Unglued

It was one of the saddest things I have ever seen happen to a living creature and then…a miracle happened. I walked into my garage and came upon a poor little bird caught in a glue trap designed to catch insects and rodents. Its legs, belly, wing, head and beak were pinned to a rectangle covered with glue like substance. This substance was so thick and instantly formed a bond to anything it touched. My son stepped in one recently and trying to remove it from his shoe was worse than removing gum from hot pavement or someone’s hair. We had to throw the shoe away. How was I going to save this bird? Impossible! I had no idea this trap could be so cruel. Perplexed at what I could do about this impossible situation I watched as the bird tried to use it’s free wing, to free itself but only managed to cause itself more harm. Quickly, I picked up the panicked sparrow attached to the trap. I felt so sorry for this little bird. My attempts to set it free on my own were impossible. The glue formed a rubber bond and anything I did just panicked the bird and risked injury to it as I could not assert enough pressure on its beak or limbs to pull it away from the glue. My fingers kept getting stuck to the trap. Remembering the scripture that says God knows when a sparrow falls to the ground, I prayed to God, “please give me an idea.” I prayed to St Francis, “Please Help God’s little sparrow”. A moment later it suddenly occurred to me to bring the bird over to the dirt. It was a crazy idea but anything was worth trying. I spread dirt all over the trap and the bird, where it contacted the trap. First, I managed to get one leg free. Next its beak and head was set free. She gave me a little peck but then remained calm. Using sand to dry the glue; I freed its belly and its other leg. The little bird remained still in the palms of my hands as I rubbed sand all over its belly. I did this with the concern that it would try to clean it’s chest feathers and by doing so accidently glue its own mouth shut. I gazed at the bird with amazement at how calm it was and at how the idea I was given had worked. The bird was free from the trap. I set it free to fly and watched as it met its mate on a nearby tree branch. In this moment I was reminded how God wants as all to be set us free. He holds us in the palm of his hands and we need not struggle so much but trust in his care and plan. You know sometimes we all can get stuck in a rut or a funk. Sometimes situations can make us feel so trapped and it seems like there is nothing we can do and nowhere to go but, if we can keep faith we will find that God is really in those moments. This little bird showed up on a day when I felt like that about a certain situation and it was as if God was reminding me that with prayer and perseverance and maybe even trusting in doing the ridiculous, nothing is impossible with God. God is always with us and he holds us in the palm of his hands. Luke 12 4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

The Cross is the Key

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We are children who know our Father loves us. I wish I always acted like a child of God. You know like the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Sometimes I come to the conclusion that I will never be able to attain any likeness to Christ by way of virtue. That is to say; I often fail at my attempts at it. So then how will I get into heaven? Grace, I know but more than that we all want to be like Jesus. We want the Father to see Jesus when he sees us. What is the key? “Narrow is the way that leads to eternal life”, our savior once said. And so I imagine, the only way myself and maybe all of us poor human beings will ever attain any likeness to Christ is through our sufferings. And more than that, through our abandonment to the cross that we carry, that will be the key. In our sufferings we become like Christ when we trust in God’s goodness to save us, bring good out it , forgive us and to help us to persevere in it. The Cross is the key to heaven.

Not Seeing is Believing

It was pouring rain and I was sitting in my car, outside my daughter’s school. I had parked right in front of a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was such a consolation to see him there, arms outstretched calling me to contemplate his love for us. And then I realized that my car had been running too long and so I had to turn off my car. The windshield wipers were turned off as well. Suddenly the image of Jesus disappeared and became distorted by the rain pounding on my windshield. It was a perfect meditation of how faith calls us to trust that Jesus is always in the storms of our lives, even when we can’t see him. It made this reality visible to me on a day when I really needed to be reminded of his love for me and his presence for me despite the fact I could not see or feel him. because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”[a] Hebrews 13:5 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

Conquerors

READING Romans 8:35, 37 "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Trial, or distress, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword? Yet in all this we are more than conquerors because of him who has loved us."

