Gospel Thoughts Today: A Tough Endeavor

According to Dictionary.com, the word hypocrite means:

1. A person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.

2. A person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements. A pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess.

Years ago, as this apostolate lead me to an intimate relationship with Jesus, a few people in my life didn't appreciate the new me. As I tried to become holier, wounded parts of the old Bonnie still emerged at times. I remember someone calling me a hypocrite whenever I slipped back into old patterns instead of being the humble lay apostle I was striving to become. It felt like all my hard work was dismissed over one slip. But what it taught me was . . . I am being watched and must practice what I preach! A lesson we all need to grasp and incorporate into our daily walk with Christ. A tough endeavor for all of us wounded little girls and boys, but one so necessary to live an eternity with Jesus!

Today's Gospel (Luke 12:54-59) clearly tells us to work on ourselves first:

Jesus said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

"Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she reminds us to remain true to who we are instead of trying to appear better than we are:

"Because we serve in our humanity, it is true that we will not always set the example that either we or Jesus desires but let us strive to consider always, in our words and actions, what kind of example we are giving to others. There are some who position themselves around the place of the divine will, never entering, but claiming always to possess the attributes of the Architect of this place. These are the thieves and brigands. Suddenly, the word hypocrisy springs to mind. We must remember to be authentic. If we are having a hard time in holiness, we should not try to give the impression that we are worthy of canonization. Now the word humility springs to mind. If we are humble, we are proceeding in truth."

Lay apostles, sometimes we can become quite irritated with the actions of others and lash out.  But what are we really irritated with?  Is it old wounds being recreated in front of our own eyes by someone else? Is it someone who says one thing and does another?  Whatever it is, stay humble.  Remain on the path to holiness.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of humility. Continue to lead me on the path of holiness, leaving hypocrisy behind.  Living my truth makes life so much easier! P.S. Sorry for the hiccups every once in a while.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Got Skeletons?

Skeletons in the closet . . . what to do, what to do. Our past didn't happen accidentally or by oversight. We can continue to deny the painful choices we have made and baggage others have left behind for us to carry.  Or, we can allow ourselves to feel and experience the pain, then let it go. If we are on the path to Jesus, understand He has been with us every step of the way. Trust we needed to go through all we have and will because it is and was the only way He gets our attention.

The Gospel today (Luke 12:49-53) expresses Jesus' frustration with those who don't believe in His Divine Role on earth:

Jesus said to his disciples: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she describes the importance of following the Lord's example:

"Humility allows for wounds. This is partially why humility is so important. If a person is humble, he will be willing to say, “I am hurt.” When we admit something has hurt us, we can steer away from anger and take things calmly, acting with Christ to deal with any misfires in the relationships around us. This calm course will help us to remain an asset to heaven as opposed to a liability. It must be noted that Jesus, in Holy Scripture, acted consistently with kindness, gentleness and humility. Jesus was continually misjudged and maligned. He returned love for hostility. It would be an excellent exercise for us to spend some time today thinking of who in our day is hostile to us and how we will follow the Lord’s example as set out in Holy Scripture and treat these people with patience and kindness. Let us look, not at the Lord’s righteous anger in one example, but at the Lord’s parade of loving acceptance for those with whom He served. This method of behavior, rejecting anger in favor of humility, becomes habit-forming. How beautiful it is to witness someone who has gained mastery over himself in this way. Their rare departures into anger or thoughtless remarks are reassuring in terms of their humanity but also stark contrasts from their normal behavior."

Lay apostles, what can you do today to let go of a skeleton in your closet?  Face your not-so-stellar choices in the past, one at a time, no matter how painful.  The key is to experience them for what they are.  Don't deny them.  Don't convince yourself they never happened. Feel the anger, the pain, the sorrow. Then pass each one on to Jesus.  Let Him carry the load for you. Start with one skeleton today.

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to release the skeletons of my past so I can have a joyful future. I am a different person than I was yesterday.  And plan to be even more joyful tomorrow.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Keep Calm and Don't Beat Your Master's Maidservants

A post from 5 years ago by one of my favorite young writers, Annie! The wisdom of a young millennial:

Does anybody remember being upset as a child that your younger siblings were able to get away with behaviours that you weren’t? I have the distinct memory specific to an oldest child of being tossed out with the well water where my younger brother and sister were concerned. (If you don’t remember this, you were probably the youngest. You people don’t realise how good you had it!) The three of us shared a bedroom as children, and when my little sister Mary Kathryn came along, she used to wake us up long after bedtime, break out of her crib, and enlist us in causing mayhem in our room. We would break the slatted doors of our closet off their hinges and prop them against our beds, walking up and down them with great delight at our homemade “escalators”. Until we got caught, and would flee to whatever hiding places we could find when our dad burst in, usually under the blankets. Not very creative for kids who could make their own escalator! Every single time we engaged in some night-time escapade, I would be singled out as the ringleader and punished the most severely, because I should have been setting a better example, I should have known better, the younger children looked up to me, yada yada yada. To me of course this was grossly unfair, given that my angelic looking baby sister was the real culprit (which she will deny to this day). Apart from feeling pretty sorry for my parents right now, you’re probably thinking that this sounds about right; older kids are usually guides for the younger, as they have that slight edge in terms of age and maturity. Clearly, this was a role I had to grow into! This added culpability for our actions according to our state and knowledge is exactly what today’s Gospel (Luke 12:39-48) is referring to:

“And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly.  Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

The last two lines of this Gospel stand out as the most important to me, and call to my mind a quote from the third Narnia movie, when Prince Caspian says, “I have spent too long wanting what was taken from me and not what was given.” It can be easy to slip into the habit of focusing on what we lack and losing sight of how many blessings we have been bestowed with, as well as the greater expectations God has for us as a result of what we have been given. For some people, this gospel message and the expectations it describes might initially cause anxiety and excessive self-scrutiny. How do I know if what I’m doing is enough? What if I’m not good enough to meet God’s standard? What if I fail God?! The beauty of this message could be lost by the pressures that some of us may put upon ourselves. But that is the opposite of what God wants. In a message from Volume Ten, September 28, 2004, Jesus reminds us that we will never be asked to take on more than we are capable of:

“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.”

