Gospel Thoughts Today: Seek to Understand

Disrespect for Jesus causes my heart to ache. When I hear people mocking Him, the first thing that comes to mind is Jesus, forgive them for they know not what they do. Unfortunately, some have fled the Church because they feel judged.  Well, my friends, Jesus is the only judge and jury. "People" may hurl harsh words causing our woundedness, but what others think shouldn't matter. I know, easier said than done. I aim to please only Him now, so the criticism of others barely causes me to flinch (most of the time!). If only those who assume/judge would seek to understand Him first . . . they would see a loving, kind, merciful Lord. They would understand Jesus is why we attend Mass . . . to worship Him,  adore Him, and give Him thanks for all the graces and blessings He provides every second we are on this earth. When people separate themselves from Christ, they dangle without a lifeline.

The Gospel (John 1:29-34) today shows the respect John held for Jesus:

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

In Volume Four, Jesus Speaks to Sinners, our dear Savior demonstrates His great mercy for all of us who seek to understand:

"My children, I call you My children because you were created by Me. I am your God. I am the only God. 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. I want you to divert from this path that leads to damnation. You are choosing against Me now and I am asking you to stop. I love you."

Lay apostles, in the Volume Four quote above, Jesus shows the boundless love and forgiveness He has for those who disrespect Him. He wants you back. He loves you and needs you to fulfill your mission on this earth. The time is now. Say a quick Hail Mary with me and ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you. Seek to understand.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.  Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me the wisdom You have provided through Sacred Scripture and the Volumes to seek a deeper, more intimate relationship with You. Every day contains precious moments to know You better. I promise to take advantage of every minute.

God bless,
Bonnie

A Diehard Fan

*Note: Reposting from last year. And, yes, another rebuilding year for the Bears!

There are so many wonderful things Jay has brought to our relationship . . . faith, trust, love, and the Chicago Bears. He is a diehard Bears fan. Every Sunday after Mass this year, I opened my Bears iPhone app to find kickoff time. Unless it was Monday Night Football or they were playing an east coast team, the radio was all we had. In Fort Myers, there are two restaurants/sports bars boasting Home of the Chicago Bears. We chose to watch the game this time at a place called The Edison. This was a big game determining if the Bears were going to the playoffs. And, they were playing the Packers. The place was packed inside and out. We fit right in with our Bears gear on in a sea of orange and blue (there were a few brave sorts wearing green and gold . . .). After a very exciting but disappointing game, Jay solemnly said as we walked to our car, "Bears fans have broad shoulders and we are used to this. It was another rebuilding year." Gotta love a fan!

Todays Gospel (John 1:19-28) brought to mind the commitment we must all make to Christ despite the random disappointments or difficulties in life:

This is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, Jesus explains how our commitment to Him allows His Kingdom to grow:

"Dear apostles, during this time I send you great graces. Everything you need comes from Me. Do not hesitate to answer My call because you feel you are not holy enough. You are called to holiness, it is true, but all genuine holiness comes from Me. If you ask Me I will send it to you in great abundance. I notice that many souls fear a commitment to Me because they see only their flaws and weaknesses. At this time I want you to stop thinking that it is your humanity that gives Me glory. Souls in heaven give Me praise, it is true. And I return their love. But when a soul on earth, acting from faith, makes even the smallest act of love or fidelity to Me, I am given great glory and the family of God is given power. Yes, each time a soul on earth steps out for God in any way, the Kingdom grows. Do not put a limit on the importance of each little act and each little prayer."

Lay apostles, think about something you are deeply committed to. Is it football? Shopping? Exercise? Whatever it is, are you as committed to Jesus? If yes, keep climbing the mountain! If no, 2015 is the year to begin.

Thank you, Lord, for Jay, the Bears, FSU and our commitment to You! Help us to continue to improve our prayer life and shine Your Light to all we meet.

God bless,
Bonnie

Who Am I?

Guest blogger: love of my life, Jay!

It is often said . . . “when people tell you who they really are, believe them.”  If you meet someone and listen carefully . . . or watch their actions . . . you will know a lot about them in a short period of time. If someone is rude to the waiter or waitress, it is just a matter of time before they will show their rudeness toward you or a loved one. If someone is flirting with the waiter or waitress in front of their spouse, you can take it to the bank that they are disrespecting their spouse when they are away from them. If a potential business partner shares how they did something shady in another deal, it is just a matter of time before you may experience their antics.

Before proceeding further and/or professing to walk on water, I want to re-introduce the concept of “dualism.” Recently, I heard Anne, a lay apostle speak about how all of us have both good and bad traits. People are neither just good or just bad . . . we are all shades of one more than the other. The big question here at the turn of this new year is not only who other’s say that I am (what do they see . . . how would they describe my personality), but who do I say I am (what is my true character when no one is around . . . no one is watching).

In today’s Gospel (John 1:35-42), Jesus wants to know what others see:

John was standing with two of his disciples,
 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
 “Behold, the Lamb of God.”
 The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
 “What are you looking for?” 
They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher),
 “where are you staying?”
 He said to them, “Come, and you will see.
 So they went and saw where he was staying,
 and they stayed with him that day.
 It was about four in the afternoon.
 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, 
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
 He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
 “We have found the Messiah,” which is translated Christ.
 Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, 
“You are Simon the son of John;
 you will be called Cephas,” which is translated Peter.

