The Lenten Mission is being given by an energetic priest from Flagstaff, Fr. Pat Mowrer. He is taking 3 sessions on 3 different days to go over the parable of the Prodigal Son. The fact that there is so much to say about one short parable in Chapter 15 of Luke had me realizing anew just how densely rich the scriptures are. There is not a word in them that isn't rife with meaning. Reading a passage slowly and aloud often helps me to go deeper into its meaning. At times, something I have read or heard dozens of times will take on a whole new dimension.
The Word is ALIVE.
I realized this fact again tonight as I marveled over this story that I thought I knew well. When the younger son says to his father 'give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' he really meant, 'I wish you were dead so that I could have your things.' How appalling is this young man's statement! By requesting his inheritance, he is rejecting all the non-tangibles that only his father and his family can give him. Namely, he is rejecting unconditional and eternal LOVE.
God who is Our Father and the father in the story gives his ungrateful son his property and lovingly lets him go. Like so many of us, the young man sets out to a 'distant country where he squandered his inheritance'. This could very well be my story years ago, when I rejected the Lord's love by turning away from Him and looking only at what I wanted, what I thought, what I needed. It was all about me, me, me-the most important person in my life. The words 'distant country' resonated greatly with me. How far did I go before I realized that I needed God in my life? I was very, very distant, living in sin. So far in fact, that I couldn't hear God's voice. He was drowned out by the voices of the media, the woman's movement, friends and society at large.
The following words weren't emphasized in tonight's session, but are so very important, 'When he had freely spent everything...'
The younger son had FREELY spent everything. He had made each poor decision. He had chosen his lifestyle and when the bad times came, all his good-time companions fled, leaving him alone with his remorse. It is said that God doesn't condemn anyone to Hell, but we condemn ourselves by freely choosing Hell over God.
We need to pray for those we love, that they might have that eternal 'AHA' moment before it is too late to turn back to God. The young man in the parable was far away and cut off from his family, his old life, even his own dignity, and then he remembers the servants in his father's home who were treated well.
I am looking forward to tomorrow as the story continues with the second son.
Ahhhh....the second son. He stays home, obeys his fathers rules and he works hard. But what are his motives? As the older son does he feel that everything will eventually be his, so why not work it? His brother is out of the picture. As far as he is concerned, good riddance. All he needs to do, is wait for his father to die and everything comes to him. His lack of true love for his family is obvious by his cold response to his brother's return and his father's obvious joy. Instead of welcoming his lost brother and enjoying his father's happiness, he stands outside in the cold. He doesn't acknowledge his brother as his brother, but only as his father's son. He remains cold and unmoving despite his father's pleading.
My husband and I agree that we have sometimes been like the older son. We too have felt superior or smug and unforgiving of others. We too have refused to share joy in order to stand on our little bit of righteous indignation. We too have turned away others entreaties due to pride or stubbornness.
The thing to ponder now is; which brother is the greater sinner?
The wrap-up of the retreat is tomorrow. I am looking forward to the story from the father's perspective.
Fr. Pat pointed out today that God is always looking for us to come home. The father in the story spots his younger son when he was still a distance away, because he was looking for him. He never gave up hope that his son would someday return. When he spots his son, he RUNS to him to embrace him and kiss him. This, to the son who scorned his love and only valued his 'things'. The son is overwhelmed by this open welcome. He must of thought as I do nearly every mass, 'how can this be? What kind of love is this that forgives so freely?'
Total love. Overwhelming love. Unconditional love. Welcoming love. Healing love.
How amazing is God! He is always looking for us. He never stops hoping that we will come home to him. He meets us more than half way by running to us when he sees that we are on the journey back to him. I say again, what kind of love is this?
My response now is to be open to that love. I don't deserve it, I can't earn it, but I want it so much, even if a kernel within me says that I'm not worthy, God thinks that I am.
As I write this, I imagine pulling my self onto God's vast lap and laying my head on his chest where I can hear his heart beating. I imagine his strong embrace. I am loved.
Imagine that.
Thank you Lord,
for loving me first,
so that I can love others.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Shining His Light On Those We Love
I often awaken from sleep praising God and thanking him for my life. Thoughts of Our Lord are usually the first things I think about each morning and I usually fall asleep 'speaking' with Him.
