Renewed in the Holy Spirit

Good Morning, dear reader. We are continuing the celebration of Jesus's resurrection! Today is also the feast day of Saint Mark the Evangelist. So it is fitting that our readings echo this observance. I will try to do a separate post with some information and the video of Father Bill's reflection.

Our reading in Acts this morning restates, in a nutshell, the events that lead up to Jesus's death and resurrection. It also reminds us that everything that happened was preordained by God. At the time this takes place, the disciples were still afraid to really go public with their devotion to Jesus. They do, however, implore Jesus to protect them so that they may continue to preach and teach the Gospel of the Lord. As they are praying, the Holy Spirit ffills the space where they are. This emboldens them to continue to pray and speak the name of Jesus without fear. 

The reading in John sort of carries through with the dealings of the Holy Spirit. Since this is early on in John's Gospel, Jesus has not yet been brought to the cross. The purpose of this reading is to understand the process of being "reborn" through faith in Jesus Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit. 

Many Christians are "born again". That is, they accept that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Saviour, they believe in His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. This rebirth" process isn't something usually seen within the Catholic church, since we are baptised as infants, which then cleanses us of Original Sin. This is seen more often in the Pentecostal and Evangelical Christian faiths. As one makes a conscious decision to follow Jesus, their past is forgiven through baptism and they start over with a clean slate. 

This process is what Jesus is trying to make clear to Nicodemus. It is not a physical rebirth but a spiritual one. But, it is just as miraculous and glorious! In my opinion, I think this makes a real statement because we are making the decision on our own to be disciples of Jesus rather than more or less a process of Catholic catechism and "initiation" into the Catholic church. 

Whatever your belief, be assured that however you came by your faith, it is still an important decision because you choose to stay faithful to God each and every day. If you are a new believer..welcome to the family!! Remember, dear reader, as you walk in faith each day, be a nice human. 😇

The Nicene Creed reminds us of our beliefs and promises to God. Take a moment to recite this again and reaffirm your faith:

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

Maker of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made, consubstantial

of one Being with the Father.

Throught Him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation

He came down from heaven and

by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the

Virgin Mary, and became man,

For our sake He was crucified 

under Pontius Pilate;

He suffered death and was buried.

On the third day He rose again in

accordance with the Scriptures;

He ascended into heaven and is

seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the

living and the dead, and His kingdom will

have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the

giver of life, who proceeds from the Father

and the Son. With the Father and the Son

He is worshiped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness

of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

Good Friday

Good afternoon, dear reader. We certainly had a lot to read and digest today. Our readings reminded us of the sacrifice Jesus made for all of us, for all our sins. It was a heavy burden for Him to carry, yet He willingly did it. 

Our reading in Isaiah is the fourth installment of "the suffering servant". These stories can be looked at as God's message of sending His son, of Jesus being the suffering Servant. Jesus was sent here to save the people from sin, to bring them into divine unity with the Father and Son. But first Jesus would have to suffer through much in order for all of this to happen. Each detail is laid clear in this reading. There is nothing left to doubt or question. 

In Hebrews, we see Jesus being referred to as the high priest; one who is compassionate and understanding. He knew what it felt like to be cast aside, to be looked down on, to be ignored. These qualities made Jesus more approachable. He wasn't some high king who ruled over people but paid them no attention. He was among the people. He was one of them. I think this is why people found it easier to come to Him, to be with Him. They knew they would not be turned away. They would be welcomed and cared for within His presence. 

The final reading in John is the Passion of Christ. It is always a difficult one to get through. It is heart breaking to see how Christ suffered, even though He knew this was to be His lot in this world. 

Good Friday always makes me reflective, to look inward, to be with Jesus as He is arrested and nailed to the cross. To be at His feet as He is suffering. I still go about my day, but I think of Him always. When the clouds rolled in around 3pm, I knew it
was the hour of His death. The universe cries. The world cries. I cry. I made a simple post on Facebook. "It is finished" with the image I have shared here. That was it. Nothing more. Just those three words. There really wasn't anything more to be said. John 19:28 sums it all up "After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled...."

As I read through the Passion, I find it interesting how Pontius Pilate did not think Jesus guilty. When the people chanted "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!", Pilate really
wanted no part in it "take Him yourselves and crucify Him. I find no guilt in Him" (Jn 19:6,NAB). But, Pilate buckled under the pressure. He was reminded that if he fell inline with Jesus, if he declined to have Him crucified, then he would also be seen as an enemy of Caesar. He wasn't brave enough to risk the consequences. How many of us have done that? Seen something wrong, but stayed silent for fear of repurcussions? I'm sure it is something we are all guilty of, including me. It takes a great deal of courage to stand up for what you believe in, for what you see is an injustice. It's so much easier to just go with the crowd. I'm sure in Pilate's case, it had to have caused him many a sleepless night. 

