From the Archives: Soil Conditioning for the Heart

23 Saturday Sep 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections, Faith, Prayer, Scripture

Tags

Faith, Jesus, Luke 8:4-15, Mark 4:1-20, Parables, Prayer, Reflection, Resolution, silence, solitude, The Parable of the Sower

Every now and then I recall from my morning meditation something about which I’ve already written. Today’s Gospel from Luke 8:4-15, the Parable of the Seed and the Sower, rang a bell. I found what I was looking for from January 2018, except that it was a reflection from Mark’s Gospel, Mark 4:1-20. As I re-read it, I thought the message from over five years ago was still as relevant as ever, if not more so, and it needed to be shared again. I hope it will lead you to a fuller prayer life.

Peace and blessings to you all!

Soil Conditioning for the Heart

In my previous life (pre-2012 and pre-Catholic) I would occasionally crack a Bible and read a passage or two before losing interest and closing it up. This didn’t happen often, mostly when I was traveling, alone and bored in a hotel room somewhere and there was a Gideon Bible in the nightstand drawer. I remember reading from the Gospels and wondering why Jesus talked to the people in parables. As far as I could tell, it was all a riddle that nobody in their right mind could understand. It made no sense.

This recollection came back to me today as I read and meditated on today’s Gospel, Mark 4:1-20, the Parable of the Sower. A lot has changed over the last six years. I understand this parable today – that Jesus is the sower, the Word of God is the seed, and the different types of soil are the dispositions of the diversity in our faith. Or at least I think that’s what it’s about.

But, as I meditated on this today, my thoughts were more on why Jesus spoke in parables rather than the message in the parable.

I have learned that the Jewish rabbis and teachers in Jesus’ time, taught using stories with familiar images and experiences to which the learner could relate. The messages in these stories were not explicit but, instead, were designed to make one think. The answers were complex and seldom simple. If you thought you had it figured out, you probably didn’t. You needed to think about it more, and think more deeply.

Jesus’ parables were similar to what we call allegory today. He always had a hidden complex spiritual meaning or moral lesson embedded within his parable. And, depending on one’s level of faith, you either got it, partially got it, or you were totally lost.

Even Jesus’ disciples and His chosen Apostles didn’t always understand. In today’s Gospel, His disciples questioned Him about the parables. Jesus answered them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables so that they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.” Jesus continued, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?” (Mk 4:11-13)

We often think that the Apostles were all totally on board and on the same page as Jesus. But, the reality was that they never did quite figure it out until Jesus’ resurrection and eventual ascension into heaven. No, they were quite often lost regarding the mysteries of Christ’s life (e.g. Mk 8:32-33, Peter’s response to the first prediction of Jesus’ Passion; and, Mk 9:28-29, the healing of a boy with a demon).

Jesus wanted everyone, His disciples included, to think deeply about His message. He wanted them to look beyond the obvious, below the surface, and outside of the box. He challenged them to compare and relate His stories, His parables, with their own lives. The extent of their understanding and ability to relate often depended on their faith.

Nothing has changed. It still depends on faith. The reason I didn’t understand the Gospel as I read while lounging on a hotel room bed was because I had no faith. The difference between then and now for me is that I now believe the Word of God to be the truth. I have a deep desire to understand it so that I can apply it to my life.

Jesus still challenges us to understand God’s Word within the context of our own lives, our own experiences. He wants to sow the Seed on fertile soil so that it may grow and produce fruit. How do we prepare that garden plot in preparation for His sowing?

First, we need to create an atmosphere in which we can listen to God through His Word in the scripture, an atmosphere of silence and solitude that is conducive to deep thought without distractions. Author Henri J.M. Nouwen in his book, The Way of the Heart, describes silence as, “not not speaking, but listening to God”; and solitude as, “not being alone, but being alone with God.” Finding that time and place is critical.

Once you’re there, open up your heart in prayer. Give thanks to God for the opportunity to be with Him in that moment. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to receive the Word of God, and for the grace to understand His Word as you read and reflect upon it.

As you read the scripture, think deeply about what it is God is telling you at that moment. Maybe there is a verse or a phrase or just a couple words that jump out at you. Stop and reflect on that which catches your attention and let the Holy Spirit take you deeper to reveal God’s unique message for you. Say a prayer of thanksgiving once you’ve absorbed His revelation.

Next, ask yourself how that message relates to your life today. Is there something you can do to change? What can you do today to be more virtuous, to grow in holiness, and to become a better disciple, spouse, parent, and friend? How can you condition your soil to make it more fertile? The Holy Spirit will convict you and show you the way!

