Faith to Swim Ashore

Young Bull Moose swimming across Monarch Lake, Colorado

On a walk around Monarch Lake in Colorado I noticed this young bull moose swimming across the water. He swam with ease until suddenly he seemed frightened, perhaps he hit deeper water. He began thrashing violently in the water until he finally regained his composure and calmly swam across the water to the shore. 

In life we have all hit the deep water - times when our faith is tested.

 He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.  But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith,* why did you doubt?” ~ Matthew 14:29-31

Peter took his eyes off Jesus, became frightened, and began to sink, but Jesus was there to help Peter, just as he is with us.

What causes you to take your eyes off Jesus?

What steps can you take to keep your faith in a tumultuous world?

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Treasure and Heart

Near Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, Montana

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.  But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.   For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”  

~ Matthew 6:21

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Everything is Grace

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

During times when the sky is blue and the water is clear everything may seem to be grace, but what about the times when the sky is dark and the water is cloudy?  St. Paul says during these times grace also abounds, “we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”  (Romans 5:3-5)

God, through the passion and resurrection of his son Jesus, shows us his desire to convert suffering into love.  We may not see or understand God’s grace that is present even in the darkest of times but we know, through faith, that even our times of suffering are moments of God’s loving grace.  The Christian lives in the firm hope that when we get to heaven we will see and understand these unseen moments of God’s grace in our lives.  As St. Paul writes, “At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.”  (I  Corinthians 13:12)

So the Christian, in both good times and bad, trusts in God and gives him praise knowing that with God “everything is grace”. 

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Closest Friend

Priest Point Park, Olympia, WA

The Christian is always walking with, and often leaning on, Jesus (see John 13:23).  It is Jesus who gives the Christian strength, peace, understanding and love.   As Pope Benedict wrote, “Christian’s are people who have been conquered by Christ’s love.”

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Freedom and Love

Mule deer buck in an early fall snow, near Roxborough State Park, Colorado

Have you used your freedom to love totally, wildly, unconditionally?  Jesus did and he asks us to do the same.

“Come you who are blessed by my Father.  Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me ”    Matthew 25: 34-36

St. Pope John Paul II said that “our freedom exists for the sake of love”.  We all know someone that is in need in one way, or another, either mentally, emotionally, spiritually or physically.  Let us be Christ for them.  Let us love them, wildly, unconditionally.  Let us turn our world on-fire with the love of Christ. 

Lord, grant us the grace to love the way you do!

Before the Mountains were Born

San Juan Mountains above Ridgeway State Park, Colorado

Wow!  Let us live in awe of God, the Creator and our Savior! 

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Fatherhood

Great Egret parent and chicks, Avery Island, Louisiana

It was a hot summer day.  I had spent most of the day scrapping paint off the old house.  My brother was on the ladder next to me scrapping away, while dad was using the electric sander on the tallest ladder.  It seemed to me that we were making no progress in completing the job.   Dad had got this side-job, in addition to his normal full-time job, so we could earn enough money to go on a family summer camping vacation. 

We finished the house.  It was a great vacation but more importantly dad taught me that love is an action, a giving of oneself for the other. 

 Happy Father’s Day to all the father’s that give of themselves for the good of their wife, children and neighbors.  The kingdom of God is built by one unselfish act at a time.  God Bless!

1 Corinthians 15:58 ~ “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

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In Your Wisdom

Eastern Pondhawk dragonfly, Palmetto Island State Park, Louisiana

“each creature has its own purpose. None is superfluous. The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, his boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: everything is, as it were, a caress of God.” ~ Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home, Par 84

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Alone with Him

Field Sparrow, Goose Island State Park, TX

What is contemplative prayer? St. Teresa answers: "Contemplative prayer in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us."  Contemplative prayer seeks him "whom my soul loves." It is Jesus, and in him, the Father. We seek him, because to desire him is always the beginning of love, and we seek him in that pure faith which causes us to be born of him and to live in him. In this inner prayer we can still meditate, but our attention is fixed on the Lord himself. ~ Catechism of the Catholic Church 2709

