John 14:15-21; I will not leave you.
In this, one of his farewell speeches to his disciples, Jesus laid the foundation for them to become his Church. He was preparing the Apostles to become the people who carried him to the rest of the world.
Pope Francis said, "It is not easy to follow Jesus closely, because the path he chooses is the way of the Cross." Jesus knew that what he asks of his followers is difficult without him there as a guide, so he made two powerful promises to us.
First - he promised to send as Advocate --- the Holy Spirit --- who would always be with us. The gift of the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all his followers and help us to see the truth of God's love for us.
Second - he promised that he wouldn't leave us even though he was going away. When we are absorbed by the world, we can't "see" Jesus because we are too focused on ourselves.
Yet, when we live our love for God by obeying his commandments and loving others, we show Jesus to the world.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Don't give up on God's mercy
Throughout our lives, we all have choices we wish we hadn't made or missed opportunities to do good. They add up as we get older. We may even fear our transgressions are so many or so serious that we are beyond forgiveness but nothing could be farther from the truth. Learn a lesson from Judas.
Judas' fatal mistake. There's no doubt that Judas' act of betrayal was horrible. It is inconceivable that he could know Jesus' friendship for three years, be among his closet and most beloved friends and then deliver him for judgement and probable death. Yet, that wasn't Judas' worst sin. Doubting God's mercy was worse. God will always forgive us if we ask. It's we who don't ask. Jesus waits. Jesus never abandoned Judas. It was Judas who abandoned hope in Jesus when he killed himself in remorse for his part in Jesus' death. Peter betrayed Jesus, too, by denying him. But Jesus forgave him just as he will always forgive us if we give him the chance.
Judas' fatal mistake. There's no doubt that Judas' act of betrayal was horrible. It is inconceivable that he could know Jesus' friendship for three years, be among his closet and most beloved friends and then deliver him for judgement and probable death. Yet, that wasn't Judas' worst sin. Doubting God's mercy was worse. God will always forgive us if we ask. It's we who don't ask. Jesus waits. Jesus never abandoned Judas. It was Judas who abandoned hope in Jesus when he killed himself in remorse for his part in Jesus' death. Peter betrayed Jesus, too, by denying him. But Jesus forgave him just as he will always forgive us if we give him the chance.
What is a "Liturgy"?
Liturgy is a public work or service done on behalf of the people. To Catholics, it means publicly participating in the work of God. Liturgy can refer to divine worship, the proclamation of the Gospel or acts of charity. Through the Liturgy, the people continue the work of God.
"Christ, our High Priest, continues the work of our redemption through the Church's celebration of the Paschal Mystery by which he accomplished our salvation".
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1067-1069).
"Christ, our High Priest, continues the work of our redemption through the Church's celebration of the Paschal Mystery by which he accomplished our salvation".
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1067-1069).
Accept God's invitation to be his
The Ten Commandments are divine laws but they are also invitations to discover what God can accomplish in us and through us. When we live them as our personal response to God's request to become his children, we begin to merit eternal life. To help us live the challenge of the Commandments, however, we need to practice the virtues of faith, hope, and charity.
Faith. God reveals himself to us through Scripture, through his creations, through the Catholic Church and through Jesus. Faith is our response to that revelation ------ a belief in the One Triune God as a reality. We practice faith when we entrust ourselves completely to God. Our trust is in God rather than in human beings.
Hope. When we have confidence that God walks with us each day and guides us to life with him, we have hope. Hope means believing Jesus' promises and relying on his strength instead of our own. People of hope have no use for despair or discouragement because all things are possible with God.
Love. Our greatest response to God's love for us is to love him. In fact, Jesus made love the greatest of the two great commandments (Matthew 22:37). We love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.
Faith. God reveals himself to us through Scripture, through his creations, through the Catholic Church and through Jesus. Faith is our response to that revelation ------ a belief in the One Triune God as a reality. We practice faith when we entrust ourselves completely to God. Our trust is in God rather than in human beings.
Hope. When we have confidence that God walks with us each day and guides us to life with him, we have hope. Hope means believing Jesus' promises and relying on his strength instead of our own. People of hope have no use for despair or discouragement because all things are possible with God.
Love. Our greatest response to God's love for us is to love him. In fact, Jesus made love the greatest of the two great commandments (Matthew 22:37). We love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.
One Minute Meditations
St. Philip Neri
Philip Neri was a puzzle of contradiction -------- popular but pious, jubilant and holy, firm but kind.
