Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Be a little kinder and gentler today, for this will show your real strength. Lord, may I become more patient and have the courage to live my life according to the example You set forth.

Scripture for the Day
"Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers." — 1 Timothy 4:14-16

Meditation for the Day
Each day is a day of progress, steady progress forward, if we make it so. We may not see it, but God does. God does not judge by outward appearance. God judges by the heart. We can let God see in our heart a simple desire to always do God's will. Though we may feel that our work has been spoiled or tarnished, God can see it as an offering for God. When climbing a steep hill, a person is often more conscious of the weakness of his stumbling feet than of the view, the grandeur, or even of the upward progress.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may persevere in all good things. I pray that I may advance each day in spite of my stumbling feet.

Greetings to you all! Hope you all are having a great day today! Raining here, but that's better than snow! Talked to both daughters today so that's two great blessings! And another is we're invited to go to Lori's tonight. So we are on our way very shortly.

Homily of the Day


March 31, 2011


Are You With Me Or Against Me?
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Jer 7:23-28 / Lk 11:14-23

Where do you stand? It’s a pointed question that gets asked a million times every day, in the corporate board room, at the city council, in the White House, at the PTA meeting, and over and over inside our homes. Where do you stand? What are you really about? Are you with me or against me?

Often our answer would confuse and amaze even the Oracle of Delphi. What did that platitude mean? Anything? Very often, nothing at all — just a stall and filler. But for those of honest heart, the question persists and demands an answer: What are we really for? Are we with the Lord or not. The ‘vanilla’ comfortableness of our culture, where to go along is to get along, is not enough. For this is God asking the question, the one who gave us life and who sustains it day by day.

It’s a fair question and we have to choose. After a certain point, treading water is no longer an option. And so our answer comes from the only place that counts, not fine words from the lips but silent words from the innermost heart: I am yours, Lord, and all I have is yours. Speak, Lord, for I am listening.

The moment we speak those words from deep within will be the first moment of true freedom in all our lives. So waste no more time, speak the words from within, and be free.

Father O'Malley was pastor of a small parish in Grass Valley, California. One evening while he was preparing his homily for the coming Sunday, his telephone rang.
The weather was stormy, and all the electrical lines were down. A voice on the other end of the telephone said, "Fr. O'Malley, I am calling from the local hospital and we have a terminally ill patient here who is asking to see a priest about the last rites, can you come quickly?"

The trip was 30 miles, the going was rough as trees and power lines were down. The nurse met Fr. O'Malley at the door, and thanked him for coming. The person who wants to see you, Father, is an alcoholic, but he is still coherent but is slipping fast. Fr. O'Malley asked the nurse what the patients name was. She answered, the hospital calls him Tom.

Fr. O'Malley went into Tom's room and said to Tom, "I was just passing thru and thought I would visit you before you sleep."

"Don't give me any of that garbage", Tom replied, "I asked that nurse to call someone to give me the last rites because I know my time is done and its my turn to go. Now get with it."

"Would you like to make a confession?" the priest asked Tom.

"Absolutely not" Tom answered. They talked for a long time and occasionally Father would ask Tom if he was ready for confession. After some time Tom told Father that he had done something in his life that was with him every day and he did not feel that God would forgive him. Finally after some time, Tom agreed to tell the priest his story.

"Thirty-two years ago, two months and eleven days ago, I was working for the railroad. It happened in a bad storm. It was two days before Christmas and the whole crew was drunk. Someone had to go out and push the switch for the train to go northbound. I guess I was more drunk than the rest because I pushed the switch in the wrong direction. At 45 miles per hour the freight train slammed into a passenger car at the end of the next crossing and killed a young man, his wife, and their two daughters. I have had to live with that all of my life," Tom said.

There was a moment of silence as Tom's confession of this tragedy hung in the air. After what seemed like an eternity, Fr. O'Malley gently put his hand on Tom's shoulder and said very quietly. "If I can forgive you, God can forgive you, because in that car were my mother, my father and my two sisters.

Do we still find it difficult to forgive anyone?

Reflections on the Passion
by Father Doyle
October 12, 1956

NIHIL OBSTAT:
JOANNES A. SCHULIEN, S.T.D.
Censor liborium
IMPRIMATOR:
+ ALBERTUS G.MEYER
Archiepiscopus Milwauchiensis

NO SOONER had Christ offered to drink the cup from His Father offered Him than the soldiers laid hand their hands upon the gentle Savior and the arrest was completed. At the very moment when Christ could have used the moral support of His disciple, Scripture records these sad words: “Then all the disciples left Him and fled” (Mt. 26:56).