Luke 2:22-40 The Presenation of Our Lord in the Temple

"Faithful to the religious observances of their faith, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple forty days after his birth to dedicate Him to God. This was an important custom of the Jewish religion. It was also customary for a wealthy family to bring a lamb and a young pigeon or turtle dove to be sacrificed. Poorer families, however, were permitted to offer two pigeons or two turtle doves for the offering. When the Holy Family arrived at the Temple, they were greeted by a just and pious man named Simeon." Grace Lines [lhlaweb@lhla.ccsend.com] Scripture tells us that, Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss[c] your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Many of us meditate on this joyful mystery thinking about how these words brought with them the first of Our Lady's sufferings and yet this scripture is part of the Joyful mysteries of the Holy Rosary. We are being called to reflect on the power of Joy that God gave Mary in this moment. Could it be that Mary's Joy in this moment,when she saw Simeon give witness that her son was indeed the messiah ,outweighed her sorrow. Mary suffered so many trials. She must of been more than a positve thinker to overcome so many sorrows. The joy of Lord was her strength. Can we say the same? I pray that when we see difficulties and challenges we would remember to look seek the Joy of the Lord and the good in everything. Dear Lord help us to follow the example of Mary. May the joy of the Lord be our Strength.

Pray Always

Pray everyday and when you pray ask Mary, the Mother of Jesus to pray with you.
When you approach the throne of God in Prayer,with our Lady,it is very powerful.
Why?
Because she never denied God anything. She gave him all including her Son. ..and so
it is said that the Father can not deny her prayers be answered.
Our Lady will help us. Her prayers assist us in knowing what it is we really need and what it is we need to accept. She is a good mother. Trust her and she will lead you to trust in God. Let us pray the scriptures in Luke 1:28.
Hail Mary!
Full of Grace.The Lord is with you. Blessed are you amoung woman and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Holy Mary , Mother of God pray for us Sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

March for Life 2012

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." --Martin Luther King, Jr. ...Amercians can not be silent about abortion anymore. It is being used to kill innocent children,who may be brought to birth and adopted.
Mother Theresa said,
"Any country that accepts abortion, is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what it wants" Mother Theresa,
If you are a victum of abortion, there are many places where you can turn to find healing. (i.e. http://www.rachelsvineyard.org/, priestsforlife website has many other resources, like the "Silent No More Campaign" of woman who suffered an abortion.)Jesus has provided places of healing and forgiveness for you.

Abortion will kill 120,000 babies today. We have to speak up for them. Let's do more than pray lets act. Help fight abortion go to Marchforlife.org or a march for life near you.

10 Minutes a Day

Please cut and paste this link into your server.http://thereasonforourhope.org/meet_father/homilies.php?
show=archives

Please check out the above website. Listening to the sermons are quick easy ways to grab a Spirit Byte and draw closer to the God who loves you.
Here is a chance this New Years to make a commitment to spend just ten minutes a day meditating on God's love for you.

Just 10 minutes a day for your creator,father, and savior who loves us with such affection he gave all, to become one of us. Can you give Him ten minutes a day? In front of the Blessed Sacrament, or reading the Word, or giving thanks, or listening to the links above. The Jan 8th sermon on this link is great.

The Help, " Don't Quote Me"

Aibileen Clark: God says we need to love our enemies. It hard to do. But it can start by telling the truth
Quote taken from the Movie entitled "The Help"

Epiphany

Tomorrow is the feast of the Epiphany.

