Tomorrow I depart for vacation with my family, while on vacation I will be praying for you, and I ask that you pray for us. My blog, "A Daily Dose of God” will return on Monday, August 2, 2021.
Friday, July 23, 2021
Thursday, July 22, 2021
Finding Peace in a World full of Noise and Tumult
Finding Peace in a World full of Noise and Tumult
The
best way to find peace is to be at peace, but how can we Be at Peace?
St. Francis de Sales said, “Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;
rather look to them with full hope as they arise.
God, whose very own you are,
will deliver you from out of them.
He has kept you hitherto,
and when you cannot stand it,
God will bury you in his arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you then and everyday.
He will either shield you from suffering,
or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.” Amen.
So, we are to go into the world and announce the Gospel, [the Good News] primarily by the way we live. What is that Good News? That God:
Created you2. Loves you
3. Redeemed you
4. Chose you as a disciple
5. Called you to share His Gospel in deed and in word and to be with Him forever in Heaven. That is the reason to be a Peace and be filled with Joy
St. Joseph pray for us.
St. Francis de Sales pray for us.
May God Be Praised.
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
The Mystery of Suffering
The Mystery of Suffering
Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, "It is part of the discipline of God to make His loved ones perfect through trial and suffering. Only by carrying the Cross can one reach the Resurrection." St. Brendan the Navigator wrote, “Christ of the mysteries, I trust You to be stronger than each storm within me. I will trust in the darkness and know that my times, even now, are in Your hand.”
Lord, You know the burden of my sorrow, let my suffering help issue in Your Kingdom of peace and joy. Suffering is a profoundly difficult human problem to deal with, to comprehend! Why is there suffering if God is all loving, all good and all-powerful?
Pope St. John Paul II said, "It is suffering, more than anything else, which clears the way for the grace which transforms human souls. Suffering, more than anything else makes present in the history of humanity the powers of the Redemption."
Why does anyone suffer? Why does God permit suffering? The truth is I don’t know, but I am very interested in finding out. You and I will not fully understand the why of suffering until we arrive at our eternal reward.
Why?Let me share the story about a rabbi who lived about 500 years before Christ. One day he was teaching his students and foreign troops invaded their village. They witnessed the fire, the killing and the mayhem. Finally, the rabbi looked up to heaven and screamed, “If only I were God!’
One of his students said to him, ‘what would you do differently if you were God?” He said I would do nothing differently, but “I would understand!”
Our loving God and Creator sent us His Son, who showed us how to handle suffering. When Jesus suffered, He offered His suffering to God the Father, and it was anointed by the Holy Spirit. You and I are called to do the same and trust me it is not easy.
There is no answer to the why of pain and suffering this side of the grave, however one day we will understand, until then follow the path of Jesus and offer your pain and suffering up, ask God to bless it and make good come from it.
St. Joseph pray for us.
St. Francis de Sales pray for us.
May God Be Praised.
Tuesday, July 20, 2021
Swimming in the ocean with Christ
Brian Skerry “… is an award-winning National Geographic photographer and documentary producer, specializing in marine wildlife and underwater environments. His four-part docuseries Secrets of the Whales premiered April 22 on Disney+…. I came away with a striking observation. Genetically identical species of whales behave differently depending on where they live—much like humans…. Family is immensely important to them. Within orca families, individuals live nearly five times longer if grandmothers are present….
We can see ourselves in these creatures. Humans also speak different languages, enjoy different foods, and pass down family traditions. But perhaps most strikingly, we also rely on one other. The moments we spend with our loved ones are often the most treasured and meaningful in our lives. Just as belugas do, in between the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, it’s essential for us to make time for other things—things that bring joy.”
St. Théodore Guérin said, “For true hearts there is no separating ocean; or, rather, God is their ocean, in Whom they meet and are united; they love and lose themselves in Him and in each other."
“I made the mountains tall & the valleys low, they are my gift to all, my gift to you.
You cannot serve two masters, only one; The one to serve is the Lord your God.
His help is open to those who seek Him and God’s glory shines forever. The Lord God offers Mercy, and His Faithfulness never ceases. Jesus brings Justice and Peace together in THE divine embraced. Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and justice look down from heaven.” [Dcn. George Kelly]
In the ocean of life on dry land these words from John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach offer us great advice, at times they may be a life-preserver for us. “Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”
Today take a few minutes to think about the ocean you are swimming in and how you are swimming in it.
St. Joseph pray for us.
St. Francis de Sales pray for us.
May God Be Praised.
Monday, July 19, 2021
Building the Kingdom with Glue & Forgiveness
James S. Hewett once gave an apt example of people not getting the respect they deserve. Especially young people. He tells about his son, who was using one of those super-adhesive glues on a model airplane he was building.
"In less than three minutes," says James Hewett, "his right index finger was bonded to a shiny blue wing of his DC-10. He tried to free it. He tugged it, pulled it, waved it frantically, but he couldn't budge his finger free." Soon, they located a solvent that did the job and ended their moment of crisis.
