Thursday, August 31, 2006

shout for joy...God is faithful


I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
The rest of today's readings


This is from today's first reading...doesn't it make your heart want to sing?

Symptoms of Inner Peace

A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fear based on past experiences

An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment

A loss of interest in judging other people

A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others

A loss of interest in conflict

A loss of the ability to worry

Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation

Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature

Frequent attacks of smiling

An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it

(author unknown)

I Came to You Late



I came to You late, O Beauty so ancient and new. I came to love You late. You were within me and I was outside where I rushed about wildly searching for You like some monster loose in Your beautiful world. You were with me but I was not with You. You called me, You shouted to me, You wrapped me in Your Splendour, You broke past my deafness, You bathed me in Your Light, You sent my blindness reeling. You gave out such a delightful fragrance and I drew it in and came breathing hard after You. I tasted, and it made me hunger and thirst; You touched me, and I burned to know Your Peace.

St. Augustine of Hippo

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Matthew 12:43-45

"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.

Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation." (Matthew 12: 43-45)

legal risks?

Channelnewsasia.com: "The Novena Church, two priests and seven helpers are being sued for an alleged act of exorcism, in an incident believed to have taken place two years ago.

Fifty-year old Amutha Valli Krishnan, an athlete in the 1980s, claimed that attempts to exorcise her later led to chronic post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. "

Interesting...I guess those little consent forms do come in handy after all. Another thing that comes to mind is that passage in the bible that says that you can clean your house of demons but if you don't fill it up, many more come in to take their place...I think that's the gist of it anyway. I'll have to look up the actual passage.

God have mercy...

Catholic News Agency:
"Buenos Aires, Aug. 28, 2006 (CNA) - The parents of a mentally disabled woman who had supposedly conceived through rape and had been given permission by the courts in Argentina to undergo an abortion finally had their wishes granted as the unborn child's life was taken on Friday at a private clinic, in the city of La Plata."

This really touches my heart...how the evil one deceives...they couldn't see how precious that little baby was...they couldn't see that if God had allowed that pregnancy it was because He had a plan in mind. How very,very sad.

Monday, August 28, 2006

now I begin

"The Struggle

Nunc coepi! � now I begin! This is the cry of a soul in love which, at every moment, whether it has been faithful or lacking in generosity, renews its desire to serve � to love! � God with a wholehearted loyalty.

� St. Josemaria Escriva, Furrow, #161"

St. Augustine

St. Augustine (354-430)

Raised a Christian, Augustine lost his faith and led a wild life. After living with a woman for many years, having a son, and dabbling in heresy, he was converted by the prayers of his mother and help from St. Ambrose. He sold his property, gave the proceeds to the poor, and founded a monastery. He became a monk, priest, preacher, bishop, and Doctor of the Church.


Reflections from the Saints
Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you.
– St. Augustine

Friday, August 25, 2006

volatile reactions

"Often it isn't the person who is aggravating us, but a spirit attached to that person. Such can come from sin, of course, but also from family lines or from inner wounds which darkness has hooked into.

That's why Jesus said not to judge. We are never sure why anyone is how he or she is. It's also why He said to look for the lumber in our own eyes first. We could have something that is causing the tension, or enhancing an effect that comes from others (like a volatile chemical reaction). We could also be exaggerating the effect, or even imagining it. Whatever the case, we must always see beyond spiritual disturbance to the goodness of people."
read entire article here

Using 'Thin Again' terminology...what we are actually reacting to is their stinking 'grave-clothes'...and then often not able to re-act appropriately ourselves because of our own.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

my refuge and my strength

You Can!

Pray resolutely using the words of the Psalmist: "Thou, Lord, art my refuge and my strength, I trust in thee."

I promise you that he will preserve you from the ambushes of the "noontide devil", when you are tempted and even when you fall, and when your age and virtues ought to have proved solid and you should have known by heart that He alone is your stronghold.
– St. Josemaria Escriva, The Forge, #307

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

from today's readings

Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep?
You have fed off their milk, worn their wool,
and slaughtered the fatlings,
but the sheep you have not pastured.
You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick
nor bind up the injured.
You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost,
but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally.
So they were scattered for the lack of a shepherd,
and became food for all the wild beasts.


See all readings here

hmmm...interesting.

correct view of suffering?

"What Is the Correct View of Suffering?

The Bible teaches an apparent contradiction: Jesus tells his followers to bear their cross; yet, whenever he meets people who are sick, he reaches out and cures them. Was he inconsistent, or have his words been misunderstood?

