Exposed!

We all have deep dark secrets, right? Things we've done bringing shame and the impulse to run for cover. I gotta tell you something . . . the older I get, the more I understand all in darkness eventually comes to light. This blog allows me to be open about my "misjudgments" in life. It also allows me to share what I've learned. Hopefully, if you have found this blog by accident or you are a daily reader, I have helped to lead you closer to Jesus and His Sacred Heart. I am learning right alongside of you. Every day I read the Gospel and search for something from this apostolate to quote, I grow stronger in my faith. If something I write helps only my husband or daughters or sons-in-law see Christ and all His Graces in a different light, I have done my job. Be honest with yourself about mistakes in your past. Ask Him for forgiveness. One day you will face Jesus where all is exposed. 

Todays Gospel (John 3: 16-21) tells us to live the Truth and bring all to light:

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she encourages us to ask Jesus where we need to get it right:

"Now it must be said that one of the greatest graces Jesus allows is sudden conversion. These St. Paul-like experiences must be the delight of the saints in heaven. I believe Jesus does this when He needs service from the person NOW. He perhaps has tried to shift the soul gently but the soul is stubborn in his resisting the plan of our beautiful Jesus. This, my friends, I believe to be the most loving of actions. A soul bounced from his horse, metaphorically speaking, surely can have no doubt that his service is of urgent importance to the Kingdom and his resistance is doing damage to the Kingdom. Clearly, the humble soul rests in the latter thought. Even in situations like this, there is evidence of the Lord’s gentleness. Jesus surrounds the soul with grace, sending in help from both heavenly and earthly sources. The soul is guided very carefully afterwards into the service intended for him. I think that a soul experiencing the Lord’s correction abruptly will sometimes not feel that it happened gently in terms of the impact it has on his life. Here is why. When someone turns on the lights suddenly and a person sees the error or falseness in which he has been living, that person might be tempted to run for cover. My friends, this feeling of being exposed is inevitable. Everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear.  For this reason, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in hidden places will be proclaimed on the housetops (Luke 12). Again, I say, do this now. We must ask Jesus to show us any areas where we can improve ourselves and then we will have no unpleasant surprises when we die. Jesus will be gentle in showing us the wrong way and the right way. Once we ask forgiveness, acknowledging our error, Jesus simply draws us into the correct course." 

Lay apostles, are you holding on to things done in the past which cause self-doubt or worse, self-hatred?  I've been there at certain points in my life. But this mission has taught me how forgiving God is and how easily He forgets our past sins when we work for His Glory. Be open to Him and expose everything to Him now, while on earth. It will make the transition to heaven much smoother!

Thank you, Lord, for the strength You have given me to let myself be exposed. A favor? Please help me to get everything straightened out before I see You? 

God bless,
Bonnie

Is It All Worth Eternal Life?

I once had a hospice physician tell me an atheist's end of life is the most difficult to deal with. There is no consoling them as they have no belief in eternal life through Jesus Christ. They hang on to life out of fear. I can't even imagine thinking when I die it is the end of everything I know. If you or someone you know think this way, read the Gospels and read the Volumes! Yes, being a follower of Jesus Christ the Returning King requires full commitment to Him. Yes, you will have to let go of earthly addictions and ways of thinking. Yes, your life will drastically change. Is it all worth eternal life? If what I have to say matters, my answer is YES! I have no fear of death . . . none! I know my earthly death is only the beginning of an eternal life lived in harmony with Jesus. And, who doesn't want to hang with Him for eternity? 


In todays Gospel (John 3: 7B-15) Jesus gives Nicodemus the answer to eternal life:

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to him,
‘How can this happen?” Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

In Volume Two, Jesus asks us to come to Him when we struggle with our earthly preoccupations:

"If you let Me tell you of My love for you, you will begin to understand how irreplaceable you are to Me. Your gifts, strengths, and skills were given to you so that you could further My Kingdom on earth, as an obedient and loving child looks after the interests of his father. But, for some time now, you have not done that. You have looked after your own interests, either through the slavery of addiction or through the quest for worldly goods and sensual experiences. My child, I know you feel this is your business and perhaps you feel you hurt only yourself. I tell you now that you are My child, I love you, and I take it very personally when you hurt yourself. I am telling you now to stop. Stop any behavior that is separating you from Me. Are you unsure what those behaviors are? Come to Me, here in the tabernacle, and I will tell you exactly which behaviors I refer to. You know already, as you read these words. You must not trade these behaviors for your eternal life, My child. You must not. That is the second part of the reason why I compel you to return to Me. The third reason you must change your behavior is because I need you. I am your God, the God of All, and truly I say to you, I need you. There are souls in your world that only you can save. You must be working for Me to save them, because I have to tell you how and you have to be listening. So please, little souls of My heart, come to Me now, because the first part of the reason compelling your return is that I love you and separation from you is making My heart ache with loneliness." 

