Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Your thoughts can be your worst enemy if you let them run away with you.
Lord, free me to enjoy each moment of my day no matter what circumstances
surround me.

Scripture for the day:

"Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually."
~Psalm 105:4

Meditation for the day:

Not only can we live a new life, but we can also grow in grace and
power and beauty. We can reach ever forward and upward after the
things of the spirit. In the animal world, the very form of an animal
changes to enable it to reach that upon which it delights to feed.
our whole character changes as we reach upward for the things of the
spirit--for beauty, for love, for honesty, for purity, and for
unselfishness. Reaching after these things of the spirit, our whole
nature can become changed so that we can best receive and delight in
the wonders of the abundant life.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may reach forward and upward. I pray that my character
may be changed by this reaching upward for the things of the spirit.

Hello all you positive pals and grateful gals!! Hope your day was great! We still have sunshine, so it's not over yet! It's been a nice day today, breezy and not too hot.
Getting ready tonight for our annual Family Reunion on my side tomorrow. We go to the Mpls. area. My nephew is having it. My 88 year old sister, Deil, is making potato salad, and meatballs, nothing small for her!! It's her son who is having it. Lori and I are going in on making a pasta salad. Another sister is bringing calico beans, another another salad, and everyone who comes will bring a dish to share. It's supposed to be hot though tomorrow. When he had it before, I remember he had canopies all over for shade. That helps. Lori is coming over in the morning to help make the salad and give me her ideas. It's going to be one made without a recipe, just this and that what we have here. Mayo dressing. We're leaving at 11:30 and don't know when we'll be home. Hope not too late. Too bad Linus has to work, he tried and couldn't get off. He's off Sunday for his family reunion. It's really a blessing we have Lori nearby as she's driving me. Ordinary day - nothing much new today to share! Hoping all is well with you.

Homily of the Day
July 29, 2011
The Way, the Truth, and the Life
by Fr. Frank E. Jindra
Lv 23:1,4-11, 15-16,27, 34b-37 / Jn 11:19-27
Lord Jesus, You are the way that leads to the Father. Lord have mercy.
Christ Jesus, You are the truth that sets the captives free. Christ have mercy.
Lord Jesus, You are the life that makes our joy complete. Lord have mercy.
This is one of my favorite ways to lead the Penitential Rite at Mass. My main reason is because “the way, the truth, and the life” is one of the phrases Jesus uses to describe Himself.
Relying on Him and His self-description when I think about my own sinfulness helps me to overcome the deadness of my own sins as He speaks to my soul just what He is for me.
Then, like Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, I find myself coming out from the tomb — fully renewed. And I hear Him say:
“Unwrap him, because he walks in My way!”
“Unwrap him, because he has heard My truth!”
“Unwrap him, because he lives in Me!”
The life of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were never the same after this encounter with Jesus. Martha declared her belief and trust in Jesus, and for this she is honored today.
She was nearly as bound as Lazarus, but Jesus’ words set her free. However we find ourselves bound today, Jesus’ words can set us free.
Let His words unwrap your soul. Let His words free you, however you are bound.
Attention and Care
During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank.
Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'Hello'."
- - -
Luke 10:20 - ... Be glad because your names are written in heaven.
Romans 12:16 - Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think of yourselves as wise.

Friday, July 29, 2011
Voluntary Poverty

Voluntary poverty is a vocation involving a commitment
to serve the poor and to become one of the poor,
to know the life of the poor as one of them, not from afar.
It means embracing poverty as both a virtue—
not only a hardship but also a joy, a profound freedom—
and an evil to combat. It is an exercise in compassion,
in suffering in solidarity with another.
from Holy Simplicity: The Little Way of Mother Teresa, Dorothy Day & Thérèse of Lisieux

Saint of the Day

St. Martha
Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus were evidently close friends of Jesus. He came to their home simply as a welcomed guest, rather than as one celebrating the conversion of a sinner like Zacchaeus or one unceremoniously received by a suspicious Pharisee. The sisters feel free to call on Jesus at their brother's death, even though a return to Judea at that time seems almost certain death.
No doubt Martha was an active sort of person. On one occasion (see Luke 10:38-42) she prepares the meal for Jesus and possibly his fellow guests and forthrightly states the obvious: All hands should pitch in to help with the dinner.
Yet, as biblical scholar Father John McKenzie points out, she need not be rated as an "unrecollected activist." The evangelist is emphasizing what our Lord said on several occasions about the primacy of the spiritual: "...o not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear…. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:25b, 33a); "One does not live by bread alone" (Luke 4:4b); "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness…" (Matthew 5:6a).
Martha's great glory is her simple and strong statement of faith in Jesus after her brother's death. "Jesus told her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?' She said to him, 'Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world'" (John 11:25-27).
Comment:
Scripture commentators point out that in writing his account of the raising of Lazarus, St. John intends that we should see Martha's words to Mary before the resurrection of Lazarus as a summons that every Christian must obey. In her saying "The teacher is here and is asking for you," Jesus is calling every one of us to resurrection—now in baptismal faith, forever in sharing his victory over death. And all of us, as well as these three friends, are in our own unique way called to special friendship with him.
Quote:
"This great company of witnesses spurs us on to victory, to share their prize of everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Preface of Holy Men and Women I).

Patience
"There are many who excuse themselves, saying that if they were in other circumstances they would be much more patient. This is a grave mistake, for it assumes that virtue is a matter of geography, and not of moral effort. It makes little difference where we are; it all depends on what we are thinking about."
Fulton J. Sheen
For Reflection:
What is the connection between my thoughts and my actions? How can my thoughts help me to acquire patience regardless of my exterior circumstances? Where ought my thoughts be fixed if I am to grow in virtue?

Mother of Unity Prayer
Virgin Mary, Mother of the word incarnate, our Mother of renewed faith, hope and love, instill in us your call to unity, so that we may be one in heart with you and the most Holy Trinity. Show us your way to peace and bring us to oneness in spirit and mind. All for the glory of God we pray. Unite us O dear Mother of Unity, in a song of praise and adoration to our Father in heaven, and make us one family, one faith, one love offering, to our Father most high. Bring us home O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Unity. Amen.
Prayer given to a Holy Soul by Our Blessed Mother

Good night everyone! Sweet Dreams and have a good weekend!! God bless you all!