"Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say, and all the signs he had commanded him to do". - Exodus 4:28 I was looking for a sign from God regarding which direction to take on a decision I had to make. Then WHAM!! I got hit with a ton of bricks. "OK, God, you can back off a little bit; I get it!" We often look for signs. Should I do this or should I do that? Should I go here or should I go there? Should I take this job or should I take that job? Should I donate to this charity or should I donate to that charity? We seek God to help us in our time of need to make the right decision for our self, our family, and those around us. But do we recognize the answer? Do we hear the voice of God giving us direction? Do we see the face of God showing us the way? Are we mindful of the answer given to us? What if it is not the answer we want? Do we wait until we find the answer we want? O God, show me Your will and I will see it; tell me Your will and I will hear it; teach me Your will and I will learn it; lead me according to Your will and I will follow. Amen. "For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—declares the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope." - Jeremiah 29:11
How did they do that? The side of the building was a mosaic of stone and bricks. But it wasn't a random mosaic; there was a pattern to it. How did they create the perfect pattern of curved and crisscrossed lines on this vertical plane? Much artistic ingenuity and foresight was necessary to ensure that the lines crossed at precisely the right location when the masonry work occurred. Having everything in place and executing as planned can result in an amazing feat. God works like that in you. With His plan, and your obedience, you can achieve anything. If you wander from the path sketched out for you, and don't pull yourself back in line, you will not reach the end result that God has in mind for you. Chart the course. Stay in line. And follow the path laid out for you. Dear God, thank you for knowing the plans for me and for guiding me along the way of those plans. Amen. "Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves ... " - Philippians 2:3
Our pastor tried hard to ensure the faithful received the sacraments on a daily basis by offering them outdoors last spring during the pandemic. We were told to walk single-file, pace ourselves along six foot markers placed in the school parking lot, and took turns to ensure social distancing as we crisscrossed through the crosswalks. It was a beautifully orchestrated procession that worked with the finest military precision. But it didn't come without its share of scolding, snapping, and correcting when we stepped out of the well-calculated route. The gentleman who monitored the crowd was there every day in his school crossing guard attire, keeping an eagle's eye on everyone's movement, offering correction when needed. You couldn't help but notice this man's presence. He was very intent and purposeful in keeping the lines moving and flowing without interruption. Every day, day in and day out, seven days a week, he was there. "He must be a good school crossing guard," I often thought to myself, thinking that this was probably his real profession under normal circumstances because of the great care and concern he showed for the people and the process. One day I stopped to thank him for his continual daily service. He gratefully acknowledged me and stated that "some days are better than others." I was humbled to learn a few months later that the good gentleman in the school crossing guard attire was actually the school principal; but the greater humility was shown by the gentleman who humbled himself to do the work that needed to be done at that time. O God, thank you for showing me the humbleness of others, and guide me to be more like them. Amen. "Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." - James 1:2-3
Our life's road is full of many obstacles. Some we can avoid; some we have to detour around; and some just hit us right in the face. With God as our guide, our faith is made stronger as our crooked road is made straight and each obstruction is cleared from our path. What obstacles have you stumbled upon? Dear God, thank you for being my navigator as I steer through my life's journey with You. Amen. "... the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, 'This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' " - 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 The priest held the Host in his hands. He bent over the paten to get closer to his Beloved. He lovingly gazed at Him, caressed Him with his fingers, and slowly and gently uttered the words of consecration. "This IS my body ..." Then the priest took the Chalice in his hands. He peered into the depths of the cup. He fixed his eyes on His blood, which had been shed for him and for us. He intently spoke the words of consecration as he swirled His blood within the cup. "This IS the Chalice of my blood ..." Witnessing this priest during the Eucharistic Prayer was a powerful, life-changing experience. He was no longer "present" to the congregation, but was supernaturally elevated between Heaven and earth. He was One with Jesus, and Jesus was One with him. And we were all beneficiaries of the encounter. Lord Jesus, sanctify Your priests. Amen. View a Video clip of the CONSECRATION"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" - John 14:6 We are connected. We are plugged in. Our electricity runs through us to Him and Him to us. It is a two-way connection. If the connection is broken, the energy stops flowing. Fortify your connection. Tighten your fittings. Stay grounded. Guiding Spirit, charge me with the surge of your Love. Amen. "Lift up your heads, O gates; be lifted, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may enter." - Psalm 24:7
This sign is all too familiar lately as services shut down and businesses close due to the pandemic. Have you shut down? Have you closed your heart and mind to God's love and mercy? King of Glory, my doors are open for business in Your kingdom. Enter the store of my heart, and fill my waiting shelves with Your grace. Amen. " 'Do not be afraid; just have faith.' " - Mark 5:36 What's hiding under this cloth? Our imagination goes into overdrive as we conjure up all of the possibilities that we think the cloth could be hiding. What are you hiding? We all hide something, whether it is big or small. Maybe we don't want others to see our true personality, a trial we are going through at home, or a birthday party we are planning for a friend. But God sees all. He sees through and under our "cloth". All of our secrets are laid bare. Go to Him. Do not be afraid. There is nothing you can hide from Him. Merciful Father, you know me inside and out. Give me the courage and the strength to share with you all that is hidden within me. Amen. "... yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things are and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are and through whom we exist." - 1 Corinthians 8:6 Have you ever been around someone who denies the presence of God? Take them into a Catholic church and you can see their anxiety as they can't wait to get out of the building. How do they justify the beauty of creation: the sun, the moon, the stars, the hills, and the valleys? How do they justify the reason for the good and the bad in their life? How do they justify the joy of a newborn or the hope in a death? Am I doing my part to be a spokesperson for Jesus Christ? Do I continue to show them the places that are uncomfortable to them as I witness to Jesus Christ? Most Faithful Jesus, help those with unbelief to believe, and help those with belief to lead. Amen. "Never permit me to be separated from You." - from an Act of Spiritual Communion by Saint Alphonsus Ligouri
As the sun sets on another day, I ponder the trials of today for me, for our country, and for our world in these uncertain pandemic times. I dream of a better tomorrow, and I am certain that You will be there then as You are there now. I am one with You and You are one with me. You will never separate from me, and You will never permit me to be separated from You. We are inseparable. Thank you, Jesus, for reaching out to me during those times when I failed to reach out to You. Thank you for showing me Your beauty and Your love. Thank you for life and learning, for fears and mercy, for hardships and joys. Thank you, Jesus, for bending Your ear to me during those times when I reached out to You. Thank you for seeing my tears and my love. Thank you for listening and sharing, for helping and caring, for being my shining light. Thank you, my Jesus. I love You above all things. Amen. |
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