Mt 20:1-16a
Every time I read this passage from Matthew 20 I picture a whole bunch of workers whining at the end of the day about their wages being unfair. Can’t you picture the same thing happening today? Parents with several children fighting over chores or prized possessions will certainly recognize this scenario. Why do we always look at what others have and think we have been gypped?
In my position I have had many opportunities to speak with people who are at low points of their lives. Some are experiencing the loss of a loved one, or dealing with terrible pain and suffering or perhaps the loss of an income and face losing a home. (Some are facing all of the above.) It has always amazed me that many of these people talk to me as if these things were stepping stones in life. They do not complain, they do not feel as if life is not fair. They look at life’s trials and tribulations as opportunities to grow and give back to God. Never do they say to me “life’s not fair.” They know they have the Holy Spirit to guide them, Jesus to walk with them and God to love them no matter what happens in life.
All of us have probably muttered “not fair” a few times in our lives and think the “other guy” has it all, .but it is important to shake off those feelings. God may have something else in mind for you. Instead of looking at what others have, count your own blessings… I bet you will find you have too many of them to keep to yourself! Spread your blessings around. Even when you are down and out God is there, blessings are there, love is there… but it is up to you to seek them out. Life is fair when you let God do the planning! God Bless, Holly Clark
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Where Were You on 9-11?
Our nation suffered a terrible blow 10 years ago on this date. The unthinkable occurred. Planes, flown by terrorists, plowed into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania killing nearly 3000 people. Where were you on this day? Do you remember what your thoughts and feelings were then? How do you feel today? Are you still angry? Do you blame an entire religion or way of life? Even today, the death toll continues to rise as citizens and first responders perish from “World Trade Center Syndrome.”
How do you feel today? Take some time this week to reflect upon your own feelings and how they are different now and back then and then pray for the victims and their families. If you find yourself still angry ask for Jesus’ help. In today’s Gospel Jesus advises to forgive “seventy times seven.” He asks us to forgive over and over again. If He were here today He would advise us to forgive the hijackers. Anger, hatred, resentment are all nasty emotions that are harmful to the body and soul. Sirach makes this point:
Could anyone nourish anger against another
and expect healing from the LORD? Sir 28:3
Let us pray for the riddance of hatred, the vanishing of religious divisions and ask the Lord for guidance in our efforts to forgive those who have wronged us. Let us pray for a better world. God Bless, Holly Clark
Monday, October 3, 2011
Where Two or Three are Gathered
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” MT 18:20
Recently I have been romping through our medical system, spending some time in medical waiting rooms, waiting for appointments and tests. I usually bring something to read or browse through the magazines to find the most mundane articles ever printed. But lately my mind was elsewhere… In each of these waiting rooms I was thinking two or three are gathered here and I asked myself where would Jesus be in this room? In a pre-op area, would he be comforting the person about to undergo neurosurgery for a brain tumor or maybe the elderly gentleman who needs knee surgery or is he talking to the older woman with the black pants with hot pink purses emblazoned on them? (She told me the wild pants help to cheer her up before surgery.) I looked into the faces of all those around me and wondered what brought each of them there. I could feel Jesus’ presence in the room, beside me, helping me to focus on praying for the health and well being of those around me. I found that as I focused my prayers on others my own medical issues seemed much lighter. I knew I didn’t have cancer or dire medical issue. As I listened to various conversations while waiting for my turn to be called I tried to silently give strength to those around me. When I was finally called up for my turn in the O.R., I found myself uplifted for there were “two or three” or more gathered in the surgical suite and I knew Jesus was there.
This month, when you find yourself in a group, take a few minutes to pray for those around you. Not everyone is Christian, of course, but Jesus is there for us all.
Recently I have been romping through our medical system, spending some time in medical waiting rooms, waiting for appointments and tests. I usually bring something to read or browse through the magazines to find the most mundane articles ever printed. But lately my mind was elsewhere… In each of these waiting rooms I was thinking two or three are gathered here and I asked myself where would Jesus be in this room? In a pre-op area, would he be comforting the person about to undergo neurosurgery for a brain tumor or maybe the elderly gentleman who needs knee surgery or is he talking to the older woman with the black pants with hot pink purses emblazoned on them? (She told me the wild pants help to cheer her up before surgery.) I looked into the faces of all those around me and wondered what brought each of them there. I could feel Jesus’ presence in the room, beside me, helping me to focus on praying for the health and well being of those around me. I found that as I focused my prayers on others my own medical issues seemed much lighter. I knew I didn’t have cancer or dire medical issue. As I listened to various conversations while waiting for my turn to be called I tried to silently give strength to those around me. When I was finally called up for my turn in the O.R., I found myself uplifted for there were “two or three” or more gathered in the surgical suite and I knew Jesus was there.
