Holy Thursday - Service To Others

Waitressing has to be one of the most difficult jobs on this earth. It requires a ton of humility as some patrons command you cower to their needs. My short stint as a waitress at Denny's while in high school helped shape my awareness and thankfulness to those who serve on a daily basis. Quite the rebellious teen, I didn't handle rude people very well. But I never expressed my "pissed offness" to the customer's face. A very experienced waitress training me seriously expressed how to handle rude customers . . . behind the scenes. I know you know where this is going . . . not something I'm proud of, but man, sure felt good at the time. I won't go into detail, but watching a jerk drink the coffee I added an "extra something" to gave me such pleasure! Of course, shame on the waitress for teaching me at an early age about revenge.  So, what did I take away from this experience? I always try to be kind to those who serve me. And I try to serve others to the best of my ability. The next time you find yourself beginning to take your bad mood out on the hard working waitress (or waiter), remember my blog post today. And, for heaven's sake, be kind! We are all the same underneath, and have chosen paths that lead to where we are today. 

Todays Gospel (John 13:1-15) immediately makes me think of Pope Francis and his Christlike behavior . . . behavior every priest and lay person should emulate:

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper,  fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God,  he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin  and began to wash the disciples’ feet  and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,  “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him,  “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him,  “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over;  so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

So when he had washed their feet  and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet,  you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow,  so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

In the Monthly Message of May 2006, Jesus asks us to commit to our "jobs" every day with kindness and humility:

"Do not think that your Jesus misunderstands the difficulty associated with suffering. Always consider the suffering I accepted in the world, on the cross in My final hours of course, but also throughout My life. I did not spend My time on earth in comfort and leisure. I worked hard each day and often did without things that souls today take for granted. Consider My life on earth in its entirety. Dearest apostle, My friend, I lived as quietly as possible. I prayed for you every day. I offered comfort and assistance to others in pain or in need. I committed Myself to My duty each day and never deviated from My responsibilities. I did this because I knew that you would benefit from a model to follow. You see, I spent each day on earth aware of your life. When I was tempted to become disheartened, I thought of you, struggling, and I disciplined Myself to be brave and hopeful. I offered My struggles to God the Father and asked that in return, He grant you graces of courage and hope. I did not waste any time on earth, My beloved."

Lay apostles, how do you treat those who serve you? Realize they go home to a family, a sick child, a lonely empty home, an abusive relationship. Most of us work very hard at our jobs, and don't need the added pressure of condemnation. So, give the hardworking waitress a little extra if she/he served you well. And remember, service to others is what Christ is all about.

God bless,

Bonnie

Wednesday of Holy Week: Judas Was Not the Nicest Apostle

Let’s start with a quick poll: Hands up anybody who has never felt betrayed or let down before. Did you put your hand up? If so, Congratulations! You are probably the only person ever in the history of the world who doesn’t know what that feels like. Betrayal is possibly one of the hardest experiences that we can live through. If you’ve ever been disappointed by another in this way (and we’ve established that the odds aren’t good that you haven’t), you know what I’m talking about. The pain is much worse when the person who turned against you was someone you never would have expected to hurt you. To be scorned and disrespected by someone who was supposed to love you is one of the greatest shocks I think there is. 

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 26:14-25), we are shown that Jesus Himself was no stranger to the concept of disloyalty.

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, As My appointed time draws near;  in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”‘“The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said,  “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”

Let this sink in for a moment. Jesus, the Son of God, the most awesome Person who ever walked the planet (except maybe for Wolverine? but I don’t know if I’m allowed to think that) was betrayed by one of His closest friends. Judas was one of His twelve apostles, one of the men He trusted most, one of the few people that He chose to be constantly by His side throughout His earthly ministry. How must he have felt when Judas turned against Him? When you think of your experience of betrayal, remember to connect those feelings to Christ’s, because he went through it too. Those of you who are tempted to blame yourselves or think that there is something wrong with you, that some inherent flaw in you must have caused this person to treat you this poorly, that you are not lovable; you’re not, and you’re wrong. It happened to Jesus, so it literally happens to the best of us. Do not feel ashamed by what happened to you. The wrong that others do to you is never a reflection of you, just another person’s mistake, for which they are probably suffering also.

