Gospel Thought Today: Hear With Your Heart

In nursing school, I could sit in lectures all day learning how to do a physical exam, insert a foley catheter, and start an IV. I could watch videos and demonstrations on correct procedure until I was blue in the face.  But the moment I walked into a patient's room and had to perform, everything heard with my ears seemed to have evaporated from my mind. Then a mentor would step in and assist until I achieved the task at hand.  It took a lot of practice, and eventually, I evolved into a skilled nurse. It became a part of me . . . who I am. In my heart, I will always be a caregiver.

Think about being a Christian. We can read everything we get our hands on from the Bible to the Volumes to the Catechism on a daily basis. We can attend renewals and Mass on Sunday.  We can hear with our ears and see with our eyes,  but struggle sometimes to hear with our heart. Maybe the crabby waitress upset with a small tip was counting on making enough money to pay the bills, or buy diapers for her child. Maybe the rude cashier at the supermarket is going through a painful divorce. Practice what you read in the Volumes. Soon, you will begin to hear with your heart.

In today's Gospel (Matthew 11:11-15), Jesus asks us to sharpen our listening skills:

Jesus said to the crowds: "Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear."

In Volume Ten, Jesus requests we answer His Call.  He will concern Himself with the strength we need to do it:

"Dear souls of the Kingdom, you are called to service. You know this. You have heard My call and rested in My anguish. I want to talk to you about your duty. Perhaps you hear My call and feel resistance at what it is I am asking from you. Let me promise you that you will
be given exactly what you need to embrace your portion of this mission. Do not be afraid to stand beside Me as I move into the world through each one of you. Souls will see you with their physical eyes, but they will experience Me. Your fears, your hesitance, have no bearing on how you will perform for Me. Do not worry about your ability when it comes to completing your duty. Do not worry about your lack of strength. It will come from Me. It will flow deeply and completely from Me. Your willingness to serve is all that is required."

Lay apostles, in this Advent season, begin to contemplate your reactions to unhappy or rude people. Try to turn the situation around with a kind word. Was the salesperson at Macy's short with you? Tell her she has beautiful eyes at checkout. Find something positive to say.  You never know when one kind word will change a life.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me how to hear with my heart. It is so important I take the focus away from myself and look upon others with my heart first. You are the Mentor of mentors!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: What Child Is This?

Today we honor our Blessed Mother Mary on the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In an Advent letter from Anne a lay apostle a few years ago, she said, "Mary was the first Tabernacle and Jesus was happy to be nestled safely in His mother's body." I had never thought of Our Lady as the first Tabernacle! But truly she is! Her love and sacrifice were not only for God but for all of us, even 2,017 years later. So thank Mary today for her "yes" to birth Our Savior. She deserves it. Think about giving birth in a stable, in Bethlehem, in the middle of winter.  I checked online to see what the temperature is this time of year there. High in the 30's. Unthinkable enduring labor in 30-degree weather! Think about the sterile environment babies are born into today. A stable is full of manure, dirt, and mud. Not so sterile for Our King, right? Yet Mary didn't complain. Yes, thank Mary. She is our direct connection to her Son. She is ready and waiting to hear our cries and intercede for us. After all, as my mother always said, what Son doesn't listen to His Mother?

What Child is This? is a beautiful song reminding us of the love of our heavenly Mother:

What child is this, who laid to rest 

On Mary's lap, is sleeping? 

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, 

While shepherds watch are keeping? 

This, this is Christ the King, 

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing: 

Haste, haste to bring him laud, 

The Babe, the Son of Mary! 

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, 

Come peasant king to own Him, 

The King of kings, salvation brings, 

Let loving hearts enthrone Him. 

Raise, raise the song on high, 

The Virgin sings her lullaby: 

Joy, joy, for Christ, is born, 

The Babe, the Son of Mary!

The Gospel (Luke 1:39-47) below shows the humility of Our Lady:

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."

And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior."

In Volume Seven, St. Thomas Aquinas describes the priceless love and intercession Our Lady provides her children on earth:

"Dearest brothers and sisters, never underestimate what Jesus can do with a soul who decides for Him. To underestimate what He can do is to limit Him. A soul deciding for Jesus can change the world and that is our goal. We must help Him to change this world. You have been given some ideas of the weapons you have at your disposal. You have Jesus, of course. You have Mary. Many also underestimate the power of our heavenly mother. Be assured that the enemy knows her power. Do not let your heavenly mother be attacked without response. If you witness this, you must speak out for her. This pleases everyone in heaven, but this pleases Jesus in a special way. She is a loyal friend to you and a powerful intercessor. There are many mercies and graces given to your world today which would be absent but for Mary. We love her immeasurably. You will not err if you follow her. She leads to Jesus."

Lay apostles, do you honor Mary, our Blessed Mother? Do you ask for her intercession? She is the direct path to her Son. Honor her. Love her. Pray the Rosary. She is always watching over us as a good mother does her children.

Thank you, Lord, for my heavenly Mother Mary. I know how powerful her intercession is and thankful You allow her to appear to so many visionaries over the centuries. I promise to honor her every chance I get.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thought Today: Accentuate the Positive

Negativity abounds every time I turn the TV on. It's one of the reasons I rarely watch the news. Now if I were the owner of a television station with news telecasts, here is what I would make mandatory: for every negative piece of news, there was positive to offset it. Think about how that could affect people. Or better yet, MORE positive than negative? There are countless compassionate people making this world a better place, striving to bring hope when hope can be hard to find. There is a song by the beloved Ella Fitzgerald called "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive" which sums up what we as Christians should be showing the world. Here are some of the lyrics, followed by a YouTube video of Ella singing this uplifting song:

You've got to accentuate the positive

Eliminate the negative

Latch on to the affirmative

Don't mess with Mister In-Between

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum

Bring gloom down to the minimum

Have faith or pandemonium

Liable to walk upon the scene

To illustrate his last remark

Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark

What did they do

Just when everything looked so dark

Man, they said we better, accentuate the positive

Eliminate the negative

Latch on to the affirmative

Don't mess with Mister In-Between

No, do not mess with Mister In-Between

Do you hear me?

Oh, listen to me children and-a you will hear

About the elininatin' of the negative

And the accent on the positive

And gather 'round me children if you're willin'

And sit tight while I start reviewing'

Today's Gospel (Luke 10:21-24) reminds us of the graces given to followers of Christ:

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.  For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she directs us to focus on the positive:

"If the world is facing a difficult time, and it seems that we are, then we will need to work very hard to understand God’s power and stop talking about darkness. Is the darkness there? Of course. Only a spiritually blind man would deny this. But we sometimes add to the darkness instead of holding up the light. We can be guilty of doing this by talking incessantly of the darkness with dire threats of impending doom. In most cases, we are speculating. Perhaps we should speculate on how God can rescue us and posit those theories instead of hypothesizing how the enemy will play with us next. Perhaps we will speculate on how the Church will lead us with strength and courage instead of how we will be overcome. Perhaps we could try an exercise and guess how good men will become great men through challenges instead of guessing how men of apparent lesser good will become evil through temptation. May the Lord have mercy on us for being so pessimistic about God’s world and may the Lord enlighten us as to how we bring unity to God’s Church and not division. If we identify that unity is desirable, and indeed necessary for the advancement of the renewal, then we will make a decision to participate in the acquisition of this unity. Jesus loves us so much. He has such tremendous hope placed in each one of us and in each one of the roles we have been assigned."

