The Joys of Solitude 

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

   Since my wife is now at home with God my life at home is pretty much a life of silence and solitude.  For a while the silence was painful to me.  In order to combat the loneliness I would keep the television on just to have some noise in the house.

   As time passed, however, I came to love the solitude and the silence.  I began to see it as a time to come to know my Lord better; to seek Him and His will in all that I do.  The solitude is beneficial to communing with God, to spending quiet time with the One who loves me unceasingly and completely and to offer my love to Him even though I can never love Him as He loves me.  One of the things I look forward to in heaven is being able to love Him with the purity and completeness with which He loves me.

   I am not a hermit, I’ve not closeted myself in my own personal monastery.  I very much enjoy and look forward to seeing my family and friends and spending time with them.  As humans we need the support from others whom we love and who love us.  Still, I am drawn more and more to the quiet times with God. 

   One of my favorite prayers is, “Dear Lord, when shall I be completely one with You and entirely forgetful of self?  You in me and I in You; grant that we may be always so and remain as one forever.”  I don’t know if I can ever be completely one with Him in this lifetime, but I can surely come nearer to Him in the silence and solitude.

 The Emptiness Within 

   “When men choose not to believe in God, they do not thereafter believe in nothing, they then become capable of believing in anything.” (G. K. Chesterton) 

   There is a void within us, an emptiness that must be filled.  If we refuse to allow God to fill that void it doesn’t go away.  We will spend our life searching for something else, anything else to fill it.

   That void is very specific, it cannot be filled by whatever happens to catch our fancy.  Oh, we will try to shoehorn our favorite belief into it but the fit will always be imperfect, leaving us to continue to seek other things to believe in and to place our trust in.  Our life will become a revolving door for beliefs that can never suffice.

   The world offers numerous false beliefs, false hopes, and false gods to believe in, but none will complete us; the hole within will remain.  Nothing this world has to offer will suffice because nothing of this world is permanent.  What we have placed our faith in will always disappoint in the long run.

   No matter what we have trusted and believed in, it will no longer exist once we take our last breath.  We will find that the emptiness we thought we had filled, the happiness we thought we had found is gone leaving us alone with the emptiness within.  Only God can fill that emptiness.  Only God is eternal.

   Trust in what you will, believe what you will, but understand that if it is not God in whom you trust and believe you are only fooling yourself.  Emptiness is a terrible way to spend eternity.

 Pray and Trust in God 

   Conversations, even among the faithful, far too often turn into gripe sessions.  People complain about the Church, the Pope, the clergy, the politicians, today’s society, and pretty much everything that doesn’t fit exactly what they think it should be.

   I understand the frustration, I get frustrated as well.  But I’ve never been able to figure out what is accomplished by all the complaining.  It doesn’t change anything and causes a lack of peace in those complaining and all those who take part in the complaining.  Except for increasing people’s blood pressure and causing even more frustration these gripe sessions accomplish nothing.

   Rather than complaining to no avail we need to turn to prayer.  Even though our prayers sometimes seem to go answered, or at least not answered in the way we would desire, let’s remember that God always hears the prayers of the faithful.  We may not understand God’s ways, nor do we need to.  We need only to have trust in His ways. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55: 9).  He is God, we are not!

   Let’s stop all the complaining and remember that God is in charge.  Let’s give it to the Lord in prayer and then let it go.  Let us say and live by the words, “But I trust in you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God’”. (Psalm 31: 15). 

 A State of Emergency 

   There are many who believe that the Church and all of Christianity is in a state of emergency.  Fewer and fewer people are attending church, and more and more are turning to the evil and wickedness so prevalent in the world today.

   Many ask how we got where we are?  How did the lack of faith in God and the rejection of His truths happen?  I think the problems Christians are facing today are, in large part, our own fault.

   Faith in this country has known great peace and acceptance for many years.  Like anything else that is easy and unchallenged we tend to ignore the signs that indicate problems for the future.  Then, suddenly, we recognize that all has changed, and we can’t understand why.

   Signs like “free love” and all that came with it.  Signs like the increased violence in movies, on television and in video games.  The coarseness and vulgarity in the language, which was unacceptable only a few years ago but is commonplace today.  These things clearly indicated that there were troubles ahead but were essentially ignored.

