Monday, March 21, 2016
How can we refuse Him?
Today I look at Him and see that He has nothing. He gave everything for me, his possessions, his reputation, and his life for me. How then can I be unwilling to give Him a few hours of my life to lead a group in spiritual reflection, or feeding the poor. How can I say I've already given enough this week when someone asks me for money. How can I be afraid to speak my mind in public concerning what I believe? How can I refuse when a priest asks me help with anything? A priest asking us to help is as close to God asking us to help as we are likely to get, how can we refuse him?
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Sitting at the foot of the cross
Most High, Glorious God, bring light to the darkness of my heart, give me right faith, certain hope, and perfect charity. Lord, give me insight and wisdom so I might always discern your holy and true will. Amen. - Prayer of St Francis of Assisi before the cross at San Domiano
This week I invite you to sit at the foot of the cross each day and contemplate what the cross means to you. What is that place like for you? Is it a horror? Do you think of how you put Him there? Or is it a place to contemplate the love you see? Do you see yourself and what you have done, or do you see the Beloved and what He has done for you? Neither is wrong, just different. If we pray to be more like Him, what does that mean? It means the cross is in our future.
This week I invite you to sit at the foot of the cross each day and contemplate what the cross means to you. What is that place like for you? Is it a horror? Do you think of how you put Him there? Or is it a place to contemplate the love you see? Do you see yourself and what you have done, or do you see the Beloved and what He has done for you? Neither is wrong, just different. If we pray to be more like Him, what does that mean? It means the cross is in our future.
Friday, March 18, 2016
Serving Christ
Where do good world fit in our faith life? If we can twin our way to heaven, why are we called to do these things? There are those of other denominations who look down on us for emphasizing good works, so why do we feel we need to do them?
We do them as a way to draw ever closer to the Beloved. We do this both by striving to become more and more like Him and by serving Him by serving others. We can't make ourselves more like Him, He transforms us into His image. We all have worked at times to serve others only to become bitter and unhappy with those we served, those are the times when we tried to change ourselves. We didn't go with an open heart and open mind, looking for Christ in those we were serving and so it was hard and tedious.
When we go with an open heart and mind and look for Christ in those we serve, when we go truly to serve them, give ourselves to them, we are the ones transformed. We are drawn closer to the one we love. You know how you feel when you are going to see someone you love and to talk to them and be with them, you heart races a bit, you can't wait to get there, you feel a certain lightness in any work you do. That is how it feels when you serve Christ in the world. As St Francis said, that which was bitter became sweet.
We do them as a way to draw ever closer to the Beloved. We do this both by striving to become more and more like Him and by serving Him by serving others. We can't make ourselves more like Him, He transforms us into His image. We all have worked at times to serve others only to become bitter and unhappy with those we served, those are the times when we tried to change ourselves. We didn't go with an open heart and open mind, looking for Christ in those we were serving and so it was hard and tedious.
When we go with an open heart and mind and look for Christ in those we serve, when we go truly to serve them, give ourselves to them, we are the ones transformed. We are drawn closer to the one we love. You know how you feel when you are going to see someone you love and to talk to them and be with them, you heart races a bit, you can't wait to get there, you feel a certain lightness in any work you do. That is how it feels when you serve Christ in the world. As St Francis said, that which was bitter became sweet.
Thursday, March 17, 2016
O Lord, make me small, make me low, make me humble, and happy to be so
O Lord, make me small, make me low, make humble, and happy to be so.
O Lord grant me the wisdom to see You in all things and to accept Your will in my life.
Grant me the grace, O Lord, to do all things in You and for You.
Let me find joy at Your feet and in all Your works.
Let me find the wisdom I need in Your word.
Make small Dear Lord and malleable in your hands.
Form me in You likeness and give me a new heart.
Grant me, O Lord a heart like Yours, a heart of love and understanding.
Make Me more like You.
O Lord, make me brave, give me the courage to carry You in all I do out into the world.
Give me the courage to speak and the words to say to those caught up in the world.
Grant the strength to with stand the blows and count them as nothing.
Lend me Your heart, O Lord, that I may love all, even those who hate me.
O Lord grant me the wisdom to see You in all things and to accept Your will in my life.
Grant me the grace, O Lord, to do all things in You and for You.
Let me find joy at Your feet and in all Your works.
Let me find the wisdom I need in Your word.
Make small Dear Lord and malleable in your hands.
Form me in You likeness and give me a new heart.
Grant me, O Lord a heart like Yours, a heart of love and understanding.
