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This week many of us were able to return to Sunday Mass at our home parishes! As I entered into the church, I was greeted with, “Good morning! Welcome home!” Believe me it felt good to be back! Although I truly appreciated all the masses available on social media during our time of quarantine, I really missed receiving our Lord in the Eucharist. I needed to see and touch Him once again. I needed His healing graces. I needed His Divine Love to reside in me.
A very familiar saying is “Home is where your heart is.” The Eucharist is all heart. One small host contains more love than we can ever imagine. One human heart needs His Love more than we can truly understand. One heart, no matter where it is in the world, can be united with Christ through the Eucharist. The thought that Jesus infuses our hearts with His Love is beyond amazing! We should definitely let everyone know it--all the way to the ends of the earth!
-Susan
After driving aimlessly for an hour, Tori saw a sign-St. Joseph's Retreat Center. "Retreat is exactly what I need," she thought to herself. "I need a retreat from all my problems." She pulled into the small parking lot and put the car in park. She smiled at the large statue of St. Joseph holding the child Jesus surrounded by a wall maintained garden of flowers. Tori suddenly felt the urge to draw closer to the statue. Without thinking she got out of the car and began walking down the short path towards an empty bench in front of the statue. She just sat there and allowed her tears to slowly roll down her face. "I've really messed things up this time. I don't know what to do," she thought to herself. She looked at how lovingly St. Joseph looked at the little Jesus in his arms, and longed to be able to embrace Jesus as well.
Tori was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice the priest walking up the path until he cheerfully announced, "Good morning! How are you today? It sure is pretty out today!"
Tori did her best to fake a smile. "Yes, the weather is perfect today." she said without much enthusiasm.
"You look like you have a lot more than the weather on your mind."
"Yes, I suppose I do," Tori replied. "I actually don't know how I even got here. I just got in my car and started driving, and this is where I ended up. Is it okay that I am sitting here?"
"Of course it is. It's a great place to think. I come here often myself. Anything I can help you with?"
"Not unless you're good at erasing mistakes," admitted Tori.
"Well...I may be able to help you out. Have you visited the River of Grace? It flows right through the Church. It's known for its healing power."
"River of Grace? No, I've basically just been sitting outside here."
"It's really something. I would love to share it with you."
"It runs right through the Church?"
"Yep."
Tori shrugged her shoulders and then raised her eyebrows, "Ok, that sounds pretty interesting." Tori followed the priest into the Church.
"Now it starts right here at the Baptismal font. Just put your hand in there for a minute. I want you to close your eyes, bless yourself with the sign of the Cross and then let the Spirit show you the River of Grace."
Tori followed the priests instruction. She closed her eyes as her hand went into the water and then blessed herself in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Suddenly Tori's eyes became wide open and she saw the River Of Grace flowing from the Baptismal font. It was absolutely amazing! It was so beautiful! Without thinking she removed her shoes and starting wading in the water. The gentle, warm current nudged her forward little by little. With each step she felt completely immersed in love. The pain of her mistakes ebbed out of her heart and disappeared into the water. She felt a peaceful wave flow right through her. She felt as if she had been reborn! Inspired by the River of Grace, she looked up towards the heavens and cried, "Father, forgive me, I am so sorry."
And then she heard the Father's voice, "I absolve you of all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
" I'm ready to begin again." Tori was silent for a minute. "Father, thank you for inviting me in. I didn't even realize how much I was missing by staying outside."
Father Jim smiled. "Jesus patiently waits for each of us to come inside so that He can heal us through the sacraments with His Divine Love and Mercy. I'm so happy you said 'Yes' to the invitation."
-Susan
My son and I were outside on our backyard patio enjoying the beautiful weekend weather. "May is the best month," he said.
"Why's that?" I asked.
"Look, the grass is green again, the trees are budding, it's not too hot, and there's no bugs yet."
"Your right," I said. "It is really nice to enjoy all this again after a long winter."
Unfortunately, in a few weeks we may not be excited that the grass is still green. We may take for granted all the leaves on the tree, and we may not be thrilled to just be sitting outside enjoying a nice day. It's easy to take such beautiful things for granted. Today, however is the beginning of a new season of growth for nature, and if we are open to it, it is a new season of growth for us as well.
May is the month of Mary. It is a time to sit down and take in her beauty that is all around us and in the details of our life. It's often easy to take our Mother for granted. We take for granted all the graces she has bestowed on us. All the moments she prayed with us at our side. All the times she helped us turn our hearts back to God. All the times she held our hands when we were too afraid or hurt to begin another day. And all the songs of praise and thanks she sang to the Father on our behalf, because we forgot too. Mary is truly beautiful.
I would like to encourage you to take some time this month and let Mary know how much you love her. Allow her love to grow in you. If you are having any trouble with this, I would encourage you to sit and talk with her Son. Ask Jesus to tell you what he likes most about His Mom. I imagine she is even more beautiful from His point of view.
