Much time is spent fearing that which isn't really there in the first place.
Lord, help me conquer my fears and overcome my difficulties as they
happen rather than giving up and letting my difficulties overcome me.
S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"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
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
"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.
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray that I may feel the divine unrest. I pray that my soul may
find its rest in God.
Hello my friends! Today at Mass we had it by candlelight! Their
electricity went off - not ours though, but some parts of town, and over the
altar is a big round sky light that came in so handy there with the candles!
Our friend said after Mass that their electricity was off too, and she had
to hurry with getting the alternative for her husband's oxygen. It was a
nice Mass like that too. Linus is really awaiting the appliance job - his
feet hurt so much at Northern Tool and he has two more days left - then he
has vacation and so looking forward to it. We'll have to lift him up in
prayer again for his feet! A blessing today was when Lori called and
invited us for supper tonight - she made a good soup. She is such a good
cook and likes to cook! I brought a salad. We didn't stay long because
Linus was tired just coming home from work and she wanted to go for a walk
yet with her friend. Then I got the call later from her saying that her
friend, Elicia, found her Mother dead when she came home from work. We know
Elicia well - she's a great gal - and she was living with her Mom - it makes
me think of when my Mom died suddenly - I was living with her until I got
married and six months after I married she died of a stroke and I was so
glad I was not living there with her then. Please pray for Elicia and her
siblings and for the repose of her Mom's soul.
Prayer for Monday in Holy Week
God of love,
My prayer is simple:
Your son, Jesus, suffered and died for me.
I know only
that I cannot have real strength
unless I rely on you.
I cannot feel protected
from my many weaknesses
until I turn to you
for forgiveness and your unalterable love.
Help me to share this
strength, protection and love with others.
With permission from: Creighton U Online Ministries
Cross Bearers
Once a man complained loud and long to the Lord about the heavy cross he had
to carry. So the Lord said to him: "Come along with me to the factory where
they make crosses. And you can choose one for yourself."
So off they went and got to the factory. They went inside the door and the
Lord said: "You just shop around in here and take any one you want." So the
man too off his cross and set it alongside the door, and started to shop
around.
He tried this cross and that one but none of the really fit him. Some were
too long or too short, some were too heavy, and others too light... Just as
he was about to give up, he noticed one cross leaning against the wall... He
tried it on for size and weight and it just fit... He walked around with it
and it felt just fine. So he turned to the Lord and said: "I'll take this
one."
And just as they got past the door, the Lord turned to the cross bearer and
said with a smile, "I'm glad you like that one... It's the one you brought
in."
The Lord knows what is best for us! As St. Paul says in 2 Cor. 12:9 "My
grace is all you need. My power is greatest when you are weak."
The Flood Story
A flood threatens a town, forcing everyone to evacuate, But Joe thinks,
"I'm a devout man, God will save me," and stays
put. As the waters rise, Joe's neighbor comes by and says, "Joe come with
me, we've got to go." Joe declines,
"I'm a devout man, God will save me."
The waters keep rising, Joe scrambles to his second floor. A firefighter in
a rowboat comes by. "Get in the boat or you'll drown," he says. Joe again
declines, saying,
"God will save me. So this flood story goes."
Finally, the flood waters force Joe to his roof. A police helicopter comes
by and throws down a rope. "Climb up or you'll drown," the policeman yells.
"No, I'm a devout man,
God will save me," Joe replies.
Soon, Joe drowns.
He arrives in heaven and challenges God.
"Why didn't you help me?"
"What do you mean?" God says.
"I did help. I sent a neighbor, a firefighter and a helicopter."
Like Joe, many of us wait for something to rescue us while we miss
opportunities to help ourselves. Whether in our business lives or personal
lives, we hope for a transforming event.
A terrific new customer, a great relationship, a better family life.
But life isn't like that. Like Joe, if we want things to be different, we
have to do something ourselves.
But where to start?
How do we learn to recognize an opportunity when it comes our way?
Make a plan - Form a vision of what you want to achieve, then develop a plan
of how to make that vision a reality, To judge whether an opportunity
is one to seize or let pass you need to Understand whether it fits your
goals.
Make a commitment - Get used to saying no, Get used to saying yes.
But whatever you do, do it with commitment and conviction. Like Joe, we have
to learn to recognize opportunities and then grab them.
OUR FATHER:
PARAPHRASED BY SAINT PETER JULIAN EYMARD
Our Father Who art in Heaven
in the heaven of the Eucharist,
to You Who are seated on the throne of grace and love,
be benediction, and honor, and power and glory for
ever and ever!
Hallowed be Your Name
first in ourselves, through the spirit of
Your humility, obedience, and charity.
May we in all humility and zeal
make You known, loved, and adored by all men
in the Holy Eucharist.
Thy kingdom come
Thy Eucharistic kingdom.
Rule Thou alone forever over us
for Your greater glory
through the power of Your love
and triumph of Your virtues
and the grace of a Eucharistic vocation
in my state as a layman.
Grant us the grace and mission of Your holy love
so that we may be able to effectively extend
Your Eucharistic kingdom everywhere
and realize the desire you expressed:
"I have come to cast fire on the earth;
and what would I, but that it be kindled?"
Oh! that we might be the incendiaries of this heavenly fire!
Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven
grant us the grace to find all our joy
in wanting You alone,
in desiring You alone,
and in thinking of You alone.
Grant that by denying ourselves always
and in all things,
we may find light and life
in obeying Your good, acceptable, perfect Will.
I will what You will.
I will it because You will it.
I will as You will it.
I will it as long as You will it.
Perish our thoughts and desires
if they are not purely
from You, for You, and in You.
Give us this day our daily bread
You are our Eucharistic Lord
and You alone will be our food and clothing,
our riches and glory,
our remedy in illness,
and our protection against all evil.
You will be all things to us.
And forgive us our trespasses
Forgive me Jesus, for I am sorry for all my sins
just as they stand in Your eyes.
As we forgive those who trespass against us
For anyone who has offended us in any way,
with our whole heart we forgive them
and desire for them the gifts of Your love.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
Deliver us Jesus, from the demon of pride,
impurity, discord and complacency.
Deliver us from the cares and worries of life
so that with a pure heart and a free mind
we may joyfully spend our life
and devote all that we are and all that we have
in the service of our Eucharistic Lord.
Amen.
In You, O Lord Jesus, have I hoped;
let me not be confounded forever.
You alone are good.
You alone are powerful.
You alone are eternal.
To you alone be honor and glory,
love and thanksgiving
forever and ever.
A POEM
written by Arlene Spanos
April 2, 2012
I once thought life was all about me
And lived with pride so selfishly.
Until I realized my need for Thee
And what Your love really means to me.
For I was blind and now I see
Your Grace does not depend on me
It is You alone that set me free
To live today and for all eternity.
So I bow my head on bended knee
To give thanks and glory all to Thee.
Have a good Holy Week and God bless you!
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