God Sees You and Your Suffering 03/11/2026

“Those who suffer because that is God’s will for them must entrust themselves to a faithful creator and continue to do what is good.” 1 Peter 4:19 (GW) Some people think that if they’re suffering, then they must be sinning. They think their suffering is a result of being outside of God’s will. But the Bible says that sometimes we suffer according to God's will. "Those who suffer because that is God’s will for them must entrust themselves to a faithful creator and continue to do what is good" (1 Peter 4:19 GW). Sometimes it's God's will for you to suffer. Sometimes it's God's will for you to be sick. Sometimes it's God's will for you to have problems and be harassed for your faith. Why? Because God is more interested in your character than your comfort. He's more interested in growing you to be like Christ than he is in making your life easy. So what should you do when the bullies and harassers come at you? You should trust in your faithful God who has promised you his presence and eternity in heaven. And you should keep on doing good. You’re still going to face trouble and opposition. This is part of the Christian life! I learned a long time ago that people can laugh at you or say things about you, but they can't stop you. They have no ability to stop you from believing and doing the right thing. How you respond to others—in retaliation or in love—will always be your choice. And you can always make the right choice with the help of the Holy Spirit in you. Keep going. Remain faithful. Just keep doing the right thing. You don't need anybody else's approval to be happy. You don't need to be part of the cool club. You don't need a smart reply for your enemies. You just need to persevere in doing what is right. God sees you. He will take care of you. And he will keep his promise to be with you forever. Talk It Over Is it comforting to know suffering is sometimes part of God’s will? Why or why not? What are the things you should be doing as a Christian, even when you are bullied? How has remembering God’s promises helped you persevere through a challenging time?

How to hear the voice of God

How to hear the voice of God

When Jesus says, “Follow Me,” how do we know it’s Jesus and not just our own imagination? Who wouldn’t like to know more precisely how to hear the voice of God?

Those of us who are already following Jesus need to be constantly on the alert for more “Follow Me” commands.

In every decision we face, where is Jesus and what is he trying to lead us into? What do we need to better learn how to hear the voice of God?

Are there any areas of our lives where we are not following Jesus? If so, what voices are pulling us away from the will of God?

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice and they follow me” (John 10:27). As our Good Shepherd, he wants what is best for us — from the perspective of the Kingdom of God. We wish we could hear his voice clearly every time he speaks to us. He is never silent. He loves us too much to deny us any information that could help us follow him well.

Meanwhile, there are many wolves in shepherd’s clothing who demand our obedience, not the least of which is our own misdirected will. Here’s how to hear the voice of God successfully and discern that from all other voices and noises:

1. Relationship with Jesus
2. Repentance
3. Renewal through the Holy Spirit
4. Relationships with others who are also filled with the Holy Spirit

(1) To hear the voice of Jesus and follow it, first we must be in a good relationship with him. We need to know him as our Savior without whom we will never reach Heaven. We need to know him as a personal friend who cares about us. We need to relate to him by connecting our lives to his life, our burdens to his burdens, our sufferings to his sufferings, and our joys to his joys.

(2) Next, we must examine our consciences in light of scripture and the traditional teachings of the Church: What have you heard that you have rebelled against? We must examine our decisions: What are you deaf to because you’d rather believe it’s really not from Jesus? We must examine our lives: What area of your life is not fully given over to Christ and filled with Christ? (For example, are you sure that all of your political views have been taken over by Jesus Christ? Have you voted for a politician who has policies that are anti-christ, anti-life, immoral?) Whenever we cannot hear or we fail to hear the voice of Jesus, we need to admit that we’ve been separating ourselves from him, we need to obtain supernatural grace through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and we need to desire to increase our holiness with the help of the Holy Spirit.

(3) To hear the voice of Jesus and follow him well, we definitely need the help of the Holy Spirit. We must have a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. Give the Holy Spirit permission to take over your life, your heart, and your soul. Start every morning with a prayer something like this: “Come Holy Spirit, fill me. Come Holy Spirit, open my ears to hear Jesus. Come Holy Spirit, change me.”

(4) To discern the voice of Jesus amidst uncertainty and contrary voices, we benefit greatly from relationships with others who are also filled with the Holy Spirit. God confirms what he’s telling us by reiterating it through Christian community. It’s possible to successfully hear him in our hearts and yet remain uncertain. We long to hear God externally, in an audible voice. Although sometimes he does it that way, he usually echoes what he has spoken to our hearts through other externals (for example, a supernatural Word of Knowledge that someone speaks in a prayer meeting, or a friend being anointed during prayer and receiving an idea that matches what you’ve been thinking).

https://gnm.org/

Four Ways to Use Your Spiritual Gifts - Pastor Rick's Daily Hope

 Give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.”

