Gospel Thoughts Today: It's a Scary Thing

Everything comes with a price.  Everybody expects something in return. From an early age, I developed the attitude of "I can do it myself."  Repercussions, when I didn't live up to the expectations of others, could be brutal, despite doing the best I could.  I learned to rely on myself, having very little trust in the good deeds performed on my behalf. Just when I would think the winds were shifting in my direction, a hurricane would appear out of nowhere. Inconsistency drives me nuts. So, what happens when someone consistently acts in a loving manner toward me with no expectations of anything in return?  Revolt, of course, right? Revert back to my old ways, keeping the wall of bricks around my heart? It's a scary thing when a change occurs . . . being vulnerable and believing I am worth loving.  But trusting in Jesus as I do, I have let myself become exposed.  The result is I have found true love, my husband Jay.  Good changes can be frightening, but accepting the good with love and thankfulness is heavenly.

Today's Gospel (Luke 7:11-17) teaches us to believe in good changes knowing the Lord can do all things:

Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, "Do not weep." He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, "A great prophet has arisen in our midst," and "God has visited his people." This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

In Volume One, Our Lady lovingly guides us straight to her Son assuring change for Him is the path to salvation:

"Remember to pray, children. In this way, every action throughout your day can be sanctified. Think of all the small tasks you complete, barely giving any thought to them. If you offer them to us with love, we can use even the smallest action for the salvation of sinners. It is time now to pay attention. Do not put our words down and forget them. I want you to act in obedience to our words and let them change your life. It will feel like the most natural thing in the world, this transition to holiness. Once you make the decision, begin to pray. Once you begin to pray, obedience will come naturally. After obedience, we can move you swiftly to great levels of holiness. My dear one, you will then see the coming of God’s kingdom. The more you obey, the more we can reveal to you. There are many souls who allow their lives to be led by the enemy. They are leading others after them. This must cease. Answer “yes” to your mother and feel the closeness of Jesus, my Son. He will change you and introduce great beauty to your life. Be at peace as you follow the path to holiness. We are with you, and ask only that you do your best."

Lay apostles, what's changing in your life right now?  A new job?  A new relationship? A child leaving for college? Whatever it is, let go of fear and look for the good in these changes. Believe Jesus is leading you on a journey and has your back.  Look at each new situation as a chance to shine the Light of Jesus with love and compassion.  If things don't work out the way you expected, know Jesus is taking you off course to avoid a wipeout. Face every day with the knowledge you are loved, no matter what, by our heavenly Father. He is all we need.  Everyone else is icing on the cake!

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to be open to change, accepting the fact I am worthy of love and respect. Because of my full trust in You, You led me to Jay. I am forever grateful!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Be Grateful Today

Beware of people who are rude to waiters/servers! The advice I wish I had been given at a much younger age. In my pharmaceutical days as a Medical Liaison, I had a boss who treated servers as if they were idiots. I dreaded going out to eat when together as a group. I always found myself trying to make up for his poor behavior by complementing the server (and, I really didn't want to consume anyone else's spit other than my own!). A former waitress in my high school days, I was treated similarly at times. Well, I won't divulge what ended up in, uh, coffee or a salad. ;-) Terrible on my part but such satisfaction at the time. Maybe that's why I am so grateful for anyone serving me. It's a tough job and we don't walk in any other shoes but our own. What about when we are on the receiving end of the rudeness from a server? Not my monkey, not my circus! I can choose to either be rude back or let it go and remain focused on the joy of being a Christian . . . which requires a lot of forgiveness in certain situations and at a moment's notice. I am not perfect, but the more I see through the eyes of Jesus, the more tolerant I automatically become.

Today's Gospel (Luke 7:1-10) finds Jesus amazed by a man's great faith and love of his servant:

When Jesus had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, "He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us." And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

In the June 2012 Monthly Message, Jesus lovingly acknowledges His lay apostles' commitment to furthering His Kingdom:

"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. Find Me in your soul in each moment you are questioning your role in the Kingdom. I will direct you."

