Decisions made in the heat of the moment can go one of two ways. We can either react emotionally, shooting daggers at the offending party. Or we can keep our comments to ourselves remembering every human being is a child of God. Even the worst of the worst. Think about Jesus on the cross. Two criminals on each side of Him. One of them hurling insults at Christ and the other realizing He was the Son of God, asking Jesus to remember him in His Kingdom. How did Jesus respond? He told the man who believed that they would be seeing each other in paradise. It's never too late to repent. No matter what your sins are, no matter how grave, Jesus is always ready to forgive.
Today's Gospel (John 21:15-19) is a perfect example of the forgiveness we can expect from our Lord as followers:
After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." He then said to Simon Peter a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
In Anne a lay apostle's book Staying in Place, she points out God's Forgiveness is right in front of us at all times:
"Hurting another created child of God is the same as hurting the One who created that child. Rejecting God is a 'no' response to His complete 'I love you.' We repent and as Catholics, we seek absolution through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Yet, there’s something which is more widely available, also. We can evaluate it as existing within our human experience. It is by cooperation with grace we have been saved, through faith. By the same token, it would appear that there is nothing we could do negatively, through sin, which would prompt God to withdraw the gifts of grace available. We can reject the gifts, for example, we can reject the gift He offers of forgiveness by refusing to repent. We reject many of His gifts, but they keep coming and they remain in front of us for uptake throughout our whole life, regardless of our condition."
Lay apostles, Peter had denied Jesus three times. Paul was persecuting Christians. And yet they became true disciples of Christ. All Jesus asked was they feed and tend to His sheep. That's all He asks of us. Love Him and spread the Good News. For however we have sinned or been sinned against, truly repenting in our hearts is the goal.
Thank you, Lord, for bringing Your lay apostles words to live by. Continue to help me forgive unconditionally. And most especially, to remain silent when I want to throw daggers.
God bless,
Bonnie
Friday, May 29, 2020
Thursday, May 28, 2020
Gospel Thoughts Today: Do You Feel Loved?
Do you remember the little red pins with "I Am Loved" written in white?
Helzberg Diamonds was and is responsible for spreading three little words which mean so much. Here is a little info on how this button came into being:
Three Little Words that Come From the Heart
Something remarkable happens when you say to yourself, "I Am Loved." And the feeling is infinitely more extraordinary when the sentiment comes from someone else. It's no surprise that Barnett Helzberg Jr.'s idea for a button, printed with these three words, has been so genuinely meaningful to so many people.
Barnett is Loved
I Am Loved® was conceived in 1967 by Barnett Helzberg Jr., the thirty-something, third generation president of Kansas City-based Helzberg Diamonds. A young lady named Shirley Bush had just accepted Barnett's marriage proposal. To know she said yes ... to know he was loved ... Barnett was ecstatic! He wanted to tell the world!
The message on this pin is exactly what Our Lord has been saying all along . . . we are loved. We may not feel earthly love at times, but God's love is unshakeable, constant, and forgiving, as every good Father must emulate (good Mothers, too!).
Today's Gospel (John 17:20-26) makes it undeniable . . . we are loved:
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them.”
In the booklet Heaven Speaks To Those Who Do Not Know Jesus, it is obvious Jesus is our biggest Cheerleader:
"If you learn to understand Me, you will learn that I want to use your gifts to create harmony in your soul. When you use your gifts and energy for My purposes, you will benefit the whole world. It must be so because I have said it is so and I can speak only the truth. We are all connected. Would you like to benefit the world? Truly, you are capable of this and this is My plan for you. I have so much to give to you in terms of knowledge and wisdom. Teamed with Me, you will flourish and grow to heights you never dreamed possible. Rejoice. You are resting with God, the God of All. This God tells you today that you are loved and needed. Follow this path that springs up before you. Come to Me. Turn in My direction and I will reveal this path that I want you to take. You will feel lightness in your spirit, a relief. You will feel calm. Inside there will quietly burst forth a bud of hope. This bud will blossom, have no fear. The hope you feel in your soul is nourished by the time you spend with Me, seeking truth."
Lay apostles, do you feel the love of Our Savior at all times? It can be a challenge to feel loved in difficult or confusing situations on this earth. Before heading into the pits of despair, stop and say, "I am loved." Say it over and over until you believe it.
Thank you, Lord, for the love You give me unconditionally.
God bless,
Bonnie
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Gospel Thoughts Today: Glorify Him
Years ago I planted a bush in the backyard. The flowers are bright orange and red (I think it's called Firebush). It has grown and filled out providing glorious blooms all year round. About 7 years ago I hired a wonderful young man to mow the lawn and trim the bushes around the house. A few years ago, as I would step out onto the back patio, my beautiful Firebush was chopped off, leaving only green leaves and branches showing. This happened for about 6 months, when finally I text Greg and asked him not to cut down that particular bush when it was in full bloom (not only do I love the colors . . . it is a flower that attracts butterflies!). Well, he stopped and it started growing taller than the fence, at least 3 feet taller. So, now he only cuts it down a couple times a year. Why did my Firebush come to mind after reading today's Gospel? Because EVERYTHING glorifies Him . . . the smile of my grandchildren as they race into my arms; the love of a husband who despite recovering from eye surgery, walks into the bedroom in the morning with a hot cup of coffee for me; the beauty of a butterfly caught on my Firebush. Everyday occurrences which could be overlooked if not seeing through the eyes of Christ.
In today's Gospel (John 17:1-11A), we are privy to an intimate conversation between Jesus and His Father:
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come.
Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began.
“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.”
In today's Gospel (John 17:1-11A), we are privy to an intimate conversation between Jesus and His Father:
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come.
Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began.
“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.”