Finally, take that one thing, that one change for the better, and write a concrete resolution that will effect an improvement that day. Make it easy but make it concrete. Think baby steps instead of leaping tall buildings. Something that you can, at the end of the day, look back on and say with a sense of accomplishment, “Yes! I did it!”

And then go do it.

This is how you grow in faith. This is how you begin to understand the Word of God and not get confused in the complexity of the parables. And, this is how you gradually grow in holiness on your way to becoming a saint just like the Apostles.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me the deep desire to understand Your Word, and for Your Son, Jesus, to sow that Seed in my heart. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for the gift of faith that has conditioned my heart to be fertile ground for producing fruit for Your kingdom. I pray that, through Your grace, the harvest is abundant. Amen.”

(Soil Conditioning for the Heart was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

©2013-2023 Reflections of a Lay Catholic. Reposting and sharing of material in its full and original content is permitted, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author(s) and Reflections of a Lay Catholic.

Leftovers

22 Saturday Apr 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Faith, Feeding the 5000, Holy Eucharist, Jesus, John 6:1-15, Leftovers, Living Water, Meditation, Multiplication of the Loaves, Prayer

There are plusses and minuses to being married empty nesters. One positive is saving money on groceries, but an associated negative is the difficulty in preparing meals for only two people. Most recipes are designed for at least four which, when followed, means there are usually leftovers. That can be a problem if you’re one of those people who doesn’t care for leftovers, but for those of us who are fine with them and would rather not waste good food, it can be a really good thing! When you accumulate enough leftovers you get a bye on deciding what to cook from scratch every now and then.

Also, leftovers, like a spicy pot of chili, just get better after they’ve “seasoned” for an extra day or two. Even a pineapple upside-down cake like the one my wife made for my birthday this week just gets better each successive day as the pineapple juice and brown sugar syrup soak into the cake below.

I was thinking about leftovers yesterday morning as I read the day’s scripture during my morning meditation. The Gospel, John 6:1-15, told the story about the multiplication of the loaves and fishes for feeding the five thousand. After instructing the crowd to recline in the grass, “Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish that they wanted. When they had had their fill He said to His disciples, ‘Gather the fragments leftover so that nothing will be wasted.’ So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.” Jesus’ miracle transformed five loaves and two fish into enough food to nourish and curb the appetites of five thousand people with enough leftovers to repeat again and again.

Taking the bread and giving thanks is a prefiguring of the miracle performed at every mass when, at the epiclesis, the priest calls upon the Holy Spirit and consecrates the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. In receiving the Blessed Sacrament, we are at a feast and being fed with all the graces we need to live Holy lives.

But, we are also nourished and sated by the Word of God in Scripture. When we pray and meditate daily on the life of Jesus in the Gospels, we are lovingly fed with as much as we can eat in one sitting. We are given exactly what we need for that day to be virtuous souls. Our job is to listen to and savor His Word, swallow it by relating it to our lives in the present moment, and then digest it by resolving to apply what we hear to living in a more virtuous way. Then, we simply have to return to the table and repeat each and every day to partake in the perpetual and eternal leftovers. No worries about not getting enough, about eating too much, or the food spoiling. There will always be another full and satisfying meal the next day. And, just as day-old chili gets more flavorful, and pineapple upside-down cake gets more moist, each “meal” just gets better!

Jesus will always give us enough to nourish our souls if we invite Him, through prayer, into our hearts to feed us. What nourishment do you need today? Sit at the table, partake of the meal, savor each bite, and rejoice that there are enough leftovers for all the days to come.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for slaking my hunger by feeding me with Your Word, and for quenching my thirst with the Living Water, Your Son, Jesus. I know through faith that You will never let me go hungry as long as I keep returning to the table through prayer and the Sacraments. Amen.”

(Leftovers was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Our Father Who Art in Heaven…

08 Saturday Apr 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Faith, Prayer

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Faith, Holy Saturday, Our Father Who Art in Heaven, Prayer, RCIA, The Lord's Prayer, The Our Father

Holy Saturday began busily this morning as I arose and left home early for an 8:00 a.m. appointment with a gentleman at a local coffee shop/patisserie for our monthly spiritual mentoring discussion. I let him know ahead of time that I needed to wrap it up around 9:20 at the latest so that I could make it back to our parish church by 10:00 a.m., for the final rites and practice for tonights Easter Vigil Mass when I will be welcoming a friend, whom I am sponsoring, into the Catholic Church.

I arrived at the coffee shop early so that I could get my daily morning prayer and meditation in before my friend (let’s call him Wilbur) arrived. Fortunately for me, I was able to read the Gospel and quickly formed a resolution for the day because Wilbur also arrived early. He got a coffee, and I warmed up mine, and we set about talking about what’s happening in his faith life and how we can grow closer to our Lord. As always, it was a fruitful discussion.

