Posts

Something Greater

Spicebush Swallowtail, Spring Branch, TX

First Love

Female Northern Cardinal, Spring Branch, TX

Finding Jesus

Axis deer (escaped exotic – non-native), Spring Branch, TX (Note: this old buck has just one eye. His right eye is just an empty socket. His injury was likely caused by sparing.)

Jesus,

May we see you in stranger seeking food,

May we see you in the immigrant seeking a better place for her family,

May we see you in the prisoner seeking forgiveness,

May we see you in the widow seeing companionship,

May we see you in the baby seeking life in his mother’s womb,

May we see you in the mother seeking hope in an uncertain future,

May we see you in a person of another faith seeking truth,

May we see you in a person of another political party seeking dialog,

May we see you in the face of our enemy for he also is made in your image,

May we see you in all things, all people and all circumstances

So that we may begin to build your kingdom.

More than a Bridge, a Love Story

St. Catherine of Siena in the 14th century was perhaps the first Christian to depict God’s incarnation as man (Jesus), his life, death and resurrection, as a bridge from heaven to earth. Christians of many faiths have been using the bridge analogy to depict God’s love for us ever since. This bridge, or love story, is perhaps best describe in the bible in John 3:16.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”~ John 3:16

But just as every love story asks both parties to participate, so does the love story between heaven and earth. The apostle John gave us an indication of this need for us to accept and respond to God’s grace of love in John 3:36 when he tells us to obey God’s Son.

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.” ~ John 3:36

St Iraneous (125 AD – 202 AD), a disciple of St. Polycarp - who was a disciple of St John the evangelist - echo’s the words in the gospel of John when he said, “To believe in him means to do his will."

Perhaps one of my favorite quotes of this exchange of love between God and man was written by St. Clement (35 AD – 99 AD). “Let the man truly possessed by the love of Christ keep his commandments.” St. Clement was a disciple of St. Peter and likely also of St. Paul and was the fourth pope.

Jesus loves us. Let us show our love for Jesus by listening to him and obeying his commandments and instructions.

Comfort to those that Mourn

Our prayers go out to those in Parkland, Florida and everyone that is in mourning.

O Jesus! Comforter of those that mourn, hear us.

For those mourning the death of loved ones, Comfort us, Jesus.

For those mourning the loss of friendships or family relationships, Comfort us, Jesus.

For those mourning the loss of physical or mental capabilities, Comfort us, Jesus.

That we may take our sorrows and place them on the cross of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, grant us the grace to desire it.

That Our Lord may take our sorrows and use them to spread his love and peace throughout the world, Jesus, grant us the grace to desire it.

That Our Lord may grant us his perfect peace of heart and mind so that we may more closely follow his commandments of loving God and neighbor, Jesus, grant us the grace to desire it.

Perseverance

Argiope Spider with Monarch Butterfly, Fredericksburg, TX

Set the World on Fire

Aspen trees on fire with fall colors, Mt. Daly, Colorado

Catherine of Siena certainly set the world on fire. It is hard to believe what this simple peasant girl accomplished in her short life in the 14th century. She was a mystic, care-giver to the poor, adviser of noble men and adviser to the pope. St. Catherine of Siena was given the title Doctor of the Church in 1970 by Pope Paul VI. The link below has more information about St. Catherine.

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=9

Jesus - a song in the heart

Honeybee on Cholla Cactus flower, Spring Branch, TX

The name “Jesus” whispered into our hearts and minds throughout the day, St. Bernard of Clairvaux reminds us, is a beautiful simple prayer.

The Mark

“This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.” (I John 4:7)

“In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (I John 5:2,3)

“Let the man truly possessed by the love of Christ keep his commandments.” St. Clement I, pope AD 89 -99.

Never Lost

Blessed Sara Salkahaz was never lost, her love of Jesus always guided her path. A tireless worker for the poor, when the Nazis arrived and occupied Hungary; Sara hid many Jews and others being sought by the Nazis. Sara was murdered by the Nazis on December 27, 1944. Sara now resides with the one she loves.

The following is an excerpt from Blessed Sara Salkahaz’s spiritual diary.

