September 14, 2016 - Wednesday

Then his mother and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.”
He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” (Luke 8:19-21 NABRE)

I've approached this final blog post with a mixture of emotions, but it is clear to me that there are two topics I want to discuss: Family and Mercy. And both of these only make sense to me by the work of the Holy Spirit of God.


Family

In today's passage we learn that the family of Jesus is not constituted by physical relationship with him but by obedience to the word of God.* And this is something that should bind us together as family. Despite our many differences, when we hear the word of God and act on it, we become brothers and sisters of Jesus himself. Imagine it, Jesus tells us we have a family and he is our brother, and that is why we call God our Father!

And when you think about family, many things come to mind, but perhaps when we scratch beneath the surface just a bit--because it can be deceiving, we can see that the strength of family begins with faith and honesty, trust and love.


Mercy

And God's greatest attribute is mercy. Mercy is what we need most in this life. And in his mercy which has no limit or boundary, the Lord offers us forgiveness for all the times we hurt and ignore him. Can we ask him for this?

During this Jubilee Year of Mercy, may we learn to share God's mercy with others. May we show forgiveness to those who have hurt or ignored us and who do not deserve mercy. May we show them this true forgiveness, rooted in the love and example of Jesus himself.


God's Spirit

And it is by turning things over to God, who by the power of his Spirit, enables us to offer forgiveness and mercy to others who hurt or ignore us. And we do this because that's what our brother Jesus tells us to do. To let go of our anger, bitterness, pride, jealousy, ego, vengefulness, stubbornness, or simple bad attitude. To set aside the wrong done to us. To forgive first. It is only by God's Spirit that we can do this. And it works. It is the true power of God himself, brought to life in this world, by each one of us.

May each of us bring a little more of God's power to life each day by acting on the prompting of the Spirit within, with the same trust that Jesus had. Pray about it, then act.


This Gift

A final few thoughts.

Thank you Lord for this gift!

The opportunity to write this blog and to share this experience with others has been a gift to me, and I have always considered it a gift to my children. Writing a thousand blog posts has been a journey of learning and trusting, of praying and feeling, of talking and listening internally. It has brought me great joy, far beyond the cost of a little time and a little sleep!

We've had people join us from around the United States, Indonesia, France, Russia, Germany, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and Vietnam. We've had over 25,000 page views, and I'm grateful to know that in many cases, people encountered the Lord for a few minutes during their busy days. Wow! I think that is an awesome blessing!

The blog survived largely because of the patience and encouragement of my amazing wife! A daily writing discipline is extraordinarily challenging! If you've ever experienced a moment of peace or insight as a result of reading something here, know that she has been an unwavering anchor for me and a regular sounding board throughout the process. She has blessed us all!

The inspiration for this blog was the desire to remind all my children, each day, that the Lord waits for each of us, that He has a plan for us, and that he never forgets us even when we forget him! The idea to write each day grew out of a Christmas gift given to me, a desktop calendar with a daily scripture verse. My thoughts and prayers each morning were guided by the daily calendar verse.

Yes. Writing here has been a gift, but the real gift we are all given is the one from Jesus. It is the gift of faith in him that leads to eternal life. Too many people leave this present all wrapped up and sitting under the tree instead of opening it for themselves. Have you opened yours yet? If you haven't, why not pick up your present right now and open it! See what is inside for you!

Thank you to everyone who has shared this journey with me. I pray you will continue to grow in your faith walk and that you find the counsel of the Holy Spirit of God always leads you to Jesus and to the Father's will.


What Next?

I will continue to read these entries myself, meditating on the verses and learning from the saints. I encourage you to do the same. I suggest two ways of continuing.

1. On any given date, you will find two or three entries for that date. Consider reading them together, open to what might come to mind.
2. Use the search feature to find posts on a particular topic. Search "joy," "peace," or "fruits," for example, and spend some time with the search results, again, open to what comes to mind. Search the word "trust" for a really powerful starting point!