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My Soul Thirsts

Monarch Lake, Colorado

Have you ever had a drink of cold water when you are really, really thirsty?  Wow!  But we are all thirsting (desiring) for something even more basic than water…. God.  “The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for.”(1) 

But what is even more amazing is that God thirsts for us…. he thirsts for you.   “Jesus is God, therefore His Love and His Thirst are infinite. He, the Creator of the universe, asked for the love of his creatures. He has thirst for our love …”(2)

 (1)   Catechism of the Catholic Church, par 27

(2)   St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

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Happy Mother's Day

Fawn White-tail Deer, Spring Branch, TX

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For Whom am I?

Whooping Crane, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, TX

So often in life, we waste time asking ourselves: ‘Who am I?’ You can keep asking, ‘Who am I?’ for the rest of your lives. But the real question is: ‘For whom am I?’.  Of course, you are for God. But he has decided that you should also be for others, and he has given you many qualities, inclinations, gifts and charisms that are not for you, but to share with those around you.  ~ Pope Francis, par 286, CHRISTUS VIVIT

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Husbands Love your Wives

Male and female Cardinals, Goose Island State Park, TX

Have you ever seen a husband or wife care for their sick spouse, knowing that the only thing that their loved one can give them is an opportunity to love unselfishly?  When you see this type of love it is possibly as close as you may ever get to seeing our Lord Jesus Christ on this side of heaven.  This is perhaps why our Lord holds marriage so sacred.  God, the one who is a perfect relationship of love, created man and woman in his own image to reflect his love, to share in his love.

 Are you seeking that type of love?  If so, ask our Lord Jesus Christ for the grace of agape, unconditional, love.  Begin reading the bible with prayer asking for the strength to love like Jesus did.  Get strength from the sacraments.  Begin looking at the lives of the many Saints whose lives reflected the way Christ loves us.

 I pray that my marriage and all marriages will begin to love as Christ loves. 

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Christ is Alive!

Black-bellied whistling ducks, near Goose Island State Park, TX

Happy Easter! “Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world, and everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life.”  ~ Pope Francis, CHRISTUS VIVIT, par. 1

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Love and Nails

Mountains as seen from Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park with image of crucifix from Family Mission Company chapel, Abbeville, LA 

*page 6, “No Greater Love”, Dr. Edward Sri

God is love (see 1 John 4:8, 16).   John used the Greek word agape to describe God’s love.  Agape is the type of unconditional love that persists regardless of circumstance, the type of love that expects nothing in return.  Agape love animates Jesus’s every action.   Does agape love animate your every action?

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Lord, Why Me?

Royal Terns, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas

Cancer, illness, loss of family and friends, addiction, poverty and loneliness are just a few of the many challenging circumstances we might find ourselves in while living in this beautiful, yet broken world.  At times like these we sometimes might look up to heaven and ask “Lord, why me?”  The answers are not easy and often go beyond the “why”.  For the Christian the answer is always found through trusting in Jesus. 

 I have found the following bible verses helpful during challenging times.  I hope they are helpful for those of you that might be asking “Lord, why me?”.

We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28. 

 At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.  So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:12, 13

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1: 3-7

God has a plan for those who love him.  We might not know his plan, we may never know his plan in this life, but if we trust in his love for us and we love God and neighbor; we can have the firm hope that when we see our Lord in heaven we will understand the why and understand the beauty of his love.  

 May our Lord’s peace be with you.

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Humility

Brown Pelican, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas

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Accompaniment

Caspian Terns, Royal Terns and Laughing Gulls – Mustang Island, Texas

We live in a world of division.  Each side seems to hate each other.  Often the things that divide one-side against the other are NOT insignificant, but let us follow Jesus’s lead…….

 Jesus, the Son of God, God’s very Word made flesh, came down from heaven to accompany us in our life here on this beautiful planet.  I don’t care how good we think we are, we are not in any way close to his glory.  Yet he joined us.  He became fully man.  He accompanied us and still accompanies us today.  Why?  To lead us to heaven, to make us like him, to be a part of his family so we can live eternally surrounded and filled with his love.

