Boasting in Weakness 

   “So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” (2 Cor 12: 9) 

   The ability to resist all sin is not possible.  As much as I would like to be sinless, original sin and the evil it brought upon all humanity makes it impossible.  The most I can do is rely on the power of Christ to give me the strength to resist serious sin and to turn to Him for forgiveness in any sin that I may commit.

   This is the weakness St. Paul spoke of in the scripture quoted above.  He recognized His own weakness and saw it as the opportunity to let the power of Christ dominate His life; to die to self and live for God.  In his humility he understood that any good he might do came only from God and that the struggle was one that can only be won with the help of the Lord.

   The fact that I cannot eliminate sin from my life even helps strengthen my faith.  It clearly says that I do not have the power to resist all sin on my own, thereby encouraging me to turn to God for the strength to continue the fight.

   In humble acceptance, I must recognize that, without God, I am nothing.  I can do nothing good unless I allow Him to do the good through me.  On Ash Wednesday, as he placed the ashes on my forehead, the priest again reminded me that I am dust and to dust I shall return.  This too encourages me to turn to God in all things.

   I pray often for the ability to completely resist sin in my life, even though I know that isn’t possible.  I believe that my desire to be sinless pleases God even though I can never achieve that goal in this life.  I will rely on the love and forgiveness of God to see me through and rejoice in my weakness that I may better know His strength.

 

I know my weakness Lord.  Show me Your strength.  Help me to avoid sin in my life and have mercy on me when I fail.  Amen.

 

 

 Trust In the Lord 

   “It was you who created my inmost self, and put me together in my mother’s womb; for all these mysteries I thank you: for the wonder of myself, for the wonder of your works.” (Psalm 139: 13 – 14) 

   Trust in God brings great comfort.  His plan for my life has been known since before time began.  The ups, the downs, and all the in-betweens are at His discretion.  In this I find tremendous peace.

   When faced with difficulties I do not have to face them alone, wondering what they will bring.  I can turn to God and acknowledge that all is according to His plan and trust in Him and His will for me.  No matter what comes in this life I am confident that the purpose is to lead me always closer to Him and eternal life in His presence.

   It can be so easy to become despondent when tragedy strikes, and tragedy will strike virtually all of us as some time, in some way.  Whether it be a failed marriage, the loss of a loved one, serious or even terminal illnesses, we can quickly lose sight of God and focus upon the problem, whatever it may be.

   With God, there is relief from anxiety and despair.  Whatever is to come is part of His plan and as long as I trust in Him and His will I can overcome whatever tragedies that may arise.  That doesn’t mean that it will be easy, only that it is made possible by my faith in God.  Without that faith, life in this messed up, upside-down world would be nearly impossible to bear.

   “You had scrutinized my every action, all were recorded in your book, my days listed and determined, even before the first of them occurred” (Psalm 139: 16).

 

Father, I thank You for setting the path before me even though I may be unaware of where it will lead.  May You also give me the strength to follow Your path through life until I come to share in Your heavenly Kingdom.  Amen

 Peace 

   “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.  In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John 16: 33) 

   Jesus often spoke of the peace that faith can bring in this life.  He repeatedly told His disciples to be unafraid.  He never said there would not be difficulties to be faced but that, in Him, was the strength and peace to overcome those difficulties.

   My life is much less stressful, much more serene when I keep these thoughts in mind.  When I trust in Him, the world cannot get me down regardless of the difficulties I may face.  He is always there to quiet any anxiety I may experience.  He comforts my soul and gives me peace.

   I wake up each morning and take a moment to look to God for guidance for the new day and to thank Him for all His many blessings.  I often turn to Him throughout the day to seek His will and to ask His help in living in this world that suffers the pain and destruction of sinfulness.  I don’t expect there to be any great changes in the world, but I trust that God is in control, and all will be resolved according to His will.

   Sometimes I wonder how those without faith survive in this sinful world.  I suppose many of them simply accept the ways of the world never realizing the peace and happiness they are foregoing by leaving God out of their life.  My prayer is that something will light the fire of faith within them and bring them home to our loving Father.

   Jesus told us to love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds; in this is our salvation.  He also told us to love our neighbor as ourselves; in this is peace in this lifetime.

 

Lord, Your peace is not the peace of the world.  In your peace we find contentment, joy, and happiness.  Give me always that peace.  Amen

 A Cheerful Life 

   “Cheerfulness strengthens the heart and makes us persevere in a good life.  Therefore, the servant of God ought always to be in good spirits.  (St Phillip Neri) 

   God wishes me to be cheerful, to enjoy life, always looking to Him in thanksgiving for His many blessings.  To do less is, in my opinion, an insult to the God who loves and watches over me.

   Even Job, in the midst of all his woes and troubles, had the faith and the courage to say, “If I say:  I will forget my complaining, I will lay aside my sadness and be of good cheer.” (Job 9: 27).   If I am to be what God wishes me to be, I too must lay aside sadness and allow myself to be of good cheer.

   According to St. Augustine evil has no positive nature.  It is instead the absence of good.  If evil results from the lack of good, I must always focus on the good and fill myself with the cheerfulness God asks of me.

