They stop in the Adoration Chapel where Jesus is waiting for them in the Blessed Sacrament. They are joyous; they are sad. They bow; they kneel. They smile; they cry. They come from all walks of life; dressed in all sorts of attire. They are all ages, all genders, all sizes. They stay for a few minutes or for a few hours.
Some are too ashamed to even enter into His presence, and choose instead to kneel in the hall before the open door. Each of them has a need: to talk, to share, to dump, to heal. Each of them has a want: counseling, advice, direction, forgiveness. The young woman comes in seeking blessings for her school day. The young man comes in seeking companionship as he heads off to college. The adult woman comes in seeking relief for her grieving of the turmoil in her native country. The adult male comes in seeking forgiveness for his errant ways. The priest comes in seeking guidance in his ministry. It is a mixed population with varied histories, but all one faith. Each of them is looking and searching and finding ... Jesus, their friend. TAGS: Reflection The address on the mailbox was "923", the Feast Day of St. Padre Pio.
The mailbox must always be full with letters, notes and cards. People sending their thanksgivings, prayers and supplications to St. Pio. He reads them all, you know, because he had the gift of looking into souls and scrutinizing consciences. As he explained it, "Through Jesus, I see and hear all -- I see your soul just as you see yourself in a mirror." Write to him; speak to him. He will intercede for you. While your letter may never be delivered, your concern will be "read" nonetheless. St. Padre Pio, pray for us. TAGS: Reflection Fear looks down,
Worry looks around, Faith looks to Him. Where do you find yourself? With so much happening in our lives, our country, and our world of late, it's hard to keep a solid perspective. Am I fearful and feeling down because there is so much out of my control? Do I worry when around me is so much chaos and uncertainty? Or do I have faith in God that everything is in His power and trust that He will make all things new? God can fill us with joy. Joy comes when we take our eyes off our circumstances and remind ourselves of God’s eternal goodness. Jesus said we were to look at the beauty of birds and flowers and see how they are looked after… they do not worry! (Matthew 6:25-34) When we have fear and worry, we focus upon the problem, but when we look to God in faith, He can lift us above our circumstances and give us hope and an inner joy, even in the bleakest of times. Fear looks down, Worry looks around, Faith looks to Him. Find yourself in Him. TAGS: Inspiration Photo by todd kent on Unsplash Can you hear the singing of the angels?
Can you hear the plucking of the harps? A chorus of heavenly beings to join us on our way. We have no need to fear, For harm is pushed out of the way. The angels guard us daily and lead us not astray. Our eyes when we are blinded; Our ears when we can't hear. The angels protect us from danger and catch us when we fall. We cannot see or touch them, We sense their omnipresence. We know they are ever near us and carry our breath to God. Thank you, God, for our angels. Amen. TAGS: Prayer, Reflection "But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind." - James 1:5-6
Jesus, am I good? "You are very good. Everything I made was good, and I made you." Jesus, do you love me? "I love you so much that I died for you." Jesus, will you be there tomorrow? "I will be with you always, until the end of time." TAGS: Reflection "I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth." - Genesis 9:13 Witness God's covenant with us through this beautiful hymn and accompanying lyrics. COVENANT HYMN LYRICS (by Rory Cooney) Wherever you go, I will follow, Wherever you live is my home. Though days be of blessing or sorrow, Though house be of canvas or stone, Though Eden be lost to the past, Though mountains before us be vast, Wherever you go, I am with you. I never will leave you alone. Whatever you dream, I am with you, When stars call your name in the night. Though shadows and mist cloud the future, Together we bear there a light. Like Abram and Sarah we stand, With only a promise in hand. But lead where you dream: I will follow. To dream with you is my delight. And though you should fall, you will find me, When no other friend can you claim, When foes beat you down or betray you, And others desert you in shame. When home and dreams aren’t enough, And you run away from my love, I’ll raise you from where you have fallen. "Faithful to you" is my name. Wherever you die, I will be there To sing you to sleep with a psalm, To soothe you with tales of our journey, Your fears and your doubts I will calm. We’ll live when journeys are done Forever in mem’ry as one. And we will be buried together, And waken to greet a new dawn. Wherever you go, I will follow. Behold! The horizon shines clear. The possible gleams like a city: Together we’ve nothing to fear. So speak with words bold and true The message my heart speaks to you. You won’t be alone, I have promised. Wherever you go, I am here. Copyright © 1992 GIA Publications. All rights reserved. Photo by Mateus Campos Felipe on Unsplash TAGS: Reflection The lake was so calm. The wind was so still. There wasn't a ripple in the water. "Smooth as glass" we call it.
With all the turmoil, stress and anxiety in our life and throughout the world, it's no wonder that we find it difficult to feel much serenity and peace. It's time to take charge of your emotional and spiritual life again. Find an outlet to let your mind roam free: a stroll in the park, a bicycle ride, a slow rowboat cruise with nature. It's time to let your feelings run "smooth as glass." "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference, living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; taking this world as it is and not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen." − Reinhold Niebuhr TAGS: Prayer, Reflection "But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, 'There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.'" - Luke 13:14
We are celebrating the 6th anniversary of Our Blog! Started in 2016, this is the sixth "day" of our work committed to "looking at little life moments with a spiritual eye." But our work is not done. There is still more to come. Will you join us in our work? The most viewed posts this year were: "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 |
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