Thursday, March 14, 2013

Preparation is Vital

My daughter Whitney loves Paula Deen. She has made Paula's Peanut Butter Chocolate Trifle dessert every Thanksgiving and Christmas for the past 3 or 4 years. It is so rich, even I can't eat more than a few tablespoons at one sitting (ok, maybe like 3 or 4 tablespoons!). It takes quite a bit of time and effort to produce this work of art. Some of the layers need to be pre-made prior to assembling all nine scrumptious layers, beginning with a solid foundation of brownies. With each irresistible addition (we are talking Reece's PB cups here!) to the trifle, it begins to resemble the picture below.




This was such a big hit the first time she made it, Whitney found a glass serving bowl identical to the picture above to display every delectable layer. With preparation, perseverance and love, this has become a family favorite. Preparation is vital not only in cooking, but in our daily lives. Every day we pray an extra prayer, read a passage from the Volumes, or pray a Rosary, our lives become more aligned with Christ. 

The Gospel from 13Mar2013 (John 5:17-30) Jesus is asking us to prepare:

Jesus answered the Jews:  “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.

Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of 

condemnation.

“I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”


In Heaven Speaks to Those Away from the Church, St. Monica prepares us to be open to God's graces to aid in the return of our Savior:



"This is the time of the Advent of the Second Coming. The triumphant return of Jesus Christ is a core belief for the faithful. It is nothing to argue about or attempt to refute. I am telling you today that the Lord has begun to return through all who welcome Him in their soul. If you are a Catholic, you can be most effective by serving from within the Church. If you return to the Church, God can fill you until His graces overflow. This overflow pushes out into the world, spreading light in place of darkness and truth in place of error. This is the plan, my friend. This is the renewal. The return of Jesus Christ today hinges upon your willingness to become holier. The return of Jesus Christ today hinges upon your willingness to say no to selfishness and yes to Jesus. God is asking for your help."

Lay apostles, what can you do today to become even more aligned with Christ's Will? Last night as Jay and I worked on a project together, the TV was on for background noise. Jay shut the TV off and said, "let's pray a Rosary." And we did. I always feel so much more connected to God after a Rosary. If you don't know how to pray the Rosary, click on this link: Pray the Rosary

Thank you, Lord, for the graces You bestow while I prepare for the day we meet. Continue to help me persevere when I get sidetracked!

God bless,
Bonnie

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