Angels We Have Heard on High- keep it simple

This morning, on Christmas Eve, I awoke with the song, Angels We have Heard on High” going through my head. I felt joy and peace.
One wonders why the shepherds heard and saw the angels and heavenly host on the first Christmas. I have heard of many reasons but this morning, when I read in the Gospel of Luke;”The shepherds were in their fields at night keeping watch over the sheep", the word “watch” struck me.
I imagine that the noise and the hustle of the city during the census left most of the inhabitants too busy to hear or see God.
The Shepherds, on the other hand were keeping watch. The lives of the shepherds were simple. The shepherds were in a place where they could see and hear God’s voice through the angels. This Christmas, one may ask the question, are we in that place?
Keeping things simple at Christmas time can be a challenge. I pray that the activities of the season and anxieties of this world would not distract us from hearing the voice of the angels say to each one of us, personally,..”Do not be afraid…Today in the town of David a savior has been born to YOU, he is Christ” Luke
God came to us as a little Baby, small, vulnerable and pure. Glory to God in the Highest!
Merry Christmas

O Come Let Us Adore Him

The journey of the first Christmas included traveling, waiting, fighting the crowds, plans and preparations that were thwarted by the need to register to pay taxes. We all can relate to this, after all, it almost sounds like a modern day at the mall during Advent.
Mary's and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem included not only joy but frustration, rejection, poverty, and trials.
But then there was that “Silent Night” when the heavens were opened and the Christ child was revealed to the world.
And yes, there was the Epiphany! (Matthew 2:1-12 )
How we all long to experience an epiphany with God! But are we willing to recognize that it takes time and work? In order to find Christ, the Three Kings and the Shepherds had to engage in a journey which involved time, sacrifice, faith and trials. Are we willing, like the Wiseman, to sacrifice in order to prepare our hearts for Christ?
Like the wisemen we have been given a star to guide us; The light of the church is there to guide us to Christ, who is waiting for us in the tabernacle and in the Sacraments. How will we respond to the Good News of Christmas? Can we respond with the shepherds, who upon hearing the Good News said: "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."?
The good news is Jesus is in the Tabernacle in our Catholic Churches. Let us go to Eucahristic Adoration and SEE.

Facing Failure

Facing Failure

Mother Teresa:
" Jesus the Son of God was sent by His Father to proclaim Good News.
He was fully confident that his father would work out His plan of slavation in spite of the apparant failure of his mission. He was confident even when he saw that people did not accept him. For 30 years in Nazereth they knew Him only as the son of Joseph and Mary. Our Lady and Joseph too must have wondered. People told Him that He was mad, a liar, they slapped Him, spat at Him crucified Him. He seemed to be a complete failure. He knew though that in spite of all this, the will of His Father would be fullfilled. Do you have that Trust?" From "Thursting for God", by Mother Teresa

The Battle is Not Ours but the Lords

Sunday, October 14, 2007
Life is a Battle, Spiritual Warfare

EXODUS
8Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim.
9So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand."
10Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.
12But Moses' hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.
13So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
__________________________________________
Moses and the people of Israel were in a battle. As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Isreal had the better of the fight. But even Moses could not do this alone. Moses needed the help of the community (Aron and Hur) to support him. We too are in a battle and without community to support us we can not have the victory. Lifes battles can be exhausting and we like Moses need to do more than just believe that our help is in the Lord. This reading is a great reminder that we need to surround ourselves with others who share our faith and whom can we can depend on for help when we are weary. Don't Go it Alone.
Love Mrs. TLF

Autumn

In light of what I just read in my last post (posted two months ago ) I should be changing a lot.
Change is in the air. The leaves are turning, changing falling. I have often reflected on how beautiful the leaves are just before they die. I wonder if that is how it is suppose to be for all of us or at least all of us who believe. When we reflect on the death of Jesus on the cross it is easy to see only the gruesomeness and horror of sin and death. How sad it is that this is the only thing some see, when they look at the cross. Others see Christ and His love for us and some see both. The paradox of the cross, that it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Change
Leaves falling in beautiful golds and reds,
Dying
While we give thanks for life
And reap the harvest;
Beautiful, mystical fall.

Suffering

" Suffering is healing. There are those who think the path to holiness is to be healed of your bodily suffering, but often times God uses the suffering to change us and to heal our souls." Mother Angelica

Don't Quote Me

Pray always and don't doubt that God keeps you in His divine arms and that the time will come when He will teach you His most holy Will.

-- St. Paul of the Cross

The Good Shepherd

John 10:14 I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me,
15 as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Alleluia, He is Risen!