Born in Italy in 1515, he became a priest after spending many years devoted to prayer. As a priest, he had a gift for seeing through pretenses in the Confessional and became known for creative penances.
He arranged talks, discussions, and prayer sessions ----- the beginnings of a religious institute he founded called the Oratory. He was sought for his holiness and joy.
The highest goal
It doesn't make sense to pursue pleasure or pleasant things; they don't last. Chasing pleasure draws us away from true joy. Instead, seek the lasting wonders of Heaven as the highest goal.
Universal love
Love wills the good of another. "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor."
(Romans 12:9-10)
Philip Neri was a puzzle of contradiction -------- popular but pious, jubilant and holy, firm but kind.
Born in Italy in 1515, he became a priest after spending many years devoted to prayer. As a priest, he had a gift for seeing through pretenses in the Confessional and became known for creative penances.
He arranged talks, discussions, and prayer sessions ----- the beginnings of a religious institute he founded called the Oratory. He was sought for his holiness and joy.
The highest goal
It doesn't make sense to pursue pleasure or pleasant things; they don't last. Chasing pleasure draws us away from true joy. Instead, seek the lasting wonders of Heaven as the highest goal.
Universal love
Love wills the good of another. "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor."
(Romans 12:9-10)
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Weird News
Police seek theif who stole $500, $1000 bills
Sharon, Pa. --------- Whose picture is on the U.S. $500 bill? How about the $1000 bill? Police in one western Pennsylvania city said a burglar would be able to answer those currency trivia questions, because he or she stole one of each bill from a resident.
The high-denomination bills were taken out of circulation in the late 1960s, which is why collectors covet them. They're still worth their face value ---- and more to collectors if they're in good shape. Sharon police said a homeowner reported the thefts. The large bills were part of $10,300 taken from a strong box in the home. Police Chief Mike Menster said there was no forced entry into the home or the box.
For the record, Grover Cleveland is pictured on the $1000 bill.
William McKinley is on the $500 note.
She hopes house bounces back
Anchorage, Alaska -------------- Michelle Appel is hoping to solve a big Alaska mystery with a colorful past. She's hoping someone will helop her track down the Anchorage customer who rented a king-size, kids-only bounce house from her in 2012 ------ and then bounced with it.
Appel and her husband, Adam, own For Fun Alaska, an inflatable games-rental business. Two years ago, they spent $4,000 for a "Big Big Bouncer," an inflatable structure 25 feet wide, 20 feet deep and about 15 feet high, Appel said, decked out in primary colors. "It was just a monster," she said.
It had been used only a couple of times when a woman on June 30, 2012, paid $400 on a credit card to rent the Big Big Bouncer and a generator for one day, the Anchorage Daily News reported.
The Appels tracked the customer to her home. No one answered the door, and neighbors said the residents had just moved or been evicted. The Appels handed out fliers at the park with a bounce-house photo. No luck. The woman who rented the house canceled her credit card.
Sharon, Pa. --------- Whose picture is on the U.S. $500 bill? How about the $1000 bill? Police in one western Pennsylvania city said a burglar would be able to answer those currency trivia questions, because he or she stole one of each bill from a resident.
The high-denomination bills were taken out of circulation in the late 1960s, which is why collectors covet them. They're still worth their face value ---- and more to collectors if they're in good shape. Sharon police said a homeowner reported the thefts. The large bills were part of $10,300 taken from a strong box in the home. Police Chief Mike Menster said there was no forced entry into the home or the box.
For the record, Grover Cleveland is pictured on the $1000 bill.
William McKinley is on the $500 note.
She hopes house bounces back
Anchorage, Alaska -------------- Michelle Appel is hoping to solve a big Alaska mystery with a colorful past. She's hoping someone will helop her track down the Anchorage customer who rented a king-size, kids-only bounce house from her in 2012 ------ and then bounced with it.
Appel and her husband, Adam, own For Fun Alaska, an inflatable games-rental business. Two years ago, they spent $4,000 for a "Big Big Bouncer," an inflatable structure 25 feet wide, 20 feet deep and about 15 feet high, Appel said, decked out in primary colors. "It was just a monster," she said.
It had been used only a couple of times when a woman on June 30, 2012, paid $400 on a credit card to rent the Big Big Bouncer and a generator for one day, the Anchorage Daily News reported.
The Appels tracked the customer to her home. No one answered the door, and neighbors said the residents had just moved or been evicted. The Appels handed out fliers at the park with a bounce-house photo. No luck. The woman who rented the house canceled her credit card.
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