Glimpse of God for Christmas 2023

This week’s glimpse is based on my own reflections, so I hope that it is helpful with your Christmas season prayer. With that there are no daily reflections, just my thoughts.

Mary was visited by an Angel.

Mary had faith in God in God and his promises Joseph held on to hope that things would work as God wanted them to the shepherd’s great love for God and his message and they gave up all in search of the Savior. Mary visited by the Angel Gabriel and was told that she was chosen by God to be the mother of our savior, the Messiah. She knew about the promise of a Messiah, as she was a very learned Jewish girl. She grew up in the temple and later with the stories the visitations constantly told by her parents Anne and Joachim. In her question of How can this be? She was not asking for a sign or seek proof, but rather to come to a greater understanding of what he was saying. She could not fully grasp what the angel was telling her and in her heart she thought, why me? can this be true?

How often when things happen to us and we find ourselves saying, why me? could this be true? how am I to respond?

Mary’s response to the Angel was not one seeking a sign or proof out of doubt but she wanted to come to a greater understanding of the Angel’s message. The Angel told her that the Holy Spirit will overshadow her and she would conceive a child and he shall be called Jesus, the savior, the Messiah, our Redeemer.

Often when we live through some very painful and unexpected situations, we then start with the why's, could this be true, am I being punished? Or when we are blessed beyond our imaginings, we even question why. How can this be, how come I am so fortunate, and others are not?  there are so many others who are suffering how come or can I be so blessed? Whatever message God has given us, what are we being invited to do that will build up His kingdom here on earth? If we are called to carry a heavy cross, we are given the strength and grace by God to carry it knowing that we are never alone.

Mary believed this and trusted in God and in that trust, she said YES, she gave her FIAT that began our salvation. Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, and she conceived the child.

I believe that we can, if we try to, recognize how in our life experiences where and when we were overshadowed or embraced by the Holy Spirit and received new life. The new life that was conceived within us were his gifts of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, fortitude, counsel, piety, and fear of the Lord. How do we know that we received his gifts? It is by the way we share his fruits of joy, charity, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, chastity, modesty, and self-control, with others.

We receive these gifts from the Holy Spirit who is alive and well in our life. I believe that what we desire is to be a greater reflection of these gifts and fruits as was Mary.

Through Mary's intercession, as we imagine being overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, what we can see within, it's what we give life to it is our better self, our stronger self, our deeply rooted self in Christ. No matter what we are called to do, or cross we are called to carry, we are invited to ask for Mary's help, her never-ending intercession, knowing that it's always available. Mary said yes, we say yes not just once but every day when we recognize how God has chosen us to be his witnesses in the world beginning in our home, in our community, and on our world.

Mary was the first living Tabernacle. She bore the savior and not only gave Him life but gave us all new life in Christ. As members of the body of Christ, each time we receive the Holy Eucharist, we are also a living Tabernacle. Christ dwells in our heart and we are enlivened with His grace so that we are not an empty vessel but a but a living Tabernacle filled with God's grace to be his living witnesses to all those we encounter. Mary's eyes and heart were open to God and his message that the Angel delivered. The Angel delivered God's message to his servant Mary, and she accepted it, and lived it out. We sometimes have our eyes and hearts closed due to fear, anxiety, and stresses of daily life, yet God knows our hearts and understands and recognizes our weaknesses.

So as we think about closing our eyes and heart because we are afraid, take a moment to remember that in the darkness, God's light shines even brighter so when you open your eyes and heart His light will be the beacon that leads you and others to the Christ child.

 

Joseph was visited by an Angel.

After Joseph decided to divorce Mary or put her away to avoid her from being stoned to death an Angel appeared to him and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife. At first, I am sure that he was not only startled, but more confused and probably thought that he was going nuts, but once he realized the  Angel was from God, although he still did not understand his role in this miracle, he trusted that God would show him what he needed to do, he was happy and at peace.

Joseph, prior to the dream, was content and sure that he could provide for Mary, as a Carpenter and his work had and would be their livelihood. He was concerned because he knew that Sacred Scriptures said that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, but they lived in Nazareth, and up to that point had no intention to travel that far.

But then the census came out from Caesar Augustus. Everyone, no matter what, even the blind, lame and even pregnant women had to return the city of their fathers and there be counted. Joseph prepared for the long journey and tried to console Mary by telling her that the ancient prophecy was being fulfilled, in spite of their wishes, was coming true.  So, at this news and obligation, Mary and Joseph prepared to leave for Bethlehem, which was 50-mile journey that would take at least five days. The physical journey of Mary who was about to give birth and traveling to a land not known, and Joseph who was afraid that about the safety of the baby began.  The spiritual journey of faith, trust and hope continued.

After the journey was completed and they arrived in Bethlehem, they were faced with the reality that all the inns and everything living space was filled with folks and there was no place for Mary and Joseph to go to have the baby. But they were offered a cave that they could have the baby, it was where the animals were kept warm. That was all that Joseph had. As the husband he felt that he disappointed and failed both Mary and Jesus, he wanted the best for her and the baby, but he accepted what was placed before him trusting that God placed it there and all was going to be well.  

How often do our thoughts and ideas go off track? we think we know how it should be? we think we know what's best for us, but then we see that God’s plan is what worked and through it we learned and became stronger person. With God’s grace and through it all we are able to recognize how we became our best self the person that God crated us to be and have the potential to become.

Like Joseph, sometimes when we are called by God to do His will in our life and we think that it will be clear and easy, we often encounter many obstacles, roadblocks, and mountains. We begin to feel that we didn’t hear Him right or failed and even disappointed God and others.  It’s not what we thought it would be. If God wanted me to do this, it should be clear and easy. When the Angel appeared to Mary and Joseph, he didn’t say it would be easy, he said fear not. In other words, do not be afraid of me, an Angel sent by  God, or of what God is calling you to.  Yet we know as do the martyrs and saints, that God’s will isn’t meant to be easy, but He would never ask anything of us that we could not fulfill without His grace. Following Christ’s footsteps is what makes it a straight and clear path.

How often do we think that we failed God and others and are so deeply disappointed in ourselves because of our mistakes and bad choices? Although we make mistakes, the consequences and repercussions don't define us, what defines us is that we are God's beloved sons and daughters, loved unconditionally and are His greatest creation. Joseph maintained his hope with his faith and trust of Mary and hoped that all would work as God wanted it to.

 

 

The Shepherds were visited by an Angel.

The shepherds were outcasts, wanderers, they had no roots, seldom married, they were looked down upon and having sheep that didn't smell all that great didn't help. But God’s Angel appeared to them in their lowliness and humility and proclaimed that both the savior and Lord was born and that they wanted to go worship him. God knew their hearts and knew that they would want to go in search of Him. They left all behind, their livelihood which lied in being a shepherd and in their sheep, in search for the savior and they found him. We have our Holy Father, the Shepherd of all Catholics, our bishops, priests, and deacons, who are our ordained shepherds. 

So as a group, although we are not shepherds or in a foreign land, or may not be ordained, we are shepherds in that we are called to bring others to know Christ. We are called to guide, lead. and show others how to know Christ through our example so as to show them how they are instrumental in building up the kingdom of God here on earth. The Angel appeared to the shepherds, and they gave up all to seek the Christ child. We don’t have to leave home to find the Christ child. Like the shepherds, as they beheld the child in a Manger and emerged with great joy and proclaimed his birth to all they encounter, don’t we, or shouldn’t we do this when we behold the child Jesus in the Eucharist? When Jesus enters the core of our being in the Eucharist, we are filled with great joy, and it is that joy that we are to share with all those we encounter. It is then that we are shepherds, helping all of God’s sheep, both the lost and the found, to come and know Him better and that He came for them and not just for everybody else, we all have reason to proclaim Joy to the world.  

The shepherds were outcasts, yet they knew about God and Sacred Scripture. How do we look at the outcasts of our society? The homeless, the addicted, the poor…..

Do we, are we willing to see the face of God in their face, or do we turn away, make judgments, and leave being indifferent? Do we try to be in relationship with them as a brother or a sister in the Lord, or do we keep them at a distance as a stranger?

The shepherds possessed the faith and trust, the hope and joy of Mary and Joseph and as humble shepherds were chosen by God to behold the face of God in the baby Jesus. They heard the message and beheld the miracle. So as a seeker and follower of the Christ child, although we are not shepherds herding sheep in a foreign land, every day if we open our hearts and minds to God’s voice, we will hear His message and be given the opportunity to behold a miracle. The miracle of life, every breath that we take, the gift of reconciliation, of mercy being extended, injuries being healed, us becoming whole, these are all actions of God and His grace within us. The shepherds beheld the miracle and emerged with great joy and exultation. When we receive Eucharist, so we emerge with great joy and exultation, or do we just go away feeling no different, or not allowing us to feel different? The Eucharist, Jesus changed Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds and even the wise men, how can we not be changed after we receive the Holy Eucharist, after we have the opportunity to behold Jesus in our very heart, mind, spirit, and soul? And if we are changed, does that not affect how we see others? aren’t we able to see past appearances and see the heart of the person? Do we seek to see past the hurt to the healing? Are we willing to see to the heart from the heart?

 

 

 

GLIMPSE OF GOD FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 10, 2023

Second Sunday of Advent 2023

This week’s Glimpse of God comes from a view outside of our Assisi Room

(Sunroom) as I took time to relax and was pleasantly surprised, due to the time of year, to see God in the many unexpected faces of His creatures and in His creation.

One day last week I was looking out our back yard and was watching all types of birds eating from the bird feeders outside the window and how Cannoli (crazy cat) was eager to help them in her own way. She was getting excited, jumping up and down and just wanting to go out with the birds and have some play time. There were also birds in the water that was on the pool cover, there were cardinals, robins, sparrows, and doves.  This went on for several minutes and I was left wondering wasn’t it too cold for the birds, shouldn’t they be going south for the winter? Don’t they know it is December? Do they realize that they are in the wrong place, they need to be where it is warmer?

With thanksgiving being early, black Friday came earlier, people flocked to the stores this year, there seems to be more folks shopping, people have decorated their houses, lawns and whatever else they could with various types of lights, figures, and inflatables.  Christmas music is playing, and people seem to be in a pleasant and helpful mood. 2023 is definitely different than the past three years. Despite what is going on in the world, and how it is affecting people directly, the attitudes and dispositions of people seem to be less suspicious, and fearful, but more generous, encouraging, helpful, loving, peaceful and kind.

In light of the post pandemic and now the various variants, gun violence and the number of shootings of innocent people, the wars in both Ukraine and Israel and the repercussions that they are having on individuals living here, the lack of respect, empathy, understanding, compassion and peace and the uncertainty as if and when this downward spiral of needless taking of life will end,  I found myself asking many questions and having many concerns about the future of our communities, city, nation and world. Often, we seem quick to judge, to criticize, to cast aspersions and often, it seems, to not accept another point of view. We need to reflect fully and completely, as we truly are our brother’s keeper, fellow Builders of the Kingdom of God here on earth, placed to walk with each other, build each other up and not tear each other. The question is do we take that seriously?

We have much to be thankful for; the beauty of nature, our church, friends, family, job, and the list goes on. We need to step back and look around us. There is beauty in everyone and everything, even though it may be difficult to discern it at times.  

It is as simple (and refreshing) to remember what peace there may be in silence and the majesty of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the miracle of nature in all of its glory. Simplicity, kindness, thoughtful gestures……..each day we can strive to become better persons and we have truly have much to give thanks for!