Lay apostles, what are you focused on today? Life is full of disappointments if you continue to dwell on them. So, let's accentuate the positive . . . stepping away from all the negativity and opening our eyes to the beauty and graces provided by Our Father in heaven. At the least, with every negative thought, quickly think of a positive one to offset it! I'll be working on that right along with you!

Thank you, Lord, for shaking the negative out of my head with Your beautiful words in the Gospel and in Anne's books. Continue to remind me to focus on the positive!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts: I Will Follow Him

After reading the Gospel today, the song "I Will Follow Him" and the movie Sister Act immediately came to mind. The vision of a group of nuns singing this tune about Our Savior puts a smile on my face every time I hear it! This song was first performed on the Perry Como show in April of 1963 by the original artist, Little Peggy March, which conjures memories of my two older sisters singing this when I was young:

We all have choices . . . to live a life with or without Christ. I choose to follow Him. Whenever I veer off that path thinking I can control my journey alone, I am reminded (and sometimes very quickly!) I cannot. He is my source of strength when I am weak; my calm when chaos ensues; my comforter when I am fearful. I could never imagine a life without Him.

Today's Gospel (Matthew 4:18-22) couldn't be any clearer . . . nothing is more important than taking up your cross and following Christ:

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.

In the June 2012 Monthly Message, Jesus encourages His followers:

"I am pleased when I see holiness increasing in My friends and this increase in holiness is what gives Me hope for the Church. Yes, I am urging My followers toward sacrifice and service and many of you are answering with your whole hearts. You, listening to My words and allowing them to change you, are giving Me great hope. With this hope I push on into the world, confident, that while some resist change, others embrace it. Yes, change is happening, most especially in the heart of every committed apostle. You are becoming holier. As you are becoming holier, My Church is becoming holier. Apostles, hear this call with all seriousness. I, Jesus, have everything needed to advance the Church into greater unity. And I, Jesus, can do this as quickly as you will allow Me."

Lay apostles, pick up your cross and follow Jesus. What have you done today to spread the messages of Jesus in the Gospels and the Volumes?  It doesn't have to be complicated. For example, have you told someone you love them today?  If not, say it! Have you smiled at a stranger who seems sad? If not, smile! Be joyful and band together with fellow lay apostles around the world to provide what this world so desperately needs . . . the hope of salvation when following him.

Thank you, Lord, for providing what I need when I need it most!

God bless,

Bonnie

Gospel Thought Today: Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign

I really don't need signs anymore. But I do require a gentle "shove" in the right direction every once in a while. Jesus knows me well. He knows when I ask for help with decision-making, I need His answer to slap me in the face. If it doesn't, I vacillate back and forth trying to figure out if my thoughts are His will or my own. Ultimately, the answer lies in this . . . will my decision further His Kingdom? Or, will it make me feel better, stronger, or more loved? Pray the Litany of Humility. The answer will be crystal clear.

In today's Gospel (Luke 21:5-11), Jesus answers the "signs" question:

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, "All that you see here the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."

Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky."

In Volume Three, God the Father asks us to search for signs of His Love:

"My children of the world, look for Me. Look for the signs in your world that I am present. Some would have you believe that I am no longer actively directing the outcome of this time. Children, can you believe that I would lovingly lead My children for centuries, since the beginning of the world, and then leave? Would I really turn away from My precious creatures? This idea is fooling many souls today. They proceed in their lives as though I do not exist and as though there will be no reckoning for decisions against Me, against others, and at times even against nature, as I created nature. I see all. I will judge every action. I will reward every decision made by one soul for the benefit of another. In the same way, I will challenge every decision made by one soul to the detriment of another. Children, all is being recorded. You will account for your life. I am merciful. I am merciful to a degree that will astound you. But you must allow Me to be merciful. You must accept My mercy. You cannot scorn My mercy, child. Allow Me to exercise My mercy in your life. “How must we do that, Father?” you ask. I will tell you. You must say this to Me: 'God, my Father in heaven, You are all mercy. You love me and see my every sin. God, I call on You now as the merciful Father. Forgive my every sin. Wash away the stains on my soul so that I may once again rest in complete innocence. I trust You, Father in heaven. I rely on You. I thank you. Amen.'”

Lay apostles, are you waiting for signs the end is near? Or, are you searching for signs of God's presence in our world? Live life in preparation for His second coming, not in fear of it. If you are prepared, there are no surprises. Only the joy of living for eternity with our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Thank you, Lord, for showing me the importance of living for You while on this earth. Please keep me focused on Your signs of beauty and love so graciously provided to endure this time in exile from You.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thought Today: But I'm a Sinner . . .

Yes, Jesus loves sinners. Yes, His mercy is great.  Yes, we must repent and do our best to leave sinful behavior behind.  How do we do it? Where do we start? We begin with what we have avoided . . . the truth. Sometimes the truth is so awful to admit we have convinced ourselves of a different version of our truth. One less painful.  And some tell the lie so often, in their mind, it is the truth. Begin today with a reality check. Face the pain and the truth of choices made. Then ask Jesus to step in. Remember, He loves us all. As soon as we acknowledge our truth, He will be the salve on our gaping wound.

The Gospel today (Luke 19:1-10) assures Jesus will always love me, despite my poor choices in the past, as long as I repent:

At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner." But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost."

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, her words soothe with the greatness of God's mercy for us:

"When God’s mercy is being discussed, God’s mercy should be allowed to stand alone as a remedy for this time. When, on the other hand, sin is being discussed, one should always point first to the effect of the sin on the individual, the sinner, because this is where sin damages first. Only after this discussion should one move into the impact of the sin on others. Sin first wounds the soul of the sinner and creates sadness and grief. Next, sin moves with great determination out into the world around the sinner. Heaven mitigates fiercely when invited to do so. God’s mercy is the balm that should be carried out to those who have drifted away from the Church. Press God’s mercy into the world and sinners will return. Yes, God’s mercy is the remedy for all fear and anxiety. The truth, when accompanied by God’s mercy, is both instructive and consoling. Each soul carries within it the seed of goodness planted by the Father. It is often God’s mercy that germinates the seed, which then identifies the truth."

Lay apostles, is there something you have hidden deep in the recesses of your mind which, if admitted, could send you over the edge? Well, guess what?  You are in a hostage situation. If you continue to hold on to painful mistakes or memories, you will never heal. You will never be free to accept God's mercy. Aim to please only Him, and your life will soar 5 levels higher in no time. Admission is the first step to recovery.

