Continue reading »]]> Day 71, Luke 24

PRAISE THE LORD!!  ALLELUIA HE IS RISEN!!!! 

We are on the second day of praying and reading this chapter! Add any new insights!

Happy Easter everyone!  And congratulations on completing 71 days with Jesus!

Today we complete the Gospel according to Luke!  Now finished Matthew, Mark and Luke!

Today we rejoice because the Lord the most High God has accomplished the victory and we all enter into that VICTORY over SIN and DEATH!

I see three uplifting points in this FINAL chapter:

1. Peter’s Faith
2. Hearts Burning
3. Peace be with YOU

1- Peter’s Faith

I love the different accounts of the Resurrection Narratives!  They each have the same truth but different perspectives and we can receive so much from them!

What I loved about Luke’s is that we read that the women after seeing the two men — in dazzling garments — heavenly – because it reminds us of the transfiguration —

returned home from the tomb and announce all these things to the eleven — the apostles minus Judas –

and we read that their story seemed like…

Nonsense, and they did not believe them.

So that is it — Jesus had told them what was to happen but they did not believe — these holy women of God —

BUT — we see one of the biggest BUTS in the bible — there are a few –

BUT PETER — go Peter!!!!

BUT PETER GOT UP and RAN TO THE TOMB!!!! 

Peter who had suffered since Thursday night but especially Friday when the cock crowed — it had been over 24 hours and he had a chance to really reflect on what he had done -

- how he had denied the Lord and he must have been praying all this time and ready to turn around at the proper time!

He went running to Jesus!

He got to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home

AMAZED at what had happened!

This reminds me of the verses — I will turn you sorrow into JOY! 

Peter must have felt so much joy knowing that the Lord had done what He said He would do –

I am sure he had questions but in his heart he must have known that Jesus was up to His plan!

It was now a matter of heart to believe…

speaking of hearts…

2- Hearts Burning

Before Jesus appears to the apostles we read that on that very day two of them — meaning apostles were going to a village seven miles — interesting that it was seven miles!

Then while they were conversing and debating Jesus draw near!!

 When Jesus appeared to them they did not recognize Him!!  They told Him the whole story!!

Do you ever tell Jesus YOUR WHOLE STORY — over and over — like He doesn’t know — well it must be because you/we don’t recognize Him!  This was a big insight for me!!

They even say that on the third day!!!  On the third day is today!  We were really hoping that He would redeem Israel!

What does Jesus say… OH HOW FOOLISH YOU ARE!

HOW SLOW OF HEART TO BELIEVE ALL THAT THE PROPHETS SPOKE!

WAS IT NOT NECESSARY THAT THE MESSIAH SHOULD SUFFER THESE THINGS AND ENTER INTO HIS GLORY?

Can you imagine the patience of our Savior?!!!!  After all He went through –

but here we see Jesus the Master risen from the dead still teaching as He still teaches today — and interpreting the scriptures!!!

Here we see next that He interprets the WORD –

“Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.”

So here we have evidence of the fact — as the Catholic Church teaches that JESUS the ETERNAL WORD is present throughout all the scriptures — old and new testament!

And then we see that their eyes were opened when?

When He breaks the  bread and says the blessing — the  MASS!!!

Our eyes are opened and we recognize Jesus at every Mass — and we leave there transformed as these apostles did —  as they say,

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?”

This is also the reason why we have liturgy of WORD and then liturgy of EUCHARIST — the Word prepares us by the Power of the Holy Spirit to receive JESUS our LORD in the EUCHARIST!

When these two apostles returned — so excited I am sure — they found out that Jesus had already appeared to Simon — Peter!  HOW AMAZING!!

Peter had his meeting with Jesus — and they told everyone about there encouter with Jesus in the breaking of the bread –

3- Peace be with YOU

While they were all still speaking about this Jesus appears to them all at once -

I think that when two are more are gathered together in His name — there He is in their midst — this is the word of God — in another place in scripture but we see it happening here up close and personal!

Jesus says “Peace be with YOU” because He knows that they are troubled…

He says — “Why are you troubled?  And why do questions arise in your hearts?

Once again Jesus refers to the Word of God and how He fulfilled it –

He speaks of the Law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms!! Interesting that He mentions the Psalms too!!!  Most people don’t realize that Jesus is all over the Psalms!

Then we see Jesus open their minds to understand the scriptures!!!

After all they went through for three years of training — the passion and resurrection and now Jesus must open their minds to the scriptures!

So you see that it is a great grace to understand the scriptures!!!  Only Jesus can do that for us by the Power of the Holy Spirit -

– now the apostles hadn’t received the Holy Spirit yet and Jesus refers to this event and that they are to pray until the promise of the Father sends them the Power from on high which will cloth them!

This is our example and this is why He had to leave them — and so we see the Ascension!

A lot to go through in one day — no wonder Jesus had to say PEACE BE WITH YOU!

We will spend two days on this chapter as well — so much here –and then we will start John on Tuesday!!  WHooo hoooo! 

Many Congratulations!  Happy Easter!  HE IS RISEN and HE IS ALIVE!!  REJOICE!

This feast of Easter now lasts — in the MASS for eight days I believe — so it is ONE MASS all week long — very cool!!!

Let us thank God for the gift of Easter!!

Praise Jesus for the WORD and His love and teaching!

God bless you all!

Continue reading »]]> Day 70, Luke 24

PRAISE THE LORD!!  ALLELUIA HE IS RISEN!!!! 

Happy Easter everyone!  And congratulations on completing 70 days with Jesus!

Today we complete the Gospel according to Luke!  Now finished Matthew, Mark and Luke!

Today we rejoice because the Lord the most High God has accomplished the victory and we all enter into that VICTORY over SIN and DEATH!

I went to the Easter Vigil tonight and was so excited to see the Gospel of Luke 24 as the reading!!!

I see three uplifting points in this FINAL chapter:

1. Peter’s Faith
2. Hearts Burning
3. Peace be with YOU

1- Peter’s Faith

I love the different accounts of the Resurrection Narratives!  They each have the same truth but different perspectives and we can receive so much from them!

What I loved about Luke’s is that we read that the women after seeing the two men — in dazzling garments — heavenly – because it reminds us of the transfiguration —

returned home from the tomb and announce all these things to the eleven — the apostles minus Judas –

and we read that their story seemed like…

Nonsense, and they did not believe them.

So that is it — Jesus had told them what was to happen but they did not believe — these holy women of God —

BUT — we see one of the biggest BUTS in the bible — there are a few –

BUT PETER — go Peter!!!!

BUT PETER GOT UP and RAN TO THE TOMB!!!! 

Peter who had suffered since Thursday night but especially Friday when the cock crowed — it had been over 24 hours and he had a chance to really reflect on what he had done -

- how he had denied the Lord and he must have been praying all this time and ready to turn around at the proper time!

He went running to Jesus!

He got to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home

AMAZED at what had happened!

This reminds me of the verses — I will turn you sorrow into JOY! 

Peter must have felt so much joy knowing that the Lord had done what He said He would do –

I am sure he had questions but in his heart he must have known that Jesus was up to His plan!

It was now a matter of heart to believe…

speaking of hearts…

2- Hearts Burning

Before Jesus appears to the apostles we read that on that very day two of them — meaning apostles were going to a village seven miles — interesting that it was seven miles!

Then while they were conversing and debating Jesus draw near!!

 When Jesus appeared to them they did not recognize Him!!  They told Him the whole story!!

Do you ever tell Jesus YOUR WHOLE STORY — over and over — like He doesn’t know — well it must be because you/we don’t recognize Him!  This was a big insight for me!!

They even say that on the third day!!!  On the third day is today!  We were really hoping that He would redeem Israel!

What does Jesus say… OH HOW FOOLISH YOU ARE!

HOW SLOW OF HEART TO BELIEVE ALL THAT THE PROPHETS SPOKE!