Lay apostles, how do you glorify Jesus on a daily basis? Do you wake up and go about your day without acknowledging Him or wake up thanking Him for another day on this earth? Praising Him for good health? Glorifying Him for His death on the cross for your salvation? If not, begin today. It is never too late.
Thank you, Lord, for opening my eyes through this apostolate to see and glorify you in everything . . . good, bad and ugly. Just please give me the extra push through the bad and ugly!
God bless,
Bonnie
Friday, May 22, 2020
The Eighth in a Series of Twelve New Locutions from Jesus.
May 17, 2020
Jesus
I am speaking to you today to share the gift of heavenly perspective. Perhaps you wonder if Heaven is attached to the difficulties in the world. The answer is yes. Heaven is very much attached to the struggles faced by God’s children in the world. We are one family, after all, and that which affects one, affects all. The saints in Heaven, those who have gone before you, feel deeply for your suffering. They feel deeply because so few of the people facing this time are confident about my presence and about their next life. And there is a next life. There is a next life here with me, Jesus Christ, who loves you most completely. My friends, there are many things to remember that will console you. One, nobody has more power than God. The Father retains complete dominion over the world he created. The Holy Spirit blows gently at times and at times more powerfully, but the Holy Spirit remains present to those who are disposed.
What must one do to be disposed to the Holy Spirit? One must be open to one’s condition as a child of God, a created being.
A created being does not create what is good without God, regardless of one’s beliefs about God. A created being does not create and use that which is bad for people with God, regardless of one’s beliefs about God. Therefore, let it be said that when a person wilfully creates something which is used to hurt humanity, they do so without God and they are acting separately from God.
Why do I speak with you this way today? Because you must quietly discern all that moves around you. Ask yourself this question. Is the remedy being offered to people helping humanity or hurting humanity? If it is helping humanity, then you know I am active. If it is hurting humanity, then you know that it is not what I desire for people. Because you cannot possibly judge any person, you leave all judgement to me. The truth is that sometimes people believe they serve to help others when really, they spread harm. I do not want this. I want all of God’s children on Earth to be loved and assisted. At the very least, I ask that God’s children not be deliberately harmed. If I am speaking to you, then you should heed my words, which you have now been given. If I am speaking to others, then you should simply discern prayerfully which part of these words are for you. Ponder my words. Ask for light from the Holy Spirit. Ask for protection from the Creator who desires what is good for you.
My friends, and you are all my beloved friends, move gently through your days, neither detaching from your role on Earth nor remaining too attached to temporary matters that will pass away. Remember that love and loving connections of light will remain with you for eternity. Speak with confidence about my plan for this world, especially when you are offered that which feels empty of hope. I am light. I am peace. I am happiness and joy and love. I am hope and delight. You, my beloved, fill me with hope and delight, just as you are right now. Only I have the eyes to fully recognise what is beautiful and heavenly in you. I look at you and see an infinite ability to spread peace through your trust in me. You cannot see this because you cannot see the effect of even one action of love from you to another. Only I can see the effects that blow into the world though the trust that you offer to me. Come. Let us, together, introduce many origins of love which can then move out into the world. Today, we will spread hope, together.
Jesus
I am speaking to you today to share the gift of heavenly perspective. Perhaps you wonder if Heaven is attached to the difficulties in the world. The answer is yes. Heaven is very much attached to the struggles faced by God’s children in the world. We are one family, after all, and that which affects one, affects all. The saints in Heaven, those who have gone before you, feel deeply for your suffering. They feel deeply because so few of the people facing this time are confident about my presence and about their next life. And there is a next life. There is a next life here with me, Jesus Christ, who loves you most completely. My friends, there are many things to remember that will console you. One, nobody has more power than God. The Father retains complete dominion over the world he created. The Holy Spirit blows gently at times and at times more powerfully, but the Holy Spirit remains present to those who are disposed.
What must one do to be disposed to the Holy Spirit? One must be open to one’s condition as a child of God, a created being.
A created being does not create what is good without God, regardless of one’s beliefs about God. A created being does not create and use that which is bad for people with God, regardless of one’s beliefs about God. Therefore, let it be said that when a person wilfully creates something which is used to hurt humanity, they do so without God and they are acting separately from God.
Why do I speak with you this way today? Because you must quietly discern all that moves around you. Ask yourself this question. Is the remedy being offered to people helping humanity or hurting humanity? If it is helping humanity, then you know I am active. If it is hurting humanity, then you know that it is not what I desire for people. Because you cannot possibly judge any person, you leave all judgement to me. The truth is that sometimes people believe they serve to help others when really, they spread harm. I do not want this. I want all of God’s children on Earth to be loved and assisted. At the very least, I ask that God’s children not be deliberately harmed. If I am speaking to you, then you should heed my words, which you have now been given. If I am speaking to others, then you should simply discern prayerfully which part of these words are for you. Ponder my words. Ask for light from the Holy Spirit. Ask for protection from the Creator who desires what is good for you.
My friends, and you are all my beloved friends, move gently through your days, neither detaching from your role on Earth nor remaining too attached to temporary matters that will pass away. Remember that love and loving connections of light will remain with you for eternity. Speak with confidence about my plan for this world, especially when you are offered that which feels empty of hope. I am light. I am peace. I am happiness and joy and love. I am hope and delight. You, my beloved, fill me with hope and delight, just as you are right now. Only I have the eyes to fully recognise what is beautiful and heavenly in you. I look at you and see an infinite ability to spread peace through your trust in me. You cannot see this because you cannot see the effect of even one action of love from you to another. Only I can see the effects that blow into the world though the trust that you offer to me. Come. Let us, together, introduce many origins of love which can then move out into the world. Today, we will spread hope, together.
Gospel Thoughts Today: Suffering is No Fun!
