God's Will

God gives us choices – it's God’s will that we should have free choices. Maybe God doesn’t have the same control issues we do. God’s will for us is to make wise and healthy and loving choices. Abundant Grace accompanies gift of free will. We call that “the power to carry it out”. God still leaves it up to us to accept the Grace and to accept God’s will. The consequence of not accepting the Grace is known as an “unmanageable life.”

Ability

 

Grace

Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness. It strikes us when we walk through the empty valley of a meaningless and empty life. It strikes us when, year after year, the longed for perfection of life does not appear, when the old compulsions reign within us as they have for decades, when despair destroys all joy and courage.

Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks through our darkness, and it is as though a voice were saying, “You are accepted. You are accepted, accepted by that which is greater than you and the name of which you do not know.

Do not ask for the name now, perhaps you will know it later.

Do not try to do anything, perhaps later you will do much.
Do not seek for anything,
Do not perform anything,
Do not intend anything.

Simply accept the fact you are accepted.”

If that happens to us, we experience grace.

Making the Most

If I can throw a single ray of light across the darkened pathway of another; if I can aid some soul to clearer sight of life and duty, and thus bless my brother; if I can wipe from any human cheek a tear, I shall not have lived my life in vain while here.

If I can guide some erring one to truth, inspire within his heart a sense of duty; if I can plant within my soul of rosy youth a sense of right, a love of truth and beauty; if I can teach one man that God and heaven are near, I shall not then have lived in vain while here.

If from my mind I banish doubt and fear, and keep my life attuned to love and kindness; if I can scatter light and hope and cheer, and help remove the curse of mental blindness; if I can make more joy, more hope, less pain, I shall not have lived and loved in vain.

If by life's roadside I can plant a tree, beneath whose shade some wearied head may rest, though I may never share its beauty, I shall yet be truly blest--though no one knows my name, nor drops a flower upon my grave, I shall not have lived in vain while here.​

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

If you had any doubt that the values of our world and the values of the kingdom of heaven are dramatically different, today’s three reading should settle the matter. Zephaniah tells us in his prophecy (Zep 2:3; 3:12-13) that people who are humble and lowly, those who “observe [God’s] law, seek justice and humility” shall find “refuge in the name of the Lord” and shelter against God’s anger. Then St Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31, that God chooses “the foolish of the world to shame the wise,” and “the weak of the world to shame the strong” and “the lowly and despised…those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something.”

Today’s gospel, the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), is the foundation of all Jesus’ teaching. St. Matthew presents us with eight Beatitudes describing the qualities that distinguish citizens of the kingdom of heaven from everyone else. The citizens of heaven are the people who are humble and helpless and who put their entire trust in God, those whose hearts are broken and sorrowful, those who are meek, those who yearn for total goodness, those who are merciful, those who are pure in heart, those who are peacemakers and people who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ.

The Beatitudes challenge our way of thinking. They present a different set of values. They turn everything upside down. In our success driven and money-oriented world, the Beatitudes don't make much sense. How can people who are poor in spirit, meek, and persecuted be happy? For many people, Jesus could be talking about Astrophysics or something from a fantasy novel. In fact, some people do consider the kingdom of heaven as some kind of future, pie-in-the sky, other world.

The Beatitudes call us to holiness today, now, here in Peachtree City, Georgia. As Christians, we are citizens of the kingdom of heaven and it is our responsibility to make this kingdom real and tangible here and now. Blessedness, true happiness comes when we acknowledge God our Father as the center of our universe. True happiness comes when we follow the advice of Zephaniah in today's first reading and we seek the Lord, seek justice and seek humility in everything we do.

Eternal God,

teach us the hidden wisdom of the gospel,

so that we may hunger and thirst for holiness,

work tirelessly for peace,

and be counted among those who seek first

the blessedness of your kingdom.

Let the spirit of Jesus be alive in us
 now and forever.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

AMEN

Learning

Many of us, when we are young, spend a portion of our lives in learning. Unfortunately, some of us spend this time learning the hard way. When we are young we sometimes think we know everything. Sometimes we do foolish things. As we get a little older, we realize we don't know anything. This is when we become teachable. There is a saying that goes, when the student is ready, the teacher appears. We usually aren't teachable unless we are ready. The Saints are waiting and willing to help. When we are ready, many beautiful teachers start to come into our lives. Then we really start to grow and mature. We are ready for the spiritual lesson.

Holy Communion

To a friend she said, “The most solemn moment of my life is the moment when I receive Holy Communion and for every Holy Communion I give thanks to the Most Holy Trinity” (Diary of St. Faustina, 1804).

Prayer for Anxiety & Stress

Dear Loving Lord,

I am feeling stress,

I am worried.

Too many things

Occupy my mind.

Won’t you help me?

Show me, Lord

Your order.

And your plans

Are eternal.

Let me trust

In you alone.

Your word tells me

Where there is love,

Drives out all fear.

Let me be filled

With your love

That tells me

I am not condemned,

But I am saved.

I can do all things

Through you.

You strengthen me.

In Jesus name,

Amen.​

Paid in Full

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.