   Now we are reaping the seeds we have sown.  It’s estimated that no more than 20% of Americans attend church with any regularity.  Our government promotes sinfulness and punishes faith.  Marriage rates have fallen drastically as people choose to simply live together.  Abortion is an abomination before God; it is the sacrifice of the innocent to the god of sexual promiscuity.

   If we are to have any hope of reviving belief in God Christians must begin to stand up for their faith, reject and confront the evil rather than ignore it.  As St. Pope Pius X said, “The greatest obstacle in the apostolate of the Church is the timidity or rather the cowardice of the faithful.”

 My Rock and My Salvation 

   “In God alone there is rest my soul, from him comes my safety; with him alone for my rock, my safety, my fortress, I can never fail.” (Psalm 62: 1 – 2) 

   No matter what happens in life there is one to whom we can always go for strength and comfort.  One who will ease our pain and help us in our despair.  We can trust in God, in His will and His love to see us through our suffering.  If we seek God, he will carry us through any trial or ordeal we may be facing.

   I’ve often thought of those who do not know God and have no relationship with Him.  I wonder where they go for strength and comfort when needed.  Family and friends can be a source of help and strength, but they can’t provide the mercy and love God is waiting to give if we will only accept Him.  Some turn to the bottle, some to drugs.  Perhaps some simply can’t find peace and comfort and live in despair or worse.  I pray for them that they might find God and open their hearts to Him.

   For me, God is where I go.  I go to Him in thanksgiving for the good times and for help in times of trouble.  He is always there. He is always waiting to provide the strength and help I need to see me through this day.

   I live one day at a time depending on God’s help.  From morning until night I rely on Him and He provides.  Once this day is done I praise Him for His mercy and love and ask that He be there to help me through tomorrow.

   Sometimes it’s not day by day but hour by hour.  Still my Lord is there.  His constancy and His love aren’t bound by time, it is eternal.  Each second, minute, hour and day He is there for me.

   Without God in my life I fear what would become of me.  His is my strength, He is my comfort.  He is the assurance that all will be well even though I may not understand.  I will serve Him and give Him all praise and glory.

 His Will, Not Mine 

   “He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.’” (Matt 26: 39) 

   Jesus knew what pain and suffering He was to endure.  In His humanity He wanted to avoid that bitter cup.  But in His divinity He placed those desires beneath that of the Father’s will.

   I see this event in His life as an example we are all to follow.  There are many things in life that I would prefer to avoid; pains, sorrows, and the loss of family and friends can be devastating at times.  As a human I would wish to eliminate them all, but I know that is not possible.

  To spend my life complaining or becoming despondent about the crosses I may have to bear is useless and does tremendous harm.  As difficult as it may be, it is far better to follow my Lord’s example and defer to the will of the Father in all things.  To refuse to accept His will is to refuse to accept Him.

   I believe that the hardships of this world help me grow in trust and faith in Him.  Yes, it can be extremely difficult at times, but I know that there is some good to be found even in the evil I sometimes must endure.  I look at Jesus on the cross and I see the greatest act of evil ever perpetrated, the murder of God.  And yet, from that evil came the greatest good of all, the redemption and salvation of all who would believe.

   So, yes Lord, if it is possible for me to avoid some of the hardships of life I would choose to do so.  But more importantly, always and in every way may your will, not mine, be done.

 Misguided Desires 

   “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.  They will throw them into the fiery furnace where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  Whoever has ears ought to hear.” (Matt 13: 41 – 43) 

   The wants and desires of this world are the weapons Satan uses to steal us away from God.  He begins with just a small temptation, maybe even just a suggestion.  We allow ourselves to consider that suggestion and, with further urging from the evil one, become convinced that we need what he has told us we need.  Before we know it we have traded eternal joy for the temporary pleasures of a sinful world.

   He tempts us to ignore God by telling us that we don’t need to go to church to worship Him.  We can worship Him anywhere and anytime, in the forests and the seas, in the sunrise and sunset, so why bother going to church?  Soon we will have replaced the worship that is due the Creator with the worship of His creations.

   God, on the other hand, desires to give us what we need, not just what we want.  He wants to give us humility, to recognize that He is God, not us.  He wants to give us obedience to His will so that we may fulfill the plans for glory that He has for us.  He wants to give us forgiveness for our sins so that we may spend eternity with Him in His heavenly kingdom.

   We are both blessed and cursed with free will.  We can accept God and His truths and look forward to eternal life in His kingdom, or we can say no and follow the ways of the world into eternal loss.

