A Touching Meditation

 

  Imagine if you could place your hand in the hand of Jesus, what would you feel? Would you be consumed with love?  Would you feel like a small child trusting to follow where you are led?  Would you feel the history of time in the lines of His palm?  Would all of your loneliness fade away?  Would you feel empowered, joyous, healed, or timid? Would you feel all the missed opportunities you had to love Him? 

 Would you dare to feel the nail marks in His hand?  If you had the courage to touch the nail marks, would you suddenly realize how much pain each sin can cause?  Would you be able to look Jesus in the eye as your finger penetrated the mark?
  

  This week look closely at the hand of Jesus. What do you see?  What do you feel?  Open your mind to new possibilities. How would your life be different if you lived the rest of your life always holding Jesus’ hand?

-Susan

How Do You See things?

     Many of us are familiar with the saying “Is the glass half empty or half full? “  I wondered if we could each ask ourselves the same question about our faith life. Is my faith life half empty or half full?  Is attending Sunday Mass an obligation or is it an amazing encounter with Jesus?  Is praying just a daily habit or is it the best part of my day? Do I complain about my problems    or do I pray, "Jesus I trust in You?" Am I trying to become more successful or more loving?   Do I want more out of life or more of God’s life in me?  Do I long to dwell in the Kingdom or is the Kingdom dwelling in me?

  Sometimes I make the mistake of viewing things from the wrong point of view. Not only do I need to carry my faith in my heart, but I need to put my heart into my faith.  It's important to realize that the cup isn’t half empty because God didn’t give us enough, the cup is half empty because He wanted to give us everything:

 “drink from this all of you for this is my blood of the covenant which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.”  Mat 26:28

-Susan 

Happy Birthday Mary

  Today we celebrate the birth of Mary! What do you get the woman who is full of grace?  What could she possibly want or need?  Well I have a suggestion.  Take a piece of paper and write the word "YES" on it.  Before you place it in a gift bag, tell Mary you give her permission to help you change one of your habits, so that you can draw closer to Jesus. I honestly think this is the gift that she craves from all of us. Nothing would make her happier, than if the world began loving her son more. As she opens up your gift, be ready to open your heart to whatever she shares with you. Imagine your "yes" is what she is wishing for as she blows out her birthday candles.

-Susan

We Want Justice

  Last night I made a mistake. I was somewhere where I shouldn’t have been.  It was dark and confusing. It seemed like a good idea before it all happened.  For once I was in the inner circle. I was privy to hear the conversations that mattered. Last night was supposed to be the night to stop these injustices. This new movement had to be stopped. We were ready and so were are weapons.  
 We gathered late last night. My weapon was not as impressive as everyone else's. The whole group was worked up for this. This was going to be a night to remember.  And that’s when it happened. I started feeling uncomfortable.  I wondered, "Are we taking things too far?  Is this really what I want to be known for?"  I chose to ignore my conscience. These men know what they are doing.  I had listened to their arguments. They were very convincing, but yet, I had this nagging feeling. " Was there another side?  Do I know everything?"
 I pushed away my doubts and followed the group. We were ready for a confrontation. We wanted justice.  When we arrived,  our informer approached the enemy. I couldn’t hear what was being said. Then out of nowhere a sword swung in front of me catching the side of my head.  I reached my hand up in pain. My hand was covered in blood.  My ear was gone!

  The man we had come for walked straight up to me, bent down, and picked up my severed ear. He placed his hand on my head and my ear was miraculously reattached.  I stood there. I couldn’t comprehend what had just happened. How could this man be the enemy?
 Within minutes my group had a rope around him. We had successfully arrested him. We did it!  I couldn’t help wondering though...what did we do? As we walked back, I watched the others abuse this man.  "Is this what justice looks like?  This didn’t feel right. This man was not my enemy.  He had saved me.  He cared about me.  Why?  I am no one."

  New thoughts kept going around and around in my head.  "Love not hate. Love not hate." I could feel my panic raising with my thoughts.  What had I done?  My mind could no longer convince my feet to move, so I just stood still and silent as my group continued moving forward. When my group was out of sight, my legs buckled underneath me, and I fell to the ground weeping. In desperation I called out, "Lord, have mercy on me, your servant Malchus.  I have done something terrible." I realized I no longer wished for justice, instead, I begged for forgiveness.

(fictional story based off the Gospel of John)

-Susan