WAS IT NOT NECESSARY THAT THE MESSIAH SHOULD SUFFER THESE THINGS AND ENTER INTO HIS GLORY?

Can you imagine the patience of our Savior?!!!!  After all He went through –

but here we see Jesus the Master risen from the dead still teaching as He still teaches today — and interpreting the scriptures!!!

Here we see next that He interprets the WORD –

“Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.”

So here we have evidence of the fact — as the Catholic Church teaches that JESUS the ETERNAL WORD is present throughout all the scriptures — old and new testament!

And then we see that their eyes were opened when?

When He breaks the  bread and says the blessing — the  MASS!!!

Our eyes are opened and we recognize Jesus at every Mass — and we leave there transformed as these apostles did —  as they say,

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?”

This is also the reason why we have liturgy of WORD and then liturgy of EUCHARIST — the Word prepares us by the Power of the Holy Spirit to receive JESUS our LORD in the EUCHARIST!

When these two apostles returned — so excited I am sure — they found out that Jesus had already appeared to Simon — Peter!  HOW AMAZING!!

Peter had his meeting with Jesus — and they told everyone about there encouter with Jesus in the breaking of the bread –

3- Peace be with YOU

While they were all still speaking about this Jesus appears to them all at once -

I think that when two are more are gathered together in His name — there He is in their midst — this is the word of God — in another place in scripture but we see it happening here up close and personal!

Jesus says “Peace be with YOU” because He knows that they are troubled…

He says — “Why are you troubled?  And why do questions arise in your hearts?

Once again Jesus refers to the Word of God and how He fulfilled it –

He speaks of the Law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms!! Interesting that He mentions the Psalms too!!!  Most people don’t realize that Jesus is all over the Psalms!

Then we see Jesus open their minds to understand the scriptures!!!

After all they went through for three years of training — the passion and resurrection and now Jesus must open their minds to the scriptures!

So you see that it is a great grace to understand the scriptures!!!  Only Jesus can do that for us by the Power of the Holy Spirit -

– now the apostles hadn’t received the Holy Spirit yet and Jesus refers to this event and that they are to pray until the promise of the Father sends them the Power from on high which will cloth them!

This is our example and this is why He had to leave them — and so we see the Ascension!

A lot to go through in one day — no wonder Jesus had to say PEACE BE WITH YOU!

We will spend two days on this chapter as well — so much here –and then we will start John on Tuesday!!  WHooo hoooo! 

Many Congratulations!  Happy Easter!  HE IS RISEN and HE IS ALIVE!!  REJOICE!

This feast of Easter now lasts — in the MASS for eight days I believe — so it is ONE MASS all week long — very cool!!!

Let us thank God for the gift of Easter!!

Praise Jesus for the WORD and His love and teaching!

God bless you all!

Continue reading »]]> Day 69, Luke 23

Today is Holy Saturday!  Jesus is in the tomb and this is the one day of the year that there is not Mass — there is no Jesus!

It is a cold day and yet one of great hope and grace!  Grace grace grace — is the answer —

Make a plan today to be solemn and to refrain from a lot of activity!  A lot happens spiritually today — so pray for hope at a time when all looks like the worst has just taken place!!!

Imagine the Blessed Mother and how she is feeling today — all the apostles and the women who were shaken by not only the earthquake that took place but how this earthquake went beyond destroying the temple and tearing the veil in two –

So much just took place on Holy Thursday and Good Friday that Our Lord gives us Holy Saturday to contemplate and take it all in!!!  While nothing seems to be happening — alot happens — Jesus is accomplishing salvation and making a way for His return!

Make sure to day to be silent and not to engage in the world if you can help it — remember that distractions will come up — we have to prepare ahead of time for the kind of day we want to have!

Do the best you can to stay focused on Christ today — in the evening there will be the Easter Vigil– a great great fired up Holy Mass!!!  Saturday will go fast enough so make the most of the time Jesus is giving us to remember –  only comes once a year!!

We are on Chapter 23 again — reflecting on the chapter again today I had a few more thoughts…

How Simon of Cyrene didn’t really want to carry the cross — but he did and was blessed!  I think sometimes things happen that we don’t see as blessings or crosses –maybe we even thing that we caused our own cross — so it can’t be blessed or in God’s plan!

Well we all will be Simon at times — not really wanted to carry the cross but doing it for the love of God!  That is the way to Jesus!  To embrace the cross!

I was also taken by the Pharisees — and how they wanted the blood of Jesus!!  At any cost — specifically the silver they paid Judas — How they mocked Jesus while on the cross — real courage to beat a man when he is down!

 Chapter 22 was part I of the Passion Narrative — and Chapter 23 is part II  So again we see…

It is all in there!!!

I see three crucial points to look at this chapter:

1. Your Enemy’s Your Friends
2. Daughters of Jerusalem
3. The Cross

1- Your Enemy Your Friend

Ok so I am fired up because I love when you find something in Scripture that you’ve never found before!

Here it is!

Pilate finds nothing wrong with this man! 

Here are the charges of the Pharisees listed for us to see exactly why Jesus was condemned…

We found this MAN misleading our people…

He opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar…

and Maintains that he is Messiah, a KING!

There we have it in black and white!!!

So for them it is about money and POWER – I find it hard to believe that any man who came as Messiah would be the real one!  They didn’t want any one else in power — seems that way anyway!

When Pilate asks Jesus is if He is King of the Jews, Jesus says “YOU say so”

Pilate finds nothing wrong…..

And he sends him to his former enemy Herod!

Herod is eagerly awaiting Jesus and wants to see a sign – a miracle!

Herod and his soldiers treat Jesus horribly of course and dress him in “resplendent garb” and send  him back to Pilate….

Jesus never answers Herod and Herod also finds nothing wrong with the man…

and so here it is…

“HEROD AND PILATE BECAME FRIENDS THAT VERY DAY even though they had been ENEMIES FORMERLY!”

Isn’t that amazing!!! So Pilate and Herod were enemies!!!!  Today on Good Friday Friends!

Friends because they agreed that Jesus was innocent!  Maybe Pilate was happy that someone else supported not killing Jesus and so he could skip out of it!

I think the spiritual significance for us — when you are for Jesus you become great friends — your enemies become your friends! 

I have friends in Christ that are like family!!!  It’s crazy — the close connection in Christ!

I am just amazed that we read this — so much significance here — if we can forgive our enemies and pray for them — so many blessings are available…

I remember reading about loving our enemies when I first came to Christ and thought that we must love our enemies— tomorrow they could convert to Christ and be forgiven for all they’ve done to us– where would that leave me?

If Christ forgives them so must I!!!  Don’t waste any time — forgive today == especially today!

2- Daughters of Jerusalem

I am always amazed by the way Jesus tells those women weeping — while he is walking with the cross not to weep for Him but for their children!

It is all about focus here — we don’t focus today on the fact that Jesus is being beaten and wounded alone — but that He did this for the sins of the world –

Jesus here is directed our prayer — leading us to pray — not to look at the misery in our lives and in the world and just cry!!!!  Just worry!!! 

I here people see misfortune and say “OH THAT IS SO SAD!”  Great but what are you doing about it… there is redemption in everything that happens in this world!

WE are to be moved to pray — especially today— walk with Jesus in your heart at every hour today — 9am He is walking with the cross — 12 noon He is nailed to the cross — 3pm He dies!!!

Every day we can unite our suffering to these hours — and nothing is wasted!

We thank Jesus for His suffering for us and we go there with Him — because no one but His mother was there for Him — and a few friends — all left and abandoned Him at His hour!

PRAY for your children and the children of the world!!!  Bring many souls to Christ through the horror you see in the world — but don’t just weep about it!

3- The Cross

My favorite prayer at this time is JESUS REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM! 

Jesus forgives even while nailed to a tree!!  And receives this prayer and answers it..