Then James Hewitt writes this: "Last night I remembered that scene when I visited a new family in our neighborhood. The father of the family introduced his children: 'This is Pete. He's the clumsy one of the lot.' 'That's Kathy coming in with mud on her shoes. She's the sloppy one.' 'As always, Mike is last. He'll be late for his own funeral, I promise you.'"
James Hewett goes on to say, "The dad did a thorough job of gluing his children to their faults and mistakes. People do it to us all the time. They remind us of our failures, our errors, our sins, and they won't let us live them down. Like my son trying frantically to free his finger from the plane, there are people who try, sometimes desperately, to free themselves from their past.
They would love a chance to begin again. When we don't let people forget their past, when we don't forgive, we glue them to their mistakes and refuse to see them as more than something they have done….”
[King Duncan, Collected Sermons.Com, Glued to Our Faults, July 4, 2021]
Forgiveness is the life blood of growth for each one of us, the gift of offering Forgiveness is transforming. The acceptance of Forgiveness offered is transforming. Forgiveness not offered or not accepted is one of the saddest events in human suffering. Finding the good in each person is exhausting work, but it is the foundation work of building the Kingdom of God, and it is often built on Forgiveness.
St. Joseph pray for us.
St. Francis de Sales pray for us.
May God Be Praised.
Sunday, July 18, 2021
Homily Cycle B 07-18-2021 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Readings:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071821.cfm
In our Gospel today, Jesus says to His Apostles, “Come away … rest a while.” Jesus invites His apostles & us to rest, which is really an invitation to be aware of God’s presence in our lives or to become more aware of God’s profound presence.
In our first reading Jeremiah laments the lack of leadership in his community. Leadership has many elements, such as: trust, a clear message, selflessness, compassion, empathy, [this one might surprise you rest]. Jesus’ invitation is a symbol for learning to be fed by God.
Maybe this story can help us, “Every day needs hopscotch moment …”
Every so often, a television commercial makes a mark on our souls over & above its sale pitch …. [A recent commercial] … for Kohl’s department stores is just such a spot.
Have you’ve seen this charming little moment: A little girl is drawing with chalk on her front walk when a delivery man walks by, juggling boxes …. he’s having a bad day and just glares at her. His grumpiness gives her an idea.
She takes her chalk and
draws a hopscotch grid on the sidewalk in front of her house…. As she watches, everyone who passes by —
teenagers, a woman jogging, a senior couple — stops to play the game, cheering and
waving at her when they successfully dance their way through her design.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlrg98O9Qgg
Then the grumpy delivery man reappears. He stops and scowls at the hopscotch challenge in front of him…. looks at the young artist, and to her surprise, he smartly jumps through the grid…. then walks away with a sly smile. Adding to the charm of the moment is jazz musician Jon Batiste plays and sings “The Sunny Side of the Street.”
A little girl’s hopscotch challenge becomes the deserted place, the resting place envisioned by Jesus in today’s Gospel. The Rest or Deserted place Jesus recommends to us can be as simple as a few minutes taken to stop and acknowledge or realize God’s presence in our life.
A few, minutes, to offer thanks to God for the graces we receive in the love of family and friends. We need ‘deserted’ places, 'hopscotch’ moments … to recognize in the quiet of our hearts God’s presence in our lives…. [Adopted from Connections, July 18, 2021]
Join me now close your eyes, open your hearts, your minds, and listen to these Words.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths for His name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.”
You and I are the BELOVED of God.
Spend a few minutes [now] reflecting on the “Hopscotch” moments in your life, then take time to thank God for loving you enough to send you “Hopscotch Moments.”
St. Joseph pray for us.
St. Francis de Sales pray for us.
May God Be Praised!
Saturday, July 17, 2021
Trusting God in Difficult Times
In the Office of Readings for Week III we pray, “May we live in the radiance of God.” And, in 2 Peter 3:8 we read, “There is no time with God: a thousand years, a single day, it is all one.”
Today we ponder these excerpts from Psalm 90 “…. Our life is over like a sigh. Our span is seventy years or eighty for those who are strong. And most of these are emptiness and pain. They pass swiftly and we are gone…. In the morning, fill us with your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days. Give us joy to balance our affliction for the years when we knew misfortune.”
“Christian optimism is based on Trusting in of the power of God’s grace to guide us. It believes that God’s Kingdom will come, and we are called to participate in building that Kingdom and then living in it for all eternity. We know that in the end God wins.”
Dcn. George Kelly
St. Joseph pray for us.
St. Francis de Sales pray for us.
May God Be Praised.
Friday, July 16, 2021
Living as Disciples of Jesus
C.S. Lewis said, “Don’t let your happiness depend on something you may lose.”
Our happiness should be firmly anchored in your relationship with Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life. William Butler Yeats said, “Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy.”
People live with tragedy, sorrow, joy and happiness, God walks with us through it all. Many times, we remember God in the suffering we experience, we must also, remember the Lord God in the joys of living.
