Monday 7th Sunday of Easter

 

The Gift of Fortitude

There are so many things in life that tempt us to give in to anger, and revenge, to hold on to a hurt.

We need the Gift of Fortitude to hold firm to Love instead.

Anger, revenge and Hurt will try to storm the walls of our hearts and get in but we must hold firm and keep them out.

Come of Holy Spirit and give us the Gift of Fortitude,

To hold firm in the spiritual battles we face in our daily lives.

God Bless

The Ascension

 

The Fear of the Lord

Have you ever loved someone so much that you never wanted to hurt them?

That you would never want to say or do anything that would offend them?

Because they are the most important person in your life.

Love does that!

Love lays down its life for the Beloved.

Love lays down its own ego and personal desires

For the one it loves.

Love can do this because Love finds its fulfillment in Loving.

This is the Gift of the Fear of the Lord that Holy Spirit gives to those who Love Him.

The Fear of the Lord is when one is afraid to hurt the one they love.

And they would never dream of doing or saying anything that would because it would break their heart.

Do we have the Gift of the Fear of the Lord?

Do we Love God so much that we would never want to do or say anything that would offend the Lord because it would break our hearts if we did?

Do husbands and wives love each other so much that they would never want to do or say anything that would offend the other because it would break their hearts if they did?

And what about siblings and friends.

What a wonderful world this would be if we all had the Gift of the Fear of the Lord.

Jesus had all the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, because Jesus and the Holy Spirit were One!

So Jesus never wanted to do or say anything that would hurt or offend His Father.

As He said, “His food was to do the Will of the One who sent Him.” Jn. 4:34

Jesus always did whatever the Father asked Him so that the world would know that He loved the Father. Jn. 14:31

Does the world know that we Love the Father.

Do we Love the Father so much that we do anything He asks of us?

And would never want to offend Him?

This is the Fear of the Lord.

This is why Jesus ascended into Heaven.

Because He Loved His Father,

And nothing could keep Him from the One He Loved.

Friday 6th Week of Easter

 

Grief will become Joy Jn. 16:20-23

Nothing of value comes easy.

Hard work produces fruit

A woman in labor brings forth a child.

Faith that is tested brings Joy

Because Faith that is tested,

Realizes that nothing can defeat it.

That Even grief will become joy;

For every cross gives way to a resurrection

For those who have Faith.

Thursday 6th Week of Easter

 

Entered into Discussion Acts 18:1-8

Everywhere Paul went he ran into pagans and Jews who disagreed with him.

And what did he do?

He entered into discussions with them!

When we run into people who disagree with us,

Do we “enter in discussion” with them,

Or do we have an argument with them?

Discussions may seem to take longer to get anywhere,

But arguments always lead to nowhere!

Wednesday 6th Week of Easter

 

Worshipping an Unknown God Acts. 17:22-18:1

When Paul was preaching in Athens he saw how they claimed to be religious

but did not know what they were worshipping.

As they had an altar to an “Unknown God.”

Many people today claim to be religious and believe in God,

But do they really know God?

How well do we know God?

How well do we know Jesus?

Faith is not just going through the motions,

Or showing up for Church.

If it is then we too are praying to an “Unknown God.”

Tuesday 6th Week of Easter

 

Preaching the Gospel Acts. 16:22-34

Paul and Silas were attacked by a mob;

Stripped and beaten;

And thrown into jail.

Being a Christian will not always be easy.

People will ridicule us and think we are crazy.

And may even become violent.

What are we willing to endure for the sake of the Gospel

And our Faith in Jesus?

God Bless

6th Sunday of Easter

 

The Peace of Christ

The world claims to offer us Peace.

But where can we find it?

In Politics?

In our neighborhoods?

In Our Schools?

Between Nations?

The world thinks that if it gives you x ray machines at airports,

cameras on the city streets,

home security companies and

no gun zones at schools there will be Peace.

Does any of this make anyone feel "Peaceful?"

How many worries and anxieties steal our Peace of Mind?

Only Jesus offers True and Lasting Peace.

The disciples overcame their fear and came out from behind their locked doors,

After they received the Peace of the Risen Christ.

Every morning Mother Teresa faced thousands of homeless and dying in the streets of Calcutta,

She was was not overcome with worry and anxiety about what to do,

For she had the Peace of the Risen Christ.

St. Maximilian Kolbe was dying in the starvation bunker in Auschwitz,

But he was not overcome with fear or hatred towards his enemies,

For He had the Peace of the Risen Christ.

They all found Peace the world could not give nor take away.

A Peace that only comes from the Risen Christ.

We too can have that same Peace!

At every Mass, after the Our Father, Jesus offers us that same Peace.

Do we realize the unbelievable gift He is offering us?

Of does it just go over our heads as we go through the motions of Mass?

No matter where one is.

No matter what one is enduring.

No matter what one is lacking or suffering.

Those who have Christ have a Peace that endures it all.

A Peace that overcomes and conquers all.

A Peace the world simply does not have and cannot give!