“Amen, I say to you today you will be with me in Paradise!”

In our suffering we are to forgive and pray and offer any wrong doings to the Lord!

This is probably one of the biggest stumbling blocks to Christianity— one of the biggest reasons that I see people not coming to Christ! 

Jesus remember me — and remember all those who don’t know you this day!!!

Jesus asked us to remember Him in the memorial of His body and blood — the HOLY EUCHARIST!

Remember for us is to make present!  Jesus remembers us as we remember Him!

Anyone , he said, who does the least for my brother — he did it for me!  Jesus remembers…

Anyone, who acknowledges me before man — I will acknowledge Him before my heavenly Father!

Make Jesus memorial of suffering — His suffering for salvation remembered in your heart some way today!

Hoping that you can be at a Good Friday Service at 3pm — or a Stations of the Cross in the Evening — don’t waste this time to pray and watch!!

It says in this chapter that those who condemned Him were at the cross screaming out at him and telling him to prove that He is the Son of God — THEY WATCHED — it says –

Let us do the WATCH Jesus was calling for — not the watch that allows the enemy to enter in — but the guarding watch –

Let us be like the Centurion here who as a witness to what happened — glorified God and said,

“This man was innocent beyond doubt!”

And so let us go to the cross today and offer Jesus all our sinfulness — and let us leave all our burdens and sufferings in the tomb!!!

Make sure to share new thoughts or the same thoughts!!

Today we were able to pray and watch the Passion of the Christ movie — then go right to 3pm Good Friday service — then to visit the shroud of Turin and Confession on Good Friday — totaly awesome!

Then we ended up at Stations of the Cross Procession at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary with Cardinal Justin Regali!  It was so beautiful!!

I was praying that you all had a great Good Friday reflection and conversion –

God bless you all!!!

Continue reading »]]> Day 68, Luke 23

Today is Good Friday!  I write this after midnight — I am keeping vigil tonight — at this point Jesus was just arrested and so it begins!  I just can’t understand what that must have been like– I mean if you watch the Passion of the Christ it was basically unbearable treatment right from the start!  I don’t know how any human being could undergo that kind of treatment!

Grace grace grace — is the answer — this is our example!  Jesus free from sin — became sin for us so that we could be free from our sin and continue to do so —

Do you see now why we must frequent the sacrament of Confession and continually hand over our sin — this is the Sacrament of Mercy and the reason He died for us —

And today in our Chapter we see Jesus walking in procession too!  He is walking with His cross of suffering for all our sins!

Chapter 22 was part I of the Passion Narrative — and Chapter 23 is part II  So again we see…

It is all in there!!!

I see three crucial points to look at this chapter:

1. Your Enemy’s Your Friends
2. Daughters of Jerusalem
3. The Cross

1- Your Enemy Your Friend

Ok so I am fired up because I love when you find something in Scripture that you’ve never found before!

Here it is!

Pilate finds nothing wrong with this man! 

Here are the charges of the Pharisees listed for us to see exactly why Jesus was condemned…

We found this MAN misleading our people…

He opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar…

and Maintains that he is Messiah, a KING!

There we have it in black and white!!!

So for them it is about money and POWER – I find it hard to believe that any man who came as Messiah would be the real one!  They didn’t want any one else in power — seems that way anyway!

When Pilate asks Jesus is if He is King of the Jews, Jesus says “YOU say so”

Pilate finds nothing wrong…..

And he sends him to his former enemy Herod!

Herod is eagerly awaiting Jesus and wants to see a sign – a miracle!

Herod and his soldiers treat Jesus horribly of course and dress him in “resplendent garb” and send  him back to Pilate….

Jesus never answers Herod and Herod also finds nothing wrong with the man…

and so here it is…

“HEROD AND PILATE BECAME FRIENDS THAT VERY DAY even though they had been ENEMIES FORMERLY!”

Isn’t that amazing!!! So Pilate and Herod were enemies!!!!  Today on Good Friday Friends!

Friends because they agreed that Jesus was innocent!  Maybe Pilate was happy that someone else supported not killing Jesus and so he could skip out of it!

I think the spiritual significance for us — when you are for Jesus you become great friends — your enemies become your friends! 

I have friends in Christ that are like family!!!  It’s crazy — the close connection in Christ!

I am just amazed that we read this — so much significance here — if we can forgive our enemies and pray for them — so many blessings are available…

I remember reading about loving our enemies when I first came to Christ and thought that we must love our enemies— tomorrow they could convert to Christ and be forgiven for all they’ve done to us– where would that leave me?

If Christ forgives them so must I!!!  Don’t waste any time — forgive today == especially today!

2- Daughters of Jerusalem

I am always amazed by the way Jesus tells those women weeping — while he is walking with the cross not to weep for Him but for their children!

It is all about focus here — we don’t focus today on the fact that Jesus is being beaten and wounded alone — but that He did this for the sins of the world –

Jesus here is directed our prayer — leading us to pray — not to look at the misery in our lives and in the world and just cry!!!!  Just worry!!! 

I here people see misfortune and say “OH THAT IS SO SAD!”  Great but what are you doing about it… there is redemption in everything that happens in this world!

WE are to be moved to pray — especially today— walk with Jesus in your heart at every hour today — 9am He is walking with the cross — 12 noon He is nailed to the cross — 3pm He dies!!!

Every day we can unite our suffering to these hours — and nothing is wasted!

We thank Jesus for His suffering for us and we go there with Him — because no one but His mother was there for Him — and a few friends — all left and abandoned Him at His hour!

PRAY for your children and the children of the world!!!  Bring many souls to Christ through the horror you see in the world — but don’t just weep about it!

3- The Cross

My favorite prayer at this time is JESUS REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM! 

Jesus forgives even while nailed to a tree!!  And receives this prayer and answers it..

“Amen, I say to you today you will be with me in Paradise!”

In our suffering we are to forgive and pray and offer any wrong doings to the Lord!

This is probably one of the biggest stumbling blocks to Christianity— one of the biggest reasons that I see people not coming to Christ! 

Jesus remember me — and remember all those who don’t know you this day!!!

Jesus asked us to remember Him in the memorial of His body and blood — the HOLY EUCHARIST!

Remember for us is to make present!  Jesus remembers us as we remember Him!

Anyone , he said, who does the least for my brother — he did it for me!  Jesus remembers…

Anyone, who acknowledges me before man — I will acknowledge Him before my heavenly Father!

Make Jesus memorial of suffering — His suffering for salvation remembered in your heart some way today!

Hoping that you can be at a Good Friday Service at 3pm — or a Stations of the Cross in the Evening — don’t waste this time to pray and watch!!

It says in this chapter that those who condemned Him were at the cross screaming out at him and telling him to prove that He is the Son of God — THEY WATCHED — it says –

Let us do the WATCH Jesus was calling for — not the watch that allows the enemy to enter in — but the guarding watch –

Let us be like the Centurion here who as a witness to what happened — glorified God and said,

“This man was innocent beyond doubt!”

And so let us go to the cross today and offer Jesus all our sinfulness — and let us leave all our burdens and sufferings at the cross!!!

WE will study this again for tomorrow — there is so much more and I am sure we can share the next two days on what is touching our hearts as we go to the cross today — we must stay in prayer through tomorrow — Saturday — the tomb — HOLY DAY —

God bless you all!!!

Continue reading »]]> Day 67, Luke 22

Good Day Everyone!  Here we are on HOLY THURSDAY!

By the time you read this I will have gone to the Basilica in Philadelphia – St. Peter and Paul and will be with the Arch bishop — the Cardinal and All Priests of the Archdiocese for the Chrism Mass!

Get Fired UP — what a Mass to witness that sea of Men in the Army of God!

I love it!

I mentioned yesterday that I would post the same chapter again today so that we will be right in line with what is happening liturgically!  This is an incredible experience to be right where Jesus is!

