Children of the Light

Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

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Ephesians 4:32 5:8

Brothers and sisters: Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ…….Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So do not be associated with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

Empty Lip Service   As a female home owner, I've dealt with many contractors who've given me empty lip service. They've promised to get a project done in a 3 days and then take 5 days.  They've promised to clean up after a paint job and then pour extra paint waste into the backyard grass! The worst was when two contractors spread glue all over my floor.  Instead of promptly laying down the new hardwood floor they sat around chatting, allowing my dog to trample right across it.  These same guys stole food out of my pantry!  Needless to say, I've had enough "discussions" with Project Managers to perfect the fake smile while seething in anger and frustration. I loathe hiring people who do shoddy work!  I don't know what it is with the construction world, but it's a constant challenge to find good, dependable and quality workers.

Salespeople and contractors may give us a bunch of empty lip service but the Lord doesn't!  We read in scripture about how much God loves and forgives us.  He isn't going to one day say, "I love my children unconditionally and forgive their every little sin." and then the next day rage, "I hate my children and want them to enter into the fires of hell!."  God doesn't turn a 180 on us.  More than likely we turn a 180 on Him!  We give God a bunch of empty lip service.  We say in our minds:  I will make it to Mass this Sunday.  I will go to Confession.  I will be more patient and compassionate.  I will be less selfish.  I will take the time to volunteer.  I will pray every day.....  

Many times what we "intend" to do for the Lord never gets accomplished.  Laziness and disinterest takes over.  It's easier for us to follow our same pattern of behavior than to change and adopt new behaviors which will connect us more fully to Christ.

We prefer to lurk in shadows and the darkness, attempting to hide our sins from God.  He's not blind!  He knows when we're not doing something right!  We can play a game of "hide and go seek" with the Lord, but He will always find us.  Many times He will find us laying flat on our bottoms with bumps and bruises from trying to run away from our problems. Christ will offer a healing hand if we will only take hold of it!

Children of the Light   Remember we are all children of God regardless of our age.  We may be a zygote in the womb or an elderly person in a nursing home.  No matter what our status in life, God's light continuously glows bright.  It never blows out.  When we follow this shining light, we become more compassionate and more loving.  We no longer wish to hate or loathe.  Yes, at times we allow frustrations to get the best of us.  However, this is why the Sacrament of Reconciliation's  healing "light" is always available.

Don't give God empty lip service!  Leave the empty darkness and become a Child of Light!

-J.

Love With All Your Heart, Soul and Mind

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Gospel of Matthew 22:34-40

"You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

What is considered the "Greatest Commandment" in today's secular society?  Unfortunately, I no longer think it's to love God with all your heart , soul and mind.  It's more like love yourself.  Strive to fill your heart with as many sensual pleasures as possible.  Aim to fill your soul with pride and vanity.  Discover ways to fill your mind with all kinds of filth.  Our corrupt, broken society has no qualms forcing poor young girls into sex slavery, recruiting young boys into drug cartels, or killing innocent families in religious persecutions.  Why has the concept of the Greatest Commandment changed?  Do people not realize without God at our center, and love for our fellow neighbors, evil actions against our brothers and sisters will continue to prevail?

Love with your heart   To authentically love with the heart is a difficult act.  So many people simply annoy us.  Others are mean, spiteful and difficult to get along with.  Still other people make it known that they simply do not want our love!  The heart grows fonder of our fellow man, and closer to Christ's own Sacred Heart, when we learn to love everybody including the most unloveable. Personally, I've spurned a lot of "hate" in my own heart over the years.  I've purposely avoided individuals I simply couldn't stand!  I've had to pray hard, and change my thought patterns, in order to love the person.  As a priest once said, We can still love the person but hate the sin!  When we love others we show God that we love him, too!

Love with your soul   Love with the soul develops through a healthy prayer life.  When we pray to the Lord, and even ask for our Blessed Mother's intercession, we feel at peace.  It's easier to love God because we feel his presence.  We know he's very close to us.  At times we may doubt if our soul is truly in line with God's will, especially in times of suffering, burdens and struggles.  Rest assured God is with us!

Love with you mind   To love God with our mind involves reading and studying scripture.   It involves meditation on His Word and spreading his good news to others.  It means using our God-given intellects to understand the Lord more personally and intimately.  Our secular society wants to influence our minds by devaluing God, convincing us that we can be more successful if we simply do what we want without paying attention to moral attributes or even common decency.  We simply cannot love God with our mind if we fill it with trash!  Let us take out the garbage and clean our brain's wastebaskets.  Fill our minds with the pure love of Our Creator.  

Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind is something not unique to Christianity.  It goes way back to the time of Moses and our Jewish ancestry.  The Greatest Commandment seems to be on attack in our secular culture but doesn't have to be.  We can continue to honor this commandment by loving God and our brothers and sisters just like he loves us!

-J.

Repent or Perish

Saturday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel of Luke 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!"

Anyone who reads my blog regularly knows I'm a huge advocate for regular confession.  It's a way to clean out all of the gunk which builds up in our minds and hearts. When we confess our sins to a priest, and receive absolution, we unclog our pipes through the holy actions of God's Liquid Plumber!  Our faith, hope, and love flows more freely.

I tend to encounter interesting situations when it comes to my personal visits to the confessional.  Yesterday was another one of those "Oh my goodness" moments leaving me shaking my head.  My patience was tested once again.....

The confessional line was extremely slow.  People were really taking their time with the priest.  Normally the small chapel is quiet and reverent.  However, yesterday I felt like I was in the middle of a parlor room at a senior citizen's center.  So many people with wheel chairs, canes and walkers scurrying into line.  A few of the elderly women talked very loudly, unaware people were trying to pray. My head was splitting.  I'm always tense before confession anyway and not always in the best of moods.  I bit my tongue hard.  I really wanted to tell these old women to shut up! 

