Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Today ask God for anything that is in line with His will for you. Plead with Him

and Tell Him your needs and keep praying.

Scripture for the day:

"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes
refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the
destroying storms pass by." ~Psalm 57:1

Meditation for the day:

"My soul is restless until it finds its rest in Thee." A river flows
on, until it loses itself in the sea. Our spirits long for rest in the
Spirit of God. We can yearn to realize a peace, a rest, a satisfaction
that we have never found in the world or its pursuits. Some of us are
not conscious of our need, and can shut the doors of our spirits against
the Spirit of God. That makes it difficult for us to find true peace.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may feel the divine unrest. I pray that my soul may find
its rest in God.

Hello my friends!! Hope you had a great day today!! Last night around 11:00 – we were still up yet, and I smelled smoke! After looking around and around, finally it came from our Air Con. vent – and he put the fan on, it wouldn’t work, then we saw some smoke in the air and it smelled like burning rubber and thought maybe a belt burned out. This morning a man came to see what was wrong, and all the wires fried – it’s a good thing it shut the breaker off – or we would have had a fire, he said! I praise and thank God I wasn’t alone! It still was quite scary!! So on this hot day of 99 degrees – we have no Air. So we went to Lori’s for supper – in her cool house. It was heavenly!

We did some shopping this afternoon for groceries in Air cond. stores, that was great too. It really makes us appreciate the air conditioner, and remembering how it was before air conditioners – on the farm we grew up on – just fans to blow air. That’s what I have on right now here. It’s a blessing to us to know that it’s going to cool down and will be in the 60’s in the morning. Tomorrow shouldn’t be so hot.

I don’t know how long we have to wait for the Air Cond. to be fixed, or if we need a new one, but we are hoping and praying insurance will pay. All these things that happen when you own a house, makes one think apartment living is grand.

Homily of the Day

July 20, 2011

Desiring Sower´s Rich Soil

by Fr. Jerome Magat

Ex 16:1-5, 9-15 / Mt 13:1-9

Most versions of the Bible depict this Gospel passage as the “Parable of the Sower” or the “Parable of the Seed.” These titles focus the readers’ attention upon Our Lord (the sower) or the seed (the Word of God). While this focus on Our Lord and God’s Word is always appropriate, we also know that both God and His Word are immutable, constant and true.

For the purposes of seeking ongoing conversion, it may be more appropriate to focus on the four types of soil that Our Lord describes in the parable. Perhaps the parable would be named, “The Parable of the Four Soils.”

The four types of soil described in the parable describe the different types of dispositions found in the souls of believers. The dispositions range from ignorance to inconstancy to worldliness to fervency. We should be mindful that practically every believer finds a combination of these dispositions in his soul. It is perhaps rarely the case that the believer can be described as having only one general disposition toward God.

This inconsistency depends on the degree of actualization of the virtues in the believer’s soul, personal circumstances, the degree of personal conversion and the quality of one’s human and spiritual formation. In some areas of a believer’s life, the soil may be very rich and conversion is less necessary. In other areas, the soil may be very shallow and his faith very superficial. This aspect of his life has not yet been converted and needs to be given over to God with greater trust and personal detachment.

In describing the four soils, Our Lord identifies enemies of a rich harvest: ignorance; persecution resulting from the Word; worldly anxiety and the lure of riches. In order to combat these tendencies toward unfruitfulness, God provides us with the tools necessary to produce fruit so that we yield an abundant harvest of faith and good works. Soil that bears healthy fruit and retains its mineral content requires rain (grace), fertilizer (suffering) and tilling (discipline). Leaving a field of soil lie fallow never generates a crop. In the parable, God provides the seed of His Word and we are to be receptive participants in yielding a good harvest.

The disposition of receptivity is often difficult for believers to assimilate. Most people would rather not be receivers of God’s Word. Instead, they prefer to be self-determined and active agents or be “in control.” It should be noted, however, that receptivity does not mean passivity.

In the parable of the four soils, receptivity is that disposition which allows God to be the primary acting agent actualizing the gifts and talents He has given us in order to best spend our time and effort working toward building up the kingdom. It means allowing God to be in control and to be directed by the graced movements of the Holy Spirit – not doing merely what we desire.

In this way, the seed of the sower can bear the rich fruit that the sower seeks to plant because the soil has been cleared of obstacles that prevent growth, or a lack of depth has been remedied by a more generous portion of soil. We are to cooperate in the growth that God begins in us.

We do well to pray to be like the last type of soil described in the parable in every aspect of our lives, and to honestly admit that not every area of our lives is quite as rich. Our humble admission of the rocks, thorns and lack of depth that prevent us from reaching our true saintly potential is the first step toward cultivating a soul worthy of the sower’s seed.

THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS
Oh Jesus Christ, my guiding star
Humbly I've visioned from afar
The soldiers--as your body did mar
Hands, feet and side --with awful scar.


