Be still and know that I am God

     “For though the fig tree blossoms not, nor fruit be on the vines, though the yield of the olive fail and the terraces produce no nourishment, though the flocks disappear from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet will I rejoice in the Lord and exult in my saving God. God, my Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet swift as those of hinds and enables me to go upon the heights.”                                                                                             Habakkuk 3 vs 17-19


     Holding on to God and trying desperately to cling to hope, at times when heartfelt prayer seems unanswered, is very, very difficult! During these dark periods of our lives, when God seems to be deaf and what we are praying for seems like ‘a good thing,’ we are at a loss of just why our request remains unanswered

Finding peace for our restless hearts.

     We are all longing for peace…that feeling of contentment…a sense of well-being…an inner stillness--and our society, well aware of our yearning, tries to sell us the ultimate vacation…that brand new car…that piece of jewelry…that one possession that will achieve the feeling for which we are searching.

     And it seems for a time to bring us contentment until the feeling begins to fade and we are off searching for the next thing to fill our void.

     Nothing of this world will bring us lasting peace. At times we often forget that we are wayfarers and sojourners, with a destination engraved on our hearts for Someone who is not of this world.  

The treasure of the Cross

    “To live in love is not to set up our tent on Tabor.  It is to climb Calvary with Jesus and see the Cross as a treasure.”
                                                                                            St. Therese of Lisieux

                                                   
                                                           
      When I read about the saints, I am reminded how very much I need to grow and change! We’d all like to “set our tents on Mt. Tabor”…didn't St. Peter want to do the same?  Gee, maybe there is hope for us after all! It is clear that St. Peter grew in his love for God, gave his life to serve Christ and eventually, became a martyr. Apparently at some point, Peter, like Therese, came to see the Cross as a treasure.

Handing it all over to God--to rest in His love

     “And when the night comes, and retrospect shows that everything was patchwork and much one has planned has been left undone, when so many things rouse shame, and regret, then take all as it is, lay it in God’s hands, and offer it up to Him. In this way we will be able to rest in Him, actually to rest, and to begin the new day like a new life.”                                                                                      
                                                                                                        St. Edith Stein


     We all have days, and sometimes even weeks like this. We have so much to do, with so little time in which to accomplish it—or so it seems. Our day is planned and before we even get started, events move out of our control, and our plans are vastly changed, and sometimes even dashed.

Allowing God to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary!

“Our perfection does not consist of doing extraordinary things but to do the ordinary well.”                                 St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows


     According to the wisdom of St. Gabriel, perfection is within the reach of each of us.  Most of us live our vocations in the nitty gritty of everyday life . . . and it is in performing our daily tasks, for the love of God, which brings about our growth in holiness.

Loved by Someone -- just because!

     “I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother’s lap, so is my soul within me.”

     These words from Psalm 131 punctured my heart.

     It was part of my penance to pray and meditate on that psalm because my soul was so far from stillness and peace.

Create a clean heart in me, O God!

     As I lie prostrate, that summer afternoon, in my empty parish Church, I begged God to help me to love my sister. I told Him that He was going to have to give me His heart and do it for me because I knew that I had failed miserably.

     I had not started my day off on the wrong foot…quiet prayer time, morning Mass, breakfast, and then the Wednesday morning bible study that I facilitated at my home...  The only difference would be that my sister Yoana would be a part of the bible study because another sister was in town and we would afterwards go out to lunch and do a little shopping.

Our Lady of Vladimir

     Today is the feast day of Our Lady of Vladimir, also known as Our Lady of Tenderness and the Birthgiver of God.*   

 

     Years before the birth of Avia Joy, I discovered the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir in a religious store and immediately bonded with her. The love that was so evident between Mother and Child struck deep within my heart. Their “cheek to cheek” embrace, with little Jesus’ arm wrapped around His Mommy’s neck, clasping her face, brought back many cherished memories of the babies and toddlers I've held close to my heart. His eyes are riveted on her and yet she stares out with a bit of sadness knowing the fate that awaits her dear little Son. . .but she holds Him now . . .close to her heart. She will protect Him and do all she can to fill His world with love; to keep Him safe and guard Him while it’s in her power to do so . . . But too soon a time will come, when she will have to let go and allow her Son to fulfill His mission – the mission she said “yes” to, when she agreed to be the Mother of the Savior.