y, April 1, 2011 Lk 7: 11-17 Raising of the dead man

"'A Great prophet has risen up among us; God has visited his people.'"

Dear Jesus,

You visit us now, every day. I feel your presence when I love and allow myself to feel love. When I set aside my own fears and selfish agendas I can allow your spirit to reside in me and work in and through me to be an agent of love. It is your love that conquers all. Your love knows no bounds and is all powerful. It is unlimited. I am blessed to even begin to understand the power of your love.

Help me to be faith-filled enough to spread your word - which is love - without fear. Help me to truly know you. If I know you I will know myself. I will access the love that has always existed within me. My love is waiting to spring forth at every turn.

Last night, Mary Beth was helping Zack in the bathroom because he had a bloody nose. She was getting frustrated after a long day. I went upstairs calmly and quietly and took over for her. I was able to help Zack get settled.

This was a manifestation of divine love. I could feel it emanate forth and call me into action. I was blessed to respond in the way I did since there have beeen plenty of times when I have not responded in this way.

Dear Lord, may I visit people the way you visit us, with steadfast love and undying faith every day. Amen.

Lk 7: 11-17 Raising of the dead man

"'Young man I tell you, get up.'"

Dear Jesus,

I see you raising the dead man up and giving him back to his mother. I am there as a witness and I am in awe. I look on and think, "Wow. This is truly the power of God."

May I always trust in your power. May my faith be unshakable. Help me to remember that all things are possible with you. May I also spread this message through my words and actions. May I always believe in the power of your love and the all-powerful force of your love as it conquers death. I know that with you, dear Jesus, all things are possible, even resurrection from the dead. There is nothing more powerful than your ability to transform lives, individually and collectively. Again, help me to cultivate that in myself and work for that in my relationships with others without fear.

I am truly blessed. Amen.

Mk 7: 31-37 Healing of the deaf man

"'Everything he does is good, he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak'"

"... the more he insisted the more widely they proclaimed it."

Dear Jesus,

Help me to hear you speaking to me. Give me the strength of your spirit so that my words may speak truths in such a way that people will hear me, my spouse, children, colleagues, and students. Help me to stay in perspective and to remember human psychology. Help me to be strong when I am weak and steadfast when I want to fall apart.

Help me to maintain what I know is best, which, in all cases, is to love as you would love. Remind me not to personalize the behavior of others or inflate it beyond what it truly is. May I always remember it is this loving spirit of right action that will always serve me well and keep me free of entanglements.

Amen

Mk 7:31-37 Healing the deaf man

"'Be opened.' And his ears were opened, and at once the impediment of his tongue was loosened and he spoke clearly."

Dear Jesus,

Please loosen my tongue and enable me to speak clearly. Please help me to speak the truth to my students and keep that truth in the proper perspective. Help me to remember to be kind, gentle, and loving in my discipline. Help me to remember that these children are my own children and that they do not see the world from my eyes.

May I keep my children unburdened with my adult perspective, while at the same time enabling them to do their best work.

Help my tongue to be unburdened by anger, fear, and anxiety. Help me to be guided by faith, hope, and love in all I hear and all I say. I've done this many times before, and I can do this more than I do this now.

When I make mistakes, and evil creeps in, may I reflect without perseverating, forgive myself and move on, reincorporating the gifts of faith, hope, and love in my hearing and my speech. Amen.

Lk 10:38-42 Martha and Mary

"'Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving by myself? Please tell her to help me.'"

Sometimes I have a fear of doing things without support, that I am not good enough to go ahead and get things done alone. I need to trust myself that my role in a given situation is right. I have to accept my position with faith and believe that I am capable of the task at hand. I will receive the necessary help at the appointed time.

I do not have to wait for the support of someone else in order to begin a task or project. I need to be content that I can handle a given task without assistance and that the outcome will be okay. All will be okay. I will be okay.

Lk 10:38-42 Martha and Mary

"'...you worry and fret about so many things
and yet few are needed, indeed only one."

Jesus makes it clear that the word of God is powerful and a guide for living. If I focus not only on the word of God but the way it manifests itself in me I will be more happy, more balanced. I especially need the word of God to fill me with patience when I am tired and compassion when others are tired. I can call out to God and and ask for help when I need it. Just this calling will be a source of strength.

My priorities always need to be God-centered.

Mt 5:1-16

"'Blessed are the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Blessed are the pure in heart:
They shall see God.'"

When I show mercy to others I am recognizing my own humanity. I realize that my roles in life are very fleeting and that the dynamics in all relationships are fluid. When I truly approach all relationships as opportunities to serve God, love others, help people achieve their highest and best selves, and maximize their own loving potential, then I know I am truly living as God intended me to live. When I am wronged, insulted, offended, or violated, and then show mercy, I know I will in turn receive mercy.

I can feel when my heart is pure. I feel a lightness of being, a joy that reminds me that there is no greater, happier, more meaningful moment in my life than right now. I am glorified in the realization that I am alive. I breathe. I see, hear, notice, feel, touch, taste, and smell God. All is well.

I am never guaranteed any more life than that which I am living in this instant. Nothing else truly matters when defining my happiness. Here I am. This is all I need.