Scribbled in a Notebook

2700

Good Morning,

Long story for some other time --- but 25 years ago, during a visit to the beautiful hills of Kentucky,  I came into contact with the life and legacy of  the Cistercian (Trappist) Monk Thomas Merton.

My dear friend William Sladcik and I, on one of  our pilgrimages, had a wonderful day at The Abbey of Gethsemani --- Merton's home.

I'd like to share a couple of lines, written by Sister Elena Malits, C.S.C   -- from a book titled:

The Solitary Explorer --Thomas Merton's Transforming Journey. (Written in 1980 -- Sister chaired the Religious Studies Department of St. Mary's 

College, Notre Dame, Indiana).

"Theologians of the 1950's may not have been impressed, but Merton's kind of theology deeply affected many people. His ideas were mulled over, meditated on, and approached with utmost seriousness.

His words came alive to these people because he spoke to them 'not in the language of speculation, in terms of personal experience.' Merton himself recognized the hazards of such an approach, but he was convinced of its necessity. In his journal covering the years 1946-1952, he noted,

'I found in writing The Ascent of Truth that the technical language, though it is universal and certain and accepted by theologians, DOES NOT REACH THE AVERAGE MAN and does not convey what is most personal and vital in religious experience. Since my focus is not upon dogmas as such, but only on their repercussions in the life of the soul in which they begin to find a concrete realization, I may be pardoned for using my own words to talk about my own soul.'

     And it was exactly Thomas Merton's 'own words' about his 'own soul' that interested people. Arresting as his ideas might be, it was ever the man himself who attracted attention. ..... Indeed a VAST public seemed fascinated by the random thoughts of Thomas Merton scribbled in his notebook behind some barn at Gethsemani."

xxxx

To me, Merton's whole life was a TRANSFORMING 

JOURNEY--- a Journey that all of us are experiencing------ see you down the trail!

Peace,

Grandpazach 

Give Thanks --- Always

2701

Good Morning,

We all have our good and bad days. The simple message today is to keep the Faith and give thanks,

trusting that the Good Lord is at your side no matter what happens.

xxxx

We too give thanks to God unceasingly. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

xxxx

A couple of lines from The Word Among Us:

"As you pursue the Lord, even every little baby step, your life is touching someone else's. KEEP ON KEEPING ON!

'Lord, thank you for all the people who have gone before me and all those around me. Thank you for their support and prayers.' "

xxx

Conclude with a short prayer from St. Francis de Sales:

"Do not look forward to what might happen tomorrow;

the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and everyday. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it."

Peace,

Grandpazach 

P.S.--- more photos from St. Meinrad's ArchAbbey in Southern Indiana.

Lord, Quiet my Mind and Open my Heart

2702

Good Morning,

I met Matthew Kelly the same month that our previous  President was elected. Purely coincidental, but looking back,  Matthew, all his books, and his lectures have given me the balance I needed during some tough times. Being a very simple man of Faith, I love the way he "calls it like it truly is" --- in terms I can understand. 

Here's a short pray of his, speaking about Scriptures:

"Loving Father, Thank you for this day and thank you for this opportunity to explore your Word in the Scriptures. Inspire me to live with passion and purpose. Help me to discover the genius of your ways.

QUIET MY MIND and open my heart so that I can HEAR exactly what you are trying to say to me today. Give me wisdom to embrace your ways of joy; give me courage to walk with you at every moment; give me strength when the world makes me weary; and help me to remember that I can always find rest and renewal in the Scriptures. Amen."

Peace,

Grandpazach 

We all are Chosen

2703

Good Morning,

A couple of lines from the Word Among Us:

"St. Augustine, whose feast we celebrate today, had a very dramatic experience of God adopting him into his family. Augustine spent years resisting God's call, openly pursuing sin and selfishness. But that didn't stop God from choosing him! When he finally relented and allowed God's love to warm his heart, Augustine cried out, 'Late have I loved you!' God had been pursuing Augustine his entire life, and it was only then, when he was thirty-one years old, that he let himself be found by the Lord.

Today spend some time remembering the ways in which you have been CHOSEN and LOVED by God.

He waits for you even now, in the ordinary moments of your day, with gifts of GRACE and CONFIDENCE. 

Open your HEART to him, and receive his LOVE and his assurance that you belong to him.

'Thank you, Lord, for loving me and choosing me.

I CHOOSE YOU! ' "

Peace,

Grandpazach 

The Pope explains: THE PATH OF LIFE

2704

Good Morning,

I love the wonderful homilies of Pope Francis--- here's part of one from today's Gospel that really hits home with me: (from Day By Day in the Magnificat)

"Certainly 'it is important to study and to know the Catechism, but it is not enough,' the pope insisted. For in order to know him truly, 'we need to travel the path that Peter traveled'....

The pope repeated that, in order to know Jesus, 'what is needed is not a study of notions but rather a LIFE as a disciple.' For 'in journeying with Jesus we learn who he is .... we come to know Jesus as disciples.' We come to know him 'in the  daily encounter with the Lord, each day. Through our victories and through our weaknesses.' It is precisely 'through these encounters' that 'we draw close to him more deeply.' For it is 'in these everyday encounters that we acquire what Saint Paul calls the mind of Christ, the hermeneutic to judge all things'.....

Therefore we come to know Jesus 'as disciples on the PATH OF LIFE, following behind him.' But this 'is not enough,' the pope said. In reality, this 'is a work of the Holy Spirit, who is a great worker: he is not a union organizer, he is a great worker. And he is ALWAYS at work in us: and he carries out this great work of explaining the mystery of Jesus, and if giving us the mind of Christ.'