Thank you, Lord, for loving this sinner. The more I aim to please only You, the more I begin to heal from my past.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Word Today: Immediately

In the Volumes (and as He does in the Bible), Jesus promises if we commit ourselves to Him, He will see to the conversion of our loved ones. This is a promise I hold Him to. When I find myself wishing a loved one would make choices with Christ in mind, I pray.  As quickly as I can, I turn the worry over to Jesus.  By doing this, I have literally seen miracles occur.  Some a little slower than I wanted, and some immediately where I could hardly contain my joy. His timing, not mine. I have learned a very important lesson He repeats over and over . . . Trust Me . . . Believe in Me . . . I am with you. I fall more in love with every Gospel I read, every Volume/DFOT book quoted on my blog. I know He is seeing to the conversion of my loved ones. My grandchildren are learning to know and love Jesus as much as I do . . . a huge credit to their mommies!  My role is to reinforce the love of Christ in my words and actions, not only with my grandchildren but to all those I am in contact with. Begin at home.

In the Gospel from yesterday (Luke 18:35-43), Jesus showers grace upon a believer:

As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!" The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me!" Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He replied, "Lord, please let me see." Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you." He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she encourages us to share our love of Christ with our children (and grandchildren!):

"Do we want our children to live in the truth, which is that they have experienced some suffering but also many blessings and gifts? Let us not transmit to our children that they are entitled to greater wealth or privilege than others. This would be untrue. If our children have been blessed with steady shelter, sustenance and safety, then we expect them to flourish, assuming we parents are pouring love and formation into them which promotes Christian growth, and we expect them to then go out into the world and help others."

Lay apostles, are you worried about the salvation of your children? Grandchildren? Spouse? If you are, commit your life to Christ.  Live His words. Then hand over the heaviness of this cross to Him. Live by example.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me Your promise to convert my loved ones.  I am blown away how quickly You answer my prayers at times!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts: Feeling Rejected? You Are In Good Company

Rejection . . . I bet every person on this earth could conjure up at least a dozen occurrences . . . just within the last year (even the last week in some cases!). It sucks; it hurts; it diminishes self-esteem; it causes one to question their own intentions/feelings/decisions. So, how do we deal with the insecurities created by rejection? Seek to understand as my husband always says. And then you have a decision to make . . . move on with the intention of forgiving the offender, or, fall into the role of playing the victim. What did Jesus do when He was rejected? He continued on His Mission. He knew His Heavenly Father needed Him to complete the task at hand . . . save all of God's children from an eternity of darkness. We have a task at hand lay apostles. To bring the Light of Christ to a very dark world. We are His Hands, His Feet, His Heart on this earth until He returns. So, how are you going to handle rejection today? Before you answer, read the Gospel and excerpt from Anne's book Serving in Clarity below. You will see you are in Good Company.

Today's Gospel (Luke 17:20-25) teaches us to continue our climb up the mountain of holiness by keeping the end goal in sight . . . an eternity with Christ:

Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”

Then he said to his disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’ Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Serving in Clarity, she reminds us who is behind rejection and it surely isn't Jesus:

"Remember that Jesus had the complete truth. He was the Truth then and He is the Truth now, and yet, from this position of power Jesus was and is gentle and kind. We, His followers, are called to proceed similarly. We must speak the truth in kindness and gentleness, remembering always that we do not hold ourselves above anyone. I have observed some misguided apostles proceeding in great superiority to those around them. They are arrogant and give reprimands to others freely, as though they themselves had no spiritual work to do. This is wrong and it saddens Christ. The recipient of this kind of treatment feels rejection and condemnation, two things that do not come from Christ, but from His enemy. I hear the voices of these same people shouting, “But souls are condemned. There are souls in hell.” This is true, but the souls in hell are there because they choose hell, not because God rejects them or condemns them. God is good and gives all people an opportunity to repent. We must be humble, as Jesus was humble, and bring a spirit of loving truth to others. If we do this, souls will recognize God’s mercy in us and they will return to Him, not from fear, but from love and because they have been welcomed."

Lay apostles, when the ugly head of rejection creeps up on you, look it in the face and say "I Trust In You Jesus!" "I'll take this one on the chin for You God!" Every one of us reacts with emotions generated from our past. It's how we choose to change and grow in humility that will shine His Light. You never know . . . you just might be the example someone needed to experience and see today.

Thank you, Lord for the grace of letting rejection float over my head to the best of my ability, not causing too much hurt. Please help me to get over it a little faster, ok?

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Word Today: Healed

To be healed. It can mean many things . . . cure for a disease/health problem; anger turned to peace; a control freak becoming open-minded; calmness instead of anxiety because traffic is flowing easily, to name a few. But are we grateful for each and every healing we receive, no matter how big or small? I know I have some work to do here.

I am thankful for many things . . . too numerous to name. Jesus has healed me in ways I never imagined possible. He has opened my eyes like never before. I will never take one second for granted (easier said than done at times!). I will thank Him for everything, even in situations which seem disastrous at the moment. For He is always waiting with open arms to comfort us when we are sad and celebrate with us when we are happy. Living with Him as my constant companion has given me a peace I never knew in my earlier years, and will never live without until the day I am Face to face with Him.

Today's Gospel (Luke 17:11-19) reminds me to praise Him in thanksgiving for everything:

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."

In Volume Four, Jesus the King reminds us He is always present no matter where we are or what we do:

"Brothers and sisters, it is this prayer, this attitude of humble and meek acceptance that makes great saints. I will show you. Study Me as your guide. Study My life. Read about My life in scripture and you will see My humble and meek approach to souls. Did souls scorn Me for such a countenance? No, My brothers and sisters. Good and holy souls saw that I carried heaven within Me and were drawn to Me. Good and holy souls, souls hungry for the Spirit of God, followed Me from town to town and waited for Me so that they could be close to Me. It will be the same for you. Souls will be drawn to you in their hunger because they will sense that you carry the only bread that can fill them to satisfaction. I am using you, dear ones, to spread Me. I want to be felt in every room, every car, every place where even one soul rests in loneliness and spiritual deprivation. You will enter and I will be there. I will fill the room, the car, the place, and souls who hunger for God will feel My presence and give thanks. So do not curse hardship. Do not blame God for the pains and sorrows in this world. It is through your acceptance of these things that you will find your soul illuminated with the light of the next world."

Lay apostles, thank Him for the good, the bad and the ugly. When life seems to take a turn for the worse, remember, it only seems worse. Jesus has a plan.  Trust Him. And, most of all, thank Him.