This month, when you find yourself in a group, take a few minutes to pray for those around you. Not everyone is Christian, of course, but Jesus is there for us all.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Be Transformed!
Be Transformed…
Do you find life chaotic? Do you crave peace and quiet and time to just be? Do you try to control your life only to find it lands in chaos anyways? How much time do we spend trying to maintain order in our lives and surroundings! You know something is amiss in life but not quite know how to fix it.
This summer I have been spending a bit of time in nature. I take walks in forests, sit by the seaside, and gaze up at the night sky. What I see is lots of randomness and chaos. The forest can be a messy place with flowers and trees intermixing with weeds and vines. The night sky has scattered stars and planets and the ocean splashes water everywhere! There seems to be chaos everywhere I look! Just like our lives… we try our best to keep order but we fall into disorder. I got to thinking, however, despite the chaos there is a balance and equilibrium to nature. Nature is perfect! Perhaps there is order in chaos and perhaps God’s plan for us is that once we stop controlling everything ourselves and surrender to chaos that maybe we will find equilibrium and God. I took another look at a mountain meadow and saw beauty in the “messy” clumps of wildflowers and thought the seemingly random placement of trees, bushes, blades of grass may seem scattered to us but each seed, each animal, each flower and weed were lovingly placed there by God’s hand. This was more beautiful to me than the most cultured garden planted by men.
Our lives are messy at times… but do not run away from it! Dive right into the messiness as we might dive into a pile of leaves in the fall. Learn to find equilibrium in chaos. Let us be transformed! Paul offers this advice:
Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect. -Rom 12:2
Imagine the world once we all are transformed!
God Bless, Holly Clark
Do you find life chaotic? Do you crave peace and quiet and time to just be? Do you try to control your life only to find it lands in chaos anyways? How much time do we spend trying to maintain order in our lives and surroundings! You know something is amiss in life but not quite know how to fix it.
This summer I have been spending a bit of time in nature. I take walks in forests, sit by the seaside, and gaze up at the night sky. What I see is lots of randomness and chaos. The forest can be a messy place with flowers and trees intermixing with weeds and vines. The night sky has scattered stars and planets and the ocean splashes water everywhere! There seems to be chaos everywhere I look! Just like our lives… we try our best to keep order but we fall into disorder. I got to thinking, however, despite the chaos there is a balance and equilibrium to nature. Nature is perfect! Perhaps there is order in chaos and perhaps God’s plan for us is that once we stop controlling everything ourselves and surrender to chaos that maybe we will find equilibrium and God. I took another look at a mountain meadow and saw beauty in the “messy” clumps of wildflowers and thought the seemingly random placement of trees, bushes, blades of grass may seem scattered to us but each seed, each animal, each flower and weed were lovingly placed there by God’s hand. This was more beautiful to me than the most cultured garden planted by men.
Our lives are messy at times… but do not run away from it! Dive right into the messiness as we might dive into a pile of leaves in the fall. Learn to find equilibrium in chaos. Let us be transformed! Paul offers this advice:
Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect. -Rom 12:2
Imagine the world once we all are transformed!
God Bless, Holly Clark
Who Do You Say I Am?
How would you describe Jesus to someone who did not know him?”
Have you ever sat and pondered who Jesus is to you? In the Bible Jesus is many things to many people: healer, forgiver of sins, pure love and peace, philosopher, holy man, miracle maker, savior, Son of Man, Word of God… God. But how would you describe Jesus? Do you have a relationship with Him? Do you chat on a regular basis? Do you invite Him into your life?
Today take a few moments to ponder these many questions. If you cannot answer them all that is okay- it is not a test! God gave us Jesus as a companion to our journey in faith and in life. You can ask Him anything and He will never laugh at you or ridicule you or be angry with you. As an exercise make a list below of who is Jesus to you. And then list ways you will include Jesus into your life. Cut this out and post on your fridge or in your Bible. And when you feel lost in life reread your list and invite Jesus into your heart, mind and life and He will walk with you always.
God Bless, Holly Clark
Have you ever sat and pondered who Jesus is to you? In the Bible Jesus is many things to many people: healer, forgiver of sins, pure love and peace, philosopher, holy man, miracle maker, savior, Son of Man, Word of God… God. But how would you describe Jesus? Do you have a relationship with Him? Do you chat on a regular basis? Do you invite Him into your life?
Today take a few moments to ponder these many questions. If you cannot answer them all that is okay- it is not a test! God gave us Jesus as a companion to our journey in faith and in life. You can ask Him anything and He will never laugh at you or ridicule you or be angry with you. As an exercise make a list below of who is Jesus to you. And then list ways you will include Jesus into your life. Cut this out and post on your fridge or in your Bible. And when you feel lost in life reread your list and invite Jesus into your heart, mind and life and He will walk with you always.
