Grateful For Jesus

 Merry Christmas to All!

    It is my hope that all of you were able to attend Mass (whether in person or virtually) for this celebratory solemnity!  I also hope that this completed Advent Season has prepared your hearts for Love Incarnate!  You are all in my thoughts and prayers, as always.

    I'm not big on presents, but I thought I might share with you one, that I received.  It is a formatted, gratitude journal!  In spite of the restrictions and lockdowns because of Covid, etc. there is so much to be grateful for.  I'm sure you can name people and things that help keep you going.  But, more importantly, I invite you to reflect on your level of gratitude for Christ's birth.  It happened so many years ago, and yet it is still worth praising God for!  

    This Christmas Season, I invite you to look past the holiday food and presents, and visit Jesus in your nativity scene.  He has neither of these things (well, until the Wise Men came on Epiphany).  Look past the holiday decorations, and see Jesus for Jesus.  

    The Son of God, our Redeemer, comes into the world, to be a tangible Truth, because of His great love for us.  Merry Christmas!

Fourth Week of Advent

 

                Happy Fourth Week of Advent!  I decided to post via letter, to make sure I also reach out to those who are following the blog. 

                As we make the final preparations for Christmas, I would like to reflect on Sunday’s gospel, written by St. Matthew.  Though it had taken place nine months earlier, it brings us back to the Mystery of the Annunciation.  I see this scene as something the Blessed Mother looks back on, just before the day she gives birth to Jesus, our Savior, in Bethlehem.  Then I hear in my head different songs artists have written, like “Mary Did You Know?” and “Breath of Heaven.”  It brings me to this interior conversation with her, and asking “What was going through your mind?”  I must also add the question, of “What was going through St. Joseph’s mind?”  It must have taken a lot of faith and trust, believing that this child his wife was to give birth to, was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

                In reflecting on these questions, we can ask ourselves how we can respond with Mary’s same fiat, and St. Joseph’s humble submission to the will of God, in Christ’s birth. 

                Maranatha!  Come, Lord Jesus!

 

We're Open!

     This past Sunday, I had the great joy of being able to participate in the Mass inside my church.  What a joy to be home again!  I continuously pray an act of thanksgiving to God for this reopening, and I hope to never take it for granted.  I rejoiced in the "Glory to God," and remember that He promises to never leave us.  Even in the midst of turmoil and confusion, He is here among us.  Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ!

    I know that some of you are still celebrating the Mass outside.  It is my prayer that this incoming, cooler weather does not become a detriment for you.  I also hope that you are able to find a nearby, Catholic church that is able to open its doors to you.  It is not your parish's fault if you are unable to go inside your church.  May Jesus give you the strength to persevere during these difficult times.  Receive Jesus in the Sacraments of Confession and in Holy Communion, that you may have all the graces you need to strengthen yourselves in the Faith.  And in all things, may Jesus Christ be praised!

Word(s) of the Week

          And now for the Word of the Week: Holy Desires

          We have so many wants, preferences, and needs, don’t we?  Wants because we crave after something, preferences because we have an opinion, and needs because we are human.  They can be justifiable or selfish.  But what is it that we desire, for instance, for the good of others?

          Philippians 4:8 tells us “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

          Are our desires aimed toward the good of our peers and bringing them to Heaven?  Probably not all the time (I am included in this regard, being a sinner).  But we can still have great desires to love one another.  It does not come easy, but we can strive for it, right? 

          So, if we were to “wipe the slate clean,” what kind of desires can we pray for, and renew ourselves with? 

Lord, purify my desires.  Let them be honorable, right, pure, and lovely.  I want to bring others to You.  Work through me.  I want Your desires to be my desires too.

Keeping Watch Amidst the Storm

                 It was this previous Sunday’s Mass, and my parish was still forced to celebrate it outside on the school grounds.  As more and more people walked in with their folding/camping chairs, I hoped that they would remember to be reverent and only speak in lowered voices.  And they did.  Some chairs squeaked as they were unfolded, but that couldn’t be helped. 

