Why do we hold onto our sins so much more easily and tenaciously than we do to our morals and values in LIFE? The things that hurt us are always lurking on the edges and beseeching us away from the good we want to do. I guess that is why we look at our journey as narrow, and winding, and uphill... as we climb the mountain of God to the Holy City/Heaven/The Lamb and His Bride/The Church! It is a constant annoying yet dangerous battle that we are engaged in within ourselves and within this world of darkness. A friend today on FB was asking about getting back into the dating scene, and how she should go about it other than "sites." It shot a bolt of fear though me thinking about the things you are opening yourself up to when you put yourself out there like that. I have watched my kids approach dating and looking for a spouse with great strength and dignity! They have saved themselves for marriage, and looked for a man of strong Catholic faith, and loving towards LIFE and open to that in their marriage! John is now out of the seminary for this next year, and yet he is not overly interested in looking for a woman to date. "I might go back in and I just want to concentrate of seeing where the Lord wants me to work and check out what life holds for me. I went from high school, to college, to cancer, and then back to college, and then seminary... I need to just have a life outside of all that to truly discern where the Lord wants me to be." It was super exciting to listen to him having a conversation on the phone with an old high school friend last night and to hear how he has gained knowledge and confidence in sharing his faith with others in the last year. He was speaking of Our Lady and her ability to take our needs to her Son - "She told him to make that wine at the Feast of Cana... she will take our needs to HIM and tell HIM our needs - "Whatever he tells you do it!" she told the servants - us!
Our house was only empty for one night between having the two precious little ones here, and now John is home as he looks around for what he is needing to do for the next year of getting out into the world of day to day work and daily life. It was very nice to share morning prayer this morning - the Magnificat with Pat and the office with John! Wow! That is getting off to a great start, and such a strong reminder of those morals and values that should be the center of my LIFE rather than those weaknesses and sins that are so easy to give in to. I love that our house is always welcoming to our family and that they come and go often and when there is a need. Tomorrow I will be having Ruth's kids while she goes to get her heart checked out in Sioux Falls. There seems to be something going on that is not right, and with the baby's safety involved there is even more concern for the two of them! Tomorrow at 2:30p please send up a prayer for them. We just need to be reaasured that they are not in harm's way, and that this is not a forewarning of something else.
Today in the Gospel are the powerful words of Jesus telling us that if some part of our body causes us to sin - we should cut it off and get rid of it! Better to go to Heaven crippled than to go to Hell with both feet... I think of John asking for Faith, half heartedly, and then getting struck with brain cancer and finding his faith as a "new John" crippled and unable to walk on his own after his brain biopsy left him without the ability to walk on his own! For the story of this you can read it all on the page I devoted to John's cancer journey/stories - http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html
Jesus, may we take to heart your words this day - reminding us that those things and "parts of us" that cause us to sin should be cut off and thrown far away from us! May we take this to heart and truly resist temptations that swirl around us each day! May we take those times of sin and lay them at your loving and forgiving feet in the confessional. Freed from the weight of sin - may we make every effort to hold onto The Truth of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT which we find in the Wisdom/Holy Spirit that dwells within us. May we look to YOU in your sacraments, and The Word of God! May we find the strength to put on the armor of God and fight the battle for our eternal soul! May we go limping into Heaven, O Lord. As we rid ourselves of those parts of us that pull us away from YOU and our LIFE in your Truth! "For when he first sees you seeking after him, and how you are totally waiting expectantly without ceasing for him, he then teaches and gives you true prayer, genuine love, which is himself made all things in you: paradise, tree of life,pearl, crown, builder, cultivator, sufferer, one capable of suffering, man, God, living water, lamb, bridegroom, warrior, armor, Christ, all in all." Pseudo-Macarius (390) Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen and Halleluia
Bless-bless, Barb
New International Version (NIV)
The Armor of God - Ephesians 6
10 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."
Finally a picture of Patrick today in Texas - borrowed from Maria's blog! He is 7 1/2 months and just went into 18 month clothes - Big and healthy and a miracle to for our eyes, hearts, minds, and souls to behold! Lord, we thank thee!
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