Friday, September 30, 2011

Theme And Variation on Happiness

This was written under great duress and an empty stomach. If there are any grammatical errors please ignore them or accept them as being intentional attempts to create a breezy, cherry conversational tone.

Now each happy man seems to have collected faces happy and not so happy around him; a sad face is a challenge to him for his happiness, to his sense of well-being. So when I make my rounds on Saturday afternoons I distribute a honorable chorus of hopefulness with just a dollop of hopelessness to keep things honest, to keep things alive. All that an address is to a street, its honor, its spouse, its confidante, so the lucky ones are to each other as our lives intersect with Rihanna or Beyonce or Madonna or Britney Spears or Justin Timberlake or Ashford and Simpson or Ray Charles or Marvin Gaye or Johnny Cash or Merle Haggard songs playing under conversations about the Redskins, the Nationals, the Fighting Irish, the Cowboys, the Steelers. So the Saturday escape allows us to distribute hope and half remembered song lyrics. For a moment I am a polite gentleman for thirty seconds until I overhear some political declaration about immigration, global warming, rain forest deforestation, acid rain, negative advertising, budget deficit, government shutdown, Rihanna’s emergency Belfast bikini wax. Certain topics penetrate my mufti and calls me Governor or Sir and I am ready to march out with the infantry instead of thinking of ways to help the Salvation Army. But the first taste of food, the first sip of whatever the happy man has provided for his guests to sip and gulp, there is always a struggle between sipping or talking, between gulping or talking, between sipping or listening, between sipping and observing, between sipping and observing and remembering. Yes there is a struggle about when it is appropriate to remember the most juvenile and inappropriate story between sips, bites, and elongated sidelong glances. Saturdays were made for those wonderful pregnant pauses which used to indicate confusion, embarrassment but has fallen into disuse because of Youtube and psychotherapy. I often forget how many vowels are in vodka; I sometimes forget that embarrassment contains double letters. I often forget names, birthdays, anniversaries, song titles, movie titles, movie stars, television stars, celestial stars, tinsel stars, stencil stars, Russian czars, French cars, Italian scarves.

Fresh food and lots of ice makes things proceed happily. Discussing the latest detective novel or book of Victorian poetry creates a pleasant smile. There are so many topics which are approved for Saturday afternoon discourse Laurel and Hardy, twentieth century art, fast food, Asian food, Ethiopian food, Redd Foxx, the fox in sheep’s clothing, the sheep in foxy clothing, Bill Cosby, Bing Crosby, fatherhood, motherhood, childhood, getting out of the hood, designer hoodies, designer goodies, goodie bags, wearing your good time rags. There are so many topics. I am overwhelmed with topics, with memories, with snarky things to say. Of course I find ways to sneak snarky things into the conversation so innocently like a Bob Dylan lyric or a Dylan Thomas poem or a Clarence Thomas Coke can.

Oh, sipping whatever I am sipping allows me a moment to climb up on that soapbox and complain about what they are doing in Washington, how my favorite soap opera was canceled how so many of my friends lives are better than soap operas because everybody has a secret, everybody is searching for a beautiful stranger, everybody to express yourself.

Between all the sipping and sipping suddenly everybody becomes human and humorous with a dollop of compassion as we listen to each other and chime into the various conversations. I feel that the world is safe, people are good, people are kind. How great it is to have a pleasant afternoon with friends who smile heartily, laugh energetically, listen patiently, kindly. How wonderful it is to hear about South Bend, Harrisburg, Charlottesville, Charleston, Fort Washington, Boston, Reading, South Hill.

Somehow my glass no longer contains anything for me to sip. My mind finds ideas for comments; my stomach wants some salty food, some good food. I am tired of this shrimp, that hummus, this cheese but I’ll keep eating it until something else is offered.

Presently we talk only about approved kid friendly G-rated topics. Rihanna is too risque with her four letter necklace and all that which I should not know about but I do know about because of the internet and Patti Labelle and Patti Lupone and patty cake.

I sit there shoveling shrimp and hummus and cheese and crackers and napkins and shrimp and cheese and truffles and shrimp and pork rinds ad cheese and buffalo wings and hummus and peanut butter and celery and adult vitamins into my gullet as if I was doing some type of FDA inspection. My glass remains empty.

I am happy to be with my friends and talking about runs batted in, old nosy bats, wagging tongues, beef tongue, running backs, fat back. How great it is to talk about Quincy Jones, Quincy Adams, Kirk Franklin, Ben Franklin, Kurt Cobain Kirk Cameron, Captain Kirk, Erica Kane, Roger Federer, Roger Ebert. Now did I just hear that Tyler Perry and Rick Perry are related? Does Madea have a secret sister?

I am happy to be here with an empty glass hearing about birthdays, work days, school days, being in a daze, being in a haze, wanting to be in a daze. I am happy to hear about Teena Marie, Angela Bofill, Gladys Knight, Samantha Stevens, Samantha Fox, her father Redd Foxx, his daughter Foxy Brown, her husband James Brown, his son Jackson Brown, his second wife Julie Brown.

I am happy to be here with all this pleasant conversation. It is totally cool. And then all of sudden someone screamed something about sex. It’s amazing how much sex talk there is. Sex is like that movie Citizen Kane where at the end you learn Rosebud is a sled. There is chitterling sex, hummus sex, black eyed peas sex, quick sex, slow sex, so-so sex, sewing sex, secret sex, happy sex, empty glass sex, hoodie sex.

I am happy to be here objecting to all this sex talk. In polite society sex can discussed after dinner with a glass of port or maybe a cup of coffee. In polite society friendship bounces and trounces all rules, betrays all rules with kindness and hopefulness and laughter. There are jokes, there are anecdotes. There is lust, there is love. There is laughter.

Oh someone’s talking about Barry White, Barry Manilow, Barry Goldwater, the Beach Boys, the Good ole boys, Princess Diana, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Deena Jones and the Dreams, Mr. Magoo, Mr. Peabody and Sherman, Peabo Bryson, Peter Brady, Wayne Brady, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Toni Braxton, Toni Basil, Tony Orlando and Dawn, King Kong, Confunkshun, Earthquake, Moms Mabley, Big Mabel, Billie Holiday, Doc Holliday, Doc Martens. Friends always find new and crazy things to talk about and names discarded and wandering in that kind of anonymity of blissful forgetfulness that have all types of silly associations. My friends are always talking always texting always asking about this joking about that. Remembering this shady girl, remembering that shady guy and dropping them conspicuously, copiously into the conversation.

There is laughter, there is love. There is friendship. There is happiness with friends on a Saturday.

And Now News for the Day Friday September 30







Here are today’s News briefs from Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Libya, Britain, New Orleans. Here is some information to read, to reflect upon. Some of these events and issues require our prayers.


Earlier this month an All Nippon Airways Boeing 737-700 with 117 people aboard dropped 6,000ft in 30 seconds and rolled more than 130 degrees over the Pacific on a night flight from the southern Japanese island of Okinawa to Tokyo.

The passenger jet nose-dived and rolled almost upside down after the co-pilot hit the wrong controls while trying to open the cockpit door so the captain could return from a toilet break.



The Hong Kong High Court ruled that immigration laws barring foreign maids from applying for permanent residency violated the territory's mini--constitution.

Indonesia praised the 'benchmark' Hong Kong court ruling Friday that could allow thousands of its nationals to settle in the Chinese city and said it might open the way for similar action elsewhere.


Moussa Ibrahim, spin doctor for Muammar Gaddafi, has been captured by rebel forces while driving close to the city of Sirte, according to military commanders.

Officers from the National Transitional Council said fighters from Misrata found Ibrahim in a car close to Sirte, Gaddafi's birthplace, and seized him. Initial and unconfirmed reports even suggested Ibrahim was captured while disguised as a woman.


Britain’s government is preparing to raise the motorway speed limit from 70 mph to 80 mph. The motorway speed limit was established in 1965.


Retired Archbishop Philip M. Hannan, 98, was the leader of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans for more than 20 years. He died on Thursday at a hospice in New Orleans. The archbishop was a confidant to President John F. Kennedy. He also delivered the eulogy for President Kennedy in 1963.

Glory of your name

Each day we are encouraged to pledge our activities, our hearts to the glory of the name of God. Each day we acknowledge that we are sinners, that we make mistakes. We have sin our past, we will probably have sin in our future. Do not glance into the angry eyes of jealousy, pride.

The more we think of God, the more we do in the name of God, the closer we will become to each other. Being Christian is all about being a part of a community. Being Christian is all about something supernatural, something very fishy and unprepared to be cut.

Remember and avoid the iniquities of the past.

May we remember the glory of your name, glory and peace of your being.

May we encourage others to be followers, to be believers.

Now is the time for learning, for sharing love and our faithfulness to God.

Listen for the Voice of God

As one month ends and another begins, one thought remains perfectly clear. Depending on which newscast, which newspaper provides your information. Is this a recession? A depression? Are we ready for a recovery? One fact remains undisputed. This world needs peace. This world needs food. This world needs hope. This world needs faith. This world need love. As I type these words and I watch the letters appear on my computer screen there is a hint of sadness within me.

