Friday, February 29, 2008

YouTube - They Will Know We Are Christians by our Love

love your neighbor AS YOURSELF!

USCCB - (NAB) - February 29, 2008: "Mk 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
“Which is the first of all the commandments?”
Jesus replied, “The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.”"


Those two words 'as yourself' often go un-noticed or get over looked by good intentioned Christians. We are so busy loving and caring for others that the person who gets the scraps from the heap is often us...and we think that we are doing a great and holy thing. Not exactly. We are to love others as ourselves...which means that it starts with loving yourself (in a balanced way of course). You can't love others if you are completly exhausted, drained and with nothing left. You need to fill yourself up first. Just like the airplanes tell you to do in case of an emergency...apply your own oxygen first and then attend to those near you. So...'fill up' on God's graces by partaking of the Sacraments (the Church is the 'gas station' that the Lord left for us, to keep us going until His return), develop an intimate and personal relationship with Him and allow Him to guide you forward and to show you what you need to do to better care for yourself and then others. That's our whole mission here! Simple...huh?

By the way...I have a small group of friends meeting regularly with me over at 'Spark People'...the group is called 'A Mother's Heart in Motion' and our whole purpose is 'To love God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength and others as our selves.(Mark 12:28-31) By taking up our daily cross and following Him. (Luke 9:23)'. We are learning to care for ourselves through diet and exercise, caring for our loved ones through frugality and simplicity and Loving God with our whole hearts through prayer and praise. If you are interested in joining us, let me know and I'll send you an invite.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

YouTube - Blessed

teach the gospel

USCCB - (NAB) - February 27, 2008:

"Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”"


You may be wondering how the 'teaches others to do so' may apply to each one of us...we are not priests or teachers...are we? Well the Bible does say "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9)." But we also'teach' by our own actions and inactions. If you aren't going to church then you are teaching your children something. If you aren't standing up for the sacredness of life or the holiness of matrimony then you are teaching those around you something. Like St. Francis of Assisi said "Preach the gospel always, If necessary use words."

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Our Ladys Message

Medjugorje Graces: Our Ladys Message 25-2-08 to Marija:
"Our Ladys Message 25-2-08 to Marija

'Dear children! In this time of grace, I call you anew to prayer and renunciation. May your day be interwoven with little ardent prayers for all those who have not come to know God´s love. Thank you for having responded to my call.'"

YouTube - You are My All in All

with our whole heart

USCCB - (NAB) - February 26, 2008:

"But with contrite heart and humble spirit
let us be received;
As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks,
or thousands of fat lambs,
So let our sacrifice be in your presence today
as we follow you unreservedly;
for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.
And now we follow you with our whole heart,
we fear you and we pray to you.
Do not let us be put to shame,
but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy.
Deliver us by your wonders,
and bring glory to your name, O Lord.”"


This is what the Season of Lent is about...turning back to the Lord with our whole hearts. Yes, we should be living like this year round...but in our humanity we stray off...the Church in her great wisdome has set up a little 'wake up call'.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Sunday Mass

St Joseph Home Page

Check out 'Mass this week' at the above link. If you look closely on the third rowe from the front, right center aisle...you will see my family(yep...as if attending Mass with two little ones isn't humbling enough...we now have cameras at church...lol).

Prayer Request

"I'm asking for prayers for Maria. We are in the hospital again with bronchiolitis. She's really been struggling to breathe and is on oxygen and breathing treatments.

Alicia Fazio"


Please pray for my friend Alicia and her baby Maria as well as the entire family...may the Lord extend His loving protection over them.

prayer request

"My aunt’s illness is progressing. Please pray that when the Lord decides to take her, she goes peacefully. She is not afraid to die. Her torment is that she will not see her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren again. Please pray for all of us who love her very much, this is a very difficult time for us.

