God Provides Us With Possibilities Through Faith And Growth As Believers

A few days ago my wife discovered some pictures of our family move from Illinois to California as we stopped to visit the Grand Canyon.  One was of the six of us looking down into the canyon and remembering the remark by one of our children saying it’s just a big hole in the ground.  Another was of my youngest on my shoulders who a week earlier wouldn’t talk or be near me because she was angry I had been away for a long period of time to set up our new life across country.  I remarked to her when she saw the picture that it was a journey that changed our lives forever.  Though she had no memory at the age of two about the trip, she agreed with my comment.

“Take It; This Is My Body.” “This Is The Blood Of My Covenant…” Do This In Remembrance Of Me!

The solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) focuses primarily on the adoration of the Holy Eucharist and secondarily on the presence of the Body of Christ in the Church as a sign of common faith.  In other words we, His disciples, are the Body of Christ who believe in the real sacramental presence of Christ in the Eucharist, not just a symbol of eating a wafer.  He, Jesus, the Son of God, is physically and spiritually present in our bodies we carry with us throughout the day.

The Most Holy Trinity: A Mystery We Define As God’s Love For Us

For those who love mysteries, there is none greater than The Most Holy Trinity.  Only God has the answer.  And though He shares it in so many different ways through what the Father, Son and Holy Spirit do for us, it befuddles us.  We spend an inordinate amount of time looking to make sense of its components (three Persons in one God) than accepting what They accomplish together and individually.

Jesus’ Footprint On The Mount Of Olives Connects Us With His Heavenly Home And The Opportunity To Proclaim His Gospel

It is early morning of Tuesday, October 6, 2015, and I am staring up into the sky on the top of Mount Olivet (Mount of Olives) in Bethany, Israel, next to the Chapel of the Ascension. I am imagining that I am one of the Apostles looking at Jesus as he ascends into heaven.  This happened after I exited     a 12 by 12 meter octagonal structure known as a martyrium (memorial) in which can be found a glass-encased rock on which rests the footprint of Jesus prior to His ascension into heaven. 

It Was Not You Who Chose Me, It Was I Who Chose You To Go Forth And Bear Fruit!

This is my favorite verse from the Bible, John 15:16a.  It is the one that clarifies God’s love for me and is not based on my initial belief that I am the one who sets the parameters for my relationship with God, but that He does out of His love.  I am truly created in the divine image and likeness of God and called to be His disciple.

God’s Spiritual Bond With Us Helps Us To Boldly Love Him In Thought, Word And Deed

 

Several years ago in one corner of our backyard, a flowering vine started to creep over our wall from a neighbor’s yard.  We decided to let it grow since it hid the drab grey block wall surrounding all the open land from the front of the house to the back.  In the five years since, 70 percent of the wall is covered and has greatly enhanced the wall and yard’s look.

I Hear The Voice Of Jesus, The Good Shepherd, Help Me Say Yes To His Truth!

 

Several years ago, I developed tinnitus in both my ears.  It is a constant ringing, 24/7, that is it’s loudest when all is quiet.  It is blessing that I have been able to block it out when I go to sleep.  What is more amazing is that I am able to pick out individual sounds when there are multiple noises, such as voices of those speaking, as long as I am close enough to hear.

Jesus Calls Us To Be Witnesses Of His Truth By The Practice Of Our Faith

Pontius Pilate in St. John’s Gospel (Jn. 18:38) responded to a statement by Jesus about truth with a rhetorical question: “Truth!  What does that mean?” He probably believed that truth is what one makes it, not the truth that is grounded in the very character and being of God which we, who are baptized, try to witness in our daily lives.      

Challenges and Triumphs: A Passion of Moral Reflection!

 

Though my Holy Land Pilgrimage was in early October of 2015, my thoughts, visions and memories are still fresh in my mind, especially during Lent and Holy Week.  I kept a journal during our 10-day journey and St. Mark’s Gospel on this Passion/Palm Sunday reminds me of the depth of God’s love for His creation as He returns to Jerusalem for the last time to give us life everlasting through His death and Resurrection.

“A Clean Heart Create for Me, O God, And A Steadfast Spirit Renew Within Me.” (Psalm 51:12)

 

It is rare that a Psalm is used for a main thought for a homily, a reflection, pastoral letter or even a blog.  It is the Gospel upon which we are to take our lead in God’s message to His disciples or people who “wish to see Jesus” as mentioned in St. John’s Gospel today (Jn. 12:21).  But, without Psalm 51:12, can we really “See” Jesus?