 Walk In Faith 

   “Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen.” (Heb 11: 1) 

   Without faith I am lost, there is no hope for me or my eternal soul.  The things I hope to see are not visible in this world; the joy and happiness I hope to know are not possible in this world.  For I hope to see the face of God and to live eternally in His heavenly kingdom.

   My faith tells me that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin.  He was crucified, died and was buried.  On the third day He rose from the dead.  He ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God, the Father.  He will come again to judge the living and the dead.  By His mercy my sins are forgiven.  Can I prove it?  No!  Is it a fact?  Yes!

   Jesus said, “I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.  Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.” (John 6: 51).  My faith tells me that the unleavened bread and the wine consecrated at Mass truly becomes the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of my Lord Jesus Christ.  He nourishes my soul by feeding me with the Living Bread.  Can I prove it?  No!  Is it a fact?  Yes!

   In faith I look forward to heaven though I honestly have no idea what heaven will be.  My faith in God tells me that whatever it may be, it will be beyond all I’ve ever desired or hoped for.  Though I can't see or know heaven in this life I know it awaits those who believe.  My faith tells me it is true.

   The wisdom of this world cannot and will never understand faith.  The elite of Jesus’ time failed to recognize that Christ was and is the Messiah.  The wisest and smartest in the world today fail to consider that their wisdom is limited by their humanity.  Faith falls far beyond all human understanding.

   Without faith, there is no hope.  In faith I am confident in the beauty and perfection of the life to come.

 The Evil in the World 

   “And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.” (John 3: 19) 

   I’m always amazed when people talk about how bad things are in the world and specifically in our nation.  It’s like they think this is first time there has been so much evil in the world and that it’s worse than ever.  Neither of those assumptions are correct.

   Evil has existed since the world’s creation.  It was evil that tempted Adam and Eve to rebel against God.  It was evil that caused God to destroy all but Noah and his family in the flood.  It was evil that Herod demanded the murder of all the males under two years old in Bethlehem in His attempt to kill Christ.  It was evil that they hung the Savior of the world on a cross to die.

   It was evil that millions of Jews and many others were killed by the Nazis.  The various purges and genocides that have occurred in recent history were evil.  It is evil that millions of babies are being murdered in the womb, child sacrifices to the god of sexual promiscuity.  The list of the evil in the world is endless.

   This world is at war.  Nations have and will continue to fight against other nations.  But the real war, the one that causes all other wars, is one of good against evil.  “For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.” (Eph 6: 12)

   In the end evil has already lost the war though there are many battles still to be fought.  Evil was defeated on a cross at Calvary by our Lord Jesus Christ.  Sadly, it will continue to exist in this world until He comes again in glory.  Amen!  Come soon Lord Jesus!

 In His Hands 

   “For he is our God, we are the people he shepherds, the sheep in his hands.”  (Psalm 95: 7) 

   Every now and then I need to stop and reread scripture such as that quoted above.  To meditate on it and consider what God is saying to me in these words written so long ago.  To remember that the whole world, myself included, is in His hands.

   We go through the day and there are all the normal distractions that we feel we must deal with.  They take up our time and often draw us away from the spiritual into the worldly.  Worry and concern about things we have no power over and cannot change are a waste of time.  It only serves to frustrate and anger us.

   As the old saying goes, we need to “Let it go and let God do it.”  That can be hard for us as humans.  We are taught from childhood that we are to solve problems, to set things right.  When we can’t we feel we have failed.  But the truth is there are many things that are far beyond our ability to solve or to change.  These things need to be placed in the Father's hands.  For in Him, “All things are possible.” (Mark 10: 27)

   We need to take a moment and remember the old gospel tune "In His Hands".  It says it far better than I can.  As the song says, “He’s got the whole world in His hands.”  Rest in that truth.

 Testify to the Lord 

   Peter and some of the apostles were standing before the Sanhedrin, having been arrested for preaching in the name of Jesus.  They had been ordered by the Sanhedrin to never again teach or speak in His name but had ignored that order.

   Peter spoke for the group, “We must obey God rather than men.  The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.  God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.  We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5: 29 – 32).

   This was the same Peter who had abandoned Christ when He was arrested; the same Peter who had three times denied even knowing Him.  What changed?  Why was Peter now so outspoken when facing those who had forced the crucifixion of Jesus?  He had to know they could just as easily have him and the other apostles killed as well.

