Crater Lake Article Published!

Thank you to Guardian Angel Kids ezine for publishing my article, "From Volcano to Lake" this month!

Walking by Faith

I don't know about you, but sometimes, when I pray about a situation but see nothing changing, there's a temptation to think that my prayers are doing no good. I have to remind myself that God's thoughts and ways are far above mine (Isaiah 55:8-9), and I can't hope to understand His plans. Yesterday afternoon, as I prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, I told Jesus, "I trust in You, even if my eyes don't see your mercy." I made/renewed a conscious decision to believe in His infinite love and mercy, regardless of what I could or couldn't see.

Several minutes later, my friend M sent me a message. She was feeling so ill, she was unlocking her apartment door in case she needed to call EMTs. While wondering if I should go to her (40 minute drive one way and through construction), I asked friends for prayers and prayed another Chaplet of Divine Mercy again, just for her. Next I called T, a mutual friend who lives much closer to M, but T wasn't available to check on her. Then I got in the car.

I found M doing better. While I was driving there, L, another mutual friend, had called M "out of the blue" and suggested something to M that had helped her. So, I did see God's mercy at work. Very grateful that He showed M (and me) His goodness...

Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40)

Not Alone

Today's password: Go beyond the boundaries of our own individualism. Egoism and Individualism involve selfishness, but individualism is something a little different, at least to me. It speaks more of thinking of myself as separate from others. I grew up an only child, was often lonely (although I had friends), and wished for a brother or sister. I was also criticized and judged so harshly at home (not that I didn't deserve it sometimes) that I became very shy and socially awkward, which only made matters worse.

It was really through the Focolare spirituality that I remembered something I had known at age 6 and 7: we are all brothers and sisters. Somehow I had lost that idea as I grew up. Finding it again has helped me go beyond my shyness to love others, although I still do and say awkward things at times. (Sorry!)

Chiara Lubich said that proclaiming the Gospel would only be "effective if our love is practical and we give food, clothing, and shelter...if we offer friendship to those who are alone and desperate, and support people in trying times..." I feel like I'm living this with my friend M., who is very ill again and also had to deal with a broken washing machine (among other things). With few friends in San Antonio and no family, she is lonely and often feels isolated. This month, I made a commitment to calling her each day--so far, God has allowed me to keep it--to talk and to read to her from a spiritual book. Through it, we're taking a journey together. I may be helping her, but it's made me happy (and less lonely), too.

Ghandi said, "You and me. We are one. I can't hurt you without hurting myself." And I've experienced that I can't help others without helping myself, but may I always help for the right reason: to love as I have been loved by our God, who created one human family.

May 1 -- Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

Dear St. Joseph, holy and chaste spouse of Mary, pray for us that we will always do our work for the glory of God alone.  Amen.

"Along with the humanity of the Son of God, work too has been taken up in the mystery of the Incarnation....At the workbench where he plied his trade together with Jesus, Joseph brought human work closer to the mystery of the Redemption." -- St. Pope John Paul II

Poetry on The Move!

Thank you, VIA for selecting my poem and the art work of a high school freshman in this year's 10th annual contest. Bring on National Poetry Month!

Annunciation

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee, on this the feast of your "fiat." Amen.

Feast of St. Joseph!

...What is St. Joseph's role in salvation history? A descendant of David, Joseph takes Mary and Jesus as his legal family, thus fulfilling the Messianic prophecy. He also, of course, provides for and protects Mary and Jesus.

Why would so much honor be given to a man who is not recorded as saying a single word? Who Joseph is and what he does speak louder than any words. Much like Mary, St. Joseph responds immediately to the message of an angel...He acts in the Lord's service as soon as he awakens...

Lord, through the intercession of St. Joseph, I pray for the courage and strength to respond immediately to your will.

(from Marian Press)

Remembering Our Own Baptism

Baptism of the Lord (and end of the Christmas season): Jesus joins the people going out to John the Baptist in the gesture of repentance, not because there is sin in him, but to make it possible for us to share in his relationship with the Father, announced from the heavens. He goes to the Baptist as a beggar because he takes upon himself our misery. The Lord Jesus lowers himself in his baptism and acknowledges his Father so that we will never hesitate to do the same...

(from Magnificat)

 

The Name

Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, Jan. 3:  “Are you troubled? Think but of Jesus – speak but the name of Jesus, the clouds disperse and peace descends anew from heaven. Have you fallen into sin?...invoke the name of Jesus and you will soon feel life returning. No obduracy of the soul, no weakness, no coldness of heart can resist this holy name...” -- St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Doctor of the Church

To know someone's name implies an intimacy with them.  Let's treasure our intimate relationship with our Lord.