Thank you, Lord, for the love You found me worthy of with Jay. And, for the love of my girls, sons-in-law, grandchildren, mother-in-law, family, and friends!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Heavenly Obligations

Disorderly environments spark the organizer in me. Over five years ago, I had flown to DC to spend a month with my oldest daughter (pregnant with my first grandchild when I arrived) and her husband.  While we awaited the arrival of Connor (Con Con as we lovingly call him now!), Mal needed help organizing and getting rid of clutter in their tiny condo.  Perfect job for me!  We began with the kitchen . . . I did something I think my son-in-law still hasn't forgiven me for.  There were 50 million (ok, maybe not 50 million!) wine glasses from visits to wineries around Virginia (with tastings, you usually get to keep the glasses).  Well, considering there were two of them in the house, I figured 50 wine glasses were taking up too much space in their already crowded kitchen cabinets. So, got it down to maybe 15, boxed the extras and placed it by the front door for a donation pickup. Kevin agreed to get rid of them . . . albeit reluctantly. I think he caved because he is a gentleman and, most importantly, I am his mother-in-law! By the time Connor was born, a lot of elbow grease went into preparing the house for this tiny human being who required a lot of extras . . . diapers, clothes, crib, swing, stroller, etc.  I know Mal and Kev were as thankful for the help as I was in providing it. Just my small part in fulfilling my heavenly obligation to serve others joyfully. Although, not sure Kev has fully forgiven me . . . love you, Kev!

Today's Gospel (Luke 17:7-10) teaches us to perform our heavenly obligations . . . no complaining allowed:

Jesus said to the Apostles: “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’?

Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she encourages us to identify heavenly obligations vs. earthly temptations and respond accordingly: 

"It is so important to identify our ‘stuff ’ and not put it on someone else. If someone attacks us without merit, it could be their struggle that prompts the attack. We have to learn to identify our fears and insecurities and how these fears and insecurities affect our heavenly obligation, which is to love. Clearly, if someone we love speaks we must listen and examine their observations but there are times when the enemy tempts those around us against us and there are times when the enemy tempts us against those around us. To simplify, Jesus will always shine a light of compassion and truth on the people in our lives. The enemy will always shine a light of suspicion and anger on the people in our lives. As Christ followers, we must look at the people in our lives in truth, with compassion. We can judge objective wrongs as wrongs and still view those acting out those wrongs with compassion. We can say, 'Ah, yes, it is pain and vulnerability that prompts these bad actions against me.' Viewed in this way, we can avoid bitterness and condemnation, even as we deal with the effects of the wounds inflicted by others. We, committed to Christ and plugged into His constant healing graces, can stop the destruction from spreading and even push back at it by returning love for hostility."

Lay apostles, love and serve unconditionally . . . even when the task at hand may be met with protest. Before judging the "wine glasses" are just that, wine glasses, seek to understand the actions or motivations, and by all means, respond with love.  

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to continue to focus on my heavenly obligation to love and serve others.  Please help those whom I serve to see Your Light!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Mischievous Activity

We can all laugh about it now, but when my girls were teens, it sometimes infuriated them. I'm talking about my response when they wanted to go somewhere with friends, attend an event, or stay out later than curfew.  When my answer was no, it usually didn't stop there. After a few times of "pleaaaasssseee, Mom," they would say it. "(Insert name of friend)'s mom said she could do it!"  My response every time, "Well I'm not (friend)'s mom!"  They were not too happy and knew it was a losing battle at that point. As adults, my daughters now understand I was protecting them, trying to prevent mischievous activity before it began. They got away with some things . . . things I didn't find out about until bridal showers with some of those high school friends in attendance!  All we can do is pray we are teaching our children to uphold Christ-like morals. As hard as we try to guide them down the right path, life happens. Understand we are all sinners . . . our children included.

In today's Gospel (Luke 17:1-6), Jesus shows us by the mere fact we live on this earth we are destined to sin. Let's just try not to take others with us:

Jesus said to his disciples, "Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,' you should forgive him." And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."

In Volume One, the Blessed Mother assures us despite our mischievous past, we are forgiven if we ask:

"We must help souls to realize that it is time to come back to Jesus now. Time is short. There is no other way to say that. I want all souls to convert in the silence of their hearts and Jesus and I will lead them by the hand. No harm shall come upon them if they turn to us in their hearts. My heart is soft and forgiving. Like any good mother, I forget the mistakes of my children almost immediately. I can help poor sinners to forgive themselves and seek the forgiveness of my Son, a forgiveness that heals and strengthens. Sinners must not be afraid. They must simply close their eyes and say, ‘God, I have made mistakes. I’m sorry. I am Your child, though, and seek to be united to You.’ My child, all of heaven weeps for joy when even one soul makes this act of humility and love. How we rush in to assist this soul, and protect him from the attacks of the evil one. We nurture and guide this soul until he is back walking the path to Christ with confidence. Don’t be afraid, dear souls. You will find no recriminations. Only love."

Lay apostles, pray the words Our Lady gives us in the quote above. Ask it with a sincere heart and you will be amazed at the graces which will flow in abundance. Evaluate your circumstances and if you are behaving in a manner which could lead others to sin, stop. You can do it. Begin by asking Christ for forgiveness, then lead by example.

Thank you, Lord, for the ability to step back and assess my behavior in addition to those around me observing it. Help me to continue healing and growing stronger being united to You always.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Word Today: Foolish

I am not a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl. Especially when it comes to big decisions. I do my research, plot the best course, and make sure I've got all my bases covered. I usually proceed with caution, always calculating the best-case and worst-case scenarios prior to embarking on whatever adventure awaits. But my vision of what is good and right can become distorted at times. I don't always have the "whole" picture. To base decisions/thought processes on what I perceive (with all available information) is the only way I know how to function . . . to keep my head above water. This is my way of making sense of it all. It's foolish of me to think everyone has the same reality as I do. My biggest challenge is letting go of things I cannot change, having faith that God will do the heavy lifting when a cross is too heavy for my heart to bear. I pray He gives me the wisdom (in critical moments!) to strive for love always . . . even when outcomes take me by surprise.

Today's Gospel (Matthew 25:1-13) demonstrates the importance of preparation and making wise decisions:

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Staying in Place, the focus is clear . . . love:

"Perhaps we must concentrate together, fiercely, on love. We must teach love and talk about love and promote love and separate love out from selfish actions and foolish distortions. We must hold love up for admiration and form our children to identify love and the actions of love. Do we want to bring up integrated individuals, fit for leadership and service? Do we want to shape public servants who will create and then protect environments where love is formed, fashioned and prioritized?
We will need to reassess everything if we are to answer the mandate Heaven sets out for renewal. And this renewal must not be limited to Church, although it is urgently needed in Church. This renewal must be insisted upon in our families and work environments, communities, and societies."

Lay apostles, where are we getting it right? Strive to do more of that. Now, where are we getting it wrong? And remember, we all get it wrong once in a while, so this is not a negative "I'm a bad person" statement. It's about how to acknowledge when love is not the outcome of our words and actions. Foolish distortions, as Anne says above, are most of the time, not reality when seeing the Truth of disheartening circumstances. So today, lead with love. See the reality of right now . . . this minute in time.