Almost eight years ago, I went through labor with my daughter Whitney and her husband Kevin. Whitney chose NO pain meds, NO epidural . . . completely natural. It was probably one of the most intense situations I have ever been in. To see my baby girl in so much pain was heart-wrenching. She was experiencing back labor, so Kevin and I took turns putting pressure on her lower back. I would look at Kevin when her back was to me, trying to hold back the tears. Kevin would look at me when her back was to him, also trying to stay tough. She was stuck at about 6 or 7 cm dilated, and the doctor said she would have to have a C-Section . . . her son was too big for a vaginal delivery. Whit didn't want to give up, so she insisted on sticking it out as long as the baby was doing ok. We talked her into some pain meds and then eventually into an epidural. The C-Section was inevitable as she stayed at 7cm dilated with no progress. The next time I saw my baby girl was holding her very large son! All the pain, all the waiting didn't matter anymore. There was joy, and love, and celebration. This is a perfect example of life as a Christian. We will suffer on this earth. Everyone does. But all the suffering will be replaced with joy and light and love when we finally arrive at our heavenly home! Look at every bit of anguish you suffer today as climbing the mountain of holiness to the Arms of Jesus Christ! He is worth it!
In today's Gospel (John 16:20-23), Jesus gives the example of how quickly joy is derived from anguish:
Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”
In Volume Four, God the Father provides the comfort we need in tough times:
"Remain with Me, your heavenly Father, who seeks to direct all that has an impact on you. I will bring every event in your life and turn it into something that benefits your soul and gives you eternal satisfaction and joy. But not all in my life is good, you are thinking. I know that, My child. That is why you need Me. I can turn the pain, the anguish, the mistakes and grief, into strength, wisdom, patience, and joy. Truly, if you are detached from the world and from worldly things, you can experience a foretaste of heaven on earth and then you will have less desire for earthly things. You will have a clearer, more defined focus. You will have less difficulty with the idea of leaving the earth and making the journey to your home in heaven. Believe Me when I tell you that everything I say, all that I share with you, I share with you for your own benefit. I am your Father and a Father sees to the needs of His children. Use Me, children, to calm your spirit and direct your path. It is for this reason that I come to you now."
Lay apostles, suffering is no fun. I don't voluntarily ask for it, but I have learned to take whatever it is . . . pain, frustration, or hurt and offer it to Him to use as He pleases. When I do this, it makes whatever is going on less intense every time. So give it a try today. Whatever is bothering you, causing you pain . . . accept it as your cross for today. Ask Jesus to use it for good. The graces will shower down, my friends!
Thank you, Lord, for teaching me how to find joy in anguish when I could very easily go the other way! Continue to provide the graces I need when I feel beaten down!
God bless,
Bonnie
In today's Gospel (John 16:20-23), Jesus gives the example of how quickly joy is derived from anguish:
Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”
In Volume Four, God the Father provides the comfort we need in tough times:
"Remain with Me, your heavenly Father, who seeks to direct all that has an impact on you. I will bring every event in your life and turn it into something that benefits your soul and gives you eternal satisfaction and joy. But not all in my life is good, you are thinking. I know that, My child. That is why you need Me. I can turn the pain, the anguish, the mistakes and grief, into strength, wisdom, patience, and joy. Truly, if you are detached from the world and from worldly things, you can experience a foretaste of heaven on earth and then you will have less desire for earthly things. You will have a clearer, more defined focus. You will have less difficulty with the idea of leaving the earth and making the journey to your home in heaven. Believe Me when I tell you that everything I say, all that I share with you, I share with you for your own benefit. I am your Father and a Father sees to the needs of His children. Use Me, children, to calm your spirit and direct your path. It is for this reason that I come to you now."
Lay apostles, suffering is no fun. I don't voluntarily ask for it, but I have learned to take whatever it is . . . pain, frustration, or hurt and offer it to Him to use as He pleases. When I do this, it makes whatever is going on less intense every time. So give it a try today. Whatever is bothering you, causing you pain . . . accept it as your cross for today. Ask Jesus to use it for good. The graces will shower down, my friends!
Thank you, Lord, for teaching me how to find joy in anguish when I could very easily go the other way! Continue to provide the graces I need when I feel beaten down!
God bless,
Bonnie
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Gospel Thoughts Today: Never Doubt His Presence
Today's Gospel has me pondering everything I have gained from my involvement with the DFOT mission. The list is long, but here are the most important:
1. An intimate relationship with Jesus . . . no doubt He is always with me.
2. The ability to forgive not only those who have hurt me . . . I have forgiven myself.
3. A community of lay apostles all over the world, praying for and supporting each other.
4. The ability, through the Volumes and all Anne's books, to heal myself from my past.
5. Calm and peace . . . in just about everything.
6. I have become a better wife, parent, and a great Mimi!
7. I have become the woman I should have always been . . . who Jay recognized and fell in love with almost 8 years ago.
I owe my life to this mission. Following and believing what Christ says and asks of us makes it, quite frankly, easy. Even the tough times seem like an inconvenience, not a catastrophe. Today, I am thankful for a woman who took on a huge responsibility for Jesus and has taught me to never doubt again. Thank you, Anne, from the bottom of my heart!
