Gospel Thoughts Today: Causing Another to Sin

The first thought in my mind after reading the Gospel today? Maxine Waters. Yes, good 'ol Maxine. Jay and I saw her at the DC airport last month as we waited to board our plane home. After Jay spotted her and pointed her out, it took everything in me to keep my peace. Didn't she prompt the Left/Trump haters to get in conservative faces when seen in public? Yes, she did. It's all on video. In about 10 seconds my mind went from get up and support your President and say something to don't be one of them . . . the haters. Everyone around us would be watching if I had spoken up. Would I be representing Christ on earth if I responded with anger or frustration? No, I wouldn't be. So after a very sweet, it's not worth it from my husband, I stayed in my seat and said a quick prayer for her . . . that the evil she spouts would leave her soul, being replaced with the Love of God for all. Yeah, a tough one to think it could ever happen. But I have seen a few miracles in my day. One of the biggest is President Trump winning the election with all the obstacles (and I am talking MAJOR obstacles) placed in his path to ensure he wouldn't win! Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for saving America!

Today's Gospel (Mark 9:41-50) is very clear, be careful what you say and do around anyone in your presence:

Jesus said to his disciples: "Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.
Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 

"Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid,
with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another."

In Volume One, Anne a lay apostle gives us hope for those who don't act with the love of God in their hearts:

"Jesus loves you. Ask Him to put love in your heart for Him. He will not refuse this prayer. Ask Him all day long until you feel it. It will come. And then you will begin to know Him. And then you will begin to love Him. Shortly after, you will begin to love your brothers and sisters and there will be no stopping the progress of your soul. You will find yourself in that first group in no time. Someone recently asked me about uniting our sufferings to Christ. It’s a bit hazy until you give it a little thought. The gift of His life, on the cross, to redeem us or ransom us back, is adequate. It is perfect. God our Father would joyfully redeem each one of us using that sacrifice alone, were we willing to be saved. Not everybody is willing, though, at every moment of their lives. The pull of the world can be strong. When we say we unite our sufferings with those of Christ, what we are doing is agreeing to be fastened to our cross. We are in that first group for that time. Well, you might ask, what’s the point? Jesus did the job. This is true. But there is a subtlety and a distinction to be made. Our suffering is not ransoming souls. That work has been completed. But our suffering is buying precious graces, graces that can be used for suffering souls, sinning souls, hardened souls, dying souls, souls in error, in ignorance, souls being victimized, abused. Souls on the brink of hell can be brought back with our sufferings. We’re trading them in for graces. The Blessed Mother, the Mediatrix of All Grace, takes our little offerings and uses them to buy mercy for souls, despite the horrendous behavior of us in this modern world."

Lay apostles, there is so much negativity surrounding our President and America, despite all the good happening since he took office. I just don't get the mentality. With not one Democrat supporting a bill to save babies after a failed abortion (let's call it what it is . . . infanticide) to open borders allowing in gangs/traffickers, I know I need to ramp up my prayers more than ever. Stay focused on the good and make sure what comes out of your mouth doesn't tear anyone down, but boosts others up to see the Light of Christ!

Thank you, Lord, for all the good/lessons/challenges occurring around me. I have become more reliant on You than I have ever been, which is what I think Your Plan has always been, right? ;-)

God bless,
Bonnie 

Gospel Thoughts Today: Eradicating Negativity!

Jay and I have had many conversations over the years regarding negative people. It's very easy to be drawn into conversations leading nowhere, commiserating with encounters from situations I personally experienced in my past. It takes actual concentration to turn those conversations around, focusing on the positive. Years ago I had a memorable conversation with a young man I met through the DFOT apostolate. He complained about his job, and how unfair his boss was . . . yada, yada, yada. I've had difficult bosses in the past so I could understand the frustration. But with age comes wisdom, right? I took my shot at turning his annoyance into empathy by explaining we never know the lives people lead behind closed doors. Some wear their emotions on their sleeve and some hide despair appearing upbeat and happy. He listened and agreed we never know what's behind angry words. Then proceeded to complain some more! The lesson I took away from this conversation? I had some work to do, to prevail . . . practice positivity, not allowing negative talk to escape my lips to the best of my ability. My goal is remembering to be more of Him and less of me. I just pray He continues to intervene when I fail to follow my own advice!