Lay apostles, we have been given the words of Jesus and all of heaven in the Volumes and every book Anne has written. This is a very special gift! If you have read the words, live the words! Believe in the Gospels! 

Thank you, Lord, for leading me to this apostolate. Boy, did You know what I needed! Can't wait to thank You in person some day!

God bless,
Bonnie

Born From Above

We just found out last Friday while in DC we are going to have another perfect baby boy join our growing family! 

Not exactly what my daughter Mallorie wanted to hear . . . but two boys will be much more cost effective for her little family! My step-daughter Christine text the most beautiful words after finding out the sex of her new nephew: "The world needs good men, obviously God has faith in her skills :)." Mallorie was comforted by those words . . . and I couldn't have said it any better! Everything is born from above, and He always knows what's best for us! Looks like "Mimi and Papa Camp" is going to be filled with football, basketball and fishing . . . time to start improving my skills!

Todays Gospel (John 3:1-8) helps us understand God is in control:

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him,
“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”  Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

In Volume Six, Mary (an unknown saint) speaks to parents about what is truly important when we are blessed with a child(ren):

"When a child is born and is laid in his mother’s arms, he does not wonder how many rooms are in his home. He feels safe and warm and is content. That child is brought home. Again, he is not concerned with how big his house is, rather, he is concerned that when he cries, his mother responds. The child begins to grow and look around. Still, he does not say, “Why don’t I have a big house? Why don’t I have an expensive car to drive in?” He looks to his parents for guidance in this area and if his parents are content with what that family has, then the child understands that there is no reason to complain. If a parent is discontent and always longing for something better or something more, the child feels he, too, has been shorted. Mothers, please set a tone of thanksgiving for what you have, regardless of how humble are your possessions. Your child will do the same and you will set the course for a lifetime of contentment, rather than a lifetime of greed and covetousness. I must speak about clothing. Again, if you do not entertain thoughts of bitterness that your clothes are not as fine as the next person’s, your child will  think nothing of it. When he comes home and says that other children have better clothing than he does, you must say that in heaven nobody looks at clothing and begin to praise the beauty of your child’s soul and the lovely virtues that are developing."

Lay apostles, we have so much work to do!!! As parents (or grandparents, aunts/uncles, etc), we must teach our little blessings about virtues, about love, about goodness, about Jesus. The world is full of negativity and criticism. Let's continue to build an army of lay apostles who will change the world by shining His Light! Are you with me?

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of two grandsons on this earth and two new little babies on the way. Help me to teach and guide them in Your Ways! Who knows, maybe another boy destined for the priesthood? ;-)

God bless,
Bonnie

Wasted Time

Do you ever think about wasted time? Well, today I am. And I have to admit, I could have planned my life, thus far, a little better. But then, planning that far in advance is not what Jesus wants for His Children. He asks us to stay in the present . . . to do everything to the best of our ability right now, in this moment. No looking back. Someone once told me to look at my life as my "journey," and to stop referring to my "failures." I heard a great quote from Zig Ziglar the other day. "Failure is an event, not a person." I figure that if I failed at something, it means at least I tried to succeed. God uses every moment we have to teach us . . . so no more wasted time. Just time to learn.

Todays Gospel (John 20: 11-18) finds the Resurrected Jesus urging Mary Magdalene not to waste time:

Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” 
which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her.

