Exploring the depth of our prayers
Today’s celebration is officially The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.
I think that Americans in particular are a bit uncomfortable with such grandiosity. After all, we rejected the rule of a King nearly 250 years ago!
And we certainly we didn’t want to form a new country under a king or queen! No, just a temporary presider … a president.
Continue reading “Christ, our King”
We celebrate the presentation of Jesus as a newborn in January, but here we have the wonderful opportunity to reflect on His mother’s birth.
November 21st is the celebration of when Anne and Joachim’s presentation of their newborn daughter Mary to the Lord. She was created as the future Temple of the Lord.
What happened at this point? Well, we have no documentation – we barely know her parents’ names.
Continue reading “Presentation of Mary”
I try to help the poor in my community. I do.
But it seems so mechanical, so impersonal. I struggle to make the time to go out of my way, even a little.
Perhaps we all have this feeling.
Continue reading “The Lord hears the cry of the poor”
I’m wondering about the strength of my faith, and of Our Faith – the Church. There are a lot of Catholics talking about the post-Christian society, the ills of Vatican II, and so on.
It’s so easy to get sucked in by this.
Continue reading “Faith”“When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Luke 18:8
I am always in the presence of God. But do I notice?
I’m too busy. I’m in my head, or in my hands, but rarely do I have my mind with God.
My daily rosary has helped a lot, but still … I wander.
Continue reading “Adoration”
How long, O LORD? I cry for help
Hab 1:2
but you do not listen!
I have times of despair, sadness, depression.
This is when I call on the strength of God, His saints and angels to help me regain perspective. And hope.
Continue reading “Mourning and weeping”
I’ve been pondering my own mortality.
Being recently inspired by hearing the story of a colleague who beat a vicious disease and lived a decade beyond what the doctors had predicted, I realize that there’s always hope.
Conversely, we’re also one breath away from the end.
Continue reading “The hour of our death”
I’ve heard that the greatest of all sins is pride – because every other sin, in some way, is built on that foundation of sand.
When I look around my life, I see pride crop up everyplace, to the point where I can become disheartened.
Continue reading “Pride”The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he delivers those who are discouraged.
Psalm 34:18
It’s so discouraging to realize how inclined we are to sin and depravity. I guess this is the universal battle of what it means to be human.
Why did God set it up this way?
I’m starting to recognize that it’s about using my life to learn, to discover, to overcome, and to become the potential God has put within me.
Continue reading “Journey”
We all have periods of difficulty and bad situations.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27
I seem to be going through a bit of that right now, which makes me anxious. Surely God wouldn’t want me to suffer?
Continue reading “My cross”