The Road Less Traveled

  "Mary, please lay down and rest for awhile before we begin our trip.  I'm worried about you and the baby.  The trip will be very hard on you.  Are you sure we are doing the right thing?  Bethlehem is going to take at least four days of continuos walking.  I'm just not sure...," Joseph stopped mid sentence as he shook his head.  He was very worried about Mary and about the baby.  Everyone said she looked as if it could be very soon.  The last thing he wanted to do was a long trip to Bethlehem.  What if Mary went into labor somewhere along the road?  What if he was the only one to help deliver the baby?  Of course their neighbor Leah had explained to Joseph in detail yesterday what he should do, but honestly, he wasn't sure if he could do it.  Why would the Romans insist on this decree right before the baby was to be born?
  "Joseph, please, do not worry.  I will rest as you have suggested.  We will put our trust in God.  Everything will work according to His Plan.  The Messiah will come at God's desired time," Mary smiled lovingly at Joseph.  Her radiance took Joseph's breath away along with his worries. "Remember, Joseph, The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack, " again Mary smiled a she gestured at Joseph to pray with her.
  Together they prayed in unison, "In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me; you restore my strength.  You guide me along the right path for the sake of your name.  Even when I walk through dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage.  You set a table before me as my enemies watch; You annoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come."
  Mary looked at Joseph and then towards the future and said, "Let each of us pray for God's strength and His mercy as we begin this journey together."

(to be continued..)

-Susan

Advent Begins

  Advent is a time of anticipation, reflection, and joy.  We prepare for the birth of The Messiah.  "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life" (John 3:16).  We should spend these next four weeks remembering how Jesus became a small baby, just for us.  Advent is a special time where past, present and future coincide for a treasure of blessings for us. As we reflect on the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, in our hearts, and when Jesus will come again.
  I'm going to ask a huge favor from everyone.  Please let this be a time of spiritual wonder and joy.  Listen to the very voice of God this season as He shares His Son with us.  I know it is difficult, but do your very best to turn away the marketing of the world.  The gifts that God has always intended to share with us, have nothing to do with what can be bought in a store.  In fact Jesus, himself, said, "Go and sell what you have, and give it to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me" (Mark 10:21).  This Advent season turn your ear to God, Hear His voice, and rejoice in His promises.
  Theresa and I will beginning a new series of stories called "The Path Less Traveled."  It is a collection of fictional stories based on Mary and Joseph's journey to bring Christ to the world.  Like Advent, the stories will occur at a time where past, present, and future coincide and celebrate the coming of the Messiah.  We hope that you will choose to be a part of "The Path Less Traveled."

-Susan

Happy Thanksgiving!

  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Today as we gather with family and friends, let us thank God for placing these people in our lives.  Separately, we are all very different individuals, but we are bound and strengthened and challenged by each other and the prayers we share.  My life is far from perfect.  Sometimes I feel I've had more than my share of challenges, but I am grateful that the Lord has never left me alone.  He has blessed me with people who have stood beside me, laughed with me, cried with me, and strengthened me with their prayers.  Thank you Lord for allowing me to discover the beauty of life through all those you have chosen to place at my side.

-Susan

Here's Looking at You

  You know what they say--beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  
                    What does God see when He looks at you?

-Susan

Vacationing With God #10- St. Joseph's Oratory, Montreal, Canada

  It was Spring Break, the car was loaded, and we were ready for our spiritual pilgrimage.  We were headed for Mount Royal, St. Joseph's Oratory.  With hope and confidence we came to honor  and pray with St. Joseph and St. Andre.  We could see the large dome from miles away.  The Basilica was massive, and impressively sat on top of Mount Royal, but once inside, the humble love of St. Andre continues to touch all who visit.
  Brother Andre (as he was known during life) was not well educated and had poor health, so he was given the job of greeting those who came to the door.  He had a very special devotion to St. Joseph and encouraged others to ask for St. Joseph's intercession.  Over the years, many healings were attributed to those who visited Brother Andre.  Inside the Basilica there was an entire wall of crutches/canes that were left behind from those who were healed.  Brother Andre always insisted the healings came from God or through the intercession of St. Joseph's prayers.
  One of my favorite quotes from St. Andre is "It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures."  St. Andre please pray that we may all remain small brushes in God's hand.

-Susan

Wow!

  I came across this quote yesterday and couldn't help but be "wowed" by it.  You could spend hour upon hour meditating on the incredible gift Jesus gave us in the Eucharist, and still never even begin to enfold all it's majesty.  As you unwrap layer after layer of love in this incredible gift, one is left completely amazed.  The thought that I belong to Jesus makes me want to just smile and say, "Thank you for loving me so much."  Let's spend some time discovering ourselves in His Light and be completely "wowed" and enlightened.

-Susan 

That's a Great Deal!

  Well if you are like me, I imagine your inbox and mailbox are filling up with Black Friday sales and early black Friday sales.  Sometimes I feel like the amount of sale ads I am subjected to is a bit overwhelming.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I like saving money as much as the next person, I just feel like I'm drowning in a sea of consumerism sometimes.  Happiness always seems one more purchase away.
  If you are searching for something more, there are some really good deals available to everyone that are worth talking about:
  
     1.  Forgive others and God will forgive you.
     2.  Be merciful to others and you shall obtain mercy. 
     3.   Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth. 