Jesus encourages us in the booklet Heaven Speaks to Those Who Experience Tragedy to allow ourselves the healing process and to bring our sorrows to Him:

"My friend, there are events in every life that stand out as difficult and life-altering. This tragedy, this abrupt change of course, will stand out to you, I know. When you feel a sense of shock, a sense of stunning upset in your life, you must look for me. I am there. I do not remain with My children, day after day, and then abandon them when they most need my support. Your grief is understandable and I will support you in it. You will not always understand why I allowed a certain thing to happen. In your expected inability to understand, you will challenge me. You will say, “God, how could you have allowed this? God, where are You? God, why have You abandoned us?” My friends, bring those questions directly to me because I, Myself, am the most sympathetic listener when it comes to these heartfelt cries of anguish. You see, I cried these cries Myself. In my humanity, on the cross, I felt abandoned. In My humanity, on the cross, I questioned the value of God’s plan. From My viewpoint, nailed to a piece of wood and raised aloft as a subject of total rejection and derision, it appeared that I suffered more than anyone. It appeared that none could know the extent of My pain. My beloved child, I tell you this so that you will understand that I, your Savior, grasp the depth of your pain. I will walk you through each moment of anguish, surrounding you with heaven’s graces. No. You will not be left to walk alone through this tragedy."

When the people we love let us down, it throws everything we thought we knew into confusion. Maybe you’re like me, and it makes you want to burn down buildings or punch pillows in the throat (and by pillows I mean people, but that sounds more aggressive). Or maybe you’re also like me and you are tempted to shut yourself off to all people forever because clearly nobody in the WHOLE WORLD can be trusted EVER AGAIN. (Maybe you’re much less dramatic than me and you respond maturely and positively to distressing social circumstances, but I don’t really have anything new to tell you people, you probably have it figured out better than I do.) There are a couple of problems with these responses. One, there are legal problems with burning down buildings you don’t own, especially if they are someone’s house. Two, when we harden our hearts to people, we necessarily harden our hearts to God. Closing ourselves off to God is going to be a lot more harmful to us than whatever injury is inflicted upon us by others. So let’s open ourselves up to Him instead.

Also, when you’re ready to, pray for your Judas. You’ve gotta feel bad for someone who even Jesus said would be better off not born, so let’s limit the amount of Judas’ in the world with our forgiveness. I know it’s hard, but you never know what hell might have put them in the position to hurt you. We hurt Jesus all the time, each and every one of us, and He forgives us readily. We can learn so much from Him if we are willing to try.

Congratulations on surviving Lent guys! We’re almost there!

Annie

Tuesday of Holy Week - Preparation is Key

Cooking was not exactly my forte. Ask my daughters and they will tell you I made a mean macaroni and cheese with random ingredients added for nutritious value when they were young. As a mother with three busy little girls, the microwave was my best friend. I even perfected microwave eggs (remember, girls?). If I ever stepped out of my microwave world, I was the type of cook to follow a recipe exactly . . . no guessing and it had to be perfectly measured. The preparation was key for me. In the end, my meals were always a hit. Now I don't really follow recipes to the tee after trying something new. I have learned to be comfortable with the knowledge and confidence acquired since those early days of cooking. I know I can bring something good to the table every time. But I would never have gained the fearlessness of creating something new if I wouldn't have prepared in the past.  As Christians, we must prepare ourselves for holiness on a daily basis. For when our time on earth is complete, I want Jesus to welcome me to heaven saying, "You did good, Bonnie. You prepared well." 

