Saturday, May 22, 2010

Turning repentance into ministry

Good News Reflection
Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
May 21, 2010

Day 8 of the Novena to the Holy Spirit

Today's Readings:
Acts 25:13b-21
Ps 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab
John 21:15-19
http://www.usccb.org/nab/052110.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_05_21.mp3

Turning repentance into ministry

In today's Gospel reading, three times Jesus asks Peter to confess his love; three times, Jesus commissions him to become a shepherd to continue the ministry of the Good Shepherd.

In scripture, anything spoken three times means "to the utmost" (like "good, better, best"). When Peter denied Jesus three times, he rejected Jesus to the utmost. Jesus knew this and, with utmost compassion, gave Peter a complete healing from that break in their relationship by offering him the opportunity to confess his love to the utmost.

Jesus does the same for you and me. Any time we deny, reject, or hurt anyone – anyone at all! – we are doing this to Jesus (see Matt. 25:31-46). But because of his great mercy and compassion for us, he always always always (to the utmost) gives us opportunities to heal the break in our relationship with him. And then, just like he did for Saint Peter, he gives us the mission of taking his love to others.

We must do everything reasonably possible to reconcile with others, and after we've made amends, or if we have no opportunity to heal a broken relationship, Jesus gives us a ministry of healing – on a wider scale, to other people – and this helps expiate our sins, purifies our growth, and heals many who are waiting for God's help.

In cases where priests (or anyone else) molested children or caused other scandals in the Church, the bigger scandal is when nothing good comes from it. Jesus is asking, "Do you love me? What are you going to do about it?" God can turn anything eventually into a ministry – and he wants to!

At the site on the Sea of Galilee where Peter received his vocation (at the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter), a sign reads:

The deeds and miracles of Jesus
are not actions of the past.
Jesus is waiting for those who are
still prepared to take risks at his word
because they trust his power utterly.

What is Jesus commissioning you to do? In whatever ways you have sinned, if you have not yet turned them into a ministry, God is waiting to hear you say, "Yes, Jesus, you know I love you. I say yes to the ministry you give to me, no matter how risky or impossible it seems. I choose to trust in your guidance, your directions. Tell me what to do!"

To that prayer, Jesus gives a resounding AMEN!

May the Holy Spirit, whose fullness on earth we celebrate this weekend, empower you to do awesome works for the kingdom of God. Amen!

Prepare for Pentecost … See the downloadable meditations at Catholic Digital Resources: http://catholicdr.com/faithbuilders/prayers/HolySpirit-Prayer.htm

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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The sacrament of love

Good News Reflection
Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
May 20, 2010

Day 7 of the Novena to the Holy Spirit

Today's Saint: Bernardine of Siena
Pray for all communications workers:
http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/BernardineSiena.htm

Today's Readings:
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11
Ps 16:1-2a, 5, 7-11
Luke 17:20-26
http://www.usccb.org/nab/052010.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_05_20.mp3

The sacrament of love

The prayer of Jesus in today's Gospel reading can apply to any relationship: any two people, any community. Whatever God has joined is sacred. It's sacred because it's a reflection of who God is and how much he loves everyone. This is why marriage is meant to be a sacrament instead of just a civil bond or the incomplete bond of living together like a marriage without the vows.

Lack of commitment and unhealed wounds in any divinely-inspired relationship give the world a sick and faulty image of Christ.

And so Jesus prays: "May they be one, Father. As you are in me and I in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me." Relationships that survive divisive troubles are a visual lesson about God's unconditional love, which is faithful always, in better times and in the worst of times, in sickness and in health, whether we're rich or poor, sinning or pure, all the time, no matter what.

In a Christian marriage, the husband lays down his life to serve his wife, and the wife lays down her life to serve her husband, and Jesus lays down his life for both of them. Marriage is a reflection of the Father's only Son sacrificing his life for his Bride (which is us, i.e., the Church), and the Bride laying down her life (i.e., our lives) to serve Jesus.

The persistent love that spouses and friends and community have for each other, which never quits no matter what, unites them to the fullness of God’s love. In God, they have the power and the way to overcome whatever threatens to divide them. (I’ve been married to Ralph for 35 years; I have lived the truth of this.) If both husband and wife desire to be partners with God in love, they bind themselves to the One who is totally and permanently committed to making it work, and no matter what problems arise, God provides the answers, the healing, and the growth that make the marriage stronger, even when one spouse does not work as hard at it as the other.

By having sacred relationships, we fulfill our calling – the vocation of the "common priesthood" that we all have – to bring Christ to the world. We spread the Good News by showing others that, with the help of God, love never ends and it's available to all who want it.

What happens to the Sacrament of Marriage when one of the spouses refuses to live sacramentally? Or when one of them dies? Or when a divorced person realizes too late the mistakes and sins they have made? Jesus steps in and becomes their True Spouse. For the person who desires sacramental unity, he IS the Sacrament.

(For a Good News WordByte that's a love-letter from God to singles, go to http://wordbytes.org/prayers/besatisfied.htm)

In broken relationships, we should pray that God gives the other person abundant opportunities for a change of spirit and heart. Each God-ordained relationship is meant to be a gift of love to the world, the presence of Christ for the world to see. How terribly wrong, how anti-evangelization it is to neglect or break this gift. May the prayer of Jesus heal our brokenness. Amen!

