In Silence 

   “The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, and the fruit of love is service.” (St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta) 

   It all begins with silence. 

   In silence we can come closer to God.  By blocking out excess noise we can better clear our mind and open ourselves to the message that He might be trying to give us.  God rarely shouts; it is in the silence that He speaks to us.  If we cannot find tranquility of heart and soul, we may not hear the quiet voice with which He expresses His will to us.

   Finding the silence is an extremely important part of my prayer life.  It is where I go to commune with the Lord.  In the noise of the world, it is hard, if not impossible to hear Him.  Noise is the enemy, distractions the weapons of Satan. 

   I see God in all His creation; He is everywhere I look.  But if I am to be at prayer with Him, If I am to hear His voice, I must shut out the rest of the world, focusing only on Him.  No television, no telephone, no distractions; just me and God.

   Silence is a tremendous blessing and one I think most people don’t take advantage of.  Our world is so busy, so noisy, so chaotic that silence has been lost.  We must seek it wherever it can be found, in church, in the adoration chapel, at home, anywhere that we can shut out the world and be with the Lord.

   In silence He comes to me; in silence I hear Him, in silence we are one. 

In the quiet I come to You.

In silence I find You.

Fill me with Your word.

Let the Holy Spirit overwhelm me. 

Amen

 He Came to Heal 

   “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.  I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (Mark 2: 17) 

   Those who are prideful and profess their spirituality to gain recognition don’t think they need a savior.  In humility lies grace and they do not exhibit humility.  They have received their reward.

   Jesus came not to the religious leaders and the righteous but to sinners.  This not only perplexed them but caused them to reject Him.  They did not concern themselves with sinners and could not understand that the Messiah came to call them to Himself.  They could not grasp that He came in love and mercy to save those who were lost.

   To the blind He gave sight, but we too are blind.  We fail to recognize the sins we commit and are blind to the need of forgiveness.  We need to turn to Him in sorrow and repentance.

   He gave hearing to the deaf, but we are sometimes deaf to the word of Christ.  We hear the readings at Mass and perhaps even read scripture as part of our prayer life.  But do we listen only with our ears, or do we open our heart to His word.  If we hear but do not put what we hear into action, we too need healing.  We need to ask Him for understanding and guidance.

   Jesus forgave the sinners and took them to Himself.  Matthew, the tax collector, the woman caught in adultery.  He expelled seven demons from Mary Magdalene who then became one of His most ardent followers.  We need to look to Him and seek His forgiveness for our failings.

   Our Savior came to heal the blind, the deaf, the sinners, and me.  He offers forgiveness for my sins and promises eternal life with Him.  Though He knows my weaknesses and my faults, He loves me so much that He chose to suffer and die that I might find salvation in Him. 

You came to heal.

To bring sinners home.

I too am a sinner.

Heal me Lord, bring me to Yourself. 

Amen

 The Merciful Heart of Jesus 

   “And if anyone hears my words and does observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.” (John 12: 47) 

   There’s an old country song that has a line that says, “God’s gonna get you for that.”  I think far too many people picture God in that way; as a vengeful judge who is just looking for reasons to condemn.  But God doesn’t condemn; if I am condemned, I am condemned by my own sins, not by God.

   Jesus did not hesitate to point out sinfulness, but He always offered mercy and forgiveness rather than condemnation.  The woman caught in adultery was not condemned but told to sin no more.  Even as He listed the sins and faults of the Jewish leaders, He did not condemn them but pointed out their failings as a warning to others.  When the thief on the cross asked Jesus to remember Him when He came into His kingdom he replied, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23: 43).

   Because of my sinfulness, my words, my failings, I condemn myself.  As a sinful man I can’t repay for my short-comings.  Jesus came in His mercy to pay the price for my sins so that I might be with Him in paradise.

   I have two choices, I can accept the condemnation I have brought upon myself, or I can throw myself at the feet of my Lord, seeking His mercy.  In His mercy He will not reject me but forgive me and welcome me unto Himself. 

I am a sinful man.

I offend You by my words and actions.

I come to you in sorrow for my failings.

In Your mercy save me. 

Amen

 God in Simple Things 

   Yesterday morning as I left the house for my morning walk the full moon caught my eye.  It looked to be close enough to just reach out and touch.  It appeared so large and brilliant.  The mountains and valleys were clearly visible.  In its’ beauty I saw the hand of God.

   Finding God is not difficult.  He is everywhere in my life.  He is in my family and the love we share.  My friends and I share His love as well.  He is in the beauty of that moon and His majesty is obvious in the billions of stars in the universe.