The world needs more love instead of the death penalty. Young people need to be taught about friendship. Young people need to be taught about sacrifice and hope. We are all call ed to be holy, all called to be humble obedient servants of God. The world needs more love, not more bullets. The world needs more love, not civil wars.

We need truth, we need love. Our lives as Christians contain a purpose, contain a mission. We are asked to love and serve the Lord. We are asked to sacrifice for love, sacrifice for the Lord.

We are asked to listen to the voice of God, we are asked to listen for the voice of God.

Our Christian lives are a struggle as we try to serve God and try to avoid temptation.

And the love that I speak of is selfless, unconditional, universal. And this love speaks the truth, encourages me to seek truth, to speak truth. And Love reminds us of sun shine at noon and moonlight and mulberry trees; nevertheless true selfless encourages love, encourages earnestness. We seek liberty for all.

As one month ends and another begins I am happy to be alive, happy to be able to think of going to another street fair.

A good life is filled out as needed with humility, charity, and obedience to God. How great it would be to offer praise and thanks to God, to offer love to all those who need love.

Thought for the Day - September 30

Which inheritance is more important to us, the earthly inheritance or the heavenly inheritance. Christians are encouraged to answer the heavenly inheritance. Saying it is easy, meaning it, living it is difficult. The minute we accept and acknowledge our desire for the heavenly inheritance we start a journey. The heavenly journey asks for our obedience, our patience. The heavenly journey asks for us to acknowledge our weaknesses, our sins. The heavenly inheritance encourages us to ask for forgiveness from God for all our sins. The heavenly inheritance asks us to offer forgiveness, to offer hope, to offer mercy, to offer love.

As a Christian I listen for the voice of the Lord, I listen for the call of God.

May the inheritance we receive encourage others to follow the footsteps of Christ.

Prayer for the Day - September 30

Dear Father

May justice feel my heart. May hope lead me to your side. May I honestly, gently offer you praise and glory each moment of this day. May I remember the events in the world, may I respect all people in this world. May I be filled with loving compassionate selflessness. May I always patiently listen for your voice. This world is filled with bigotry, ignorance, violence, greed, hatred. May you open the eyes and hearts of all of those who are filled with darkness, with those who are leading others to darkness. May I be a vessel to lead them to light, to lead them to you. May each day of my life reflect all of the goodness, kindness, holiness that is majestic, that is you. You are the holy one, you are the loved one. All glory, honor, and love flow from you.

Amen

Memorial of Saint Jerome

Today is the Memorial of Saint Jerome, priest and doctor of the Church.

Justice is very important to all Christians. We seek it for ourselves, for our loved ones. How we treat each other, how we treat ourselves should always be with honor, with truth, with fairness. We are asked to listen to the voice of God, to treat each other with charity, humility, compassion, mercy. When we do all of those things, and do it naturally, honestly, justice is definitely there.

We are human beings. We are here to help God, to assist God in reaching other human beings, in encouraging other human beings to become followers, to become believers.

Christians desire knowledge, desire wisdom; these items help us to find our way to God, help us to lead others to God.

Praying is something which should never stop in the life of a Christian. Every moment is a time for us to offer prayers.

Prayers are to be offered in thanks and in praise. But, the true sign of a Christian rests in the prayers for the unknown strangers, the forgotten former colleagues, the friends who no longer call frequently. We pray for single people hoping to get married; we pray for married people hoping to have children; we pray for children waiting to be adopted. We pray for people who appear happy, who appear sad. Our prayers are for those who are sick, those who are healthy. Our prayers are for those who make grammatical errors, typographical errors.

Praying leads us to learning; learning leads us to loving; loving leads us to serving God.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Reflection: On Goodness and Holiness

How do we recognize goodness, holiness? How do we know that God is present in our lives? These questions are just the tip of the ice berg. Many Christians ask each other these questions and others while drinking coffee or having salads at lunch. Recognizing God, seeing goodness, seeing holiness are all essential important parts of being Christian, of being Catholic. We each have unique ways of doing it, unique ways of interpreting events. In others goodness and holiness are quiet qualities, gentle qualities which are easy to overlook, easy to mistake for something else. Holiness is possibly the most difficult to see because we are all called to be holy, all asked to have a special type of compassion, mercy, and concern that never changes, that always displays itself with the same sense of fairness between all people. Holiness does not play favorites. Goodness is very close to holiness but goodness lacks the consistency. Goodness is sporadic. Goodness is closest to the human temperament. Goodness can be temporary. Both goodness and holiness are best when they are unconditional, with universal application.

Seeing God starts with recognizing goodness and holiness in others, ourselves.

Reflection: On Prayer

A greater responsibility to remember and have concern for all their neighbors gives Christians both people and ideas to add to their prayers. The prayers of Christians reflect events in their present, personal events as well as private events. Our prayers provide an intimate opportunity to be selfless to show ourselves and God how we relate to the world, how we relate to each other, how we relate to God. Each day new events occur which require careful consideration and prayer. No human being is perfect. Nothing on earth is perfect. Prayer helps us accept this reality, helps us improve our world view. Prayer can help us calm down, be objective, be rational.

Just look at any newspaper and each headline provides something in need of prayer.

And Now News for the Day - Thursday September 29







Here are today’s News briefs from Rome, Syria, Indonesia, Germany, New Jersey. Here is some information to read, to reflect upon. Some of these events and issues require our prayers.


The Catholic Association of Latino Leaders (CALL) presented the Vatican with an official response to Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical “Caritas in Veritate” which was published in 2009 and which was covered by many major news organizations because it provided an ethical structure for new thinking on social and economic issues.

Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, who is a CALL founding member was in Rome to present the 28 page response to “Charity in Truth”.

CALL has chapters in Denver, San Antonio, Washington, DC, Houston, Miami, San Antonio.

Click here to receive a pdf of the document.


The new General Instruction of the Roman Missal released in June of this year allows more freedom for bishops to determine norms for communion distribution under both forms within their diocese.

The Church in the United States, the United Kingdom and Oceania were allowed special privileges to experiment with communion under both forms. Currently, the practice of receiving both forms has become acceptable in these regions.

The Vatican did not renew these privileges and they expired in 2005.


There are new fears are growing that Syria may be on the verge of civil war as reports emerged yesterday that army deserters were battling Bashar al-Assad's forces in the first major confrontation against the regime. This occurred as the United Kingdom, France, Portugal, and Germany were trying garner support for a extremely diluted draft Security Council resolution condemning the Baathist regime.

There is intense fighting around the town of Al-Rastan, a rebel stronghold. Army deserters and armed citizens are waging battle against the government security forces. There have been unconfirmed claims that Al-Rastan has been bombed by Syrian military jets.


An important vote on whether to approve an extension of powers for the eurozone's financial rescue fund is scheduled to be held by the German parliament today.

The Bundestag is expected to approve the legislation, backed by the opposition Social Democrats and the Green party – but German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is still trying to persuade her own ruling coalition to vote in support.


A powerful typhoon made landfall in southern China today after avoiding Hong Kong and bringing death and destruction to the Philippines earlier this week. Typhoon Nesat attacked the eastern tip of China’s Hainan Island. 35 people died in the Philipines and 45 are missing due to this storm.


Eighteen people are believed to be dead today after the plane they were travelling in crashed into a mountainous area in western Indonesia. Indonesian Ministry of Transportation stated that the missing passenger plane has been found intact in a North Sumatra mountain range, raising hopes that the 18 people aboard are alive.

Indonesia relies heavily on air transport and has a poor aviation record.


Republicans want New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to run for President even though he says he does not want to be president, he has only served 20 months of his term, and he describes himself as “pretty fat.”

Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel and Saint Raphael, archangels

Today is the Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel and Saint Raphael, archangels.

Three angels are venerated in the liturgy today. They remind us that prayer is always necessary in the life of the church, in the lives of the faithful.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

On Faithful Christian Love

There are days when all individual experiences feel as if written by Ibsen on a very bad day. Faith protects me from some very frightening moments such as when washing my hands quietly as to not disturb anyone and I somehow glance into the mirror above the basin and see semi-familiar eyes staring back at me in a completely uncharitable manner.