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

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Recognizing wolves in sheep's clothing

Good News Reflection
Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
May 19, 2010

Day 6 of the Novena to the Holy Spirit

Today's Saint: Dunstan
Pray for all who are blind, spritually or physically:
http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/Dunstan.htm

Today's Readings:
Acts 20:28-38
Ps 68:29-30, 33-36ab
John 17:11b-19
http://www.usccb.org/nab/051910.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_05_19.mp3

Recognizing wolves in sheep's clothing

In today's first reading, St. Paul warns about "savage wolves" who harm the flock of Christ. They come from within, he says, and pervert the truth. Why? "To draw the disciples away after them." This, to use a modern cliché, is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Sometimes it's a wolf in shepherd's clothing, which is far worse, because the sheep are more vulnerable since they naturally trust their shepherds.

Wolves that come from within are those who push their own agendas or deliberately make themselves look important. We all do this from time to time. A common wolfishness is to manipulate others into giving us what we want. Whenever we try to control others for our personal benefit, we are wolves in sheep's clothing; we call ourselves Christian, but in fact we're hiding behind this title to feel safe while behaving very unlike Christ.

Wolves pervert the truth because they have to; it's the only way they can get the sheep to follow them. Instinctively, Christian sheep recognize that a wolf is a wolf, because the Holy Spirit within us is giving us good discernment and has taught us how to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd. But when a wolf seems to be a sheep who's following Christ, or worse, when a wolf is one of Christ's shepherds who has perverted his vocation, we have to be vigilant, as St. Paul said.

We have to remain so deeply in prayerful union with Christ that we hear the Holy Spirit's warnings as well as his guidance on what to do when we encounter wolves.

A true sheep of the flock and a true shepherd of Christ "can build you up and give you the inheritance" of God; a wolf tears down.

A true Christian does not serve the kingdom of God to build up his bank account; a wolf loves money more than he loves people.

The hands of a true Christian serve the needs of his friends; a wolf is more interested in having friends who meet his needs.

A true Christian helps the weak; a wolf takes advantage of the weak.

A true Christian understands the blessings that come from giving; a wolf is generous only when it's to his own advantage.

Jesus consecrated us all to the truth, as it says in today's Gospel reading. We have the ability, through the Spirit of Truth, to discern the truth and to feel uncomfortable with lies.

A few days ago I shared with you my prayer for an increase of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Here's an adaptation of it for today's reflection:

Lord Jesus Christ, fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that my soul may be sanctified and grow in the gifts of Your grace and love. Increase in me the gift of holy wisdom, that I may recognize the difference between the worthless ideas of this world and the lasting truths of heaven. Increase in me the gift of understanding, to enlighten my mind with Your divine truth. Increase in me the gift of Your good counsel, that I may always follow the will of God. Increase in me the gift of knowledge, that I may grow in holiness by knowing God and myself more fully. Help me, dear Lord, to be one of Your true disciples, filled with Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

For a copy of the prayer "Gifts from the Spirit of Truth", please visit Catholic Digital Resources:
http://catholicdr.com/faithbuilders/prayers/HolySpirit-Gifts.htm

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
You may print one copy for your own personal use.
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Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Never shrinking back

Good News Reflection
Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
May 18, 2010

Day 5 of the Novena to the Holy Spirit

Today's Readings:
Acts 20:17-27
Ps 68:10-11, 20-21 (with 33a)
John 17:1-11a
http://www.usccb.org/nab/051810.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_05_18.mp3

Never shrinking back

"Never did I shrink from telling you what was for your own good.... I take the blame for no one's conscience, for I have never shrunk from announcing to you God's design in its entirety" – the words of St. Paul to his spiritual children in Ephesus as he neared the end of his life (from today's first reading).

"I have made your name known to those you gave me out of the world.... I entrusted to them the message you entrusted to me." – the words of Jesus to the Father as he neared the end of his life (from today's Gospel reading).

Will you be able to say the same thing at the end of your life?

We live in a very "polite" society. We hide the truth for the sake of being "nice." We allow others to violate the truth for the sake of being "politically correct." But Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit so that we could be his witnesses to the ends of the earth, sometimes by words, always by the holy way that we live – boldly, visibly, confidently. Jesus was not always polite, and he was certainly not politically correct.

Do we really want him to be our Lord and teacher? Do we really want to follow him and imitate him?

We preach by our lives. We convert by our compassion. And we teach the truth by using words whenever there's a hunger for understanding. If a person is ready to be taught, we must be ready to explain our faith and not shrink back.

Usually, we don't know when someone's ready, so we must rely upon the Holy Spirit to inspire us. Never are we to sit back and hope that someone else will do the evangelizing, or else at the time of our death we will be held accountable for the poorly formed consciences of others and for the souls who never reach heaven.

How many times have we noticed coworkers struggling with a problem and we've not asked if we could pray for them? When have we heard a family member complain about a Church teaching and we've let our silence – or perhaps even a smile or nod – indicate that we agree, rather than dare to offer a different perspective (in a compassionate way, of course)? When did we see a stranger in the pew next to us at Mass who seemed unhappy and we didn't reach out to show that we cared?