So please read again — pray about what else the Lord might show you and post new thoughts!

I will do the same — I will tell you right away — that I heard Father Bill Halbing preach on this today and he said that the three denials of Peter represented the three times that Jesus told him to watch — or rather Jesus told Peter three times to wake up and watch — and for each time he didn’t get up Peter denied Him!

So the point is that if we don’t have a watchful vigilant prayer life — when our faith is shaken we fall away!  Everyone does!

Also I got in prayer today to really focus and WATCH what is going on over the next three days in the church.  We learn about Jesus by knowing Him — experiencing Him — Jesus allows us to know and understand Him intimately during the Mass –

So WATCH and listen and experience the next few days — take it all in — and it will transform you!

Tonight — go to Holy Thursday night service — the washing of the feet and Last Supper Mass — really listen to the words and try to see Jesus in the priest!  The priests recommit themselves and the oils are blessed and it is a renewal of the Priestly ministry — pray for priests today and the Eucharistic Lord!

Pray in thanksgiving for the Eucharist at the Last Supper Celebration!

Ok I’ll write more later…. pray, read and seek… and post your thoughts!  God bless!

I see three overflowing points:

1. Satan Entered In
2. The HOUR of Suffering
3. Why are YOU Sleeping?

1- Satan Entered In

 So first key to realize is that as soon as we get to the Passion Narrative we see Satan enters in!  We have to be mindful and watch — because the passion always means redemption and salvation and what does Satan want — death and destruction!

So we first of all have to know that when it comes to entering into the passion, where we find true blessing for our lives and those in the world that we are going to be tempted by Satan and he will enter in… how?

He enters into our thinking — into our plans and decisions — into the minds and hearts of others close to us so that they will give us some advice or offer to lead us into another direction when God’s will is right in front of us!

He will distract us through others and He knows exactly what would hurt the most — what wound you have — what past sins you have to dangle in front of you!!!

He will tell you that you are not worthy — that  you are not strong enough — that you are not good enough — basically that YOU ARE NOT ENOUGH!!!!

But guess what — You are not enough alone — but see HIS GRACE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH!!!

Satan is ALONE!!!  ALL ALL ALONE!!!  NOT US!

We are NEVER ALONE!!!  This makes Satan furious!!  So he plays with our minds because he knows that there is a playing field that he can get into and take you off course -

- your ship is heading toward Jesus — Satan messes up the direction and your whole boat moves and changes direction!

Satan will make you rationalize!!!  And he always leads with fear!!!  So here we see Satan entering into Judas –

Why? Because he was allowed to enter — Judas had a thing about the money — didn’t like when the alabaster jar was broken and the waste of that precious money…

Now here Judas was offered money to “Hand Jesus Over” .

Judas had what they were looking for — a way to arrest Jesus without the crowd looking on — a way to accomplish this in darkness without anyone knowing what they were doing —

Don’t we also sin in darkness –

- think of the man or woman who commits adultery — isn’t that done usually in secret — a trade for apparent goods -needs they have-

- what two people think is good but is really death and destruction for them and also for others…

or what about Gossip — that is not done in front of the person being discussed — it is birthed out of anger, jealously, envy, pride –

- feels good to get that off your chest and tell someone — but with a good conscience you should feel bad pretty soon after the deed is done!

WE can learn alot here about what happens — as soon as you enter into a work that has souls attached to it you will come across difficulties and temptation –

that work would be living the Gospel every day and following the commandments —not some huge special work — day to day Christian living —

 and so you have to listen to Jesus’ words to Peter — YOU are thinking as humans do not as God does!!

Resist the devil and He will flee as St James tells us!!!  And be the vigilant and faithful servants that were prepared with loins girded ( mind guarded with belt of truth) and with lamps lit (the fire of the Holy Spirit) and wait and watch for the Master to come and knock -

- DO NOT LET THE Enemy in!  You do not know the HOUR — so be prepared!

2- The HOUR of Suffering

There is something very significant about the HOUR — Jesus says to the Blessed Mother –my hour has not yet come — and you see now that He is referring to when He would make water turn into wine — when He would make all things new!

We see at the last supper it reads…

“When the HOUR came, He took His place at table with the apostles”

Jesus says… “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer…

for I tell you, I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

Have you ever tried to fast — not eat for a day — and you are doing well all day but by 3pm you really start getting hungry — and maybe you even pray — God help me not to eat this food — I really wanted to fast all day and do it for the salvation of souls —

However in that fast was a test — to see if you really could do it — and you are able to see how strong you are -or how weak you are- and see the grace you have received — but only when you step out in faith and try!

Well this was Jesus in the HOUR when His mission of redemption and the salvation of souls took place — He ate — and then there was not to be this meal or the cup of the fruit of the vine until salvation was complete –

So what is happening in that HOUR in the Garden — the Agony — Jesus being crushed — placed on Him was now the sins of the WORLD!!!

IF Jesus drinks the cup — then it is over — He won’t get to the cross — and so He prays that it be God’s will that the cup can pass and He can go to Calvary –

Many people think that Jesus was being human at that point — He was showing us that we are going to have moments like that -

- NO — Jesus was showing us that we are going to have moments when we pray that we can handle the suffering to go all the way and offer it for the sins of the world — and we might not have the strength to follow through —

Did you see the angel there to strengthen Him — that is the example to pray for our angels to be at our sides —  I mean we have been given all we need!  And Jesus’ great example….

…to stay in that spiritual place where we continue in God’s grace to follow Him and not abandon our crosses when the going gets tough!  Jesus is our example to keep praying to go all the way to Calvary when your HOUR of suffering comes!

NO HOUR of Suffering no HOUR of GLORY!!  NO pain no gain!!  Just as in the natural — so much more in the spiritual!

THE HOUR — this only happens where we can be like Jesus and ask to go all the way with God — when we are prepared for the HOUR!!  How do we prepare?

WE make HOLY HOURS!!  We as Catholics should really be praying at least ONE HOUR a day!  That can be scriptures for 20 min to 1/2 hour — rosary — silence — devotional prayer –

Every time we pray an hour we prepare for the HOUR when Jesus suffering comes to us for salvation of souls — the Hour of death — is a great hour of suffering that we must be prepared for — and we too like Jesus can say that we don’t want to eat or drink again until we enter the kingdom of God and enjoy it in the Kingdom –

that by the way is how many worldly ways can be put aside — knowing that you will have more than what you have given up in the Kingdom of God — that is redemptive sacrifice!

Now one last thing about this — a good priest reminded me one day when I was suffering and being tested and tempted to think as humans do — big time—

He told me about the story of JOB in the Old Testament — but not just the story — what happens in the first three chapters… that Satan says to God..

Well first God says… in Job 1:8

“Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?”

THEN Satan says to God…

“Is it for nothing that Job is God – fearing? Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? Put forth your hand and touch anything that he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face.”

So God allows Satan to do whatever he wants to tempt Job to curse God — as long as he doesn’t take Job’s life he can take anything else!

Job passes the test — and you should read Job — all that he went through in 42 chapters!

So do you see?  It is not about all that Job went through — although good to read if you think you are going though tough times –

It is about the fact that there is a test going on to prove you faithful!!!  Satan enters in and God allows things to be shaken in our lives to get to the truth about our faith!!!

Don’t worry about everyone else and the state of their faith!!!  Pray for them but focus in!!!

Where do you stand???  When things don’t go your way and you are suffering — are you able to offer that up to Jesus and unite it to His HOUR of suffering and agony? 

Or do you cry uncle I’ll take the cup now and have it be over — it is OK if you do because we are all on our way to being perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect –

Are we fully awake and waiting ready to open the door when our Master the Lord knocks?

Do we praise God in all things even when suffering comes to our door — and say like Job did

 ”naked I came into this world and naked I will go out”

But don’t go out without a fight — and that fight is the fight to stay AWAKE!!!