In Volume Three, God the Father directs us to focus on Him:

"At times in the history of mankind, most souls on earth were moving in the general direction of heaven. At this time, most souls are languishing along the way. Many are wasting their time on earth and are not coming in this direction at all. In this way, souls are lost. As a God of mercy, I send all manner of signs and warnings. In this time, however, most of My signs are being ignored. Such is the level of distraction, that My souls no sooner see a sign and experience  My call, then they allow themselves to be distracted and pulled back into the world. Children, pay attention. You must focus on Me and on your path. You must be disciplined if you are to remain on the path to salvation. And believe Me when I say that all other roads lead nowhere. My children belong with each other, loving Me. Hear My call of love, now, while I can offer you a soft and gentle transition to holiness. There is coming a time, as you have been told, when the transition will only be possible with violence. It will be a shock to you if you do not respond now. Children, if you are not following My words, if you are not united with Me, if you do not acknowledge and respect My dominion over both you and your world, you are going to be uncomfortable and frightened. These times are over. My time is coming. There will be gladness, it is true. It is what My children have prayed for. But change is difficult for those without a firm understanding and belief in the next world. If you were asked to hand your life to Me this day, and account for it fully, how would you feel?"

Lay apostles, read the Bible. Read the Volumes. Focus on Him and there will be no wasted time. 

Thank you, Lord, for the lessons and challenges in my life. Help me to use my time wisely, for Your Glory!

God bless,
Bonnie

What Good Are Lies?

About 6 months ago, Jay and I met one of his old MBA professors from FGCU for lunch. Conversation never lagged and time flew by quickly. He knew I was in the process of publishing my book (Can You Text Me Directions?) and we began to discuss the mission (Direction for Our Times) on which I have based my books. I don't remember how the flow of conversation shifted to "lying," but he told us of an experiment he challenged his students with one semester. First, he asked the class, "How many of you tell lies?" Hardly any hands went up. Then he assigned a project. They were to keep a journal for one week and write down every time they told a lie, big or small . . . anything that wasn't the truth. At the end of the week, the students were to bring in their journal. The conclusion of almost every student? They were shocked how many times they lied during the week! From little white lies such as "I'm not feeling well" when they didn't want to accept an invitation to go out somewhere . . . to lies about their whereabouts when asked. Just as the chief priests told the soldiers to lie about the Resurrection of Christ, we tend to deny the Truth of His Resurrection at times . . . is it out of fear that we deny Him? It's time to be bold and proclaim His Glory, lay apostles. 

In todays Gospel (Matthew 28: 8-15), the lies of the chief priests do no one any good:

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed,
and ran to announce the news to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she asks us to remember not to fear the Truth:

"We must never reject the beautiful lessons God wishes to teach us. We should instead view everything as training and tuition and accept that only through learning today’s lesson will we be fit for tomorrow’s service. So expect persecutions. Expect lies to be told and distortions to erupt. Christ will never allow the enemy to overcome us! If we feel overcome, so be it. God is not overcome. God’s plan for Jesus was perfect and it included His Passion and death. What do we fear? Similar treatment? Think of our brothers, Saints Peter and Paul. They viewed such treatments as a privilege and so must we."

Lay apostles, take time to think about the little "white lies" we hear and tell on a daily basis. Next time the temptation arises, remember lies are not of Christ. 

Thank you, Lord, for guiding me to the Truth. Help me to remember not to fear!

God bless,
Bonnie

Easter 2014 - HE IS RISEN!

Happy Easter, lay apostles! My Lenten journey brought peace and patience . . . but it doesn't stop here. I intend to continue my journey with the Risen Jesus now. If it's even possible, I fall more in love with Him every day. The more I trust Him, the more I feel His guidance and love. This is a day to rejoice, my friends! But don't forget His Passion in every day crosses we bear. Remember, our physical death on earth is our first day we will see Our Sweet Jesus!

In todays Gospel (John 20:1-9), I can imagine the confusion of the disciples, not yet grasping the Resurrection:

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark,  and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter  and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,  “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter  and arrived at the tomb first;  he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, 
and the cloth that had covered his head,  not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Climbing the Mountain, she describes one of her experiences of heaven, perfect for this Easter Sunday:

"We went through heaven via the same route. I felt joy and freedom. The greatest joy is asking Jesus questions. We turned right sooner than the Passion and I saw yet another vast structure. Jesus told me that this was the house of the Resurrection. He asked me to describe what I saw.

