Obedience: three women and a miracle

Our family has a hard time getting everyone together at a certain time to pray the Rosary together, and so it often gets put off until later, but later usually results in our missing praying it that day altogether. Firmly but gently I informed my children that we need to pray the Rosary together every day; and that from this day forward, if one of us is occupied, the rest of us will go ahead and begin to pray.

That very day, just as we began praying, the phone rang. One of the children had a look over to see on the caller ID that it was a friend whom I never get to see any more, and rarely can be in touch with even by phone. Still, I refused to answer to the phone, continuing to pray, and our family friend's needs into our prayers. Within ten minutes somebody was at the front door. We kept praying, though my kids were eyeing me steadily to see how I would handle the interruption. I looked over at the door from where I knelt. The visitor knocked all the more determined to bring me to the door, since she could see us all gathered there. I relented and went to see what the woman wanted.

This stranger spoke my full name, which was rather frightening. And then she told me that she had my check. According to her story, a little boy in her neighborhood showed it to her, and she had driven over to get it back to me. She suggested that I had dropped it, and she wished us a happy birthday, repeating the words of the notation on the check. She had placed this gift in an envelope and written my name and "Happy Birthday!" on it. It was an amazing tale, but I opened the sealed envelope and saw the check, and I thanked her. We should have never gotten that gift, for I had not even touched it, most likely someone stole it from my mailbox.

About five minutes later, our friend tried reaching us by phone once again. She was the one who had mailed us the gift, and I assumed that she was trying to make sure that I had received the check. I waited until we had finished praying the Rosary to call her back. I let her know right away that I had never received her check, but that God had put her gift right into the hands of someone who would return it to me. My friend had felt compelled to write her phone number on that check, which she relayed was unusual for her to do. This enabled the woman to contact my friend and get my information and bring the gift over to us.

Interestingly, my friend has a very limited income with no money to spare for gifts, and certainly not to share with a thief. This good-hearted woman sent this blessing to our poor family so that my children could enjoy a rare treat at a restaurant in celebration of their birthdays. For our family, then, this gift is truly a blessing and not something that we have the means to replace or to reciprocate as in typical gift exchanges among friends. I sacrifice a whole lot for my children and trusting God to provide for our family. The woman who returned the check to me does not live in a middle-class neighborhood. She too is struggling financially. She handed over money that had fallen into her lap, because it was not hers to keep, and she went the extra mile take on the responsibility to find me and place it directly into my hands. All three of the women in this true story merit God's graces. They are blessings to others. We chose to do what is right and good even though we could choose not to give of ourselves or to suffer any loss. Our obedience does not go unnoticed by our Lord.

This is an account of a modern miracle. Praise God! Be faithful and persevere in prayer. Some blessings will not be so obvious as this one, but God will bless you abundantly as you put Him first place in your life.

Today's readings: ‎[ 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 ] [ Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130 ] [ Romans 8:28-30 ] [ Matthew 13:44-52 ]

Color your life Magnificat

We can learn a lot about our Blessed Mother, and we can apply her words of The Magnificat to our lives today. She gives credit to God for everything that happens to her and calls these "great things". She even speaks to a positive and blessed future. She praises and glorifies God, rejoicing, filled with faith in God's providence and protection and provision. She speaks of God's mercy for those who have a high regard and reverence for our Lord. And she recounts how God keeps His promises.

Stress, uncertainty, fear, disappointments, wicked ordeals may indeed be a part of your life. I know I have much to deal with on a daily basis. Sometimes we can get stuck focusing on the negative pieces and not see the positive side of the whole scenario. Think about it--we also have unexpected resolved difficulties, various talents to make use of, joyful experiences, and many freedoms to be grateful for.

We may not be able to avoid dealing with the bad things in life, but we certainly can make the decision to trust in Jesus, to be thankful to God for all of the good, and reflect on the better things. Remember the bottom line--God loves you! Roses are beautiful and soft and fragrant. And they have thorns. Can you imagine not noticing the glorious flowers and only seeing the smaller thorns?

I like the idea of making The Magnificat my own, as if I had composed this beautiful prayer about my own life. Try it. Pray the words spoken by the Virgin Mary, making them your own:


The Magnificat
My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour,
Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid:
for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;
Because He that is mighty, 
has done great things to me; and Holy is His Name.
And His mercy is from generation unto generations, 
to them that fear Him.
He has shewed might in His Arm: 
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has cast down the mighty from their seat, 
and has exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things, 
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has received Israel, 
His servant, mindful of His mercy.
As He spoke to our fathers, 
to Abraham and to his seed, for ever.