The Faithful Christian estate pulls along many cares, troubles, calamities, conversation topics, homemade remedies; it is one of the greatest of institutions; people of all ages, all abilities, all imaginations, all inspirations earnestly desire to enter it and learn some of the secrets and even gain eternal youth. In the modern group who with a sulfurous enthusiasm tease and taunt all who desire something so noble humility, charity, obedience with all types of troubling popular songs and videos of half unclad young people frolicking and encouraging others to frolic instead of discerning serious things such as feeding, clothing, sheltering the poor the wish to punch and torment those who promote goodness, holiness, kindness. Nature gives way to neon lights and fruity cocktails and microbreweries and everybody talks of Love; everybody looks through the multiplying glass at Love which often waits in someone else yard or lobby; love is quite pardonable, often questionable, very moveable; modern secular popular culture infused Love is a snickering feast of tasty unhealthy things with multisyllabic words like meningococcal, Benzalkonium chloride, dimethylammonium, varicella. Science and society and magazine publishers all have advice and knowledge and information to present with the hope of providing a sense of understanding or at least some levity or gaining a drink or two or winning a Nobel Peace Prize or a Pulitzer or an Oscar or an Emmy or a martini. This love encourages foolish conversations, foolish activities. There is something vile in the music and melancholy of this Love which escapes observation as longer and longer scientific words (some of which are so new that they do not appear in any dictionary) are employed to describe and promote it. Oh, how troubling all this is as people start out with one foot dangling from a barstool, end up in a strange hospital with out internet or cable television or fashionable French cuisine. Love with a foundation in the ethos and pathos of popular culture is flattering for a moment before becoming destructive, a movement carelessly, thoughtlessly choreographed with gestures, smiles, winks, sips, glances; this courtship with moral relativism remains a dangerous activity which can damage the heart, mind, soul; which can destroy goodness, kindness within a character, within a personality. But the other Love, the Faithful Christian Love offers something more, something more delicate yet universal, something selfless yet gratifying, something honorable yet majestic. The splendor of Love unconditional, rests in its very nature of not being limited, not being directed at just one person without a foundation of charity, humility, obedience, compassion, mercy in the hope of some reciprocal activity developing. The Faithful Christian Love exists within hearts, imaginations of those who are courageous enough to want to share it, who want to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. There is a great simplicity in this Love, a great contrariness as it leads us away from ourselves, away from our miseries, real and imagined, toward God, toward holiness. As Christians we are all called to be holiness, to be ambassadors for God, living and sharing the Word, encouraging others to believe.

With comfort and compassion we move forward, speaking and singing about goodness, holiness, kindness. The burdens of modern life with its conflicting messages trails behind us, trails behind, falls off. We’ll keep pulling along our cares, troubles, calamities, conversation topics, homemade remedies but we have prayer, we have God’s love, God’s grace, God’s mercy to help us.

Thought for the Day - September 29

Simple question about your identity as a Catholic. How do you see yourself? How would you describe yourself? Are you an Apostle? An Angel? A Martyr? How important is your life as a Catholic to you? How easy is it for you to share your faith with others?

Prayer for the Day - September 29

Father

Please help us to be faithful believers. May we look to these angels for guidance, inspiration as we use our lives to proclaim the Good News. Help us to be patient and humble. May we serve you both here on earth and also in heaven. Please keep our lives free from mayhem and harm. Please remember the sick, the dying, and all those who I have promised to ask you help. Please show mercy and compassion to both the sick and dying and their loved ones.

You are a great and merciful Lord

Amen.

Godlessness Hurts

Please include in your prayers all who die senselessly, needlessly because of other people’s anger, frustrations, childishness, selfishness. All across the world many conflicts and wars exist. Violence, murder, rape, torture are the way of life for many people. The world allows a temporal godlessness in times of war, in times of armed conflict. Once some people experience godlessness, experience the violence, ignorance, hatred attached to this call for godlessness, it is difficult to accept godliness, to return to godliness. Godlessness might be great for headlines and to win battles but it is bad for souls, bad for daily living.

Pray for End to Childhood Poverty

Our prayers should be offered for all children living in poverty, for all families living in poverty.

The Pew Hispanic Center a report on Childhood Poverty today.

More Hispanic children are living in poverty—6.1 million in 2010—than children of any other racial or ethnic group. This marks the first time in U.S. history that the single largest group of poor children is not white. In 2010, 37.3% of poor children were Latino, 30.5% were white and 26.6% were black.

And Now News for the Day - Wednesday, September 28

Mexico’s Supreme Court considers legalizing abortion in the country which would overturn pro-life constitutional personhood amendments in two Mexican states, Baja California and San Luis. Judge Jose Fernando Franco Gonzales’ Action for Unconstitutionality seeks to have the personhood amendment declared unconstitutional.

Mississippi is preparing its own personhood initiative for the November 8 election despite objections by Planned Parenthood and the ACLU.

Maria Elizabeth Macias, a 39-year-old editor of newspaper Primera Hora and a member of the Community of Scalabrinian Lay Movement was kidnapped and murdered by drug cartels in the border state of Tamaulipas. She was found dead on Sept. 24 after she went missing two days earlier.

During a four day visit to Germany Pope Benedict XVI spoke about secular endorsed godlessness. "God is increasingly being driven out of our society. ... Are we to yield to the pressure of secularization, and become modern by watering down the faith?" he said. The Pope also stressed that human dignity needs to be protected. The Pope presented an address to the German Parliament.

China is preparing to send a space station into orbit. Tomorrow China will launch a Tiangong-1 from the Gobi desert. The rocket will be unmanned and is part of an ambitious Chinese space program which might culminate with Chinese astronauts landing on the moon.

Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry will go on sale in December at Christie’s New York. The highlights currently are on a three month tour to Moscow, London, Los Angeles, Dubai, Geneva, Paris, and Hong Kong. There are 269 jewels representing Ms Taylor’s life. The sale of the jewels is estimated to earn over $30 million. The sale will take place over three days in December.

A Saudi women has been sentenced to 10 lashings for challenging the ban on women driving.

Proclaim the Word of God

The Christian life is a radical life. The Christian life is a different life. Do not simply say that you will follow the Lord. Find a way to do it. Find a way to move along on the path with the Lord. Prepare yourself for resistance both interior and exterior. Always be prepared within your soul, mind, and body for whatever will present itself to you as you journey toward God, as you journey for God. Fill your mind with peace, with calm. Move as a disciple of the Lord. Move with humility, charity, compassion, and mercy. May each movement, each step echo the commandments given to man by the Lord. May each movement, each step echo the Beatitudes given to man by the Lord Jesus Christ. Go and proclaim salvation. Go and proclaim the Kingdom of God. Keep your gaze directed to Jesus Christ. Keep your gaze directed to the Kingdom of God. Fill your heart, mind, soul with thoughts of goodness, holiness. Keep your spirit fit with unconditional love, unconditional forgiveness. Keep your spirit fit with patience, wisdom. Keep your spirit fit with love, silence, and prayer. The Christian life remains a life of reflection, a life of prayer. A Christian life begins and ends with love, love for God, love for neighbor, love for self.

Proceed. Go forward. Proclaim the Kingdom of God.

Proceed. Go forward. Proclaim the Word of God.

Prayer, Silence, God

Allow ancient Babylon, ancient Zion to fill your heart with dreams. Allow ancient Babylon, ancient Zion to fill your mind with prayers. Allow ancient Babylon, ancient Zion to fill your soul with music. Within our dreams we are resting, we are moving, we are weeping. Move into silence, move into prayer.

The lyrics of being Christian urge us to rejoice, proclaim the goodness and greatness of the Lord. We are all asked to be witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray for unconditional love to find each and every human heart. Step into silence, step into prayer.

Make temptation and sin be the foreign land. Make the Kingdom of God your destination of destinations, your place of places. Forget selfishness. Sing praise to the Lord. Sing thanks to the Lord. Sway into silence, sway into prayer.

May you remember the mercy and compassion of the Lord as you remember the vibrant colors of a September sunset which saturates the sky with a palate of loving, gentle color inspiring dreams, inspiring prayers for comfort, prayers for joy, prayers for praise, prayers for God, prayers for human beings.

Forget temptation and sin. Seek only silence, seek only prayer. Seek obedience to God. Seek to be a humble servant for God.

Look Toward the Lord

Look forward. Look toward the Lord. Only have fear for the Lord. Look forward. Believe as your ancestors taught your father and your father’s. Believe with honor, believe with hope. Pray for guidance to reach heaven, pray for guidance to honor your ancestors, your living family, your living friends. Pray for patience to honor God. Fill your heart with humility, charity, obedience as you fill a bottle with water. Always have a clean heart, always have a clean mind, always have a clean soul. Learn each day ways to fill your life with holiness, kindness, goodness. Look forward. Look toward the Lord. Allow yourself the strength and courage to be a humble servant. Allow yourself the confidence to ask for a favor from the Lord. Offer your life to rebuild love and hope for God in this crazy world of chaos and fear. Offer your life to help others to journey to the Kingdom of God. Offer your life to please God. Ask God to provide only what you deserve, only what you need, only what God deems acceptable for you to receive. Look forward. Look toward the Lord with gentle awe, with loving fear that leads to respect and reverence. Look forward. Look toward the Lord and prepare to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, the Lord. Look forward with hope. Look forward with mercy. Look forward with compassion.

Prayer for the Day - September 28, 2011

Father

We offer thanks and praise to you. We ask for peace in the world, peace in the Mideast. May calm, security, peace, and love find the countries struggling with strife and division. Please grant love to all families. Help us to remember that you are the power, you are the glory, you are the majesty. You are our Lord.

Amen

Thought for the Day - September 28, 2011

Search for goodness, search for holiness, search for kindness buried with enthusiasm, optimism. Search for truth, search for beauty. May we find new ways to love God.

