It's No Secret

The chimes of time ring out the news,

Another day is through.

Someone slipped and fell.

Was that someone you?

You may have longed for added strength,

Your courage to renew.

Do not be disheartened,

For I have news for you.

It is no secret what God can do.

What He's done for others, He'll do for you.

With arms wide open, He'll pardon you.

It is no secret what God can do.

There is no night for in His light

You never walk alone.

Always feel at home,

Wherever you may go.

There is no power can conquer you

While God is on your side.

Take Him at His promise,

Don't run away and hide.

It is no secret what God can do.

What He's done for others, He'll do for you.

With arms wide open, He'll pardon you.

It is no secret what God can do.

Carl Stuart Hamblen 1950

Holy Shadow

There is an old story about a man who is so good that the angels ask God to give him the gift of miracles. God wisely tells them to ask him if that is what he would wish.

So the angels visit this good man and offer him first the gift of healing by hands, then the gift of conversion of souls, and lastly the gift of virtue. He refuses them all. They insist that he choose a gift or they will choose one for him. “Very well,” he replies. “I ask that I may do a great deal of good without ever knowing it.” The story ends this way:

The angels were perplexed. They took counsel and resolved upon the following plan: Every time the saint's shadow fell behind him it would have the power to cure disease, soothe pain, and comfort sorrow. As he walked, behind him the shadow made arid paths green, caused withered plants to bloom, gave clear water to dried up brooks, fresh color to pale children, and joy to unhappy men and women. The saint simply went about his daily life diffusing virtue as the stars diffuse light and the flowers scent, without ever being aware of it. The people respecting his humility followed him silently, never speaking to him about his miracles. Soon they even forgot his name and called him “the Holy Shadow.”

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today we hear the final three parables about the Kingdom of Heaven found in Matthew 13, the Treasure buried in a Field, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Net Full of Fish. Although they seem simple stories, each of these parables challenges us to consider what the Kingdom of Heaven means to us. They ask us to consider how much we are willing to sacrifice to gain entry into the Kingdom of Heaven. And they invite us to reflect on the priorities in our lives so we can get into the Kingdom of Heaven.

In Matthew 6:20-21, Jesus says, “store up treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” A little later in verse 33, Jesus says, “seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness,” then everything else will fall into place. Both the person who found the buried treasure and the merchant who found the pearl sacrificed everything that they had to obtain what they fervently desired. Jesus is telling us that the Kingdom of Heaven is the greatest treasure we can possibly obtain.

Contrary to what the folks at credit card companies would have us believe, we cannot purchase our way into the Kingdom of Heaven because it is far beyond priceless. St. Paul tells us what we have to do to get into the “good bucket” Jesus refers to in the Parable of the Dragnet in 1 Timothy 6:17-19. “Tell the rich in the present age not to be proud and not to rely on so uncertain a thing as wealth but rather on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share, thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation for the future, so as to win the life that is true life.”

God our father and protector,

without you nothing is holy,

nothing has value.

Guide us to everlasting life

by helping us to use wisely

the blessings you have given to the world.

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

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

Amen

Blessed

Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves:
     they will have no end of fun.

Blessed are those who can tell a mountain from a molehill:
     they will be saved a lot of bother.

Blessed are those who know how to relax without looking for excuses:
     they are on the way to becoming wise.

Blessed are those who know when to be quiet and listen:
     they will learn a lot of new things.

Blessed are those who think before acting and pray before thinking:
     they will avoid many blunders.

Happy are you when you can take small things seriously and face serious things calmly:

     you will go far in life.

Happy are you if you can appreciate a smile and forget a frown:
     you will walk on the sunny side of the street.

Happy are you if you can be kind in understanding the attitudes of others, even when the signs are unfavorable:
     you may be taken for a fool, but this is the price of charity.

Happy are you if you know how to hold your tongue and smile, even when the people interrupt and contradict you or tread on your toes:
     the gospel has begun to seep into your heart.

Above all...

Blessed are you when you recognize the Lord in all whom you meet:
     the light of truth shines in your life and you have found true wisdom.

Paradoxes of Catholicism

Support

Just as there are people that support us, we are a supporter to many people extending the cycle and giving back.

Behind each of us stands at least one supporter. This was once thought to be the spouse who ran the home while leaving the other spouse free to work. While this is still one valid scenario, most of us will find that we have other kinds of supporters in our lives. In some cases, our supporters are the people whose help allows us to do the things we're best at, see to our obligations, or pursue or dreams. In other cases, our support may come from the people who are there to help us through life's challenges by offering us their strength and bolstering our spirit.

Our support may come from our families and friends or from the people we hire--nannies, assistants, gardeners, healers, therapists, and advisors. Our supporters may be the mentors who help us express ourselves by listening to us as we share our thoughts and feelings. Our supporter can be the person sitting next to us at a networking meeting or the teacher from our childhood whose words still resonate in our minds. We have always had supporters around us whether we noticed them or not. No matter where the support comes from, few of us can make it through life without assistance.

As we take the time to acknowledge everyone that has every supported us, we can't help but feel grateful. Understanding our place in our human support system helps us see that just as there are people that support us, we are a supporter to many people. By gratefully accepting the expertise and assistance of our supporters, we can consciously and more easily build a life that we love. Thanks to our staff, groups, friends, and loved ones for all their support. We all need each other's support to thrive this world.

Chains

“Let us not go over the old ground, let us rather prepare for what is to come.” -Marcus Tullius Cicero

Sometimes we hang on to the oddest things. For instance, many of us go to a lot of trouble to hang on to old guilt, old mistakes, old loneliness, old hurts, and old crimes. We fight like crazy to keep these little darlings near and dear. If we make a mistake, we feel we don't deserve to let go of the self-punishment.

The healthy and sober thing to do is let go of the past. We can cut the chains and shackles of the past that keep us from moving forward. When we cut even one link of that chain, we begin to move more freely toward health and self-love.

Today let me understand that I'm not helping anyone by holding on to the past.