Seeing God

There is nothing like being a grandma. I was blessed to have all my children and grandchildren together from New Year's Eve until a teary eyed goodbye Tuesday morning. My oldest grandson is 9 months old now, the younger one 5 months. I see these beautiful smiling baby faces and I see God. One giggle and I experience the graces Jesus has so graciously given me. I see God in the faces of my girls; when I see what good mothers the two oldest have become. I see God in my youngest daughter as she sang one of the babies to sleep. I see God in the face of the man I love when he is teaching our 9 month old how to hold a football.  I see God in the face of Jay's daughter as she navigates her life and career, overcoming challenges on the way. I see God in both sons-in-law as they comfort their sons. We can choose to see everything done "wrong" in our eyes, or choose to see God in every situation. I choose God . . . what are you going to choose today?

In the first reading on 09Jan2013 (1 John 4:11-18), the message coming across loud and clear is the importance of love:

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.  No one has ever seen God.  Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us of his Spirit. Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.  Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God.  We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.

God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.  In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she shows us love should start within us and in our homes:

"At home, in our immediate families, love is often, if not usually, reciprocated. We are then expected, as Christians, to bring our knowledge of love into the world. It becomes a little more difficult out in the world because love is more likely to be misunderstood or rejected. Still, our obligation remains. Jesus told us to love one another. He did not say love one another and make sure others love you back."

Lay apostles, choose to see God in everyone. When you start seeing others through His eyes, the world view is extraordinary!

Thank you, Lord, for the ability to see You in my family, friends, strangers and even myself. Your view is far more beautiful than mine!

God bless,

Bonnie

Pitying Others

I am not a cat person (although, I do love Rocky and Burke, my oldest daughter's cats when I visit DC). A few nights ago, while Jay and I were having dinner, a pesky cat I've seen hanging around my house suddenly appeared at my patio door. My first instinct was to jump up and shoo him away as I have done in the past. But as he peered in the window, I noticed he was missing an eye.  Darn it! Poor thing was homeless and missing an eye. Flashes of me feeding him and acquiring a new pet quickly evaporated when I remembered how allergic I am to cats (I live on Benadryl when I stay with my daughter!). But I did pity the poor little guy and feel moved to be compassionate the next time he comes around. Would it be a mistake to put kitty food in a bowl in my backyard? 

In the Gospel reading (Mark 6:34-44) from 08Jan2013, Jesus shows just how much He loves every one of us, despite lack of love for Him. It's kind of like the cat . . . he showed his weakness leading to more compassion from me:

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.  By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late.  Dismiss them so that they can go  to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”  He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.” 
But they said to him, “Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”  And when they had found out they said, “Five loaves and two fish.”  So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass.  The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.  Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven,  he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all.  They all ate and were satisfied.  And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and what was left of the fish.  Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.

In the Monthly Message of November 2007, Jesus continues to demonstrate patience in waiting for us to love Him:

"My heart is moved to such pity for those who do not seek Me. Let your heart also be moved to pity. Show constant compassion, never judgement, to those who do not understand what they lack. I am trying to show you, My beloved apostle, that you have begun a journey that must be taken by each person who will spend eternity in the family of God. If others delay the journey, that is their affair. My beloved apostles understand that this journey, the journey to holiness, is the most important journey they will ever take. This is your first priority, My friends. Continue to make your pledge and I will see to it that you become holier."

Lay apostles, are you treating others with compassion? At times people (or animals!) can become very annoying. But in reality, aren't they just needy of love and understanding? We can pity others as Jesus does . . . without judgement. We can recognize the weakness and understand we have all been there at some point in our lives. Today, show some understanding in a difficult encounter or situation. A little bit of love goes a long way!

Thank you, Lord, for showing me that pitying others doesn't mean judgement of the person. For every ounce of compassion I show, the closer I come to the holiness You aspire me to achieve.

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

A New Year . . .

After the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, Jay asked me to follow him. He took my hand and led me to the couch in my living room. Instead of sitting, he asked me to kneel next to him. He began praying . . . for us, our children, our grandchildren, lay apostles, and for the graces to continue building His Kingdom. I can't think of a better way to start the new year. 2012 brought Jay to me (in addition to two beautiful grandsons!). 2013 contains hope of 365 days working side by side with a partner  who truly is a gift from God. A man who has become a lay apostle quicker than I ever could have dreamed possible.  A man who is leading me to heaven by his words, his actions and his love of Christ.  I have never met a more humble man who shines His Light so brightly.