Wednesday, Twenty-Sixth Week of Ordinary Time

Today is Wednesday of the Twenty-Sixth Week of Ordinary Time. Why do you look sad?

King Artaxerxes allows Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Urgent - Please Pray for Syria

Prayers are needed for the country of Syria which is moving closer and closer to civil war. The Christian community in Syria needs the prayers of all Christians and the protection and blessings of God. This is a dangerous time for all citizens of Syria. The Christians are undecided about supporting the rebels against the regime of current President Bashar al-Assad. The Christians are afraid that if the rebels win and the Sunni Muslims take control there might be bloody reprisals targeting the Christian community which did not fight against the President Bashar al-Assad.

Please offer prayers for peace for Syria, for all of the various ethnic communities living within Syria.

Letter From A Friend

Dear ----

I was told to remind you that since you are now in the big city to keep your head and your heart filled with kindness and goodness. A tidbit of temptation is dangerous to a gentle character. Dangerous things often glitter and sparkle to gain attention. I am sure that you know this but as a friend I felt it my duty to write this. I hope you will not become a victim of the latest social fads, latest ideas on morality. How regrettable modernity creates absurd terms and descriptions for accepting rudeness as somehow fashionable. The city is filled with taxicabs, lonely displaced people, neon lights, and violent and vague vices. You will always be in our prayers. Be careful. Go to Church.

Sincerely

R

And Now News for the Day - Tuesday, September 27, 2011

In Washington, DC the US Senate reached a bipartisan spending agreement on Monday which allows the government to avoid a shutdown on September 30. The Senate voted 79 -12 for a seven week extension of government financing. The House will have to approve the measure next week.

In London six men from Birmingham have been charged with planning an act of terrorism in Britain. The plot included training in Pakistan, preparing for suicide bombings, and constructing an explosive device. Wanting to be suicide bombers, having raised money for terrorism, recruiting people for terrorism are some of the charges the men received. Four of the men will appear at the Old Bailey on October 21.


In Austria computer hackers published names and addresses of almost 25,000 police officials, a move that critics say compromises the personal security of the police officials. The names were published in response against a draft law requiring telecommunications companies to provide police with internet and telephone activity for six months.


Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president knows it's all over. His party lost its Senate majority in a historic defeat seven months before the 2012 presidential election. The Socialist party will have the majority in the Senate for the first time since 1958. Optimism fuels the Socialist party leaders who now think their chances of winning the presidency have improved greatly because Sarkozy is unpopular with many voters.


Wangari Maathai was one of Kenya's most recognizable women. in 2004 Ms Maathai won her Nobel in 2004 for combining science and social activism. Wangari Maathai was beaten and arrested by the former president of Kenya who described her as the mad woman. World leaders, former students, and some African visionaries remembered her as the Tree Mother of Africa. Maathai was the first female from Africa to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She died after a battle with cancer. She was 71.

Household vinegar can be used in fighting cervical cancer. The procedure was developed at John Hopkins medical school and endorsed last year by the World Health Organization.

At least 26 schoolchildren and two teachers were killed and forty other people injured in a bus accident in Pakistan. The accident occurred east of the capital of Islamabad.

Events happen which require the prayers of the faithful.



Am I Willing to Obey God

I sometimes feel, sometimes believe that the American dream is now the search for fabricated, perfected memory. Truth avoids this memory. Hope avoids this memory. Painstaking resurrected fear and animosity and anxiety and angst wait to seep into conversations, to leak into moments of quiet, moments of reflection.

Vengeance and violence are acceptable, are encouraged. Human sexuality is no longer private respected. It is part of consumerism’s ever expanding landscape. This is the world we live in filled with half unclad women and young girls gyrating and moving suggestively and everybody accepting it, looking at it, nobody cries foul, cries stop.

We are being exploited and we do not seem to notice or care. We pretend that some of this is entertainment. We pretend that all of it is harmless, that our brains are not damaged, our psyches tormented by all the rampant graphic sex and violence playing before our eyes.

I am glad to be Christian, glad to have an awareness of the trash and dangers lurking in pop culture. It is hard being a witness for God in a world that downgrades sin, upgrades wealth, privilege, greed.

Humility, charity, obedience to God are lost, are discarded practices, often untried, often untrusted. Many people talk about Jesus. Many people talk about Jesus on the Cross. Many either do not understand the story and the glory of Jesus’ life. Many do not understand that being Christian means applying the teachings of Jesus Christ to their daily existence. Many do not understand the simple idea of forgiveness. Many refuse to love their neighbors.

I am learning how to be a better Catholic, a better Christian, a more obedient, loving, loyal servant of the Lord. There are days when I feel as if I am with Jesus moving toward Jerusalem. There are days when I feel like the unwelcoming Samaritan village. I have learned the beauty of silence and prayer.

Accepting God

The rules of popular culture dictate that purchased goods and services will make us happy. This remains as a popularly accepted notion. For many Christians God remains the one breakout wonder, the greatest blockbuster, the hit of the season, the best show of the century. Believing in God is a wonderful experience. Many consider it to be the best part of their lives. God defies any specific designation, subject matter, target demographic. Faith sometimes feels like a push and pull game as it develops, as doubts are confronted and discounted. Believing in God, loving God, serving God requires a palpable spiritual development. There is no Hollywood type chemistry between God and his adopted children. The interaction is subtle. It does not happen how we want it to occur but it occurs how we need it to happen. I sometimes feel inadequate as I try to communicate with God, I sometimes feel a little shy. I sometimes feel inadequate wanting to be a servant of the Lord.

I wanted my Christian experience to reflect something that I understood, something that I had felt, something that I could always remember, something that would inspire me to always love, honor, and serve God. I wanted my Christian experience to provide something for me always to aspire to. I wanted my story to be universal, acceptable, entertaining. Believing in God starts with accepting something which is hard to explain, hard to visualize. Believing in God starts with accepting and proclaiming something very vague and yet something very tangible. God provokes reactions, God encourages prayers. I quickly understood the shortcomings of corporate media dominated life. Too much information and thought is premixed, pre-measured, and served to the population. Modern life is filled with anger, violence, frustration. The Christian experience, the stories about finding God presents a view of tenderness, mercy, forgiveness, hope which is lost in mainstream popular culture.

Being a witness for God somehow feels fresh, original. Being a witness for God somehow strengthens us as we explore questions of morality, intimacy, love as actions for the good of the community first instead of the good of the individual. God wants us to mature, wants us to seek wisdom, knowledge, patience, humility.

Accepting God, believing in Jesus Christ reflects the remnants of hope, truth, and integrity within our culture as morality and sexual attitudes are controlled and influence more by corporate bodies wanting to sell products than save souls, protect hearts.

Scientific thought often is easily manipulated to suggest that God is nonexistent or powerless or unsympathetic to man’s plight when there is a disaster natural or manmade. Educated and civilized popular culture becomes surprisingly primitive when bad things happen, blaming God, asking why did God allow this to happen. How easy it is to blame God than to blame man? How easy it is to blame God for earthquakes, droughts, tidal waves! How easy it is to forget the good weather, the sunshine, the long lazy summer days.

Being Christian is like being a film director at a film festival waiting for audience reactions, waiting for panel discussions while feeling happy with your film, confident in both your content and presentation, pleased to be at the festival, ready to leave, ready for solitude, silence, and prayer.

Seek The Lord

When Christianity is discussed many people accept and expect the fire and brimstone verbal lashings of some Fundamentalist Christians who are determined to present faith as sin and punishment or as sin and hypocrisy. Fundamentalist Christians appear ready to judge everyone as a guilty sinner, ready to chart the course to hell. That Jesus Christ was born and taught love and forgiveness barely registers, religion is not a love story, nor a hope story. There is something unhappy, something sad, something misleading in some fundamentalist teaching.

God offers love, hope, salvation. Believers offer God prayers, respect, loyalty, obedience, love.

The intensity of the religious experience, of the conversion experience is a story of diligence, hope, discernment. The importance of discovering and sharing the beginning of an awareness of God is good both for each individual and the faith community.

What is the predecessor to the moment of awareness? A Laurel and Hardy film? Star Wars? A Charlie Chaplin film? An Aretha Franklin song? A Gospel choir? For each person something connects the dots, creates an alignment of God, love, faith, belief, acceptance. Something allows, even encourages our Gminds to linger in moments of enlightenment, moments of reverie. We seek something which we sense is all around, very near and yet very far away, just beyond our physical touch.

We seek an emotional connection, a spiritual connection, a mystical revelation. We seek answers to unasked questions, unanswered prayers. We seek truth, love, hope.

Those who seek God need both confidence and courage. Those who seek God use their souls, minds, hearts. Seeking God requires, demands active participation. Seeking God turns into something more. Seeking God asks us to try love, to try forgiveness, to try fairness. Being Christian involves developing a philosophy based upon simplicity, based upon justice, based upon charity. Being Christian involves a daily exploration of personal humility, of personal humanity. Being Christian is an invitation to love everyone unconditionally. Being Christian is also about rethinking who you are, what is your purpose in life.