Time always flies by quickly when we’re in deep conversation and when I checked the time it was 9:20 already. We began to wrap it up and then said our closing prayer and a Hail Mary with intentions for many out there who need help. As we stood and began to walk away from our table, a woman sitting directly behind Wilbur caught our attention and said with a smile, “It is so refreshing to see men praying together! You just made my day!” Then, a woman sitting alone at an adjacent table stood and said, with excitement in her eyes, “I agree! What a blessing to see men sharing their faith in public! Thank you!”

We were kind of caught by surprise. Wilbur was the first to reply and said that he was there receiving spiritual direction. Me, all I could think to say was, “Thank you! You just made our day by noticing and saying something to us.” We chatted for a while and I learned that the second woman was a minister at a small church. Eventually, conscious of the time and needing to get going, I asked if they would like to pray the Lord’s Prayer with us. They did, and we prayed, and, feeling sure that they were Protestant, I remembered to add, “For thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, forever and ever. Amen”, to our normal recitation of the Our Father.

Wilbur and I said our goodbyes and as I got in my truck I realized it was 9:40 already. I also knew, after having made this trip several times in the opposite direction, that it was at least a 30 minute drive considering all the traffic lights I had to pass through. I was compelled to say a prayer of thanksgiving for the encounter with those ladies, and, even though I would be late, a prayer of trust that I would not arrive at church excessively late.

I made the first three major intersections on green lights. I had a few miles then on the interstate where I blew past a state trooper at least five miles over the speed limit. As I checked my rearview mirror I was relieved that he didn’t pull out after me. After exiting the interstate I passed through the next four lights on green. The eighth traffic light had me stopped for about ten seconds and the ninth light was green as I passed through it. I walked into the church at 10:01.

The final rites this morning for the Elect coming into the Church tonight include the Presentation of the Lord’s Prayer, the Recitation of the Creed, and the Ephphetha Rite. After standing and praying the Lord’s Prayer (the Our Father) together, we were asked to meditate on what it means to us.

As I repeated the prayer in my head, I thought, “‘…Hallowed be Thy Name…’ – I praise you and thank you, Lord, for that encounter with those ladies at the coffee shop, and for getting me to the church on time!”

I continued with, “‘…Thy will be done…’ – Lord, it was Your will that enabled that encounter, and Your will that caused all those traffic lights to be green.”

And I ended with, “‘…And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil…’ – Lord, thank You for the faith to trust in You and not be tempted to be anxious about things out of my control. Amen.”

“Heavenly Father, thank You for the many blessings You bestow on me and all Your faithful. Thank You for the courage to express my faith in public and for the graces received when noticed by others. Thank You for the gift of trust in You. And, thank You for the gift of Your Church and for all those who will be baptized and initiated into the Catholic Church tonight. Amen.”

(Our Father Who Are in Heaven… was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Believe and be Rewarded

18 Saturday Feb 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization, Faith

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Catholic Spiritual Mentorship, Discipleship, Evangelization, Faith, Friendship, Hebrews 11:1, Hebrews 11:6, School of Faith, Seek God

When I cracked open my Bible this morning to today’s first Scripture passage I saw that it began with the familiar, “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for, and evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 1:1, NAB). I immediately sensed I should pay attention because something profound was yet to come. Five verses later, there it was, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him [God], for anyone who approaches God must believe that He exists, and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Those words evoked a beautiful memory of a life-changing event….

Midnight, Saturday, April 14, 2012 – I had just spent one of the most uncomfortable days of my life – the first day of a two day Catholic spiritual retreat at which my attendance had nothing to do with my spiritual life. Rather, I was there to get away from the stress of life, from the loneliness of spending countless time away from home due to work, the loneliness of having made no real friends since I’d moved to town six years prior, and to think about how I was going to dig myself out of the mire of depression into which I was falling. After the first couple hours of the retreat, I felt like a fish out of water. I had seen more praying than I’d seen my entire life. Although I’d been married to my loving and devout Catholic wife for 30 years, I was a NONE, with no real convictions about God. Jesus was not part of my life.

I was getting ready to hit my bunk for the night when I fell into a conversation with a man that I had come to know fairly well. We were friends although we’d never actually shared our lives with each other as I now know that true friends do. Eric asked me how my day had been. I opened up to say that I honestly didn’t know what to think. I had never heard men talk like those whom I had heard that day, disclosing such personal and intimate experiences, and avowing how God had helped them through their struggles. I allowed that this was new territory for me, that I tried to live my life as morally as I could and with kindness to others, but that I’d never felt called to fully believe in God. Eric replied, “Brother, you’re doing the good things God wants you to do! Just open your heart to the Holy Spirit like you heard today, and God will give you the gift of faith.”

