Simple Focus

Friends of Faith:

I am a little late this week, because I chose a simple focus: to deepen relationships designed by God. First, my marriage by attending the Alexander House marriage retreat, and then with the Alexander family as they simply chose to wind down at our house. Put quite simply, it is difficult to go back to all the complications of “life.”

Because—if it isn’t simple, it isn’t God’s.

What a profound statement.

Think about the basis for the complication in our lives: our jobs, our computers, our ipads and kindles, our cell phones, schedules, and an ever increasing desire to have more stuff. To say nothing of the evils which complicate life by destroying a natural order: addictions to alcohol, drugs, and pornography; the greed of money, power, and the need to have more; and the anger of misunderstanding and unforgiveness, in family (divorce) and in the world (war).

Our computers and our cell phones form a constant connection to the world around us – particularly our friends. But do we take as much time to connect with God?

Did God really create these things, or did I? Is their purpose to elevate God or myself? Is their purpose to put me in control or God?

God’s commandments: Love me and love one another as I have loved you.” Jn 13: 34 (He died for us. Are we also willing to die for those we love?)

Are my choices loving and respecting of 1) God and 2) those around me? Am I offending or hurting my relationship with God or anyone else (my spouse) by the choice/s I make?

Is my focus upwards to God, by honoring and loving my husband, my children, my family, and my neighbor OR about elevating myself with money or power? “You cannot serve God and mammon.” Lk 16:13

God’s designing order: He created man and a helpmate for man, woman— marriage between a man and woman, perfect unity, so that they would help each other, to bring each other, to holiness. Gen 2: 23-24, 1 Peter 3

And he gave them a focus: Be fruitful and multiply (have children) and be in charge of all of his other creations (we are a higher being). We are created in his image. We are co-creators with God thru the pro-creation of children.

To help us focus, he asks us to Pray—unceasingly. 1Thess 1: 2

If we don’t know how, the perfect prayer: The Lord’s prayer. Lk 11: 2-4

If we need someone to pray for us, Mary, Jesus’ mother – the perfect example of how to say yes to God.  We ask people on earth to pray for us so how much more effective will the prayers for us from those already in heaven be.

And prayer that helps me focus, meditative prayer, the Rosary, not a babbling repetition, but a meditation on Christ’s earthly journey, and Christ’s exampling purpose for me.

And simply to be prepared. To always live for the simple goal, to be with Him for all eternity—“you do not know when that time will come.”Mk 13: 32-33

Heavenly Father, You have given us simple and we have created complications. Help me to make my choices based on your plan, not mine. Thank you for the Alexander family who opened my eyes once again to a simpler life. Amen.

Focus on the simple: allow yourself to take the time to pray more and love (serve others) more, as God simply asked us to do. My life is much richer because of the choice.

Blessings,

Charlotte

 

Humbly Accepted

Friends of Faith:

I am sometimes confused by what it means to be humble—does that mean that I am to always remember that I am a sinner and that I can do nothing right, or that nothing that I do is quite “right enough?” And does it really mean I have to give up everything or can I keep some of my “favorite things?”

Everything I have, even my most basic needs, are God given gifts. So, which parts of my life did God give me as a gift so that I could survive, and which parts did he give me so that I would be able to serve others? And why does sorting through that question seem so difficult?

Although I heard the same gospel readings multiple times this past weekend it struck me that each time the description of humility included the word “acceptance.”

Acceptance of my weaknesses and my faults but with a firm resolve to try to do better; acceptance of the “critical analysis” which friends give me to help make me better and an accepting attitude that it is my will, my resolve and my perseverance that will convert ME to be the daughter of God that God created me to be--in His image.

Everything I have is His and I could have done nothing that I have done without Him. It is with great humility that I REALIZE just how much God has already given me AND that He has a purpose for not only everything but every person he has placed in my life.

Without Him I would have nothing. Without His grace to bless my decisions nothing that I do would make a difference. And it His grace that takes and makes whatever it is I do in His name into something that makes others feel His very presence in their lives.