He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal, he asked for a drink of water.

She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?” “You don’t owe me anything,” she replied, “Mother has taught us never to accept payment for a kindness.”

He said “Then I thank you from my heart.”

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt; stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.

Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval.

He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught her attention on the side as she read these words: "Paid in full with one glass of milk.”

(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: “Thank You, GOD, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands.”

Footprints - New Version

Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns. For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends!

This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one. This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger. Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints they have become one.

This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints. You are amazed and shocked.

Your dream ends. Now you pray:

"Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You."

"That is correct."

"And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely."

"Very good! You have understood everything so far."

“When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way."

"Precisely."

"So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first."

There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice. "You didn't know? It was then that we danced!"

Prayer of Surrender to God

Prayer of Surrender to God

Lord, You know what is best; let this be done or that be done as You please. Give what You will, as much as You will, when You will. Do with me as You know best, as will most please You, and will be for Your greater honor. Place me where You will and deal with me freely in all things. I am in Your hand; turn me about whichever way You will. Behold, I am Your servant, ready to obey in all things. Not for myself do I desire to live, but for You - would that I could do this worthily and perfectly!

by Thomas à Kempis

3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Have you noticed the emphasis on light in the readings over the past few weeks? Three weeks ago, we heard, “rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory” (Is 60:1-2).

Last week we heard “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (Is 49: 6). This week we hear “The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light; upon those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen” (Mt. 4: 16) and “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?” (Ps 27:1).

Jesus came to bring light to people who live in darkness and despair. Jesus came to bring light to us. What is this light that Jesus brings? The light is the Good News, the “gospel of the kingdom” (Mt. 4:11). The light is forgiveness so we don’t have to live in the darkness of sin, “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 4:7).

Unfortunately, it is easy for us to be overwhelmed by the darkness in our world. It seems to surround us: the war in Ukraine; civil wars in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Mali, Ethiopia and the Central African Republic; terrorism on nearly every continent at one time or another and of course recent natural disasters. Not as far from home are drugs, hunger, and poverty in most of our nation’s cities, suburbs, and rural communities; homelessness and joblessness nationwide; and environmental damage.

No matter where darkness extends on earth, Jesus is “the light of the world” (John 9:5). And, as St Matthew will remind us in a few weeks, so are we, “you are the light of the world” (Mt 5:14). Just as Jesus called Peter and Andrew and James and John, he calls us. The Good News is that we, the spiritual heirs of Saints Peter, Andrew, James, and John, can share this light with people in our world. We are all apostles of light. Let’s let the light of Christ shine through us.

God our Father,

your Son invites us, gently but insistently,

to follow him as faithful disciples.

Open our minds to his light,

make us respond to his love

and entrust our whole being to him.

May his kingdom grow in each of us

and in the whole world,

that he may lead us in hope

to the joy you have prepared for us in your home.

We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Footpath of Peace

To be glad of life because it gives you a chance to love and to work and to play, and to look up at the stars; to be satisfied with your possessions but not contented with yourself until you have made the best use of them; to despise nothing in the world except falsehood and meanness, and to fear nothing except cowardice to be governed by your admirations rather than by your disgusts; to covet nothing that is your neighbors except his kindness of heart and gentleness of manners; to think seldom of your enemies, often of your friend and every day of Christ, and to spend as much time as you can with body and with spirit in God’s out-of-doors. These are the little guideposts on the Footpath Of Peace.

~ Henry Van Dyke​

You are Not

 

Clock and Calendar

 

2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

On February 28, 1954, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached a sermon at the Second Baptist Church in Detroit called “Rediscovering Lost Values.”   In this sermon, Dr. King declared “There is something wrong with our world, something fundamentally and basically wrong…. The problem is with man himself and man's soul. We haven't learned how to be just and honest and kind and true and loving. And that is the basis of our problem.”

Within this long sermon, Dr. King identified two moral “principles of value” that we have to rediscover: (1) “It's wrong to hate. It always has been wrong and it always will be wrong.  It's wrong in America, it's wrong in Germany, it's wrong in Russia, it's wrong in China.  It was wrong in 2000 B.C., and it's wrong in 1954 A.D. It always has been wrong, and it always will be wrong.”  And, (2) “God [is] behind the process.”   Dr. King concluded his sermon with these prophetic words: “Go out and be assured that …God is going to last forever.  Storms might come and go.  Our great skyscraping buildings will come and go…. but God will be here. Plants may wither, the flowers may fade away, but the word of our God shall stand forever and nothing can ever stop him.”

Fast-forward almost 69 years to January 1, 2023.  In his Message for The Celebration of the World Day of Peace, “No one can be saved alone. Combatting Covid-19 together, embarking together on paths of peace,” Pope Francis states: “When tragic events seem to overwhelm our lives, and we feel plunged into a dark and difficult maelstrom of injustice and suffering, we are likewise called to keep our hearts open to hope and to trust in God, who makes himself present, accompanies us with tenderness, sustains us in our weariness and, above all, guides our path.”