2:00 a.m., Sunday, April 15, 2012 – After two hours of insomnia, thinking about the experience of the day, and going over Eric’s advice in my head a million times, I asked myself, “What would I pray for if I was to pray for something?” Two things came to mind: first, that I would get some affirmation that my wife and daughters knew how much I loved them, and that I would receive some reinforcement of their love for me; and, second, that I might develop some friendships with these men on the retreat who seemed to be taking an interest in me.

Summoning up the courage to roll out of my cot, I found my way into the chapel. I took a pew near the back on Joseph’s side and looked forwards. Eric and a woman were up near the altar praying. On the altar was what I had heard them call a monstrance, a cross-looking thing in which a consecrated host was on display. Kneeling there, I wasn’t sure how to start my prayer so I said, “God, I don’t know how to pray. I don’t know for sure if I believe you are real or not. But, after what I’ve seen today, how these men can be so happy in spite of the difficult situations they’ve faced, I want to believe in you.” And then, for the first time in my life I prayed. I prayed for those two things: love and friendship.

11:45 a.m., Sunday, April 15, 2012 – After a few more testimonials that morning I was given a large envelope stuffed with dozens of other smaller envelopes. As I delved into them I found letters from the men who were giving the retreat thanking me for attending, praying for me, and offering to walk with me in faith. There were cards from people I didn’t even know saying they had been praying for me all weekend that I might experience Christ’s love. And, to my surprise, there were letters from my wife and daughters, parents, brother and sisters. Each and every one was a love letter letting me know how much they loved me and that they knew my love for them. That’s when I discovered I had what a friend later explained was the Gift of Tears.

I found more than the love of my family in those letters. And, I found more than new friendships that weekend. I found the love of Christ, a love deeper and more profound than any love I’d ever known. I realized all that i had been missing for fifty-five years. I started life anew that weekend when I cracked open the door of my heart. I found the source of happiness, and I wanted more of it. I was given the gift of faith through the realization of things I had hoped for, because I had been given evidence of something i couldn’t see. That weekend I became a Christian. One year later, I became Catholic.

The scripture says we must believe God exists before He rewards those who seek Him. But, I think He is a loving and merciful God, One Who bends His own rules, when He sees fit, and rewards those who seek Him because they want to believe.

I imagine there are hundreds of people in every community, yours included, who fit that description, who want to believe, but have no one to show them the way; men, women and children who are waiting for someone to reach out to them in friendship and invest in them and encourage them to crack open the door of their heart to let the love of Jesus rush in. Won’t you let that someone be you?

Lent begins next Wednesday. Perhaps a Lenten resolution would be to meet and strike up a conversation with a neighbor whom you don’t know well; smile and introduce yourself to someone who looks sad, bewildered, or hurting; or honor the Sabbath by setting aside work and, instead, invite over for dinner someone who is alone. God gave you an imagination. I’m sure you can use it to come up with your own ideas of how you can be a disciple for Christ.

This week, almost eleven years after my conversion, I am helping a class of eighty men and women learn and grow in their faith, forming them to become Catholic Spiritual Mentors so that they may more effectively lead others closer to Jesus. On April 13th, 2012, I’d have said you were crazy if you had suggested I would be where I am today! I praise and thank God every day for this life to which he has brought me, for the men and women who have led me along the way, and for the desire to help others grow close to Jesus.

The Catholic Spiritual Mentor class of 2025 is forming now. If you are interested in learning how to become a guide to another in his or her quest for friendship with Jesus, you can visit the School of Faith website for more information, or if you are interested in having a Spiritual Mentor of your own, you can find more information here.

“Dear Jesus, thank You for placing those undesirable and uncomfortable situations in my life that drew me to an environment in which I learned to seek You and receive Your gift of faith. Thank You for loving me through good men who offered friendship to me, and thank You for a loving wife and children who supported me as I grew to love You more. Thank You for giving me the desire to be a disciple-maker for Your Kingdom. Amen.”

(Believe and be Rewarded was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Have Faith and Possess Life

27 Friday Jan 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections, Faith, Trust

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Faith, Heb 10:34, Heb 10:39, Mark 4:30, Mark 4:32, Matthew 11:25, Prayer, Psalm 37: 39, Psalm 37:40, Romans 8:23

(A reflection on today’s scripture passages: Heb 10:32-39; Ps 37:3-6, 23-24, 39-40; Mt 11:25; and Mk 4:26-34.)

