A Daily Moment Of Grace

For about ten months I have subscribed to an email list that sends a daily message of hope and encouragement to my walk of faith.

Each of these quotes comes from a Saint or other inspirational person who has lived in the world. There have been moments when the message spoke exactly to where my life was at that point in time; as if the Divine Physician were sending a healing balm meant just for me. At other moments the message has been one that has challenged me to be better, stronger, and more radical in my call to follow not only God's will, but the universal call to holiness, peace and sisterhood/brotherhood.


Yesterday, for instance was one of those days when the message hit me like a celestial arrow considering what happened in Texas at Fort Hood. The message was this:

Let us not tire of preaching love;

it is the force that will overcome the world.

- Archbishop Oscar Romero (1917-1980) Martyr

And if that weren't enough balm for a weary soul, We just had to look to Wednesday's message to find our marching orders:

The good we accomplish is not through the action of ourselves, as
much as it is through the spiritual pressure of God's grace. All we have to do
is create a vacuum, to count ourselves as nothing, and immediately God fills our
soul with His power and truth. - Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

I just wanted to share something with all of you that has helped me so much and takes such a little moment of my time each day to read and absorb. If you would like for this email to brighten your day just click on the link below give them your email address and hit the subscribe button. .and start receiving a moment of grace each day.

Daily Blessings

GoodNews.net has many other lists that you may join if you like, just go to their main website and you can find many others from which to choose.



Pax

What a Wednesday

Yesterday I went to visit my mom in her nursing home because today is her 83rd birthday. She is in fine spirits for a woman who can no longer walk or talk or carry on conversations. She talks a lot more than she used to (probably because they have reduced her anti-anxiety meds to almost nothing) but still her words aren't very conversational.

The funniest thing that happened yesterday (rather sad but funny). The entire time I was there visiting a new resident across the hall was just sobbing uncontrollably about having to be in the nursing home . After about fifteen minutes mom actually said, "She really needs to shut up." It was the most purposeful thing mom had said in over two years.

With my mother-in-love in the hospital after her TIA over the weekend, and making sure she has what she needs from her house and taking care of the kids, my week has been packed. I want to apologize about not having a Mystic Monday post this week. I am sure that at least two of my loyal readers are sad at not getting to find out about some obscure mystic from the third century.

I do want to share something I have been reading with you, but I am not sure that this person would be considered a mystic although I find some of what I have read in this wonderful little book to be quite mystical in its simplicity. I happen to be reading Jean-Piere de Caussade S.J. Book (actually a Kitty Muggeridge translation ) called The Sacrament of the Present Moment)which was written in the 1700's .

This is the section that I read this week that has given me great hope:

May others , Lord, multiply their prayers and supplications. I ask but one thing. I offer up this prayer to you: "Grant me a pure heart!" O pure heart, how blessed you are! You find God in the strength of your own faith, see him in all things at all times in and around you. You are his subject and his instrument. He guides and brings you to your destination. Often you do not think; but he is thinking for you. Whatever happens to you is ordained by him. All he asks is your willingness . In your bewilderment you don't understand this longing in yourself, but he does. Ah, how simple you are!


This has been my way of praying for the last few years. I don't have to know or understand how or why things are happening in my life because I know that God has a plan and that plan is for good even if I can't see how that good will come about because of the pain and suffering that I might be going through at this moment. If I trust in God's mercy and love everything will work out the way God intends for it to so long as I move with God's will.

Thursday May 21st is mrangelmeg and my 26th wedding anniversary. We are going to try to go out to dinner in between work and kids and visiting mother-in-love at the hospital.

Oh and Friday the angelbaby turns 13 and is having some friends over for a sleepover. Won't that be fun? A basement full of teen-age girls after a week of less than stellar sleep. We must be crazy, but we had the sleepover planned before other things happened and mom should be more stable by then.

Pax

Today's Mass Readings November 5, 2008

It is an amazing God-incidence that we got these particular readings after last night's election results:

Father Bill's homily was focused on the fact that if we complain about the outcome of a situation then we are saying that we know better than God how things should work out. True Faith is to be able to accept whatever outcome happens without grumbling.

I wonder if I could get a fifteen minute window for grumbling? Then I think I would be okay.


Reading 1
Phil 2:12-18My beloved, obedient as you have always been,not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent,work out your salvation with fear and trembling.For God is the one who, for his good purpose,works in you both to desire and to work.Do everything without grumbling or questioning,that you may be blameless and innocent,children of God without blemishin the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,among whom you shine like lights in the world,as you hold on to the word of life,so that my boast for the day of Christ may bethat I did not run in vain or labor in vain.But, even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith,I rejoice and share my joy with all of you.In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.

Responsorial PsalmPs 27:1, 4, 13-14.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;whom should I fear?
RThe LORD is my life’s refuge;of whom should I be afraid?

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

One thing I ask of the LORD;this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORDall the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORDand contemplate his temple.

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORDin the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.


GospelLk 14:25-33
Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,and he turned and addressed them,“If anyone 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 mecannot be my disciple.Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say,‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away,he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

Pax