Saturday, August 31, 2019




St. Teresa (the Little Flower) said, "Everything is grace" -  God is present in each of us - calling us to do the ordinary stuff  with love.  Doing small things, which we can every moment, with great love and they become extraordinary!



Teresa as a young nun was assigned to scrub floors; she did so out of love for the Lord and for her sisters in the convent.  Scrubbing the floors was as much a part of her vocation as praying the Divine Office.  In her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, Therese wrote, "I am only a very little soul, who can offer very little things to our Lord." 

You and I are called to live the "little way" of discipleship in the love with which we care for our families; in the compassion we show reaching out to someone in need; in ordinary kindness and help; in the understanding and consolation we extend to others.



Today may we embrace the "little way" of Teresa in this prayer attributed to her: May today there be peace within. 

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content to know you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones
& allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. 

St Teresa of Lisieux challenges us to live the “little way” - live the way of the Gospel, live as a disciple of Jesus Christ!

May God Be Praised!

Friday, August 30, 2019






Today take a few minutes to reflect on where you came from and where you are going.

I want to share this story, about a 3-year girl whose parents just brought her newborn baby brother home from the hospital.

She excitedly asked if she could be alone with her brother for a few
minutes?

Her parents hesitated but said o.k. since they had a baby monitor in his room & it was on.  She went in and stood next to his crib & whispered, “Tell me about God.  I’ve almost forgotten.”(Celebrations 1/18/15)

May God Be Praised!

Thursday, August 29, 2019





The psalmist prays, “If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”  Let us not harden our hearts.  St. Francis de Sales teaches us the ways of the heart; he said that our heart is being formed and conformed to God’s heart.  Our friendships should be heart speaking to heart; helping each other grow closer to God

Love and freedom are central to our relationship with God, and they are foundational to our prayer life.  Living the “present moment” gives each of us the “privileged” opportunity to know God and to do God’s will.  “Go to Prayer in Faith.  Remain there in Hope.  Go out only by Love.” [deSales] 

Essential in prayer is the disposition of our heart; we are called to have the heart of God, here are “… the conditions necessary to pray ….  
The first … we must be little and humble; second … we must have a goodly supply of hope, and third keep our minds fixed on Jesus Christ crucified.” [deSales] 

Jean Valjean in Les Miserables says, “To love another is to see the face of God.”  Valjean without saying it or possible without realizing it points to a basic teaching of the Catholic Church; we are made in the image and likeness of God. 

de Sales teaches, “Prayer is … a conversation of the soul with God.” [Treatise on the Love of God]  Silence is many times the best prayer; like sitting with a love one watching a sunset, no words are necessary; the two hearts are one.


God already knows our needs, our wants and our desires before we utter a word; we need to attune ourselves with what God wants for us, for our good.  Today reflect on Salesian Scholar Wendy Wright questions, “What claims your love?”  “Where do [your] deepest desires lie?”

I believe to find true peace and contentment we must give our heart, soul and will to God – for God’s good pleasure.

What do you believe and what do you live?

May God Be Praised!


Wednesday, August 28, 2019




Today I would like you to read and reflect on two stories the first one is called The Bagpiper and the second one about recognizing our sisters and brothers



A young bagpiper was asked by a funeral director to play at a
graveside service for a homeless man with no family or friends.
The funeral was to be held at a cemetery way back in the country, and this man would be the first to be laid to rest there.

He was not familiar with the backwoods area and got lost; he finally arrived an hour late, and saw the backhoe and the crew, who were eating lunch, but the hearse was nowhere in sight.  He apologized to the workers for his tardiness, and stepped to the side of the open grave, where I saw the vault lid already in place.
He assured the workers he would not hold them up for long, but this was the proper thing to do. The workers gathered around, still eating their lunch. The bagpiper played out his heart and soul.  As he did the workers began to weep. He played: from My Home and The Lord Is My Shepherd, to Flowers of the Forest.  He then closed the lengthy session with Amazing Grace and walked to his car.

As he opened his door he heard one of the workers say to another, "Holy Moses, I never seen anything like that before - and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."
On a much more serious note, a rabbi asked his students:  “How can we determine the hour of dawn, when the night ends and the day begins?”
One of the rabbi’s students suggested:  “When from a distance you can distinguish between a dog and a sheep?”  “No,”” was the answer from the rabbi.
        
“It is when one can distinguish between a fig tree and a grapevine?”  asked a second student.  “No,” said the rabbi.

        
“Please tell us the answer then,” said the students.  “It is when,” said the wise teacher, “when you can look into the face of another human being and you have enough light in you to recognize your brother or your sister.  Until then it is night, and darkness is still with us.”
 
Today I would like you to read and reflect on two stories the first one is called The Bagpiper and the second one about recognizing our sisters and brothers
A young bagpiper was asked by a funeral director to play at a
graveside service for a homeless man with no family or friends.
The funeral was to be held at a cemetery way back in the country, and this man would be the first to be laid to rest there.

He was not familiar with the backwoods area and got lost; he finally arrived an hour late, and saw the backhoe and the crew, who were eating lunch, but the hearse was nowhere in sight.  He apologized to the workers for his tardiness, and stepped to the side of the open grave, where I saw the vault lid already in place.

He assured the workers he would not hold them up for long, but this was the proper thing to do. The workers gathered around, still eating their lunch. The bagpiper played out his heart and soul.  As he did the workers began to weep. He played: from My Home and The Lord Is My Shepherd, to Flowers of the Forest.  He then closed the lengthy session with Amazing Grace and walked to his car.

As he opened his door he heard one of the workers say to another, "Holy Moses, I never seen anything like that before - and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."
On a much more serious note, a rabbi asked his students:  “How can we determine the hour of dawn, when the night ends and the day begins?”
One of the rabbi’s students suggested:  “When from a distance you can distinguish between a dog and a sheep?”  “No,”” was the answer from the rabbi.
        
“It is when one can distinguish between a fig tree and a grapevine?”  asked a second student.  “No,” said the rabbi.
        
“Please tell us the answer then,” said the students.  “It is when,” said the wise teacher, “when you can look into the face of another human being and you have enough light in you to recognize your brother or your sister.  Until then it is night, and darkness is still with us.”


May we see our brothers and sisters in each person whether they are on our southern border or our next store neighbor!

May God Be Praised!


Monday, August 26, 2019


The sacrament of Marriage and the sacredness of Marriage are under pressure and attack in our culture today, so I offer this prayer for married couples “… my prayer for you is that when your life here on earth is completed it will be said of your marriage that it  “… inspired real reverence [you] were certainly saints…. saints in that most effective and telling way: sanctified by leading ordinary lives in a completely supernatural manner, sanctified by obscurity, by usual skills, by common tasks, by routine, but skills, tasks and routine which received a supernatural form from grace within, and from the habitual union of their souls with God in deep faith and charity."   [Adapted from Thomas Merton, “The Seven Story Mountain”]
The world would be a much better place if this could be said of each married couple. 


Pope Francis said, Marriage “is not only a sacrament for them, but also for the Church, a sacrament” that announces to the world: “See, love is possible!”  And love is capable of allowing you to live your whole life “in love”: in joy and in sorrow, with the problems of children, and their own problems… but always going forward.  In sickness and in health, but always going forward.  This is beautiful.”  
“Marriage is a silent preaching to all others, a preaching of every day.”   
[Pope Francis, 5-26-18]

Today ask God to Bless all married couples!
May their mornings bring joy and their evenings peace.
May their troubles be few and their blessings many.
May their hands be forever clasped in friendship
And their hearts forever joined in love.
May God hold them in the palm of his hand, as He did on their they Wedding day.
May they be poor in misfortune and rich in holiness.
May they see their children's children.
May they share the special glimpse of God that they have been given.
And May God’s love be the foundation of their life and all they do!
Father, in heaven, these prayers are offered to You through Your Son, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! 
Amen!

May God Be Praised!

Sunday, August 25, 2019




Jesus and all the saints remind us that we should pray.  Why? Because, “Prayer is spiritual breathing; exercise for the soul.”



We are called to “... pray for everyone … NOT because prayer changes God’s will; rather it opens us up to [God’s will]. (Celebrations: 9-18-16)   
Jesus challenges us to reflect on the way we THINK; on what we hold as most important.  Prayer opens our minds, our wills and our heart to God’s grace and only God’s grace can lead us to the right path!

Jesus sometimes teaches us through humor!  The Parable of the Dishonest Steward may really be Jesus giving a tongue-in-cheek lesson.  The Steward was commended not because he was deceitful, but because he was clever and resourceful and doesn’t follow the normal expectations of his role.   
(Bausch, Once Upon A Gospel, pp. 270-273)


To be a disciple of Jesus Christ calls us to not follow the normal expectations of this world.  The Kingdom of Jesus is not human normal, as we know it.  Remember the last shall be first; whatever you did for then least you did for Jesus. 
For a few minutes, in silence, reflect on how you are living your faith?

May God Be Praised!


Saturday, August 24, 2019


 
SOME THOUGHTS ON PRAYER

The Biblical understanding of the heart is essential in understanding a life of prayer, “Prayer is a need of our soul; it is the life of our heart.”

“My joy lies in being close to my God.”  [Psalm 73:28]



“O You, who are at home in the depths of my heart, permit me to join You in the depths of my heart.”  [Fr. Louis Brisson]

St. Jane Frances de Chantal said, “In prayer, more is accomplished by listening than by talking.”  By listening to God!