In today’s first reading from Hebrews, we are reminded to not become discouraged and lose hope when we are afflicted by various sufferings. Rather, we should joyfully accept them knowing that God’s love for us, in the present and eternally, is a better and lasting possession¹ if we keep confident and endure to do the will of God.

Scripture is God speaking to each of us. Meditating on His words today reminded me of how badly I stink at suffering, of how it is so much easier to complain about physical ailments, complicated relationships, and, in general, simply not getting my way, rather than finding joy in spite of those situations. Then, in the Holy Spirit’s fashion, He didn’t let me dwell on that very long. He spoke to me with some examples to follow by placing on my mind and heart the sufferings of three close friends: Harry, Larry and Andy.

Harry has lung cancer. He endured a series of chemo and radiation treatments and the doctors thought they had it corralled. But, it came back and he’s now going through a second round. Harry’s faith is enduring. He continues to attend daily mass on mornings when he’s able and his compromised immune system is less vulnerable to catching something from the rest of us. He is always cheerful and, as much as we long to give each other a hug, there is a ton of love in each fist bump.

Larry has skin cancer. He’s been told he has a couple years of life left…here on this earth. But, Larry has a trust in God like nobody I’ve ever seen. He knows from the bottom of his heart that he is in good hands no matter the physical prognosis, and finds strength in the hope of everlasting life with the One Who loves him more than anyone else in the universe. I know this from the smile on his face and the joy in his eyes I see every time we meet.

Andy was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. With treatment he might make it through the summer. I had breakfast with him and his wife a couple weeks ago. He was as upbeat and jovial as he’s always been. You’d never know he had a struggle in the world. Andy is a hard worker, and his state in life is to provide for his family. I know he will continue to do his best in that role until it is physically impossible for him to do so.

Harry, Larry, and Andy. Three men who are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life.² Three men who, through their love of God and faith in Jesus, are examples to the rest of us. They are humble and childlike³ before God They know that all things work for good for those who love and trust in God.⁴ They are like mustard seeds, which have put forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky (the rest of us) can dwell in its shade.⁵ They bring the Kingdom of God⁶ to the rest of us so that we can find comfort and strength. They model the idea that their salvation is from the Lord; He is their refuge in time of distress. And the Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.⁷

Harry, Larry, and Andy. I pray for them, and every person who is struggling with a terrible disease, each and every day. Will you join me?

“Good and gracious God, thank You for placing good and holy men like Harry, Larry, and Andy in my life. Reassure them, please, that their struggle is not in vain, that through their faith in Your mercy and grace, there will be goodness result from their trials. Help me, Jesus, develop the trust in you that they have. For them and for all the faithful, let the Church pray. Amen.”

(Have Faith and Possess Life was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Hebrews 10:34, NAB
Hebrews 10:39, NAB
Matthew 11:25, NAB
Romans 8:23, NAB
Mark 4:32, NAB
Mark 4:30, NAB
Psalm 37:39b, 40, NAB

From the Archives: Be Like Pope Saint Fabian

20 Friday Jan 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Prayer, Saints

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Tags

Faith, Holy Spirit, Pope St. Fabian, Prayer, Resolutions, Word of God

Pope St. Fabian, stained glass window from the choir loft of St. Gratien church, Haussaire, Val d’Ouse, Ile de France, France, artist unknown.

When I complete my morning meditations I usually like to read about the lives of the saints who are celebrated on that day. Today is the optional memorial of Pope St. Fabian. As I read about his life, and especially about how he was chosen to be Pope, I thought how it all seemed familiar. I wondered if I had written about him before and, sure enough, I had, one year ago today. His is a fascinating story, and the message in my post from a year ago is still true. I thought it would be worth revisiting.

Today is the feast day of Pope Saint Fabian who was chosen as the 20th pope in 236 A.D., and who died as a martyr in 250 A.D.

St. Fabian’s story is an interesting one. Fabian was a layman farmer who happened to travel into Rome on the day a new pope was being elected to replace Pope Saint Anterus, who, after serving 40 days in his office, had been martyred. Fabian wandered into the crowd which had assembled to select a new pope and suddenly a dove flew in, descended, and landed on Fabian’s head. The gathered clergy and laity saw this, considered it a sign that the Holy Spirit was anointing Fabian, and unanimously chose him to be Pope by acclamation. As Pope, Fabian helped bring Christianity to unconverted areas of Europe, fought heresies, worked to extend aid to the poor, and promoted and kept the faith in spite of certain persecution.