I saw millions of souls in rapture. They were riveted to the raised area in the front. I saw Jesus there. He looked similar to the Divine Mercy image only real. His hair was dark brown, it seemed to me. He was beautiful. He was love. All souls looked on Him and I understood that they had completed the study of the Passion. These souls were enraptured. There was another area and I asked Jesus what was there. He explained that His tomb was there. As I understand it, you can revisit the whole experience. In looking at these souls I was struck that they were in complete communion with Jesus. They were in Easter Sunday joy. It also ran through my head that some of them were there for millions of years. That was the longest time I could humanly attach to it. They were not bored. They were in ecstasy. The term millions of years means nothing, of course. It’s just my way of saying a really long time.
Jesus said, “Anne, this is important. These souls have entered into the mystery of the Resurrection. The greatest understanding of man on earth cannot compare to the smallest kernel of understanding in heaven. With understanding comes joy and wonder and reverence. It is for this reason souls gaze so long upon the Risen Christ.  I make all of this available in heaven and souls come here often. Souls are welcome to rest in any of the heavenly mysteries. All is understood here. All is accepted. All is just. Souls feel only peace.”"

Enjoy your day today, lay apostles. Know Our Lord and Savior died so we could live. Work as hard for Him as He did for us. He is worth it all!

Thank you, Lord, for sacrificing so much for me (and all Your Children). Help me to stay in the Lenten frame of mind always.

God bless,
Bonnie

Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday)

No need for any words from me . . . todays Gospel (John 18:1-19:42) is all we need to focus on:

Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley  to where there was a garden,  into which he and his disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place,  because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards  from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 

Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.” He said to them, “I AM.” Judas his betrayer was also with them. When he said to them, “I AM, “  they turned away and fell to the ground. So he again asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill what he had said,  “I have not lost any of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it,  struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?”

So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas,  who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it was better that one man should die rather than the people.

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. But Peter stood at the gate outside. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest, went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in. Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter,  “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm.

The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue or in the temple area where all the Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me?Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said.” When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said,  “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest,  a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said,  “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed.

Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?” They answered and said to him, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” At this, Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” The Jews answered him,  “We do not have the right to execute anyone,” in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he would die. So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

When he had said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in him.
But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this one but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head,  and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said,
“Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly. Once more Pilate went out and said to them,  “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.”
So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, “Behold, the man!” When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out,  “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered,  “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus,  “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me  if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”
Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out,  “If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”

When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench 
in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city;  and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate,  “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews’.” Pilate answered,
“What I have written, I have written.”

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier. They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be, “ in order that the passage of Scripture might be fulfilled that says:
They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. This is what the soldiers did. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

After this, aware that everything was now finished,  in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Here all kneel and pause for a short time.

Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and that they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first  and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,  they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true;  he knows that he is speaking the truth,  so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews,  asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body.
Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Climbing the Mountain, she beautifully describes her experience of Our Lord's Passion:

"I saw Jesus in the Garden and I entered immediately into the suffering. I felt it as a dreadful anguish and revulsion. This went on later as Jesus was pushed and pulled, mocked, spit on. I saw Jesus being whipped. This is how I saw it. I had an awareness of Jesus during His Passion, from the Garden to His death. I am having the greatest difficulty because I truly do not want to revisit this. The awareness would pause on highlights, which were the scourging, the crowning, the horrific carrying of the cross, and the crucifixion. I had the most horrid view of His poor little legs, which trembled under the weight of His broken body. The only way to cope with these experiences is to focus in on small details and this is what I did. Hence the fixation on His poor little thighs and legs. I cried out and said, “Jesus, is this happening now?” His voice came within me. He said, “No. I am here, Anne. I am not suffering in this way now. But My Passion is honored in heaven and souls come here to be with Me in a
mystical way. It is important that souls know that the depth of My sacrifice can be understood in heaven. This is a part of union, Anne, and you will come to experience this more gradually.” We left this area and I came back to myself, a little shaken. 

Part of the reason this shook me up is this: In this heavenly experience, there is perfect clarity of the innocence and goodness of Jesus. He is the Lamb, the spotless One. He is all Love, all Goodness. And He is being tortured. I mean the nicest adult on earth at this time is still culpable for something, I would think. But not Jesus. He did nothing but serve. And this is where it took Him. It is a good example, indeed the perfect example, of love and service to both humanity and to heaven. This awareness makes it even more excruciating for me because I am not a resident of heaven. If I were, I would not feel shaken up. I would be gaining in understanding and knowledge. I would be entering the depths of His Passion and growing in wisdom of the sacrifice. This experience brought me clearly to the understanding that my work on earth is not finished. If it were, I would be at peace in His suffering. As it stands, I have my own suffering yet to complete. When I have, and when I am fully purified, I will be able to gaze upon this Passion in heaven and not be filled with remorse, but with love and gratitude."

