Making Easter Truly Happy

The Easter Season is my favorite time of year in the church.  I love Holy week.    I know some people avoid these "extra" services because they can be a little long.  I want to encourage you to attend one or all this year.  Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil.  

I also wanted to share today's daily word.  What a beautiful sentiment that we all can strive for.  Let us all walk the walk to God.  Following our divine calling and always recognizing our God given talents.   

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

TAKE ACTION

When called to sacred service, I take action.

When I feel called to help others, I can talk the talk or walk the walk. I choose to walk the walk, and my first step is always toward God. In prayer, my mind is receptive to guidance, my heart fills with love and my course of action becomes clear. I do for others what I would want done for me.
Others also feel the divine calling, and through this common bond, we join in sacred service. The spark of divinity grows within us and compassion warms our hearts. As we offer help, we behold those we’re serving as already whole and complete. Each one of us is a spiritual being, growing in awareness of our God-given potential.
Today I take action, and I am blessed.

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.—1 John 3:18

Blessings and Happy Easter

Thank you God for everything!

LET US GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE

We only have two weeks left for our Lenten obervances.  Just a reminder to really think about how you give honor and praise to our Father.  I know for myself I find ways to thank Him every day for all the blessings in my life.   When I fall short which is almost every day... I pick myself up and ask Him to give me strength and forgiveness.  There is so very much to be thankful for everyday and I want to always find ways to give Him thanks for all He has given me.  
I hope and pray that your Lenten observance has been a time of much reflection and grace.  Let us all have these last two weeks be the best so far.  I also want to encourage everyone to attend Holy Week services.  The Triduum, for me these are the most beautiful services of the year.  
 The summit of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum—from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ's Paschal Mystery.  The single celebration of the Triduum marks the end of the Lenten season, and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil.

God bless you all on your journey.  

What are you doing for lent?

Prepare Ye the way of the Lord

Found this on Life Teen site and wonder how many of us could do some of these or already are doing them for Lent.  How are you walking the walk this Lent.  Who will you be and how will you grow in your relationship with the Lord?

Are you looking for something unconventional to offer up for Lent? We asked Life Teen missionaries and our friends on Facebook for cool stuff they’ve done in the past. This is what they shared:

1. “This year I’m giving up shoes as often as possible. I’ll still wear shoes if I’m doing a work project or if I have to fly on a plane. But I’m going to avoid going to places that require shoes.” – Paul, a Life Teen Missionary
2. “I’m addicted to caffeine so I gave up all drinks but water for Lent two years ago.” – Amanda
3. “Last year I didn’t give up anything for Lent, just added more prayer life. This year I am going to add more prayer life and give up Facebook.” – Josephina
4. “I gave up spoons and forks. I learned to use chopsticks. It was funny for my friends and made it easy to talk about Lent in a way that people were cool with. We laughed a lot.” – Matt
5. “I’ve heard of people giving up their beds for Lent. They slept on the floor or the couch.” – Anna
6. “I fasted for all of Lent one year. 1 meal a day really brings souls to Jesus, especially your own!” – Erika
7. “I’m going to treat my body as a temple of God during lent… everything I read, watch, listen to, eat, drink, do, say, etc…..focusing on being a temple of God.” – Paul
8. “One year for Lent I wrote a letter each day. I made a list of 40 people who have touched my life in one way or another. Each day of Lent, I wrote a person on the list a letter of thanks for how they touched my life and I prayed for that person on that day….it was a WONDERFUL experience!!!” – Patty
9. “I tried improving on my spirit of giving.” – Peter
10. “This year, I’m giving up the radio in my car in order to focus more on the things that are around me that God created! I can’t wait so I’ve already started doing it!” – Joshua
11. “One year I gave up my bed. I slept outside in a tent. And I live in Canada! So it was well below freezing! I even kept a blog on Myspace (that’s all there was at the time!) Another year I made a few shirts out of burlap, and wore one under my regular clothes for all of Lent. Both were hard, but really helped me those years.” – Brandon
12. “This year, I’m giving up all sweets, (I work at a frozen yogurt shop) and am going to use the constant reminder to pray for one person in particular every day, I made a list/calendar via Facebook of friends that need/want prayer.” – Aimee
13. “I have an issue with vanity, especially when I get ready in the morning. So I decided a couple years ago to just wear the first outfit I put on every morning. What I learned from that was how to get a source of self esteem beyond my outfits.” – Carrie, a Life Teen Missionary
14. “I didn’t do this, but last year two of my friends gave up warm water for their showers.” – Maria
15. “This year I’m giving up having my phone with me during the day because I’m always checking my email throughout the day. My hope is that having moderation I can be more present to the people around me. I want them to see my deeper connection with God.” – Kaitlin, a Life Teen Missionary
16. “I want to listen more.” – Carmelina
17. “I have given up makeup in the past, and this year I am giving up meat!” – Kimberly
18. “Usually during Lent, on top of giving up something we love but don’t need, we say that any money that is found in the laundry, couches, and anywhere else was God’s money and we gave it to the poor. I remember one of the first years we did this, I found a $20 bill in a parking lot.” – Alyssa
19. “Two years ago I went to adoration every day during Lent. I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t make it every day but I made it most of the time and it changed my life to get and be with Jesus that much, it was an awesome experience.” – Jacob
20. “I know a girl who said she only listened to Christian music during last year’s Lent. She said it was hard at first, but soon loved the depth and meaning behind many Christian songs.” – Molly
21. “Getting more involved in the church….time & talent. More prayer as in…the rosary & Novenas really get into some SERIOUS PRAYER!! Getting help for my depression. Alongside giving up meat on Fridays. Focusing on being a better Christian in general, being more concerned & in tuned to God’s plan for me & my family as opposed to ‘our plans’ for our lives.” – Erika
22. “Getting to the 3rd floor using stairs not escalator/elevator.” – Francisca
23. “I’ve adopted a priest in Chile…… I offer daily prayers and sacrifices for Father Juan Nunes!!!” – Tony
24. “I’ve never done it, but I’ve heard of people giving up the snooze button on their alarm clock. They said that it was harder than they thought, but it taught them a lot about discipline.” – Jessica, a Life Teen Missionary
25. “I didn’t do it for all of Lent, but for Holy Week last year I gave up my pillow. Honestly, at first it was fun, but it proved to be hard. But it made me realize how blessed I am to even have a bed.” – Sara, a Life Teen Missionary