Today, on this Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, I will turn to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, grateful for their example of trust and faithfulness which has inspired me for more than half a century, their responsiveness to the Holy Spirit which has shown me it is possible, and their continuing intercession on our behalf, which overwhelms me with a burning desire to share in the joy and peace they know in the eternal presence of Our Father.


Saint Joseph, husband of Mary, pray for us.

Mary, Mother of our Lord, Our Lady of Sorrows, Queen of Heaven, pray for us.

Thank you, merciful Jesus, who has prayed for us, who died for us, and who reaches out to us even now with your merciful heart, how could we thank you well enough? How could we praise you well enough?

Holy Family with the Lamb - Raphael

September 13, 2016 - Tuesday

As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
Now the body is not a single part, but many. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14 NABRE)

Perhaps the most rewarding part of this blog, for me personally, has been a closer relationship with the Holy Spirit. Spending time each and every morning in quiet reflection and prayer has opened my heart to the whispers of the Spirit which are available to us. Led to write this blog by the Spirit. Led to share each day. And led to begin a new journey, I ask you to turn to the same Spirit who was Jesus' guide. Let the Spirit lead you.

Let the Spirit of God lead you to the will of God for your life, for your day, for each minute. Let him console you when you need comfort. Let him challenge you when you become complaisant. Let him fill you when you are thirsty. I truly believe that it is by our yielding to the Spirit that we find our role in Christ's body. It is by cooperating with the Spirit that we find strength and joy. It is by joining with the Spirit that we encounter the eternal in this temporal life. The Spirit of God is what binds us together. The Holy Spirit is unity itself.

Let us always believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, and who has spoken through the prophets.*


Today, I will pray for all who have joined me here, that the Lord will light your heart with his Spirit, that his gifts will abound in your heart, and that his fruits will ripen in you so that others may share in them. Amen.


Saint John Chrysostom, patron of orators, preachers, and speakers, pray for us.

Please continue to join your prayers with mine, for a daily minute of reflection. 

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) 

May our joining reflect our deep desire to have Jesus in our midst.

The Last Suppoer, Leonardo daVinci

September 12, 2016 - Monday

Sacrifice and offering you do not want;
you opened my ears.
Holocaust and sin-offering you do not request;
so I said, “See; I come
with an inscribed scroll written upon me.
I delight to do your will, my God;
your law is in my inner being!” (Psalm 40:7-9 NABRE)

The Psalmist hits on an idea in today's passage that obedience is better than sacrifice.* And yet, the two are linked in Christ's sacrifice of his own body as a complete repayment for all our sins.

So what is it that God wants from me? I like the references which are somewhat "between the lines" of today's passage. David tells us that God has implanted his law within each of us and he wants us to pay attention to it.

And so, to know ourselves means to recognize our weaknesses and our inclination to turn away from God, and then to take decisive action based on what God places on our hearts to help us work against our weaknesses.

Lord my God, help me to push against my own weaknesses and shortcomings. I know them and they are many. By your Spirit, guide me, lead me, push me in the direction of your will. Expose to me all my selfish thoughts, my hurtful words, and my destructive actions so that I might reject them, turn my effort to you, and change the harmful patterns of my life. Lord, I say I want a relationship with you, but so often I reject you and your call. I am not good at being obedient. Thank you for your patience with me. Thank you for your encouragement. I will join David in opening my ears to what you have written on my heart.


Today, I will pray the rosary for peace and healing among all people.


On this Feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin, Mary, please pray for us.

There are just 2 days remaining in this shared prayer journey of ours. Please continue to join your prayers with mine here, for a daily minute of reflection. As Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) Though we gather together online, may our joining here reflect our deep desire to have Jesus in our midst.

September 11, 2016 - Sunday

This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost.
But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16 NABRE)

Saul persecuted Christians and oversaw their imprisonment. He sought to eradicate them, and he saw it as his duty to God.