Thank you, Lord, for the tough lessons I must learn in order to love You more. I'm sorry it's taking me so long to see Your Truth in every situation/everyone I encounter.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Anger Is Not The Answer

Those who know me, know I am a tough love kind of gal. But there have been circumstances lately where I see evil slowly eroding a person and not being able to confront the individual to shake him/her out of it before the damage is done. Maintaining my lips in the locked position is always the right thing to do when something upsets me. The ability to do so escapes me at times. Thank God for my husband. Jay is the only one hearing my concerns, helping me to work through the heartache. And,  when I am at odds with someone or situations observed, the Litany of Humility ALWAYS presents itself in my mind:

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being loved…

From the desire of being extolled…

From the desire of being honored…

From the desire of being praised…

From the desire of being preferred to others…

From the desire of being consulted…

From the desire of being approved…

From the fear of being humiliated…

From the fear of being despised…

From the fear of suffering rebukes…

From the fear of being calumniated…

From the fear of being forgotten…

From the fear of being ridiculed…

From the fear of being wronged…

From the fear of being suspected…

That others may be loved more than I,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I…

That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase

and I may decrease…

That others may be chosen and I set aside…

That others may be praised and I unnoticed…

That others may be preferred to me in everything…

That others may become holier than I,

provided that I may become as holy as I should…

Ask for God's guidance and comfort first (something I have to be reminded of occasionally!).  When I truly focus on His response to my request, peace and calm return quickly. Worrying about the future and what could transpire, only perceives a future without God by my side. I only have today . . . this moment. I am choosing to be fully present with Christ as my Constant Companion.

Today's Gospel (John 2:13-22) shows Jesus making a statement in regard to taking our Father and our Church seriously:

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, "Take these out of here, and stop making my Father's house a marketplace." His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, 'Zeal for your house will consume me.' At this the Jews answered and said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his Body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she describes why anger is not the answer when conflict arises:

"The holiest and most pure relationships will include misunderstanding and conflict while the people involved serve in exile from heaven. There are close relationships and not-so-close relationships. It is important to Jesus that we discuss conflict because there is no need for misunderstanding or conflict to result in behavior that is not consistent with Christ’s example as seen in Holy Scripture. How did Jesus behave when there was conflict? He spoke few words but they were true words. It is best, in the area of conflict, if we spend time going through a situation of difficulty in the presence of Jesus and conclude on a holy course of action. Anger makes this even more necessary because anger leads to the enemy’s plan. People love to talk about righteous anger and so often refer to the Lord’s behavior in the temple. We like to convince ourselves that our anger is righteous. I am equally convinced that rarely will our anger be righteous. More often it will be plain old self-indulgent anger which is symptomatic of pride. I speak as an experienced person, not an observer, and I can assure the reader that Jesus would like us to avoid acting in anger whenever possible. Humility allows for wounds. This is partially why humility is so important. If a person is humble, he will be willing to say, 'I am hurt.' When we admit something has hurt us, we can steer away from anger and take things calmly, acting with Christ to deal with any misfires in the relationships around us. This calm course will help us to remain an asset to heaven as opposed to a liability."

Lay apostles, understand the conflict occurring in your life and assess if you are staying focused on Christ. When you feel yourself moved toward anger, humility is more likely the proper response Jesus asks of us.

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to remain calm when my human emotions may signal otherwise. Continue to keep my focus on building the Kingdom and that others may see You in me.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: No Excuses, Just Truth

The truth can be devastating. It can also set us free. Admitting our poor choices takes too much effort, so excuses usually suffice. It sugar coats the reality we live day to day. The problem is, it will all catch up to us at some point. As Christians, we are called to speak the Truth . . . so why do we continue to make ourselves appear happier, smarter, more powerful, richer, etc. than we really are? Excuses. Facing the reality of who we are and what we have become could mean we are just like every other human being . . . flawed. Yes, I am imperfect. But every day I try my best to overcome my flaws and do it a little better than I did the day before. Sometimes I succeed. Sometimes I fail. Each day God gives me on this earth is an opportunity to become holier, drawing closer to my Heavenly Father. After all, I will meet Him Face to face someday. And, there will be no excuses allowed.

In today's Gospel (Luke 14:15-24) Jesus, in so many words, asks us to STOP making excuses and focus on God:

One of those at table with Jesus said to him, "Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God." He replied to him, "A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, 'Come, everything is now ready.' But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, 'I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.' And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.' And another said, 'I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.' The servant went and reported this to his master. Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.' The servant reported, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.' The master then ordered the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.'"

In Volume Two, Jesus states very clearly to stay focused when encountering those who appear to reject God with one excuse after another:

"You must convey to a struggling soul that the answer for everything is with Me. He may say that you don’t understand that his problems are grave, complex, and unsolvable. He may cite reasons why he does not follow Me, always blaming others. The answers are all with Me. There is no reason to reject God. No excuse will gain pardon on judgment day. I have never shown a soul unkindness or cruelty. I deserve love, loyalty and respect. Understand My power and you will begin to understand My gentleness. Foolish souls equate gentleness with weakness. It is the truly strong who are wise enough to be gentle. So treat your brothers and sisters gently, particularly those who are not united to Me. They wound so easily. They do not have Me to console them when they are hurt. Can you imagine such loneliness? Would you like to return to a world that did not include Me in any way? Do not even imagine such a thing because I have promised not to let you go. Truly, I will not. But be compassionate. My child, have no fear about your future."

Lay apostles, is there someone or something you make excuses for? Do you make excuses for yourself so you appear to be better than others? Think about it. And, the next time you are about to utter an untruth, remember there will be no excuses on judgment day. Practice and humility are all it takes.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me that no matter how imperfect I am, You see the real me with such love and compassion!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Belly Fat

Last night my husband and I were doing our "Rosary walk" around the neighborhood. It was a beautiful, cool Florida evening. After praying the Rosary, we started talking about this blog and increasing readership. It's interesting which keywords drive the most traffic. Jay thought quietly for a few seconds, then said "Belly Fat! That should be your next keyword!" Um, well, belly fat and the Gospel didn't immediately connect in my mind. Then I read the Gospel this morning and couldn't help but laugh! The connection was instant!

Today's Gospel (Luke 14:1-6):

On a sabbath, Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?" But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them  "Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?"  But they were unable to answer his question.

The medical term "dropsy" is used today and I wasn't exactly sure what it was (not a term I learned in nursing school!) and how I could connect it to belly fat.

Here is the medical definition according to medicinenet.com:

An old term for the swelling of soft tissues due to the accumulation of excess water.

