Today's Gospel Reading Luke 9:57-62
"....I will follow you Sir, but let me first go say goodbye to my family. Jesus said to him, Anyone who starts to plow and then keeps looking back is of no use for the Kingdom of God."
I found myself this morning in this reading of Luke. Fear, selfishness and pride keeps me from totally surrendering myself to God and His will. I need to go visit the lonely in the nursing home, but it is too hard with three small children. I would like to go to weekday mass, but my kids will be too loud. I need to give more to the poor but I really need a new pair of those sassy boots from the J Crew magazine. I probably need to sign up for that class to learn more about my faith, but I know enough for the time being. And the list goes on for me.... I am sure we all find ourselves somewhere in this reading. What keeps us from giving up everything and following Jesus? We are told we will recieve abundant graces and happiness if we surrender ourselves to the Lord. So why don't we?
I feel we surrender ourselves to the Lord by surrendering to our families. We give up so much to be the best mother and wife we can be. We give up our lives for our families. So I think we should not be so hard on ourselves. In motherhood, there is no stopping. You have to keep plowing forward and look to the future. We can never go back to the way life use to be. So embrace this beautiful vocation that helps us to be better followers of Christ. Like Jesus says..."whoever loses his life, will save it." By "losing" our lives to our families, we are saving our souls for eternity because we are surrendering ouselves to Jesus. For Jesus is in the midst of our home and family.
Take a deep breath and don't be so hard on yourself. However, surrender all of you fears, doubts, self-serving ways to the Lord and you will start living a much more peaceful and beautiful life and your children will learn from you and do the same someday. We need to be the examples in this selfish world of giving up our lives for our faith and family. Teaching our children to do acts of love and mercy by visiting the lonely. Teaching our children how important our faith is by taking them to church even when it is hard or when everyone is tired. We live in a very lazy, "what's in it for me" society. To change this mentality, it starts with us at home. We will be doing our children a favor if we surrender ourselves to Jesus. To keep plowing forward and not look to the left or the right or backwards....but keeping our eyes fixed on eternal things and not the silly wasteful things of the world.
So, plow on! Have a blessed Wednesday!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
THE FALL OF THE PRIDEFUL ANGELS....
FEAST DAY OF ST. MICHAEL ARCHANGEL, ST. GABRIEL, & ST. RAPHAEL!
"War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon." Revelations 12:7
I read this this morning and it really opened my eyes...."Pride is the beginning of all sins and faults...." and then Benedict Groeschel goes onto say.."The Fathers of the Church believed that the fall of the angels was caused by pride. They simply could not endure that the Son of God would be a weak and limited human being". Wow! What a powerful statement. I think about the world we are living into today and how pride is honored. Look at the leader of our country....how prideful and arrogant he is. Scary, huh? Also, I think of families today being so prideful in their careers and their possessions and constantly trying to keep up with the Jones'. This prideful world we live in looks down up suffering, limitations, selflessness when in all actuality those are the tools that brings a soul closer to Christ. We have Jesus as our example of coming to this earth as a poor carpenter with a servant's heart who suffered and died on the cross for us.
I asked myself today, where I am being prideful. I want to rid myself of pride as soon as I can! To think that pride is the beginning of all sins and faults really makes me think. We are all human and guilty of pride and asking Jesus to help us to not be so prideful is a good start. As mothers, we have set aside pride and selfishness to care for these little ones. We naturally have servant hearts which pleases our Lord every day. What a blessing we have in motherhood to keep us on the right track to heaven!
Have a blessed Tuesday!
"War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon." Revelations 12:7
I read this this morning and it really opened my eyes...."Pride is the beginning of all sins and faults...." and then Benedict Groeschel goes onto say.."The Fathers of the Church believed that the fall of the angels was caused by pride. They simply could not endure that the Son of God would be a weak and limited human being". Wow! What a powerful statement. I think about the world we are living into today and how pride is honored. Look at the leader of our country....how prideful and arrogant he is. Scary, huh? Also, I think of families today being so prideful in their careers and their possessions and constantly trying to keep up with the Jones'. This prideful world we live in looks down up suffering, limitations, selflessness when in all actuality those are the tools that brings a soul closer to Christ. We have Jesus as our example of coming to this earth as a poor carpenter with a servant's heart who suffered and died on the cross for us.
I asked myself today, where I am being prideful. I want to rid myself of pride as soon as I can! To think that pride is the beginning of all sins and faults really makes me think. We are all human and guilty of pride and asking Jesus to help us to not be so prideful is a good start. As mothers, we have set aside pride and selfishness to care for these little ones. We naturally have servant hearts which pleases our Lord every day. What a blessing we have in motherhood to keep us on the right track to heaven!
