Tag: Beth Price

When someone says winter to me I think of snow as I’ve lived in the midwest most of my life. Indiana, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Michigan collectively average thirty eight inches of snow, however, this varies greatly depending on which part of the state you live in. The air temperatures fluctuate a lot during the winter months too, frequently going back and forth over the freezing mark which can cause ice build up on the roads.

What this has to do with today’s readings is simple; salt. Salt and water are a corrosive combination which accelerate the decomposition of metals, roadbeds, fabrics and many other materials. Too much salt in your diet can lead to problems with blood pressure, heart disease, kidney issues, headaches, osteoporosis, stomach cancer, and stroke.

Sin is a killer. Each sin makes it easier for the next sin to occur. It leads to more distance between me and the light and love of God. The fear of a secret sin being revealed, judgment or punishment due to an act or a wrongful deed, can keep me away from the saving grace and healing power in the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.

Sin and salt are both corrosive. You do need some salt in your diet (fifteen hundred milligrams or less per day for adults, however in the USA an adult averages 3,400mg) to be healthy. Sin is not needed on a daily basis or ever. Even a ‘little’ sin can quickly lead to barreling down the slippery slope to Gehenna.  To paraphrase today’s Gospel, ‘Sin, don’t do it; just cut it out!’

Keeping the love of Jesus Christ, the Lord God in our hearts, good Words in our minds, and receiving the sacraments as frequently as we are able to in our lives, will help keep sin’s corrosive nature away. Great friends and a spiritual director who know you well will also help to keep you honest with yourself. Maybe this Lent my focus will be, ‘Sin, don’t do it; just cut it out!”

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There is a lot to unpack in the 4 sentences that make up today’s Gospel. The word verdant has stayed with me throughout my prayer, reflection and study. During my reflection there were times I could even smell rich loamy soil and picture a lush valley, the land full of an abundance of vegetation and animal life.

Gennesaret has been described in this way for centuries and into the mid-twentieth century. When Jesus and the disciples disembarked in Gennesaret, ‘people immediately recognized Him.’

The people of this valley had a rich and deep faith in God and the Torah. They had heard of the miracles that recently happened in the area. In their hearts they knew Jesus was the messiah because of their knowledge and wisdom from reading, hearing, and study of sacred Scriptures. They had faith and believed. The people brought the sick and begged that they might touch the tassel on his cloak. “Those who had touched it were healed.”

There have been times when I have prayed to the Lord for intervention during a terrible storm. I know He heard the prayers being offered and parted the storm on two separate, distinct occasions. I had been on youth trips; one to a retreat in Ohio, the other to do service. In both instances the conditions were perfect for tornados while thunderstorms were exploding all around us. The rain had begun to come in sideways. I could smell ozone in the air while seeing the sky take on a green or deep purple hue.

Our gathering place in each situation was in the direct path of a huge storm. The Saturday evening praise and worship was interrupted and all gathered under the big tent were able to safely evacuate to the residence halls down the hill. Through the night the storm raged. In the morning we saw the winds had tossed a few chairs and some equipment but we were all thankful and rejoicing that God is good, all the time.

The morning after the second storm we listened to the radio while driving to our site across town. The weather anchors in St. Louis were surprised that a storm of such size actually split in half. It brought clear skies with much lower temperatures to the region and the service groups completed their work in seventy degree weather instead of the forecasted low hundreds for which we had planned. 

I know what I experienced. I listened to the words of others who were witnesses. I have faith in the Lord, His works, His Son, the Holy Spirit, Sacred Scripture and the Catholic Church. I believe that miracles happened then and now. What about you?

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The Old Testament today has the messenger Nathan astounded at what David has done, especially since David is the anointed of the Lord. David’s sin is forgiven by the Lord. There are, however, consequences because of his sinful actions.

The Gospel of Mark has an incredulous Jesus asking the disciples, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

It’s still fairly early in Jesus’ ministry. The disciples are still trying to figure out who Jesus really is, a prophet or the Messiah.