In today's Gospel (Matthew 28:16-20), Jesus asks His Twelve to never doubt His Presence:
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
In the Monthly Message of November 2011, Jesus assures us, as He did in the Gospel, He is always by our side:
"My dear apostles, I am with you. I am with you when you are working, and I am with you when you are resting. I am with you when you are at peace, and I am with you when you are unsettled. You are unsettled less and less, though. As I watch you, struggling for holiness and struggling for My will, I can see that you are advancing. You are becoming stronger and more sure of Me. Even allowing for your human doubts, I can see that you are accepting My comfort daily, which makes it easier for you to come through your trials with less suffering. The greatest suffering is, after all, abandonment. The greatest cross is that of being left alone while craving the comfort and love of someone who is dear to you. My friends, often there is confusion in human relationships which causes terrible suffering. This part of the cross is heavy, indeed, and I, Myself, suffered this. It is during these times that I comfort you with the greatest and most tender graces because I understand the confusion which accompanies abandonment. For Me, it was important to remind myself that My Father would not abandon Me. For you, this is also important. I will never leave you."
Lay apostles, do you try to live the messages in the Volumes? I mean take EVERY one of them to heart? As I have said many times on this blog, read and reread all the messages from heaven. It creates a confidence you wouldn't have believed was possible!
Thank you, Lord, for the confidence instilled in me through Scripture and all the messages given to Anne. This truly is a "rescue mission for souls."
God bless,
Bonnie
1. An intimate relationship with Jesus . . . no doubt He is always with me.
2. The ability to forgive not only those who have hurt me . . . I have forgiven myself.
3. A community of lay apostles all over the world, praying for and supporting each other.
4. The ability, through the Volumes and all Anne's books, to heal myself from my past.
5. Calm and peace . . . in just about everything.
6. I have become a better wife, parent, and a great Mimi!
7. I have become the woman I should have always been . . . who Jay recognized and fell in love with almost 8 years ago.
I owe my life to this mission. Following and believing what Christ says and asks of us makes it, quite frankly, easy. Even the tough times seem like an inconvenience, not a catastrophe. Today, I am thankful for a woman who took on a huge responsibility for Jesus and has taught me to never doubt again. Thank you, Anne, from the bottom of my heart!
In today's Gospel (Matthew 28:16-20), Jesus asks His Twelve to never doubt His Presence:
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
In the Monthly Message of November 2011, Jesus assures us, as He did in the Gospel, He is always by our side:
"My dear apostles, I am with you. I am with you when you are working, and I am with you when you are resting. I am with you when you are at peace, and I am with you when you are unsettled. You are unsettled less and less, though. As I watch you, struggling for holiness and struggling for My will, I can see that you are advancing. You are becoming stronger and more sure of Me. Even allowing for your human doubts, I can see that you are accepting My comfort daily, which makes it easier for you to come through your trials with less suffering. The greatest suffering is, after all, abandonment. The greatest cross is that of being left alone while craving the comfort and love of someone who is dear to you. My friends, often there is confusion in human relationships which causes terrible suffering. This part of the cross is heavy, indeed, and I, Myself, suffered this. It is during these times that I comfort you with the greatest and most tender graces because I understand the confusion which accompanies abandonment. For Me, it was important to remind myself that My Father would not abandon Me. For you, this is also important. I will never leave you."
Lay apostles, do you try to live the messages in the Volumes? I mean take EVERY one of them to heart? As I have said many times on this blog, read and reread all the messages from heaven. It creates a confidence you wouldn't have believed was possible!
Thank you, Lord, for the confidence instilled in me through Scripture and all the messages given to Anne. This truly is a "rescue mission for souls."
God bless,
Bonnie
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Gospel Thoughts Today: Responding with Humility
A little over 8 years ago I wrote a blog post called Grace Under Fire. It was a pivotal day for me. On the one hand, I was furious on the inside. On the other hand, it was the day I knew, without a doubt, I was a true Lay Apostle of Jesus Christ the Returning King. It was a day I responded to a verbal attack with humility and most importantly, I didn't respond emotionally. The pre-Lay Apostle Bonnie would have come out swinging. I knew he was under a lot of stress and pressure . . . he knew taking it out on me would be safe considering I have a pretty high tolerance for bad behavior. I am happy to say our friendship has survived. When we respond with love of neighbor instead of reacting to an outburst hurled our way, it is amazing what God can do with that love!
Today's Gospel (John 15:9-17) provides the key ingredient of a true Christian:
Jesus said to his disciples: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love.
"I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another."
Today's quote from Anne a lay apostle's book Climbing the Mountain is a bit longer than my usual, but so critical in understanding those who lash out at us and how important our prayers are for their souls:
"Clearly, the love of Christ is meant to be shared. After the experience of heaven, I can see that the Kingdom of God is made up of souls who love each other. If Christ is in each one of us, and this is of course what we believe as Christians, then we must venerate Christ in every soul. How do we do that?
We do that with respect and gentleness. Some might say, “Yes, this may be true but I see souls in error, in mortal sin, living far outside of the heavenly Kingdom.” Well, dear fellow apostles, this is when the call to treat them as Christ is at its most profound. If Christ has indeed been driven out of a soul, through serious sin and a spirit of rebellion in that sin, then the call to illustrate our unity with Christ is compelling. How does Christ treat that soul? How does Christ view that soul? I will tell you.
Christ does not glance at a soul and see the sin, although He is acutely aware of the sin. Christ glances at a soul and sees the wound that both caused the sin and was worsened by the sin. So in order for the Kingdom to come, and it must and it will, we must treat each other as Christ would.
Sometimes a soul living outside of the Kingdom is bitter. This bitterness is like a sore. When a soul in bitterness views Christ in us, it can be like salt in the wound or sore because our unity with Christ highlights his isolation from Him. This is good. The soul then comes closer to an understanding of what it lacks. Our experience of this may not be pleasant. It may be necessarily painful because in its pain his soul may strike out at us. This can be understood as an almost instinctual lashing out or crying out in the distress of his disconnectedness from Christ. We must accept these strikes as beneficial penance and part of standing with Christ as a companion on the Way of the Cross.
