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

The Word

 

  "The Flight into Egypt" is only three verses in Matthew's Gospel, but I have to admit, I am fascinated by this story. Trust and obedience are central themes. Joseph receives the message from the angel that Herod plans to destroy Jesus. Joseph trusts that this message is from God and immediately wakes Mary. Mary trusts Joseph's message, and together they depart for Egypt at once. I wonder whether I would have enough trust to do the same. This got me thinking...

  Imagine an angel informed you tonight that God was being hunted down, and that it was up to you to keep the Word of God safe.  You are warned to get up immediately and begin traveling to another country. You are not told your final destination, only the initial direction. You are instructed to bring a Bible and 3 other faith-filled books you own. Beyond the Bible, what other books would help you maintain your faith and share it with others? Would you trust that God could send you a message in a dream? Would you recognize an angel speaking to you? Would you be willing to leave your home and all your plans if God asked you to? Are you prepared to defend the Word of God, no matter the cost?

  Take some time with these questions. Talk them over with God. I imagine it would be an interesting conversation.

-Susan

  

  

Hail Mary, FUll of Grace

 

  Join me today in celebrating our beautiful mother, Mary! She is the perfect disciple of Jesus. Her love for God was so complete and pure that she never allowed even a trace of sin to separate her from the Lord. Jesus honored Mary throughout His earthly life; He honored her with His final words on the cross, and then He brought Mary, body and soul, into heaven, so that we could all honor her as well!

  I imagine the joy in heaven today is beyond words, but I hope the joy in each of our hearts is, too.  Allow your love for Mary to make today special by spending a little extra time with her. She loves us so much and wants to ensure we all make it to heaven. We would be wise to ask for her advice and intercession today and every day that follows. We would be even wiser to give Mary our hearts.

  Let Mary hold our hearts in her gentle hands and remove all the impurities that impede us from loving God more. Allow Mary to place her fingerprints all over our hearts. The more we look like Mary, the closer we will be to heaven!

-Susan

Remain Faithful

 

  Once, when I was teaching my students that God always answers our prayers, a third-grader raised her hand.  She said, "That's not true.  I've been praying for my sister to get better, and she still isn't healed." My heart went out to this sweet child. When prayers are not answered as quickly as we would like, or the answer differs from our expectations, it may feel like God is not listening.  It is during these times that it is important to remain faithful and not to be discouraged. 

  While Jesus hung on the cross, many in the crowd jeered at Him, taunting Him to save Himself if He truly was the Messiah, the Son of God. The crowd wanted a spectacle-a moment of entertainment and proof. God wanted so much more. God wanted to save all humanity. Jesus shows us that we must always desire God's Will over our own, even in our darkest moments.

  Salvation for each of us is possible because of Jesus' death on the cross.  But that's not the end of the story.  That is where our stories begin. Salvation is ours if we pick up our crosses and follow Jesus.  Pain and suffering can purify us and draw us closer to the Lord.  

  What the crowd saw as Jesus hung on the cross was that He had lost everything. But God saw it quite differently. He saw His Son's love—a love so encompassing that it would soon push open the doors to heaven. God saw that death would no longer hold any power. God saw that Jesus' body, blood, soul, and divinity would be given to all who desired to be a part of a new and everlasting covenant. Seconds before Jesus took His last breath, God knew that Jesus was seconds away from victory.

  The next time your heart is heavy with a prayer that seems unanswered, remember to end your prayer with the words, "Not my will, but Yours be done." While it may feel as if we have lost everything, perhaps this moment of faithfulness is the one God is using to accomplish things beyond our comprehension. Remember, the cross is a sign of victory. Its mystery is often veiled here on earth, but its glory will shine in heaven.

-Susan

An Honest Bet

 

  One of my close friends had a habit of telling small lies. Although they thought nothing of it, I found it annoying.  One day, I asked, "Doesn't it bother you to lie to me all the time?"

  My friend seemed to think I was overreacting.  "I'm not lying.  I'm just embellishing the truth."

  Slanting the truth is common in today's world.  News, politics, advertising -everyone wants you to believe their version of the truth.  So how important is the truth?  Jesus stated that it was part of His identity.  "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

  As we journey together toward eternity,  let's carry words of truth with us. Let's love one another enough to be honest with each other. It's possible that if we keep slanting the truth, we may never reach the spiritual heights God intended for us. He has such high hopes for us. So let's set aside all the lies we carry. There is no need for them where we are going; they can only trip us up. Honesty is more valuable than we realize. Eternity is closer than we know. And His way is the only way to get you there.  You can bet your life on it.

-Susan

Just Be You

  

  This quote by St. Anthony is timeless and the perfect midsummer reflection. Go find your favorite spot, close your eyes, and relax in the Presence of God. Listen to God's voice in the breeze. Listen to Him speak your name. He is calling you. Just be still and listen. This moment is perfect not because you are, but because God's love is. God perfectly loves you. God has waited thousands of years for this exact moment to be with you. Listen as the Lord says, "I came so that (you) may have life and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you" (John 15:4). 

  Life is so good. Try to catch your reflection in God's eyes. This is the real you. This is the person created to bring God's love to the world.

-Susan

Taking The Next Step

 

  Due to northern wildfires, the unhealthy air quality turned my fun, outdoor summer days with my grandchildren into "we have to stay in the house" days. We were forced to come up with different ways to have fun. One of our activities was a scavenger-hunt clue game. It was a game I always enjoyed playing with my children when they were young. My daughter, Theresa, began writing the clues, and the fun followed. My granddaughters had to solve each clue, which led them to the next. It was fun to watch them figure out the answers. What seemed obvious at times left them bewildered and needing more insight.

  I was thinking about this later on, and noticed some similarities between this game and a life of prayer.  Please keep in mind, that I am not suggesting that God is playing games with us.  Nothing could be further from the truth. What I am suggesting, though, is that through prayer, God leads us where we need to go.  If we listen to His voice, God gently guides us from one day to the next.  It's not always easy, though.  Sometimes we just don't pick up on God's clues. We may have to go back and spend even more time in prayer to discern where God is leading us- especially if we are being led to carry a cross. Often our hearts are heavy, and our heads are down when carrying a cross, making it difficult to see where we are being led. During these times, complete trust in God is needed.

  Unfortunately, wildfires touch everyone's lives. They can be completely unexpected and beyond our control. Keep in mind, though, that God is in control.  He will never abandon us. He loves us, and with each prayer, He will guide us away from pain and danger and into His world of love and peace. Never stop praying.  Prayer purifies us and fills us with His Spirit. And if you're too tired to say another prayer or take another step, just say four small words.  Holy Spirit, help me. Let His breath fill your lungs, enlighten your mind, and clear your vision. Praying in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is the best way to discover The Way.

-Susan