Finally, it was my turn in the confessional.  As the priest gave me final absolution, the door to the confessional suddenly opened.  An elderly woman shouted out, "Is this confession?  Father I'm ready to confess!"  YIKES!  Father told the woman that someone else is already in the room with him.  The woman didn't seem to care!  She proceeded to sit in front of the screen as her husband helped her through the door.  I didn't even hardly have room to leave because of this  woman and her husband blocked the door. (I happen to be sitting face-to-face with the priest behind the screen.) Let's just say I almost lost it.  But, fortunately Father witnessed my frustration.  (He knows me pretty well!)   He raised his hand and finished praying over me.  I scooted out of the cramped room carefully so not to trample over this woman.  What's really awful is she completely cut in line!  She came in from a side entrance ahead of three other people.  She didn't seem the least bit sorry!  I left the church shaking my head.  I couldn't believe what had just happened.  I pray when I'm elderly some day I'm not as rude as this woman.  She's got a lot of nerve.  

I certainly hope this woman repented for her rude confessional intrusion, but I'm sure it didn't even phase her.  I learn a lot more about patience and humility when I see people like this woman do inconsiderate and rude things.  It just goes to show our natural tendency to think more about ourselves, our needs and our wants.  It's difficult to repent when we think we've done no harm!  It's difficult to realize we have offended or done something out of line when we think we deserve everything according to our own preferences.

One of the sins that I struggle with the most is wanting people to do things a certain way and then getting upset when they don't meet my expectations.  I tend to make judgments without knowing all of the facts. It's a constant struggle for me because I don't want to be upset all of the time.  I don't want to think all people are ignorant and stupid.  I know what I want out of people isn't necessarily what the Lord wants out of them!  Maybe I'm not supposed to convince a certain person to behave a certain way.  Maybe I'm supposed to accept their flaws even if they annoy or inconvenience me.

Repent or perish - I certainly don't want to perish into the fires of hell because I let little annoyances get me bent out of shape.  I don't want to perish into eternal torture because I let impatience turn me into a mean-spirited person.  I just need to remember that God understands my weaknesses.  He sends annoying people into my life to test me; test my patience, humility and kindness.  

Saint Monica, Patron Saint of Patience, Pray for Us!

-J.

Don't Live in Weather Vain

Friday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

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Jesus said to the crowds,“When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"

Whenever a rain storm approaches, my allergies flare up.  My nose transforms into a weather vane indicating the direction of the winds, predicting the onset of storm activity. I sneeze and cough as my head pounds from the change in barometric pressure.  Feeling lethargic, I say to myself:  Come on, Mother Nature!  Just rain and clean out this air!  I feel miserable, and everyone around me thinks I'm getting sick.........

The appearance of the earth and sky  I imagine our Lord, after his sermon, silently praying on the mountain top. Rain clouds form high in the sky showering his head with water droplets. Jesus is annoyed by the crowds lack of understanding and frustrated they are experts in the weather, yet ignorant of the faith.  Jesus wants his children to love one another and care for one another.  He wishes for them to let go of sin (i.e. pride, lust, vanity) and live a holy life.  He hopes they will finally believe he is the Messiah - God in human flesh sent to convert and heal his Chosen people.

In modern day life, we often choose wrong over right.  We "value" concupiscence over chastity; anger over love; ignorance over knowledge; and even murder over life. Many of us live in our own weather-related "bubbles" with heavy storm clouds following us wherever we go.  If the sunshine does slip through every once in a while, it's difficult for us to tan ourselves under its brilliant rays.  Why don't we desire a blast of Vitamin "G" (God!) to get ourselves back on track? It's easier to remain pale and withdrawn, wallowing ourselves in our own personal dramas, than to open our hearts to Christ.

The present time   Social media promotes self expression and individualism but in ways that can damage us.  Yes, social media is good in many respects.  We are given access to information much more quickly. However, the rise of pride, vanity, and sensuality is a side effect.  Twenty years ago we'd never imagine a teenager building his self-esteem based on how many "likes" on Facebook or followers on Twitter.  We never considered young women advertising their bodies on YouTube with the question "Am I pretty?"  We never considered terrorist groups recruiting followers over wikis and underground Internet websites.  It's as if social media has created a more narcissistic culture.  It's all about me, myself and I; how I can be better than someone else; how I can look more attractive and more successful than another person; how I can be more anti-religious and more radical.  Qoheleth's words from Ecclesiastes "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!" come to mind when I think about the effect of social media on our secular culture.

Don't live in weather vain! Despite a secular culture, and obsession with online social presence, we don't have to live in weather "vain"!  We can decide to turn away from selfishness, and our egos, focusing more on living like Christ.  We can love and pray more.  We can be truthful and forthright.  We don't have to hide behind the clouds, masking our true selves from the world.  We don't have to wait until an earthquake or a tornado to help someone in need.  We don't have to wait for the floods to come, washing away all of the filth and stench in our lives.  We can make a conscience effort to positively impact the world through religious faith.  I'm convinced that if people were less self-absorbed and more focused on God some of our social problems would disappear.  Something to think about....

In this transition from summer to autumn, at least here in North Texas where the leaves aren't quite crimson yet and the rain is sparse, let us reflect on how we can allow Jesus to be more present in our lives.  Remember to use social media in ways that evangelize and spread the good news. As Pope Francis recently commented:  "The digital world can be an environment rich in humanity; a network not of wires but of people." People can positively impact the world!

-J.

