Shaping your life

 

I read a book my mother-in-law recommended titled "Eternal." I just finished it and learned a lot, as this is a historical fiction novel focused on Mussolini's reign over Rome and his laws against the Jewish people living there. It also described how many people were duped by the fascist leader.

In case you don't know, Mussolini ruled from 1922 to 1943 and he created anti-Semitic race laws that wreaked havoc on the Jewish community, terrorizing their lives and attempting to destroy their existence.

In the book, one of the fictional characters who was going through a hard time making a decision about a relationship, received this advice from a friend: 

"Take your life in your hands, like dough. Form it the way you want it to be." 

At first, it seems like pretty good advice, but compare it to Isaiah 64:7:

"Yet, LORD, you are our father;
we are the clay and you our potter:
we are all the work of your hand."

How do we reconcile these two ideas? Are we in charge of our own life, or is God? To what extent do we make our life what we want it to be?

I don't think these have to be mutually exclusive.

But first, we must recognize that we have been created by God, our loving Father, who cares for us and "knows every hair on our head." At the same time, knowing this, we can work on shaping our life.

The key is to work on shaping our life so that it is aligned with God.

If we strive to put our life in God's hands, rather than try to go solo, we will be able to face anything, for we will be uplifted by the fact that we are never alone, confident that true joy comes from following God.

Work on shaping your life, definitely, but shape it according to God's design. 

The book I read identifies people of strong faith who went through terrible times due to the evil decisions of so-called leaders. But, acting out of the love their faith taught them, they never lost their way, even to the point of giving up their life for others.

Pray for peace, joy, and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

 

 

Are you ready to be transformed?

 

As I was watching the priest prepare the vessels at the altar by distributing the bread and pouring the wine in the vessels before the consecration, I had a thought.

I asked God to allow me to be prepared in a similar way . . .

The vessels were sitting their empty, ready to receive the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus. All they could do at that moment was wait to be filled. The ciborium (which receives the consecrated hosts) and the cups (which hold the Precious Blood) make no contribution in and of themselves.

We, too, are like vessels to be filled, but we are actually transformed when we receive Jesus. And, we, too, do not make the transformation happen. It is all dependent upon the Holy Spirit.

But there are two more points to consider:

First, unlike the precious metal or wood vessels waiting to be filled, we should come to the altar ready. In anticipation of receiving Jesus, our hearts and minds should be open, ready to receive him, by prayer, fasting and focus.

Furthermore, once our bodily "vessel" is filled and transformed, we move from being in a fixed state to being engaged with the world around us. In fact, we have a responsibility to carry the love of Jesus we just received, to others.

We can do that in many ways, depending on our state in life. Maybe it is by praying for others, or teaching, or corporal works of mercy. Regardless of how God calls us, we must respond, as he has transformed us for the work he wants us to do by the love he has poured out on us.

And remember, it's not that our earthly vessels have to be perfect to receive Jesus and do his work, but it is by receiving him that we are made holy, i.e., perfect.

Below I am sharing a great little video that I hope you will enjoy. In honor of the Fourth of July, this great reflection by a former military chaplain in the Air Force, reminds us of what makes America great. 

Here is the direct link in case the video doesn't come through:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D0BIJcg7vA&t=7s 

Pray for peace, joy, and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

 

 

Stop racing around me!

 

Okay, I'm just going to say it . . .

As I turn onto the end of our road, people are always irritated that I'm not racing around the turn. I'm a good driver. Not too slow, not too fast, but apparently, I am never fast enough for the person behind me who wants to continue down the road past me.

Soooo many times, they race around me, sometimes even honking, as they move into the oncoming lane so they don't have to slow down.

And that is the key--nobody wants to slow down and wait for anyone anymore.

I see it all the time in traffic too. People are cutting in and out, closely flying between cars, with barely the space to do so, all because they don't want to slow down or wait.

When did we get to be such impatient drivers?

There's always been those people, but now it seems like it's most people.

We try to give them the benefit of the doubt, "Maybe they have a family emergency," but somehow we know that everybody can't be having an emergency.

They just don't realize how dangerous they are. When they tried to hurry me around the corner at the end of my street the other day (by tailgating me), I realized I had to move out of their way lest they run into me. In doing so, I saw a neighbor with his dog, not too far from the corner.

Good thing I was in control.

As we head into this holiday weekend, please be kind to other drivers. Wherever you're going simply cannot be so important as to add stress, or risk, to other people.

So with that, I genuinely wish each of you a SAFE and FUN Fourth of July! 

Pray for peace, joy, and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy