I've taken vacation over the Christmas holidays. With the kids being off of school too, my daily schedule has been different. I haven't spent as much time praying as I normally do.
Last night and earlier this morning I was feeling very anxious and edgy. This morning I spent some time in prayer, and I feel much better. The experience underscores the idea that we must stay close to God through prayer.
As human beings, it is easy to get discouraged in our prayer. We may not see the immediate effects that prayer has. Yet, it is critical that we continue to pray so that we stay close to God. Through prayer we receive the consolation that St. Paul talks about. Prayer is the link that God uses to communicate with us.
Keep praying. It keeps us going.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Angering Article About Charitable Giving
I read an article yesterday that really made me mad! The article was about how religious people donate more to charity than non-religious people. The author used the article as a call-to-arms for atheists to "catch up" in their charitable giving.
(NOTE: I generally like the Get Rich Slowly blog. I was hesitant to publish my post because I think the blog is generally helpful. However, the post in question really pissed me off, and I needed to rant to get it out of my system.)
The author of the article has missed the true crux of the matter: religious people donate more because they are focused on something other than themselves! I know this is a tough message, but it's the truth. I donate money, clothing, time, etc. because I genuinely want to help people because I believe that my God is calling me to do that.
I want to call non-religious people to search their hearts for the reason that as a group their charitable giving is lower. If they honestly look for a truthful answer, they will find God waiting for them.
(NOTE: I generally like the Get Rich Slowly blog. I was hesitant to publish my post because I think the blog is generally helpful. However, the post in question really pissed me off, and I needed to rant to get it out of my system.)
The author of the article has missed the true crux of the matter: religious people donate more because they are focused on something other than themselves! I know this is a tough message, but it's the truth. I donate money, clothing, time, etc. because I genuinely want to help people because I believe that my God is calling me to do that.
I want to call non-religious people to search their hearts for the reason that as a group their charitable giving is lower. If they honestly look for a truthful answer, they will find God waiting for them.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Litany of St. Joseph
I saw this link posted on Twitter. http://happycatholic.blogspot.com/2009/11/friday-litany-litany-of-st-joseph.html
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Suffering Servant and Our Call to Service
I work as the manager of a small software development team. Lately, my team has been under a lot of pressure with a large workload, and I've been working quite a bit. This weekend has been especially stressful and busy.
Last night at mass, the first reading was from the book of Isaiah. It was one of the suffering servant songs that appears in the book of Isaiah. (Is 53:10-11) My pastor's homily talked a little about the suffering servant songs, and it got me curious. This morning I read all four of the suffering servant songs in Isaiah. (Is 42:1-4, Is 49:1-7, Is 50:4-11, Is 52:13-53:12) Reading these poems gave me a much better perspective on my current workload.
It is really easy to get down on oneself during times of exhaustion and great stress. If we look on these times with the eyes of the suffering servant, we realize that we are specifically called by God to be his instrument. (Is 49:1-2) We also realize that being God's servant entails a lot of work without reward, and possibly suffering (Is 49:4). The end of Is 49:4 gives us insight into our reward:
These passages from Isaiah give me hope during this stressful time. The servant songs remind me that I was specifically created by God for a special purpose. Even though I may not see the fruits of my labor, my reward will be with God. I just have to trust Him.
Last night at mass, the first reading was from the book of Isaiah. It was one of the suffering servant songs that appears in the book of Isaiah. (Is 53:10-11) My pastor's homily talked a little about the suffering servant songs, and it got me curious. This morning I read all four of the suffering servant songs in Isaiah. (Is 42:1-4, Is 49:1-7, Is 50:4-11, Is 52:13-53:12) Reading these poems gave me a much better perspective on my current workload.
It is really easy to get down on oneself during times of exhaustion and great stress. If we look on these times with the eyes of the suffering servant, we realize that we are specifically called by God to be his instrument. (Is 49:1-2) We also realize that being God's servant entails a lot of work without reward, and possibly suffering (Is 49:4). The end of Is 49:4 gives us insight into our reward:
Yet my reward is with the Lord, my recompense is with my God.
These passages from Isaiah give me hope during this stressful time. The servant songs remind me that I was specifically created by God for a special purpose. Even though I may not see the fruits of my labor, my reward will be with God. I just have to trust Him.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Novenas
I was on a search for novenas and found the following ones. I didn't want to lose them, so I'm posting them here.
Novena to St. Nicholas I
Novena to St. Nicholas II
Novena to the Holy Family
Novena to Our Lady of Hope
Novena for the Conversion of Sinners
Novena to St. Nicholas I
Novena to St. Nicholas II
Novena to the Holy Family
Novena to Our Lady of Hope
Novena for the Conversion of Sinners
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Interesting Background on Liturgy of the Hours
Here is an article about the origins of the Liturgy of the Hours that I thought was interesting.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Power of the Liturgy of the Hours
I just read this blog post giving a brief history of the structure of the Liturgy of the Hours.
The article got me thinking about the power of the Liturgy of the Hours. The repetition of the prayer is its power. Someone praying the hours regularly immerses himself in the Psalms, encompassing prayers of petition, prayers of thanksgiving, and prayers of praise. These prayers open the pray-er to God's grace on a daily basis.
Over time, the repetitive act of opening oneself to God allows God to fill the person with the Holy Spirit. This prayer, this communion with God, becomes an anchor in the person's life. God becomes the focus of the person's life. By getting one's focus properly fixed on God, the trials that we face in everyday life become much easier to handle.
The repetition of the Liturgy of the Hours is brilliant. It is a powerful tool that enables limited human beings to be able to open themselves up to God and the workings of his spirit.
The article got me thinking about the power of the Liturgy of the Hours. The repetition of the prayer is its power. Someone praying the hours regularly immerses himself in the Psalms, encompassing prayers of petition, prayers of thanksgiving, and prayers of praise. These prayers open the pray-er to God's grace on a daily basis.
Over time, the repetitive act of opening oneself to God allows God to fill the person with the Holy Spirit. This prayer, this communion with God, becomes an anchor in the person's life. God becomes the focus of the person's life. By getting one's focus properly fixed on God, the trials that we face in everyday life become much easier to handle.
The repetition of the Liturgy of the Hours is brilliant. It is a powerful tool that enables limited human beings to be able to open themselves up to God and the workings of his spirit.
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