   When I was on board ship in the navy one of my favorite things was to go out at night and just look at the stars.  There are no external lights on a navy ship at night, so the darkness is complete.  The number of stars visible was beyond imagination.

   I would find an open place on the deck and lie down, closing my eyes to allow them to fully adjust to the dark.  When I opened them it was always awe-inspiring.  The number of stars I saw, especially on a moonless night, was amazing.  Stars, the milky way, and other nebulas were so clearly visible; it was an incredible sight.

   I vividly remember doing this one night after we had crossed the equator and were in the southern hemisphere.  I did what I always did, but when I opened my eyes and saw the southern cross it occurred to me that the billions of stars above were stars that I had never before seen.  It again reminded me of the majesty of my Lord and His creation.

   My point is relating all this is to say that God is quite easy to find if one truly desires to find Him.  In the stars, the love of family and friends, the laughter of a small child, He is there.  Just open your heart and He will be there. 

Father, You are everywhere.

In the majestic and in the simple.

If we look, we will find You.

Open our hearts to Your presence. 

Amen

 A Healthy Spiritual Life

   “Physical idleness deteriorates the mind; spiritual idleness deteriorates the heart.” (Bishop Fulton Sheen, “The Wisdom of Fulton Sheen: 365 Days of Inspiration.”) 

   Idleness is the enemy of maintaining a healthy body, a healthy mind, and a healthy spirituality.  The adage “Use it or lose it” applies in all three cases.

   If an athlete quits training, they will lose their ability to play at the professional level.  Their priority, therefore, is to train, train, and then train some more.  If I choose to sit, watching TV and snacking, I may lose the ability to live an active life of any kind.  Therefore, I try to get in a walk of a mile or so each day and to keep myself active in other ways.

   The spiritual life is very much the same.  If there is no effort to grow, then I am not just standing still, I am moving backwards.  My faith needs to be exercised by scripture, holy readings, the sacraments, and Mass.  Just as a marital relationship will collapse if ignored my relationship with God will suffer if I don’t come to Him often in prayer and contemplation.

   I am retired now, so I am blessed to be able to attend daily Mass.  Many who are in the workforce don’t have that blessing available, however, there are other ways to feed our spiritual needs.  Most churches are open throughout the day so even just stopping in for a quiet moment with the Lord is available.  If there is an adoration chapel, even better.  A few moments spent in prayer and contemplation in the mornings or before going to bed can do wonders to improve one’s spiritual life.

   Like anything else, if I want my spiritual life to grow and flourish, I must make it a priority in my daily life.  Sunday Mass is great but going a week without properly feeding the spirit can hamper the life I want to have with my Lord.  Just as my body will suffer if not properly fed, so to my spirit. 

The world is a busy place.

We forget that You should be our priority.

Help us to seek Your company often.

To make You the top priority. 

Amen

 Seeking Truth 

   “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14: 6) 

   The truth seems hard to find these days.  Some say the truth can change to conform with societal norms.  If so, there is no truth, only opinion subject to change on a whim.

   The president of the United States professes to be a faithful Catholic and yet enthusiastically supports abortion and so-called “gay-marriage”.  His actions contradict His words and worse, gives rise to questions and confusion among the faithful.  There are many others who use their “faith” for political gain but don’t live by what they preach.

   There are religious leaders, pastors, priests, and bishops who teach heresy, all the while proclaiming their faithfulness.  They bring even worse confusion and misunderstanding among those who look to them for spiritual guidance.  They will have to answer for their actions.  Pray that they may return to the truth.

   Looking to men or women for truth, whether they be politicians, religious leaders, or simply friends and family can be fruitless.  We must recognize that humanity is flawed and not always a reliable source for truth.  We must test what we are told, search for confirmation in scripture, in prayer, in trusted religious advisors and, most of all, in Jesus.  We cannot come to the Father except by Him and the truth He teaches.

   Truth is like the “pearl of great value” spoken of in Matthew 13: 46.  In Jesus there is truth and the path to eternal life. 

Lord, teach me Your truth.

Plant it in my heart.

In truth there is hope.

Your truth is the path to heaven. 

Amen

 Believing In Christ 

   “The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2: 20) 

   There is a big difference in saying that I believe that Christ is the Son of God and saying that I believe in Christ.  To say that I believe He is the Son of God is simply acknowledging the fact.  Believing in Him is to believe all He taught and said, to accept His ways are the right ways.