This week let us strive to be the best we can be, the person that God created us to be and have the potential to become. Let this second week of Advent, be a week or page in our life, where we experience spiritual renewal, refreshment, and preparation for the coming of Jesus that is reflected in our conversations, in our relationships, in the quiet whisper of our prayer and most importantly in the deepest recesses of our hearts. Although this is the shortest advent season that we can have, let us not give up hope, but rather have a greater resolve to draw nearer to our Lord and be ready to welcome him into our hearts this Christmas morn.

SUNDAY - for today, the second Sunday of Advent, let us be mindful of the many events, occasions, circumstances, people, and situations that we will encounter on our journey to the holy and humble day of revelation: the Birth of Christ our Savior Jesus Christ. Let us resolve to keep Christ in Christmas and be His messenger to all those we encounter: in our homes, on the road, in the workplace, in our neighborhoods, in the malls, through the tweets, the texts, the face times, the befriended and the unfriended. May God use you to tell others about His Son Jesus Christ and how He is the reason for the season, there is no other.

MONDAY - for today, let us be mindful, that as the many types of birds gathered on the pool cover to bathe, play, and enjoy the sunshine, that we too are called to be of one mind and heart, that is of God, and see each other as God sees us. Let us pray that we come together as a family, as a community, as a church, and as a nation, in the name of God, to honor, respect and love each other. As we journey through the season of Advent, let us surrender to God any grudge, anger, or barrier that is getting in the way of us being one and opening our hearts to the Christ Child. Let us ask Him to fill us with His compassion and mercy so that we can come to Christmas renewed in His love, peace, and joy.

TUESDAY - for today, let us strive to live as the birds on the pool cover, with no judgment of another. Let us try to see each other as God sees us, as His beloved sons and daughters, chosen by Him to know, love and serve Him in this life so that we can all see Him face to face in the next. Let us pray for all those who are judged by another, ignored by others, and treated as if they were invisible. Those who are incarcerated, estranged from their families, and outcasts in society, and earnestly ask God to bless them with His peace, consolation, and hope. 

WEDNESDAY - for today, as the birds gathered from all directions, that as we live in the fast lane, going to and from so many different places with very little time to be still, that we take time to be still and bask in the presence and the love of God. As you are immersed in the secular aspects of the Christmas season; shopping, decorating, baking, cooking, and traveling, allow yourself the spiritual blessing and renewal of quiet time. Take time as you travel, as you decorate, as you shop, to offer God a prayer of adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, and supplication. Prayer is the lifting of your mind and heart to God, you can do that anywhere and at any time.

THURSDAY - for today, let us be mindful that Mary said YES to God and allowed herself to be His instrument in His act of redemption. Mary said YES and was embraced by God's Holy Spirit and brought forth God's only Son to redeem us. Mary was filled with God's love and lived in His light with trust, faith, patience, peace, compassion, mercy, joy, humility, and courage. Let us seek to grow in relationship with Mary and come to a greater understanding of how she faced the many challenges in her life and did not waiver or stray away from God, but remained steadfast and faithful and ask for her help so that we can do the same.

FRIDAY - As we are given the grace to observe the rain coming down from the clouds, and the sun emerging afterwards with a rainbow, the wind making the barren tress blow from one side to the other, the birds flying here and there, and the squirrels seeking an acorn to feast on. All of these created things point towards God their creator so that all glory be given to Him. In all that you do, do you give God the glory? or do you take the honor for yourself? Are you able to recognize the giftedness and talents of others so as to give them credit for their work or are you sometimes selfish and proud?  During this humble season of Advent, let us strive to see the gifts, talents, and the presence of others, and of our self and give God the glory, gratitude, and gift of our hearts so that it can continually be molded to be more like His. 

SATURDAY - for today, let us pray for those who are wounded spiritually, physically, and emotionally and unable to live the life that they desire. Ask God that they find hope and peace through the prayers and support of others. Let us pray for those whose hearts are broken and wounded and do not know the healing touch of God and feel unloved. Let us pray for those who lives have been touched by tragedy, the loss of loved ones, terminal illness revelation, unemployment, and financial stress, and mental illness, that they seek the consolation of God and find it in those surrounding them in their community, in their church, and in their extended family members. Let us pray for those who are estranged from those they know: Their God, their family, and their friends, and ask God to fill them with His mercy, His humility, His hope, His compassion, and HIs peace so that they, like the prodigal son, may return home and be reunited to those they truly do love and love them.

 

 

GLIMPSE OF GOD FOR THE WEEK OF December 3, 2023 

“THE GREATEST AND PERFECT GIFT”

As we begin our Advent journey, I would like to pause and reflect on “gift”. I believe that the gift of our faith is the most important and precious gift that we can ever receive, yet if we take it for granted, walk away from it, deny it, or even abuse it, although it remains a gift, it doesn’t maintain its significance in our life that the giver intended. As with many things, we can place our faith on a shelf, knowing that it is in reach if we need it, we can put it in a closet and close the door so that it is easier to ignore, or we can  toss it aside out of anger, yet since God is the Giver of the gift of our faith and we are His greatest creation, His beloved children, His vessel, the gift will never be taken back, or denied to us. God wants us to be our best self, the person that He created us to be and have the potential to become and He knows that we cannot do that alone, we need Him and each other. We need our spouses, our children, our extended family, our neighborhood community, our religious community members, our Church, to grow and reflect the presence of our Gift giver, which is God. As followers of the newborn child Jesus, the Messiah, our Savior, we all have been given the gift of faith so that we can grow in love with Him and serve Him with an undivided heart.

As we begin Advent and journey to Christmas, let us reflect on how we take the gift of our faith: take it for granted, take it lightly, take it seriously, and seek to be transformed so that we can grow in aa greater appreciation and love for the Giver which is God. I hope that this reflection is helpful on your advent journey with Mary as you unite your YES to hers. In your FIAT to our Lord, may you experience a deeper peace within, a greater desire and willingness to surrender, and the gift of joy that comes from Mary as you recognize and grow in love for her Son Jesus, Others and Yourself

(Sunday)

What is in a gift? How do we open a gift? Do we open the gift slowly or tear it open?

Do we honor the gift giver? and the gift?

Do we silently cherish, hold, and look intently at the gift? or do we put aside the gift, paying no attention to the work, the love and care that went into presenting the gift?

(Monday)

When we receive a gift, we often look at the wrapping and then we tear it off, as if we only want to see what is inside; is it what we asked for? what we wanted? what we need? or just a token gift?

Then there are times when we open a gift with great thought and very slowly.

(Tuesday)

As we receive Jesus into our hearts in the Holy Eucharist,

do we use the time prior to encountering Jesus in the Holy Eucharist to prepare our hearts for the King?

or do we go through the motions just to fulfill our Sunday obligation?

Going through the motions, is like tearing off the paper, we miss the gift, the giver,

and the reason for the gift. The gift is Jesus and eternal life with Him

the Giver is God the Father who loved us so much that He sent His only Son

into the world to redeem us, the reason for the gift: UNCONDITONAL, SELFLESS AND PERFECT LOVE.

(Wednesday)

When we take time to pray, when we take time to see Jesus in and through our lives, it is like one who slowly unwraps the gift, we see, appreciate, and honor each moment of the encounter between God and our self. When we receive a gift in a gift bag, we tend to pull the gift out of the bag and then we look at it and choose to honor or reject it. Do we pull Jesus out of our "gift bag" when we need Him, or are angry at Him and need to blame someone, or when we feel abandoned, and life seems out of control?

Or are we in a relationship with Him one that recognizes that He loves us and will never abandon us?

Do we see that God, and His unconditional love for us never changes?

whether we wrap Him up or put Him in gift bag.

(Thursday)

God is the Gift Giver and Jesus is the gift whether we honor the gift, ignore the gift,

put the gift away or in hiding, whether we respect the gift or not we are always living out of our human limitations. God on the other hand, is not limited.

His mercy, His love, His compassion, are eternal, everlasting and all embracing.

 

(Friday)

Jesus is the greatest gift given to us, but do we realize, can we imagine, that we are God's gift to others?

Do we know that He loves us and has created us to live in union with Him on this earth and as we do that,

we are gifting others with a glimpse of His presence, by how we love and care for others?

Each time you give a gift to another, you are giving a part of yourself,

the part that loves, cares, and appreciates another.

You are giving someone else the gift of God as He is revealed through you and seen in you.

 

(Saturday)

As we journey towards that beautiful day where Mary’s Yes came to fulfillment

and our salvation was at hand, to the Holy Birth, that which was without sin,

let us thank Mary for saying YES and allowing God to dwell within her,

let us thank God for saying YES when He chose to use you and me to be His instruments in His world,

that HE wants us to do His work, that HE believes in us and knows our potential.

Let us thank Jesus for coming into our world, our life, and our hearts and for making us one with Him;

in and through our baptism into His passion, death, and resurrection.

Let us thank each other for being the gift of God's presence a Glimpse of God, to us in and through their prayers, works, words and example.

During this Advent season, as we prepare to receive the Baby Jesus into our hearts,

let us pray to be open to recognize that Jesus is the greatest gift given to humankind,

and that we have been chosen by God to receive Him.

YES. YOU AND I have been chosen by God to receive the gift of His Son Jesus into our lives forever.

As recipients, do we ever say thank you to God

for loving us and presenting us with such a great and awesome gift?

Let us thank God now, later, tomorrow, next week,

each and every day and may we never grow weary of being a gift giver

or a recipient because both are avenues to encounter God and His great love for us. ……….

Have a happy Advent journey!

Cookie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glimpse of God for the week of November 26, 2023

My Glimpse of God comes from the Sisters of Saint Francis that reside at Assisi House, the retirement home for the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. Why am I reflecting on the Sisters? Because as we celebrated the feast of thanksgiving, I would like to begin with those who begin our week, who have shown me a greater picture of who God is and how He makes himself known to me, and one of the many blessings for which I am thankful. As we begin this new week, John, Clover, and I begin it with Clover, a certified therapy dog, visiting the Sisters at Assisi house, as she has done every Sunday for 7.5 years. During Covid when she wasn’t able to visit, she would send cards, gifts, and reminders that she would be back and that she missed them.

Having the Franciscan Sisters as friends is like having a gift from God that is there to remind us of His constant presence. They have been there for John and me and our pawsome kids, by their presence, their prayers, their support, encouragement, and their humor. They are like having a house full of siblings as sisters, similar to blood sisters, but unless you have a family of 100, we are recipients of genuine love and gratitude from them, a genuine and gracious love. What is a sister? A sibling, a religious, a friend that seems more like a blood sister than a friend that we met and grew in relationship with, or another female that knows us through and through, be it an aunt, grandmother, God mother, foster mother, stepmother, or adopted mother. God is present through all of them, but in a unique and special way, possibly because of their personal connection with Saint Francis, he shines through the kaleidoscope of the faces of so many, through the Sisters of Saint Francis. In the funny times with Clover and her golden retriever antics, and in the shared troubled times as we endured Covid and being isolated from each other but could communicate through phone calls, as a sister would pass away and their love and physical presence was missed, when it doesn’t see like there is anyone else that can help carry the burdens and when the burden is lifted because of their encouragement, prayers and support. When we volunteer there, and they are genuinely grateful and always say thank you. It is a mutual relationship where we grow and learn from each other.

As Franciscans, they exude the spirit and charism of Saint Francis, which when one thinks about it, is a spirit of love and simplicity. Through their love for God, others, and self, they show those they encounter how to be their best self, the person that God created them to be and have the potential to become. It doesn’t take a Sister, or sister to show us that, as God’s beloved children, we are all invited to show each other that. It is how we can live out the good news. We can bring out the best in each other so that we can build up a strong Kingdom of God here on earth. It’s not a complicated invitation, but rather a simple one. If we believe it and live it, I think that the Kingdom of God would be a more bright and visible sign instead of one that overshadowed by so much violence, secularism, hatred, self-abasement, and greed.