A couple of weeks ago, I awoke on a Saturday morning with such an overwhelming sense of being loved. I was enveloped in the most sublime feeling of warmth, total acceptance and uncompromising love. It was a miracle of feelings and my entire body and soul felt uplifted. In those moments of complete delight, I felt held warmly in the Lord's loving arms.
Into this moment of rapture came my dear husband, muttering under his breath and upon seeing me with my eyes open, began to complain bitterly regarding all his money worries and concerns. Now my dear spouse frequently complains about things of this nature; gas prices, the price of milk, fruit prices... well you get my meaning here.
The moment was one of those were the juxtaposition between what I was feeling and thinking and what he was feeling and thinking could not have been more different.
My human response was to become irritated at the interruption of what had been a most beautiful time.
Minutes later, my dear husband left our room, still muttering and complaining, not realizing that he had left a sour mood behind.
I looked up and complained to God. "Look at this man you have given me! All he does is complain. How can I be cheerful with such a companion? I awoke in your all encompassing love and came back down to earth with a thud. Why, Lord? Why is this man like this?"
I felt the answer so distinctly, "You are his sun, you are his light. I gave you to him to bring love and sunshine into his life. If he did not have you, he would be a despairing man, without hope, without love. You are his path... to me. Go....share with him the love I have given you; tell him that I love him and will take care of him always. Tell him to trust."
I marched myself down the stairs, looked my husband in the eyes and told him I had a message from God. He gave me his undivided attention at that declaration and when I had said my piece, PEACE entered our hearts and our home.
Do not miss an opportunity to brighten someone's life. It could be that YOU are the sun for someone in darkness. Be open to the Lord and His love, and bring his peace with you, everywhere you go. It could be that those persons in your life that irritate you the most are the ones whose lives you are meant to effect.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
A couple of weeks ago, I awoke on a Saturday morning with such an overwhelming sense of being loved. I was enveloped in the most sublime feeling of warmth, total acceptance and uncompromising love. It was a miracle of feelings and my entire body and soul felt uplifted. In those moments of complete delight, I felt held warmly in the Lord's loving arms.
Into this moment of rapture came my dear husband, muttering under his breath and upon seeing me with my eyes open, began to complain bitterly regarding all his money worries and concerns. Now my dear spouse frequently complains about things of this nature; gas prices, the price of milk, fruit prices... well you get my meaning here.
The moment was one of those were the juxtaposition between what I was feeling and thinking and what he was feeling and thinking could not have been more different.
My human response was to become irritated at the interruption of what had been a most beautiful time.
Minutes later, my dear husband left our room, still muttering and complaining, not realizing that he had left a sour mood behind.
I looked up and complained to God. "Look at this man you have given me! All he does is complain. How can I be cheerful with such a companion? I awoke in your all encompassing love and came back down to earth with a thud. Why, Lord? Why is this man like this?"
I felt the answer so distinctly, "You are his sun, you are his light. I gave you to him to bring love and sunshine into his life. If he did not have you, he would be a despairing man, without hope, without love. You are his path... to me. Go....share with him the love I have given you; tell him that I love him and will take care of him always. Tell him to trust."
I marched myself down the stairs, looked my husband in the eyes and told him I had a message from God. He gave me his undivided attention at that declaration and when I had said my piece, PEACE entered our hearts and our home.
Do not miss an opportunity to brighten someone's life. It could be that YOU are the sun for someone in darkness. Be open to the Lord and His love, and bring his peace with you, everywhere you go. It could be that those persons in your life that irritate you the most are the ones whose lives you are meant to effect.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Arm in Arm With Our Sister
Yesterday was a marvelous day. What a wonderful thing it is to have your 'bucket' filled. Why should kind words about a soul only be told at a funeral? I think it is wonderful to point out our qualities, because these are after all gifts from God to be used for the world's benefit. In our group, these gifts of every individual have enriched us all!
One thing that one of our members said really stuck with me and triggered a memory. She said in speaking about a hurtful situation with her daughter "I'm her mother and my concern is for her soul!"