   Believing in Christ means so much more than making the intellectual determination that He is who He said He was, the Son of God, the Messiah come to save the world.  If I genuinely believe in Him it means I trust that following Him is the only way to salvation and eternity in the presence of God.  Without such belief, simply acknowledging Him is useless; if I talk the talk but don’t walk the walk I am lost.

   Belief in Him means that I must accept His teachings and live according to them.  When Jesus taught that He was the bread of life, that we must eat His flesh and drink His blood (John 6: 22 – 69) many of His disciples refused to believe and left Him, they could not accept what they considered such a hard teaching.  Jesus allowed them to leave, if they could not believe in Him and accept His teaching they had no place with Him.

   I am no different, I can’t pick and choose which of His teachings to accept and which to reject.  There is turmoil in the world and even in the Church because of such an attitude.  Christianity is not a buffet where I can take what I like and ignore what I don’t.  If I am unwilling to accept all He taught I am unworthy of Him.

   There are some things that are difficult to accept and some that I am incapable of understanding.  But in faith I believe, in faith I accept, in faith I give my life to Him. 

Your way is the only way.

You are the path to salvation.

I place my faith and trust in You.

I believe in You. 

Amen

 Heaven 

   “And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.”  (John 14: 3) 

   I spend quite a bit of time thinking about heaven.  I know it’s an effort to understand something that cannot be understood, but I feel it is a worthy subject to consider since heaven is my goal in life.

   Ask a child where heaven is and they will usually point to the sky.  I suspect most adults also think of heaven as “someplace up there”.  I often wonder if heaven is an actual place.  If so, where is it?  People talk of “going to heaven” but no one knows where it might be.

   Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us, but He also said that He would come back and take us to Himself.  Is heaven a place or a communion with God?  If it is a place, and all those who have accepted Jesus as their savior are there, along with all the angels and saints, it must be an extremely large place.  It must also have room for all those who are living today and those who have yet to be born so it will need to grow.

   What if heaven isn’t a place at all?  What if it is a state of being?  After His resurrection Jesus’ risen body was no longer limited by the laws of nature.  He came and went at will, appearing and disappearing in an instance.  Will our risen body be the same?  If so, is there a need for a physical place called heaven?

   What if heaven is defined as eternity in the presence of God knowing all the love, joy, and happiness He wishes to give in whatever manner He chooses to give them?  What if hell is defined as the absence of God and knowing the loss of love, joy, and happiness because of sin?

   Heaven is like so many other things of God, it is not understandable in this life.  Perhaps when this life is over the questions will be answered.  For now, faith and trust in God is what is needed. 

I can’t understand heaven.

I accept that fact.

Where it is or what it is doesn’t matter.

Heaven is my wish for eternity. 

Amen

 Be Joyful 

   “A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17: 22) 

   If I do not have joy in my heart, I need to question my spirituality.  As Christians we are to be a joyful people, knowing the happiness and contentment that awaits us.

   This does not mean that I will never know sadness or sorrow.  Satan ensures that there is sufficient evil in the world to cause all of us pain and sorrow from time to time.  But I can’t allow the trials of this world to detract from the joy that is to come.  Even in the worst of times I must look to God for the comfort and peace that He gives, both in this world and in the world to come.

   Suffering is a part of Christianity; it can’t be avoided.  We, as Catholics, are told to offer our suffering to the Lord.  I struggled with understanding what that meant for quite some time.  I finally realized that, at least for me, it means that I must offer any suffering that might come my way as an offering of thanks for the suffering He endured for me.  I must place my suffering in His hands and seek the peace He offers.

   Life in a fallen world will never be free of suffering and sorrow.  Christ knew suffering more than we ever will.  He knew deep sorrow that those He came to save rejected and despised Him.  In the Garden of Gethsemane our Lord gave us the answer to suffering in this world when He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will but as you will. (Matt 26: 39).

   When I consider the joy and peace to come when this life is over, any pain or suffering I might have to endure is put into perspective; it does not destroy but strengthens my faith in God and His promises. 

In Your love You suffered for me.

I offer You my pain and sorrow.

I trust in Your promises. 

Amen

A Revolutionary Idea 

   “This is the choice before us: either try to revolutionize the world and break under it or revolutionize ourselves and remake the world.” (Bishop Fulton Sheen, “365 Days of Inspiration”) 

   As individuals we cannot remake the world, but we can remake ourselves.  By doing so we can effect change in our little corner of the world.  If enough little corners change then perhaps the world will also be changed.

