+++++++++++++++++++++God's timing is not our timing, but He is never late.+++++++++++++++
"If we're open to it, God can use even the smallest thing to change our lives." Donna Van Liere, The Christmas Shoes


Layers - in the knowledge of God and the path to holiness

Learning about God is like unwrapping a head of lettuce, pealing back one leaf at a time. Always there is another leaf below. We will eventually reach the center of the head of lettuce; but we will never unwrap everthing there is to know about God.

The path to holiness is like pealing an onion. God shows us what is sinful and convicts us that we have sinned. No matter how sweet the onion, there are always tears in the peeling. No matter how sweet the grace of repentence, there are always the pain of letting go of the sin. As the peeling of the onion reveals another layer, so God shows us what we lack in holiness, drawing us ever closer to "be(ing) perfect even just as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48



What I Believe

Why I am and always will be a Catholic. "So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. Tthe living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever." John 6:53-58 The words and actions of man cannot sanctify. Only the priest, empowered by his ordination, can invoke the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine into Jesus so we can receive Him - Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity into our bodies and souls. This is the core of the Catholic Church; without this there is no purpose or meaning to the Catholic Church. There are other ways to holiness, to grow in grace; there is no better way than union with Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

Visitation Catholic Church

Visitation Catholic Church

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Seeds

In the parables, seed was used as a symbol for the Word of God.  All of us are called to sow.  Some may have the talent to speak of the Word.  Others’ talent may be in writing.  Still, others spread the seed through their actions.  Sometimes, it is necessary to do as St. Frances of Assisi is to have said, “Preach the Gospel at all times: if necessary, use words.”  Mother Teresa spent most of her life in a country where public proselytizing was forbidden.  The only way she could “preach the gospel” was through her actions. 

It is by our actions that we all can preach the Word best.  It is also by our actions that we fail in preaching the Word.  Gandhi was purported to have said that he would become a Christian, if he ever met one.  If we truly have Jesus we cannot be silent; because to love Jesus is to share with others the Good News about Jesus.

One of Jesus’ last commands before His Ascension was to make disciples of all nations.  If we do not preach, people cannot know.  It is not, however, for us to know the results of our  sowing.  God works on His time table.  For some people the seed needs to be nurtured more than for others.  So, some of us may also be called to be nurturers of the seed.  Others may have the joy of seeing the seed take root, grow and blossom in the person who turns to Jesus and brings Him into His heart.  We should also not neglect the seed in our own hearts.  That seed which grows by the grace of God also needs to be nurtured through the Word, so that we may grow strong and blossom.

Seeds - so that the world may be full of flowers for Jesus.


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