Pope Francis concluded his reflection by posing Jesus' question: WHO AM I FOR YOU? 'As disciples.' He said, 'let us ask the Father to grant us a deeper knowledge of Christ, and let us ask the Holy Spirit to explain to us this mystery.'

Peace,

Grandpazach 

Practice What You Preach

2705

Good Morning,

Today's Gospel is very straight forward --- Jesus condemns the leaders who do not practice what they preach. ( makes one wonder what Message He would have for our House and Senate of today)

xxxx

The real point is to ask ourselves: Which of MY practices might not fit so well with my preaching? 

xxxx

Lord, help me with my procrastination --- let's start today--- help me to change.......

(We all have a long list of things that need doing --- and the truth of the matter is that we all would feel better putting our thoughts and plans into action).

Peace,

Grandpazach 

Photos --- more from beautiful Rock Garden at ArchAbbey of St. Meinrad's

The Right Path

2706

Good Morning,

Matthew says in today's Gospel: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself ."

Reflection from Sacred Space:

"If I have ever wished for a simple summary of the Gospel, I give thanks that I have it here. Simple as this message seems, I know how difficult it is to live out. I ask God for the help I need to live fully and freely.

Life in balance means loving God and loving others. I consider how I sometimes wobble, and, in my prayer, seek again the PATH that Jesus puts before me."

Peace,

Grandpazach 

P.S.--- more photos from my July 23rd visit to ArchAbbey St. Meinrad's 

The Holy Spirit Provides COURAGE

2707

Good Morning,

Today, like every day of my short life, has been and will continue to be very special for me. 

The past three hours have gone by in a flash--- hard to put into words that would make sense --- just say that my Heart has been on Fire!

xxxx

I'd like to share a couple of lines from the Word Among Us that really ring true in my Life:

"Many people will tell you that there is someone in their life whose witness had a great impact in their own LIFE OF FAITH. One person reached out to them just where they were and walked beside them, leading them to Jesus. In fact, many saints and Christian thinkers, from St. Augustine to C.S. Lewis, tell us that they owe their faith to someone who, like Philip, invited to 'come and see' (John 1:46).

You, too, can be like Philip. You can tell your friends or family members, 'COME AND SEE.' It may take a bit of courage, but the Holy Spirit can provide what you may lack. Remember, God is the One who changes hearts; all you have to do is invite them to come to him. Just bring them to Jesus, and he'll take care of the rest.

'Jesus, give me the courage and grace to invite people to come and see you.' "

Peace,

Grandpazach

P.S.---- recent photos from the Beautiful Rock Garden (dedicated to St.Joseph) at the Benedictine ArchAbbey of St. Meinrad in Southern Indiana. (Was there a couple of weeks ago)

Our World is Aching for Jesus

2708

Good Morning,

Part of a reflection on today's Gospel -- from The Word Among Us:

"The world is aching for Jesus. People are yearning for an answer to their cries of brokenness. They're longing for a reason to hope.

Each of us has a unique faith, unique relationships, and unique talents that make us an irreplaceable laborer in the economy of salvation. What's more, God doesn't just send us out to flounder while He watches from his corporate office in the sky. No, he works alongside us, sending his Spirit both to help us and to prepare people's hearts for the witness we will bring. So ask the Spirit for guidance as you look for specific needs in your family, parish, or community.

As you enter this market of evangelization, know that one of your greatest resources is your own personal experience. It's the times when you felt especially close to God or when you received an answer to a desperate prayer. It's the times when you found yourself willing to forgive someone or reach out to someone very different from yourself. Don't keep these  things bottled up inside of you. Let them out! TELL PEOPLE HOW GOD HAS CHANGED YOUR LIFE, and let them know that he can do the same thing for them. 

Yes, God wants to hire you. So try to take one step of faith today and see where it leads. Even if you don't see immediate fruit, your witness will plant seeds of faith that will sprout later. A generous employer, GOD WILL REWARD YOUR EFFORTS.

'Lord, I'll take the job. Holy Spirit, guide me to those who are waiting to hear today that you love and accept them.' "

Peace,

Grandpazach 

Treasures of Life

8-22-17

2709

Good Morning,

A couple of lines from Sacred Space:

"Paul told the people of Philippi that nothing matters more than knowing Christ (Phil 3:8). I think of what really matters to me, what makes me truly rich, and ask God's help to let everything else go."

Peace,

Grandpazach 

Passing on the Faith

8-21-17

2710

Good Morning,

From today's First Reading (Judges 2:12):

"They were quick to stray from the way their fathers had taken".

xxxx

Reflection on above from --Living With Christ--- Today's Good News --- by Steve Givens:

"Parents have always struggled with the issue of 'passing on the faith' to their children. In this age of multimedia competition for the minds, hearts, and souls of our children, where do we start? Although receiving a formal religious education is important, perhaps the best starting point for nurturing their faith is to NURTURE OUR OWN. Religion is 'more caught than taught,' and what we do speaks much louder than what we say. When our children and grandchildren see us praying or hear us talking about our faith, we touch a part of their minds and souls that education and preaching never can. When they see us react with kindness and love in a situation where anger and hatred could easily seize the day, we teach them the power of God in our lives. Jesus, nurture my faith so that my children (grandchildren) and others will see you in me."Peace,Grandpazach