In Volume Two, Jesus reinforces we are not defined by our past:

“I wish to tell My souls about the joys of heaven. My children, there is no bitterness in heaven. Bitterness and distress are not intended for you, even on earth. These are experienced by every soul
at some time during their earthly time, but souls should not see bitterness and distress as the defining characteristics of their life. My child, if you feel you struggle often with these destructive patterns, you must spend time with Me. I am the Divine Healer. I can remove all hardness from your hearts so that you are liberated to love with no barrier. In that way, you become a more effective servant because you are open to receiving love, as well as giving love.”

Lay apostles, the beauty of Jesus’s message is that we are free to change. If we haven’t become our best selves yet, there is still time. We are not defined by our past. With His help . . . His forgiveness . . . His Love, we are free to start anew. We are free to begin again with a fresh slate . . . and to begin shading our lives with more goodness today. In this New Year we are being invited . . . and challenged . . . to change the way we think . . . the way we act . . . so that we become better men and women. We will benefit and so will everyone who comes in contact with us.

May 2014 be the best and most blessed year for all of you.

Gratefully and humbly,

Jay

A Diehard Bears Fan

There are so many wonderful things Jay has brought to our relationship . . . faith, trust, love, and the Chicago Bears. He is a diehard Bears fan. Every Sunday after Mass this year, I opened my Bears iPhone app to find kickoff time. Unless it was Monday Night Football or they were playing an east coast team, the radio was all we had. In Fort Myers, there are two restaurants/sports bars boasting Home of the Chicago Bears. We chose to watch the game this time at a place called The Edison. This was a big game determining if the Bears were going to the playoffs. And, they were playing the Packers. The place was packed inside and out. We fit right in with our Bears gear on in a sea of orange and blue (there were a few brave sorts wearing green and gold . . .). After a very exciting but disappointing game, Jay solemnly said as we walked to our car, "Bears fans have broad shoulders and we are used to this. It was another rebuilding year." Gotta love a fan!

Todays Gospel (John 1:19-28) brought to mind the commitment we must all make to Christ despite the random disappointments or difficulties in life:

This is the testimony of John.  When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him
to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”  So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?”  And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”  So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?  What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”  Some Pharisees were also sent.  They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”  John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”  This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, Jesus explains how our commitment to Him allows His Kingdom to grow:

"Dear apostles, during this time  I send you great graces. Everything you need comes from Me. Do not hesitate to answer My call because you feel you are not holy enough. You are called to holiness, it is true, but all genuine holiness comes from Me. If you ask Me I will send it to you in great abundance. I notice that many souls fear a commitment to Me because they see only their flaws and weaknesses. At this time I want you to stop thinking that it is your humanity that gives Me glory. Souls in heaven give Me praise, it is true. And I return their love. But when a soul on earth, acting from faith, makes even the smallest act of love or fidelity to Me, I am given great glory and the family of God is given power. Yes, each time a soul on earth steps out for God in any way, the Kingdom grows. Do not put a limit on the importance of each little act and each little prayer." 

Lay apostles, think about something you are deeply committed to. Is it football? Shopping? Exercise? Whatever it is, are you as committed to Jesus? If yes, keep climbing the mountain! If no, 2014 is the year to begin. 

Thank you, Lord, for Jay, the Bears and our commitment to You! Help us to continue to improve our prayer life and shine Your Light to all we meet.

God bless,
Bonnie

Seek to Understand

Disrespect for Jesus causes my heart to ache. When I hear people mocking Him, the first thing that comes to mind is Jesus, forgive them for they know not what they do. Unfortunately, some have fled the Church because they feel judged.  Well, my friends, Jesus is the only judge and jury. "People" may hurl harsh words causing our woundedness, but what others think shouldn't matter. I know, easier said than done. But since I aim to please only Him now, the criticism of others barely causes me to flinch. If only those who assume would seek to understand . . . they would see a loving, kind, merciful Lord. They would understand Jesus is why we attend Mass, to worship and adore Him. To give Him thanks for all the graces and blessings He provides every second we are on this earth. When people separate themselves from Christ, they dangle without a life line. 

The Gospel from 03Jan2013 (John 1:29-34) shows the respect John held for Jesus:

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

In Volume Four, Jesus Speaks to Sinners, our dear Savior demonstrates His great mercy for all of us who seek to understand:

"My children, I call you My children because you were created by Me. I am your God. I am the only God. 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. I want you to divert from this path that leads to damnation. You are choosing against Me now and I am asking you to stop. I love you."

Lay apostles, in the Volume Four quote above, Jesus shows the boundless love and forgiveness He has for those who disrespect Him. He wants you back. He loves you and needs you to fulfill your mission on this earth. The time is now. Say a quick Hail Mary with me and ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you. Seek to understand.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.  Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me the wisdom You have provided through Sacred Scripture and the Volumes to seek a deeper, more intimate relationship with You. Every day contains precious moments to know You better. I promise to take advantage of every minute.

God bless,
Bonnie