Something Strange is Happening

     Something strange is happening -- there is a great silence on the earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.
   

Peace -- Pass It On

     “The peace of our spirit does not depend on the good nature and kindness of other people. Our neighbor’s good nature and kindness are in no way subject to our control or opinion. That would be absurd. The tranquility of our heart depends on ourselves. The ability to avoid anger, with all its ridiculous effects, has to come from within ourselves and not be dependent on the nature of other people. The power to overcome the evil in our character must not depend on some perfection outside us, but on our own virtue.”                                                                      
                                                              St. Jose Maria Escriva



     The “blame game” started long ago in the garden. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. As children of Adam and Eve, it might be a good time to say, “the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree!”

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.

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.

Embracing Emptiness

     “It is very hard to allow emptiness to exist in our lives. Emptiness requires a willingness not to be in control, a willingness to something new and unexpected to happen. It requires trust, surrender, and openness to guidance. God wants to dwell in our emptiness. But as long as we are afraid of God and God’s action in our lives, it is unlikely that we will offer our emptiness to God. Let’s pray that we can let go of fear and embrace God as the source of love.”                                                           Henri Nouwen



     When we feel emptiness, a restlessness full of uncertainty, within our deepest self, we want to act as quickly as possible and do something. Anything! We do not want to acknowledge it, let alone entertain or sit with it, because we do not know what will be asked of us. We try to avoid looking at it and pretend it isn't there. We keep busy; filling our time, hoping it will just go away!

Make Crooked Ways Straight

     “I will lead the blind on their journey; by paths unknown I will guide them. I will turn darkness into light before them, and make crooked ways straight. These things I do for them, and I will not forsake them” (Isaiah 42 vs. 16).



     We all have loved ones who are not currently practicing their faith. The reasons vary from person to person: some out of ignorance, not realizing the gifts and treasures of their faith; some stemming from hurts and disappointments for which God is blamed; others are indifferent and don’t see the importance of a relationship with God; still others have stopped believing in God and look at their childhood faith as a myth, likened to believing in Santa.

Mountaintop Experiences

     “After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, and His clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Mk. 9 vs. 2-5).


     Like Peter, James and John, we too have moments when the glory of the Lord shines down upon us. Those special, precious moments, when God reveals Himself, as well as the great love He has for us. These experiences are profound and cannot be denied. They are a knowing that pierces deep within our hearts. They are special and sacred, and like Moses, we realize that we are standing on Holy Ground.