   I believe there is a revolution coming.  Evil seems to have gained a great foothold and is seeking more.  I am convinced that change must come.  I don’t know if I’ll see it, but it will happen.  God will not abandon us.

   The world has been changed before and it can be again.  A handful of uneducated men, led by One who was rejected by the masses, condemned by those in power, and finally nailed to a cross changed the world.  They preached a message of love, mercy, and forgiveness.  It wasn’t easy, all but one of the apostles suffered martyrdom for their faith, but their message spread throughout the world and continues to spread even today.

   With faith, trust, and courage, we can also cause change.  When we love others even as confront their sinfulness; when we forgive others and help them change their lives; when we accept that we also are sinners and have no right to condemn; then we can begin to effect change.

   We can’t do it by ranting and yelling.  Telling others that they are going to hell will only push them away.  Showing them the Lord in our words and actions is what will plant the seeds of change.  Answering objections and even rejection with love, honesty, and compassion will help the change take root.  Loving our neighbor as Jesus told us will help the vine grow and produce good fruit.

   The world is ours to change, not to ignore.  If we don’t do it, who will? 

The world is a mess.

It’s full of evil.

Your love can change the world.

Help us to love and help change the world. 

Amen

Follow Where He Leads 

   “Although you may not know where he is leading you (and you can be sure that there will surprises along the way), it is enough that you should believe that God is your Father.”  (Frances Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, “The Road to Hope: A Gospel from Prison”­) 

   Nobody ever said following God’s will in my life would be easy.  In fact, Jesus warned very clearly that, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up His cross, and follow me.” (Matt 16:24).  I must expect good times and not so good times in my life if I am to follow Him.

   God has given me so many blessings in life; the love of a wonderful wife, four great children, and many good friends.  But there has also been suffering; the worst of which was the loss of my wife far too early.  Still, I choose to follow Him knowing that there will most likely be other sorrows to come along with the many blessings He gives.

   For me, the key is to remember that this life is not all there is.  In the U.S., the average lifespan for a man is about 78 years (I will soon be 71).  But that time is nothing, not even the blink of an eye when compared with eternity.  As Saint Paul wrote, “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).

   This life goes on for I know not how long.  There will continue to be both joy and sorrow in this life.  I will thank Him for the joys and seek His peace and comfort in the sorrows.  I will give Him praise in all things.  He is my Father; He loves me with an eternal love, and I will follow Him to Heaven. 

The path may be difficult.

There will joy and there will be sorrow.

But Your path is a path to eternal peace.

I will follow where You lead. 

Amen 

 Living Each Day 

   When I awake in the morning I have no way of knowing if this could be my last day on earth.  Jesus told the Apostles, “Even all the hairs of your head are counted.” (Matt 10: 30).  The length of my life was known by God before I was ever born.  It’s important to my spiritual life to remember that and, more importantly, to live my life as if this day is my last.

   Considering my mortality reminds me of how important it is to do all I can to keep myself in a state of grace.  Death is not the end but a transition from this life to next.  Our soul is immortal and will continue throughout eternity.  It is up to me to determine whether that eternity will be spent in the presence of God or in Hell, the absence of God and all hope.

   Jesus said, “Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?” (Matt 6: 27).  Thinking about my mortality does not mean that I worry about it.  That would be foolish since there’s nothing I can do to change it.  What I can and must do is plan for it. 

   Living each day aware that it may be the last may seem morbid but is actually a very practical way of approaching life.  Fretting about my mortality is useless but preparing my soul for that eventuality is crucial. 

You know the number of my days.

I must prepare myself for the end.

Be it today or years from now.

In Your will there is peace and assurance. 

Amen

 To Be A Saint 

   “Have no fear about your inabilities, because it is the grace of God which will make a saint of you.”  (Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, “The Road to Hope: A Gospel from Prison”) 

   Many think it is impossible for them to become saints.  They say they aren’t holy enough and never could be.  They are right; we cannot become saints by our own efforts.  It can only be done by the grace of God.

   God wishes all of us to be saints, to be made holy that we might spend eternity with Him.  But God gave us free will and even He will not violate that free will.  We must choose to become a saint.  If we agree and sincerely desire sainthood God will make saints of us.  As odd as it sounds, we must give God permission to make us holy.

   No one is born a saint.  Many people look to the saints and what they have done in awe, seeing only what they became, not where they started.  Many saints led very sinful lives for many years before turning to God and offering themselves to His will.