As we begin a new week, in the shadow of the Thanksgiving holiday, let us be thankful for those who have been like a religious Sister and sister sibling sister to us: one of a friend, one of a confidant, one of a strong supporter, one of encouragement, one of prayer, and one who exudes the light of Christ by her compassion, care, concern, encouragement, and faithfulness.  One might not have a sister or know a religious Sister, but I believe that there have been and are male figures who have the ability to connect with us, that tried to be like a Sister/sister and not a father figure preaching hell and damnation and passing judgment, but rather a person of compassion, understanding, empathy and truth.  Although difficult, they tried to be the confidant, the supporter, the encourager, the prayer warrior, the shoulder to cry on, the style gauge and the voice of reason when things seemed overwhelming. Let us be thankful for all those who, by the grace of God, guide us to be the best person that we can be and have the potential to become: our Moms, Dads, Sisters, Brothers, Grandparents, Godparents, Aunts, Uncles, Father figures, Mother figures, Sister figures and Big Brother figures.

Sunday “S” - Steadfast (one who is unwavering, dedicated, and persistent)

What does it mean to be steadfast, and do you see yourself as steadfast?  What draws you to want to be steadfast or unwavering? Your family, faith, friends, community? I often say that my husband is my better half, not that he or I think that he is better than me, but rather he calls me to be my best and better self. 

He recognizes the good in me when things try to overshadow my ability to recognize the goodness within me. That is God. It is God who calls us to be better than we think that we can be or become.  He calls us to stay the course and He will steer us in the right direction, he calls us, and call us and calls us. He is a persistent and loving God who will never stop reaching out for us. The question is as He calls us and reaches out to and for us, are we listening? are our hands tied or free and do we allow Him to steer, or do we take the wheel and attempt to ride it alone? Today, listen to the gentle whisper of God as He calls your name and tells you how much he loves you, how you are His greatest creation, and how much He needs you.

Monday “I” - Impartial (one who is fair and just)

How fair and just do you think you are? How many times in one day have you had to make decisions that were fair and just? How hard was it when others wanted you to make decisions that would favor them, their view point or their need to get ahead? Are you fair with yourself? Do you judge yourself too harshly? Do you think that God is fair and just? Do you think that the cross you carry is God’s unjust and unfair response to your sins and weaknesses, or is the cross you carry a gift that enables you to be fair and just as a follower of Jesus? As a follower of Christ, being impartial is a grace and a gift that is given, and which holds a great responsibility. Once we receive the gift, we are called to be open-minded, not judge others, but leave that judgment to God alone since only God our hearts and why we do what we do. Once we receive the gift, we are called to share it with others by the way we love one another and reflect the presence of a just, loving, compassionate and merciful God. Today, listen to the gentle whisper of God as He passes His judgement on you. Lift your eyes because where you think that He is going to chastise you for your weaknesses and sins, He is affirming you for your decision to be a better, fairer, and less judgmental person.                 

Tuesday “S” - Sincere (one who is free of deceit, hypocrisy or falseness)

How sincere do you think you are?  Are others as sincere as you would like them to be, or do they miss the mark? How do you deal with hypocrisy? Does it make you angry as it did Jesus, or do you accept it as a norm? When we experience hypocrisy or deceit within the family or our circle of friends, it can be very painful, and then we are left with how to rise above it through the grace of God’s mercy, and compassion. When we are deceitful or when we act like a hypocrite, we are choosing to sell our souls to the devil and act in a way that contradicts the Gospel. Jesus called the hypocrites of His time to their truth as He does us. We can choose to change and be honest or remain stuck in falseness. Our faith in God and our desire to be His faithful followers requires us to strive each and every day to avoid hypocrisy and remain steadfast in our commitment to building His kingdom here on earth. Today, listen to the gentle whisper of God as He reminds you of your call as His follower, and commends you on your decision to be genuine and truthful and not seek to please others by saying one thing and doing another, no matter how less popular this makes you.

Wednesday “T” - Thoughtful (one who is considerate, caring and kind)

How thoughtful do you think you are? Do you try to be more thoughtful with and towards others especially when it is difficult? When someone is not thoughtful or caring or kind, does it bother you? Do you judge yourself harshly when you find yourself being unthoughtful, say uncaring words and do unkind things? We all fall short, but it when we raise our eyes and take God’s hand of help, we find that we become more thoughtful and caring then we ever imagined we could be. Today, listen to the gentle whisper of God as He tells you that you are a very thoughtful person. You extend your prayers and well wishes to those who are ill, you listen to others as they share their grief and problems with you, you are always there for others when they need you, and you never make anyone feel like a burden but rather a blessing. Does this really sound like you? God doesn’t lie, It is.

Thursday “E” - Empathetic (on who relates to the feelings and experiences of others, sensitive and sympathetic)

How empathetic do you think you are? What does it mean to be empathetic and how difficult is it? Do you find it easier to be judgmental and negative with others especially when you think that they cause their own misery or problems? Do you take the time to really listen to others so as to gain a better understanding of their situation or do you pretend to listen because you have already passed judgment?

How do you feel when others judge you first and choose not to be empathetic or understanding? How hurtful is it and how do you respond? Jesus was very empathetic but He also called people to their truth.  As His followers, we are called to help those in need. With Jesus we are called to walk with and not judge or condemn others. We are called to be empathetic and compassionate with those who are different, those whose crosses are heavier than ours, and those whose crosses are lighter, those who are outcasts as well as those who are the center of attention, the visible sinners and the and those who do not know Christ. Who are you called to love today? Today, listen to the gentle whisper of God as He directs your heart to love another who is difficult to love and embrace their story as Christ embraces yours.

Friday “R” - Reliable (one who is trustworthy, honest, dependable and reliable)

How easy is it to be reliable? How often are you tempted to do your own thing, stick to doing what you want, or just making excuses when you don’t want to bother with someone or do anything that will put you out of your way?  How reliable are you in your prayer life? Do you make time to be with God in prayer? Are you honest with God? Do you stand before God or do you try to hide?

In families, in religious communities, in our church and in our neighborhoods, we are often called to forego our needs so that we may serve and help others.  This can be an easy task or it can be a difficult one, but no matter how it is, as we seek to serve our God and build His kingdom here on earth, our response must be made in the spirit of humility and out of love. As builders of love, compassion, mercy, peace, healing, and reconciliation, we are called to be honest with our self, God, and others. We are called to be dependable so that the task at hand can be accomplished, we are called to do our best no matter what so that others can see more clearly the presence of God in and through our honesty, reliability. and dependability.

Today, listen to the gentle whisper of God as He not only thanks you but also how much He needs you. He thanks you for not only being an honest and dependable builder of His kingdom here on earth, but for doing so in a spirit of humility, love and joy. He needs you to be His builder, one prayer, one act of kindness, selflessness, thoughtfulness, and understanding, all with one heart.

Saturday “S” - Selfless (one who is unselfish, generous, and noble)

How selfless do you think you are? Do you see yourself as a selfless giver? Do you think that others see you as selfless more often than not? As a parent, when you heal the hurts of your child, spend extra time helping them with their homework or school project that was due yesterday, but you were just told about it? when you put down everything so as to give them your total attention as they muddled through broken hearts and broken relationships? As a spouse, when you learn that your spouse is working late and the dinner you prepared would get cold? When you stay up and wait for their return home so that you can behold their face and be embraced in their arms? When you hold your tongue and choose to build them up instead of tearing them down as they utter words of anger in your direction? As an adult child, when you care for your sick or aged parent, when you become the primary caregiver? As a religious living in community, can you recognize your many acts of selflessness by the way you pray for those in your community, love those who are not able to show you love in return, listen to each other, serve the needs of the older and ill?  What calls you to be selfless instead of selfish? Is it the gentle whisper of God that calls you to be better than what you think you can be? What does Jesus say to you when you love others more than yourself, when you lift up the needs and prayers for others before your own needs?

Today, listen to the gentle voice and whisper of God as He affirms your many acts of selflessness. Smile with God as He smiles at you for following the path of Jesus His Son, in giving of yourself in love as an act of selflessness and not selfishness.

 

 

 

Glimpse of God for the week of November 19, 2023

My Glimpse for this week comes from a spirit of gratitude for God’s many blessings, both in the sacred and the ordinary, the awesome and the pawsome, those seen out the window and in the mirror.  A few thoughts about this week.......

Today, in the liturgical sense we celebrate the 33rd or last Sunday in Ordinary time and next week we will celebrate the feast of Christ the King. This is the biggest traveling week of the year, so some will spend time away from home and some will be returning home, It will be a day or week of tears, both of joy and of sadness. This week we will gather to celebrate the wonderful Thanksgiving holiday where will gather with family and friends to spend quality time in each other's presence, share stories and partake of a meal. This week we will also participate in, voluntarily or not, a parent's nightmare or the shopper's heaven,.... Black Friday.  So....I invite you to see Glimpses of God in all of the sanity and insanity: the ordinary and the extraordinary, the pets and the people, in a life of simplicity and in the sometimes very complicated, in the creation we see and the greatest one that we were created to be. God is there, wherever you were, are and hope to be. 

Sunday – Thank God for the gift of the routine and ordinary, the exciting and the extraordinary.

Today we celebrate the last Sunday in Ordinary time. Yet, I have to ask, if it were your last Sunday in the ordinary time of your life, how would you respond?  Would you change the way you are living as you prepare to meet Christ the King, or would you continue to live as you are with Christ as your King?

Sometimes we become stagnant because we do some of the same things each and every day like going to work, cooking meals, cleaning the house, helping with homework, paying the bills, taking care of the pets, studying and we don’t feel as if we are growing as a person. We lose sight of their meaning and why we do them and begin to take them for granted. This happens in our spiritual life as well, we say our set prayers, we pray at meals, we reach out to those in need, and we even find time to read the Bible, but yet these spiritual exercises have become more routine and the understanding of their deeper meaning and purpose seems absent. Our relationship with God, our desire to grow in that relationship falls into the depth of routine and ordinary instead of exciting and extraordinary as it truly is. A simple question to you is this: In the ordinary routine events of your day, is Christ your King or have other things taken His place? Whether you are a religious or lay person, married or single, young adult or child, would others see the crown of Christ on your head or at the cross? Is the reason you get up each morning so that you can follow Him and give Him the glory and honor that He deserves, or does He come to mind only when you need something? Christ lived and died for you, do you recognize that you are His beloved child and that He loves you more than you can ever imagine? Does His being King of your heart and life empower you to live more for Him and not for the world?

Today: Can you give your heart to Him today and let Him heal the brokenness, bind up your wounds and make you whole? 

Monday – Thank God for the gift of the awesome and mighty pawsome

As I begin a new week, I reflect on Clover and how she began her week and ours: Selflessly, completely, and joyfully. Clover is a pet therapy dog and spends a few hours each Sunday with the retired Sisters at Assisi house.  She absolutely loves her time there and I believe the Sister’s enjoy her presence there as well. On Monday, she is tired.  She rests much of the day. Although she can’t answer the question “Is Christ the king of her life”?, she reflects her yes by the way she is present to the sisters and how she brings them healing, unconditional love, happiness, peace and joy.

Today: Can you look to the pets that you have or that others have and try to see them as God’s instrument of healing, happiness, wholeness, peace, and joy. They give of themselves completely for the happiness of their owner. They are reminders of how we should be: unconditionally loving, forgiving, and happy just because. They don’t hold a grudge no matter what their owners forget to do for them. They wag their tails even at the point of dying to show their owners that they will suffer but they don’t want their owners to. This is true love. Christ died so that we may live, does your life reflect that selfless act of love? 