Mary's and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem included not only joy but frustration, rejection, poverty, and trials.
But then there was that “Silent Night” when the heavens were opened and the Christ child was revealed to the world.
And yes, there was the Epiphany! (Matthew 2:1-12 )
How we all long to experience an epiphany with God! But are we willing to recognize that it takes time and work? In order to find Christ, the Three Kings and the Shepherds had to engage in a journey which involved time, sacrifice, faith and trials. Are we willing, like the Wiseman, to sacrifice in order to prepare our hearts for Christ?
Like the wisemen we have been given a star to guide us; The light of the church is there to guide us to Christ, who is waiting for us in the tabernacle and in the Sacraments. How will we respond to the Good News of Christmas? Can we respond with the shepherds, who upon hearing the Good News said: "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."?
The good news is Jesus is in the Tabernacle in our Catholic Churches. Let us go to Eucahristic Adoration and SEE.
The celebration of the magi's encounter with the living God, our Lord Jesus Christ. He came to us as a little baby. He wants to be so approachable. Who would be afraid to approach a little baby? This little baby, who was the king of kings born in poverty and laid in a manger, a feeding trouth accessible to all is calling you. Will you answer his call? Will you make time to be with Him?
The three kings were not afraid to answer his call and they were humble enough to lay prostrate before Him. If we read the account of their journey to find Jesus, we will find that they had to travel through the darkness to find Christ. It took perverance and obedience. It wasn't easy and they had to overcome their fears. They had to trust in the heavens to guide them. Let us pray that we will be like them. They say that wisemen seek him.
Deuteronomy 4:29 The lord says..
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. jdandrow

Friendship withChrist

A penitent said to St. Pio of Pietrelcina, "Padre, today they say the Rosary is out of date, that it is no longer in fashion. It is no longer said in many churches." He replied: "Let us do what our fathers did and all will be well with us."
"But Satan rules the world," said the penitent.
Padre Pio responded: "Because they make him rule; can a spirit rule by itself if it is not united to the human will?
We could not have been born in a more depraved world. The one who prays a lot saves himself. The one who prays little is in danger. The one who does not pray loses his soul." - An exchange with St. Pio Pietrelcina Pray every day. Praying a lot may seem difficult until we realize that one way to pray is to simply speak and listen to God.
Talk to God not only as if He is the Almighty but also as if he is a friend, because He is.
John 15:15 “ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you”. New International Version(©1984) Do we treat Christ as He treats us, as friends? Do we take the time to tell Him everything, and to concern ourselves with His concerns? Do we spend time with Him or just sit with him out of obligation? Do we Take time for silence and to be still and to Listen to His voice in prayer
He has so much He wants to give our world and our world rejects Him. Let’s make time today to show Him we are different. We will not take His friendship and sufferings for granted. We can do that by reflecting on this scripture , or praying a Rosary or doing something kind in His name, something more. Let’s pray for the healing our world needs and that we personally need to be more aware of His friendship and to be faithful to Him. Amen

Amazing Grace

Luke 1: 46 - 56
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46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Do we think about the great things the almighty has done for us? When times are tough it is hard to do this and yet that is the time when we really need to praise God and give thanks.
We can praise him for His coming to us as an infant, and dying a horrible death.We can remember that He is risen and so too we will rise. We can praise him as He continues to love us by being present to us in the Sacraments(most especially the Holy Eucharist). He sends us His Holy Spirit and calls to personal encounters with Him and his mercy everyday.
Father in Heaven grant us a better recognition of your love for us and the humility of Mary so we too can hear your voice,recieve your Grace and answer your call to carry Christ to one another.

John the Baptist

No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church, can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all people at all times.”
~Pope John Paul II

Moms Countdown to Christmas, 18 days until Christmas

Are we having fun yet?
Tired of the Christmas rush? Reading Matthew 11:28-30 Helps.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 New International Versions (NIV)
Last Sunday’s Scriptures invited us to “Prepare the way of the Lord” …..What is this way of the Lord? The church invites us to see that it is a life like John the Baptist, dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit and trusting in completely in God. The way of the Lord is one that makes the time to set oneself apart from the world to spend time resting with God.
It is the way of being open to His will and the work of salvation in our souls. It is the Way of faith, hope and love. Advent is a great time to take a few minutes extra minutes to respond to Jesus’s call to come to Him and find rest. A few minutes reading the Psalms or visiting the Blessed Sacrament,or going to Confession are great ways to prepare for the coming of the Lord and to find rest for your soul.