Let us go forward together throughout our days with the calm assurance that God will see to our needs and prayers, and the knowledge that we must, in turn, see to His.

God bless,

Annie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Leave Toxicity Behind

Communication can sound one way coming out and another way being heard. Old habits of reacting seem to appear immediately when you think you are experiencing déjà vu in a given situation. As much as I like to think I have come a long way in offering everything up to Jesus, every once in awhile I don't seem to quite get it up to Him quick enough. But now, instead of being hurt or angry, I clarify. Sometimes I misinterpret the meaning behind the words. When things are explained in a clear manner with no malice interjected, it is a healthy exchange and everyone walks away understood and understanding. Alas, there are times I have impeccable comprehension and realize it's time to offer it up . . . walk away. I can do that now. I can leave toxicity behind and continue to serve.

Today's Gospel (Luke 12:35-38) shows us the importance of service to our Lord Jesus:

Jesus said to his disciples: "Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants."

In Volume One, Anne a lay apostle describes how vigilance in service can turn our suffering into blessings:

"The Blessed Mother, the Mediatrix of All Grace, takes our little offerings and uses them to buy mercy for souls, despite the horrendous behavior of us in this modern world. Let me put it this way. There is an alcoholic. He is steeped in sin, both with regard to this addiction and in general. Recovering alcoholics will tell you they got a tap on the shoulder at some point and their life changed. They were given the eyes to see their addiction, their selfishness, their sinfulness. They then got sober and became some of the greatest servants of Christ. Truly motivated now, these humble souls commit themselves to helping others to see. Where did the grace come from, to get them the tap on the shoulder? From our suffering, united to the Passion of Jesus."

Lay apostles, be vigilant in your service to Christ. And that means serving others, even when they make it difficult to do so. Sometimes the message is completely different when we listen with our own ears and not the ears of Jesus.  If you are misinterpreting something as offensive, stop and clarify. Show others the Light of Christ.

Thank you, Lord, for the ability to ask questions and communicate when I'm not seeing things clearly. And, for the grace of calmness when I slip back into old thinking patterns.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: The Answer to Any Mess

Not my circus. Not my monkey. This is has become a common phrase Jay and I use when the "atmosphere" around us becomes unruly. Others try to draw us into their spinning vortex, but we have nothing to do with the drama. Nada. A good friend recently told me, "There comes a point where you can't be distorted anymore to suit their victimhood." Very profound advice. As Jesus states in the Gospel today, pick up and move on. There is no reason to vacillate when the Truth is clear.

In today's Gospel (Luke 10:1-9), Jesus tells His disciples to dust off and move on when it is time to head out:

Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’

In Heaven Speaks About Divorce, St. Anne assures us Jesus is the answer to any mess:

"It is like standing in a big mess. When you bring it to Jesus, He pulls you away from the mess, and, with a glance, reduces the mess to nothingness. He is your Healer. He is your trusted friend who will not make your cross heavier. He will make it lighter and manageable."

Lay apostles, sometimes our circumstances seem so disorderly . . . even chaotic. We all have a choice. Either we buy into the chaos becoming just as angry, fearful, entitled, or (you fill in the blank). Or, we go to prayer and let Jesus take care of anything we experience causing us unrest. He is ultimately in control . . . something I have to tell myself all the time. We may feel we are in the middle of a mess, but truly, He is working behind the scenes to create a pathway for us to climb the mountain of holiness to His Sacred Heart.

Thank you, Lord, for showing me despite the mess and chaos, laboring for You draws the ultimate Peace.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Appropriate Behavior?

What do you do when someone blatantly lies to your face when the fact is you know the truth? Do you call them out? Run away screaming "Liar, Liar?" Do you try to convince them of the real truth according to you? Or, do you calmly say your peace and walk away? Remember, as Christians, we must be gauging our own reactions in relation to how Christ reacted. Instead of throwing spears back at the "misguided" person, show them what telling the truth looks like. Be gently honest . . . consistently. One of two things will happen . . . eventually, they begin the path toward truthfulness or they just don't come around anymore. Think before you speak or react, lay apostles. What does your behavior say about you?

In today's Gospel (Luke 11:47-54), the scribes and Pharisees react with fear, pride, and jealousy instead of love, humility, and eagerness to please God:

The Lord said: “Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute’ in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

In the booklet Heaven Speaks About Stress, St. Padre Pio asks us to live a life of service, not judgment:

"Serve each other in joy and patience. There is far too much talk about relationships. You were created to serve, dear apostles. Serve. Do not keep scorecards of who is serving the most or who is serving the best. You have only to account for yourself so why do you concern yourself so often with the lack of service in others. Set an example of consistent service and you will find that others fall into line with you and improve. Love each other as Jesus loves you. Jesus forgives and forgets. Jesus does not wait to catch you at a bad moment when you are not doing your best or when you are discouraged. Jesus encourages you and overlooks your flaws. Do this for others, most particularly the souls who are called to walk through your life with you. No judging, my friends. Judging is for Jesus. Put the best possible light on others and expect the best from them and you will not be disappointed. Love passionately in that if you are called to walk with someone, be loyal to them as Jesus is loyal to you. Look for ways to make them feel cherished and appreciated. Small acts of kindness can change someone’s life."