Christianity is a search for identity, a search for self-definition, a search for the desire for obedience to God. Christianity is a story of falling in love with God, with serving God, with helping our neighbors. Christianity offers a quiet, understated resonance of goodness, holiness, kindness as each believer, each follower finds their personal path and begins to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ.

Those who hear and obey God’s voice accept and believe that God is always with them.

The Christian experience often is a very romantic experience of determination and humility.

Thought for the Day - September 27

Humility is powerful. Humility defeats temptation, defeats sin. Humility makes sinners uncomfortable. True humility exists only for good, produces only goodness, kindness, and holiness. Humility does not attack wickedness, humility simply acknowledges it, treats it gently, offers prayers for the wicked deeds committed. Humility is neither offense or defense. Humility is hope. Humility is love. Humility seeks to present love, seeks to remind each Christian about suffering, sacrifice. Humility is patient.

Prayer for the Day - September 27

Lord
May we always offer you praise and thanks. May our lives be filled with humility. May we serve you as Saint Vincent de Paul did by helping the poor and marginalized. May our hearts be filled with love, hope, and faith. May we eagerly offer you our prayers and lives. May we eagerly sacrifice for the glory of you.
Amen

Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul

Today is the Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, priest .

"Humility and charity are the two master-chords: one, the lowest; the other, the highest; all the others are dependent on them. Therefore it is necessary, above all, to maintain ourselves in these two virtues; for observe well that the preservation of the whole edifice depends on the foundation and the roof." Saint Vincent de Paul

Saint Vincent de Paul is the patron saint of charities.

Saint Vincent de Paul
and a group zealous missionaries worked among poor tenant farmers and country people. These priests, said vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and stability. They devoted themselves to the people in smaller towns and villages.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Need Money To Do God's Work?

In the Saturday Washington Post an article about philanthropist Bill Conway of McLean appeared. Bill Conway plans to give away at least $1 billion dollars before he dies. He plans on providing the money to charities in the Washington regions. He is looking for ideas on programs that need funding.

Mr. Conway is  a co-founder and Managing Director of the Carlyle Group, a global private equity firm based in Washington, DC. In addition, Mr. Conway is an active supporter of various local charities, particularly supporting education and the Catholic Church.



And Now News For the Day - Monday September 26

Congress is working to avert a government shutdown. Both houses have to agree on another short term funding legislation to avoid another murky market wearying, market worrying confrontation over the federal budget. The current budget ends September 30, 2011.

Some Syrian military defectors with their military weapons have named themselves the Free Syrian Army as they attempt to organize an armed militaristic challenge to President Bashar al Assad’s government. This has been a peaceful protest, others want change and hope that a military opposition might force the government to either resign or listen to the people. Others are concerned that civil war could begin between forces loyal to the government and the Free Syrian Army.

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia decided that women will be allowed to vote and run as candidates in nationwide local elections in the Muslim kingdom. The first elections in Saudi Arabia were held in 2005. The 2015 election cycle will be open to women. In Saudi Arabia women can’t drive, can’t open bank accounts, have to be chaperoned by a male member of the family.


Almost 20,000 people attended the last bullfight in Barcelona’s last remaining ring El Monumental. Catalonia banned the spectacle. The ban passed in the regional parliament in 2010. In 1909 the first protest was against bullfighting was held in Barcelona.

The London Philharmonic Orchestra finished recording 205 national anthems to be played during 2012 Summer Olympics. So far it has taken 50 hours to record the anthems.

Things keep happening. Christians keep praying, keep serving the Lord.

To Serve God

We pass through each days observing yet not always seeing, loving yet not always touching. Each Christian contains prayers not prayed, questions not asked. We have opinions, dreams, desires, daydreams. Life engulfs us, splashes against us, taunts us, haunts us. We seek salvation, entrance to the Kingdom of heaven. Our actions often make us pause, our actions make us wonder if we are truly worthy.

  Columbia Road  1285

We often create all types of signs, find all types of reasons to stop, to not seek that which God wants us to seek. If the purpose of all Christian lives is to serve God, then the decision is already made for us and all we have to do is allow ourselves to serve God with charity, humility, and obedience.


Columbia Road  1286 As Christians we are encouraged to behave as God's children, as God's flock of sheep. I often wondered why we are not ever encouraged to act like a flock of pigeons. Birds are not docile creatures. Birds are not always easily controlled. Birds have a winged individualism much like the human rugged individualism. Birds can be part of a group yet be concerned only for themselves.

Birds are very interesting to observe as they go about their lives searching for food and flying. Depending upon the moment birds are great metaphorical or great allegorical creatures.

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Sooner or later we all make a mistake. Life is filled with grammatical and typographical errors. How we deal with our mistakes, with our sins is important. Is "repent" part of our vocabulary? Is "penance" an action, a chore, or simply avoided? Do we accept our mistakes or simply walk away hoping to forget, hoping others will forget.

We forget so many things. We misplace so many things. So many bits and pieces of our actions wait to be discovered by others, wait to be uncovered by others. Secrets only exist within our minds. In reality things are often lost, often left behind like keys on a park bench.

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We are members of different communities. We are asked to become team players, to do things for the good of the team. This is not always easy. This can create stress, anxiety, bad Hollywood movies.

As Christians being a team player is an interesting proposition. We are asked to believe and to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ. We are asked to join others both living and dead in serving the Lord. God wants us to be loyal, loving servants who have freely chosen to do his work, to sacrifice our lives. It is using our free will, using our minds to make choices, hopefully the good choices which will help ourselves and others become closer to God.

Being part of a team makes serving God a little easier, makes seeking goodness, holiness, and kindness a little easier.


Columbia Road  1289

It is always good to remember how God sees us, how we are encouraged to treat each other. God sees us as children, as his adopted children. That is very important, very instructive. Although we are created in the image of God we are not created as equals of God. We spend our entire lives learning about ourselves, about God.

Prayer is an essential element in developing a loving relationship with God.

As Christians we are asked to put our faith in God's hands, in the hands of other Christians, and in our hands. Depending on the moment, we are taking big steps or small toddler steps.

Hopefully as Christians our legs carry us toward God, toward salvation. Hopefully help and prayers are there when we need them.


Columbia Road  1290

Sometimes a picture of a squirrel on a fence is just a squirrel on a fence other times it is a metaphor for how we relate to our world, to God, to each other. Assigning meaning, making choices, accepting consequences these are things which we do every day. As Christians a purpose for our lives has been given to us. It is our responsibility to accept it.


Columbia Road  1291

Echo God's Love

Do not seek to be the greatest, seek only to be a humble servant. Do not seek to judge men as sinners because they disobeyed Gods laws. Instead offer prayers and forgiveness and mercy. Present the greatness of heart God has shown you, share the limitless kindness God has shown you. May your life be filled with insight into how to make moral choices, how to encourage others to make moral choices. May you have the faith to suffer the consequences of your decision.

Remember we each have the choice to obey or disobey the Word of God. Remember we each must accept the consequences attached to our decision.

Brave are those who see their faults and repents before themselves and God.

Fill your life with goodness, holiness, kindness. Fill your life with prayer and reflection. Allow each choice in your life to echo God’s love, God’s mercy. Seek justice. Seek faithfulness.

Avoid arguments seeking earthly superiority. Look within your hearts, within your minds, within your souls. Reflect upon the intention which dwells within you. Is it filled with love? Is it composed with love? Does it encourage you to take a chance, to do God’s work? As Christians we are asked to develop a consistent pattern of obedience to God.

Intensely Serve God

Allow yourself to intensely love the Lord, to intensely serve the Lord. Each day take the opportunity to become more faithful. Each day take the opportunity to encourage others to be more faithful. Remember this is a faithless world, filled with many faithless people. This is a jealous age, this is a selfish age. Learn how to love, learn how to share love and to spread the Good News. Allow yourself to talk of goodness, holiness, kindness. Offer hope and assistance to those who are aged, to those who are infirm. Offer compassion and mercy to those who are young, to those who are seduced by temptation and sin.

Be humble in deed, speech, and thought. Be humble as you serve the Lord.

Encourage the faithful to encourage others to view the rising sun. Encourage the faithful to view the setting sun.

Encourage the people to always be the people of God, the loving servants of God.

We are reminded that God is God. Remember nothing is impossible in God’s eyes.

Fill the city with old men and women with their rosaries and reflections.

Fill the city with boys and girls seeking faithfulness, justice, and love.

Fill your heart with an unconditional love for God, for your neighbor, for yourself.

Allow your to love intensely, unconditionally as you serve the Lord. Each day provides an opportunity to pray, reflect, discern. Think of Jerusalem, think of the Beatitudes, think of Lazarus. Remember to dwell in the love and hope of God. Remember to dwell in humility, charity, obedience, compassion, and mercy. Allow your life to be a host for God, to be an outpost of love.

Remember that your goodness, holiness, kindness shared is often a remnant of hope, a remnant of compassion encouraging others to return to God, encouraging others to find the Lord.