Amen to this!!!
Often I think about the fine line between being a supportive friend especially as my children have become adults and being their MOTHER. Our adult children have many friends from school, work, extra-curricular activities, but they have only one mother. Who else will pray for our children to God Almighty-no matter how old our children are- for the benefit of their soul? Only if they have holy friends as all of you are will they have someone who truly prays for their eternal soul.
Last year when the St. Joseph hospital incident occurred which ultimately caused that hospital and others to no longer be part of Catholic West, I was at a friend's house discussing this situation with a group of people some Catholic and some not. The husband of the home works at St. Joseph and had his point of view regarding the incident. I was the only person who defended our Bishop. Everyone pounced immediately, but I held out and talked about the encyclical 'humane vitae' and spoke about the absolute rightness of the church's teaching.
A Catholic grandmother approached me and said "What would you have said if it was your daughter in that situation?" I immediately answered "I would tell her to guard her soul. It is the only thing that she can not afford to lose." She looked at me and said. "No you wouldn't. You would tell her to have the abortion and save herself." I looked at my youngest daughter who was across the table from me and completely attentive to the conversation and I spoke directly to her. "I would tell you that if you lost your life, that I would do all I could to take care of your children. I would tell you that you were doing the right thing, the only thing you could do. And I would tell you that your immortal soul is the only part of you that will not turn to dust. I would tell you to have faith and trust in the Lord in the face of all medical advice to the contrary and I would tell you that I love you more than I could possibly ever say."
The room got very quiet after that and it took a few minutes for conversation to return. The subject was of course dropped. Where is faith the size of a mustard seed today? Where is faith that says to the mountain 'MOVE' and it moves? We are a lukewarm society. We go to our churches on Sunday by rote, without realizing the importance of what we are doing. We forget that millions have died as witnesses to our faith. How can we teach our children to have courage when all of society is telling them to take the path of least resistance?
I stand with YOU sister in faith. You care for your child's soul and you have risked the condemnation of your family to stand your ground. You are a warrior for God and sometimes that can seem like a lonely position to have, but I salute you and will pray for you. Someday, whether here or in heaven the absolute LOVE it took to stand your ground will be made obvious to all as scales fall from the eyes of those we love.
Stay strong sister and much peace to you!
One thing that one of our members said really stuck with me and triggered a memory. She said in speaking about a hurtful situation with her daughter "I'm her mother and my concern is for her soul!"
Amen to this!!!
Often I think about the fine line between being a supportive friend especially as my children have become adults and being their MOTHER. Our adult children have many friends from school, work, extra-curricular activities, but they have only one mother. Who else will pray for our children to God Almighty-no matter how old our children are- for the benefit of their soul? Only if they have holy friends as all of you are will they have someone who truly prays for their eternal soul.
Last year when the St. Joseph hospital incident occurred which ultimately caused that hospital and others to no longer be part of Catholic West, I was at a friend's house discussing this situation with a group of people some Catholic and some not. The husband of the home works at St. Joseph and had his point of view regarding the incident. I was the only person who defended our Bishop. Everyone pounced immediately, but I held out and talked about the encyclical 'humane vitae' and spoke about the absolute rightness of the church's teaching.
A Catholic grandmother approached me and said "What would you have said if it was your daughter in that situation?" I immediately answered "I would tell her to guard her soul. It is the only thing that she can not afford to lose." She looked at me and said. "No you wouldn't. You would tell her to have the abortion and save herself." I looked at my youngest daughter who was across the table from me and completely attentive to the conversation and I spoke directly to her. "I would tell you that if you lost your life, that I would do all I could to take care of your children. I would tell you that you were doing the right thing, the only thing you could do. And I would tell you that your immortal soul is the only part of you that will not turn to dust. I would tell you to have faith and trust in the Lord in the face of all medical advice to the contrary and I would tell you that I love you more than I could possibly ever say."
The room got very quiet after that and it took a few minutes for conversation to return. The subject was of course dropped. Where is faith the size of a mustard seed today? Where is faith that says to the mountain 'MOVE' and it moves? We are a lukewarm society. We go to our churches on Sunday by rote, without realizing the importance of what we are doing. We forget that millions have died as witnesses to our faith. How can we teach our children to have courage when all of society is telling them to take the path of least resistance?
I stand with YOU sister in faith. You care for your child's soul and you have risked the condemnation of your family to stand your ground. You are a warrior for God and sometimes that can seem like a lonely position to have, but I salute you and will pray for you. Someday, whether here or in heaven the absolute LOVE it took to stand your ground will be made obvious to all as scales fall from the eyes of those we love.
Stay strong sister and much peace to you!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
My Journey of Faith
As I sit here pondering my life's journey I was raised in a devout Catholic family and went to Catholic school but never really knew that God loved me and heard and answered prayers. I was about 23 and was living in Texas. I remember on my way home driving in the car just finished scaping up money for my mortgage with my 3 daughters and wondering where I was going to get enough money for food for the next few days before payday and I went home and in the mailbox was a check from my Godmother. She had never sent me a check before and never did again. That was the day I realized that God does listen and does answer prayers. At that time I would never have thought how far he would take me to learn to trust in him and that he does hear us and is always with us!
Living Love
Recently I have been reading Living Love: A Modern edition of Treatise on the Love of God by St. Francis De Sales, edited by Bernard Bangley.
It occurs to me that I have ALWAYS been aware and assured of the love of God. As a small child, I had a great sense of my guardian angel's protection. I could feel the Lord's nearness as I went about my day. As I grew, and sin dulled my senses, my mind retained the memory of God's nearness. There have been moments of such radiant transcendence in my life that questioning the actual existence of God has been impossible. Sure I took time to be my own god and follow my own desires, but never did I completely lose the feeling of being loved by THE God.
As I reflect on this gift of the awareness of God, it occurs to me that many, many souls out in the world do not have this gift in equal measure to mine. How sad it must be for them as they navigate the world without a sense of the eternal. How lucky am I, that I can speak to St. Theresa of Avila as I read her books, or St. Jose Maria Escriva as I ponder his words. As I begin reading a saint's words, I ask them to help me get from their writings what I need to further deepen my relationship with Jesus. And so, the following has spoken loudly to me from St. Frances de Sales:
"It is entirely reasonable to avoid theft, swearing, killing, and adultery. It is in accord with human understanding to pray, to love, and honor parents. But to give away all our possessions and love poverty, to repudiate harsh criticism and expressions of contempt, to welcome humility, persecution, and martyrdom is NOT NATURAL. To live this mortal life in this material world contrary to all the opinions and maxims of the world is to swim against the tide. This is simply not possible unless God draws us to it."
In other words, to go beyond just being merely good, to being saintly, is something that only God can draw us to and give us the grace to endure. God gives us His love that we may love him back, never with the same fervor and pureness of His love, but with all the meager power of our human hearts.
"Love yields the profoundest obedience"- De Sales
How beautiful these words! We are God's children and as love compelled us to obey our earthly parents, how much more are we driven to obey the parent of us all? We freely give God back the ability that he first gave us to resist Him and lovingly lay our free will at His feet and promise to do His will. He doesn't want us to resist him, but he leaves us free to do so. When we submit in obedient love to God, how this must please Him!! And paradoxically, He gave us the GRACE to be able to do so.
Lord help me fall helplessly in love with you and to do your holy will!
It occurs to me that I have ALWAYS been aware and assured of the love of God. As a small child, I had a great sense of my guardian angel's protection. I could feel the Lord's nearness as I went about my day. As I grew, and sin dulled my senses, my mind retained the memory of God's nearness. There have been moments of such radiant transcendence in my life that questioning the actual existence of God has been impossible. Sure I took time to be my own god and follow my own desires, but never did I completely lose the feeling of being loved by THE God.
