"(Jesus) stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, 'Young man, I tell you arise!' The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother."
Luke 7:14-15
When I read this today, the words, "Jesus gave him to his mother" gave me pause. It was an amazing miracle, surely. But, "he gave him to his mother" jumped out at me. Jesus knew that a mother and son have a special bond. Jesus had a special bond with his mother, too. So much so that he assured his mother would be cared for as his was dying on the cross: "Woman, behold your son," (John 19:26). Jesus was giving his mother to the care of John. In a sense, Jesus raising the young man from the dead was a foreshadowing of his own death and resurrection, wasn't it? At the surface, Jesus is showing his deep concern for family and loved ones and care for the vulnerable among us. Jesus knew that elderly women in that time could not make their own way and needed the care of others. What is our lesson from this today? To care for the lonely among us. It may be an elderly neighbor, a stranger in line at the store. Speak to people, be kind to people you pass on the street or in the hall. You do not know their stories, but they may really just need to be greeted kindly today. Love, heidi
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
A channel of your peace...
"Peter approached Jesus and asked him, 'Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?'"
Matthew 18:21
I sat outside yesterday in the beautiful nearly-Autumn morning, pondering the day, 9/11. We'd heard an amazing homily the night before at mass, talking about forgiveness. In the blissful quiet, I thought back on where I was, how I'd heard about the tragedies. I was at daily mass, in fact, and we'd prayed for "whatever was happening in New York," the news was just getting out and we didn't know what it was. I thought about our reaction. First, fear. Then, anger. Clearly we would never be the same again. It would slowly evolve to a "new normal" of weird security at the airport and a wary mistrust of other religions and people. But, now, ten years later, the gospel for 9/11 talks of forgiveness. Forgiveness? Can it be done? Is it possible? It is only through forgiveness that healing can happen. Jesus tells us "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times" (Matthew 18:22). Can we argue with Jesus, who, as he was dying on a cross, asked God to forgive his murderers? He told us what to do and then he showed us what to do. Can we imagine the legacy of 9/11 being forgiveness? Wouldn't that be God turning all things into good for those who love God? That is my prayer as we move on past this ten year anniversary. We sang "The Prayer of St. Francis" as we left mass..."Make me a channel of your peace...where there is hatred, let me bring your love." Please, let it be so. Love, heidi
Matthew 18:21
I sat outside yesterday in the beautiful nearly-Autumn morning, pondering the day, 9/11. We'd heard an amazing homily the night before at mass, talking about forgiveness. In the blissful quiet, I thought back on where I was, how I'd heard about the tragedies. I was at daily mass, in fact, and we'd prayed for "whatever was happening in New York," the news was just getting out and we didn't know what it was. I thought about our reaction. First, fear. Then, anger. Clearly we would never be the same again. It would slowly evolve to a "new normal" of weird security at the airport and a wary mistrust of other religions and people. But, now, ten years later, the gospel for 9/11 talks of forgiveness. Forgiveness? Can it be done? Is it possible? It is only through forgiveness that healing can happen. Jesus tells us "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times" (Matthew 18:22). Can we argue with Jesus, who, as he was dying on a cross, asked God to forgive his murderers? He told us what to do and then he showed us what to do. Can we imagine the legacy of 9/11 being forgiveness? Wouldn't that be God turning all things into good for those who love God? That is my prayer as we move on past this ten year anniversary. We sang "The Prayer of St. Francis" as we left mass..."Make me a channel of your peace...where there is hatred, let me bring your love." Please, let it be so. Love, heidi
Friday, September 9, 2011
Big Picture prayers
"Lord, teach me to love, give me love, show me your face, send your Spirit out over me."
Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen, "The is the Day the Lord Has Made"
In this reflection today, Fr. Stinissen talks about how our prayers begin to grow and mature as we journey with Jesus. We may start out praying for things, security, friends, a spouse. But, gradually, our prayer deepens and we pray for what we REALLY need...God. Interestingly, I have noticed that gradual change (and I mean very gradual!) I do find, while praying for others, I tend to lift them up to God's care and I pray more for God's will in their lives, not necessarily what they think they want to happen. My prayers are becoming more general, less specific. I find myself praying for peace in a situation, rather than praying that this will happen or that will happen. Maybe I'm praying more Big Picture prayers these days. I don't know the Big Picture--God does. God knows so much more than I do and I'm much better off praying for God's will than my own. Is that maturity in prayer? Possibly. I am beginning to realize that when God is in the middle of something, I feel more peace about it. I also remember Mary's example of how to turn to Jesus for intercessory prayer. Mary simply identified the problem, "They have no wine." (John 2:3). She didn't give him suggestions of how to fix it; she just trusted Jesus would fix it and fix it well! Today, let's think about how our prayers are growing as our faith grows. Love, heidi
Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen, "The is the Day the Lord Has Made"
In this reflection today, Fr. Stinissen talks about how our prayers begin to grow and mature as we journey with Jesus. We may start out praying for things, security, friends, a spouse. But, gradually, our prayer deepens and we pray for what we REALLY need...God. Interestingly, I have noticed that gradual change (and I mean very gradual!) I do find, while praying for others, I tend to lift them up to God's care and I pray more for God's will in their lives, not necessarily what they think they want to happen. My prayers are becoming more general, less specific. I find myself praying for peace in a situation, rather than praying that this will happen or that will happen. Maybe I'm praying more Big Picture prayers these days. I don't know the Big Picture--God does. God knows so much more than I do and I'm much better off praying for God's will than my own. Is that maturity in prayer? Possibly. I am beginning to realize that when God is in the middle of something, I feel more peace about it. I also remember Mary's example of how to turn to Jesus for intercessory prayer. Mary simply identified the problem, "They have no wine." (John 2:3). She didn't give him suggestions of how to fix it; she just trusted Jesus would fix it and fix it well! Today, let's think about how our prayers are growing as our faith grows. Love, heidi
Thursday, September 8, 2011
All things work for good...