Be Prepared

Wednesday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time


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Gospel of Luke 12:39-48

Jesus said to his disciples:“Be sure of this:

if the master of the house had known the hour

when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

A few weeks ago I received an unexpected phone call from my grandfather. He voiced concern because he had not yet received my monthly loan payment.  I looked at my online checking account, noticing the check cleared. Upon further investigation, I discovered the check had been endorsed by someone other than my grandfather!  It was a very bad forgery.  To this day we don't know if the check was stolen by someone in the Post Office or someone who received the wrong mail in his mailbox.  Sending checks through the mail for years, this was the first time something like this has happened.  Fortunately, within a short time the bank reimbursed the stolen funds.  Still I will always wonder, "How did this happen? How can a similar incident be prevented in the future?"

We must always be prepared.  We never know when something will strike us out of the norm. A severe thunderstorm may leave us out of electricity for days.  A sudden illness may leave us out of work for weeks. Our houses may be flooded or damaged by a fire leaving us homeless for months while rebuilding is underway......

At an hour we do not expect, the Lord may decide to take us from this earth.  Our death is determined, but we don't know exactly the number of years we have.  It may be a short span, like when we lose a child, or a great number of years like those lived by a centenarian.

How can we better prepare ourselves for when "life happens"?  How can we better prepare ourselves for when our time is up on earth?  How can we better prepare ourselves for when the Son of Man returns?

Pray  Not baby, wimpy, superficial prayers but heartfelt prayers from the inner soul!  Prayer unites us with God in ways that adore him, thank him, and honor him.  Amazing how when we pray we begin to discover ways we can help ourselves as well as others.  Prayer "prepares" us for the future because we become more aware of our surroundings.  We may  "smell" when things aren't going right.  Perhaps temptation is wrapping its arms around us.  But, a healthy prayer life can stop sin dead in its tracks.  Pray the rosary.  Pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament.  Pray during the work commute.  When bored with nothing to do, turn to Jesus in prayer!

Frequent Confession and Communion   Another powerful way of preparing our soul for the Kingdom of heaven, and our minds and hearts for life's difficulties, is through frequent confession and Holy Communion. Personally, I try to go to confession on a monthly basis.  If I don't have any mortal sins, I have no problems confessing venial sins I battle daily.  When it comes to Holy Communion, I find daily reception is the best even though it does not always work in my busy schedule.  If I can make one weekday mass and then every Sunday mass I'm set.  I've discovered that confession and communion give me the strength in preparation for what life sends my way.  I've had a host of annoyances happen this past month (i.e. the stolen check) but don't think of them in an over-dramatic way.  I know God is aware of the situations and will provide relief in due course time.

Humbly Serve Others  When we make an effort to help others, we better prepare ourselves to share eternity with Jesus in heaven.  He loves when we look after the widow and the orphan.  He smiles when we reach out to help the poor, the suffering and the neglected.  As we emulate Christ in His Way, Truth and Light, our souls benefit from the outpouring of graces.  Giving to others takes us out of ourselves. Serving others, without expecting anything in return, shows others that we authentically follow Jesus.  We wish for people to make it to heaven along with us.

Take a moment to reflect on how well-prepared you are when life happens. Do you take it in stride with God by your side, or do you complain and fret not knowing what to do?  Preparation of the mind, heart and soul isn't a difficult task.  It takes discipline and a change of thinking.  It takes an understanding that when we place God front center in our lives, we better prepare our souls for the Heaven waiting for us at the end of time.

“Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence.”

― Saint Pope John Paul II, Pray for Us!

Blessed are the Servants of The Lord

Tuesday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

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Gospel of Luke 12:35-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival."

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Ursula, patron saint of students and patronness of the Order of Ursulines founded By Saint Angela Merici.  I wish I had been raised Catholic as a teen and attended the prestigious Ursuline Academy in Dallas, TX.  Many of its alumni have gone on to become amazing leaders in their chosen career fields. I've never known an Ursuline woman who wasn't beautiful on the inside and the outside!

I really love the Ten Tips from the Life of Saint Ursula mentioned in a post on the "Backlit With Joy" blog, written by the Ursuline Sisters vocation team.  

1.  Dream big.

2.  Trust your dreams.

3.  Keep your eyes on the prize [Jesus] no matter what.

4.  Listen to you heart.

5.  Listen to the hearts of those around you.

6.  Surround yourself with others who love God.

7.  Be a bold disciple of Jesus.

8.  Be faithful to your call.

9.  Pursue holiness.

10. Hold nothing back.

To be a authentic servant of Christ demands a lot out of us.  We must be prepared for trials and tribulations as well as insults and indifference!  We cannot hold ourselves back when it comes to spreading the good news.  Our secular world makes it much more challenging, and often awkward, to live a life based on chastity, humility, charity, and love for others.  

I can see the anti-Christian sentiments raging on and on with words such as......

The world tells us to live big!  Be all you can be!  Do whatever you want when you want!  Spread propaganda everywhere so Christians will be too scared to practice their faith.  Allow people to fornicate and suffocate themselves into oblivion.  There's no such thing as a servant of God...it's more like a servant of the self.  The self rules!

Okay, yes, this is extreme.  Hopefully readers get the point....  All of the ignorance in the world, all the widespread panic, and all of the cruelty stems from a lack of care.  In a Christ "less" world, people don't see the beauty of the human being.  They only see the person as someone to use for another's benefit. 

I sometimes look back at the Middle Ages and think, "Wow!  So many Saints emerged from that time period.  The Christian church was still persecuted but society in general was much more religious.  What happened?  Why the downside?  Is it because Americans are wealthier than ever and value the dollar over the communion cup?  Is it because of hypocritical behaviors by a minority has caused  an aversion to religion in the majority?  Is it that people just simply don't give a crud anymore?"