-Susan
These days our financial, educational, and career paths have detoured off our intended courses. We did not foresee a world pandemic changing everything. Social distancing is necessary. Face masks are the new norm. Travel is difficult or discouraged. We have all become more introverted. News reports and talk shows are being recorded outside the studios allowing us glimpses of celebrities interior spaces. Perhaps, then, there is no better time than now to focus on the interior spaces of our lives.
Spend time walking with the Lord in the interior of your mind and heart. Take off your mask and cast away your public persona. Put aside any thoughts of getting ahead. Get close and personal with God. Let your guard completely down and let the Lord love you. Let God show you what life is really about. God has desired so much more for us than we could ever imagine. It's time to turn things inside out, and let God show us our real intended course. Let our spiritual distancing be something of the past as we travel as one with God towards our future.
-Susan
Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. I love this celebration of God’s love. God wants to forgive all our sins and pour His Mercy into our lives. He doesn’t want us to go it alone. He wants to help us. Jesus shares His Divine Presence with us in the Eucharist. He conquered sin and death with His Passion and Resurrection. And today He asks us to turn away from our sins, trust Him completely, and share His Mercy with others. If we do this, we will spend eternity with Him in Paradise. How could we possibly say no?
Recently we have learned that we can’t place our trust in the economy, in our own health, or even our day to day lifestyle. There are no guarantees with any of these choices. Jesus, however, offers us an eternity of love and happiness. We merely have to trust His Word, gaze upon His Cross, and follow His merciful ways. No matter what is happening in the world, Jesus will never fail us. He is the remedy our hearts long for. Our “yes “ to Jesus is the stimulus the world really needs. Today, open your hearts and say , “Yes!”
-Susan
Have a Blessed Easter!
-Susan
Today is Good Friday. You retreat to your favorite prayer space and invite the Holy Spirit to help you meditate on the Lord's Passion. You close your eyes and open your thoughts and heart to the Lord.
When you open your eyes you can feel the heat of the desert. You look all around but see nothing but vast sand. It is not long before you feel the familiar hand on your shoulder. "Hello, my friend" says Dominic. "It is time for us to leave the desert. Please follow me to the next town. There is someone that I would like you to meet." As Dominic begins walking, a path appears and the desert begins to disappear. In the distance you see an unfamiliar man waiting for you.
As you both approach the stranger he smiles and says, "Hello. It is good to see you again, Dominic."
Dominic and the stranger exchange a friendly hug before he turns to you and says, "I would like you to meet a good friend of mine. This is Simon of Cyrene."
Simon smiles as he reaches out to shake your hand and says, "It's nice to meet you." As you shake his hand you realize that you have touched the same hands that helped Jesus carry His cross to Calvary.
"Would you like to ask Simon anything?" Dominic encourages.
You think for a moment and then inquire, "Simon what was it like to help Jesus carry His cross?"
"Well to be honest, it was shocking, confusing, difficult, and life changing. I had never met Jesus before that moment. Of course, I had heard about him, but I wasn't one of his followers. I could hear the loud jeers of the crowd forming along the street. I knew something big was going on, but I wasn't trying to be a part of it. I just wanted to get home. Then some Roman guard grabbed my arm and pulled me into the middle of the street. They ordered me to help the prisoner.
At first I was mad. Why am I being forced to do this? I have done nothing wrong. I am not a part of this. But I knew better than to argue with Roman soldiers. They were cruel and I was beginning to fear for my own life. I looked at the man underneath the cross. I was horrified. He had been terribly beaten. Blood ran down his face from a crown of thorns on his head. I wasn't sure if he could have even walked, yet alone carry this wood for his crucifixion.
I put the beam of wood on my own back. It was heavier than I had expected. I had no idea how he had the strength to carry it even this far. He turned his head and looked at me. I don't know how to explain it, but his eyes touched my soul. Even though he looked completely pitiful, I felt the strength of his love. I felt love like I had never known before. It was but an instant, but that instant changed my whole life. Once you feel the immense love Christ has for you, nothing else seems important.
I tried my best to carry as much of the weight as I could as I followed his lead. His pace was very slow as each step appeared to be more difficult. The crowd and the soldiers were screaming insults, but I stayed focused on his barely audible voice. I was completely shocked at what I heard. I could hear him praying. He was praying for all those around him. He seemed to recognize each face. He knew their names and he was praying for them. He was asking God for mercy--not for himself, but for those who were persecuting him. He loved them. He loved each and every one of them.
As each step brought us closer his end, I no longer knew if I was helping him, or if he was actually helping me. I had never known God's love until I picked up this cross. It wasn't until I felt the weight of the cross that I knew I was walking on the right path. Before this moment, I had been stumbling but never even knew it.
I love the fact that this day is now called Good Friday, because this was a very good day for me. I had a one-on-one experience with Jesus and I encountered how incredible God's love is. Dominic wants you to have this experience as well. Good Friday isn't an event that just occurred in the past. It is a window that allows you to have a one on-one-encounter with Jesus as well. Today block out all the world's noise, and listen only to His voice. What do you hear Him saying?"
-Susan
