Happy Easter!

  

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little  while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of  Jesus Christ. Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him youbelieve in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls.     1 Peter 1: 3-9

GOOD FRIDAY

 "But He was wounded for our transgressions, 

he was bruised for our iniquities; 

upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, 

and with his stripes we are healed." 

Isaiah 53:5

Rule of St. Benedict for Lent

My husband and I are Benedictine Oblates with Silverstream Priory in County Meath, Ireland. Back in 2011, we met with Dom Mark Kirby, the former Prior, while he was still living in Tulsa, Oklahoma where we reside for an explanation of The Rule of St. Benedict on Lent.  

I published this explanation in a post on this website shortly after and want to share it again, now 14 years later. 

St. Benedict

Dom Mark reminded us that Benedictine life is "an infirmary not Olympics. The Father monk applies the appropriate remedies to the other monks. God came to heal the sick and St. Benedict was fully aware of our human weaknesses and our tendencies toward discouragement."

"We urge the entire community during these days of Lent to keep its manner of life most pure...," said St. Benedict. This, Father Mark told us, is singleheartedness--keeping our hearts and minds fixed on the Lord. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." Mt 5:8

The Rule continues, "...and to wash away in this holy season the negligences of other times." This is a time of reparation, a time to make up for sins, especially those of omission. The sins we commit by failing to do something, like not reconcile with a friend or relative, for example, or reach out to a neighbor in need.

"Compunction of heart" is something St. Benedict stresses for Lent. Allowing our hearts to be open and touched. It is humility and contrition that bring us closer to God.

Adding to the "usual measure of service," St. Benedict encourages us to abstain from food and drink. Father Mark explained that means to go without something, but to do it in moderation.  "Our usual measure of service," he said, "is our worship. Everything is worship. It's all integrated and everything is sacralized."

We offer to God an oblation--a free act of self offering--"with the joy of the Holy Spirit," wrote St. Benedict. 1 Thess 1:6  Yes, Lent is a time to have the joy of the Lord, the joy of spiritual desire--Holy Pascha.

And finally St. Benedict warned against doing anything with "presumption and vainglory," so Father Mark recommended for those who are married that we seek our spouse's approval for our spiritual observances. This will help safeguard peace and harmony in our marriage relationships.

HOPE

During Advent we hear many scriptures from Isaiah. Today's first reading is from Isaiah 40:25-31. I don't know about you, but I love thinking of our Creator God every morning when I wake up and how he created everything out of His infinite love for us. He is so mighty and powerful. Omnipotence!  He knows every detail of our life. Like he knows the number of hairs on each of our heads, he also knows the number of stars in the sky and is all-knowing. Omniscience! And he is everywhere. Omnipresence! 

Sometimes due to circumstances in our lives we think God has not heard our prayers, or the cries of the heart, but as Isaiah instructs, God knows all. He's heard our prayers and He will answer them in an intelligent purposeful way with His perfect timing.

The verse that really struck me this morning was, "They that HOPE in the LORD will renew their strength." It reminds me of a song my husband and I used to sing for many years. The words were, "They that wait upon the Lord, will renew their strength..." 

Starting this Christmas Eve, we will begin a Jubilee 2025 Year of Hope. That's one good reason the word "hope"resonates so much. More than anything I do pray that you will be filled with hope, and believe that you have a future full of hope no matter what you are facing. (Jeremiah 29:11) Some of you may be facing great tragedy, may reside in war-ravaged areas, may be abused, neglected or persecuted. Whatever the cry of your heart, the Lord hears you. Keep trusting, keep waiting, keep hoping! One day at a time.

Here is the living and active Word of God from Isaiah. It is "sharper than any two-edged sword." (Hebrews 4:12) May it pierce your heart with its truth, lead you on your way with far-sighted vision, and fill you with renewed life and strength:

“To whom can you liken me as an equal?
says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high
and see who has created these things:
He leads out their army and numbers them,
calling them all by name.
By his great might and the strength of his power
not one of them is missing!
Why, O Jacob, do you say,
and declare, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God"?