To clarify, I am driving in traffic and I make a mistake, perhaps, or commit a deed that inconveniences someone else. I give the other driver an apologetic wave. He responds by swearing at me, shouting and threatening. This is shocking for a holy soul.
We must offer this to Jesus. We must bring that soul to Jesus in prayer and petition. Our prayer will obtain critical graces for that soul. We must look at this person and see the wound, the sore.
To be more specific to the call to bring Jesus Christ to souls directly, consider a soul who is estranged from the Kingdom. Perhaps it is a family member or neighbor. It is possible that he may be unkind to us because our holiness is an irritant to him and to his wound. Is it then acceptable to be unkind in return? No, this is not acceptable for an apostle of Jesus Christ who seeks to bring His love to them. Remember that it was AFTER the Crucifixion that the Centurion said, “Truly, this was the Son of God.” That soul only saw Christ through the manner in which Jesus accepted suffering from the offender’s hands. Note this parallel.
A soul may be tormenting us, but for this soul to experience Christ, we must accept it as Christ would. This should be in flashing red lights.
We may be praying for this soul and beseeching heaven for the conversion of this soul. So we must not complain at a little suffering for this soul, particularly if it comes from the hand of that same soul.
It helps to examine our motives. Do we want this soul to be saved for the sake of the soul and for the consolation and glory of Jesus Christ? Or do we want this soul to be saved so that the soul will treat us better and make our life easier? I think perhaps it can be a bit of both and this is acceptable. But as we begin to lean more to the benefit of both the soul and the Kingdom, we will become more willing to accept the occasional bad treatment for the purpose of the greater good, which is the salvation of the soul and the consolation of Christ, as well as for the benefit of the Kingdom."
Lay apostles, choose to love those who seem unlovable. Choose to be the light instead of the darkness. Choose humility over pride. With Jesus, anything is possible!
Thank you, Lord, for the ability to love when faced with adversity. Help me to always keep my focus on You!
God bless,
Bonnie
Today's Gospel (John 15:9-17) provides the key ingredient of a true Christian:
Jesus said to his disciples: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love.
"I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another."
Today's quote from Anne a lay apostle's book Climbing the Mountain is a bit longer than my usual, but so critical in understanding those who lash out at us and how important our prayers are for their souls:
"Clearly, the love of Christ is meant to be shared. After the experience of heaven, I can see that the Kingdom of God is made up of souls who love each other. If Christ is in each one of us, and this is of course what we believe as Christians, then we must venerate Christ in every soul. How do we do that?
We do that with respect and gentleness. Some might say, “Yes, this may be true but I see souls in error, in mortal sin, living far outside of the heavenly Kingdom.” Well, dear fellow apostles, this is when the call to treat them as Christ is at its most profound. If Christ has indeed been driven out of a soul, through serious sin and a spirit of rebellion in that sin, then the call to illustrate our unity with Christ is compelling. How does Christ treat that soul? How does Christ view that soul? I will tell you.
Christ does not glance at a soul and see the sin, although He is acutely aware of the sin. Christ glances at a soul and sees the wound that both caused the sin and was worsened by the sin. So in order for the Kingdom to come, and it must and it will, we must treat each other as Christ would.
Sometimes a soul living outside of the Kingdom is bitter. This bitterness is like a sore. When a soul in bitterness views Christ in us, it can be like salt in the wound or sore because our unity with Christ highlights his isolation from Him. This is good. The soul then comes closer to an understanding of what it lacks. Our experience of this may not be pleasant. It may be necessarily painful because in its pain his soul may strike out at us. This can be understood as an almost instinctual lashing out or crying out in the distress of his disconnectedness from Christ. We must accept these strikes as beneficial penance and part of standing with Christ as a companion on the Way of the Cross.
To clarify, I am driving in traffic and I make a mistake, perhaps, or commit a deed that inconveniences someone else. I give the other driver an apologetic wave. He responds by swearing at me, shouting and threatening. This is shocking for a holy soul.
We must offer this to Jesus. We must bring that soul to Jesus in prayer and petition. Our prayer will obtain critical graces for that soul. We must look at this person and see the wound, the sore.
To be more specific to the call to bring Jesus Christ to souls directly, consider a soul who is estranged from the Kingdom. Perhaps it is a family member or neighbor. It is possible that he may be unkind to us because our holiness is an irritant to him and to his wound. Is it then acceptable to be unkind in return? No, this is not acceptable for an apostle of Jesus Christ who seeks to bring His love to them. Remember that it was AFTER the Crucifixion that the Centurion said, “Truly, this was the Son of God.” That soul only saw Christ through the manner in which Jesus accepted suffering from the offender’s hands. Note this parallel.
A soul may be tormenting us, but for this soul to experience Christ, we must accept it as Christ would. This should be in flashing red lights.
We may be praying for this soul and beseeching heaven for the conversion of this soul. So we must not complain at a little suffering for this soul, particularly if it comes from the hand of that same soul.
It helps to examine our motives. Do we want this soul to be saved for the sake of the soul and for the consolation and glory of Jesus Christ? Or do we want this soul to be saved so that the soul will treat us better and make our life easier? I think perhaps it can be a bit of both and this is acceptable. But as we begin to lean more to the benefit of both the soul and the Kingdom, we will become more willing to accept the occasional bad treatment for the purpose of the greater good, which is the salvation of the soul and the consolation of Christ, as well as for the benefit of the Kingdom."
Lay apostles, choose to love those who seem unlovable. Choose to be the light instead of the darkness. Choose humility over pride. With Jesus, anything is possible!
Thank you, Lord, for the ability to love when faced with adversity. Help me to always keep my focus on You!