Lay apostles, pay attention to how you react in adverse situations. Remember we are all imperfect beings . . . including the one who is disrupting your peace. Stay calm and forgive.

Thank you, Lord, for reminding me to gauge my reactions as if You are right in front of me . . . after all, You are!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Be Strong

Disciplining my daughters growing up was a natural for me. But my grandkids . . . well, how can you get mad at angels? Jay and I took care of our 7-year-old grandson and 5-year-old granddaughter for two weeks beginning the end of September. They both are very comfortable in our home as we see them often. Full-time parenting on the north side of 50 is quite an experience (did school always start so early in the morning?)! Over the course of two weeks, heads butted only a few times . . . the culprit usually being after-school tiredness. Refereeing between the two required tact and diplomacy. I needed to be strong, despite the watery eyes on the verge of erupting. Talk about heart-wrenching! When time out expired, we talked about the lessons learned and ended with a big hug. Children need loving structure, safety, and discipline in order to become loving adults and parents themselves. As parents and grandparents, we must make sure we are not sending mixed messages which confuse small little minds. If we take them to church, make sure that faith comes home with them. The outside must equal the inside.

In today's Gospel (Luke 11:42-46), Jesus lectures the Pharisees and scholars to practice what they preach:

The Lord said: "Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk." Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, "Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too." And he said, "Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them."

In Volume Six, Mary (an unknown saint) asks us to pray to Our Lady to help set a good example for our children:

"I want to tell you that when you attempt to introduce family prayer to those children who have not prayed together in the past, you may experience resistance. Expect this. Also, when you say “no” to a child who has previously been given many material things, you will get anger. It will pass. Your child will object to being forced to pray and having material things taken away. Be brave, mothers. Be strong. Do not think for a moment that your decisions should be based on the anger or resistance of your children. Make your decision, and then impose it. Your children will come around if you are firm. Pray to Our Lady to help you turn your household into another holy family that serves the Kingdom. She will hear you and she will help. Set an example of calm holiness yourself and I promise you that all will be well."

Lay apostles, don't have expectations for others that you don't have for yourself.  If you want others to be kind, be kind to others.  If you send your children to Christian schools (or you are a Christian), live a Christian life inside and outside the home.  Remember, there are many eyes watching our every move.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me the guidance and motivation to live by example.  I am so very thankful my daughters turned out loving You so much despite some of my not so stellar choices along the way!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Prep Time

Looking back on my life, I can see how Jesus was preparing me for this moment in time.  My not-so-stellar choices have led me straight into His arms. He knows I am stubborn, hard-headed and would require multiple occurrences of the same offense to learn the lessons. There was a time I didn't love myself enough to face the truth of my reality.  Numbing the pain sufficed for a while. The problem with numbing is you eventually sober up again. I was never an alcoholic, but the analogy works here for me.  My numbing consisted of multi-tasking, occupying my mind to the extent my past was not recognizable . . . or I should say memorable, by choice. My outside did not correspond with my inside. There is a song by Kelly Clarkson called "Maybe" which describes who I was (and still struggle with at times) while on my path to Christ. Here's a little piece of me:

I'm strong

But I break

I'm stubborn

And I make plenty of mistakes

Yeah I'm hard

And life with me is never easy

To figure out, to love

I'm jaded but oh so lovely

All you have to do is hold me

And you'll know and you'll see just how sweet it can be

If you'll trust me, love me, let me

Maybe, maybe

My big spiritual cleansing occurred in 2006.  The day Anne a lay apostle and the Volumes came into my life.  I finally understood.  I finally let go. I finally began to know Jesus.

In today's Gospel (Luke 11:37-41), Jesus wants us to understand looking pious on the outside does not make us holy on the inside:

After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, "Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you."

In Volume Two, Jesus explains how He will heal our brokenness:

"I have come to cleanse souls. Much as a mother cleans her house, My child, I am cleaning and organizing your soul. If you have been away from Me, We must be busy. Events in your life, from your past, must be looked at now in a different way. This is an important task, and that is why I am spending time on it with you. Events can leave marks on your heart when you are not praying. Hence, My goal. To clean these marks and leave a heart that gives and receives love freely. When you pray, My child, I help you to sift through the experiences occurring in your life. Perhaps you have a disappointment today. Taken alone, without My assistance, you might feel down, sad and discouraged. If pride is a problem for you, and many suffer from pride, you might not share your sadness and disappointment with even another soul. It remains on your poor heart and, after a time, this turns to bitterness. Now, earthly life being what it is, and human beings being flawed, as they are in their search for perfection, you encounter yet another disappointment or betrayal. Pride asserts itself and again you do not adequately share your grief. Another patch of disappointment turns to bitterness and covers another area of your poor little heart. My child, when this process continues, you have a heart enclosed in bitterness. A heart needs love, in the same way your lungs need oxygen. Your heart was designed this way, dearest, and if your heart is enclosed, the love is blocked off. How handicapped you are in the spiritual sense. How it grieves Me to see you so disturbed and unhappy. My little one, I am coming to clean every mark from your heart so that you will love freely, as I love. Do not think this is an impossible task. I am Jesus. I am God."

Lay apostles, when was the last time you did a little spiritual cleansing?  If you are Catholic (or even if you're not), get into an Adoration Chapel and let Jesus apply the salve of His love and forgiveness on your broken heart.  Release the bitterness you have built up over the years. Let Him in. Let Him cleanse you.

