Dresden Maine Picture by Kathy Sheehan
Our Blog is Inspired by The Holy Spirit
Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Extraordinary Time
Jesus said to the crowd:
“They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
Emphasis mine: Luke 21:12-19
The word Perseverance jumped out at me. There were days in my life when I wished all I had to do was say a prayer and the matter would be resolved.
Easy,
But,
What would I learn?
I would learn that a quick prayer would solve my problem, and then continue to move on with my life, NOT our life.
Our whole life on earth is meant to spend time building a relationship with God.
How hard is that, and yet for me, and I am sure for many of you, it has been a slog at times.
Who introduces the thought it’s a slog?
satan!
And of course we listen, because we are inpatient for the result we are looking for, which I have found out in my older years was what I didn’t need, and what God asked me to do was absolutely the right answer.
And the best example we can give is Gail. I think we wrote about this earlier, but Gail and I met and I fell in love with her in third grade. We broke up a number of times, and when I left the Navy I went looking for someone to marry. Just when I thought I (notice the I’s) had found the right person, The Holy Spirit whispers to me to call Gail.
I did and fifty-nine years later I am a very Joyful person, and I thank God every day that I listened, and married Gail.
After we were married, I threw God under the bus and went my own way in business.
Stupid!!!!!!
If God can bring the perfect woman for me to marry, I am sure God could have run my business life and make it OUR business life, and my younger years would have been filled with Joy, as my older years have been.
As an example, just look how this blog has changed, all because of the Holy Spirit.
No pictures, to my pictures, to YOUR Pictures, sending out to those who ask Prayers to help navigate Life, Calling Cards, The Nicene Creed, none of these were my thoughts, and I am filled with Joy every time someone contacts us for more information, asks for cards or the Nicene Creed, or sends pictures. I believe it also means you are listening to the whisper of The Holy Spirit, and taking advantage of what WE have to offer.
And,
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
Prayer:
If you want to grow in Love, Joy and Peace, this is a result of growth in Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.
Sidebar:
Jim Daly at Saturday’s Faith Meeting said something that blew me away. Jim said he read in the book The Pivotal Prayer by Bishop Robert Barron.
Bishop Barron reported that St. Thomas Aquinas at Mass experienced something extraordinary during that Mass, and according to one source suspended his writing, and when pressed said he couldn’t write any more and said, “Everything I have written seems to me as straw in comparison to what I have seen.”
I, no, we had the thought for a while now, that the people trying to define God are missing the boat.
God is Infinite!
We’re not!
How can the non infinite no matter how smart they are, define the Infinite. I believe we can’t, because in defining the Infinite we are really limiting God just as the lawyer did when he asked Jesus , “Who is my neighbor?”
“Who is my neighbor” has a side set, because if Jesus includes one group he also excludes another group, and this was exactly what the lawyer was looking for.
From my humble experience in life, I believe, as I pray you all know, that the God I worship is a God of OUTRAGEOUS LOVE, and my life now is doing my Father’s will, just as Jesus did during His entire life, and on the Cross ( a truly extreme example). Never forget the muslims believe Jesus didn’t die.
And
If I imitate Jesus by doing my Father’s will, I am filled with Love, Joy and Peace.
And then maybe you will think as I now think that, “Everything I have written seems to me as straw in comparison to what I have seen, Aquines, ( to what I have enJoyed, Fred).”
Please don’t analyze God, experience the Love, Joy and Peace God is only too willing to impart on you when you make the change and put God your Father in charge of your life.
In case you’re thinking that this was a unique experience for St. Thomas, we would refer you to the book of Job where Job says:
But I would speak with the Almighty;
I want to argue with God. Job 13: 3
Twenty-seven Chapters later, The Lord then answered Job and said:
Will one who argues with the Almighty be corrected?
Let him who would instruct God give answer!
Then Job answered the Lord and said:
Look, I am of little account; what can I answer you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
I have spoken once, I will not reply;
twice, but I will do so no more.
Job 40: 1-5
You see, in the presence of God, in a vision, Aquinas, or physically, Job, growing in Love, Joy and Peace, Fred – God’s awesome presence makes you understand how small and stupid we ALL are.
Where are you?
Picture:
During this month of remembrance in the church following All Souls Day, I thought this photo was especially poignant. It is a reminder of the beautiful task we have of praying for the departed souls that have gone before us. The photo was taken In Dresden, Maine.
Picture by Kathy Sheehan
Note: We are showing this picture at Thanksgiving because we should be thankful to everyone who preceded us and gave us our wonderful religion, and our love for God.
Please keep Snapping!
And if you want the ten calling cards shown above, email me and I will send you my address, send me a STAMPED self-addressed envelope and I will send you ten cards.
The offer for the cards is for American readers only. The Post office won’t accept foreign stamps.
If you want a copy of the prayers we discussed.
And or
If you want a copy of our version of The Nicene Creed in our book, not the book, I believe.
Send an email to: fprince101@gmail.com
Remember, if you want to submit a picture, please do not include people. We have to get permission from that person to use their photograph.