                Mass began.  Ready to present the First Reading (from Isaiah), the lector approached the ambo and adjusted the microphone.  I prepared my heart to listen to the Word of God.

                But, just as she was about to begin, the cry of a nearby train shouted as it passed nearby.  Now remember, it was all the louder for the congregation, as we were outside and not within the enclosed walls of the church.  So the train was extra loud for us. 

                But the lector projected into the microphone, hoping she could be heard a little better.

                “Seek the LORD while he may be found, call him while he is near.” 

                It was a bold cry to raise our hearts to God. 

                There are many distractions and fears in today’s world, and the train is a sure example of this.  It can cause us to resort to our own devices.  But I repeatedly remind myself to remain in God’s Presence and to trust Him, despite the many storms.  As I mentioned in a recent vlog, we must bring Jesus to others.  We must also seek Him out, and be strengthened by the Sacraments of the Eucharist and of Confession. 

                We must remain vigilant before God, that He may reign in our hearts.  He comes in the abundance of His mercy and grace.  We must be like John the Baptist and “Prepare the Way of the Lord.”  God is faithful, and has not left His Church. 

                I do not like to get into politics on this blog, but let us continue to pray for one another.  Let us love our enemies, and that we may pass the test.  Let us remain confident and trust in God’s Plan, and be like Our Lady, who kept watch at the foot of the Cross.

                Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You!

                Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!

Our Lady of Sorrows

We just had a feast dedicated to Our Lady, and her Seven Sorrows.  Though I myself have had to renew my devotion to her (I struggle to get through a rosary on my own), I find something very special about this title.  While in religious life, I also considered her as “Our Lady of Fidelity,” as she was so faithful to her Son, divinely conceived at the Annunciation. 

More recently, I have added amidst my devotion to her the title of “Our Lady, Undoer of Knots,” which Pope Francis so devoutly revealed to the world at the beginning of his papacy.  I even went so far as purchasing a 9” statue for my little shrine at home.  I find in her a heavenly mother who looks upon each of my difficulties, and those of each person, with such care and intercession. 

But I have also learned that she is able to care for us because of her relating to our own sorrows.  Did she not follow her Son to Calvary?  Did she not hold His Body with a broken heart- - no!  a pierced heart- in her arms?  I cannot imagine the grief she must have been torn by. 

The prophet Simeon had told Mary, from the beginning, that a sword would pierce her heart.  And she did not run from it.  She pondered all these things in her heart, did she not? 

                I hope I am not “preaching to the choir,” but I found all these things about Our Lady and her motherly care to be so incredible, as I prayed different devotions to her throughout this holy feast day.  Let us pray that we too may be faithful, and ever remember that we are not alone.

Word of the Week!

                 Alright everyone, here is the Word of the Week: Faith!

                While considering what to write about Faith, it kind of started mixing in with the same meaning as trust.  Do we have faith, knowing that God can do marvelous things in our midst?

                I totally agree that we are living in difficult times.  But that is when we must stick to our values and beliefs as Christians.  What do I profess while saying (and praying) the Creed at Mass or during the Rosary?  Do I really believe, not just historical facts, but what Christ proclaims is Truth?

                There is a beautiful song by Ambrosetti called “Increase Our Faith” (though it is difficult to locate on YouTube because of a similar title by Haas) that asks God to just this.  “Lord help us to believe.” The music and lyrics are a beautiful opportunity to reflect, and asks the Holy Spirit for this very gift.

                Sometimes, it is okay to be like the doubting Thomas.  It is a lesson that Christians have held on to for thousands of years.  It can be good, as children of God, to be stretched a little, what and who we place our trust.  Do we believe that God is still present among us, in spite of everything going on around us?

                “Increase Our Faith, oh Lord!”

Authentic and Known

                 Congratulations, you get a bonus reflection this week!

