The Presence of the Dying

 "We should take great care what is said and done in the presence of the dying. While they are fighting their last decisive battle, it would mean such a help if they could hear us talk to them about the mercy of God, about having trust and confidence. One day we shall have to take that same step too. This might be the best preparation. And when everything is over and one of our beloved has died, we should remember the words of the Revelation of John: I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord henceforth." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them" (Rv 14:13)."

 Maria Von Trapp   

We are the dying in the hope of rising with Him.

No one knows when their final day will be. 

It could be today or tomorrow. 

This life is not everlasting.

We all know that we only live once. 

Yet, living like we are dying takes heart. 

And it takes heart to treat people as if they were the ones dying.

Our words and actions really matter. 

We are all in the presence of the dying. 

This Fr. Mike Video set the stage for this blog.

Psalm 141:3-4 

Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;

keep watch over the door of my lips.

Do not turn my heart to any evil,

to busy myself with wicked deeds

in company with those who work iniquity;

do not let me eat of their delicacies.

Lord Have Mercy

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” John 20:27 

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday! 

Jesus offers us His love and mercy.

From His pierced side blood and water poured out. 

For you and for me. 

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You. 

Jesus inspired St. Faustina to begin and to share The Divine Mercy Devotion with the whole world.

St. Faustina believed in Jesus and trusted in His Divine Mercy.

St. Faustina's mystical visions brought hope.

His mercy endures forever! Psalm 136 

 

St. Faustina reminds us that Jesus is trustworthy, loving and merciful. 

The Divine Mercy is not just for Catholics or Christians, it is for the whole world. 

His love and mercy are infinite for those who will accept it.  

 His unfathomable mercy is an invitation for us to believe it.

To desire His Divine Mercy. 

 To begin pray this prayer,

Jesus, I trust in You! 

Watercolor Painting by Erin McAtee 

Lord Have Mercy by The Vigil Project  

Lyrics 

From our shame, from our guilt O Lord

Cleanse us from our sin make us holy

In your Name, in your blood O Lord

Blot out our offense, make us worthy

Lord have mercy

We're begging for mercy

Jesus only you make us worthy

From our weakness, from our betrayal

Cleanse us from our sin make us holy

In your kindness, in your compassion

Blot out our offense make us worthy

Lord have mercy

We're begging for mercy

Jesus only you make us worthy

Remember me when you come into your kingdom

 

Becoming Real

Happy Easter Monday! 

Christ is risen! 

Indeed He is risen! 

When did it become real for the apostles that Jesus was truly risen? 

Did they wake up on "Easter Monday" and question if His resurrection was real? 

I don't think it took them long to believe that Jesus in His glorified body was real. 

It wasn't just a dream. 

It was becoming real. 

"When do you become real? When you realize you are enough, even if you are alone." Matthew Kelly  

We are not alone! 

Christ is truly Risen! 

He is real with us and He wants us to be real with Him. 

However, becoming real is not an easy decision. 

It's hard and makes us feel vulnerable.

“Weeks passed, and the little Rabbit grew very old and shabby, but the Boy loved him just as much. He loved him so hard that he loved all his whiskers off, and the pink lining to his ears turned grey, and his brown spots faded. He even began to lose his shape, and he scarcely looked like a rabbit any more, except to the Boy. To him he was always beautiful, and that was all that the little Rabbit cared about. He didn’t mind how he looked to other people, because the nursery magic had made him Real, and when you are Real shabbiness doesn’t matter.” The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams Bianco 

Who did the hardest and most vulnerable sacrifice on the cross? 

Jesus! 

He is the real deal! 

Our purpose in life is to become like Jesus, becoming real. 

"Once you become Real, you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always." Velveteen Rabbit 

Because He Lives

Why do you seek the living among the dead? Luke 24:5 

The tomb is empty! 

His dead body is gone! 

Christ is Risen! 

Alleluia! 

“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.” St. Pope John Paul II 

Last night was the Easter Vigil. 

Congratulations to those who received the sacraments! 

We celebrated Jesus, the light of the world! 

The Light in the darkness! 

Jesus is the Breath of Life! 

He gives us His Holy Spirit! 

We can take heart because He lives! 

Happy Easter! 

Holy Saturday

Today is Holy Saturday.

I can't begin to imagine Mary's suffering on this day without her Son. 

I mentioned that I watched The Passion yesterday.

In the movie, Mary cries out to Jesus, "Let me die with you." 

