The Summons

Posted on February 25, 2013 by

Sand Dunes“Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?”
-Hymnal by John L. Bell & Graham Maule

In the season of Lent, Jesus himself is calling each of us by name; beckoning us to come and follow Him into the desert. Are we willing to heed the call?

Jesus went into the desert with one primary goal: to get closer to God and to seek to know His Father’s will. He put aside His own agenda, His own wants and desires, and became an empty vessel for God’s divine purpose. He fasted and prayed, away from life’s distractions and in a place of solitude and silence and purification. It was here in this desolate place that the truth was revealed to Him, the real and raw truth of His Father’s love as well as the sacrifice that was expected of Him.

During these weeks in Lent are we willing to follow Jesus’ example? Are we prepared to create a spiritual desert so that we can put aside our work and contemplate His? Can we create a holy space of quiet and prayer and sacrifice, so that we too can grow closer to God? For it is often only in the quiet and stillness that we can best hear His voice, best recognize His most divine plan for our lives.

We know too well the outcome and sacrifice of Jesus. And yet He never tarried, never for a moment questioned the path He was soon to take. For He knew that the sins of all of humanity were resting on His willingness to say yes to His Father and to His destiny. Our sacrifices will never compare: our ransom has already been paid. God just wants us to grow closer to Him, He wants us to follow His divine will for our lives.

So in this Lenten season, journey out to the desert with Jesus, and in the quiet moments listen closely for the question, “Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?”

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The Way to Live Holy

Posted on February 7, 2013 by

Man Kneeling“You must be holy in the way God wants you to be holy. God does not ask you to be a Trappist Monk or a hermit. He wills that you sanctify your everyday life.”

-St. Vincent Pallotti

How does God himself define “holy”? Is this a word reserved only for the priests and the most pious? St. Vincent did not believe this to be so. He recognized years ago what still holds true today; that to be holy is not about career choice nor economic status or stature, but rather it is a way of choosing to live the ordinary days of our lives in faith and discipleship. In its simplest form, holiness is doing the will of God always and in everything.

How do the everyday and sometimes mundane days add up to a lifetime of holiness? That must be the point then. It is the “day in and day out” moments, the seemingly ordinary choices we make in our lives that make us holy. When we treat a stranger on the street with kindness, when we reach out to a lonely neighbor, when we forgive a friend who has wronged us; these are the moments we honor God.

When we start each day on bended knee and with grateful hearts, and recognize that each and every gift we receive is from Him, we give glory to God. When we love friends and enemies alike, as if they bore the face of Jesus, we choose holiness. Quietly and reverently we go about our days on earth making choices that are pleasing to God.

You see He never intended that we all needed to be priests, or monks or saints to be holy. In His eyes, we earn that title by the way we live the ordinary and everyday moments of our lives, following always His divine will. This is the way to live holy; this is the way to sanctify our lives.

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The Pathway to Heaven

Posted on January 22, 2013 by

Forked Road“The acts of this life are the destiny of the next.”   -Eastern Proverb

As Christians we recognize that our earthly life is just a temporary stop along the way, and that the ultimate destination is the life eternal, when we are finally reunited with our Heavenly Father.

Throughout our days on earth, we stand at the intersection of many moral crossroads, and we must decide, based on faith, which path to take. These are the moments that can sometimes define our lives and determine our fate. God sent His only begotten Son to help us navigate our journey. He set forth the standards by which we should live, so that our moral compass could guide us back to our Creator.

Jesus himself taught us what His Father expects. Do our lives, and do our choices and actions depict us as His followers? When faced with injustice, do we keep silent, when our faith demands we do otherwise? Do we show compassion for the less fortunate, and reach out to the needy, with the knowledge that by caring for the least of us we ultimately love Jesus? Are we a beacon of light for others, as they too walk the path to salvation?

In the scheme and span of time, we are on this earth for just a short time. If our ultimate goal is paradise in Heaven, then all we say and do here on earth must lead us towards that end. With Jesus himself as our guide, let us follow closely in His footsteps, and let us always remember that the acts of this life are the destiny of the next.

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Spiritual Resolutions

Posted on January 7, 2013 by

2013 SparklersAs we always do right after New Years day, when we finish out the old and ring in the new, it’s a time of making promises to ourselves. We recommit to exercising more, eating healthier, finally losing those extra pounds we’ve been carrying. Or maybe we set our sights on landing a new job in the coming months, or finally buying the dream house we’ve been saving for. The New Year is always ripe with possibility.

