Hello October

 

  Fall has officially arrived! The days are shorter, the nights are cooler, and the leaves are beginning to change. Pumpkin-spice everything is everywhere, alongside fresh cider and doughnuts.  October is filled with sweet treats, which is why I find it fitting that it is dedicated to Mary and the Holy Rosary. Praying the Rosary with Mary turns every day into something special and memorable. Whether my spirit is high or down in the dumps, my moments with Mary enlighten me both personally and spiritually. Sometimes I feel like Elizabeth and think, "And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" 

  I feel Mary smile and say, "Don't you know who you are? You are a child of the Most High God. I am always here for you." How incredibly blessed we all were in that moment on the cross when Jesus gave Mary to each of us.  Like John, you take Mary into your home, and it is so incredibly beautiful and life-changing; you have to share the truth of this blessing with everyone! Mary is always in our lives, whether we recognize her presence or not, but when you do, your whole life changes. Slowly, prayer by prayer, day by day, year by year, Mary reveals God's love. A love so personal and tender that God delights in its delivery through the hands of His Mother.

  This October, pick up your rosary beads in one hand and hold Mary's hand in the other. Heaven is closer than we imagine. The path to heaven is rhythmic, repetitive, and meditative, filled with moments that transform your thoughts, your heart, and your life. I would highly recommend diving into this sweet treat. Falling in love with Mary and the Rosary is an earthy adventure that lets small beads of wisdom reveal the majesty of God's love.

-Susan

Let His Light Shine

 

    I was at peace as I neared the end of my daily walk when it happened. My watch's messaging app went off. I made the mistake of reading it. The message instantly annoyed me. The path I was walking seemed to darken as I tried to manage my feelings and decide how to respond. I took a breath, said a prayer, and tried to relax and think clearly. As I looked up, I saw a bright light shining through the window. It was a clarifying moment—a sign to guide me. Follow His light. Peace will return. I walked forward, my eyes fixed on His Light.

  Small annoyances can rob us of our peace if we let them. Prayer is the best way to handle these moments. I have heard some say they don't like to bother God with little problems. I don't feel that way. If something is bothering me, I talk it over with God.  Left to my own thoughts, I often make small problems even bigger because I tend to overthink things.  I need help letting go of my anger.  I need God.  I need to slow down and allow the Holy Spirit to guide me. 

  After praying about my little situation, I reminded myself that the world can deliver both good and bad messages on my watch, but the Lord is always good.  He is my Deliverer. He is always watching over me, and if I raise my eyes, I will see His light. His light can overcome any of my dark moments.

-Susan

Keep Focused

 

  I have been blessed to travel a little in my lifetime. Letting my eyes drink in so many of God's beautiful creations inspires me to praise Him for His many gifts and reminds me of my littleness in this big world. Sunday Mass is always essential. Catholic churches come in many sizes and architectural styles. The Mass, however, is universally the same. Wherever I am, I know that during the Mass, I am at home. I love the Mass! What saddens me, though, are the distractions I sometimes encounter before the Mass.

  I am grateful for parishes with active ministries serving the community's needs. It is wonderful, but I would prefer to give these programs my full attention after Mass. I am also happy that those in the pews have close relationships with one another, but let's celebrate those friendships after Mass. Like many of you, I have a busy life. I long to spend sacred moments with the Lord away from earthly distractions. I want to stay focused on praising God, but I am weak, and my senses can be easily distracted.  I need your help to stay focused.

  The Mass is the highest form of prayer.  The Mass is a sacred time when we join our prayers with Jesus to praise and worship God the Father. Participating in the holy Mass is the most important part of our lives.  The Mass is not meant to be casual or entertaining. It is sacred time spent praising God's goodness. I am embarrassed to admit that I can let distracting thoughts interfere with the sacredness of the moment.

  I realize I need help.  Personally, I need to prepare for Mass.  I need to prepare my heart to hear God's words and receive Jesus in the Eucharist.  I need to be open to the gentle guidance of my guardian angel, who leads me to worship as in heaven.  I need to unite myself with Mary so that I may imitate her disposition and receive all the graces the Lord has prepared for me. Preparing for Mass is important to me. When I walk through the church doors and enter the sanctuary, I want to focus on the Lord. 