Mary stood alone without her Son. 

God the Father's Beloved Son and Mary's Beloved Son. 

For Mary, John and Mary Magdalene, their Hope was taken from them. 

For them, Holy Saturday felt hopeless.

There was no tomorrow, no Easter Sunday, to look forward to. 

I've felt hopeless before like John and Mary Magdalene. 

However, we know He will rise.

We await His Resurrection.

We know that Sunday will come and that gives us something to look forward to.

Tonight is the Easter Vigil.

I am excited to welcome and celebrate with those coming into the Church! 

Tonight is a night of FAITH, HOPE and LOVE!

I am going to close this blog with this awesome outlook and challenge:

 "Celebrate this Mass as if it was your first mass, your last mass and your only mass." 

Blessed Mother, remind me of this again and again!  

A Thief who Stole Heaven

Today is Good Friday. 

Why is it called Good Friday?

 Often we think of it as Bad Friday. 

It is so easy to listen to the lies of the devil. 

The devil wants us to think that today is bad Friday. 

Satan wants us to dwell in guilt and to doubt the GOOD that came from the cross. 

From Walking With Purpose - Praying from the Heart Study Guide

Lie-based Thinking

I am all alone
I can't do it 
Things will never change
I am stuck
I am defined by my failures 
My past controls my future 
Nobody understands me
I am powerless
It's all up to me
I can't share my secret
God doesn't love me
God can't help me
God doesn't care
God isn't all powerful

Distorted Thinking 
Overgeneralization
Polarization
Catastrophizing
 Filtering 
Blaming
The noose of "should" 

These are the lies that Satan is telling us. 

"That today is bad and that we are bad."

Jesus suffered so that we do not have to believe these lies but the TRUTH.

Truths about God

God will never leave me alone

Nothing is impossible for God

 God is all powerful

God is all loving

God holds everything together

God will rescue me

 God will provide a way out

God has chosen me

 God always forgives me

God knows me

 God is patient with me

God's mercies are new every morning

God is my refuge and strength 

God is interested in me

God is everywhere at the same time

 God will never change

God will protect me

 God is for me

God knows my future

 God will never fail me 

The Truth replaces the Lies.

"He didn't suffer so we wouldn't have to; He suffered so we'd know how to." Chris Stefanick 

 "It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love." Pope Benedict XVI   

I just watched the Passion. 

I want to believe the Truth and not the lies. 

I want to believe in the GOOD. 

 "A whole life of sin, one humble and confident look toward the Crucified, and there was the first Canonized saint, and canonized by Jesus Himself! A thief who stole Heaven!" - I Believe in Love by Fr. Jean C.J. D'Elbee 

Holy Thursday

Triduum begins today on Holy Thursday.

The Church commemorates the Institution of the Holy Eucharist, consecrates holy oils for the sacraments, and celebrates Jesus' institution of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. 

On Holy Thursday night we remember: 

Jesus washed the disciples' feet.  

You also ought to wash one another’s feet. John 13:14 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation forgives sins. 

Jesus, teaches us to forgive, serve and love. 

The Last Supper, The Eucharist.

The Eucharist means "thanksgiving". 

Bread and wine turned into His Body and Blood. 

Do this in remembrance of me. Luke 22:19   

The priesthood was instituted. 

That same night, Judas left the table and betrayed Jesus in the garden. 

And that same night Peter denied Jesus three times. 

It is Holy Thursday.

There is more to that night than we will ever know. 

Christ became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross. Philippians 2:8  

For you and for me.

 "Obedience is better than sacrifice." 1 Sm 15:22

Not our will but God's will be done. 

"Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." Luke 11:28

Lenten Prayer for Holy Thursday - From Dynamic Catholic

Jesus, in these last few days before Easter, as I recall your passion and death, let me remember that, above all, I am called to feed your sheep. You have given me a model of how to live; may I strive to be all that you created me for, spreading the love of God and the truth of our Catholic faith wherever I am able. You are the way, the truth, and the life. Amen. 

30 Pieces of Silver

Today is "Spy Wednesday." 

Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.   

Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. Matthew 26:14-16 

Satan had entered Judas. 

Betrayal was bought with silver and a kiss.  

What was Judas thinking? 

How could he have stooped so low? 

What was Jesus thinking and feeling? 

Jesus knew his betrayer.

Yet, He kept Judas close to his heart. 

  Jesus asked Judas to be his apostle for a reason. 

Even if the reason resulted in betrayal, suffering and death.