Your blood it fell down --drop by drop
As those cruel thorns were placed atop
That lonely head-touched by vinegar sop
All for me---my punishment to stop.


The darkness fell--I was afraid
As atonement for my sin was made
All my punishment on You was laid
It's now complete-- to me you said.


Go live your life for Me aright,
Live with my Cross always in sight
Praying and pleading with all your might
Helping other sinners to win the fight.


The Cross gives all this message plain,
New Life in you He will sustain
Believe he died, and be born again
If you don't believe---He died in vain

A Tree We Could All Use

I hired a carpenter to help me restore an old farmhouse,
and he had just finished a rough first day on the job. A
flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw
quit, and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start.

While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving,
he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward
the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching
tips of the branches with both hands.

When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation.
His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his
two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my
curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had
seen him do earlier. "Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied.
"I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one
thing's for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my
wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree
every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them
up again. Funny thing is he smiled, "when I come out in the
morning to pick'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I
remember hanging up.

The Wallet

As I walked home one freezing day, I stumbled on a wallet someone had
lost in the street. I picked it up and looked inside to find some
identification so I could call the owner. But the wallet contained only
three dollars and a crumpled letter that looked as if it had been in there
for years.

The envelope was worn and the only thing that was legible on it was
the return address. I started to open the letter, hoping to find some
clue. Then I saw the dateline--1924. The letter had been written almost
sixty years ago.

It was written in a beautiful feminine handwriting on powder blue
stationery with a little flower in the left-hand corner. It was a "Dear
John" letter that told the recipient, whose name appeared to be Michael,
that the writer could not see him any more because her mother forbade it.
Even so, she wrote that she would always love him. It was signed, Hannah.

It was a beautiful letter, but there was no way except for the name
Michael, that the owner could be identified. Maybe if I called information,
the operator could find a phone listing for the address on the envelope.

"Operator," I began, "this is an unusual request. I'm trying to find
the owner of a wallet that I found. Is there anyway you can tell me if
there is a phone number for an address that was on an envelope in the wallet?"

She suggested I speak with her supervisor, who hesitated for a moment
then said, "Well, there is a phone listing at that address, but I can't
give you the number." She said, as a courtesy, she would call that number,
explain my story and would ask them if they wanted her to connect me. I
waited a few minutes and then she was back on the line. "I have a party
who will speak with you."

I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone by
the name of Hannah. She gasped, "Oh! We bought this house from a family
who had a daughter named Hannah. But that was 30 years ago!"

"Would you know where that family could be located now?" I asked. "I
remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home some years
ago," the woman said. "Maybe if you got in touch with them they might be
able to track down the daughter."

She gave me the name of the nursing home and I called the number. They
told me the old lady had passed away some years ago but they did have a
phone number for where they thought the daughter might be living.

I thanked them and phoned. The woman who answered explained that Hannah
herself was now living in a nursing home. This whole thing was stupid, I
thought to myself. Why was I making such a big deal over finding the owner
of a wallet that had only three dollars and a letter that was almost 60
years old? Nevertheless, I called the nursing home in which Hannah was
supposed to be living and the man who answered the phone told me, "Yes,
Hannah is staying with us. "

Even though it was already 10 p.m., I asked if I could come by to see
her. "Well," he said hesitatingly, "if you want to take a chance, she might
be in the day room watching TV." I thanked him and drove over to the
nursing home. The night nurse and a guard greeted me at the door. We went
up to the third floor of the large building. In the day room, the nurse
introduced me to Hannah.

She was a sweet, silver-haired old timer with a warm smile and a twinkle
in her eye. I told her about finding the wallet and showed her the letter.
The second she saw the powder blue envelope with that little flower on the
left, she took a deep breath and said, "Young man, this letter was the last
contact I ever had with Michael."

She looked away for a moment deep in thought and then said softly, "I
loved him very much. But I was only 16 at the time and my mother felt I was
too young. Oh, he was so handsome. He looked like Sean Connery, the
actor." Yes," she continued. "Michael Goldstein was a wonderful person. If
you should find him, tell him I think of him often. And," she hesitated
for a moment, almost biting her lip, "tell him I still love him. You
know," she said smiling as tears began to well up in her eyes, "I never
did marry. I guess no one ever matched up to Michael.."

I thanked Hannah and said goodbye. I took the elevator to the first
floor and as I stood by the door, the guard there asked, "Was the old lady
able to help you?"

I told him she had given me a lead. "At least I have a last name. But I
think I'll let it go for a while. I spent almost the whole day trying to
find the owner of this wallet."

I had taken out the wallet, which was a simple brown leather case with
red lacing on the side. When the guard saw it, he said, "Hey, wait a
minute! That's Mr. Goldstein's wallet. I'd know it anywhere with that
bright red lacing. He's always losing that wallet. I must have found it
in the halls at least three times."