Lay apostles, be thankful to those who serve us.  From the waitress serving you coffee to the mechanic fixing your brakes to the dentist filling your tooth.  We all serve in some capacity, don't we?  Serve unconditionally for love of Christ. Every kind gesture made shines His Light in a dark world. What service can you provide in the name of Jesus Christ today?

Thank you, Lord, for changing my perspective of how I view others/situations to more resemble Yours. Please give me a nudge when I am seeing through worldly eyes!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Am I Worthy?

Last month, as I was driving to a hair appointment with my 6-year-old grandson Colton in tow, he began fussing with the seat belt strap across his chest. He is now big enough to take out the internal straps of his car seat, using the vehicle seat belt in its place. His reason for fussing? He does not like it when the seat belt "locks" restricting his ability to view everything outside passing by! I started to explain how important the "lock" feature was to his safety, giving him the example of getting rear-ended. I told him if he wasn't "locked" in, he could possibly fly through the front windshield, and there was no way he was going to heaven before me . . . I wanted to see him grow up into a man, get married, and have my great grandchildren! As I spoke, I watched him in my rearview mirror. He became very quiet, and then said, "Mimi, then I want to be 56 right now and die when you do." Oh man, did my heart burst with joy, love, and gratefulness at that moment!

At times I wonder how I am worthy of such love. Every once in a while, evil rears its ugly head reminding me of past sins, causing me to question my worthiness.  Luckily, doubts can dissipate quickly with the love and support of family and friends. But most importantly, Jesus forgives the sinner. And we must believe we are forgiven.  In the Bible, the Volumes and all of Anne's books, Jesus desires His lay apostles be joyful and experience happiness by living in communion with Him.  So I have decided I am worthy of and very grateful for the happiness Jesus bestows. Hard times and difficult situations will always disturb us on our path to holiness. It's inevitable. But if we live each day in thankfulness for whatever He sends our way, good or bad, know He counts us worthy of His Love. 

Today's Gospel (Luke 7:36-50) reminds us the sins of others aren't any greater or any less than our own.  We are all worthy of forgiveness:

A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner." Jesus said to him in reply, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.

"Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?" Simon said in reply, "The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven." He said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The others at table said to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, the following quote is crucial when asking God for forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation if you are Catholic:
 
"God offers us forgiveness, regardless of the sins we have committed. God’s forgiveness has no strings or limits attached. God’s forgiveness does not come and go. God does not make forgiveness available one day and then withdraw the offer of it the next day. The forgiveness of God is and always will be. Like everything else about God, His forgiveness is perfect. Once it is given, it will not be taken away. God’s forgiveness does not rely on anything in us. Are you sorry for your sins? If the answer is yes, then you have nothing to worry about. Go to Confession if you are a Catholic and everything will be fine. Some people recall a bad experience in Confession. They cite this as the reason they no longer go to Confession or indeed pray or go to Mass. This is heartbreaking. Be aware that Jesus calls priests from the group that is humanity. Priests are human. If a priest behaved badly to you, God will deal with him. Be assured that the Lord knows the sins of His priests. We must also be assured that when we die and stand before God, He will not ask us what everyone else did wrong. He will ask us for an account of OUR life. Look past the priest to Jesus Christ. Do not allow a bad experience to pull you away from God’s love and from all that He offers through His Church. It is good for people to understand that there is no limit to God’s forgiveness. Some people think that their sins, their malice and the damage they have done to others, makes it impossible for God to forgive them. They feel they will always be permanently excluded from God’s family. This is only possible if a person refuses to repent and wishes to be excluded. Some people think they do not want to go to Confession and confess their past sins because it means they are making a commitment to perfection. They think, I’m not ready to be perfect. I’m not ready to change. I’m not ready to completely give up some of my habits or behaviors. Please, please, please do not let this stop you from going to Confession. Jesus knows you will fail again. He accepts this. If there is the smallest desire in you to try to do the smallest bit better for God, then you should go to Confession and let Christ, through the priest, help you. Conversion is an ongoing thing. We do not become perfect in a day. We do not even become perfect in a lifetime."