They’ve seen water turned into wine, watched a man’s withered hand be healed and several other miracles. They’ve just listened to Jesus share many parables: the sower of seeds, scattering seeds, a lamp and a basket, the mustard seed. Yet when they get in a boat with Jesus and he’s fast asleep, there is panic that they will be swamped and drown during a sudden storm. Really?

I’ve heard of and read about the same miracles and healings. Would I have the trust and faith that Jesus is in control of the wind and seas of the situation?

Do I have the courage to do whatever He tells me without fear?

Do I have the faith that He will get me through whatever storm may come my way?

I admit there have been a few times in my life when I’ve been scared, really afraid of the next thing to do. In the Hispanic culture this is known as ‘caerse del susto’ being scared to death.

This type of loss of faith experience has happened to me many times including, during a sudden move, graduating from school, challenges in married life, getting a job, going through pregnancy, delivery and birth. It’s also happened when coping with illness, surgery, loss of life or relationships. I’ve also felt a trembling of faith before and while having hard conversations with family, friends and others. My head knows Jesus is in the boat with me, yet I’ve allowed fear of the unknown to take control of my mind and heart instead of relying on Him. 

Today I offer the following prayer to begin again on my journey in faith with Jesus.

God, grant me the Serenity

To accept the things I cannot change…

Courage to change the things I can,

And Wisdom to know the difference.

 

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time,

Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His will.

That I may be reasonably happy in this life,

And supremely happy with Him forever in the next.

Amen.   

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The Gospel today has the second account of the widow and her two small coins. I find this quite fitting on the Monday before Thanksgiving.

The widow’s offering is the definition of altruism. She gives not from her extra or surplus cash on hand, but from all that she has to give. Her offering is from ‘her whole livelihood’ as Jesus notices. Her coins are donated to help others even if it means she may have to do without.

Altruism is, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary: “feelings and behavior that show a desire to help other people and a lack of selfishness’ or ‘an unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others.” 

Donating or giving for the benefit of others has been part of my understanding of Thanksgiving for most of my life. This year in particular I keep thinking of all who have sacrificed and worked so diligently during the Covid pandemic.

I think of the staff and medical professionals who have been working on so many different levels during this pandemic. I think of all the families separated because of care and safety of the health of others with whom they come in contact.

I think of the clergy and parish staff who have been comforting those who experience hardship, grief and loss.

I think of the staff at the grocery stores and restaurants, in pantries and shelters, in the food chains and networks that assist as many as they can over these several months.

I think of the educators and staff keeping schools, colleges, daycare, universities and the many institutions going for all different types of learning situations.

I think of all the first responders who continue to assist others in all kinds of situations, dangerous and routine (which is never routine when it’s you or your loved one involved in a specific situation).

I think of each who works keeping the electricity, gas, power, water, sanitation and transportation going for the millions in our country who depend on these services.

I think of the military men and women who serve our country in ways too numerous to count.

I think of everyone in all the above situations, the many gifts and talents that are given during each and every day. What tremendous blessings by people that are usually not adequately appreciated or recognized for their labor. It is truly remarkable and humbling to think of all the sacrifices made during this last year.

Thank you and may God bless you and your loved ones.

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I opened the Divine Office today, more specifically the Office of Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours, for additional insight on the readings for today.  St. Augustine wrote, “We love him, yet we fear his coming. Are we really certain that we love him? Or do we love our sins more?” Wait, what?! The idea really caught me off guard.

I had to read that a few more times. “We love him, yet we fear his coming. Are we really certain that we love him? Or do we love our sins more?”

St. Augustine certainly speaks quite directly.  His words emphasise the Gospel Acclamation today from Luke 21:36, “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.”

NO! I don’t love my sins more. However there have been a whole lot of times in my life when I haven’t gone to confession with a sin I have committed or an action I omitted or failed to do. Either from embarrassment, shame, pride or being naive about a situation, it has kept me from being prepared for the coming of our Lord and Savior.

