Focus on what is important

Hi.  Good morning.  Peace to each and every reader.  May the glory and intensity of the Resurrection compel you to change, to repent, to put your trust in God, to proclaim Jesus, and to love even your enemies.

 

Some of us began a Novena of Divine Mercy last week and the happenings in my life, so far, are so coincident with the thoughts put forth in today’s readings and in Bo Sanchez’ reflections!  Bo encourages us to “recognize that the time for earthly glory is gone and the focus is now on our spiritual lives and our salvation from sin.  Let us pray that we keep this focus in our lives….”  Further, he says, “…let us remember that God is in control and that when we retain control, we limit His ability to work in our lives.  We are the ones who will suffer…not God, so it is better to allow Him free reign in our lives.”  The First Reading is Acts 2: 36-41 in which Peter is addressing the crowd after the descent of the Holy Spirit.  Peter and the apostles throw caution to the wind and preach to the assembled multitudes about how Jesus is the Christ and how we should all repent (change our thinking and our ways) and be baptized.

 

Anyway, since we have turned our days over to God in this novena, my business has finally after nearly 2 years seen a success with one of our projects.  Further, when I returned home last week after spending the week away, two sets of Companion had come in the mail.  Sure, “it was bound to happen if I just persisted.”  But, folks, “it” had not happened despite our persistence, despite my persistence in trying to locate my source for Companion.  “It” did happen after I turned it over to God and took my time and my attention from what I thought was important and focused my time and attention on my “spiritual life and my salvation from sin.”

 

Our work, if it is legitimate, is not a hindrance to our spirituality if we put our work into God’s hands.  When we say our morning prayers and then “get down to reality”, we limit what can result.  When we say our prayers and then turn to our work with God at our side, we enable God to do great things.  By having to interrupt “my things” to make time to say prayers throughout the day, I am trusting that God will keep things on track while I am otherwise “distracted” by my “focus on my spiritual life.”  Things certainly have turned out that way and I see no reason why they should not continue to do so -  as long as I keep my focus and let God work in my life to His glory rather than to my success and achievement.

 

Focus on what is important.

 

Please pray for the following intentions:

-          for Barbara, a friend of Lori’s, who is having major surgery in late May,

-          for our families, our loved ones, our friends, our children,

-          for our military and all who support them around the world,

-          for our political leaders that they will allow the Holy Spirit to guide them in the leadership of our nation,

-          for our Church, our ministers, and all who dedicate themselves to the service of the Lord,

-          for our businesses that they might flourish to the glory of God,

-          for reconciliation among friends, within our families, among nations,

-          for each of our membership and your special needs.

 

Father, God, we adore you.  We thank you for the gift of your Son, His life, death, resurrection, and His Presence in Eucharist; for our salvation from sin.  Help us to trust in you.  Let us begin to speak the words of your servant Faustina in the Chaplet of Divine Mercy daily.  May we speak them from our hearts that we may begin to repent our past lives and to enable you to work through us to your greater glory.  May we begin today to focus on what is important that we may be an example to the multitude who refuse to follow you.  We ask this in the Name of your dearly beloved Son, Jesus.  Amen.

 

Pray, trust, and expect!  Remember the example of Bartimaeus.

 

In Him and in His love,

Lou