Every day, we encounter opportunities to evangelize. Today, make it your special assignment to watch for such opportunities. Try counting them. Jot them down in a notebook. At the end of the day, put a plus-sign by each incident in which you made an effort to give witness to Christ and a minus-sign by the times you forgot or held back. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you improve. Start the next morning with a decision, made out loud to God, to rely on his supernatural power so that you be a good witness of true faith.

Perhaps there's something that can help you with this at Catholic Digital Resources. See these evangelization aids:
http://catholicdr.com/evangelaids/index.html

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
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Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

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Trusting in the Father's nearness

Good News Reflection
Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
May 17, 2010

Day 4 of the Novena to the Holy Spirit

Today's Saint: Pascal Baylon
Pray for an increase in devotion to the Eucharist:
http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/PascalBaylon.htm

Today's Readings:
Acts 19:1-8
Ps 68:2-7ab (with 33a)
John 16:29-33
http://www.usccb.org/nab/051710.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_05_17.mp3

Trusting in the Father's nearness

The Father is with you always. Do you believe that? Really? If so, then why do you sometimes feel lonely? Or worried? Or abandoned?

Jesus asks us in today's Gospel reading: "Do you really believe?" We say we do, but our actions reveal the truth. Sometimes we act as if God has abandoned us. We take matters into our own hands as if God doesn't care or doesn't have the power or desire to help.

Jesus knew that his closest friends would abandon him at the worst time of his life, when he'd feel most vulnerable. Yet, he gained strength from knowing that his Father would be there. Even when he cried out from the cross, "Father! Why have you abandoned me!" he knew in his wounded heart that the Father only felt distant because he was far from the sins that Jesus now bore, but the Father was still united to the Son in divine love.

Surely the Father could have helped Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane by speaking to the disciples in their prayer time, telling them to support Jesus in his time of need. Maybe he did and their fears and shock drowned out the message.

We all have friends and family who should have helped us during a difficult situation but didn't. How does that make us feel? That's the way Jesus felt, too, EXCEPT – Jesus trusted in his Father's nearness.

We need to develop the same trust in God's nearness. Even though we're not as holy as Jesus the Divine Son, our Divine Father remains with us always; our baptisms guarantee it. We can learn this from today's first reading, where Paul meets a group of people who have received the baptism of John. He completes their initiation into the Christian family by giving them the sacramental baptism.

Notice the difference between the two baptisms: The first one had been an act of repentance, which is something we do every time we overcome sin. In the second one, because it's a sacrament, it's something that GOD does. God comes to us in the fullness of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Thus, we can never be abandoned. Even when we lose people through death or desertion or some other form of scattering, we never lose God. If we seek God, we will discover that he is already right here with us. However, when we insist upon handling life our own way, we look past him and miss him. We abandon him.

How much we accept God's presence is entirely up to us.

To feel the Father's nearness, we need to have a heart-level prayer life, repent of our sins, surrender to him our will and desires to make room for his will and desires, and refuse to settle for any substitute that the world offers.

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
You may print one copy for your own personal use.
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Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

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Good News Reflection FOR NEXT SUNDAY: May 23, 2010 Pentecost Sunday, Cycle C

Good News Reflection
FOR NEXT SUNDAY: May 23, 2010
Pentecost Sunday, Cycle C

Day 3 of the Novena to the Holy Spirit

Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA:
For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection,
please go to Catholic Digital Resources:
http://catholicdr.com/calendar/May/Pentecost.htm - Preview a sample

Next Sunday's Readings:
Acts 2:1-11
Ps 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34
1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 (or Rom 8:8-17)
John 20:19-23 (or John 14:15-16, 23b-26)
http://www.usccb.org/nab/052310b.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_05_23.mp3

John 20:19-23 is one of two possible Gospel readings for next Sunday. In it, Jesus says "peace be with you" twice. First, he gives his disciples the gift of peace so that they can take their focus off of their worries to look at him and recognize him standing in their midst.

Then he says it again while giving them the vocation of continuing the mission that he had started. This time, "peace be with you" is to be the fruit of a life lived in the Holy Spirit while serving God for the sake of the world.

It's one thing to feel peaceful because we know that Jesus is with us. It's quite a challenge, though, to feel peaceful when telling others about Jesus, for we feel inadequate and overwhelmed, and we're afraid of being persecuted and rejected. That's why he gave us his Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit gives us whatever we need for doing the work that the Father asks of us, and thus we are not really inadequate nor does God fail to comfort us when people reject us.

One of the fruits of partnering with Jesus in the power of his Spirit is an inner peace that does not depend on what happens, nor on what others do or don't do to us, nor on how they respond to the Good News that we share with them. Peace is the result of being alive in the Spirit. Peace is the Spirit's activity within us.

At the end of this Gospel passage, Jesus gives the Apostles (the first Catholic priests) the authority to forgive sins as his instruments of divine presence. He is instituting the Sacrament of Reconciliation in which Jesus himself comes to us in the form of the human priest.

The same forgiving power of the Spirit enables all of us to experience peace in a sinful, tumultuous world. Even when forgiving is most difficult, in the Spirit of Christ we can do it. We can forgive those who hurt us, even if they never repent. And this is what restores our peace.

Questions for Personal Reflection:
What is causing you to feel unpeaceful? Whom do you need to forgive in those situations? If you've forgiven everyone and you still lack peace, do you need to forgive yourself? Or God? Consider going to a spiritual director or counselor for help in finding all the peace that Jesus wants you to have.