   Satan would have me believe that the world can overcome me and make my life a misery.  He constantly brings to mind those things that have caused pain and sorrow in my life.  If I listen, he will steal my peace and replace it with a troubled soul.

   Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You have faith in God, have faith also in me.  In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.  If there were not, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  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 may also be. (John 14: 1 – 3).  These words are the key to overcoming evil and being of good cheer. Amen Lord, come soon.

 

Fill my heart with joy Lord.  Let me never allow evil to take away my cheerfulness.  Never allow my heart to be troubled, but to always place all my hope in You.  Amen

 The Loving Father 

   “Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” (Luke 15: 23 – 24) 

   The story recounted in Luke 15 is normally referred to as the “Parable of the Prodigal Son”.  However, in his homily this morning, our priest reminded us that it is also the “Parable of the Forgiving Father”.

   This parable reminds us of the incredible love and mercy of God  I know of no other place in scripture where we read of such disrespectful and hateful treatment of a father by his own son.  The selfishness and greed of this young man is shameful; no a parent should suffer such treatment.

   Yet the father never gave up on his son.  I can almost picture him, standing and watching for his son's return, his heart aching with love for him.  Then, on the day he when he sees him coming, he is jubilant.  Welcoming his wayward son home even as if he had never treated him so terribly.  Dressing him in finery and welcoming him home with a feast; partying in celebration of his return.

   Our heavenly Father looks for our return just as eagerly.  He wants all of His children to come home to Him and He will welcome them with gifts beyond compare.  “Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord:  Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they may become white as wool.” (Isaiah 1: 18).

   He is waiting for our return.  He is watching for us, hoping to welcome us with open arms.  There will be great joy in heaven whenever a wayward child returns to his heavenly Father.

 

We are sinners Lord, having offended You so many times.  In Your mercy forgive us when we come to You, sorrowful for our sins.  Welcome us home to Your heavenly kingdom.  Amen

 Courageous Faith 

   “Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity.  Be fools for Christ.  And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world." (Justice Antonin Scalia) 

   There has never been a time when the world at large has accepted Christianity.  Faith in God has never been the driving force in the majority of the people.  For over two thousand years Christians have battled the ways of the world and will continue to do so.

   What I must do is listen to what Justice Scalia said.  I can’t be concerned with the opinions of the world.  My faith may be regarded as foolish by many of the people, but it doesn't lessen or weaken my faith.  It saddens me, but does not affect by beliefs.  Faith is not something easily understood by those who do not have it.

   In the eyes of the world there is no hard evidence of what I believe, and I really don’t care.  They cannot prove to me that what I believe is wrong, so their opinion is really of no consequence.  I am willing to be seen as a fool by many if that is what is required; I am not concerned with the judgement of the world, but of God.

   It amazes me how many people will believe politicians who are notorious liars.  They will look to their favorite actors for morale standards even though actors are paid professional liars whose livelihood depends on how convincingly they lie.  But they refuse to listen to the Word of God.

   Christians will continue to be a minority in any society that is more concerned with worldly pleasures and happiness than with eternal life.  It has always been so and will remain so until our Lord comes again in glory.

 

Father, my faith in You is strong, make it stronger.  The world rejects You, help me more completely accept Your will.  The world refused to believe, help my unbelief.  Amen

 To Know God 

   “If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must pass beyond everything that can be seen and enter into darkness.  Since nothing that can be heard is God, to find Him we must enter into silence.” (Thomas Merton, “New Seeds of Contemplation”) 

   Sometimes I read something that enters my mind and then goes around and around while I try to grasp the meaning.  This statement by Thomas Merton is one of those things.

   St. Thomas Aquinas said that God is not a being, He is being.  He is not a being as we understand the word.  Hence the name He gave Moses on mount Horeb,  “I AM WHO I AM”. (Exodus 3: 14).  All else is because God is I AM.  There is no physical or mental image that can suffice to depict our God.

   Many people talk of having heard God speak to them and I don’t doubt their sincerity, or the blessing associated with that experience.  In my case, I cannot say that I have ever heard the “voice” of God and question if God has a voice.  He speaks to me in many ways, through scripture, the sacraments, and in the homilies when the He is speaking through the priest.  He speaks to me in the silence of my heart not with sound, but with understanding.

   To “see” and “hear” God I must leave the visible and audible world and enter into the darkness and silence of contemplation.  And yet, of my own accord, I can’t know contemplation; it too is a gift from God.  Only by His will can I experience the depth of His presence that it brings.

   If I sound confused I am.  But my confusion encourages me to continue reaching out to Him, striving to know Him better.  He is within me in a way that I can’t explain but one that is incredibly real and beautiful; and we are one.

 

You are within me Father.  Your presence is the greatest joy possible.  I long to know You completely when this life is done, and I can come to be with You eternally.  Amen

Stormy Days 

   It’s a dreary, rainy day here in Ocala.  Rain and thunderstorms are expected throughout the day and most of the night.  It’s a good day to stay inside, maybe sipping a cup of good tea, thinking of God and all He’s done for me.