Thank you, Lord, for all the spiritual cleansing You have done so far in me.  I know I still have a ways to go, but I am confident You know what You are doing!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Instilled Faith

Faith is a gift. I never understood the depth of that statement until I found this apostolate. Every day we come across people who don't believe in God, who have no desire to believe in God because it means changing their heart. Some are so wounded, they blame God for their problems. No accountability, no responsibility for their actions. They seek to judge others because it makes them feel better about themselves. Well, the simple Truth is we ARE all accountable and responsible for our actions. And yes, sometimes our choices are not stellar. But, I have discovered something along my journey in life . . . I was given the gift of faith, and that I owe to my mother. I have never doubted God's existence. I believe in God as sure as I have a nose on my face . . . always there with me no matter where I go. So, if you've been given the gift of faith and only partially opened the gift, it's time to take the lid off and begin receiving all the graces from it!

Today's Gospel (Luke 11:29-32) provides a simple truth, stop searching for proof of God's existence, and look to His Son for confirmation:

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.  Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she beautifully illustrates the importance of doing all for His Glory:

"I often think of St. John the apostle at the foot of the cross. We could look at St. John’s role in the Passion and think correctly, ‘My goodness, what a privileged position St. John was awarded.’ In considering the matter, one might wonder what qualified St. John to accompany Jesus and Mary so intimately on this torturous day. What we know about St. John is that he was remembered by the purity of his love. He is called the Lord’s beloved apostle. What did love prompt him to do that day that nobody else did? He showed up, first of all, and then he stayed. The day got uglier and uglier, the crowds more venomous. It did not appear to be a day of triumph, even though we know it turned out to be so. St. John showed up, and he stayed. Was Jesus able to verbalize his tremendous gratitude to John at the time of His Passion? Was Jesus able to chat about John’s concerns? Hardly. He had his hands full dealing with His own considerable difficulties. The best Jesus could do was to assign John a task. “Son, behold your mother.” Was there any other apostle there to accept this task? No. Just John. I would guess that John did not do a lot of talking on that day. I would guess he just stayed, suffering Jesus and Mary’s anguish, uniquely willing to remain in a circle of suffering and grief that could be called unparalleled. Is there a greater example of loyalty, love or fellowship? Can we imagine the Lord’s gratitude even though it was not expressed on that day? I do not think so. I do not think we can ever imagine the extent of the Lord’s gratitude to St. John. I think, though, that His gratitude resonates throughout heaven, eternally preserved. We are called to be like John to each other. We are called to show up for each other and we are called to stay, often in silence or in service or in silent service. This is pure love. Why does pure love seem to be so elusive during this time? Well, we are called the Me Generation. That, all by itself, is a condemnation of our times. Love cries out for sacrifice but many of these cries go unheard. In some cases, the cries are mocked. People are encouraged to seek satisfaction for themselves. But we are a community people, intended to give and accept Christ in each other. If I am wholly concentrated on serving myself and filling my own needs, I become unavailable to serve others. As stated, people crave love as Christ craves love. This is the way we are created. But now some people experience guilt about this as though they are not worthy of being loved or as though they are not entitled to be loved or even as though they are asking too much in expecting to be loved. There are many making do with crumbs from the table when they should be experiencing a great Christian feast. We should never be ashamed that we crave love, from God, from each other, and from the world around us. Each person is created to be valued and loved and in this period of great advances, there is a historically unique opportunity to live out the Christian call to honor each of God’s created children."

Lay apostles, if you haven't fully committed yourself to walk this journey with Christ, what is your hesitation? Think about that today. It's surprising how what we think is a hurdle is actually a curb.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of Faith. I am forever grateful You instilled it in my mother.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Words = Actions

For some, it's very easy to quote Scripture, to be "book smart" when describing Jesus. It's easy to talk about His work and life on earth with love and adoration. It's easy to describe His kind nature, His healing touch. We can quote Canon Law, we can quote the Catechism of the Catholic Church. But if you don't practice what you preach, it falls on deaf ears. Remember your words should always equal your actions . . . not easy in every situation, but necessary to live a life for Christ.

In today's Gospel (Luke 9:18-22), Jesus is teaching the apostles that namedropping is not allowed:

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, 'One of the ancient prophets has arisen.'" Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said in reply, "The Christ of God." He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

He said, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised."

Jesus wants us to exude Him in how we think, speak and act. Don't judge the level of faith or poor choices of another. As the old saying goes, walk a mile in my shoes . . .

In Anne a lay apostle's book Serving in Clarity, she brilliantly describes Jesus, and, lives her life as Jesus would want of all His servants:

"It is distressing to witness a spirit of pride and arrogance. We must always look for personal outrage as a marker for pride in ourselves. By this I do not refer to the outrage one feels regarding injustice done to others. This is appropriate. By this, the marker for pride, I refer to personal outrage associated with being treated less respectfully than we would like or being judged in a way that is less positive than we feel we deserve or desire. To clarify, we can go, as usual, to the Lord’s example. When people lied about Jesus personally or mistreated Him, He let it go, as in the Garden. He did not puff up and sputter in outrage. He was very consistent in behaving like a lamb. But when people planned to stone an adulteress, He stopped them. He exhibited a sense of outrage, turning the situation on its head and using it to promote non-judgmental treatment of others. Also, when He witnessed His Father’s house being used as a marketplace, He exhibited outrage, even reacting with just anger. Jesus quietly accepted personal insults and slights to Himself. He did not accept cruel behavior against people or blasphemous behavior against His Father."

