Just for Me

Sometimes I go to Mass and I hear something that makes me wonder, "God, did You put that in there just for me??" This doesn't always happen, but when it does, I'm pretty flattered to say the least. 

Recently, I accepted a new job. I felt guilty about leaving my current job knowing I hadn't been there long in relation to the fairly large amount of time and training that was invested in me. Couple this with the determination of my employers to improve themselves after I spoke with them about my concerns, I felt like I was punishing them for doing their best to change for me. I also would be breaking a rental contract to move to the new job's location and therefore having to leave my new-found Church family that I was just starting to become really active in--and I wanted to continue to be active in! But I was torn because at the same time I am very excited to be going where I felt God is leading me: to a new job, a new place to live, and even a new Church family that He apparently thought I should become a part of. But I still felt bad for ditching all I had been committed to. God had plans and words of comfort for me.

In the homily, Father Kill said "When we celebrate a new job or house or anything like that, we are fittingly celebrating the involvement of God in our lives and in our victories." Wow, we are fittingly celebrating. God wants us to be happy with His plans, even when the way appears dark and mysterious because we don't yet know what it holds. He wants us to trust Him, His plans, His Will, His love for us. He wants us to celebrate with Him in Faith that He is guiding us to where we will be the best version of ourselves; to where we will be most happy. Thank you, God, in advance for where my road will lead next!

"The Lord has done great things for us, we are filled with Joy!" Psalm 126:3

Tuning Out, Losing Out

Many times during Mass, as I'm waiting for that subtle or sometimes 2x4-to-the-head moment (as one of my friend's calls it), I find myself sort of tuning out everything until the homily because "I've heard all those readings and prayers before." It's so easy to forget that God's Word is The Living Word and it has the power to speak to us in new ways every time we hear it. Well, when you're Catholic, that Living Word is sometimes wrapped up in a song that you have also sung 500 times and never really heard.

Take, for example, my 2x4 moment in the song These 40 Days of Lent:

"Abide with us, that so, this life of suffering once past, an Easter of unending joy we may attain at last."

SMACK! "Yo, you listening down there? Yeah, Easter is dress rehearsal for life and Heaven, and don't you forget it!" We put ourselves through 40 days of trials during Lent to represent our trials of life and then we celebrate our success with the coming of Christ. Ever notice how when you were a slacker during Lent, the following Easter just wasn't as special or enjoyable as the Easter after the Lenten season where you really tried?

Hmmm, now there's a good thing to ponder: how hard do we "try" during life? Heaven/Easter awaits. How much are you going to enjoy it at the end of your life?

Looking Back to the Start

Lent 2013. 

There isn't much left of it. Looking back through my Mass Journal, I found a page on the beginning goals Father Marty outlined in his homily that we can/should adopt for Lent. It is good, at times, to look back at where we started; to remember why we are here, and assess exactly where "here" is. It reminds us of our story, pin-points our location on our journey of progress, and celebrates our successes. Here are Father's three goals for us:

• Realization

• Repentance

• Readiness

Realization. Father pointed out that we must realize who Christ is. He played part of a song "Suzanne" by Leonard Cohen. He especially pointed out one line: "Only drowning men could see Him." How true. We forget what and who Christ is... until we need Him. Today, lets reflect and focus on the areas of our lives where we need Him most.

Repentance. Father pointed out that we need to let go of what binds us. That's why we fast; to let go of the things we want most in order to realize where we need Christ and also to draw closer to Christ by letting go of vices and distractions. "Can we do a 180 like St. Paul? We are in need of continuous revamping." -Father Marty

Readiness. We never know when our best will be asked of us. Our goal should be, after the first two steps of realization and repentance, to be able to say with reckless abandon: "Here I am Lord, send me."