   What changed was the Holy Spirit, the One who brings courage even to the weakest of us.  We may not be brave enough to stand before our accusers and boldly testify to the name of Christ, but the Spirit can give us that strength.  He can make spiritual heroes of us no matter our human weakness.

   Jesus said, “When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say.  You will be given at that moment what you are to say.  For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matt 10: 19 – 20).

   If I were called to face imprisonment or even death for my faith, would I have the courage to stand up for the Lord?  I pray that I would though I can't be certain.  However, the Holy Spirit knows what needs to be said.  If I submit myself to Him, He will give me the courage to say it.

 Metanoia 

   In the biblical sense metanoia means a complete transformation of who we are into the image of who God is.  If I want to grow in faith, if I want to strive toward Christian perfection, I must undergo metanoia.

   If I am unwilling to change myself, to reinvent myself according to God’s will, I am never going to become what I truly should be; holy, sanctified in the eyes of God, a saint. 

   It can’t be a halfway conversion.  Otherwise, I risk becoming a lukewarm Christian; one of those to whom Christ said, “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either cold or hot.  So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev 3: 15 – 16).

   I have said many times that Christianity cannot be a part time thing, it must consume my life and all aspects of my life.  I must always seek the will of God, saying as our Blessed Mother said, “May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 38).  Nothing else will suffice.

   Living as God desires in a sinful, evil world requires strength, determination, and perseverance.  It requires ignoring the disrespect, the name calling, and even the hatred that some have for Christians.  It requires loving even those who hate me.  It requires the grace of God.  It requires metanoia.

 Chatting With the Lord 

   Sometimes it’s good to lay the spiritual books aside, close the bible, and leave the standard prayers for later.  To just relax, clear my mind, and have a good heart to heart talk with the Lord.

   I always have questions for Him.  Am I doing as I should Father?  How can I do better?  Tell me what you want so that I can want it too.  Show me your will so that I can make my will conform to yours.

   There are the times when I’m down and need His comfort, times when things are hard, and I need His strength.  Times when I need a friend to just sit with me and help me through the day.  He never refuses, He is there any time I call, even waiting for my call.

   I know of people who talk about how they hear the Lord and understand His will for them.  Unfortunately, I don’t fall into that category.  I often question whether I’m fulfilling His will in my life.  I know that is what I want to do, but I’m not always sure that I am.  I need His reassurance from time to time.  It would be nice if He would just say, “You’re doing Ok Ed, keep it up.”   But He doesn’t.

   I find that I am most confident that I am on the right path when I feel His peace within me.  I believe that I would not have that peace if I were going astray, instead I would have anxiety and concern.  Maybe that is how He speaks to me, by sharing with me His peace.

   What I am certain of is that my times of just sitting with God, just being in His presence bring me comfort and joy.  I love reading scripture, I enjoy reading spiritual books and learning about the lives of the saints.  I love the prayers we all recite, the Our Father, the Rosary and others.  But there are times when I need some one-on-one quiet time with the One who loves me and whom I love.  Time to refresh my spirit and comfort my soul.

 The Risen Lord 

   “For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power and wisdom of God.” (1 Cor 1: 22 – 24) 

   Before we can proclaim Christ risen and ascended into heaven, we must proclaim Christ crucified.  There is no resurrection without the crucifixion.

   I look upon the crucifix and I see the expression of total love and mercy hanging there in pain and agony.  Many look at an empty cross and talk of the resurrection.  I too contemplate the miracle of the resurrection, but without Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross He could not have risen from the dead.  In my mind its so very important to recognize His sacrifices rather than push them aside by removing Him from the cross.

   “But he was pierced for our sins, crushed by our inequity.  He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed.” (Isaiah 53: 5).  The prophet Isaiah lived 700 years before Christ and yet foresaw the importance of His suffering and death in God’s plan of salvation. 

   It’s hard to admit that it was for our sins and our inequities that He suffered and died.  Perhaps that’s why some prefer to focus only on the resurrection, reflecting on an empty cross rather than the incredible sacrifices He made for our redemption.

   When I contemplate the crucifix and all it means, I am humbled by the depth of the love our Lord has for me.  What is even more humbling is the fact that He would have suffered as He did even if I were the only who needed His mercy and redemption.

 

 Loving Our Enemies 

   “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.  But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.’” (Matt 5: 43 – 45) 

   It's sometimes difficult to love even our neighbors, but we are to love our enemies also.  That’s a lot to ask of people who are stained by sin and, by and large, selfish as well.  Yet, that is what Jesus tells us we must do.