God bless, lay apostles.

Bonnie

Holy Thursday - Service To Others

Waitressing has to be one of the most difficult jobs on this earth. It requires a ton of humility as some patrons command you cower to their needs. My short stint as a waitress at Denny's while in high school helped shape my awareness and thankfulness to those who serve on a daily basis. Quite the rebellious teen, I didn't handle rude people very well. But I never expressed my "pissed offness" to the customer's face. A very experienced waitress training me seriously expressed how to handle rude customers . . . behind the scenes. I know you know where this is going . . . not something I'm proud of, but man, sure felt good at the time. I won't go into detail, but watching a jerk drink the coffee I added an "extra something" to gave me such pleasure! Of course, shame on the waitress for teaching me at an early age about revenge.  So, what did I take away from this experience? I always try to be kind to those who serve me. And I try to serve others to the best of my ability. The next time you find yourself beginning to take your bad mood out on the hard working waitress (or waiter), remember my blog post today. And, for heaven's sake, be kind! We are all the same underneath, and have chosen paths that lead to where we are today. 

Todays Gospel (John 13:1-15) immediately makes me think of Pope Francis and his Christlike behavior . . . behavior every priest and lay person should emulate:

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper,  fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God,  he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin  and began to wash the disciples’ feet  and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,  “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him,
“What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him,  “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him,  “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over;  so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

So when he had washed their feet  and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet,  you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow,  so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

In the Monthly Message of May 2006, Jesus asks us to commit to our "jobs" every day with kindness and humility:

"Do not think that your Jesus misunderstands the difficulty associated with suffering. Always consider the suffering I accepted in the world, on the cross in My final hours of course, but also throughout My life. I did not spend My time on earth in comfort and leisure. I worked hard each day and often did without things that souls today take for granted. Consider My life on earth in its entirety. Dearest apostle, My friend, I lived as quietly as possible. I prayed for you every day. I offered comfort and assistance to others in pain or in need. I committed Myself to My duty each day and never deviated from My responsibilities. I did this because I knew that you would benefit from a model to follow. You see, I spent each day on earth aware of your life. When I was tempted to become disheartened, I thought of you, struggling, and I disciplined Myself to be brave and hopeful. I offered My struggles to God the Father and asked that in return, He grant you graces of courage and hope. I did not waste any time on earth, My beloved."

Lay apostles, how do you treat those who serve you? Realize they go home to a family, a sick child, a lonely empty home, an abusive relationship. Most of us work very hard at our jobs, and don't need the added pressure of condemnation. So, give the hardworking waitress a little extra if she/he served you well. And remember, service to others is what Christ is all about.

God bless,
Bonnie

Wednesday of Holy Week - Betrayal, An Opportunity To Practice Forgiveness

Betrayal by someone (or an entity) you trust is a punch in the gut . . . a shock to the system. It can cause anger, sadness, and deep hurt. Walls go up around your heart so it is never wounded to that degree again. We begin to question ourselves and our lives. Did we deserve it? Are we not worth loving? The answers are . . . NO we do not deserve it. And, YES, we are worth loving. Human beings react imperfectly, as everyone of us is imperfect. But when others believe they are superior to us, their actions are no different than the Pharisees were in judgement of Jesus. Jesus was betrayed by one of His Twelve. Did He get upset, feeling unloved by this apostle? Or, did He forgive? We all know the answer . . . and must emulate Our Savior when faced with betrayal. For the betrayers will face Him one day, and have to account for their sins just as we all will account for our own sins. See betrayal as an opportunity to practice forgiveness. Let Christ provide the justice we seek to attain on our own.  