   Think of the apostles.  They were ordinary uneducated men, certainly not what one would consider saints.  But they met Jesus and followed Him.  In giving their lives to God through Jesus, they became saints.  The same thing has happened over and over throughout history.  When people offer themselves to God, He makes them holy, He makes them saints.

   When the angel Gabriel told the Blessed Mother that she would conceive and bear the Son of God, she asked how that could happen since she was a virgin.  He answered, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” (Luke 1: 35).  If we want to become a saint we must answer as she did, “May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 38). 

Lord I am not worthy.

I am a sinful man.

I ask of You, make me holy.

Make me a saint. 

Amen

Until the End of the Age 

   “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matt 28: 20) 

   Over two thousand years ago a baby was born of a virgin; He was the Messiah, the Son of God, come to save the world.  As He promised His apostles, He is still with us and will remain with us until He comes in glory.

   Many have tried to stop Christianity over the years.  The Jewish leaders could not tolerate a Messiah who preached love rather than revenge against their oppressors.  They put Him to death on a cross.  They persecuted His followers, putting many of them to death as well.  But they could not stop Christianity.  For He is with us until the end of the age.

   The Romans tried to eliminate Christians through numerous persecutions.  Nero blamed the burning of Rome on them and began what would be years of horrible torture and death to the followers of Christ.  Still, they could not stop Christianity.  For He is with us until the end of the age.

   Heresies, persecutions, and divisions within the Church leading to various factions have all threatened the truth of the gospel.  What began as one Church formed by Christ has become thousands of sects, all claiming to be the true church.  Division and dispute have taken their toll, but Christianity has survived.  For He is with us until the end of the age.

   Since the beginning there have been those who have tried their best to destroy Christianity.  Christians have been and are still being denigrated, looked down upon, and in many cases, discriminated against because of their beliefs.  Laws have been passed in an effort to force Christians to conform to the new “norms” of society.  In some places even today, they are being martyred for their beliefs.

   The battle to destroy Christianity continues and will continue until Jesus comes again in glory.  There may be dark times to come and more battles to be fought.  However, the ultimate battle was won on a cross over two thousand years ago.  For He is with us until the end of the age. 

So many have rejected You.

They attack You and Your followers.

Yet we stand strong in faith.

For You are with us always. 

Amen 

 The House of the Lord 

   “There is one thing I ask of the Lord, only this do I seek:  to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord, to inquire at his temple.”  (Psalm 27: 4) 

   If I wish to live in the Lord’s temple I can’t live my life as if this world is my home, I must recognize that it is only a temporary exile from my true home.  I can’t allow this world and its’ pleasures to become the focus of my desires.  If I do, I have put my eternal life at risk and may never see the house of the Lord.

   In faith I must trust in the Lord, in His words and in His promises.  In the best of times I must thank Him and in the worst of times I must turn to Him for comfort and solace.  I cannot allow myself to despair or become despondent but submit myself to His will in all things, confident of His love and mercy

   I must forgive if I wish to be forgiven and reach the temple of the Lord.  When Peter asked if he must forgive His brother seven times, Jesus replied, “I say to you not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matt 18; 22).  In Lord’s prayer we say, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”  If I do not forgive then I will not be forgiven.

   Most of all, I must love if I am to see the house of the Lord.  If I don’t have love, I am nothing and will never enter the Lord's temple.  When asked what the greatest commandment is Jesus replied, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  The second is like it.  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt 22: 37 – 39).

   There are many virtues on the path to the Lord, but love encompasses them all.  If I have the love of the Lord in my heart, sharing that love with all, I believe I shall live in the house of the Lord. 

Lord, I desire to see Your temple.

To spend eternity in Your presence.

Teach me your ways.

Show me Your will. 

Amen

The Blessed Sacrament 

   “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him on the last day.”  (John 6: 53 – 54). 

   There are a lot of reasons that I am a Catholic but first and foremost I am a Catholic because of the Blessed Sacrament, the Eucharist, the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ under the appearance of unleavened bread and wine.

   My heart breaks when I see or hear of the Eucharist being dishonored.  It is far too common an occurrence these days.  Some who proclaim to be Catholic support and even participate in mortal sin yet go to Mass and receive the Eucharist.  Others come to the table with no reverence or awe at the incredible blessing they are about to receive.  They take it as they would a mint rather than the Body and Blood of our Lord.

