Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
The Great Attraction
This is the great attraction today:
to reach the highest contemplationwhile sharing in the life of every person,
being one among many.
I would say more:
to merge oneself with the crowd
so as to allow the divine
to penetrate it,
like wine
penetrates a piece of bread.
I would even say more:
as sharers in God’s plans for humanity,
to place points of light within the crowd,
sharing shame, hunger, troubles,
and brief joys with our neighbour.
The attraction today,
as in all times,
is Jesus and Mary.
The highest conceivable expression
of the human and the divine.
The Word of God, a carpenter’s son;
the Seat of Wisdom, a mother at home.
Chiara Lubich, Meditations, New City, London, 2005, p. 14-15
Monday, January 29, 2024
Give Me a Few Friends
Dear Lord,
who will love me for what I am,
and keep ever burning
before my vagrant steps
the kindly light of hope.
And though I come not within sight
of the castle of my dreams,
teach me to be thankful for life,
and for time's olden memories
that are good and sweet.
And may the evening's twilight
find me gentle still.
Sunday, January 28, 2024
Another Beatitude
Blessed are they who understand.
My faltering step and shaking hand,Blessed, who know my ears today
Must strain to catch the things they say,
Blessed are they who seem to know
My eyes are dim and my mind is slow,
Blessed are they who looked away,
I spilled my tea on the cloth that day!
Blessed are they who, with cheery smile,
Stopped to chat for a little while,
Blessed are they who know the way
To bring back memories of yesterday,
Blessed are they who never say,
"You've told that story twice today!"
Blessed are they who make it known
That I'm loved, respected and not alone,
And blessed are they who will ease the days
Of my journey home, in loving ways.
Saturday, January 27, 2024
Friday, January 26, 2024
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Three Trees
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Seeking
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Start the Day Right
Monday, January 22, 2024
To Let Go
It's the realization that I can't control another.
To let go is not to enable,
but to allow learning from natural consequences.
To let go is to admit powerlessness,
which means the outcome is not in my hands.
To let go is not to try and change or blame another,
I can only change myself.
To let go is not to care for,
To let go is not to fix,
Sunday, January 21, 2024
Modern Proverbs
- The best way to get even is to forget.
- Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.
- God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
- Some folks wear their halos much too tight.
- Some marriages are made in Heaven; but they all have to be maintained on Earth.
- Unless you can create the whole universe in five days, then perhaps giving advice to God isn't such a good idea.
- Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up.
- Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous. You will be knocked down by the traffic from both ways.
- Words are windows to the heart.
- A skeptic is a person who when he sees the handwriting on the wall, claims it's a forgery.
- It isn't difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill, just add a little dirt.
- A successful marriage isn't finding the right person; it's being the right person.
- The mighty oak tree was once a little nut that held it's ground.
- Too many people offer God prayers with claw marks all over them.
- The tongue must be heavy indeed; because so few people can hold it.
- To forgive is to set the prisoner free, and then discover the prisoner was you.
- You have to wonder about humans; they think God is dead and Elvis is alive.
- It's alright to sit on your pity pot every now and again; just be sure to flush when you are done.
- You'll notice that a turtle only makes progress when it sticks out it's neck.
- If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can bet the water bill is higher.
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Prayer of Surrender to God
Prayer of Surrender to God
Friday, January 19, 2024
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Three Important Things in Life
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Receiving a Gift of Grace
By Madisyn Taylor
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Monday, January 15, 2024
Surprise
Each day is different and has a surprise in it, like a Cracker Jack box. ~ Alpha English
Sunday, January 14, 2024
The Little Fish
"Excuse me," said a little fish. "You are older than I, so can you tell me where to find this thing called the ocean?"
"Oh, this? But this is the water. What I’m seeking is the ocean," said the disappointed fish, as he swam away to search elsewhere.
~ Anthony de Mello
What becomes clear to us on our own spiritual journey is that we don't have to look for God or for spirituality. We only have to look.
Saturday, January 13, 2024
Friday, January 12, 2024
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
O God,
send forth your Holy Spirit
into my heart that I may perceive,
Into my mind that I may remember,
and into my soul that I may meditate.
Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy.
Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end.
May your grace ever help and correct me,
And may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high,
For the sake of your infinite mercy.
Amen.
Saint Anthony of Padua
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Who are You?
A woman was in a coma and dying. She suddenly had a feeling that she was taken up to heaven and stood before the Judgment Seat.
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Serenity
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Monday, January 8, 2024
Paradox of Surrender
Sunday, January 7, 2024
Saturday, January 6, 2024
Carry the Message
Friday, January 5, 2024
Epiphany of the Lord
Many years ago, I decided that I wanted to become a serious stargazer. I mentioned my interest to a friend who presented me with a telescope. This was not a simple point at a star and look telescope. It was a real telescope that required some knowledge about astronomy or at least a sense of where to look to see what the night sky has to offer. I must admit I was a bit disappointed. All I wanted to do was take a close look at some stars and planets. I didn’t realize how complicated the sky is with thousands and thousands of stars, clusters, nebulae and galaxies. Serious stargazing takes work and I was not sure that I wanted to put much energy or effort into this project. So, my telescope sat in a corner, rarely used until I finally gave it to someone who was truly interested in learning about astronomy.
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Broken Resolutions
Most of us, I suspect, have our own long history of broken New Year's resolutions.
How many times have we begun a new year with the sincere intention of ending some bad habit and of finally setting ourselves to living life as we should have been living it all along and, after a very short time, have found ourselves again solidly embedded in our old habits and ruts?
Hence, most of us live lives not so much of quiet desperation as of quiet resignation: "This is the way I am! This is the way my life has always been! This is the way I will always be!"
The belief that things can be different, and for the better, is a crucial part of our Christian faith. To believe that there can be "a new heaven and a new earth" (and that we can be paragons of virtue and delight within it) is not something that takes its ground in natural optimism (for example, "I always see the positive in things.") but is something that is rooted in the belief that "nothing is impossible with God."
How to change? As Psalm 96 puts it, "sing a new song to the Lord."
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
New Start
Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.