In today's Gospel (Matthew 16:13-19) Jesus shows us how faith in Him leads to the gates of heaven:

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply,  “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 

In Volume Two, our Blessed Mother gives us direction in trusting her Son:

"My children, I am anxious that you persevere in your conversions. There are many graces available to you so that you stay this course to holiness. Because I am a mother, your mother, I anticipate dangers that threaten my little ones. Beware of spiritual pride. Jesus intends to bring each of you to a high level of holiness in a relatively short time. At no time should you think this holiness comes from you. Your faith, your love of God, is God’s gift to you so do not hold yourself above your brothers and sisters who are not responding as fully and hence not receiving the same level of grace. My little one, you might wonder what it is you are contributing if everything is coming from Jesus. You are contributing your free will. You are contributing your time on earth. You are giving Jesus your heart and saying “Yes, Jesus, I want to be a saint.” Truly, little child of my heart, Jesus can do anything with a soul such as yours who has made a decision for heaven. Consider yourself now a soldier in the army of light. I anoint you as such and you work only for goodness. Prayer is your weapon and you are armed with the holiness acquired through your obedience. No evil can prevail against you. Such is the power you wield with Jesus as your leader. Fear nothing. We are with you. Be available to accept your direction through prayer so that as times change we can instruct you in everything. We are always available to you. I bless you now and entrust you to my Son, Jesus Christ. Serve Him faithfully and you will know heaven. How your loyalty will be rewarded. Truly, children, you will be overwhelmed with happiness. We have every answer, so bring every trouble to Us. I am with you and seek to help you as a mother helps her children through difficult times. When you need me, dear ones, I will be there, with additional guidance for your time."

Lay apostles, how are you handling negativity in your life? Whether it comes from your mouth or another's, be conscious of what you say and how you act. We can't force anyone to be happy or positive. This is a harsh reality. When an opportunity arises, I desperately try to lead others to this mission. The words of Christ and all of Heaven push me to be more humble, acquire patience and trust in Him always. But most importantly, love those I come in contact with on a daily basis. Responsibility for our actions is just that . . . our actions. So, focus on praying more. Read spiritual literature daily. Grow closer to Our Lord. It takes practice, patience, and perseverance. Shut out the negativity by remembering Christ is by your side . . . always!

Thank you, Lord, for helping me focus on the positive when there is so much negative in the world. But especially help me to prevail by shining Your Light to change the hearts of those you place in my path.

God bless,

Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Compare No More

Collecting testimonies for my first book Heavenly Healing sometimes consisted of two to three-hour telephone conversations. Each lay apostle graciously opened their lives to a total stranger. I cried with some, laughed with some. It was such an honor to speak with others who were touched by the apostolate. The Gospel today (Mark 7:1-13) reminded me of one of those three-hour conversations. I knew it was going to be a long call when within the first 5 minutes she disclosed her struggle with bipolar disorder. Just like my mother (dx of bipolar), this woman loved to talk! She imparted a realization that really struck me . . . before she began reading the Volumes, she would walk into her church looking very pious on the outside. But on the inside, everything was scrambled. She thought if she appeared a certain way, no one would know about her mental illness. No one would judge her. She actually convinced herself she was a much better Catholic than all the others because she carried a Rosary in her hand. Life in the privacy of her own home was chaotic. Reading the Volumes made her realize He loves us all, no matter what we suffer from. We are human. She learned, with the best of her ability, to make the inside match the outside. And, avoid judging others who appeared unholy to her. Accepting our flaws, weaknesses, and crosses is a harsh reality. The kicker is to understand God accepts us, warts and all. Each of us is on our own unique journey. We suffer/carry crosses unknown, at times, to those we love and interact with on a daily basis. Unite your suffering to Christ's Passion . . . stop worrying about what others think.

Today, Jesus asks us to stay focused and release our human tendencies of automatic judgment:

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:

This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.

You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

In the Monthly Message from February 2011, Jesus reminds us not to compare ourselves to others as we are each unique:

"Dearest apostles, I am here, waiting to listen to your pleas. I hear your hearts as they groan in the loneliness of serving Heaven when others around you do not. You serve alongside those who either live according to the standards of the world or live serving out a call that is different from yours. Truly, I know that there are times when you wonder why I have placed you where I have placed you. I hope, dear apostles, that these times are brief. I hope that you will spend less time wondering why you are serving in a given role and more time wondering how to serve more completely in the role given to you. You see, comparisons to others will never bear fruit. You are unique. The work I have for you is unique and you must beware of the habit of dragging your vocation behind you as though it were something so heavy that it destroys your joy. This is not how an apostle lives out a vocation. An apostle views his vocation as a prism through which opportunities for holiness and joy splash out in countless beautiful and varied ways. Truly, others should view you and your vocation as inseparable. You should become your vocation. Oh dear apostles, I know that you carry crosses associated with your holy vocations, but do you not see that these crosses, carried with dignity, illustrate my presence in your life and indeed, in the world, more than anything else? In every circumstance, I bless you and receive you into my heart where you find the direction and reassurance you require. In every moment there is grace available for you and for others through you. The more grace I flow through you, the more the world is blessed and the more you are sanctified. Move toward me, closer and closer in your hearts and in your actions and, truly, the world will find the love it craves. Look at how God’s children drink in kindness, as though they were parched for want of it. Yes, you are sacrificing in order to answer my call but the plan is working and the world is being renewed through the efforts of all men of good will. Rejoice then, despite your cross. We are advancing the one righteous cause, that is, the cause of love."

Lay apostles, I have been there before. Living a life which looks happy and carefree on the outside when I felt trapped on the inside. So how did I finally escape the secrets? I began by going to Confession the day I first saw Anne a lay apostle speak. Then, by slowly detaching from those judging me. Next, by realizing as long as I am making Jesus smile, all the others didn't matter. And finally, by speaking about what was hidden from my past to others . . . one on one, in a group, on this blog, at work. The freedom derived from being an open book is nothing other than miraculous.

Thank you, Lord, for protecting me as my true self is being revealed. And, for showing me those who truly love me don't care about my mistakes.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: The Many Facets of Healing

Healing comes in many forms . . . physical, spiritual, emotional. When we pray for healing, God's answer may not make sense right away. I tend to want my prayers answered at an accelerated pace . . . sometimes I am shocked by how quickly answers appear; other times, I feel like I am begging Him for a healing to occur. And, a particular healing may not be exactly the vision I had in mind. Boy, I can sure understand patience being a virtue! The point is, each day, hour and second must be approached with faith in Christ and His plan for us above all else. Misery is more than likely the only outcome when we take our destiny out of His Hands and into our own. I believe in miracles. I believe He can do all things. I believe He is and always will be in control. With that in mind, I will continue to pray for cures and spiritual healings of my loved ones. I just pray for the ability to let any fear or impatience evaporate when it rears its ugly head.

In today's Gospel (Mark 6:53-56), all it took was faith to be healed by Jesus:

After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.

In the Monthly Message from May 2010, Jesus asks us to accept His Will for us:

"You see, dearest apostle, it is through accepting your own pain and offering yourself for healing that you become My greatest example. You, in your willingness to accept healing and in your willingness to grow, show others what I am offering to the world in this time of Renewal. Beautiful humanity, how painful is My desire to heal you, to console you, to bring you to the Father where you will find eternal dignity and confidence. I ache with the desire that you accept My love. There are people who are waiting to experience Me, but it is through your acceptance of Me, with complete abandonment, that I will be brought to them. Do I burden you with My work? Do you find My friendship a heavy cross to carry? Let Me assure you, it is only in this cross that you will find your joy."

Lay apostles, think back on a time you received comfort.  Maybe it was a kind gesture from a stranger. Or encouragement when you felt defeated. And, think about a time you comforted someone. It felt good, right? Each of us has the ability to heal others. There are so many opportunities every second of every day. Take the time to provide a healing touch today.  We might not cure what ails them, but we must believe we can make a difference. After all, Christ lives within us. Listen to His promptings.

Thank you, Lord, for the ability to heal others with an embrace, a kiss or a kind word. Help me to be alert to those in need, not allowing fear or impatience to control my thoughts/actions.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Keep Your Ego in Check

Today we deal with the 'ol ego . . . the part of existing as a human being we all struggle with. I found a great quote from writer Paul Sposite on www.Catholic.org about ego:

"The ego’s job is to make you feel better about yourself, and it will do whatever it needs to do to make that happen. The ego is the voice inside of you that tells you to kick them when they are down, to make others feel bad about themselves; all in the name of lifting yourself up, making you feel better about you."