Luisa Raleza"

YouTube - Marie Bellet in Ordinary Time

easy does it

USCCB - (NAB) - February 25, 2008:

"But his servants came up and reasoned with him.
“My father,” they said,
“if the prophet had told you to do something extraordinary,
would you not have done it?
All the more now, since he said to you,
‘Wash and be clean,’ should you do as he said.”
So Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times
at the word of the man of God.
His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean."


The Lord never asks for more then what we can give, or at least not more then His grace can cover. What is the Lord asking from you? Look around your immediate environment, your family, your church. Holly Pierlot's book 'A Mother's Rule of Life' has us doing just that and then formulating a 'rule' very similar to the ones used by religious sisters in convents. This is how the Lord is looking to bless us, through ordinary day to day obedience to His calling.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Prayer Request

"
From Mary Andreyo of Toms River, New Jersey

My son, Matthew for a spirit, mind, body healing. Also, that he can find a job he can handle and close by. Thank you"


Only noticed this prayer request today in our 'prayer book'...will you all please join me in praying for Matthew? Thanks and God bless.

YouTube - DON MOEN - I Need Thee Every Hour

YouTube - Come to the Rivers of Life - Don Moen

no more thirsting

USCCB - (NAB) - February 24, 2008:
"Jesus answered and said to her,
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again;
but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst;
the water I shall give will become in him
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”"


This Gospel was so timely for me...you see, all week I've been 'thirsting'...you know...that disquiet feeling deep down that leaves you un-satisfied and dis-content about everything and yet nothing in particular. Then your mind starts going and the 'if only' litany starts...if only I had a bigger house, if only I could manage the one I have better, if only I could lose more weight, if only my kids would listen to me...lol...and on and on. I know that I have a greatly blessed life, one that a huge part of the population would go to great lengths for...yet I manage to be less then joyful about it a great deal of the time. Maybe it is ungratefulness that is at the heart of it all...I don't know. Thankfully I've been on this journey long enough to at least recognize it for what it is...a spiritual drought...but how come? Why now? I'm sure the Lord hasn't moved away from me...but...was it me? Did I move? I am hardly aware of it at all...that's the problem...it's like playing around in the water at the beach and getting distracted...before you know it the current has carried you off quite a bit. My eyes cannot be taken away from Him...He is my spring of water...the minute that I 'disconnect' then I run dry.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

one little step in the right directlion

USCCB - (NAB) - February 23, 2008:

"So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him."

One little step from us is all that is necessary...our Heavenly Father does the rest.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

God's blessings...


USCCB - (NAB) - February 21, 2008:

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose hope is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters
that stretches out its roots to the stream:
It fears not the heat when it comes,
its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still bears fruit."


The Lord has a plan and a purpose for each one of us and if we only would listen to Him and obey Him, then He will see us through the tough times. You see...He doesn't promise us that we will never experience a 'year of drought' but He does promise that we can still continue to be fruitful in spite of it. Praise God!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

to serve


USCCB - (NAB) - February 20, 2008:

"Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”"


When we think of 'serving others' we often think of 'active service'...the kind that requires us to be able bodied and abounding in ample health...which leaves a very large section of the population unable to fulfill this command...or does it? How about small children, the elderly, the sick, the institutionalized? Can they be of service? Can we be of service when our health and strength fail? Well...let's look at that Crucifix again...that was THE MOMENT when Jesus performed the greatest service to us. There He was hanging on that Cross, His physical strength all gone, His blood dripping to the ground and once He drew His last breath that is when His most important job was done...the curtain between heaven and earth was ripped in two and salvation was won for us. POWERFUL! We are not Jesus though, so how can we weak as we are be of service? By following Jesus' example of obedience and offering Our Heavenly Father all that we do possess at the moment...God will do the rest!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

flower of carmel -Flos Carmeli

I've been pondering lately about this 'dual' calling that the Lord has put before me...the Contemplative world of the Carmelites and what at first glimpse seems to be a more 'worldly' call of the Charismatic Renewal. How do they fit together? Are they diverging? Do they unite at some point? So many questions that I've posed to Him. My answer came quickly and simply to me today. If Carmel is the stem, long and dignified with its deep roots and occasional thorns...the Charismatic movement then is the bloom...it reaches out to heaven with arms out stretched giving off its delicate aroma in worship and praise of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Mary then is the perfect model for both.