We are servants of our employer; servants of our spouses; servants of our children; servants of our elderly family members; and even servants of ourselves!  However, why don't we become servants of the Lord, too?  I guarantee taking on such a role will help us be "servants" to others in a more compassionate and loving way.  We will begin to turn away from all of the worldly trash scaring us into useless worry.  We will see that there is a God watching after us.  Every move we make, and every breath we take, is guided by the works of the Holy Spirit.  When we serve others on God's behalf, we reap the benefits.  All of the negativity in our post-Christian world may still bother us, but we will not allow it to completely destroy us.

Take a few moments today to pray to Our Lord.  How can you become a better servant of Christ?  Keep your light lit and remain vigilant! 

Saint Ursula, Pray for Us!

-J. 

A Bountiful Harvest

Monday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

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“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’

A bountiful harvest    When I think of  a bountiful Autumn harvest, I see piles of freshly harvested  barley and wheat.  Orchards are loaded with apples. Pumpkins and gourds are ripe for the picking. Birds and insects flutter attempting to enjoy nature's bounty, feasting on its lushness, while a scarecrow stares nearby.  God's creatures relish in the beautiful and plentiful.

From season to season, the farmer may not know if his harvest will flourish. Some cycles are barren followed by years of surplus.  The farmer knows in times of plenty more money is earned; however, he also knows there is more food to share with others.  How foolish to stash precious perishables in a barn, rotting away uneaten.  How  selfish NOT to give away a surplus of crops to those in need - the sick, the poor, and the hungry.  Food is meant to be enjoyed for its nutrition and sustenance, not wasted.

Like the rich man in today's parable, the farmer may decide to build a bigger barn to store his bigger crop.  He may predict that all future crops will be just as abundant, securing prosperity.  But rest-assured.....God changes plans.  A drought, a flood, or some other natural disaster can yield a marginal crop.  Illness and misfortune may overwhelm the farmer to the point he can no longer care for the land.

God provides us with seasons of abundance and seasons of sparseness.  The ups and downs are meant for us to rely on God's providence and not our own selfish will. In both bad and good times, we are called to help our neighbor and acknowledge God's blessings.

Stored-up selfishness    I'm currently reading the insightful book  I Believe in Zero: Learning from the World's Children authored by UNICEF President & CEO Caryl M. Stern.  What's shocked me most is the extreme poverty in developing African and South American countries. We as Americans are often unaware that not everybody in the world is as modern and rich as we are.  We often take situations and people for granted.  Here I am blessed with not only basic necessities such clean drinking water, plumbing, electricity, a home, and proper medical treatment but also so many luxuries.  All of my possessions can quickly fill up a barn.  I sometimes complain that I don't have what this person or that person has.  However, when I think of what I have compared with the poor described in this book I realize I've got way more than I need.  I feel ashamed that I don't do more for the poor.  I feel embarrassed that I'm not always grateful for what God has blessed me with.  It's as if I've stored-up selfishness in my own soul, not always aware that others go without basic needs. 

Rich in matters of God   Rich in the matters of God sounds like a foreign statement in our Western world where money is power; power is success; and success is extravagance.  As we drink our Starbucks grande-sized pumpkin spice lattes, drive our luxury vehicles, and chat on our high end electronic devices, we sometimes fail to to realize that none of these possessions really matter in the eyes of Christ.  He rather see us living in a hut without electricity or running water if it means we are make him first in our lives.  Yes, this may seem like a miserable existence but this is exactly the situation in many developing countries.  Even though they suffer disease and malnutrition, poor children still dance and sing, happy and thankful for life!

What matters most to God?  Faith, Hope and Love.  How can we become richer?  Grow in holiness instead of selfishness.  Make a strong effort to live simply and humbly.  Cast aside greed and a desire for worldly possessions focusing on charity towards others.  A bountiful harvest awaits for those who follow Christ!

-J.

Interior Sacrifice

Thursday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

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Ephesians 1:1-10

In Christ we have redemption by his Blood,
the forgiveness of transgressions,
in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.
In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us
the mystery of his will in accord with his favor
that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times,
to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

This evening, I received an email from the head of Daily Mass ministers.  Due to the three cases of Ebola in the Dallas area, and a concern over the spread of the virus, communion under the precious blood has been suspended.  The last time wine communion was taken away happened two years ago because of a flu outbreak.  The cup didn't return for almost four months which caused an outcry from parishioners.  Nobody wanted to see this happen again......

I always keep in mind: Sometimes we must sacrifice routine, comforts, conveniences, and traditions for our own health and safety.  I'm not too thrilled communion wine is suspended, but I also recognize the preventative measure.  I don't think anyone wants the church shut down and quarantined because of an Ebola outbreak.

Interior sacrifice is an important aspect our Catholic faith. We must make a diligent effort to avoid temptation, casting aside our own selfish wants and "needs" in order to follow the Lord.  We must treat others with love, respect, and dignity. Interior sacrifice involves becoming "low" for a "higher" power, Jesus Christ.

Sometimes interior sacrifice is not an easy.  We don't want to give up ways of doing things. We prefer to go through life according to our own time table.  We become grumpy and irritable because a new set of rules impedes on our routine.

The ultimate interior sacrifice came from Jesus Christ when he died on the cross.  He didn't want to die but understood it was the only way to save our souls from eternal damnation.  It was all a part of the plan for our salvation.

Nobody knows how the Ebola crisis will end.  Hopefully, the health care workers infected with the virus will survive, and most importantly, the virus no longer spreads.  It's important for each one of us as concerned Christians to monitor our own health. If we're sick, stay home.  If we see someone else sick, advise them to seek medical attention.

On the flip side, we should not allow the mass media's coverage of the crisis scare us into mass hysteria where we begin to shut down all schools; avoid going to the doctor for common illnesses; stop going to church; or racially target people of African origin, blaming them for the entrance of the disease into the United States.