Our true contentment and our true happiness can only be nourished by living in the Trinity.  [Deacon Kelly]

“Holiness does not consist in achieving extraordinary things, in accomplishing singular actions, but in uniting ourselves entirely to the Will of God and in doing everything with Him and for Him.  Then even the most insignificant actions in themselves become acts of perfect charity, acts that have an immense value.”  [Fr. Louis Brisson]



Actions that help build God’s Kingdom, and assist in God’s love becoming more visible in the world are the foundation of our love for God. [Deacon Kelly]

"If the heart wanders or is distracted, bring it back to the point quite gently and replace it tenderly in its Master's presence. And even if you did nothing during the whole of your hour but bring your heart back and place it again in Our Lord's presence, though it went away every time you brought it back, your hour would be very well employed."  [St. Francis de Sales]



St. Francis de Sales offers great advice with his Seven Little Virtues:
     1. Endure Patiently
     2. See the Bright Side
     3. Show Good Humor
     4. Excuse Cheerfully
     5. Put on a Good Face
     6. Be Appreciative
     7. Speak Gentle

Today take a few minutes to thank the Lord for calling you to pray to God inside the Trinity.

May God Be Praised!



Friday, August 23, 2019




3 Suggestions to Grow Spiritually

1. Spend time in silent prayer
2. Reflect on the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist and the Lord’s real presence
3. Let humility be the foundation of your spiritual life

 


1. St. Jane Frances de Chantal said,In prayer, more is accomplished by listening than by talking.”

2. Thomas Merton said, “We will never fully appreciate the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist until we see the intimate connection that exists between the mystery of the Holy Eucharist and the mystery of the Church, the Body of Christ.” 


 

3. Fr. Lewis Fiorelli, O.S.F.S. wrote, “ Humility recognizes the supremacy of God and thus of the divine will in our lives, while gentleness embodies our deep respect, even reverence, for the dignity and goodness of every person as made in God’s holy image.” 


As our summer gradually turns into fall focus your spiritual exercises on deepening your love and trust in Jesus Christ, true God, true Man.

May God Be Praised! 


Thursday, August 22, 2019



How would you like the job of counting the stars?  If you do get that job, I recommend that you work at night!  NASA has a set of suggestions for people who want to count the stars, which they tell you up front is impossible to do!  There are about 10 billion galaxies in the observable universe! 


The number of stars in a galaxy varies, but assuming an average of 100 billion stars per galaxy means that there are about 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (that's 1 billion trillion) stars in the observable universe!

St. Paul teaches us to not  be “… occupied with earthly things …. Our citizenship is in heaven.”

St. Luke tells us that at Jesus’ Transfiguration Peter, John and James learned was “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”  That message is (also) meant for us.  Listen to Jesus, follow Jesus & fall in love with Jesus!  Our spiritual growth occurs most often in our daily life, trying to be a good disciple.

The great 20th century French philosopher Jaques Maritain believed that there were only 3 questions that had to be answered:
1.    Who am I?
2.    Where am I?
3.    Where should I be going?

Many times in our spiritual lives we are like 20 year olds planning for retirement, I’ll get to that later.  But Today is what God gave us to grow closer to Him, to know Him more fully, and love Him more deeply than yesterday.
Today is God’s gift to you take some time to grow closer to the Lord.

May God Be Praised!

Wednesday, August 21, 2019


Would you trade places with Jeremiah in the cistern?  Do you want to “… preserve in running the race that lies before us ….?”  Do you want the Lord to come to your aid?
Do you think our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has come to bring peace or division?  Do you think Jesus has “… come to set the earth on fire ….”

Today’s scripture readings present us with difficulty, with some challenges.  One of the key words in our readings is FIRE.
 
What does Divine FIRE mean?

In the Hebrew Scriptures it meant the presence of God.  Think back to Moses and the Burning Bush, Israel meeting the Divine FIRE at Carmel and [then] going back to their faith.  Several times in the Hebrew Scriptures FIRE = the DIVINE.

How many xs have you heard someone refer to an athlete who has fire in her or his belly?  In the Gospel Jesus challenges us with FIRE, meaning, “How has living the Gospel challenged and transformed you?  [The Word, America Magazine, 8/18/19]

Today’s Scripture TRUTH is difficult to handle, we are called to fix our eyes, hearts and wills on Jesus and to do His Will all the time.  Jesus came to set the earth on FIRE, meaning you and I need to have Jesus front and center in everything we do!  You and I are the light of Christ in the darkness of our world.

What kind of light are we shining?

In an attempt to fit in socially we fail to show and share our faith, do we bless ourselves and say grace when we dine either at a fast food or high-end restaurant.  Our lives should be a candle shining brightly.


St. Luke “… reminds us that everything we have is temporary and that we will have to account for ourselves when we meet Christ.  A disciple’s path … is to take what God has given and use it for humble service.  The servant who … lives a life of material detachment and care for others will flourish at the Lord’s return.”
[America Magazine, “Everything we have is temporary “, 8/12/19]

Do you have FIRE in your belly for the Lord?  Is the Divine FIRE consuming you?

May God Be Praised!  [Part of Homily Cycle C 8/18/19]