In todays Gospel (John 13:21-33, 36-38), Jesus not only prepares Himself for the following days, He prepares His apostles:

Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.

When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.”

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now?  I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

In Volume Four, Jesus the King gives a perfect analogy on the importance of preparing for His return:

"My brothers and sisters of the world must prepare their hearts to welcome their King. In past times when groups of humanity were ruled by Kings, all would prepare for the return of their ruler following his absence. Well, I have been away from your world in the physical sense for many years. Now I prepare to return. I am ready. Your world is not. What must you do to be ready? My brothers and sisters in the world must prepare their hearts. How do you want Me to find you when I come back? Would you be so immersed in the world that My return will be an unpleasant and shocking interruption to your worship of the false gods of materialism and sensuality? That will not be good for you, dear soul, because you will not understand or fully experience the joy that is rightfully yours. You must prepare to claim that joy. You must set an example of peaceful and watchful readiness. When I find you, you will want to welcome Me in all recollected holiness. Do I demand that you become a saint overnight? My little soul, of course I do not. This is not even possible for you. I do not expect it. Like a welcomed and beloved guest, I look not at how high you have reached spiritually, but how willing you are to work with Me on your soul. I am looking for a calm acceptance that you are My subject and live in My Kingdom."

Lay apostles, as Lent draws to a close, do you feel you are, at the least, a little more prepared for the day you meet Jesus Face to face? If not, it's never too late to begin. 

God bless,

Bonnie

Monday of Holy Week - What is Your Attitude Going to Be?

Writing this blog allows me to express how I am feeling. Others may not like what I have to say, but my thoughts are my thoughts. I am nothing special. But I am a lay apostle trying to do everything the Lord asks of me with love and kindness for this mission. I keep myself in check with those I love and trust, making sure I interpret meaning and intent in what I read and hear. It's very sad when others take their misery out on me.  Sometimes the truth hurts. I know it hurts because there have been many truths about myself I've had to look at over the last 10 years since becoming a lay apostle. So, when you read something on my blog that offends you, think about why it offends. Is there some truth to it? Is it something you don't want to admit about yourself because if you did it would mean you are flawed just like me? 

In todays Gospel (John 12:1-11), see how others assume the worst with a selfish attitude when what was being done was for the Lord:

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.  Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.  Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.

In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, she beautifully describes the traps of evil:

"As lay apostles, we must look into each relationship in our lives and be certain that we follow Godly principles. We must seek to be genuinely giving, with an awareness that we should strive to set an example of Christlike behavior to each other. The devil does not want this, of course. The devil wants to use us to exploit those around us. People cooperate by using others, perhaps for sex, for money, for power, or ego. We must be scrupulous not to fall into these traps. There is no benefit to reading, or indeed writing a work such as this if we use it only to identify the flaws of others. We must search tirelessly for our own flaws, using the example set by Jesus Christ as our behavioral goal."

Lay apostles, think before you speak . . . read before you send. Don't let the traps of piety, power or ego get in the way of Christlike behavior. We are all servants of heaven. Serve the best you can. It's all any of us can do.

Thank you, Lord, for allowing the true joy and happiness being a lay apostle brings. You have strengthened me with Your Words and those surrounding me.

God bless,

Bonnie

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Todays Gospel (Luke 22:14-23, 56) brings me to tears every time I read it . . . strengthening my will to fight for our dear Savior:

When the hour came, Jesus took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them,  “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said,  “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you that from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you;  do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.

“And yet behold, the hand of the one who is to betray me is with me on the table; for the Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.” And they began to debate among themselves who among them would do such a deed.

Then an argument broke out among them about which of them should be regarded as the greatest. He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and those in authority over them are addressed as ‘Benefactors’; but among you it shall not be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. For who is greater:  the one seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at table? I am among you as the one who serves. It is you who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer a kingdom on you,  just as my Father has conferred one on me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

“Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail;  and once you have turned back,

you must strengthen your brothers.” He said to him, “Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you.” But he replied, “I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day, you will deny three times that you know me.”

