"This was to fulfill what he had said, 'I have not lost any of those you gave me.'” - John 18:9 

Have you found yourself in a situation where you are just lost? 

You made a wrong turn and you end up on a strange road. You made a decision and it ends up  being a disastrous choice. You tell a "white lie" and you end up in an uncomfortable predicament. 

Sometimes things just don't go right and we feel like a fish (or a turtle) out of water. Fortunately, we have faith in a God who sets us back on the right path and places us again in our "comfort zone." 

But sometimes things just don't go right and end up being a blessing in disguise. 

You made a wrong turn and you end up on a road where you run into a very dear friend that you haven't seen in years. You made a decision and you end up finding the best job ever where you meet the love of your life. You tell a "white lie" and you end up receiving God's mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

Whether you are lost and found, or lost and blessed, God is always there and you will never be truly lost. 

Thank you, God, for never allowing me to be lost for I am forever in the arms of Jesus. Amen. 

TAGS: Prayer, Reflection

"He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?'" - Matthew 16:15 

Jesus, I believe that you are the Christ, 
The son of the living God, 
Fully God and fully man. 
Sent to be my Redeemer and my best friend, 
To wash away my sins, 
To live in and know the deepest places of my heart, 
And to make me worthy of a life with You everlasting. 
--SOURCE: Reflection for 02/22/2022: “Who Is Jesus To You”, The God Minute 

So, who do you say that He is? 

TAGS: Inspiration

AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS 
by Portia Nelson 

I 
 
I walk down the street. 
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk 
I fall in. 
I am lost ... I am helpless. 
It isn't my fault. 
It takes me forever to find a way out. 
 
II 
 
I walk down the same street. 
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 
I pretend I don't see it. 
I fall in again. 
I can't believe I am in the same place 
but, it isn't my fault. 
It still takes a long time to get out. 
 
III 
 
I walk down the same street. 
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 
I see it is there. 
I still fall in ... it's a habit. 
my eyes are open 
I know where I am. 
It is my fault. 
I get out immediately. 
 
IV 
 
I walk down the same street. 
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 
I walk around it. 
 
V 
 
I walk down another street. 

© 1977 Portia Nelson, There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery 

It's simple math: repeating destructive habits + accepting responsibility = making a positive change. 

Is there a hole in your sidewalk that is writing your autobiography? 

TAGS: Inspiration

"For we are his handiwork, created for Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them." - Ephesians 2:10 

The fuzzy red flowers at the end of the arching branches of the bottlebrush tree are attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds and honeybees, and add a soft, whimsical touch and a splash of color to the landscape. 

Fuzzy, attractive, soft, whimsical and colorful. While these words describe the flowers at the end of a branch of a specific tree, they are also adjectives that can be used to describe persons in the species of humanity. 

What words would I use to describe me? What words do I think other persons would use to describe me? If my pet could talk, what words do I think it would use to describe me? 

What words would I like to hear God use to describe me? May my life work be directed toward hearing those words said of me by God. 

O Loving Father, help me to hear the words You speak of me and fashion myself into the person You want me to be. Amen. 

TAGS: Inspiration, Prayer

Every time we profess our faith, we declare that “Jesus suffered, died, and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead.”  On Good Friday, we commemorated Jesus’ death and burial.  On Holy Saturday, we recalled his descent into hell.  And on Easter Sunday, the third day, we joyfully celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.  
 
There is always a “third day”.  This is what Easter Sunday reminds us.  There is always a resurrection.  The story of Jesus did not end on Good Friday when he died on the cross at Calvary.  The story of Jesus did not end when he was buried.  On the third day, he rose again.  There is always a “third day”.  There is always a resurrection.  
 
