Pop Quiz

We all have busy lives. We know it is important to make time for God, or you wouldn't be reading this blog. It is difficult, though. Put a check by the one or two that you find the most difficult. Now read the scripture next to what you checked.

_____ Unworthiness (Isaiah 41:9-10; Ephesians 2:13-14)

_____ Sick ( Proverbs 15:30; James 5:14)

_____ Tempted ( 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 4:7)

_____ Too Busy ( Psalm 90:12; Isaiah 40:29-31)

_____ Too Tired ( Matthew 11:28-30)

_____ Death ( John 11:26; 2 Timothy 1:10)

_____ Finances ( Matthew 10:29-31)

_____ Family ( Psalm 127:3-5; Ephesians 6:1-4)

Meditate on the verse(s) that you checked off. How does it speak to you? Scripture speaks to each of us, bringing to each of us, what we need in order to develop our spiritual wholeness. Reading the Bible is not to use a reference book to look up verses. It is a personal contact with what God is saying to you.

Read the verses again. Read them again, slower.

Think about it.

See?

Despair

Let's play "hop around the Bible." In these passages you'll see people: Elijah, Martha and the Apostles, ask Jesus "Don't you care? Well, DO SOMETHING!"

Have you ever wondered what God was doing after a discouraging trial? Were you afraid? Were you angry at God for not helping you in the manner you wanted him to? Believe me, you have no right to complain. Read 1 Kings 19: 1-18. You'll see that Elijah, a prophet of God ran and hid to save his life. Wouldn't you think he'd show more trust in God?

Well, remember that when you're afraid.

Read Luke 10: 38-42. Have you ever asked Martha's question, "Lord, don't You care?" Jesus didn't answer Martha's question the way she expected, did He? Our lives are only a tiny picture of God's entire scheme of the world. Trust Him. He'll always answer your questions, it's just that sometimes the answer is "No."

Read Mark: 4: 35-41, where the Apostles ask the same question Martha did, "Don't You care?"

We're human. We get discouraged, frightened, and doubtful. When you do feel like that, read Psalm 102, "Prayer in Time of Distress." I've read it so many times that I've almost got it memorized!

The Lord, Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Deuteronomy 31:8

The thought that I find encouraging is when Jesus asked "My God, my God, why have You abandoned me?" God gave Jesus what He needed -- the people He loved the most, at the foot of His cross.

Join In

Read 1Cor. 14:12

Very short. What do you think it means?

My take:
It's talking about creating a vibrant parish community. Some people (not you, dear reader) complain that St. Mary's is cold and unwelcoming. The answer to that is to join, help out, create something. Look around and see what you think St. Mary's needs. What do you hear complaints about the most? What can you do to help fix that situation?

More choir members? A chant group?

Does the Word of God seem lackluster? Use your talent and be a lector!

Do Fr. Brian or Fr. Frank's homilies not touch you? Establish a relationship with them and give them some suggestions. (How else does one know that something is lacking?)

Would you like to help refurbish the downstairs into a little meeting area?

Do you complain about the parish's lack of attention to social justice issues and/or community outreach? Volunteer to start a committed group!

Has another parishioner never introduced him or herself to you? Make the first move.

You're obviously involved with Arise. How about joining the Team, and/or leading a group? (leave a comment)

Use your gifts to build up St. Mary's, i.e., 1Cor. 14:12.

Eye = Conscience

Read Matt 6: 22-23

What do you think the scripture is talking about?

Replace the word "eye" with conscience. Now read the verses.

Ah! We're reading about our consciences. Define "conscience." Try "googling" conscience. Understand that conscience is a judgment of reason. It uses the objective principles of the moral law to judge the morality of acts in specific circumstances. Conscience is not itself the source of the moral law.

What if you can't judge the right or wrong? What if you can't make a decision? What if what you think is against what the Church teaches? What to do!