He said to them, “When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?” “No, nothing, “ they replied. He said to them, “But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack,  and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me, namely, He was counted among the wicked; and indeed what is written about me is coming to fulfillment.” Then they said, “Lord, look, there are two swords here.” But he replied, “It is enough!”

Then going out, he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived at the place he said to them,  “Pray that you may not undergo the test.” After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me;  still, not my will but yours be done.” And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him. He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief. He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test.”

While he was still speaking, a crowd approached  and in front was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas. He went up to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” His disciples realized what was about to happen, and they asked,  “Lord, shall we strike with a sword?” And one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said in reply, “Stop, no more of this!” Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him. And Jesus said to the chief priests and temple guards and elders who had come for him,  “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? Day after day I was with you in the temple area, and you did not seize me; but this is your hour, the time for the power of darkness.”

After arresting him they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest; Peter was following at a distance. They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter sat down with them. When a maid saw him seated in the light,  she looked intently at him and said, “This man too was with him.” But he denied it saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” A short while later someone else saw him and said,  “You too are one of them”; but Peter answered, “My friend, I am not.” About an hour later, still another insisted,  “Assuredly, this man too was with him, for he also is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.” Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, and the Lord turned and looked at Peter;  and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” He went out and began to weep bitterly. The men who held Jesus in custody were ridiculing and beating him. They blindfolded him and questioned him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they reviled him in saying many other things against him.

When day came the council of elders of the people met,  both chief priests and scribes, and they brought him before their Sanhedrin. They said, “If you are the Christ, tell us,”  but he replied to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I question, you will not respond. But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it from his own mouth.”

Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate. They brought charges against him, saying,  “We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Christ, a king.”Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said to him in reply, “You say so.” Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds,  “I find this man not guilty.” But they were adamant and said,  “He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to here.”

On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean;  and upon learning that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was very glad to see Jesus; he had been wanting to see him for a long time, for he had heard about him and had been hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at length, but he gave him no answer. The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile, stood by accusing him harshly. Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him, and after clothing him in resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly. Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said to them, “You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.”

But all together they shouted out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.”— Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder. — Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate addressed them a third time, “What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.

As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said,  “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ At that time people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?” Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed.

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” They divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that read,  “This is the King of the Jews.”

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last.

Here all kneel and pause for a short time.

The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said,“This man was innocent beyond doubt.” When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts; but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events. Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council, had not consented to their plan of action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea and was awaiting the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried. It was the day of preparation, and the sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come from Galilee with him followed behind, and when they had seen the tomb and the way in which his body was laid in it, they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils. Then they rested on the sabbath according to the commandment.

In Anne a lay apostle’s book Transforming Grace, she beautifully paints a visual of why we continue to march on in our battle against evil:

“There are many layers to a person suffering through time, meaning, living his life in exile on earth. The man trapped in his humanity for the purposes of his own redemption and the furtherance of God’s kingdom receives the inevitable suffering in his mind, yes, but also in his heart. We can know that suffering will come to us and we can accept this suffering on behalf of the God who created us and the Son who redeemed us but our mind will have to work very hard indeed to steer into our innocence when we are innocent and steer out of the guilt others try to stamp onto our foreheads. This hard work of holding on to His innocence was no less for Christ. Indeed, so total was the Lord’s condemnation, so irrational was the Lord’s sentence that the mind of the man must have ‘tripped’ while trying to absorb it. 

We can also ‘trip’ intellectually when trying to absorb irrational attacks of others. We are sometimes guilty, it is true, and self- examination reveals that we are not blameless, regardless of how poorly or clumsily others handle our imperfection. But sometimes we are innocent and that work will be very important indeed because by suffering as victims we are drawn into a scene that can resemble the Passion. 