"We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to God's purpose."
Romans 8:28
We get tripped up because we can't always see God's purpose; the "good" may seem so obscure. That is when our faith and trust in God take over. Even after ten years, we may struggle to find any good from the tragic events of 9/11/01. We hear stories of heroism and faith. We watched ourselves become more patriotic, even more spiritual. Mayor Bloomberg of New York City said New York became like a small village--people rallying around each other and supporting each other. We learned how fleeting life can be. We learned how terribly difficult forgiveness can be; how much easier it is to just stay mad. But we cannot see it all and we certainly do not have all the answers, even after ten years. And that is where our trust in God and faith come in. Love, heidi
Romans 8:28
We get tripped up because we can't always see God's purpose; the "good" may seem so obscure. That is when our faith and trust in God take over. Even after ten years, we may struggle to find any good from the tragic events of 9/11/01. We hear stories of heroism and faith. We watched ourselves become more patriotic, even more spiritual. Mayor Bloomberg of New York City said New York became like a small village--people rallying around each other and supporting each other. We learned how fleeting life can be. We learned how terribly difficult forgiveness can be; how much easier it is to just stay mad. But we cannot see it all and we certainly do not have all the answers, even after ten years. And that is where our trust in God and faith come in. Love, heidi
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Inner peace...amid the chaos
"If every detail in your life is seen as a part of God's loving plan, then your inner core is filled with peace and harmony, even if sorrows and worries are easily recognized on the outside."
Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen, "This is the Day the Lord Has Made"
This hit home with me today because right now, things are really stirred up for me. The kids are going through some exciting life changes, and we parents know how that can be. We are happy for them, and yet, we can see possible roadblocks ahead that may trip them up. It's a new school year, so I am trying to schedule all my little lunch-hour mobility students. And, I got a new phone, which for me as a middle-age person, is quite mystifying. Not to mention all the things going on in the country and the world and the fact that my mom's been gone eleven years, today. Phew! My head and my heart are just churning! It is precisely at these times when we need to take the time to sit at Jesus' feet. We need to settle our hearts on Jesus and remember that He will help us through everything. He doesn't wave a magic wand and change everything, but Jesus works in us, giving us all we need to take care of the details of living our lives. Love, heidi
Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen, "This is the Day the Lord Has Made"
This hit home with me today because right now, things are really stirred up for me. The kids are going through some exciting life changes, and we parents know how that can be. We are happy for them, and yet, we can see possible roadblocks ahead that may trip them up. It's a new school year, so I am trying to schedule all my little lunch-hour mobility students. And, I got a new phone, which for me as a middle-age person, is quite mystifying. Not to mention all the things going on in the country and the world and the fact that my mom's been gone eleven years, today. Phew! My head and my heart are just churning! It is precisely at these times when we need to take the time to sit at Jesus' feet. We need to settle our hearts on Jesus and remember that He will help us through everything. He doesn't wave a magic wand and change everything, but Jesus works in us, giving us all we need to take care of the details of living our lives. Love, heidi
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Worship Day!
"Worship, then is not simply a matter of doing certain practices--standing, singing, kneeling, bowing. Worship is a matter of living our lives in a Christlike and sacrificial way."
Sr. Melannie Svoboda, "In Steadfast Love"
How will you worship today? Yes, it is a Tuesday, but, if you think about it, we have a good deal of opportunity to worship today. Every single thing we do today, our work, school, cooking, cleaning, exercising, driving around, shopping, you-name-it, can be infused with Christ's love, and thus, be worship. Everything we do for the glory of God is worship. Every time we have a free minute and say a quick prayer, is worship. Every time we do something for someone else, even the simplest kindness, is worship. Today, let's be aware of our day being about worshiping God in everything we do. It's not Sunday, but it is still Worship Day! Love, heidi
Sr. Melannie Svoboda, "In Steadfast Love"
How will you worship today? Yes, it is a Tuesday, but, if you think about it, we have a good deal of opportunity to worship today. Every single thing we do today, our work, school, cooking, cleaning, exercising, driving around, shopping, you-name-it, can be infused with Christ's love, and thus, be worship. Everything we do for the glory of God is worship. Every time we have a free minute and say a quick prayer, is worship. Every time we do something for someone else, even the simplest kindness, is worship. Today, let's be aware of our day being about worshiping God in everything we do. It's not Sunday, but it is still Worship Day! Love, heidi
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