I will continue to pray for the Ebola victims and their families.  This is a horrible, horrible virus that's preventable, but it will take vigilant interior sacrifice.  Along with prayer we need to use common sense.  Stay safe!

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Pray for Us!!

-J.

Guided By The Spirit

Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church


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Brothers and sisters: If you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.....In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity,

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.




Today we celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Teresa of Avila, a Virgin and Doctor of the Church instrumental in reforming the Carmelite Order.  I love this quote from the Spanish mystic:

"May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing that you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and everyone of you.”   

 Saint Teresa's beautiful words resonate as I reflect on how we are guided by the Holy Spirit.   Many times we ignore the Spirit's prodding, choosing to do morally objectionable things through our own selfish will.   We fail to recognize how "works of the flesh" harm our souls  as well relationships with others.  We lose an inner peace that Our Lord desperately wants to bless us with. Stubborn sinfulness is all too pervasive throughout mankind.

We feel instant attraction to forbidden fruit.  (As the saying goes, we want what we cannot have!)  We lust after attractive men or women often to the point of treating them as objects, using them for our own gratification.  We idolize everything from movie celebrities to money and power instead of placing God #1 in our lives.  We display acts of hate, anger, and rivalry in ways that cause divisions and frictions with one another.  Furthermore, we often fall into the trap of believing in heretic teachings, "new age" thought, and quackery which distances us from the Truth of Christ.

The forbidden fruits of the flesh may taste delectable, smell fragrant and look beautiful; however,  they can be caustic to our souls.   To neutralize the caustic effect , it's essential for us to dine from the fruits of the Spirit.  Most of us rather snack on a cookie than a carrot; drink soda instead of water; and eat fried food instead of baked!  Junk food tastes good, but if that's all we eat we will harm our bodily health.  The same situation goes with our spiritual health; by engaging in sinful and perverse behaviors we cause damage to our souls.

Our interior souls are beautifully molded and crafted by God.  He wants our souls to be well taken care of.  He doesn't want us to choose  human pleasures that disconnect ourselves from Him.  When we love instead of hate, we see the goodness in another person.  When we strive for joyfulness instead of grouchiness, we bring smiles to others.  When we act with generosity and kindness, we bring hope to others.  When we remain patient and self-controlled, we no longer risk scandal and offense.

Most importantly of all, when we remain faithful in Jesus Christ we recognize a peace within ourselves and others.  This peace is often blinded by anxiety and worry, but through prayer and frequent reception of the sacraments we can overcome darkness and see the shining Light of Christ.

“Let nothing disturb you, 
Let nothing frighten you, 
All things are passing away:

God never changes.

Patience obtains all things.

Whoever has God lacks nothing;

God alone suffices.”

-Saint Teresa of Jesus, Pray for Us!

-J.

The Gates of the Soul

"O loving, tender Word of God, You tell me: 'I have marked the path and opened the gate with My Blood; do not be negligent in following it, but take the same road which I, eternal Truth, have traced out with My Blood.' Arise, my soul, and follow your Redeemer, for no one can go to the Father but by Him. O sweet Christ, Christ-Love, You are the way, and the door through which we must enter in order to reach the Father."  – Saint Catherine of Siena  

For almost a year now, as part of my Dominican study, I have been prayerfully reading Saint Catherine of Siena's The Dialogue.  Like Saint Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica,  Catherine's words run deep; deep into the creases of the inner soul.  I read each sentence slowly chewing on the meaning.  I'm often stunned at how much her words apply to modern day.  The Holy Spirit has an intriguing way of using her thoughts to nourish the reader intellectually as well as spiritually.  I find myself saying "Wow" throughout the text, wondering how much more wisdom we would gain if she lived to an older age.

In a continuous dialog with Catherine, God discusses the three gates of the soul:  the will, understanding, and memory.  The main gate is our will.  The other minor gates are made up of understanding and memory.  They are heavily influenced by the will.  

As I've read through Catherine's beautiful imagery regarding God's providence, I have some further reflections, expanding on her ideas.....

God never allows the gate of the will to be opened by Evil.  Devils, demons and other tempters can violently shake at the rod iron for all of eternity.  But it is firmly locked, and we are in "sole" possession of the key!  It's up to us, through the free will graciously gifted to us by God, to choose whether to allow evil to enter our lives or not.  The other two gates (understanding and memory) are heavily guarded by God.  In fact, he can open and close the gates of understanding and memory whenever he sees fit. Suffering, burden, pain, and discontent often walk through these gates, residing in our souls for a long time.  Depending on how badly we've allowed our free will to go against God's plan, the effects can range from minor to morally deadly.

When examining my own conscience, I often compromise my free will by judging others unfairly, becoming impatient in situations, and demanding perfection out of myself.  This leads to anxiety that Saint Paul often writes about in the New Testament.  I have difficulty letting go of this pent-up anxiety and useless worry.  This leads to a warped understanding of God's unconditionally love for me.  It leads to bad memories of times I've lost my temper.  It leads me to falsely believe I'm not a very good person in God's eyes.

Our free will always produces consequences, forever leaving an imprinted stamp in our understanding and memory.  Sometimes this understanding and memory gets mumbled and confused.  We can't figure out what God really wants out of us or what we want out of him.  It's as if all the soul's gates are flooded, washed out, and blocked.  Little trickles of sin enter here and there; evil becomes a daunting force; and the soul's inner goodness is threatened.

How can we escape the lack of understanding and the bad memories that overflow our daily thoughts?  How can we unite our free will better with God's will?  An essential solution is prayer.  Prayer is the best way for us to properly maintain the gates of our souls.  They can become rusty with hinges loose but can be rehabilitated to remain strong and protective.  We never want things to enter through the gates that damage our chances of entering into the pearly gates of heaven.

Our souls need regular cleansing and refreshing.  Regular reception of the sacraments can help eliminate the filth and the crud.  Trust in the Lord keeps us well grounded in His Truth.