Have a blessed Tuesday!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Being Amongst the Greatest....Our Children
Gospel Reading today:
"Jesus took a child, stood him by his side, and said to them, Whoever welcomes this child in my name , welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the greatest." Luke 9:46-48
Jesus is telling us today that when we lovingly welcome our children into our lives and our homes, we are welcoming Him. He is also telling us that the ones we think are small.....maybe the newborn who can't tell you his needs or the toddler who is driving you crazy.....these are the ones that seem least or small but they are actually the greatest in our lives. As I always say, our children are Jesus for us and in turn we are Jesus for them. When you give a sippy cup of water to your child, you are giving Jesus a drink of water. When you put a band-aid on your child's knee, you are caring for Jesus. When you are frantically trying to get lunch on the table while everyone is screaming and crying because they are ready for a nap, you are feeding Jesus and His flock. What you do everyday in loving and taking care of you family is sacred. You are welcoming Jesus and caring for the least of His people. The work we do as mothers is nothing short then Holy.
So today as you are thinking of where else you would like to be other than caring for you children (maybe dressed up and having lunch with a friend or flipping through the finest fabrics as a designer), remember you are actively doing God's work here on earth and your rewards will be abundant. There is nothing more important at this moment in your life than caring for your children......everything else can wait but the least among you ...your children can't wait. The time is NOW. You can't get that time back.
Have a blessed Monday!
"Jesus took a child, stood him by his side, and said to them, Whoever welcomes this child in my name , welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the greatest." Luke 9:46-48
Jesus is telling us today that when we lovingly welcome our children into our lives and our homes, we are welcoming Him. He is also telling us that the ones we think are small.....maybe the newborn who can't tell you his needs or the toddler who is driving you crazy.....these are the ones that seem least or small but they are actually the greatest in our lives. As I always say, our children are Jesus for us and in turn we are Jesus for them. When you give a sippy cup of water to your child, you are giving Jesus a drink of water. When you put a band-aid on your child's knee, you are caring for Jesus. When you are frantically trying to get lunch on the table while everyone is screaming and crying because they are ready for a nap, you are feeding Jesus and His flock. What you do everyday in loving and taking care of you family is sacred. You are welcoming Jesus and caring for the least of His people. The work we do as mothers is nothing short then Holy.
So today as you are thinking of where else you would like to be other than caring for you children (maybe dressed up and having lunch with a friend or flipping through the finest fabrics as a designer), remember you are actively doing God's work here on earth and your rewards will be abundant. There is nothing more important at this moment in your life than caring for your children......everything else can wait but the least among you ...your children can't wait. The time is NOW. You can't get that time back.
Have a blessed Monday!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
THE RAT RACE OF OUR WORLD
First Reading today in Mass:
"My people, why should you be living in well-built houses while the Temple lies in ruins? Don't you see what is happening to you? You have planted much grain, but have harvested very little. You have food to eat, but not enough to make you full. You have wine to drink, but not enough to get drunk on! You have clothing, but not enough to keep you warm. And the working man cannot earn enough money to live on...." Haggai 1:1-8
If this doesn't describe the world we live in today, I don't know what will. We live in a world where we are always wanting more. Enough is never enough. So many people in today's world are doing everything they can to live in a big well built home to only leave their children in day care and credit cards maxed out. They beat the pavement in traffic every day and work many hours a week to harvest little......not much to show but materialistic things that will waste away with this life. Never enough "food to make you full" ....and the list goes on how we are always wanting more and never content with what we have. Look at what has happended to our country and the economy all because people were living "lies".
How can we change this mentatlity so our children don't make the same mistakes? It starts at home with us. The only way you can be content with what you have is to walk daily with the Lord. The more you grow to know and love Jesus, the more content and "full" you will be with what you have. Materialism and the ways of the world begins to diminish in your high priority list and you start to see life for what it is really worth. You start living in freedom. Your children will learn from you and feel the freedom and contentment that you feel. They might get caught up in it later in life but will revert back someday to their teaching at home.
When our babies were born, they didn't care about how big their house was going to be, or what color of nursery they might have. They didn't care about what car they were going to drive off in from the hospital. All they cared about was being in our arms and being fed by a loving mother. These toddlers don't care about anything else but being loved and cared for by their mommy and daddy. The only thing we all truly need is food, shelter and clothing....the rest is just bonus.
