Holding on to confidence in God

 

Okay, let's review . . .

The president has promised to give each of us $5,000 if we vote Republican. 

He gave the Chinese president royal treatment, even though we know China is helping Iran, against us, in the war.

He has placed heavy tariffs on countries around the world, even though they are hurting American businessmen and consumers.

He is allowing innocent people to be swooped up, detained, and (sometimes killed) by ICE (the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.)

He has threatened to annihilate an entire people (Iran).  

He is insulting, and isolating us from our global allies.

He is focused on destroying property (The East Wing) you and I own, and is threatening to tear down an important building (The Kennedy Center) if his name is not put on it.

He has elevated people without any relevant experience to positions of influence in our government, and fired experienced people who could offer differing opinions.

He has banned our free press from their First Amendment right to report the truth when it reflects negatively on him.

He has bullied our congressmen and women into submission, causing them to rubber-stamp whatever he wants. 

He's promising peace in the Middle East after our mid-term elections. 

Anticipating the chaos that the November mid-term election results will bring if they do not favor the current administration, I find myself very frustrated.

And yet . . .

Still, I hold on, praying for people to make good and reasonable decisions. But, I also realize that we must be responsible citizens and hold our leaders accountable. We simply must elect moral, intelligent, experienced leaders.

We must speak out against corruption.

We must use our voices to make a difference.

We must vote. 

As children of God, we can be confident that even in the worst of times, in the midst of the mess we have created, our Father remains with us.

We must never lose hope, as God is always victorious over evil. 

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 

 

 

Blessed Sheen and OCIA?

 

 

You've probably heard by now that recently Archbishop Fulton Sheen was beatified. This is a big deal. He is the first American-born Bishop to carry such an honor.

I first heard about the miracle (he needed one for his beatification), online. It's an interesting story about a family that prayed to him for help with their infant son. The rigorous progress to verify the miracle was completed and the infant son has grown to be a teenager. See the **link below.

Sheen had a profound affect on people, inspiring and converting them with his teachings.

I like some of his quips, for which he was known, and which retain their wisdom still today:

Resigning a bishopric, he said,  "I am not retiring, only retreading."

"You must remember to love people and use things, rather than to love things and use people."

"The refusal to take sides on great moral issues is itself a decision. It is a silent acquiescence to evil. The Tragedy of our time is that those who still believe in honesty lack fire and conviction, while those who believe in dishonesty are full of passionate conviction."

And finally, this one reflects one of the reasons he was so well-liked (he could take difficult concepts and break them down so that everyone could understand them):

"A teacher who cannot explain any abstract subject to a child does not himself thoroughly understand his subject; if he does not attempt to break down his knowledge to fit the child's mind, he does not understand teaching."

And that, is where we run into problems today. Rather than using church language which can lead to confusion at times, we need to learn how to break things down for those who are not swimming in "churchspeak."

There are times it may be needed, but there are times when cracking open the code for most of us is necessary, if we are going to come to understand truth and the importance of faith.

A great place to get explanatory information is through the process in the Church called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly known as RCIA.)

This is a perfect time to check it out (at any Catholic Church.) You will meet intelligent, faith-filled people whose main desire is to help you understand the faith and come to be in relationship with Jesus.

The OCIA is one way of countering Blessed Fulton Sheen's observation:

"There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be."

I encourage you to call your local, friendly, Catholic Church for more information. You will not be pressured to "join," just encouraged to grow. 

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 

**https://www.osvnews.com/miracle-babys-mom-reflects-on-archbishop-sheen-ahead-of-beatification-mass/

Go, give up . . . your scrolling?

 

I was listening to a recitation of the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 10 using **Lectio Divina on the Parable of the Rich Man.

You might remember the story where Jesus tells the rich man, "Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”  (Mk 10:21)

Typically when I read this parable, I think very literally in terms of giving away stuff, the actual physical things we hold on to.

The context of the retreat I was listening to talked about making space for Jesus, and this got me to thinking, "What if Jesus isn't asking us to give up stuff, but to give up what we are attached to?"

What are you attached to? 

Let me give you an example.

Let's say you have developed the habit of scrolling or watching reels on your phone. "It's okay," you tell yourself. "I'm not hurting anyone by doing it, and it gives me a break."

Let's say lately you have really coveted your time doing this, to the extent that maybe you have been ignoring your spouse or your kids.

While Jesus told the rich man to go and sell what he has, maybe he is telling you to give up the scrolling that you have become attached to. Maybe he is trying to tell you that every time your child is looking at you and trying to talk to you, you are face deep in your phone. 

Go, give up your reels and your scrolling and give that time to your spouse or your children. It is in doing so that you will find your treasure. 

Also, in doing so, you will find your way to following Jesus. 

Like the rich man who felt sad when he heard what Jesus said, you might "go away sad" because you don't want to make whatever sacrifice he is asking of you.

You can see that this parable doesn't have to refer to giving away your things--although it might--but for you, it might be offering your time, energy or effort for someone else. 

We might dismiss our connection to this parable because we are not materially rich, when in actuality, perhaps there are things we need to give up for the benefit of 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 

  

 **Lectio Divina:

https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/lectio-divina-beginners-guide/