We now call him Saint Paul. We marvel at his conversion, his change of heart. And we should realize that as a result of the change which was brought about in him that he is a model for each of us. Paul describes his former self in this way, "I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man." (1 Timothy 1:13) In today's passage, he goes so far as to say he is the worst of all sinners!

And his conversion is our hope! God's mercy is for all of us, right down to the very worst one. Let us pray for a change of heart--a conversion of heart and mind--for ourselves and for all people who have not yet come to know and accept the truth about Jesus Christ.


Today, I will pray the rosary for peace and healing among all people.


Saint Cyprian, important in the development of Christian thought and practice in the third century, pray for us.

There are just 3 days remaining in this shared prayer journey of ours. Please continue to join your prayers with mine here, for a daily minute of reflection. As Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) Though we gather together online, may our joining here reflect our deep desire to have Jesus in our midst.

September 10, 2016 - Saturday

How can I repay the LORD
for all the great good done for me?
I will raise the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD. (Psalm 116:12-13 NABRE)

Today is a great day to sit with this verse. Without describing context or subtle nuance of meaning. Let's spend our few minutes today thankful to the Lord for the good he has done for us. And let us make a real gesture, something out of the ordinary, as a sign of our gratitude.


Today, I will thank the Lord for all he has done for me.


Saint Thomas of Villanova, whose life reminds us to pay attention to how we look to Christ rather than to other people, pray for us.

There are just 4 days remaining in this shared prayer journey of ours. Please continue to join your prayers with mine here, for a daily minute of reflection. As Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) Though we gather together online, may our joining here reflect our deep desire to have Jesus in our midst.

September 9, 2016 - Friday

Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.
No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.
(1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NABRE)

When Saint Paul writes that we should "Take care not to fall," it is in the context of a lengthy comparison he is making to the Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt and lost faith in God during their desert journey. The point of the whole comparison with Israel is to caution against overconfidence, a sense of complete security. This warning is immediately balanced by a reassurance, based, however, on God.*

In the verses leading up to today's passage, Paul tells us not [to] desire evil things as they did, not [to] become idolaters, not [to] indulge in immorality. And not [to] grumble. Simply put he tells us not [to] test Christ.

With his reminder that we will be tested, we should simply remember not to become overconfident in our own abilities. We should, instead, trust in God who will always provide a way out of every trial--meaning we should look for it, ask for it, seek it.

Today, I will remember to seek God's way out of every trial, not mine.


Saint Peter Claver, whose life makes us aware of our own barely used potential and of our need to open ourselves more to the jolting power of Jesus' Spirit, pray for us.

There are just 5 days remaining in this shared prayer journey of ours. Please continue to join your prayers with mine here, for a daily minute of reflection. As Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) Though we gather together online, may our joining here reflect our deep desire to have Jesus in our midst.

September 8, 2016 - Thursday

She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:21-23 NABRE)

Have you ever considered your purpose in life? How about where it comes from? For Joseph and Mary, their purpose was explained to them in today's passage as a fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. And, as crazy and as frightening as it seemed to them, they did as they were instructed by the angel of God.

Two huge things strike me about this encounter. First, that each one of us has a purpose planned by God. And second, that we each have the option to accept or reject our heaven-appointed purpose.


Today, I will open my heart to be led to an understanding of my purpose, and I will choose to step out in faith in order to pursue that purpose.


On this Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, Mary, please pray for us.

There are just 6 days remaining in this shared prayer journey of ours. Please continue to join your prayers with mine here, for a daily minute of reflection. As Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) Though we gather together online, may our joining here reflect our deep desire to have Jesus in our midst.

The Heart of Mary - Leopold Kupelwieser

September 7, 2016 - Wednesday

I tell you, brothers, the time is running out. From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning,
those using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7:29-31 NABRE)

Paul advises Christians to go about the ordinary activities of life in a manner different from those who are totally immersed in them and unaware of their transitoriness.*

..the world in its present form is passing away. That is very dramatic. Scary if you stop and think about it. We are familiar with individuals passing away. It is sad for family. But this is orders of magnitude more. Everything is passing away.