If we ever needed proof of the weakness of the apostles, we need look no further than to the story of their desertion of Christ at the moment of His arrest. We can determine several reasons for the flight, a general one resulting from the inherent inconstancy of man, and the other resulting from the adoption of false notions. The Apostles may have become infected with the notion that Christ’s kingdom would be a material one and that if it was to be established on this earth, they themselves would be in the best position to be leaders. Had they not given proof on occasion of the very false notion of the Kingdom of God, by disputing among themselves about leadership? You know, there was a good deal of pride in the group of ignorant fishermen from the most insignificant provinces of the civilized world who allowed themselves to gloat over the possibility of their being autocratic leaders in the new kingdom.

It is quite possible too that Christ permitted the desertion without protest (1) to aggravate His sufferings, and (2) to prove His love.

Keep before you in mind, in studying the whole story of the Passion, that Christ accepted the chalice offered Him by His Father – a chalice filled to the brim with the sins of the world. It is possible that the desertion of the Apostles was permitted that he might taste of every ingredient of bitterness which is mingled in man’s cup of woe, and there are few things more bitter than being forsaken by friends in the hour of need.

I am more inclined to believe that the desertion was permitted to prove Christ’s love for man. Who can ever say that his sins are too great to be forgiven, or his heart too depraved to be renewed? Only trust Him. His grace is sufficient for you. Such a scene as the desertion of the Apostles and yet His continued love for them, must encourage the worst of the backsliders to return to Him. Christ did not disown His disciple, though they deserted Him in His distress, but after His resurrection, He sent to them the faithful women, messages of tenderness and love, “Go”, said He to Mary Magdalen, “go to my brethren, and say to them, ‘I ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (Jn. 20:17). And to the other women Christ said: “Go, take word to my brethren that they set out for Galilee; there they shall see me” (Mt. 28:10). Go to our Lord in the tabernacle today and console Him for the number of times you have deserted Him. Tell Him how much you appreciate His efforts to make you realize the greatness of His love for, and mercy toward you. Pray especially today for the grace of final perseverance.
BECAUSE

Because He finished His Father's work,
. . . your life has worth.

Because He was forsaken,
. . . you will never be alone.

Because He was buried,
. . . you can be raised.

Because He lives,
. . . you don't have to be afraid.

Because He was raised,
. . . you can be strong.

Because He reached down to you,
. . . you don't have to work your way up to Him.

Because His promises are always true,
. . . you can have Hope!

"BAD THINGS, GOOD RESULTS "
-author unknown-

"...the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus"
Phil. 1:12

Being in prison is NOT pleasant, but it CAN bring good results. In fact, I was converted through this experience...

The Apostle Paul didn't like being detained for preaching the Gospel, BUT he was grateful even in prison. Officials and guards were HEARING the Gospel and BELIEVING in JESUS. His example was challenging MANY Believers to a NEW Zeal and fearlessness in PROCLAIMING Jesus Christ.

Over and over the Lord transforms UNPLEASANT and PAINFUL situations into something beneficial. Think of the massacre of Jim Elliot and his four missionary companions by Auca Indians in Ecuador in 1956! Their martyrdom challenged MANY young people to surrender their lives for missionary service. It also was a factor leading MANY of these Aucas to become fervent followers of Jesus.

Think of Joni Eareckson Tada! She became a paraplegic as a teenager. But today she carries on a unique and helpful ministry to the Christian community. Not to mention the countless many others who have changed lives through something bad that has happened to them.

If you are hemmed in by bad circumstances, DON'T give in to despair, self-pity, or bitterness. Instead TRUST JESUS for HIS STRENGTH. Thousands CAN testify that their bad times changed their lives for GOOD. And in Heaven MANY martyrs are REJOICING in the REALIZATION that through dying they HAVE ADVANCED the cause of Christ.

YES, for a child of JESUS, bad things CAN produce AWESOME results... just TRUST JESUS to pull you through whatever it is your going through for it ALL is for a reason and that reason IS for GOOD.

I thank Jesus for the bitter things
They've been a " friend of grace "
They've driven me from paths of ease
To SEEK the Fathers face.

The difficulties of Life
Are intended to make us BETTER -- NOT Bitter.
JESUS LOVES YOU!!

All through today, O God, help me,
to be quick to praise and slow to criticize;
to be quick to forgive and slow to condemn;
to be quick to share and slow to be selfish.

Grant me all through today,
complete control over my temper, that I may be slow to anger;
complete control over my tongue, that I may speak no hasty word.

Grant that all through today,
so that I may help everyone and hurt no one;
so that I may find true joy in living. Amen.

Closing prayer will be a Morning Prayer:

Morning Prayer

O God,
look into my heart,
uncover my desires, and read my secrets.
Hear what I cannot put into words.
Purify me through your spirit that I may, throughout this day, more perfectly love and praise you.
Amen.

Good night all - Sweet Dreams and may you all have a very blessed Friday! Enjoy the Gift of God's Day!