   I happen to like stormy days for some reason.  Maybe it’s part of my genetic makeup; my grandmother’s favorite days were the ones of rain and storms.  Perhaps appropriately, she passed away on a very stormy day.  I have no doubt that she was pleased to go home to the Lord on one of her favorite days.

   Whatever the reason, the fact remains that I am never saddened by the inclement weather but see it as just another of God’s gifts to me in this world.  He never ceases to amaze me with the many variations that I experience.  From a cloudy, rainy day like today to one of cloudless blue skies.  From days of frigid cold to milder days and then the heat of summer, all are part of God’s perfect plan.

   They say variety is the spice of life and I suppose that’s true.  It pleases me greatly that our generous God offers such wide varieties in life.  In them we see the overwhelming love of a Father providing all that is best for His children.  We need the sunny days, but we also need the rain, the storms and such.  It's all a part of God’s plan, a magnificent montage of weather supplying the needs of His creation.

   We can’t know the many gifts we will experience in heaven, but somehow I hope there are still a few rainy days to just sit quietly, thinking of God and all His many blessings.

 

Thank You for the variety of life.  For the clear days, the stormy days, and all those in between.  I am constantly in awe of the majesty of Your creation and the diversity contained within.  Amen. 

 The Mystery of Suffering 

   Everyone wants to go to heaven, but we all see the path differently.  Some expect there to be some pain and sorrow along the way while others seem to think that faithful Christians should be exempt from such trials and wonder why God allows them to suffer.  It is a mystery that we will never quite grasp in this lifetime.

   In reading the lives of the saints I find many of them considered themselves blessed to experience pain and suffering.  They regarded it as an opportunity to share in the agony and death our Lord suffered on our behalf.  Some received the stigmata, physical evidence of the wounds of Christ upon their own body.  None complained but instead welcomed the pain and suffering, considering it a blessing to share in Christ’s suffering.

   Many have been martyred rather than deny their faith.  Most were severely tortured and died a horribly painful death.  They too seemed happy to offer their life for Jesus.  No amount of pain or agony could convince them to renounce their faith.  Some continued to praise God all through their sufferings, dying with a peaceful smile upon their faces.

   Most of us will never experience such pain or torture.  We will not be crucified, drawn and quartered, or burned at the stake.  However, we will have times of pain and sorrow in our walk of faith.  These trials can be an opportunity to turn to Christ and offer our sufferings to Him, to share in some small way in His passion and death.

   In a world that is broken and full of evil, we cannot avoid times of pain and sorrow.  But in all our trials and tribulations we have a merciful God who will not allow us to suffer beyond our ability.  For strength and perseverance, we can look to St. Paul who wrote, “I think that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us.” (Romans 8: 18)

 

Father, in our pain and sorrows, help us always turn to You for mercy and the strength to endure.  Amen.

 Temptation 

   “Filled with the holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil.” (Luke 4: 1).

   If Satan would tempt even Jesus to sin, we must expect the same.  The devil knows our weaknesses better than we know them ourselves and he will attack where we are most vulnerable.  We must look to the Lord for the strength to resist just as He did.

   In some ways we should be glad that we are being tempted.  Satan does not waste his time tempting those who already belong to him, but those who are the children of God.  By our temptations, we can be certain that we have not yet been completely drawn from the right path.

   A young monk once asked one of the early desert fathers how he could avoid temptations.  He replied, “Go aside and stand, open your cloak and catch the wind.”  When the young monk replied that such a thing was not possible, the wise father told him, “Neither can you stop temptations.  Your job is to say No!”  The same applies to each of us.  We will never be free of temptations in this life, but we must adamantly reply “No!” when sinful urges come upon us, as they surely will.

   St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, gave us the answer to temptation.  “Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his might power.  Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.” (Eph 6: 10 – 11).

   We are at war, a war between good and evil.  It is up to us to use all the power of God available to us to fight the evil and stand for the good.  Our Father is there, He will give us what we need to win this battle if we ask Him.

 

Strengthen me Lord.  Help me resist the temptations of the evil one.  Let me seek Your will and draw on your strength to win this battle so that I might spend eternity with You.  Amen

 

It’s Not What We Know, It’s How We Live 

   “On the day of judgement we will not be asked what we have read, but what we have done; neither will we be asked how well we have spoken, but how devoutly we have lived. (Thomas à Kempis, “The Imitation of Christ”) 

   We can know the bible word for word and be able to repeat it from memory, but if we aren’t living what it teaches it does us no good.  If we can name all the saints, but don’t incorporate the faith they lived by into our life, it is of no help.

   Jesus did not ask us to know everything there is to know, but to seek the will of God in our lives.  He asks us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit those who are sick or in prison.  He asks us to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul, and to love one another as He loves us.

   At our judgement we won’t be asked how much we know or how many great speeches we may have given, He will ask if we’ve lived what we preached and used what we’ve learned to better serve God and our neighbor.

It won’t matter if there are plaques on stained glass windows recognizing us for the donation that paid for them; that plaque will be our reward.  He will know of the charity we have shown in secret.  That is what will merit our heavenly reward.

I can author many books or post blogs every day for the rest of my life, but if I’m not doing my best to live by God’s will, it does me no good.  In fact, if I don’t incorporate what I preach into my own life, I am nothing but a hypocrite.