Thought of The Day - September 26

Seek a moment of truth, a moment holiness each day as you serve the Lord. My people are waiting to hear the prayers of the world.

Monday of the Twenty-Sixth Week

Today is Monday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time.

The first reading is from Zechariah.

The Gospel reading is from Luke.

Prayer of the Day - September 26

God our Father
You rescue the faithful and renew justice and hope to the world. Your love cleanses away our sins and prepares us for love.

We ask you now to bless each heart present and to provide us with your heavenly protection. Renew the living spirit within us and teach us to love and serve you in body and soul. Please keep us free of sin. Please teach us charity, humility, obedience as you lead us to salvation.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

And Now for the News

Derrick O. Mason was executed on Thursday September 22. He was the fifth person executed in Alabama this year. 1266 people have been executed since the death penalty was reinstated in1976. On Wednesday Troy Davis was executed. The judge who originally sentenced Mason to death said that the death sentence was a mistake because of his inexperience and the trial lawyers. Alabama Governor Bentley denied clemency.

A possible revolution in the world of physics occurred last week. Scientists in Italy stated that some subatomic particles called neutrinos were faster than light. If this is true then Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity could possibly be updated.

Two American hikers were released from an Iranian prison last week after a two year diplomatic effort involving diplomats, lawyers, leaders from several other countries, and a one million dollar bail payment. Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal are free and have reunited with their families and loved ones.

Vesta Williams a R & B singer known for hits “Don’t Blow A Good Thing” and “Congratulations” was found dead at 6:15 p.m. in a Southern California hotel room. In addition to being a singer Williams had appeared on television shows and in movies.

Events like these occur each day and the media provides bits of information which might interest the public. Often the media sensationalizes, exaggerates, or confuses issues. The facts of life remain consistent. People die. Science creates new questions. Someone survives a terrible ordeal or is saved from imminent danger. Life is easily taken out of context.

As Christians we are asked to look at each issue with wisdom, compassion, mercy. Let our neighbors receive our concern, our interest first. Let love, charity, and humility guide us. May we remember to offer prayers for everyone involved in the various events, the crimes, natural disasters.

Yearning for God

Discernment is important. Each Christian, Each Catholic is encouraged to take time to listen for God’s call. Each one of is asked to listen for God’s message to us. We are human beings. We have free will. We can make choices. We can accept the consequences of our decisions. We are given the choice of righteousness or the choice of wickedness. We are allowed to choose, to make the decision.

This is a time for prayer.

The world around us is dangerous in so many different ways.

Sinfulness, selfishness are encouraged, glamorized. Challenging authority is good. Betrayal is expected. The environment is exploited. People are exploited. Many people want to make easy money and have all the luxuries and trappings of life.

What type of life does God want for us? How does God want us to live? How does God want us to treat each other? In your opinion what does God want each of us to do with our lives? These are some basic questions which can help begin a period of discernment.

Being Christian is yearning for goodness, holiness, kindness to guide and protect us. Being Christian is yearning to hear God’s voice, to feel God’s presence. Being Christian is opening yourself up to prayer, reflection. Silence and solitude are often needed when trying to communicate with God.

We are asked to believe in Jesus Christ, to follow the path of Jesus Christ. We are asked to serve God. All of these are easy to say, easy to plan but become more difficult to do. The path of righteousness is often a difficult path to follow. The path of righteousness is often a difficult decision to make. Many distractions and diversions will appear. We may want to be faithful but we may allow ourselves to sin, to be tempted to look away from God, away from salvation. The way of righteousness begins with patience, prayer, reflection and discernment.

We can change our minds, become more selfless, become more righteous, more humble, more loving.

Seek the Attitude of Jesus

We share an encouragement for something better, something beyond earthly pleasure, fleshy temptation. Seek solace in God, seek solace in love unconditional. Seek solace in forgiveness unconditional. Follow the Holy Spirit where it leads you, how it leads you. If the Holy Spirit whispers compassion and mercy, then show compassion and mercy. Unite your mind, unite your joy with the teaching and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Fill yourself with the courage and confidence and humility of selflessness. Remember to be humble, remember others are more important than you. Keep your interests modest, balanced. Look out for God, your neighbors, God. Remember goodness, holiness, kindness contains an inextricable bond.

Seek, develop, and nurture the same attitude that Jesus Christ presented to his followers, to the world. Please start and finish each day being humble, being obedient to God.

I realize that this is difficult to do sometimes but attempt it each and every day. With time it will become easier. The experience of being humble, being obedient leads to greater knowledge, greater love of God. The experience of being humble, being obedient leads to understanding, wisdom. The Christian experience needs a foundation of charity, humility, and obedience. The true Christian experience encourages and nurtures unconditional love, universal love, unconditional forgiveness, universal forgiveness.

Christians are asked to fight out iniquity, seek equality for all.

Having the same attitude of Christ Jesus means living each day, means offering to surrender your life to the glory of God each day.

Seek and Share God's Truth

Seek and share God’s truth. Allow the charity, humility, obedience within your soul to present a path to salvation to you. Have faith in silence and solitude to learn about God’s truth, to learn and believe that God is our savior. Compassion requires patience, knowledge, wisdom. Compassion requires an inner strength, an inner beauty. All human beings during their youth touched sin, tasted temptation. God asks us to forget all these wicked things, all wickedness for although seductive and glittering wickedness makes us vulnerable, weak before God. As Christians always seek and remember goodness, holiness, kindness. Be humble, seek justice, seek mercy, seek forgiveness.

Offer Fairness and Justice

Each Christian seeks fairness and justice for his neighbor, for his family, for himself. Each Christian seeks a life of goodness, holiness, kindness. A life of humility, charity, obedience to God can lead to the Kingdom of Heaven.

I know that iniquity is wrong. I try to avoid it, I try to help others avoid it.

I want to be a virtuous person, I want to be a righteous person. There are moments in each day when I am virtuous, when I am righteous. Then I am at peace, then I am serving the Lord with my entire being, with my soul, my mind, my heart. Then I am content and I desire to do more for God, more for his people.

Being human there are times when I turn toward wickedness, when I am on the precipice of temptation and sin, when I momentarily discard thoughts of being right and just. Then I am filled with conflict, anxiety, fear.

But, with prayer and patience I can turn away from sin, avoid temptation. I can preserve my life by being a loving, loyal, obedient servant of God, surrendering my entire being, surrendering my entire life to God.

With prayer, patience, reflection the sacrifice of the Mass will lead me on a path of hope, knowledge, love. It is not enough that I turn away from wickedness, I will try and encourage others to do so. Hopefully my life will inspire others to love the Lord.

Prayer of the Day - September 25

Dear Lord
I offer you thanks for each breath you allow me take
I give you praise for giving me strength and courage to live
You are the most righteous, You are the most virtuous
You are the most loving,
May I learn how to please you
May I find the courage and confidence to surrender my life
to you, to do your work, to be your servant
May I learn to sacrifice graciously
May I learn to trust silence
May I learn how love, honor, and serve you.

Amen

Thought of the Day - September 25

Each day is a day for goodness, holiness, kindness. The Sabbath is a special day. Examine your life choices. Examine your goals. How do you offer praise to the Lord? How do you offer thanks? This is a moment to remember both the wicked and the virtuous. This is the time to seek that which is righteous, that which is virtuous. Set aside time for reflection, set aside time for discernment.

Twenty-Six Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today is the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Please remember to pray.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

News of Yesterday

The world contains many topics to unite and divide friends, families, and enemies? In the United Kingdom Essex MP Priti Patel, a “rising star” of the Tory party said that it was time for the United Kingdom to have the death penalty again. It is time to use hanging as a deterrent to crime in the United Kingdom. Patel made her remarks hours after the execution of Troy Davis, an African American man convicted for killing a Georgia police officer.

What purpose does the death penalty really serve? Is it a true deterrent to violent crime? Does having the death penalty in a state lower violent crime, make the states safer? Violence is a part of American life. Each American is affected by it in some way. I do not think that the death penalty does anything positive. All that the death penalty does is allow the state to become a murderer. The death penalty allows vengeance, and revenge to become more important than justice. How is murder ever justified, ever fair?

President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas made a formal application to the UN Security Council requesting that Palestine become a member of the United Nations. Middle East peace again is at a stale mate, it is stagnant. Neither side wants to compromise, negotiate is the latest “N” word which knows one wants to do but everyone realizes at some point it will have to happen. That there are serious problems in Israel centering around the Palestinian question is accepted, is true. But, splitting a country into two countries is not something that the UN should endorse.

Arbitration, mediation, sitting in a corner wear a dunce cap, no supper tonight make more sense than grand standing, trying to create sympathy, trying to white wash years of terrorism. The situation is more complex than I am allowing myself to explain. I am concerned that the UN is being used as a pawn between two sides who both are at fault for the strained, explosive state of affairs between them.

Peace needs to arrive before a new country is recognized, created.

Where are you going?

Often during our lives someone will ask us simple questions about our plans for life. Sometimes the questions are for our immediate plans, sometimes they are for our future plans. Often we have answers for these questions.

