Community Chat

[gloriajean]

To know someone doesn't mean to know every detail of that person's life. It means to feel affection, confidence and to believe in that person. Lord, may I really know You and have it reflect in how I treat others.

Scripture for the Day
"He has said, 'I will never leave you or forsake you.' So we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?' " — Hebrews 13:5-6

Meditation for the Day
"I will never leave you or forsake you." Down through the centuries, thousands have believed in God's constancy, tirelessness, and unfailing love. God has love. Then forever we can be sure of God's love. God has power. Then forever we can be sure;, in every difficulty and temptation, of God's strength. God has patience. Then always there is one who can never tire. God has understanding. Then always we can understand and be understood. Unless we want God to go, God will never leave us. God is always ready with the strength and power we need.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may feel that God's love will never fail. I pray that I may have confidence in God's unfailing power.

Greetings to you all! Hope you all had a good day - it was cold, but we still went to Mass this morning to start out the day and I got a blessing call this morning from my friend, Ann, she is so busy with her full time job as a nurse in the psych ward at the Veterans' Hosp. here in town. Glad she finds time to call and we had a nice visit. She sure has a very stressful job but she's good at it and she likes it, so that's the main thing. Linus got sent home today an hour early as it was slow there, and he welcomes it, and he found out today that he has Wednesday off too, so tomorrow is his last day of work until May 3rd - he is starting his vacation on Wednesday. So we may go from the 30's temp. here to the 80's in Texas on Friday - what a change! Tomorrow's forcast is either rain or snow. There was an accident near where Lori works the other day. A man was running from the police - he was just 25, I think, and at the intercession close to where Lori works, he rammed into a car killing the man and seriously hurting his wife who was 8 months pregnant. Lori says that she had a later client or she could have been right there at that time. Scary!! We always must pray for protection against accidents, and I try to make that a habit each night.

Homily of the Day


April 18, 2011


Go Light Your World!
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Is 42:1-7 / Jn 12:1-11

Isaiah 42:3 – “…A smoldering wick he shall not quench.”

Today, how about trying a sermon in science? Light a candle. Then with your lighter still handy, blow out the candle. Now touch the flame of the lighter to the trail of smoke.

The flame should “jump” from the lighter to the candlewick.

This little sermon in science is actually a great promise to us. As Easter is drawing close to us now, we all know some people who will show up in church for their once- or twice-a-year visits.

The promise of the candle is that God has not abandoned any of these people. Indeed, the flame is still smoldering within their soul, even if it is not able to be seen as clearly as we would hope it would be.

The challenge of this Easter season, as it approaches us, is to bring that flame from our soul to the souls of those who are smoldering. We need to trust that Jesus, with the flame of His Spirit inside us, will be willing to jump from us to them. We just need to get close enough to let that happen.

Here during Holy Week, let’s take the time we need to prepare ourselves to bring that flame of faith into the hearts of those who desperately need it in our world today. And when the Lord has someone drawn near us because of the warmth of the fire of His Spirit within us, let’s open ourselves up so that the flame of faith can jump from us to those around us.

May the holiness of this week fan the flame of faith in you that you may be a firebrand burning brightly for others to see. May His Easter joy, won through His Sorrowful Passion, Fill you with a light of His glory.

A Journey of Passion

Our Walk with Jesus

Through the Week of Passion

and

Through His Incarnation in the World

a call and response reflection by:

Steve Taylor

A Wonderful Story

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."
"Is the man of the house home?", they asked.

"No", she replied. "He's out."

"Then we cannot come in", they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened.

"Go tell them I am home and invite them in!"

The woman went out and invited the men in.

"We do not go into a House together," they replied.

"Why is that?" she asked.

One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. "How nice!!", he said. "Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!"

His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?" Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!"

"Let us heed our daughter-in-law's advice," said the husband to his wife.

"Go out and invite Love to be our guest."

The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest."

Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: "I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?"

The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!!!!!!"

MY WISH FOR YOU...
-Where there is pain, I wish you peace and mercy.
-Where there is self-doubting, I wish you a renewed confidence in your ability to work through it.
-Where there is tiredness, or exhaustion, I wish you understanding, patience, and renewed strength.
-Where there is fear, I wish you love, and courage.

PSALM FOR STUDENTS
Recite this prayer in deep faith before and after study. Jesus will bless you abundantly.