Think about that for a moment. What would you have done had you been Fabian? Run and hide? Refuse the appointment? To whom would your refusal be addressed, those gathered or the Holy Spirit? Considering that the person before you had been killed because of his faith – would you have been afraid that, as leader of all Christians, you would meet the same fate?

Or would you have trusted in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit that you were being called to serve Him to lead His people? Certainly, Fabian, as a layman farmer, had no outstanding qualifications as a clergyman to justify his calling. But, God knew he was the right man at the right time. I’m sure the phrase, “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies those whom he calls” had yet to be coined. Fabian’s faith must have been strong, taking to heart Jesus’ words, “Do not be afraid”, as he placed his trust in God to lead him to do His will, each and every day, to the best of his ability.

Our culture may have evolved to where we don’t look at signs such as a dove landing on one’s head quite the same way. Maybe that was the Holy Spirit’s way of catching people’s attention back then. Today, most of us are literate and can read and, as such, we can receive the Holy Spirit through the sacred scripture of the Bible, God’s written Word, if we ask Him for it. Through His Word, God is speaking to us, each individually, meeting us where we are at that moment, and giving us an idea of how He would like for us to be, or what we should do, to grow closer to Him that day.

These days we don’t have to fear for our lives quite like Fabian and other Christians did in the third century. No, most of our fears revolve around losing worldly things to which we’ve become accustomed: comfort, money and material possessions, power, status, social inclusion, deeply rooted vices, etc. But, when we call upon the Holy Spirit to lead us each day as we hear the Word of God, we are often called to sacrifice one of those things that we hold near and dear so that we can grow in virtue, in holiness, and closer to Him.

Today, read or listen to the Word of God. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart so that you can hear what God is asking of you today. If His will for you is to lose a bad habit or make a change in behavior, ask Him for the strength and courage to make the change. Maybe He’s asking you to love someone more. Trust that He is asking these things of you because He wants you to be closer to Him, that He wants you to find joy and happiness which you can only find in Him. Then, resolve to carry out His will.

Be like Pope Saint Fabian.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for the desire to spend time with You in silence and solitude each day, to read Your Word, and to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and for the grace to do Your will with courage and trust. Amen.”

(Be Like Pope Saint Fabian was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

©2013-2022 Reflections of a Lay Catholic. Reposting and sharing of material in its full and original content is permitted, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author(s) and Reflections of a Lay Catholic.

Getting Caught in the NET

19 Saturday Nov 2022

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Christian Community, Discipleship, Evangelization

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Disciple-makers, Discipleship, Faith, Joy, Laboring for the Harvest, Luke 10:1-12, NET Ministries, Peace

In Luke 10:1-12, Jesus sent the Seventy-two out on a mission to visit villages around the country with instructions of how to convert souls and expand the Kingdom by preaching the new Word of God. They were to enter a house, wish it peace, eat what is offered to them, and cure the sick. They were to take nothing with them, placing their trust in divine providence. He told them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” By this, He was asking his disciples to make disciple-makers.

When we read this passage we are naturally brought to reflect on our own efforts and success at being disciples and making disciple-makers – something at which most of us fail miserably. But, these last couple of days, my thoughts have been more about being on the receiving end of the efforts of these trusting and courageous missionary disciples. In other words, what was it like to welcome these disciples into your home and receive the peace of the Lord through them?

This week my wife and I experienced just that. On Wednesday, we welcomed five young women, ages 18 to 20, into our home for two days. They are part of a team of eight (three young men were hosted by another family) from NET Ministries, a Catholic organization whose mission is to reach out “and challenge young Catholics, through relational ministry, to follow Christ and embrace a life of community in the Church.”

We had never done anything like this before. But, with our four daughters out of the “nest”, we welcomed the opportunity to offer hospitality to these young adults who are laboring for the harvest.

This team, NET Team 3, is regional to the Cincinnati area. They cover a territory of Southwestern Ohio, Southern Indiana, and Northern Kentucky. They travel to a different location and minister to high school and junior high school youths every couple of days, staying with an equal number of different hosts. They are committed for a year to this life on the road, traveling with only what they can pack in their suitcase, and relying on the hospitality of those in the local Catholic communities.

They arrived on Wednesday evening with only a suitcase and a backpack each, and two guitars. After showing them to their rooms and beds we gathered in our living room around a cozy fire in the fireplace and began getting to know each other, swapping stories about life and our personal faith journeys. Sharing came easily with no hesitation to go beyond superficialities. There was an aura of peacefulness about them. Their faith was evident without being in-your-face preachy. I’m sure they had had a long and arduous day but they gracefully stayed up with us to pray a Rosary before retiring for the evening.