Tuesday – Thank God for the gift of Children

Today look at the children and try to see the face of God in them. They remind us by their innocence that we are all called to trust and believe in the love and presence of God and not let others change or diminish our faith. God dwells in the heart and soul of each child. When they give of their heart, they are giving of what God has planted in them. They are trying to please parents and family with the gift and talents that they have discovered and uncovered in themselves. God gives us the gifts and talents that we possess. We should do our best to nurture and use them to glorify Him and thank Him. Children are reminders of that by the way they give of their hearts. Parents take that and give them the opportunity to grow with their gifts. They recognize the giftedness. Do you recognize your giftedness?

Today: Can you see that your talents are gifts are from God to be used to glorify Him? Can you thank Him today? 

Wednesday – Thank God for the gift of His creation

Today, look outside and try to see the face of God in His creation. God gives us the free gift of the fresh air, the trees, the green grass, the birds, and other creatures. God is there as the wind blows and when it is quiet. He is speaking through the birds, foxes, hawks, all of God’ creatures (great and small), the blue sky and the gentle rain. He is there to remind you that He is all around and not limited to any space or time. If you are seeking Him and having trouble just look out your window and pray that He speak to your heart. Wait and you will hear His gentle voice. Do as Mary said, Listen to Him. 

Thursday – Thank God for the gift of Thanksgiving Day

Today is Thanksgiving Day. Happy Thanksgiving to all

A day to give thanks for the many blessings you have. This is a day to attend the celebration of Mass and experience the greatest gift of thanksgiving, the Holy Eucharist. Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving Day alone or with others, this day is always a day to look at your blessings and look past your crosses. It is a day to see God in all of those challenges and see how you are blessed because of them. Our crosses can bring us great strength and courage, hope, and healing. This day is an opportunity to just be and allow the meaning of the word “Thanksgiving” to permeate your being and take root so that you can give thanks and receive thanks from God for the gratitude that He has for you being His beloved child.  

Today: Can you celebrate and be thankful for ………..

Friday – Thank God for the gift of your loved ones near and dear

Today, look for Him in the faces of those you love. Offer prayers of thanks for those you have been blessed with to call family, friend, or neighbor.  Look at those you have near to you and see God’s face in them. Today try not to take them for granted. Offer words of encouragement, support, and gratitude and let them know that you are blessed by their presence in your life. Spouses, children, siblings, nieces, nephews, community members, and neighbors are all God’s way of showing us His many faces. He offers us the opportunity to recognize them and see in and through the differences that He is the one and only creator, we are His creation, we are all His beloved children and that we are all placed in this world to build up His Kingdom one person at a time.

Today: can you admit that you can’t do anything alone; you need God and others. 

Saturday – Thank God for the gift of YOU!!!

Today, look in the mirror and try to see that face of God in the person that you are looking at. He is there. He is smiling on you. He is looking into your very heart and placing His love there freely. This is a jaw dropping realization for some, is it for you? Do you believe or do you look in the mirror in disbelief? When I think of this, my jaw drops because it means that He sees my potential, my abilities, my desires, my heart and even my sinfulness and believes in me more than I believe in myself.

Today: Can you look in the mirror and see the face of God, His beloved child, loved unconditionally, in the image that you see before you?.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glimpse of God for the week of October 29, 2023

A Reflection on All the Saints that walk with us,

on this our mutual holy ground,

and

All the Souls that have walked with us on their journey of faith to their final reward:

Eternal rest, peace, and happiness in the loving embrace of God.

 

As we begin a new week, we enter Tuesday by looking at Halloween, Wednesday we honor All Saints Day and Thursday we commemorate All Souls Day.  Two of these days encompass that which we strive to be here one earth, sinners striving to be saints so that when we enter our eternal reward, we can join all those beloved souls of who have gone before us in faith. Halloween is God’s gift so that we can satisfy our sweet tooth and be a kid for a day.

To me, All Saints day is not just about those who have been officially declared saints by the Church and through their example and love for God, inspire us to seek a greater holiness. To me it means more than that. For me it is about those who walk on this mutual holy ground with us on our faith journey every day. It is about those who we are blessed to walk with, our beloved family members, friends, coworkers, community members, neighbors, parishioners and even the stranger.

As we walk with each other, the saints are those who endure our impatience, our weaknesses, have been the recipient of our sinful choices, tolerate our moodiness and our inability to be compassionate, pray for us as we are merciless and selfish, instead of being merciful and selfless, and see us at our worst and not our best and choose not to judge us or condemn us. They choose to remain with us because they know that that is what God would want them to do, and they also realize that is what God does for them as well. They, those saints in our lives; our parents, our family members, our spouse, our community members, our friends, fellow parishioners, choose to love us through and in all of that.

You might think of them as martyrs, but the difference is that they are not dying for their faith in us, but they are dying to their very self as they invite us to be a better person, the best person that God created us to be, and they know we have the potential to become.  They call us to a greater, deeper, and better knowledge of God through their life and their example. They invite us, by God’s design, to grow in relationship with Him. Those saints in our life choose to die to themselves, their desires for themselves while they are walking with us, so that they can show us what God truly desires for us and how we can best reach that. They are allowing God to make them His instrument as they walk with us on our mutual holy ground. Our parents, our spouse, our children, our friends, and even those whom we do not know well are gifts from God, His instruments of love.

Like many gifts, we don’t always recognize their beauty or significance, purpose, or reason. As we live each day as sinful human beings, we are given the gift and presence of others who are also sinners striving to become saints, to help us see our self as God sees us; His beloved children, loved unconditionally and His greatest creation. 

As we walk with each other on our faith journey here on earth, on this our mutual holy ground of God’s great creation, we walk together one with each other, one with Christ, so that we stay focused on the direction that will lead us to our eternal reward, that true and lasting holy ground. So that we all an become our best self, the person that God created us to be, and have the potential to become.

Who is your faith journey saint? Who are you walking with that is inviting you to become your best self and at the same time, challenges and does not condemn you, when you are your worst self?  When you are in their presence, can you admit, that you see a something greater than just a Glimpse of God, but maybe a bigger picture of who God is? Does your saint inspire you? Lead you to a deeper sense of holiness and a spirit of humility? Are they at peace with their God as they look in the mirror, and even as see their reflection, they can recognize themselves as a sinner, but more importantly they know and believe that in their sinfulness, God loves them unconditionally because they are His beloved child, His greatest creation?

Has God called your saint back home to Himself? As you remember their saintliness, can you pray to them now as they stand before God in the company of Mary and the communion of saints? Can you ask them to pray for you as you continue to be a sinner who also strives to be a saint here on earth?

All Saints Day and All Souls day should bring us a sense of peace as we think about the saints here on earth that we will walk with today, have walked with us in our yesterdays, and will walk with us in our tomorrows. Their souls, the souls of the just, are now resting in God’s loving embrace, but their memory, their love, their presence, will always remain in our hearts, and we should never forget them or think them to be gone forever.

Although we miss their physical presence, their presence and impression, their impact and their love will remain in our mind, within our heart and a part of our spirit, as long as we choose to remember them and not forget them.

As you enter a new week, take each day to remember those saints that walk with you and your saints that have walked before you to their final journey. Think of the virtues, qualities, gifts, and graces that God has bestowed on them that makes them saintly. As you admire these virtues and qualities in another one of God’s beloved children, ask him to help you nurture your own special gifts, qualities, charisms, virtues so that you can grow closer to Him. Ask for the grace to recognize those qualities, virtues, gifts, and charisms within yourself, those that will help you become your best self, the person that He created you to be, have the potential to become, and will make you a living saint here on earth.

God has many gifts in store for you to help you as you seek to grow in holiness. Allow God’s goodness, His love, His invitation to grow with Him, His peace, His mercy, His dying example of selflessness and His loving embrace, be the glimpse, the big picture that keeps you focused on being the best person that you can be and want to be.

 

As you reflect on the saints that have journeyed with you and the souls that have gone before you, thank God for them, and in and in a spirit of humility, thank God for calling you to be a saint in their lives and on the faith journey of others. For the souls who have gone before you in faith, pray to them and for them as they find eternal rest, peace, and happiness in the loving embrace of God. If they have harmed you, or if you have caused them harm during their earthly journey, seek greater saintliness by forgiving them and seeking their forgiveness.
SUNDAY – “G” God’s goodness

God is good and gracious.  He provides all that we need to grow in relationship with Him. What glimpses or gifts has God placed in your life that have allowed you to grow in a deeper relationship with Him? Have you been given the gift of quiet time in the midst of your busy day? Have you been gifted with a better understanding of prayer and how God wants you to speak from your heart, honestly and without fear?  Can you recognize the goodness of others that surround you and how they have helped you grow in love with your God and in a deeper relationship with Him? Your parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers, friends, co-workers, community members, neighbors? Thank God for being so good to you.

MONDAY – “L” God’s love

God’s love is eternal.  His love for you will never die, grow short, end or be restricted.  He loves you unconditionally. There is nothing that you can say or do that will make God love you less. Do you believe that? On your journey toward holiness, who is a beacon of the unconditional love of God? To whom have you been a beacon to of the unconditional love of God?

TUESDAY – “I” God’s invitation

God’s invitation is not a trick but a treat.  He invites us to be in relationship with Him. He invites us to be in communion with Him each and every day. This communion will be a communion of transformation, conversion, renewal, and refreshment. It is an invitation that comes not because we have earned it, or won it, or deserve it. It is free but it comes with a commission and mission. It is an invitation for us to unite our will to God’s so that we can be our best self, the person that He has created us to be, the person that others want us to be, and the person that we can face in the mirror and not run away from. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to extend the invitation to others and be ready and willing to talk about the good news with them. Have you opened your invitation? Is it still sitting on your desk, unopened? Opened but still in the envelope? Right out front ready to reread again and again? Is it in a prominent spot that reminds you of how much God loves you and wants to be in relationship with you?

Say your own RSVP. No regrets. 

WEDNESDAY – “M” God’s mercy

God’s mercy is such a gift. It requires grace to share it, grace to receive it and grace to extend it. Can you recognize how God’s grace has opened your heart to receive His mercy and can you see how you have extended it to others? How has mercy been extended to you? 

Blessed are the merciful they shall be shown mercy…. 

THURSDAY – “P” God’s peace

We can’t experience true peace without God. In the midst of life, where we can get stressed out and anxious, the peace that God longs for us to have and hold onto is overshadowed by many other things.  Being at peace doesn’t mean that there will not be times of stress, but rather it can mean that in the midst of the stress, when we can turn over our concerns to God trusting in His infinite wisdom, we trust that we will not feel overwhelmed, alone, or anxious.  In the midst of life, when we invite God to walk with us through it all, His presence brings about the peace that we need so that we can keep putting one foot in front of the other and not turn back.

The prayer of Saint Francis, the prayer for peace, is a foundational prayer that when one prays it, one begins to experience what true peace is and can be. As we pray for peace with Saint Francis, we begin to see as a co-worker in the vineyard of God, building His kingdom one brick, one act of mercy, one prayer at a time.

What is you level of peace? is it at the brim flowing over and abounding? Is it in the middle, half of peace yet still the other half filled with worry, concern, and anxiety? Is it on empty, because your worries, anxieties, weaknesses have sucked up all your peace and left you deflated, discouraged, or defeated? Good news!!! God’s peace flows like a river, it will never run dry, it will never leave you empty, and it will never be denied.  Blessed are the peacemakers; they shall experience peace… 

FRIDAY – “S” God’s selflessness and selfishness

God calls us to be selfless not selfish. Jesus’ death was a selfless act of unconditional love and surrender. He chose to die for us so that we can experience eternal peace, joy, and happiness with Him when our earthly journey is ended. How are you called to be selfless? How hard is it to selfless and not selfish? How do others encourage you to be selfless? Who has been a selfless model for you to follow? When you are tempted to be selfish instead of selfless, what changes your mind?