For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your sons within you. 

 –Psalms 147:13  

-J.

Spiritual Snippet-- Songs of Angels (An Original Poem)

Once there was an angel who earned wings,

She was shy and quiet, scared of many things.

Why is she like this?  An archangel asked.

She's beautiful and angelic, a prize in God's eyes!

She's done good for the souls on earth,

Yet she feels bad, ashamed and hurt.

So many angels proudly sing,

Others play trumpets while bells ring.

She's not as talented, at least she once thought.

Until she joined the choir, her booming voice shouts.

Confidence at last! She said to herself.

Maybe being an angel is a huge perk.

I can help others in time and need,

With the Lord at my command at God's speed!

Never alone to do heavenly work,

A band of angels as my balancing framework!

No need to fear I'm not as good like the rest,

I've earned my wings now, it's time for a sing fest.

Songs of angels bring love and peace,

Beautiful voices proclaim God's majesty!

Amen.

Blessed Are You

Saturday of the Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

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While Jesus was speaking,  a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you  and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those  who hear the word of God and observe it.”

Today, we celebrate the Feast of Saint Pope John XXIII and the commemoration of the opening of the Second Vatican Council on October 11, 1962.   Pope John XXIII was a loving and humble  pontiff who advocated for human rights of the unborn as well as the elderly.  Having lived through both World War I and II, he saw discrimination and suffering first hand.   He is a perfect example of Jesus' invitation to hear the word of God and observe it.  As pontiff, he felt the need to begin a comprehensive reform of the Church, modernizing the liturgy with more active roles for the laity. This was quite a progressive initiative. If only Saint John XXIII  had lived long enough to see the fruits of his godly work.  He would have been pleased.

 In a prophetic light, especially relevant to October's Extraordinary Synod on the Family, Saint John XXIII said, "The family is the first essential cell of human society."   This essential cell begins formation inside the womb; the same womb that bore the Christ Child and brought salvation into the world.

Blessed is the Womb  A woman's womb is a wonder of creation.  It nourishes and protects new life.   For nine months, a baby grows and develops into a unique person; a brilliant combination of the mother and father's DNA.  The woman in Luke's gospel blesses the womb that carried Jesus and the breasts that nursed him.  A fertile womb was venerated in antiquity; fertility something cherished and nurtured; the more children in the household, the better, and the more hands to harvest the fields.

Interesting how children today are seen as a societal "burden" whereas in Jesus' time children were   essential to family survival.  In Jewish society, a barren woman was often cast aside, somehow "cursed" by God for disobeying the Commandments. Today a barren woman "by choice" could be an outspoken representative of the pro-abortion movement, highly praised for her decision to abort.  In antiquity, a woman giving birth to a large family was seen as a tremendous blessing since infant mortality rates were so high.  Contrast this with today's negative view of a large Catholic family: Why didn't they use birth control?  How can they afford so many children?  

Why is the womb a threat to some women?  Why does it no longer hold the dignity and respect it once did?  Blessed is the womb, but most importantly blessed is the fruit of the womb.

Blessed is the Word of God    The fruit of our Blessed Mother's womb, Jesus Christ, became human flesh.  It's hard to believe God became man out of unconditional love for us.  Throughout history we've habitually doubted him and broke his Commandments. However, God still decided to dwell among us on earth, saving our souls from eternal damnation.  Jesus worked with sinners out in the open fields - the most wretched of souls - preaching the Word among them.  However, it was up to believers to observe his teachings, not simply pass them off to the waste side.  As Saint Paul beautiful writes in the Letter to the Galatians, "For through faith you are all children of God through Christ Jesus.....for you are all one in Christ."  As a child grows in the womb of his mother, so does our faith grow through Jesus Christ.  We must nourish the faith, keep it healthy and vibrant.  God will continue to bless us abundantly with his graces.

If it wasn't for Mary's courageous "Yes" to life, salvation history would never have played out.  If Pope John XXIII never said "Yes" to opening the Second Vatican Council, our ordinary Mass may never have changed.  No one can deny the Lord's influence in placing important people on earth who perform amazing things.  Each one of these faithful servants hear the Word of God and observe it!

"Oh Jesus,  Son of Mary, our Brother and our Savior, by the mystery of the body and blood which you deigned to assume from the Virgin's pure womb and which we today renew on our altar, preserve for us the gift of the faith for the salvation of souls, for the prosperity and greatness of our people and for the glory of your name, which will be at the same time our glory and our joy, in this present life and in eternity. Amen." -  Saint Pope John XXIII 


-J.

Fighting Evil With Good

Friday of the Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

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Gospel of Luke 11:15-26

When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said:“By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand”?.....

While meditating on today's gospel reading, I can't help but think about the ISIS situation in Iraq and Syria.  The situation is dire and worsening even with US air strikes.  I pray daily for a resolution to the violence and oppression.  I've never understood how anyone can conscientiously KILL in the name of God.  It seems counter-intuitive to the concept of a God who cares and loves his creatures.  It's more like killing in the name of Satan; a broken angel who's mission is to destroy human lives. Throughout history, factions of militant groups have attempted to take widespread control of the world.  Think of the Roman Empire,  Ottoman Empire, Nazi Germany, and now militant Islam.

What if Jesus returned to earth for a brief visit?  What would he think about the social and human rights situations in the world today (famine, poverty, HIV/AIDS, Ebola, religious persecution)?  What would he think of militant Islam?  Would he relate to what we're experiencing in comparison to what he experienced when he lived 2000+ years ago?  I'm sure he'd relate and understand.  He died on the cross for the salvation of our souls but it doesn't mean life remaining on earth will be free of evil.