God bless,
Bonnie
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Gospel Thoughts Today: Hold On
There is a Wilson-Phillips song called Hold On that came out in 1990. It was the year I decided to pursue my BSN, was pretty much a single parent of three girls, my mother was preparing to move to Kansas so I could be a full-time student, and I acquired part-time employment on a locked psychiatry unit for some nursing experience. I remember driving to clinicals at 5am blasting Hold On, wondering how I was going to juggle so many balls without dropping one. I held on day after day, doing the best I could. My faith in God, and the lyrics in the chorus of this song, gave me hope there was light at the end of the tunnel that year:
Guess what? Things did and do eventually go my way (well, His way!), despite chaos popping up every now and then. The point is, today may seem dark and stormy, but hold on for one more day. Remain centered in each day, not the future, not the past. Remember to call on Jesus when you need a little encouragement in the hope department. He is ready, willing and able to send the graces you need to wake up tomorrow and guide you to greener pastures.
In today's Gospel (John 15:1-8), Jesus asks us to remain focused on Him:
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.
In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, Jesus assures us by following Him today, He will see to our service tomorrow:
“My little ones see My plan for them in the present moment. At times My little ones underestimate how I intend to use them in the future. This is acceptable, of course, because it is best if a serving apostle remains focused on the day in which he finds himself. Let Me assure you, though, that the level of service I can gain from you tomorrow and in every tomorrow that I grant you, is directly affected by the level of cooperation I gain from you today. If you serve Me in completeness today, you can be assured that I am preparing you for even greater service tomorrow. It is all about practice, after all. You must practice being holy. My dear friends, My apostles, do not be afraid of tomorrow, regardless of what occurs today. My plan is detailed and accounts for everything. I will care for My beloved friends and their loved ones. I am God. I am all powerful. You cannot place too much trust in Me because I will always outperform your greatest expectations. Serve completely in today, My friends, and I will use you even more effectively tomorrow. Trust your Jesus. I will protect you.”
Yes, Jesus outperforms all my greatest expectations. So, lay apostles, hold on for one more day. Remain steadfast in your faith. Go to Adoration. Pray the Rosary. Read a Volume or Heaven Speaks booklet. Jesus is waiting for you . . .
Thank you, Lord, for inviting me to an intimate relationship with You through the daily Bible readings and the Direction for Our Times apostolate. Continue to guide my service to You in the right direction, come tomorrow.
God bless,
Bonnie
Don’t you know things can change
Things’ll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can you hold on for one more day
Things’ll go your way
Hold on for one more day
Guess what? Things did and do eventually go my way (well, His way!), despite chaos popping up every now and then. The point is, today may seem dark and stormy, but hold on for one more day. Remain centered in each day, not the future, not the past. Remember to call on Jesus when you need a little encouragement in the hope department. He is ready, willing and able to send the graces you need to wake up tomorrow and guide you to greener pastures.
In today's Gospel (John 15:1-8), Jesus asks us to remain focused on Him:
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.
In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, Jesus assures us by following Him today, He will see to our service tomorrow:
“My little ones see My plan for them in the present moment. At times My little ones underestimate how I intend to use them in the future. This is acceptable, of course, because it is best if a serving apostle remains focused on the day in which he finds himself. Let Me assure you, though, that the level of service I can gain from you tomorrow and in every tomorrow that I grant you, is directly affected by the level of cooperation I gain from you today. If you serve Me in completeness today, you can be assured that I am preparing you for even greater service tomorrow. It is all about practice, after all. You must practice being holy. My dear friends, My apostles, do not be afraid of tomorrow, regardless of what occurs today. My plan is detailed and accounts for everything. I will care for My beloved friends and their loved ones. I am God. I am all powerful. You cannot place too much trust in Me because I will always outperform your greatest expectations. Serve completely in today, My friends, and I will use you even more effectively tomorrow. Trust your Jesus. I will protect you.”
Yes, Jesus outperforms all my greatest expectations. So, lay apostles, hold on for one more day. Remain steadfast in your faith. Go to Adoration. Pray the Rosary. Read a Volume or Heaven Speaks booklet. Jesus is waiting for you . . .
Thank you, Lord, for inviting me to an intimate relationship with You through the daily Bible readings and the Direction for Our Times apostolate. Continue to guide my service to You in the right direction, come tomorrow.
God bless,
Bonnie
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Gospel Thoughts Today: The End Goal
"No marriages or babies until you have a college degree in your hands." I can't remember how many times I told my daughters this throughout their lives. I went back to school full-time for a BSN when my youngest was two. Not an easy thing to do when raising three little girls. I am happy to report my mission was completed the day my youngest daughter Taylor graduated with her BS in Photography 5 years ago. I remember a conversation with her after beginning her dream job back then. She lovingly congratulated me on accomplishing exactly what I wanted for my girls. The thing she didn't realize was . . . they all listened to me! They believed what I said. They plowed through the obstacles along the way, never losing sight of the end goal. What a great metaphor when thinking about being a Christian! We must believe what we read in the Bible and the messages from all of heaven in the Volumes. Living a life driven by the words of Christ will lead us to the end goal . . . heaven. Not always easy, but worth leaping over every hurdle.
In today's Gospel (John 10:22-30), Jesus reassures us He knows who we are:
The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
In Volume Four, Jesus again asks us to unite ourselves to Him:
"Believe Me when I say to you that you will never have peace, true peace, while you are separated from Me. And your eternity must be considered. You will spend eternity in one of two places, dear little soul. You must give this serious thought and determine where you would like to reside. You say you do not believe in God or you do not believe that God would send people to hell forever. I tell you today that it is not I, the only God there is, who condemns souls to hell. It is the soul himself who chooses to reside in hell. Do you know why the soul chooses hell? Because there are like-minded souls there. A soul who aligns himself with darkness does not choose heaven because that soul would not be comfortable in heaven. You must understand that you can be angry with God but God is not at fault. You can blame God for all that is wrong with your world and perhaps this will work for you on earth. I assure you though, on this day that this will cease to work for you at the moment of your death. At that time there will be only yourself to blame as the Truth is inescapable. You will be facing the one, the only, and the true God and attempting to tell Him that He does not exist. How do you think this will go for you? It will not go well, dear soul, and that is why I am speaking to you now."