Thursday morning we were blessed to prepare a good breakfast for them before they headed off to a local Catholic high school to hopefully save a few souls from succumbing to the ways of the world. They returned that evening and we enjoyed a fine home-cooked dinner (if I do say so myself!). I got the sense that they appreciated not having pizza because they came back for seconds! Throughout dinner and then, again, afterwards around another fire, we continued with good conversation and friendship. A guitar was uncased and we sang a few songs together.

On Friday morning we were all up early as the team had to head about an hour south to their next retreat. We prepared a breakfast for them to take with them. We exchanged hugs and blessings and wished each other well. Then they were gone. But, they left behind the memory of thirty-six hours of peacefulness well spent, and the hope that we might be able to do it again sometime soon.

Their mission is to grow the Kingdom of God with students and young adults. But, I wonder if they know the impact they have on us old folks? The joy they emanate by doing the Lord’s work brings hope to us all that some of the sickness in the world will be cured. Thank you NET Team 3 for bringing your joy and hope to this house!

“Dear Lord, thank You for inspiring these young women and men to be disciple-makers for Your Kingdom. Thank You for the opportunity to serve You by serving them. I pray You abundantly bless Mally, Maggie, Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Terese as they labor for Your harvest. Amen.”

(Getting Caught in the NET was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

The Sweetness of the Word in a Sour World

19 Saturday Nov 2022

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Catholic Moral Teaching

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Cultural Immorality, Faith, Grace, Jn 10:27, Lk 19:45-48, Prayer, Ps 119:103, Rv 10:8-11

In today’s Scripture there seemed to be a common thread of how sweet the Word of God is to the faithful. In Rv 10:8-11, we read about the angel handing John the scroll (the Word of God) and ordering him to “Take and swallow it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.” The prospect of heaven is sweet, but the suffering we experience on our way there can be upsetting.

In today’s Psalm, Ps 119:103, we read, “How sweet to my tongue is your promise, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

In the Alleluia, Jn 10:27: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Sheep are comforted by the words of a trusted shepherd.

And in the Gospel, Lk 19:45-48, the chief priests, scribes and Jewish leaders sought a way to put Jesus to death after he exercised His authority and cleansed the temple by driving out the money changers – “but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on His words.” Jesus was feeding the people with something far sweeter than anything the Pharisees had been providing!

A new prophet was in town. Not just any prophet, but the one the people were calling the Messiah! Don’t you know this drove the Jewish leaders crazy! They were being ignored. They were losing control. Jesus was a threat to their power.

Not much has changed in two thousand years. World political leaders have consistently been frustrated over Christians who choose to follow Jesus, the Word of God, rather than capitulate to the philosophies and cultures they try to impose. Today, you don’t have to travel away from home to experience the sour stomach effects of what’s being shoved down our throats: abortion up to and including the moment of birth, rampant promotion of transgenderism and euphoric celebration of the LGBTQA movement, the redefinition of marriage, the erosion of religious freedom and hosts of other misguided policies that tear down accepted morality and the institution of the family in the pretense that government knows best.

Making it particularly difficult for us Catholics are the various leaders within our government who claim to be devout Catholics yet are on the front lines of promoting these immoralities. Faithful and humble believers are a threat to their agenda, a pain in the rear to the pride that drives their desire for power and control. Desperate people do desperate things and theirs are true acts of desperation. Their level of frustration with all of us who follow the voice of our Good Shepherd must be reaching a crescendo because, from all observations, they are working hard to do the devil’s work.

We must remember to let the evil born of their frustration be theirs and theirs alone. As virtuous Christians, the Church Militant, we receive through prayer the grace to take these issues which we don’t like and haven’t chosen and work to peacefully change what we can. But, for those issues out of our control, we need to pray for that same grace to live lives of virtue, maintain interior peace, and hang on His words – the only medicine that will soothe the indigestion of life and transform our frustration into acceptance that all will be well for those who love and trust Jesus.

Let it be Jesus to whom we listen! Let it be the sweetness of God’s Word we savor rather than the immoral philosophies of the misguided leaders of the world. We will be victorious and it will drive them crazy!

“Lord Jesus, Your sweet words hold the promise of everlasting life. I pray for the conversion of all misguided souls. And, I pray for the grace to be an effective disciple maker, to help change the world by feeding hungry souls on the sweetness of Your Word. Amen.”