Christians are presented with the challenge to fight evil with good.  This means spreading love instead of hate; opting for charity instead of usury; and  protecting life instead of promoting murder.  Evil appears to have the upper hand, at least that's what the media wants us to think!  However, there still is a lot of GOOD in the world.  We have to try to focus on the good.  Goodness relieves anxiety whereas evil/bad thoughts only enhances it!

Turn to the Lord in times of stress.  Allow him to remove the evil and scorn from the heart and replace it with goodness and contentment.

-J.

Our Lady of the Rosary

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

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Luke 10:38-42

Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

Last week after daily mass, as I walked back to my car, a woman ran up tapping me on the shoulder.  When I turned around she held my hand and gave me a hug. She said with a heavy accent, "I received a text message.  My mother  just passed away.  Please  pray for her! Her name is Edna. " Then she ran toward her car.  I stood there in shock.  She wasn't weeping or sobbing uncontrollably.  She actually seemed frantically joyful!

Why did this woman stop and tell me about her mother's passing?  There were other people in the parking lot she could have approached.  She didn't know me and I had never seen her before.  I will always wonder what prompted her dialog.  The Holy Spirit once again in action....

That evening, as I prayed my rosary, I thought of Edna.  What was she like?  How old was she?  Had she been ill for a long time?  I imagined Our Blessed Mother wrapping the woman in her arms.  Edna made it to heaven, forever at peace.  She no longer worried about her pains and anxiety would no longer be a troublesome burden.

Edna, like Mary, chose the better part and it would not be taken from her.  Obviously, Edna left behind pious and humble children who'd always remember her legacy.  I never met this woman but I felt like I knew her for decades.  The bond of Christ's brotherhood and sisterhood is so strong that when one member passes we all feel it.  As Christians, we hope to make into to heaven, too.  God has chosen how long we will live on earth.  We don't know when it's our time to go, but while we are here we can make prayer and frequent reception of the sacraments as an important part of every day life.

Like so many other Catholics, I have fallen in love with the rosary.  I find praying it daily is a huge source of spiritual strength.  I'm much more calm, patient, and loving.  I'm less self-serving and more self-donating.  I'm more aware of the people around me; those suffering as well as rejoicing.  Days when I don't have time to pray at least one decade, I feel lost.  Normally the day doesn't go quite as smoothly.

On this feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary, we are reminded of how much Our Blessed Mother fights on our behalf.  We are much stronger, courageous, and charitable through her holy intercession.

Our Lady of the Rosary, Pray for Us!

-J.

Are You A People Pleaser?

Monday of the Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

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Galatians 1:6-12

Am I now currying favor with human beings or God? Or am I seeking to please people?

If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.

On Saturday night I attended Holy Trinity Seminary's Welcome Dinner.  It's a highly anticipated event where patrons celebrate the arrival of the new seminarians for the school year.  (75 new seminarians this year!) The highlights of the dinner are the wine pull and the silent auction.  This year I registered late, so I thought I'd sit in the back of the venue.  To my surprise, I sat at The Catholic Foundation table only a few tables down from the Bishop of Dallas.  My seat was right in front of the speaker's podium.  "How in the world did I get such an awesome seat?" I thought to myself.  "This is great!" I engaged in a terrific conversation with the attendees at my table.  It turns out they know my former dental hygienist from years ago.  What a small world! I never know who I will meet at local Catholic charity events or how I will relate to them.  Nine out of ten times we have something in common.

People vs. God pleasing   Oftentimes, people will attend an special event in order to network with others, make new business arrangements, and hopefully "curry up favors" from people with influential connections.  As Christians, we have to be careful not to people please, catering to another person's every little need in order to get something for ourselves. This isn't always healthy behavior.

I think of a woman who is in a co-dependent relationship with a boyfriend.  He may abuse and mistreat her; yet, she will not leave him.  She is committed to "pleasing him" in hopes he will change and begin to love her.  She doesn't have the courage and strength to break free of the destructive  relationship.

Another example of people pleasing involves peer pressure. Some teens, in order to fit in with the crowd, drink and use drugs; skip out on school; engage in promiscous sexual activity; or bully other kids.  Teenagers are desperate to fit in the crowd, so they are willing to do whatever it takes to be liked.

The people pleaser sometimes loses her own identity.  In a conquest for self-recognition,  she says "Yes" to requests that cause burden and stress. Helping others in need is a good thing; however, helping those who are chronically needy, and refuse to help themselves, isn't.

Becoming a God pleaser is counter-cultural but healthier for our souls.  Being a slave for Christ is something Saint Paul firmly believed in.  It means serving others in healthy ways that liven up our spirits and bring us closer to the heavenly father.  We serve others not out of self-righteousness but out of self-donation.  We love others not because they give us some benefit but because they are fellow beings created in the image of God.  We donate money not out of pride but out of sincere wish to help .  We pray for others, recognizing we are here on this earth to help and support one another.

Why not try to please God the next time you think about pleasing another person who is using, abusing or mistreating you?  Remember God loves you unconditionally.  He is there to protect you and spiritually nourish you.

-J.

Flush Away Anxiety!

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Philippians 4:6-9

Brothers and sisters: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God......Finally, brothers and sisters,whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.

I love the Letter to the Philippians. It's my favorite Pauline epistle closely tied with 1 & 2 Corinthians.  Saint Paul has an amazing way of grabbing our attention.  Sometimes I read his words and go "Huh?  What is he talking about? I don't get!"  Then I read them again and experience one of my "Ah ha" moments.  I love when scriptures speak to me in an intimate way.  Today's 2nd reading is one of those scriptural gems that I get excited about, especially when it's read at a Sunday liturgy: "Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God."

