Have I betrayed God?
It is hard to think about betrayal. We all want to believe we are loyal and true in our relationships. But there is confusion and difficulty when our hearts are involved. Relationships can be difficult and we need mercy and compassion to make them work.
Continue reading “Day 42: Tuesday of Holy Week. Jesus Visits the Mount of Olives/Judas Negotiates the Betrayal of Jesus “Do I live out my faith in service to others?
On this Monday of Holy Week, we follow Jesus after His triumphant entry into Jerusalem that we celebrated on Palm Sunday. Today, Jesus, along with his disciples, entered the Temple. Seeing the money changers in the Temple, Jesus overturned their tables and cleared the Temple. As related in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus stated “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves” (Luke 19:46). Part of the symbolism of Jesus’ actions that day demonstrates to us that faith is much more than outward religiosity that was taking place in the Temple; faith must bear spiritual fruit in the life, heart, and soul of each believer and be shared with others.
Continue reading “Day 41: Monday of Holy Week. Jesus Cleansing the Temple “Was I hurt today without anyone noticing?
Last year, I celebrated a work anniversary milestone. During a staff meeting, my manager presented me with a token representing my years of service and then quickly moved on to other business. I was a little surprised but did my best not to dwell on it as this is not unusual for where I work. Then, two weeks ago, one of my colleagues celebrated the same work anniversary milestone as I had the prior year, but this time, there was a big celebration and a lot of recognition for my colleague. It was hard for me not to compare the two situations and become upset by what I perceived to be disparate treatment. I was hurting but did not share that hurt with my colleagues.
Continue reading “Day 37: God Always Sees Me”What do you hear in silence?
The ideal disposition for the divine encounter is silence and alert attentiveness. The practice of interior silence gradually produces the voice in the vision and the capacity to listen. It draws the false self from its self-centeredness and allows the true self to emerge into our awareness.
Continue reading “Day 34: The Ear of the Soul”What new thoughts visited me?
Our body and mind hold onto what we tell ourselves as well as how we perceive particular situations. I’m trying to expand my emotional language and self-awareness to shift my thinking. I have always been a high energy person able to accomplish a lot, but I’ve learned to train myself to sit still, and just be.
Continue reading “Day 33: New Way of Thinking”Am I grateful for my present state in life?
We are our best selves when we are living with meaning and purpose. Everyone who breathes has a mission to accomplish. We are not sent into this world for nothing and not born at random.
Continue reading “Day 32: Serving My Purpose “What did I learn today?
There is so much information in the world today and we have relatively easy access to gather information about almost any topic by reading a book, conducting a Google search, watching a YouTube video, you name it. It is harder, though, to find the time to actually sit down and learn about a new topic, a new language, or a new skill. How do I slow down and take the time to learn something new?
Continue reading “Day 31: Effort Well Spent”Have I had any visitations from the past or the future today?
In the beautiful and haunting painting by Jules Bastien-Lepage that hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, St. Joan of Arc is shown as a young woman in the garden of her home, with the transparent figures of St. Michael the Archangel, St. Margaret, and St. Catherine hovering above her. It is believed that this painting depicts the first time that St. Joan of Arc heard the call to arms to save France (when she was about 13 years old).
Continue reading “Day 30: Divine Moments”
Did I do one thing to improve myself today?
When I was in school, it was easy to find ways to learn and grow each day. I was always finding new information to read and explore to improve my mind. I also had opportunities to exercise and stretch myself through physical education and sport activities. Attending Catholic schools provided me with ways to grow spiritually through Mass attendance, daily religious education, and exposure to priests and nuns that taught in my schools. After I graduated and began working, though, the opportunities to make myself better each day — intellectually, physically, and spiritually — were not always readily available. It takes more initiative and effort to find opportunities and engage with them so I can continue to grow and flourish.
Continue reading “Day 29: Striving to do Better”Who did I forgive today?
For those of us that live in large cities with miles and miles of freeway, it is inevitable that we have been confronted with drivers that speed, change lanes constantly, and veer into other lanes without warning. I often find myself angry and frustrated by near misses from other drivers (and have had a few uncharitable thoughts and words about other drivers). I struggled with my response and how I could better react to these situations that arise on an almost daily basis.
Continue reading “Day 28: The Gift of Forgiveness “
Smitten With Goodness 