Open Your Wounded Heart

For about the last week, an image has been imprinted on my mind.  This same image, and what I believe is the meaning behind it, will not leave my thoughts.

I believe that I am being prodded to share what has been given to me.

Hopefully, your heart, no matter how wounded it is, or how high you have built your wall up to block the pain of those wounds, will open up to the pure love and mercy that only Jesus can bring.

Whenever I gaze at a Crucifix, or meditate on Jesus hanging on the cross and dying for me, the image that I see is what I would see looking toward him.

The focus of that perspective is the pain, and complete agony and suffering of our Lord and Savior…followed by the feeling of sorrow that I played a part in that suffering…through the times of turning my back on Him and through the grievous sins of my life.  That is the image that I usually experienced.

Now, I am viewing the image as Jesus would be seeing  it…looking out.

What first went through my mind was, “Of course He is looking out…He is always looking out in love.”

Then my mind started asking the question, “What was He seeing as He was suffering on that Holy Cross?”

As He struggled to keep His eyes open, through the blood and sweat that must have been dripping down His face, His eyes would have focused on His Mother and her sister, Mary, wife of Clopas, Mary of Magdala, and His beloved Apostle, John.  He saw the love and grief on their faces, and filled them with His Mercy and Pure Love…drawing them in even closer to Himself.

His eyes must have also scanned the empty spots…where were all of His followers? The anguish of being abandoned by His disciples…His Chosen…due to fear and lack of faith, must have added immensely to His suffering.

How do we still add to His suffering, due to our lack of faith, or fear?   How many times do we pass up the opportunity to spend an hour in His Holy Presence  during Adoration, or ignore His invitation to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and receive His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist?   Or how many times do we just go through the motions of attending Mass, and actually go up to The Altar, to receive His Body and Blood, while being in the state of Mortal Sin?  Why do we keep holding on to sins that hinder our relationship with Him…why do we choose not to receive the graces offered to us through the Sacrament of Confession?

When Jesus looked out as He was dying, He saw all of those things. He knew how we would all turn our backs on Him.

He saw those of us that were mocking Him, and those who were choosing the road that leads toward death.  He experienced the reality of our hopelessness and despair, in those that were (or would be) confused and deceived by the evil one.  As He hung on The Cross, He saw the evils that were done in darkness…that separated those hearts from Himself.

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”  Luke 23:34

Jesus looked at all of us in our sin, and felt compassion, mercy and love for us.  He reaches out to each one of us, every single day, in many ways.

You know the ways He is reaching out for you.  You already are feeling the little nudges that He blesses you with…how long will you wait to accept His Sacrifice for you?

Take that step of Faith…open your wounded heart to His comforting and healing Presence.  

You were created for just that…to be one with Him.  Reach out for His loving, merciful heart that is reaching for you.

 

https://catholicstand.com/the-mass-calvary-made-present-for-each-generation/

 

 

 

 

Advertisement

Hidden Things

As I make my way through Lent, my thoughts are drawn toward the light and mercy of Jesus.  What is hindering my relationship with Him…what is holding me back?

Fear is always what holds me back…but what is it that I am afraid of?

Maybe it is the unconscious fear of what lies within me.

I have always been the kind of person who prefers “controlled” light.  Curtains closed at the brightest times of the day, sheers that diffuse direct light, blinds raised and lowered to control exactly how much light enters the room.  All of that, because I do not want to see all the imperfection that is revealed when the sun shines through the windows unbridled.

I would rather live in my “happy place” where my home is just so, and everything is clean and tidy.

The light reveals stains on the couch, dust, and sometimes even cobwebs. It reveals the truth of reality.

I don’t want to acknowledge those hidden things…and would rather go through my life without seeing those things that I consider to be unattractive or damaged.  However, by always trying to camouflage  what is truly there, so much effort goes into the battle of constantly covering up the imperfections, that the issues are never resolved.

The issues, stains, imperfections and damage are always there. Some that we are aware of, and some that we are not.

When we make the choice to pull open the blinds of our heart, and invite Jesus to illuminate us, the Light reveals all…sins of our past and present, many that have remained buried, things that we never even remembered until revealed.  All of a sudden, we are made aware of how we have offended God in so many ways, and are reminded of the times we have hurt others or drew them into sin.  

The Light reveals truths that are unbearable to face…we can no longer camouflage the dirtiness of our souls.  This pure light forces us to face the truth of our unworthiness, and offers us a choice.

We can either acknowledge, confess and truly repent of our sins, which will free us to build a closer relationship with Christ in His mercy, or make the choice to continue living in darkness, which will keep us imprisoned.