   St. Paul warns, “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord.”  (1 Cor 11: 27).  Those who accept the Blessed Sacrament when in a state of mortal sin or refusing to recognize the true presence is receiving it unworthily.  Though it may appear to be only a piece of unleavened bread Jesus is truly present within.  I can’t explain it and I don't need to.  Miracles, by definition, can’t be explained, they are outside the bounds of nature.

   Just as He changed water to wine, healed the lepers, gave site to the blind and hearing to the deaf, just as He raised the dead to life, He gives us His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Blessed Sacrament. 

You gave us the gift of the Eucharist.

Your Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

Open our hearts and minds to this truth.

Help us to receive It worthily. 

Amen 

 Successful Prayer 

   “Prayer is successful when you pray not to change God or another person but to change yourself.” (Matthew Kelly, “A Call to Joy”) 

   I believe one of the most effective ways of causing change in this world is to change myself.  If I pray for the grace to live my life according to God’s will and follow His guidance I will live with peace in my heart.  Perhaps others may notice that peace and ask how they can get the same.  This gives me an opportunity to speak to them about the love, mercy, and forgiveness of God.

   Prayer is what takes us to God and keeps us there.  Not just prayer on Sunday, but prayer every day, every waking hour.  But our prayer is not to be for earthly desires, for more money, more fame or more recognition.  Our prayer should be that our lives be changed, that we allow God to make us holy, as He is holy.

   I sincerely believe that prayer for the betterment of our spiritual life is the best way to help change the lives of others.  When we become more holy we radiate that holiness to others; in the way we treat them, the way we care for them, the way we love them.  When we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless we share the love of God.  Even a simple smile filled with the love of God can be a blessing to someone who’s struggling.

   A small pebble dropped into a lake creates ripples that spread throughout.  When we pray to change ourselves, desiring His will in our life, we can create ripples among our family and friends.  Perhaps those ripples will eventually change the world. 

Make me holy I pray.

Let me share Your holiness with others.

Make me different.

Make me Yours in all ways. 

Amen

 Living for each Day 

   “Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.  Sufficient for a day is its’ own evil.” (Matt 6: 34) 

   I find that if I concern myself too much with the future I lose track of today.  Each day presents enough challenges of its’ own.  Concerning myself with what next week or next month will bring just adds to the chaos of each day.

   Of course this doesn’t mean I shouldn’t concern myself with things such as taking care of my health or foreseeing and planning for the upkeep needs of my home or vehicle.  Even planning for a trip means concerning myself with travel and hotel arrangements. 

   What it does mean, at least to me, is that I can’t concern myself with those things over which I have no control, such as politics and world events.  I am aware of and sorrowful that evil seems to be permeating everything and I must avoid evil and confront it when I can.  Those things I can do I must do, but I can do little to effect wide-spread change.

   My task is to do the best I can to avoid evil this day, to worship and serve my Lord to the best of my ability.  This involves prayer, and faith in God, a recognition and acceptance that He is in charge.  “Be still and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46: 11).  I would add, “and I am not”.  Too many times people think they can change things that only God has the power to change.

   It’s not up to me to change the world, but to change myself; to live in the world but not of it.  I must do the best I can to make my little corner of the world a better place and to serve my God to the best of my ability. 

You are God.

I am not.

You can change the world.

Help me to change myself. 

Amen

 The Wind in My Sails 

   “The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3: 8) 

   This verse from the gospel at daily Mass this morning really struck a chord in me.  The word spirit comes from the Greek “pneuma” meaning breath or wind.  In Greek tragedy writings it sometimes denotes the “breath of life”.  For Christians the Spirit is the third person of the Trinity; the advocate promised by Christ to lead us to the truth.

   I know very little about sailing, but I do know that a sailing vessel is in serious trouble in a calm.  Without wind there is no force to move the ship and it flounders in the sea with nothing to move it forward.  Without the wind it can’t be steered and is at the mercy of the currents.

   Our life is like a ship at sea and like a ship without the wind, life without the Holy Spirit is in peril.  There is no direction or guidance; it is adrift on the sea not knowing where it may end up.  We cannot reach the safe harbor offered by our Lord.  The Spirit is needed in the sails of life just as in the sails of a ship.  Without it, catastrophe may await, we may crash upon the waves of sinfulness.

   The Holy Spirit is the wind in our sails, the power to guide our life on the way of God’s will.  If we open our hearts and souls to the Spirit, we need not worry, we are safe in the hands of God. 

Without the Spirit I am lost.

Like a ship with no wind to guide it.

With the Spirit there is strength and direction.

A path to safe harbor in Your will. 

Amen

My Help and My Hope

 

Lord, You are my help and my hope.