Humility isn’t about how I see myself or even more importantly it isn’t about how others see me. But rather humility is the grace to choose to do God’s will and to accept my weakness in needing His power to make what I do acceptable to Him.

He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” …blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Lk 14: 7-14

Do I look and act like the person HE made—because I am created in His image, shouldn’t I do whatever it is that I am doing in the same way God would? Do I use and share the gifts that HE gave me in the way he expected I would use them? Do you?

Are my priorities the same priorities he would have chosen for me? What has He given me that I am trying to keep for myself instead of sharing it with others (time, talent or treasure)?

Do I willing accept the sacrifice of hard work or a suffering of discipline, or do I keep trying to find a shortcut, pain relief, or a way to make His work more politically correct so that I can have social gain, instead of heavenly gain?

Do I find excuses so that I can do what I want to do instead of taking the time to do what God wants me to do? Am I willing to walk the same path He did, choosing to be with the least, and putting others needs ahead of mine?

Or am I expecting something in return when I give up my place at the table?

Heavenly Father, When you sent the Angel Gabriel to Mary to announce that she would be the Mother of Your son, Jesus, “Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1: 38) Give me the grace to imitate both her humbleness and her acceptance of the gifts and the sacrifices that must be made because of those very gifts. As she thanked you for her son, Jesus, Your Son, so I thank you for the gifts of my family. As she sacrificed and gave everything back to you, help me to humbly accept all that You ask me to give back to you. In your name, Amen.

All of the earthly riches around me weren’t created for me to live happily, or have a greater place at the table. The gifts we each have been given are for us to use to joyfully help others see God, thru us, and thru our own willingness to give EVERYTHING for them regardless of their ability to pay us back for what we have given or given up.

Are we giving enough? Could we give more? What are we “expecting” in return?

Mary (and Joseph) and Jesus: we were all created in Gods image, with the Holy Family as our living example. Can we be as humble and accepting of the truth, of the way, and of the life as they were?

It’s a journey…..humbly accepted,

In Christ,

Charlotte

The Greatest Mom of All Time

Friends of Faith:

Hallmark and ATT would both tell us that Mother’s day is one of the most celebrated days of the year.

But being a Mom (a woman, wife and mother) expands the emotional range from the ultimate joys, to the ultimate sorrows.

I have had several conversations with moms over the past few weeks expressing their heartfelt concern and sorrow over the choices being made by their children or of the pain their children or husbands were experiencing caused by illness and/or depression. My suggestion to them has been to turn to Mary and to ask her for her intercessory prayers and consolation—because Mary the Mother of Jesus, like no other Mother here on earth, has experienced each of our heartfelt emotions in her walk with her son Jesus through His birth, death and resurrection.

“As the Mother of God, the Virgin Mary has a unique position among the saints, indeed, among all creatures. She is exalted, yet still one of us.

"Redeemed by reason of the merits of her Son and united to Him by a close and indissoluble tie, she is endowed with the high office and dignity of being the Mother of the Son of God, by which account she is also the beloved daughter of the Father and the temple of the Holy Spirit. Because of this gift of sublime grace she far surpasses all creatures, both in heaven and on earth. At the same time, however, because she belongs to the offspring of Adam she is one with all those who are to be saved."

Mary embraces God's will and freely chooses to cooperate with God's grace, thereby fulfilling a crucial role in God's plan of salvation. Throughout the centuries, the Church has turned to the Blessed Virgin in order to come closer to Christ. Many forms of piety toward the Mother of God developed that help bring us closer to her Son. In these devotions to Mary, "while the Mother is honored, the Son, through whom all things have their being and in whom it has pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell, is rightly known, loved and glorified and . . . all His commands are observed." The Church honors her as the Mother of God, looks to her as a model of perfect discipleship, and asks for her prayers to God on our behalf.” www.usccb.org

I have a rosary reflection prayer book I often use when I pray the rosary. As I pray for marriages, children, and the intentions of friends and family (particularly those who are ill, or at a crossroads in their lives) the reflections remind me, that no matter what the intention, Mary has been there before us.

