Skip to main content
Happy New Year to you and yours. I am praying that 2011 be a great year and that millions of people are drawn to the love and grace of God our Father. I was blessed by some powerful preaching yesterday. As I sat listening to the message, I felt God's patient support and overwhelming love. Resolution number one became to pray for the Holy Spirit to rise up in all of our pastors so that the pure message of God can be heard by everyone who goes to church. After Mass, I began to think about my belief in God. What drew me to Jesus Christ? How has the Holy Spirit continued to work in my life? I realized that as a cradle Catholic, I was provided with a solid foundation that allowed me to stumble through life with the comfort that only God can provide. I was confident that God would always be there for me. It doesn't mean that my life was perfect and trouble free. Actually, I have had my share of agony and sin, but I knew that God was (and is) always there for me. So how was my faith formed and why do I trust so deeply? Part of my journey, that I think is essential for everyone, involved questioning and seeking. I don't think there is anything wrong with asking questions about God. I think it is important to be respectful and civil and I think the topic deserves a special type of inquiry. Having said that, I think it is important for us to seek as much knowledge as we can about the faith that sustains us. Very often when I see someone who denies the existence of God or describes Jesus as just a man, I find that they are not completing their argument. Frequently their logic is very flawed. I think that are stopping short and in the process denying themselves a much more fulfilling life. So this year, I will continue to question my faith process and I will concentrate on growing as a Christian. I guess that make resolution number two. I would also like to challenge you to dig deeper. Think about the what and why of your faith. Figure out why it is that you believe (or don't believe) in the truths of the Church. Allow God into this conversation. That is key. If you don't, the process is flawed and you will be doomed to failure from the outset. Begin and end every part of this growth process by talking with God. As Nicole C. Mullens says in her beautiful song I Know That My Redeemer Lives, "I spoke with Him this morning." Make that resolution number three. A daily talk with God. Here is to a blessed 2011 with a closer walk with God!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Gentle Art of Holy Surrender

In the quiet, dusty corners of our hearts, we often harbor blueprint drafts of how we think our lives should unfold. We carefully map out our timelines, hoping for a smooth path, and it is only natural to feel a bit lost or weary when a sudden storm alters our course or a door we prayed would open remains closed. Yet, our Lord does not stand at a distance during these moments of uncertainty; He is a tender Shepherd who walks beside us, gently whispering, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" ( Jeremiah 29:11). When our own plans crumble, it is not a sign that He has abandoned us, but rather an invitation to fold our hands, release our grip on the pen, and offer our own quiet fiat—letting Him guide us into green pastures we could never have found on our own. Placing our trust in His loving providence allows us to breathe deeply and find rest, even when the road ahead is shrouded in mist. E...
Post a Comment
Read more

Radical Hospitality: The Legacy of Saint Jeanne Jugan

Born during the turbulent era of the French Revolution, Saint Jeanne Jugan rose above hardship and a lack of formal schooling to become a profound vessel of Christ’s mercy. After losing her father at a young age and working through her youth as a kitchen maid and nurse, her life radically changed one freezing night when she encountered a blind, paralyzed elderly woman with nowhere to go. Jeanne carried the woman back to her own home, placed her in her own bed, and began a lifelong mission of radical hospitality. This act of profound love blossomed into the Little Sisters of the Poor , a thriving community dedicated to sheltering and honoring the destitute elderly. Despite later facing heavy trials—including being unjustly sidelined and stripped of her leadership by a controlling chaplain—Jeanne accepted her obscurity and exile with a joyful spirit, resting her complete trust in God's hidden providence until her death in 1879. In our daily lives, Saint Jeanne Jugan invites us to lo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Masterpiece of the Creator

In the Catholic tradition, the universe is not a product of random chance, but the intentional masterpiece of an all-loving God. From the sprawling galaxies to the intricate details of the microscopic world, every created thing reflects the wisdom, beauty, and power of its Divine Architect. Genesis reveals that God spoke creation into being, looking upon the cosmos and declaring it good. As Catholics, we recognize that science and faith beautifully converge here: the laws of nature are the very blueprints of the Creator, inviting us to look at the wonders around us and praise the Artist behind the canvas. Yet, the pinnacle of God's creative act is found in humanity, where He breathed His very life into the dust of the earth. Fashioned in the divine image and likeness, both man and woman possess an inherent dignity, intellect, and capacity for love that transcends the rest of creation. We are designed not merely to exist, but to be mirrors of God's communion and grace in the ...
Post a Comment
Read more