   Worldly knowledge, earthly recognition or honors will not get me to heaven.  Doing my best to live as Christ has asked of me is the only thing that will put me on that path.

 

Father, knowledge is a wonderful thing, a precious gift from You.  But knowledge of Your will and my efforts to live accordingly is what will lead me to Your heavenly kingdom.  Amen

 Serious Business 

   As we prepare to celebrate the resurrection and ascension of our Lord on Easter Sunday, I think it’s important to reflect on an often overlooked Lenten reminder; Christianity is serious business.

   Many have added the stations of the cross to their Lenten activities.  In this way we recall the brutal reality of the passion and death of our Lord.  We walk with Him as He carries His cross, falling several times, causing the Romans to force another to help carry the cross.  Along the way He meets His mother, our Blessed Mother, sharing a look surely full of sorrow and pain.  When Veronica offered her veil for Him to wipe His face she is blessed with the image of His face imprinted upon the veil.

   Upon His arrival at Calvary, Jesus is stripped, and nailed to the cross.  After three hours of agony, He relinquishes His spirit to the Father and dies.  Taken down from the cross, He is cradled in the arms of the Blessed Mother, carried to the tomb, and prepared for burial.

And yet, for all the pain and suffering He endured, by His resurrection and ascension He brought the hope and joy of Christianity.  In His death and rising He destroyed death and offered eternal life to those who would believe.

   In our life we must also recognize that Christianity is a serious business.  It is not a social club or a custom we continue out of habit, but a way of life.  We must recognize that we must accept the Lord and the truths He taught and implement them in our lives.  That means rejecting most of what society treasures and following the path through the narrow gate of faith.

   Christianity is not a cafeteria where we can select what we wish to believe and reject whatever isn’t pleasing to us.  If we cannot accept the fact of the real presence, we are eating and drinking condemnation upon ourselves by receiving communion.  If we are having sex of any kind outside of a sacramental marriage we are guilty of fornication, adultery, or both.  If we support the murder of babies in the womb, we are complicit in the murder of the innocents.  If we are unprepared to follow Christ all the way to Calvary if necessary, perhaps we need to rethink, and with the help of God, strengthen our faith.

 

Lord, we recall Your passion, death, and resurrection.  Increase our faith, help our unbelief.  Amen

 Love Is the Answer 

   “To be well versed in Scripture and all the sayings of philosophers will not profit you if you are without God’s love and His grace.” (Thomas à Kempis, “The Imitation of Christ”) 

   More and more I am convinced that the only way to God is through love.  Not love as we normally define it in our broken world but love as it truly should be, a conscious desire for the good of the other.

   I love studying scripture and holy writings.  I enjoy reading about the lives of the saints.  The more I learn the more I like it, but I also realize that knowing the words and the actions of others does me know good if I don’t incorporate the love that led to those words and actions into my own life.

   Some quote scripture by verse and chapter, but how many of them are living those words in their lives?  It seems that many times it is an effort to impress others or to prove a point of their own rather than to share the love of God.

   Even Satan and atheists are familiar with scripture.  Satan quoted scripture in his attempts to entice Jesus to turn rocks to bread, to accept worldly power, and to tempt God.  Atheists are often experts at turning scripture on its head in an attempt to prove there is no God.  Both Satan and atheists know the scripture, but they don’t understand the love contained within.

   St. Paul wrote, “If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing.  If I have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there are, and knowing everything, and if I have faith in all its fulness, to move mountains, but without love, then I am nothing at all.  If I give away all that I possess, piece by piece, and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but am without love, it will do me no good whatsoever.” (1 Cor 13: 1 – 3).

   There is no greater gift than the love of God and there is no more Christian attitude than to share that love with others.  Regardless of all else, love truly is the answer.

 

Lord, teach me to love.  Not as the world loves but as You love.  Caring not for self but for the good of the other.  Amen

 The Crosses We Bear 

   “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church.” (Col 1: 24) 

   Of all the questions people have about why they should believe in Christianity, I think suffering is the one that most often comes up.  They simply can’t accept that a loving, forgiving God would allow suffering.  But Christ suffered willingly and spoke of it as His Father’s will.  If even the Son of God was to experience suffering, why should His followers be exempt?

   Paul’s writings can be difficult, and this is one that I have often wondered about.  He can’t be saying that Jesus’ sufferings were insufficient, that would be blasphemous.  What could possibly be lacking in the afflictions of Chirst?

   One of my friends recently offered a thought that made a lot of sense to me.  Jesus suffered for the church, His own body.  When we suffer, we can also prayerfully offer those sufferings to Jesus for the church, in a sense adding our sufferings to His.  This idea also goes to help understand why there is suffering in the world.  It is to give us an opportunity to join our sufferings with those of Christ.

   We are to take part in His sufferings.  He told us, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matt 16: 24).  I believe this means that we are to follow Him in accepting the suffering that a corrupt and sinful world imposes upon on us, offering that suffering as a gift of thanksgiving to Christ for the suffering He endured for us.  I believe this is true even to the point of following Him all the way to Calvary and the cross if need be.

 

Lord, help us endure our sufferings as You endured Yours.  Let us offer our pains and sorrows to You as a prayer of thanksgiving for all You have done for us.  Amen

 The Path of the Lord 

   “He has other ways for others to follow Him; all do not go by the same path. It is for each of us to learn the path by which He requires us to follow Him, and to follow Him in that path." (St. Katharine Drexel) 

   I believe that God has a path for each of us.  A plan that, if followed, will certainly lead us to His kingdom.  My path will be somewhat different from yours, and your will be yours alone as well.  Even though we may walk together on our path there will be differences in how God guides us along the way.

   I look to Moses as a perfect example.  Raised in Pharoah’s court he was one of the elite.  He was one of power and status in Egypt.  He could have easily looked the other way when he saw Israelites being treated unjustly and continue to live a life of leisure and ease.  However, God had a plan for Moses, one filled with difficulty and hardships.  But the path chosen for Moses would set God’s elect, the Israelites, free from the slavery of Egypt and take them to the promised land.

   Few will have a path such as Moses walked.  Although, there have been those whose path was filled with hardships, danger, and even martyrdom, they were the exception, not the rule.  I think most of us will walk a path that will certainly include difficulties and some mountains to climb, but few will walk the path of martyrdom.

   It is my duty to prayerfully seek the path God has chosen for me.  He will lead me if I reach out to Him, even though I may not know where the path will lead.  The same is true of all Christians.  We each have a path to walk, and we must walk it.  God will lead us if we allow, and He will lead us home to eternal life with Him.

 

Father, show me path You would have me walk.  Give me the wisdom to know it, the strength to walk it, and the perseverance to follow it home to You.  Amen

 

 Humility

 

   “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14: 11) 

   Our Lord lived a life of humility as an example to me and to all.  He often reminded us that we are to be servants.  At the last supper after He washed the feet of the apostles He told them, “If then I, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet.  I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.” (John 13: 13 – 15).  In His humility He taught humility.

   To better understand humility, I had to first understand what Christian humility is not.  It is not becoming a door mat for others.  It is not allowing unwarranted attack on my faith, although it requires a loving and forgiving response to such attacks.  It is not denying God-given talents although it forbids taking pride in them.

   Humility means that I must first and foremost recognize what I am reminded of each year at Ash Wednesday; I am dust and to dust I will return.  God created me and wills that I exist.  Without His desire for my continued presence, I would cease to be.  Nothing, myself included, exists in this world except by the will of God.

   To understand humility and foster it in my life I must realize that all good comes from God.  Any good that I might accomplish originates with Him, not me.  As a sinner, I can only do good with the help of the Lord, although I can certainly do evil on my own.

   Humility also means that I must stop looking for the sins in others and focus on the sins in my own life.  This doesn’t mean that I should not confront sin, but I should do so in the spirit of love, fully aware that I too am a sinner in need of forgiveness and mercy.

 

Teach me humility Lord.  Take away my pride, give me the desire to serve others according to Your will.  Amen

 Exiles in the World 

   “Here we have no abiding city, but we seek the one that is to come.” (Michael Casey OCSO, “Seventy-four Tools for Good Living: Reflections on the Fourth Chapter of Benedict’s Rule”)

   I am never truly at home as long as I live in this world.  Like the Israelites exiled to Babylon, I am where I do not belong.  This is the land of exile, heaven, the new Jerusalem, is my true home.

   This does not mean that I am unhappy, simply unsettled.  I enjoy my life; it is a gift from God, intended to be enjoyed.  To do less is to denigrate God’s wonderful gift.  He has blessed me is so many ways and I am grateful for His love and mercy.

   I love my family and we have a great time when we get together.  The ties we have are eternal and based on love, not just blood.  My fondest wish is to spend eternity with them in the next life.

   My friends are the best and have helped me through some very difficult times.  We meet often, sometimes for meals, sometimes just to visit or watch a movie, sharing so much of our lives and blessings.  I look forward to continuing these relationships when we gather in the kingdom of God.

   I feel most at home in this world when I am in God’s house.  At Mass and in the Adoration Chapel before the Blessed Sacrament I am most conscious of God’s presence in my life.  At times I can almost see the communion of saints gathering around the altar during the consecration of the Eucharist.

   And yet, I am not at home.  Of all the blessings God has given I think the greatest is the promise of life eternal in His company.  If I can live my life as an offering to Him, seeking His guidance and mercy, He will lead me to my true home.

 

I thank You for all the blessings of this life.  I especially thank you for the promise of the life to come.  Make me Yours Lord, make me a saint.  Amen

 The Church of Nice 

   “The church cannot be the salt of the earth if we keep sugar-coating the Gospel.’ (Author Unknown) 

   In conversations with others, we have spoken of what we call the “Church of the Nice”.  What we mean by that is it seems so many in the church today are more interested in getting people in the pews and keeping them there rather than teaching the truths of the Gospel.

   Jesus warned us very clearly, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9: 23).  But these words aren’t what people want to hear; they don’t want to consider that Christianity is not an easy path and there will be crosses to bear and difficulties to overcome.  Rather, they want to focus on the “softer”, more forgiving side of our Lord.