3- Why are YOU Sleeping?

Ok so this is the question of the Century!!!  You see Jesus knows why so many are sleeping.

Read Romans Chapter 11 “The Remnant of Israel”

“God gave them a spirit of deep sleep, eyes that should not see and ears that should not hear, down to this very day.”

This was what was spoken to Elijah the prophet when he was telling God that there was no one left!!!  God said that He had saved 7,000 men chosen by grace!

My dear friends if you are reading this right now it is BY GRACE and you have been chosen to be the remnant of God!

So why are you sleeping?  What makes us sleep?  Oh I mean spiritually by the way!  The natural sleep is just an example of what it is like to be spiritually asleep! 

That is why in some of the healing the people looked dead and Jesus said they are asleep — they might have been physically dead by they were also spiritually asleep and when Jesus woke them up spiritually they became fully awake and that effected their body too!

So what made Peter and the boys sleep?  In the Transfiguration Peter was overcome with sleep right before the Glory of the Lord showed up!

Have you ever noticed that when something really big is going to happen that people get overwhelmed?  Fear kicks in and doubt and it paralyzes you –

- and you might not do what the Lord is calling you to do — whether it is to be at a meeting or to go pray — whatever it is!

HOW many people do you know who say — I think I had a call to be a priest or a nun and never did anything about it?  They were overcome by sleep!

And here we see that Peter’s sleep is about grief!  Wow — sorrow can put us in a deep sleep if not directed and given to Jesus!  So we must let go!

These guys were supposed to be praying as Jesus told them and they couldn’t stop thinking about Jesus leaving — dying — maybe fear about their own lives — but no matter what life as they knew it would never be the same again –

- the three years together — the Wedding at Cana — the feeding of the 4,000 and the 5,000 — the lepers and the lame — the demons cast into the pigs and into the water — that was wild — the man with the withered hand, the paralytic, the woman with affliction, the little children healed – calming of the storm — firing up the Pharisees in the field on the sabbath -

- Peter thinking about … when He called me the rock, when He called me to walk on water, when He called me to cast my net and we caught all those fish, when He called me to be a fisher of men, when He told me He would build His church on me, when He gave me the keys of the kingdom, when He told me that the gates of the netherworld would not prevail against me and that whatever I bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever I loose on earth will be loosed in heaven, when He said this is my Body and Blood which will be poured out for me, when He said He would have to suffer –

This is the hour — a lot to distract Peter and the boys — a lot to be overwhelmed by –  the thought… can I go all the way with Jesus — I said I would but — can I follow through?

Were they really prepared? Jesus tells Peter — and He calls him Simon here –

“ Simon, Simon (two times) behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat,

OK that sounds like Satan and God over JOB!!!!  Satan demands?

Jesus says — “But I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and that once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers”

Praise the Lord that we can go to Jesus — and He is still praying for us when we go through the tests of faith that happen continually — little fires of testing and purifying — EVERY DAY!!

Peter turned around alright and He is still going strong after 2000 years in the chair of Peter the Pope!  WE have now had 266 Popes who have succeeded Peter and still going strong! 

 Because Jesus is Alive and Leading the Church through Peter — so Jesus continues to pray for him!

Even though Peter says that he is prepared

 ”Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you.”

Jesus still tells him that he will deny Jesus — exactly the number of times and the exact time!

Jesus knows all — He knows our sin He knows the ways we deny Him and will deny Him!  He still loves us — He still has plans for us — to turn around and strenthen the others — learn and grow and assist others to see His light!

Not like Judas who could not get past his own sin and took the weak route — taking his life into his own hands… NO put your life with your sins in the Master’s hands –

Make sure with only  today Wednesday left before Holy Thursday and Good Friday that you get to Confession and turn around — become fully awake in the Light of Mercy!!

In Philadelphia the Cardinal called for a Wednesday night Confession  hour at every single church in the diocese — check it out and what a great way to go into Holy Thursday!!! Wherever you live if you didn’t get to Confession — call the Church! 

The Priest will be blessed by your call!!  They are all called to Confession and provided that they are available and not ministering anywhere else they should be happy to hear Confession!

Get fired up with the Light of Christ and be fully focused and fully awake — to go all the way to Calvary — don’t miss a word that is said in the liturgical services — take in the smells the sounds the experiences and you will be ready for His Glory on Easter Sunday when He rises!

Also — Divine Mercy Novena starts on Friday — I am hoping to have that Novena going here on this site as well!

Here’s to the KING OF MERCY!!  The Church is built on forgiveness!  Get fired up!

Please share — we grow together as one when you add your insights — there is too much here for one person to distribute so dig in and share what you saw!

ONE last note about these postings for the Holy Days! 

Please Read!

Do you see how we are ending up exactly where God wants us to be??? 

This is what we will do through Easter — We will have this Chapter to read 22 again for Holy Thursday — so I will re post and maybe with other thoughts — maybe jus this and we keep posting what we receive–

Friday I will post Chapter 23 and we will study this chapter for Friday and Saturday!!!

Then Sunday we will have a new Post with Chapter 24 the Resurrection!!!

So this is so absolutely perfect because we have so much here to contemplate that we need to slow down and take it in with time to reflect and pray!

Any questions please let me know!

God bless you all!

Continue reading »]]> Day 65, Luke 21

Good Day Everyone on this Tuesday in Holy Week!

Yesterday I visited the Shrine for the Miraculous Medal in Philadelphia!  It was awesome!

What a great gift!  I prayed for all of you!!

What are you doing this week that is different than usual — think about it now!  You may be saying to yourself –”I’ve got too much to do this week — you just don’t understand!!!”  Jesus understands exactly what you are going through — give it all to Him and be like Mary Sister of Lazarus at some point this week — let go of Martha and sit at the feet of Jesus!!!

Today the Jewish Passover begins — and so we join our Hebrew brothers and sisters in prayer –

Today I see three glorious points!

1. Offering Your Livelihood
2. Perseverance Secures Your Life
3. Be Vigilant

1- Offering Your Livelihood

Don’t you just love this story about the widow with the two coins? How can it be that her two small coins were a greater contribution than all the rest -

- Jesus says “The poor widow put in more than all the rest”

Why?

Because she gave of her poverty — not of her wealth –

When you give from your poverty it hurts!!!  Jesus gave from His poverty!!  The King of kings and Lord of Lords!!!  He emptied Himself to become a slave — so that He could  be poor and show us how to give!

This kind of giving hurts — this kind of giving shows that you Trust God — we must give till it hurts!!

We also must give of ourselves — the best part — this is about giving your best to God — your best time of day — your best talents your best skills -

- in your prime time — both of age – life- and not have an attitude like I am getting old or I am too young!!!

But also — in your time of day!  Give God your best and He cannot be outdone!

So remember God and to give him your livelihood!  What makes you lively???  What makes you feel alive?

For a poor person two coins makes them know that they can be alive because they have food to eat!!!  They rely on those two coins to live —

For a rich person — they may like the coins but they aren’t going to make or break them!

May we consistently strive to turn everything over to God and wait with joyful hope with continual prayers for grace. 

2- Perserverance Secures Your Life

There are a few things my earthly father taught me that stick with me forever — and one is..

“Never give up!”

Seems like that would pay off here!  But you see Jesus isn’t talking about just showing up – just so that I’ll be able to cash in on what He has to offer!

Perseverance includes daily disciplines and actions that bring me closer to God and keep me in tune with His Word!  This is so important so that I can hear His voice –

Jesus talks about a wisdom here that He will give that will make all our enemies POWERLESS to RESIST or REFUTE!!!

We cannot tap into this wisdom unless we are plugged into the inspirations of God!  Especially His Holy Spirit!

With all the coming persecutions the sure way to secure your life is to persevere in Christ!

3- Be Vigilant

Now this is the key to it all!!!