How often does anxiety cause us to make poor decisions?  How often do we worry ourselves into a state of physical or emotional illness?  How often do we allow our anxiety-induced bad attitudes to weaken relationships?  How often do we allow fear to stop us from making permanent changes in our lives?  The most important question of all:  How often do we request help from God instead of trying to "fix" everything on our own?

God doesn't want us to be anxious; however, the Devil loves to play with our fragile minds and hearts!  Anxiety is one of Satan's most effective diabolical tools.  He tries to keep us in a perpetual state of worry and fret so we will choose to turn away from God.  He can't make us step away from God's mercy and grace but he can darn well tempt us!  In fact, sometimes we may blame God for all of our useless worries.  We expect God to give us everything we want, when we want.  We pray for our material needs more than our spiritual needs.  It's easy to be anxious all of the time when we try to remain "in charge" of every nook and cranny, every hidden access point in our complicated lives.  (Well, seems like we make our lives more complicated than they should be!)

It's time for us to flush our useless and debilitating anxieties down the toilet!  Empty out the stench that floods our minds with endless worrying about everything going wrong.  Sometimes we even worry about things going right.  It's a vicious cycle of anxiety-worry-anxiety-worry that leaves us numb and exhausted.  How can we spiritually connect to our Lord when we don't let go of our anxieties and allow God to take control?

There's nothing more serene, peaceful and comforting than praying to Our Lord for the strength to become worry-free.  Lift up our anxieties to Him so that he can heal our hearts.  So many times we try to do everything on our own which only causes more stress.  When we petition the Lord in prayer, and thanksgiving, he is more than willing to help us.  He loves us that much!!

One great way to relieve anxiety is to help someone else in need.  It gets the mind off of our own problems and those "triggers" that cause us so much grief.  Many times other people experience problems much worse.  As Saint Paul writes, think about these things:

Whatever is true -   It's amazing how much anxiety is lessened when the honest truth is revealed. Tell someone how much you love them.

Whatever is honorable - Honor and cherish someone you love and respect, maybe a priest, a parent or a child.  Convert any nervous anxiety into a hardy hug and "Thank you!"

Whatever is just -  Instead of staying throwing a pity-me party because everything is so bad and awful in your life, volunteer for a just cause.  Work at a soup kitchen, donate clothes to a battered women's shelter, or help work with refugees.

Whatever is pure, lovely, and gracious -  Regularly receive the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Pray the rosary daily.  Explore the beauty of nature and wildlife.  Find ways to relax the mind in ways that will free anxiety.

God is always with us in the good and bad times.  He never wants us to live worrisome and anxious lives.  He provides us with so many spiritual tools to keep us bonded to Him.  All we need to do is utilize these tools (prayer, meditation, frequent communion, confession, etc.)  Let him take charge!  Suddenly the anxiety goes away because we know we are not alone to suffer!  God brings us peace through his unconditional love, mercy and infinite forgiveness.

-J.

The Little Flowers of Francis

Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi

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Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi and the traditional "Blessing of Pets." Saint Francis is well known as the patron saint of animals, the environment, and the country of Italy.  Also, we attribute the Stations of the Cross and the nativity to Francis of Assisi, one of the most popular saints in the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, when elected as the new Pontiff in March 2013, stunned the world by choosing the name Pope Francis.  Why did he do it?  His great mercy and compassion for the poor meshed perfectly with Saint Francis of Assisi's charism.  Saint Francis left a life of privilege to live a life of poverty.  Likewise, Pope Francis left his promising career as a chemist to enter The Jesuits, attracted to a religious life devoted to simplicity and poverty.

I recently finished reading Andrea Torniella's  Fioretta - The Little Flowers of Pope Francis: Heartwarming Stories of the Gospel in Action which details anecdotal stories about Pope Francis.  I was intrigued by the story of the Pontiff carrying inside his breviary a final will and testament written by his grandmother Rosa.  It reads like a beautiful prayer.  Rosa gave her grandson useful advice:

"....if someday sorrow, sickness, or loss of a beloved person should fill them with distress, let them remember the Tabernacle, where the greatest and noblest martyr is, and look at Mary at the foot of the cross, can make a drop of balm fall on the deepest and most painful wounds."

What if Job met Saint Francis of Assisi?   As I meditated on the first reading from the Prophet Job, I wondered what if Job met Saint Francis of Assisi.  I see Saint Francis as a comforting spiritual adviser, especially in light of Job losing his fortune and family under bad circumstances.  Job could use a shoulder to cry on; a pious man like Francis who cared deeply for the impoverished and needy.  In some ways Job and Saint Francis were very much alike.  They both knew what wealth was like.  They both "lost it all" - Job from misfortune and Saint Francis from a personal vow of poverty.   "Lost it all" is a relative phrase:  They lost it all materially but they gained it all back spiritually.  Despite Job's unfortunate life circumstances, he remained faithful.   Similarly, St. Francis of Assisi chose a life of strict penance and fasting, deeply devoted to Christ despite discomfort and hunger.

Little Flowers of Rejoice   I imagine little flowers of rejoice blooming throughout heaven. The Saints and the Angels celebrate when a new soul enters eternal rest.  Our Blessed Mother showers the soul with rose petals.  The soul hasn't been captured by Satan and destroyed.  The soul has safely arrived at the pearly gates, forever at peace.

We do not have to be a pope or a saint to scatter our own little flowers among our fellow brothers and sisters.  Through our personal stories, we communicate how the Holy Spirit has enriched our own lives.  When we spread the faith we are one step closer to converting a soul to Christ.  This soul may have been on the brink of ruin by the evil ones; serpents and scorpions ready to kill away all hope and faith.  However, through our Christ-like witness we can change (and even save) lives.

Smell and pick a few miniature roses from Christ's community garden.  Share Christ's message of love and charity with others around you.  Rejoice and always fear the Lord!

Saint Francis of Assisi, Pray for Us!



-J.