Romans 6:13 (NLT)

God has given spiritual gifts to every single follower of Jesus. How do you start using the spiritual gifts God put inside of you? Here are four ways to get started:

1. Discover your gifts.
You’ve got to know what your gifts are before you can use them. Stop ignoring the fact that inside of you are some dormant gifts that you’re not even using, and figure out what God has put in you. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 4:14, “Do not neglect the spiritual gift that is in you” (GNT).

2. Dedicate your gifts to God.
The Bible says in Romans 6:13, “Give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God” (NLT).

Maybe you already know what you’re good at, but you’re just not using it for the Lord. You’re using it for yourself. You need to humble yourself and dedicate to the Lord every gift you have. Push all of your excuses out of the way and say, “God, I dedicate back to you what you gave to me.”

3. Develop your gifts.
Gifts are like muscles: The more you use them, the bigger they get. You can strengthen and develop and grow what God has given you. Any gift that God gives you can and should be developed. You’ll get better at it by practicing, studying, and by learning from other people who have the same gift.

I’ve learned that when God gives you something, he will give you even more of it if you use it well—more talent, money, influence, relationships, or responsibility. He says, “I can trust that person. I’m going to give that person more and more and more.”

4. Deploy your spiritual gifts.
“Deploy” means to put into service. You get out on the field, and you start doing something. Romans 12:6 says this: “We are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God’s message, we should do it according to the faith that we have” (GNT).

What’s the best way to discover and dedicate and develop and deploy your spiritual gifts? In a small group. It’s a testing ground! If you are not in a small group, I encourage you to get connected to one this week so that you can test and develop your spiritual gifts in the safe and supportive environment of friends who will encourage you.

https://pastorrick.com/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_campaign=Daily%20Hope%20-%20English%20RSS%20Feed%20-%20Ongoing%20Daily%20Emails&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Four%20Ways%20to%20Use%20Your%20Spiritual%20Gifts

What’s holding you back?

As we work at building up our faith and our personal connection to Christmas, we need a better understanding of our calling to give birth to Christ in partnership with Mary and the Holy Spirit. We need to get more in touch with how and why we can succeed at spreading the Good News more fully into the world, which so desperately needs him. For this purpose, we can use today’s first reading to uncover what’s still holding us back:

1. How is your life like a desert, dry and lifeless except for a few prickly cactuses? 

2.Are you thirsty for more of God? In what area of your life do you feel parched?

3. Are you feeble in your attempts to become a better evangelizer? 

4.Are your knees weak as your travel the difficult road of holy living?

5. Are you controlled and paralyzed by fear? Any fear — even the smallest one — paralyzes us from moving ahead into the success that awaits us. 6.How are you blind? Are you unable to recognize the talents, knowledge and wisdom you have that God wants you to use for taking Christ to others? 

7.What has God been telling you that you can’t hear? Maybe it’s his guidance? Or his love song that he sings to you? Or his dreams for you? 8.What part of giving Christ to others is too difficult for you? What lame excuses are you using to sit down and do nothing? 

9.How has fear kept your tongue silent when you could be sharing a story about your faith life? Or what have you been saying that’s so unlike Jesus that you give a bad impression of who Jesus really is? 

10.In what areas of your life are the jackals who tempt you still lurking, keeping you from being a good witness of what Jesus is really like? 

11.In what ways do you act foolishly? What the world considers wise the Lord knows to be foolish. What worldly wisdom is holding you back from imitating Jesus? 

12.How are you like a lion? Is there anyone you’ve been devouring with unkind words or impatience or contempt or bullying instead of giving them the unconditional love of Jesus? 

Well, the Good News is, as Isaiah points out: The Lord has ransomed us! Today’s Gospel reading reveals that Jesus was overflowing with God’s power so that he could minister to people. He wants to minister to you, too. We all need this help to fulfill our calling as evangelizers. It’s Jesus who strengthens the hands that are feeble and the knees that are weak. We are like the paralytic who allowed his friends to lower him to Jesus for a healing. By humbling ourselves and allowing Christian friends to help us, we reach the power of Christ. And then he says to us, “My friend, your sins are forgiven.” With that Word, we are healed. With that Word, all the good things that Isaiah prophesied are becoming true for us.