Lay apostles, what has made you happy today?  Is it the beauty of the sun shining through storm clouds? A grandchild expressing his love?  Whatever it is, no matter how small, look for the joy instead of the sorrow. Be thankful He finds each of us worthy. 

Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to feel worthy of happiness.  Help me to overcome the times when I feel I don't deserve it.  I have never been happier in my life.  And it's all because of You!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Emotional Puberty

Puberty.  Immaturity.  Adolescence.  Days of change, growth, and hormones. As the mother of three daughters, it appeared to be never-ending. None of our "cycles" coincided. So, once a week it never failed . . . someone was in a foul mood.  Random mornings getting ready for school an argument would break out about borrowing clothes without permission, taking too long in the bathroom, or just plain annoyance for no reason . . . just because. What is a mother to do?  Pray for sanity!  It does pass and they do eventually grow up (thank you, Jesus!).

Our journey as Christians is a form of emotional puberty.  We shoot for maturity but will hit bumps along the road.  Lots of bumps.  We question Scripture, we become irritated when the teachings in the Bible don't coincide with our beliefs . . . or, to put it another way, our indiscretions.  So many blind themselves from the truth of their sins because it's too hard not getting what you want or desire. For example, becoming pro-choice if you have had an abortion (or know someone close to you who has) when the Bible says you should not kill. When I had an abortion at age 18, I didn't want to be tied down with a child.  In my mind, it would have put an end to my going away to college and having freedom from the crushing pressure of taking care of a mother with mental illness. So I did it and made myself feel justified in the decision. Of course, over time, I came to realize the choice I made was immature after I had committed such a mature act. As the old saying goes, if I only knew then what I know now, I would have made a different decision. It all boils down to this: grow up and begin to mature spiritually.  Look at your sins, those buried deep inside causing you to make decisions based on what justifies those sins, and stop denying the truth. It's a harsh reality, but Jesus is worth it!

Today's Gospel (Luke 7:31-35) finds Jesus a little frustrated with immaturity:

Jesus said to the crowds: "To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,

'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.'

For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, 'He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is vindicated by all her children."

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she couldn't have made a better point about spiritual immaturity and why we need to move past emotional puberty:

"People look different when we are looking at them through the eyes of Christ than they do when we look at them through the eyes of the enemy of Christ. God’s eyes will always look compassionately on a person. This does not mean that Christ’s eyes are blinded to truth. On the contrary, it is perfect truth to say that the eyes of the Savior view with complete truth. We can be observers of those around us and also be compassionate, keeping the flaws of others in perspective. Immature spirituality focuses on sin, sin and more sin. All day long, the newcomer thinks about sin, in himself and others. Now when a person is learning a new sport, the rules are explained to him and the novice begins participation by trying not to break the rules. There is no other way. If you do not learn the rules, you cannot play the game with any success. But this must eventually blend into a more advanced performance where the athlete is freed from the constant worry about breaking the rules as he rises to a level of participation where he experiences the beauty of the sport."

Lay apostles, are you making excuses for breaking the rules of our faith?  Are you blaming or condemning others because they don't agree with your new version of the rules? If you are a follower of Christ, listen to His Words.  He is the Truth. If you are living a life making exceptions to His rules, rethink what you are doing. He is so merciful and forgives easily when His children ask and then live their lives accordingly. None of us are perfect.  Not one. But if we try to live our lives in commitment to Him, we will move through emotional puberty to emotional maturity.

