There are many lonely people at holidays like Christmas. The causes of this loneliness are numerous and very painful for them. Some experts say loneliness is epidemic in our country year round, and the cause of suicides.
Maybe you know some of these persons. Perhaps you can bring the light of Christ into their lives to brighten their dark days and let them know they are not alone. Blessings, love, and hugs, Fr. Jack. 1 Thessalonians 4:13. But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. It hurts to lose a loved one, and every major loss brings pain. The hurt can be worse at a special time like an anniversary or birthday, or a season when family friends have come together to celebrate. We may feel raw and emptied out when everyone else seems happy. We have to grieve our losses to heal. Paul never says anything against grieving. It's natural and necessary. But he reminds us that Christians share the life of Christ. We don't grieve without hope. Christ walks with us into the darkness of our grief and brings light into our times of loss. This Advent we look for the light of Christ who brightens the darkest days. We look for the hope that drives out despair. The light of Christ is dawning to enter our world. His light reveals a new horizon of peace and shows we're never alone. Forward Day by Day, Dec. 6, 2014, Robert Boak Slocum Episcopal Priest and Professor at St. Catharine College in Kentucky Friends, I thought this reflection was so good for Advent as we await once again, remember, and celebrate the birth of Jesus. What a gift for the world! Blessings, love, and hugs, Fr. Tolley. Isaiah 2:17- The haughtiness of people shall be humbled, and the pride of everyone shall be brought low; and the Lord alone will be exalted on that day. Let me honest with you. The best thing - the bedrock of all good things that there may be about me - isn't about me - It is Jesus' love for me - lived and died and resurrected and coming back. This is the best thing about me. This is the best thing about you too. Jesus loves you, right this minute, right where you are, in the midst of who you and how you are. Jesus know our garbage, knows our haughty, snotty, and prideful ways. He knows. He loves us anyway, and in that love, Jesus asks us to do better. He knows we can. And in those moments and on those days when we put aside our pride - or maybe even don't pick it up in the first place - maybe we remember to thank Jesus for the gift of himself in our humbled hearts. ( Rachel Jones, Forward Day by Day, Dec. 6, 2018 ) "In one sentence, Jude gives some of the best advice ever offered for spiritual growth: build your life on a Holy faith... receive these gifts for Christmas."
I placed this reflection in my Prayer journal in December 2001. It comes from a Forward Day by Day reflection. Author unknown. It gave me a lot to think about this Advent season. Remember always how much Jesus loves you. Blessings, love, and hugs, Fr.Jack. Jude 17-25. But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the apostles. On a quick sortie for some last minute Christmas shopping I hurried through a large bookstore. I wanted a book about the late Henri Nouwen so I proceeded directly to what had been the religion section of the store. They had remodeled and now there was a new "Religion and Spirituality" section. I knew it was now a major department because there were lots of soft chairs for engaging one's selections before making a purchase. In addition to the usual religious books from Christian, Jewish and Eastern traditions there were two new sections labeled "Self help" and "Spiritual growth." They were filled with lots of how-to books which promised enlightenment or at least a more serene journey through the trials of life. In one sentence, Jude gives some of the best advice ever offered for spiritual growth: build you life on a Holy faith: pray by opening yourself to God's Holy Spirit; keep yourself in the Love of God-let it be like the air you breath and the nourishment you need. Wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ-give Him the last word about who you are, and what value you have to God. Receive these gifts for Christmas. They are yours to have and enjoy. They cost less than any book. November 18, 2019
"Mom loves to love others." That what Sandra T. Montes say about her Mom in the October 17, 2019, reflection she wrote in Forward Day by Day. I am definitely placing this reflection in my Prayer Journal. Sandra is a consultant to the Episcopal Church Foundation, active member of several acting groups and committees across the Episcopal Church, and a church musician in high demand. Sandra lives in Houston. I thought you would enjoy this. Blessings, love, and hugs, Fr. Jack. 1 Corinthians 14:26c Let all things be done for building up. My mom has a way of building people up. She loves to love and goes out of her way to be thankful and offer specific compliments. She is generous and loves to give people gifts and handwritten notes. People who love to be loved by her always surround Mami. My mother always tells me how much she loves me and includes a hug and kiss with all her hellos and goodbyes. Sometimes when we are together, I will suddenly realize that she isn't right next to me. Often, I find her deep in conversation or prayer with a stranger. Mami has a way of picking out people who are ignored, undervalued, and lonely- and then she shows them God's love in her sweet way. I don't know where I would be without her encouragement. She loves the way I pray God loves all of us. MOVING FORWARD: Who loves you the way you love to be loved? Thank that person with a call or note. Daughters of the King
I have been an admirer of The Daughters of the King ( DOK ) for a long time. I thought you would find a bit of DOK history and their Patron Saint, Margaret, Queen of Scotland, interesting. Maybe you too may feel called to be a DOK. The DOK is an Order for women of the Episcopal Church. It was organized in 1885. Every DOK pledges herself to a lifelong program of prayer, service and personal evangelism, dedicated to the extension of Christ's kingdom, and the strengthening of the spiritual life of her parish. There are more than 14,000 DOK women in the United States and the world. The emblem of the Order is a silver Greek cross, which members wear at all times. Latin words inscribed on this cross broadly translate, " With lofty heart, mind and spirit uphold the Cross." The initial, FHS, at the base of the cross remind DOK members that prayer, service, and evangelism, are "For His Sake.” St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland - Died Nov.16, 1093. Exemplary Wife, Queen, and Mother. Queen Margaret was one of the most lovely Queens there has ever been, and she was loved so because she herself loved so much, and did all she could for her subjects. Above all, she loved God, and loving her people, she wanted them to love God, too. And she also built Edinburgh Castle many years ago, and a little Chapel, that is called after her now - St. Margaret's Chapel." Into this place during these long years Scotland's folks have come: those who were in great power, those who were in great humility, or just ordinary folk like you and me, who aren't great in much. Not only Scots come now but people from all over the world. Margaret married King Malcolm and became Scotland's most beloved and revered Queen. She was always a deeply religious person, showing great interest in the church and great compassion for the poor. In her youth she considered a religious vocation and in her maturity found one, as wife and mother. Her firm and loving influence on the king, the church, her children, and the people, virtually renewed the whole life of Scotland. Their son, David, became one of Scotland's finest kings. Blessings, love, and hugs, Fr. Jack Bob & Penny Milam sent me this by author Thomas Merton titled, "Thoughts in Solitude." Merton was an American Roman Catholic Trappist Monk. He was born in 1915 and passed on in 1968, He was a writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist, and scholar of comparative religion. His autobiography, "The Seven Story Mountain," is rated as one of the best non-fiction books of the century. The source of this information is Wikipedia's Free Encyclopedia.