Questions for Family & Community Faith Sharing:
Give an example of how peace is a fruit of life in the Holy Spirit. What other fruits come from depending upon God and partnering with his Spirit?

For more reflection on the Holy Spirit, see the Good News WordByte:
"Who is the Holy Spirit? What are the gifts of the Spirit? What are the fruits of life in the Spirit?"
http://wordbytes.org/doctrine/HolySpirit.htm

STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org
* To join and become a member, go to:
http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
You may print one copy for your own personal use.
For PERMISSION and info on how to copy this reflection for sharing, see:
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Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.

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Donate
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Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...

Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!

Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

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Friday, May 14, 2010

Friendship with God

Good News Reflection
Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter
May 14, 2010

Day 1 of the Novena to the Holy Spirit

Today's Feast: Saint Matthias, Apostle
Pray for vocations:
http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/Matthias.htm

Today's Readings:
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26
Ps 113:1-8
John 15:9-17
http://www.usccb.org/nab/051410.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_05_14.mp3

Friendship with God

Servanthood is an essential part of true Christian living. Jesus emphasized it during the Last Supper, saying that he came not to be served, but to serve, and that likewise, in following him, we should serve one another. Why? Because service is an act of true love. In today's Gospel reading, he describes love as the ultimate gift of service: laying down one's life for one's friends.

As he has loved us, so we should love others. He has served us by explaining the truths of God's kingdom. He has served us by lifting up the lowly. He has served us by answering our prayers. He has served us by taking the blame for our sins. He has served us by making sacrifices.

To remain in his love, he says, we have to love as he loves, even to the point of making sacrifices for one another. Loving others is not always convenient or pleasant. Loving others does not always fit into our agendas. But the more difficult it is, the more like Jesus we become – that is, IF we choose the path of love.

We love others when we explain the truths of God's kingdom, not as a way to condemn them but to offer them healing and hope. We love others when we lift up the lowly, reaching out to the marginalized and the under-served. We love others by being available for Jesus to answer their prayers through us. We love others by doing good to those who sin against us. We love others by making personal sacrifices when Jesus says, "Follow Me to the Cross."

Sometimes we do acts of love more out of love for God than love for the person we're serving. If so, are we truly loving God? Or are we merely being the obedient slaves of a kind Master? In his parables, Jesus often referred to believers as "servants" of the Kingdom. So why does he say in verse 15 that he wants us to be his friends instead of slaves? Is he contradicting himself?

Not at all! A servant of God's Kingdom can be either a slave or a friend. Friends serve each other because they care, which comes from genuine love. Slaves serve out of obedience, which comes from a sense of duty and obligation and the fear of punishment if they fail.

Are you obeying God as his slave or as his friend? One clue to the answer is whether or not you complain about the things you do for love. Jesus never grumbled about the long hours he worked helping people. He never complained about the Pharisees. He never told the Apostles that the Father wasn't being fair in what he asked of him.

How strong is your friendship with God? How would you define it? He defines it by how you treat his friends.

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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The Ascension of the Lord is our calling to ministry

Good News Reflection
Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter
May 13, 2010

Today's Feast: The Ascension of the Lord
(In some dioceses, the Feast of The Ascension of the Lord has been transferred to Sunday so that more people can participate in this celebration – this reflection uses the readings from the Ascension.)

Today's Readings:
Acts 1:1-11
Ps 47:2-3, 6-9
Ephesians 1:17-23 or Heb 9:24-28;10:19-23
Luke 24:46-53
http://www.usccb.org/nab/051310a.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_05_13a.mp3

The Ascension of the Lord is our calling to ministry

Sometimes we find ourselves in the same posture as the disciples in today's first reading, looking up at the sky where we last saw Jesus, not moving, just staring at nothing, waiting for him to come back and do something to rescue this world from its evil.

It seems like he's not finished. There's more he should be doing. This world needs the Second Coming of Christ – now! What's the delay? Ahhh, but he's told us not to stand about gawking and waiting but to go forth and spread the Good News. He told us to take what he's given us and use it to serve others, to make a difference somewhere, somehow, to someone.

Why do we stare at the empty sky? Because we feel inadequate.

Parents know this feeling. After giving birth or adopting a child in an amazing partnership with God the Giver of Life, we have the awesome task of raising this tiny human into a faith-filled, emotionally healthy adult. Wow. More than a few miracles will be needed.

Graduates know this feeling. After completing college or a Lay Ministry training program or ordination or final vows, we stand on the threshold of working for the Lord wondering: Will we be effective and successful? We will like it? Or will we be sent where we'd rather not go?

Those who are grieving know this feeling. After a loved one is taken home to the Lord or a friend is lost in a failed relationship, our lives change drastically. It feels like it shouldn't have. How can we recover from the emptiness, which by its very nature forces our attention onto ourselves and our unmet needs, to become full of service to others?

Every change in our lives is a commissioning. Every loss is the beginning of a new calling. Every experience is training for a work of God's kingdom that the Lord wants to accomplish through us.

Why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus has been your teacher and your guide: Although you cannot see what he's doing now, he has not abandoned you. He is fulfilling his promise: "You will receive power from the Holy Spirit, and you will be my witness throughout the earth." Indeed, you were given that Holy Spirit in baptism, and it is this Spirit of God that empowers you to continue the ministry of Jesus using your particular gifts and talents and experiences.

