May 8, 2017
Tell the Good News
The other day, I was speaking with my son via Skype talking about the little things and enjoying seeing my grandson. All at once, his eyes get big and his voice changes and he begins to admonish me for posting on Facebook articles and proclomations regarding my Christian Faith. He’s like “WTF is all that crap you’re putting on about Jesus? That has to stop!” I’m like “What?” Then I told him that I am free to put what I want on when I believe in something so strong and he has no right to tell me what to do.
It bothered me a bit until I read this morning’s reflection in Focus Your Day. This little episode was brought to mind after reading. Here’s an excerpt:
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others do?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my lambs.” –John 21:15
The reflection to this piece of scripture goes on stating that in declaring thier love for Jesus, the apostles were putting themselves at risk but since Jesus meant so much to them personally the apostles were unable to keep quiet about Him. While today, we may not have the same threat (crucifixion) as the apostles did, we are in a sense “crucified” by words and actions of others. Those of us who want to yell from the rooftops our Love for God and Jesus that we are pressured to keep quiet lest we become vulnerable, ridiculed and tagged as being a bigot.
Many of us do keep quiet, unfortunately, Why? The reflections goes on to state: “Why are we unwilling to share with others what God means to us? Without this kind of sharing, we miss something of God’s presence.” This is a shame. If we are vulnerable, we can better listen to the voice of God in our daily lives and bring Love into our lives and the lives of others. Why is Love considered to be bigotry?
We must be courageous in these times to shout from the mountaintops our Love of Jesus. If we love Jesus, then we love God and then we can show what real Love is to others.
So, no my son, I will continue to post on FB what I feel and to proclaim my love for Jesus. You do not have to read these posts but I hope you do. If you are ashamed of me, are you ashamed of Jesus? Reflect.
God Bless…
April 10, 2017
Gratitude
Jesus spoke up, “There were ten men who were healed; where are the other nine?” -Luke 17:17
In all the gifts that God gives us, are we really grateful? As we ourselves are gifts of God, we can add a profound dimension to the way we understand ourselves, other people, the world around us if we are grateful for all that we have.
My reflections from reading Focus Your Day by Kenneth E. Grabner, C.S.C.
In our everyday life, God usually reveals himself in ordinary ways. Dandelions are more prevalent than roses but are the bees first food in the spring. The sun rises and sets every day but if we really look at the colors that shine forth from such events, we can see and hear God, if we really listen and look. If we are always waiting for someone or something else, we will miss out on events that can change us or that can have us meet God.
August 7, 2026
Triple command
Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me, for whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ” Matthew 16:24-25
We have three things that we must do in our life 1. Deny ourselves 2. Take up our cross 3. Follow Jesus
Three seemingly simple tasks…but are they? 1. To deny ourselves means to give up our selfish ways. We must learn self-denial….give up that extra cookie, that glass of wine or, greater still, don’t buy that car and use the money to help the poor…it’s not so easy then. How about getting up an hour earlier, denying yourself that extra hour of sleep and dedicating it to prayer? Difficult isn’t it? I’m guilty and I personally need to work on it more. What’s important is that we begin to today. We will never be perfect and God doesn’t want that…he wants only that we try and make a commitment. 2.Take up your cross: Not literally but those “crosses” (things that bother us, annoy us, cause us pain, anguish…the hard things). Let’s accept the daily annoyances, that person who gets on our nerves. Offer them a smile and say a prayer for them. Maybe we are ill and in pain. That is a big cross but if we can unite that pain with the pain Christ felt on the cross, it becomes bearable. Just start your day with a prayer to accept those things which we cannot change or are difficult.
I remember from the film “Noah”…Noah’s wife is eating in a restaurant and asks the waiter (Morgan Freeman in the role of G*d), venting her frustrations about her husband. Now, this has since remained with me…I’ll paraphrase the response G*d gives her: When a person prays for something, an opportunity is given to help the person achieve the goal of the prayer. These opportunities can be looked at as crosses because they often require perseverance, patience, and love.
3. Follow Jesus: seems the easiest, but it is actually the hardest. Those who really follow our Lord are spat upon, derided, tempted, etc. Following Jesus requires a daily decision to seek him out through prayer, denying ourselves and taking up our cross. It’s a circle that one does not exclude the other but with Jesus, it is all in vain. Did you know that there are more Christian martyrs now than ever? Would you be willing to die for Jesus? Think about that for a moment
Nature in the abstract 