Hmmm . . . belly fat . . . accumulation of excess . . . yes, this can work! Like getting rid of stubborn belly fat, changing the views of the Pharisees must have been quite a daunting task. At least it would have been for me! They were so stuck on the "rules" and "catching Jesus" that they couldn't even respond to His question. They knew He was doing the right thing . . . but they were too blinded by their own ambitions and egos to accept the Truth. Sounds a bit familiar, doesn't it? All the bitterness, anger and jealousy targeting President Trump is coming full circle. The Truth always prevails . . . always.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Staying in Place, she reminds us to be aware of what we say and do:

"We must be assured that if we plant seeds of bitterness, then bitter little shoots will come up. These shoots will make themselves known in various ways at various times."

Lay apostles, take note today of your verbal/physical interactions. Are you spreading God's love with encouragement or evil's hate with lies and bitterness? Just like belly fat, it's hard to make even the slightest alterations to change old habits. But with a little effort, a flat stomach is achievable!

Thank you, Lord, for the brilliant mind of my wonderful husband. And, thank you for the lessons in the Gospels I can apply today!

Gospel Word Today: Reject

Rejection can be a daily occurrence . . . from our smart phones/computers malfunctioning to the end of a relationship. So, we reboot our technology or our lives, one way or another. But one thing is for sure and constant . . . God will never reject us. This is powerful for me. No matter the choices I've made, He still loves me. He sees my potential. In turn, I strive to be that person He knows I can be. I am imperfect and He is my shield against rejection. While some forms of rejection take a while to get over, the fact is, the pain lessons over time with faith. Forgive the rejectors, knowing they are just as imperfect.

Today's Gospel (John 6:37-40) is clear . . . He will never reject us as followers of Christ, imperfect as we are:

Jesus said to the crowds: "Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day."

In Anne a lay apostle's book Staying in Place, the message is as clear as the Gospel today:

"God decided He would come into being and absorb all rejection for all time to free us from this burden. In a sense, it is God at His best and highest expression of Father, relieving unmanageable burdens of guilt for His children. Who would reject this Savior who absorbs our guilt into His own body? There is sweetness in this that we might miss. This was kindness itself. This was truly God stooping low on our behalf. This is benevolence. He gave all in His little human essence. Why do I say ‘little human essence’? Because when looking at it from the eyes of the Father, Jesus Christ on Earth was as little and as vulnerable in His humanity as we are in our humanity. He was equally adorable and cherished. He was delightful. I think that God would want to direct our focus to the fact that Jesus shared our human state, viewing all of humanity as equal in dignity. He came to lift the whole thing up, to direct us toward the sanctity of all human life. He came to absorb our guilt, yes, and to give us hope, yes, and also to ask that we view this same Christ in every human person. Jesus possessed God and lived in union with God, and so can we. We must choose God and then live our choice, as Jesus did."

Lay apostles, is rejection consuming your thoughts lately? Were you rejected or the perpetrator of the rejection? Either way, explore why your experience is causing unrest in your life. How can you act or respond differently? Direct your focus to viewing events through the eyes of Christ. Align your feelings with those of Jesus on the Cross and the rejection He experienced being the Son of God.

Thank you, Lord, for the Gospel message today. It is a great reminder to focus on Your Will, and not forget that through You, there is always hope!

God bless,
Bonnie

Monthly Message for November 2017

We continue our cycle of monthly messages for 2017 with the message from November 1, 2009 for our prayer groups and personal reflection.

November 1, 2009

Jesus

My dearest apostle, how pleased I am with your efforts. Shall I tell you all that pleases Me? I am pleased that you accept My words and welcome them into your heart. I am pleased because as you welcome My words into your heart, you welcome My graces into your life. Many come and go in My service. But you do not do this. You remain in My service. It will take eternity for Me to show you My gratitude. When I say service, you no doubt think practically. You think of work, of heaven’s work, which includes the tasks that you complete for Me and for others in My name. This is good. I so badly need those who are willing to work for Me. But when I say service, I want you to also think of love. You see, we need bridges built that will transport God’s children safely into My heart. But the invitation to cross the bridge from isolation to the love of God will be extended through your love, through My presence in your heart. My love will flow out from you to others and they will find out that the wounds they suffer are vulnerable to love. Wounds melt away when they are exposed to love. Love, rooted in Me, is always selfless. It is quiet rather than boisterous. It waits patiently, willing to accept suffering for the greater good of the soul in front of it. The greater good will always be reconciliation with Me but this reconciliation between the Creator and the created is deeply personal and takes place in the privacy of the soul. Dearest children of God, you have been chosen to accept My love and to use that love to draw others back to Me. I am watching closely as you struggle for greater holiness. I am watching closely as you advance. I am with you in your own suffering and I allow loneliness for every serving apostle because it is only through this loneliness that you understand how badly you need Me. Your loneliness then becomes a heavenly port in a storm of activity through which you draw graces down into the world. You see that you suffer. When you return to Me forever, you will see that your suffering, accepted in My name, advanced not only My intentions, but yours. Be at peace, little apostle. I am involved in all that occurs in your life. I am with you. I will not leave you.

Gospel Thoughts Today: All Saints Day

Today is a day we honor all saints, known and unknown, asking for their prayers and intercession. There are two saints in particular I cherish . . . St. Faustina and St. Therese the Little Flower. St. Faustina taught me what true humility looks like.  St. Therese, well, she played a different role. After my divorce in 2010, people came into my life who were not interested in furthering the Kingdom of God as I wanted to. I found myself making excuses for them in my head, starting to think, again, I could change them with my love of Christ alone. I knew better. I was slipping back into old patterns, accepting behavior I was familiar with.  One particular night, on the phone tolerating some bad behavior and convincing myself it would get better, St. Therese's face stared at me from my nightstand. I was reading her autobiography Story of a Soul.  It was as if she was warning me.  As if she was telling me to stop and reassess my life.  After several passes by the book with her beautiful face almost pleading with me, I placed another book on top of it. I tried to fight it.  But she won.  She is a strong intercessor and when she means business, she means business. It didn't take long for me to get back on track and refocus my energy in the right direction . . . a direction which led me back to climbing the mountain of holiness. Living a good life with God in the center, by far, trumps any earthly needs/wants which can leave you empty and jaded.

Today's Gospel (Matthew 5:1-12a) shows Jesus teaching his disciples the way to conduct themselves in order to get to heaven:

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven."

In the June 2006 Monthly Message, Jesus gives us reason to get back on track:

"You will exult in each act of service and each act of self-denial because you will see the act attached to all of the graces obtained from it. At that time you will marvel at My generosity. You will also thank Me for obscuring this from you during your time of service because it is through this trust that you gain both merits for your eternity and conversion graces for souls. How many sinners are pulled back into My Sacred Heart through your smallest act of trust and love in the face of scorn and mockery? Dear apostles, you must consider whether or not you yourself were called back to Me through the selfless action of another. It is in this way that we are a family. Each apostle is indebted to others for their progress up the mountain of holiness because the service of each supports and sustains others. How blessed is the plan of God. My gratitude to you will endure forever."