Lay apostles, read, read, read. Then, practice, practice, practice. What can you do today to witness your love of Christ? Not judge another's mistakes? Defend the unborn? There are so many ways to describe Jesus in our actions. Start practicing today.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me in addition to describing You, I must exude You, too.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thought Today: Why Be Confused?

Love and respect. Kindness and compassion. Faith, hope and charity. Words every person, let alone every Christian, should exude. I think some people are becoming confused, or maybe it's just plain ol' fear of not fitting in when standing up for Christ. Could it be some of our youth (or millennials as they are now called!) in this country didn't have role models practicing Christian values? What kind of examples were set or are being set for our children and grandchildren? Who is to blame for this lack of faith blatantly blasted at us on all the liberal news stations? The answer is, we only have ourselves to blame. Yes, we are influenced by our childhood. Yes, our parents unknowingly (and in some cases knowingly) contributed to how we think and assess situations, ourselves and others. But once we become adults, there are no more excuses. We can make the necessary changes needed in our lives by the choices we make every day. Let's begin today by showing no fear when protecting Our Lord's sacred name. As a matter of fact, we must stop being silent when our sweet Jesus is slandered or mocked. He is a God of mercy . . . clear up any confusion or fear within first. Pick up a Volume and get to know Him. Open the Bible to learn about His short life on this earth. Love Him as He loves us.

Today's Gospel (Luke 9:7-9) shows Herod very confused about who Jesus is . . .

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, "John has been raised from the dead"; others were saying, "Elijah has appeared"; still others, "One of the ancient prophets has arisen." But Herod said, "John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see him.

In Volume Three, Our Lady teaches us to seek the good, not be confused, and trust in her Son:

"My dear souls, dedicated to Jesus, I wish to teach you more about goodness. Goodness comes from God. All goodness is rooted in heaven and blooms on earth. Your world is filled with a false goodness, that is really malice, disguised. Your world speaks of choice and lauds the choice of the individual. Well, this is fine, if a soul is choosing God. But to choose against the natural order, set down by God, is to bring the wrath of God down upon the world. These people are not working for goodness and their motives are not good. Do not feel compelled to pay homage to the modern concept of good any longer. Instead, ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify true goodness, the kind that is rooted in heaven, and the Spirit will direct you to examples. This same spirit of truth, will uncover the dark motives and malice of those who talk about good and work for bad. Now, do not be confused or concerned. When you see these individuals spouting their lies, you have felt confusion and suspicion. It is that suspicion I wish to direct your attention to. Pay attention to those feelings and trust a little bit more in your holy instincts. Look at the fruits of various campaigns. Does a certain approach bear good fruit? And by that I mean does it bring souls into a unity with each other and with the Creator? You are not secular, dear ones. Please do not try to be."

Lay apostles, don't let lies and venomous words confuse, causing doubt in God. Why be confused? Rely on your holy instincts as Our Lady states above. Don't react, pray for the offenders.  And just remember, What Would Jesus Do?

Thank you, Lord, for patience and compassion for those spouting evil and hate. Please continue to provide me with Your shield of hope and forgiveness.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Complete Attention

There are times in our life when we feel beaten down . . . whether we feel we are not good enough, smart enough, faithful enough, or you-fill-in-the-blank enough. Despite how others treat us, we only have to please one Person . . . Christ. We are always good enough for Him. Think about it this way . . . who are the people consistently loving and supporting you? There is usually nothing you wouldn't do for them in return, right? Fight for them, love them, comfort them. So why do we treat Our Heavenly Father with sporadic trust? As Christians, we must walk the walk. And, not just occasionally. It's time for action my dear fellow lay apostles. It's time to give Him our complete attention and trust, just as we do for those we love on earth.

In today's Gospel (Luke 8:19-21), Jesus makes a very clear point: it's easy to talk the talk, but you also have to walk the walk: 

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers  are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

In Volume One, our Blessed Mother advises her children on earth to take action:

"Remember to pray, children. In this way, every action throughout your day can be sanctified. Think of all the small tasks you complete, barely giving any thought to them. If you offer them to us with love, we can use even the smallest action for the salvation of sinners. It is time now to pay attention. Do not put our words down and forget them. I want you to act in obedience to our words and let them change your life. It will feel like the most natural thing in the world, this transition to holiness. Once you make the decision, begin to pray. Once you begin to pray, obedience will come naturally. After obedience, we can move you swiftly to great levels of holiness. My dear one, you will then see the coming of God’s kingdom." 

Lay apostles, young or old, it is never too late to be a part of God's Renewal. Strive to do His Will and continue on the path to salvation. You can change your life.  I did.  Accept the fact you are worthy of His Love and make peace with your past. Once you do, you will be amazed at all the beauty despite the thorns.

Thank you, Lord, for quick recoveries and a joyful spirit.  Your spiritual bulletproof armor is working perfectly.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: It Wasn't Me!

I must first preface what I'm about to write. Flatulence is not exactly the best topic to write about (although I am a nurse!). My daughters would be horrified (in a funny good way I hope!) this movie came to mind after reading today's Gospel (Luke 6:39-42)! It's all about blaming others for something you contributed to . . . or obviously did and completely denying it! The movie? RocketMan starring Harland Williams playing Fred Randall:

Fred Randall: It wasn't me!
William Overbeck: What do you mean "It wasn't you"? We're 35 million miles from the nearest person!
Fred Randall: Maybe it was Julie.
William Overbeck: Your dog!
Fred Randall: Hey! Miracles can happen.
William Overbeck: Blaming this on Julie!
Fred Randall: Okay. I admit. It was me.
William Overbeck: Thank you.
[Fred farts again]
Fred Randall: Now, THAT was Julie!