As I reflect on this gift of the awareness of God, it occurs to me that many, many souls out in the world do not have this gift in equal measure to mine. How sad it must be for them as they navigate the world without a sense of the eternal. How lucky am I, that I can speak to St. Theresa of Avila as I read her books, or St. Jose Maria Escriva as I ponder his words. As I begin reading a saint's words, I ask them to help me get from their writings what I need to further deepen my relationship with Jesus. And so, the following has spoken loudly to me from St. Frances de Sales:
"It is entirely reasonable to avoid theft, swearing, killing, and adultery. It is in accord with human understanding to pray, to love, and honor parents. But to give away all our possessions and love poverty, to repudiate harsh criticism and expressions of contempt, to welcome humility, persecution, and martyrdom is NOT NATURAL. To live this mortal life in this material world contrary to all the opinions and maxims of the world is to swim against the tide. This is simply not possible unless God draws us to it."
In other words, to go beyond just being merely good, to being saintly, is something that only God can draw us to and give us the grace to endure. God gives us His love that we may love him back, never with the same fervor and pureness of His love, but with all the meager power of our human hearts.
"Love yields the profoundest obedience"- De Sales
How beautiful these words! We are God's children and as love compelled us to obey our earthly parents, how much more are we driven to obey the parent of us all? We freely give God back the ability that he first gave us to resist Him and lovingly lay our free will at His feet and promise to do His will. He doesn't want us to resist him, but he leaves us free to do so. When we submit in obedient love to God, how this must please Him!! And paradoxically, He gave us the GRACE to be able to do so.
Lord help me fall helplessly in love with you and to do your holy will!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Happy Valentine's Day my Friends!!
Just wishing my fellow ENDOW friends a beautiful and loving Valentines Day.Thursday, February 9, 2012
Popular Culture
In a collection of homilies called Christ Is Passing By by St. Jose Maria Escriva I found the following gem:
"Faced with traders in suspicion who prey on the intimacy of others, we must defend the dignity of every person, his right to peace. All honest men, Christians or not, agree on the need for this defense, for a common value is at stake: the legitimate right to be oneself, to avoid ostentation, to keep within the family its joys, sorrows, and difficulties. We are defending, no less, the right to do good without publicity, to help the disadvantaged out of pure love, without feeling obliged to publicize one's efforts to serve others, much less to bare the intimacy of one's soul to the indiscreet and twisted gaze of persons who know nothing and want to know nothing of disinterested generosity, except to mock it mercilessly."
These prophetic words were written March of 1961, but could just as well be a commentary on our society today. The appalling lack of privacy in this world where cameras capture one's most intimate moments of pain, sorrow, joy, fun, embarrassment, and disgrace at every possible juncture is appalling. Think about all the devices that have cameras. Where can one be safe from these obtrusive devices? The viewing public laps up the precious moments of our lives with voracious appetite, seeking more and more or our pains and joys in its insatiable prurient interest. The proliferation of 'reality' TV shows exemplify our need for scandal. So many shows that depict human beings at their lowest points, be they teen aged unwed mothers, wayward starlets, plural marriages, interventions, hoarding etc.
We have lost the intimacy of one on one interaction and have instead become a generation of voyeurs. Seeing people living immorally, suffering, hurting, desensitizes the viewer over time. How could the soldiers of Hitler's armies have seen the horrific suffering of so many people and continued in their course? They became desensitized to the horror.
Where is this defense of the DIGNITY of the human person? It is something that each of us must strive for each and every day. I love the way that St. Jose Maria puts this; "the legitimate right to be oneself". And yet this right, which comes from our Lord is something that is sadly lacking in our society. Our society has robbed the unborn, aged, mentally handicapped and very sick, of their dignity and legitimate right to be who they are.
Our society tells the unborn "You can not speak for yourself, therefore you may be discarded."
To the aged our society says "Your usefulness as a human being is over now so put yourself out of your misery and don't become a burden to your family." To the mentally handicapped, "You have no use to us as a society so you should be marginalized and eventually eliminated." And it goes on and on with a full range of human beings, all created with dignity by their creator in His likeness and image. Where is their legitimate right to be themselves?
My friends we live in a sinful world that day by day loses more moral ground through what we view as entertainment. How could crowds of Roman citizens have found sport in the tearing apart by wild animals men, women an children? The same way we find sport at the tears of others on reality TV shows. Today we are the Roman audience and the victims are the dehumanized stars of our most popular shows.
Jesus, help us to see your reflection in every face.
Help us to allow others to retain their dignity and to be their genuine self by respecting their privacy.
