Great Joy

This was an action packed weekend for everyone!  

So much to celebrate! 

Confirmation, grand march, hosting a bridal shower and first communion! 

I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said there weren't any doubts about how this weekend would unfold. 

All around there was so much going on but God made everything that needed to happen, happen!  

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

God blessed and made each moment beautiful and memorable.

The weekend was complete by celebrating my godson's first communion. 

"Seize the little things of everyday life, ordinary life. To be a saint it is not necessary to do great things, but only to do little things greatly." St. Rafael Arnaiz Baron 

I have total confidence that great things are in store for this kid! 

He takes up a great amount of space in my heart and always will.

It is with great joy to stand by this boy's side and to watch him receive Jesus in the Eucharist!

He has my whole heart! 

"Become a saint, a great saint!" St. Maximilian Kolbe 

 

Balance

How would you describe a balanced life? 

This question brought up some good discussion last night at my bible study.

No doubt, life would be better if it was more balanced. 

However, the problem with balancing is staying there and choosing not to move. 

Settling for less with what looks like more. 

Balance can be confused with perfection to gain comfort. 

Balance has come up before and a dear friend reminded me,

We are not made to have balanced lives.

Just like how the late Pope Benedict XVI reminded us that we are not made for comfort. 

Jesus did not have a balanced life.

There is nothing balanced about the Cross.

The Cross Jesus carried was not perfectly balanced but it was perfectly carried for what the world calls unbalanced.

 "According to Saint Teresa, we see that Christianity is much more than living commendable life. It is about knowing our true selves and recognizing that we are nothing apart from God. It is about breaking out of the smallness of our lives and conforming our will to His. It is about picking up our cross and being willing to follow in the footsteps of Christ." Teacher of Prayer - Teresa of Avila 

Painting by Erin McAtee 

Heart Doctor

My doctor appointments are scheduled every six months for Fall and Spring.

However, April is always the hardest month of the year. 

April brings back traumatic memories of heart failure. 

I never know what to expect from these Cardiac appointments.

Will it be a good appointment or a bad appointment?

Well this April I had to schedule two separate trips to Spokane because of scheduling with two doctors. 

The drive and appointment days are very tiresome.  

I was really dreading my first appointment last week.

This appointment wasn't fun but it went better than I thought. 

I thought I would be scheduling a date to replace my pacemaker but will plan on scheduling that in the Fall. 

The next appointment was for today. 

And guess what today is...

Today is St. Bernadette's Feast Day! 

I didn't plan that whatsoever. 

It was a great appointment with my Cardiologist. 

One of the best visits I've had and not just because I didn't receive bad news.

It was great because I knew my heart was in good hands. 

Not just the hands of my Cardiac doctor and Pacemaker doctor but in the hands of 

THE BEST HEART DOCTOR, GOD THE FATHER! 

Become Broken

I want to revisit this quote I used in my latest blog, 

"His abiding presence flowing and through our brokenness becomes a healing remedy to all we encounter. Individually and corporately we become the living Body of Christ, bringing the reality of Jesus' presence to a hungry and lonely world." 

Be Transformed - The Healing Power of the Sacraments by Bob Schuchts

The word "becomes" speaks to my heart today.

"Our brokenness becomes a healing." 

Sit with those words a moment.

We live in a very broken world that is in need of healing. 

Healing to become who God created us to be. 

"We become the living Body of Christ." 

In order to become we must first receive.

Receive the Body of Christ.

"The Church is not a museum of saints, but a hospital for sinners." St. Augustine 

We're all broken and in need of healing. 

Brokenness doesn't become healing without our consent. 

  Allowing our hearts to become broken makes us whole. 

Quote of the Day

"Therefore, my brother, scorned as you are by men, lashed as it were by God, do not despair. Do not be depressed. Do not let your weakness make you impatient. Instead, let the serenity of your spirit shine through your face. Let the joy of your mind burst forth. Let words of thanks break from your lips."

–St. Peter Damian

"Even if the healing doesn't come" are the lyrics but when I first heard the song growing up all I heard was "Healing doesn't come." I avoided this song. Today I share it with a smile on my face and sing 

"You are God You are good! Forever faithful One!

Even if the healing doesn't come!"

Take, Break and Give

I am reading this book "Be Transformed" with one of my bible study groups and the words that struck me are worth sharing. 

Allow these words about Our Eucharistic Lord to transform your heart.

Be Transformed - The Healing Power of the Sacraments by Bob Schuchts

"Jesus "takes us," "breaks us," and "gives us" so that we can participate in his holy self-offering. 

First, Jesus takes us and makes us an eternal offering to the Father, with himself. We are reminded that our lives do not belong to us. We were given to the Father in Baptism. Every time we celebrate Holy Communion, we are invited to reaffirm the reality that we are one with Jesus and an integral part of his body, the Church. 

After taking us into his hands, Jesus then blesses us. Blessing, as we have already noted, is receiving the presence and grace of God in our lives. When we receive him in Holy Communion, Jesus sanctifies us and makes us holy. We in turn bless him with our praise and thanksgiving (CCC 1078). In the Eucharist, which literally means "great thanksgiving," we become a thanksgiving offering in communion with Jesus. He blesses us so that we can share his presence with others. But first we need to be broken.

Following the blessing, Jesus breaks us. This is the part most of us want to avoid. I can personally testify. The breaking process is not always easy or fun, but neither was the cross for Jesus. Without the breaking of our pride and sufficiency, we cannot have unity or true communion with Jesus or one another.

 Finally, after Jesus takes us, blesses us, and breaks us, he gives us as a gift to the Father for the good of others. His abiding presence flowing and through our brokenness becomes a healing remedy to all we encounter. Individually and corporately we become the living Body of Christ, bringing the reality of Jesus' presence to a hungry and lonely world. Taking, blessing, breaking and giving - this is what it means for us to authentically celebrate Holy Communion with Jesus."    

Drawing by Erin McAtee 

Merciful Side

On this Divine Mercy Sunday, I had the opportunity to go to confession.

Part of my penance was to give glory and thanks. 

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting. Psalm 136 

I give thanks for His divine love and mercy! 

"Put your finger here and see my hands, 

and bring your hand and put it into my side,

and do not be unbelieving, but believe."

Thomas answered and said to him, 

"My Lord and my God!" 

John 20:27 

Jesus, thank you for staying by my side. 

O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty yourself out upon us. O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in you!

His mercy endures forever. Psalm 136 

Put your hand in my side 

Watercolor by Erin K. McAtee 

Easter 2024

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen." Luke 24:5

Happy Easter! 

Christ is risen! 

I love Easter! 

Easter brings new life and gives us hope.

The Easter Vigil begins at sun down. 

It begins with candle light coming into the darkness. 

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it." John 1:5

Glory to God for His Resurrection and Life! 

Glory to God for sharing His light! 

"Even the darkness is not dark to you;

the night is as bright as the day,

for darkness is as light to you."

Psalm 139:12 

God's light shined at the Easter Vigil in an extra special way this year. 

We celebrated my future brother-in-law coming into the Catholic Church. 

God's light continues to shine through you, Dalton.

Your Easter joy and faith are a true witness to our Risen Lord!

Alleluia! 

St. Michael and St Benedict, pray for us! 

Painting by Erin K. McAtee