We must confidently raise our foot to step forward and, while it's still in mid-air, ask: "Okay God, where do You want me to place this foot down next?" If we remain centered on the Lord, we will not lose our balance. The Holy Spirit will do the work of Christ on Earth through us.

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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Gifts from the Spirit of Truth

Good News Reflection
Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
May 12, 2010

Today's Readings:
Acts 17:15, 22–18:1
Ps 148:1-2, 11-14
John 16:12-15
http://www.usccb.org/nab/051210.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_05_12.mp3

Gifts from the Spirit of Truth

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus assures us that we have been given the Holy Spirit to teach us what we need to know and to help us recognize the truth. To better understand how this happens, let's consider the seven sanctifying gifts of the Spirit, as listed in Isaiah 11:2-3.

Wisdom: The wisdom of God is contrary to the wisdom of the world. The Holy Spirit's gift of wisdom helps us to detach from the world and to cherish only what's heavenly. This wisdom, when used in everyday life, enlivens us in the ways of Christ. We find pleasure in what's holy.

Understanding: What don't you like about a Church teaching? What is doubtful about the ways of faith? Ask the Holy Spirit for understanding and you will be enlightened. You will increasingly gain a fuller awareness of the wisdom in Church teachings and a stronger sense about the truths of the faith, of God's love, of his plans for you, etc.

Counsel: Are you uncertain about a decision you need to make? Do you feel hesitant in the choices you're facing? Are you full of doubts about the future? The Holy Spirit wants to guide you and instruct you so that you can make the best decisions. My favorite prayer for this is: "Lord, open doors of opportunities in the way I should go, and close all doors that lead elsewhere." And he does!

Fortitude: Are you growing weary from trials? The Holy Spirit gives us supernatural courage to persist and overcome obstacles and difficulties. From this we learn that we really can trust Jesus and reach a good end despite how bad and lengthy the problems seem to be.

Knowledge: The Holy Spirit directs us to the right paths and the right solutions, even supernaturally if necessary. Watch carefully; the Spirit of Truth is pointing out the dangers to avoid and the goals to reach. Listen to the songs, the scriptures, and the people that God puts "coincidentally" into your day. If their message seems familiar, because the Holy Spirit has already been speaking it to your heart, trust it and proceed with confidence.

Piety: Do you have a desire to embrace a life of holiness and to imitate Christ? This desire comes straight from the Holy Spirit as you learn how to respond to every situation with holy actions and attitudes.

Fear of the Lord: Respect for God feels instinctive, doesn't it? That's because it's purely a gift from the Holy Spirit. Fear of the Lord is a profound respect for his perfect holiness. The more enlivened our relationship with the Spirit is, the more we loathe the idea of offending the Lord whom we love so dearly.

Here's a prayer for increasing these gifts:

Come, Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth through me.
Fill me with Your life and Your grace,
that my soul may be sanctified.
Increase in me the gift of holy wisdom,
that I may use wisely the gifts You have given me.
Increase in me the gift of understanding,
that I may hear and respond to Your call.
Increase in me the gift of Your good counsel,
that I may always follow God's will.
Increase in me the gift of knowledge,
that I may grow in holiness by knowing God and myself more fully.
Increase in me the gift of love, that I may serve as Christ's hands and feet and voice
sharing Your love with everyone I meet today.
Come, Holy Spirit! Renew the face of the earth through me!
Amen.

For a copy of this or a license to distribute it, please visit Catholic Digital Resources:
http://catholicdr.com/faithbuilders/prayers/HolySpirit-Gifts.htm

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
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Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

The joy of loss

Good News Reflection
Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
May 11, 2010

Today's Readings:
Acts 16:22-34
Ps 138:1-3, 7c-8
John 16:5-11
http://www.usccb.org/nab/051110.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_05_11.mp3

The joy of loss

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus says to his disciples, "Because I told you I'm going back to him who sent me, grief has filled your hearts."

We're afraid of loss. It's very unpleasant, and yet, it's the only way to move forward in our relationship with God. It's a dark hallway that leads us from the past to the future, from one stage of spiritual growth to a higher level, from discipleship as a student of Jesus to apostleship as a messenger empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Loss hurts because it's painful to be separated from what used to be. We'd rather cling to what's familiar. We cling to the past so that we don't have to move forward into unknown territory. We cling to our own ideas of what our lives should be like so that we won't risk disaster in the unknowable outcomes of life's challenges.

Jesus said, "But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go." It is better because then he could send us his Holy Spirit. We must let go of the familiar in order to experience the greater gift that God has in mind for us next. We have to move on to move up.

Although grieving is important and necessary, we cannot afford to let it control our decisions. God should be in control. Our decisions will either hold us back or move us forward. Both directions will impact our lives and the lives of uncountable others.

Remember that God wants what's best for us. He's implementing a wise plan for our benefit, but not only for us. God works for the benefit of everyone. Therefore, when we refuse to travel from the old to the new, we not only prevent ourselves from discovering more of God's awesome love, we also get in the way of God's love for others.