I decided to focus on helping out in my parish instead of focusing on the spiritual direction of my life. I wanted to see what it felt like to be an average, involved American Catholic attending Mass regularly, volunteering on a couple of committees. I wanted to see how I would feel about the various interactions, how I would perform under pressure. I was curious about whether my faith, my love for God would increase or decrease based upon my involvement.

I have enjoyed my experience. I have learned so much about how God works in the lives of many people. There is not one religious experience, one religious story. Each person I have met approaches his/her faith in an unique way. Roman Catholic spirituality is alive and well in Washington, DC. The faithful are talking salvation, moving toward salvation.

Love and forgiveness are big themes of the Church. I have seen many examples of them in various relationships I have encountered, I have observed. Unconditional love, unconditional forgiveness are themes in the Mass readings, in the homilies, but in a few relationships both remain elusive, nonexistent. This is not meant as a criticism, but as a simple observation.

Love and forgiveness are part of the mainstream society and popular culture vernacular but society often adds restrictions and conditions to each. The result is both are exalted in different degrees. Love comes out just a little bit better. Forgiveness is often quickly shoved aside for revenge or vengeance. Our society talks forgiveness but does not practice it. And some people I know talk forgiveness, extol the virtues of forgiveness, but do not practice it in all of their relationships. I am not perfect, I sometimes half heartedly forgive people but then I sometimes feel slightly guilty and try to do a little better.

Forgiveness comes easier in different situations.

Seeing love, seeing genuine friendship, seeing faith, seeing love for God these are very clear, very active. For love concrete and love abstract are both very, very beautiful to experience within a faith community. For a selfless love, a merciful love, a compassionate love provides hope and peace for all those who encounter it. There is much love, much support here. I am glad to be a part of it.

The love that I have seen, the love that I have experienced has renewed my desire to use my life for the service of God. I just have to decide what that means. I just have to decide how to begin.

Prayer of the Day - September 24

Dear Lord

Help us to be prepared to serve you, help us be willing to sacrifice our life for you and your glory. Help us be prepared to journey to the Kingdom of God walking in the footsteps of Christ. May our hearts, minds, and souls be filled with humility, charity, obedience, patience, wisdom, knowledge, compassion, mercy. May we remember to start each day with love for the multitude of men, with love for individual men. Hold no grudge or ill will in your heart, mind, or soul. May we always work to lead others to the path of salvation. May we teach others to rejoice to your holy name. May we teach others to believe the power, the glory, the majesty of your holy name.

Amen.

Thought of the Day - September 24

Often in my Christian life, I have observed all types of interactions, I have heard all types of conversations. Christians are asked to listen to the word of God, to listen attentively, to be active participants in the Mass. We are asked to share the Good News. The more we love and serve the Lord the more we are ready console those whose hearts, minds, and souls are filled with sorrows. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ will lead us from mourning to praising God, thanking God, to receiving God’s blessing. God is able to conquer all. God is always ready to protect us, ready to protect his flock, ready to protect and guide his flock of believers to salvation, to the Kingdom of heaven.

Pay Attention

The Roman Catholic Church encourages active participation of all those believers present during the Mass. To achieve this the congregation sits, stands, recites, kneels. The congregation responds to various statements and prayers which were spoken by the priest. The Mass is designed to keep everyone engaged, involved with both the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The readings and homily provide instruction and insight.

Listening to the Word of God, the homily, and the various prayers is very important. Each person present at the Mass receives many opportunities to communicate with God. Each person present during the Mass receives many opportunities to praise and give God thanks.

Each time we go to Mass, hopefully, we remember to pay attention, to listen to the readings, the Gospel, the prayers. Hopefully we allow ourselves time to pray, time to reflect upon our lives, our choices, our faith.

As Christians we are asked to do good deeds, to love our neighbor, to listen and serve the Lord. As Christians we are encouraged to love God, to love each other. Loving and serving God makes us truly responsible for our own actions. We are asked to be loyal, to be obedient.

Saturday of the Twenty-Fifth Week

Today is Saturday of the Twenty-Fifth Week of Ordinary Time.

The first reading is from Zechariah.

The Gospel reading is from Luke.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Think of God Today

And so my thoughts return to the spring, this rainy September afternoon. I can hear cars splash by on the uneven pavement in the street.


BeforeSpringOfficiallyStarts7353

This has been a damp rainy day. As the official first day of autumn, there is something fitting in this rain. It is as if nature was encouraging us to slow down, to examine our lives. The rain has been light, then hard, then light, then a soft barely perceptible drizzle, then hard again. This is a day for reflection, for prayer. For a moment my feet were wet, my sweater was damp. This is a day for solitude, for silence. This is a day to reflect on life, are you where you want to be, are you where God wants you to be?

  arboretum 5

The remnants of the yesterday remain, suggesting prayer, suggesting compassion.

And I will need an umbrella when I go outside.

Birthday Wish

Well someone told me that birthday and baseball games have a lot in common. I never realized that there was any type of connection between them but now I accept this notion as I reflect on many birthday celebrations I have attended.



How great it is to sit and watch a baseball game. How great it is to sit and watch guests arrive at a birthday party.

Baseball games and birthday parties each involve sitting, standing, drinking beer, eating hamburgers, french fries, nachos covered in gooey cheese, and talking with our mouthes filled. Someone misses a comment or a catch. Someone takes a crazy picture.



There is always a madcap race to get booze or ice or chicken wings or to find the television remote or the car keys. Sometimes people get right presidential at birthday parties.



There is something about baseball games and birthday parties which bring out the child in us.



Baseball games and birthday parties remind us that sooner or later we need someone to get a rake and scratch our backs.

As the baseball season ends, the fall birthday season begins. Happy birthday to all and there was not a creature stirring not even a politician...oh I lost my place...



Happy Birthday to all.

Happy Birthday belatedly (You know who you are).

Happy Birthday in advance!

Knights Are Visible

An active chapter of the Knights of Columbus can help a pastor save souls. With prayer and adherence to God’s will the Knights of Columbus can help some people get to heaven.

Being involved in a chapter of the Knights of Columbus can be a moment of grace, a moment of hope, a moment of love. The Knights of Columbus dedicate themselves to serving their parish communities, priests, and bishops. Here in the Washington Metropolitan Area, the Knights are visible in many parishes, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle helping parishioners, helping visitors, helping clergy.

The efforts of the Knights provide lessons in holiness, lessons in mercy as they attend Pro-Life rallies, coordinate food and clothing drives, organize parties for their families. The efforts of the Knights remind us to remain faithful believers of Christ with our gaze on doing the will of God, helping our neighbors find the path to salvation.

The life of each Knights of Columbus is inextricably bound up with those of the priests and the bishops. it is a life of service. The Knights present hope to their parishes, unconditional love to those in need. With their gaze directed toward heaven, Knights lead others to God, remind others about the sanctity of all life. The work of a Knights of Columbia chapter is never completed; new needs spring up each day.

The Venerable Fr. Michael J McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882 in Connecticut. The Knights of Columbus is the largest volunteer organization in the world.
Archbishop Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York concluded an article on the Knights of Columbus with the following:
        Alleluia!  My brother knights, I thank you for your vigorous, unapologetic Catholic faith, your active charity and compassion, your devotion to God, Church, country, faith, and family, your love of the Holy Father, of bishops and priests (hard to find at times these days!), your joy and your hard work.  I’m proud to be one of you!  May your members only increase!
The complete entry can be read
here .


Praise Him

Praise him, praise him, praise him with truth in solitude
Praise him, praise him, praise him before the multitude
Praise him, praise him, praise him
Praise him, praise him, praise him offer him thanks
Praise him, praise him, praise him his love outranks
Simply Praise him, praise him, praise him Simply
Praise him, praise him, praise him lovingly

alleluia, alleluia, alleluia love him allelulia
love him, love him, love him with truth in solitude
love him, love him, love him before the multitude
Praise him, praise him, praise him
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
love him, love him, love him

Questions About Jesus

The Gospel of Luke contains good examples of questions about Jesus Christ. In one passage Herod hears about the miracles of Jesus Christ, hears different assumptions about the man performing the miracles. Herod who had John the Baptist beheaded becomes perplexed at the news of Jesus Christ. Herod wants to see Jesus.

Jesus asks his disciples “Who do the crowds say that I am?” The disciples reply with various names of prophets, with John the Baptist. This question of identity shifts to us each time we attend Mass, each time we receive the Eucharist.

The prayers of the Eucharist prepare us for the meal, prepare our souls for this union with God.

There is a moment of silence, a brief moment of solitude when we all can privately repeat Jesus’ question to his disciples, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” We can repeat the question each and every time we receive the Eucharist. We believe in Jesus, we believe in God. We love Jesus, we love God.

Being Me and Seeking Goodness

Being me is amusing most of the time.

Being me encourages people to say crazy things, to ask silly things, to ask personal things.

I attempt to be gracious, polite. I often prefer solitude.