In the Gospel from 02Jan2013 (John 1:19-28), John the Baptist humbly paves the way for Our Savior:

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 Volume Two, Jesus clearly shows us a place to begin in shining His Light to others:

"I wish to speak to My children about their speech. My children, does your speech accurately reflect who you wish to become? I want you to desire holiness. And I want your speech to be the conversation of a holy soul. My child, I know that you struggle and often do not feel holy. We allow this to protect your humility. But I want you to speak as though you have achieved the level of holiness I desire for you. “Jesus, what do you mean?” I hear you ask. I am with you, and you are with Me. Your speech must display or illustrate Our unity. Do not think that you have gained this unity but must keep it hidden. My child, that would threaten part of Our goal for you, which is that others look at you and see Me. Others must also listen to you and hear Me.

As a holy exercise, and in that same spirit of practice We have adopted, I want you to listen to what you say. Listen to your voice. And understand that I am also listening with you. Pay attention to your words, of course, but also to your tone and the inflections you use. Are your words, tone, and inflections meant to convey love? Do they accurately represent God, whom you carry within yourself? You will find, I am certain, that at times you will see that your speech does not reflect Me. Do not be upset by this, little learning soul. That is why We are checking. We are leaving no stone unturned to secure your beautiful reward in heaven. So when you identify something in your speech that you feel I would not approve of, ask Me how to say that thing differently. My child, you have been reading My words and hearing them in your heart. I wanted this for you because I wanted you to know Me. After all, I am your Savior."

Lay apostles, how are you going to lead others to Jesus this year? Now is the time to be bold in your faith. Are others seeing Christ in your words and actions? Are you creating a solid foundation of faith and love of Jesus in your children? It doesn't matter if they are 13 or 35 . . . it is NEVER too late to begin.

Thank you, Lord, for deeming me worthy of love from a man who is a true spiritual leader. Thank you for Your Words in the Volumes which speak to me so clearly and provide the nudge I need to change. 

God bless,

Bonnie

Imperfections

Fear of the unknown. What if I'm exposed, wrong, embarrassed, humiliated, or powerless? What if I have to admit I'm not perfect not only to others, but to myself? I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but admitting your imperfection makes you . . . human. Welcome to Christianity! There was only ONE perfect Person who walked the face of this earth, and He was murdered for our sins. Be flawed, but always striving for perfection in His Eyes, not the world's. He is so much easier to please!

A leader without humility can do much damage as todays Gospel (Matthew 2:13-18) demonstrates:

When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him." Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son.

When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under,
in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:

A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.

In the Monthly Message of December 2011, Jesus assures us our imperfections will not damage His Plan:

"Do I require that you be powerful? Important? Do I need you to be people of great wealth or great influence in the eyes of the world? Will My plan be threatened by your imperfection or your difficulty maintaining holiness in every moment? Do I need only angels? Or do I need apostles of good will serving exactly where I have placed them? You were created to persevere and even flourish with limited understanding of all that is happening around you and through you. Yes, dear apostles, I am filled with hope. I am hoping that you accept My love. I am hoping that you allow Me to bring you healing, daily. I am hoping that through you I can love and heal others whom you will encounter in your daily experience. I bring you so many gifts of knowing Me, both directly and indirectly."

Lay apostles, let go of the pressure to be perfect. And, stop pressuring others to be perfect. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Acknowledge this and focus on your strengths and the strengths of others. Jesus knows our imperfections and if we follow Him, allows those imperfections for the good of His Kingdom. 

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to accept my imperfections. Continue to show me how to use them to benefit Your Kingdom.

God bless,

Bonnie

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I can't believe 10 days have elapsed since my last blog post!  The Christmas season is busy around my house. With work, watching my grandson and writing, life rushes by very quickly. But it is all good! Christmas day was peaceful and low key. And, one of the best Christmases I have ever had. Adding Jay and his daughter to the mix was seamless. No drama or chaos. Just love and laughter and joy. 

So, I pray all of you had a blessed day celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ! Here is the Gospel reading from Christmas day (Luke 2:15-20):

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

And from the Monthly Message of July 2012, Jesus:

"My dear apostles, it is time for Me to announce Myself as King. I am truly the King of heaven and I am the King of all God’s children on earth. I am the King of all that is good and I am the King of love. Most of all, and most importantly for you, I am your King."

May all of you share in the joy and love Jesus brings not only at Christmas, but every day of our lives. Rejoice in Him. Give thanks to Him. He is our King!

God bless,

Bonnie

A Father To Emulate

Jay and I send emails to each other every morning . . . love letters. Yesterday, unbeknownst to either of us, our daily emails contained the same subject, St. Joseph. I have watched Jay parent his 20 year old daughter so beautifully since she moved back to Florida last month. He is loving, kind, respectful and has set clear boundaries with her while they live together. As a bystander, their relationship has blossomed into a magnificent father/daughter bond. In my email to Jay, I told him he was emulating what St. Joseph speaks of in Volume Six. He had just finished the Volume and said he loved the part about fathers emulating St. Joseph. We sent the emails simultaneously. Think St. Joseph was interceding for both of us? I have no doubt he wanted Jay and I to receive the same message. 