Thank you, Lord, for the lessons I have learned the hard way and in retrospect.  I will continue to work on my emotional and spiritual maturity . . . and I apologize in advance if I revert back to puberty once in a while!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Positive Changes Can Be Frightening

Everything comes with a price.  Everybody expects something in return. From an early age, I developed the attitude of "I can do it myself."  Repercussions, when I didn't live up to the expectations of others, could be brutal, despite doing the best I could.  I learned to rely on myself, having very little trust in the good deeds performed on my behalf. Just when I would think the winds were shifting in my direction, a hurricane would appear out of nowhere. Inconsistency drives me nuts. So, what happens when someone consistently acts in a loving manner toward me with no expectations of anything in return?  Revolt, of course, right? Revert back to my old ways, keeping the wall of bricks around my heart? It's a scary thing when a change occurs . . . being vulnerable and believing I am worth loving.  But trusting in Jesus as I do, I have let myself become exposed.  The result is I have found true love.  Good changes can be frightening, but accepting the good with love and thankfulness is heavenly.

Today's Gospel (Luke 7:11-17) teaches us to believe in good changes knowing the Lord can do all things:

Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, "Do not weep." He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, "A great prophet has arisen in our midst," and "God has visited his people." This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

In Volume One, Our Lady lovingly guides us straight to her Son assuring change for Him is the path to salvation:

"Remember to pray, children. In this way, every action throughout your day can be sanctified. Think of all the small tasks you complete, barely giving any thought to them. If you offer them to us with love, we can use even the smallest action for the salvation of sinners. It is time now to pay attention. Do not put our words down and forget them. I want you to act in obedience to our words and let them change your life. It will feel like the most natural thing in the world, this transition to holiness. Once you make the decision, begin to pray. Once you begin to pray, obedience will come naturally. After obedience, we can move you swiftly to great levels of holiness. My dear one, you will then see the coming of God’s kingdom. The more you obey, the more we can reveal to you. There are many souls who allow their lives to be led by the enemy. They are leading others after them. This must cease. Answer “yes” to your mother and feel the closeness of Jesus, my Son. He will change you and introduce great beauty to your life. Be at peace as you follow the path to holiness. We are with you, and ask only that you do your best."

Lay apostles, what's changing in your life right now?  A new job?  A new relationship? A child leaving for college? Whatever it is, let go of fear and look for the good in these changes. Believe Jesus is leading you on a journey and has your back.  Look at each new situation as a chance to shine the Light of Jesus with love and compassion.  If things don't work out the way you expected, know Jesus is taking you off course to avoid a wipeout. Face every day with the knowledge you are loved, no matter what, by our heavenly Father. He is all we need.  Everyone else is icing on the cake!

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to be open to change, accepting the fact I am worthy of love and respect. Because of my full trust in You, You led Jay to me. I am forever grateful!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Be Grateful to Those Who Serve Us

Beware of people who are rude to waiters/servers! The advice I wish I had been given at a much younger age. In my pharmaceutical days as a Medical Liaison, I had a boss at one time who treated servers as if they were idiots. I dreaded going out to eat when we were together as a group. I found myself always trying to make up for his poor behavior by complementing the server (and, I really didn't want to consume anyone else's spit other than my own!). As a former waitress in my high school days, I was treated similarly at times. Well, I won't go into what ended up in, uh, coffee or a salad? ;-) Terrible on my part but such satisfaction at the time. Maybe that's why I am so grateful for anyone serving me. It's a tough job and we don't walk in any other shoes but our own. What about when we are on the receiving end of the rudeness from a server? Not my monkey, not my circus! I can choose to either be rude back or let it go and remain focused on the joy of being a Christian . . . which requires a lot of forgiveness in certain situations and at a moment's notice. I am not perfect, but the more I see through the eyes of Jesus, the more tolerant I automatically become.

Today's Gospel (Luke 7:1-10) finds Jesus amazed by a man's great faith and love of his servant:

When Jesus had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, "He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us." And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

In the June 2012 Monthly Message, Jesus lovingly acknowledges His lay apostles' commitment to furthering His Kingdom:

"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. Find Me in your soul in each moment you are questioning your role in the Kingdom. I will direct you."

Lay apostles, be thankful to those who serve us.  From the waitress serving you coffee to the mechanic fixing your brakes to the dentist filling your tooth.  We all serve in some capacity, don't we?  Serve unconditionally for love of Christ. Every kind gesture made shines His Light on a dark world. What can you do today to serve another? 