Examine today if you are caught up in this rat race. Ask the Lord daily to help you see the bigger picture and help you live for the things above and not the things of this world. In turn, your children will thank you someday for it.
Have a blessed Thursday!
"My people, why should you be living in well-built houses while the Temple lies in ruins? Don't you see what is happening to you? You have planted much grain, but have harvested very little. You have food to eat, but not enough to make you full. You have wine to drink, but not enough to get drunk on! You have clothing, but not enough to keep you warm. And the working man cannot earn enough money to live on...." Haggai 1:1-8
If this doesn't describe the world we live in today, I don't know what will. We live in a world where we are always wanting more. Enough is never enough. So many people in today's world are doing everything they can to live in a big well built home to only leave their children in day care and credit cards maxed out. They beat the pavement in traffic every day and work many hours a week to harvest little......not much to show but materialistic things that will waste away with this life. Never enough "food to make you full" ....and the list goes on how we are always wanting more and never content with what we have. Look at what has happended to our country and the economy all because people were living "lies".
How can we change this mentatlity so our children don't make the same mistakes? It starts at home with us. The only way you can be content with what you have is to walk daily with the Lord. The more you grow to know and love Jesus, the more content and "full" you will be with what you have. Materialism and the ways of the world begins to diminish in your high priority list and you start to see life for what it is really worth. You start living in freedom. Your children will learn from you and feel the freedom and contentment that you feel. They might get caught up in it later in life but will revert back someday to their teaching at home.
When our babies were born, they didn't care about how big their house was going to be, or what color of nursery they might have. They didn't care about what car they were going to drive off in from the hospital. All they cared about was being in our arms and being fed by a loving mother. These toddlers don't care about anything else but being loved and cared for by their mommy and daddy. The only thing we all truly need is food, shelter and clothing....the rest is just bonus.
Examine today if you are caught up in this rat race. Ask the Lord daily to help you see the bigger picture and help you live for the things above and not the things of this world. In turn, your children will thank you someday for it.
Have a blessed Thursday!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The Power At Work In Us
Gospel Reading Today
"Jesus called the twelve disciples together and gave them power....." Luke 9:1-6
As I meditated today on the Glorious Mysteries....The Resurrection, The Acsension, The Decent of the Holy Spirit....the overwhelming comforting thought came to my mind that the same one who rose Christ from the dead is the same power at work in us. The same Holy Spirit that descended upon the disciples and the Blessed Mother is the same Holy Spirit that descends on all of us. The same power is the one who shaped and molded our children in our wombs. This great power designed Jesus in Mary's womb and that same powerful creator designed my son to have a hearing loss for a bigger purpose....more than I could ever imagine.
When we think of life in this way, we start to experience Heaven on earth. We start seeing things in a whole different "light". My dad always says that out of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is the one who comes down from Heaven and continues to work on earth. The Holy Spirit is within, nudging us to work for the Kingdom in all different kinds of ways. The Holy Spirit is the one who guides me in my writing and who gave me courage and strength to learn how to put hearing aides on one year old one hundred times a day. This same power is at work in you guiding you through motherhood and proclaiming the good news to your children as you love them and discipline them. As you teach them about Jesus and treat others the way you would want to be treated.
So today in whatever you face, be it big or small, remember that the power of the Holy Spirit is at work in you. Like I always say, we are not alone in this great task of motherhood. We have the amazing power of the Holy Spirt always guiding us, we have Jesus picking us up when we fall and holding us in His arms, we have the Blessed Mother by our side who knows and understands what we are going through and is praying for us every step of the way.
Set your mind to do whatever it is that the Lord is calling you to do and know you have a very powerful force behind you guiding you to accomplish greatness. There is no bigger accomplishment then shaping and molding these souls for eternal life! May the Power be with you!
"Jesus called the twelve disciples together and gave them power....." Luke 9:1-6
As I meditated today on the Glorious Mysteries....The Resurrection, The Acsension, The Decent of the Holy Spirit....the overwhelming comforting thought came to my mind that the same one who rose Christ from the dead is the same power at work in us. The same Holy Spirit that descended upon the disciples and the Blessed Mother is the same Holy Spirit that descends on all of us. The same power is the one who shaped and molded our children in our wombs. This great power designed Jesus in Mary's womb and that same powerful creator designed my son to have a hearing loss for a bigger purpose....more than I could ever imagine.