Help us never become indifferent to the suffering of others.
Help us never to accept sin as the 'norm' for our society.
Help us to work for justice.
Help us to love even the unloveable.
Give us courage to face society as it is and work towards changing it to what it should be.
Be our guide and our source of strength.
Teach us to love as you do.
Amen
"Faced with traders in suspicion who prey on the intimacy of others, we must defend the dignity of every person, his right to peace. All honest men, Christians or not, agree on the need for this defense, for a common value is at stake: the legitimate right to be oneself, to avoid ostentation, to keep within the family its joys, sorrows, and difficulties. We are defending, no less, the right to do good without publicity, to help the disadvantaged out of pure love, without feeling obliged to publicize one's efforts to serve others, much less to bare the intimacy of one's soul to the indiscreet and twisted gaze of persons who know nothing and want to know nothing of disinterested generosity, except to mock it mercilessly."
These prophetic words were written March of 1961, but could just as well be a commentary on our society today. The appalling lack of privacy in this world where cameras capture one's most intimate moments of pain, sorrow, joy, fun, embarrassment, and disgrace at every possible juncture is appalling. Think about all the devices that have cameras. Where can one be safe from these obtrusive devices? The viewing public laps up the precious moments of our lives with voracious appetite, seeking more and more or our pains and joys in its insatiable prurient interest. The proliferation of 'reality' TV shows exemplify our need for scandal. So many shows that depict human beings at their lowest points, be they teen aged unwed mothers, wayward starlets, plural marriages, interventions, hoarding etc.
We have lost the intimacy of one on one interaction and have instead become a generation of voyeurs. Seeing people living immorally, suffering, hurting, desensitizes the viewer over time. How could the soldiers of Hitler's armies have seen the horrific suffering of so many people and continued in their course? They became desensitized to the horror.
Where is this defense of the DIGNITY of the human person? It is something that each of us must strive for each and every day. I love the way that St. Jose Maria puts this; "the legitimate right to be oneself". And yet this right, which comes from our Lord is something that is sadly lacking in our society. Our society has robbed the unborn, aged, mentally handicapped and very sick, of their dignity and legitimate right to be who they are.
Our society tells the unborn "You can not speak for yourself, therefore you may be discarded."
To the aged our society says "Your usefulness as a human being is over now so put yourself out of your misery and don't become a burden to your family." To the mentally handicapped, "You have no use to us as a society so you should be marginalized and eventually eliminated." And it goes on and on with a full range of human beings, all created with dignity by their creator in His likeness and image. Where is their legitimate right to be themselves?
My friends we live in a sinful world that day by day loses more moral ground through what we view as entertainment. How could crowds of Roman citizens have found sport in the tearing apart by wild animals men, women an children? The same way we find sport at the tears of others on reality TV shows. Today we are the Roman audience and the victims are the dehumanized stars of our most popular shows.
Jesus, help us to see your reflection in every face.
Help us to allow others to retain their dignity and to be their genuine self by respecting their privacy.
Help us never become indifferent to the suffering of others.
Help us never to accept sin as the 'norm' for our society.
Help us to work for justice.
Help us to love even the unloveable.
Give us courage to face society as it is and work towards changing it to what it should be.
Be our guide and our source of strength.
Teach us to love as you do.
Amen
Monday, February 6, 2012
Hello Holy People of God,
This morning after Mass I was talking with a friend who asked if I had read the new appriation, from Mary appearing Medjugorge. She urged me to go and read it. It is to all those who do not believe and refuse to recognize the hurting this world is going through. Please review the message and pray about where in your immidate lives you may share it.
Peace & Joy of the Risen Christ!
http://www.medjugorje.com/medjugorje-today/headlines/1308-our-ladys-february-2-2012-message.html
This morning after Mass I was talking with a friend who asked if I had read the new appriation, from Mary appearing Medjugorge. She urged me to go and read it. It is to all those who do not believe and refuse to recognize the hurting this world is going through. Please review the message and pray about where in your immidate lives you may share it.
Peace & Joy of the Risen Christ!
http://www.medjugorje.com/medjugorje-today/headlines/1308-our-ladys-february-2-2012-message.html
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