   But who is my enemy?  There is no one persecuting me or mistreating me or threatening me.  So, who is the enemy I am to love? 

   What about those whose intent is to destroy any semblance of morality in our society, are they my enemy?  In many ways I see them as such since they are so against everything I believe in.  Are these, then, the enemies I must love?  I think the answer is yes.  No matter how misguided I may think they may be, I am not the judge, God is.  My place is to see Christ within them and love them.

   It's easy to see those who seem to hate God and His truth as enemies and even easier to condemn them though I have no right to condemn anyone.  It’s much harder to see them as God’s children who have taken the wrong path, yet that is what they are.  Even though I might call them my enemies, they are who I am to love and pray for.

   If I am honest, I must admit that loving my enemies is very difficult and I often fail in those efforts.  But with the help of God, I pray that I can do better.

 Following His Will 

   “My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.  I do not see the road ahead of me.  I cannot know for certain where it will lead.” (Thomas Merton) 

   These words from “The Prayer of Thomas Merton” often describe my spiritual life.  I know where I want to go but the path is not always clearly marked.

   I want to live my life according to God’s will for a very simply reason – I love Him above all else and I want to spend eternity in His kingdom.  However, discerning His will each day can be difficult and, at times, seemingly impossible.

   I fear that I might mistake my will for God’s will and take a wrong turn on the road to salvation.  It’s so easy to say to myself “this is God’s will for me”, but how can I be certain?

   Our Lord said, “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Luke 11: 9).  So I ask, “Lord, what is your will for me?”; “Father, show the path that I seek, the path that will lead me to you”; "Lord, open the doors to your kingdom to me when this life is over.”  I call upon His promise that I may not be lost.

   I trust in God’s mercy and the promises of Christ so I move ahead on the path that my heart tells me is correct.  I am  confident that if I am taking a wrong turn, God will call me back.  Thomas Merton’s prayer also gives me hope and solace in my efforts: 

 

   “And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road even though I may know nothing about it.  Therefore, will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.  I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”

 Quo Vadis? 

   Quo Vadis is Latin for “where are you going?”  There is a tradition that tells of Peter leaving Rome due to the persecutions of the Christians.  On the Appian Way he meets Jesus on the road and asks, “Quo Vadis Domini?” (“Where are you going Lord?”).  According to the story Jesus replied that He was going to Rome to be crucified a second time in place of Peter.  At this Peter returned to Rome and was subsequently crucified.

   Stories such as this, whether they really happened or not, always have a valid truth to them.  In this case the question asked by Peter is one that Jesus asks each of us daily. “Quo Vadis?”, where are you going? 

   We must answer that question; we must decide where we are going in life.  Will we follow the Lord and pick up our cross?  Will we follow Him wherever He may lead?  Or will we, like Peter, try to run from persecution and hardship?  Will we put our own well-being above serving Christ?

   I have a role that Jesus has determined for me just as Peter did.  I, too, must decide whether to fulfill His will or turn from it and run as Peter was running from Rome.  I know also that I often fail in my attempts to follow Jesus.  The fact that even Peter dealt with such failures and found forgiveness through Christ’s mercy gives me comfort.  No matter my offences, if I turn to the Lord in sorrow and repentance He will forgive me just as He forgave Peter.

   It is up to me to decide whether I will follow Christ or abandon Him.  Will I pick up my cross, whatever it may be, or run from it?  When Jesus asks me, “Quo Vadis?”, how will I answer?

 Personal Responsibility 

   As I look around our country today one of the things that scares me the most is the lack of personal responsibility.  No one wants to accept the consequences of their actions.  When things go wrong they want to blame it all on someone else, anyone else, but never themselves.  It’s taught in our schools, it’s promoted by our government, and worst of all, it is even preached in some of our churches.

   Our choices are our own, and those choices will have consequences.  We can’t blame the devil and we can’t blame God for our misguided decisions.  We can’t blame society or anyone else for the failure of our ill-advised choices in life.

   It’s up to us to consider the possible ramifications of the choices we make and to choose wisely.  What may seem like a good idea at the time may bring catastrophe down the road.  And if it does, we must be willing to place the blame on us and the decision we made; we can’t blame the world for our mistakes.  And we must be willing to answer for the damage our decisions sometimes cause.

