Three beautiful words

"Love never fails."

1 Corinthians 13:8

 

This struck be powerfully this morning because it is only three little words, but it is everything. It is something that, no matter what ever happens to us, we can hang our hats on this.  Love never fails.  Ever.  God is love and God never fails us. Things may sometimes look dreary or dismal but that is just our human perspective.  Only God is God and only God never fails.  I'm headed to Marymount Hermitage today, Friends, so I will have a lovely opportunity to ponder these three words.  I pray you, too, will get a chance to sit with Jesus and think about the only thing we have that is truly ours and truly lasts. Love, heidi

Be kind!

"Be kind! Be the loving expression of God's kindness: kindness in your eyes, kindness in your face, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greetings. I believe that the way in which an act of kindness is done is as important as the action itself."

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, as quoted in "Living With Christ"

 

This is certainly what I need to hear today, Friends!  We may say the right things and perform acts of good will, but do we grit our teeth while doing them? Do we do a kind act with our hands while our heads are judging harshly?  Do we do nice things begrudgingly?  Today, let's be especially aware of how kind we are to every single person we meet!  Let's let our kindness show on our faces...in our actions, and in our greetings to others.  Love, heidi

Accept what we cannot change...

"We are invited by God, as Jesus was, to accept our crosses."

James Martin, SJ, "Jesus: A Pilgrimage"

 

Yesterday, I read a bit more about Jesus' suffering and acceptance of his cross, and today, we read about Mary's acceptance of Jesus' suffering and her own sorrows.  Fr. Martin talks about the acceptance of suffering as the acceptance that some things cannot be changed.  Certainly Jesus demonstrates that as he walks the arduous journey to Calvary.  He accepts that his mission is to walk this painful road and suffer.  Well, Mary has to accept that as well.  And all of us parents know how hard it is to watch our kids go through anything difficult!  Fr. Martin says that we don't have to go looking for our crosses...life has a way of doling them out to us.  But, as followers of Jesus, we can accept them with dignity and grace.  As Jesus did. And as Mary did.  Mary, please pray for us that we can accept the things we cannot change.  We look to you as an example of a woman who trusted implicitly in God, even when things may not have make sense at all. Jesus, thank you for giving us a loving Mother! (see John 19:26)  Love, heidi

Love the hard ones...

"Jesus said to his disciples: 'To you who hear I say, love your enemies...'"

Luke 6:27

 

One time, when I was deep in prayer at the Hermitage, I prayed to Jesus that my heart was bursting with love for him and I wanted to show him that love.  Jesus told me to "Love others."  The way for me to show my love for Jesus is to love others.  OK, so I pressed further and said, "Even the hard ones?"  Jesus responded, "Especially the hard ones!"  And Jesus is telling the disciples the exact same thing in today's Gospel:  Love the hard ones.  Who are the "hard ones?" Well, people are hard to love when they don't love us back.  They are hard ones to love.  And Jesus asks us to love them especially.  There are people we encounter every day who don't love us, understand us, maybe even really dislike us.  And Jesus says, "It's OK.  I love you enough for you to share with those who may not love you."  Today, let's remember that Jesus wants us to love the hard ones.  Whoever they may be.  And we can do that, because Jesus loves us first.  Love, heidi

A Person of the Beatitudes

"Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said, 'Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours..."

Luke 6:20

 

Today, hand-in-hand with this Gospel, I read parts of "Jesus: A Pilgrimage," by Fr. James Martin.  There was so much wisdom in this chapter ("Happy," is the chapter, if you have the book) that I could only read part of it and then had to choose what to concentrate on today.  I chose (with God's help) the part on being "A Person of the Beatitudes," as Fr. Martin describes a fellow Jesuit.  I thought about what being a Person of Beatitudes would look like in my life each day.  Being a person who is "humble, merciful, gentle, peacemaking, seeking justice for others," is a challenge for all of us, even as we are Jesus people!  In my work, every day, I must realize I don't have all the answers or know everything.  I sometimes pull against the fact that others are more skilled in areas (like Technology!) and I need to ask for their help.  I need to show mercy to everyone, trying to understand that they are doing the best they can.  I need to avoid gossip and judgments of others and be an example of peacefully working together.  And finally, I need to go to bat for those who struggle and do my best for those who I encounter in my work.  It is worthwhile to sit with Jesus and consider how becoming "A Person of the Beatitudes" would look in our own lives.  Love, heidi

Jesus chose us!

"(Jesus) called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles."

Luke 6:13

After a full night of prayer, Jesus chose his closest Apostles.  He didn't choose the brightest, the holiest, or those without faults.  He chose normal, real, honest-to-goodness people.  Jesus chose us! Jesus had faith in us and hoped that, in spending quality time with us, we could be transformed.  Jesus knew we didn't have all we needed, yet, to be our best selves. But Jesus knew that a close proximity to him would help us to grow in love and compassion.  Thank you, Jesus, for having such faith in us by choosing us to be your Apostles.  We will constantly strive to stay close to you and never let you down!  Love, heidi