Month: January 2025

Being Loved

THE JUBILEE PRAYER

Smitten With Goodness

Father in heaven,

may the faith You have given us in Your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of Your Kingdom.

May Your grace transform us

into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.

May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation

of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of evil vanquished, Your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven.

May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth.

To You our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise forever.

Amen.

Being Loved, Uncategorized

Pulling Us Forward

Smitten With Goodness

God gives us highly evolved people to pull us all forward. The Christian word for them was simply “saint.” We cannot imagine something until we see it through a living model or archetypal figure. 
—Richard Rohr

Today we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. a man who pulled us forward as a society. A man who fought for justice and peace. A man who allowed Gods grace to flow through him to affect change and make a difference for the lives of others.

He was given the Nobel Peace Prize at 35.

He lived his values and beliefs. He made people uncomfortable. He was assassinated.

He had a dream…the same dream God has for us…to treat every human being with dignity and respect bringing love and light to the journey.

How are you pulling your marriage, family, friends, community forward?

Being Loved

Grace Be With You

Smitten With Goodness

In a recent session with my Spiritual Director, we were discussing distractions and growth in the spirit. As I commend my spirit to my Creator, grace surely follows. Enjoy the following meditation she shared with me.

GOD’S LOVE FLOWS FROM ME AS GRACE

If I understand another person’s circumstances, grace flows from me easily. But if I witness mistreatment or injustice, my capacity for understanding may shrink. In these moments when I wish to reclaim the gift of God’s grace, I turn within to open my heart.

I remember the magnificent spark of God shines in every person. People’s actions and behaviors may not always reflect their divine nature, but if I am able to see them as divine beings, I can access the healing power of grace. I still recognize when something isn’t right or fair, but I do so lovingly, holding in mind and affirming each person’s inherent value. I honor myself and my loved ones while maintaining a spirit of forgiveness, allowing kindness to surge through me.

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.

—2 Timothy 4:22

Being Loved

Calm the Chaos

Smitten With Goodness

Jesus was intentional in seeking solitude.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)

Where do you find solitude? Do you turn to things of this world or do you pray? In that quiet space with Him, we, too, can find strength and clarity to live our life, finding calm in the chaos. A place where we know we are loved.

Being Loved

Too Comfortable?

Smitten With Goodness

Choose me over your comfort.

As the One who called you to this surrendered life, I am trustworthy to guide you through it. As you lean on me and my understanding, I will empower you to walk in the way of love with every step. Submit your ways to mine, and you will find that your life is overflowing with mercy and grace. I have called you to an overcoming life, but you cannot overcome the world by your own strength. You must rely on my power at work within you to do it, and you have access to my limitless might through fellowship with my Spirit.

You have heard it said that my ways are above your human ways and my thoughts are higher than your own. This is true. I know you better than you know yourself, and I will lead you into everlasting life as you depend on me. Greater joy is yours through my Spirit-life than any you could imagine experiencing outside of me. There is fulfillment of every longing. No one can escape pain in this life, but you can also experience endless delight in me as you venture through it. So join your life to mine in full surrender today.

From I Hear His Whisper for Women written by Brian Simmons

Being Loved

Loved in the Waiting

Smitten With Goodness

God reveals himself to us in little ways and gives us time to respond.  He uses everything for our good, even the times of waiting.  It’s like waiting during pregnancy when we anticipate a new life to be born.  This is the microcosm of our life.  What are you currently waiting for: Hope, patience, community, peace?  We are assured that we are not alone in the waiting, we are loved.

Continue reading “Loved in the Waiting” →
Being Loved

Choosing Love

Smitten With Goodness

We can change, we can remake ourselves and we can rebuild our lives. How? One choice at a time.  Do you know what your role is in God’s plan? Are you firmly aware of your mission and purpose to bring the light of Christ to our world?  Our brokenness can keep us blind and searching in the darkness. I’m convinced that sometimes this is the easier path than taking a risk in doing something different.  Instead, we get stuck in the comfort of our minds and limited thoughts that narrow our possibilities.  This is exactly where the evil one wants us. 

Continue reading “Choosing Love” →
Being Loved

What Do You Adore?

Smitten With Goodness

Each year, I pick a Saint to learn more about that person’s faith journey over the year. I can’t seem to move away from our spiritual mother, Mary. I’m currently reading the daily devotionals on A Year With Mary (Paul Thigpen), as there is much richness revealed through the way Mary lived her life, fully united with God. She is the “new Eve,” and by grace, her relationship was never fractured by doubt or mistrust. 

Mary’s love brought her into perfect conformity of thought and life with her Son. Her whole life can be summed up in this one word- adoration; for adoration is the perfect service of God, and it embraces the duties of the creature towards the Creator.

This year I plan to spend more time before the Blessed Sacrament.  Last year I was being called to spend more time sitting at the feet of our Lord in the way but I rarely made the time. It was easier to do my holy hour in the comfort of my home. After making the effort and sitting before the Lord, a transformation of heart occurred. I’m learning that this is where the magic happens when I get out of the way and let God love me. Like Mary, when I adore Christ I can’t help but fall deeper in love with the one who came to save me and letting myself be loved. 

Let’s ask Mary to teach us the life of adoration. Mother Mary, Teach us to see, as you did, all the mysteries and all the graces in the Eucharist, the graces of love. Amen 

Being Loved

Freedom of Love

Smitten With Goodness

Is there anything you are struggling with? Can you use some freedom in your life? Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome on Christmas Eve to inaugurate the 2025 Jubilee of Hope. We celebrate a jubilee holy year in the biblical tradition setting aside a year acceptable to the Lord which is marked by cancellation of debt, release from labor and forgiveness of enemies.   

Continue reading “Freedom of Love” →