You will never abandon me.

You reassure me with Your presence.

In You I place my trust.

 

In sorrow You give me comfort.

In disappointment You give promise.

In chaos You bring great peace.

A peace the world cannot overcome.

 

You bring hope to a troubled world.

Hope of a better life to come.

In faith I turn to You.

I place myself in Your loving care.

 

Though I stray You never abandon me.

You lead me back to the right path.

Though I sin You do not condemn,

In Your mercy You offer forgiveness.

 

This world does not know You.

Help me to know You better.

Though his world rejects You.

I will always trust in You.

Solitude 

   “Solitude can be very rewarding and full of blessing because in the silence of the inner being, one finds God.” (Bishop Fulton Sheen, “The Wisdom of Fulton Sheen: 365 Days of Inspiration”) 

   I write quite frequently about solitude and silence.  It’s because I have come to love the quiet of solitude; the one on one time with the Lord, clearing all else from my mind, focusing only on Him.  It brings me great peace and comfort.

   I find that I am in pretty good company in my love of the solitude.  Monastics cherish quiet reflection with God; it is a way of life for them.  Many of the saints write of their time of silence with the Lord, shutting out the world and communing with God.  They speak of the strength and comfort gained in these times.

   Jesus also sought out solitude for prayer and reflection.  The gospels speak often of His going off by Himself to pray.  He spent the night alone in prayer before naming the twelve apostles (see Luke 6: 12 – 13).  He also encouraged the apostles to find peace away from others, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” (Mark 6: 31).

   I believe it is important to a full spiritual life to remove oneself from all distractions and spend time alone with the Lord.  There are so many troubles and anxieties in everyday life that it can be easy to lose site of what’s really important.  Solitude and quiet time spent with God can bring focus to an otherwise chaotic life.

   Each evening I shut off all distractions, move into my bedroom, close the door, and spend time in prayer and contemplation.  Just to sit in the stillness, bringing God to mind, seeking His will, and thanking Him for His many blessings brings great peace and comfort.  My life is one of peace and contentment because of these quiet times spent with my Lord. 

Thank You for the quiet times.

The times to sit in silence with You.

To seek Your will in my life.

To thank You for Your many blessings. 

Amen 

 The Peace of the Lord 

   “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” (John 14: 27) 

   I have been blessed in many ways in my life.  I had the love of a wonderful woman for over forty-eight years of marriage.  I have four great children and several grandchildren.  I’ve been blessed with wonderful friends; friends who love me and whom I love as well.

   I am comfortable financially, though certainly not wealthy.  Though I have a few of the normal health issues of those who are in their seventies I am basically healthy and able to do the things I want and like to do.

   But most of all I am blessed with the peace of the Lord.  Even in the worst time of my life, the passing of my wife, He was with me.  He strengthened me and gave me comfort during that most difficult time.  In all things, I know His peace within me.  Without it I would be lost.

   The peace of this world is passing and fades quickly.  The peace of Jesus is eternal, it will never leave me.  Each day I turn to Him in thanksgiving for His presence in my life.  Nothing can steal His peace from me, not even Satan himself.

   The words of Psalm 63 come to mind often, “O God, you are my God, for you I long; for you my body is thirsting.” (Ps 63: 2).  Though I have the peace of God in my heart I look forward to eternal life in His presence.  I’ve no way of knowing the number of my days but, in life and in death, I have my Lord.  In this life He gives me love, peace, and comfort; in the next, eternal happiness in all things. 

I thank You for Your peace.

I am comforted by Your presence.

Let me live for You.

So that I might spent eternity with You. 

Amen.

 Called to Be Holy 

   “For I am the Lord your God; sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11: 44) 

   Some are called to be priests, others to be deacons, still others to live a consecrated religious life.  Many are called to matrimony, some to celibacy and virginity.  God calls His people to serve in many ways.

   But before one can rightly answer a call to vocation, one must first accept the call to holiness.  Holiness is not something that comes with the priesthood or any other vocation; it is a calling in and of itself.  Unless we accept the call to holiness we will never properly fulfill the call to any vocation.

   God calls all to holiness, but He will not force it upon anyone.  I must accept it and, in a sense, give God permission to make me holy.  When the Blessed Virgin Mary was called to become the mother of the Son of God she responded, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 38). 

   “Whom shall I send?  Who will go for us?” “Here I am,” I said, “Send me!” (Isaiah 6: 8).  Isaiah’s response is the answer we must give when God calls us to holiness.  We must open our hearts and our lives to His will and become holy.