I think we can solve the problem by making an important distinction between two kinds of suffering:

1. The cross that Jesus carried was the cross of persecution, the kind of suffering that comes from outside because of the wickedness of others who are evil. He suffered deeply within himself, but the source of his anguish was outside himself. Jesus wept over Jerusalem; he was reviled and mocked; he was nailed to the cross and died.

2. The suffering that Jesus probably did not himself endure, and which he took away from those who approached him in faith, was that of sickness, the suffering that tears us apart from within, whether it be physical, emotional, or moral."

'Healing' by Francis McNutt

This was huge for me...a real 'light bulb moment'. Oftentimes we embrace #2 type of suffering easier then we do #1. We may be inclined to 'rebuke' or fight back external 'attacks' often and fiercely and yet do very little about the internal ones we are faced with daily, as if those were part of God's plan.

Can we fix it?


"The Church in the West has to be rescued, and delay will do no longer.

Churches are closing, relics are being scattered (sometimes sold on eBay, along with altars), and the faithful are facing a future where a single church will serve an entire area.

Yes, there are urban spots where the simple outflow of Catholics has made it unfeasible to maintain a church. That's not the Church's fault. But the way things are going, they are going to be closing churches even in vibrant areas.

Can we fix it? It will be tough. But can it be done? Yes -- by bringing back the vibrancy of the Holy Spirit.

To get back the Holy Spirit will mean imitating the way apostles -- our first bishops -- roamed among the flock, laying on hands, praying with groups, healing the sick, and constantly casting out demons. If our bishops did the same, the effect would be dramatic.

A bishop's spirituality has a supernatural effect on the entire area."
read full article here

If only there were more priests like Fr. Ron. Let's pray for vocations.

the cost of intercession


Now at Cana, we see Our Lady, the intercessor par excellence, saying, “They have no wine.” They do not have the Holy Spirit. They have no joy. They have no union, no relationship. God, the Father, gave the deference to Mary in this ministry. She picked up the Spirit and it was costly for her to make this move. I want to point that out because intercession can be costly. You can be, and you will be, the victim of your own intercession. She was asking something of her son which would be costly to her. It is easy to overlook the significance of this in the gospel account. But when you realize that she had 30 years alone with her Son, in tremendous hidden-ness, tremendous intimacy, you can begin to see the cost of the events which she was about to trigger She knew that all she had to do was to mention this to Him and He would do it. She knew who He was and that once He did this miracle and it became public she would never have Him again in that way. She was cutting the apron strings. That was very difficult. Yet, she was prompted by the Spirit, led by the Spirit, to act. The Spirit within will prompt you. This is the ministry of compassion. It is a ministry of love.
Excerpt from Mother Nadine’s, “Intercession,” Waveland, MI, 2005

releasing captives

Defeat
Lazarus rose because he heard the voice of God and immediately wanted to get out of the situation he was in. If he hadn't wanted to move, he would just have died again.

A sincere resolution: to have faith in God always; to hope in God always; to love God always � he never abandons us, even if we are rotting away as Lazarus was.

� St. Josemaria Escriva, The Forge, #211"

The story of Lazarus is one that is close to my heart. In 'Thin Again' the author tells us this story in a way that explains the healing process. Jesus had brought Lazarus back from the dead (he was 'born again' as we too are after our Baptism) but still 'bound up'...his 'grave clothes' were still intact and he couldn't move very well and completly lacked freedom. Jesus then gave the command to the people that were near by to go ahead and free him. (John 11:44)and He does the same for us today...Jesus through the Sacraments gives us life...then it is up to the community as a whole to participate in the full restoration. These 'grave clothes' are anything that keeps us bound even after we have been freed from our sin...hurtful memories, addictions...and yes...demons and evil spirits(not talking about full posession here) that have come upon us either through doors that we ourselvs have opened or by being exposed to someone else's sin. This is what the 'inner-healing' ministry is all about...releasing captives.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Our Lady of Silence


Silence is a very important part of the spiritual life. It fosters prayer and holiness. It fosters listening to God and hearing God’s will for us. It also helps our emotional life for it helps us to be calm, ordered and still. "Be still and know that I am God," we are told in the Bible. It is interesting and significant that we are told—not to read, or learn or study—but to be still to know God. God speaks in the silence of our heart. God speaks to us, mostly, when we are still and silent.