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Seven Characteristics of Mercy

“The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy.” James 3:17 (NLT) Mercy is like a diamond; it is multifaceted. Today we’re going to look at seven facets of mercy. And I guarantee that learning how to be an agent of mercy will transform your relationships. 1. Mercy means being patient with people’s quirks. The Bible says in James 3:17, “The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy” (NLT). The wiser you become, the more patient and merciful you become. 2. Mercy means helping anyone around you who is hurting. You cannot love your neighbor as yourself without being merciful. Proverbs 3:27 says, “Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it” (GNT). 3. Mercy means giving people a second chance. When somebody hurts you, you normally want to get even or write that person off. But the Bible says, “Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others . . . Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ” (Ephesians 4:31-32 CEV). 4. Mercy means doing good to those who hurt you. Mercy is giving people what they need, not what they deserve. Why should you do that? Because that’s what God does with you: “Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back . . . Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35-36 NIV). 5. Mercy means being kind to those who offend you. You need to be more interested in winning people to Christ than in winning an argument. Jude 1:23 says, “Show mercy to others, even though you are afraid that you might be stained by their sinful lives” (GW). 6. Mercy means building bridges of love to the unpopular. This is what I call premeditated mercy, because you intentionally build friendships with people who don’t have friends or who are not accepted at work or in society. When the Pharisees questioned why Jesus ate with tax collectors and other unpopular people, Jesus said, “‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners” (Matthew 9:13 NLT). 7. Mercy means valuing relationships over rules. Romans 13:10 says, “Love fulfills the requirements of God’s law” (NLT). If you want to show mercy, put people before policies. Put their needs before procedures. Put relationships before regulations. Choose love over law.

New Growth in Faith

Name your stump. Today’s first reading contains that often-quoted, sometimes sung prophecy in Isaiah about the coming of the Messiah, a new branch growing from the dead stump of the tree of Jesse. Jesse was the great King David’s father. Out of this family tree, Jesus was born. The tree of Jesse was a healthy, fruitful family because of their faith in God, which inspired them to be good servants of his kingdom. David became a servant-king 1,100 years before the human birth of Jesus. His reign was strong and branched out into the whole nation of Israel. During much of his son Solomon’s reign, the tree continued to flourish, but then it became diseased. Israel cracked in two, divided and weakened by a civil war after Solomon’s death. Foreign enemies came and cut down the tree, taking the Israelites into captivity. The Jews never again had a king as great as David. Through the prophet Isaiah, God promised that the tree of Jesse would spring back to life. In the midst of suffering and loss, God was offering a reason for hope based on faith in him. Think of a chopped-down tree in your own life. What relationship has been cut off? What ministry has died? Has a job been axed? Has a dream withered? Name your stump. The Jews thought that when the new shoot finally grew from the stump of Jesse’s tree, it would be a new king like David and he would rescue them from their human enemies. Of course, we know that Jesus was the Messiah that Isaiah had prophesied, and he was quite a different sort of king. The branch of Christ grew into Christianity and its many branches of Christ-rooted ministries. Jesus rescued us from the spiritual enemy and its weapons of sin. Faith-filled followers serve God’s kingdom, producing many good fruits. Now think of your own tree stump. If we watch for our stumps to come back to life and grow the same old tree, we will fail to see our Messiah. A cut-off relationship cannot be restored unless Christ becomes the center of it and each person’s heart is converted and healed from the cut. A dead ministry will take new shape only when Jesus resurrects it; the roots will be the same, but the new growth will be surprisingly different. Christ’s life is springing forth from the axed job as he points the way down a path that will glorify God. The withered dream will pass through the cross of Christ to be resurrected into a glorified new goal that will be empowered by a Pentecost of the Holy Spirit. When we allow Isaiah’s prophecy to come true for us in our current situations, we hear Jesus say, as we read in today’s Gospel passage, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!” Do you have faith to see? Fertilize your tree stump by increasing your prayer time, scripture reading, other spiritual reading, and participation in parish programs. Jesus himself is the new growth that will be born in you, but you have to nurture your soil. For more on this, use our video, “3 Keys in Turbulent Times to Grow Closer to Christ” @ gnm-media.org/3-keys-in-turbulent-times-to-grow-closer-to-christ/. © 2022 by Terry A. Modica

Making the most of divine opportunities

 Mark 10:46-52

bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102421.cfm

After Jesus touches our lives -- answers a prayer, gives us a healing, provides a life-changing insight, or makes any other kind of difference -- what do we do next? Our life has been changed by divine grace. Do we make the most of this new opportunity?

God never forces us to take a new direction or follow a certain path, not even if we've made a bargain with him, such as: "Lord, if you heal me, I will go to Mass every day."

Jesus says to us what he said to Bartimaeus, the man he healed in this Sunday's Gospel reading: "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Go where?

Sometimes his instructions are a little more informative than that. When he cures someone from sin, he adds: "Go and sin no more". Okay, but go where?