And from Anne a lay apostle's book Climbing the Mountain, the following quote is perfect for All Saints Day:

"The lay apostle must believe that his daily service is fueling the renewal. The lay apostle must believe this because it is true. Do not be one who reflects constantly on the dreadful state of the world. It cannot be all that bad as Jesus is here and angels and saints surround us. Earth is an extension of heaven, dear apostles. I know with certainty that Jesus is within me. And I am here, on earth. And earth is God’s creation. So it is wrong to proceed with a long face. There are souls to be loved and services to be performed. Do not reflect constantly on the dreadful state of the world because by doing so one spreads the fruits of darkness, fear and despair. Be one who reflects constantly on the joyful state of heaven."

Lay apostles, we have so many advocates in our beloved saints.  They are ready and willing to intercede for us.  Learn about them and how they lived their lives. The surprise is each one walked this earth as we do.  They just chose to focus on Christ, no matter the cost.

Thank you, Lord, for all our beautiful saints who have gone before us and those in the making. Help me to continue to learn about their lives, knowing they are ready to assist on a moments notice. Please remind me to call on them more often!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Setting An Example

Every single child needs love and stability. And that doesn't stop just because they turn 18. Why is it so many parents think the minute their child is old enough to drive they can take care of themselves? Or, when their child goes off to college they choose to stop parenting, claiming they gave 18 years of raising this child and now it is their time to have fun? I'm not saying don't take care of yourself. I'm not saying don't have a good time. I'm saying take care of yourself and continue to guide and nurture your young adults. The best way to do that? By example. So many young people are lost, trying to figure out their place in life. If we, as parents, aren't there to send them in the right direction, who will? The media (heaven forbid!)? Their friends? You may think they don't need you anymore, but the truth is, they do. Have you planted the seeds of faith in your children? If you haven't, get to work. It's never too late. Set an example.

Jesus gives a few analogies in the Gospel (Luke 13:18-21) on planting the seeds:

Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches." Again he said, "To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened."

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she encourages us to take a look at the example we are setting for our children:

"Dear parent, I know you are lonely but Jesus loves our children far more than we do and if He has entrusted them to us, He will help us to both provide for them and fashion them according to His plan. In the case of single parenting, Catholic identity is even more crucial. Our children will retain perfect dignity if we connect them to the Church as we are bringing them up through their childhood. Jesus Christ and our Blessed Mother view all children as treasures, irreplaceable to the Kingdom of God. Therefore, if these children are secure in their place in the Church, they will be secure in their place in the world. I have seen many children from single-parent families flourishing. They generally, like all children, adapt to the viewpoint of the parent so the parent must be vigilant about his or her own dignity. This means, dear parents, conducting ourselves rightly and not exposing the children to any influences that are in conflict with holy formation. Children will not do what we say. Children will do what we do."

Lay apostles, begin with taking a look at how you act in front of your children, no matter their age.  If you have young children, are you speaking appropriately in front of them, eliminating unhealthy language? If you have teens, are you requiring they attend Mass with you every week?  If you have adult children, are you encouraging them to seek a relationship with Jesus?  All we have is the remainder of our time on this earth.  Let's use every second to promote the Kingdom of God.

Thank you, Lord, for allowing me the gift of a loving man, four daughters, two sons-in-law, four grandchildren, and an incredible mother-in-law.  Please help me continue directing them straight into Your Loving Arms.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Choose Wisely

Do you remember the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade? Action-packed Harrison Ford movie . . . adventures you would never catch this squeamish-at-the-sight-of-anything-slimey-hopping-or-slithering kind of girl in close proximity to. Sitting safely in a movie theater or on the couch in the comfort of my own home makes it a virtual adventure and I can handle that! So, what was it about today's Gospel that made me think of Indiana Jones? Basically, Jesus prayed about who would be His Twelve Apostles. He didn't just randomly pick from all His followers. He prayed for God's guidance in making the right decision . . . to do the Father's Will. There is a line in this movie which I find quite profound and related to today's Gospel:

Grail Knight: But choose wisely, for while the true Grail will bring you life, the false Grail will take it from you.

By Jesus choosing the Twelve He did, God's plan unfolded perfectly. Through His death and resurrection, we are saved (Luke 6:12-16):

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she describes beautifully how choosing wisely leads to living (and thriving in) a life for Christ:

"Young men and women of God, choose wisely. Ask yourself if the person you are dating is willing to view marriage through the eyes of Christ, never mind living it out that way. If the person you are dating does not share this sacramental view of marriage, how can we expect him or her to exercise it later? If the person you are dating does not view the formation of children with the most reverent sense of responsibility, how can we expect them to exercise it fully as a parent? Such cruel disappointment God’s children experience in unwise marriages, and yet, such humility from suffering and such miraculous healing of many marital unions."

Lay apostles, just as Christ called upon Our Father in heaven when He had to make some important choices, we must do the same. Pray for wisdom. Pray for the right answers. Choose wisely.

Thank you, Lord, for the lessons when I have chosen hastily and the graces when I have made choices after discussing it with You!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Word Today: Hypocrites

What exactly is the meaning of the word hypocrite?  According to Dictionary.com, it means:

1. A person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.

2. A person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements. A pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess.

Years ago, as this apostolate began to teach me how to have an intimate relationship with Jesus, a few people in my life didn't appreciate the new me. As I tried to become holier, wounded parts of the old Bonnie still emerged at times. I remember someone calling me a hypocrite whenever I slipped back into old patterns instead of being the humble lay apostle I was striving to become. It felt like all my hard work was dismissed over one slip. But what it taught me was . . . I am being watched and must practice what I preach! A lesson we all need to grasp and incorporate into our daily walk with Christ.

Today's Gospel (Luke 12:54-59) clearly tells us to work on ourselves first:

Jesus said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

"Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she reminds us to remain true to who we are instead of trying to appear better than we are:

"Because we serve in our humanity, it is true that we will not always set the example that either we or Jesus desires but let us strive to consider always, in our words and actions, what kind of example we are giving to others. There are some who position themselves around the place of the divine will, never entering, but claiming always to possess the attributes of the Architect of this place. These are the thieves and brigands. Suddenly, the word hypocrisy springs to mind. We must remember to be authentic. If we are having a hard time in holiness, we should not try to give the impression that we are worthy of canonization. Now the word humility springs to mind. If we are humble, we are proceeding in truth."

Lay apostles, sometimes we can become quite irritated with the actions of others and lash out.  But what are we really irritated with?  Is it something we see in ourselves being recreated in front of our faces by someone else? Is it someone who says one thing and does another?  Whatever it is, stay humble.  Remain on the path to holiness.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of humility. Continue to lead me on the path of holiness, leaving hypocrisy behind.  Living my truth makes life so much easier!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Skeletons in the Closet

Skeletons in the closet . . . what to do, what to do. Our past didn't happen accidentally or by oversight. We can continue to deny the painful choices we have made and baggage others have left behind for us to carry.  Or, we can allow ourselves to feel and experience the pain, then let it go. If we are on the path to Jesus, understand He has been with us every step of the way. Trust we needed to go through all we have and will because it is and was the only way He gets our attention.

