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When something bad happens to us, we can become full of anger, fear, self-pity, bitterness and many other negative things. It's not that we should feel flippantly indifferent to what has happened and slap on a happy face and pretend nothing happened. But, most often, we become full of these negative emotions. Sometimes, it's not even that something really bad has happened to us, but that we just aren't pleased with how our life is going. All this does is paralyze us, keeps us stagnant or, worse, causes us to spiral down into utter despair. With Hallow, we've been praying a simple prayer from Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart. The first part of the prayer is... Lord, empty me. Empty me of hatred and bitterness, of selfishness and laziness, of rage and revenge, of fear and my own will. We need to be emptied of all these things before God can move into the space of our soul and do the good work that only He can do. It can be a bit scary to be left bare without all the negative things that we've used to cope, but if we trust in God, He will not leave us bare and empty. During this Holy Week, Catholic Pilgrims, let us pray to be emptied of all that holds us back from shining brightly. Have a blessed Monday of Holy Week.
Continue ReadingHonor is one of the four false idols that Thomas Aquinas writes about in the Summa. Honor isn't bad in and of itself. It is good to give honor to people that deserve it. But, when we want it to prop up our ego, then it becomes a dangerous thing. Many years ago, when I was substitute teaching, I asked the high schoolers that I was teaching what they wanted to be someday. Nearly all of them said, "Famous." Some wanted to be famous athletes, some actors, and some didn't know what they wanted to be famous for, all they knew is that they wanted to be famous. What is it about honor and fame? Well, it makes us feel like we've achieved something. We just might make it in the history books and our name will live on forever. A great fear for many of us is that we will leave this world and be forgotten in an instant. What will it all have meant if that is the case? If we can be famous and honored, we think we have actually achieved something worthwhile. Up until today, Jesus hasn't wanted too much notoriety. He's performed miracles and told people not to tell. Some miracles He's performed for just a small crowd. He's carefully drawing attention to Himself, but not too much. Then, with the raising of Lazarus, the cat is out of the bag. Word is going to spread and spread fast and this is a miracle where Jesus doesn't say "keep it on the down low." Because now is His time. This leads to the honor and praise He receives on Palm Sunday. Jesus doesn't need it, but He allows it so that prophecies can be fulfilled. Eventually, in time, people will connect the dots and realize just Who He is exactly. Jesus doesn't need the honor, but He deserves it more than anyone. Here on Palm Sunday, the crowd rightly gives praise and honor to the King of Kings. They might not fully realize the magnitude of Who He is, but they still recognize that He is worthy of honor. May we always seek to do good so that God might be honored and praised through our actions, not in order to satisfy our own selfish wants, Catholic Pilgrims. It is He who should receive all honor and glory. Have a blessed Palm Sunday.
Continue ReadingI find it hard to believe that Lent is nearly over. This year it has flown by for me. Here we are almost at April and it feels like we just celebrated Christmas a few weeks back. Things that I learned over this Lent. 1. Our base priest had to leave for the entire Lenten season for training and so we haven't had Daily Mass on base. I have felt that loss intensely and I'm very much looking forward to our priest being back. What an unfortunate time for Daily Mass to be taken away. I live in the middle of nowhere on a base in the desert and this made it feel even more stripped down and desert-y. But, it has made my soul yearn even more for Christ. 2. I learned something about myself with regards to exercise. I've been trying to exercise every day for Lent. Before Covid, I had been working out for years in the gym. That's where I like to be. But, gyms were shut down and I lost my habit which was a bit jarring. Then, we moved to Turkey and exercise, other than walking, is not really a part of their culture, so I still struggled to get my habit back. Once we moved back to the States, my son was at the age where he was too old for child care at any gym, but too young to be out in the gym, so that didn't work. I've been trying ever since to get that habit back, but I always just feel frustrated. Finally, I realized that I've been trying to go back to how I worked out in my early 20s. My expectation has been that I have to go back to intense workouts, but I don't have that desire. So, I changed my expectations for a late 40s woman and that has made a huge difference. All this to say, sometimes to make things work--praying, working out, reading, etc., we need to reevaluate and change things up if our stage of life calls for it. 3. Fasting is the craziest thing: I can avoid certain foods if I don't think about them, but the second I start avoiding it for fasting purposes, well, then it's all I want. Lol. We are headed into my favorite week of the year--Holy Week. I pray you stay strong with your Lenten observances. Have a blessed Friday, Catholic Pilgrims. *Picture was taken by my sister, Beth, outside the Cathedral in Santa Fe.
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