We all want to feel safe, secure and loved. Seems like it should be easy to obtain, doesn't it? Especially if we try to do it right in the eyes of Christ. But in reality, the closer we get to achieving intimacy with Jesus, the brighter His Light shines from us. And the brighter His Light shines, the more we are "noticed." Sometimes those who notice us haven't yet discovered the security and graces Jesus bestows on His true followers, allowing evil to pounce on that tiny window of self-doubt. The self-doubt which triggers the ego. I have been in the presence of people who no matter what I say, they've done it better, bigger or grander. Instead of reacting, I now see the ego for what it is . . . our human weakness. We must fight the temptation of making ourselves feel important by parading our strengths (real or perceived!) in order to appear better than we really are . . . which truly places the self before God. Focus on showing God how great you really are, not your spouse, friend, acquaintance, etc. Stop "Edging God Out." Stop it now.

In today's Gospel (Mark 6:14-29), ego causes the death of our beloved John the Baptist:

King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.” But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. Herodias’ own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

In Volume Seven, St. Damien has some great advice about keeping your ego in check:

"Egos are difficult friends and dreadful rulers. Keep your ego on a very short leash and understand that your merit lies in your obedience to Christ. Do not take credit for what Christ does through you. He cannot entrust great missions to you if your ego swells with each success. When your work is successful, praise God. When your work fails, praise God. When the sun shines, praise God. When the rain falls, praise God. Do you get the idea? You serve Him and He will do great things through you. These great things have nothing to do with you except that you allowed heaven to use you as an instrument. Your merit in heaven will not depend on the greatness of your mission or the greatness of what Christ accomplished through you. Your merit will reflect the work you did in your soul, the policing of your ego, the honing of the virtues, the self denial, and the love that you allowed to flow through you to other souls."

Lay apostles, do a little work on your ego today. Read the Litany of Humility over and over. It will do wonders for that 'ol ego, I promise!

Thank you, Lord, for all the times my ego was bruised and You were there to comfort me. Please continue to give me the grace and fortitude I need to keep my mouth shut when under attack!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: So Much Good Happening

I have referenced today's Gospel many times . . . when someone doesn't want you around, doesn't want to listen, doesn't want to hear the messages of Jesus in the Bible and Volumes . . . it's time to "dust off your feet" and move on. We can't make anyone want to live their life for Christ. It's an individual choice. Personally, I can't imagine living without Him. He is central to my thoughts and decisions on a daily basis. Now, I am the first to admit I am imperfect! At times I may implement my "tough love" strategies to no avail. As much as the Volumes have impacted my life, there is nothing I want more than to share this "secret" with everyone! That's why this blog is both calming and healing for me . . . I do get to spread the Gospel message along with words of wisdom from the Volumes or any of Anne a lay apostle's books. There is so much darkness in the world today. It's time to bring those misplaced with muddled thinking to the reality of a world full of His Light! There is so much good happening (yay President Trump!), why not trust Jesus has everything in His Capable Hands?

In today's Gospel (Mark 6:7-13), Jesus informs His Apostles to lighten up for the journey ahead:

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick – no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

In Volume Nine, Jesus asks us to bring His Light to others through our love for Him. Attempt it boldly, even if at first His Love is rejected:

"There are many ways in which a soul can serve the Kingdom. In these times, though, more than in the past, souls are called upon to evangelize for Me. This means I need souls to bring Me to others. We must seek out each lonely, hurting soul who is isolated from his divine family. If you bring Me to a soul, I can melt that soul’s heart and fill it with joy. The soul can then begin to learn about the vast family of love that seeks to draw him back. Dearest little servants of the Savior, My angels will direct you to these souls. Be alert to their promptings and whispers because they see everything and they know who needs your assistance. If you feel an impulse to approach a soul with these words, do so. Trust those instincts. Even if a soul initially ridicules you, he will eventually face a time of fear or anguish, and, searching for some kind of comfort, he will reach for the book you have given him. If the words are not there, he cannot reach for them. If the Volume has been given to him, he will open it. Be at peace at the reactions of others. You cannot force a soul to learn about Me, but you can suggest that he do so. You can give witness to My presence by talking about your love for Me and the graces you have received from Me. Talk about peace. Talk about joy. Talk about calm. Do not talk about the enemy."

Lay apostles, what will your contribution be today on behalf of Christ?  A kind word, a warm smile, forgiveness, mercy, thanksgiving, trust in Him? Whatever it is, let Him work through you to bring others to Him. Jesus needs us to be His Army on earth . . . steadfast and warriors of truth! Shine His Light today with no fear of rejection. Please Him first . . . always.