(The Sweetness of the Word in a Sour World was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Lift High the Cross

15 Thursday Sep 2022

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Adoration, Faith, Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, God-moments, Grace, Jesus, Lift High the Cross

I have had the great fortune to spend this week at the Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas attending the Catholic Spiritual Mentorship Program as an alumni staff member. As always, it has been an absolutely awesome week! I received a text this evening from my spiritual director back home in Ohio asking me how my week is going and that he is praying for me. I responded that, once again, it has been an amazing experience in an amazing place with amazing people and I still have three days left! I added my thoughts about why it is that way, “It’s 100 people all seeking the same thing – holiness and the desire to help other men and women to do the same. It’s the spiritual friendship that is developed from that common desire. It’s communion with God and with each other! I wish you could be here, too.”

His response: “Amen! The Lord’s prerogative! His words at the Last Supper: ‘I pray for them, that they may be one…me in them, I in You, and You in Me, that we may all be one!’”

Did I tell you I love my spiritual director?

I wish each and every one of you could be here! We receive so many graces and feel the presence of Christ in so many ways, especially through our interaction with the students and staff.

Yesterday I posted Recognizing Miracles: How You Can Resurrect the Dead in which I suggested that the dead or lukewarm spiritual lives of people we know can be resurrected by our witness to the presence of God in our lives. I want to practice what I preach by passing on to you a special moment from yesterday.

Wednesday was the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a feast that was first celebrated in Rome before the end of the 7th century. It commemorates the recovery of that portion of the Holy Cross which was preserved at Jerusalem, and which had fallen into the hands of the Persians. It was recovered and brought back to Jerusalem in the year 629.

At mass yesterday morning in the chapel we sang the hymn Lift High the Cross. The song’s refrain goes:

“Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim

’Til all the world adore his sacred name.”

The cross, that instrument of death which the Romans utilized to put fear in anyone who might think to counter their authority. The cross, upon which Jesus died for our sins so that we might have eternal life. The cross that, because of His resurrection, became a symbol of victory to all believers and, ironically, was used by Christians to thumb their noses at Roman persecution.

As I sang those words I thought how it explained our mission perfectly, to proclaim the love of Christ so that the world will adore Him.

Later in the day we were gathered in the chapel for Adoration and Reconciliation. At the end of the Holy Hour I lingered for a few minutes as the others processed out. When I bowed to take my leave, I looked up at the crucifix behind the altar and froze in wonder. I took this photo so that I could share it with you.

The shadow behind Jesus on the cross, which isn’t visible most of the day, struck me as an image of God lifting the cross high as if to say, “Here is my only Son Who gave His life for you! Adore Him and proclaim His sacred name!” Can you see it?

This is how God works in your life when you are open to receiving His love and reassurance that He is with you at all times! You see and feel His presence in so many and unexpected ways.

Ask our Lord to open your heart so that you may readily feel His presence, too.

I would love to hear of how you’ve seen or felt God working in your life lately. Please feel free to share by adding a comment. Thank you and God bless!

“Thank you, Jesus, for allowing me to feel Your presence in my life. ‘I adore You, O Christ, and I bless You, for by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world’. Amen.”

(Lift High the Cross was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Is Your Faith Contagious?

06 Tuesday Sep 2022

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization, Faith

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Bring a friend to Christ, Evangelization, Faith, Jesus, Jesus the Divine Physician

Jesus, the Divine Physician – St. James Catholic Church, Duluth, MN

In today’s Gospel, Luke 6:12-19, Luke tells of the great multitude of people who sought out Jesus to be healed of their diseases and to be cured of the torment of unclean spirits. Luke doesn’t elaborate on how this great multitude of people learned about Jesus’ healing. But, I suspect it happened by word of mouth, by those who heralded the healing and curing power of Jesus to their family and friends.

Reflecting on this passage, I related to the poor tormented souls as I recalled a time when I was overwhelmed by stress and the exigencies of life which brought so much unhappiness. I wasn’t looking for Jesus to cure me, but I let friends who knew I needed Him carry me to His emergency room, an ER with zero wait time!

So, I ask myself today, have I been one of those friends who, after being cured, or having witnessed His healing, made the effort to tell others who need Him? I can say “Yes”, but reservedly. This blog is one way I get the word out. I evangelize through spiritually mentoring other men to develop their interior lives and their relationships with Jesus. I share my faith in small groups with other men who already have a strong faith. But, do I reach out effectively and proclaim the Good News to those who have not heard it or are indifferent to it? Is my faith contagious? I think I can do better.

How about you? Is your faith contagious? In what ways do you tell others about Jesus and His saving grace? How might you do better?

“Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your constant presence in my life. Lord, open my heart to new ways to bring others to You, and, through Your grace, help me to realize the virtue of fortitude I need to be outgoing in bringing Your Word to others. Help me, Jesus, to live my life in a way that others want some of what I have. Amen.”

(Is Your Faith Contagious? was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)