Really?

"I (Jesus) am the most difficult person you know."

~message during silent prayer last night

 

I get along well with most people, but, occasionally, there are times I struggle with someone.  I took that to silent prayer and the message to my heart was that Jesus IS that most difficult person I am dealing with at any given time.  Right now it is an elderly woman with whom I am working.  We clashed from our first meeting a couple of years ago.  In trying to figure out how I can serve her and help her, I first have to get past the difficulty I have with her. The answer from Jesus was clear. "I AM the most difficult person you know."  Thinking that, in serving this woman, I am serving Jesus, certainly helps.  Let's pause this weekend and take some time to think of the obscure places we may find Jesus in our lives.  It may surprise us where (or in whom) we find Jesus! Blessings on your weekend! Love, heidi

God only and always...

"God only and always loves."

Catherine LaCugna, as quoted by Kathy Coffey in "Give Us This Day"

 

I think if all we came out of Lent 2014 with was this sentence, it would be a great Lent! Wouldn't it? If we can only internalize and really believe these words, our journey with God would be more of a lovely stroll and less a game of Hide and Seek. God only and always loves us.  Period.  And all God wants in return is our love and our loving our neighbor. And why is that so difficult? It is because God seems far away at times and our neighbor drives us nuts.  And so the life-long journey of our running around trying to find and please God and God just wanting us to love--God and our neighbor. So, today, let's memorize this truth.  God only and always loves us.  Let's sit with it, process it, and it roll it around in our hearts.  If it's the only thing we learn this Lent, it will be enough.  Love, heidi

In God's Hands...

"More than ever I find myself in the hands of God. This is what I have wanted all my life from my youth. But now there is a difference; the initiative is entirely with God. It is indeed a profound spiritual experience to know and feel myself so totally in God's hands."

Pedro Arrupe, SJ, "In the Hands of God"

 

I could never express what I've been experiencing these last few years with any more clarity than this.  This is it.  Instead of feeling that I'm running hither and yon trying to find God, I feel that God is chasing and yearning for me.  I wonder if it is an age thing? I don't feel completely "there" yet, however.  I still have a way to go to completely feel surrendered.  But I feel like God is keeping a very close eye on me--like I'm a lively teenager, whose actions must be closely monitored.  Instead of calling for God or feeling the need to beckon God, God is already right there with me.  God has been there all along, waiting for me to call.  It is a stage of life, Friends.  What I have been seeking since I was a young girl is right here with me.  It's like what Fr. Richard Rohr says too, "You can quit knocking, you are already inside!" I'm already inside...in God's hands. Love, heidi

Sin can't be "un-sinned"

"The truth is, no sin can be un-done. It can only be forgiven. And getting it forgiven is not difficult. 'The Lord is kind and merciful.'"

The Little Black Book

 

"No sin can be un-done." Let's think about that for a moment.  We can't un-say a hurtful comment.  We can't un-send a bitter email. We can't un-ring a bell of sadness we may have caused someone else.  Try as we might, we cannot un-do a wrong we have done, and that fact is hard to face.  But, through the infinite mercy of God, our sin is forgiven and that is cause for rejoicing. Today, let's do our best to prevent the hurtful sins before they even start.  Let's engage the clutch on our mouth before the hurtful, angry words come out.  Because once they're out of our mouths, we can't get them back.  Lord, please give us pause to stop and think before we speak, or even write something to someone else today.  Help us to realize that words can't be put back into our mouths once they're out.  Help us to only speak kind and uplifting words today.  And please bless all those who, in body and spirit, are attending the bishops' mass on the desert today in Nogales, AZ.  In the spirit of welcoming the stranger, who is Jesus, may our country enact immigration reform!  Love, heidi

I was blind, but now I see

"One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see."

John 9:25

 

This, of course, was yesterday's Gospel and I pondered the question, What is it that I need Jesus to help me "see" better?  Having attended the Sisters of Charity Regional gathering on Saturday, the answer was clear to me.  I need to be able to see Jesus in the poor. And that has a question of its own-- Who are the poor?  We had such a wonderful discussion at our table about who the poor are, and it became clear to me that the poor may not just be those in need of physical provisions.  Mother Teresa said that those who feel unloved, who have no friends, who have no others to turn to are also poor. So, as we enter into these last weeks of Lent, let's ask ourselves what "vision" healing we may need from Jesus.  And let's ask Jesus to heal that aspect of our lives.  Lord, please give me eyes to see you in the poor; those without the things they need to live and thrive in this world, those who need extra love and compassion, those who may simply need to feel validated in a world that moves at too fast a pace to recognize their great contribution. Amen!  Love, heidi