I hope, in whatever you have done today, you were mindful of the solemnity of the day. I hope you made some sort of action in acknowledging Jesus's death. It doesn't have to be anything grand. It could be as simple as what I did today. And, I hope, dear reader, that in whatever you did today, you were a nice human. 😇

Father Bill's reflection for today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7sepV2EJpU

I am sharing this version of "Lead Me To The Cross" because it really makes you realize what Jesus went through. ***I will warn you ahead of time,it is quite graphic. It is taken from the movie "The Passion". I still have a difficult time watching it. But, isn't that the whole point of our faith? To bear things that are difficult? To face what we do not wish to face? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a2t2_8nRH8

A Leap of Faith

Good morning and a blessed Saturday to you, dear reader. I hope this finds you well. As we draw near to Holy week, we look at what it is to have faith and allow God to guide us each day.  

In today's world, it's not an easy task to be a Christian. There are so many ways which will lead us astray of God and His plans for us. Sometimes it can feel like we are the lambs being led to slaughter. How many times have you done something, then regretted it, because "it seemed like a good idea at the time"? I know I'm guilty of it. I imagine God must be banging His head up there, wondering what it will take to get us to listen. He keeps trying to send people to deliver His message, but people being people, we often don't pay attention. Sometimes it takes a holy uprising, so to speak, to get us to realize that we've lost our way. 

I think that God decided to send down Jesus to us to see if maybe a "kinder and gentler" approach might work better. Sometimes that old fire and brimstone just don't cut it. Jesus preached forgiveness and peace. But, still, people would not listen. Who was this Man who talks a good a game? He's not from around here. We are suspicious of strangers. They must have some sort of ulterior motive. They're looking for something. Jesus was the ultimate stranger in a strange land. 

Sometimes we can't see what's in front of us. Maybe there is no "end game", maybe
there is no ulterior motive. Sometimes it is what it is. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it must be a duck! And that's what Jesus is.. He's our duck. He is what He appears to be. A simple Man, sent from God, on a mission. 

That's what we see here, in John's reading. Word of Jesus has spread far and wide. But people are still doubtful. He speaks so eloquently and with conviction. He is cool and confident. Some are willing to risk it and not believe He is who He says He is. But, still others, not so much. Maybe this is Him. Just because He's not from around here doesn't mean it can't be Him. Just because He speaks with such knowledge and compassion.... 

When we believe in Jesus, we have to take that leap of faith. We have to trust that Jesus is who He says He is. I can personally atest to the fact that I have a hard time just saying ok, Lord, take this and YOU deal with it because I can't. Will He really do it? What will happen if I don't do anything except rely on Him to fix it? But that's what it means to have faith. That's what it means to believe. That's what it is to be a follower of Jesus. We step out of that fear, that darkness, that uncertainty. 

Today, try and have a bit of a conversation with Jesus. Give whatever your burden is to Him. Take that leap of faith. He will hear you. I promise. And, as always, dear reader... be a nice human. 😇

***Pray and meditate on Psalms 142 and 143***

Have a listen to Father Bill. He pretty much speaks of what I have written. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u86ozLIx4AI 

Some musical encouragement, Chris Tomlin "I Lift My Hands"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c24En0r-lXg

Serving Faith

We often struggle in our own lives with finding that balance between living in "the world" and following Jesus, living by His example. This is the problem Jeremiah faced. He wanted to follow God and what He had in mind for him, but more often than not, Jeremiah found himself overwhelmed by it all. To further complicate matters, we have these men who wanted to discredit Jeremiah. They wanted to use Jeremiah's words against him. But, Jeremiah, this humble person who struggled to follow God, called out to Him. "Heed me, O Lord, and listen to what my adversaries say. Must good be repaid with evil that they should dig a pit to take my life?" (Jer 18:19-20, NAB). How often have we wondered the same thing? We have to remember that, in times like that, we need to seek the Lord even more, to allow Him to guide us, to be reassured that we are doing just what we need to. 