Some days are worse than others

Noise. Children squabble. Neighbors fight. Mothers yell and cuss. Fathers slam doors. A car stops nearby with the radio blasting disgusting obscenities toward women.  I hear the train sounding a long warning. I hear above me, the air traffic, is low today. The threatening storm will bring thunder. There are automobiles with their horns being blown repeatedly by impatient, insistent drivers. The television, the cable, the internet videos are loud with violence. Several people need something from me, right now. They are all talking to me at once. There is the demand for prompt intervention. An angry critical voice expects an answer immediately. Sibling rivalry escalates, needing the referee. I shout instructions from one room to another, "don't answer the phone! It's a bill collector." A delivery person rings the doorbell. The dog barks dramatically, relentlessly, broadcasting her intruder alert. The washer has become unbalanced, bam, bam, bam, bam! The baby wakes up, startled, and wails. Noise.

Some days are worse than others. Hang in there. Remember, this too shall pass :)

Ave Maris Stella

Hail bright star of ocean,
God's own Mother blest,
Ever sinless Virgin,
Gate of heavenly rest
Taking that sweet Ave
Which from Gabriel came,
Peace confirm within us,
Changing Eva's name.
Break the captives' fetters,
Light on blindness pour,
All our ills expelling,
Every bliss implore.
Show thyself a Mother;
May the Word Divine,
Born for us thy Infant,
Hear our prayers through thine
Virgin all excelling,
Mildest of the mild,
Freed from guilt, preserve us,
Pure and undefiled.
Keep our life all spotless,
Make our way secure,
Till we find in Jesus
Joy for evermore
Through the highest heaven
To the Almighty Three
Father, Son, and Sprit
One same glory be,

Amen.

On healing

There was a time in my life when I thought that since I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior life should get a whole lot better. I remember thinking God would do anything for me, all I had to do was pray about it. My faith took a big hit when I prayed for somebody to be healed miraculously. And then she died. I was totally shocked. How could God be my all-powerful Father, be a good God, but not listen to my prayer, and not care about healing this woman? This made no sense at all--to me--at that time.

There are things that we will never understand about God this side of heaven. The Holy Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church are excellent sources to learn more about God. Be attentive to the homilies at Mass. Listen to God. Accept the message.

In time, I began to understand that God does not heal everybody physically. His main interest is your soul. Will a healing bring eternal salvation? Will a healing cause you to live on in a lifestyle that will cause the loss of heaven? Will suffering in the body be better for those around you who have not yet learned to give of themselves, to have empathy and mercy, or to see the value in people who are not otherwise viewed as perfect and able-bodied?

Pick up the Bible and read here and there in the Old Testament and in the New Testament to gain a few clues about how God works in the cases of healing miracles. Read from the writings of the saints to understand more about how and why God brings about miracles. There are some common elements involved, but there is no set formula to receive a supernatural healing from the Lord. The one obvious shared constant is faith. You must believe God can heal. One cannot presume that ending a prayer "in Jesus name" are magic words that make our Lord obey us.

There is no harm in praying for somebody's healing. And it is right to expect a miracle rather than limit God with human understanding, such as thinking, this is a terminal disease that God cannot help with. Pray with faith that God can do anything as long as it is in accordance with His will. Revisiting the scene of the agony in the garden, Jesus prayed that the Father's will be done. God is love. Everything He does is out of love.

Grace and magic are two completely different things. Nobody commands God to do anything. Whenever saints prayed and people whom they interceded for were healed, it wasn't their doing, but miracles were wrought by the power and the grace of God. God heard them, though, and He acted. Have you ever wondered why their prayers were so effective? Find out about the saints, read about their lives, and read their writing to find out more about the depth of their faith. The saints lived holy lives. That is a big clue right there. Every single one of us is called to holiness. Even you and I can become saints. Let's rejoice and give glory to God as He spiritually heals us. Ultimately, this is the best healing of all.

Today's Gospel reading: Matthew 13:10-17

When I Cannot Pray

                         
                                                               

When I cannot pray because I am sorrowful, my heart cries out to God in silence anyway.
When I cannot pray because I am bitter, my body kneels in submission to the Lord anyway.
When I cannot pray because I am upset, my tongue receives Jesus in peace anyway.
When I cannot pray because I am disheartened, my actions reflect hope anyway.
When I cannot pray because I am lonely, my arms embrace Love anyway.
When I cannot pray because I am doubtful, my legs stand in His Presence faithfully anyway.
When I cannot pray because I am too busy, my mind prays anyway.

Accepting authority is not unusual, so choose yours wisely

"You're not the boss of me!" you most likely have heard one child say to another. Though adults may not speak as glibly and candidly as little children, most of us think the same thing. Here are some of our silent thoughts when challenged or corrected: Who are you anyway? I don't have to listen to you. You are no better than I am. What makes you think you're right? I've got as much right as anybody to...

