Keeping the Faith

"You will be hated by all because of my name." (Luke 21:17)

I feel like this is happening these days. The strong emotion regarding abortions and euthanasia. The "holiday" trees instead of Christmas trees. The towns that forbid the use of manger scenes. Seems like everywhere we look, we Christians are being discriminated against. And it seems to be "politically correct" to bash Catholics.

But we can take comfort in the verse following the one above: "but not a hair on your head will be destroyed." (Lk 21:18)

Dear Lord, help us to let go of anxiety and worry. Help us to remember you are with us always and we need not be afraid. I wish so much to witness to your love and mercy. Help me to live my life in such a way, that people will see You. Amen. 

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God's Ocean of Goodness

"Let us throw ourselves into the ocean of God's goodness, where every failing will be canceled and anxiety turned into love." - St. Paul of the Cross

When I recently read this quote for the first time, I remembered a time when I was on a private retreat. I had gone swimming in the convent's pool next door. I remember reflecting that, no matter where I was, I was close to God's heart, swimming in His love.

God's goodness is like an ocean. It goes on and on forever, in all directions. We can trust and jump into His love, and experience His never-ending love and mercy, or we can just put our big toe in, fearful of what we will find. 

Dear Lord, thank you for your ocean of kindness and goodness and love and mercy. Help me to trust more in you, and to float with your currents, O Lord. Help me to let go of fear and anxiety, and jump right into your Love.

Amen.

Jesus Seeks Us

"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what is lost." (Luke 19:10)

Not only do I like to think of Jesus coming to save me. Better yet, he came to seek me. He wanted to find me. He sought me out.

He seeks us all out. As Mother Teresa said - He thirsts for our souls.

Awesome. Thank you, Jesus.

What Do You Want?

"What do you want me to do for you? (Luke 18:41)

I know we need to pray. I know we need to ask God for what we want or need. It is not that God doesn't already know. He does. He knows our hearts.

But He wants to know, do WE know what we want or need?

I do not ask very often. I do not often know what I want. And even when I do know, I am afraid to ask. I do not feel like I deserve anything.
But God's mercy and forgiveness and love is not given to us because we deserve it.
It is grace. Free. A gift.

So, what do you want God to do for you?

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God's Word Brings Light

"The revelation of your words sheds light, gives understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130) 

I used to think the psalms were rather boring. I cringe inside to hear myself say that. But other than the responsorial psalms at Mass, I paid little attention to them.

Then I went to Pecos Monastery in New Mexico to take their Spiritual Direction class. The monks there prayed the Liturgy of the Hours 4 times a day and I prayed with them. I chanted the psalms with them everyday, day after day, for a month.

And something inside of me changed.

I began to really listen to the words. Soon I was not just saying words, I was truly praying them. Verses would stay in my thoughts and heart and I would pray them for days. I truly fell in love with the psalms.

Every feeling I can think of is expressed in some way in one or more of the psalms. There is pain and anger and fear and love and praise and gratitude and loneliness and sadness and joy.

Loving the psalms led me to read the Word of God with a different eye and hear it with a different ear.

It was like I had been sitting in the dark and God turned the light on.

Thank you and praise you, Lord, for revealing yourself to me through Your Word. Help me to understand it and learn from it and share its Light with others. Amen.

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The Lord is Close to the Brokenhearted

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted,

saves those whose spirit is crushed." (Psalm 34:19)

I remember when I first heard this verse. I was overwhelmed.

I have lived with a broken heart for most of my life. To know God is close by is to know I have not been alone. It makes a difference. 

And my spirit is no longer crushed. The Lord has saved me.

Thank you, Lord, for being close to me, closer to me than I will ever comprehend.

Thank you for healing my broken heart.

Jesus Welcomes Us

"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15:2)

I once remember a priest telling us in his homily that we don't go to church because we are perfect. We go to church because we know we aren't.

In those years that I was not going to church, I thought churchgoers were hypocrites. They worship God on Sunday and sin on Monday. I didn't really get it.

We go to church because we need Jesus. And we know, no matter how imperfect we are, on Sunday and every day, Jesus welcomes us and eats with us. Jesus forgives us and He heals us.
Every day. 

Jesus, this is so awesome. I don't know how else to put it. You love me just the way I am, a sinner, imperfect, unworthy. I love the story of how you will leave 99 sheep to go find one that is lost. I love it because I was lost once. Thanks for finding me.

Amen.

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