Ramblings of a Catholic Christian trying to be more like Him.
Please leave me messages and comments so that I too may grow and learn!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

another one hits home

This Sunday all the readings were centered around making choices.  Joshua said to make a decision who you are going to serve.  Those words, "As for me and my household we will serve the Lord" say it all.  Trying to serve any other way results in so much unhappiness.  Things that I have tried to serve - money, people pleasing, gluttony, being a fixer (and I could go on) have only left me feeling more lonely.  Ephesians is about making a choice to commit to relationships.  And in the Gospel, Jesus offers the choice to his discples to return to their former way of life and they choose to continue to follow him.
Now this past weekend, I had two family reunions and fully intended to leave mass early which I do not do.  But with timing it would have been easier to leave early so that I was not in a rush to get to the reunion.  Then came the Liturgy of the Word!  These three readings reminded me of my measly one hour commitment to attend a FULL mass.  Not just part but all - meditate after receiving the Eucharist, hear the announcements of weekly happenings and accept the final blessing.   So yes, I stayed and prayed a little more for the many intentions in my heart!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Colors!

This weekend has been a wonderful experience.  My daughter turned 25 this past week and I drove to her home for celebrations that included going shopping, food, mass, picking her brother up from the airport (he came home from his internship in California), a slumber party for the 3 of us in a hotel suite and Color Me Rad! 


We had such a good time the entire weekend and of course I am thankful to have welcomed Adam home for a short time before he goes to Pittsburgh to finish his Masters.  I am so thankful for my adult children.   They  are kind and hard working people!  They are blessings.

I was fortunate to attend St.John Neumann Church in Sunbury with my daughter.  This is her home parish and she is has become an active part of the youth and young adult ministry there.  This weekend they had their Upbeat Band Station 14 play at all the masses.  Have you ever gone to mass and been so touched by the praise and worship music that you cry?  Well, I did!  It was an amazing feeling. 
More of a blessing was the message that Fr. Dave Seizmore gave.  The Gospel, John 6:51-58 is the basis of the Eucharist.  The Eucharist and its meaning is one of the summits of our faith.  His focus was to reteach us not to take the Body and Blood of Christ for granted.  He gave suggestions for a way to meditate on the Eucharist.  The one that meant alot to me was to focus on that by receiving Christ we are carrying not only Him with us but we are carrying all those who have gone before us and who are present with us.  By receiving Him we will have life within us - He will remain with us and us in Him.  We will have life!  He suggested on meditating on the life within us, the life of those who are no longer with us that we will see again some day and the life of those who are also in Him that are with us now.   I have a new perspective on how His sacrifice makes us whole!    I so wish I could have taped his message as it was amazing and I have not given it some justice!

Have a blessed week! 

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Called

After listening to the readings for today at mass, I felt compelled to write my thoughts and ramblings about what different scripture means to me and how it can apply to happenings in everyday life. 

Have you even been at church and thought that wow those reading were meant just for me to hear?  It happens almost every week with one of the readings. 
This morning it was about Elijah.  He was praying for death because the journey had been so hard.  It so reminded me of times when I have felt that way.  Now two people I love are going through the same things.  God blessed Elijah with food and rest.  He was then able to complete the journey that God had started him on.  What great news!  Some days it is hard to remember that God will provide us with what we need to stay on the journey. 
This is my prayer for you all today is that wait for the Lord to give us our provisions whatever they may be to keep us on the path of our journey.
Have a great day!
-Norma