Seeing is believing...

"Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.'"

John 20:29

I was thinking about this, as I sat outside this morning, and wondered, what have I seen that has helped me believe? God has given us so many signs and wonders...proof of the existence of our Awesome Creator.  Look at the fingers and toes of a newborn, for just one example.  I used to think we, in our time, were the ones Jesus was talking about when he said, "Blessed are those who have not seen, yet have come to believe." But now I see such evidence every day of God's presence. Thomas believed as he saw the wounds of Jesus.  Blessed Mother Teresa saw Jesus in the wounded of Calcutta.  I see Jesus in the folks I meet everyday.  We are not the "unseeing," my Friends.  We encounter Jesus each and everyday in our lives.  We just need to be aware and count ourselves among those who believe through our own seeing.  Love, heidi

Faith through the storm...

"Why are you so terrified, O you of little faith?"

Matthew 8:26

Jesus is asleep in the boat while the storm is raging. That is such an interesting thing to think about today, isn't it? Jesus, who knows all, created all, sees the Big Picture from start to finish, is asleep in the boat. So, really, how bad could the storm be? Really? What I've noticed is that, through age, experience and spiritual growth, I react a bit differently to troublesome situations. I used to freak out a lot more! But, think about it. You scan the horizon and see trouble coming. You brace yourself for the storm, hang on, and eventually the storm passes. You shake yourself off and think, "Wow--I made it through the storm!" The next time you see clouds coming you think, "Things will work out...remember last time?" Well, back to Jesus asleep in the boat. Jesus experienced the absolute worst the world had to offer and yet, he came through it and leads us through it too. Now, that is someone you want to follow, right? No matter how stormy things may seem, let's follow Jesus to faith through the storm. Love, heidi

Bring two!

"Several years ago when the Friday abstinence was since in force, a beleaguered fan approached me in Yankee Stadium. It was a Friday. 'I had a long day, Father. Not even time for lunch. Worked overtime tonight. I was wondering if I could get a hot dog?' Mentally, I thumbed through my moral theology manual for mitigating circumstances: nuclear holocaust, famine, lunar attack, wedding anniversary...what would Jesus have said? 'Bring two!'"

Brennan Manning, "Reflections for Ragamuffins"

I had a brat at a ballgame myself last night. It was delightful. I have a feeling Jesus would have enjoyed a brat at a ballgame too. Why? Because Jesus enjoyed weddings, meals with friends, celebrations, people. Jesus probably would have multiplied them and passed them out to everyone! Love, heidi

If you wish...

"Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean."

Matthew 8:2

I love the way this leper models for us how to pray. Of course he wants to be healed of his leprosy, but he indicates that he would yield his will to Jesus..."If you wish..." Since he addresses Jesus as "Lord," we can jump to it seeming like he is willing to yield to God's will in the situation. Jesus says the same prayer later, as he agonizes in the Garden. "Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will." (Mark 14:36) Both Jesus and the leper are teaching us to pray with their prayers. Both are showing a willingness to let go of their own will and yield to God's will. May that be our prayer as we celebrate our Friday. Lord, you know what I need and even what I want. Let Your will for me be done and please give me the grace to accept, even appreciate it. Amen! Love, heidi

Good fruit!

"Every good tree bears good fruit."

Matthew 7:17

As I was contemplating this reading this morning, I wondered what the "good fruit" looks like. The answer was as clear as day. Last week, I saw a dear, elderly lady who used to be a client and now is having more problems due to her vision loss. I met with her at her little house and we figured out some things that could really help her. As I got up to leave, she said, "I'm gonna give you a hug. I heard that you should always hug those you love and I love you, Heidi." For all my faults, failings, snarky comments and sins, somehow God has graced me with these adorable people who show me such love. Kids, friends, clients...all are amazing fruits of my relationship with God, who loves me so much! Let's enjoy our day today, knowing that every good fruit we experience is a gift. Some of our fruits may be a bit tangy, like a lemon or grapefruit, others may be sweet like a ripe melon, but all are gifts from God, who only gives the best! Love, heidi

Jesus among us...

"In the winter of 1947, the Abbey Pierre, a modern apostle of mercy to the poor of Paris, found a young family on the streets homeless, almost frozen to death. He scooped them up and brought them back to his little dwelling, which was already filled with other vagrants. He had no place to put them, so the Abbey Pierre went into the chapel, removed the blessed sacrament from the tabernacle, placed it upstairs in a cold, unheated attic, and then installed the family in the chapel to sleep. When his Dominican brothers expressed shock at such irreverence toward the blessed sacrament, the Abbey Pierre replied, 'Jesus Christ is not cold in the Eucharist, but He is cold in the body of a little child.'"

Brennan Manning, "The Ragamuffin Gospel"

Let's show reverence today for our fellow humans beings, who are Jesus among us! Love, heidi