   Our choices matter, but some are far more than others.  The most important of all is whether we will turn to God and accept Christ as our Lord and Savior or follow the ways of the world.  The ways of the world are the road to perdition; the ways of Christ will lead us to heaven.  “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3: 17)

 Poor in Spirit 

   “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5: 3) 

   What does “poor in spirit” mean?  It doesn’t mean that we should all be poor.  If so I would think that Jesus would have said, “Blessed are the poor” and would not have included “in spirit”.  Rather, I think it means that we are to be unattached to our earthly belongings. To be satisfied with what we have and to share His blessings with others. 

   I look at the clothes in my closet that I’ve not worn for a while and wonder why I still have them.  If  I’m not wearing them, I certainly don’t need them.  So, every now and then I try to take any clothes that I’ve not worn in the last six months and donate them to charity.

   There are many other things just taking up space which are never used as well.  Those too should be donated.  To me, this is part of being poor in spirit.  Some would say that hoarding things we don’t need is stealing from the truly poor.

   When I stand before the Lord, I will not be judged by what clothes I wore, or what car I drove.  It won’t matter whether or not I had the most up-to-date cellphone or television.  What will matter is how I lived my life.  Did I live it selfishly and sinfully, or did I live it to serve God and all His children?

   The Beatitudes speak to the way I should live my life.  To be poor in spirit is just one of the ways I can try to live as He desires.

 Christian Fellowship 

   We live in a world that seems intent on destroying its soul; a world that prefers evil to good and rejects anything remotely connected to God.  In such a world there are few things more important than the fellowship and support of other who also believe.

   The first Christians separated themselves from most of the world at large.  They formed communities devoted to Christ and to the well-being of His believers.  In our world today we also need to separate ourselves from the ways of the world, to live as a people apart, devoted to God.  To support each other in our faith.

   I am blessed to have a group of fellow believers, true friends who support each other and care deeply for each other.  We get together on a regular basis for meals and fellowship.  Sometimes we spend hours talking about the Lord and all He has done for us.  Our faith grows and deepens as we share our faith with one another.

   We are sorrowful for the state of the world, the evil that seems to be more and more the norm in society.  But we recognize that only God can change the world and our help is best offered in sincere prayers for a growth of faith in the world.  Jesus promised, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt 18: 20).  God always hears the prayers of those who love Him.

   The world has never been a friend of God, it has always rebelled and rebuked Him and His truths.  I have no doubt that it will not change until Christ comes again in glory.  In the meantime, I’ll continue to treasure the friendship of my fellow Christians and we will continue to pray that the Holy Spirit may touch many hearts and bring them to God.

 After Easter 

   The Acts of the Apostles records the early beginnings of the Church.  Though the apostles hid for many days in fear of the Jews, at Pentecost they were filled with the Holy Spirit and emboldened to begin the mission for which they had been chosen; they founded the Church that Christ had said He would build upon the rock of Peter.

   They suffered greatly for their efforts.  They were arrested, beaten, placed in chains, and locked in prison for their faith.  All but John would suffer martyrdom.  They would go to the ends of the world as it was known at that time, spreading the good news.  They would build a Church that has continued for over two thousand years and will continue until Christ comes again in all His glory.

   Would our religious leaders of today be willing to sacrifice as the apostles did?  I pray that most would, but there are far too many who have grown accustomed to the life they live.  They like the honor and prestige their position often brings.  Some live in mansions with servants, chauffeurs, and such.  They have become like the politicians and the executives of major corporations; isolated and unaware of the trials and issues that face their flocks. Would they be willing to give it all up, to suffer as the early apostles did and even give their life for their faith?

   And what about the laity?  How many will live the spirit of Easter now that it is past?  Most will return to everyday life, never reflecting on the meaning and blessing of Easter until next year when Ash Wednesday begins another Lenten season.  Many made sacrifices during Lent, but how many will continue to sacrifice a little something each day to honor the sacrifices that Christ made for us.

   Yesterday we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord.  In a short while we will celebrate Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles.  How many of us will allow the Holy Spirit to reign in our lives as they did?  How many will forget about Easter and all it means until next year?

 Easter Sunday 

   “Then the angel said to the women in reply, ‘Do not be afraid!  I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.  He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.’”  (Matt 28: 5 – 6)

 

He Is Risen

 

This is the day the Lord has made;

Let us rejoice and be glad.

(Psalm 118: 24)

 

 

May the Lord's blessings be with you on this glorious day!