Only God can be selfish and when He is it is for our own good. God is selfish in that He wants us for Himself. He loves us so much that He wants us to be in relationship with Him while here on earth so that we can see Him face to face when our earthly journey has ended. He wants us to give our time to Him and not spend so much on the computer, playing video games, texting, partying, over working, self-medicating because only when we give our time to Him in prayer can we recognize and receive the graces that we need to grow to be our best self.  God is selfish in that HE is the only God, and He doesn’t want us to be deceived by the devil in believing that the world and all that it allures us with, is a god.  Only God forms us in our Mother’s womb, gives us life, nurtures us throughout our earthly life with the sacraments of the church, gives us His grace so that we can live and be the best person that we can be, and promises us eternal life.

There is no god but God. Who or what is your god: consumerism, social status, power, prestige, laziness, self-centeredness, ego? have you been deceived by your god? Do you allow the only one true God into your heart and mind so that He can steer you clear of the false gods that are ready to claim you as their own?

SATURDAY – “E” God’s embrace

It is the embrace of God, the love of God, the spiritual hug from God that makes one stronger, healthier, healed, whole, at one with God. How far are you from God’s embrace? What does the embrace look like? Is it in the face of compassion, mercy, forgiveness, healing, rest, enjoyment, fun, laughter, or in the form of pets, creation, the sunrise, or the sunset? God’s embraces here on earth are as many and as often as one opens their heart and mind to seeing and experiencing them.  Our greatest spiritual embrace is the Holy Eucharist, but yet we, as the body of Christ, are called to be embracers, to embrace others. How have you been God’s embrace to others? How have others been God’s embrace to you? As you walk with those saintly people in your life, how have their embraces lessened your fear, calmed your spirit, healed your soul, and awakened your hope?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glimpse of God for the week of October 22, 2023

My Glimpse of God for this week comes from our 25th silver wedding anniversary on October 4th but we celebrated it on Saturday, October 7th.  We invited an intimate group of friends and family members to celebrate with us as John and I renewed our wedding vows.  We began with a Mass of celebration and renewal of our vows at our parish of Saint John Fisher in Boothwyn. Father John, who has been a father figure and mentor to me for the past 45 years, was the celebrant, as he was at our wedding. He was assisted by Deacon Dan Bingnear, who is assigned at our parish, and in the past 10 years John and I have come to consider Dan and his wife Barbara dear friends. There were about 50 people: those of our family, dear friends, Sisters from Assisi house and OLA, coworkers and acquaintances that we have remained close with who attended the mass. 

A luncheon followed the mass, and we had a good friend of ours, John, who is a gifted, self-taught accordion player, with a great sense of humor and he is his own DJ, and although he is challenged by being blind and autistic, he has the eyes, mind, and heart of God to see the blessings that he has received and willingly shares so with others. The reception was well attended, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. On comment made by a friend who sat with the Sisters from Assisi House, was that they should have their own comedy podcast.

God came through in so many ways: Father John being able to celebrate the Mass with our vow renewal and was able to go back the past 45 years and share how we first met, the readings and music were the same as our wedding day Mass,  a great organist and cantors who had to refresh their memory of the hymns that we chose 25 years ago and they made it such a beautiful liturgical experience. In and through all those who gathered with us, in the entertainment with John and the Springfield Country Club, we couldn’t have asked for a better day of jubilation and celebration.

God’s glimpse was a big and as wide as each person present.  They all were and are a beacon of His light, love, friendship, and peace.  His presence was felt through each person, in the care and the serving of the food, John’s entertaining us with his accordion playing and sense of humor, and the many warm wishes that were expressed.

God’s glimpse was truly present and radiating in and through my husband John.  He has been a glimpse of God each and every day and there is nothing more God present than waking up with the man who has promised to be with you for the rest of your life in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, and for richer and poorer. John has been my rock, my best friend, my partner though many of life’s challenges and has always made me feel as if I am all that matters to him. In all of my surgeries and medical challenges, he has always made me feel like the most beautiful and blessed person that he has ever seen, as does God everyday as His beloved daughter.

As we begin a new week, let us be mindful of the promise that we all make to God as His followers, as a clergy member, a married person, member of a religious community or a single person. 

We all desire to be our best self, the person that God created us to be and have the potential to become.   We want to follow God and give our hearts to Him in good times and bad, in sickness and health, in prosperity and poverty, in jubilation and discouragement, till the day when He calls us back to himself. No matter what our vocation is, God’s promise is that He will always be with us, that no matter what we do, He will never abandon us and the He will always love us.  God is present and calls us each and every day so that He can renew us in His love, and in light of that grace and gift, we in turn, choose to affirm our commitment and our promise to be His faithful follower. As a sinner striving to be a saint, if we live as a married, or single person, a member of the clergy or a religious community, we need to be mindful that our promise to God needs to be reflected in how we choose to live in love each and every day, because we know that His promise to us is reflected each and every day in the love that Jesus had as He gave up His life for us.

 

SUNDAY – “P” = PATIENCE

We all want to be patient with our self and others, but we know that we can lose patience very easily and quickly. There are triggers that once set off, we find our self snapping at or being short with others.   When this happens, we can become irritated, and our worse self can emerge.

When we have patience, we possess a peace and serenity that permeates our very being.  This peace allows us to be our best self with those around us: family members, community members, coworkers, and neighbors.

Today, pray for a greater patience with self and others. This fulfills your promise to God to try and be the best person that you can be, the person that He created you to be, and this allows Him to answer your prayer with His grace to help you live up to your potential and become your best self.

 

MONDAY – ‘R’ = RESPECT

We all deserve to be treated with respect, no matter what our social status is, if we are unemployed or homeless, addicted or alone, we all are God’s beloved sons and daughters, and this entitles us to be treated with dignity and respect. There are times when we feel that we or others don’t deserve to be treated with respect, so we choose to be disrespectful. This choice and be as subtle as a silence or as loud as words of condemnation, judgment, or gossip. When we choose to judge and treat others badly, we are actually treating Christ badly. Returning bad for bad doesn’t help build God’s kingdom here on earth, but rather tears it down one brick, one word, one judgment, one action at a time. 

Today, seek to help build God’s kingdom here on earth, one brick, one word, one action of respect at a time, and let God be the judge of others. This helps you to fulfill your promise as His follower to proclaim and build His kingdom here on earth.

 

TUESDAY – “O” = OPENNESS

We need to be open vessels, with open minds, hearts, and souls so that we can receive the graces that God wants to give us.  When we close our minds, harden our hearts, and close our souls towards God and others, we miss out on His many glimpses, graces, and gifts that He wants to shower us with. His grace enables us to be open to the presence, opinions, love, and challenges that we encounter in our relationship with others, so that we can extend His mercy, compassion, peace, joy, and love to others that we are in relationship with. When we are open, it is a time where God invites us to grow in spiritual maturity and be transformed. He promises that His grace will guide us through the fear of vulnerability to the courage of conversion. This transformation can help us to recognize our authenticity and sincerity and thus see it more clearly in others.

Today, pray for the grace to open your hands so that your prayers will be answered, and your mind and heart will be transformed.

 

WEDNESDAY – “M” = MINDFUL

We all want to be more attentive and mindful to the needs of others, but sometimes our own crosses, stresses, daily life challenges can interfere with us being mindful to the needs, suffering, and stresses of others.  Many times, both parties understand, but there are times when this lack of being mindful hurts and the relationship can become strained. This happens in marriage, community, among family members and in parish community. We love others and want to be present to them, but sometimes we can’t be or we just miss the mark and so do others. 

As we promise God to be our best and serve Him faithfully, He knows that we will miss the mark.  He promises in return that when we do, He will gift us with His grace so that we can try again, be reconciled, be more selfless so that we don’t miss the mark as we gaze on the Jesus, where the cross marks the spot.

Today, ask to be more mindful of Jesus and His love for you, so that you can and will be more mindful of others. Look at the cross where Jesus marks that spot and you can’t miss it.

 

 

THURSDAY – “I” = INTIMACY

Intimate (in- to- me- see) This word, this concept is very deep. Intimacy in any relationship is an invitation to others to see us more deeply, to see our weaknesses, our vulnerabilities, our gifts, our blessings, our wounded ness, and our healings, on a deeper level. Intimacy in marriage is deeper than in family life, intimacy in community life is different than in the single life, but in all areas of life, we as Christ followers are invited to be intimate with others.

In our relationship with God, self, and others, we lose if we choose to keep others out and live on an island.  Being intimate allows us to grow in trust, love, compassion and affords us the opportunity to strengthen our relationship with those in our family, our friends, and those in our community.

Today, as you celebrate your life and your promise to be your best self, ask God and allow Him to open your mind and heart to seeing those He knows could benefit from your presence and intimacy. (in-to-me-see)

 

FRIDAY – “S” = SELFLESS

We want to be selfless, yet we find our self being selfish instead. We want to be our best self, yet we see our worse self emerge as acts of selfishness emerge. Christ knows our inclination towards selfishness. He experienced it personally with His group of apostles and followers.  He didn’t condemn them but rather used the moments to teach and at the end, He selflessly gave of Himself by dying on the cross.

Being selfless isn’t easy, but you are selfless every time you pray for another and place their needs and intentions first. As a parent you are selfless as you place the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of your children before your own, and your spouses before yours.

As a consecrated religious you are selfless when you serve the needs of your elderly community members first, when you spend time in vigil with those who are dying and preparing to meet Christ face to face, when you visit those members who are suffering from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia and how this can lead to moments of frustration. As a single person you are selfless when you spend time listening to neighbors, friends, and family members offering them consolation, support, encouragement, and silence. When you can stay with their children so that they can either run errands or have a date with their spouse. You are selfless when you take care of your elderly parents as they age, are ill or are preparing for their final journey home. As a clergy member you are selfless as you spend countless hours with your flock offering them spiritual guidance amid their spiritual and physical crosses.

Today, ask for the grace to recognize your selflessness.

 

SATURDAY – “E” = EMBRACING

We can be near and inviting of embraces or we can be far from and afraid of embracing. In any case God wants to and waits for us to invite Him to embrace us. God wants to embrace us here on earth so that when we are called home to Him, we will know what a true and loving embrace is. He embraces us each time we receive Him in the sacraments. In Holy Eucharist where He gives us a strong spiritual hug, in Reconciliation where our sins are forgiven, our hearts are healed, and our resolve not to sin is strengthened. Anointing of the sick, where our illness is not a tool of defeat or fear, but rather a source for prayer, strength, healing, and courage. In all, God embraces us and calls us from our daily challenges that can weigh us down, to His gift of grace that raises us up.

Today, as you reflect on where you are with embracing: embracing others, being embraced by others, and allowing God to embrace you, ask for the grace of gratitude. Be thankful for the many people that have embraced you and have invited you into their heart and life. Be thankful for those you felt comfortable and trusted enough to ask to be embraced by them. Be grateful for the gift of the sacraments that are God’s free gifts of embraces.

 

 

 

To you, our dear family, and friends.

 

25 years ago,

we began our life as one.

With, in, and through His grace we

come here today,

twenty-five years later,

to remember, express and celebrate,

 our gratitude to God,

to you our family and friends,

and to each other,

for inviting, allowing, and encouraging us

to grow to become our best self,

the persons that He created us to be,

and have the potential to become.