Our Lady can help us to be or to become silent. If we turn to Our Blessed Mother in prayer and ask for the grace to be silent, to have silence in our life, then we shall be enriched by the blessing of silence. Each day we should set aside at least a few moments for a time of silence with Mary, placing ourselves in Our Lady’s presence and being quiet, still and silent. During this prayer time we will be renewed and refreshed by graces of silence and stillness given to us by Our Lady. Here’s a little verse that might help:

Mary, Mother of God teach me to be still.
Then listening I’ll understand to do God’s Holy Will.
These graces must be cherished throughout the rest of the day. Turn off the T.V., the radio; turn off the noise. Seek silence. Be still and prayerfully quiet. Our world is filled with noise. Break the noise habit. Another encroachment upon silence is the "noise of news." By learning the news even from the newspaper, our hearts can be disturbed and our minds filled with worries. A dose of the world’s tragedies can be unsettling and unsilencing. Strive to be more peace-filled. It does take effort, it does take prayer and it takes giving up things—like noise.

Ask Our Lady to help you to increase the silence in your life. Spend time each day cultivating silence. Tell your loved ones what you are doing so they’ll understand. And when you have cultivated a more silent and calm mind and heart return thanks to Our Blessed Mother for this precious, priceless gift.

Then there is another form of silence. It is more difficult. To be silent when hurt, or insulted. To be silent when angry. To refrain from uttering hurting, cutting words. To be silent when opposed or contradicted. This isn’t easy. Ask Our Lady for help. Ask to be a little like Her Son, who was silent before His accusers.

Let’s have a special devotion to Our Lady of Silence. Fr. Abram Ryan, the priest-poet, referred to walking "down the valley of silence." Let’s make an effort to visit that valley. Let’s give silence a place in our life, our minds and our hearts. It will help us to be holier, calmer and healthier. Let’s start today. But we need help. Let’s turn to Our Lady of Silence, to Mary Our Mother.


I got the above message in an e-mail today and it really hit home for me. I think that I tend to be a little afraid of the 'silence'...some inner healing needed I think. Even when at Eucharistic Adoration, I tend to 'fill in' the silence with a rosary...I think I'll try just 'being' next time.

Freedom in Christ

ConfMaster

Neal Lozano Freedom In Christ Conference (link above)

Wounded Leaders


Whenever we are in relationships to give counsel, or in leadership, we can lead the way in being honest about our struggles. If we present ourselves as more holy than we are, then those we lead will present themselves as better than they are, or become discouraged by their weakness. Let our leadership challenge others to be honest and sincere in their struggle rather than successful in appearance. Let us reveal our need as we serve others, so that they may know that every member of the Body is important and needed by the others.

We have heard it said that the only healer is a wounded healer. It's true also for leaders. It is out of our brokenness that we reveal the power and love of God to others. We cannot give what we have not received.

IT’S UP TO YOU


It’s not what happens to you that can make your life or break it.
The thing that really matters is the way you choose to take it.

You can have a "pity party" and say life’s not worth the living,
Or find some place that needs the love and help you could be giving.

You can crawl into a shell, and reach a state of deep depression,
Or count the many blessings you still have in your possession.

You can say that life’s not fair, and that you simply cannot bear it,
Or seek what’s good in life, and find a way that you can share it.

No, it’s not what happens that decides the winning or the losing.
It’s how you take it -- and you’ll find it’s strictly your own choosing.

Betty Jo Mings

Monday, August 21, 2006

answer?

.=: M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y :=.

We can make use of our mistakes, failures, losses, and sufferings. It is
not what happens to us so much as what use we make of it. We can take our
sufferings, difficulties and hardships and make use of them to help some
unfortunate soul who is faced with the same troubles. Then something good
can come out of our suffering and the world can become a better place
because of it. The good we do each day can live on, after the trouble and
distress have gone, after the difficulty and the pain have passed away.

.=: P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y :=.

I pray that I may make good use of my mistakes and failures. I pray that
some good may result from my painful experiences.

I'm in discernment about whether to go forward with the inner healing group once the traning is through...and I got this from Fr. Pat today...hmmmm.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

ignorance is not bliss

myCatholic.com � Customizable Catholic Homepage: "Victory
A few are wicked, and many are ignorant: that is how the enemy of God and of the Church reigns.

Let us confound the wicked, and enlighten the minds of the ignorant. With the help of God, and with our effort, we will save the world.
� St. Josemaria Escriva, The Forge, #635"