When we think of life in this way, we start to experience Heaven on earth. We start seeing things in a whole different "light". My dad always says that out of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is the one who comes down from Heaven and continues to work on earth. The Holy Spirit is within, nudging us to work for the Kingdom in all different kinds of ways. The Holy Spirit is the one who guides me in my writing and who gave me courage and strength to learn how to put hearing aides on one year old one hundred times a day. This same power is at work in you guiding you through motherhood and proclaiming the good news to your children as you love them and discipline them. As you teach them about Jesus and treat others the way you would want to be treated.
So today in whatever you face, be it big or small, remember that the power of the Holy Spirit is at work in you. Like I always say, we are not alone in this great task of motherhood. We have the amazing power of the Holy Spirt always guiding us, we have Jesus picking us up when we fall and holding us in His arms, we have the Blessed Mother by our side who knows and understands what we are going through and is praying for us every step of the way.
Set your mind to do whatever it is that the Lord is calling you to do and know you have a very powerful force behind you guiding you to accomplish greatness. There is no bigger accomplishment then shaping and molding these souls for eternal life! May the Power be with you!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Feeling Distant from Jesus at Times
`Gospel Reading today in Mass:
"My mother and my brother are those who hear the word of God and obey it." Luke 8:19-21
I think we all go through different moments of feeling very close to Jesus and other time we feel a bit distant. Lately, I have been up throughout the night with my toddlers so I have been sleeping in until 6:30 and trying to pray my rosary and have my time with the Lord amongst the voice of Barney (that alone will put you in a bad mood real fast!). Yesterday I was deep cleaning and decided to move furniture around to only wake up this morning missing my little "sanctuary" with my statue of the blessed Mother and candle......my sanctuary ended up getting tossed throughout my mind set of a new home yesterday. I realized as I got into bed last night I was self serving yesterday....I had a friend stop by for coffee and I was not in tune to our conversation because in the back of my mind I was rearranging furniture. My best friend who lives far way called and I told her I had to call her back because I was moving furniture. I was not Christ for others yesterday and I did not allow them to be Christ for me. They might have really needed to talk or tell me something and I wasn't available to them. As I woke up this morning I felt lost without my sanctuary and like I had wasted the day yesterday because I will be moving everything back to the way it was today.
So needless to say, I feel a bit distant from the Lord. I have been checking out spiritually to focus my mind and heart into the things of the world and it doesn't feel good. I thought last night that I want to do nothing but serve the Lord each and every day. I have had a taste of the "everlasting high"....the pure joy and bliss I feel when serving the Lord. The feeling of serving Jesus blows the "instant high" of self serving away. I wondered when I read the Gospel of Luke today if the Blessed Mother and Jesus' loved ones felt distant at times....especially at this particular moment when he said not to invite his Mother and brothers in because they already know the teaching of God. I know that Mary probably never felt "distant" and probably totally understood the situation, but I know she understands when we feel distant and will always help bring us back to her son.
Just know you are human if you don't feel the Lord close, but ask to be drawn back to him. Say a little prayer at the kitchen sink or as you change your baby's diaper. Think about where you are serving yourself when you should be serving Jesus. There is no better feeling than walking right next to Jesus daily. We walk daily with Jesus by being in the midst of our children. Rest in Jesus' arms today because He is near to you leading you by the hand as you care for your family.
Have a blessed Tuesday!
"My mother and my brother are those who hear the word of God and obey it." Luke 8:19-21
I think we all go through different moments of feeling very close to Jesus and other time we feel a bit distant. Lately, I have been up throughout the night with my toddlers so I have been sleeping in until 6:30 and trying to pray my rosary and have my time with the Lord amongst the voice of Barney (that alone will put you in a bad mood real fast!). Yesterday I was deep cleaning and decided to move furniture around to only wake up this morning missing my little "sanctuary" with my statue of the blessed Mother and candle......my sanctuary ended up getting tossed throughout my mind set of a new home yesterday. I realized as I got into bed last night I was self serving yesterday....I had a friend stop by for coffee and I was not in tune to our conversation because in the back of my mind I was rearranging furniture. My best friend who lives far way called and I told her I had to call her back because I was moving furniture. I was not Christ for others yesterday and I did not allow them to be Christ for me. They might have really needed to talk or tell me something and I wasn't available to them. As I woke up this morning I felt lost without my sanctuary and like I had wasted the day yesterday because I will be moving everything back to the way it was today.
