Last day of January

It is hard to believe it is the last day of January. It really doesn't feel like that her in central Wisconsin. Someone said it will be in 50's today. I hope it wont cause problems for mother earth and the farmers in the spring.

It has been a month since Jan 1. I hope your new years resolutions were reaching out to others. It is much more energizing than the don't list sometimes we make for new years resolutions.

In today's scripture reading Jesus reached out to those who didn't count, a child, elderly lady with hemorrhage issue, child of synagogue official. All received healing because of their faith.

I pray I have faith enough today to reach out to those who are forgotten in my world today.

Yesterday I spent quite a bit of time with a elderly lady in the hospital whose almost passed out shopping. Her children don't know she is in the hospital because " they discontinued their phones and have cell phones and I don't have their numbers." A kind lady shopping saw to it that she got to the hospital. How many times when we go shopping we don't even see the other people that are also shopping?

I still prefer to do one positive act each day than dwelling on the don't do this and don't do that. How about you?

10 commandments now gone?

We had an interesting visiting priest at Mass last night. He said the 10 commandments are gone!! Where did they go I asked myself. Then inside said okay this will be interesting.

The lawyer asked what else must I do to achieve perfection? I keep the law, take care of the poor, pray. Jesus said Love God and your neighbor as yourself.

If we love God with our whole self, mind, body, and spirit we will honor God in all we do, will never say anything negative about God or use God's name in negative way, we will want to spend time with God and keep holy that relationship and of course honor our parents who worked with God to help us be here.

If we love others as we love ourselves, we wont kill them, steal from them, bear false witness against them, commit adultery or desire what they have to point we are so obsessed cant live without it.

We won't gossip, take things home from other places that dont belong to us, we will give others credit for what they do, thank then for what they do, carry a load of another, share the work, be a comfort in time of sorrow or disappointment, visit those who are sick, send a card, pray for them, and most of all free anyone for any bondage that that we might cause.

Jesus said this is a new law what we must do to achieve perfection.

I fall short in so many ways so I need the guidance of the Spirit to be able to continue on the way Jesus teaches me.  So sometimes we try to get out of it by asking who is my neighbor? Hopefully not that person who I would rather not related to. Sometimes I don't want to share my time my space, myself with others. Jesus life was an example of how to carry this out. I know when he went away to pray they came after him and wanted him to teach them. Jesus's life provides an example for me how to carry out the way to perfection.



How about you? Who is your mentor, guide in carrying out the two commandments.?

You are loved no matter what

Today in praying with the liturgy of the Hours I was struck with the meaning of the reading from
Wisdom 11:23-26.

The Liturgy of the Hours is the prayer of the Church prayed by priests, deacons, religious and some laity throughout the world. Anyone who wants to can pray in this manner can. Most often it is prayed in morning and evening.Cloistered communities pray it more often.

Back to the reading from Wisdom. It states I am loved no matter what ,as I am created by God and therefore loved by God. God could not fashion something negative. The only way I am distant from God is if I chose to be. The wrong I have done is "overlooked for the sake of repentance." That truly is good news.

Now I ask myself do I behave as if I and all around me are loved by God?

Committed to serve

I enjoy looking at the person of the day that is being noted as a follower of Jesus.

Today Angela Merici was remembered. She was an orphan at an early age, surely not a easy time in the 1500's nor is it today!!

She lived in Lombardy Italy and spent many years in prayerful simplicity following the way of St Francis as a 3rd order lay member. She has a dream that she should start a community of women. I don't know about you but such a dream must have been something she questioned. I am not sure we pay that  much attention to the fact that God does and can speak to us in our dreams as well in the events of our day.

For years after the dream she spent her time instructing children of her poor neighbors. Women were inspired by her example and asked to follow her.

I myself was inspired by the example of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother who were at the nursing school that I attended. To me they were able to touch the lives of the sick in a way I felt I couldn't as a nurse. I prayed to be able to touch lives as they did and now you know the rest of that story.

Do you believe you are touching the lives of those who watch and see what you do? It may be your friends, your acquaintances or perhaps your children. If you are not sure ask them. What rule of life do you follow?

In reading of Scripture for today Jesus talked about the mustard seed. I believe a dream that unfolded many years later surely is an example of a mustard seed. You may not know now what influence you have to others, but you do have an influence. It is up to you what you want to leave behind as your mustard seed.

remember when you had a conversion experience?

Conversion experience what is that. I describe it as being turned inside out. Some are plain and some more dramatic.

Today we read of Saul being thrown off his horse, becoming blind and Jesus asking why are you persecuting me. He ended up going to see the prophet for healing and becoming Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles.

We may not be thrown off a horse but any encounter with Jesus does change us. It depends on our response. An apostle brings the Good news to life to those they interact with.

Recall you own conversion experience, have you been good news because of it?

I think recently being told I have the beginning of macular degeneration in my left eye. Doctor said it may take years to develop and to need treatment. Time of choice let it go and say it is years from now, or thank God for the chance to see now. It may not be a big conversion experience but it matters how I respond to this. I could choose to be angry. God says know I am with you always.

It have me thinking of my beloved grandmother who was blind. We never knew what caused it. I remember the struggles she had to just enjoy an ordinarily day.

 I thank God that I did receive some notice. Life it too short to dwell or worry about such things. After all it is in God's hands.

Jesus called those he wanted

Jesus whole ministry showed he wanted everyone. He called those who no one else wanted the sick, poor, women, children, laborers, tax collectors, fishermen, well to do people. Each person was called to be sent in Jesus name.

It is not are you called but to what are you called? Are you called to bring the good News that we all are called? Are you called to support those who are called to be apostles, which means those who are sent forth.

We know the story of the rich young man who was called to leave all and follow Jesus but he found it too much to give.

Jesus wants anyone who will listen and learn from him. He said learn from me not learn about me. In reading books we learn about Jesus in letting ourselves center our selves in some quiet time and focus on Jesus we deepen our relationship with him 

The scripture reading for today is about how Jesus appointed the apostles, and disciples to what they are to do. If we are not in a relationship with him we will miss what we are being called to do.

It is never too late to inter into a deeper relationship with Jesus.

We can take a few moments and talk to Jesus to help us in our call to be a better wife, mother, friend, religious Sister, church worker, volunteer and so many other roles we have. I pray also for you as God knows who you are and I ask you to also pray for me that I too my deepen my relationship with Jesus as I go forth.

praying our Goodbyes

Today I am still thinking about goodbyes. I am sure you have an event of yesterday that becomes part of your today. This is an opportunity to ponder the meaning of it all. Imagine a simple retirement party still lingering.

We have goodbyes everyday. Some are passing like a person we met at a meeting or event. We say see ya, call if you are in town, or stop by. But in heart of hearts we know it wont happen. It is far better to say it was a pleasure to know you. I learned or gained...from you.

What is there about us we don't know how to say goodbyes? I guess that is why Joyce Rupp's book Praying our goodbyes was such a popular book

Daily goodbyes are preparation for the bigger goodbyes.

Not all goodbyes are pleasant. We give our self permission to grieve the passing of a friend, the loss of a job, a broken relationship. If we don't grieve we cant be open to the new relationship, the new job, or the ability to see the gift to us of the one who passed on.

In life we need to say goodbye in life changes, such as marriage and new family unit, moving from one part of our country to another, changes in lives of those we love that affect us, and not least of all our own changes of body, mind and spirit.

I pray you may have the experience of praying your own goodbyes.

Life after all is a continuous hello even when we say our final goodbye.