Sometimes you just have to climb a tree. Zacchaeus in Luke’s gospel (19:1-10) was too short to see Jesus in the large crowds so he climbed a tree. I cant help but see Danny DeVito in the role of Zacchaeus. Short, grumpy and shunned by his fellow Jews for being the chief tax collector, the crowd would have elbowed Zacchaeus in fine robes and expensive shoes climbing a sycamore tree, getting bumps and scrapes along the way. But his desire…..
Several of my friends have been in the process of selling their home and buying another. Aside from the horror stories of all the things that have been going wrong with the logistical process, the attachments and memories wrench at their heart strings. There is much mental and emotional energy expended to move on to their new beginnings and keep alive the hope of something better. Meditating on Mary, the mother of Jesus, I think how she relied totally on…..
Sister Janice McGrane heard the words in her heart at Lourdes, “You are anointed.” From then on she fiercely dedicated herself to advocating for the needs of those most challenged in our world until her death, June 27, 2016. On the one-year anniversary of her death, Barbara, Elisa, Annette and I shared our memories of Sister Janice with many of her fellow Sisters of Saint Joseph. She touched each of us deeply as she did all who met her. I…..
For Love Of You For three years Jesus taught, he healed, he prayed, he gave of himself For love of you. For his trouble he was condemned, he was scourged, mocked and spat upon. Jesus took up his Cross, For love of you. On his way to pay for our sins, he meets his sorrowful Mother, he falls, Jesus comforts us. Weep not for me he says, For love of you. He falls again and is stripped of his garments……
Each Ash Wednesday brings an opportunity for deepening my relationship with God. This year my inspiration comes from my favorite home make-over show. Chip Gaines on HGTV’s Fixer Upper proclaims his favorite day is Demo Day. It’s the chance to dig into a house project by tearing down walls and clearing out the old in order to begin the new. It means getting dirty and sweaty. It uncovers hidden problems that can only fester and become worse over time. It also…..
The twelve days of Christmas have come and gone and the Silent Night’s phrase “Christ the savior is born” still rings in my head. Waiting for a savior was in the minds and hearts of the chosen people. It was in the prophecies of gentile cultures as well. Most people in those days worked hard and didn’t have much. Yet they lived for the day a savior would come to them. When I look at my world today, the…..
Speak To Your Soul Lord, I have no words. They are lost in all my thoughts, worries and cares. Dearest Child, then enclose all these things in the embrace of your Heavenly Father. Gently place them in the Heart of my Son. Allow them to rest in our Spirit of Love, then speak to your soul. Take care my child and be at Peace. There is only one word you need. My word, a truly Saving Word The Eternal Word…..
Cry of the Broken-Hearted by Arlene Finocchiaro The Lord is close to the broken-hearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed. Psalm 34:19 No human could console her grief. A wolf at the Shy Wolf Sanctuary had lost her wolf companion. As I was visiting the refuge, the guide told our group that her companion had recently died from cancer. I don’t know where the companion wolf is in God’s plan, but for lonely wolf there was only painful…..
God is full of surprises. You never know when he will challenge you with what’s behind door number one, door number two, and so on. You know you have to pick one or refuse all of them. You don’t know what is on the other side. Trusting in his providence, you can only step through knowing that he has a plan and he will help you follow it. One of the blessed surprises in my life was to write With…..
Prayer feeds the soul; as blood is to the body, prayer is to the soul and it brings us closer to God. St. Teresa