Do you not know
or have you not heard?
The LORD is the eternal God,
creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint nor grow weary,
and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.
He gives strength to the fainting;
for the weak he makes vigor abound.
Though young men faint and grow weary,
and youths stagger and fall,
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength,
they will soar as with eagles' wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint.” Is 40:25-31

God bless and keep you always close to His Most Sacred Heart!

Urgent request from Our Queen of Peace

Some of you may have already heard about this urgent request from Our Lady of Medjugorje to the visionary, Marija. She received this unusual message from Our Lady on June 15^th for us, her children, to  pray a Rosary Novena (3 mysteries a day) for World Peace June 16 - 25, 2024. 

 Dr. Mark Miravalle, posted this 5 minute video from Rome to help the Church understand why it is important to respond to Our Lady’s plea for help. Dr. Miravalle believes Our Mother is trying to alleviate or mitigate grave danger to world peace.

 

Let us pray for the grace to join Our Queen of Peace as she intercedes for global peace.

 

Here is the video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc7m_ThkfNY

 

Grace & peace,

 

Sheila

RATTLED

There are those times when we feel rattled, when there seems to be an endless list of things to do, when we do not know how it's all going to come together, when things seem almost impossible, when the weariness sets in, when the anxiety tries to creep back into the heart. 

When the mind doubts that it can all be done, but then the grace of God sweeps in and I find myself sitting at your feet. I cry out to you and I say, "Lord here I am--my rattled self. Take me as I am."

I know you love and accept me; help me to accept myself, help me to take a deep breath, and to know that everything will get done in the power of your spirit, with your overflowing grace, with your faithful love that flows like a river when I open up and say, " FIAT!"  

Come, Lord Jesus, I need you!'

Simple Blessing

I was admiring the stately and brilliant zinnias in our flower garden yesterday morning when a monarch butterfly came and posed for a photo. This simple blessing surely came from above. Over eleven years ago when my precious sister, Linda, passed away we released monarch butterflies in her honor after her Funeral Mass. You can imagine any time now that I see a monarch butterfly I sense her nearness.

What simple blessings do you experience each day as you gaze at the beauty of the earth--the sun, the moon and the stars above, or the flowers, the trees and birds of the air?

A New Creation

     One morning my husband and I were reading part of a letter from St. Paul to the Colossians, found in the New Testament of the Bible. It was actually the First Reading in Liturgy of the Hours. I know--too much information. Let me get to the point...As I read I was a struck by the great message contained in this Word. The title of the excerpt was Life of a New Man. Isn't that what we long to be--a new and better creation?--a better version of ourselves as author, Matthew Kelly, would say.

     I'll just list some of the things Paul says to the Colossians and let's imagine he's speaking to us. He starts out with strong commands about what to stop doing."Put to death whatever in your nature is rooted in earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desires, and that lust that is idolatry." Col 3: 5 How's that for nailing it right off the bat? In other words, absolutely get rid of any of that. Either we put it to death or it puts us to death.

    "Put this aside now: all the anger and quick temper, the malice, the insults, the foul language...and stop lying to one another." Col 3: 8-9 So we need to renounce anger, renounce lies and other destructive behaviors that we might engage in and pray for the grace to act maturely, that is, to exercise self-control with the words that come out of our mouths and to have the courage to speak with honesty. When we simply begin to choose and practice these virtues it gets easier and easier to live as mature people who then get into the flow of being the creative people we are meant to be.

     As St. Paul continues speaking he softens and instructs the Colossians to do these things: "Clothe yourselves with heartfelt mercy, with kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another, forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you."  Col 3: 12-13 In order to bear the fruit of those five virtues of mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, we need to become aware of who we might need to forgive and have the willingness to forgive them, even when we may not feel like it. We choose to take the higher road. We keep in mind we are setting ourselves free when we forgive others and more wonderful things can happen when blocks, like unforgiveness, are removed from within us. 

     And then my favorite part of St. Paul's admonition--"Over all these virtues put on love. Christ's peace must reign in your hearts." Colossians 3: 14-15 There is truly nothing more powerful than love. Love transcends everything. It can speak all the languages of the universe. It can powerfully impact the hearts of everyone.  We seek to be love in this world. And peace reigns in our hearts when we choose this path of life.