These twenty-five years have been blessed,

and filled with the love of family,

the

strengthening of old friendships

and

the forming of new.

Wherever you fit in,

we thank you.

Today we celebrate 25 years,

and look forward to forever.

Thank you for being part of our forever.

Cookie and John

 

With Clover, Cannoli, Cadbury, and Cocoa.

All God’s creatures great and small

give praise to God for HE made them all.

 

 

 

 

 

Glimpse of God for the week of January 29, 2023  

What does Clover, our Golden retriever, who is recovering from torn ACL surgery, me becoming the first female, lay, catholic chaplain for a law enforcement agency, my book, Glimpses of God: Seeing God in Everyday Life, about ready for publication, and Christine Flowers have in common? At first it would appear to be nothing, but the more I reflected on what a glimpse of God is and how this week was filled with many, it became clear.

First Clover’s torn ACL and her recuperation. It has been painful for both me and John to watch her struggle and not being able to take away her pain and make her feel better. She limps but she is determined to get where she needs to go. Her ACL being torn, is not from any knee jerk reaction or words that we humans might express without thinking, but arthritis and her being a 12-year-old active puppy and therapy dog. On Tuesday, I was finally cleared to become the first lay, catholic female chaplain for a law enforcement agency, signing a great deal of paperwork honoring my word, respecting, and keeping confidential the words of others that are shared with me, and respecting the meaning of the words; integrity, fidelity, and courage as I encounter the many and various settings and individuals as a Chaplain. My book, the compilation of many words to describe the various ways that God has chosen to reveal Himself, is almost ready for print. And the person of Christine Flowers who is a columnist for the Inquirer and Delaware County times. I feel that she shares with her readers the written word through the lens of compassion, empathy, and integrity. I have been reading her columns for years and I have a great deal of admiration and respect for her and her writing. She is proud of her Philadelphia Italian roots, cherishes her family, professes, and lives out her Catholic faith, and is passionate about her work as an immigration attorney and as a writer.  The written word, her written word, is not one that diminishes another or tears them down. She does not use her column to force her opinion out there as the one and only, or to purposely inflict pain on another by her words. She is true to herself as she speaks the truth, she presents it clearly, and she doesn’t back down or get backed into a corner due to political, economic, or social expectations. Her word, the written word, sheds light on issues with the truth. I am sure there are some people that may not agree with her perspective, but as it is explained, one can get a clearer understanding of the issue presented.

So, are we with being true to ourselves and speaking the truth without being afraid, insecure, or intimidated? How do we use the written word to guide us? And what written word do we use? The only one that we should use to keep our moral compass in the right direction is the written word of Sacred Scripture. It is through reading and reflecting on Sacred Scripture where we are invited to listen to God’s Holy Spirit speak to our heart and as it invites us to follow that which will enable us to grow in relationship with the one and only God, Christ His Son and His Holy Spirit.

As we live each day and seek guidance so as to discern what God was calling us to do, do we refer to His written word and allow the message to permeate our being, do we listen to the Holy Spirit so that we can be true to the written word of God or do we turn the page or close the book when it gets to be too demanding or challenging for us?

After reading God’s written word in Sacred Scripture, do we keep silent or share its message with those who we encounter? We live out the written word of our life. God has written our name in His book of life and through our baptism, we are called to share the truth of that gift. If we just read the word and then shut the book, or remain silent, not only would we be in the dark about its meaning but so would others. We are children of the light, not of darkness. Whether you write a column in the paper, a blog on the computer, a letter to a friend, or in a journal, the words have a message and, in many cases, invoke a response. God writes His message of love on our heart; all He asks from us is to respond in love. How do we do that? By reading His written word. As we read Sacred Scripture, we will learn the best way to be a more loving person, our best self, the person that He created us to be and have the potential to become. Our spiritual journey is one of ongoing growth and spiritual transformation and we can’t allow the periods of fear, anxiety, or our crosses to cancel out the commas of trust, surrender and hope.

Gods written word is open to read and reflect on so that the meaning of its message may permeate our very being and we in turn, may profess what we have come to believe and believe what we profess.

This week, as we hear many words spoken out of love, compassion and in peace, let us reflect on how these words reflect God’s written word in Sacred Scripture. If we hear words of anger or hatred, let us pray for mercy and peace. As we read many written words, from various sources, may they form spiritual sentences that don’t end with a period, with no further growth, but with a comma indicating that there is more to come. But if our journey calls us to form a spiritual period due to weakness or sin and we feel we need to start anew, let the written word of God strengthen us so that we can continue reading, listening, discerning, and sharing His message.

 

SUNDAY – “W” the written word. God’s Word build ups and strengthens us.

For today, as you hear Sacred Scripture proclaimed at your worship service, seek to recognize that what you heard proclaimed is God’s message to you to strengthen you, build you up and empower you to proclaim it to others.

MONDAY – “R” Offer the words of remorse, contrition, and apology.

The written word of remorse. When we write a note of apology to another, the written words of remorse, apology and mercy fill the page. When we think of the person that we are sending it to, we shamefully see their face in light of the pain or injury that we caused them. We express our need or desire to be forgiven.  Christ died for all and as we seek to be forgiven, we must also forgive another. The written word allows us to form our feelings through the words so that the recipient can truly see that we are sorry. In and through the sacrament of reconciliation, we are given the act of contrition so that are sorrow and remorse is summed up perfectly. For today: take a few moments to reflect on the words of the act of contrition and how freeing they are.

TUESDAY – “I” invitation: God’s invitation to come and share in the banquet meal, do you RSVP or reject it?

The written word of invitation. How do you feel when you receive an invitation to a special event? A birthday party, a shower, a wedding…Do you ever think about your relationship with the sender and how special they think you are to invite  you? Sometimes we cannot attend the special event so we send our regrets, and there are other times when we are over the moon because we were invited that we quickly send our rsvp in, and yet we all know that there are events that we kind of want to attend, but we are on the fence about attending for one reason or another, and we wait till the last minute to respond or not. It is not that way with God’s invitation to join Him at the banquet meal of the Holy Eucharist. That invitation is always open. When we respond, He joyfully accepts our yes to attending, He rejoices when we show up at the last minute, and He understands when we say; Lord, not today….HE knows our heart better than we do and He knows and understands our responses. He will never go against to our free will. The invitation to join Him so that we are nourished at the His table is and will always be open as He awaits our response.

For today: the next time you receive an invitation to a special event or you remember that it is someone’s birthday or special event in their life, pray a prayer of thanks for their feet walking with yours on the journey of life.

WEDNESDAY – “T” thank you.

Does the gift of gratitude fill your heart or are you on empty due to life challenges and crosses? The written word of gratitude can be a powerful source of transformation. When we write a thank you note to someone for their thoughtfulness as shown through their gift or special act kindness, we are letting them know how much we appreciate what they did and how it made us feel. This act of acknowledgment has the ability to bring us to a WOW moment as we realize that they thought of me to do that. Sometimes when we feel overburdened due to life’s challenges, we tend to forget to say thanks to God, others and ourselves.  

To God for the gift of life and the life of His Son Jesus who selflessly died so that we may inherit eternal life when our earthly journey has ended. We want to thank God that this life has meaning and purpose. To others for journeying with us during our weakest moments, for them not giving up on us but inviting us to become out best self despite the devils lies and deception. To ourselves for not giving up and believing the devils lies that we are no good and that God doesn’t love us because of our sinfulness.  Jesus selfless love for us sinners and His dying on the cross is our reason for gratitude not discouragement, hope and not despair, peace and not discord.

For today: write a list of at least 10 things that you are grateful for and 10 people that you have been inspired by for their spirit of gratitude, especially in the face of a heavy cross, life stresses and challenges.

THURSDAY – “T” – trust in God that He will guide you in the right direction

The written word of trust, surrender and freedom. Twila Paris sings a song: Do I trust you, Lord. (I would like to write the words here, but I do not have copyright permission, so if you have a chance to look them up, do so).

In the song she expresses God all-knowing power and that HE knows all that she is experiencing and that she would rather die than to lose her faith in the God she loves. God knows your heart, your life struggles, the cross that you carry, your worse fears and anxieties, the question, is that have you told Him how you feel? As humans we often try to run away from our feelings, we hide behind masks of work, addiction, sleep, negative behavior, ego, shame, guilt, and sinfulness, so that others would not, could not, see what we are going through. Yet we cannot run and hide from God.

The final refrain includes these words: I will trust you Lord, when I don’t know why, I will trust you Lord till the day I die.

For today: Ask God to help you surrender your worse fear, trial, cross, stress, so that you too can say to Him, I will and I do trust you, Lord.

FRIDAY – “E” The gift of encouragement as you carry a heavy cross and help others carry theirs.

The written word of encouragement is amazing, it can be emotionally, spiritually, and physically transformative. It offers hope amid despair, encouragement amid disappointment, and peace amid panic. For today: Offer Saint Francis’ prayer for peace for someone you know who is seeking to find peace and for yourself as you continue to be a peacemaker.

SATURDAY – “N” now is the time to listen to God’s Holy Spirit as He speaks to you

The written word of living in the present, Sacred Scripture

God has a surprise for you today in His Written Word. Here is glimpse of some of His surprises, after a week of listening and discerning His will, as you have helped others carry their cross and as you have borne your own, as you have made it through another week of winter with the threat of the flu, virus, covid around each corner and as you have reflected more on the significance, importance, and transformative power that is found in the  written word; God’s yours and others, God has a message for you. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden light.” Matthew 11: 28 -30

 

Remember: Your breath is your life, use it wisely. Your heart is big, fill it wisely. Your mind is open, expand it wisely. Your God is present, reverence Him wisely. You are God's temple, honor yourself wisely.

 

 

 

Glimpse of God for the week of January 22, 2023

My glimpse of God comes from a very God like place filled with wonderful people and awesome, strong and determined clients .

The place is Blue Pearl Veterinary Hospital. Everyone there, from the staff that greet you when you enter, the techs that assess your pet’s situation and the veterinarians, are all very personable, professional, empathetic, and compassionate. I have experienced a great glimpse of God as they minister to the many patients that come to them, with the respect, dignity and compassion that is of God. They see those in their care as a responsibility that is not to be taken lightly. The care and the empathy that they exude from the moment we enter the building when we are in the exam room with the vet and as we prepare to leave.

Clover has been a patient at Blue Pearl since 2019 when she was diagnosed with glaucoma, and this week we had to bring her in for surgery for a torn ACL. As long as Clover has been a patient, through the pandemic and now post pandemic, the care that she has received has been extraordinary. The doctors and the staff are truly instruments of healing, understanding, compassion, empathy, and love to Clover and all the kids that enter their door as well as their owners. They explain things so that we understand and treat Clover as if she were their own. Everyone ministers to the patients and their owners, with a great and contagious smile. Not a fake smile or one that diminishes the illness or concerns of the pets, but rather one that exudes the dedication and devotion that comes from the depth of their being.

As we begin a new week, let us try to recognize, with greater clarity, the instruments that God chooses to use so that we can become our best self, the person that He created us to be and have the potential to become.

As we journey through the first month a new year, let us celebrate the newness in our life in whatever form it takes. As we bring in a new year, let us pray in gratitude for the many blessings, crosses, and graces that we received it the past. Let us strive to recognize them in our present so that we can appreciate and be strengthened by them in the future. Let us pray in gratitude for all those that take care of God’s 4 legged, flying, and crawling creatures: our cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, birds, snakes and others…, that as they serve God’s most vulnerable, helpless, innocent, forgotten and abandoned creatures, they are serving God who created them. As we begin a new week, let us also remember that our pets are reminders of what we can be and are called to be: unconditionally loving, forgiving, and happy to be alive because they are in the care of great owners, or in our case, a great God.