 Jesus demonstrated the practice of accompaniment throughout his life.   How was Jesus able to accompany people that might be practicing the most deplorable of sins?  Perhaps he, being God, looked into their hearts?  Perhaps he saw them kissing their son, their spouse or their mother at the end of the day?  Perhaps it was because he saw them dancing and singing joyfully at the start of a new day? Perhaps he saw them giving money to a stranger, a prisoner, a widow in need? Somehow, someway, Jesus saw the good and the potential of each person, each person that he had made in his own image and likeness.  Jesus did not give up on them.  And he does not give up on you or me today.

 Accompaniment to Jesus, was not a way to water down the truth, he always lead people to the truth but his method was and continues to be; to meet people where they are and lead them to the truth.  The beauty of this method for us is we are not always set firmly on the truth and in encountering others we might also be lead closer to the truth.  Often when people are accompanying each other, both are brought closer to the truth, closer to God, closer to Jesus.

 Accompaniment for the Christian requires many things but it begins with grace, then faith, and then a listening to the Holy Spirit.  Often this listening to the Holy Spirit is done by listening to the Holy Spirit talking to you through the other. 

 Let us today challenge ourselves to accompany the other instead of accusing the other.  We must remember that the people that Jesus confronted the most were those that only pointed fingers and were unwilling to accompany the other (see the many accounts of Jesus challenging the Pharisees and Scribes).  

 Accompaniment is hard, it is challenging.  I believe it starts in sharing the things we have in common, the things we love and then embracing them in each other.  Then, perhaps, we can begin to venture into the areas of disagreement.  At the end of the day we may still disagree but we pray; that with God’s help, we will meet again on another day, seeing the beauty in each other a bit clearer than we did the previous day.

 May God bless you during this Lenten season.

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God is Color Blind

Red-breasted Grosbeak, High Island, TX

This month we celebrate the lives of two African Christian saints that were martyred in the year 203 A.D.  Both were young mothers when they were executed in the public games in the amphitheater at Carthage in the Roman province of Africa.  Their names are Saint Perpetua and Saint Felicity.  They were killed for refusing to deny Christ.  As St. Perpetua wrote in her diary, “I cannot call myself by any other name than what I am—a Christian.”

 God is color blind when it comes to human skin color; but regretfully, humans are not.  We should take time to thank and reflect upon the great contributions to Christianity that came from, and continue to come from, the African continent.  Great is perhaps too small of a word when it comes to the tremendous spiritual and theological insight that have come from the people living on this continent. 

 Saint Augustine, one of the greatest Christian theologians and perhaps minds of all times, was an African.  St. Augustine is just one of many early Christians that contributed so greatly to Christ’s church.  Today this deep tradition continues with the deeply spiritual and theological insights provided by the people of this continent.  For example, just look at the books by Cardinal Sarah such as “The Power of Silence” or “God or Nothing”. 

Regretfully, the African continent continues to have many Christians that are being martyred for their beliefs. May Saints Perpetua and Saint Felicity join us, in our prayers to God, that all may be allowed to practice their faith with religious freedom.  Amen

 Additional information on the lives of Saints Perpetua and Felicity can be found at https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saints-perpetua-and-felicity/

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Following Jesus

Sunset, Olympia, Washington

When Christ selected his closest followers they left everything behind.  Initially, they may have followed him because they thought he would free their nation from foreign rule, or perhaps they thought they would get a seat of power in this new kingdom he was going to establish. 

However; as time went on they began to realize who he was, what his kingdom would be like, and what following him might be like.  It was on Christ’s final trip to Jerusalem before his passion, after the bread of life discourse, that many of his followers left him.  It was then that Jesus looked at his twelve apostles and said, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”  (John 6: 67-69)

We must periodically ask ourselves: Are we willing to follow Jesus to the end?  Are we willing to leave everything behind to follow him?

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