Gratitude & Thanksgiving

CS Lewis said, “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us, we are wondering how painful the path to the best will turn out to be.” Notes taken from Advent sermon by Rev Fr Mike  as part of his  Face to Face - Advent with Fr Mike Schmitz  series, 2024 [DAY 4] https://link.ascension-app.com/xuJnSCtdZOb The heart of sin is to reject God.  God does not reject us. Sin means we reject God. God as the Good Shepherd seeks out the lost sheep, He seeks us out so as to lead us to the very best. Do I want to be led by the good shepherd Do I want the best? Do I trust the journey? The destination where God leads us will be beautiful and the best, but we are wondering about what we will need to go thru in order to reach our destination, to meet Him face to face.   We trust God wants the best for me, we are fearful how painful the path to the best will be, about how the path to the best looks like?  Psalm 23 -    I walk through the valley ...

Reflecting on Joshua 14:10 The Lord has kept me alive. How much love have I added? Do I view the positives or negatives in others? Am I congruent interiorly and exteriorly?

Life is not a series of calculus problems.   Life is about movement - moving through different terrains and circumstances. For parents, life is not about removing every obstacle and challenge for our children, but about equipping them with the skill and the mettle to face and overcome challenges on their own. Taken from an article in Life, Straits Times (circa October 2024)

Henri Nouwen’s beautiful reflection about life, love and death…. ‘It is possible to have intimate relationships with loved ones who have died. Death sometimes deepens the intimacy. . . .  [I believe] that after separation certain people continue to be very significant for us in our hearts and through our memories.  Remembering them is much more than just thinking of them, because we are making them part of our members, part of our whole being. Knowing this experience allows me to live from the deep belief that I have love to offer to people, not only here, but also beyond my short, little life.  I am a human being who was loved by God before I was born and whom God will love after I die.  This brief lifetime is my opportunity to receive love, deepen love, grow in love, and give love.  When I die love continues to be active, and from full communion with God I am present by love to those I leave behind.’ Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) Catholic priest, writer & theol...

  A reflection on Psalm 19:8 by Alicia Hernon (taken from the  Ascension App) Psalm 19 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple ————————- Transcription: We don’t know on a natural level how to please the Lord This is why we need the law of the Lord We would never be able to figure out on our own how to please God, how to please Him, what is the path to life.  This is why the Law of the Lord found in Scriptures and in the Church magisterium is so precious, it is precious because that is the path to life.    With the law of the Lord, we know how to be in relationship with God, how to grow in knowledge of Him. That is why the Law of the Lord gives wisdom to the simple. Do I love the Law of the Lord? How can knowledge of God’s law help me to grow in relationship with Him?

Notes taken from Advent sermon by Rev Fr Mike as part of his Face to Face - Advent with Fr Mike Schmitz series, 2024 https://link.ascension-app.com/xuJnSCtdZOb ————————- SERMON NOTES (not a transcription) ————————- PREPARING FOR THE LORD’S COMING The season of Advent is a time to prepare for the arrival of Jesus -  His three comings: - His coming at Christmas, preparing our hearts so that we can appropriately and adequately celebrate Christmas. - His coming  to us in the present, in prayer, Scripture and the Sacraments,  to recognise Him - His final coming at the end of time. As for the moment Christ will come at the end of time - we do not know the day nor the hour, but we do know we each have an appointment to meet Him at the last moment to our life, when we stand before the Lord. ————————- HOW DO I LIVE THE NEXT 25 DAYS? WHAT IF  I knew that Dec 25 is the day I was going to die, the day I was going to see the Lord, and I was given 25 days to prepare to see Him fa...