I choose Christ. I choose mercy. And I choose the light of his love.

May God bless you during this Lenten Season.  Choose wisely.

 

Inspiration and Wisdom

Each and everyday I hear and see the misery that many people are experiencing due to a myriad of reasons.  In my life, there have been many periods of confusion, darkness, and despair.  When a person is engulfed in that muck, (which is truly the deception of Satan) it is difficult for them to see an answer.  It is difficult for them to even believe there is an answer.

The answer is, and always was…God.  He is right there for all of us, and reaches out to us in so many ways.  The problem is, we feel empty and helpless, refusing to take that first step that will lead to joy and true peace in our hearts.  We tend to see the thought of growth in our faith, or even personal growth, as overwhelming, so we just continue to wallow in our own misery and pain.

Lent is just around the corner.  Make a choice to take the tiniest step…I promise it will only take a few minutes of your day.  However, as I have found, those few minutes might just take a hold of your heart, mind and soul.  It just might give you a flicker of hope.

Maybe it’s time to take that step.

Little habits added to our day, can lead to changes in our thinking, our faith life, and our life in general.

Through my Church, I have found this book of 365 Days of Inspiration The Wisdom of Fulton Sheen, which helps me to  think about what is truly important in life.

Today’s thought/February 26:  “…The closer we live to God, the closer we are bound to our neighbor; the farther we are fom God, the farther we are from one another…”  Wow, maybe that is the reason for the anger, vitriol, and division that we are seeing around us.

Maybe, to make a difference in this world, and to be truly happy, we should be seeking the God who is patiently waiting for us to invite Him in.

May God bless you and keep you in His care!

 

 

 

 

 

Spiritual Warfare

Being that Lent is approaching, I am attempting to learn more about my faith, and I came across this podcast of Fr. Chad Ripperger.

Fr. Ripperger is a Theologian, Psychologist, Philosopher, Author and Exorcist. This talk contains information on Spiritual Warfare that I was not aware of. Listening to Fr. Ripperger’s teaching, not only explains the world culture we are living in now, but also explains how we can grow as Christians/Catholics, so we will be  be ready for the Spiritual Battle that is happening within us and all around us.

I hope that you take the time to listen, learn, grow, and pass on to those in your life that need this information.

May God bless and keep you.

 

 

The Luminous Mysteries

This is the fourth in the series of “How Praying the Rosary Changed my Life.” Please click here for the background of how I was led to The Rosary, and also to learn about The Joyful, Sorrowful, and and Glorious  Mysteries.

Today I will cover the Luminous Mysteries, which are prayed on Thursday.

My prayer is that The Holy Spirit will open your heart to these great mysteries, and fill you with the love, joy, and peace of Our Lord, Jesus.

There are five meditations associated with the Luminous Mysteries. I will cover each one.

1. The Baptism of Jesus  Matthew 3:13-17  (For the Desire to Live my Baptismal Promises)  Dear Lord, you did not need to be baptized…for you are God.  Thank you for submitting to your Father, and allowing John to baptize you.  How unworthy he must have felt.  However, you accepted his baptizing you, in total love and humility.  We hear our Father’s words, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  Help me Lord, to follow in your foot steps.  Even though I am unworthy due to my sin, help me to always look to you to help me to live my baptismal promises.  To live my faith each and every day.
2. The Wedding at Cana  John 2:1-11  (For the Desire to do Whatever Jesus Says)  Lord, thank you for performing your  first public miracle at the wedding in Cana.  The first thing I think of, is that you and your Mother were celebrating a holy marriage!  Imagine the wonder and joy of having God Himself in attendance of their wedding feast! Help me to understand that it was your Mother that informed you that there was no wine.  She interceded for the need of the wedding hosts, and when you answered that your time had not come…she proceeded to tell the servants to “Do whatever he tells you.”  It is the same when I bring my needs, prayers, and sufferings to Mary.  She intercedes on my behalf to you…guiding me to “Do whatever he says.”
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God  Mark 1:14-15  Matthew 5:3-12 (For the Desire of God’s Forgiveness)  Dear Lord, help me to know that your kingdom is as close as my own heart.  Help me to open my heart to you, always desiring that you fill me with your love and mercy.  Help me to stay strong in this world that we are living in…allowing my eyes to be open to your truth and to be very aware of the existence of sin.  Please help me to seek your forgiveness and mercy for my own sins, and also that I may look at others who are living in darkness, with that same love and mercy.
4. The Transfiguration  Matthew 17:1-8  (For the Desire to be a New Person in Christ)  Dear Lord, thank you for  revealing  your glory through your transfiguration…allowing us humans to experience the glory and radiance of your Godhead.  Help me to always look to you to transform me into a completely new person in you.  Thank you for infusing my heart with your love, and shining your love through me.
5. The Institution of the Eucharist  Luke 22:7-20  John 6:50-53 (For the Desire for Active Participation at Mass)  Lord Jesus, we are so blessed in the privilege and honor of celebrating Mass and receiving the Holy Eucharist…your body and blood. Please help me to always remember, that each and every Mass is a miracle, for you are truly there among us.  Help me to realize that it is your precious body and blood that I receive…making us one.  You are in me and I in you. We are joined together.  Thank you for inviting  me to your table,  The Lamb’s Supper.  

