
Use me to help my fellow man.
Save me from acts of bitter shame,
I humbly ask it in Your name.

Saints and Sinners

We are both saints and sinners, since goodness and selfishness both flow through us. Sometimes in the face of a slight, insult, or even positive attack and injustice, we react with patience, understanding, and forgiveness. However, sometimes we meet pettiness it in kind, with spite.

We don’t know the reason; that’s part of the mystery of human freedom. Certain factors obviously play in; for example, if we are in a good inner-space when we are ignored, slighted, or unfairly treated, we are more prone to react with patience and understanding, with a big heart. Conversely, if we are tired, pressured, and feeling unloved and unappreciated, we are more likely to react negatively, and return spite for spite.

Be that as it may, ultimately there’s deeper reality at work in all of this, beyond our emotional well being on a given day. How we react to a situation, with grace or spite, for the most part depends upon something else.

The Church Fathers had a concept and name for this. They believed that each of us has two souls, a big soul and a petty soul, and how we react to any situation depends largely upon which soul we are thinking with and acting out of at that moment. Thus, if I meet an insult or an injury with my big soul, I am more likely to meet it with patience, understanding, and forgiveness. Conversely, if I meet an insult or a hurt while operating out of my petty soul, I am more likely to respond in kind, with pettiness, coldness, and spite.

And, for the Church Fathers, both of these souls are inside us and both are real; we’re both big-hearted and petty, saint and sinner. The challenge is to operate more out of our big soul than our petty one.

The saint and sinner inside us are not separate entities. Rather the saint in us, the big soul, is not only our true self, it’s our only self. The sinner in us, the petty soul, is not a separate person or separate moral force doing perpetual battle with the saint, it’s simply the wounded part of the saint, that part of the saint that’s been cursed and never properly blessed.

And our wounded self shouldn’t be demonized and cursed again. Rather it needs to be befriended and blessed – and then it will cease being petty and spiteful in the face of adversity.

Searching

In the search for me,
I discovered Truth.

In the search for Truth,
I discovered Love.

In the search for Love,
I discovered God.

And in God,
I have found Everything.

Our Human Nature

Our nature is not to go forward all the time. It has its to’s and fro’s. – Blaise Pascal

We prefer straight, unrelentingly, upward paths and the slightest dip is often enough to throw us into confusion.

We diet for eight days and fill up on the ninth and then berate ourselves as though the eight days don’t count, as though they never happened.

“Look at me. I’m a failure. How come? I was doing so well.”

And the answer comes back: “Because it’s in our nature to forever gain a little, and forever to lose a little. Life has a lot of two steps forward and one step back.”

The spiritual journey is no exception, because we make the journey as who we are … human beings … not as what we would like to be, escapees from a frail, inconstant humanity.

For eight days we set aside time to prayer. And on the ninth we set aside time for a mindless sitcom.

But the journey is all the steps, even the backward ones. It’s no in our nature to go forward all the time.

It’s certainly no what God expects. So why are our expectations higher than God’s?

- John Kirvan in “Raw Faith”

Modern Proverbs

1. The best way to get even is to forget.
2. Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.
3. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
4. Some folks wear their halos much too tight.
5. Some marriages are made in Heaven; but they all have to be maintained on Earth.
6. Unless you can create the whole universe in five days, then perhaps giving advice to God isn't such a good idea.
7. Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up.
8. Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous. You will be knocked down by the traffic from both ways.
9. Words are windows to the heart.
10. A skeptic is a person who when he sees the handwriting on the wall, claims it's a forgery.
11. It isn't difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill, just add a little dirt.
12. A successful marriage isn't finding the right person; it's being the right person.
13. The mighty oak tree was once a little nut that held it's ground.
14. Too many people offer God prayers with claw marks all over them.
15. The tongue must be heavy indeed; because so few people can hold it.
16. To forgive is to set the prisoner free, and then discover the prisoner was you.
17. You have to wonder about humans; they think God is dead and Elvis is alive.
18. It's alright to sit on your pity pot every now and again; just be sure to flush when you are done.
19. You'll notice that a turtle only makes progress when it sticks out it's neck.
20. If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can bet the water bill is higher.​

1st Sunday of Lent

Welcome to the first Sunday of Lent 2022.  On Ash Wednesday, we began a spiritual journey.  On this journey, we will follow Jesus through Galilee to Jerusalem - from the beginning of his ministry to his crucifixion.  Today, we enter the wilderness with Jesus as he confronts the devil and temptation.  Next Sunday we will climb a high mountain with Jesus, Peter, James and John and we will hear how Jesus revealed his divine glory.  On the following three Sundays we will listen to Jesus teach the disciples and us about repentance, reconciliation and forgiveness through parables.  Then on Passion Sunday, we will follow Jesus on his journey to the cross.  Each step of this journey offers each one of us the opportunity to grow in faith, to discern God's will for our lives, to repent, reconcile and forgive and to experience real conversion so we can reawaken our relationship with God and experience the bright promise of Easter.

Jesus went into the wilderness almost immediately after his baptism.  He entered the wilderness "filled with the Holy Spirit" (Luke 4:1).  During the forty days he spent in the wilderness, he fasted and he prayed.  Prayer and fasting prepared Jesus for his encounters with the devil and for his ministry.  Each time the devil presented Jesus with a temptation, Jesus rebuked him by quoting scripture and asserting his unwavering trust in God his Father. 

We too must prepare ourselves for this journey through Lent.  If we are to overcome temptation and conquer the devil, we need fast and pray.   We should engage in almsgiving "to free us from attachment to worldly goods."  Another way we can prepare for our journey is to ground ourselves in scripture.  In today's second reading from Romans 10:8-13, St. Paul reminds us as Moses reminded the children of Israel that "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart."  And that "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:8-9). 

God, you want to be near to us,

you lead us with your Son Jesus

to the desert of questions and temptations

that you may speak to our hearts

and bring us back to you in loving trust.

Open our eyes, our minds and our hearts

to discard all that leads us astray

and to look for you and for the plans you have

for us and for the world.

Nourished by the bread of your word

and strengthened by your Spirit,

May we overcome every temptation of the Evil One.

Help us seek your will in all we do

and serve you in our brothers and sisters.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Trust

Do not look forward to the trials and crosses of this life with dread and fear. Rather, look to them with full confidence that, as arise, God, to whom you belong, will deliver you from them. He has guided and guarded you thus far in life. Hold fast to His dear hand, and he will lead you safely through all trials. Whenever you cannot stand, He will carry you lovingly in His arms. Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow. The same Eternal Father who cares for you today will take good care of you tomorrow and every day of your life. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you the unfailing strength to bear it. Be At peace then and put aside all useless thoughts, vain dreads, and anxious imaginations.

~ Saint Francis de Sales