1. The Lord is my teacher. I shall want for nothing.

2. He will teach me all subjects. He leads me to his ocean of knowledge.

3. He answers all my doubts. He fills me with His wisdom and leads me through the path
of His knowledge.

4. I shall not fear even the most difficult exams, because the Lord is with me. His words and promises
strengthen me always.

5. He makes easy for me even the most difficult subjects. He is anointing my head with His wisdom.
My answer sheets are filled with the right answers.

6. He gives me blessings to study well during my study time. I will be always a faithful student to Jesus who is my teacher.

ANSWERED PRAYER!

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve;
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do great things;
I was given sickness that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy;
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need for God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life;
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I received nothing I asked for - but everything I hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayer was answered;
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

- Anonymous

THE WHIPPING
Author Unknown

There was a class of young people that no teacher was able to handle.
Two or three teachers had been run off from school this year by these
young people. Finally a young man out of college heard about the class
and applied to the school. The principal asked the young man "Do you
not know what you are asking for, no one has been able to handle these
young people, you are just
asking for a terrible beating." After a few moments of silent prayer,
the young man looked at the principal and said "Sir, with your consent
I accept the challenge, just give me a trial basis."

The next morning the young man reported for class. He said to the
class "Young people, I came here today to conduct school, but I
realize I can't do it by myself, I must have your help. One big boy,
they called Big Tom, in the back of the room whispered to his buddies"
I'll not need any help, I can lick that little bird all by myself."
The young teacher told the class if they are to have school, there
will have to be some rules to go by. He also added that he will allow
the students to make up the rules and he will list them on the
blackboard. One young man suggested "NO STEALING". Another one shouted
"BE ON TIME FOR CLASS." Pretty soon they had 10 rules listed on the
board. The teacher had then asked the class what the punishment should
be for breaking these rules. Rules are no good unless they are
enforced. Someone in the class suggested that if the rules were
broken, they should receive 10 licks with a rod across their back with
their coat off. The teacher thought that was pretty harsh, and asked
the class would they stand by this punishment. The class agreed.

Everything went pretty good for two or three days. Finally Big Tom
came in one day very upset. He reported that someone had stolen his
lunch. After talking with the students they came to the conclusion
that Little Jim had stolen Big Tom's lunch. The teacher called Little
Jim up to the front of the room and asked him to remove his coat. That
little fellow came up the aisle with a great big coat on. Little Jim
approached the teacher and said " I am guilty and am willing to take
my punishment but please don't make me take off my coat." The teacher
reminded Little Jim of the rules and their punishments and asked him
again to remove his coat and take his punishment
like a man. That little fellow started to unbutton that old coat, and
the teacher saw that he did not have a shirt on under the coat. The
teacher asked Little Jim why he came to school without a shirt on.
Little Jim said "My daddy's dead and my mother is very poor, I don't
have but one shirt and my mother is washing it today. I wore big
brother's coat to keep my little body warm."

That young teacher stood and looked at the frail back and wondered how
he could lay a rod on that little back without even a shirt on. He
knew if he didn't enforce the punishment, the children would not obey
the rules, so as he drew back to strike Little Jim, Big Tom came down
the aisle. Big Tom asked "Can I take Little Jim's whipping for him"
The teacher agreed and Big Tom ripped his coat off and stooped over
and the teacher began to lay the rod on that big back. But for some
strange reason after only five licks, that old rod just broke in half.
The young teacher buried his face in his hands and began to sob. He
heard a commotion and looked up to find not even one dry eye in the
room. Little Jim had run and grabbed Big Tom around the neck,
apologizing to him for stealing his lunch, and explained that he was
so very hungry. Little Jim begged Big Tom to forgive him. He told Big
Tom that he would love him till the day he died for taking his
whipping for him. Aren't you glad that Jesus took our whipping for us,
that He shed his precious blood on Calvary so that we can have eternal
life in Glory with Him? We are unworthy of the price He paid for us,
but aren't you glad He loves us that much?

Closing prayer:
Eternal Father, I desire to rest in Your Heart this night. I make the intention of offering to Thee every beat of my heart, joining to them as many acts of love and desire. I pray that even while I am asleep, I will bring back to Thee the souls that offend Thee. I ask forgiveness for the whole world, especially for those who know You and yet sin. I offer Thee my every breath and heart beat as a prayer of reparation. Amen.

Good night everyone! Sweet dreams and God bless your Tuesday!