                I really enjoy researching and reflecting on “holy words” like love and humility.  Another word that I recently found intriguing, came from within the word humility, and that is authenticity.

                I picked up a new book for spiritual reading that I was not too familiar with, though I know who the author is.  It is called Chasing Humility by Joel Stepanek. I just finished the first chapter, and boy is it insightful!  With my own journey of recovering from depression and anxiety, I was engrossed by the way he spoke of authenticity.  It is not about trying to be admired and accepted by others, such as living a “double life” with different sets of peers.  It’s about being how God sees us. 

                I’m still in the works of finding authenticity, acclaimed in other religious resources.  In fact, I believe it is something repeatedly sought after, throughout one’s life.  As Joel Stepanek writes, sometimes it looks like people have it all together.  They only show themselves as happy people, shying away from appearing with faults or the slightest mistakes.  But is it not human to have both good and bad days?  Weaknesses and strengths?  Lessons learned?  As followers of Jesus Christ, there is that sense of on-going discovery. 

                Who am I called to be, and am I living up to it? 

                Prior to and while having an anxiety disorder, I have had big dreams for myself.  Some of them I have already been able to accomplish.  Going to a World Youth Day, visiting the grotto at Lourdes, entering a cloistered monastery….  Even something as simple as running down a hill is self-fulfilling!  These are wonderful interests I find joy in, though there have been a lot of realizations of going after what God wants me to do with my life. No, I did not spend the rest of my days in a cloistered monastery, but I am now happy with my boyfriend.  Sure, my depression can make life feel blah, but I learn to focus on what can distract me from those melancholy days.  My anxiety often makes me fall short of my potential, but that does not make me less faithful to my Lord and God.  Yes, I love volunteering, but what about trying out for an internship in my ideal field of work?  What about getting that novel published?  What about getting past the camera and actually giving talks before a live audience again? 

                Amidst all of this soul searching, guess what I came to realize?  God wants us to be happy!  So yes we can celebrate our accomplishments, and we can look at what we can do for God now.

                What I am telling you, I am also telling myself: never let yourself fall short of living out an authentic, Jesus-loving lifestyle.  And keeping learning!  I am sure I have a lot more to learn myself, about this ever-true way of life, as I continue to explore the meaning of authenticity.  And, as St. Francis de Sales once said: Be who you are, and be that perfectly well!

Word (and Lesson) for the Week

                Hi there!  I took a little more time than usual to study up on the chosen Word for the Week, and that is Hope.

                We can “hope we make it in time,” “hope we pass the exam,” or “I certainly hope so…”  But the way I have been seeing it is not just as a wish, but as a virtue to be practiced.  It can push us through the hardest times, when maybe hope seems to disintegrate and decrease the possibilities in life.

                From my own experience, I have to push for hope, regarding my recovery from depression.  I am still set on that it would “certainly be nice if I could overcome this!”  And that is where I choose to hope, despite any lack of hope I might have.

                Brene Brown, an expert on the topics of vulnerability and shame, says in the midst of many examples in an article, that “Hope is a function of struggle.  People with the highest hopefulness have the knowledge that they can move through adversity.”  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jul/27/brene-brown-people-sick-being-afraid)  This takes lots of courage, which is also a shift in the face of the vulnerability she speaks of.

                There are plenty of occasions where all I can do is hope despite all the feelings of hopelessness.  That is why it is so important to reflect on and have a plan to practice Hope.

 

Word for the Week!

                 Welcome in, September 2020!  Let us see how this month turns out. 

                The Word for the Week is Patience. Like I have said before, I do not choose these words because I am a pro.  This one in particular is something that I have had to keep on relearning.  We live in a fast-paced world of getting things now, now, now!  From a positive perspective on this, there are plenty of opportunities to practice Patience. 

                How can we take on this virtue and let go of our high expectations and demands?  Will our priorities change if we know how to cope, in this art of waiting a little longer? 