   Sin is rarely the focus of our homilies although sin was the downfall of mankind in the Garden of Eden and continues to be the bane of all humanity.  To avoid the subject doesn’t make it go away, it just makes it more prevalent.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6: 23).  If we are not taught the pitfalls and dangers of sin, we are far less likely to recognize the sins in our life, and the need for confession and repentance.

   We may squirm a bit when the priest touches on the sins we are committing, but it is vital that we be challenged to recognize our sins and turn from them into the loving arms of our Lord.

   Easy-going sermons with few references to sin and evil may make for a more comfortable feeling, but they do nothing to save our soul.  We don’t need a “Church of the Nice”, we need a church that teaches the truths of the Gospels.

 

Lord, we don’t like to think about our sins.  Convict us and remind us that sin will not enter the kingdom of God.  Put upon our hearts sorrow and repentance for our wrongs.  Amen

 Why Am I Here? 

Why am I here?  What is my purpose?  What is God’s plan for me?  I think we’ve all asked ourselves these questions many times in our life.  God has a plan for each of us, striving to know and fulfill that plan is the path to heaven.

What is my purpose?  Jesus told his apostles, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28: 19 - 20).  Note that he didn’t say to make them followers, but disciples.  We are challenged not to be just followers of Christ but to be disciples.  Following is a passive act, becoming a disciple requires devotion, dedication and positive action.  As a follower, we can perhaps get to where we want to go, but as a disciple we can also lead others along the way.

What is God’s plan for me?  Thomas Merton, in “The Seven Story Mountain”, recalls his friend telling him “All that is necessary to be a saint is to want to be one.  Don’t you believe that God will make you what he created you to be, if you will consent to let him do it?”  The same is true of me and you.  God desires that we all be saints and will guide us to sainthood if we let Him.

Why am I here?  The Baltimore Catechism says I am here to “know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in Heaven.”  If I strive to do these things I believe I shall know why I am here.

 

My life is a mystery, I don’t know the plans You have for me.  Guide me on Your way, help me to follow Your will in all things.  Make of me a saint.  Amen

 Ripples in the Water 

   “I alone cannot change the world.  But I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” (St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta) 

   St. Mother Teresa certainly caused ripples in the waters.  She moved to Calcutta to care for the poor and dying in a non-Christian nation and yet she saw Christ in each one she cared for.  At the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., in 1994, before many national politicians, including President Clinton, she did not hesitate to tell them, “Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want.  This is why the greatest destroyer of love is abortion.”

   Like Mother Teresa, we can’t change the world.  But we can cast a stone across the water, creating ripples.  If we are adamant in what we expect of our politicians, we can begin to turn the tide against abortion, euthanasia, and other abominations that some see as politically expedient.

   If we respectfully and prayerfully challenge our priests, bishops, and even the Pope to remain faithful to the teaching of Christ perhaps we can eliminate some of the heretical offerings we now hear so much about.  If more of them would preach to the horror and cost of sin rather than trying to be the “church of nice” to keep people in the pews, there could be a renewal of faith in the Church that would amaze.

   Even in our own families there are opportunities to cause a few ripples.  No one wants to destroy family relationships, but gentle reminders of our faith are, I believe, very proper.  St. Monica prayed for many years for the conversion of her son, St. Augustine and her prayers were answered.  Our prayers for our children do not go unheard, and even though we may not see it in our lifetime, can change their hearts.

   So, pick up a few stones and skip them across the waters.  Create the ripples that may help us revitalize and re-catechize the Church.

 

Father, give us the courage to speak always of our faith and love for You.  Open hearts to Your love and mercy.  Amen

 Iniquities 

   “If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?  But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered.” (Psalm 130: 3 – 4) 

   My sins and iniquities are many.  No matter how hard I try I will never be able to be sinless in this life.  Though I want to, it simply isn’t possible.  However, I believe that my desire to be sinless pleases God even though I can’t succeed.

   If God was an accountant, keeping tracking of the good and the bad I do on a balance sheet, I fear I wouldn’t stand a chance of entering heaven.  But that isn’t how He looks at us.  As we will never quit loving our children and hoping for the best in them, we are His children, His love and mercy is endless.  No matter how we have sinned, when we come to Him in sorrow and repentance He will forgive.

   “Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?’, says the Lord God, ‘Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from is evil ways that he may live?’”.  I think some people look at God as One who seeks to punish us for our sins.  But in fact, He wants to forgive them and forget they ever existed.  But it is up to us to, in effect, give Him permission to do so.  We must approach Him recognizing our sinfulness and the fact that we can never deserve His mercy and forgiveness.  We have to make an honest effort to avoid sin and return to Him in sorrow when we fail and sin again.

   When we approach God in this manner and ask of Him, “A clean heart create for me God, renew within me a steadfast spirit.” (Psalm 51: 12), He will rejoice that we have returned to Him. 

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us.” (Psalm 103: 12)

 Finding God 

   “The only One who can teach me to find God is God, Himself, Alone.” (Thomas Merton, “New Seeds of Contemplation”) 

   For a very long time I searched for God.  I never found Him until I quit searching and simply opened myself to Him and let Him introduce Himself to me.

