Exploring the depth of our prayers
We’re thinking about prophecy and proclamation today, especially in the first reading and the Gospel.
Christian churches seem to have a split personality in this regard. Either we’re reserved and humble, or over-the-top Evangelical. I find that Catholics trend toward the former. Which is in my comfort zone as an introvert.
But there are things that I’m very passionate about, where I’m constantly thinking and talking about it.
Why do I struggle with doing this in my faith?
Our Blessed Mother is the embodiment of a soft heart. That’s something I strive for, but it’s difficult.
It’s not about being soft, letting others walk over me. Mary is a wonderful example, of someone who never took her eyes off her life purpose.
Even when it meant the death of her Son.
There’s a philosophy which declares that God is unnecessary. The universe and all of reality came from … nothing.
It spontaneously sproinged into existence from absolutely nothing.
Perhaps this is the trillionth universe that actually worked, that up till now they resulted in nothing interesting at all.
Today is the solemnity of the nativity of St John the Baptist. Which gets me thinking about the journey that our Holy Mother had during her pregnancy.
Can you possibly imagine the trail of wondrous miracles she experienced during those nine months? From the Annunciation, to the visitation of Elizabeth, and so on.
Luke 2:19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.
I strive to be a good father, I really do. But all the demons come out of the woodwork to point out my shortcomings and failings.
My goal, then, is to look to our ideal Heavenly Father, God Almighty, for inspiration and guidance.
God is all loving, but that doesn’t mean soft. We’ve mixed up the two concepts. Love, in fact, can sometimes feel harsh and rigid.
Our readings today reinforce the message that we’re all in this together.
It’s a particularly counter-cultural thought, because our country does its best to celebrate individual accomplishment, independence, and self-sufficiency. Which is all good, I suppose, but the fact is that God created us as society, not just a billion random beings on a planet.
I was talking with a guy recently who is writing a book about becoming an elder. Continue reading “Us”
Today is an exciting event!
Shrines in more than fifty countries are participating in a worldwide Rosary initiative to pray for the sanctification of priests.
Let’s take advantage of this event to support our Church, our clergy, and ourselves!
How wonderful that Pope Saint John Paul II introduced the Luminous Mysteries to our Rosary in 2002! Of course, on Corpus Christi Sunday, it’s so appropriate to focus on the institution of the source and summit of our faith.
That all sounds well and good, but some Christians might find it strange that we seem to maybe be putting the Eucharist ahead of Jesus Himself.
But that’s not what we’re doing at all.
How do I know when I’m doing God’s will?
It’s not a flippant question. Every time I say the Lord’s Prayer, I’m asking for God’s will to be done.
I could just hang out and try not to get in the way while God does His thing, but I don’t think that’s the way it works. WE need to do His will. Including ME.
We have been given a special gift by our Holy Father, Pope Francis.
On March 3rd 2018, he declared a new feast day, the Memorial of Mary, Mother of The Church. It will be celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost, which for the first time is May 21st 2018. This celebration was first granted by Pope Paul VI to a few countries at Vatican II, and has now been shared with the entire Body of Christ.
Perhaps we’ll see Pope Francis’ prayer added to the Rosary at some point? Continue reading “Mary, Mother of The Church”