He has chosen us!

God has given us free will.

"We celebrate free will as if the ability to choose guarantees a good outcome. It doesn't. Some choices complicate and some simplify." Life is Messy, Matthew Kelly

We have the opportunity everyday to betray or to choose Christ.

Choose Christ!

Peter said, I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk. Acts 3:6-7   

Photo by Francesco Alberti 

Worth it

Today is Holy Monday. 

Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with costly perfume. She dried his feet with her hair. The fragrance filled the house. 

A theory is that everyone who would came in contact with Jesus during His final days would not be able to remove the smell of the perfume from their nostrils. This theory included those who condemned, scourged, beat, betrayed and crucified Jesus.  

Today I listened to the Bible in a Year podcast, Day 77. 

I admit I do not listen to the podcast every day. 

However, the podcast I listened to for today, spoke directly to my heart. 

Yesterday, I helped with the Confirmation retreat. I have loved being on the Confirmation team this past year! 

I gave a witness talk.

My story. 

I was so nervous speaking in front of 70 people. 

I thought telling my story would become easier each time I told it. 

Yet, I realized it's not easy.

Too often I fall into temptation to doubt the worth of my story.   

Sharing the vulnerable moments of my life is painful. 

But it's worth it.

When we don't want to fight the battles before us, Jesus reminds us that He already won the ultimate battle. 

I received gratitude and love after speaking from my heart at the retreat.

I explained in my testimony that Confirmation had a powerful impact on my life. 

I admitted that if it weren't for the Sacrament of Confirmation, I would not be here today. 

The grace from this Sacrament carried me through both good and hard times. 

Again, was it easy? No.

Was it worth it? Yes!

And this is where Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz fits into this blog.  

I will comment "Take Heart" below each of Fr. Mike's reflections. (Paraphrasing)

Bible in a Year - Day 77  

"When we're not willing to fight, people around us aren't willing to fight."

Take Heart! Fight, anyway! 

"We can't just say, "You do you, live your own life.."" 

Your life is not your own. Take hold of My Heart! 

"The reality is that we are not just individuals, we belong to each other." 

Take Heart and believe! It's not my story, it's our story. 

"We can say, I don't feel like doing what I am called to do right now. And it's fine, it's my life." 

"But we have to do our part. He has a plan for us. A place he wants us to go." 

"Becoming that person is a battle."

 "And if we aren't willing to fight, other people won't be able to fight." 

Be strong and of good courage. 

Take Heart! 

Breathe in His sweet perfume as we begin the holiest of holy weeks. 

Mads Schmidt Rasmussen 

Search My Heart

“While others search for what they can take, a true king searches for what he can give.” – Mufasa

This quote reminded me of the King who gave it all. 

Jesus.

His life was a gift given to us. 

Jesus gave us His body and His blood. 

The Eucharist. 

Not just some of it but ALL of it. 

The Sacrifice. 

What was taken from Him, He gave to us. 

 "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34

Even from the cross Jesus searches His heart and forgives us. 

 Forgiveness flowing from His pierced side. 

Blood and Water poured out. 

His Heart freely given. 

Jesus, you are our true King! 

Help me to give you my heart. 

Help me to forgive those I don't want to forgive. 

Help me to search my heart and follow You! 

In Christ, our King, we Take Heart! 

Photo by Alem Sanchez 

Meaningful Life

Do you want to live a meaningless or a meaningful life?  

I don't know about you but I want to live a meaningful life! 

However, I let the meaningless things in my life remain. 

What is meaningless ? 

(This is going to be different for everyone.) 

I had not thought about the meaningless things that fill my day. 

Constantly checking or scrolling on facebook? Meaningless. 

Holding on to a grudge or a past hurt? Meaningless. 

The stuff I own that I do not use? Meaningless. 

Gossiping? Meaningless. 

Speaking uncharitably about people is meaningless. 

Is it easy to do? Yes. 

Is it meaningful, no.  

“Life is about saying yes to the things that help you become the-best-version-of-yourself and no to the things that don’t.”

― Matthew Kelly

Fill the meaningless with something meaningful! 

What is meaningful? 

Saying 'yes' to Jesus instead of meaningless things.   

Spending time with the people I love and love me in return. 

Finding joy in serving others. 

I have been following Matthew Kelly's Best Lent Ever Program. 

The theme this Lent is Generosity. 

Being generous with my time, talent and treasure is meaningful. 

We have only one life, let's make it meaningful!