Could this also be the best time to make a few spiritual resolutions, perhaps some promises to God? Are there aspects of our faith life that could use a fresh start? Maybe we need to mend a relationship; extend forgiveness to someone who has caused us pain. Or if we have gotten out of the habit, what about dedicating ourselves to a daily ritual of quiet conversation with Jesus? Or maybe we’ve been angry or disengaged with our church and this is the time to begin anew.

There is something wonderful about a New Year that awaits us; about fresh starts and second chances: when we can take stock of our mind, body and spirit, and commit to improving what may be lacking in our lives. And just like our bodies feel the benefits from healthier eating, so do our souls rejuvenate with more faith and spirituality.

The year 2013 is abundant with promises and hope and possibilities. When we set our resolutions for the coming days, let us consider what will ultimately bring us more peace and joy. With determination and resolve, let us include spiritual resolutions as part of our plan for the New Year!

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“The Heart of Mary”

Posted on December 14, 2012 by

Mary and JesusWhat was in Mary’s heart as the birth of Jesus was drawing near? This young girl, soon to be a Mother for the first time, probably so frightened at the thought of what was to come. Similar to other expectant Mothers; excited, anxious, unsure of what labor would bring, and yet unlike any Mother before or after her, for she had the secret knowledge that the Savior of the world was gestating inside of her.

As this babe grew within her swollen belly, did she wonder and worry why God had chosen her? “Why me Lord,” she may have pondered to herself. “Can I possibly be worthy to raise your only begotten Son?” What a mystifying and perplexing range of emotions she must have gone through.

And yet … Mary never stopped trusting. From the very moment that the angel Gabriel first appeared, she willingly and lovingly trusted in God’s most divine plan. Her faith never waivered and she believed in her heart that she was chosen for the holiest of purposes.

As those nine long months turned into only weeks, and then days, the enormity of what was soon to happen could not have been lost on her. The world may not have known who would be born on that holy and starry night, but she herself understood. Mary knew that this babe, waiting to make His entrance, would redeem all of mankind.

The heart of Mary was trusting, and pure, and joyful, and she tenderly carried this child of hers, child of God’s, so that He could be born to save us all.

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Prepare Ye The Way of the Lord

Posted on December 7, 2012 by

Jesus BirthHow best do we prepare ourselves for the birth of Jesus? In this Advent Season we should be all about the waiting, and the opening wide of our heart strings so that this Savior-child may be born within us. And yet we get drawn into the busyness of the season, with long to-do lists laying on countertops, and shopping and wrapping and baking. Before we know it the magic and miracle is lost on us and Christmas begins to feel more like a burden than a blessing.

All of this holiday rushing and the spinning of the season, when we are really called to be waiting. Because Advent is really the season of waiting wonder, in glorious anticipation of Jesus gestating in Mary’s womb, until He makes His splendid, magnificent entrance on that holy starry night.

What can we say no to this holiday season, so we can say yes to more of Him? In the midst of the frantic and frenzied pace, let us quiet ourselves in prayer and solitude so that we create a holy place for Jesus to be born within us. This is really the only way to enter into Christmas, to patiently and joyfully wait for the birth of this babe who was born in our midst to save us all.

Prepare ye the way of the Lord!

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The Ledger of My Soul

Posted on November 28, 2012 by

The ledger of my soulIt all seemed so real, so poignant and powerful and real. I saw myself sitting on a wooden bench with Jesus, with all of Heaven’s glory laying right at my feet. The sky was painted with magnificent hues I didn’t recognize, and the angels were singing so beautifully that their voices, accompanied by bells and violins, brought me to tears. I lifted my eyes to meet Jesus and He said to me, “So my child, tell me about your life.”

I awoke from this dream feeling a whole range of emotions : first peace, love, and joy, and then suddenly anxiousness. What did my life’s journal look like from the perspective of Jesus? What would He think as He looked over the days and years that made up the ledger of my soul?

Had I done enough to serve Him? Was I faithful to His teachings about caring for the poor and tending to the needy? Did I extend my arms in forgiveness to those who had hurt me? What if He could look into my very depths and see the times I was hurtful, or prejudice, or walked a path I was not proud of?

I’ve not always made the best choices, and my faith has not always been courageous when it should have been. The life I have led thus far has not been perfect, not by my standards, and certainly not by His, and yet time is still on my side. I know in my heart, what is expected of me, if I want to call myself a disciple of Christ. Was this dream, if it really was a dream, my conscience nudging me on to do things differently? Could I commit myself to walking the path set out for me by my Savior?

It wasn’t too late, never too late, to start anew. When my earthly days draw to an end, I want to be able to return to my Father’s arms unashamed. When Jesus and I finally do sit together on that wooden bench in heaven, I want to know the answer to the question I pose to Him: “Lord, did I make you proud?”