Every step we take is important. Where we go and what we do next makes a difference that ripples off into the future with ramifications (blessings and/or woes) that are impossible for us to predict. Jesus isn't down-playing the significance of this. Rather, what happens next is so important that he wants us to have full control over it.

Jesus told Bartimaeus "Go your way." And what did Bartimaeus do with that freedom? He "followed him on the way." He opted for the best possible direction. His life changed dramatically, not only because he had been blind and now he had good eyesight, but because he wanted to learn from Jesus and become one of his followers.

How many times have we returned to an old familiar path after an encounter with Christ? If following him means taking a new direction, getting involved in a new ministry, or changing careers or friends, we too often settle back into old routines. Comfort zones are hard to leave. But following Jesus is a life-changing adventure if we're sincere about our faith.

Following Jesus and learning from him should be our highest priority. Every encounter with Christ should change us -- even at Mass when we reunite ourselves to him in the Eucharist.

Questions for Personal Reflection:
Think of the last time Jesus responded to your need for help. What changed afterward? How long did the change last?

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:
Describe a time when you changed directions in your life because of an encounter with Christ. What did Jesus do for you? How did you figure out which way to go afterward?

https://gnm.org/good-news-reflections/?useDrDate=2021-10-23

God Provides on the Way to the Miracle

 “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:19 (NIV)

Waiting for a miracle can be hard. Sometimes the road is cold, dark, and lonely; you may even find yourself stuck in a rut. You may not know where you’re going or how long the journey will take.

No matter where you are on the way to your miracle, here are some things you need to remember:

God is all you need.
You don’t need a big bank account, a full refrigerator, or even a job. If God wants to, he can have ravens drop food on you as his way of providing. That’s how he provided for the prophet Elijah, who was exhausted and burned-out in the desert; you can read about it in 1 Kings 17. When God turns off one source of provision, he can turn on another just as easily. You can trust him for all you need.

Where God guides, God provides.
After sending the ravens to feed Elijah, God told him to make a dangerous trip to Zarephath. There was a drought in Zarephath and very little food. Yet God provided for Elijah through a poor widow with a generous heart. When God tells you to go somewhere, go immediately. When God tells you to do something, do it right away. When God gives you direction, he will provide what you need to get there.

You must trust him one day at a time.
Why? Because some of your problems persist day after day. For instance, if you have financial problems, you’ll have to deal with them every day. And so we must trust God one day at a time to provide. The Bible says, “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NIV).

God’s promises work when you’re obedient.
God often lays out his plan just one step at a time. He wants you to take the first step in obedience, and then he’ll show you the next step. Each step along the way may not seem logical, but you can obey in faith and confidence, knowing God’s way is always best.

Have you taken the first step of faith?
The first step of faith is asking Jesus to save you and take control of your life. If you’ve never done that, then I invite you to pray this prayer right now:

“Dear God, thank you for loving me and wanting me to depend on you. for loving me and wanting me to depend on you.Forgive me for when I’ve depended on my job, other people, and my own plans instead of you. I want to learn to trust you one day at a time. I want to go your way, not my way. I confess my sin, and I believe you are my Savior. I want to follow you, and I ask you to save me and come into my life. I claim your promise that if I trust you, I will be saved and you’ll meet my needs. When you tell me what to do, I will obey. Help me to remember you’re all I need and where you guide, you’ll provide. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

https://pastorrick.com/god-provides-on-the-way-to-the-miracle/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=God+Provides+on+the+Way+to+the+Miracle&utm_campaign=Daily+Hope+-+English+RSS+Feed+-+HTML+-+When+You+re+Hoping+for+a+Miracle+-+01%2F28%2F2021&vgo_ee=%2BJ%2BTBckOM5q5cj26yfWRLjpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D

Five Ways to Relax in God’s Grace

 Be careful that no one fails to receive God’s grace.”

Hebrews 12:15 (NCV)

How do you learn to “R.E.L.A.X.” in the liberating grace of God?

R—Realize nobody’s perfect.
Psalm 119:96 is a verse directed toward God, and it declares, “Nothing is perfect except your words” (TLB). What society tells you isn’t perfect. What popular opinion tells you isn’t perfect. What you learned growing up isn’t perfect. But God’s Word is perfect. When you get in the Bible and build your life on it, you will have a perfect foundation.

E—Enjoy God’s unconditional love.
The Bible says, “See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children—think of it—and we really are!” (1 John 3:1 TLB). When you become a follower of Christ, you take on a role of service to him—but you’re more than a servant! The Bible says you become a child of the King. A servant is accepted on the basis of what he does; a child is accepted on the basis of who he is. A servant starts the day anxious and worried that her work will please her master; a child rests in the secure love of her family. A servant is accepted because of his workmanship; a child is accepted because of his relationship.