This carries right over into our thinking about the Catholic Church. We don't want religious leaders in our bedroom. One of the chants at pro-life rallies goes: Get your rosaries off our ovaries! Many Americans refer to our country as one having a separation of church and state. And some Catholic politicians set their religious views aside when they vote.

A lot of Catholic families learn about our faith from everywhere except the Church, the Catechism, and the Bible. When I was growing up, the only time I heard about what anybody said who mattered in the Church, like the Pope, was if it happened to be on the nightly news. I had no idea that these are intelligent individuals who actually wrote profound encyclicals and books. I accepted whatever was said about them as if it were the gospel truth. Little did I know that my authority, who I listened to, was the liberal reporter on my TV screen. I had no idea there was a liberal bias, nor that quotes are often taken out of context. I assumed that I was getting objective information from a trustworthy source, and that it was the truth.

We may not easily warm up to the authority of the Catholic Church initially, because it seems to come down on our lifestyle. We don't want the Church to be the boss of us. We have life experience and think we know how things work just about as well as the next guy. However, if you think about it, we really do listen to somebody and accept what that authority says. Just as I accepted what was shown on the news, you accept some source as your authority for what you believe. Like it or not somebody in some way IS the boss of you. Even if you want to believe that this person is you.

Since the truth of the matter is that we learn from many different sources and incorporate those ideas into our lives, why not let one of those voices of authority be from the One who gave His all for us, Jesus. Jesus, we see in the Scriptures, is the Truth. He came, the Bible tells us, to build His Church. He thinks the Church is pretty important. He said that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. There's power in the Church, then, according to our Lord. Christ finds His Church authoritative. The Holy Spirit knows more than we do, thank goodness. Isn't it time we stopped playing god and/or allowing unbelieving teachers to influence us to doubt our faith and embrace sinful ways; and rather take as our authority she who has safeguarded the Truth for us for about 2000 years, our holy Catholic Church.

“Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother. Love the Madonna and pray the rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother.” - St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

Surrender to Jesus and Mary

Especially when one is from a disadvantaged background, you can get caught up in hustling for a buck and falling into all manner of sin as you manage to struggle through one day and waking up to the next. The next day happens to be another like the one before more or less, and you are a victim of circumstance, reacting the best you can and rolling with the punches. There were times I thought that if I could just make it through the night until tomorrow arrived, it would be a better day; and I was surprised to find that the bright sunny day did not bring with it the miracle that I needed.

I tried to fight off the cruel oppressive world, I'd battle with myself, and try once more to stop sinning. I tried to have false hope because it was better than no hope. I tried to do the right thing in the midst of a gone-wrong life in a confusing and conflicted society. I tried to make better decisions. I tried to dig myself out of a deep hole. I could see the financial crisis and the losses of all sorts in my life. But I did believe God existed, somewhere out there, maybe He even resided in my heart, I knew I had a good heart.

Life was like a roller coaster ride for me. Maybe you've been there. Maybe you're there right now. If you're dealing with addiction, with an impossible work situation, or you feel like you will never find love; all is not lost. I've been there. Sometimes I still have to fight off those demons. Just about the time I've mastered one area, another temptation raises up to try to entice me to do something else that I know would not be pleasing to our Lord.

These days things are very different, though. I am not directionless, adrift in the midst of a great deadly ocean without a Life Savor. This change did not come about because I learned how to kick a bad habit or to master a new technique in some innovative psychological methodology. I stopped focusing on me and my pain and demanding all of my wishes come true. By the grace of God I understood that my whole life was spent trying to have my own way, and it was, big shocker, God whom I was really resisting. I responded, I surrendered to Jesus and Mary. I'm one of those "late arrivals" spoken of in today's homily (provided here below for your convenience.)

I know what is happening now that I am walking in the light. I am able to recognize that sin is always there at my door, and refuse it entry. There is spiritual warfare going on in our lives. There is testing and purification that is on-going, too. So I may fall down, but I am not out. I get up again, dust myself off, get to confession, and hold my head up once again. It is defeating to look at all the times I have fallen rather than remind myself of all of the times that I stood back up. And with Jesus and Mary to help me, and smile upon me and my little victories over sin, I am strengthened all the more to gladly say yes to God's will. I want to set those vices aside that are shameful and lead to ruin, and replace them all with life-transforming holy virtues. Don't you?

Today's Gospel Reading: Matthew 12:38-42

{12:38} Then certain ones from the scribes and the Pharisees responded to him, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
{12:39} And answering, he said to them: “An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. But a sign will not be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
{12:40} For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
{12:41} The men of Nineveh shall arise in judgment with this generation, and they shall condemn it. For, at the preaching of Jonah, they repented. And behold, there is a greater than Jonah here.
{12:42} The Queen of the South shall arise in judgment with this generation, and she shall condemn it. For she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And behold, there is a greater than Solomon here.