  I realize some of you prayer warriors don't let anything distract you. I truly admire that. But it's possible that, like me, others are being distracted as well. Help me stay focused on the sacrifice of the Mass until the final blessing and dismissal. Then we can go out together to serve the Lord, the community, and one another.

-Susan

That's A Tough Question

 

  My granddaughter loves to read.  I recently bought her a "Would You Rather" book.  The book is filled with statements that make you choose between two good things or two bad things.  Generally, the Would You Rather statements are more fun when shared with someone. For example:  Would you rather spend one day in the past or one day in the future? Would you rather have the gift of prophecy or the gift of healing?  Would you rather eat a bowl of worms or a cup of dirt? As you can see, some decisions are easier to make than others.

  We face a similar question every day of our lives.  Would you rather live for this world or for heaven?  Although the answer to this question should be obvious to Christians, I wonder whether it is easier to answer than to live it out. Let's face it, most of us are not living saintly lives.  For some reason, the pull of this world is stronger than it should be. Oddly, we spend more time making our lives comfortable than preparing for eternity. It's easier to let others live their own lives than to share the truth of the Gospels with them. How do we live for God rather than for ourselves?

  Although the pull of gravity is strong here on Earth, it is no match for the word "yes" given to the Holy Spirit. Let's begin our day by asking the Holy Spirit to replace one worldly habit with a saintly one. Ask the Holy Spirit to present you with a "Would You Rather" question and see where the conversation leads. You may be surprised by what you learn.

-Susan

Today Is Mom's Birthday!

 

A Candid Conversation

 

  A few weeks ago, I was walking my dog in the park. A young boy (maybe seven years old) approached me and asked, "What's that?" 

  I was surprised by the question as he pointed to my dog. "My dog," I answered.

  He responded, "I think it’s a cat."

  "No, he's a dog."

   "No, I think it's a cat."  Then he walked away to play on the swings.  Of course, the only natural thing to do next was to shake my head and apologize to my dog, in case he felt offended.

  Later, during prayer, this interaction interrupted my thoughts. I smiled as I recounted the story to God and said, "I was so confused that the boy would argue what was so obviously true." And that's when it hit me. How often does God have the same conversation with me? Through Jesus' teachings, God has clearly revealed the truths of the kingdom. But how often have I decided that a particular teaching was a little harsh and that what God really meant was ...

  In today's world, we often prefer to offer our own interpretations to match our expectations rather than listen to God. Let's face it, life would be easier if we weren't Catholic. It would be easier to just be good people and do what we thought was right. But Jesus calls us to be more than just good people.  We are called to be like Jesus.  This means trusting His wisdom over our own. 

  I wondered how many times I called something right when it was wrong. I'm sure the number is quite high. What began as a silly conversation with a child suddenly became a candid conversation with God. Imagine how surprised I was to realize I was the child who called a dog a cat. But instead of running for the swings, I turned to the forgiving arms of my Father.  Being Catholic isn't a walk in the park, but it is the path to salvation. Keep leading me, Lord; please keep me on the path.

-Susan

So Blessed

 

   I went up north last weekend with my sisters.  On Sunday we attended Mass together in a small town by the lake. As I knelt to pray before Mass began, I noticed the church paper on the pew in front of me.  It showed a partial image of Jesus' face.  The somewhat mysterious picture instantly drew me in.  

  My eyes saw what my heart already knew: Jesus would be present with us as we celebrate the Mass. There will be blessings upon blessings! I am so grateful that my ears hear His invitation and that my soul is allowed to praise Him. Allowing me to stand so near to Him is more than I deserve, and then He invites me to come even closer. He places His heart in my hands, hoping I will love as He loves. His generous love amazes me.

 

  I must admit, I am a slow learner and still a work in progress. But I am trying, and I am so grateful that Jesus still has hope that I could be a faithful disciple.  As I stare at His picture and imagine what the other half of His face looks like, I wonder. . . Is Jesus looking at my heart and wondering when I will fully give the other half to Him? 

-Susan