L—Let God handle things.
What do you do about the uncontrollable things in life? “Cast all your anxiety on [God] because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV). When you’re fishing and you cast a line, there comes a point where you have to take your finger off the button and let it go. Just like the essence of casting is letting go, to overcome perfectionism you have to let go and let God do his work.

A—Act in faith, not fear.
Remember how you got into God’s family in the first place. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith” (NIV). Grace is the only way to get into heaven. You’ll never be good enough, and you can’t buy your way in. It’s a free gift from God.

X—Exchange your perfectionism for God’s peace.
Perfectionism destroys peace. Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-29, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest . . . Learn the unforced rhythms of grace” (The Message). What a deal!

You’re going to fail a lot in life. But you don’t have to worry about it if you’ve received God’s grace. In fact, there’s only one failure you ever need to worry about: “Be careful that no one fails to receive God’s grace” (Hebrews 12:15 NCV). Receive it right now, and then relax!

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How can we know God's will?

 Hebrews 10:1-10

Ps 40:2, 4ab, 7-11
Mark 3:31-35
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012621.cfm

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus states that anyone who does the will of God is a mother or sister or brother to him. The responsorial Psalm has us declaring, "Here am I Lord (not someone else -- me!); I come to do your will." But how can we be sure we know what is the will of God for us? Here are seven ways that God communicates it:

1. AUDIBLE VOICE OF GOD: Some people have heard God speaking to them audibly. However, this form of communication is rare and should never be expected, waited for, or trusted by itself.

2. DIRECT VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: For most of us, the direct voice of God sounds like our own thoughts. It's possible to carry on real conversations with God using our imaginations, but it's difficult to know how much is only our imaginations and how much is God. Thus, we must always ask the Holy Spirit to bless and purify our imaginations.

3. INNER PEACE: Whether we're struggling to discern correct decisions or we're making them instantaneously, we should always remember to pause and ask the Holy Spirit: "What's going on? Who or what is pushing me into this?" The driving force may seem logical, the people recommending it may sound rational, but if there is no inner peace, don't trust it.

4. RIGHT PRIORITIES: Feeling peace is not the same as feeling good. It's natural to feel good about a wrong decision when our human desires are saying, "I want to do this!" And even good ideas are not always God's idea. Which choice best serves the kingdom of God? Which one strengthens our relationship with God? Which one is considerate of our own needs while at the same time respectfully cares about the needs of others?

5. SCRIPTURE: Everything we hear from the Lord will be completely in agreement with the Bible, but this means we have to build up a good understanding of what's in the Bible. We can purify our discernment and our interpretation of inner voices by studying scriptures, but if we take verses out of context, we'll use them to prove anything. It's important to learn the Bible and its message as a whole.

6. CIRCUMSTANCES: When patterns occur or "coincidences" keep happening, we need to stop and ask, "Lord, what are you trying to tell me?" God prepares the way for us to do what he asks of us, and everything generally falls into place. When we keep hitting walls (i.e., circumstances that feel like closed doors) God might be telling us to move in a different direction. However, obstacles are often really opportunities to trust God more and take a leap of faith. We cannot trust our interpretation of circumstances alone.

7. SIGNS: Scripture says that if we are living according to the will of God, signs and wonders will follow. Notice: they follow. We aren't wonder-seekers, we're God-seekers. The devil can put up misleading signs to send us off in wrong directions. True signs are the good fruits that are produced by following the leadings of Jesus.

https://gnm.org/good-news-reflections/

Christmas Day

 

Readings for Mass During the Day:
Isaiah 52:7-10
Ps 98:1-6
Hebrews 1:1-6
John 1:1-18

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Joy to the world! This is our song. This is what we should always be proclaiming as a people of faith.

Don't focus on what destroys your joy, for nothing can destroy the coming of the Lord. The absence of joy is merely a blank area in your view of what God is doing.

Look at the love that Jesus has for you! Jesus was born not only to save you from the darkness of sin; he was born because he loves you -- he loves YOU! Even if you had never sinned, he would have come into the world so that he could love YOU on your level, human-to-human.

Sometimes, great things come in surprising packages that do not seem to be great at all. The Eucharist -- in the form of a little wafer of bread -- does not look like it contains the full presence of Jesus with all of his humanity and his divinity. The baby Jesus -- a tiny, helpless child -- does not look like the conqueror of evil. But he is! And so is Jesus in the Eucharist; he is here for you.