Jesus says that the powers of the heavens will be shaken — at the Coming of the Son of Man — He says some will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming!

Can you imagine… after all Jesus said about not being afraid!!!  And then to die of fright!  WE had better let go of the fear now!

Shaking the powers of heaven — makes me think again of this shaking!!!

Really faith is shaken at different times for a reason — so that it might grow!

Whenever there is a shaking much good will come out of it!

I was thinking of the tree bearing fruit that we first shake to see if any fall to the ground then we know that the fruit is ripe!!!

The fruit still holding on is not ready!!!  We have to totally detach so that we don’t allow certain things to keep us in bondage!

We cannot allow our hearts to become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life!

We pray in the Mass — “Protect us from anxieties as we wait in joyful hope for our Savior Jesus Christ”

Jesus says… “Be vigilant at all times and pray that your have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

This requires vigilance at all times — this is not a joke!! These are the Master’s words!

Notice the last words of the chapter — this is His direction to us —

= “All the people would get up early each morning to listen to him in the temple area.”

So here is the key that  being disciplined and persevere in prayer it might require getting up early!

When I first came back to church that was one things I noticed right way that I was not going to be sleeping in!!!

A friend of mine said to me today — “I get up early because the early bird catches the worm”  But then she says… “what if I don’t want the worm?”

Bottom line is this — if you know Christ and love HIM — you’ll take a worm for HIM!

- You’ll get humiliated for him, you’ll be rejected for him — you’ll look bad for him!!!

That would be the worm — we all need to be vigilant in order to hear Christ’s word and when he calls! 

This is the week to practice — to wait and watch and listen and to stand in the gap — again as a friend of mine said… for all those who are not going — who are lost at Easter time — we pray for all those lost souls –

This Holy Week is our World Series — it is about the World — we all win — because JESUS WON!

It is all about Redemption!!!  Make sure you are vigilant and the Lord will be your Deliverer!!!

Please share!!  Please be tuned in for HOLY WEEK!

Continue reading »]]> Day 64, Luke 20

Good day everyone!  It’s Monday of Holy Week!

This Chapter is all about the authority of Jesus questioned!

He has now entered Jerusalem and the Pharisees and Scribes will come after Him wanting to find reason to arrest Him!

I see three rock solid points:

1. The Stone Rejected
2. The Teacher Answers Well
3. Be On Guard

1- The Stone Rejected

“The Stone the which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”

Jesus says this at the end of the parable which tells the story of the farmers who rejected the servants sent by the vineyard owner and then finally his son — basically to take the inheritance!

Here Jesus is saying that the one that was rejected is the one holding everything together!

What I see here is that the stone — originally was the 10 Commandments!  Written on stone was the law!

Jesus is the fulfillment of the law — of what was written on that stone — and key to remember is that the Word of God is JESUS!  The eternal Word!  There is only one!

So this stone — is rejected!!!  This stone is the one that holds the whole structure together — and what is that structure?  The Church!

We are all called to be living stones!  Stones alive in Christ and filled with faith!

Our belief is in Jesus Christ our Rock and our fortress –and we follow the 10 Commandments in order to remain in Him and His love!

Those who fall on this stone — meaning that they fall short of truth — they sin — they will be dashed to pieces by this rock!

In addition this stone will CRUSH anyone on whom it falls!  Now Jesus goes to Gethsemane to be crushed!  He is crushed there for our sins — it is the weight of sin which crushes us and causes us to fall! 

And it is in that same spirit that we want to be set free and not have to carry around the burden of sin!

2- The Teacher Answers Well

When asked about the resurrection — we see that some of the scribes reply “Teacher, you have answered well.”  And then they don’t dare to ask Him anything!

They know!  At that point they realize that He is truth… they just can’t seem to surrender to Him!

We see that even today!  People have a lot of questions and that is good!  People should get their questions answered.  But sometimes the questions are a way to stay stuck!

Have you ever seen people who ask many questions about the faith and then still don’t believe even if you answered all the questions?!

That is what we see here — another place we read that they fell silent after listening to Jesus answer a question.

So Jesus answers were right on!!!  They either provoked anger — or silence — and the bottom line is that getting questions answered is a great thing and we should ask many questions in order to study and to know truth…

But these guys just wanted to find something wrong!  They had an agenda -

- So when Jesus answers the question about marriage at the resurrection we see that when it comes to rising that we will all be children of God — not married or unmarried — but sons in the Son!

It is not about what happens when we die but the state of our living!!  Marriage on earth is a sign to make Christ present — a Sacrament — sign of God’s love and an image of the Trinity when Marriage bears fruit of children!  Could be spiritual children too!

The key here is are they really interested in the answers and truth or are they only asking to find Him wrong and a blasphemer so they can catch Him and put Him to death?

There are still people on earth who do the same thing — they are not really interested in the truth –just in condemning Christianity — or Catholicism!

And so really we can answer questions but better to ask questions… and be on guard!

3- Be On Guard

 Right after this section we see Jesus Denouncing the Scribes!  With everyone listening — Jesus tells the disciples to …

“Be on guard against the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and love greetings in marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets.  They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers.”

WOW — now Jesus was not messing around — and this must have really set the Scribes off — especially after they had been silent!

I guess after they questions the “Son of David”  Jesus really had had enough of them!!!

But why be on guard over this?  Well these are all the external conditions that later are a sign of the internal conditions that we have in our heart!

Are we prideful in our hearts — do we seek approval of man and push to be noticed? Are we unjust to those less fortunate than we are? Do we pray or sing so that others will hear us or do we share our gifts with others but with a servant’s heart and in humility!

This chapter is really where Jesus enters in and drives out all the dishonesty and deception!

Jesus goes head on and it out in the open confronting their issues and questions… while knowing their hearts all along! 

In this was Jesus shows His authority to go head to head and showed no fear or trepidation in facing anything that the Pharisees and Scribes had to say!

I think we have to read this and put ourselves right in the middle of these conversations to see where Jesus and the disciples are at right at this moment!

For us we can really see how things started to get heated up which is why we ended up right here on Monday of Holy Week — with things getting fired up –

Jesus shows no fear — as He is full of grace — just like His Mother —She in fact is just like HIM!

What a Holy Combo!

Take some time this week to journal as I had stated a long time ago — and to make a stop in a holy place to pray — even if for a short time —

This Past week I visited St. Katharine Drexel Shrine — what a gift to Philadelphia — and hoping to get to Miraculous Medal Shrine!

Our Priest Fr. Taglienetti said on Passion Sunday in the homily — that we should take a person from the Gospel and imagine, pray and contemplate what it was like for them to go to the cross — or to be there at this time of Calvary –

For example — take Peter or Mary Magdalene or the Blessed Mother — or Simon of Cyrene or Veronica —

What was it like for them and how does that translate into whatever you are going through!

IE Simon of Cyrene — perhaps you find yourself today carrying a cross that you didn’t ask for or want — there are so many good stories to choose from!

At the morning of renewal I spoke of Peter — and how He didn’t make it to the cross — his vision was clouded with denial!

Instead of being the light and fire for Christ — Peter was warming himself with the fire and then denied Jesus three times!

When the shepherd was struck the sheep scattered! 

Let us not be scattered this week — let us come together and get fired up for this Holies of Holy!

The great grace of Holy Week!

Please share!!

God bless you all!

Continue reading »]]> Day 63, Luke 19

Good Day Everyone!  Praise God for Passion Sunday!!  Jesus enters Jerusalem!

I see three gold coins in this Chapter:

1. Today Salvation has Come to this Household!
2. Engage in Trade
3. Jesus Weeps for Jerusalem

1- Today Salvation has Come to this Household!

WOW — what a great word to hear from the Lord Jesus!  Wouldn’t you love to hear that today!  To have your whole house saved!

This is a great story with truth about seeking the LORD with a pure transformational repentant heart — a great message for us with Jesus entering Jerusalem today!