"Who's Mr. Goldstein?" I asked as my hand began to shake. "He's one of
the old timers on the 8th floor. That's Mike Goldstein's wallet for sure.
He must have lost it on one of his walks."

I thanked the guard and quickly ran back to the nurse's office. I told
her what the guard had said. We went back to the elevator and got on. I
prayed that Mr. Goldstein would be up.

On the eighth floor, the floor nurse said, "I think he's still in the
day room. He likes to read at night. He's a darling old man." We went to
the only room that had any lights on and there was a man reading a book.
The nurse went over to him and asked if he had lost his wallet.
Mr. Goldstein looked up with surprise, put his hand in his back pocket
and said, "Oh, it is missing!"

"This kind gentleman found a wallet and we wondered if it could be
yours?"

I handed Mr. Goldstein the wallet and the second he saw it, he smiled
with relief and said, "Yes, that's it! It must have dropped out of my
pocket this afternoon. I want to give you a reward." "No, thank you," I
said. "But I have to tell you something. I read the letter in the hope
of finding out who owned the wallet." The smile on his face suddenly
disappeared. "You read that letter?" "Not only did I read it, I think
I know where Hannah is."

He suddenly grew pale. "Hannah? You know where she is? How is she? Is
she still as pretty as she was? Please, please tell me," he begged. "She's
fine. Just as pretty as when you knew her." I said softly. The old man
smiled with anticipation and asked, "Could you tell me where she is? I
want to call her tomorrow." He grabbed my hand and said, "You know
something, mister, I was so in love with that girl that when that
letter came, my life literally ended. I never married. I guess
I've always loved her."

"Mr. Goldstein," I said, "Come with me."

We took the elevator down to the third floor. The hallways were
darkened and only one or two little night-lights lit our way to the
day room where Hannah was sitting alone watching the television. The
nurse walked over to her.

"Hannah," she said softly, pointing to Michael, who was waiting with me
in the doorway. "Do you know this man?"

She adjusted her glasses, looked for a moment, but didn't say a word.
Michael said softly, almost in a whisper, "Hannah, it's Michael. Do you
remember me?" She gasped, "Michael! I don't believe it! Michael! It's you!
My Michael!" He walked slowly towards her and they embraced. The nurse
and I left with tears streaming down our faces.

"See," I said. "See how the Good Lord works! If it's meant to be, it
will be."

About three weeks later I got a call at my office from the nursing
home. "Can you break away on Sunday to attend a wedding? Michael and
Hannah are going to tie the knot!"

It was a beautiful wedding with all the people at the nursing home
dressed up to join in the celebration. Hannah wore a light beige dress
and looked beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit and stood tall.
They made me their best man.

The hospital gave them their own room and if you ever wanted to see a
76-year-old bride and a 79-year-old groom acting like two teenagers, you
had to see this couple.

A perfect ending for a love affair that had lasted nearly 60 years.

IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL

DIRECTIONS TO HIS HOUSE
Author Unknown
July 20, 2011


Make a Right onto "Believeth Blvd."

Keep straight and go through the Green Light, which is Jesus Christ.

From there, you must turn onto the "Bridge of Faith," which is over
troubled water.

When you get off the bridge, make a Right turn and Keep Straight.

You are on the "King's Highway" - Heaven-bound.

Keep going for three miles: One for the Father, One for the Son, and
One for the Holy Ghost.

Then exit off onto "Grace Blvd."

From there, make a Right turn on "Gospel Lane."

Keep Straight and then make another Right on "Prayer Blvd."

As you go on your way, Yield Not to the traffic on "Temptation Ave."

Also, avoid SIN STREET because it is a DEAD END.

Pass up "Envy Drive," and "Have Avenue."

Also, pass "Hypocrisy Street," "Gossiping Lane" and "Backbiting Blvd."

But you have to go down "Long-suffering Lane", "Persecution Blvd.,"
and "Trials and Tribulations Ave."

But that's all right, because VICTORY Blvd. is straight ahead!

God Bless

Commitment

The Pharisees asked him, "Why, then, did Moses give the law for a man to hand his wife a divorce notice and send her away?" Jesus answered, "Moses gave you permission to divorce your wives because you are so hard to teach. But is was not like that at the time of creation..." Matthew 19:7-8

Almighty and eternal God, give the people in your Church a greater sense of commitment. The world I live in seems to take promises and covenants so lightly. As for me, please protect my marriage from unfaithfulness and insensitivity. I want to grow and deepen my relationship with my marriage partner. Please give us a long and dynamic life together. And Father, I also pray that you will lead and guide and bring together the right people to marry my children. Please bless them with a life-long marriage partner that will help them grow in their relationship with you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Good night everyone – Sweet Dreams to all – Have a wonderful Thursday!! God Bless you!