Blog Post 4/07/2023 - Good Friday

 

On this most somber of days, Good Friday, Hans Urs Von Balthasar offers us this powerful insight into the Trinity.  “To [the Holy Spirit], the most delicate, vulnerable, and precious one in God, we must open ourselves up, without defensiveness, without thinking that we know better, without hardening ourselves, so that we may undergo initiation by Him into the Mystery that God is love. 

 

Let us not imagine that we already know this ourselves! ‘In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and send His Son to be the expiation for our sins’ (I Jn 4:10).

The spirit alone teaches us this reversal of perspective, but through Him we can really learn what, in His view, love is.”  [Hans Urs Von Balthasar, Credo: Meditations on the Apostles' Creed, p. 72[

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May God Be Praised.

Blog Post 4/06/2023 The Lord’s Supper – We Remember

 

 

 

The Lord’s Supper – We Remember

 

In the washing of the feet we remember … St. Paul said to the Corinthians and he says to us, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’

 

In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”           [1 Corinthians 11:23-26]

 

May God Be Praised

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

 

Blog Post 4/05/2023 – Lessons for Lent & Beyond

 

Lessons for Lent & Beyond

 

St. Francis de Sales said, "Work hard every day at increasing your purity of heart, which consists in appraising things and weighing them in the balance of God's will."

 

As we work each day let’s also, remember what St. Therese of Lisieux said, “The world’s thy ship and not thy home.”

Lenten lessons worth pursuing today and every day, board your ship and work to give God your [pure] heart.  And when tomorrow becomes today begin anew.

 

May God Be Praised.

Blog Post 4/04/2023 – Today a very special blog A Birthday Wish to my Beloved Wife Joanne

 

 

A Birthday Wish to my Beloved Wife Joanne,

I am unable to articulate with words how deep my love and how thankful I am for you.  For our friendship, for our marriage, for our family and for sharing our faith.  You are the air of joy that lives and breathes in our family.

Maybe these excerpts from “When Irish Eyes are Smiling” and from the Book of Sirach can provide you with a hint of my gratefulness for your love and support throughout our years:  

“There's a tear in your eye,

And I'm wondering why,

For it never should be there at all.

With such pow'r in your smile,

Sure, a stone you'd beguile,

And all other times smile,

And now, smile a smile for me…

When Irish hearts are happy,

All the world seems bright and gay.

And when Irish eyes are smiling,

Sure they steal your heart away.

For your smile is a part

Of the love in your heart,

And it makes even sunshine more bright.

Like the linnet's sweet song,

Crooning all the day long,

Comes your laughter and light.

 

For the springtime of life

Is the sweetest of all

There is ne'er a real care or regret;

And while springtime is ours

Throughout all of youth's hours,

Let us smile each chance we get.”

 

“Your eyes have stolen my heart and when they smile, 'tis a grand morn while in the lilt of Your laughter, I can hear the angels sing and I know Your love will fill my day.” 

 

And in the Book of Sirach we read, “  A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter: he that has found one has found a treasure.  There is nothing so precious as a faithful friend, and no scales can measure his excellence.  A faithful friend is an elixir of life …. [6:14-16a]

“The husband of a good wife is a fortunate man; he will live twice as long because of her.

A fine wife is a joy to her husband, and he can live out his years in peace.   A good wife is among the precious blessings given to those who fear the Lord.  Whether such men are rich or poor, they will be happy and always look cheerful.”  [26:1-4]

 

Happy Birthday, I love you and I always will.  [April 4, 2023]

Blog Post - 4/03/2023 Our value, our prayer & our hope

 

Our value, our prayer & our hope

 

 

Jesus tells us in St. Matthew’s Gospel,  “Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."  [10:29-31]

Therefore, we should have the courage to say, “To You Lord, I make my prayer for mercy.

– To you, O Lord, I make my prayer for mercy.  And “Heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.”

Then with hope in God’s love accept His gracious mercy.

 

May God Be Praised.

 

 

Blog Post 4/02/2023 – Palm Sunday

 

A man bought a donkey from a preacher.  The preacher told the man that this donkey had been trained in a very unique way (being the donkey of a preacher).  The only way to make the donkey go, is to say, “Hallelujah!”  The only way to make the donkey stop, is to say, “Amen!”  The man was pleased with his purchase and immediately got onto the donkey to try out the preacher’s instructions.

“Hallelujah!” shouted the man.  The donkey began to trot.  “Amen!” shouted the man.  The donkey stopped immediately.  “This is great!” said the man.  With a “Hallelujah!” he rode off very proud of his new purchase.

The man traveled for a long time through some mountains.  Soon he was heading toward a cliff.  He could not remember the word to make the donkey stop.  “Stop!” said the man.  “Halt!” he cried.  “Whoa!” he pleaded.  The donkey just kept going.

“Oh, no! . . . Bible! . . . Church! . . . Please Stop!” shouted the man.

The donkey just began to trot faster.  He was getting closer and closer to the cliff edge.  Finally in desperation, the man said a prayer.  “Please, dear Lord.  Please make the donkey stop before I go off the end of this mountain.  In Jesus name.  AMEN!”

The donkey came to an abrupt stop just one step from the edge of the cliff.  “Whew!  Hallelujah!” shouted the man.  The rest of the story is history! 

Mike Hamby, in his book titled, “The Triumphal Entry,” tells the story of Corrie Ten Boom, a famous Christian, who with her family had helped more than 800 Jews escape the Nazi’s.  She and her entire family were then incarcerated during WWII, and she offered her testimony of suffering in Nazi concentration camps and God’s grace through it all.  That testimony touched millions of lives.  Many years ago, in a press conference following a ceremony in which Corrie Ten Boom was given a prestigious honorary degree, one of the reporters asked her if it was difficult remaining humble while hearing so much acclaim. 

She replied immediately, “Young man, when Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the back of a donkey, and everyone was waving palm branches and throwing garments in the road and singing praises, do you think for one moment it ever entered the head of that donkey that any of that was for him?  If I can be the donkey on which Jesus Christ rides in his glory, I give him all the praise and all the honor.”

Remember to be thankful to Jesus for being His donkey.

May God Be Praised.

The image is available at the Salesian Shop https://www.salesianshop.com/the-sacred-artwork-of-bro-mickey-mcgrath/

 

 

 

Blog Post 4/01/2023 Lenten Reminder

 

Lenten Reminder

 

 

Turn back to the Lord your God.  He is kind and merciful.  Reflect on the Refrain from The Lent Prose [Attende Domine] “Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against thee.”

In Psalm 51 we pray, “A pure heart create for me, O God, put a steadfast spirit within me.” And today may our prayer tbe, “Holy Spirit, come to me; open my eyes to You.  Holy Spirit come to me open my eyes to You.  That I may know Jesus and I seek His face.  That I may hear His voice when He calls my name.”  [Holy Spirit, Come to me]

 

Listen with your ears, your heart, your eyes and give your heart and will to Jesus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxF5JqdxWe0

 

May God Be Praised.