Thank you, Lord, for the graces to move on when my words/actions don't change a heart. Remind me to always lead with love, letting You do the hard work of conversion!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Monsters Under the Bed

As a child, I was afraid of what could be lurking under my bed when the lights went out at night. It began when my oldest sister got married (I was 8 years old). All of the sudden, I found myself in my own room, sans my little sister. Every night after hitting the light switch, I would make an Olympic-worthy leap into my bed, pull the covers up to my chin, then tuck the sheets around the sides of my body. I was fully protected from anything reaching up from under my bed to grab at me during the night. One night my father observed my impressive long jump and tuck. After complimenting me on my stupendous athletic ability, he asked why I was tucked in so tight. Hesitantly, I told him about the potential scary things under my bed. Then he laughingly told me that no one or no "thing" could get past him to hurt me. I could stop worrying because he would protect me no matter what.  My dad was big and strong . . . and he assured me he could wrestle any hairy-armed beast who even tried to get in my room if there even was such a thing. I remember feeling so much better. I trusted him and knew he loved me. I'm sure once in a while things scared me in the dark, but I knew if I screamed loud enough, I would be saved! Does this scenario sound familiar? No matter what fears we may possess, Christ is always there to wrestle those "monsters" away if we trust in Him and His Love for us!

Today's Gospel (Mark 5:21-43) shows that genuine belief in Jesus can heal any difficulty we may face:

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” He went off with him and a large crowd followed him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said,“If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, Who touched me?” And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?”  Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,”  which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

In Volume One, Anne a lay apostle describes how despite any ordeal, solace can always be obtained by complete reliance on Christ:

"I love Jesus and during the most difficult times of Lent feel a nearly physical sense of realigning my will to His, despite the most horrid spiritual afflictions and angst. There is nothing else for me anymore. The world holds little solace. Often there is no comfort to be found anymore on this earth. No person can console me. Nothing. No food, no comfort. I am alone in a crowd, even of like-minded souls. It’s dreadful to experience but the fruit is a spiritual leading with your chin kind of feeling or stepping out into the darkness with faith. It does toughen you and I can see that now. I hate it, make no mistake. The people around me must benefit, though, from this proximity of mine to Christ. I am afraid that through the suffering I will be unable to complete my duties at times. But no, He gives me that. He sees to the details in the most remarkable of ways. I cannot fault Him, and as I say, there is nothing else but Him. I rely on Him for everything."

Lay apostles, what are you afraid of? Are you hesitant to completely rely on Jesus because His answer might not be what you want to hear? Or, His path for you may take you out of your comfort zone? Ok, I am going to be blunt . . . stop being scared of the hairy-armed monsters under your bed!!! First of all, they only exist in our mind because of our lack of trust in Jesus. Second, listen and believe in what He tells us in the Gospels and the Volumes.  He is ALWAYS by our side to protect us. That doesn't mean we won't get hurt at times, or that terrible things won't happen to us. The beauty of faith in Christ is the healing we receive because of it, as the woman in today's Gospel demonstrates. The time is now. Believe!

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me that I become afraid when I'm not trusting You fully.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Clear Chaos Quickly

I don't do chaos anymore. To the best of my ability, I don't let it enter my life. When it appears unexpectedly in the form of an attack, it's like shooting a BB gun at the hull of a cruise ship . . . doesn't even make a dent (thank you, Jay, for the great analogy!). But every once in while, multiple shots are fired instantaneously causing a sore spot. The initial impact stings, but the damage is minimal. As the pain diminishes, a bruise appears as a reminder of the incident. Eventually, it fades and is forgotten. How do we conduct ourselves when under spiritual attack? Well, I see two options. One, we can overreact, running around screaming our heads off, telling anyone who is willing to listen to the injustice of it all. Or, we can surround ourselves with heavenly armor. We can summon all of heaven . . . God, Jesus, Our Lady, saints, and angels to protect our souls from damage. We can pray the Rosary. We can ask loved ones to pray for us. And, most importantly, remain focused and prayerful. Evil will take advantage of every opportunity to draw you away from Christ. As lay apostles, we must demonstrate what Jesus and all of heaven have prepared us for in the Bible and Volumes . . . His true followers are peaceful, calm, kind, loving and patient under any circumstances. Don't get caught up in the winds of chaos. Step into your spiritual armor and stay protected. Allow Christ to deal with those taking the shots. For sometimes what you thought would bruise is nothing more than a little red spot, disappearing within minutes.

