Gratitude & Thanksgiving

Grant your mercy O Lord , to love what you command and to desire what you promise. Grant your mercy O Lord that amid the uncertainties of this world, our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you  in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Adapted from the Collect 23 Aug 2021 

              Are we spiritually anorexic? Are we starving ourselves to death by not being hungry for the Word, the Eucharist, for God's community and for prayer? Lord may we no longer stuff ourselves with the things of the world so as to lose our spiritual appetites.  May we crucify our flesh and its passions and its desires so we may restore our baptism appetite.    Prayer by Fr Al Lauer (1947-2002) at the Presentation Ministries.

    P rayer is putting myself in the presence of God. It is availing myself to contemplate Him. It is being open to receive what He puts in my heart and my mind. It is an opportunity to receive His pardon, to be infused in His wisdom, to absorb His grace. Prayer is complete trust, total surrender, full disclosure. Prayer is baring all, no words, no facade It is a silence that says everything. Prayer is a receiving in the quiet A hearing in the silence Receiving His instructions And receiving His grace to execute them. I desire to be in God's constant presence. I desire this heaven on earth. In all that I do in the day and in the night I do then all with Him Lord, help me to be more keenly aware of Your presence Lord, help me to pray with Your Word May the Gospel occupy my mind May my life continue to be an unending prayer to You.     Sandra Lai

Sharing an excellent talk by Rev Fr Mike Schmitz, may you be blessed as I am, by the gems from Fr Mike. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmWEXloc9cU  

    I begin by quieting bother, interiorly and exteriorly. I take the norm of silence as being extremely important for an atmosphere of love which will allow God my Father to communicate with me.   I shall take care to remain recollected to relax and to let go in His presence. May I have A listening heart An open heart A patient waiting A beggar spirit A capacity for a sense of the true  And a taste for the good A generous heart A heart with faith, hope and love Silence before God is not about achieving.  Its about receiving.    Teach me, Lord,  how to come to thee.   Nothing else do I have but willingness.   How am I to reach thee,  I do not know.   Do thou inspire me,  show me,  give me what I need for my journey.    St Augustine

( Gospel reading,15 Jul 2021) No burden is too heavy  when it is given in love and carried in love. He gives us His strength to follow His way of love. He lifts the weight of hopelessness. We exchange  a yoke despair  for a weight of glory and victory with Him. Carry Jesus' yoke of love, grace, and freedom. Rest joyfully  in His presence. Walk daily with Him along the path He has for us. ( Extracted from Daily   Reflections by Don Schwager)

      Today's Gospel from Mat 11:20-24 - the judgment on Sodom and Chorazin made me think. And a reflection article asks: "If Jesus were to visit your community today, what would he say?  Would he issue a warning like the one he gave to Chorazin and Bethsaida?" A sense of guilt has been with me for a while.   All that I have, all that I experience, all that I ever will have, will be - are blessings from the Lord.  This I know truly, I believe wholeheartedly and I give thanks sincerely.  So much blessings I am receiving from the Lord, yet so little discipline in my prayer life.   So much I pack into my days, yet so little space I put aside for my Lord. What would Jesus say when he comes to my home, see my day & the way I spend my time, observe my interactions with my closest ones.... would he lament and issue a stern warning like he did to Chorazin and Bethsaida? Do my priorities and actions point to indifference to Him?  In wha...