 

SUNDAY - “wag the tail” – Dogs wag their tails, as a greeting, to show that they are happy. How do you greet others? Are you happy and look them in the eye, or are you unhappy and pass them by? Does your happiness depend on material things, or do you recognize that happiness comes from within, and that God is the only source of true happiness? Dogs wag their tail, some people clap their hands, what do you do to show that you are happy? Do you smile, are you able to laugh, do you radiate that inner happiness by your attitude towards and with others, or do you dwell on your stresses?

In the midst of life’s pains, challenges, and crosses, we can learn from our pets that we will not be defeated. Pets have owners that are entrusted to take care of them; we have a loving God who takes care of us. We are all God’s creatures, and He takes care of all of us. We have a lot to wag our tails and be happy about.

 

MONDAY – “give the paw” - Dogs are good at giving their paw on command. I see it as a gift. They want to make us happy so they listen and follow the command. Their paw is a part of them that they lift up for one to take and shake.

Do we give our hand to another to take and shake, or do we raise it against another as a sign of power? Do we give of our self to make another happy, or do we isolate ourselves? Are we selfless or selfish? We don’t need commands to do the right thing. We know in the depth of our heart what is right and what is wrong, yet there are times when we know better but we still choose the wrong. When we do this, we can say that we are sorry; we can reach to another and either extend peace and mercy or ask for it. God wants to take our hand and extend His peace, mercy and love so that we can be happy and share His peace and happiness with others. Can you reach out today and touch someone or ask to be touched by the God of all mercy and love? 

 

TUESDAY – “roll over” - Our dog and cat roll over mainly because they want their belly rubbed. In this position they are vulnerable and submissive, but also trusting and content. God doesn’t ask us to roll over and just accept what we are asked to do as a robot would, rather He wants us to be in relationship with Him, and through prayer, discover what it is that He has in store for us so that we can be more trusting and content. He asks us to trust Him and know that He will not hurt us or take advantage of us. We have pets that trust us and we have friends and family that we trust and also trust us. In our relationships, when we feel vulnerable and afraid, we are not expected to just rollover and accept whatever we are told, but rather we are called to love our self enough to stand up for our self and be true to our self because that is what God has created us to do.  

 

WEDNESDAY – “purr” Our cat purrs when she is happy. It is a sound and sign that she is comfortable, happy, and her belly is full. You can hear her even if she is not right next to you. When you are still, does your body resonate with stress, tension, or peace? Are the sounds that come from you sounds of disgust, anger, frustration, or do you resound with happiness, peace, love, and joy? Do you treat your body as a temple of God’s Holy Spirit? Do you get enough rest; do you try to eat right, and what about exercise? Do you take care of your body, as you know you should? Do you work or are you always so busy that you don’t have time to truly relax with family, friends, or others? Our body is the only one that we will be given so it is up to us to take care of it as best we can. Progress leads to Purrfection.

 

THURSDAY – “cuddle” - Our pets Clover and Cannoli cuddle when they want to be close to us. They come to us to cuddle and sleep. It is nice to know that we are useful.  Anyway, to cuddle involves a comfort level that comes from within, one that calls us to let our defenses down and just be in the presence of another.

Do we feel the need to have our defenses up with others or do we trust others?   We may not cuddle with our friends, but we are called to be open and not have our defenses up all the time. Are you comfortable with others where you can be yourself without feeling the need to make yourself something that you are not out of fear or insecurity? Do you hide behind a mask so that others do not see the real you, but rather the person that you think they want to see, or you think that they rather see? Do you recognize that God loves you just as you are and that He wants to cuddle, embrace, and hold on to you because of His great love for you?

 

FRIDAY - "stay" - We ask Clover to "stay" because we don't want her to go ahead and possibly get hurt. When we walk and are ready to cross the street or go a different route, the "stay" command is what she will hear and obeys, at least most of the time the rest of the time she is just her Deliberate self.

What are we being called to "stay" with? What do we need to be with, to honor, to process, to discern, to acknowledge? There are times in our life that we want to just get through and not deal or feel that we expect will come. Yet in those times, we can experience great peace, healing, joy, comfort, consolation and solace, if we are willing to stay and not just run ahead. It is in those “stay” moments that God fills us with His grace so that we can make it through the difficult times without running away. God doesn’t tell us to stay, but rather He invites us to stay and be still and know that He is God, He is in control and that He will never abandon or forsake us.

 

SATURDAY – “come” – Our pets come to us when they want or need something. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart”

We also come to Jesus when we want something; that something can be peace, joy, forgiveness, love, presence, companionship, a spiritual hug, and a loving embrace. Jesus invites us to come to Him, He wants us to come to Him, and He waits for us to come to Him. He rejoices when we come to Him. When we come, we are responding to the words of encouragement, support and healing that Jesus expressed, are you ready to come?

                                                                                                                     

 

Remember: Your breath is your life, use it wisely. Your heart is big, fill it wisely. Your mind is open, expand it wisely. Your God is present, reverence Him wisely. You are God's temple, honor yourself wisely.

 

Glimpse of God for the week of January 15, 2023

Happy New Year.  I hope and pray that this new year of 2023 brings you a greater sense of joy, peace and true happiness that only our Lord can provide.  As each day approaches may you see Him more clearly in yourself and others, love Him more dearly through your prayers, acts of love and acts of mercy, and follow Him more nearly, as you take each step of your earthly journey one step at a time, not looking back with regret, but looking forward with and in hope.

As this new year enters its third week, is anything different for you? Have you made your New Year’s, resolution and can you see how it has made a difference or have you forgotten what your resolution was?

People with all their sincerity, personal conviction and self-determination make New Year’s resolutions.

The ones that I have heard range from going on a diet, exercising more, praying more, eating better, refraining from foul language especially around their children, calling family members that live far, reconciling with an estranged family member or friend, and getting more rest. All are great resolves to make, and in the end can make one a better person; a healthier person, a more spiritually connected person to God, and a person that knows what true peace is. With all the good intentions, I imagine that by this 15th day of January, many people have already forgotten their resolution or haven’t had the time to put it into practice.

This year when people say I resolve to…. It sounds good and the resolution is made with great conviction, hope and a sincere desire to accomplish what they desire to change or improve in their life. The question that I present is WHY? Why do people wait to make until the new year to make a resolution? I believe that if one is seeking to change, improve something about themselves; their physical well-being, their behavior, or their spiritual relationship, why wait? If the resolution is that important, why would you want to wait, why not begin today? God wants you to best your best self, the person the person that He created you to be and have the potential to become, so why wait? God is knocking at the door of your heart, He knows your desires and wants to fulfil them today, now, not later, not tomorrow, not next year….

Today is the only day that we have, yesterday is in our history book, and tomorrow is not here, nor are we promised it. Today is the day that the Lord has made. Made for what? We are God’s greatest creation, His beloved children and loved unconditionally, and what we can give Him is our gift of love each day by seeking to know and love and serve God to the best of our ability. How can we know, love, and serve God if we do not know or love our self?

Each and every time we pray the act of Contrition, we make a resolution “ I firmly resolve with your help and your grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin” or some forms say “I firmly resolve with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life, Amen” with means I believe. What do you believe when you pray that prayer? That God will forgive you and that you will do your best to keep your resolution that says you will sin no more, avoid the near occasion of sin, to confess your sins and to amend your life. How important is that to you? If it is that important, why would you want to wait to make it, wouldn’t you rather start right now to sin no more, avoid those things, people, or situations that cause you to want to sin, go to confession so that you experience the healing presence of God as your sins are forgiven, and amend your life? These are such crucial acts and ones that can bring about personal, and spiritual transformation.  

If you say that prayer on a regular basis your resolution will bring you great strength and you will see a difference in your spiritual life that will overflow into your personal life and in your actions, the words that you speak and in your deeds.

I don’t make a New Year’s resolution. Why because I would probably forget it by the first week, but more importantly and seriously, I think that whatever I would resolve would be important to me and I wouldn’t want to wait until another day or year begins. My prayer and resolve on January 1st, is the same every day after that. My prayer and resolution each day is to be the best person that I can be, that God has created me to be and that I have the potential to become.

And unfortunately, when I find myself not being my best self before God, others, and in the mirror, and I see my worst self emerge, I find myself praying the Act of Contrition, a prayer for mercy, so that I can start again with God’s grace and do better. 

The gift of each day is the most important gift that we receive from God, and since we are not promised tomorrow and yesterday is on our history book, why wouldn’t we want to make this day our best day and our gift to God? If our resolve is to eat healthy and get healthier, to refrain from foul language, to refrain from any negative behavior, contact loved ones more frequently, forgive or seek forgiveness from one that you have injured, but also miss in your life, why wait until tomorrow or next week or next year, today is the day!!! Today is the day to begin to make the changes that will make you a better, healthier person physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually, a person that will be able to look in the mirror and recognize that you did your best to know, love and serve God and see Him in others and in yourself.

If you want to be your best and true self, if you want to be a better person, then today is the day. I believe that we all want to see God more clearly in our desires and in our life, and we want to make a resolution to recognize Him and make the changes that are blocking our view. When we seek to follow God’s will in our life, we become a person who is at peace and others can see that peace in us. When we seek to undergo personal or spiritual transformation, our loving God who knows our heart and our deepest desires better than we do, will answer our prayers in His way and in His time. If our resolutions have transformative powers, why wait to experience them?

A new year has begun. We can look back at the year that has passed and offer prayers of gratitude and contrition, and we can look ahead with hope and great expectation for God’s continuing surprises. What are we hoping for and waiting for with great expectation? Only you can answer that question.

My hope, and I believe that is yours too, is that the spirit of Christmas become a daily frame of mind or mind set, and that we recognize with greater clarity, in this year of 2023, that Jesus, the Son of God, came into the world completely out of unconditional and selfless love, for you and me.  

This week to help us to make Christmas a constant mindset, I suggest we revisit what the corporal works of mercy are and how we can fulfill them every day and not just at Christmas. Every day we are afforded the opportunity to give of yourself, your presence, your love, and time. It is also an opportunity to give of your talents and treasure so that others may see the gifts that God has showed upon you, and this might help another uncover and recognize their special gifts and talents as well. All are God given gifts, and we are called to share them with others. If we are trying to become a better person, to know, love and serve God, to see Him more clearly in our life and in the life of others, then the corporal works of mercy will invite, enable, and empower us to accomplish our resolution, one day at a time. Look at what you can do and are comfortable doing. Remember helping those in need should not be done out of guilt, ego, control, or obligation, or holiday, but rather. out of selfless love, compassion, concern, and care for those that are our brothers and sisters in Christ who are in need. 

SUNDAY – FEED THE HUNGRY

For today, There are many who are hungry right in our back yards. In your local community, there are food banks that give to the hungry men, women, and families. Think about donating food items to them so that they have more to share with those who are in need. Let us pray for the hundreds of men, women and children that will go to bed hungry and do not know where their next meal is going to come from. God will give you the words of your prayer. 

MONDAY – GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY

For today, If you are traveling and you see folks working outside, or elderly people walking outside, perhaps you can offer them something hot to drink water to keep them hydrated. If you have children or know someone that is active in sports, think about donating bottled water to their team. If someone is thirsting or pining to be wanted, and not feel as if they are an outcast or on the fringes of family, community, or society.

Give them a drink of the life-giving waters of faith, love. and compassion by being present to them and letting them know of the great love that God has for them, that they are His greatest creation and that they are His beloved child.