Re-Run
John 20:1-2, 11-18......They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ..Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rab-bo'ni!" (which means Teacher). Could it be that Mary was weeping so hard that she could not see Jesus and yet He was right there beside her? What keeps us from seeing and believing that Jesus is near and calling us by name?

Jesus Our Hope

"The LORD is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear? Psalm 27:1

"Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in

the LORD." Pslam 21:34

Hope in Christ

"I will lead the blind on their journey; by paths unknown I will guide them.

I will turn darkness into light before them, and make crooked ways straight. " (Revelation 14 ) The CCC says that Hope is the confident expectation of divine blessing and the beatific vision of God.." We all need to join the blind man in the gospel when he cried out... "Lord help us to see". We all need to put our hope in Christ.

HOPE from the Flowers

Our lives, like the tulips endure the long dark winter days. Their bulbs hidden under the ground amaze me. It seems a small miracle to watch as every spring they rise up out of the darkness, their colors brightening the earth while giving glory to God. These little signs of hope and resurrection encourage me as I contemplate God’s goodness and power to use the darkness and cold of winter to produce such life and beauty.Once we see the tulips winter seems almost forgotten.Dear God help us to trust you to bring new life, joy and beauty out of the winters of our lives.Amen

"Prayer of Discernment."

Happy Most High, Glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me true faith, certain hope, and perfect charity, sense and knowledge, Lord that I may carry out Your holy and true command. Amen. St Francis of Assisi

Lent - Season of Joy

At lent we contemplate the passion of Christ and so we are reminded of Our Lord Jesus's great love for us.
When we recieve this love it sets us free and gives hope. There is great joy in contemplating His personal love for us. A real love that proved itself in suffering in all things. But we can't recieve His love if we do not have open hands and open hearts and so we empty ourselves through prayer, fasting and sacrifice. The sacrifices we make though sometimes difficult are made lighter with the knowledge that it is the fruits of His Sacrifice on the cross that we all recieve. Freedom in Christ and the joy of eternal life .
"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love. " Mother Teresa

The Sacred Heart Happy Valentines Day

"Behold this Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love. In return, I receive from the greater part only ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrileges, and by the coldness and contempt they have for me in this Sacrament of love... "-- Third apparition of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Sacred Heart of Jesus

In all my temptations, I place my trust in You,O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In all my weaknesses, I place my trust in You,O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In all my difficulties, I place my trust in You,O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In all my trials, I place my trust in You,O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In all my sorrows, I place my trust in You,O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In all my work, I place my trust in You,O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In every failure, I place my trust in You,O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In every discouragement, I place my trust in You,O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In life and in death, I place my trust in You,O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In time and in eternity, I place my trust in You,O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
[From: Catholic Book of Prayers]

Seeing Things in a New Light.

The light of Christ can change the way we see everything. How do we find His light?
I was reminded today that meditating on the scriptures everyday is an essential part of living in the light of Christ. For me this has always been true. When we come to Him humbly seeking him in the scripture, His word really does pierce our coldness of heart. Come Holy Spirit guide us in your Word.
Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hope for the Flowers

Only a month ago we celebrated Christmas and Lent is only a few weeks away.
Each day the sun shines a little longer. The days are literally getting brighter as we approach springtime. I see this as an invitation to contemplate Jesus the light of the world. His light warms the earth so that it can bear its fruit in due time. Sooner than we think the springtime sun will melt the snow and frost away and we will see the crocus flowers appear. I pray we all may experience His light, the light of God's Son, in a way that will warm our hearts, melting the frost of winter away so we can radiate His Love and Hope in all that we do. AmenEphesians 1:18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
Titus1:31Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— 2a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, 3and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,

Prolife

I heard on the news today that Abortion is the NUMBER ONE KILLER of African Americans in this country.

Let us pray for the conversion of President Obama that he would follow in the footsteps of Lincoln who freed the slaves. May he use his power to free all children from the horrors of abortions. May he have the courage and conviction to fight for the right to life of all and so do what it takes to eliminate the killing of all preborn children. Amen

A Mighty Lighthouse

As I cross on life's tumultuos seas,
Sailing from earth to Heaven's bright shore,
Christ is like a mighty lighthouse, Helping me to navigate my course.

He guides me safely through tides of temptation,
Over dangerous reefs of sin,
Lighting my way through dark troubled waters,
Til the glorious port of Heaven I win
Author Unknown

Saint Francis Xavier Seelos

"If you want to be happy, be holy. If you want to be very happy be very holy."
St.Francis Xavier Seelos