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Lk 1:38

At the annunciation: the difficult decision Mary had to make to say yes to God to accept the responsibilities of a child—think of other mother’s who were not expecting to be pregnant, and the struggle they go thru to say yes. Do we say yes each time God call’s us to choose a difficult path in life? Do we support unwed expecting mothers? Do we teach that every life, every child is God’s greatest gift?

The charity Mary exhibited by visiting Elizabeth to help her prepare for the birth of John the Baptist—think of the times we are asked to give up our time to help a friend. Do we take every opportunity to serve others or are we selfish with our time and talents?

The love she felt at the birth of her son, Jesus—think of the love we feel or experience in holding our newborn children or grandchildren. Do we take every opportunity to love and to say “I love you?”

The sacrifice of giving her son, Jesus, back to God at his presentation--EVERYTHING we have is a gift from God? Do we say thank you often enough, not just for the big and visible, but for the smallest acts of kindness given to us, especially by our spouses?

Mary’s compassion as she observed Jesus scourged and persecuted, knowing that he would be denied by those who did not understand his message and the reasons for his actions—most hurt is caused by a misunderstanding, or a miscommunication. Do I accept responsibility, or do I blame someone else for my actions and my words?

Her sorrow and pain in seeing him crowned with thorns—reflecting on my prayers for those I have hurt, and praying for those who by their actions may be hurting others (intentionally or unintentionally)—do I take every opportunity to forgive and do I pray for the forgiveness of others, especially my spouse?

The agony Mary felt in seeing her son carrying the cross, carrying OUR sins— I think of marriages broken and the suffering of the children who bear their parents pain. Do I realize the pain I cause others?

She experienced the ultimate sorrow in seeing her son suffer and die—comparatively as mom’s and wives we wish to take away the suffering our children and our husbands experience. Am I patient in my prayers, or do I expect problems to be “fixed” immediately, or because I demand it? Do I accept “thy will be done?”

And the ultimate joy in witnessing Christ’s resurrection—in knowing that because of Him all would be given the opportunity for life. Do I accept suffering (by denying myself) so that I will be allowed to experience the full joy of the Resurrection, or do I take the easy way out, and look for instant gratification?

God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Rev 11: 19-12: 1

Mary, Queen of the Universe, I ask your intercession, to our heavenly Father, and thru your son, Jesus, to help me say yes to God, to realize the gifts I have been given and to accept the sufferings I must bear. May you be my living example of what true Motherhood means, so that like you I may experience the ultimate joy as you do in heaven. Amen.

For more on walking with Mary, honoring her, and requesting her intercession thru the Hail Mary prayer refer to my meditation on May 9, 2011 http://morningreflection.blogspot.com/2011/05/happy-mothers-day.html or www.morningreflection.blogspot.com(May 9, 2011)

May we as women strive for the perfection of the example of Mary, Our Mother in Heaven and on Earth,

Have a Happy Mother’s Day,

Blessings,

Charlotte

Happy Mother's Day

Women of Faith:

I am humbled and blessed that this writing is my 100th Monday morning reflection. I also think that it is appropriate to use today’s message to honor Jesus’ mother, Mary, the Queen of Heaven. Rev 12: 1-6

Have you ever wondered where we would all be if Mary had not accepted her role as the Mother of Jesus? If she had said no to her vocation as a mother? If she had decided to have a career outside the home or not to have children? Her choice to be the Virgin Mother was the first gift we as the children of God received.

Mary was no ordinary Mom; she was made special by God, for God, to carry His son. She is the temple by which God brought His only son into the world. He created her with absolute perfection, without blemish, full of grace, a virgin vessel which he used to deliver our redeemer. That perfection includes being conceived without sin.