And you! You might not seem to be a great person, but you contain Jesus. You contain greatness beyond imagining! This greatness does not dwell only in you; it comes out from you in every good thing that you do. This is a life of faith!

To be a follower of Jesus means we learn to imitate him. In doing good, evil is defeated. In this goodness, the greatness of Jesus extends outward from us. In this goodness, there is cause for great joy.

https://gnm.org/good-news-reflections/

What's your lifeless desert?

 

We all need God's help to stay on the highway that's called the holy way.

As we nurture our spiritual lives to grow closer to Christ this Advent and Season of Christmas, we can use today's first reading to see what still needs healing or repentance:

1. How is your life like a desert, dry and lifeless except for a few prickly cactuses?

2. Are you thirsty for more of God? In what area of your life do you feel parched?

3. Are you feeble in your attempts to become more like Jesus?

4. Are your knees weak as you travel the difficult road of holy living?

5. Are you controlled and paralyzed by fear? Any fear -- even the smallest one -- paralyzes us from moving ahead into the life that God wants for us.

6. How are you blind? Are you unable to see the good that's coming from a bad situation or the hand of God working in your life or in the life of someone who's causing you to worry? Are you blind to the presence of Jesus in others because he's hidden under the garbage of their sins? Are you blind to how very, very much God loves you and wants to help you?

7. What has God been telling you that you can't hear? Maybe it's his guidance? Or his love song that he sings to you? Or his dreams for you?

8. What part of your journey toward heaven is too difficult for you? What lame excuses are you using for permission to sit down on the curb?

9. How has fear kept your tongue silent when you should be speaking up? Or what have you been saying that's so unlike Jesus that you sound horrible instead of singing of God's glory?

10. In what areas of your life are the jackals who tempt you still lurking, keeping you in sin?

11. In what ways do you act foolishly? What the world considers wise the Lord knows to be foolish. What worldly wisdom are you trusting?

12. How are you like a lion? Is there anyone you've been devouring with unkind words or impatience or contempt or bullying?

Well, the Good News is, as Isaiah points out: The Lord has ransomed us! We can escape from these faith-destroying maladies.

Today's Gospel passage shows us that Jesus was overflowing with God's power so that he could minister to people. He wants to minister to you, too. We all need this help to stay on the highway that's called the holy way. It's Jesus who strengthens the hands that are feeble and the knees that are weak.

We are like the paralytic who allowed his friends to lower him to Jesus for a healing. He had faith in his friends' love for him. If we allow our own Christian friends to help us, our faith in their love increases our faith in the loving power of Christ.

That's when Jesus says to us, "My friend, you are forgiven." With that Word, we are healed. With that Word, all the good things that Isaiah prophesied are becoming true for us.

Today's Prayer:

Praised be to You, Lord, because Your love wants to work wonders through our faith in You. Thank You for Your merciful power that restores us in body, soul and spirit. Amen.

https://gnm.org/good-news-reflections/

Trust and follow me

 

Daily Wisdom

(PHOTO: LAURENCE FREEMAN, FRANCE) Jesus’s teaching on this question of finding oneself doesn’t put it just in terms of finding oneself but in following him. This puts a different spin on it. To follow him means what? Say you are driving in two cars somewhere and the first car knows where he is going, you don’t. So they’ll say ‘Just follow me.’ What does that mean? It means there’s trust, trust that they know where they are going. It also means you have to be very careful that you don’t lose the other person, you have to make sure that another car doesn’t come in between you and the car you are following. It’s a small example of what it might mean to follow: to pay attention, to be faithful, to stay connected, to keep going in the spirit of trust or faith. And it means to take the attention off ourselves: ‘Whoever wants to follow me must deny himself’. It sounds very negative, but we can see it in a better light if we see it in the light of meditation – taking the attention off ourselves. That is what it means to leave self behind. (Finding Oneself 1 by Laurence Freeman OSB ) https://mailchi.mp/wccm/daily-wisdom-388661?e=e0e956b448

Meditation

 