By witnessing others reject courage in favor of ambivalence and thus miss the opportunity to stand with us in righteousness, we can be drawn into disillusionment. Poor Jesus. How must He have felt about leadership as Pilate failed in courage and integrity? What was the wound when a man charged with protecting order stood back and allowed a mob, whipped into frenzied excitement, decide the fate of an innocent child of God? The disordered insistence of complete guilt alone should have alerted the leader that time was necessary to sift through the facts and allegations. But no. He stepped back. And Christ was delivered to the one who hates comfort and safety for all of God’s children. Yes, the wounds of Christ went far beyond the physical, deeply into His heart as God and as man.” 

Lay apostles, Jesus suffered terribly on earth. But His suffering hasn’t ended. So many turn away from the Passion, not acknowledging the love and mercy Christ offers His lost children. If we can lead even one person back to Him, we ease His pain of loss a little bit. What can you do today to show the love of Christ?

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me the importance of leading as many as You send me back to Your Sacred Heart!

God bless,

Bonnie 

No Boundaries Or Limits On How God Communicates

No Boundaries Or Limits On How God Communicates

Years ago I drove hundreds of miles to take a Florida Board Exam. This was to be the last step in a very long process . . . and the next step toward transitioning from a world of academia to the work world. The anticipation was of nothing but great things to come!

I soon found out the last small hurdle/mole hill was actually turning out to be the size of mountain. I arrived to find that the fully furnished apartment had no furniture. Nor was there air conditioning or lights . . . there was no electricity. No lights, no air conditioning and no furniture one week before the biggest exam of my life.

It sounds trivial, but the equivalent was happening in my professional career as what was happening in my personal life. Without going into the details, it involved lying by colleagues, payoffs, deceit, and humiliation.

At one point I realized I had passed a Midwestern Board exam allowing me to be licensed in 14 other states. I was done . . . ready to pack up and go back to Nebraska.

Two days before the exam . . . I called a man who was going to be a patient for me during the Board Exam to come down to the school. He was large, dressed in laborers' clothes, and was visually impaired. I let Cletis know that I was going home and I wanted to assign him to another practitioner. Cletis refused! Cletis would not let another person work on him nor would he take the money coming to him for sitting as a patient for the Board exam. 

Cletis then inquired if he could ask me something personal. He asked if I had ever quit anything before in my life. He went on to explain that if I had not . . . it was his wish that I would not quit at this point in time.

To this day, I believe Cletis was sent to me as a Gift! If ever there has been an angel sent to deliver an important message . . . a message that would prove to help guide me through a real turning point in my life, Cletis was it. He had more faith in me then I had in myself. A message so critical in how my life would unfold. A man who I would never have guessed to have relayed the message. 

Isn't that how God works? A message of wisdom or mercy . . . delivered often times in the most unusual ways. Sometimes through a Roman Soldier;  sometimes through a person who has died; sometimes through a tax collector; and other times through a prostitute. Sometimes through a burning bush and sometimes through angels!

In todays Gospel (Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24), Our Lord demonstrates He is not limited in the ways He will attempt to reach and communicate with us:

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Now 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.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

In Volume Seven, St. Thomas Aquinas assures us we are not alone on this journey:

“You will have angels and saints all around you, willing to console and direct you. You will be very brave and very fixated on your Jesus and on your mission to serve Him.” 

Lay apostles, trust that Our Lord can and will work through other people. He will also use us to encourage and be beacons of His Light if we are open to Him.

Thank you, Lord, for all the people you have put in my life who have brought Your Light during challenging times. Help me to be a radiant light for others.

