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.