What If God Was One of Us?

February 26, 2009 by Be Holy

Paul Mayers reflects with this silent video: What If God Were One of Us?

Pluggin’ Away

February 26, 2009 by Be Holy

Prayer in the wee small hours, at Adoration or on the go, what a blessing! Listening and praying with a community at prayer, that’s what DivineOffice.org offers. It’s a banquet that Lent allows, even encourages! It is also good to remember that the Liturgy of the Hours is meant to be prayed aloud and in community.

Dane , the producer, offers free daily inspirational scriptures and prayers. His crew is talented and dedicated to bringing us Divine Office. They are “promoting the tradition of praying always through these ancient treasures of the Church.” This is not a blessing for Catholics only but for all Christians universally.

Lent is here. “There are few better ways to improve your observance of this season then to pray the Liturgy of the Hours as often as your schedule allows,” according to Dane at Divine Office.org. He says, “Instead of laying something down for Lent, you may want to consider taking something up… a renewed and invigorated dedication to prayer.”

“We hope everyone will enjoy these free daily inspirational scriptures and prayers. Listening to psalms in the morning as you start your day or at the conclusion in the evening is a wonderful form of prayer.”Dane

Lent – Everyday, a Second Chance

February 26, 2009 by Be Holy

crucificionicon2 Everyday begins with God’s mercy. Everyday is a new beginning. As we open our eyes on this day, we begin again. As long as we are living and breathing this side of the Judgment, the sun comes up on our second chance.

Lent is the trumpeter sounding before the Final Trumpet of our lives. The noise of cacophony is interrupted with a clarion call “Repent.”

“For He says: ‘In an acceptable time^.I heard you, and on the Day of Salvation I helped you.’ Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the Day of Salvation.”2 Cor 6:2

Death March – a Homily Worth Sharing

February 25, 2009 by Be Holy

The death penalty is being debated in New Mexico. “It’s quite a debate” according to my pastor who finds irony in the fact that this debate rages while the death penalty is in fact “the most common penalty” known to man. “Every single one of us is under a sentence. We are born, so to speak, with a noose around our necks.”

“Our death is an absolute certainty..no second chances, no reincarnation!… ‘Human beings die once, and then the Judgment.’ Hebrews 9:27 ” What our pastor finds absolute madness, “insanity to the highest degree,” is that most people on this “Death March” to the grave, never ever stop to consider their end. “If we die in a state of grace, we shall live for all eternity. If we die in mortal sin, we shall be damned for all eternity.” No do-overs!

“The only guarantee of dying a holy death is living a holy life,” Monsignor Raun concluded.

Lent “Forgiving the Living”

February 25, 2009 by Be Holy

“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”

“Remember, O man, that thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return”

A Lenten reflection on “Forgiving the Living” a phrase used by Immaculee Ilibagiza in her own story:

Left To Tell, Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust

Most of us struggle to forgive, finding it difficult to put aside our bumps and bruises. We savor our wounds as though they give us pleasure. We are a strange lot.

Imagine, if you can, living with the memory of genocide. Not a genocide across the world from you, but surrounding you; a genocide that includes your mother and father, your brothers, friends and all your neighbors in one way or another. Imagine a genocide you can smell and touch and that touches you, that calls your name, hunts you and haunts you.

For thousands in the world today, that is the reality. For one particular soul, Immaculee Ilabigiza, the author of Left to Tell, this reality has sprouted wings. She flies high above her small village in Rwanda living forgiveness, not as a half-hearted effort, but as a mission. A dream, that she believes was given her by God, opened her heart to the world. Her touch is one of grace and healing. Immaculee was left behind to let us know that in order to truly be alive to Life, we can and must forgive by the living grace of God.

Lenten alms and charity