     Finally, Paul says..."Dedicate yourselves to thankfulness. Let the word of Christ, rich as it is, dwell in you. In wisdom made perfect instruct and admonish one another. Sing gratefully to God from your hearts in psalms, hymns, and inspired songs."  Col 3: 15-16 Thanksgiving needs to be every day. Dedicate means to commit. We commit ourself to be a thankful person. When we remember to give thanks daily for all the gifts we take for granted--for breath, for life, for the people we love, for a place to live and food to eat, for the basics and all the extra surprises that happen unexpectedly, we enter into a more heavenly place on earth. Thanksgiving is a gateway into the presence of the Father Almighty.

    Imagine someone who is dressed in filthy garments. You are watching as they remove those dirty clothes and they say, "I don't need these anymore because there is something much better laying right here for me." When Paul spoke of "put to death" and "put this aside", it's getting rid of the filth that has turned us into selfish and, oftentimes, violent people. And now you can see them picking up clean, beautiful, royal-like garments and redressing themselves. They are choosing to clothe themselves with the beautiful virtues. Then they see a gorgeous velvet robe laying there too and put it over all the new clothes--that's the LOVE robe.

     And so I humbly pray+

     Lord Jesus, we desire to live as new creations, as new women and new men. Put to death, by the power of your Holy Spirit, whatever may be "rooted in earth" within us. Give us an increase of virtue to replace all that we need to put aside. Especially bless our mouths and all that comes from them. We command the stronghold of a lying spirit to leave us and ask for the spirit of truth to reign in our lives. 

    Come, Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with the same heartfelt compassion that Jesus had as he walked the earth. We long for the river of grace to flow through us. We will that all unforgiveness be gone toward those we have hardened our hearts against. Set us free, Lord, to forgive as you have forgiven. We surrender to love. Fill us with more of your Holy Spirit who is the love between you and the Father. We surrender to peace. Touch our minds that we may be transformed with good, holy, and pure thoughts that increase the peace within our hearts. 

    We thank you, Lord Jesus, for everything--for breathe, life, for each new day, for grace to be transformed, and power to turn from all that is not good, for your Holy Spirit that fills us, and your word that dwells richly within us. Increase our wisdom so we may help one another to find the right path that leads to eternal life. And finally, put a song of grateful joy ever in our mouths as we honor and praise you for all you have done for us. Amen.

Resist Discouragement

Sometimes do you feel like numerous thoughts or emotions have collided within you and are beginning to weigh you down? Like maybe you're missing a loved one, someone said something that bothered you, you're not sure what next step to take, someone doesn't seem interested in your project, someone didn't reply after you asked them to get back with you, or you've lost some connections with people. And all these kinds of thoughts are making you feel sad or even depressed? These are simply a few examples of some very real instances that could mount up in our minds.

Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Don't go too far in that thinking. Right here and now you need to resist the temptation to think things are going wrong. Get a grip on your emotions. Talk to them. Tell the negative emotions to get out.

Say, "Sadness, you have no place here. Go! Getty up. Good-bye!"A most powerful way to rid ourselves of negative spirits is to say, "In the name of Jesus, I renounce  ______(whatever it is). Ask it to go directly and immediately to the foot of the cross.

Then go immediately to thankfulness. Surely some things are going right. Speak 'em out! Thank you for the sunshine, for the rain, for the person that was kind, for my friend...whatever you are thankful for that day.

We must develop good habits to stand firm against the temptations of the evil one who comes to rob, steal and destroy our peace. The victory is ours but we must exercise our authority as a child of God. 

True Peace

My dear brothers and sisters,

Who wants true peace? Or maybe the better question is, who doesn't want true peace? Our pastor preached a good homily at church sharing from Psalm 23 where the true definition of peace can be found. 

“The Lord is my shepherd there is nothing I lack.  In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me;...” Ps 23: 1-2

Not only does the Lord give us true peace, but also an everlasting  fullness of measure.