Jesus is passing through Jericho and doesn’t plan to stop — but the Chief tax collectior — also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was —

He was short so he couldn’t see him — so he climbs up the Sycamore tree — by the way that tree is still there and I got to see it in Jerusalem when I traveled there ten years ago!!!

Zacchaeus also ran ahead — planned it out and strategized just to see Jesus — that is what I love about him — he planned and sought Jesus out –

When Jesus reached him he looked up – and told him to come down QUICKLY for today I must stay at YOUR HOUSE!

Zacchaeus came down quickly and RECEIVED HIM WITH JOY!

WOW how cool!!!  That is exactly what we are to do — receive the word with JOY!!!

While people started to grumble about Jesus being with this tax collector — Zacchaeus started to transform in front of their eyes –

he said…

“Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.”

Now that was a quick turn around!!  Jesus speaks the words of salvation for his household and what a huge blessing that was!!!

Think about what good you could do for YOUR HOUSEHOLD if you turn around completely to Jesus and live the Gospel!

And Jesus claims this man as a son of Abraham and makes it known that He comes to seek and save the lost!!

And save the lost He does!  This is the perfect example — we should receive Jesus with JOY — and then change our lives — for His glory and then see salvation come to our households!

I feel for those who think they believe but then are not able to receive the Lord and transform quickly — change their ways — get their lives in right order with God’s ways — and then miss the joy especially of seeing a whole household being saved!

A lot to pray about here!

 2- Engage in Trade

Here we see Jesus about to enter into Jerusalem —- and he realizes that the apostles think that the kingdom of God will come immediately so He tells them this parable!

This parable is all about the servant making something of the gold coins that the Nobleman gives them!

The key here is — we have all been given the gift of gold — our faith!  Our hearts!  What are we doing with the deposit of faith that has been given to us?

We are called to make trades with it for others and make that investment in others and receive a return on investment for the LORD!  ROI!  Return on Investment!

Nothing here is ours alone — all is God’s and we are His servants –

and so the two servants  returned more coins on the investment of one — received rewards of lands — but the one who kept the one gold coin and hid it in a handkerchief — because he was afraid of God –

his gold coin was taken away — and given to the one with ten!!!

YIKES —

But Jesus says — “Everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

Jesus wants us fully engaged in the work at hand — the work of redemption!!  Souls to be saved!

Pray — seek — knock — keep following God’s plan but remember that we are in the business of saving souls!  What are you doing with your gift of faith???

Is it having an effect on people?  How can you grown your faith — practice, study, reflect –

We’ve been given gold –now we have to seek after the GRACE of GOD to grow it with all our hearts!

3- Jesus Weeps for Jerusalem

When Jesus enters Jerusalem — two things happen — we see Jesus lament for Jerusalem and cleanse the temple in Jerusalem -

Lamenting, Jesus sees the city of Jerusalem drawing near to them and He weeps — he knows the destruction that its enemies will have upon it and knows that without knowing how to make peace – there will be utter kaos –

The way of peace has been hidden from their eyes!!!!

The next thing Jesus does is cleanse the temple!!!  He does so by “driving out” those who were selling things –

He says to them “My house shall be a house of prayer but you have made it a den of thieves”

So Jesus weeping for Jerusalem has turned into action!  This is the cleansing action that Jesus needs to take right now —

When our Lord is not served first — this is what happens–

—we allow thieves to come in and out of our homes – we give in to whatever enters our houses — without discerning if this or that is God’s will and if Jesus would be glorified –with either a person or the church.

This chapter is all about preparing and being ready for the Lord’s coming!

He is constantly coming to us in many ways — prayer — the sacraments — the scriptures — at the hour of death — at His final coming!

We do not know the hour — so let’s make daily holy hours in order to be ready for His coming this Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday!

Special thanks to all who came out  to Our Lady of Grace parish to the morning of renewal!!!  It was great to meet John Brogan — and to see Judy, Ann, Marie, Helene, Ginny and anyone else reading this who was there — what a blessed time in the Lord!

Many congratulations for all that many of you have done to be ready for Holy Week — first with Passion Sunday!   

There is still time to make a spiritual plan for the week — if you require assistance in making a plan for yourself –

email me at marie@firedupcatholics.com or go to home page and send message!

I remind you all to make an effort to make Holy Week look different from any week in the year!!!

Please share and post — we would love to hear from you!

God bless you with a faith on fire!

Continue reading »]]> Day 62, Luke 18

Good Day Everyone!  Blessed be the Name of the Lord!  Today is the day to prepare for the Holiest Week of the Year!

Take a look at your prayer plan — time to beef it up — move things around if you like — truly begin focusing on the PASSION OF CHRIST if you haven’t already — now is the time!!!

Passion – or Palm Sunday is tomorrow!  Get ready to be attentive at the Holy Mass!

Today is all about prayer and a continuation about our faith being ready to receive!

I see three eye opening points in this chapter:

1. Persistence in Prayer
2. Humility in Prayer
3. Hidden Word

1- Persistence in Prayer

We see two great example of prayer being persistent!

First we see the Parable of the Persistant Widow!  Here Jesus is showing us that if the Dishonest Judge would respond to this woman just because she was persistent –

How much more will He be quick to answer our prayers! 

Now let’s define persistent prayer — it is not whiny– complaining – worried – prayer!!

It is consistent persistant prayer — disciplined day in and day out prayer — without ceasing you are trusting and seeking God’s answer to all the intentions He has placed in your heart!

It is grace to even have a request to go to God about!

The same way we see the Blind Man here asking Jesus to Have Pity on Him!

What is interesting here is that with the widow — Jesus shows that God is quick to answer when we are persistent –

But He ends by asking “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

He is saying… God will do all these great things and answer your prayers… but are you growing in faith?  Or is your faith just to ask and get things from God — so that you life works out the way you want it?

God is the giver — it is a relationship — our response is supposed to be faith!  If we ask ask ask and our faith is not growing… then we must look at this and humbly come before God — repent and seek the grace to grow in love and knowledge of Jesus Christ!

We must ask for more faith!

Just like this example of the Blind Beggar — I like that he is called the Beggar — that is how we are to be about spiritual gifts — beggars –

“Jesus Son of David, have pity on me!”

People tell him to be silent!  And he just keeps on calling out… all the more!

Don’t you just love this guy!!!

That is how we have to be — when we are in God’s will calling out and people get uncomfortable or think you’re being foolish – sometimes you’ve just got to keep crying out!

Even if you are rebuked — Here we see Jesus stops and asks him.. what do you want me to do for you?

“Lord, Please let me see” 

Now there is a prayer worth repeating!!!

We will come back to the significance of this prayer later… but for now…

realize that Jesus says to the Blind Beggar —

“Have sight, your faith has saved you”

We must be like beggars knowing that our only hope for food and sight and hearing and to walk a life of faith in this darkness is going to come from the LORD!

Humility is the answer!

2- Humility in Prayer

The second part of this chapter teaches us– through yet another parable — the gift of humility!

Jesus gives two examples of prayer — the Pharisee and the Tax Collector!

He shows us that the one with the Holy Position — who should be praying with humility – dependence on God and not seeing himself and better than anyone –

was praying with his own perceived righteousness — praying thanking God that he was not like all the sinners and lowly ones in the world!  UGH!  What a prayer!

Then the tax collector — who no one liked — who were in general not righteous according to the law –

prays — from a distance — wouldn’t even raise his eyes to heaven… but beat his breast and prayed,

“O God, be merciful to me  a sinner.”

There is another good prayer for us today!

Jesus says that the tax collector went home justified and not the Pharisee!!  YIKES!

Then we see those precious words of Jesus — that say it all —

“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted”

These are words worth memorizing!!! 

If we are being humbled a lot — you can count on the fact that we have been exalting ourselves!

