Pentecost

On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
John 20:19-23 (NAB)

Prayer

Dear Father you sent them Jesus and Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit to continue the work of love and forgiveness. You sent them tongues of fire to teach them so they too can teach others. May we also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, to learn to grow and to love and forgive our neighbors. May our hearts burn with the desire to forgive the smallest of transgressions as the Father forgives us. May we live in peace and love and live the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you.

(from the archives)

Forever and Always

The Ascension of the Lord

The eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
Then Jesus approached and said to them,
“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20 (NAB)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father even after these many years we can say that Jesus is still with us as are you. We receive him in the Eucharist where the truth speaks loudly of his presence. Even remarkable is the fact that we have done as he asks and baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Praise God we listened and did what was commanded of us. At least in this regard we have done good. But the part of knowing that he truly is with us for always, always touches the deepest part our lives. We have grown since the time of the disciples in more ways than one. Our faith had become a central means to the belief in what Jesus suffered for us. It is the belief that he is present with us at our Masses, in our Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, in the Tabernacles but most especially in those we meet each day. He will be with us until the end of time, just like when we declare that vow to those we love in our letters, Forever and Always he will always be. That is the beauty of the Divine.

Holy Spirit

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church

And the scribes who were come down from Jerusalem, said: He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of devils he casteth out devils. And after he had called them together, he said to them in parables: How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan be risen up against himself, he is divided, and cannot stand, but hath an end. No man can enter into the house of a strong man and rob him of his goods, unless he first bind the strong man, and then shall he plunder his house. Amen I say to you, that all sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and the blasphemies wherewith they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, shall never have forgiveness, but shall be guilty of an everlasting sin. Because they said: He hath an unclean spirit.
Mark 3:22-30 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father they said Jesus had an unclean spirit, and since you are part of Jesus and the Holy Spirit is part of both of you, then what Jesus said is true. The Holy Spirit is a very big part of you and Jesus and it's sad when anyone blasphemes against the Holy Spirit. Jesus took offense and I don't blame him either. Don't we defend our families when anyone says anything bad or against them. Sometimes we might overlook a grievance about a brother or a sister, but when it is aimed at a loving parent, then that's altogether different. They are not just role models, but the very essence of family. The Holy Spirit is the essence of the Holy Family and woe to anyone who seeks to blaspheme against him. Jesus said it best.

Thursday of the Third Week of Advent

Advent Prayer

Father in heaven, our hearts desire the warmth of your love and our minds are searching for the light of your Word. Increase our longing for Christ our Savior and give us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of his coming may find us rejoicing in his presence and welcoming the light of his truth. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.


When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
Luke 1:41-42

Reflection:
What a joyous greeting Elizabeth gave our Holy Mother all because the child within her womb leapt when she saw Mary.

Elizabeth knew our savior will come from this special young girl who was sent to help her. Elizabeth also has been chosen to bear a son who will lead the way for this child who will be born unto Mary. One a prophet, one a savior from two different women. God is good to give to us an accounting of this witness for our Holy Mother Mary.

Out of this we have a wonderful devotion to two special women who delivered two men who each have a special part in God's plan. John the Baptist as we know baptises us with water, but the one who comes after him will baptise with fire.

Let our devotion to Saint Elizabeth and to Our Holy Mother, open our hearts to the coming of the Lord. As with Elizabeth let us prepare for the arrival or our savior. As her son John tell us to prepare ye the way of the Lord.

And Mary let us also rejoice with joy for in her womb is the fruit of our hearts.

Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent

Advent Prayer

Father, all-powerful God, your eternal Word took flesh on our earth when the Virgin Mary placed her life at the service of your plan. Lift our minds in watchful hope to heart the voice which announces his glory and open our minds to receive the Spirit who prepares us for his coming. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.


Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.
Isaiah 7:7

Reflection:
What a prophecy at the time of Isaiah of the Blessed Virgin Mary's calling from God. In today's reading we reflect upon her "YES" to the angel Gabriel's request to bear God's son. It was foretold long ago, yet it seems as if it were yesterday.

We take this time of year to reflect upon God's will in the life of a special woman whom he chose to bear his son. A son who is named Emmanuel which the name implies "God with us." Mary found favor with God because she loved him and kept him always within her sight.

Our Blessed Mother has also become a mother to us throughout the years, for her love and goodness. We all cherish her in our hearts, for her love for God and her love for her Son. What mother would not go to the ends of the earth to bring peace for the sake of her Son. And Mary does exactly that.

She had the courage to say yes to an Angel, to be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. Could we do that if it was asked of us? If we were asked to do God's will by his messenger what would our answer be?

Monday of the Third Week of Advent

Advent Prayer

Father, all-powerful God, your eternal Word took flesh on our earth when the Virgin Mary placed her life at the service of your plan. Lift our minds in watchful hope to heart the voice which announces his glory and open our minds to receive the Spirit who prepares us for his coming. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.


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.
Matthew 1:21-22

Reflection:
And to think Joseph almost let Mary go all because God, through the Holy Spirit, gave her a child to be our savior.

The prophets foretold Jesus' coming long ago. He came, and we have witnessed his saving grace since then. Jesus delivers us from our sins, he restores our faith and brings love to our hearts. This little child of love that the Holy Spirit gave to Mary to entrust within her womb for us has taught us the value of life.

Her womb is sacred for she held within, a life that would save the world from itself. Many mothers today who have born a child know how precious this little life is. How for nine months it was nurtured within a body of love. For Mary to receive this special gift of love from God is an act of love on her part for accepting God's love in a way many of us would destroy a life.

Jesus will born because Mary loved him from conception. This special gift should remind us of how we sin when we destroy a life within, that was put there by the grace of God for us to nurture.

Jesus' coming birth is a reminder that he comes to save. Think about his birth and the grace God gave Mary. What about many out there who did not choose to be pregnant, but are. They are special for the life within them, don't destroy your soul by killing a life that is filled with love from God.