Among Friends

[gloriajean]

Hello my friends!  Just relaxing today - and eating right, taking Vicks Cough Drops, I ordered a whole bunch of them from Amazon.com a couple years ago when we couldn't find any here in our town, so glad I did!  They help better than halls which are all over here.  With having Polio in my throat when I was nine, this is the only side effect I get when I get a cold, the cough! It's wicked.  So I try to take care of it early on so it doesn't get worse.  Whiskey Hot Toddies help too, better than the lemon ones.  Haven't had that yet.  That's with a shot of whiskey or brandy in a big cup, maybe a tablespoon of honey with the hot water.  I may have been  nine, but my Mom fixed this for me.   It has to be good to celebrate Lori's birthday Wednesday night.  Speaking of having Polio in my throat at the age of nine, I was very lucky, I was only in the hospital 5 weeks, where some were in for months, especially those paralysed from the hips down, or the legs.  Two days after I got home, I was junior bridesmaid for my sister's wedding! 

When you wonder what you should do, ask yourself what the Lord would do

and you can't go wrong.  Lord, make me more like You every day.

S C R I P T U R E   F O R   T H E   D A Y 

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate
your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you,  so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he
makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the
righteous and on the unrighteous.  For if you love those who love you, what
reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  And if you
greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others?
Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  Be perfect, therefore, as your
heavenly Father is perfect."  ~Matthew
5:43-48

M E D I T A T I O N   F O R   T H E   D A Y 

I can practice love, because lack of love will block the way.  I can try to
see good in all people, those I like and those who fret me and go against
the grain.  They are all children of God.  I can try to give love;
otherwise, how can I dwell in God's spirit from which nothing unloving can
come?  I can try to get along with all people, because the more love I give
away, the more I will have.

P R A Y E R   F O R   T H E   D A Y 

I pray that I may do all I can to love others, in spite of their many
faults.  I pray that as I love, so will I be loved.

Lenten Reflections by Bishop Robert Barron

Lent Day 13

What the Transfiguration Means

At the Transfiguration, Moses represented the law and Elijah represented the prophets. But why were Peter, James, and John present? And what does this event mean to us today?

St. Thomas Aquinas devotes an entire section in his Summa theologiae to the Transfiguration. His treatment offers some answers.

Aquinas says that it was fitting that Christ be manifested in his glory because those who are walking an arduous path need a clear sense of the goal of their journey. The arduous path is this life, with all of its attendant sufferings, failures, setbacks, disappointments, and injustices. And its goal is heavenly glory, which is fullness of life with God, the transformation of our bodies.

As Jesus makes his way toward the cross, he accordingly allows, for a brief time, his glory to shine through, the radiance of his divinity to appear. This event is meant to awaken our sense of wonder and affirm that we are not meant finally for this world.
  
Next, Aquinas asks about the “light” or the “glory” that envelops Christ during the Transfiguration, noting that it “shines.” Why have people, trans-historically and trans-culturally, associated holiness with light? Well, light is that by which we see, that which illumines and clarifies. But light is also beautiful, and beautiful things shine. Aquinas says that Jesus, at the Transfiguration, began to shine with the radiance of heaven so as to entrance us with the prospect of our own transfiguration.

Finally, Aquinas talks about the “witnesses” to the Transfiguration, namely Peter, James, John, Moses, and Elijah. Moses stands for the Law, and Jesus recapitulates, perfects, and illumines the Mosaic law: “I have come not to abolish the law but to fulfill it.” Christ is the new Moses, the new Lawgiver.

Similarly, Elijah stands for the prophets; he was the greatest of the prophets. The prophets spoke the words of God. And since Jesus is the Word of God, the prophetic books are read in his light.

So why is Peter there? Because, says Aquinas, he loved the Lord the most. Why is John there? Because the Lord loved him the most. Why is James there? Because he was the first of the Apostles to die for his faith. Who gets access to the glory of Jesus? Those who are tied to him through love.

Feast Day of St. Peter - Feb. 22

St. Peter

Lord Jesus Christ, You gave Saint Peter his name to signify that he was the rock upon which You would build Your Church. I ask him to pray for our pope, bishops, priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters, ministers, and laity who are in positions of Church leadership. Help them to grow in holiness, shepherding their flocks in humility and generosity as You did. Teach us to be rocks of faith like Saint Peter. Give us a strong love and a compassionate heart. Protect us from the temptations of legalism, power and status. Anoint us to be servants of Your love, in everything we do. Saint Peter, pray for us. Amen.

Verse of the Day

"I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love."

Ephesians 3:16-17

A Prayer for Lent

"Lord Jesus, in my rejections I cry out to You. My heart is heavy, I live in fear. Dear Jesus, help me to see myself as You see me - a beautiful creation in Your image. Give me the strength and courage to ignore my abusers and to value myself as You value me. Help me to learn to first like myself then love myself a little more each day. Help me to realise that I am Your lovely child and that You have a grand plan all laid out for me. I place my broken heart in Your loving care."

February 22 - Jesus Calling

You need Me every moment. Your awareness of your constant need for Me is your greatest strength. Your neediness, properly handled, is a link to My Presence. However, there are pitfalls that you must be on guard against: self-pity, self-preoccupation, giving up. Your inadequacy presents you with a continual choice—deep dependence on Me, or despair. The emptiness you feel within will be filled either with problems or with My Presence. Make Me central in your consciousness by praying continually: simple, short prayers flowing out of the present moment. Use My Name liberally, to remind you of My Presence. Keep on asking and you will receive, so that your gladness may be full and complete.

Pray continually.
—1 Thessalonians 5:17

Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I am]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.
—John 16:24

[lovestopaint]

Hope you get better soon. Gloria.

I always liked Smith Brother's cough drops, I wonder if Amazon would have them.

I'll have to check.

Blessings to all.

Harlene(lovestopaint)

[lovestopaint]

Gloria thanks for sending the new Jesus Calling for February 23, I'm afraid I need to be reminded not to fall into that trap, as my sciatica is acting up again has been for the past few months. 

Thanks.

Blessings

Harlene

[gloriajean]

Oh No Harlene!  I'll say a special prayer for you for healing of that.  Nadine must have forgot to send the Jesus Calling, so instead of my typing today's out, I googled it and that's what I found so I sent it.  Glad I did.

[gloriajean]