In today's Gospel (Mark 5:1-20), Jesus clears the chaos quickly:

Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” (He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) He asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory.

Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside. And they pleaded with him, “Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.” And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea, where they were drowned. The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. And people came out to see what had happened. As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear. Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine. Then they began to beg him to leave their district. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she encourages us to leave the chaotic battles to Christ:

"It is my opinion that the enemy wants to draw us into conflict with each other and even though a person might be actively serving the enemy, it is not our business to do battle with him. Rather it is our business to do battle with ourselves, leaving Jesus Christ to do battle with the enemy, thus claiming or seeking to claim the soul. In terms of our brothers and sisters, meaning everyone in the world with us, no sins or behaviors, regardless of how bad, change this fact. If they are on earth, we must seek to bring them to the light through prayer and example and evangelization when possible and appropriate. I am in no way denying the call to protect and defend God’s truth in whatever way God asks us to do so. I am attempting to help us identify the real enemy."

Lay apostles, are you allowing others to create chaos in your life? Are you the chaos creator? There is nothing wrong with loving people from a distance. Set clear boundaries, and when attempts are made to step over those boundaries, bow out and let Jesus take over. We can't change anyone other than ourselves. Live a chaos-free life. Learn to assess where disruptions in joy and peace occur. Then make some changes. Christ is the only one we need to please.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to eliminate chaos from my life. And, for showing me how quickly prayer can change my attitude.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Seeing The Layers

"Don't mistake my kindness for weakness." Do you know who is responsible for this quote? Al Capone!

This apostolate has definitely softened my demeanor. I have always tried to be kind, but in my younger days when kindness wasn't returned, I took it personally. And, I hate to admit this, I wasn't exactly a person who gave second chances. Everything was black and white to me. Either you are kind or unkind. Loving or unloving. Loyal or untrustworthy. Writing this makes me realize how completely superficial that sounds! I was a product of my environment growing up where I didn't trust anyone. As I have matured as a lay apostle over the years, Jesus has given me the gift of improved clarity. I see the layers where I had never noticed before. I understand people who treat me unkindly have other issues occurring and I just happen to be standing in close proximity to receive the hurt those issues have caused. To some, it may look like I am weak when I don't respond to negative behavior. Actually, the strength it takes to keep my mouth shut is much more difficult to master than the ease of lashing out (and I have not perfected this yet!). The humility that silence and smallness brings is what I strive for on a daily basis.  Some days I'm not even close, but most days I do pretty well. Remember, Our Lord rejoices in any attempts we make to emulate Him.

In today's Gospel (Mark 4:26-34), Jesus teaches us how something powerful can come from something which seems weak:

Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”

He said, “To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she encourages us to be joyful even during the tough times:

"A farmer ploughing his field loves to reap what he has sown, yes, and this is good. He is getting it done. For us, I think we will rejoice when we can be like the farmer for whom one day is exactly like the next. He is as joyful turning over new ground as he is when taking in a harvest. It is about the movement, the service, regardless of what that movement or service is on any given day. That stated, there are times of natural joy. Now we must all pause. An apostle working hard for Jesus has to think for a moment. What time of natural joy is there? It all appears to be hard work. And yet, the joy is in that very hard work. The amount of straining necessary on a given day becomes irrelevant. There is joy both on the hard days and on the easier days. There is joy on the days when the harvest seems to be coming in and when the seeds are only being put down. There is joy on the days of hail storms and killing frosts as well as the days on which little work is necessary because the sun and warmth seem to be doing all that is necessary for the field assigned to this farmer. In this case, I think we are examining a very experienced farmer indeed. The seasons come and go and the work of the day is the work of the day. He spends no time wondering whether or not he should have been a farmer. He is a farmer and this is his field. He will farm until he dies and the challenges and discouragements of one day are allowed to melt into the joys and encouragements of another day with little or no excitement.  We need to be calm surveyors of our life during the off times lest the enemy lead us into rebellion and danger. During the times when we are off, down or ill, let us examine both the canvas as a whole and then our little place on it with certainty that without us something would be missing."

Lay apostles, how will you respond to negativity today? Or, are you the one spewing the negativity? Either way, just today, practice humility. Return kindness for negativity. Love for hatred. Console the Sacred Heart of Jesus with your actions!

Thank you, Lord, for showing me how silence and smallness is a good thing! Please continue to put Your Heavenly Hands over my mouth when I am heading in the wrong direction!

God bless,
Bonnie