The Year of Saint Paul

Photo by Luiz

When, as members of the Catholic Church we are blessed with a Jubilee Year, it is a time of celebration and jubilation of who we are and from where we are rooted. It is a source of pride, and in my case, a reason for continuing to reflect even more diligently on who I am and continue to listen to the call, in whatever form it might take.

Brief History of Saint Paul (early years):
"Parish Life"
Saint John the Baptist Church
Newburgh, IN

The first reference to Saul (as he was then known) is during the persecution of the first Christian communities, specifically, his involvement in the execution of Saint Stephen. In Acts 7:54-8: 1, we read that Saul was at the execution and approved it.
One day on the way to Damascus to fine more Christians to bring back to Jerusalem for punishment, a blinding light came from the heavens so bright as to strike Saul to the ground. The voice of God then spoke to him: "Saul, why do you persecute me?" Bewildered, Saul asked "Who are you, Lord?" The voice answered, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting."

The Lord said that he was to be "an instrument" to spread the Good News among the Gentiles and throughout Israel. Historically, some scholars have placed this event at approximately 33 AD, occurring just after the execution of Saint Stephen.

It is important to note that Paul's heavenly vision is considered to be the single most significant event in the early history of Christianity, apart from the birth and life of Jesus Christ himself.

Here is today's offering from Praying with Saint Paul: Daily Reflection on the Letters of the Apostle Paul, edited by Father Peter John Cameron, O.P.

A Generous God
by
Monsignor James Turro

"For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this is not from you; it is the gift of God."
(Ephesians 2:8)

"This is not from you, it is the gift of God." Perhaps there is not a more deep-seated, urgent desire in man than the desire to be self-sufficient--not really to need anybody or anything--God included. This of course is a fond hope. Consider that though we as a race have mastered space and in large part defeated physical illness, however we have not been able to vanquish death nor have we succeeded in achieving untrammeled and unending happiness. Clearly we need God and the happiness and security he alone can confer. Humbly we must acknowledge that we are not equal to the task of acquiring much of what we require to lead a fulfilled and successful life. We have a desperate need of God and his gifts for us to lead a fulfilled life.

We must look beyond the happiness that God confers upon us to countless other gifts and favors with which he brightens our lives. One thinks of faith--in every way, a gift of God. It is the faith of God and the things of God. It gives us to understand that just about everything short of God is limited and flimsy; only God can truly, deeply satisfy.

As one reflects on God's generosity toward oneself, a not inappropriate resolve is to emulate God's lavish generosity in our dealings with other people--an imitation of Christ.

Faith, this great gift of God, must be prized and jealously guarded. We must never jeopardize this faith in any way--not by the thoughts we think or the life we lead. It should be a hardy faith--not a faith that one possesses but a faith that possesses one. A mere profession of faith honors God because, when all is said and done, it is taking God at his word.