Once a month depending which friends I am with at a given moment, a question about faith or God is dropped carelessly into a conversation. Then there is a moment of predictable psuedoscience challenging belief in God or attacking the Catholic Church with make-believe grievances and swizzle sticks. Sometimes I speak up, sometimes I remain silent. Such conversations are not true conversations but monologues, not true forums for discussions but a way for someone to get attention, to grandstand, to expose their insecurities, vulnerabilities. Most of my friends know how important God is to me, how important attending Mass is to me. They also know that kindness and goodness helps keep my tongue still. I do sometimes roll my eyes.

I have learned when to challenge people with differing viewpoints, opposing opinions. Too often insecure people betray themselves, their motives, their selfishness when trying to provoke debates on God, on the worthiness of the Church in the modern world. Oh, there are many things that I think of saying, but first I simply listen, then I allow myself a moment of prayer asking should I speak, should I not speak.

Naturally I never ask for guidance about my rolling eyes.

Do Not Fear

Do not fear having your heart broken. Do not fear having an empty stomach. Learn how to offer these things to the Lord. We are conditioned to seek happiness, to seek unfettered, unfurled bliss. Do not be fooled, do not expect fairy tale endings. Do not seek happiness for the happiness.

Remember life will contain pain, remember life will contain suffering. Prepare for both of these things. Reflect upon your experiences. Seek to understand your heart, mind, your soul. Be prepared to be surprised.

Time passes even as each generation searches for ways to remain youthful. With pride and poignancy create a life of hope, of love, of service to God. Free yourself from ideas of reciprocation, free yourself from ideas of anxiety.

Choose to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. Choose charity, humility, and obedience to God. Choose mercy, compassion, and love.

Temptation and sin can create an intense urgency for action and response. Temptation and sin seek to create and exploit an intense vulnerability in our lives as we are asked to choose between good and bad, right and wrong, black and gray, white and gray. As Christians prayer can help lead us from the shades of sin and vice and temptation.

An awareness of God requires patience and wisdom. Love, universal, unconditional is needed.

Allow and encourage yourself to to perceive and accept God’s presence in your life, in your worldview.

There are Faithless People

Faithless people are all around us today. Being faithless appears to be fashionable, acceptable. Being faithless allows individuals to become more selfish, more self-absorbed. Rudeness, betrayal rule as part of the ways of how life is. Goodness, holiness, kindness are seen as weakness. Going to Mass is challenged as being a waste of time, as being silly.

Although a faithless person seeks praise, seeks thanks, seeks attention, when these are receive their is often with a hint of unease, a hint of sarcasm, a hint of regret as if something is missing.

Faithless people have a hard time loving, a hard time trusting anyone. Their enemy resides within their hearts, minds, and souls. Their enemy oppresses their thoughts, their hopes. Darkness cloaks them even as they laugh and dance around life bejeweled, bewitching.

Mourning often accompanies them as they try to push God away, try to destroy another’s faith in God, faith in humanity.

The faithful can defeat the faithless. The faithful have prayer and confidence and love.

Silently offer prayer for the faithless. Silently offer love universal, love unconditional to the faithless.

Live your life, giving praise and glory to God as you do everyday with optimism, compassion, and mercy.

Faithful believers share a quiet, confident poignancy with each other, with God.

Prayer for the Day September 23

Lord
Help me to remember the former glory of your goodness, of your mercy
Provide me with the courage to wait for you to instruct me
You alone possess the glory, you alone are the majesty
I offer thanks to you, I offer praise to you
I will not fear life or life’s challenges
I present my life to you with love and obedience
It is you I seek, It is you I treasure, It is you I want to serve

Amen

simple text

Thought of the Day - September 23

Friendship can be all-consuming work, all-consuming diversion. Friendship ignites thoughts of former glory, thoughts of future glory. Healthy friendships are a prerequisite for a healthy life. The development of friendships, how we share, how we listen, how we care form the basic core of our identities, personalities, characters. The significance of friendship continues throughout life. Human beings need attention, affection, and an unconditional love throughout their lives.

We all need someone to act as the repository for the inner workings of our lives, someone to protect us from the cruelty, from the brutality of modern life.

Friendship can lead to goodness, kindness. Friendship can teach valuable lessons about charity, humility, compassion, mercy.

Friendship can teach us about love, trust, and hope.

And how do you see it now?

Happenstance. Former Glory. Occasionally the thing that sparks our interest, ignites or inspiration is something simple. Rhetorical questions are always good for creating a zone for abstract thought and quick off the cuff responses. Inseparable thoughts of reverence, love, forgiveness lead to treasured memories, treasured moments of goodness, holiness, kindness. Life contained a gentleness, a floppiness of a beloved childhood rag doll that is both friend, confidante, conspirator against the approach of adulthood. The spirit of childhood resides within various inanimate articles, old metal cars, old footballs. The spirit of childhood contains the blueprint for all of our future relationships. Our minds remember this and that. We daydream, reconstruct moments of happiness. We replay moments of triumph looking for their secrets years later. Childhood remains a time of broken toys, broken hearts.

The significance of friendships, the significance of childhood is visible in how we believe in God, how we serve God, how we think about serving God. Life provides moments of optimism, moments of poignancy. How we learn how to relate to each other in different situations, how we learn of outside influences and expectations, forms an awareness which eventually sets the stage for all types of choices and consequences.

Life encourages all types of relationships, then tears them apart. As Christians we view the intense vulnerability caused by the human condition, caused by curiosity which can lead to temptation and sin. Life creates many terrifying events, some which can be discussed and worked through and others which can’t, which is just accepted. Grief hidden, grief remains a symbol of life for both child and adult, believer and non-believer. We have the choice to wring our hands, to surrender to the past, or to look at the past as a continual call to action.

As Christians we are asked to remember the world is filled with growling, moaning emotionally disconnected, emotionally scarred, spiritually tone-deaf creatures who seek a deeper meaning in their lives, more intimate relationship with God.

Life requires intimate relationships within a community, such as parish involvement. A personal, private relationship with God is always encouraged, always viewed as a positive, defining achievement when humility, charity, and obedience to God and God’s will are present.

Being Christian exists with an evident urgency, evident desire reminding us of the power and beauty of true love, true forgiveness, true beauty, true courage. All of these lead the faithful believers to closer relationships with God.

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Today is the Memorial of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, priest. He was born on May 25, 1887 and died September 23, 1968. He was ordained as a Capuchin priest in 1910. Saint Pio was famous for having a stigmata. Pope John Paul II canonized Padre Pio on June 16, 2002. Saint Pio was a spiritual director. His five rules for spiritual growth were weekly confession, daily Communion, spiritual reading, meditation, and examination of conscience. His famous quote is "Pray, Hope and Don't Worry."

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Cardinal Wuerl Greets Parishioners

Cardinal Wuerl  1287 On Sunday September 18, 2011 Cardinal Wuerl celebrated the 5:30 Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle. After the Mass he greeted parishioners.
The Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle celebrated the Feast of Saint Matthew on Wednesday, September 21 at all the Masses.

The First Reading was from Ephesians.

The Gospel Reading was from Matthew.

Faith - Beyond

Faith asks us to look beyond the ordinary, beyond the usual
Faith inspires us to be curious about goodness, holiness
Faith inspires us to be radical about forgiving and loving

Praying In Solitude

The image of Jesus praying in solitude on a mountain is important to me. Prayer can be a communal, community act. It is also a very personal, very private time to be vulnerable before God.

Immediate concerns, imminent deadlines cloud our judgment often. Importance becomes transitory.

As a Christian I sometimes have to slow myself down. I have to find a moment for stillness in my heart, mind and soul.

Am I trying to see God? Am I trying to serve God? This I struggle to answer sometimes.

Discernment is listening for the call, listening for directions from the Lord.

Sooner or later we all think of ways to serve the Lord. Sooner or later we all seek to pray in solitude.

Explore Your Opinion of God

Within our minds are echoes of voices, past conversations, song melodies.

Each day we get a sense of what is happening in the world by glancing at newspapers, television, newspapers, magazines, and the internet. Our minds interpret this information for us. Sometimes we accept one singular source, others we seek out as much information as we can find.

Sometimes information might overwhelm us, sometimes it might perplex us. Different people might present different accounts, different interpretations of the same events.

Unfiltered information can create confusion.

Herod heard reports of the activities of Jesus Christ and the Apostles. The reports may have related demons leaving bodies, people being cured of illnesses. The reports troubled Herod because some people mentioned that John the Baptist had returned from the dead.

Herod’s sources gave him part of the story but got some of the details wrong. Herod was given information but not the whole story. Herod was anxious to learn more.

The story of Jesus Christ touches each person in an unique way. The Gospel directs our gaze toward love, forgiveness, toward the Lord, Jesus Christ.

As Christians we are asked to view our lives with love, not fear. We are asked to have and share reverence for God.

Each day our prayers and reflections can help us make sense of what is happening in the world. Each day the senseless acts of violence and vengeance remind us of the necessity of loving God and loving our neighbor. Selfishness leads to emptiness, to pain, to confusion.

With love, compassion, and mercy explore and share your opinion of God as you seek ways to love and forgive those who have harmed or insulted you/