   On three occasions I applied to the Deaconate, thinking I could find God there.  Each time I was unsuccessful.  I finally realized that He was not calling me to the Deaconate, and I needed to look elsewhere.

   I took many college level theology classes and spent three years of Sunday afternoons studying to become a certified Catechist.  In all those studies I learned a lot about God and my faith, and I am blessed to have had the opportunity to increase my knowledge in these ways.  However, God was not in the books or lesson plans.

   The saints knew God, so I read about many of the saints and their lives.  I learned a lot about the saints, the trials in their lives and, in many cases their martyrdom.  These efforts helped my spiritual life, but I did not find Him by reading about others, and their relationships with God.

   No matter how much I learned, how much I studied, or how many saints and holy people I read about, I couldn’t find Him.  I began to believe that I could spend my whole life searching and still not find the Lord.  The thing I wanted most, to better know God and my place in His plan, seemed out my reach.

   Finally, I realized that I would never find Him in the world, or in books, or in the lives of others, only within myself.  Instead of looking for Him in all the wrong places, I needed to look into my own heart.  When I did I found that He had been there all the time waiting for me.

 

Father, we search for You, but we look in the wrong places.  You are with us always, in our hearts and souls.  Help us to stop looking elsewhere so that we can find You within us.  Amen

 The Joy of Sharing 

   While we may not think so, we all have things to share with others.  Maybe it’s an experience that changed our life or just made a difference.  It could be an over-whelming conversion experience or just an “aha” moment.  If it was beneficial to us, it can be a good thing to share it with others.  Sometimes the simplest things can make the greatest difference in someone’s life; sharing our experiences can be an opportunity for our blessings to enrich the lives of others.

   Our pastor likes to say that he would much rather see a homily than hear one.  What he means is that the best evangelization is often the example of our daily life.  The example they see in us may be the only homily they ever hear.

   Sharing with friends and family those things that have had a positive impact on our spiritual life is much the same.  The story we share may help someone else grow in faith, and maybe give even those who do not have an active spiritual life something to think about and consider. 

   The Lord blesses us in so many ways.  By sharing those blessings with others we are sharing our faith and perhaps helping them grow in their faith walk as well.

 

You bless us in so many ways Lord.  Encourage us to share Your blessings and Your love with others and for them to share theirs with us.  Amen

 Glorify the Lord 

   “Glorify the Lord with me, let us extol his name together. (Psalm 34: 4) 

   It is for this purpose that we gather for the celebration of the Mass on Sundays and at daily Mass; to glorify the Lord as a family belonging to Him.  It is right that we should come together to offer Him our thanksgiving, and our praise.

   Whether at a quiet early morning Mass or at High Mass, it is a joy to be together in praise of our God.  I’ve known those who say they can worship God anywhere and they are right in some ways.  But I believe we are called to be the people of the Lord, coming together full of love and the blessings of God to give Him our thanks and our praise as His family.

   Of all the places there are to be in this world I can’t think of anywhere that is better than in God’s house, giving Him praise and preparing to receive the Eucharist at the table of God.  It truly is like a large family dinner in some ways.  We give thanks to Him for the blessings of the wine and the bread, asking again for the miracle of consubstantiation when our Lord Jesus Christ becomes truly present in the Eucharist.

   We become a tabernacle of the Lord when we receive Him into our own bodies in the form of bread and wine.  He is truly present within us to strengthen us in our struggles against Satan and to help us walk the path God has put before us.  We leave Mass spiritually fed and refreshed to face the world.

   I’m not sure that we, a simple humans, can even come close to glorifying the Lord as He deserves, but we owe it to Him and to ourselves to gather together and try.

 

Lord, I wish I could give You the glory and praise that You deserve.  As a sinful man it is beyond my ability.  I look forward to spending eternity in your presence when I will be able to worship You properly.  Amen

 Blessings 

   There are so many things to complain about.  There is so much wrong with the world.  There is much confusion and uncertainty in society and the world at large.  If what you are looking for is something to bring you down and put you in a state of despair you will have no trouble finding all you need.

   All that being true, there are also many things to be grateful for.  We receive so many blessings each day of our life.  Somehow it seems easier to see the evil in the world than the blessings.  For the peace we all need, we must try harder to see the good in life, while understanding that there will always be evil in the world.

   Today I spent several hours on the road, which at my age, isn’t nearly as enjoyable as it used to be.  But even in this there were many blessings if I took the time to notice them.

   Though the drive was long, the traffic was pretty light, and I saw no accidents along the way.  The weather was good, sunny skies most of the way.  Not even any construction along the way, which is always a blessing.  All in all, a pretty pleasant trip.

   But the best blessing was the destination for the trip.  I am visiting some very good friends that I haven’t seen in far too long and it’s always a blessing to spend time with those we love, both family and friends.  Such are the gifts of my loving God.

   Over the years I’ve come to learn that life is so much better when I focus on the blessings, rather than the disappointments.  In this broken world of ours there will always be frustrations and aggravations.  Counting the blessings rather than the woes leads to a much more enjoyable life.