11/10/2020

Photo by Jorge Luis Ojeda Flota on Unsplash Letter 29: Integration of two ways of being Laurence Freeman in his book Jesus, the Teacher Within states: “The Kingdom is freedom from all inner and outer domination: ‘the glorious liberty of the children of God’. It is the power of God flowing freely in every human dimension both social and personal. It is the fulfilment of the individual both as a unique individual and as a part of the whole that is indivisible from all other individuals. It is the end of the tragedies of alienation and isolation, the two most powerful causes of suffering and of human inhumanity.” We may well feel on reading this, that this is a state only saints can experience, not one accessible for you and me. And yet, as we will see, when we were very young, we did still live in that state. God has given us all we need for our existence on this earth, not only to survive but also to connect back to the Divine we came from. Our brain is a beautiful instrument for doing this, for tuning into different levels of consciousness, the various realities that surround us. Dr Shanida Nataraja in her book ‘The Blissful Brain’explains that there are two halves to our brain and she describes their functions as follows: “The left brain has a centre – the ego - that interprets the sense impressions, emotional and intellectual stimuli, coming from the outside world, and uses language, logic and analytical abilities to make sense of it. Its main objective is to protect us from anything that may interfere with our ability to survive in this world as a single individual. It will totally ignore anything that does not fit into this survival matrix. The right brain too has a centre – the self - that sees the global picture, as it is the overarching consciousness that includes the ego. It sees the individual in the context of the totally interconnected whole, including all of humanity and creation - all of it embraced by the Divine. It too has senses, the interior senses of intuition and creative imagination. Because of its all-encompassing view, which includes the emotions, the right brain adds to the picture the ego paints empathy, compassion, care for the survival of others and creation - it is the source of our spiritual being and our connection to the Divine.” That we have the innate capacity to link back to our Source is proved by neuro-science brain wave research. It has shown that children under two years of age still live mainly in their right brain, as shown by the dominant presence of alpha waves; hence the empathy, the love, the compassion and the vivid creative imagination that characterizes a child. Therefore a very young child is still undivided, in touch with the whole, still connected to God, still lives in the Kingdom. In ordinary adult consciousness beta waves of left brain activity dominate; we all experience this as the constant whirl of thoughts that occupy our minds. The switch over from the right brain’s to the left brain’s view of the world gradually happens between the ages of two and five; from then on society and education emphasize the left brain way of being and the right brain view is not encouraged. This connection, however, is never severed but just disconnected to various degrees. Yet we have the potential to switch it back on, as it is a natural divinely given part of our human nature. In fact it is something Jesus encourages us to do: “Unless you turn round and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”(Matthew 18,3) Shanida also highlights the role meditation plays in this re-connection with our wider consciousness: meditation through its one-pointed attention on the mantra switches us from a left brain way of being to a right brain way of being. For some of us the switch has become rather rusty over time, but for children the access remains easy; hence they take to meditation as ducks to water. Of course we need to be able to look after our own survival as well as that of others. We need both sides of our brain; they may be different but they are definitely complementary. Their co-operation is essential to our well-being, our sense of harmony and balance. It adds the meaning to life, which is often sadly lacking when we live entirely from our left brain. Here too meditation helps: it encourages an increase in connectivity between both halves of the brain. In doing so it facilitates the ease of switching from one mode of being into the other. Just by repeating our word lovingly and faithfully we end “the tragedies of alienation and isolation” and allow our entry into the Kingdom. Kim Nataraja * From The Weekly Teachings archive, Year 3 Letter 29

https://mailchi.mp/wccm/wccm-weekly-teachings-388389?e=e0e956b448

When Your Plans and God’s Plans Don’t Match

 “My thoughts are not like your thoughts. Your ways are not like my ways.”

Isaiah 55:8 (NCV)

Life is full of interruptions. Sometimes we have big plans—for a career, family, or ministry—but God takes our lives in a different direction.

When our plans and God’s plans don’t match up, we often try to kick down the door. Then things get worse.

Just ask Jonah. He learned the hard way how to respond when God’s plans and his plans didn’t match. God told Jonah to warn the people of Nineveh that they needed to repent from their evil ways. But Jonah ran from God and ended up in the belly of a big fish, so God had to rescue him.

Jonah then did what God had said to do, but when the people of Nineveh repented and God didn’t punish them, the prophet was extremely disappointed.

So God gave Jonah an object lesson. God caused a plant to grow large enough to give Jonah shade. Then he sent a worm to attack the plant and kill it. The next day, as the sun beat down on Jonah’s head, he expressed his frustration to God.

And that’s when God reminded Jonah of four truths to remember when God’s plans differ from ours.

God can see things you can’t. He can see the past and the present and the future all at the same time. He created time, so he is not subject to time.

God is good to you even when you’re cranky. You may have been going the opposite direction from God, and he still covers you with shade. God cares about your comfort because that’s the kind of God he is. He loves you even when you’re unlovable.

God is in control of every detail of your life. Your plans don’t fail randomly. God has a purpose in everything in your life. Jonah shows us that God uses both the big (a large fish) and the small (a worm) to direct our lives, but he is in control of it all. 