“You set a table before me as my enemies watch;

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows,

Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life; 

I will dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come.”  Psalm 23: 5-6

The Lord guides, protects, provides and nourishes forever! Christ Jesus is our peace. 

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father."    Ephesians 2: 13-18

We read in Ephesians how Christ is our peace. He broke down walls of division, especially "divisions within our own heart," said our Pastor.

Have you thought about that before? It's pretty powerful to reflect on. If He broke down these dividing walls within us and among us, why are we allowing them to remain?

We were encouraged that Sunday to first examine our own hearts and "let God’s love permeate every aspect of our lives." We were exhorted to heal any division within our hearts in order to find peace and to allow our faith to permeate every aspect of our being as well.

I don't know about you, but for me, this teaching brings me to another point of surrender, of throwing my arms up to my Heavenly Papa and praying, Come, Lord. Jesus. I am yours. Help me. Take me. Mold me into your likeness. I give you my heart. Heal its divisions. Make me whole so I may serve you better and love my brothers and sisters in this world with deeper compassion.

CAN YOU HEAR?

Can you hear me calling your name

inviting you to a freedom you have never known before? 

Do you sense my hand holding yours 

and my presence ever before you? 

All this time I've been whispering sweet nothings in your ears, 

telling you of my great love for you, 

reassuring you that all is well. 

I long to give you a greater disposition of trust, 

a deeper surrender to my power, 

a fuller openness to what I'm doing and will do in your life, 

and understanding of who I am inviting you to become.

Shalom

HONEY THAT FLOWS

My little children, your hearts are small, but prayer stretches them and makes them capable of loving God. Through prayer we receive a foretaste of Heaven and something of paradise comes down upon us. Prayer never leaves us without sweetness. It is honey that flows into the souls and makes all things sweet. When we pray properly, sorrows disappear like snow before the sun.     St. John Vianney

In the middle of the night, I felt an invitation to arise from my slumber and pray. I said, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening. You have the words of eternal life." What I discerned him saying was, "Things are serious, very serious. The world is in a precarious way. You must intercede as never before. Pray, pray, pray. Pray with urgency. Pray with faith. Pray with joy. Pray with sorrow. Pray at all times."

Yes, Lord. I hear you. Give us the grace to respond wholeheartedly to your plea for prayer. Help us to make that priority first in our lives. Give us perseverance by the power of your spirit to pray at all times. Like St. Paul exhorted the Ephesians: "Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints..." give us an increase of perseverance. Eph 6:18

As I googled the word "perseverance" I learned it "is a strength within the virtue category of courage" and that "courage describes strengths that help you exercise your will and face adversity." The Greek meaning of the word is to accomplish thoroughly, patient enduring, steadfastness, to abide in, and bearing against. The Hebrew meaning is to exert oneself. All of those definitions are food for meditation, especially as we consider the state of our world and the Lord's invitation to pray, pray, pray as never before.

We want to respond, we want to obey, and we need you, Lord, to work this grace deeply within our souls. In the powerful name of Jesus, we pray. Amen!

Led By The Spirit

My husband and I serve in ministry at our city's jail.

One Friday after a chapel service I was led into a women's pod. Usually, I have a reason to enter a pod. Oftentimes during the week, women make a kiosk request for bibles, rosaries, holy cards, daily meditations, etc. and we deliver those items to them. But this particular day, I had nothing to deliver. I was simply led by the Spirit to enter through the heavy steel doors into this pod (F 17) where some of the women live. Inside the large pods are the cells where they sleep.

As I crossed over the threshold of the second set of heavy steel doors, the guard at the front desk said to me, "I am happy to see you!" Such a warm hospitable remark, I thought. We don't always encounter that kind of hospitality inside the pods. I told this female guard who radiated a beautiful smile that I had nothing to deliver but just wanted to come inside and see how things were going. She asked me if I could do a "bible study." I told her I brought no resources to do that. She quickly handed me a book from beneath her desk entitled "Healing Prayer" and encouraged me to use that as a resource. Then she announced to all, "Bible Study!"

My husband and I serve on a healing ministry team so this rather amazed me and seemed perfectly natural.