Only Mary and Jesus were created without the blemish of original sin, the sin of Adam and Eve. Mary is the new Eve and Jesus the new Adam. She is the first saint in heaven and is the Queen of heaven.

The prayer we call “The Hail Mary” begins with two greetings Mary received before Jesus was born. The first part of the greeting comes from when Mary was called and accepted her role as the mother of Jesus at the annunciation. There the angel Gabriel announces that Mary will become the Mother of God by greeting her with: “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women” Lk 1:28 And the second greeting by Elizabeth at the visitation, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Lk 1:42

And then at the end of Jesus’ own life He gave Mary to us at the crucifixion to be the mother of humanity. He looked down from the cross and said, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. John 19: 26-27

The second part of the Hail Mary asks Mary to intercede with God for us at all times. “Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for Us Sinners Now and At the Hour of Our Death. Amen.”

This is the same intercessory type prayer that is the common practice we have as Christians asking for the prayer of our sisters and brothers. We have prayer groups, prayer chains, and prayer partners—each of us praying for the other. We ask our family, friends and relatives to pray for us because we believe and have seen the power of prayer—and the more people praying the better.

When I think about who I would ask to pray for me it would first be my own mom. She has the unconditional caring love that always champions my needs. Your own earthly mother is probably your biggest prayer partner friend. Likewise when one of our children has a huge favor to ask us as parents, they will probably come to me first, and ask me to take the favor to their dad.

So it is with prayer thru Jesus’ Mother, Mary. We go to her first, to have her ask our Father for the favors we need of Him, our heavenly Father. She is the most direct connection to God of anyone who has ever lived with the exception of Jesus himself. And she is with God in heaven.

Just as we ask our friends to pray for us, we ask Mary to pray for us, because if anyone can “reach” God’s listening ears she can.

We are told to ask the intercession of those Christians in heaven, who have already had their sanctification completed, for "the prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects" (Jas. 5:16).

The practice of praying thru or using the saint’s intercessory powers is given to us in Rev. 8: 3-4. The saints (of which Mary is the greatest) are shown to be carrying our prayers to heaven as incense rising in Revelations: "[An] angel came and stood at the altar [in heaven] with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God."

One of the most public requests Mary made for Jesus’ intercession came at the wedding feast in Cana, when Jesus performed his first public miracle. ‘On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." (And) Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you."’John 2:1-5

The servers went to Mary FIRST to tell her that they were out of wine. She interceded with Jesus, asking for His help, “they have no more wine” and even though his hour had not yet come, she still told the servants “do whatever he tells you.” Jesus honored his mother’s request, miraculously changing the water to wine. We believe that she still works in that way for us today when we take our petitions to her.

Mary helped institute Jesus’ first public miracle and continues to help institute many miracles in our present day. She does NOT perform the miracles, but she is instrumental in asking God for his grace in our lives. This is another of the reasons Mary should be our closest saintly friend.

Likewise the group of prayers which make up the rosary helps us to meditate on Jesus’ life, taking us from the Virgin birth, to His life in public and the miracles He performed, to His final walk up to the cross, His resurrection and His ascension to heaven—all thru Mary’s eyes. As we meditate and pray the rosary, then, we are meditating on the Gospels, not praying to Mary but walking His life with her and seeing Him in prayer thru her.

In Father Corapi’s words, “How did Jesus come to us? Thru Mary. How do we get to Jesus? Thru Mary.” Our words to Mary are purified and sanctified and taken to God—when Mary speaks, God listens.”

Do we have to pray thru Mary? No, we don’t have to, we can still pray directly to God. But why didn’t the servants tell Jesus directly that they were out of wine? It just seems Dads have a special ear for Moms. And if I need my friends to pray for me, I also want Mary’s prayers—“now and at the hour of my death.”

Dearest heavenly Father, I give thanks to you for the role model our blessed mother has been for us and ask you to hear the intercessions she prays for us. Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. (Luke 1:28) Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, (Luke 1:42) Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

May we each live every day as Mary did, always saying yes to Our Father,

Blessings,
Charlotte