So needless to say, I feel a bit distant from the Lord. I have been checking out spiritually to focus my mind and heart into the things of the world and it doesn't feel good. I thought last night that I want to do nothing but serve the Lord each and every day. I have had a taste of the "everlasting high"....the pure joy and bliss I feel when serving the Lord. The feeling of serving Jesus blows the "instant high" of self serving away. I wondered when I read the Gospel of Luke today if the Blessed Mother and Jesus' loved ones felt distant at times....especially at this particular moment when he said not to invite his Mother and brothers in because they already know the teaching of God. I know that Mary probably never felt "distant" and probably totally understood the situation, but I know she understands when we feel distant and will always help bring us back to her son.
Just know you are human if you don't feel the Lord close, but ask to be drawn back to him. Say a little prayer at the kitchen sink or as you change your baby's diaper. Think about where you are serving yourself when you should be serving Jesus. There is no better feeling than walking right next to Jesus daily. We walk daily with Jesus by being in the midst of our children. Rest in Jesus' arms today because He is near to you leading you by the hand as you care for your family.
Have a blessed Tuesday!
Friday, September 18, 2009
STORING UP HEAVENLY RICHES
Reading in Mass today:
"What did we bring into this life? Nothing! What can we take out of the world? Nothing! So then, if we have food and clothes that should be enough for us.....For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." Timothy 6:2-12
This verse always grabs my attention and brings me to a screaching hault. The truth is the truth is the truth. I visualize my babies being born naked and helpless and then I visualize my loved ones who have gone before me lying in bed helpless through their sickness and suffering. I think of the excitement and labor pains of bringing new life into the world and then I think of the sorrow and hurt of watching a casket being lowered to the ground as you say good bye to someone you love so dear. There is no way around God's design of life and death. We all (I am very guilty) get so caught up in the here and now.....how much money we want to make, what kind of home we want to live in, what big promotion we are working towards, what vacations we want to take, what wardrobe we dream of having, and the list goes on. If you think about it, it is quite disgusting. All that truly matters is living your faith and keeping your eyes fixed on eternity. What is going to get you into the gates of heaven? What is going to let you have that moment of seeing Jesus face to face? What is going to let you live in Paradise? Not the "things" of this world, but your love, sacrifices, acts, and faith will be the true riches that you need to build up to help you live forever.
As parents, we have so many important lessons to teach our children.....it is overwhelming if you think about it. One very important lesson is just this.....to teach them to live for the spirit and not the things of this world. To give them less materialism and more love. To not always be preaching the gospel but live it. To sacrifice our selfish desires for their gain. Live not as the world tells you to live but live as Jesus tells you to live and in turn our children will be better people because of it. So then, as your casket is being lowered to the ground, your children and loved ones who you leave behind will have a better chance on the highway to heaven because of you and the work you did on earth...works of love, sacrifice,charity, faith.....riches that will live on for generations to come.
God Bless your Friday! Have a wonderful weekend.
"What did we bring into this life? Nothing! What can we take out of the world? Nothing! So then, if we have food and clothes that should be enough for us.....For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." Timothy 6:2-12
This verse always grabs my attention and brings me to a screaching hault. The truth is the truth is the truth. I visualize my babies being born naked and helpless and then I visualize my loved ones who have gone before me lying in bed helpless through their sickness and suffering. I think of the excitement and labor pains of bringing new life into the world and then I think of the sorrow and hurt of watching a casket being lowered to the ground as you say good bye to someone you love so dear. There is no way around God's design of life and death. We all (I am very guilty) get so caught up in the here and now.....how much money we want to make, what kind of home we want to live in, what big promotion we are working towards, what vacations we want to take, what wardrobe we dream of having, and the list goes on. If you think about it, it is quite disgusting. All that truly matters is living your faith and keeping your eyes fixed on eternity. What is going to get you into the gates of heaven? What is going to let you have that moment of seeing Jesus face to face? What is going to let you live in Paradise? Not the "things" of this world, but your love, sacrifices, acts, and faith will be the true riches that you need to build up to help you live forever.
As parents, we have so many important lessons to teach our children.....it is overwhelming if you think about it. One very important lesson is just this.....to teach them to live for the spirit and not the things of this world. To give them less materialism and more love. To not always be preaching the gospel but live it. To sacrifice our selfish desires for their gain. Live not as the world tells you to live but live as Jesus tells you to live and in turn our children will be better people because of it. So then, as your casket is being lowered to the ground, your children and loved ones who you leave behind will have a better chance on the highway to heaven because of you and the work you did on earth...works of love, sacrifice,charity, faith.....riches that will live on for generations to come.
God Bless your Friday! Have a wonderful weekend.
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