To love, even when it is difficult, even when my heart has complaints, when, I feel rejected! Yes, this is what God wants! I will try; I want to start – even if I would fail – until I will be able to love. The Lord God gives me grace, and I have to work with that grace. – Blessed Sara in her spiritual diary

The following website contains more information on the life of Blessed Sara Salkahaz.

http://www.salkahazisara.com/en/

Merry Christmas

White-tail Doe and fawns, Spring Branch, Texas

During this Christmas season may we follow Mary’s example and ponder the miracle of miracles; that God became man, so that we may see His face, so that we may know Him, so that we might share life with him abundantly and eternally.

“And Mary kept all these things, reflecting them in her heart.” Luke 2:18

God's Grace

God’s grace is all around us. His grace touches us in the people we know, the beauty that surrounds us, in every beat of our hearts. God’s Grace touches us in the Church, in the Word of God, in song, and in a special and unique way in the sacraments. Let us participate in God’s grace for “grace is a participation in the life of God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraph #1997).

Prayer and the Dance of the Butterfly

Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly on Purple Sage, Spring Branch, Texas

Butterflies are such great creations of our Lord. So beautiful and I just love their dance. All day long they fly up and down and all around, going from one flower to the next, in such a joy-filled dance. Perhaps we can learn from the butterflies dance.

If we live a life of prayer, meeting with our Lord, enjoying the sweet nectar of the sound of his voice; perhaps we too will want to dance to and fro, up and down, showing all who see us our love of God, our love of man, and our love of all of God’s creation.

Meek like a horse?

Have you ever just sat and watched a horse? Have you ever rode a well-trained horse? They are magnificent creatures. Such strength, such power but even more amazing is the self-control of a well-trained horse. Allowing a person to sit on-top of its back is not natural for a horse but a well-trained horse gladly succumbs to the demands of his master, using his strength, speed, and agility as the masters commands.

The ancient Greeks had a word to describe this behavior, the behavior of a well-trained horse, it was praus. Praus has been translated in English to meek. The old English often used the term “meeking a horse”. Meeking a horse did not mean to to strip the power from a horse but rather to harness the horse’s power from a state of wild independence to one of loyalty so that the horse could be used as the master of the horse intended.

In the gospel of Matthew we see the gospel writer translate Jesus’s words (likely spoken in Aramaic) into ancient Greek. During Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount the word “praus” is mentioned as a characteristic of those that will inherit the earth. Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5) Today many people think the word “meek” in this New Testimony writing describes a person that is that is week and submissive to everyone.

In light of the meaning of the ancient Greek word “praus” or “meek” what is meant by “blessed are the meek”? I think it is best to look at the life of Jesus. Saint Paul uses the word “praus” when he speaks of “the meekness and gentleness of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:1). Christ was “meek” in that he was submissive to the will of his heavenly father at all times.

When Jesus calmed the sea (Matthew 8:23-27), he certainly was exuding tremendous outward power but he was still meek as he was doing the will of his heavenly father.

When Jesus confronted the people wanting to stone the adulteress (John 8: 1-11) he demonstrated tremendous compassion and courage but he was still meek as he was doing the will of his heavenly father.

When Jesus restrained his outward strength, actually demonstrating great inward strength, by being beaten and humiliated and dying on a cross. He was still meek doing the will of his heavenly father.

Are you meek? Are you submitting your intelligence, your strength, your power, all of your talents; and even your weaknesses, to do the will of your heavenly father?

Original Source of Beauty

It was Good

Bull Elk, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Love is the color of life

Autumn Colors, West Elk Wilderness, Colorado

Let us pray, that through God’s grace, we might allow God to paint our lives in such a way as to bring glory to the Kingdom of God.

The Pattern of our Lives

Autumn Leaves, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington

A virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all his sensory and spiritual powers; he pursues the good and chooses it in concrete actions. – Catechism of the Catholic Church- 1804

Aim High

Autumn Colors, West Elk Wilderness, Colorado

Fly into the arms of our Lord

White Pelican, Inks Lake State Park, TX