 

TUESDAY – CLOTHE THE NAKED

For today, if you know or see an elderly person or a family that does not have the proper clothing for the weather, ask them if there is anything that you can do for them. If you are uncomfortable doing that and you would prefer to give them an anonymous gift of a hat, gloves, coat, or shoes that are in good condition, then do it. Ask God to show you how you can best help them. Let us pray for those who feel naked before God because they don’t think they have anything to offer, because they feel vulnerable and have been stripped of their dignity and self-respect. Ask God to clothe them with His love, compassion, adoration, peace, healing, dignity, forgiveness, and compassion, so that they can find comfort and be clothed in the warmth of His love.  

WEDNESDAY – SHELTER THE HOMELESS

For today, seek to find a way to help the homeless in your community. You may not be able to shelter the homeless by bringing them into your home, but you can shelter them with love, surround them with compassion, build the walls with strength, dignity, courage, and self-respect, pray for them in love not out of judgment or ego. There are many shelters that need casseroles, food that can be carried, clothing, and blankets. Find out if you can deliver items or if someone will pick them up. Our homeless men, women and children can use whatever items you can give out of love, to help them keep warm especially during these cold days and nights. Let us pray for those who have a home but are spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically homeless because it lacks love, presence, support, encouragement, understanding, and forgiveness. Pray f or those whose house is filled with physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, bitterness, control, manipulation, and silence. Pray for those who are trying to adopt or become foster parents, and for the children who are abandoned, left alone, or taken away from their parents and families.

THURSDAY – VISIT THE SICK

For today, if you can visit someone you know who is sick and feeling isolated. If a physical visit is not possible, contact them and speak with them so that they can hear in your voice, your concern, love, and care for them.  

Spiritually, let us pray for those who are sick that God provide healing, strength, and courage as they carry their heavy cross. Physically: suffering from a chronic illness, terminal illness, or sudden illness, psychologically; suffering from mental illness, depression, anxiety, or spiritually; suffering from a lack of faith, deep seeded anger, resentment, and bitterness, or sin that is eating away a person’s soul and spirit and causes them to reject God.

FRIDAY – VISIT THE IMPRISONED

For today, pray for the imprisoned, both physically and those whose heart, spirit and mind are imprisoned because of fear, anxiety, anger, and feel as if they are unloved, despised, and unforgivable. Pray that they open their hearts to God so that they can recognize the unconditional love that God has for them, that He abides within them and that He wants to heal them and make them whole through His mercy, unconditional love, and compassion.  Let us pray for the grace so that we do not judge them but accept them as a fellow sinner striving to be a saint that needs our prayers and support. 

SATURDAY – BURY THE DEAD

For today, pray for the many babies that will be aborted and for those who perform the abortion. Pray for those who will die in war, homicide, gun violence, terrorist attacks and natural disasters, and whose bodies will not be discovered or given proper burials. Pray for those on death row who will be executed. Pray that those who take the lives of others have a conversion of heart and realize that life is sacred and should be treated with dignity, respect and love and that GOD is the author of life and death. As we bury the dead, let us also take a moment to bury the past hurts, bitterness, injuries, and seek God’s grace to forgive, let go and be free.

 

 

Glimpse of God for the week of January 8, 2023

Beholding the face of God in Christ.

The Christ child came, our salvation was born, and humanity was saved. As Mary and Joseph beheld the face of God in Christ, God made it possible for all aspects of humanity to behold Him: the poor shepherds, the strangers that allowed him to be born in their stable, the animals that watched over them, the visitors passing through and the traveling Magi.

I believe that the lives of all those individuals who beheld the savior in the face of an infant, were changed forever. Like those individuals, we too can be changed forever, one glance at a time, when we seek and find the face of God both in others and in ourselves. As humanity is given the opportunity to behold the face of God in Christ, to listen to His messengers,

we are all given the opportunity, are invited, to behold the face of God in Christ in each other, those close to us, those far away, those estranged from us, the stranger, and even our enemy, and then to take the risk to be transformed and changed.
Today, as we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, we recall how it was through the message of an angel that the three wise men sought the child Jesus, the Messiah and found him.  It was also through the message of the angel that they should return home by another route. Although we may not hear an angel tell us what way to go, or how to get there, God does provide His messengers to guide us so that we can be our best self, the person that He created us to be and have the potential to become. With this message, also comes the invitation to be transformed. These messengers can come in form of parents, siblings, teachers, church members, religious leaders, community members, neighbors, coworkers, friends, and even our enemies. As we listen to God’s messengers as they lead us nearer to Christ, as we seek to behold the face of God, we must always be open to how God chooses to reveal Himself and as when we seek Him with an open mind, spirit, and heart, we too shall behold Him. And in that epiphany experience, we like the wise men, can be changed forever.

Let us be mindful that we are always invited to see the face of God in Christ in others and in ourselves. Have a blessed, merry, and happy Epiphany. Let us keep our mind open to beholding the face of Christ in all those we encounter and perhaps we will behold him when we least expect to.  Start by looking in the mirror, His face will be clear and bright.

This week’s glimpse comes as we behold the face of God in Christ. What does that face look like? We are all God’s beloved children and inherently, we possess His presence, His love, and His compassion. As we behold the face of Christ in others and in ourselves, the face could and often reflects the presence and compassion, love, and peace of God, but sometimes these qualities are either masked underneath other significant emotions that a person is experiencing or emerges forth from them. These could be joy, happiness, sadness, sorrow, stress, worry, disappointment, anger, weariness, peace, or love.

This week I will take each day and invite you to look into the face of some of these various life experiences and see the face of God in Christ. If you are looking out to others or in the mirror, Christ dwells in our lives and in each experience that we go through.

When we least expect to see Him, He is there. In the face that we are beholding, we may see Him in the glare coming from the eyes or in the emptiness of them. He can be seen through the smile, grin, or the frown of the mouth. He can be seen in the color or lack of color in the cheeks and how the hair is taken care of. As we behold the face of Christ, we can listen to the voice that comes forth from it, be it the voice of an infant through the cuus and whimpers, of a child with few words that sometimes make sense or not, or of an adult’s voice that comes with words of joy, sadness, or confusion. God reveals Himself as He sees best and so that we can see Him when we least expect to or are least open to. And, as we behold the face of God, are we willing to be transformed by what we see so that we can, as the wise men did, follow a new path or different direction that God places before us and become a new creation?

 

SUNDAY – JOY AND HAPPINESS

What does this face look like? How do you behold it? Do you behold it with fear, apprehension, anticipation, joy, or great love? When we behold the face of God in joy and happiness, how do we respond? Do we allow others joy and happiness to take root on our lives, by our presence, with empathy or do we attempt to overshadow their joy with our stresses, worries, or crosses? As we behold the face of God in joy, and we see it clearly in the face that is beholding us, are we able to see God in our very face? When we behold the face of God, are we open to personal and spiritual transformation through that which is not only beholding us but penetrating our very being? Are we able to recognize and be a person of joy: a person that is centered on Jesus, Others and Self? Are we willing to change, to trust and surrender to God all that is keeping us from being a joyful person so that we can experience true and lasting joy and happiness?

MONDAY – SADNESS OR SORROW

What does this face look like? How do you behold it? Do you behold it with fear, apprehension, anticipation, joy, or great love?

When we behold the face of God in sadness, do we allow ourselves to enter into the life experience that has caused one to be sad? Do we shy away from beholding the face because we feel uncomfortable and it makes us feel uneasy? How are we changed when we behold the face of God in sadness and sorrow whereas we see God in the sadness and sorrow and do not turn away from Him? In and through sorrow we can be transformed into a new creation, or we can choose to stay an old creation in need of greater healing so that we can become whole. When you behold the face of God in sorrow, do you, can you allow yourself to see Christ on the cross, reconciling, healing, and loving you, or another, through the pain, sorrow and sadness?

TUESDAY – STRESS AND WORRY

What does this face look like? How do you behold it? Do you behold it with fear, apprehension, anticipation, joy, or great love? When we behold the face of God in stress and worry, do we feed into it or do we try to surrender it so that we can begin to feel a greater sense of calm and peace? When you encounter the face of God in stress and worry do you reject it, embrace it, or turn away from it? In your ability to accept it and discern how you can surrender it, do you? The face of God in stress and worry, is a face that some behold but for the wrong reasons. Some people thrive on stress, worry, and anxiety so that they can be the center of attention or take the attention away from someone who is need.

Life experiences can make one feel isolated then feel anxious amid the isolation. When we behold one who is stressed, the face of God is beckoning for greater love, patience, understanding, compassion, and empathy. When you behold the face of God in stress and worry, be it in the mirror, or out the window, can you pray for God’s grace so that you can see more clearly God’s peace?

 

WEDNESDAY – DISAPPOINTMENT AND FRUSTRATION

What does this face look like? How do you behold it? Do you behold it with fear, apprehension, anticipation, joy, or great love?

Take today to look around at the face of God in those you encounter and as you see another who is disappointed and frustrated, be attentive to your feelings. How does another’s disappointment and frustrations affect you? Are you drawn into them or are you able to distance yourself from them? When you see the face of God in disappointment, in the mirror or out the window, are you filled with hope or despair? As followers of Christ, we as He, Mary and Joseph did, will face many disappointments. But we cannot let them define us, but rather we can choose to overcome them. Can you take the latest disappointments that you experienced and one of another and redefine them? Not disappointments but rather ……discoveries, revelations, hidden treasures…

THURSDAY – IRRITATION AND ANGER

What does this face look like? How do you behold it? Do you behold it with fear, apprehension, anticipation, joy, or great love? Only you can answer these questions as you behold the face of God in anger and irritation. These emotions can bring about great pain and cause injury both physical and emotional.  How do you respond? Some respond with hurtful words and or actions causing more pain and a divided heart. When you behold the face of God in anger, how do you handle it? If you are the recipient of another’s anger, are you able to see the face of God that only desires healing, understanding, and peace and not injury? Not many people like to be with someone who exhibits anger, and never seems to be not angry for one reason or another. Yet we know that as God’s beloved child, who is hurting, we are invited to see beyond the anger to understanding, patience and empathy.  Can you seek to see God more clearly so that you don’t respond with more anger, but rather compassion, understanding and empathy?

FRIDAY – WEARINESS AND EXHAUSTION

What does this face look like? How do you behold it? Do you behold it with fear, apprehension, anticipation, joy, or great love? Are you so tired that you cannot offer any consolation to those who are

 Exhausted? I think we all know the face of God in weariness and exhaustion and as we look in the mirror, we see clearly what that face looks like. Sometimes in our exhaustive moments, we can be short with outers, inpatient, and get frustrated easily. It is these moments that our face is not one of tranquility, but rather angst. When you behold the face of God in weariness and exhaustion, can you come to Christ who says to all of us, Come to me all you labor and are heavily burdened and I will refresh you…..He knows your weariness and wants to refresh you, will you allow Him to as others behold His face in you?

SATURDAY – PEACE AND HOPE

What does this face look like? How do you behold it? Do you behold it with fear, apprehension, anticipation, joy, or great love? Are you longing for lasting peace and a greater sense of hope?  Happy Epiphany. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it. It is the day where God revealed Himself to the nations, to the poor and the rich, to the shepherd and the stranger. As you behold the face of God in the poor, the homeless, the less educated, can you see past the shadow of social status, a box for a home, tattered clothes, and see God himself before you? As you behold the face of God in your coworkers, in your boss, in your community, can you see God revealing Himself through their wisdom, experience, and knowledge? Can you allow yourself to be transformed by their sharing it with you instead of being too proud to accept it?

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