(Note: Jay asked me to clarify that I cut and pasted the above quote from the actual script! I did not insert my own words!)

Reading the lines from this scene in the movie brings back such good memories of the goofiness I share with my daughters. And they didn't hesitate to use the "It wasn't me!" line at every opportunity to place blame on one another! OK, enough of the nostalgia. The bottom line is to take responsibility for yourself and your actions before blaming others. It's exactly what Jesus is asking of us in the Gospel:

Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she perfectly identifies the necessity to work on ourselves before pointing out the error of others: 

"Any apostle could name another who behaves like a Pharisee but that will not be helpful, beyond advancing our understanding of the phenomenon. Jesus would be happier if every apostle scrutinized himself and worked with Him on eradicating any judgmental attitude in the apostle’s own soul. We see that the Pharisees were looking to condemn. Remember that this is the opposite of what Jesus did. Jesus looked to save. We must look for evidence of hope and potential in those around us. Some search constantly for evidence of unholiness in others. I think this might be their way of trying to fuel or protect their superiority or obtaining value for themselves in an unhealthy way. Superiority is something that requires constant feeding, like an addiction. Just as a cigarette smoker needs a nicotine fix periodically, a superiority addict needs to look down on someone periodically. Anyone will do. Those around this type of addict will suffer the most but if the superiority addict must go outside of his inner circle, he is happy to do that. Reading the daily newspaper can work for him in a pinch, but one addicted to superiority will eventually find himself searching for reasons to condemn even the holiest souls. This should make our skin crawl with revulsion. Really. It should. I suspect that what is happening is that it is easier to snatch affirmation in small unhealthy doses this way than to actually look within, meet the eyes of Christ and take whatever affirmation we merit in truth while accepting the growth challenges that Jesus puts before us. I often wonder if these people think they are going to get into heaven by citing the unholiness of others rather than standing on their own holiness. Do they think Jesus will ask them to regale Him with stories about the darkness of the times and the sins committed by those around them? Jesus Christ knows the sins of others and instantly factors in all mitigating and aggravating circumstances in each life. The life we will be accounting for is our own. Jesus knew the law but He was not rigid because He applied it with love and mercy. Remember that the characteristics of the Trinity include gentleness, kindness, generosity of heart, truthfulness, eagerness to serve, prudence, and humility."

Lay apostles, do you frequently blame others for something you've done and don't want to admit? What about little white lies because you don't want to offend or be embarrassed by your own actions? Well, it's time for all of us to work on getting that wooden beam out of our own eyes before pointing out the splinter in our brothers and sisters. It's time to say, "It WAS me!"

Thank you, Lord, for the ability to admit when I am wrong . . . instead of making excuses. And, thank you for the humor and humility needed to do it!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Justifying Attitudes

I do not sugar coat. Period. I refuse to enable others despite their fragile egos. I would rather tell them the truth gently than placate them with falsities.

My dad spent his last 4 months on this earth in my home. My sister and I were his caregivers until he took his last breath. Dad was a simple man with an optimistic outlook on life. About a month before his death, the three of us were sitting out on the back patio while Dad had his morning coffee and cigarette. Then came a question out of the blue. "So, will I be able to get back into my own apartment again?" My sister responded with something like, "Well, maybe Dad. We will see how things go." Now, my dad had Metastatic Malignant Melanoma and it was everywhere in his body. I kept the protest going on in my head silent as he had not asked me directly. He knew if he asked me, I would tell him the truth (I'm a nurse by education with a lot of experience in Oncology). I figured he wasn't ready for that reality. So I waited. A few days later, Dad and I were alone on the patio. And he asked me that same question. As heartbreaking as it was to tell him the truth, I did. "No Dad, you will be living here with us until the end. But I promise you will not suffer and we will be holding your hands when you take your last breath." He was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Ok. Can I get some more coffee?" As difficult as the truth is, it is so important not to live in a fantasy world, imagining it is everyone else who is getting it wrong. Truth is Jesus Christ. Truth is seeing our frailties for what they are . . . we are all imperfect beings. Today, stop justifying your attitude to make yourself feel better or more important. Live the Truth. Live Jesus Christ.

In today's Gospel (Luke 7:31-35), the ill will is so evident it needs no proof:

Jesus said to the crowds:

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

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

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

In Anne a lay apostle's book Suspended in Mystery, she ties in how attitudes, with the Truth, can be corrected:

"Mary would have detected pride or arrogance without effort. She would have helped to gently shape the disposition of those early fathers so that they never lost sight of the Spirit of her son, who was all love. Jesus did not reject sinners. He rejected sin. Mary, as the mother of all people, would have made certain that the distinction remained pronounced, so as to fully conflict with and contradict the attitudes of the Pharisees who so hated her son and whom she, herself, felt puzzled by."

Lay apostles, are you justifying behaviors because it is too difficult to acknowledge the truth? The younger version of myself would justify away any negative truths. My woundedness couldn't take any criticism. Now I live my life knowing any false arrows thrown my way are not my problem but the "archer's" problem.

Thank you, Lord, for all the wisdom You send me through Your Gospels, Anne, and all the Volumes/books. My life is incredibly peaceful when I let You control outcomes.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: It's a Scary Thing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Be Grateful Today

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

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

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

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

"I am pleased when I see holiness increasing in My friends and this increase in holiness is what gives Me hope for the Church. Yes, I am urging My followers toward sacrifice and service and many of you are answering with your whole hearts. You, listening to My words and allowing them to change you, are giving Me great hope. With this hope I push on into the world, confident, that while some resist change, others embrace it. Yes, change is happening, most especially in the heart of every committed apostle. You are becoming holier. As you are becoming holier, My Church is becoming holier. Apostles, hear this call with all seriousness. I, Jesus, have everything needed to advance the Church into greater unity. And I, Jesus, can do this as quickly as you will allow Me. Find Me in your soul in each moment you are questioning your role in the Kingdom. I will direct you."