Within no time ten women gathered in a room inside the pod and we were engaged in our healing prayer session. With only about a half-hour to spend with them, we began going around the large circle and one woman at a time stated their prayer intention(s) and I had the privilege to pray with each one of them and they for one another.  It was so beautiful to witness the openness of these women as they shared from the depths of their hearts about their most pressing needs. There were many requests for favor in the court system, for their children, for deliverance from drugs and alcohol. It made my heart sad to know these women were addicted to heroin, meth, and other such destructive substances.

As I gazed into their faces I said to them, "You are beautiful women created in the image and likeness of God and He has so much more for you than you can think or imagine." Tears welled up in my eyes.

It was just a prompting of the Spirit to go into that pod...and look what the Lord had prepared--a healing prayer service for ten women. And I was showered with His love and healing grace too! Glory to God!

Enjoy Peace

My child, peace in your soul, peace in your memory, peace in your understanding, peace in your will; peace with God, peace with men, peace with yourself. Peace, peace, peace, in heaven and on earth. Peace in the depth of your heart. This is what the Child Jesus grants us through His birth. He reconciles us with His Father and gives us power to triumph over our enemies and enjoy peace in the midst of war.

- Venerable Mother Mectilde of the Blessed Sacrament (1614–1698)

Peace to you!

My uncle, Fr. James Conner, O.C.S.O., a Trappist Monk at the Abbey of Gethsemani, wrote a homily recently about the words of Jesus found in the gospel of Luke.

 “If they do not accept you, go out into the streets and say: 

‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, 

even that we shake off against you’”.  Luke 10:10-11

     "The words of Jesus," he said, "might seem quite harsh at first sight...However in the context of the whole text..., we see that it is done only as a last resort.

     Jesus is primarily sending his disciples into towns to proclaim the message of God’s love and care for all peoples. The primary word that He wants them to proclaim is: “Peace to this house!” It is a peace which only God can give, but a peace which is promised by all the prophets for the mission of the one sent by God.

     Jesus comes among us as the fulfillment of the promise of the coming of one who will be Prince of Peace. He comes to proclaim peace which comes from God’s loving care for each one of His children. Isaiah compares the peaceful person to a child on its mother’s breast. “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you”. That child is each one to whom the Word of God is proclaimed. It is each one of us who have received this message that God will care for us as a mother cares for her infant.

     But we don’t like to consider ourselves as infants. We want to see ourselves as self-reliant and competent to take care of ourselves and our world. We all too often act as if we did not need God’s help and protection. 

                 

     But Paul tells that “the world has been crucified to me and I to the world” (Gal 6: 14). The world that must be crucified to each one of us is the world of deceit and selfishness – a world of power and prestige. But by that very fact it is a world of lies. Jesus calls Satan the “father of lies”. The lies which Satan sows in the world and in our hearts is the lie of self-sufficiency – “I do not truly need God – I can care for myself and my world!” 

     It is such lies which lie at the root of all the evil and deceit in the world today. All too often, even leaders of nations are known more for their lies than for fostering truth. Such actions only sow dissent and division within a nation and in the hearts of those who follow him. It serves to divide the nation from other nations and even beget division within the nation itself. And Jesus said also: “A house that is divided cannot stand”. (Mark 3: 25)

     In contrast to this, Jesus sends his disciples – he sends each one of us – to spread the true message of God’s love and care for every person. We may object to world leaders sowing dissent and division, but do the very same thing in our dealings with one another in daily life.

     Each time that we encounter another person, it should embody the message: “Peace to you!”. The Christian should be a person of peace. Above all, the monk should be a man of peace – peace within himself and peace with others with whom he lives. The injunction of Jesus does not extend merely to missionaries. It extends to each one of us – whether in the monastery or in our homes and places of work. 

     That is why we express the sharing of Peace before receiving the Prince of Peace within Communion. That brief moment cannot be simply a distraction from the Eucharist – but a call to each one of us to heed the message of Jesus and truly live as men and women of peace, knowing that our names are truly written in heaven." 