The Holy Spirit gives us help and comfort when we pass through our losses, but only if we accept the help instead of cursing the changes. Then we can grieve with joy. Huh? That sounds like a contradiction! Well, look at how Paul and Silas handled their imprisonment (in today's first reading). Surely they grieved when they were arrested, when their wounds throbbed, when their chains locked them into the darkness of the dank prison. Yet, in their trust of the Lord's love, they were able to sing joyful praise. The result: The power of the Holy Spirit shook the very foundations of the prison and sprung open the doors.

In the Holy Spirit's love, no matter what's imprisoning us, we can sing hymns such as today's responsorial Psalm: "Your right hand saves me, O Lord." (In biblical terms, the "right hand" means the power of God.) Try it! Praise God so greatly that it shakes your world.

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
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Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

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Monday, May 10, 2010

Bearing witness to the truth of Christ

Good News Reflection
Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter
May 10, 2010

Today's Readings:
Acts 16:11-15
Ps 149:1b-6a,9b
John 15:26–16:4a
http://www.usccb.org/nab/051010.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_05_10.mp3

Bearing witness to the truth of Christ

In unity with the Holy Spirit, precisely because the Holy Spirit is dwelling within us, we are empowered to successfully give testimony about Jesus Christ. And with this enablement comes great responsibility. We cannot ignore the call to be evangelizers – not without committing the sin of omission.

So the question is not IF but HOW: How are we to do this in our daily lives and personal circumstances?

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus defines the gift of his Spirit, which gave birth to the Church on Pentecost (and which we received in baptism when we became members of the Church). He calls the gift "the Advocate." In the original Greek, this translates as "Paraclete", which comes from "parakalein", which means "to invoke" ("para" is "with" and "kalein" is "to call").

From this name we can conclude that Jesus was telling us to invoke or call upon the help of his Spirit. He wants us to know that we are capable of doing whatever the Father asks of us, despite our human limitations, if we rely on the Holy Spirit.

Notice what kind of help Jesus focuses on here. He refers to the Paraclete/Advocate as "the Spirit of truth" who testifies to others about Jesus. How? Not by emails from heaven. God's Spirit teaches the truth about Jesus to the world through me and through you in our daily encounters with others.

To what extent does your everyday life bear witness to the truth about Christ's love? Or his saving power? The more we invoke the Holy Spirit, repenting of sin and asking God to increase our holiness, the more we testify to the truth in our daily circumstances.

We need to invoke the Holy Spirit whenever we're tempted to fight with someone, so that we can turn the other cheek, or whenever we feel selfish, so that we can become generous, and whenever we need help overcoming any temptation. We grow in holiness by asking the Spirit of Holiness to teach us how to imitate Christ whenever we're unable to do so on our own.

We cannot bring others to conversion or successfully invite them back to church through our own choice of words, our own wisdom, and our own understanding of what they're seeking. It's only the Spirit of Truth who provides us with the right way to reach their hearts. And it's only the Spirit of Truth who prepares their hearts and gives them an understanding of the truth that you give them.

Whenever we testify against Christ, through decisions and behaviors that are unGodly, we must turn quickly to the Holy Spirit, repent, and ask for help.

"If you realize that I believe in the Lord, come and stay at my house," said Lydia in today's first reading. Are the people around you convinced that you believe in the Lord? They will be if you continue to grow in the Holy Spirit of Truth.

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
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Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

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Good News Reflection FOR NEXT SUNDAY: May 16, 2010 Seventh Sunday of Easter, Cycle C

Good News Reflection
FOR NEXT SUNDAY: May 16, 2010
Seventh Sunday of Easter, Cycle C

Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA:
For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection,
please go to Catholic Digital Resources:
http://catholicdr.com/calendar/May/Easter7.htm - Preview a sample

Next Sunday's Readings:
Acts 7:55-60
Ps 97:1-2, 6-7, 9
Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
John 17:20-26
http://www.usccb.org/nab/051610.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_05_16.mp3

Next Sunday's Gospel reading is the unity Gospel. It's the prayer for the Church that Jesus raised up to heaven shortly before he died. In it, he makes a sacrament out of relationships. As Jesus and the Father are one, we too are to be one with each other, so that by our witness of unity – permanent, committed, self-sacrificing, unconditional love – we show the world what God's love is like. We prove to the world that God's love is real: It's permanent, committed, unconditional, and self-sacrificing no matter how much anyone sins.

A sacramental marriage is a visual lesson for the world, a teaching about how God loves us unconditionally, for better and for worse, in sickness and in health, whether we are rich or poor, with complete faithfulness. In a sacramental marriage, the husband lays down his life to serve his wife, and the wife lays down her life to serve her husband, just as Christ laid down his life to serve us and we who are the Church, the Bride of Christ, lay down our lives to follow him and serve him.

Marriage is that sacred! This is the reason why a Catholic priest cannot marry couples who have been divorced until after an investigation proves that previous marriages were not true unions. The unity of a couple is as sacred as the unity between Jesus and the Father and as sacred as our God-ordained mission to be examples of his love.

The same is true for any two or more people whom God has joined.

Each union created by God is a sacrament (the presence and power of Christ for the world). Each relationship is meant to be a visual lesson that teaches the world about the true identity and salvation of Jesus. How horrible – how anti-evangelization – are divisions within the Body of Christ!

Questions for Personal Reflection:
List the people who are God's gift to you. Who used to be a gift but no longer seems so due to hardships and relational difficulties? What will you do for that person this week to serve him or her in love (even if they won't be able to know about it)?

