Catholicism

The Hopeful Reality at Death

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“The day is coming soon Father. When I am going to get there (I Hope) I have strived all my life to respond to the gifts of my Baptism. To live who I am called to be. I’ve asked forgiveness when I have fallen short. And, I have set myself on it again. But the day is coming soon father and I hope that I am invited into that Kingdom. And I am looking forward to tapping Barb on the should telling her to move over and standing next to her gazing upon the Lord for all eternity and singing His praise” – Bob Iafolla

Bishop Barron Podcast “Give Up The Ego-Drama”

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I love listening to Bishop Barron’s podcasts and Sunday Sermons. One of my favorites is “Give Up the Ego-Drama!”

Today, as opposed to be focused on myself I want to try and move outside myself. I have found nothing more easy to move away from myself than my family…especially my children! More importantly, Bishop Barron uses Mary to describe how she moves in haste to do God’s Will not her own.

Paraclete

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Loved this article from Aleteia

In a brief letter released February 8, Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI gives a further response to the report on sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Munich, Germany, including during the few years that he was archbishop there.

While the letter has various deeply piercing reflections, it also includes a brief remark about Benedict’s preparation for death. His reflection can serve in our own preparation for the day that will one day come to all of us, when we go to stand before the Creator.

The 94-year-old writes:

Quite soon, I shall find myself before the final judge of my life. Even though, as I look back on my long life, I can have great reason for fear and trembling, I am nonetheless of good cheer, for I trust firmly that the Lord is not only the just judge, but also the friend and brother who himself has already suffered for my shortcomings, and is thus also my advocate, my “Paraclete.” In light of the hour of judgement, the grace of being a Christian becomes all the more clear to me. It grants me knowledge, and indeed friendship, with the judge of my life, and thus allows me to pass confidently through the dark door of death.

LUKE 21:1-4

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The LUKE 21:1-4 Gospel tells of the poor widow who gave her last penny to the temple treasury. Her behavior makes us consider our possessiveness. What do we tell ourselves all the time? That we’re not happy because we don’t have all the things that we should have or that we want to have. What follows from this is that life becomes a constant quest to get, to acquire, to attain possessions.

Do you remember the parable about the foolish rich man? When his barns were filled with all his possessions, he decided to tear them down and build bigger ones. Why is he a fool? Because (and I want you to repeat this to yourself as I say it) you have everything you need right now to be happy.

What makes you happy is always right in front of you because what makes you happy is love. Love is willing the good of the other, opening yourself to the world around you. Love is not a feeling. It’s an act of the will. It is the great act of dispossession.

Let Go Of Wealth

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Let Go of Wealth –
GospelLK 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,
“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
He replied to him,
“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”
Then he said to the crowd,
“Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Then he told them a parable.
“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.
He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,
for I do not have space to store my harvest?’
And he said, ‘This is what I shall do:
I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.
There I shall store all my grain and other goods
and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you,
you have so many good things stored up for many years,
rest, eat, drink, be merry!”‘
But God said to him,
‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself
but is not rich in what matters to God.”

Friends, today in our Gospel Jesus tells of a rich man who has been so successful that he doesn’t have space enough to store his harvest. So he tears down his barns and builds bigger ones. But that very night, he dies—and all of it comes to naught. “Thus it will be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.”

No matter how good, how beautiful a state of affairs is here below, it is destined to pass into nonbeing. That sunset that I enjoyed last night—that radiantly beautiful display—is now forever gone. It lasted only a while. That beautiful person—attractive, young, full of life, creative, joyful—will eventually age, get sick, break down, and die.

An image that always comes to mind when I think of these things is the gorgeous firework that bursts open like a giant flower and then, in the twinkling of an eye, is gone forever. Everything is haunted by nonbeing. Everything, finally, is a bubble.

But this is not meant to depress us; it is meant to redirect our attention precisely to the things that are “above,” to the eternity of God.

A Glimpse Into the Love and Depth of Catholicism

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  • Saint Paul said: “Love does not delight in evil But rejoices in the truth. It always protects trusts Hopes and perseveres : German soldier Joseph Schultz who had this on a piece of paper when he was killed for standing up to German soldiers as he stood next to Yugoslavian prisoners
  • The completion of fulfilment of life is in heaven, not on earth
  • When you lay down vice pick up virtue
  • We pray to give thanks to God.
  • Prayer you don’t need to say anything. Just listen.
  • In prayer don’t ask for anything for yourself.
  • The impact of our discipleship in Christianity is found in the depth of our interiority. Done internally without showing. Fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Do not lay up for you earthly treasure but instead heavenly treasure.
  • “The greatest among you must be your servant” (Matthew 23:11)
  • Those ambitious for earthly goods push and shove their way to the forefront, but Christ reminded His disciples, “The last will be first, and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:16)

Juju

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From Juju – “You’ve been a great godson and I love you so much. You are a great husband and father and I am SO excited for another McLean. That Mary is one hot ticket and I’ve loved seeing all the pictures. Know that I will be watching over you. Take care of Frankie, Ruthie and Mikie. All my love, Juju”