Saint Paul, indeed much of the early Church, had as strong sense of Jesus' imminent return. They clearly expected to see him return during their lifetime, bringing with him the promise of a new order.

Do we really expect Jesus? Are we excited to see him? How will we welcome him if he comes tomorrow?! Are we willing to wait, and live each day knowing that this world is not all there is, that in fact, it is passing away? How should this change how we spend our time, talent, and treasure?


Today, I will seek to remember that this life is temporary, and to live aware of the eternal one to come.


Blessed Frédéric Ozanam,  convinced of the inestimable worth of each human being, pray for us.

There are just 7 days remaining in this shared prayer journey of ours. Please continue to join your prayers with mine here, for a daily minute of reflection. As Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) Though we gather together online, may our joining here reflect our deep desire to have Jesus in our midst.

September 6, 2016 - Tuesday

In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12 NABRE)

Have you ever stayed up all night talking? How about a long drive, talking about everything you are planning?

There is something so intimate and special about those conversations. Sometimes they are important because of what's being discussed. Other times they are important simply because they are. They build relationships.

Jesus had a relationship with God, so praying all night (which sounds nearly impossible to us) was a natural expression of their closeness.

Are we close to God? Do we really think of him as Our Father?


Today, I will remember Jesus' invitation to call God Father, and I will spend time in conversation with him.


Blessed Claudio Granzotto, whose "holiness was especially radiant in [your] acceptance of suffering and death in union with Christ’s Cross, pray for us.

There are just 8 days remaining in this shared prayer journey of ours. Please continue to join your prayers with mine here, for a daily minute of reflection. As Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) Though we gather together online, may our joining here reflect our deep desire to have Jesus in our midst.

September 5, 2016 - Monday

LORD, guide me in your justice because of my foes;
make straight your way before me. (Psalm 5:9 NABRE)

When I pray, it seems more often than not I am asking the Lord for some help. As I read Psalm 5, I notice that David does this as well. Here, he asks for guidance and direction in the face of the evils of this world, something I also need so often.  Lord, give me guidance and direction today.

David was surrounded by, and aware of, great evil. It moved around him, we might say, in men who did wicked and violent things, were arrogant, liars and cheats. Deeply aware of this, and how it could affect him, he calls on the Lord to protect not only himself, but all who trust in God.

Psalm 5, this song of David is a lament contrasting the security of the house of God with the danger of the company of evildoers. The psalmist therefore prays that God will hear and grant the protection and joy of the Temple.*

We can sense the near desperation in David's tone, and the certainty of protection which his trust in God brings. Lord, grant me the grace to trust in you even when I am surrounded by evil and suffering.


Today, I will pray the rosary for Pope Francis, his intentions, and for the Church.


Saint Teresa of Calcutta, declared a saint yesterday, whose love for the Eucharist, for prayer and for the poor gives us a model to emulate, pray for us.

There are just 9 days remaining in this shared prayer journey of ours. Please continue to join your prayers with mine here, for a daily minute of reflection. As Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) Though we gather together online, may our joining here reflect our deep desire to have Jesus in our midst.

biography.com

September 4, 2016 - Sunday

If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26-7, 33 NABRE)

Jesus' words to the great crowds travelling with him are stark, jarring, even harsh and uncompromising. This collection of sayings, most of which are peculiar to Luke, focuses on the total dedication necessary for the disciple of Jesus. No attachment to family or possessions can stand in the way of the total commitment demanded of the disciple. Also, acceptance of the call to be a disciple demands readiness to accept persecution and suffering and a realistic assessment of the hardships and costs.* The disciple’s family must take second place to the absolute dedication involved in following Jesus.*

Lord Jesus, show me how to balance my life, to answer your call, and to live in such a way that you desire. Unite my heart with my actions so that I might not be distracted from you. Join my will to my words in such a way that I will never forget the Father's divine will. Help me, Jesus, to see the attachments of this world for what they truly are, gifts from you. May I see your light in each gift, each person, each moment, each little joy. May they all be a small foretaste of the joy of your eternal presence. And may I not place my trust and confidence in the attachments of this world, creating idols for myself and placing them ahead of you. I thank you, Jesus, for the challenge of your words. Help me to live today as your disciple in my place and time.