First, Assume the church is correct. Do you think 2009 years of tradition is wrong? Do you think you are the one person in the world who has the correct answer and everyone else in the Church is wrong? C'mon! Let's be open about it and examine your line of thinking.

Second, learn more about the subject. Read and study. The internet is a plethora of information. Look up a few of the Catholic sites.

Third, need I tell you to pray about it? Be fair. You are open, so ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you. Pray for Divine Guidance.

Fourth, ask. Ask people in the know. Who is more knowledgeable than you? Ask a catechist? Ask a priest? Ask another priest? Try a parish priest and try a priest that belongs to a religious order. Try a religious sister. Hopefully, all this seeking will lead to discussion.

Unbelievably, after all the praying, reading, and asking, there are times that I still am not sure what is right. You know what I do? I still assume the Church is right and I keep on praying and seeking. Finally, one day, the light will dawn. And you know what? I've always come around to the Church's line of thinking.

A well-formed conscience will never contradict the objective moral law, as taught by Christ and his Church. (Catechism, # 1783-5, 1792, 2039)

A Holy Makeover

Three verses to look at this time:

Ezekiel 36: 26-27
2 Corinthians 5:17
Philippians 1:6

Read them and meditate a few moments on what they are saying?

What do these verses say about our potential for change? What do you think about that? Have you ever heard that you can't change someone? Well, isn't that the truth? The only one you can change is yourself. We can make a conscious decision to change. Not that it's easy (Ask anyone who's tried to quit smoking.). It's hard work and one has to be persistent.

How about changing yourself to make yourself more lovable to God? Commit yourself to spend more time praying, reading spiritual books, writing in a "spiritual journal." Any other ideas to get closer to Jesus?
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Joke:
Women marry men thinking that they'll change them.
Men marry women thinking they will never change.

Invitation

Attention all Pastors, ARISE Leaders
and Participants!

Are you inviting young adult Catholics in their 20's and 30's to participate in
ARISE Together in Christ ...Fall, 2009?

Please consider doing so!

Looking for a way to meet other Catholics in their 20s and 30s in a comfortable setting?

Do you want to deepen your faith but aren't quite sure how to do it?

Are you yearning for real conversation about issues that really matter?


You are invited to participate in ARISE Together in Christ... a new approach to spiritual renewal that is catching fire throughout the Archdiocese of Boston!

Join a group or start your own group of 8-12 peers who will meet weekly for six weeks for real dialogue about faith and life. Materials will be provided. The meetings last for approximately 90 minutes.

Groups in the parish are forming at a variety of times and locations or create a location/time that is convenient for you and your peers!

Season Three is called In the Footsteps of Chist!


It will offer a theological explanation of the Catholic understanding of discipleship,
and in particular, how this implies active commitment to charity and justice. It will assist in the understanding of the social teachings of the Church and the communal
dimension of life in Christ.


For more information please contact:

Mary Ann McLaughlin or Ann Cussen
ariseinchrist@rcab.org
617-779-3640

Everybody Needs Martha

Read: Luke 10: 38-42

One word for Mary. One word for Martha. Whom do you relate to?

What would happen if Mary never did anything but pray, day-dream, and finger her Rosary, all day? What would happen if Martha just worked and worked and never had time for anything else?

Is this the lesson? Combine the two. Sometimes, we can. Sometimes, we can't. But that's the ideal.

My thoughts:
My husband is my Martha. THANK YOU, JESUS! He is the one who took care of me when I had that purgatorial illness (yuck). He's the one who has lunch ready for me when I come home (all retired hubbies should). He's the one.........well...here's a poem describing how I feel about him.

Martha and Mary

I sit in the kitchen reading the Word
husband treads the path from stove to table.

his quick eyes check out my coffe cup--
down enough to warm up.

he's buttered my toast and flipped my eggs
to greet the morning and me.

praise God for good cooks and thoughtful lovers;
thank you, I pray with full mouth.

hhrrmmpphh! he snaps the Globe open
looking over the paper and

into my heart with laughing eyes
and no words spoken.