 The Silence 

   “But Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.  At that, the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked; the rocks were split, the tombs opened and the bodies of many holy men rose from the dead, and these, after his resurrection, came out of the tombs, entered the Holy City and appeared to a number of people” (Matt 27: 50 – 53). 

   It seems to me that Holy Saturday is always a day of quiet, a day of silent anticipation.  It is as if the world is in mourning, and so it should be, they have crucified our Lord.

   He is in the tomb.  In the eyes of the world He is dead, He has failed.  How could the Messiah, the Son of God die the shameful death of the crucifixion?  Yet, He did die on that cross, was taken down, wrapped in a burial shroud and placed in the tomb.  The world thought the story had ended; they misunderstood or ignored all that the prophets and Jesus had told them.  His resurrection and ascension would testify to the truth.

   This is a day of anticipation. Tomorrow we will celebrate His glorious resurrection.  In faith, may we celebrate it every day of our life.

 Good Friday 

   It may seem odd that we would refer to the day when a terrible evil was done as good.  But from the crucifixion and death of the Son of God came the incredible good of redemption and the forgiveness of our sins.  The doors of heaven, long closed, were reopened.

   This is a day for contemplation.  To consider all that Christ did for us; all He suffered to pay the price for our sins.  It is a time to quietly sit before the crucifix and in our minds and hearts journey with the Lord through the pain and agony He endured to offer us reconciliation and eternal joy in God’s heavenly kingdom.

   Today is a day for tears and sorrow for all the pain our sins caused Him.  A time to repent and turn to God seeking His help to sin no more.  A day to realize that even though we will sin again we have one to intercede for us with the Father, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who even as He died, prayed “Father, forgive them, they do not what they are doing. (Luke 23: 34).

   But this is also a day to look forward to the resurrection and ascension of Christ.  The day is called “Good Friday” though much evil was done on this day.  But through that evil a great good was given to us; the opportunity of life everlasting in God’s heavenly kingdom.

 The Real Presence 

   “Then he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them saying, ‘This is my body, which will be given up for you; do this in memory of me.’  And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.’” (Luke 19 – 20) 

   With these words at the last supper Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist.  At the consecration during every Mass, the bread and wine become the Eucharist, the real presence of our Lord.  Though may appear unchanged their essence has become the Body and Blood of Jesus.  It is a miracle and miracles are, by definition, unexplainable.

   Many say it is only a “symbol”, that it isn’t real.  And yet Jesus unequivocally stated, “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.”  (John 6: 53).  Many of the Jews could not accept this teaching.  Even many of His disciples walked away from Him because of it.  If it were only a symbol He would have never allowed them to leave;  He would have clarified that He was speaking symbolically.  But He did not, He meant exactly what He had said.

   At a conference attended by the Catholic writer Flannery O’Conner, the statement was made that “It (the Eucharist) is a beautiful symbol.”  To which O’Conner replied,  “If it’s just a symbol, to hell with it.”  There are many things that can be discussed and questioned, but the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is not one of them.

   A protestant friend once asked me why I am a Catholic.  I answered,  “I am Catholic because I must have the Body and Blood of my Lord in the Eucharist.  It is the Bread of Life.”

 With God as My Witness 

   I remember hearing people trying to convince others that they were being truthful by swearing "With God as my witness”.  I wonder how many actually believed that God was their witness?  Did they recognize that He is a witness to all we do and sees our every act?  Or was it just like so many references to God that really had no meaning or thought behind it?

   It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that phrase and I really wouldn’t want it to make a comeback as just another way of trying to convince someone of our truthfulness.  Our Lord told us, “Let your “Yes” mean “Yes”, and your “No”, mean “No.”  Anything more is from the evil one.”  (Matt 5: 36 – 37).  If we are, in fact, being truthful there is no need to swear to it by God’s name and if we aren’t we are sinning by invoking the name of God for a lie.

   However, we do need to keep in mind that God is always our witness.  Whether we do good or sin He sees and knows, nothing is hidden.  In most cases people try to hide the evil that they do so that others are unaware.  They believe sins and evil are better off hidden “under the cover of darkness” even though nothing is hidden from God, “If I asked darkness to cover me, and light to become night around me, that darkness would not be dark to you, night would be as light as day.” (Psalm 139: 11 – 12).

   In our hearts we must always remember that God surely is our witness and act accordingly.  And if we do, there will be no need to invoke the name of God to convince others of our truthfulness and sincerity.  Our life and the way we live it will be witness enough.