The Holy Father reminds us that in the aftermath of the global COVID Crisis and in the current war in the Ukraine that has had serious global implications, “This war, together with all the other conflicts around the globe, represents a setback for the whole of humanity and not merely for the parties directly involved. While a vaccine has been found for Covid-19, suitable solutions have not yet been found for the war. Certainly, the virus of war is more difficult to overcome than the viruses that compromise our bodies, because it comes, not from outside of us, but from within the human heart corrupted by sin (cf. Gospel of Mark 7:17-23).”

Finally, the Holy Father tells us that now is time, “to let God … transform our customary criteria for viewing the world around us. We can no longer think exclusively of carving out space for our personal or national interests; instead, we must think in terms of the common good, recognizing that we belong to a greater community, and opening our minds and hearts to universal human fraternity. We cannot continue to focus simply on preserving ourselves; rather, the time has come for all of us to endeavour to heal our society and our planet, to lay the foundations for a more just and peaceful world, and to commit ourselves seriously to pursuing a good that is truly common.”

This weekend as we honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we should remember the promise of Isaiah (49:6) in today’s first reading: “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”  It is up to us to overcome hate, war, violence and killing by being just and honest and kind and true and loving and by letting the light of Christ shine forth through us.

Our God and Father,
we honor Jesus, your Son in our midst,
with wonderful names: Jesus our Lord,
Lamb of God, servant of God and people.
Let these names not merely be
empty titles of honor among us
but words full of meaning
that commit us to become like him.
Help us to live for one another
and to bear each other’s burdens,
that we may be servants with him
who is our Lord for ever and ever.

Amen.

You can find the full text of Dr. King’s sermon at: https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/rediscovering-lost-values-0

And you can find the full Text of the Holy Father’s statement at:  https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/peace/documents/20221208-messaggio-56giornatamondiale-pace2023.html

Epiphany of the Lord

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word epiphany has several meanings. Capitalized, Epiphany is a "church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles." Epiphany with a small "e" can mean "an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being" or "a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something." Today's celebration, The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, encompasses all the meanings that the Merriam-Webster Dictionary presents. It is the Church festival  commemorating the visit of the Magi to the child Jesus. It is about the manifestation of God's divine glory to all the people of the world. And for the Magi and for us it is a sign of our perception that something extraordinary, something awesome, something truly miraculous happened in Bethlehem. God our heavenly Father came down from Heaven to live with us, to share his life with us, to become one of us. God burst into our world as a human baby. God stepped into human history as a very real person. God became Emmanuel; God is with us. Tomorrow we will commemorate another epiphany when we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord.

The Magi had a star to guide them to Jesus. They saw the star when it first appeared and they followed it. When the star "stopped over the place where the child was"(Matt. 2:9); the Magi knew they had arrived at the right place. Overjoyed, they entered the house, prostrated themselves and worshiped Jesus. They gave him gifts fit for a King. Then they went home. We don't know what they did after their amazing journey. Nor do we know what they did with their newfound knowledge. What we do know is that God chose to reveal his divine nature to them even though they were foreigners from strange lands.

These events we commemorate today happened thousands of years ago. Yet here we are today, in Peachtree City, Georgia worshipping the very same Jesus the Magi visited. How did we get here? I am confident that no one followed a star to our parish. In Matthew 5:14 Jesus told his followers and He tells us, "You are the light of the world." He goes on to say, "your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father"(Matt. 5:16). Each one of us is called to be a guiding star and each one of us is called to be an epiphany. Just as God revealed himself to the Magi through the child, Jesus, we are called to reveal Jesus to everyone we encounter. In his Letter to the Ephesians St. Paul said, "Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth"(Ephesians 5:8-9). As Christians, we are called to manifest God's unconditional love, God's compassion, God's mercy and God's peace to our world. Let's pray that the light and the love of Christ Jesus, Emmanuel, God is with us will shine through us and draw all people to Him.

Father, we your people rise up in splendor,

for your light has come; your glory now shines upon us.

We are grateful for this light, who is Jesus Christ, your Son.

Make our lives radiant with that same brightness

and help us walk as one in your light.

Open our eyes that we may recognize you in all the signs you send us.

All glory be to you, FATHER, through your SON Jesus Christ,

who draws all people to himself that together with the SPIRIT

we might give you praise,

forever and ever. 

 AMEN.

At the Start of this New Year

"Hope smiles on the threshold of the year to come, whispering that it will be happier."

~Alfred, Lord Tennyson

At the start of this New Year, we look back at what has been and we look forward to the future. Our path has been filled with healing and hope. Rewards have come to us each day. Now, looking toward the year ahead, we can't know much of what will happen, but we can recommit ourselves to our Healing and Spiritual Life. We can have renewed comfort and optimism that we will not be alone and that we will be able to handle whatever comes our way.

The start of a new year is a good time to make lists of the things we fear, the things we hope for, and the things we are grateful for. These lists serve as a kind of snapshot inventory of our attitude toward the world and our relationship with our God. They point a direction for us today and for the year ahead. We can put these lists in a safe place until next year when we will bring them out as a reminder of where we were and a measure of how far we've come.

Today I once again turn my life and will over to the care of God.​