   I thank God even for the difficulties of life because they help me to better see and appreciate His many blessings.

 

Life is full of Your blessings Lord.  Help me to always look to the many gifts You have given me rather than the difficulties of day-to-day life in a world stained by sin.  Amen

 Sainthood 

   “Be content that you are not yet a saint, even though you realize that the only thing worth living for is sanctity.  Then you will be satisfied to let God lead you to sanctity by paths that you cannot understand.” (Thomas Merton, “New Seeds of Contemplation”) 

   We were created to become holy, to be sanctified.  The problem arises in achieving sanctity.  Regardless of how hard we may try, there is nothing we can do to sanctify ourselves and there is nothing we can do to achieve sainthood.  Sanctity, which leads to sainthood, is a grace given freely by God to those who seek it.  No other way exists by which we may achieve sanctity.

   If we wish to be sanctified, to be made holy, we must look to our Blessed Mother for the answer.  “But Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?’  And the angel said to her in reply, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.’  Mary replied, ‘Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.’”  (Luke 1: 34 – 36 & 38).

   God wants to make us holy, to make us saints, but He will not do so unless we cooperate.  Like the Blessed Mother, we must reply, “I am the servant of the Lord, may it be done to me according to Your word.”

 

Father, make me a saint I beg.  I am your servant, may it be done to me according to Your word.  Amen

 Lenten Observances 

   Sunday’s during Lent are not considered part of Lent; they are a time of joyful celebration of the Mass.  We can't fast at the table of the Lord.  That is why there are more than forty days from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday.

   I once knew two men who gave up beer every year as their Lenten sacrifice.  However, since Sunday’s aren’t actually a part of Lent they made up for the beer they had foregone during the week by drinking more each Sunday.  That is not the intent of our Lenten observances.

   I’ve been considering the value of the sacrifices we make during Lent.  Most of us are sincere in our efforts even though we all fail at times.  To give up something meaningful to honor Jesus and the sacrifices He made for us is a noble and worthy thing.  Finding ways to subvert those sacrifices, as my two friends did, really destroys the meaning of sacrifice.

   This year, there is an observance that I belief is very appropriate for Lent.  Along with whatever else we have chosen to sacrifice I propose that we all say at least one Rosary a day for those suffering the terrors of war in the Ukraine.  If possible, going to at least one daily Mass, and offering the blessing of that Mass for the victims of this war would be even better.

   We sit in our safe homes, giving up whatever we’ve decided is a proper Lenten sacrifice and rarely think of those whose concern isn’t what to sacrifice for Lent, but simply to survive to see another Easter.  This year, let’s go global and pray, pray, and pray some more for an immediate end to these atrocities.  I believe this would be a very pleasing offering to our Lord in these troubled times.

 

Father, as we continue in our Lenten observances help us keep in mind all those less fortunate.  Remind us of the suffering of others that we may offer our prayers of sacrifice for them.  Amen

 Turn to God 

   “Give in to God, then; resist the devil, and he will run away from you.  The nearer you go to God. the nearer he will come to you.” (James 4: 7 – 8, Jerusalem Bible) 

   It has taken me many years to realize the full meaning of what James is telling me in this scripture.  Like most people, I was raised to be self-sufficient.  If something needed doing I was supposed to do it myself.  If I couldn’t do it, I needed to get someone to help me. 

   However, there are some circumstances in which we can’t help ourselves; it is simply beyond our ability.  The help we need may be beyond what family and friends can provide as well.  Even calling in the so-called “experts” can’t always provide a solution.  Sometimes, God is the only one who can provide the help we need.  In fact, He is the only one who always has the answer.

   In God, there sufficient strength and help to overcome whatever may befall us.  Where we fail, He will succeed; when we think we can’t go on, He gives us strength to continue.  Even in the worst of times, He gives us hope for eternal life.

   What James was telling me all along was to turn to God.  He is with us always and has the help we need.  When we submit to Him nothing is impossible.

 

Father, in You is all the help I need.  You are the answer.  Help me to always turn to You, seeking Your strength and guidance.  Amen

 Wars and Rumors of Wars 

  “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed, for these things must happen, but it will not yet be the end.” (Matt 24: 6) 

   Once again nations are at war; Russia has invaded Ukraine and the devastation seems unreal.  Many countries are making efforts to stop the war, but I fear economic sanctions will have limited effect on political leaders who care nothing for their own people.

   War speaks to the evil in the world; it proves that Satan is a powerful foe, one who uses mankind to destroy mankind.  When we see the pictures and reports of the on-going cruelties of war, we have to wonder what we as Christians, should or even can do.  Sadly, there is little we can do to affect the on-going horrors, but we can and must sorrow and pray for those caught up in this atrocity.

   If it seems depressing, it should.  War is an abomination; one that should always be an absolute last resort, but one that has become all too common.  Anyone who reads Matthew, chapter 24, can’t help but realize that this world is a troubled place and will remain so until our Lord comes again.

   And still the end has not yet come.  Life continues and the world drifts further and further away from morality.  There should be no surprise that a world that refuses God also refuses to live in peace.  Without God, there is no peace.

 

“But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13: 32)