     4.  "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also
           acknowledge before my Father in heaven."  

     5.  "Whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst.  Indeed
           the water I give them will become in
          them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
     6.  "For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that
          whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal
          life."
     7.  "This is the cup of my Blood,  the Blood of the new and
           everlasting covenant, it will be shed for you and for all, for
           the forgiveness of sins."
     
   Jesus asks so little from us, and yet He generously offers us the riches of the Kingdom and a joy that will last way beyond this season or the season to come--Jesus offers everlasting joy.  I'm not a marketing expert with a clever jingle to entice you to love Jesus more than the world.  I am just a girl who has experienced the love of the Good Shepherd and I'm choosing to follow Him to eternity.  Please join us.  I promise you can search and search, but you'll never find a better deal.

-Susan

Door of Mercy

  I hope you enjoy this meditation on the Holy Door of Mercy.  I was fortunate enough to visit the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament with my father and brother.  The Archdiocese of Detroit had seven "doors" which described a different aspect of mercy to contemplate before entering the Holy Door of Mercy.  I was touched by the words I read on each door and I wanted to share this experience with everyone.  I hope after watching the video, you will feel the same way.  Please help share the message of God's mercy.

-Susan  

The Invitation Has Been Sent

  The Jubilee Year of Mercy is coming to a close, and yet this is just the beginning.  We have been invited to bask in God's mercy this year.  We have been asked to spend time meditating on God's merciful ways,  and then go out into the world and be merciful ourselves.  The more we imitate God, the closer we come to the heavenly feast God has prepared for us.  I hope you have loving replied to this invitation this year, and if you have not, please know you still can.  It's not too late.  Let God's mercy transform your life and continue to marvel on His greatest attribute-Mercy.
  As I was thinking about this today, I suddenly recalled the Parable of the Wedding Feast:

  "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.  He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come.  A second time he sent other servants saying, "Tell those invited, 'Behold,  I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fatted cattle are killed, an everything is ready; come to the feast.'  Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business......."   Matt 22:2-5

We have all been invited.  Please respond to this beautiful invitation.  

-Susan

( I have been busy working on a meditation based on a visit to one of the Holy Doors of Mercy.  I hope to complete and share this with all of you very soon.)

Come Holy Spirit

  Last night was the beginning of an exciting journey for all the newly confirmed students and adults at our parish.  I am excited for all of them because the path of the confirmed is the path of the Gospel.  When you invite the Holy Spirit into your life every thing changes.  You begin to see things differently. The beauty of God is everywhere because you see the world through the eyes of a loving Savior, you hear the words of God through the softest echoes of change, and your heart longs for something more than the world could ever offer-The Kingdom of God.  I pray that these newly confirmed members open their lives to the Spirit and that their example inspires all of us.  I don't know about you, but I long to live in a world colored by the inspirations of the Holy Spirit.  It could happen you know.  Just open your heart and life to the Holy Spirit and watch the world change.

-Susan

Inspired by the Holy Spirit

  It's that time of year again for me, and Confirmation is just around the corner for my students.  I can't help but think about the Holy Spirit and the role He plays in our lives.  I thought this weekend we could each consider the following questions: Are you open to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit?  What stops you from following His inspirations?  Is it fear?  Is it doubt? Are you too easily distracted?  Or, have you never asked the Holy Spirit to inspire you? 
  Spend a few minutes thinking about Pentecost.  Imagine everyone in the upper room praying when suddenly a powerful wind fills the room and tongues of fire rest upon each of them.  Those in the room were filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and they were no longer afraid!  Think about this for a minute... The disciples in the upper room knew Jesus.  They believed in Jesus.  They loved Jesus.  They knew His teachings, but....they were paralyzed by their own fear to share this good news with others.  They were afraid of the consequences of being a follower of Jesus.
  I sometimes wonder if fear is one of the biggest obstacles in spreading the gospel.  Think about it.  We know the gospel message.  We love Jesus a great deal in our own homes and in our churches.  We have a personal relationship with Jesus, but often we are just too afraid to speak about Jesus to others.  We may fear rejection, being misunderstood, or being laughed at by others.
  Filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, the apostles preached, healed, and forgave sins.  They were amazing witnesses to Christ's life.  Imagine what we could do if we allowed the joy of the Holy Spirit to fill us and we let go of our fears. Pray to the Holy Spirit as the disciples did and allow the Holy Spirit to do great things in your life as well.  Be brave enough to leave your own "upper room" and share the good news about Jesus with everyone!

-Susan

Remembering All the Holy Souls

   Jesus gave St. Gertrude the Great a special prayer to aid those souls awaiting purification in Purgatory.  She was promised that a thousand souls would enter into heaven each time this prayer was prayed.  I happily pray this prayer several times each day.  I am hoping that many of you will join me in praying for all the holy souls in Purgatory.

Let us all spend special time honoring those souls who have gone before us.  May God's mercy wrap them in eternal peace.  

-Susan

The Call

Happy All Saints Day!

-Susan