Today, I will remember that each person I encounter is a gift to me from God.


Saint Rose of Viterbo, eighteen-year-old whose dying words to her parents were, "I die with joy, for I desire to be united to my God. Live so as not to fear death. For those who live well in the world, death is not frightening, but sweet and precious," pray for us.

There are just 10 days remaining in this shared prayer journey of ours. Please continue to join your prayers with mine here, for a daily minute of reflection. As Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) Though we gather together online, may our joining here reflect our deep desire to have Jesus in our midst.

September 3, 2016 - Saturday

My mouth will speak the praises of the LORD;
all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever. (Psalm 145:21 NABRE)

Psalm 145, what a beautiful song! The singer invites all to praise God. The “works of God” make God present and invite human praise; they climax in a confession which we read in today's verse. God’s mighty acts show forth divine kingship, a major theme in the literature of early Judaism and in Christianity.*

Today, I will praise God. I will thank Jesus. And I will listen for their Holy Spirit.


Saint Gregory the Great, Pope, Doctor of the Church, and patron of England and teachers, pray for us.

There are just 11 days remaining in this shared prayer journey of ours. Please continue to join your prayers with mine here, for a daily minute of reflection. As Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) Though we gather together online, may our joining here reflect our deep desire to have Jesus in our midst.

September 2, 2016 - Friday

Trust in the LORD and do good
that you may dwell in the land and live secure.
Find your delight in the LORD
who will give you your heart’s desire.
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will act
And make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like noonday. (Psalm 37:3-6 NABRE)

In this song of David, we hear him call us repeatedly to trust in the Lord. He urges us to find our delight in the Lord. And he encourages us to commit our ways to the Lord.

When we trust in him, we gain all we need. When we delight in him, we find satisfaction. When we commit our actions to him, we get his aid.


Today, I will trust in the Lord, find delight in him, and commit my actions to him.


Blessed John Francis Burté and Companions, victims of the French Revolution, whose martyrdom reminds us of the importance of religious freedom, pray for us.

There are just 12 days remaining in this shared prayer journey of ours. Please continue to join your prayers with mine here, for a daily minute of reflection. As Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) Though we gather together online, may our joining here reflect our deep desire to have Jesus in our midst.

September 1, 2016 - Thursday

Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool so as to become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written:
“He catches the wise in their own ruses,”
and again:
“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.” (1 Corinthians 3:18-20 NABRE)

In my mind, these words of Saint Paul add to those of Isaiah the prophet who spoke these words:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways—oracle of the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
my thoughts higher than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Intellectual certainty worries me when it depends only on the observable and repeatable physical phenomena of this creation. It includes, in my thinking, those who would close themselves to possibilities simply because they have not yet encountered a proof which appears to have a sufficient basis in fact.

When we close ourselves to mystery, we resist God. We resist truth that exceeds fact. We often dig in and push against even our own experience at times. Why?

The essence and simple opportunity which Jesus offers you and I is this: If we will just trust in him, rather than in our own limited thinking, he will be there for us! Free. Anytime. Right now!

And so if your days get difficult, take Jesus' free gift when he says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) He will keep his promise!


Today, I will welcome the opportunity to be considered a fool in order to gain wisdom.


Saint Giles, patron of beggars and the disabled, pray for us.

There are just 13 days remaining in this shared prayer journey of ours. Please continue to join your prayers with mine here, for a daily minute of reflection. As Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) Though we gather together online, may our joining here reflect our deep desire to have Jesus in our midst.