Questions for Family & Community Faith Sharing:
Describe a time when a loving gesture from a friend, spouse, parent, or someone else revealed to you God's love. Even if you didn't realize it at the time, how was this gift of love an answer to Jesus' prayer? How is God building unity in your home or parish an answer to Jesus' prayer?

STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org
* To join and become a member, go to:
http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
You may print one copy for your own personal use.
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Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

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Friday, May 7, 2010

The supernatural joy of loving obedience

Good News Reflection
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
May 6, 2010

Today's Readings:
Acts 15:7-21
Ps 96:1-3, 10
John 15:9-11
http://www.usccb.org/nab/050610.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_05_06.mp3

The supernatural joy of loving obedience

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus spells out the three basic elements of faith: obedience, love, and joy. Love is the center; it holds obedience and joy together. When we disobey, it's because we don't understand why it's unloving; we don't realize our sin interferes with our ability to love and to be loved. On the other hand, when we obey because we love, we experience great joy.

Obeying because we love is a mature faith. As children, we first obeyed because we feared punishment. To experience joy, we have to let go of childish reasons for obeying God's commands. Adult obedience is this: We love God so much that we want to follow Jesus in every way and in every circumstance, because we know that he loves us and that his commands are always based on love (even when we don't understand how so), and we know that we can trust him. We'd be foolish to disobey.

And we love others so much that we don't want to sin against them.

Love is like the air around us: We can close ourselves up and never breathe the air, and thus we die. Likewise, we can close our hearts and never receive the love that is permeating from God in every moment, and thus our souls slowly die. But when we obey God, imitating the holiness of Christ by following his commandments, we unite ourselves to him and therefore we're immersed in his love and therefore we experience unworldly joy.

If we really understand what occurs in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, joy is our primary feeling as we emerge from the confessional. It's a joy that comes from rediscovering that despite our disobedience, God still loves us, and that by reconciling with him we have opened ourselves to receive and experience his love more fully again.

Consider any command that you have trouble obeying, whether from the Bible or Church teachings. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you how this command is based on love. In what ways are you missing or misunderstanding the love that's inherently there?

In today's first reading, the first Christians had to learn to stretch their love for God to include the Gentiles. We all need to allow God to stretch us beyond our current limits of love. To grow in holiness, we have to grow beyond old, familiar ways of dealing with the laws that we dislike and the people who are unlikable. That's the secret to finding supernatural joy.

Here's a great prayer for starting each day: "Dear God, I want to obey You today; help me to stay close to You. Thank You for being so good to me; I love You and I want to love You more. Lord Jesus, be my joy. When I am tempted to sin, help me to love others more fully. I want to remain in Your love; help me to obey the call to love."

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
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Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

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Doing greater works than Jesus

Good News Reflection
Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
May 3, 2010

Today's Feast: Philip and James, apostles
Pray for your own apostolate:
http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/JamesPhilip.htm

Today's Readings:
1 Cor 15:1-8
Ps 19:2-5
John 14:6-14
http://www.usccb.org/nab/050310.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_05_03.mp3

Doing greater works than Jesus

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus says, "Whoever believes in me will do the works I do, and greater far than these." What does he mean – greater than HIS?

Let's start with the basics: If you and I really do believe in Jesus, we want to be his apostles. The word "apostle" means "one who is sent." We want to be sent by Jesus to help others get to know him and experience his love. Our faith drives us into ministry and outreach. And Jesus gives us the power of his Holy Spirit so that we will be successful.

What are we sent forth to do?

Each of us has been assigned apostolates by the Father. Just as the Father accomplished his works through Jesus, so too does the Father desire to accomplish his works through me – and also through you! He has given you a set of talents and gifts that make you uniquely capable for your particular divine purpose in life. You also have training and experiences (both good and bad) that God wants to put to good use.

Our Father has assigned an apostolate to you that requires your special combination of personality traits and spiritual attributes, right where you are right now – in your job, your home, your relationships, your church, your neighborhood. Because of your uniqueness, he cannot accomplish this through anyone else!

Jesus said that if we believe in him, we will do the same works he did "and greater far than these." Through his humanity, Jesus did human works. These are the same works we do matter-of-factly as good people. Human works include loving each other, teaching what we've learned, sharing what we've been given, listening to those who need someone to talk to, working hard on the job to our fullest potential, offering a helping hand when we see a need, etc. But even atheists do that.

Through his divinity – his unity with the Father – Jesus did supernatural works (the "greater works"). Through Jesus, you and I are united to the Father, and the Father extends himself to the world through us. Through us, the Father continues working miracles, the humanly impossible works. Only someone who believes in Jesus and relies on his Holy Spirit can do this.

What does the Father want to accomplish through you? How does he want to improve the world through you? Pray to hear your calling and to recognize your apostolate. Dedicate (or rededicate) your gifts, talents, resources, skills, and experiences to God for use in his kingdom. Pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen your virtues and empower your giftedness so that when others encounter you, they will experience the human works of Jesus AND the divine works of the Father.