Make Me more like You.
O Lord, make me brave, give me the courage to carry You in all I do out into the world.
Give me the courage to speak and the words to say to those caught up in the world.
Grant the strength to with stand the blows and count them as nothing.
Lend me Your heart, O Lord, that I may love all, even those who hate me.
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Sitting at His feet
Oh my Lord, I am a failure! I say everyday how I want to be like you as I sit here in the dark in the church each morning. I beg you to make my heart like yours, but everyday when I leave here I make the wrong decisions. I choose to not stand out, to not be brave, to care how other people see me. I choose to make the choice that makes me look good in other people's eyes. The one that makes them think of me while not making think I am strange.
I choose to give but not until it hurts. I give enough to look good but still allow me to have a good vacation every year or a new outfit. I am jealous of those who spend even more money on themselves than I do. The funny thing is that I know what I want and I know what makes me happy. You do.
I crave sitting here at Your feet, my soul needs this. I crave meeting You out in the world and finding You in nature. This makes me feel whole and loved, that makes me feel broken and unfulfilled. Why Oh Lord, do I listen to the world? Why do I not seek You continually in the people around me? I could spend my day not thinking about myself, not worrying about fitting in. I could spend my day in this church at Your feet in my heart. Grant me Oh Lord that grace today.
I know Dear Lord this is what You tried to tell me once, that this where I was meant to be. I don't have to sit here physically all the time. I can sit here mentally and in prayer.
I choose to give but not until it hurts. I give enough to look good but still allow me to have a good vacation every year or a new outfit. I am jealous of those who spend even more money on themselves than I do. The funny thing is that I know what I want and I know what makes me happy. You do.
I crave sitting here at Your feet, my soul needs this. I crave meeting You out in the world and finding You in nature. This makes me feel whole and loved, that makes me feel broken and unfulfilled. Why Oh Lord, do I listen to the world? Why do I not seek You continually in the people around me? I could spend my day not thinking about myself, not worrying about fitting in. I could spend my day in this church at Your feet in my heart. Grant me Oh Lord that grace today.
I know Dear Lord this is what You tried to tell me once, that this where I was meant to be. I don't have to sit here physically all the time. I can sit here mentally and in prayer.
Monday, March 14, 2016
Praise the Lord Your God all the days of your Life
Praise the Lord all the days of your life.
Praise the Lord all the days of your life by how you live your life.
Praise the Lord all the days of your life by living your life with joy.
Praise the Lord all the days of your life by joyfully living your life in the service if the the Lord. Praise the Lord all the days of your life by joyfully living your life in the service of the Lord by serving others.
Praise the Lord all the days of your life by loving the Lord your God.
Praise the Lord all the days of your life by loving the Lord your God by serving others.
Praise the Lord all the days of your life loving all the Lord your God has made.
Praise the Lord all the days of your life by loving yourself.
Praise the Lord all the days of your life by how you live your life.
Praise the Lord all the days of your life by living your life with joy.
Praise the Lord all the days of your life by joyfully living your life in the service if the the Lord. Praise the Lord all the days of your life by joyfully living your life in the service of the Lord by serving others.
Praise the Lord all the days of your life by loving the Lord your God.
Praise the Lord all the days of your life by loving the Lord your God by serving others.
Praise the Lord all the days of your life loving all the Lord your God has made.
Praise the Lord all the days of your life by loving yourself.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Violence vs Love
I think, in our society today, we have forgotten love for our fellow man. Politeness reflects our love and respect for one another and gives us space to hear each other. Political correctness is not really being polite, at least not the way it is used. So often it is used as a way bash someone else on the head.because they don't know the right thing to say, and to make ourselves feel superior.
Knowing the right catch phrase to use also doesn't insure that we actually love the people we are referring to. You can remember to always say person of color and still discriminate against them. Words can reflect attitudes but they don't always.
Recently we have thrown all this out and have given in to baser feelings of fear, hatred and greed. Violence is not what the Beloved taught us. The beloved taught us to fight through love and sacrifice. It is what the Missionaries of Charity have taught us. Violence begets violence, love begets love.
Knowing the right catch phrase to use also doesn't insure that we actually love the people we are referring to. You can remember to always say person of color and still discriminate against them. Words can reflect attitudes but they don't always.
Recently we have thrown all this out and have given in to baser feelings of fear, hatred and greed. Violence is not what the Beloved taught us. The beloved taught us to fight through love and sacrifice. It is what the Missionaries of Charity have taught us. Violence begets violence, love begets love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
