Same old, same old...

"Relieve those burdened by old worries, stored grievances, or recurring fears...Uphold us, O God."

Give Us This Day...

 

This was one of the Morning prayer intentions for today in "Give Us This Day," and I sure identified with it!  It seems that, day after day, year after year, I have the same old "stuff" to deal with.  The old worries, stored grievances, recurring fears...it's like the author of this intention could read my mind!  Same old stuff; same old sins, same old triggers, same old, same old.  I want to break this cycle and maybe get some new concerns...like maybe more concern for the poor, for the immigrant, the people who don't feel they belong.  In today's Gospel, the "sinful woman" broke her alabaster jar and anointed Jesus' feet, much to the ire of the host and religious leaders.  She was a fringe person, who was seen as someone who didn't belong at this party.   She was an intruder, and was looked down upon by everyone except Jesus.  Jesus saw her, loved her, forgave her, and held her up as an example to all.  O Jesus, help me to get out of all my old stuff and take up new concerns--like people on the fringe of life.  Help me to see them as you saw the Woman who washed your feet with her tears and dried them with her hair--with love.  Love, heidi

God, riding up front...

"The Father cares. He knows each of us by name. He is deeply involved in the little drama of our personal existence."

Brennan Manning, "Reflections for Ragamuffins"

 

This astounds me this morning.  I guess because there are so many Big Things in the world for God to be deeply involved in...why my little dramas?  I had a particularly frustrating day yesterday and, looking back on it, I didn't think of God once.  Not once, during my little dramas, did I pray.  Not once did I turn to God.  It would have been so much better for me if I had! You see, once I did sit down and contemplate the frustrations of the day, God was right in the middle of it all.  So, why couldn't I seek God at the time?  Interesting.  As spiritual as I like to think I am, I still sometimes think of God as the court of last resort.  Today, God is going to ride shot-gun my whole day!  I'm not just going to think back, regrettably, of how I could have called on God, but I will call on God.  My weaknesses can be turned into strengths with God, and that could ease so much frustration!  Blessings on your day, too.  Let God ride up front! Love, heidi

A little more time...

"(Jesus) stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, 'Young man, I tell you, arise!'"

Luke 7:14

 

As I read this today, I paused to ponder a little reflection on it in "Living With Christ."  This young man was raised from the dead and given back to his mother.  But he eventually died again.  Presumably after his widowed mother, so he could take care of her as long as she lived.  She had him with her longer, which was so critical in those days when widows with no children had to resort to begging to live.  It reminded me of my dog, Tess, who was about three dogs ago.  Tess was old and ill and, we assumed, at death's door.  Chris kindly agreed to take her in to have her put to sleep. (Chris always got the tough jobs!)  I was so sad and it was just such a hard time...for all of us.  I spent the day grieving for Tess.  Later, the doorbell rang and when I opened the door, there was Tess (and Chris)!  Turns out she had a bit more life left in her and could be treated for her ailment.  We had her another whole year!  By that time, we were all better equipped to go on without her and she died peacefully in my arms.  God gave us more time as Jesus gave the widow, and her son, more time. Today, let's pray for all those suffering loss, especially those who lost loved ones in the Navy Yard shooting...such a senseless, terrible loss.  Love, heidi

Processional dash...

"The procession for mass doesn't begin when the priest walks down the aisle, but when you leave your homes to come to mass."

Thoughts on the Eucharistic Conference by Deacon Wence

This really made me think when I heard it last night.  I remember when the kids were little and it was a frantic, Herculean effort to get everyone ready for mass, then getting them into the car, and, finally, we'd tear down the road, trying to make it on time!  Even last night, I'd just barely gotten into town from a fabulous weekend away, picked up the dogs, dropped them off at home and tore into mass with minutes to spare.  So, the idea that that mad dash to get there was part of the processional?  Wow!  Then, it dawned on me--maybe the desire to get there was a true and valid part of the processional.  I wanted to be there, and I wanted to make it on time.  I wanted to cap off a wonderful weekend with a time of thanksgiving.  I wanted to give the glory to the One who made it all so awesome. That makes perfect sense to me.  Our desire to be with God in God's house is part of the mass itself! So, here it is, Monday, again.  Blessings on your fresh, new week!  Love, heidi

To sum it all up...

"Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful."

Luke 6:36

 

There were so many wonderful passages in today's readings I could have chosen! Paul to the Colossians: "Put on...heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience..." (Colossians 3:12-17)  And today's Gospel is line-for-line, exactly how we are to live: love your enemies, give to others, forgive, stop judging. (Luke 6:27-38)  But I thought the way to sum all of these wonderful passages into one is "Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful."  If we are merciful, we are all the others--loving, forgiving, nonjudgmental.  Being merciful to me means realizing that another person is a child of God too.  They may have had a difficult background or horrible things may have happened to them in the past and they are just trying to make their way the best they can.  Being merciful means being understanding and compassionate, not a doormat for others, but understanding and forgiving.  We can't go through a day without someone getting under our skin, but being merciful means we do not let it ruin our day or make us angry or mean.  We can treat each other with the kindness and compassion that St. Paul describes to the Colossians.  So, today, let this scripture run through our minds like a little ticker-tape...."Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful."  Love, heidi

It's about the love today...

"And so, this morning we come to bury Myke Judge's body, but not his spirit. We come to bury his voice, but not his message. We come to bury his hands, but not his good works. We come to bury his heart, but not his love. Never his love."

Fr. Michael Duffy, at the funeral of Fr. Mychal Judge

Today, on the twelfth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, I read a reflection on Fr. Mychal Judge, the Franciscan chaplain who was the first casualty pulled out of the rubble that dreadful morning.  There are still lessons to be learned from the attacks of 9/11, and the one for me today is love.  Fr. Mychal Judge was not a perfect human being.  He struggled with alcohol himself, so he ministered to people in AA.  He loved the poor, so he ministered to people on the street.  Fr. Mychal was open and honest about his weaknesses, so you know what God did? God used those very weaknesses for good!   There is strength in our weaknesses, once we recognize the weaknesses and ask God to help us.  Then God can do what God does so well...turn our weakness around into good.  So, today, as I think and pray about 9/11, I'm going to dwell on the love. The love that Fr. Myke showed everyone he came into contact with in his beautiful ministry.  The love that propelled that good priest to run into the building with the firefighters, that day, to see who he could help. The love with which his own firemen carried Fr. Myke's body out of the rubble and placed it in a church.   It's only about the love today, Friends.  Love, heidi

If you want to see a good documentary about Fr. Mychal, see "The Saint of 9/11." If you want to read more from the homily and more about Fr. Mychal, here is a good link:

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/09/140293993/slain-priest-bury-his-heart-but-not-his-love