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

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

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: It's Hard To Stay Delightful

My favorite Guest Blogger: Annie!

As a teenager I always used to pride myself on being extremely good at not judging people. It was my favourite Catholic teaching, one I felt that the Church could do with advertising a little better– you know, let’s talk less about hellfire and damnation and start hyping up the peace-and-love part of the Catechism. I was well versed in not judging people for bad attitudes, past mistakes or poor life decisions; none of it fazed me. God loved them and me and everyone and we were all sinners and all saints and all together, lalalala, hi I’m basically a hippie.

Enter college. I wasn’t exactly prepared for some certain social challenges of a small, Catholic, American university. (If you went to a small Catholic American university, you may see where this is going.) There was a small group of people that seemed to take an instant dislike to me, for reasons that evaded my understanding, because as my mom tells me, I’m delightful. But it’s hard to stay delightful when people are looking you up and down and you can FEEL them judging your clothes, your appearance, your language, everything about you, before they even open their mouths to assure you with false kindness that that is exactly what they are doing. I just could not be Catholic, or pure, or good enough for these people. The unfairness of it drove me insane and I retaliated to the hate vibes by labeling them with my friends as hypocrites and meanies and something that rhymes which clucking glass bowls (I shall preserve the integrity of Bonnie’s blog by not even rhyming some of the other words I may have used!) It took me a while to realize what had happened, and when I finally did I actually burst out laughing at myself; I had become what I loathed by being just as judgmental as they were. The Gospel today (Luke 6:39-42) talks about the importance of focusing on fixing our own flaws and not micro-analyzing everything our neighbors are doing wrong:

Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

The thing is if your brother was walking around with literally a giant wooden beam in his eye, how hard would it be not to notice??? I mean, come on, that’s probably the first thing you’d see! It’s probably unpleasant and very distracting to look at. Likewise, with other people’s shortcomings, they can be, frankly, really annoying, and it’s hard not to judge on that level. But nobody likes to be on the receiving end of “that person” and we have to be careful about not allowing such an experience to make us become “that person.” The good news is we don’t have to be blind; we can be fully trained, loving disciples instead of the word that rhymes with glass bowls.

The Monthly Message from May 2009 is really consoling and instructive in this area:

"My children, your work stretches out before you. How many serve? How many resist My will for them? When you consider others who do not seem to be serving Me, I want you to turn your face away. I want you to consider only My will for you in a given moment. This will protect you from many temptations. You can answer Me with simplicity when I ask you at the end of the day, 'Have you served Me well today?' You can simply say, 'Yes, Lord. I have done My best.' Then you can lay down your worries and rest. Beloved apostles of God, do not be distracted by others. I know this is hard for you. I know that others can cause you upset. But if you consider how I have asked you to experience others, you will do better. I want you to view those around you as pilgrims journeying toward Me. That is what you are, after all. Can you deny others the need to move gradually to perfection when you, yourself are doing the same? You are involved in a process which means that you remain imperfect. Why would it be different for those around you? You have come to trust My loving compassion, My forgiveness and My uninterrupted affection. That is because you have come to know Me. If others do not know Me as well as you do, they will trust Me less. If they trust Me less, they will experience fear and this will cause them difficulty which moves out from the fear to greater and greater pain. If My apostles will accept that fear of being unloved is the source of great pain for others, My apostles will view the mistakes of others with compassion, as I do. Yes, the pain of humanity can only be remedied by loving compassion. This is why you are sent out by Me. You move into the world with heaven’s healing compassion. My apostles, perhaps you do not feel this compassion from others. Perhaps you feel that you are in need of compassion and find only condemnation. I make two remarks about this. One, please be willing to ask for understanding from other holy apostles and then accept what they offer to you in humility. Next, ask Me if I am judging you. Ask Me if I view you harshly. You know that I do not. I am pleased with whatever you offer Me in terms of fidelity and service. I am pleased with whatever you give to Me in terms of prayer and silence. I work so well in your little soul when you allow Me. I feel the greatest compassion for you. I am happy with your efforts to be holy and to love those around you. I rejoice in you. I rejoice in your commitment to Me. I urge you today in the most serious way to trust Me and trust in My plan for you."

What a great way to look at other people. Jesus basically says it perfectly here, and I think this advice is pretty solid, and something I definitely want to work on. Basically, haters gonna secretly crave affection, and if someone is judging you? The best response is love and kindness.

God bless,

Annie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Heart Healer

Jesus heals all wounds . . . eventually. Although the "eventually" is not His fault, it's my own ego hard at work. We all do battle with darkness when we have been wounded by another. After reading today's Gospel (Luke 6:27-38), I know I have come a long way. A younger me would have poo-pooed most of what Jesus is saying, without the slightest hesitation. My immature mind couldn't dismiss the wrongs or mistreatment. But I get it now. I'm going to use a phrase my husband says in times of wrongdoing: hurt people, hurt people. So next time someone wounds your precious heart, remember the words of Christ in this Gospel. Do it for Him. Resist the urge to get revenge; resist the temptation to spew hatred back. Allow our Divine Healer tend to your heart first. Then, ask Him to heal your offender. Here it is, straight from the lips of Our Lord:

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Serving in Clarity, Jesus reminds us He is the Healer of all wounds:

"I know what lifts your heart, My beloved one. I know what consoles you and gives you comfort. In the same way, you understand what consoles Me, what lifts Me and gives Me comfort. Shall I remind you? Love. Love gives Me solace in a time when there is great hatred. I look to you and I see suffering, yes, pain, of course, but also love. I see that you suffer for Me and this sustains Me. I see your sacrifices and I see your wounds, and yet you continue to serve your King. You do not melt away into the world as others have. You do not allow your heart to be hardened as some do. You work constantly to allow Me access as the Divine Healer. I require constant access to your little heart, it is true, but you give that to Me through your time in prayer and your willingness to be honest in assessing your actions and motives. Dearest apostle, walk with Me as one of My guards of honor. I love you immeasurably. I will care for everything and I will never fail to sustain you. Bring Me your fears constantly, in every moment. I will eradicate them. If you walk closely with Me, you will exert less effort and I will sow a heavenly garden in your soul as we proceed."

Lay apostles, what are you waiting for? Are you carrying a grudge from an old wound? A recent wound? Pray to Jesus right now. Ask Him to mend your heart and give you the grace needed to forgive. It takes a lot of practice and dedication healing old wounds. But it can be done! I am living proof it does get better the more I cling to Christ and pray for those who offend. The only way I can describe it is like this: it's as if there is a protective shield in front of me when daggers are being thrown. I can hear what is being said but my heart is completely protected. I mistakenly step in front of that shield once in a while (quickly realizing I am unprotected!) and let the pointy little suckers penetrate my heart. But it's not too long before Our Lord swoops in to save it. I just have to let Him!

Thank you, Lord, for truly being my Heart Healer. My life is so different now . . . since I let You completely in!

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Love Over Money

Love over money, any day, hands down. I have known very wealthy people who have it all but possess no compassion or desire to help those in need. On the contrary, I've witnessed the same attitude in those with financial difficulties, even though compassion is given free of charge.  But then there are the struggling young couples I've been blessed to know living paycheck to paycheck with so much love for each other they continue to persevere, working toward a common goal. And, the affluent so generous not only financially, but volunteering whenever and wherever a need arises. After reading today's Gospel (Luke 6:20-26), I feel blessed to have a roof over my head and food in my refrigerator. I am encouraged to increase my efforts to help the poor and needy, whether it be with an extra donation or committing more time. Every one of us, no matter what our state in life may be, have the ability to provide relief of some means to any of God's children. Relief can mean feeding the hungry in a soup kitchen or loading an elderly woman's grocery bags into her trunk at the supermarket. As I have said in the past, do all for His Glory. Not for kudos, not for status, not for show. Just do it for Him. Give in His Name with no expectations, only love. Your reward will be great in heaven.

From Luke 6:

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. "Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way."

In the December 2011 Monthly Message, Jesus cheers us on with His hope and encouragement:

"Dear apostles, it is with hope that I come to you today, speaking these words to your heart. I am hoping that the plans I have for your life will come to fruition. 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 goodwill 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. Sometimes, I bring these gifts directly into your soul. Sometimes I send these gifts to you through the soul of another. I am saying that sometimes you will be the recipient of My gifts and sometimes you will be the one delivering My gifts. We are so united, you and I. We are together now and when you are finished on earth you will understand how closely I worked with you."

Lay apostles, I know how busy life can be. So, search for the moments Jesus places in your path to make someone's day a little brighter. Share the gifts He has bestowed upon you to draw others to His loving arms. How else will those who don't know Christ ever discover the Truth. Spread the messages in the Volumes or Heaven Speaks booklets whenever you can. One thing I did . . . I was in Las Vegas for a business trip years ago and brought a stack of Heaven Speaks About Addictions and Heaven Speaks to Those Who Suffer From Financial Need. I tried to leave them scattered throughout the casino . . . ;-)

Thank you, Lord, for encouraging words of love and showing me the importance of using the gifts You have given me for Your Glory. Please help me to remain alert to those in need.

God bless,
Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Choose Wisely

Do you remember the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade? Action-packed Harrison Ford movie . . . adventures you would never catch this squeamish-at-the-sight-of-anything-slimey-hopping-or-slithering kind of girl in close proximity to. Sitting safely in a movie theater or on the couch in the comfort of my own home makes it a virtual adventure and I can handle that! So, what was it about today's Gospel that made me think of Indiana Jones? Basically, Jesus prayed about who would be His Twelve Apostles. He didn't just randomly pick from all His followers. He prayed for God's guidance in making the right decision . . . to do the Father's Will. There is a line in this movie which I find quite profound and related to today's Gospel:

Grail Knight: But choose wisely, for while the true Grail will bring you life, the false Grail will take it from you.

By Jesus choosing the Twelve He did, God's plan unfolded perfectly. Through His death and resurrection, we are saved (Luke 6:12-19):

Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground.
A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon
came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she describes beautifully how choosing wisely leads to living (and thriving in) a life for Christ:

"Young men and women of God, choose wisely. Ask yourself if the person you are dating is willing to view marriage through the eyes of Christ, never mind living it out that way. If the person you are dating does not share this sacramental view of marriage, how can we expect him or her to exercise it later? If the person you are dating does not view the formation of children with the most reverent sense of responsibility, how can we expect them to exercise it fully as a parent? Such cruel disappointment God’s children experience in unwise marriages, and yet, such humility from suffering and such miraculous healing of many marital unions."

Lay apostles, just as Christ called upon Our Father in heaven when He had to make some important choices, we must do the same. Pray for wisdom. Pray for the right answers. Choose wisely.

Thank you, Lord, for the lessons when I have chosen hastily and the graces when I have made choices after discussing it with You!

God bless,
Bonnie