Reset the Button

Friends,

Do you ever feel you need to hit the reset button on your life? You've become aware of too many distractions causing you not to stay attracted to what's most important in your life?

Resetting can be done at any time of day, but may be easier at night before you go to bed or in the morning before starting off your new day.

At nighttime, it's helpful to take time to reconsider what happened during the course of the day.

What are the things that stand out the most in your mind? Did they bring you joy or sadness? Did they uplift or bring you down? Were you responsible for what happened or did someone else cause it? Is there something you can learn from what happened?

It's important to stay aware of your emotions during the day--the joy, the sorrow, the anger, impatience, frustrations...perhaps you've experienced them all in a day--that's not uncommon.

The emotions are talking to us. What are they saying to you? Do you know? If you were angry, why? What caused the anger? Is there something you'd do differently tomorrow? 

Here's where you reset the button. Learn from the day's experience. Resolve to do something different the next day if you need to. If it was a good day full of joy, then give many thanks. The reset button is hit that way too.

If you're resolved to hit the reset button in the morning, begin with gratitude. Give thanks for your breath and a new day to start fresh. Let gratitude rule your mind--giving thanks for even the smallest things that we take for granted.

Reset. Resolve. Refresh!

   "Blessed be the Lord, for He has heard my cry..." Ps 28: 6

Taking Quiet Time

     Sometimes there are so many distractions that come from every direction. Just when you think you can sit down, be still, take a deep breath and enter more deeply into the presence of God--who is with us always--other things can quickly grab our attention. For instance, the phone might ring and a family member needs you, someone might text and needs to know something about your plans later in the day, you need to go to the bathroom so you get up and you get distracted on your way back to your prayer chair, or someone in your family asks you a question even though you said, "I'm in quiet prayer now"…I've experienced all of these and more.

     So many different things can happen as we try to enter deeply into this sacred space. But regardless of the distractions, every return is virtuous when we re-commit our will to make a return. Do not let the distractions bother you even if many have already occurred--just be grateful that you’ve been given the grace to keep turning back. Be mindful of those distractions. Think about humanity and how many people are needing to enter this quietness and have no idea how to get there. But you do if only for five minutes. And that’s a very good start. 

     So uncross your legs and put both feet flat on the ground. Straighten your back and take a deep breath. Be aware of the light of the day that is shining on the world. Imagine that light penetrating your body and your mind and it is healing light. You open up to receiving it because you know you need it. And remember it is not an "it," rather a person-Him!

"I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."  

     It is He who is calling you close, out of His enormous love, His magnanimous love. He wants to give you a kiss for the day, a kiss that will be with you throughout the day--one that will remind you and seal your identity as His child, actually as His lover. Imagine that! So embrace the five or the 10 or the 15 minutes in silence, and be filled with the light for this new day. Then let that light shine to all you meet.

TRUST

Have you heard this way to describe trust? True Resolve Under Severe Testing. Makes perfect sense to me.

What resolve do you make when things are at their worst? How do you stand firm? Are you armed for spiritual battle? Aware that "we are fighting not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12 Do you dress yourself daily in the armor of God, our Father in Heaven--with righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, the word of God, prayer, perseverance, supplication?

In trying times, I remind myself about God's everlasting love for me and you. That I am more than a conqueror through Him who loved us.  Romans 8:37

Sooner or later we all face terrible trials--severe testing. It may be tribulation, or distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword. We have only to look across the world and see all these afflictions that people--our brothers and sisters including ourselves--are suffering from.

What will set us free? Believing God is with us through it all.

Regarding God’s Everlasting Love, the holy scriptures in Romans 8: 31-39 says: "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Lord, increase our faith to believe and to experience your loving presence in our midst. We want to trust you in all the circumstances of our lives. Give us the grace of perseverance to endure our trials and to keep standing firm no matter what. In the power of the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Comfort, Comfort My People

Within our living room early this morning I faced my prayer chair toward the rising sun, and set a timer for thirty minutes for quiet contemplative prayer.

I sat down with my back erect, feet uncrossed on ground, taking a deep breath and hearing the song of the birds outside singing to my soul. These actions center me to become more aware of the presence of the Lord.