Thank you, Lord, for changing my perspective to more and more resemble Yours. Give me a nudge when I am seeing through worldly eyes!

God bless,
Bonnie

Am I Worthy?

Yesterday I received a text from my dear friend Crystal with a video of her grandson (one month older than my first grandson Connor) saying his first words. Just precious! Since we both became grandmothers, pictures of our adorable grandsons have gone back and forth between us.  In response I sent her a recent pic of my grandson Colton (almost 6 weeks old).  We both decided we were very blessed! Our chat went on about our blessings and I wrote that sometimes I can hardly believe I am worthy of all this happiness. Her response (thanks for permission to quote you, Crystal!) was: "Oh silly you.  Can't imagine how grateful He is to you for all you do and who you are."  What a beautiful thing to say, huh?  Once in a while, despite receiving absolution for my sins in Confession, evil still plagues my brain with doubts I am worthy of any happiness.  Luckily, doubts dissipate quickly with the love and support of family and friends. But most importantly, Jesus forgives the sinner. And we must believe we are forgiven.  In the Bible, the Volumes and all of Anne's books, Jesus desires His lay apostles be joyful and experience happiness living in communion with Him.  So I have decided I am worthy of and very grateful for the happiness Jesus bestows. Hard times and difficult situations will always disturb us on our path to holiness. It's inevitable. But if we live each day in thankfulness for whatever He sends our way, good or bad, know He counts us worthy of His Love.  
Todays Gospel (Luke 7:36-50) reminds us nobody's sins are any greater or any less than our own.  We are all worthy of forgiveness:

A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner." Jesus said to him in reply, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.

"Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?" Simon said in reply, "The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven." He said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The others at table said to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, the following quote is crucial when asking God for forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation if you are Catholic:
 

"God offers us forgiveness, regardless of the sins we have committed. God’s forgiveness has no strings or limits attached. God’s forgiveness does not come and go. God does not make forgiveness available one day and then withdraw the offer of it the next day. The forgiveness of God is and always will be. Like everything else about God, His forgiveness is perfect. Once it is given, it will not be taken away. God’s forgiveness does not rely on anything in us. Are you sorry for your sins? If the answer is yes, then you have nothing to worry about. Go to Confession if you are a Catholic and everything will be fine. Some people recall a bad experience in Confession. They cite this as the reason they no longer go to Confession or indeed pray or go to Mass. This is heartbreaking. Be aware that Jesus calls priests from the group that is humanity. Priests are human. If a priest behaved badly to you, God will deal with him. Be assured that the Lord knows the sins of His priests. We must also be assured that when we die and stand before God, He will not ask us what everyone else did wrong. He will ask us for an account of OUR life. Look past the priest to Jesus Christ. Do not allow a bad experience to pull you away from God’s love and from all that He offers through His Church. It is good for people to understand that there is no limit to God’s forgiveness. Some people think that their sins, their malice and the damage they have done to others, makes it impossible for God to forgive them. They feel they will always be permanently excluded from God’s family. This is  only possible if a person refuses to repent and wishes to be excluded. Some people think they do not want to go to Confession and confess their past sins because it means they are making a commitment to perfection. They think, I’m not ready to be perfect. I’m not ready to change. I’m not ready to completely give up some of my habits or behaviors. Please, please, please do not let this stop you from going to Confession. Jesus knows you will fail again. He accepts this. If there is the smallest desire in you to try to do the smallest bit better for God, then you should go to Confession and let Christ, through the priest, help you. Conversion is an ongoing thing. We do not become perfect in a day. We do not even become perfect in a lifetime."

Lay apostles, what has made you happy today?  Is it the beauty of the sun shining through storm clouds? A baby boy uttering his first words? A good "curly hair" day (ok, I struggle loving my curly hair, but once in a blue moon, it turns out great!)? Whatever it is, no matter how small, look for the joy instead of the sorrow. Be thankful He finds each of us worthy.  

Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to feel worthy of happiness.  Help me to overcome the times when I feel I don't deserve it.  I have never been happier in my life.  And it's all because of You!

