Inheritance

My child, do not let your heart be troubled,
rather trust in me.
I am the salvation of your soul.
I am the Divine Physician--
"the way and the truth and the life." Jn 14: 6

Come my child, and stay with me.
Let us sup together
the chalice of your salvation.
"Taste and see that the Lord is good," Ps 34: 8
and my promises remain true forever.

Rejoice that you have been found worthy
to receive the inheritance. Col 1: 12
From long ago,
I had my plan of salvation
for you.

Come to me all who are weary...,
and I will give you rest. Mt 11: 28
Deep, deep rest.

Pax

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you." Jn 14: 15-17

HALT

Here's a quick self-examination acronym. Four things to check out on yourself when you're feeling impatient, grumpy, irritable...Ask yourself these questions:

• H--Am I hungry?
• A--Am I angry?
• L--Am I lonely?
• T--Am I tired?

If you are experiencing two or more of these conditions, it's time to halt and give yourself a break. Drink some cold water, eat a nutritious snack, take a power nap or a walk, call a friend, journal, stretch, take some deep breaths--whatever suits your fancy. You'll be feeling more peace in no time.

Be kind and good to yourself and stay mindful of your own needs.

Magnolia

We were strolling down the street last night--my honey lamb and I. A strong whiff of sweet perfume filled our nostrils. He bent over to pick up the magnolia petal laying on the ground and handed it to me.

If only we could exude that "fragment aroma" as others pass by--be that sweet fragrance that rises to the nostrils of the Most High.  An acceptable sacrifice that is pleasing to Him. Phil 4:18

I picked a blossom off the magnolia tree at my parents' house today...

and placed it in a bowl on our dining room table.

One petal's power to capture our attention was amazing. Its intoxicating odor filling the atmosphere with the pervasive scent of magnolia making me desire the whole blossom.

Oh, women of peace, the power of one person to become that sweet fragrance to the world and to the Most High!

Two to Tango

"Peace is my farewell to you, my peace is my gift to you; I do not give it to you as the world gives peace. Do not be distressed or fearful." Jn 14: 27 This is part of today's gospel reading. Jesus is speaking to his disciples in his last discourse before his death on the cross.

"When we read or listen to Sacred Scripture God speaks to us. And when we pray we reply to Him. It's a two-way street. It takes two to tango. It's called a dialogue."

The priest at Mass this morning reminded us that this peace of which Jesus speaks is the "gift of salvation that comes from Jesus, the Messiah and Savior of us all." Fr. said Jesus' gift of peace is "not the peace of the Palestinians/Israel conflict or the uprising in the Arab countries. It is not the peace of Washington D.C. between the Democrats and Republicans."

Rather, "His peace is the place of 'sheer goodness' where he has created us to make us share in His own blessed life--Christ Jesus. He draws us into this goodness. He calls us to Him--to seek him with all our heart."

In the gospel reading Jesus is telling his disciples not to be troubled or afraid. How many times do we feel that way? Many times we do and for many reasons. Fr. suggested we make a list of all our troubles "that keep us from Him and his gift."

Here are a few you might relate to:

• relationship with family member
• relationship with employer--employees
• relationship with the church
• health issues
• overweight
• recovery from surgeries
• fear of tornadoes, floods, earthquakes
• financial troubles
• losses to 401-K retirement 
• threats to Medicare or Medicaid 

Present your personal list to the Lord. Let Him speak to your heart. Believe in Him. By his suffering and death he has shared with us all the evils we are troubled about. He gives the last discourse to assure his disciples that in Him we may find peace. "Take courage," Jesus says. "I have overcome the world."

Dialogue with Him. Speak your heart to Him and listen as He speaks his heart to you. It takes "two to tango." And in the "tango" we receive the gift that the world can not give.

Excerpts from homily by Fr. John Wade

Pacem in Terris

"Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) was a papal encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII in 1963. It remains one of the most famous of 20th century encyclicals and established principles that featured in some of the documents of the Second Vatican Council and of later popes.

Pacem in terris was the first encyclical that the Pope did not address to the Catholic faithful only, but also to "all men of good will".

In this work, John XXIII reacted to the then political situation in the middle of the Cold War. The "peace encyclical" was issued only two years after the erection of the Berlin Wall and only a few months after the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The Pope explains in this encyclical that conflicts "should not be resolved by recourse to arms, but rather by negotiation." He further emphasizes the importance of respect of  human rights as an essential consequence of the Christian understanding of men. He clearly establishes, ...'That every man has the right to life, to bodily integrity, and to the means which are suitable for the proper development of life'..."

"The true and solid peace of nations consists not in equality of arms but in mutual trust alone."

Pope John XXIII (1881-1963). Pacem in Terris (On Establishing Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity and Liberty), 113, 11 April 1963

Peace to all nations!

Give Thanks

Give thanks with grateful heart.
Give thanks to the Holy One,
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ His son.

And now let the weak say, "I am strong,"
let the poor say, "I am rich,"
because of what the Lord has done for us.

Give thanks!

Lyrics by Henry Smith