Reflect on what Venerable Msgr. Aloysius Schwartz said about a life of prayer, "When you pray, you only have to ask for two things: You should ask for the light to see the will of God, and you have to ask for the courage to be able to do the will of God."
Today, [and tomorrow because when it gets here it is Today] seek enough light to find God’s will and the grace of courage to live God’s will, in the joys and in the sorrows you experience.
St. Joseph pray for us.
St. Francis de Sales pray for us.
May God Be Praised.
Thursday, July 15, 2021
A Prayer for My Wife’s Healing
I am worn out with crying, with longing for my wife’s healing.
I look to you daily, O God, for her return.
My eyes cannot see because they are filled with tears, tears of love, tears of longing, and tears of anxiety.
Loving God hear my plea and answer my call.
You are our beginning and our true destiny.
My wife and friend needs Your healing grace, bestow it on her.
Thy will be done, send the strength I need to make this journey with her, as she recovers.
Our journey will be blessed because dear Lord You are leading it. Amen.
Lord God answer my plea.
St. Joseph pray for us.
St. Francis de Sales pray for us.
May God Be Praised.
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Christianity: A Short Course
Christianity: A Short Course
St. John of the Cross wrote, "God does not fit in an occupied heart." St. Francis de Sales said, "Even the most insignificant actions are great and excellent when they are performed with a pure intention and fervent desire to please God."
St. Brendan the Navigator reminded us to “…Tune [our] spirit to the music of heaven ….”
When we do that, each action we perform and each word we utter will give honor to God. We will share God’s light with the world, and then the darkness shall be no more.
St. Joseph pray for us.
St. Francis de Sales pray for us.
May God Be Praised.
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Christianity is Hard to Live
"All is gift from God, the God Who created for us to serve Him here on earth and join Him in Heaven for all eternity.” [Dcn. Kelly] G.K. Chesterton gave us this profound insight: "It is not that Christianity has been tried and found wanting, but tried and found difficult."
Just as some persons
dislike taking medicine, no matter how pleasant it is, simply because it is
called medicine, so there are some souls who hold in horror things commanded
simply because they are commanded . . . On the contrary, a loving heart loves
the commandments.
The more difficult they are, the sweeter and more agreeable it finds them, since this more perfectly pleases the Beloved and gives Him greater honor." [Finding God’s Will p. 20]
We can only find Peace in God, so pray with me, “May God, the source of our hope, fill your hearts with peace as you believe in him. (Romans 15:13) In God alone is my soul at rest; my help comes from him. He alone is my rock, my stronghold, my fortress: I stand firm.” [Psalm 62]
We must learn to pray, “Lord, teach us goodness, discipline, and wisdom, and these gifts will keep us from becoming hardened by evil, weakened by laziness, or ignorant because of foolishness.” [Psalm Prayer]
Take a few minutes today and reflect on your life as a Christian.
St. Joseph pray for us.
St. Francis de Sales pray for us.
May God Be Praised.Monday, July 12, 2021
God’s Heart and Your Heart
“Incline my heart according to your will, O God.”*
Open my heart to praise your Holy Name, cleanse me from any worthless, evil, or distracting thought. Grant me the grace I need to pray this Liturgy of the Hours with reverence and love. Hear my plea, fill me with Your Grace that I may shine forth Your Radiance to the world. Lord, listen to my petitions and answer me. [*Responsory Morning Prayer 6/02/2021]
Molding our heart to God’s Will is our daily work and it takes a lifetime.
St. Joseph pray for us.
St. Francis de Sales pray for us.
May God Be Praised.
Sunday, July 11, 2021
An Irish Prayer
An Irish Prayer
“May God give you ….
For every storm a rainbow.
For every tear, a smile.
For every care, a promise.
And a blessing in each trail.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.”
May we accept God’s answer to our prayers, TRUSTING in God. When we pray and accept “Thy Will Be Done” and when live it, the joy of heaven will seep into our life and [then] God’s answer will fill us with joy.
St. Joseph pray for us.
St. Francis de Sales pray for us.
May God Be Praised.
Saturday, July 10, 2021
Stagnation & Grandeur
Erwin M. Soukup compiled "The Seven Steps to Stagnation":
1. We've never done it that way before.
2. We're not ready for that.
3. We are doing all right without trying that.
4. We tried it once before.
5. We don't have money for that.
6. That's not our job.
7. Something like that can't work.
[Sermons.com - Martin E. Marty, "Context," April 15, 1985, p. 5.]
We proclaim God’s glory here on earth by strengthening our relationships and the most important relationship is the one we have with Jesus. We do that through PRAYER and TRUST in God’s plan for us.
St. Francis de Sales said, “Let us be who we are and be it well, in order to bring honor to the Master craftsman whose handiwork we are.” [Oeurves, XII. Letter 289 10 June 1607]
You and are children of God, and our lives should reflect God’s grandeur to the world.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
St. Francis de Sales, pray for us.
May God Be Praised.