This morning I shared Morning prayer in the Magnificat with Pat, and then with John we did the office together before he went out to help Pat get ready to send out his steers and heifers today at 2P. I always have my ears perked as we pray as John has some amazing things to share in his prayer - most especially the intentions we pray for. Today he prayed for that in all we do that we can maintain our values and morals. He mentioned the play - All Shook Up!- that he has a part in this summer. "It can be a challenge to keep your morals high in the midst of theater." A very profound prayer and goal for any of us in our lives no matter what we are doing. I find this most challenging in my domestic Church/family - that I am probably at my worst with those I am the closest to. We let our guard down and struggle to be patient and kind and thoughtful and loving and caring and giving without counting the cost! Lord, as John prayed, help me to maintain my morals in the midst of my largest struggles and those parts that are of the world in many ways, such as a play where the entertainment might be of questionable natures.
Today in the Gospel Jesus tells us how we can carry forth our values and faith and morals..."The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name- he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you." Jesus to us today in John 14 Where do we find these words that come to life in us? In His Word, in Catholic Spiritual reading, in Prayer, in the beauty of the mass and the Sacraments, in the lives of the Saints, and their writings and examples of their stories... may we have a constant flow into our hearts, minds and souls which fill us and direct us in His Way, His Truth and His LIFE everlasting! There are vast riches - as vast as the ocean - which are there for us! May we daily fill our hearts, minds, and souls with all that is good and edifying and back off on some of the not so good things like TV and internet and off base reading... there is much that leads us into the darkness and sin also all around us and bombarding us.
There is much that can lead us on false paths on this journey - we see in the first reading that Paul heals a man that is lame from birth and they feel that he is a god that has come to earth and want to sacrifice to him... How often do we follow someone who does marvelous things in this world that make us worship the ground that they walk on? A famous personality or musician and their amoral behavior lead us to relativism and lack of Truth! We want to have what they have in their wealth and success.... when Jesus really calls us to be humble, die to self and to follow after Him! As Archbishop preached last weekend when the 3 Americans took their habits - "The habit is a reminder to others of our need for God... You change your name to indicate that you are espoused to Jesus as a member of The Community of the Lamb. This is counter cultural to follow the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. In this you are running into the arms of LOVE itself! You find the greatest of JOY of being loved by One Faithful and unconditional. This Love never grows weary. The Lamb revealing Love's supreme sacrifice is life changing." A most powerful sharing - how it makes me excited for Hallel's "yes" to her call to be His spouse, and long for a similar experience in my own life as a wife, mother and nursing home nurse. This morning John prayed for his sisters - those that are "shepherds to their children" and Hallel, who is a shepherd to many little ones in her life wearing the blue habit - "the color of the sky and the shape of the cross." Fr Jean Claude - their Franciscan Spiritual director
Jesus, may we stay strongly yours no matter what we face as hardships or misleading values bombarding us daily. May we leave self behind and allow the Holy Spirit to take all the good and pour it into our hearts, minds and souls daily through You in the Word! May that Truth we hear each day be a seed that takes root and grows and yields much fruit in our lives and jobs and homes and churches and farms and little ones we are raising as lights for the world! Jesus and Mary, save souls through our sharing your LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT. We come to You in prayer with every beat of our hearts and every breath that we take. Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen and Hallelujah
"From morning to night, every day of our lives, between the shores of our home, of our streets, of our encounters, flows the Word in which God seeks to dwell.
The phrase from the Lord that we picked up from the Gospel at Mass in the morning, or during a ride on the metro, or between two chores, or at night in our bed, should no more depart from us that we would depart from our life or our spirit.
It seeks to fructify (when I read this out loud this morning both Nancy and John asked what it was - I would say to bear fruit or be productive - true! I just googled it! Cool word to use right?), to transform, to renew the handshake we offer, the effort we apply to our task, the look we give to those we meet, the way we react to fatigue, the way we wince at pain, the way we blossom in joy."
Servant of God Madeleine Delbrel (1964) I think she is so great and on her road to sainthood as we are all called to do!
Therese found a cow in El Paso - Fort Bliss
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