And because Jesus rose again, we have hope that, like him, there will also be a “third day” for us.  You may feel like you are just on your first day – the day of betrayal by those you trust, denial by your friends, and abandonment by those you expected to stick out with you until the end.  You may feel like you are just on your second day – the day of judgment and being misunderstood, suffering and pain.  You may be on your second day of death because you lost many things in life.  You lost loved ones.  You lost all sense for living.  You may be on your second day of burial.  You feel buried in a bad habit, in guilt, in your dark past, and in sin.  Just wait, for life does not end there.  There will always be a “third day”, a day of victory, a day of the resurrection.  Even this pandemic will have its “third day.” One day, we will all experience resurrection.  
 
Jesus rose again, not just to vindicate himself.  The resurrection is not only for Jesus.  The resurrection of Jesus is for us.  Jesus rose again to tell you, in ways more powerful than words, “do not despair, continue to trust, continue to hope, your ‘third day’ will also come.  There is also a resurrection that awaits you.”  And to this, we say, Alleluia!  

-Excerpt from "Easter Message 2022", The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila  

TAGS: Reflection

The crucifix was over 23 feet tall and weighed 4200 pounds, raised high upon the wall of the church. I had never seen anything like it. I lowered myself to kneel under the weight of this cross. 

When I stood to pray the Our Father, and gazed on the crucifix, the corpus came alive. My eyes showed me things I hadn't seen before. I felt as though I was truly watching the crucifixion on Calvary. 

With my eyes fixed on His chest, I could see it pulsing and throbbing. He was gasping for air. His chest was pounding, in and out, in and out, but laboriously. There were short inhales and hurried exhales as He struggled to breathe. 

What to make of this? An inanimate object was becoming animate to me. Yet I couldn't take my eyes off of it. How could I help Him? How could I ease His suffering? His chest continued to writhe in agony. 

"My people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me." -  Reproaches from the ancient liturgy of Good Friday 

TAGS: Story

"When the waters lie covered as though with stone ..." - Job 38:30 

Earlier this year, Lake Erie was pretty frozen. "Pretty" indeed with glistening chunks of ice replacing shimmering waves rolling upon the shore. Although a magnificent sight, the downside was that it prohibited  fish from seeking food, divers from searching for objects, and boats from traversing the waters. 

We can sometimes take on the looks of this Great Lake by becoming cold and frozen. We see nothing but the downside of life's events. We lock into our self, paralyzed with fear over a past mistake, a frustrating situation, or a worrisome future. Frozen in our thoughts and actions, we see no way out with no path or plan to enlighten us. 

Let us never forget to turn to God. The sun will shine. The ice will melt. The waters of life will flow again. 

Heavenly Father, you make all things anew in your Spirit. Break through our frozen covers and shine Your light in our heart and mind. Amen. 

TAGS: Prayer, Reflection

For all You have given me, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For all You have withheld, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For all You have withdrawn, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For all You have permitted, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For all You have prevented, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For all the sincere friends You have given me, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For all You have forgiven me, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For all You have prepared for me, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For the death You have chosen for me, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For the place You are keeping for me in Heaven, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For having created me to love You for eternity, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
My God, I thank You for all things. 
And may I live and die thanking You. Amen. 
 
SOURCE: https://www.lincolndiocese.org/op-ed/messages-of-hope/12945-a-litany-of-thanksgiving 
 
TAGS: Prayer

"God created mankind in his image..." - Genesis 1:27 

Do you see it in the photo above? What does it look like to you? A person? An animal? Just an old tree? What tickles your imagination? 

The hands of Nature carved this design into the tree. Without knowing the true intent, its interpretation is left to the eye of the beholder. On the other hand, there's probably a number of people who walk right past the tree and never stop to notice the artistic creation on its trunk. 

Similarly, God created us. In his image, he created us. We look at a tree and see Nature's hands at work. We look at another person and see God's hands at work. 

Or do we? 

Thinking of a busy downtown street, do we walk by each other, never stopping to notice the creations passing us by? Or do we take time to notice each handcrafted, unique, one-of-a-kind image of God? 

Master Creator of all things, thank you for creating each of us in your image and likeness. May we always take time to observe and acknowledge your handiwork with care and affection. Amen. 

TAGS: Inspiration, Prayer