Who will you be in 2013?

As the new year begins everyone plans their resolutions. 

res-o-lu-tion

n.

1. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination.

2. A resolving to do something.

3. A course of action determined or decided on.

What will you resolve to do regarding your faith life in 2013? Perhaps you will choose to pray more, help others more, be kinder, more loving, help those in need, go to church regularly...whatever you may choose to do.. do it with a willing and loving heart.  

I challenge all of us to love more, pray more and be more like Him with each day that passes.

Blessings to all for a Christ filled 2013.  

Prepare ye for the coming of the King

Among the hustle and bustle of the CHRISTtmas season how are we keeping Christ present?    We are busy shopping and wrapping gifts... however, are we making sure to keep our sights on the true presence of Christmas.. our Lord Jesus Christ.  

In this final week of advent I hope we can all do things that keep CHRIST in Christmas.  Keep in mind all those that will be separated from their loved ones, especially all those in Connecticut.  May God grant us the peace that passes all understanding this season.  

I pray that we all enjoy this holiday season remembering the REASON FOR THE SEASON!

Advent, a time for preparation

Matthew 18:3

      And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will       never enter the kingdom of heaven.

1 Corinthians 13:11

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Today in our youth group we reflected on these two scriptures.  How as children we trust completely, however as we grow older we learn to do away with our childish ways. This does not mean that we never have fun or joy in our lives again, rather it means we learn to reason as adults and follow God with our whole heart and whole soul.   I myself will never loose that childlike wonder and awe when I see Christmas lights, or give someone I love a gift that brings them much happiness.  I do however find myself taking more time for Jesus every day and talking with Him about what he wants from me.  I want to serve Him in the way He desires.  So while I will still have fun and do silly things, I am also sure to include Him in all I say and do.  I will make every effort to live my life as he wishes. This advent season I challenge all of us to remember the true reason for the season. Let us find some way to serve Jesus this month.  Do something for someone else, pray, write a letter, go to PADS or feed my starving children, help out a friend in need ..just do something.   It is fun to shop and bake cookies and go to parties, but we must also leave room each day for Him.  The tiny baby born in a stable.  The light that shines for all of us.  Let us all prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ child. May your advent season be blessed with much happiness and service done for others.

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=FE1E0JNU#  

Take a moment to watch this darling video.  A kindergarten class shares the nativity story.  

Mark 10:46-52

There were hundreds in the crowd that day at Jericho. I am sure many of those people had needs and wanted healing.   This Sunday the gospel (Mark 10:46-52)will tell us that apparently only one of them had the courage and determination to speak up and ask for help from Jesus, whom everyone had come to see.

Bartimaeus, a blind man, not someone that many thought deserved the Lord's recognition.  I can only imagine how people in the crowd may have tried to push him away from our Lord.  A blind man among them asking for the Messiah's help.  This did not deter Bartimaeus, in fact it made him more determined.  He actually shouted out for the Lord.  This act of faith stopped our Lord in His tracks. Bartimaeus was a beggar and seen as someone not worthy to speak to the Lord.  He most likely wore a cloak to protect himself from the heat and cold and to hide his shame.   He removed his cloak and this left him open and vulnerable.  I guess we could say he was willing to let go of things that held him back.  He shed his past so to speak and stopped at nothing to let the Lord know he trusted that He could heal him.  Do we have that kind of faith with our Lord?

They say often the blind  see more than people who have physical sight. one reason being is  they have to rely more  on their other senses; hearing, smell and touch. The faith Bartimaeus demonstrated did lead him to the Lord and eventually to his healing.  

Last night, I spoke with my Confirmation students asking them how determined they are when it comes to asking for God's help.  Are they ever blind to the world and needs around them?  Often it is not physical blindness that hinders us, but the blindness in our heart and faith life.  Are we blind to those around us, because we are thinking or only ourselves?  Do we try every day to look for ways that we can SEE what others need?  To put our needs aside and trust that God will show us ways to help others.  

Challenge for today:  Let us all SEE with our hearts this week.  Finding ways to help those around us.  Demonstrating our faith through our actions.  Shouting out to the Lord... Show me what I must SEE.

Blessings to all for a glorious week.  Enjoy seeing all that God has planned for you.