Friday, May 29, 2015

You -- Follow Me

     Jesus said to Peter, “Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me” (Jn. 21 vs. 18b, 19b).

       Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved. When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me” (Jn. 21 vs. 20b, 21-22).

                       ************************************************************

     Don’t you just love St. Peter? We are so very much like him in his humanness! Jesus had just told him that life will not turn out quite the way he thought. Peter’s response is to ask, “What about him?” Jesus wastes no time in putting Peter in his place and redirects Peter’s attention back to himself.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

God is Counting on Us

     When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was distressed that He had said to him a third time, “Do you love Me?” and he said to Him, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.” (Jesus) said to him, feed My sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had said this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”  (Jn. 21 vs. 15-19)

      After Christ’s resurrection, the apostles had gone back to their comfort zone of fishing. They had been fishing all night and caught nothing. At dawn, while still in the boat, Jesus came and learning of their fruitless night, instructed them for a great catch. St. John recognized Jesus and told Peter. Peter, filled with great love, jumped overboard to go to Jesus. Jesus had started a charcoal fire on shore and invited the apostles to breakfast.
                                   *********************************************

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Come Holy Spirit

     Today is the great feast of Pentecost! We have been preparing by praying the novena to the Holy Spirit in preparation for all the gifts and graces that will be poured into our souls. Let us end this day by praying the Veni, Sancte Spiritus – the Sequence in honor of Pentecost in thanksgiving for the great gift from God -- His Holy Spirit!


Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!

Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine.

You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest’
Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine, 
Shine within these hearts of yours,
And our inmost being fill!
Where you are not, we are naught, 
Nothing good in deed or thought, 
Nothing free from taint of ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away:

Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.

On the faithful, who adore
And confess you evermore
In your sevenfold gift descend;

Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end.

Amen. Alleluia.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Mary's Touch

     “Love Mary! She is loveable, faithful, and constant. She will never let herself be outdone in love, but will ever remain supreme. If you are in danger, she will hasten to free you. If you are troubled, she will console you. If you are sick, she will bring you relief. If you are in need, she will help you. She does not look to see what kind of person you have been. She simply comes to a heart that wants to love her.”
                                                      St. Gabriel Possenti of Our Lady of Sorrows


     What a gift we have in our Mother Mary! Unsullied by the stain of original sin, there is no disorder in the way she loves. Her love most reflects the way God loves us – unconditionally.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Enkindle Our Upper Room

      Let us go to the upper room of our hearts and join with Mary and the apostles praying, while we wait with hope for a powerful coming of the Holy Spirit. May we be united in prayer as we recite this nine day novena*, in honor of the Solemnity of Pentecost.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Ascend to Him

     Our hearts were healed by His presence. Jesus had risen from the dead as He had promised and He appeared to us a number of times. He opened Scripture to us and we began to understand that this – His story – had all been foretold by the prophets. He had not abandoned us – His love was true. Jesus was the Promised Messiah!

Friday, May 8, 2015

Buoyed by Hope

     “Hope is the hand that the Lord gives us when the wind blows against us and obstacles impede the goal. Hope is the final resource the Creator puts at our disposition when we think all is lost. However, to nourish hope we are in need of trust and of living in the present moment.”                                            Pope Francis


     Hope is an invaluable asset given to us by God to assist us on our journey. It is like the light of Earendil, given by Galadriel to Frodo in the Lord of the Rings. “Our most beloved star: May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out.” Hope is not wishing on a star, but putting our trust in Someone, realizing that we are loved and known.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

That Mary Thing

     My head and heart were in another world, as I strolled through the store. Our parish May Procession had been the previous day and I was overflowing with love for Our Lady.

     The music, the prayers, the multitude of young and old alike, lifting their hearts and minds to God in praise and thanksgiving for His Mother, filled my being with joy! The hymns that were sung stirred childhood memories which brought sweet tears to my eyes. I was grateful to God for the gift of His Mother and the love that we've shared all these years.

Friday, May 1, 2015

Not Your Average Joe

     “O God, Creator of all things, who laid down for the human race the law of work, graciously grant that by the example of St. Joseph and under his patronage we may complete the works You set us to do and attain the rewards You promise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” Collect for the feast of St. Joseph the Worker


     God has a plan for each one of us: to complete the work He has called us to do. It is often in the mundane, ordinary work of our everyday lives that God expects us to exercise this plan. We must do all that we do, even when we don’t feel like it, in the best way possible, so we may offer it to God as a gift.