For example, I was speaking with a friend over the weekend and said something which was really me making a judgement about another. I said I needed to take that situation to confession.  My friend, however, heard it as a fact and felt it was a justified statement. In my heart, I knew I  was passing judgement on another, especially as I am aware that the person is having some short term memory issues.

I really believe that each of us does the best he/she can in any given situation. I have to be careful not to be self righteous. I have to be vigilant about not casting the first stone, as I too have made mistakes or misspoken, or been completely unaware of a greater situation than my narrow perspective. This is quite a slippery slope that quickly leads to sin.

Heavenly Father, Help me to be vigilant in my thoughts, and in my words. Please help me be aware of what I have failed to do and what I have done that separates me from you and your will to be done here on earth. Forgive me my sins as I forgive those who trespass against me. Help me to be aware of the temptations ahead of me today and every day so that I am on guard for when you do come again in glory at the end of time. Amen.

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Did anyone else besides me have to read today’s First Reading more than once before it started to click in your mind? I really had to take a deep breath and intentionally clear the thoughts and images from my head because they were obstacles to the Word of the Lord spoken through the writings of St. Paul in his letter to the Romans.

I couldn’t focus on God’s voice being spoken through the written words in these Bible passages. There are many times throughout my life when I’ve struggled with ‘seeing the face of God’ as the Psalm intones today or hearing His voice in my daily life.

There are so many distractions and tasks that can pull my focus from being fruitful for the Lord. When I’m distanced from Him, for whatever length of time, I become similar to the parable about the barren fig tree in the Gospel.  I don’t want to be cut down after three years for not bearing good fruit.

I know there have been times my routines and thoughts aren’t connected to the Spirit of the life-giving Lord. I am so very thankful that there is no time limit for me to leave the concerns of the flesh and world behind, which take me further from God, and turn back to Him. The fertilizer I need to nurture the Spirit of Life in my heart and thoughts I absorb through the Sacraments, His divinely inspired Words in Scripture and in the living witnesses throughout time in this world.

Today is the memorial of Saint John of Capistrano. There were many challenges in the world during his lifetime. Through courage, diligence and faith, St. John became a reformer of the Church. He is a witness for me of the Spirit being alive in his life.

Please pray with me, asking for St. John’s intercession today.

St. John of Capistrano, your love for Christ overcame all obstacles. Help me to cherish God’s call and to follow him wherever he might lead. Amen.

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Todays’ readings are so fitting for the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The Scriptures are wonderful lessons addressing the conversion of the heart.

The First Reading has Jonah not wanting to obey the call of the Lord God. He was pitched into the sea and swallowed and spit out after 3 days of prayer in a whale’s belly.

The Gospel acclamation gives us the new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.” The reading from Luke has a law scholar asking, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus’ reply is the story of the Good Samaritan.

Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone (lovingly known as Francis) was born into what we today would call an upper middle class cloth merchant family. He led a carefree life, enjoyed friends and parties. He wanted to be a knight. He was captured, got ill and was imprisoned for a year during which time he read about the lives of the saints.

When Francis returned home he was not the same person. His spirit was troubled. Things he used to enjoy just didn’t make him happy the way they used to. The conversion of his heart was beginning.

The conversion of the human heart is not a one and done process. As with Jonah, who resisted the call of God more than once, Francis too had to pray and listen for God’s call.

Once Francis of Assisi committed his life to follow the Lord God’s call he immersed himself in the Gospel, taking the Gospel teachings (especially the words of Jesus) to heart and applied them to his life; Gospel to life, life to Gospel. For Francis so loved the Lord. He acclaimed frequently, “My God and my all! My God and my all!”