Todays Gospel (Matthew 1:18-25) shows the integrity of St. Joseph and the love he had for Mary:

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us." When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

In Volume Six, St. Joseph spells out how important a father's role is:

"Dear fathers of the world, you must heed my voice. I am speaking to you from kindness and concern. We in heaven watch the events in the world because we are eager to assist you. We hear your prayers and immediately begin interceding for you so that any graces available will be utilized. Allow us to help you to examine your role as father so you can be certain you are fulfilling this role as God has willed. You must examine your role in comparison to me, Joseph, the head of the Holy Family. Do not examine your role in comparison to a soul who is not following God. You must take this opportunity to also look at your companions. Are they true followers? Do they encourage you to be a good father and husband? Are they themselves good fathers and husbands? Dear man, if they are not fulfilling their role as father and husband, it will be difficult for you to resist their influence. Many in this time will encourage you to put yourself first, but I tell you in all seriousness that you should not do this. Your wife and children must come first. You are to lead your family to heaven. In heaven, the first will be last. Consider yourself a servant to your family. In this way you will not spend too much time meditating on how you would like to follow the world. You live in a world of great darkness. I must speak the truth so that you know that it is critical that your family be steered safely through these times. With the help of heaven, you will do this successfully. But in order to obtain this help, you must ask for it. In order to ask for it, you must be prayerful. If you are not prayerful, you will not see the need to pray because you will be too busy scurrying from one day to the next and telling yourself that all is well because this is what everyone else is doing."

Lay apostles, especially fathers, are you surrounding yourselves with people living a good Christian life? Are they devoted mothers and fathers or are they more interested in hitting the bar after a long day with friends or coworkers while their family waits at home? As harsh as this may sound, eliminate toxic people from your life. I know it's a difficult task, I've had to do it. But ultimately, it was good for my soul and good for my children. Take a look at who you spend time with. If it isn't building the Kingdom, pray about it. Remember, your family always comes first.

Thank you, Lord, for showing me the kind of man Jay is not only as a partner, but as a father. Thank you St. Joseph for your intercession yesterday!  Perfect timing for todays Gospel!

God bless,

Bonnie

Where I Came From

Last year I began converting my mother's old 8mm films into DVDs. I had no idea what they contained, but I knew they embodied memories of her past . . . my past. Excited to see some old movies, the first one I popped in stunned me. I sat there staring at a loving, happy family. A mom, dad, four girls and a white French poodle danced and played around a Christmas tree. No traces of Mom's mental illness or her frequent hospitalizations for "nervous breakdowns." Mom and Dad appeared in love . . . a memory so distant to me I almost forgot it existed. 

Dad, me and Pepe, Mom and Sheryl

 Sisters!

This is how the movie ended . . .

After this final kiss, the film jumped to another 8mm movie combined with the first. It was my paternal grandparents playing with my older sisters before I was born. I replayed this DVD over and over, thankful for a glimpse of a time where all seemed peaceful.  I am forever grateful Mom and Dad gave me life. More importantly, they gave me faith. I was chosen by God to be born to these two people and live the life I did for a reason. This is where I came from. I had to experience what I did to discover His love and mercy.  Every one of us is on a journey called life. What brought you to Him?

Todays Gospel (Matthew 1:1-17) shows we all come from somewhere and eventually it leads to Christ:

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ,
the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham became the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah,
whose mother was Tamar.
Perez became the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab.
Amminadab became the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz,
whose mother was Rahab.
Boaz became the father of Obed,
whose mother was Ruth.
Obed became the father of Jesse,
Jesse the father of David the king.

David became the father of Solomon,
whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.
Solomon became the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asaph.
Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,
Joram the father of Uzziah.
Uzziah became the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amos,
Amos the father of Josiah.
Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers
at the time of the Babylonian exile.

After the Babylonian exile,
Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel the father of Abiud.
Abiud became the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
Azor the father of Zadok.
Zadok became the father of Achim,
Achim the father of Eliud,
Eliud the father of Eleazar.
Eleazar became the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Thus the total number of generations
from Abraham to David
is fourteen generations;
from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations;
from the Babylonian exile to the Christ,
fourteen generations.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she stresses the importance of leading our children to Christ and to truly know their Catholic faith:

"Giving children a Catholic identity is important. Both adults and children must know who they are and where they come from. Parents, it is true that we want our children taking their identity as Catholics out into the world and influencing others. The opposite of this would be our children lacking Catholic identity and going out into the world only to be influenced by others who lack a Catholic identity. We, parents in the home, are primary formatters of our children."