God Bless, Holly Clark
Reflections on the New Mass
Reflections on the New Mass
Travelling Across Space and Time
We have been publishing periodically reflections on the new Mass translation and have provided you with some side-by-side comparisons of the old and the new words of the Mass. You may be asking yourselves “Why?” Why do we need, or want, to go to a new translation that is truer to the original Latin and Greek words? Why do we want to go back and speak like ancient Greeks, Romans and Jews, after all we do not share in their cultural heritage or customs? We need to remember, however, that when speaking of liturgical language we are inexplicably tied to the religious culture that produced it. The language of our liturgy is not so much Latin, Greek, or English. The language is Christian. It is the language we use in the liturgy of the Mass that connects us in the here and now with the ancients. It is also this common language that connects today’s Catholics across the country and the world. Isn’t this awesome? Our Mass has travelled across space and time to unite us in Christ. Our translation of the Mass is a living translation that grows with our love and understanding of our faith heritage. Let us open our hearts and minds to the new translation. Picture our brothers and sisters in the ancient holy lands speaking the same words we speak today. Can you feel their heartbeats? Can you feel Jesus connecting us all in infinite love no matter what language we are speaking? Let us thank God for our family in faith.
Travelling Across Space and Time
We have been publishing periodically reflections on the new Mass translation and have provided you with some side-by-side comparisons of the old and the new words of the Mass. You may be asking yourselves “Why?” Why do we need, or want, to go to a new translation that is truer to the original Latin and Greek words? Why do we want to go back and speak like ancient Greeks, Romans and Jews, after all we do not share in their cultural heritage or customs? We need to remember, however, that when speaking of liturgical language we are inexplicably tied to the religious culture that produced it. The language of our liturgy is not so much Latin, Greek, or English. The language is Christian. It is the language we use in the liturgy of the Mass that connects us in the here and now with the ancients. It is also this common language that connects today’s Catholics across the country and the world. Isn’t this awesome? Our Mass has travelled across space and time to unite us in Christ. Our translation of the Mass is a living translation that grows with our love and understanding of our faith heritage. Let us open our hearts and minds to the new translation. Picture our brothers and sisters in the ancient holy lands speaking the same words we speak today. Can you feel their heartbeats? Can you feel Jesus connecting us all in infinite love no matter what language we are speaking? Let us thank God for our family in faith.
Footprints...
I received the following updated version of Footprints in an e-mail not too long ago. I’d seen it a couple of times before and it has always given me pause to reflect. I am sure we can all identify with the zig-zagging of our lives…
God Bless, Holly Clark
FOOTPRINTS...A New Version
Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns. For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling, His consistently... You and Jesus are walking as true friends!
This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one. This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger. Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one. This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints. You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends. Now you pray: 'Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You.'
'That is correct.' 'And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely..'
'Very good.. You have understood everything so far..'When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way.'
'Precisely.' 'So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first.'
There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice. 'You didn't know? It was then that we danced!
God Bless, Holly Clark
FOOTPRINTS...A New Version
Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns. For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling, His consistently... You and Jesus are walking as true friends!
This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one. This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger. Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one. This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints. You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends. Now you pray: 'Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You.'
'That is correct.' 'And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely..'
'Very good.. You have understood everything so far..'When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way.'
'Precisely.' 'So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first.'
There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice. 'You didn't know? It was then that we danced!
God is Passing By!
…the LORD will be passing by… 1 Kings 19:11
So often in the Old Testament God makes himself known in very dramatic ways, a thunderous voice, burning bushes, raining down manna from heaven. In today’s Old Testament reading the LORD speaks to Elijah and tells him to be on the look out for another message from the LORD. Elijah stands by in a cave entrance and starts looking for the Lord in the gusty wind, in an earthquake and finally in a fire. Surely the mighty Lord would give him an unequivocal, obvious sign of his presence. But alas, the Lord was not to be found amidst all the drama. Elijah was looking and listening in the wrong places. He should have been paying attention to the gentle whispers of nature, for the Lord was there.
How often do we beg God for signs? Signs that we are on the right road, the right path? How often do we look at a disaster and think God is teaching us a lesson? The other day I sat on my back deck, closed my eyes and prayed to God for guidance. I kept asking him for signs, signs that I am on the right path. Like Elijah I’d been looking in the wrong places. A gentle breeze came across me and I could hear the gentle rustling of leaves and a bird was tweeting in the background… I mused to myself that God was answering me… in the gentle undertones of a cool breeze and in the chirping of birds. God’s speaks to us where we are at although we are always looking for God in the wrong places! God is in nature, in our fellow man and in our hearts.