In turning to our Gospel reading, we see the mother of James and John asking Jesus to assure that her sons will be favored and be seated with Him in Heaven. The crowd that had gathered wondered why these two men should be so privledged as to receive favor in Heaven. Jesus promptly replies that that is not His choice to make, it is whatever His Father has predestined for these men. You see, Jesus was just a humble servant of His Father. He tells the crowd that even though the Gentiles may hold power over people and seek glory for themselves, this is not how it's done in Heaven. Those who are willing to humble themselves, to do for others without glorification are the ones who are the most blessed. They will see their reward in Heaven. 

In everything Jesus did, it was with kindness, understanding and compassion. Knowing He was the Savior of the world did not inflate His ego. It could have. For most folks it would have. But not Jesus. He showed that He was ready and eager to serve the needs of others. Are we ready to take on that challenge? Are we willing to humble ourselves in the service of Jesus? Are we willing to be the least among others? It is something to think about. 

With so much strife and unrest in the world today, take time to pray for others. Pray for peace. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them." (Mt 18:20, NAB)

Be blessed dear friends. And as always, be a nice human. 😇

Prayer

 Today's reading takes us back to the subject of prayer. We see in Esther that she is totally reliant on God to help her as she is about to go to Emperor Haman to plead with him to not destroy the Jewish people. Verse 14 tells us how she prayed "Then she prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, saying "My Lord, our King, You alone are God. Help me, who am alone and have no help but You, for I am taking my life in my hand." 

Think about this for a moment. Do you totally rely on God? Do you trust in His will for you? Most of us can answer this rather quickly with an unequivical "no". Relinquishing our own power can be scary. But that's just the point. When you rely on God to guide you in your every day life, you should have no fear. God knows what He's doing. He will help you through whatever it is you are facing. You just need to ask.

Which brings us to Matthew. He tells us outright "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and the one who knocks, the door will be opened." We just need to ask God to move in our lives. He is the ultimate waymaker. He hears our pleas, He knows what we need.

Reflect on what your prayer life look like today. Do you make time daily to spend with Jesus? If not, then why? Examine your heart, speak your fear, and wait on God's heavenly timing. You may not get what you ask, but you will get what you need.

Spend some time today in prayer. Open your heart and your ears. Allow God to speak to you. 

Here's another lovely video from Fr. Bill Hill from Holy Spirit Catholic Community.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKdGUcE6Gtg&ab_channel=hsccwyo

Here is a lovely song to help you prepare your heart to pray

https://youtu.be/iJCV_2H9xD0

**copy & paste links into your browser**

Prayer

 

Good Morning Lovely People!! 😇

Today's word brings us to the topic of prayer. We are reminded that God hears our prayers and often knows what we need before we utter a single word. But, like every good father, He wants us to actually come to Him and tell Him what we need. This is, indeed, a humbling act. Which is why He expects this of us.

In this morning's reading from Isaiah, God reminds us that His word gives us nourishment of the soul, much like bread gives nourishment to the body. In Matthew's Gospel, God tells us HOW to pray, saying "Thy will be done", just as in Isaiah it says "It (our prayers) shall not return to Me void, but shall do My will". 

When we hear "Thy will be done", how do you interpret it? Do you think it means that God hears you and it will get done or do you hear that HIS WILL will be done? There's quite a difference in the meaning of each. When we follow God's plan for us, when we do what He wills us to, then we will achieve what it is that God wants from us. We do His will, His bidding, but it is always all for good. So we must "pray always" with intent, wait to hear God's response and trust that He knows what He's doing. I can promise that it won't be easy, but it will be worth it. 

Be blessed dear friends. Go forth and spread the word of God. 

First Sunday of Lent

 

So often in this world we are tempted by so many things, some good and some not so good. During Lent, we are called to give up something as a sacrifice for our faith, to remind us of the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus on the Cross.

We all know that when we give up something, it seems that we are presented, almost on a daily basis, with visual reminders of that which we have give up, thus making our sacrifice that much harder. But, we learn to persevere in our sacrifice, knowing it will result in something much greater at the end.

Sacrifice and temptation lies at the heart of our faith in Jesus. How many times was Jesus asked to prove He was the Son of God? We see in Luke's Gospel that the devil asked this same question of Jesus. Prove it. Prove who You say You are. But, Jesus did not give in. I'm sure He must have been tempted, if for no other reason than to shut the devil up once and for all.

How many times have we been in the same situation? Is it easier to give in or easier to walk away? Which would give us the most satisfaction? Is it worth the sacrifice to just walk away? I believe that the harder the decision, the greater the reward. Doing the right thing is hard. Saying no in the midst of being tempted is the hardest thing to do. But, the satisfaction that comes from doing right is always a good thing.

