Archive for September 8, 2013

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 8, 2013 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Can and do we take rest or off days from being loving or from caring? What if God did the same?

Heal me and strengthen me Lord as I stretch out my hands to you; With these hands let me reach out to those in need. With these hands let me bring Your comfort to those who are grieving and sorrowful. With these hands, let me tend to the sick and suffering. With these hands let me rebuild what may be damaged or destroyed. With these hands let me serve You in love all the days of my life. Amen

GOSPEL
Luke 6:6–11

On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

Let us pray…

Posted: September 8, 2013 by CatholicJules in Prayers
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Let us pray….

Lord help me to stop looking only at the faults of others, Instead let me look at them as opportunities to pray for them. Over time and through personal reflection, if the faults I once saw were indeed in need of correction. Counsel and guide me Lord according to Your Will, that I may bring Your truth to them in love and charity in Your time. In Your most precious name Jesus, my Lord, my God. Amen

One Day on the Lord’s day….

Posted: September 8, 2013 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys
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It’s been quite a few months now that every Sunday morning after we’ve woken up, I’d remind my family that it’s the Lord’s day.  It’s special day so let’s try our very best to remain prayerful and avoid temptation to squabble and bicker amongst ourselves. This morning was exceptionally good.

About half an hour after breakfast as we were still very early, we made our way up into the main church hall to prepare ourselves for the Eucharistic celebration.  Although I never got round to teaching her, my 22mth old daughter genuflected when I did. Praise the Lord!  Then as I started praying, she began to fuss a little so my wife brought her out of the Church to calm her down.  I somehow did not feel totally present before the Lord and so I prayed a little harder asking for our blessed mother’s intercession.

A beautiful prayer started to take form in my mind and it went something like this… “Lord let me not see only the faults in others but instead let me see them as opportunities to pray for them…”  then came my wife who interrupted the prayer by calling me outside.  In a rage of sorts, she told be that I had better speak to ‘that’ lady warden before she made her cry.  She then related that my daughter had given her the slip and was running back into the church hall. However my wife managed to get hold of her in time, and so my daughter yelped a little.

The warden glared at both my wife and daughter, shook her head an uttered tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Then instructed my wife to manage her better. My wife told her she was doing the best that she could to which the warden replied a sarcastic “thanks!”  I tried to calm my wife down but she was too angry.  So I made my way instead to welcome parishioners and at the same time thinking what I was to do next, afterall my own peace inside was disturbed too.

It was the beginning of that prayer which started in mind earlier, that helped bring the inner peace back, and soon enough I felt the peace and love of our Lord once again.

I will share the full prayer with you in a few hours time after I’ve made my way to work…..prayerfully my wife will be more receptive then…. Praise the Lord. Amen

.. Have a blessed Sunday

Posted: September 8, 2013 by CatholicJules in Photos
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