Great Egret, High Island, Texas
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Love your Neighbor
Alligators, High Island, TX
I always thought that the commandment to love my neighbor as myself was an easy one to obey until I read the words of St. Basil the Great (330 – 379 AD).
“The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry. The cloak in your wardrobe belongs to the naked. The shoes you allow to rot belong to the barefoot. The money in your vaults belongs to the destitute. You do injustice to every man whom you could help but do not.” St. Basil the Great (330 – 379 AD)
After reading and meditating on St. Basil’s words I realize how challenging the commandment to love my neighbor really is.
May God grant us the grace to love our neighbors as ourselves and may we have the humility, courage and wisdom to cooperate with His grace.
Because of Christ
Long-billed dowitchers, Galveston, TX
We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we live together with such people and pray for our enemies. ~ St. Justin Martyr, 100 – 165 A.D.
Jesus Christ transformed the world, has he transformed you? Justin Martyr, philosopher and Christian apologist, beheaded in Rome in 165 A.D. in defense of the faith.
With You Always
Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica with image from St. John Bosco Catholic Church, La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Fire of your Love
Great Blue Heron, Galveston Bay, TX
God bless Mothers
Great Egret and chicks, High Island, TX
Children of Light
Painted Bunting, Pedernales Falls State Park, TX
Thirst
Please watch the following video “I Thirst – Saint Mother Teresa Meditation”, it is from a letter from Mother Teresa describing how Jesus thirsts for us.
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
Redwoods, Olympia National Forest, WA
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
Sunset, Caprock Canyons State Park, TX
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.
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
Western Meadowlark, Pueblo West, CO
“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
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
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.
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).