God bless,

Bonnie

Emotional Puberty

Puberty.  Immaturity.  Adolescence.  Days of change, growth and hormones. As the mother of three daughters, it appeared to be never-ending. None of our "cycles" coincided . . . so once a week it never failed . . . someone was in a foul mood.  Random mornings getting ready for school an argument would break out about borrowing clothes without permission, taking too long in the bathroom, or just plain annoyance for no reason . . . just because. What is a mother to do?  Pray for sanity!  It does pass and they do eventually grow up (thank you, Jesus!).

Our journey as Christians is a form of emotional puberty.  We shoot for maturity, but will hit bumps along the road.  Lots of bumps.  We question Scripture, we become irritated when the teachings in the Bible don't coincide with our beliefs . . . or, to put it another way, our indiscretions.  So many blind themselves from the truth of their sins because it's too hard not getting what you want or desire. For example, becoming pro-choice if you have had an abortion (or know someone close to you who has) when the Bible says you should not kill. When I had my abortion at age 18, I didn't want to be tied down with a child.  In my mind, it would have put an end to my going away to college and having freedom from the crushing pressure of taking care of a mother with mental illness. So I did it and made myself feel justified in the decision. Of course, over time, I came to realize the choice I made was immature after I had committed such a mature act. It all boils down to this: grow up and begin to mature spiritually.  Look at your sins, those buried deep inside causing you to make decisions based on what justifies those sins, and stop denying the truth. It's a harsh reality, but Jesus is worth it!

Todays Gospel (Luke 7:31-35) finds Jesus a little frustrated with immaturity:

Jesus said to the crowds: "To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,

'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.'

For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, 'He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is vindicated by all her children."

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she couldn't have made a better point about spiritual immaturity and why we need to move past emotional puberty:

"People look different when we are looking at them through the eyes of Christ than they do when we look at them through the eyes of the enemy of Christ. God’s eyes will always look compassionately on a person. This does not mean that Christ’s eyes are blinded to truth. On the contrary, it is perfect truth to say that the eyes of the Savior view with complete truth. We can be observers of those around us and also be compassionate, keeping the flaws of others in perspective. Immature spirituality focuses on sin, sin and more sin. All day long, the newcomer thinks about sin, in himself and others. Now when a person is learning a new sport, the rules are explained to him and the novice begins participation by trying not to break the rules. There is no other way. If you do not learn the rules, you cannot play the game with any success. But this must eventually blend into a more advanced performance where the athlete is freed from the constant worry about breaking the rules as he rises to a level of participation where he experiences the beauty of the sport."

Lay apostles, are you making excuses for breaking the rules of our faith?  Are you blaming or condemning others because they don't agree with your new version of the rules? If you are a follower of Christ, listen to His Words.  He is the Truth. If you are living a life making exceptions to His rules, rethink what you are doing. He is so merciful and forgives easily when His children ask and then live their lives accordingly. None of us are perfect.  Not one. But if we try to live our lives in commitment to Him, we will move through emotional puberty to emotional maturity.

Thank you, Lord, for the lessons I have learned the hard way and in retrospect.  I will continue to work on my emotional and spiritual maturity . . . and I apologize in advance if I revert back to puberty once in a while!

God bless,

Bonnie

Good Changes Can Be Frightening

Everything comes with a price.  Everybody expects something in return. Over the years I developed the attitude of "I can do it myself."  Repercussions when I didn't live up to the expectations of others could be brutal, despite doing the best I could.  I learned to rely on myself, having very little trust in the good deeds performed on my behalf. Just when I thought the winds were shifting in my direction, a hurricane would appear out of nowhere. Inconsistency drives me nuts. So, what happens when someone consistently acts in a loving manner with no expectations of anything in return?  Revolt, of course, right? Revert back to my old ways, keeping the wall of bricks around my heart? It's a scary thing when change occurs . . . being vulnerable and believing I am worth loving.  But trusting in Jesus as I do, I have let myself become exposed.  The result is I have found true love.  Good changes can be frightening, but accepting the good with love and thankfulness is heavenly.   

