Reflections of a beloved son

As humans we have a longing for intimacy and for relationship. We are wired for love because that is from and out of which we are created. Whether on the surface or deep down we have a desire to be with people. In my experience, sometimes being in a place at night with no one around, especially in new and unfamiliar places it can be daunting and sometimes there is fear. But once there is another person there, this fear usually goes away. Have you ever experienced that before? This deep longing for relationship comes from an even deeper desire – the one relationship from which all others become possible, our relationship with God. Sometimes we may feel far and distant from God or that we do not know how to “get in touch” with God. So, we try to look for Him in things and other people. But, first we ought to go to the place were God speaks to us – in the stillness of our heart. The Prophets tell us that God was not in the earthquake or fire, but rather God was in the “tiny, whispering so...

As Catholic Christians we believe in the Trinity, that is that there are Three Divine Persons in One God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are of the same substance, and each is not a part of a whole. There are one but distinct. Drawing from St. Augustine, they are a community of love where the Father is the lover, the Son is the beloved, and the Holy Spirit is the love that exist within that community. The Trinity exists as a relationship. Our God is a relational God, and God wants a relationship with us. The Father calls out to us and sent us His Son, Jesus who came to give us life and to bring us to the Father, who sent the Holy Spirit to be with us always, reminding us of how much we are loved. The Trinity is a mystery, which means we may never really fully understand it, but we don’t need to. We only need to believe. Our faith and belief is our response to the call of the Father. This call of the Father is an invitation to be in relationship with Him and the Son and the Holy Spiri...

Do you sometimes find doing things without really knowing why makes it less interesting? When you do something out of routine does it get boring or even sometimes meaningless? For some of us our faith can unfortunately turn out to be the same thing. If we do not know why we pray or what we are really doing when we pray, we may come to find it boring and quickly find something else more interesting to do. When he saw that the Athenians were praying at an altar to "an Unknown God," St. Paul quickly turned it into a teaching moment. It is for us today too. When we pray we really are not only reciting words and sentences that our ancestors said centuries ago. We are also talking with someone. We are engaging in a relationship - just like our relationships with our family and friends. Prayer is our relationship with God, and our God is a living God, the One, True God, not an unknown or unfamiliar god. Our God is also not a god who lived two thousand years ago or so, but He is a LI...

Everything we say and do can be used to bring others to an encounter to the living God. Sometimes it even happens unintentionally (at least on our part!). May all that we say and do (and think) be for the greater glory of God, and the glory of God is man fully alive! Jesus came to give us life to the full, and so let us strive to be living witnesses to this life, who is Christ Himself.

God wants to hear from you! Prayer is not just the lines and sentences you may have memorized as a child; prayer is your personal relationship with God. Tell Him whatever is on your mind, what you need, and how you feel. Prayer is when you speak from the very depths of your heart and when Jesus speaks to you from the depths of His pierced, sacred heart. Jesus promises to hear you and He even says "I will do it." Trust in Him and know and believe that Jesus means what He says. After you tell the Lord all that is on your mind and in your heart, be still and listen to Him. Prayer is a conversation. Don't forget to listen.

What does it mean to bear the name "Christian?" It means that a Christian life is one that is for others, a life of true love, a life of sacrifice. How can we truly bear this name and live our this life fully? By staying with the Lord and remaining faithful to the Church. To grow in relationship with the Father and allow that relationship to flow into the other relationships in our lives. Then we can truly be a Christian people.

In the Old Testament, the Lord gives to Moses the 10 Commandments and the exhortation to love God with all of one's heart, soul, and strength.  In the New Testament, Jesus tells His disciples to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind, and to love their neighbor as themselves.  Jesus further tells His followers that whatever they are do to the least of His people, they do to Him.  (Read Mt. 25:31-46 ). What does it mean when we tell God we love Him?  Do we say we love Him because we make it to mass or service every Sunday?  Do we say we love Him because we say our prayers before we go to bed at nighttime?  Do we say we love Him because we donate money to charitable organizations?  The Church Father St. John Chrysostom famously said something that stopped me in my tracks and really made me think: " If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find him in the chalice."   Wow.  Think about that.  Especia...

In the Gospels we hear of a father who went to Jesus and asked Him to cast out the demons that were causing his son to convulse and foam at the mouth. The father told Jesus that His disciples tried but were unable to cast them out.  Jesus seemed disappointed and wearied but of course He cast out the demons and healed the boy. The disciples asked Jesus why they couldn't cast out the demons. I mean they walked with Jesus, listened to Him, and ate with Him.  If they were so close with the Lord why couldn't they cast out the demons?  Jesus told them, "This kind can only come out through prayer."  Well, what does that mean, Jesus? The disciples may have walked with and listened to Jesus, but did they know Him?  Jesus told His disciples that the kind of demon that was inside the little boy can only be cast out through "prayer."  What is prayer?  Prayer is a relationship.  It comes from spending time with and getting to know the other. The disciples ma...

As we enter the Third Week of Advent, and as we quickly approach Christmas, what is it that we really want?  Amidst the busyness of buying presents, decorating the home, baking cookies, or making holiday arrangements, what is it that we really hope for this Christmas? In the Gospel, Jesus asked the crowds three times " What or why did you go out to see? "  Wherever we are in our lives, why is it that we are there?  Is this where I want to be?  Where is it that I really want to be?  Sometimes we find ourselves lost and confused, and not really knowing what we want or what we should be doing.  At the heart of that confusion is really perhaps a desire to belong.  We want to belong to something or someone.  Maybe we thought we will find that sense of belonging once we have found "the right job," "the right person," or "the right place."  But once we have reached that point, then what?  What were you looking for?  What are you looking ...

What comes to mind when you read “remaining faithful?” Maybe thoughts of commitments made or promises broken.   In his second letter to Timothy, St. Paul implores him “Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it…” (3:14).   “Because you know from whom you learned it.”   At the heart of remaining faithful is not really a thing, thought, or idea, but rather a person.   It is someone to whom we promise.   It is somebody to whom we remain faithful. When we vow to uphold a promise it is not really the content to which we feel connected, but rather to the person with whom we made that pact. We do not remain faithful to a set of rules and regulations; rather we remain faithful to a person: Jesus Christ.  We follow those rules and regulations because we know who gave them to us.  We follow them because we know they are good for us and are conducive for our salvation, and we know this because of who...