Heart to heart

Luba_Lukova

Luba Lukova
Mary of Bethany

Sometimes there are no words to express the sorrow, the shame, the guilt, the enormity of the burden, the desire to be healed.

So the Lord works with me in the silence. I seek his presence. I offer him my failings, weaknesses, fears, shortcomings, pain. I show him my heart.

And he shows me his heart of infinite understanding, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, and love—and I am made whole again.

Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. Luke 7:37-38

The miracle

"...looking upon Mount Tabor from the summit of the Hill of Moreh or Little Hermon. That village in the middle of the view is Nain, where, on one of his journeys, Jesus raised to life the only son of a widow." By OSU Special Collections & Archives : Commons [No restrictions], via Wikimedia Commons

“…looking upon Mount Tabor from the summit of the Hill of Moreh or Little Hermon. That village in the middle of the view is Nain, where, on one of his journeys, Jesus raised to life the only son of a widow.”
By OSU Special Collections & Archives : Commons [No restrictions], via Wikimedia Commons

Awareness of the Lord’s presence. Faith in the Lord’s care and concern for me and all of the human family. Trust in the relationship I am building with the Lord through prayer and meditation and study of Scripture. Compassion for all those who bear the burden of suffering.

This is the miracle the widow of Nain shares with me.

When the Lord saw [the mother], he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Luke 7:13-15

Blessed and satisfied

A print from the Phillip Medhurst Collection of Bible illustrations in the possession of Revd. Philip De Vere at St. George’s Court, Kidderminster, England. By Philip De Vere (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

A print from the Phillip Medhurst Collection of Bible illustrations in the possession of Revd. Philip De Vere
at St. George’s Court, Kidderminster, England.
By Philip De Vere (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0],
via Wikimedia Commons

Lord, when I want to withhold my possessions, money, energy, time, or creativity from those in need, help me to remember you bless and multiply every loving action I take. With you in charge, there is always enough to go around—and plenty left over.

Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, [Jesus] said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets. Luke 9:16-17

Holy Trinity

shamrockThree in One, One in Three,
I humbly ask to be
In your Community
of Love.

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” John 16:12-13a

Gifts of the Spirit

Ed de Guzman Pentecost gouache on special paper, 2014

Ed de Guzman
Pentecost
gouache on special paper, 2014

Today the wind is a bit wild. I think the Holy Spirit is visiting and, I hope, blessing me with the gifts of the Spirit.

Here’s how the Loyola Press describes those gifts:

Wisdom helps us recognize the importance of others and the importance of keeping God central in our lives.

Understanding is the ability to comprehend the meaning of God’s message.

Knowledge is the ability to think about and explore God’s revelation, and also to recognize there are mysteries of faith beyond us.

Counsel is the ability to see the best way to follow God’s plan when we have choices that relate to him.

Fortitude is the courage to do what one knows is right.

Piety helps us pray to God in true devotion.

Fear of the Lord is the feeling of amazement before God, who is all-present, and whose friendship we do not want to lose.

And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Acts 2:2-4

One

Dibujo de Jesucristo, en acuarela. Parque de la Exposición. Lima, Perú.By Dtarazona (Own work) [GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

Dibujo de Jesucristo, en acuarela. Parque de la Exposición. Lima, Perú.
By Dtarazona (Own work) [GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

One in our intention to love our neighbor as ourselves. One in our desire to do unto others as we would have others do unto us. One in our commitment to the way of love, nonviolence, forgiveness, respect, healing, reconciliation, and peace.

Today I will honor the One in each and every member of our human family.

[Jesus prayed, saying,] “And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one.” John 17:22-23a

A holy reminder

6º DOMINGO DE PASCUAI do my best to keep the word of Jesus: to love my neighbor, pray for my enemies, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, comfort the ill, welcome those I don’t know, forgive those who hurt me.

And when I forget, the Holy Spirit nudges me—a gentle tug at my heart, maybe, or it could be a spotlight shining on my selfishness. The Holy Spirit’s nudges show me the way to holy wholeness where I become a collaborator in the community of Love.

[Jesus said to his disciples:] “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” John 14:26

Being love

MamaTI can practice loving actions—patience, unselfishness, generosity, forgiveness, respect, acceptance, courtesy, encouragement, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, comforting the ill and grieving.

These loving practices help transform me into a new being, a person who is committed to the way of Jesus, a human being who makes the loving choice over the selfish one.

Someday, maybe, I hope, I won’t have to think so hard about the loving choice and I’ll be on my way to being love instead of doing love.

[Jesus said:] “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

Whose voice

buen_pastor_20How do I discern the voice of Jesus when I am surrounded by a cacophony of voices?

Here’s how: The voice of Jesus  prompts me to love, forgive, let go, help out, be generous. The voice of Jesus calls me to peace, nonviolence, reconciliation, compassion. The voice of Jesus comforts, heals, reassures, encourages.

May I listen to the voice of Jesus. May my voice echo his.

Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.”  John 10:27

In the presence

John 21:1-19

John 21:1-19

It only takes a moment to recognize the Lord. May I keep my eyes, ears, and heart open to realize he is here and I am with him.

Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. John 21:12