Holy Week Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, by Your Passion and Resurrection

You brought life to the world.

But the glory of the Resurrection came only after the sufferings of the Passion.

You laid down Your life willingly and gave up everything for us.

Your body was broken and fastened to a Cross, Your clothing became the prize of soldiers,

your blood ebbed slowly but surely away, and Your Mother was entrusted to the beloved disciple.

Stretched out on the Cross, deprived of all earthly possessions and human aid,

You cried out to Your Father that the end had come. You had accomplished the work given You,

and You committed into His hands, as a perfect gift,  the little life that remained to You.

Lord, teach me to accept all afflictions after the example You have given.

Let me place my death in Yours and my weakness in Your abandonment,

Take hold of me with Your love, that same foolish love that knew no limits,

and let me offer myself to the Father with You so that I may rise with You to eternal life.

Unplugging

I am officially on hiatus from this blog and Facebook.  I am unplugging myself from electronic media as much as possible.  Why not totally? Well, I'm responsible for our parish website, blog and Facebook page.  So, that I will continue with...the rest stops until further notice.  See ya.

In the news...

Wow, how exciting to be able to go and dialogue in Rome about blogging.  I can dream....
Vatican invites Catholic bloggers to dialogue

Mid-season Check

Well, we are slightly past the helf way point of Lent.  Yesterday was Laetare Sunday so the rose colored vestments were worn, much to one of our deacon's dismay.  I keep wondering how my lent is going in termns of the comittments I made on Ash Wednesday.  It's not stellar, but not awful.  I wonder, does it have to be stellar, or does the trying count?  I hope it does.  I am reminded of  Thomas Merton's Prayer of Abondonment at times like these:
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.  I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you and I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road although I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death, I will not fear, for you are ever with me and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
God knows the desires of my heart.  Like all of you, I am moving toward Holy Week.  Sometimes I am stumbling, groping in the dark or have my eyes fixed straight ahead.  I will get there.  And sometimes, that's enough.

Sunday Reflection

In the second reading and the Gospel we are called to open our eyes, live in the light and do what is pleasing to God. When I read the Gospel, I kept thinking "who is blind?" And I realized that often, instead of thinking that I am blind, that it is everyone around me. But, truthfully, if the first thought is about someone else, that is wrong. I am blind to my shortcomings and failings. I can be blind to the needs of those around me because I am wrapped up in my own desires.


The Pharisees are blind to their own need to be in charge, to be right, to be in control. That is why they had so many rules to follow, so everything could happen exactly the way it is supposed to happen. But those rules caused them to be blind to the needs of those around them.

In the frist reading about Samuel and David, I thought about whom I identified most with in the story. I asked myself the question again as read the Gospel. First I thought, well, the blind man. I want Jesus to open my eyes to see clearly what is going on around me, so I can be of service to him. Then I sat a little longer with the reading. The next thought made me uncomfortable. No, I don’t want to be Jesus. I want to be in charge. Which sounds like a Pharisee. It goes back to my first comment, who are the people around me who need to open their eyes. And who is going to open their eyes? Me. By telling everyone what to do and how to do it, if everyone would follow my rules, agree with my plans things would be great.

Well, not really. I am good at many things, just like all of you. But I am not good at everything, just like you. Our blindness comes when we forget to acknowledge our own faults and failings but clearly see our husband’s, children’s or co-workers’. Our blindness is apparent when we don’t see others’ gifts and talents because to do so might mean to acknowledge that the person might be better at it than me or worse, can do something I can’t do at all. Our blindness can strike us when 'different' from me becomes 'bad.' To me, anytime I see only one side, I am blind.

Jesus can heal us of our spiritual blindness. Once we admit change is needed, the work can begin. In our parish, there is much work to do. And as we discussed last night, all of us are called in some way to contribute. By thinking about what you can do, rather than thinking about what others should be we move form blindness to sight.

open the eyes of my heart lord

7 Quick Takes

1. Our daughter is graduating from University of Florida at the end of April.  However, all of our focus is on FOCUS and the mission trip she is taking in May. She has to raise money, which pays for the trip and the materials to do the work in Brazil.  I can't believe that another milestone has been reached seemingly in the blink of an eye.
2. Last Saturday we met with the deaconate formation scrutinies committee.  It was interesting, but made me feel like I was under the microscope with questions about my work since I am employed at my parish.  I was slightly reassured when another couple had the same experience, since she works as the assistant principal at the parish school.  Oh well, it is what it is and whatever it will be.
3.  I have learned that to really recharge after too much work I need to be alone.  But it seems my life keeps getting in the way of being alone.  This weekend is full of activity and after working twelve days straight I just want to curl up on the couch.  Finding balance is probably the most difficult thing for me.
4.  A little Aquinas:  Freedom proceeds from intellect and will.  Our intellect informs our will and our will is always orientated toward good.  When we exercise our freedom to choose evil, our intellect no longer informs our will and we behave in ways which are not congruent with our true selves.
5.  Our book group is reading The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila.  We have read up to the Third Dwelling.  I like her style; she is very earthy.  But, if talk of creepy crawly thing bothers you, you might have to skip over some spots!
6.  Sunday afternoon, Brian Gail, author of Fatherless and Motherless, is speaking at St. Jude Catholic Church.  He is a seasonal parishioner there and will give a talk discussing the social conditions and trends which he has written about.  It will be interesting to hear him speak.
7.  Lent is not going according to my plan.  Which is typical, so I am doing my best to surrender and accept what God places before me rather than fighting over things.  Some days I am better at it than others.

Enjoy your weekend and be sure to take a look at more Quick Takes!