Lay apostles, do you find yourself veering off the path to heaven? If you are, think about why. Is it because if you listened to His words you would have to eliminate certain things in your life? Do you lack complete trust in Him because you have been let down in the past? My friends, Jesus only wants what is good for us. He wants us to make choices with Him in mind. Letting go of behaviors or habits which lead us away from Him can be freeing rather than restraining. Take the first step . . . just a baby step . . . and get back on track. He is waiting with open arms!
Thank you, Lord, for allowing my daughters to accomplish their goals in life with You in mind. Please continue to lead them in their careers/lives to do everything for Your Glory!
God bless,
Bonnie
In today's Gospel (John 10:22-30), Jesus reassures us He knows who we are:
The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
In Volume Four, Jesus again asks us to unite ourselves to Him:
"Believe Me when I say to you that you will never have peace, true peace, while you are separated from Me. And your eternity must be considered. You will spend eternity in one of two places, dear little soul. You must give this serious thought and determine where you would like to reside. You say you do not believe in God or you do not believe that God would send people to hell forever. I tell you today that it is not I, the only God there is, who condemns souls to hell. It is the soul himself who chooses to reside in hell. Do you know why the soul chooses hell? Because there are like-minded souls there. A soul who aligns himself with darkness does not choose heaven because that soul would not be comfortable in heaven. You must understand that you can be angry with God but God is not at fault. You can blame God for all that is wrong with your world and perhaps this will work for you on earth. I assure you though, on this day that this will cease to work for you at the moment of your death. At that time there will be only yourself to blame as the Truth is inescapable. You will be facing the one, the only, and the true God and attempting to tell Him that He does not exist. How do you think this will go for you? It will not go well, dear soul, and that is why I am speaking to you now."
Lay apostles, do you find yourself veering off the path to heaven? If you are, think about why. Is it because if you listened to His words you would have to eliminate certain things in your life? Do you lack complete trust in Him because you have been let down in the past? My friends, Jesus only wants what is good for us. He wants us to make choices with Him in mind. Letting go of behaviors or habits which lead us away from Him can be freeing rather than restraining. Take the first step . . . just a baby step . . . and get back on track. He is waiting with open arms!
Thank you, Lord, for allowing my daughters to accomplish their goals in life with You in mind. Please continue to lead them in their careers/lives to do everything for Your Glory!
God bless,
Bonnie
Monday, May 4, 2020
Gospel Thoughts Today: Do You Shepherd?
Dictionary.com defines the word "shepherd" as: a person who protects, guides, or watches over a person or group of people. This prompted me to contemplate any "shepherding" I have done in my life thus far. Raising my three daughters, keeping mom's mental health balanced over the years, caring for mom and dad at end of life, the blessing of adding another daughter to the mix when I married Jay all come to mind. And, the clock has reset with the addition of our three grandsons and one granddaughter (so far!). We have opportunities every day to shepherd for Christ. But do we grab those moments when they arise? Or, do we feel inadequate for the job, so we just let it pass by? Ask yourself this question today . . . do I shepherd? If your answer is yes, praise God. If your answer is no, praise God and get to work!
In today's Gospel (John 10:11-18), Jesus defines the importance of guiding others to God:
Jesus said: "I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father."
In Volume Three, God the Father asks us for our "yes" . . . now:
"My child, for so long I have watched you. In some deep area of your soul, you knew I was there with you. I choose to be more active in your life now. I choose to lead you more directly, if you will allow Me. I want My children to be united with Me, but also with each other. I require a legion of souls who are living in union with Me, their God, and who are responding to My directives. Children, along with My Son, and Mary, his mother, I am giving you every assurance of your welcome. You are being guided in an unprecedented fashion and this guidance will continue. We will shepherd you through all difficulties. Many souls think that they do not have to return to Me now because they will have time later. They procrastinate. Children, this is not what I want. This is not what I am asking of you. I say, Enough. Come to Me now. In order to enter heaven, you must accept Jesus, My Son. You know this. Do this now. Do I ask this of you so that I will have greater glory? Am I a selfish God who seeks My own comfort? Children, surely you know this is not the case. If your God is calling out to you, if your God is sending all manner of signs and warnings, you must assume and understand that your God is trying to spare you difficulty and upset. I want My children at peace. I want My children to be detached from the world, understanding that the heavenly kingdom is their home and their destination. If you are on a journey, a long journey, and suddenly you arrive at your destination, do you not celebrate? Of course you do, children. You do not say, “No thank you, we do not wish to arrive at our goal. We prefer to continue traveling.” The longer and more difficult the journey, the more relieved you feel at its end. Such celebration greets the end of a journey."
Lay apostles, search out opportunities to teach what you have learned over your lifetime so far. There are so many people wandering around without any knowledge of Christ, or misunderstandings when it comes to faith and the Church. Take the time to pass on the Word of God; if you don't feel confident, just start with "Jesus loves you." It has to start somewhere. Let it begin with you.
Thank you, Lord, for Your gentle push to "shepherd" those you place in my life on a daily basis. Help me to achieve Your Will, not my own.
God bless,
Bonnie
In today's Gospel (John 10:11-18), Jesus defines the importance of guiding others to God:
Jesus said: "I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father."