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Thank You

Posted on November 19, 2012 by

Man KneelingIn this season of gratitude, what does it mean to live thankful and thank-filled, not only on Thanksgiving Day, but on every other day throughout the year? How do we learn to live with grateful hearts for the gifts we have been given? If we recognize that God is always the giver of grace in our lives, then we can begin to count the blessings He himself bestows upon us. He gives us gifts, and we unwrap the evidence of His infinite love.

By naming the gifts we have been given, by actually counting the blessings in our lives, we cannot help but notice His grace everywhere, and in everything. And we are thankful for all of it, the monumental things, as well as the seemingly ordinary. It goes without saying that we are grateful for His mercy, His compassion, and His everlasting love. But to get into the habit of gratitude, we must also recognize the sunsets, the laughter, the friendships, simply all of it, as presents to unwrap in our lives, given by God himself for our delight.

The way to live a life of thanksgiving is to give thanks for all things, big and small. It seems the more we count up the blessings, the more our joy is multiplied. And before we know it, our hearts are brimming with gratitude and we can’t help but look for yet another of God’s gifts just around the bend. By giving thanks to God, each and every day, the moments add up to a lifetime of grace.

Let us recognize, on this Thanksgiving Day, and all the days in between, the abundance of grace in our lives. Unwrap the gifts and count the blessings, and know that you are loved by God. Then put knees to the earth and simply say “Thank you.”

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2012- The Year of Faith

Posted on October 25, 2012 by

2012 the year of FaithPope Benedict XVI designated the year 2012, beginning October 11, as “The Year of Faith”. He is summoning all Catholics to deepen their relationship with God and to share their faith with others. What could this revival of faith do for the Church? What meaningful impact could this have on our own spiritual journeys? Are we, as disciples of Jesus, willing and ready to accept the challenge that has been put forth for us?

Over 150 years ago, St. Vincent Pallotti had the very same idea when he formed the Union of the Catholic Apostolate. He established the Union with the notion that all Christians must work in the vineyard of the Lord, and that we cultivate not only our own faith, but also work tirelessly towards the salvation of many souls.

How do we go about accomplishing this divine mission? The first step is to rededicate ourselves to God. Maybe our faith has grown stagnant. This is the year to refresh and renew our spiritual life by joining a prayer group, attending a retreat, or sitting quietly with Jesus in weekly adoration.

To be true apostles we must then be willing to share our faith with others: to invite them on the journey. Is there someone we know who has fallen away from the Church or felt isolated from our community? Then we must take up our torches and be the light of Christ to all those we meet. We are expected to spread the Good News about this all-powerful, always loving and everlasting Savior of the world.

In this the year 2012, let all Catholics make an authentic attempt to revitalize our faith and our dedication to God. Let us also share our faith with those we encounter so that we get the privilege of helping God build His holy kingdom here on earth. Imagine, just try and imagine how profound this could be!

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The Lessons

Posted on October 17, 2012 by

Jesus TeachingGod sent us His only begotten Son to teach us how to live more like Him. Jesus preached to His followers, but more importantly showed by His own example, what His Father expected of us all.

Jesus himself was the most humble of servants: He taught us humility. This King of Kings could have had His disciples do the lowly work of serving the poor and tending to the needy, and yet it was He who healed the lepers and comforted the widows. Have we dedicated our lives as humble servants to care for the least of our brothers? Have we learned humility?

Jesus walked among us to show us how much we are loved by our Creator: He taught us about infinite love. We are supposed to love God above all else, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Have we grasped this way of living and loving, not only with our family and friends, but also with our enemies? Have we learned to love as He does?

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice on that wooden cross for the redemption of all of humanity: He taught us forgiveness. He wanted us to know that there is no dark past, no sin too great, that would not be forgiven by His merciful Father. Have we absorbed this most important lesson? Have we extended forgiveness to those who have wronged us? Have we been able to shake off the chains that have held us captive to our own sins? Have we learned forgiveness?

By our nature, human and not divine, we will most assuredly struggle to live like this. And yet as disciples of Jesus, our guide and teacher, we must keep trying. Day by day we must remember the lessons. On bended, humble knees we honor God by serving each other. With loving hearts, free from bias and bitterness, we attempt to love like He does. And with tender mercy, we forgive each other and ourselves, and we are redeemed.

We walk this earthly land for just a short while, and as students and followers of Christ, we must learn to walk as closely as we can the path that has been set forth for us. The road will not always be easy; it was not meant to be. But this is the surest way back to our loving and eternal Father.

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