 I AM 

   “And God said to Moses, ‘I Am who I Am.  This,’ he added, ‘is what you must say to the sons of Israel. I Am has sent me to you.’” (Ex 3: 14) 

   “Jesus replied: ‘I tell you most solemnly, before Abraham ever was, I Am.’” (John 8:58) 

   All that we see in life had a beginning and it will have an end.  God, however, had no beginning and will know no end. He is eternal, He existed before time began and will continue to be through all eternity.  Even our soul, which will live eternally, had a beginning; God created it just as He created us.  Only He has always been and will always be.

   Everything that is  good comes from God; joy, happiness, peace and, most of all, love.  When people who say they don’t believe in God talk about love they have no idea what they are talking about.  The love they speak of is primarily an emotion based on human desires and self-gratification.  True love, the love of God is the overwhelming desire for the good of the other rather than self.  It comes only from God, who gives it to us to give back to Him and to share with others.

   If we want to know God, we must go back to God’s words, “I Am”.  He always was and always will be.  Nothing exists except by His will.  We can never completely understand this mystery, but unless and until we accept it we will never know God in our life.

 He Cares For Me 

   “I look to the heavens, made by your fingers, at the moon and stars you set it place – ah, what is man that you should spare a thought for him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8: 5) 

   Like the psalmist, I can’t help but wonder why God cares for a sinful man like me; and yet He does.

   Like most people, my life has been filled with both good and bad, joy and sorrow.  But what I’ve come to understand is that all is according to God’s will.  This day and whatever it may bring is intended to help me grow in faith and trust in God.  Even the hard times are better tolerated because I am aware of the closeness of God especially in those times.  When I feel I can’t go on is when He helps me the most.

   The sun shines, the world continues on its path and my life goes on.  All of this is according to God’s will and all in God’s will is good.  Do I always understand?  Of course not!  But if I understood all I would have no need for faith and hope, I would be like God.  That desire didn’t work out very well for Adam and Eve and I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t work out for me as well.

   I am quite satisfied living with all that God chooses to give me in life.  Not because it’s always easy, but because I trust in Him and the promises of the life to come when this one is over.

 Keep Holy the Sabbath 

   “On the seventh day God completed the work he had been doing; he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken.  God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.” (Gen 2: 2 – 3) 

   I don’t believe God made the seventh day a day of rest because He was tired.  He is all powerful, He doesn’t get tired.  I think the Sabbath is not for Him but for us.  A day to stop and consider all the many blessings God has given us, beginning with the creation of all things, including ourselves.

   People of my age may remember what were called the “blue laws”.  They severely limited what businesses could be open on Sundays as well as the hours they were allowed to be open.  Most stores were closed with only one or two groceries and a pharmacy or two open for emergency needs.  Since those days are long gone with little, if any, hope of returning, it is up to us as Christians to obey the Lord’s commandment to keep the Sabbath Holy.

   Can we change society and the world?  Probably not.  But if we respect the Sabbath and honor God by keeping it holy perhaps our neighbors, our friends, and even our family will notice.  By the grace of God, they may even consider joining us in our efforts; the Lord works many wonders in mysterious ways.

   God loves us and is with us every day of our life.  After all He has done for us, can’t we at least keep the Sabbath holy?

 How We Live Our Faith Matters 

   “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3: 16 – 17) 

   Only God can change the world, but we are intended to have a part in His efforts.  Our example to others can affect their outlook on life.  If they see us as faithful, full of the love of God and others, it will show.  If they see us as someone who is always complaining about the way things are they will see us as dissatisfied whiners.  Our actions and our faith can and does influence the thoughts of others about God and life.

   I once attended a seminar in which we were asked, “If being a Christian were against the law and you were arrested would there be enough evidence to convict you?”  Stop for a minute and consider that thought; does your life reflect your faith every day, every minute?  Do those who know you outside of church know of your faith?  If not, who would testify against you? 

   We need to look at ourselves and ask “Am I living my life in such a way that others are aware of my faith and my love for God?  Does my life reflect God’s desire that all should be saved and spend eternity in His heavenly kingdom.  If the answer is “no” or even “I’m not sure” we need to do some serious self-reflection.

   Christianity is not a once-a-week, Sunday morning way of life; our faith should always be the priority in our life.  If it is not, we need to seriously re-evaluate our relationship with our God.