O God, you have heaped high the graces which you have been
pleased to offer me; give me one thing more--a grateful heart.

~~~~~^j^~~~~~

Enough said, except for

THANKS BE TO GOD!!!

What better day to do an MEME...

Seems as good a time as any, it's Friday, the work week is ending, and I'm too tired for any deep reflection. Thanks to bia for tagging me.

The Alphabet MEME

A is for age: 61

B is for burger of choice: Been a "couple" of years ago now, but an In and Out Burger. Can only get in California and since David, Kelly and the boys have moved to Charlotte, I don't expect to get one soon...by the way the fries are wonderful too. Oh, Ron wouldn't want me to forget the Redtop Hamburger in Colorado Springs...IT IS HUGE!!!! and good to boot. (Do I get paid for this advertising?)

C is for what kind of car ou drive: 2000 Toyota Camery

D is for your dog(s)'s name: Duke and Duchess (of Keller)--Sam the Cat is the court jester.

E is for essential item you use everyday: My stethoscope, it hangs around my neck from 8-5.

F is for favorite TV show at the moment: Monk (in summer mode will return SOON)

G is for favorite game: any live-in-the-stadium/arena sport. And at this moment to play: Apples to Apples.

H is for home state: Colorado and its "Rocky Mountain High!"

I is for instruments you play: piano, though I've attempted the harp and for lack of practice and sheer motivation have not practiced in some time...perhaps this weekend would be a good time to tune her and start again.

J is for favorite juice: Cranberry, Orange Juice, and Grapefruit juice.

K is for whose butt you'd like to kick: This could take some time so will move onto the next letter.

L is for last restaurant at which you ate: HMMM, it was last Saturday night when we went to dinner with Father Jason in Vincennes. It's a new restaurant and I don't remember its name. DUH!!! My baked spaghetti was wonderful though!

M is for your favorite Muppet: Fozzy Bear...I love his hat!

N is for the number of piercings: 2, one in each ear

O is for over night hospital stays: 9, one for each child, two miscarriages, a broken foot and skin graft on the foot. Oh, for got the gall bladder surgery (10).

P is for people you're with today: Drs., NP, staff and patients

Q is for what you do with your quiet time: read, knit, pray, blog, oh and not to forget watch OLD movies.

R is for the biggest regret: Cannot say I regret anything. No, I'm not a Pollyanna but with my life and its ups and downs, there's not a thing I can say I regret. I think I am better for what I have had and experienced.

S is for status: Married 40 years this July.

T is for time you woke up today: 4:30 a.m., Ron leaves for work at 5:00 a.m. now that he is car pooling to work.

U is for what you consider unique about yourself. Hmmm, what makes me special? I've moved and lived in five states and actually moved 5 times in one year from CO to VA to CA while we were in the Army. I've visited most of the continental US states. I think I've only missed traveling to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, North Dakaota, South Carolina, Florida, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. (Gee that's not so unique, I've still got to visit 9 states not including Hawaii and Alaska!) HUM

V is for vegetable you love: Asparagus, fresh tomatoes, and SWEET corn-on-the-cob

W is for worst habit: Nagging...(I hate it when I do that! It's not part of my thought process, I just do it!)

X is for x-rays you've had: Let's see. Dental, hip, foot, kidneys, and the one I deem most important is the MRI of the brain...Now I can PROVE to my children I have ONE!

Y is for yummy food you ate today: Fresh strawberry pie I made! YES!

Z is for Zodiac sign: Sagittarius

Now I will tag Tricia, Kelly and Laura

Have a grand weekend and enjoy the summer sun.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

The feast of the Birth of John the Baptist

Tableaux Depicting the Birth of John the Baptist
Originally uploaded by rogerlou18

I can only imagine the celebration that took place at the birth of John the Baptist. How overjoyed his parents must have been. I pray that everyone would revel in the birth of the child that has been entrusted to each of them and that each one would be a source of awe as they are nurtured and cared for. God has entrusted each of us parents with the treasure, more precious than gold. We are to guide them, through holiness and instruction and right living to the Father that made them. An awesome responsibility!

~~~+~~~
Thanks be to God!

It Came...

I finally ordered Praying with Saint Paul: Daily Reflections on the Letter of the Apostle Paul, Edited by Father Peter John Cameron, O.P. It is printed by Magnificat. I don't know why I put it off, but it is here none-the-less. Please let me share with you tomorrow's reflection...It is really wonderfully thought provoking.

The Purpose Driven Life
Monsignor James Turro

"In (Christ) we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ."

(Ephesians 2:11-12)

"In Christ we were also chosen...so that we might exist for the praise of his glory." How many times are people left wondering at the meaning of it all. What is the point of our existence? How bleak and gross even is the answer the world gives back to that question. It maintains that we have no particular role to play at all in the world. We are simply pointless--we just are, period. If that be so , is there any wonder that some people under severe pressure from grave illness or from the sheer routine of day-to-day living decide to end it all? The purposeless life is not worth living.

But as God first chose the Hebrews to spread the good news about him and to praise him, so God expects no less of us--that we do just that--"that we might exist for the praise of his glory." What an exalted goal to have in life: the glorification of God in all we say and do and are. A backward look at our live--and examination of conscience--may sadly reveal that we have been quite negligent in this regard, that is, in making Christ better known within our family , our circle of friends, our co-workers. One's life cannot have more exalted thrust than that--to first understand and then to proclaim to all and sundry that God made us to know, to love, and to serve him is this life and to be happy with him for ever in the next."

God give me the sharpness of mind and the force and clarity of speech to witness to you in every venue in which I may find myself.

~~~^j^~~~

"...God made us to know, to love, and o serve him
in this life and to be happy with him for ever in the next."

I am in first grade religion class at St. Mary's School and I remember hearing and learning this for the first time. I feel like a kid again!!

I have a reason for being here. I have value and that's because God made me. And to realize that value I will make every effort to "know, love and serve Him."

~~~
Thanks be to God!

Short and Sweet

Keller Garden, 2008

Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As may as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times."