Lay apostles, are you living your Catholic faith by example to your children or grandchildren?  Are you teaching them about where you came from and how it lead you to Christ? Teach them that no matter what happens in life, Jesus will always be there with the graces to heal and the joy to celebrate every second of every day. All we have to do is pray . . . and patiently await His answer.

Thank you, Lord, for my family and all the crazy things which had to occur in my life to lead me to You. Thank you for choosing Anne to be your messenger to give Your Words true meaning in my life. I am forever grateful.

God bless,

Bonnie

Humility and Wisdom, The Final Frontier

Note: HAPPY 24th BIRTHDAY TO MY BABY GIRL TAYLOR!  LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL!!!

Learning lessons the hard way. Yep, that was me the first half of my life.  When I was younger, everything seemed so complicated. Poor choices were brushed off with the next difficulty. Only by the grace of God I raised three daughters, all of whom I cherish. Since the girls were teens, I have tried to teach them the consequences of my mistakes at their age, and encourage them to be better . . . to be wiser. With age does come wisdom. All the pain, all the mistakes, all the poor choices, all the judgements made, and all the secret embarrassment did amount to something . . . humility and wisdom.  So take heart lay apostles still in the learning phase, it will all begin to make sense one day.  And when it all becomes clear . . . you will be thankful for every single blooper, blunder, aberration or whatever you want to call your misfires.  Accept this as part of your journey . . . the lessons and the gifts. Once again, He proves just how much He loves us. 


In todays Gospel (Matthew 11:16-19), Jesus speaks of wisdom prevailing:

Jesus said to the crowds: "To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, 'He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is vindicated by her works."

I love the following quote from Anne a lay apostle's book Serving in Clarity.  She gets right to the heart of it all: 

"Which one of us would deny that our past pain from our sins has given us wisdom and compassion? Do not judge others. Bring others God’s love and God’s truth."

Lay apostles, what lessons have you learned along the way? How can you take those lessons and apply them to your life now? Discard the negative thoughts and replace them  knowing the wisdom you have gained will lead you closer to Christ and His mission.  Pass on the lessons learned to your children or grandchildren; to close friends or family. Be gentle when they have made the same choices . . . 

Thank you, Lord, for the humility and wisdom I have gained so far in my life. Thank you for showing me my "poor choices" have turned me into the person I am now . . . Your devoted follower!

God bless,
Bonnie

Hear With Your Heart

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

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

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

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

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

"Dear souls of the Kingdom, you are called to service. You know this. You have heard My call and rested in My anguish. I want to talk to you about your duty. Perhaps you hear My call and feel resistance at what it is I am asking from you. Let me promise you that you will

be given exactly what you need to embrace your portion of this mission. Do not be afraid to stand beside Me as I move into the world through each one of you. Souls will see you with their physical eyes, but they will experience Me. Your fears, your hesitance, have no bearing on how you will perform for Me. Do not worry about your ability when it comes to completing your duty. Do not worry about your lack of strength. It will come from Me. It will flow deeply and completely from Me. Your willingness to serve is all that is required."

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

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

God bless,

Bonnie

What Child Is This?

Note: One day behind! This is from 12Dec2012

Today we honor our Blessed Mother Mary on the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In a recent Advent letter from Anne a lay apostle, she says, "Mary was the first Tabernacle and Jesus was happy to be nestled safely in His mother's body." I have never thought of Our Lady as the first Tabernacle! But truly she is! Her love and sacrifice were not only for God, but for all of us, even 2,012 years later. So thank Mary today for her "yes" to birth Our Savior. She deserves it. Think about giving birth in a stable, in Bethlehem, in the middle of winter.  I checked online to see what the temperature is this time of year there. High in the 30's. Unthinkable enduring labor in 30 degree weather! Think about the sterile environment babies are born into today. A stable is full of manure, dirt and mud. Not so sterile for Our King, right? Yet Mary didn't complain. Yes, thank Mary. She is our direct connection to her Son. She is ready and waiting to hear our cries and intercede for us. After all, as my mother always said, what Son doesn't listen to His Mother? 

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

What child is this, who, laid to rest 
On Mary's lap, is sleeping? 
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, 
While shepherds watch are keeping? 
This, this is Christ the King, 
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing: 
Haste, haste to bring him laud, 
The Babe, the Son of Mary! 

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, 
Come peasant king to own Him, 
The King of kings, salvation brings, 
Let loving hearts enthrone Him. 
Raise, raise the song on high, 
The Virgin sings her lullaby: 
Joy, joy, for Christ is born, 
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God bless,

Bonnie