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

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Good News Reflection FOR NEXT SUNDAY: May 9, 2010 Sixth Sunday of Easter, Cycle C

Good News Reflection
FOR NEXT SUNDAY: May 9, 2010
Sixth Sunday of Easter, Cycle C

Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA:
For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection,
please go to Catholic Digital Resources:
http://catholicdr.com/calendar/May/Easter6.htm - Preview a sample

Next Sunday's Readings:
Acts 15:1-2, 22-29
Ps 67:2-3, 5-6, 8
Rev 21:10-14, 22-23
John 14:23-29
http://www.usccb.org/nab/050910.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_05_09.mp3

As next Sunday's Gospel reading points out, to love Jesus means to live by his commandments and teachings. We want to do this. We want to honor Christ by imitating him. We want to love like Jesus loves. We know that God dwells in us when we do this.

However, it isn't easy. Every day, stuff happens that challenges our ability to keep his word and imitate his ways. We forget or we don't know what Jesus would have done in a similar situation. People afflict us with their faults and failings and unloving behaviors, and we fumble around in uncertainty and guesswork and sinful reactions.

There is no list in scripture that spells out clearly how to follow Christ in each and every circumstance: "If such-and-such occurs, apply Godly Principle #127."

This is why Jesus assured us that he'd give us his Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is here to remind us of Jesus and his holy ways every time we face another challenging situation, from the moment we wake up in the morning till the moment we're sleeping again.

So then, our problem is not that we don't know how to keep the commandments of Christ. Our problem is that we forget to rely on the Holy Spirit who teaches us how to keep the commandments. Or we don't know how to be aware of his guidance. We have God's full assistance, but we react to life's challenges as if we must handle it by ourselves.

Here's a spiritual exercise that can help you remember to stay open-eared to the sound of Holy Spirit guiding you: Sanctify each hour. Set your watch to beep an alarm at the top of each hour. Whenever it beeps, say a few words thanking the Holy Spirit for being with you and guiding you through the next sixty minutes. After doing this for several weeks, you'll become automatically and constantly aware of the presence of God and his ever-available help.

Questions for Personal Reflection:
How often do you pray specifically to the Holy Spirit for guidance and insight and understanding? What would you like the Holy Spirit to explain to you right now? Ask for the help, and then wait, watch and listen for God to open your heart to the truth.

Questions for Family & Community Faith Sharing:
How has the Holy Spirit been a teacher to you? How has God filled in gaps in your understanding of scripture and Church teachings and their real-life applications? What sources has he used to convey the information (e.g., a homily, a song, a friend)?

STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org
* To join and become a member, go to:
http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
You may print one copy for your own personal use.
For PERMISSION and info on how to copy this reflection for sharing, see:
http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm

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Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

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What does your heavenly mansion look like?

Good News Reflection
Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter
April 30, 2010

Today's Readings:
Acts 13:26-33
Ps 2:6-11ab
John 14:1-6
http://www.usccb.org/nab/043010.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_04_30.mp3

What does your heavenly mansion look like?

One day, when I felt weakened by some long-enduring difficulties, I said to God, "I'm tired of being betrayed and attacked and misinterpreted. I need to refocus on what YOU think of me and get my mind off of what others think of me. Show me something, puleeeease! Show me anything that will re-energize me to get me back into the battle without becoming a casualty of war."

God is constantly communicating with our inner spirits. When we listen, the soul communicates his message through our imaginations, using images, symbols, smells or sounds to interpret for our conscious minds what the inner spirit hears. In answer to my plea, God responded and in my imagination I "saw" a beautiful mansion. It was not beautiful by earthly standards. Indeed, it didn't make sense in earthly terms. It was bathed in a very bright white light, but not like any light we know here on earth. It was pure light. It was God's light, and the mansion represented what Jesus refers to in today's Gospel passage.

This was My Place. It had a very large main section with many add-on extensions of varying sizes and styles of architecture. The main section was me, my life, or rather the part of my life that I will be able to take with me to heaven after everything else has been purged from me during the dying-resurrection process known as purgatory.

Over the front door was a huge gem, like a diamond. It radiated the same light that permeated all of heaven. I asked what it represented. The answer: The Holy Spirit. The explanation: When the Holy Spirit radiates from me, people are attracted to me and want to be part of my life. And when I let them in, my mansion grows (the added-on extensions).

Some of these extensions were large rooms representing people who are filled with God's love. Others had rooms with crooked roofs or shoddy construction because they did a poor job of building their relationships with God. Some had half-finished rooms because they left my life before God wanted them to leave. And each addition had its own unique beauty, reflecting the made-in-God's-image personality of each individual.

You are building a similar heavenly mansion. The size of our mansions are determined by how many additions we allow others to build connected to our lives. All difficulties in relationships are well worth enduring if we remember that we're connected by Love and if we rely on the Holy Spirit to help us through the hard times. Even when others bang too loudly with their hammers or use warped lumber or buy the wrong materials, they are precious additions to our lives; each new room increases the value of our house.

Whenever we demolish one of these additions because we don't like it, or whenever someone picks up their lumber and leaves, the result is an ugly, gaping hole.

Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." He has the ultimate mansion, and our heavenly houses are additions we build by connecting our life to his. If your life radiates the Holy Spirit, you're attracting people to your mansion, and thus you're also attracting people to God's mansion.

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
You may print one copy for your own personal use.
For PERMISSION and info on how to copy this reflection for sharing, see:
http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm

Find It!Seeking a past reflection?
Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.

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Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?
Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...

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Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

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