~Matthew 18: 21-22~

~~~
I've been hurt, and I've been wronged. Is refusing to forgive really going to help?
What have I got to lose?
~~~

Jesus, you forgave. Live in me so that I might forgive as well.

A Catholic Woman's Book of Days by Amy Welbor

n

~~~^j^~~~

So I asked myself the same question. The answer for me is this. I have nothing to lose (hell), and everything to gain (Heaven). Pretty simple, huh?

~*~*~*~*~
Thanks be to God!

Right Living and Right Speaking

Nouwen
Originally uploaded by TheScriptorium

I thought I'd let Henri Nouwen voice his wisdom today.

To be a witness for God is to be a living sign of God's presence in the world. What we live is more important than what we say, because the right way of living always leads to the right way of speaking. When we forgive our neighbors from our hearts, our hearts will speak grateful words, and when we are hopeful and joyful we will speak hopeful and joyful words.

When our words come too soon and we are not yet living what we are saying, we easily give double messages. Giving double messages--one with our words and another with our actions--makes us hypocrites. May our live give us the right words, and may our words lead us to the right lives.

from Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith

That said, I wish you all a hope filled, joyful day!

~*~*~*~*~*~

Thanks be to God!!

Prayer of Humility

Icon - Extreme Humility
Originally uploaded by Exploring Orthodoxy

I found this prayer in the book, St. Benedict and St. Therese: The Little Rule and The Little Way, by Dwight Longenecker.

I share it because I have been called to "swallow my pride" a couple of times this week. I find when I begin to take my gifts seriously and think of myself as GRAND, rather that good, I am brought to my knees first in humility. Then, I am called to gratitude to my Lord for reminding me that my success is a gift given not something I MADE.

So I offer you this simple prayer:

"I asked for strength that I might achieve,
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness that I might feel my need for God."
~An Anonymous Confederate Soldier~

~*~*~*~*~
Thanks be to God!!

I have an announcement to make...

Yesterday, much to my delight, my daughter, Laura, started her blog. She has started it by sharing her family's journey to MT this past week. Please stop by and say, "Hello." Her address is Exuberance. I'm sure she'd love your visit just as I do.

Oh! Had to go back to the GreeN...Didn't realize how accustomed to it I had become. Everyone please have a grand evening!!!

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

A Bit of the Blarney: The Gift of Friendship

From A Bit of the Blarney

I just got off the phone with my dear friend, Martha. We chatted for over an hour. Yes, over an hour. Martha now lives in New Jersey and so these chats are cherished. The only thing missing was the cup of tea and the kitchen table.

Then last week I spoke with another of my dearest "sisters." She's having extensive nasal surgery tomorrow (please pray for her). And like always we laughed and talked and talked and laughed. Yes, and she now lives in Texas. So I revisited a post I wrote over a year ago The Gift of Friendship and thought I would share it again. You see, now many of you have become visitors to THIS front porch and you are all very special to me.

So, I say good week to you all and drop in any time!! You are all most welcome!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

The Seasons...

February, 2008

June, 2008

I remember the earlier picture as I took just before I left on retreat to St. Meinrad Archabbey. It was cold and icy. Miserable. Just the other day we worked to make the yard presentable for the summer. I thought to myself, we did a fine job.

I will give the seasonal rain to your land, the early rain and the late rain, that you may have your grain, wine and oil to gather in, and I will bring forth grass in your fields for your animals.Thus you will eat your fill.

Deuteronomy 11: 14-15

Then the rains did come and the tornadoes lashed out at the land and it's people. Not the gentle rain, but the harsh thunderous rain. We have friends who were evacuated from their homes because of high water. There are farmers here finally got their crops in only to find them under water. I was thinking about all those in the part of the country that have been suffering from too much water, just as those in California are suffering from the lack there of. All this concern about my flowers seems so frivolous. Grooming a garden seems so trivial, when others are suffering because they have no "garden."

In admiration, I look to the farmers and their families who yearly trust that their crops will be fruitful. When they are not they don't give up. These are hard working, faith filled people who have the courage to go on in the face of crop failure for whatever reason. These are good and honorable people. I pray that they will continue to be courageous and know that we are grateful for their sacrifice so that we might be "full."

And so I pray:

Good and gracious God, I pray for those who till the earth and raise animals to feed our bodies. Continue to watch over them as they labor in the fields. Send your Spirit to bolster their courage and determination. Provide them with the will to do your bidding. Grant that they will be provided for and be under your protection in times of trial and success. I ask all this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

For everyone and all God's graces I say,

"Thanks be to God."

and

enjoy the weekend!