The Gospel today (Luke 12:49-53) expresses the frustration Jesus is feeling with those who don't believe and His upcoming crucifixion:

Jesus said to his disciples: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she describes the importance of following the Lord's example:

"Humility allows for wounds. This is partially why humility is so important. If a person is humble, he will be willing to say, “I am hurt.” When we admit something has hurt us, we can steer away from anger and take things calmly, acting with Christ to deal with any misfires in the relationships around us. This calm course will help us to remain an asset to heaven as opposed to a liability. It must be noted that Jesus, in Holy Scripture, acted consistently with kindness, gentleness and humility. Jesus was continually misjudged and maligned. He returned love for hostility. It would be an excellent exercise for us to spend some time today thinking of who in our day is hostile to us and how we will follow the Lord’s example as set out in Holy Scripture and treat these people with patience and kindness. Let us look, not at the Lord’s righteous anger in one example, but at the Lord’s parade of loving acceptance for those with whom He served. This method of behavior, rejecting anger in favor of humility, becomes habit forming. How beautiful it is to witness someone who has gained mastery over himself in this way. Their rare departures into anger or thoughtless remarks are reassuring in terms of their humanity but also stark contrasts from their normal behavior."

Lay apostles, what can you do today to let go of a skeleton in your closet?  Face your not-so-stellar choices in the past, one at a time, no matter how painful.  The key is to experience them for what they are.  Don't deny them.  Don't convince yourself they never happened. Feel the anger, the pain, the sorrow. Then pass each one on to Jesus.  Let Him carry the load for you. He is willing so you will find joy. Start with one skeleton today.

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to release the skeletons of my past so I can have a joyful future. I am a different person than I was yesterday.  And plan to be even more joyful tomorrow.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Keep Calm

One of my favorite young writers guest blogged for me a few years ago. Her message is just as pertinent as it was when she wrote it!

Guest Blogger: Annie C.

Keep Calm and Don't Beat Your Master's Maidservants

Absolutely love this young woman and so thankful she agreed to write a guest blog post. She is a brilliant writer! Don't you just love her title??? ;-)

Does anybody remember being upset as a child that your younger siblings were able to get away with behaviors that you weren’t? I have the distinct memory specific to the oldest child of being tossed out with the well water where my younger brother and sister were concerned. (If you don’t remember this, you were probably the youngest. You people don’t realize how good you had it!) The three of us shared a bedroom as children, and when my little sister Mary Kathryn came along, she used to wake us up long after bedtime, break out of her crib, and enlist us in causing mayhem in our room. We would break the slatted doors of our closet off their hinges and prop them against our beds, walking up and down them with great delight at our homemade “escalators”. Until we got caught and would flee to whatever hiding places we could find when our dad burst in, usually under the blankets. Not very creative for kids who could make their own escalator! Every single time we engaged in some night-time escapade, I would be singled out as the ringleader and punished the most severely, because I should have been setting a better example, I should have known better, the younger children looked up to me, yada yada yada. To me, of course, this was grossly unfair, given that my angelic looking baby sister was the real culprit (which she will deny to this day). Apart from feeling pretty sorry for my parents right now, you’re probably thinking that this sounds about right; older kids are usually guides for the younger, as they have that slight edge in terms of age and maturity. Clearly, this was a role I had to grow into! This added culpability for our actions according to our state and knowledge is exactly what today’s Gospel (Luke 12:39-48) is referring to:

“And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly.  Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

The last two lines of this Gospel stand out as the most important to me, and call to my mind a quote from the third Narnia movie, when Prince Caspian says, “I have spent too long wanting what was taken from me and not what was given.” It can be easy to slip into the habit of focusing on what we lack and losing sight of how many blessings we have been bestowed with, as well as the greater expectations God has for us as a result of what we have been given. For some people, this gospel message and the expectations it describes might initially cause anxiety and excessive self-scrutiny. How do I know if what I’m doing is enough? What if I’m not good enough to meet God’s standard? What if I fail God?! The beauty of this message could be lost by the pressures that some of us may put upon ourselves. But that is the opposite of what God wants.

In a message from Volume Ten, September 28, 2004, Jesus reminds us that we will never be asked to take on more than we are capable of:

“Dear souls of the Kingdom, you are called to service. You know this. You have heard my call and rested in My anguish. I want to talk to you about your duty. Perhaps you hear my call and feel resistance at what it is I am asking from you. Let me promise you that you will be given exactly what you need to embrace your portion of this mission. Do not be afraid to stand beside me as I move into the world through each one of you. Souls will see you with their physical eyes, but they will experience me. Your fears, your hesitance, have no bearing on how you will perform for me. Do not worry about your ability when it comes to completing your duty. Do not worry about your lack of strength. It will come from me. It will flow deeply and completely from Me. Your willingness to serve is all that is required.”

Let us go forward together throughout our days with the calm assurance that God will see to our needs and prayers, and the knowledge that we must, in turn, see to His.

God bless,

Annie

Gospel Word Today: Vigilant

Communication can sound one way coming out of our mouths with the receiver hearing something different. Old habits of reacting seem to appear immediately when you think you are experiencing déjà vu in a given situation. As much as I like to think I have come a long way in offering everything up to Jesus, every once in a while I don't seem to offer it up to Him quick enough. But now, instead of being hurt or angry, I clarify. Sometimes I misinterpret the meaning behind the words. When things are explained in a clear manner with no malice interjected, it is a healthy exchange and everyone walks away understood and understanding. Alas, there are times I have impeccable comprehension and realize it's time to offer it up . . . walk away. I can do that now. I can leave toxicity behind and continue to serve.

Today's Gospel (Luke 12:35-38) shows us the importance of service to our Lord Jesus:

Jesus said to his disciples: "Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants."

In Volume One, Anne a lay apostle describes how vigilance in service can turn our suffering into blessings:

"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. Let me put it this way. There is an alcoholic. He is steeped in sin, both with regard to this addiction and in general. Recovering alcoholics will tell you they got a tap on the shoulder at some point and their life changed. They were given the eyes to see their addiction, their selfishness, their sinfulness. They then got sober and became some of the greatest servants of Christ. Truly motivated now, these humble souls commit themselves to helping others to see. Where did the grace come from, to get them the tap on the shoulder? From our suffering, united to the Passion of Jesus."

Lay apostles, be vigilant in your service to Christ. And that means serving others, even when they make it difficult to do so. Sometimes the message is completely different when we listen with our own ears and not the ears of Christ.  If you are misinterpreting something as offensive, stop and clarify. Show others the Light of Christ.

Thank you, Lord, for the ability to ask questions and communicate when I'm not seeing things clearly. And, for the grace of calmness when I slip back into old thinking patterns.

God bless,
Bonnie