As we walk through this time of Lent, remember that your sacrifice is pleasing to God. It makes you stronger. And the end result is that much sweeter.

Prayer:

Dear God,

The battle feels intense some days. We get tired and weak, weary and worn. It's hard to keep going in the face of defeat. But, help us to remember that You will never leave us, that You're our Refuge and our Strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. We know that the enemy wouldn't be fighting so hard against us if we weren't making a difference for Your Kingdom. He wouldn't be trying so hard to stop us if he didn't think You had so much good still in store. Remind us that the battle belongs to You, and whatever we're up against can be taken down in one fell swoop by Your Mighty Hand.

Help us to trust You more, to never waste time spinning our wheels and wrestling or fighting our strength. Please forgive us, Lord, for the times we've failed to lift our hands to You, for the days we've forgotten to come to You first. Fill us with the Power of Your Holy Spirit this day. Fill us with Your joy, fill us with constant reminders that Your presence will go with us, and that You will give us rest.

Amen.

Ash Wednesday

Read: Joel 2: 12-18; 2 Cor 5: 20- 6:2;

Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of 40 days of Lent. It is wholly appropriate that we start this day with the anointing of ashes as we remember Christ's sacrifice for us.

It is also a time for us to renew our relationship with Christ. Joel 2: 12 states it clearly "Yet, even now, says the Lord, return to Me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning". He reminds us that even now, in the middle of the chaos and our sins, He still loves us and wants us to be close to Him. He tells us that we are all to gather in His name, repentant and humble.

We should also take some time to remember the people of Ukraine, who are suffering for their own freedom. If we look further in the reading, it says "Spare, O Lord, Your people and make not Your heritage a reproach, with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among the peoples "Where is their God?". Why indeed. It is God who ultimately rules the nations. But it is hard to see that these days. I'm sure the brave people of Ukraine feel that God is giving them the strength to carry on, to not fail at their defense of the enemy. Look at David and Goliath, David took him down with just a rock and a sling shot. He had faith that the Lord would sustain him in times of strife. It is the same faith we see in these people, gathering together, helping one another. We can learn a lot from them. Lessons of perseverance, faith and courage. So, as we face the next 40 days, let us persevere in faith and courage. Renew yourself in God's word, remind yourself of God's holy presence in your life. And have courage, for you are never alone.

God Bless and #prayforpeace #prayforUkraine #Lent2022 #AshWednesday

Calming The Storm

Funny I should read the day after I went to Mass, as one of the things I prayed about was for Jesus to help calm my inner storms so that I can keep moving forward. When we put our trust in Him, and take baby steps forward, it gives us hope that things will get better.

Recall the story of Jesus calming the storm (Matthew 8:23-27). This miraculous act was done as a prophetic sign of Him bringing you peace during the particular challenges you face in life. Jesus did this on a practical level for the safety and well-being of His Apostles. However, by showing that He had absolute and immediate authority over the storm at sea, Jesus also made it clear that He has absolute and immediate authority over any storm within your life, pledging His closeness in your midst. It should be consoling to you to know that there is nothing too much for God’s omnipotence. He can do all things and can bring peace to any and every situation. Knowing this should give you confidence as you surrender your “storms” to Him. And when the storm remains fierce, despite your prayers, you should be assured that it is for your good or the good of others.  It’s an opportunity to deepen your trust in Him and to know of His particular closeness in those moments.

Identify the storm in your life right now. And if things are relatively calm, be grateful but also call to mind that this will not always be the case. Life can “change on a dime” as has been said.  We must be ready for anything and everything that befalls us. As you ponder a storm of life, ask yourself whether you believe Jesus is there, in the midst, by your side, keeping you safe. Do you know that He could solve any problem instantaneously? Reassure yourself of this fact and allow this faith to add confidence to your troubled heart. The Lord’s love for you is perfect; He will never let you drown.

Lord, I trust in Your almighty power and unconditional love. I trust that You care about me and are present in every storm I face in life. Give me hope in the midst of every trial and enable me to turn to You as the source of my peace. I love You, dear Lord.  Jesus, I trust in You.

(From Reflection 232: Calming The Storm, August 20,2019)

https://divinemercy.life/daily-reflections

Quiet Introspection

The last few days I’ve been rather quiet. I just don’t feel like talking. It is in these times that I do my best thinking. I read, I think , I write. 