God wants you to focus on what will last. Most of what worries you won’t be around tomorrow. God wanted Jonah to care about the salvation of the people of Nineveh, not a plant that would die the next day. Above all else, focus on getting God’s Word into your heart and bringing people into his family.

Just because your plans aren’t turning out the way you want doesn’t mean God isn’t intimately involved in every step. Ask God to help you see his hand in your broken plans, and trust him in his goodness as he shows you the way forward.

https://pastorrick.com/when-your-plans-and-gods-plans-dont-match/?vgo_ee=%2BJ%2BTBckOM5q5cj26yfWRLjpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D

Spiritual vs. Material Wealth

“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”  Mark 12:43-44 All she put into the basket was two small coins worth only a few cents.  Yet Jesus declares that she put in more than all the rest.  Are you buying that?  It’s hard to accept that it’s true.  Our tendency is to think of the monetary value of the large sums of money being deposited before this poor widow’s.  Those deposits are far more desirable than the two small coins she put in.  Right?  Or not? If we take Jesus at His word then we should be far more grateful for the widow’s two coins than the large sums of money deposited before her.  That’s not to say that the large sums of money were not good and generous gifts.  They most likely were.  God took those gifts also and used them.  But here Jesus is highlighting a contrast between spiritual wealth and material wealth.  And He’s saying that spiritual wealth, and spiritual generosity, is of far greater importance than material wealth, and material generosity.  The poor widow was materially poor but spiritually rich.  Those with the large sums of money were materially rich, but spiritually poorer than the widow.  In the materialistic society we live in, it’s hard to believe this.  It’s very hard to make the conscious choice to embrace spiritual wealth as a far greater blessing.  Why is this hard?  Because in order to embrace spiritual wealth one must give up everything.  We must all become this poor widow and contribute all we have, our “whole livelihood.”  Now, some may immediately react to this statement as extreme.  It’s not extreme.  There is nothing wrong with being blessed with material wealth, but there is something wrong with being attached to it.  What is essential is an interior disposition which imitates the generosity and spiritual poverty of this poor widow.  She wanted to give and she wanted to make a difference.  So she gave all she had. Each person must discern how this looks practically in their lives.  This doesn’t mean that everyone must literally sell all they have and go become a monk.  But it does mean that everyone must have an interior disposition of complete generosity and detachment.  From there, the Lord will show you how to use the material things within your possession for your greatest good, as well as the good of others. Reflect, today, upon the contrast of these two forms of wealth and choose that which lasts for eternity.  Give all you have and all you are to our Lord and allow Him to direct the generosity of your heart in accord with His perfect will. Lord, please give me the generous and selfless heart of this poor widow.  Help me to look for ways that I am called to give completely of myself to You, holding nothing back, seeking above all the spiritual riches of Your Kingdom.  Jesus, I trust in You. https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2020/06/05/spiritual-vs-material-wealth-2/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=catholic-daily-reflections-my-catholic-life_2596

Avoidance of Sin

“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.  It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.”  Matthew 5:29-30a Does Jesus really mean this?  Literally?  We can be certain that this language, which is shocking, is not a literal command but is rather a symbolic statement commanding us to avoid sin with great zeal, and to avoid all that leads us to sin.  The eye can be understood as a window to our soul where our thoughts and desires reside.  The hand can be seen as a symbol of our actions.  Thus, we must eliminate every thought, affection, desire and action that leads us to sin. The true key to understanding this passage is to allow ourselves to be affected by the powerful language that Jesus uses.  He does not hesitate to speak in a shocking way so as to reveal to us the calling we have to confront with much zeal that which leads to sin in our lives.  “Pluck it out…cut it off,” He says.  In other words, eliminate your sin and all that leads you to sin in a definitive way.  The eye and the hand are not sinful in and of themselves; rather, in this symbolic language they are spoken of as those things that lead to sin.  Therefore, if certain thoughts or certain actions lead you to sin, these are the areas to target and to eliminate. Regarding our thoughts, sometimes we can allow ourselves to dwell excessively upon this or that.  As a result, these thoughts can lead us to sin.  The key is to “pluck out” that initial thought that produces the bad fruit. Regarding our actions, we can at times put ourselves in situations that tempt us and lead to sin.  These occasions of sin must be cut off from our lives. Reflect, today, upon this very direct and powerful language of our Lord.  Let the forcefulness of His words be an impetus for change and avoidance of all sin. Lord, I am sorry for my sin and I ask for Your mercy and forgiveness.  Please help me to avoid all that leads me to sin and to surrender all my thoughts and actions to You every day.  Jesus, I trust in You. https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2020/06/11/avoidance-of-sin-2/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=catholic-daily-reflections-my-catholic-life_2596