 

Pray the Rosary  A Saint Joseph Edition  A wonderful little Pamphlet

For information on how to pray the rosary…Click here

May your day be blessed in the love and light of Jesus, Our Lord. May your heart be touched through these Luminous Mysteries.

Remember, that these meditations come from my own heart.  When you pray the rosary, the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth of the mysteries directly to you.  Please feel free to comment with any questions or thoughts.

One Heart at a Time

Yesterday, as my husband and I grabbed our morning coffee on the way to work, we were not greeted in the usual, friendly way we are accustomed to.  Most every morning, we enjoy pleasant conversation with the very warm and smiling staff.

That was not the case yesterday.  We were called to the register of the one young woman who seems to be in her own little world.  She did not look us in the eye, did not smile, and did not offer us any friendly banter.  She gave us our coffee, took our money, and delivered our breakfast sandwiches.  All of this without the least bit of a smile or acknowledgement at all.

So…why am I telling you this?

It is so easy to judge people by their actions, and by what we perceive them to be.  To tell you the truth, in times past, I would have probably written a note, or sent an email to the manager to make sure he/she was aware of this employee’s lack of customer service.  I would have been indignant as a paying customer, making sure that “they” knew how unhappy I was with the service I felt I deserved in their restaurant.

But yesterday, I felt something much different.  My husband and I both felt pain for this woman, who for some unknown reason, is visibly devoid of joy.  It was not the first time we noticed her behavior.

The first thing I thought about was to pray for her, and to try to brighten her day whenever we see her.  Instead of allowing whatever darkness she has in her life to consume us, we made the choice to share The Light in us with her.  And I think that we will send her a special little card anonymously, with a letter inside, letting her know that she is loved and treasured…by us and by Jesus who loves her more than she could ever fathom.

Because of this encounter, my eyes and heart are more open to the needs of the ones I meet everyday.

Through the Lord, we can touch so many lives with His Love.   Especially during this Lenten Season, let’s make a commitment to really see the hearts that are hiding behind joyless eyes.  Sometimes those eyes are angry, sad or desperate…or maybe even trying to camouflage with a fake smile.  Let’s look past all that, focus on the heart, and ask the Holy Spirit to direct us and to bless them.

What a different world we will live in as we share God’s love…one heart at a time!

 

What Are You Giving Up?

For me, the Lenten Season has always been a little intimidating.  It seemed as though I could not absorb the true poverty of spirit needed to open hearts (including my own) to the fullness of the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.  There were times when it felt like I was just “going through the motions”, giving up this, saying this prayer, going to Lenten Services.  In other words, to be perfectly honest, many times I was trying to worship with my “head” instead of my heart and soul.

This year I feel the Lord physically drawing me toward Him.  What ways can I deny myself in order to depend more fully on Jesus?  How can I open my heart in faith and trust, to help those in need around me?  In what ways can I throw myself at the feet of my Lord and worship Him more fully?

On Ash Wednesday, I came across this post on the St. Jude Facebook page.  The words touched my heart and opened my eyes to some “freeing” ways of giving things up, so as to be filled with the love, peace and joy of Christ.  I wanted to share with you…maybe there will be something you can “give up” that will bring you closer to Jesus.

Looking for something to give up for Lent?

Give up resentment and become more forgiving.

Give up hatred and return good for evil.

Give up complaining and be more grateful.

Give up pessimism and become more hopeful

Give up worry and become more trusting.

Give up anger and become more patient.

Give up pettiness and become more noble.

Give up gloom and become more joyful.

Give up doubt and turn to God.

Starting with this Lenten Season,  allow yourself the freedom to let go of the things that are keeping you from the mercy and love of Jesus.  He is right there…right with you…right now.

And he is waiting for you to invite him in, so he can fill you with Himself.  How long will you make him wait?

Pope Francis’ Lenten Message 2014