Not hard to do in this “ME” generation we are living in!  That is why we must be reading Jesus’ WORD everyday!!

3- Hidden Word

This last part I wanted to focus on happens when Jesus is Predicting the Passion for the Third time! 

Crazy that Jesus goes into the whole thing — speaking in the third person — and they don’t understand!  I mean this is the third time — I thought third time is a charm?

What don’t they get?  He talks about being handed over, about being scourged, about being beaten even spit upon!!!  And then killed -

Then on the third day He will rise!!!

There it is — pretty clear to me!

But it says here that they NOTHING OF THIS!

WHY?

Because the WORD REMAINED HIDDEN from them… and they failed to comprehend what He said!

So you see first of all that it is a total gift — of understanding!

If we don’t understand things of faith we need to ask and seek God’s face persistently until He answers us –

We need to be humble so that our soil in our hearts will be able to receive the WORD of GOD!

This is a constant discipline that if we want it bad enough we will do — some wills say it is too hard!  Some will want to give up!

I am sure we all feel that way some days!  Some hours!

But we must press on!  We also see here again the Renunciation of Riches!  Jesus brings this up right after talking about humility and really makes the point today that Riches can really choke a person and permit them from following Christ with their whole heart -

- and from entering into the kingdom of God!

It doesn’t mean it is not possible — just a whole lot harder! 

God gives grace sufficient for each one to enter into His Glory!

Remember that God wants people in heaven more than we do!  Ourselves included!

This is a fabulous chapter — it goes from persistence to humility — to renunciation of riches — to the word being hidden — showing us why we might not be able to understand or see –

and then a healing of the eyes — Jesus wants to clear the way so that we can see!

It takes us taking action!!  We must surrender to His will and let go of the things we are holding onto!

Riches that we hold on to for security — we have to let go — let go of the holding on to them!!

With one week to go before Easter — Now is the perfect time to take inventory!

What things do you own or that you are holding on to that keep you cluttered in your mind – and heart!

Now is the time to clear out!!  What do you really need to live and what can go!

Take some time this weekend to go through this!

Jesus Passion will take place this week — just the way He predicted it in this chapter –

Will it be hidden from your understanding too?

Please share!

Continue reading »]]> Day 61, Luke 17

Good day everyone!  Today we begin the last third of our Gospel Journey with Jesus!

It is the last Friday before Holy Week and GOOD FRIDAY!

I see three earth shattering points in this chapter:

1. Be on Your Guard
2. Increase Our Faith
3. Thanking Him

1- Be on Your Guard

I love seeing these words… Be on your guard!  Jesus says over and over to guard – and to WATCH! Remember in the Gospel of Mark Chapter 13 and then in the Agony in the Garden – Jesus says to stay awake and watch!

That you don’t know when the thief will be coming and if you are awake you can guard better!  If you fall asleep then he will come in the middle of the night and you will miss him! 

Here Jesus is talking about the temptations to Sin!

“Things that cause sin will inevitably occur”

OK this is very comforting to hear Jesus say this!  Like it is not out of the ordinary that there are occasions to sin!!!

BUT WOE He says… to the person THROUGH whom they occur!

So the real WOE is for the person who is causing others to sin!

However this happens more than we know — how about when we provoke someone to anger?

How about when we are in a conversation and we ask curious questions about others asking for private information about another person — and we lead that person to gossip!

Sometimes I don’t even like when we get into questions and start asking about someone else –

HOW IS KATHY?  How are things going between she and her husband — I heard they were having trouble?

Well now — if the person knows intimate details they will have to say…. I don’t know?  And Lie?

Or I can’t really discuss this because it is personal -  best thing to me is that if you want to know about Kathy — ask her yourself!!!

Don’t make someone else tempted to sin over it!

I find in general that I get into too many conversations that start out with details out of compassion and concern — and after the fact turned into judgement and gossip!

But there is something we can do about really looking and seeing are we leading our brothers and sisters into sin???

We all need to put a guard on —- our mouths — our ears — our hearts — our eyes — and live like that — not just in the morning or certain times of the day -

- but watch always — and around certain people — unfortunately — that is just how it is!

2- Increase Our Faith

I am amazed here that I continue to find more verses with faith — of course that is what the Gospel is all about — FAITH!

When the apostles say to Jesus “Increase our faith” I feel like they had just had enough of the “OH Ye of Little Faith” comments!

Good for them!  Jesus tells them that they just need the faith of a mustard seed — a little faith will go a long way!

The little seed of faith will then flourish when it is exercised!  That is the key!!!!!   Command a mulberry tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it would obey you!

So we can ask for more faith — but if we are not going to use the little we have it won’t make a difference!

So we need to take leaps of faith all the time — we need to train in our faith and keep it growing by working it out like a muscle!

We pray we seek and we act! 

I think it is then makes sense that the next section is about the attitude of a servant!

This section is a little hard to take if you read it correctly you should get convicted to some degree — otherwise you have achieved sainthood already!

The servant should serve and then continue to serve!!  IE we don’t serve God and then sit back and expect to be like God —

We don’t serve God and then retire and kick back thinking that God should reward us for being such a good servant –

Or think that we are done!!!  We are never done growing, learning, and serving — until we are ready for heaven!

There will be our reward — so while we are here we take for our example the suffering servant and know that …

“We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do”.

3- Thanking Him

I love the story about the lepers being cleansed!  But it kills me that only of them came back to glorify God!

But reading a little more specifically and we see … that…

As they were going they were cleansed!

And one of them… realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;

AND He fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked HIM!

So the key here is that this leper REALIZED he had been healed!

How many healings have we received and we don’t even realize it!!!

We have to be constantly in tune with what God is doing — we are healed in Mass — in Confession — in prayer — there are so many ways that God heals us!

Do we realize it?  Do we give God the glory or do we give men or institutions or drugs the glory when we are healed?

I love that the one who returned was the Samaritan — not thought of to be as good as the Jews –

What a point here Jesus is making!  This leper not only came back but …

he fell at the feet of JESUS!!!

Sounds like our Mary Sister of Lazarus who cried tears of repentance and washed Jesus feet and dried them with her hair!

At the feet of Jesus is the place to be!!!  How beautiful!  The ultimate thanksgiving is to come back to Jesus — and throw yourself at His feet and thank Him!

Come back to Jesus Glorifying Him and singing His praise!!!

You see we usually are blessed and then we just keep on going!!!  WE move on to the next prayer the next thing we want God to do for us — so we miss the recognition of the healing!!!

Jesus still heals!!!  Jesus always — preached and healed!!  And he still does today!  That is why we see in the Mass — Preaching and then the Healing — the EUCHARIST!!!

The EUCHARIST also is the ULTIMATE THANKSGIVING!

So we have it all in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass!!!

When we come to Mass at least every Sunday— we are coming back to Jesus just like this leper did and we are saying thank you for our week– our month — our year — our lives!

We make sure to stop on Sunday — at least == and thank Him by joining in the offering of Jesus by being present!

There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends — this is what Jesus did for us!

Throw yourself at the feet of Jesus and thank HIM!!!

I have to tell you that my friend Lisa and I visited Bernadette again in the Intensive Care unit of the hospital yesterday — and we prayed and we decided to sing the Divine Mercy Chaplet right in the ICU!

The Doctor walked in on the prayer — and said — he would come back!!  He seemed cool — just wanted to get out of there — quickly — but we prayed and sang — and all I could see were Bernadette’s eyes -

- at peace and believinig in JESUS!!!  Trusting in Him — we prayed for healing in the name of Jesus and believed that she received!!!

We blessed and anointed her feet!  I am telling you —she is JESUS in that hospital bed — and I just wanted to stay and go back today because I can sense Jesus’ presence!!  SO COOL!

Thanks for your prayers!!!

Let’s share in thanksgiving for all the ways God has continued to heal us!!!

Please share!