                Lord Jesus, thank You for the given times for practicing Patience.  Let me not only see these golden opportunities to practice it, but to also help me know how to endure it with a smile.

                Peace!

Word of the Week: Embrace

This week, I thought we could reflect on the word embrace.  We all have fears, joys, and everything in between.  What if we learned to observe and embrace these feelings, taking them on as part of the human experience?  

As I have mentioned before, I am practicing the Word for the Week too.  In this case, I know my first response to the negative is discouragement.  But what if I learned to accept and embrace both the hardships and good things in life?  They are filled with opportunities!  Let us learn to embrace them.

Word of the Week: Inspire

     Today’s word for the day is Inspire!  What keeps us going?  A motivational speech?  A word received from the wise?  I know, with me at least, it is good to keep inspiration up front.  This week may be a good time to notice the inspirations that drive us to our goals. 

     So be inspired!

Word for the Week

 Today's Word for the Week is Acceptance. Sure, it is easy to take on the things that go our way; but what about the more difficult things? Like the times we run behind schedule, or forget to buy something on our grocery list? We must always strive to do our best, but we must also remember that we are not perfect.

Please join me in reflecting and recognizing how we can accept the harder situations.

Present in Adoration

I have started making a habit of going to my parish’s adoration chapel after a day of volunteering.  Having gone so long without showing up, due to the virus, it helps me to unwind from the hustle of clerical work and serving clients at the Center.  What a difference it makes to say hello to Jesus!  Although we have to social distance even in this designated room, there is still that sense of awe and reverence. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ, present in the mystery of the Eucharist, waits for us.  And I believe that it is in these times of isolation, dread, and annoyance, that we need Him the most.  He wants to be there for us.  And we also need to be there for Him.  Sure, we cannot always gather as a community, but we can still raise our eyes to Heaven and make a spiritual communion.  Even better, we can receive Him during the celebration of the Mass! 

Thank You, Jesus, for being present among us.  Give us hearts of peace, rather than hardness, during these days of fear and isolation.  Show us how to be present to You, as You are present to us, in so many ways.  Amen! 

Live Jesus!

7/23 First Reading

              In today’s First Reading (Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13), God speaks through the prophet words of chastisement, as the people have ceased in seeking Him.  “The prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after useless idols.”

                I have found that these verses helped me reflect on my own life, and using them as a means to examine my conscience.  Have I stopped relying on and trusting in God?  What idols are distracting me from the fullness of life in Him?

                Now is the time for reconversion, renewing our relationship with God.  Now is the time!

Forgiving Myself

            I was reflecting on the Gospel earlier this week, from daily Mass (Matthew 7:1-5), and I would like to expand on it a little.  Jesus speaks about not judging others and to humble ourselves; because we probably have similar faults!  (Yep, we are all sinners, and we all have that “splinter” in our eye.)  I think about the times I have made a quick, mental assumption about a friend or family member.  I catch myself being agitated with the situation and want to blame it on their response, rather than taking responsibility for my own behavior.

            When it comes to having an open conversation about what’s really going on and communicating what each other is thinking, I remind myself that it is easier to give them the benefit of the doubt, the next time around.  They really didn’t mean to make me upset or to feel hurt.  But the hardest part I find in making up for my own mistakes is that I often beat myself up, when it is I who is really at fault rather than them. 

            I invite you to take a moment to reflect on this particular “attitude.”  (I don’t always appreciate this term myself.  So if it bothers you, replace it with another word that changes your perspective towards yourself and others.)

Am I willing to forgive and provide myself with the same, compassionate way I forgive others? 

            I find it does no good beating myself up over it.  I know I am still working at this.  The areas where I often fall short causes me to have a lot of anxiety over being “less perfect.”  (Again I say, no one is perfect; so remember to be patient with yourself!)  How harshly do we reprimand ourselves?  Since it gets us nowhere, I find it is better to learn from the mistake, correct it, and not take it so seriously.  Sure, there can be serious mistakes; but what about that time I made a wrong turn while driving?  Or stumbled over one of my talks?  Does that make me a “bad person?”  No! 