Christmas Joy

I was listening to a priest preaching about the Gospel today. He spoke of how we belong to Christ. I found myself asking the question, “Today did I act like I really believe that we belong to Christ or did I behave as if I belong only to this world?" Today, Am I living like I believe that I am His, bought with the sacrifice of His life, the shedding of His precious blood. Am I living in the joy of knowing that God is my Father, I am not alone, and I am a child of the King. Can I take a moment to rest in the joy of knowing that Christ came to a tiny, dirty stable in Bethlehem? He accepted all its imperfections for love of me and You. ..I don’t want to be so busy with life that I don't rest in that knowledge so as to let it permeate all that I do. Come Holy Spirit, lead us this Advent to Bethlehem where we can encounter Christ in a Spirit of Joy and contemplation. Deliver us from the spirit of consumerism and restlessness. May the heart of the infant Jesus move our hearts to joy and peace overflowing?
Like the centurion we can pray, Lord I do believe, please help our unbelief that we may receive and live out the joy, and the graces you have won for us. Amen

Family Advent Prayer

Dear Father God,
As we contemplate the birth of Jesus this Advent season, we consider the darkness of the stable of Bethlehem and how it resembles the darkness of our hearts and of our world. We give you thanks that you love us with an awesome love that desires to enter into this darkness, in order to bring us your saving light. This advent as we await your coming, Help us to prepare a place for you in our hearts and homes, where you will be honored and glorified. Let your light fill our hearts with hope and the self-knowledge we need to grow in holiness.
The Holy Family sacrificed so much that first Christmas in order to bring Jesus Christ into the world. May the prayers we pray and the sacrifices we make this Advent, help us and our world to recognize His presence more profoundly and may this recognition bring healing to all and Glory to God. Amen
jdandrow

Running from God

Now the men were seized with great fear and said to him,
"How could you do such a thing!"
They knew that he was fleeing from the LORD,
Because he had told them."...Then they took Jonah and threw him into the sea,and the sea's raging abated. Struck with great fear of the LORD,
the men offered sacrifice and made vows to him.
But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah;
and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish
three days and three nights. to read more go to Jon 1:1:2:1-2,http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/100311.cfm 11

Even when Jonah fled, the Lord showed him mercy but how much better it would of been for Jonah and all involved if Jonah had obeyed and answered God's call.
Are you fleeing from the Lord? Afraid He may ask too much of you? Forgetting that He will never be out done in generosity? Think of Him and what He did for you. Take courage and draw near to your God who loved you enough to die for you. He has entered into our sufferings and our wounded humanity. Surely, He will do what is best for you.
God, your Father in Heaven is a God of Mercy. He is calling you today to find His Mercy and Love for you in the Scriptures and in the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Eucharist. In my experience, the experience of countless others, they are Sacraments of Healing . If you haven't discovered this yet, I invite and pray that you will open your heart to come home to the Sacraments. Don't run from God's mercy. He is waiting for you.

Trust In the Lord

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a] Proverbs 3:5-6 (New I. version)
I was given this scripture by my sister-in-law at the begining of my spritual
journey. It came at a time when I decided I needed to seek God for guidance and
it is a scripture that I prayed daily for years.It is a powerful meditation.
After praying it for some time I realized that in order to trust God or anyone like this you need to get to know them first.It made me realize how little I knew God, but the fact that He is infinite did not stop me from trying.After all He died for me and invites us every day to seek Him. As I prayed this scripture,I was led to ask God to help me know Him and love Him better. I prayed for faith and God answered my prayer. In answer to my prayer He first filled me with a love for His Word(the Bible),a love for the Sacraments and an understanding of the power of the Rosary. God our father has not left us orphans. He wants to lead and guide us but to be led we need to be humble. We need to seek and to ask. The scriptures.. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."Jeremiah 29:13 and Pslam 32:8 "I will teach you and instruct you in the way that you should go,I will counsel you with my loving eye on you." Psalm 32 reminds me of this. God does not disappoint....Romans 5:5 "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." . In the Mass and the scriptures we can experience this personally and grow to know love and trust Him more. In doing so we find peace that the world can not give.

His Love

In Ephesians 3:14-20 [14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen

Patience

"Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew."

-St. Francis de Sales