In Volume Three, God the Father asks us for our "yes" . . . now:
"My child, for so long I have watched you. In some deep area of your soul, you knew I was there with you. I choose to be more active in your life now. I choose to lead you more directly, if you will allow Me. I want My children to be united with Me, but also with each other. I require a legion of souls who are living in union with Me, their God, and who are responding to My directives. Children, along with My Son, and Mary, his mother, I am giving you every assurance of your welcome. You are being guided in an unprecedented fashion and this guidance will continue. We will shepherd you through all difficulties. Many souls think that they do not have to return to Me now because they will have time later. They procrastinate. Children, this is not what I want. This is not what I am asking of you. I say, Enough. Come to Me now. In order to enter heaven, you must accept Jesus, My Son. You know this. Do this now. Do I ask this of you so that I will have greater glory? Am I a selfish God who seeks My own comfort? Children, surely you know this is not the case. If your God is calling out to you, if your God is sending all manner of signs and warnings, you must assume and understand that your God is trying to spare you difficulty and upset. I want My children at peace. I want My children to be detached from the world, understanding that the heavenly kingdom is their home and their destination. If you are on a journey, a long journey, and suddenly you arrive at your destination, do you not celebrate? Of course you do, children. You do not say, “No thank you, we do not wish to arrive at our goal. We prefer to continue traveling.” The longer and more difficult the journey, the more relieved you feel at its end. Such celebration greets the end of a journey."
Lay apostles, search out opportunities to teach what you have learned over your lifetime so far. There are so many people wandering around without any knowledge of Christ, or misunderstandings when it comes to faith and the Church. Take the time to pass on the Word of God; if you don't feel confident, just start with "Jesus loves you." It has to start somewhere. Let it begin with you.
Thank you, Lord, for Your gentle push to "shepherd" those you place in my life on a daily basis. Help me to achieve Your Will, not my own.
God bless,
Bonnie
Friday, May 1, 2020
May 1, 2020 Monthly Message - Perfect Timing as Always
We continue our cycle of monthly messages for 2020 with the message for May 1, 2012 for our prayer groups and personal reflection.
Jesus
My dear apostles, be assured that the Father blesses your work. You may not see the blessings that are given to your work. You may not see the advances that come for the Kingdom because of your work. But the Father blesses both the servant and the service, day after day. Remember that without the full knowledge of the Father’s plan, you lack the ability to evaluate the impact Heaven is achieving through your service. Dear apostles, so committed to me, please trust that I am bringing about exactly what is needed for the Father. Serve on and I will continue to bring you courage when you need courage. I will bring you strength when you need strength. Please do not be tempted to think that there is only a limited amount of strength or courage and that you will run out of these things one day. I, looking through time, watched you serving me faithfully, and from the cross I obtained every possible grace that you would need. If you have a struggle tomorrow, then you know that I have already obtained the grace for you to both endure it and overcome it. By overcoming it, I do not mean that you will not suffer. As you know, your King suffered. No, that is not what I mean. We are working together and we are suffering together. I suffered on the cross and you honor my suffering as you suffer through your life. Truly, I say to you, when I suffered on the cross, I honored your suffering and created a way for you. We are humble in suffering, dear apostles. We are humble in service. And when you come to me and I present you to the Father as a faithful servant, you will be humble in the great triumph that will be ours to share for eternity. I am with you. I will not leave you to suffer alone.
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Gospel Thoughts Today: I Can See Clearly Now
Confusing messages . . . what is the underlying meaning behind the words? Growing up with a mentally ill mother, I became extremely proficient at assessing situations and my environment at a young age. What was said behind closed doors did not reflect who we appeared to be on the outside. Talk about confusing messages! I was blinded to what a "normal" reality was for others. I only knew my world and how to survive it with my sanity intact. After reading today's Gospel, the song I Can See Clearly Now came to mind, especially this verse:
I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
Why did this pop into my head (and still lingering as I write this!)? As I contemplated what I would write today, I knew exactly what made me see clearly . . . this apostolate. With all the messages from heaven seeping into my soul, I finally understood God's love for me in my flawed human condition. During the tough times and poor choices I made as a young person, I never blamed God for my circumstances. I always blamed myself for making decisions based on my emotions. All I know is God had to be by my side gently nudging me to make better decisions as any good parent does when their child veers off the path. I am forever grateful to Anne and Fr. Darragh for their "yes" to Jesus and this mission.
In today's Gospel (John 6:52-59), Jesus has His followers a bit confused but His message is clear to His followers:
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood
has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
In the Monthly Message from October 2011, Jesus assures us our clear vision is needed to bring those in darkness to Him:
"All is well, dear apostles. Does this statement console you, even as you look at the changes occurring in the world? Why do I tell you that all is well when you can see clearly that difficulties have arisen in many areas? I hear the prayers of My children asking that I send relief from the sufferings that afflict them and cause them to question their security and even their faith. How often I have to teach mankind that I am the only true security and that reliance on Me will bring peace and all possible benefit to each man and to the intentions of each man. In heaven’s eyes, all is well, even as many suffer. Are God’s children suffering with the benefit of the truth? Do they understand that I am with them and that I have overcome even death? My friends, if there are those remaining who do not understand the extent of My love, then your work is not finished. If there are those remaining who do not understand that joy is possible, even in suffering, and indeed especially in suffering, then your work is not finished. If there are times when you are afraid, then you must come to Me. I will protect you from anything that is outside of My will for you and for your work. "
Lay apostles, confusion abounds in our world right now. Be the light you want to see in the world . . . don't add to the chaos. Be calm and pray, pray, pray. God has been and will always be by our side through the good and the bad. Remember the end goal . . . we WILL be Face to face with Him one day. Let's try to make it a happy homecoming!
Thank you, Lord, for the preparation given to all lay apostles during this time of confusion and fear. I am not worried in the least thanks to You!
God bless,
Bonnie
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