   Holiness is not something we can attain on our own, it is a gift from God.  It is a way of life, a decision to live for God rather than for self.  It's the way we treat everyone we meet, the love we have in our hearts for God and for our neighbors and even our enemies.  We can’t become holy by good works, but our holiness urges us to do good works.

   God calls everyone.  Some He calls to specific vocations, but he calls all to holiness.  The choice is ours; will we accept His call or reject it? 

Lord, You call all to holiness.

Make me holy.

Teach me Your ways.

Help me to live in Your will. 

Amen

 The Road to Emmaus 

   “Then, beginning with Moses and all the prophets he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. (Luke 24: 27) 

   I many times feel like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, confused over things that have happened, not understanding why or what it means.  There are times when I feel lost and wish someone would come alongside me and explain things to me as Jesus did to the disciples.

   Life is a mystery in so many ways.  I don’t understand most of it and I’ve come to accept that I never will.  That’s OK, it’s probably better that I don’t know everything.  My fear is that if I knew it would destroy my faith.  With complete knowledge there is no need for faith.

   I don’t need faith to know that two plus two equals four and it always will.  But I do need faith to accept that whatever happens, God is in control.  In scripture God never fully reveals Himself.  To Moses He appeared in the burning bush, to Elijah in the small quiet voice.   He reveals Himself to me in much the same way, partially, but never completely.  But it is in these small understandings that He gives me peace and comfort.  It is there that I find the serenity that comes from the presence of God.

   I sometimes think I would like to know all there is to know about God and His plan, but then I realize that I am not intended to know, I am to trust and have faith.  In faith there is comfort, in trust there is peace.  In love there is the confidence that all will be well; God is in control. 

Sometimes this world makes no sense.

I don’t understand.

Sometimes I wish I understood.

But I know that what I truly need is to trust.

Help me always trust in You.

Amen

 He Loved Us First 

   “He seeks us before we dream of seeking Him; He knocks before we invite Him in; He loves us before we respond.”  (Bishop Fulton Sheen, “The Wisdom of Fulton Sheen: 365 Days of Inspiration”    

   When I stop to consider that God loves all men and women it totally amazes me.  Just think of what that means; He loved those who put His Son to death on the cross; He loved those who persecuted and tortured His followers; He loved even Hitler; He loves us even when we ignore Him and refuse to accept His love.

   His is the love that truly is, one that loves the other simply because they are there.  He desires our love even though we can never love as He does.  Even when we reject Him, when we turn from Him to evil, His love remains.  In His love He will forgive our failings and welcome us home.

   “But God proves his love for us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5: 8).  The history of the Israelites and the history of all peoples is one of God’s love.  We were created because of His love and only because of His love.  In truth, God has no need of us; but He loves us anyway, as a Father loves His children.  We can never offer Him the love that He gives freely to us; we can only strive to do our best.

    “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3: 16).  No greater love exists.  What He seeks from us is that we love Him in return.  For this He offers eternal life. 

Your love is everlasting.

I can’t love as You do.

I offer You the best I have.

Help me to love You more. 

Amen

 Easter People 

   We have spent forty days of Lent, offering sacrifice as Jesus sacrificed for us.  We have celebrated Holy Thursday, remembering the incredible act of humility Jesus showed in the washing of the feet of His apostles; an example of how we are to be servants rather than the served.  We have mourned at the death of our Lord on the cross on Good Friday and joyously celebrated His resurrection from the dead on Easter Sunday.

   But for Christians Easter is not just a Sunday in spring, it is a way of life.  We are to be the people of Easter, always celebrating the life of Jesus.  We are to be willing to sacrifice for others as He sacrificed for us; to wash the feet of others rather than demand that they wash ours.  To try to live as He lived, a life full of love.

   Above all else we are to be people of the resurrection; to celebrate the fact that this life is only a prelude to the life to come.  There will be joy and happiness in this life, but none can compare with the joy that awaits us in the next.  There will be sadness and sorrow in this life, but even the worst this life has to offer cannot dampen the glory we will know in heaven.

   We are blessed in so many ways and should be eternally grateful.  We are meant to enjoy this life and the gifts God has given us.  However, we are not to live for this world, but for the next.  We are Easter people, the people of the resurrection.

   “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” (John 14: 3).  Amen, Lord Jesus, come soon! 

Easter comes and goes.

But we carry Easter in our hearts.

We celebrate Your resurrection always.

We await Your coming in glory.

 Amen