St. Francis did not have an easy life once he chose to follow his Heavenly Father. He made mistakes, faced many challenges and accomplished many things in his own ‘little’ way by choosing to make his life follow Jesus’ way. He made changes (conversions) to how he dealt with life events, even his thoughts to live out the Gospel in a moment by moment, day by day way.

I have been called to this conversion process too, going from Gospel to life, life to Gospel. I am called to love all as Jesus loves me and as the Good Samaritan loves. I thank my own good Samaritans Mark and Missy who stopped and got me some gas while on their way home from dinner with their grandkids when I ran out on an off ramp on my way to get gas last weekend.

Lord, my God and my all, help me to listen to your will in my life. Help my heart to be like Jesus’ and Francis’ heart. Help me to see Your face in every part of the world and my life. Amen.

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Today is the feast of St. Pius of Pietrelcina better known as Padre Pio. The First Reading from Haggai today is quite fitting as Padre Pio was known for the gift of inspired listening while in the confessional. He had the gift of being able to tell the person receiving the sacrament what he/she omitted from a confession, and called the person out about it.

Here’s how I imagine Padre Pio would sum up the First Reading. ‘What I hear you saying is, you work, eat and drink, yet nothing gives you fulfilment or satisfaction. Wake up! Clean up your act! Stop going through the motions and really commit to being your true self and do so authentically. When you work, do so sincerely and with your best effort. The intention behind what you do and why, matters. Then when you offer your works to the Lord, God will be pleased with you.  Let your true self come through just like a flower.’

A flower doesn’t give any thought to what it is, how it fits in, or what it looks like. It is a flower and God enjoys each and every flower. It is at peace.

I am human. God enjoys each and every part of my authentic self. I do not have to be the best in any way, shape, or form. I just have to try as best I am able in the moment, and to use the God given gifts and the talents I’ve developed throughout my life. I need to find a way to do those things with good intentions that are not selfish or miserly. I need to live in peace and unity with the kingdom He entrusted to humankind.

Padre Pio wrote, “There is only one thing the soul should regret, and that is offending God.”
My actions and thoughts need to be formed with this in mind.

Oh Lord, I want you to take pleasure in all the facets of life. With the help of my Guardian Angel, enlighten and guide me to do your will in every action, thought, deed and prayer. Amen.

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Today is the memorial of Pope Saint Gregory the Great, and a doctor of the Church. I usually make a point of doing some research about the saint(s) of the day before beginning any writing, and always after I’ve read the Scriptures for the day.  I’m particularly drawn to these lines from Pope St. Gregory I:

“The sacred scriptures grow with the one who reads them.”

“God is within all things but not included; outside all things but not excluded. God is above all things but not beyond their reach.”

“The Bible is a stream of running water, where alike the elephant may swim, and the lamb walk without losing its feet.” 

“Let no seductive good fortune lead us astray, he is a foolish traveler who sees pleasant meadows on his journey and forgets where he is going.”

“Act in such a way that your humility may not be weakness, nor your authority be severity. Justice must be accompanied by humility, that humility may render justice lovable.”

What I read in the lines above come to life for me in the Sacred Scriptures today. As I continue to read and reflect on the passages for today, they take on different dimensions just as the first quote states. The reading from Colossians encompasses the second quote from St. Gregory.

The third really reminds me of a children’s story, Seven Blind Mice, that I’ve read to my family and used in many different catechetical situations. It reminds us, just like the first and third quotes, that each of us begins in a different place on the journey. Together though, we can come into a greater sense of shared vision and perspective. 

It’s a great lead into the Gospel from Luke where scribes and Pharisees question Jesus about his disciples not fasting and offering prayers. Jesus then shares the parable about the new wine and old wineskins, and the next two quotes above illuminate this for me.

The Gospel acclamation from John says, “I am the light of the world, says the Lord: whoever follows me will have the light of life”. May the Sacred Scriptures continue to grow within you. May you feel as comfortable as a lamb walking in the words of the Bible as much as an elephant feels comfortable swimming in those same words. May we each be surrounded in the light of life.

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