Todays Gospel (Matthew 26: 14-25) finds Jesus calm in spite of the coming events, which He knows involves betrayal of His Love:

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,  went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver,
and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near;  in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”‘“ The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said,  “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”

The following quote from Anne a lay apostle in her book Whispers From the Cross gave me (and continues to give me) comfort in times of betrayal:

"There is something beautiful about betrayal. It can be an exquisite thing, a breath-stopping moment for an apostle. The reason betrayal can be exquisite is because it is a ‘call to follow’ of the highest order. How did Jesus handle betrayal? Jesus handled it like a lamb. This does not mean that He was not tempted to bitterness but we know that He successfully overcame these temptations because one of his last statements was a plea for the Father to forgive those who were hurting Him. We must do the same. The reason a moment of betrayal must be breath-stopping is because in every betrayal the enemy has seeded a plan of destruction. At the very least, the enemy hopes to destroy our peace. At the very most, the enemy hopes for alteration of a heavenly plan. If our breath stops in the face of a betrayal, let that be a good thing because we want to move oh-so-carefully. We want to examine each possible course of action and separate our personal reaction from the response God should be able to expect from a holy apostle. In the course of each life, we can expect to be betrayed. We can expect others to turn against us and be false, even perhaps while they pretend to be our friends. Falseness hurts the most. A proclaimed enemy at least allows us to be on guard. When one pretends to be a friend, we allow love to flow through us to them. We give. Our guard is down. When this love is exploited and it is found that person has abused love, one’s trust can be badly shaken. Such hurt. The only place to take it is to the foot of the Crucified Christ. That is the only place where it will make sense. And, when we deliver this hurt to Jesus, He is able to console us and guide us through the temptations that accompany betrayal."

Lay apostles, stop for a minute and imagine all Anne has gone through for Jesus and this mission! Whenever I slip into feeling I have been wronged, I think of her . . . every time. I think of how she lets the bad stuff go and continues on with the work Jesus has asked of her. Can you imagine being a wife and mother of 6, AND being a spokesperson for Christ? Please, do as I try to do when betrayal hits . . . forgive as Jesus has taught us through the Gospels and in all of Anne's writings. Heaven is the ultimate goal and we won't get there without clearing out all anger, etc. 

Thank you, Lord, especially today for Anne and her 'yes' to You. Without this mission, it would have taken me so much longer to get here!

God bless,
Bonnie 

Tuesday of Holy Week - Preparation is Key

Cooking is not exactly my forte. Ask my daughters and they will tell you I made a mean macaroni and cheese with random ingredients added for nutritious value when they were young. As a mother with three busy little girls, the microwave was my best friend. I even perfected microwave eggs (remember, girls?). If I ever stepped out of my microwave world, I was the type of cook to follow a recipe exactly . . . no guessing and it had to be perfectly measured. The preparation was key for me. In the end, my meals were always a hit. Now I don't really follow recipes to the tee after trying something new. I have learned to be comfortable with the knowledge and confidence acquired since those early days of cooking. I know I can bring something good to the table every time. But I would never have gained the fearlessness of creating something new if I wouldn't have prepared in the past.  As Christians, we must prepare ourselves for holiness on a daily basis. For when our time on earth is complete, I want Jesus to welcome me to heaven saying, "You did good, Bonnie. You prepared well." 

In todays Gospel (John 13:21-33, 36-38), Jesus not only prepares Himself for the following days, He prepares His apostles:

Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.

When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.”

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now?  I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

In Volume Four, Jesus the King gives a perfect analogy on the importance of preparing for His return:

"My brothers and sisters of the world must prepare their hearts to welcome their King. In past times when groups of humanity were ruled by Kings, all would prepare for the return of their ruler following his absence. Well, I have been away from your world in the physical sense for many years. Now I prepare to return. I am ready. Your world is not. What must you do to be ready? My brothers and sisters in the world must prepare their hearts. How do you want Me to find you when I come back? Would you be so immersed in the world that My return will be an unpleasant and shocking interruption to your worship of the false gods of materialism and sensuality? That will not be good for you, dear soul, because you will not understand or fully experience the joy that is rightfully yours. You must prepare to claim that joy. You must set an example of peaceful and watchful readiness. When I find you, you will want to welcome Me in all recollected holiness. Do I demand that you become a saint overnight? My little soul, of course I do not. This is not even possible for you. I do not expect it. Like a welcomed and beloved guest, I look not at how high you have reached spiritually, but how willing you are to work with Me on your soul. I am looking for a calm acceptance that you are My subject and live in My Kingdom."

Lay apostles, as Lent draws to a close, do you feel you are, at the least, a little more prepared for the day you meet Jesus Face to face? If not, it's never too late to prepare. 

God bless,
Bonnie