            It isn’t always easy to stop judging, especially myself.  But I hope these examples find you more self-compassionate and ready to move forward from what was tripping you up.  I pray for your perseverance.  I hope this insight gives you time to examine and reflect on life’s daily grinds, and to remember that we are all in this together!

“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself.  Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them- every day begin the task anew.” – St. Francis de Sales

Feast of the Holy Trinity

                Happy Feast of the Most Holy Trinity!  It is truly a delight for me to be joining in the celebration of this particular Sunday on the church calendar, as my alma mater in high school was named after the Trinity!  So Happy Feast Day graduates! 

                In today’s First Reading, we learn in the Book of Exodus how God wanted to describe Himself to Moses and the Israelites.  First, as I Am, and then later on in exclaiming:

“The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.”

                He is approachable and ever ready to forgive.  How have we imagined God in the past?  This may seem like a review of what I have spoken of before (e.g. who is God to you, and who is He really?)  But I think this is really important to tap in to our prayer lives.  Let God reveal Himself to you. 

                Have a blessed week!

Seeing God As He Is

     What a week!  And now entering into the three-day weekend!  If you get a chance to reflect on this blog entry, I thought I might help you seek out who you see God as.  I have noticed in this past week’s daily readings that the use of Psalm 47 is used at least three times!  What struck me in it was the word King David finds best to see God as: the awesome!  It caused me to think of the way I use this word to delight in an accomplishment or in receiving exciting news:

     “That is so awesome!”

     Yep, they used that word way back then in the OldTestament too!  J  But the real question is: how do you describe your relationship with God?  As a personal example, I appreciate seeing God as “Father.” 

     As we use different titles of praise and reliance on God, know that He did not altogether leave us during the Ascension.  He sent the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, that He may continue to live among us.

     Have a great weekend and be safe!

Choosing to Keep Believing

Welcome back to in-the-presence-of-God blog; I truly hope that everyone has stayed well during this historical virus.  I realize a lot of people have different perspectives, from accepting it, to feeling terrified.  This is all due to experience or situation, and I would like to encourage us (including myself) to pray fervently for our priests and our fellow Catholics.

What with the dispensation from the sacraments (sharing in the Eucharist and Confession), we can increase our longing for God.  We must not let our relationship with Him go lax.  I agree, it is more encouraging to live out the Faith within the support of community; but we live in fear and separation right now. 

Please, go online and look up the Prayer of Spiritual Communion, pray the Chaplets of Divine Mercy and the rosary.  Now is not the time for despair, but of confidence that God is getting us through this mess.  Send a greeting card to your pastor, showing gratitude and encouragement while he Livestreams the Mass in an empty church.

Now is the time for faith!  Don't miss the opportunity.

Going Forth

     All through Holy Week, some of my family members kept a candle constantly burning.  Once one candle burned all the way down, (with the help of a glass holder, a stand, and some foil underneath it,) it was replaced with another one.  The same goes with our Easter celebration.  It goes on in the octave of eight days, goes forth with Our Lord’s Ascension into Heaven, and then we are blessed by the solemnity of Pentecost. 

     Our joy of the gospel must always be fed, and we must never stop bringing it to others.  As the priest or deacon says at the conclusion of Mass, “Go forth,” we must go forth bringing the nourishment of the Word and of the Eucharist to others. 

Don’t let the fire in your hearts burn out!  Jesus is Risen, and we are inspired to bring this joy to others.  Alleluia!

Holy Triduum

    I have wondered if I should sit at my computer and write all of you during this Holy Triduum.  I won’t say much, but I hope that you are able to take the time to contemplate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord, Who cares deeply about us.