This week take some time to slow down… close your eyes and ask God for what you need, or for what others need, God will soon be passing by your home in the whispers of the wind. He is listening… take the time to hear his voice speaking to your heart.
God Bless, Holly Clark
So often in the Old Testament God makes himself known in very dramatic ways, a thunderous voice, burning bushes, raining down manna from heaven. In today’s Old Testament reading the LORD speaks to Elijah and tells him to be on the look out for another message from the LORD. Elijah stands by in a cave entrance and starts looking for the Lord in the gusty wind, in an earthquake and finally in a fire. Surely the mighty Lord would give him an unequivocal, obvious sign of his presence. But alas, the Lord was not to be found amidst all the drama. Elijah was looking and listening in the wrong places. He should have been paying attention to the gentle whispers of nature, for the Lord was there.
How often do we beg God for signs? Signs that we are on the right road, the right path? How often do we look at a disaster and think God is teaching us a lesson? The other day I sat on my back deck, closed my eyes and prayed to God for guidance. I kept asking him for signs, signs that I am on the right path. Like Elijah I’d been looking in the wrong places. A gentle breeze came across me and I could hear the gentle rustling of leaves and a bird was tweeting in the background… I mused to myself that God was answering me… in the gentle undertones of a cool breeze and in the chirping of birds. God’s speaks to us where we are at although we are always looking for God in the wrong places! God is in nature, in our fellow man and in our hearts.
This week take some time to slow down… close your eyes and ask God for what you need, or for what others need, God will soon be passing by your home in the whispers of the wind. He is listening… take the time to hear his voice speaking to your heart.
God Bless, Holly Clark
Monday, August 1, 2011
A Ministry of Healing
His heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. Mt 14:14
In today’s Gospel we find Jesus in mourning for the death of His close friend, John the Baptist. He needed to get away for a while, by Himself, to gather His thoughts and pray with His Father. How often do we need to get away ourselves? But being a celebrity of His time Jesus was soon faced with a huge crowd full of suffering and ill people. Jesus, despite being in mourning, put aside His emotions and began to heal them. Jesus’ earthly ministry consisted of many such healings. The question arises: “How can we continue, on our own, a ministry of healing?” We do not have the divine, miraculous power of healing that Jesus’ had but we do have our love and prayers to offer to those who are ill and forgotten.
How will you practice a ministry of healing? Prayer, love and human touch is a good beginning. I remember being ill as a child, and in the hospital, and knowing my parents were holding my hands… I could feel love and healing pulsating throughout my body. Jesus often healed with a simple touch. Human touch carries the warmth and love of Jesus and helps to alleviate pain and suffering. Praying for others also brings healing. In my position here at Sacred Heart I have prayed for many and many have prayed for me. The power of prayer is awesome cannot be overestimated. Again… How will you follow Jesus and practice a ministry of healing? I challenge you today to set aside a few minutes and pray for those on our prayer list and for those who you know are ill. Visit someone this week and let them know you care. Put aside your own worries and concerns as Jesus did today. Who knows what will happen when love, touch and prayer come together in Jesus’ name?
God Bless, Holly Clark
In today’s Gospel we find Jesus in mourning for the death of His close friend, John the Baptist. He needed to get away for a while, by Himself, to gather His thoughts and pray with His Father. How often do we need to get away ourselves? But being a celebrity of His time Jesus was soon faced with a huge crowd full of suffering and ill people. Jesus, despite being in mourning, put aside His emotions and began to heal them. Jesus’ earthly ministry consisted of many such healings. The question arises: “How can we continue, on our own, a ministry of healing?” We do not have the divine, miraculous power of healing that Jesus’ had but we do have our love and prayers to offer to those who are ill and forgotten.
How will you practice a ministry of healing? Prayer, love and human touch is a good beginning. I remember being ill as a child, and in the hospital, and knowing my parents were holding my hands… I could feel love and healing pulsating throughout my body. Jesus often healed with a simple touch. Human touch carries the warmth and love of Jesus and helps to alleviate pain and suffering. Praying for others also brings healing. In my position here at Sacred Heart I have prayed for many and many have prayed for me. The power of prayer is awesome cannot be overestimated. Again… How will you follow Jesus and practice a ministry of healing? I challenge you today to set aside a few minutes and pray for those on our prayer list and for those who you know are ill. Visit someone this week and let them know you care. Put aside your own worries and concerns as Jesus did today. Who knows what will happen when love, touch and prayer come together in Jesus’ name?
God Bless, Holly Clark
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