After the timer went off, I opened my prayer journal and wrote this: "Dearest Lord, here I am. I hear you calling me closer so you can whisper secrets to my heart. I want to hear you. Speak, dearest Lord, I am listening." (1 Sam 3: 9)

And then I heard, "My child, comfort, comfort my people." (Isaiah 40) Since I know a song with those words I looked it up in my worship hymnal and carefully meditated on the words. I was struck by "comfort those who sit in darkness."

So I asked the question in my journal, "Who do you want me to comfort?" And I understood "all who come upon your path."

With the grace of God, I determined to be mindful of that admonition and asked, "What else do you desire to tell me?"

I understood this: "All that I have given you is gift to give others. Give freely, generously, lavishly, like I do with you. You are my child, called by my name. I send you out to be a light to the people (Matthew 5: 14), to be a star in the darkness (Philippians 2: 15), to tell others of my love and goodness. Listen to my spirit guiding your every footstep."(John 16: 13)

My response written in my journal was: "I surrender to you. Use me for your holy purposes. I am yours!"

I was led to read the words of the song again and felt encouraged to pay attention to what struck me the most in the lyrics. It was "Speak of peace...speak of the peace that awaits them."

And so I say, "Peace be with you this day." And pray...

"O gracious Lord, you who bestow every good and perfect gift so freely, generously and lavishly from above (James 1: 17), we thank you for calling us your children. Give us an abundance of grace and peace to respond to your Word that calls us to comfort others, share our gifts and shine like lights in the world. Open our eyes to see those who are hurting in our midst. Give us wisdom and courage to tell others of your love and goodness. We rejoice that the Spirit of truth guides us to all truth and that he speaks to us what he hears from you. Amen." SM

Discernment

Recently I overheard the radio station playing in the background from another room in our house. The person speaking caught my attention because she was explaining three practical steps of discernment according to the Ignation Rule.

This is a certain type of spirituality and one of my favorites. St. Ignatius of Loyola, whom the rule is named after, spent a lot of time teaching his monks how to discern well.

Statue of St. Ignatius at Monserrat Jesuit Retreat House

Discernment meaning the ability to judge well the direction to take when at forks in the road--should I go this way or that? Through this door or another? We all face these decisions.

In all your ways be mindful of him, 

and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3: 6 

Door of St. Ignation Chapel

Here are the 3 steps:

1) This first one is probably more familiar. Write a list of pros and cons in a wholistic approach. Put down everything you can think of. On the pro side all that is positive and on the con side all that may be negative. Remember just a few cons can outweigh many pros.

For example: A father may be offered a new job that pays a lot more money so he will be able to provide better for his family. It's also a higher promotion in the workplace. But he will be traveling 40% of the time and miss many of the senior year high school activities of his son.

Traveling and missing the senior year activities trumped the decision to accept this job offer in this circumstance.

I personally have found it very helpful to make this list of pros and cons when facing important decisions.

2) Now we're going to get much more Ignation in our approach. Sit and picture yourself making that decision. Be aware of your emotions. Do you feel anxious, fearful, doubtful?

Remember the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of peace, joy, relief, trust, calm...
Read Galatians 5: 22-23

Continue with this second step by asking yourself how you feel by not making this decision. In this example it was by not accepting the job offer. Again, do you feel peace or not?

3) This third step is really important and I'm sure I've failed to do this many times. Now picture yourself before the final judgment. Yes, before God and he is asking you to make an account for your actions. He knows the motive behind every decision we make so we can't hide from him. "So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God." Romans 14: 12

The question remains: on this earth when I make this decision, am I being mindful of the eternal consequences? As believers this is what we will ultimately face.

Undoubtedly we have all made wrong decisions at times and have learned that God can redeem those situations and work all things together for good if we truly desire His will. Rms 8: 28

Hopefully, recalling these three steps of making a list of pros and cons, checking your emotions and visualizing the final judgment will help you in making the best decisions in your life that bring you greater peace.

I pray we will all have divine grace to make wise and fruitful decisions that also bring salvation to souls and glory to God.