In humility and gratitude,

Jay

Anything Can Happen

I believe in every message I've read from Jesus and all of heaven through Anne a lay apostle. As a matter of fact, I hold Jesus to His Words . . . to what He promises us as lay apostles. And, He holds me (and all lay apostles) to helping Him rescue souls through this mission. The graces and blessings I have received in spreading this mission have been beyond anything I could ever have imagined. A few days ago I received a random phone call from a good friend from high school. We keep in touch, but I hadn't talked to her in awhile. She didn't call for any particular reason. As we caught up, I told her I was going to send my book Can You Text Me Directions? to Pope Francis along with a personal letter asking for help and guidance concerning a situation occurring in our diocese. I know it is a long shot the Holy Father would ever receive my book. But I have faith that if Jesus wants it to happen, He will make it happen. So, my friend says one of her consultants went to Rome for her honeymoon. While on a tour of the Vatican, a nun befriended the couple and they have stayed in touch with her since. This nun happens to be close to Pope Francis. I could feel the tears well up when she said she would see if she could get this nun's address. With Jesus, anything can happen . . . but remember . . . His Will be done. The outcome is up to Him!

In todays Gospel (John 10:31-42), Jesus attempts to "educate" again:

The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘?  If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and Scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?  If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power.

He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained.  Many came to him and said, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” And many there began to believe in him.

In the Monthly Message of November 2007, Jesus urges us to be His Light on earth:

"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, I used to try to control everything in my environment . . . which I now see as thinking I knew how to do things better than God. My grip was so tight I finally got to a breaking point . . . I couldn't do it alone anymore. Then along came the Volumes. It's been 10 years since I read Volume One. Christ has shown me time after time that when I let Him have all the control, He can do miraculous things! Boy oh boy, I have seen a few miracles since 2006. So maybe, just maybe, my book will be in the hands of our dear Pope Francis some day . . . if it's His Will, anything can happen!

Thank you, Lord, for knowing what is best for me . . . keeping me humble . . . and allowing so many blessings in my life! 

God bless,

Bonnie

Comprehend This

I am, by no means, fluent in Spanish (or any language other than English!). I can get by, understanding what is said more than I can speak it. When my oldest daughter Mallorie was studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain her junior year of college, I planned a trip to visit her over Easter break. She met me at the bus station and we walked down cobblestone roads to her host mom's flat where I would be staying a few nights. Her "senora" Maria was a single parent with a young daughter, Iris. Iris was a little shy at first. Then she started chatting away (I could understand enough of what she was saying to respond). She was describing a game she wanted me to play with her, and was using Mallorie to translate. Mallorie was not getting what she was describing correctly, and Iris would become irritated. Finally I caught on to what she was talking about . . . a game I played when I was young (where you slap hands together to a beat - a hand-slap game?). Iris could barely contain herself that I got it . . . then she said something to Mallorie in Spanish I didn't understand. Mallorie, exasperated, responded to her. I asked what she said. "Iris told me she couldn't believe my mother doesn't even speak Spanish and you understood what she was saying when I didn't!" Sometimes you just have to trust your gut and hope you are getting it right! There is a lot I can't even begin to comprehend in this life, but I trust Someone is always there to translate what I need to know!

In todays Gospel (John 8:51-59), Jesus continues to communicate who He IS:

Jesus said to the Jews: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.”  So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died?  Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?”  Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word.  Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” 

So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.

In the Monthly Message from January 2010, Jesus reminds us there is so much we don't and can't comprehend . . . so we must rely on His Guidance:

"When you become discouraged, please sit with Me and I will help you to grasp the limited nature of your vision. Concentrate on My will for your day. Concentrate on remaining in the present, connected to your service in each moment. Avoid being trapped by the past and avoid being drawn into a future on earth which may not include you. You do not know when I will come for you. But I am with you now, as you read these words, and I have work for you today. Look, together with Me, at what I am asking of you and together we will be a successful force for love. I crave love from you. When you trust Me and reject fear, I am delighted. Calm, steady service is what I require from My beloved apostles who seek to serve Me. Be at peace. I am with you."

Lay apostles, life is complicated enough as it is. So instead of trying to figure out the why's, just trust Jesus to give you what you need to know. Let Him handle the why's. When He is in control, I could care less about the why's!