FLOWER of Carmel,
Tall vine blossom laden;
Splendor of heaven,
Childbearing yet maiden.
None equals thee.

Mother so tender,
Who no man didst know,
On Carmel's children
Thy favors bestow.
Star of the Sea.

Strong stem of Jesse,
Who bore one bright flower,
Be ever near us
And guard us each hour,
who serve thee here.

Purest of lilies,
That flowers among thorns,
Bring help to the true heart
That in weakness turns
and trusts in thee.

Strongest of armor,
We trust in thy might:
Under thy mantle,
Hard press'd in the fight,
we call to thee.

Our way uncertain,
Surrounded by foes,
Unfailing counsel
You give to those
who turn to thee.

O gentle Mother
Who in Carmel reigns,
Share with your servants
That gladness you gained
and now enjoy.

Amen Hail, Gate of Heaven,
With glory now crowned,
Bring us to safety
Where thy Son is found,
true joy to see.

article by Ralph Martin

Charismatic and Contemplative? What would St. John of the Cross Say?

Immaculate Heart


Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds)

: "Short readingJoel 2:12 - 13 ©
Come back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning. Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn, turn to Yahweh your God again, for he is all tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in graciousness, and ready to relent."


Geesh...why do we keep straying? God is so good, so patient, so mercyful...He keeps calling us back to Him. He wants our whole heart...not just some show of affection. Puritas Cordis...purity of heart! Meaning, a heart with no other attachments but God.

YouTube - I Offer My Life

true humility

USCCB - (NAB) - February 19, 2008:

"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”"

True humility is not about thinking of yourself as worthless but it is instead the deep knowing that without God you can do NOTHING! I've heard it said that 'God laughs when you make plans'...well, I don't know about outright laughter, but I can imagine a little chuckle coming forth from His lips right about now as so many of us are well on our way with our Lenten disciplines...then again...maybe you are all doing better then I am. You see...I get 'derailed' easily. Know what did it for me this time? a bug. yep...something so microscopic that it would be totally inconsequential if it weren't for the devestation that it can cause...the flu! I've been knocked out and dragged out of the race. I've been 'humbled'...not a bad thing in the long run I guess.

Monday, February 18, 2008

YouTube - Free Hugs Campaign.

give to get

USCCB - (NAB) - February 18, 2008:

"Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”"

When we find ourselves in a dried up phase of our lives where not much is being received (both physically and spiritualy), it is time to take a look at our 'giving'. What have we been holding back from the Lord and from each other? Never mind if others 'appreciate' it or not...you will get your merit...for you can never out give God. I don't know about you, but I for one want every single one of the blessings that the Lord has destined for me.

Friday, February 15, 2008

reconciling the family

USCCB - (NAB) - February 15, 2008:
"Gospel
Mt 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you,
unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother, Raqa,
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”"

healing the family

healing generational curses

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Fr. McDonough

Spirit Daily - Daily spiritual news from around the world:

"Please pray for major healer Father Ed McDonough, Boston, who died today:
Friday 2-8 Wake at Mission Church, followed by 8 p.m. Vespers Saturday the Mass 10 a.m."

I remember going to Fr. McDonough's healing Masses as a kid with my mom when he was still in Cambridge. He will be greatly missed.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

February Readings

Today's Mass Readings and Homily

This is a great list to print off and then get into the Word at your own pace.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

I like Mike

Mike Huckabee for President

Instead of going for who is most 'electable', I'm going for who the Lord is putting in my heart.

Praying for all those running for president as well as for all heading out to vote on Tuesday. Come Holy Spirit!