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 “How did I praise God today?
As we contemplate Holy Week on this Palm Sunday, we must remember what our Lord endured for our salvation. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin on the altar of the cross and washed away our sins with His blood. We must also recognize our responsibility to ask for forgiveness for the sin in our life. For it is sin, big and small, that made Christ suffer the torment of the cross. Our crucified Lord on the cross is a vivid image of His love for us. Meditating on His Passion strengthens us against temptation, moves us to frequent confession, and keeps us on the path of salvation. Through our praise, we give away ourselves and live in the right order. Jesus gave His all for you and me but can we really say we do the same in return?
Continue reading “Day 40: Palm Sunday. Jesus’ Triumphant Entry Into Jerusalem”What touched my heart today?
In the midst of my busy days, I sometimes fail to take the time to stop and appreciate all of the beauty and gifts around me. Like all of us, I try to keep up with many things — prayer time, meetings, appointments, emails, phone calls, meetings, etc. — but I often feel that I am missing something important.
Continue reading “Day 38: Opening My Heart to God’s Blessings”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”
Do I practice gratitude in my daily life?
It can be easy to take for granted all of the many blessings and gifts that God has given me, and focus instead on what I do not have or on negative events in my life. At times, I feel like the blind man in the Gospel, not physically unable to see, but blinded by impatience, anger, indifference or thoughtlessness to the beauty and graces provided to me by God. To open up my eyes (and heart), I started a gratitude journal and followed the prompt to note five items or events to be thankful for each day. I feel the scales falling from my eyes and my heart growing as I learn to identify and focus on both the great and small gifts in my life.
Continue reading “Day 36: Grateful for Today”Have you learned the holy habit of gratitude?
Saint Francis lived with his heart wide, open to receive the ever-glowing gift of God ‘s love in every single reality – from the smile of a friend to the smell of a flower to the whisper of a refreshing breeze. His life, his words, desires, actions, and decisions became a song of thankfulness to the god of infinite goodness. Gratitude so filled his soul that it crowded out anxieties, doubts, and sorrows.
Continue reading “Day 35: Attitude of Gratitude”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 “
Smitten With Goodness 