Sometimes in life, when it all seems overwhelming, you need to just shut out the rest of the world and withdraw inwards. There is nothing wrong with that, so don’t let anyone make you feel that it’s a bad thing. It’s called self-preservation. BUT (there’s always a ‘but’, isn’t there?! Lol)…DON’T focus on the negative. Focus on your “inner you” in order to get back in balance. Meditate, do yoga, pray, say the rosary…whatever makes you comfortable.

In this world of 'hurry up’ and keep moving, we sometimes need to apply the brakes and turn the engine off. When the steam comes pouring forth, bubbling furiously, it's a signal that you need to stop before you boil over. I don’t mean that you can hibernate (unless you can and want to), your daily life does not need to come to a screeching halt. It just means you need to be quiet. You don’t need a constant stream of conversation, you don’t need all that external stimuli. Go about your day, but create for yourself a little “bubble”.

Let’s say you’re having a crazy morning. You got up late, your spouse/significant other is in a bad mood, the dog just peed on the floor and there is a mountain of dishes in the sink. Take a breath. It will all get done. One step at a time. Wrap yourself in your bubble. 

Oh look..the sun’s out! ☀️ Poor doggie…he didn’t mean to make your life harder. He just really needed to pee and couldn’t hold it any more. Grab some paper towels and mop it up (and don’t forget to was your hands!). Pet the dog, reassure him/her you still love them. 🐩🐾

So s.o. is in a bad mood? You didn’t cause it and you can’t fix it. Just don’t add to it. Ask God for patience (trust me, it’s easier than coming up with bail money!) and try to be understanding. It will pass.

You woke up late? ⏰ Nothing you can do about it now. You’re already up and moving. Keep putting one foot in front of the other…👣👣

Those dishes…yup, they’ll still be there later when all is quiet and you can get to them. The world won’t fall apart if they’re not done. It’s the least of your problems…

Finally….it’s quiet. You can grab that cup of coffee ☕☕ without rushing around. Sit with it a moment. I love the smell of coffee. There’s just something inherently soothing about the aroma. To me, it feels like home in a mug. 💙☕

Breathe…yup..in, out…slowly…. See…the world is still spinning. Now, take you and your bubble and see what you can accomplish! Be proud of yourself for just getting out of bed and surviving your crazy morning! It’s the little things that mean the most!!

Sending Love and Blessings……😊✝️💙

Fidelity in the face of suffering

Today we celebrate the Passion of St. John the Baptist. A man clearly after God’s heart. But, that begs the question of why God allows suffering or persecution. I just read a quote from St. Teresa of Avila, where she poses to God, “If this is how you treat Your friends, I can see why You have so few.” We see God as a God of Mercy, of forgiveness. So, why does He allow us, and others, to bear burdens that are often too much to carry?

It is said that in the face of our storms, it is then that we most need God. And this is true. He is the one who will be there to comfort us and reassure us, just as any loving father would do. But, unlike God, our parents don’t like to see us suffer harm or hardship. They try to do everything possible to ease the journey for us. But God…yeah, He puts stumbling blocks in our path, allows us to carry much too much stress and anxiety, He allows our burdens to become so heavy that we almost are ready to buckle under the pressure of it all.

THERE IS HOPE!!!! God does these things, or allows these things because He is testing us and our faith. Will you run FROM God or TO God when it all becomes overwhelming? Do you feel He has forgotten you? Does He feel a million miles away, if at all present? I’ve “been there, done that”. I give up. I run from Him. He’s not hearing me. Life is just getting worse rather than better. Don’t feel bad if you do as I have done (and I’ve done it many, many times in my life). This is God’s way of building us up in our faith and reliance on Him. Going back to God, or relying on God is sort of like an addiction and it’s recovery. God is sitting there, waiting for you…He’s waiting till you hit rock bottom. But that’s a good thing, because once you go down as far as you ever were, the only other way out is UP!

God is sitting there, thrumming His fingers and shaking His head “Oh child of Mine…” He’s just waiting for the right moment, the right time in your life when you will accept the hand He is holding out for you. You are the prodigal child, the one who must run away and “sow your oats” to realize how much you miss being “home”. God is patient. God is kind. He will welcome you back with open arms.

However, as any good parent knows, no reunion goes without a scolding. God will reprimand you, so be ready for it. Be ready to be humbled and brought to your knees. “Oh child, why do you continually run from Me? Am I not enough?” Yikes. Harsh. Instead of feeling judged or feeling like a loser, or you let the Almighty down, really think about the question. Why DO you run from Him? Once you have that answer, you are ready to come back to Him and start again. Beg forgiveness. Show humility. Admit your wrongdoings. Learn from your mistakes. Remember, when we have nowhere else to go, up is always the best choice!