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to understand You will provide me with whatever it is You need me to accomplish. Please continue to send the graces I need to let You be in control.

God bless,

Bonnie

No Better Time Than Now

One morning my daughter Taylor tagged me in a post on Facebook. The article she tagged me in was this: Mars, Earth And Sun All Align Tonight…Blood Moons Start Next Week…Is The End Near? 

Her comment: OMG . . .

My comment to her: Always be prepared, my love! Jesus is always with us, don't forget that! Love you with all my heart and soul TayLo!

There is no better time than now to fully commit yourself to Jesus, lay apostles. No one can predict the Second Coming of Christ, but we can pay attention to what He tells us in the Bible and the Volumes. Be prepared. Forgive. Love each other. Help save souls for Him. 

Todays Gospel (John 8:31-42) brings to mind the word BELIEVE:

Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone.  How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains.  So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free. I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you.  I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the Father.”

They answered and said to him, “Our father is Abraham.”  Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works of Abraham.  But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this. You are doing the works of your father!” So they said to him, “We were not born of fornication.  We have one Father, God.”  Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”

In Volume Five, Jesus gives comfort where fear could take over:

"Children of the world, I call out to you in warning. I do not desire to watch your world generate more darkness. I am allowing My angels to strike at the world in order to distract souls from their worldly pursuits and draw attention to their God. When a soul lies down to die, that soul is not concerned with the things of the world, but considers then the things of the next world. Because man has been deceived, man thinks nothing of the next world. Souls following the world have turned their attention almost exclusively inward, giving constant and total consideration to self. This, of course, will cease when man is forced to look up to the heavens because the heavens have opened, releasing warnings and punishment. I do not seek revenge, dear ones, only justice and an end to the darkness. You have been told of the coming physical darkness which will entomb the earth. Before that time you will have warnings in the form of disturbances in the sky. The moon will glow with a red color that will be easily seen. Men will attempt to explain this scientifically. You will know it is a warning. When you see this, prepare yourselves for the time of darkness because it is imminent. To prepare you must remain recollected in prayer. Consider heaven and your transition from earth to heaven. We have spoken about this at length and you know that you need not fear. I will never leave you and I will be with you in every moment. Remain in the state of grace so that My graces flow freely to you. Be reconciled with loved ones and cast away grudges. If I desire that you prepare in practical and concrete ways, you will be told. I will see to everything. Dear ones, I give you these words because there are those among you who will witness these events. This is a time of grace and these words are a portion of those graces that have been reserved for this time. You are benefiting from the graces obtained by souls who have gone before you. You should give thanks for these graces because through them many souls are being saved. I also give you these warnings so that you will heed the words in this series of messages and prepare your souls accordingly. You know that you will not remain on earth forever. You have always known that. I simply wish you to be informed that you live in a grave time, a time that will know many changes. If you are following Me you will not be afraid. You will welcome the changes because you will welcome an end to the darkness. Only My true followers recognize the extent of the darkness and the extent of My disappointment and revulsion. Be at peace. Continue to pray because your prayers change the course of events on earth and many souls avoid eternal exile because of the prayers of the just. How you will be rewarded, dear followers. How you will be celebrated. If most behave in a holy way, it is easier to be holy. If most behave in an evil way, it is more difficult. Your God is grateful for each sacrifice and each decision for heaven."

Lay apostles, I felt it important to post the above quote from Volume Five in its entirety. We cannot waste one day of this life on worldly concerns. Focus on Christ, prepare yourself and your loved ones. Not because of some event occurring . . . but in anticipation of heaven! I love this quote from the movie Bella: ”I've done the research and ten out of ten people die." If you knew today was your last day on this earth, how would you spend it? Begin each day with that question, and I believe you would be preparing to meet your Maker.

Thank you, Lord, for the comforting words from Volume Five today. I pray they give the comfort You provide to everyone who reads this.

