Reflections of a beloved son

When the world induces worry and anxiety within our hearts, know that those worries and anxieties have already been conquered. Jesus is your strength. In Him alone is your peace and joy. Do not let the lies of the world draw you in. Rather, draw close to the Father and He will draw close to you. You are not alone. God is with You. Let God into your heart and allow Him to cast out all your fears.

When Jesus went to His friend, Lazarus' home his two sisters, Mary and Martha played host.  Martha was busy cleaning the house and preparing foods while Mary was entertaining and keeping Jesus company.  Martha seemingly got a bit annoyed and asked if Jesus was going to tell Mary to help her.  Jesus said "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.  There is need of only one thing.  Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."  Our Lord validates Martha in what she was doing, but also challenges her to see things a little differently.  It is important to clean the house and prepare the food, but it is also important to be with your guest - the entire reason for the cleaning and cooking.  Jesus wasn't saying to abandon the cleaning and cooking, but maybe to prioritize more accordingly.  I often find myself doing the same thing - tidying up the house, washing the dishes, clearing the table, etc, and no...

After a long day, the disciples went ahead of Jesus, sailing to Capernaum.  The winds were blowing, and the skies were dark.  After sailing out a good distance, they saw Jesus walking on water and they began to fear and grow afraid.  At this Jesus said to them, " It is I.  Do not be afraid ." When I read and listen to this Gospel passage I am always reminded of incidences where parents or nurses trying to distract the child as pediatricians are trying to administer vaccinations.  The child is scared and anxious, afraid of the pain that the needle will induce and confused as to who these people are.  But the parent or a kind stranger offers comfort, a smile, or a funny story or joke.  Sometimes even a tasty treat.  All while the pediatrician pinches the child with the needle, injecting a solution that can potentially prevent the child from danger.  When all is done sometimes the child doesn't even remember a shot was administered and sometim...

"Hail, full of grace!  The Lord is with you" is how the Angel Gabriel greeted Mary at the Annunciation  ( Lk. 1:26-38 ).  What a greeting, and what a woman.  Today we are reminded of God's unwavering love and boundless mercy towards us.  He loved us so much that He was willing to send His only Begotten Son into the world, being born in this blemished world of ours.  He chose to be born into poverty.  He chose to take on sin so that we would not die, but have eternal life. Take some time to read through the Annunciation account.  Try to imagine yourself as Mary, a young teenage woman who was being diligent in her chores at home and suddenly this happened.  Imagine God sending His messenger to you and asking you to take on a certain mission.  How would you feel?  How would you respond? Consider this reflective imagery: In many respects, God comes to us everyday and greets us warmly and lovingly as Gabriel did with Mother Mary....