Todays Gospel (Luke 7:11-17) teaches us to believe in good changes knowing the Lord can do all things:

Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, "Do not weep." He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, "A great prophet has arisen in our midst," and "God has visited his people." This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

In Volume One, Our Lady lovingly guides us straight to her Son assuring change for Him is the path to salvation:

"Remember to pray,children. In this way, every action throughout your day can be sanctified. Think of all the small tasks you complete, barely giving any thought to them. If you offer them to us with love, we can use even the smallest action for the salvation of sinners. It is time now to pay attention. Do not put our words down and forget them. I want you to act in obedience to our words and let them change your life. It will feel like the most natural thing in the world, this transition to holiness. Once you make the decision, begin to pray. Once you begin to pray, obedience will come naturally. After obedience, we can move you swiftly to great levels of holiness. My dear one, you will then see the coming of God’s kingdom. The more you obey, the more we can reveal to you. There are many souls who allow their lives to be led by the enemy. They are leading others after them. This must cease. Answer “yes” to your mother and feel the closeness of Jesus, my Son. He will change you and introduce great beauty to your life. Be at peace as you follow the path to holiness. We are with you, and ask only that you do your best."

Lay apostles, what's changing in your life right now?  A new job?  A new relationship? Child leaving for college? Whatever it is, let go of fear and look for the good in these changes. Believe Jesus is leading you on a journey and has your back.  Look at each new situation as a chance to shine the Light of Jesus with love and compassion.  If things don't work out the way you expected, know Jesus is taking you off course to avoid a wipeout. Face every day with the knowledge you are loved, no matter what, by our heavenly Father. He is all we need.  Everyone else is icing on the cake!

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to be open to change, accepting the fact I am worthy of love and respect. Because of my full trust in You, You have led Jay to me. I am forever grateful!

God bless,

Bonnie

A Eucharistic Renewal Weekend in Las Cruces

(Note: Gospel is from Monday, Sept 17th)

There is NOTHING like being surrounded by lay apostles. Jay and I ventured to Las Cruces, New Mexico this past weekend for a Eucharistic Day of Renewal with Anne a lay apostle.  So many wonderful, fruitful events occurred, I am overwhelmed with the love Jesus has for me and all His children. I must thank lay apostle Mary Carter who organized this entire weekend with such devotion, a true servant of Christ. Serving Christ and serving others requires great faith and commitment . . . and defines a true lay apostle of Jesus Christ the Returning King. 

Todays Gospel (Luke 7:1-10) finds Jesus amazed by a man's great faith and love of his servant:

When Jesus had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, "He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us." And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

In the June 2012 Monthly Message, Jesus lovingly acknowledges His lay apostles commitment to furthering His Kingdom:

"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. Find Me in your soul in each moment you are questioning your role in the Kingdom. I will direct you."

Lay apostles, be thankful to those who serve us.  From the waitress serving you coffee to the mechanic fixing your brakes to the dentist filling your tooth.  We all serve in some capacity, don't we?  Serve unconditionally for love of Christ. Every kind gesture made shines His Light on a dark world. What can you do today to serve another?  

Here are some pictures from a beautiful, fun, faith-filled weekend:

Justin hard at work selling raffle tickets!

Annie (student from Ave Maria) fundraising for the School of Holiness with Kazuri bead necklaces!

Jay, Anne a lay apostle, and me

Anne and our wonderful organizer Mary Carter

The gang

Sunset from front of Hotel Encanto

Our Lady at the entrance to the hotel!!!

Mass at St. Martin de Porres

At the border between Mexico and New Mexico for the Rosary to end violence

Annie in two places at one time!

End of an amazing weekend

Thank you, Lord, for Anne, Fr. Darragh, Jane, Justin, Annie, Mary, and all the lay apostles who attended the Eucharistic Day of Renewal in Las Cruces.  I am especially grateful for Jay experiencing life as a lay apostle.  You are so good to me!!!

God bless,

Bonnie