A Time for Faith, Hope, and Love

          We are approaching Holy Week… with a highly contagious virus floating in the air.  Masses and devotionals are being live-streamed and latex gloves are worn when touching anything beyond the house.  Personally, I’m not sure if this is a direct message from God, but I do know that there is a great need for faith, hope, and of course love for each other.  I would also like to add that the Church very recently commemorated 15 years since Pope St. John Paul the II’s death.  I love his timely words when he once said, "I plead with you--never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid."

          As we reflect on the passion, death, and resurrection of Our Lord, let us know Who to turn our hearts to.  We must follow all directions to stay healthy, but we can also do it in peace.  I know from day to day experience that is hard to live without anxiety emotionally knocking me over.  But I also know that Someone is here, caring about our well-being.

          Jesus, I Trust in You!

Bringing Jesus to Others

            So, I learned yesterday that Masses and ministries will be closed, according to the advisement of many bishops throughout the United States because of the worldwide spread of the Corona Virus.  My own parish is given this same order by our bishop.  Naturally, many people in my parish are crushed by this decision.  Yes, we don’t want this pandemic to spread, but there is this ongoing thirst to experience Christ in the Eucharist.  But, just because we don’t have ministries or worship, does not mean that Our Lord is not present among us.

            I must confess that I failed on a couple of opportunities when I went to Soup and Stations at my parish the other day.  There weren’t as many people there, and a couple different arrivals were eating, set apart from everyone else.  I was moved to sit with them, but decided against it because of my own personal anxiety.  I regret not having moved over there to talk to them as each person sat alone by themselves.  Is this gathering not to bring people together?  In praying the Stations of the Cross afterwards, the words brought out the seeing Jesus in everyone, especially in His suffering and our call to be compassionate.  Yes Jesus, I failed to approach You in Your loneliness in my brothers and sisters. 

            We may not be able to join together as much as we would like, because of the virus; but we can smile at one another, pray with Jesus in His set apart Agony in the Garden, and be strengthened in the redemptive suffering of Jesus.

A New Perspective

                For at least the past few weeks, I have felt like I land on a Wednesday and wonder “Where did the week go?”  Further, it would be mid-morning and I was already looking forward to the evening.  With this attitude, a month would quickly pass by.  I say all this from experience, and I wonder if anyone reading this over-anticipates as well? 

                I’m beginning to retrain my mind to live in the present moment, and with gratitude.  I remember days in the monastery where I would pray, “Thank You Jesus, because it’s Monday!”  So I wish to make this my resolution.  There are exciting things coming up, but I will not let it keep me from focusing on the present things I am doing right now, in this room, in front of my computer.  A whole nother perspective is discovered this way, whether the day is anticipated or not.  And that is also how I can let God into these times.

A Wake-Up Call

                I like to be creative and decorate my own notecards.  I have a few leftover that I was not able to give out this past Christmas.  With pastels for the background, I used calligraphy to write “Now is the Time.”  Talk about having a Christmas card to wake you up!  I didn’t always know why I made some of them like this, but I can also appreciate the challenge I could give to people.  It is a summoning for anyone whose path it crosses, to restart life, real and ready.  And isn’t Jesus’ call to His disciples an example of this?

                He called people to “repent and believe in the Gospel.”  He strengthens our belief by performing miracles and making a difference.  It is my hope that every Christian, including me, always finds time to start over every time we need a “makeover” and build up His Kingdom.

The Gift of Baptism

            On this blessed Sunday, we see Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist.  As a quick note, it was not necessary, but Our Lord wanted to set an example for us, and the importance of making us Children of God. 

            I have recently read from other sources that it is also important for us to celebrate our own baptisms.  My niece will be celebrating her first anniversary soon, and I intend to also celebrate this precious day, as her godmother.  What can we do to make this day special?  Spending some time with Our Lord in Adoration can allow us to observe this day head-on. 

            Lord Jesus, thank you for instituting the gift of baptism!