God bless,

Bonnie

Indifference to Sin

Distractions exist in abundance, don't they?  As a writer, I constantly battle my wandering mind.  The simplest things can draw me away from the task at hand. When I'm at a loss for words, I check my email. Distraction. The buzzer goes off on my dryer signaling clothes needing to be folded. Distraction. Huge stacks of paperwork in need of filing. Big distraction!  My conscience warns me to stay on track.  But old habits die hard. Excuses are made.  Over time, my conscience may begin to accept the excuses as fact. I become lax in full focus and eventually become frustrated things aren't moving faster. Sounds a lot like our faith journey, right?  If we let the world dictate how we act and feel, how can we act and feel as God desires?  If we deviate from what is good and just, how can we ever escape our sins?

In today’s Gospel (John 8:21-30), Jesus shows us the way to our salvation is through the Father: 

Jesus said to the Pharisees: "I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come." So the Jews said, "He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, 'Where I am going you cannot come'?" He said to them, "You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins."

In Volume One, our Blessed Mother graciously offers a direct path to her Son:

“We are making great strides with your souls, little ones. Even the smallest effort on your part is being rewarded greatly. It is important that you let go of many worldly concerns now and concern yourself with following God’s will in your life. There will always be something to distract you from prayer. To follow those distractions away from prayer is like leaving the path. If you know your destination, truly, children, you must stay on the road that leads you there. The road may seem rocky and difficult at first but that is no reason to change your destination. It is the road you must travel to come to me, my little ones. I am here. Do not be afraid. I will lead you to Jesus and you will be happy and filled with gratitude for the way Jesus is calling you. Your difficulties will seem as nothing to you then. Persevere with trust. It will come to you."

Lay apostles of all ages, what path are you following in your life?  The rocky yet heavenly path to Jesus or the easy sinful path while on this earth?  I am far from perfect.  But I am moving in the right direction despite a few steps backward once in a while!

Thank you, Lord, for continually correcting my missteps, always refocusing my gaze on You.  

God bless,

Bonnie  

Light Is So Powerful

I remember listening to a gentleman who had gone to a conference. The conference was in a stadium. At one point, all of the lights were turned off. 

The entire stadium was pitch black. Pitch black right until the point where the gentleman on the stage lit a match. A match that could be seen by everyone in the stadium. Seen by the folks on the main floor. Seen by those up in the rafter seats. The light penetrated the complete darkness. One small light viewed by thousands of others who just minutes ago were consumed by darkness. 

Jesus is the Light of the world. We are called to be filled by His Light. We are called to be vessels of light . . . to radiate His Light in a sometimes dark world.

In todays Gospel (John 8:12-20), Jesus talks about the importance of His Light coming through us to the rest of the world:

Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  So the Pharisees said to him, “You testify on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone. And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me. Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two men can be verified. I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me.” So they said to him, “Where is your father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words while teaching in the treasury in the temple area. But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

In Anne a lay apostle’s book Climbing the Mountain, she describes how Jesus can use His dedicated apostles to change the hearts of those in darkness:

“Jesus works steadily through us all day. His light and love shine to other souls through our actions and words and also in what we do not do and do not say. At the same time as this is happening, Jesus is working on our personal movement up the mountain. He uses each situation, each person, to move us a little further on. So He is working in two ways. He is working in the world, through His ownership of His apostles, both body and soul, and He is working in the soul, through our welcoming of His direction and tutelage. We, the committed apostles, are comfortable with this process because we know that the best plan for us, both in terms of our time on earth and in terms of our time in eternity, is the plan that Jesus has willed.” 

Lay apostles, have you ever been in a crowd or place where one person influences everyone else present? Our Lord asks us to bring His Light with us wherever we go, because we may be that one person with a match.

Thank you, Lord, for filling me with more and more of Your Light as I look to advance up the mountain of holiness a little bit further each day.

In humility and gratitude,

Jay