Blessings, love, and hugs, Fr. Jack. "The Bells of the Lord" Bells are meant to remind us that God alone is good, that we belong to Him, that we are not living for this world. They break in upon our cares in order to remind us that all things pass away and that our preoccupation are not important. They speak to us of our freedom, which responsibilities and transient cares make us forget. They are the voice of our alliance with the God of heaven. They are the voice of our alliance with the God of heaven. They tell us that we are His true temple. They call us to peace with Him within ourselves. The bells say; business does not matter. Rest in God and rejoice, for this world is only the figure and promise of a world to come, and only those who are detached from transient things can possess the substance of eternal promises. The bells say: we have spoken for centuries from the towers of the great churches. We have spoken to the saints, your fathers; in their land. We called them, as we call you.. to sanctity. You never pray alone. Somewhere in the world some person, some mass, some religious order,
some choir is singing with us every hour of every day. Even when we feel desolate and so alone. Our prayers are also joined by choirs visible and invisible. This reality is very comforting for me -particularly when I have down days. This reflection is from " Forward Day by Day," October 29, 2015. Author unknown. Blessings, love, and hugs. Fr. Jack. Revelation 5:13. Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, "To the one seated in the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever!" Singing and chanting have been part of Christian worship since the earliest days of the church. The apostles sang at the last supper. The psalmist believes that all creation sings to glorify God. In Revelation we hear that angels, and indeed all living creatures, continually sing with full voice. During the Middle Ages, a belief circulated that all creation sings in praise of God unceasingly and eternally. A great cosmic hum fills the air, resounding throughout the universe, vibrating forth from every atom. Those chanting the divine office, the mass, any praise, or prayers, merely add their voices to the great chorus going on already. Therefore, you never pray alone. Even in the most isolated place or the most desolate state, you are always joined by choirs visible and invisible. Your voice merely joins their eternal song as invocation and petition, prayer and praise rise up to the Almighty's attentive ear. I thought the October 27, 2019 reflection in "Forward Day by Day" was very good as concerns
our November 17 In Gathering, Pledge Sunday. The author is Sandra T. Montes. She is a consultant to the Episcopal Church Foundation, active member of several acting groups and committees across the Episcopal Church, and a church musician in high demand. She makes her home in Houston. The scripture reading is from the Apocryphal Book of Ecclesiasticus, or the Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach, in the Bible. Blessings, hugs, and lots of love, Fr. Jack. Sirach 35: 12-13. Give to the Most High as he has given to you, and as generously as you can afford. For the Lord is the one who repays, and he will repay you sevenfold. I do a lot of talking and teaching about stewardship, which I learned through my parents' examples and teachings. I remember a priest who told me he was ashamed because he could not tithe. He had struggled his whole life to financially support his two children and was nearing retirement age, yet had never had a full-time income with the church. He had to have two other jobs to supplement his salary - and still it was not enough. "How can I ask my parish to tithe when I can't?" This man needed to hear that God isn't disappointed or ashamed of him. Remember the widow's mite? Sometimes 1 percent is all we can afford, even with 100 percent gratefulness and generosity in our hearts. God is the one who repays sevenfold. I have seen God's incredible, nonjudgemental generosity all my life. It has been more than sevenfold of what I have ever given. Thanks be to God. Prayer doesn't change God, it changes the one who prays -Soren Kierkegaard
I think it's important to be praying constantly to Jesus, to be connected to him. A RC prayer I like and use daily is this: "I entrust myself to the name of Jesus; I pray Jesus, Jesus.” For me it's important to be in constant relationship - presence - gets at the heart of prayer. God won't change, but we will - and isn't that the point ?" I'm quoting here from an article written by The Very Rev. Steven A. Pray, PhD., FBS. Anyway, I thought you might find my comments helpful. Blessings, love, and hugs, Fr. Jack. Here's a prayer The Rev. Cathey gave to me that I use daily now: A Jesus Prayer Heart of Jesus, think of me. Eyes of Jesus, look on me. Face of Jesus, comfort me. Hands of Jesus, bless me. Feet of Jesus, guide me. Arms of Jesus, hold me. Body of Jesus, feed me. Blood of Jesus, wash me. Jesus, make me thus thine own, Here and in the world to come. Amen. In 2002 I placed this reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes in my prayer journal about wisdom.
Since that date I have prayed that God would also give me wisdom and understanding. I thought you might find this reading helpful like I did. Blessings, love, and hugs, Fr. Jack. A Reading (lesson) from the Book of Ecclesiastes (51:13-22) While I was still young, before I went on my travels, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer. Before the temple I asked for her, and will search for her to the last. From blossom to ripening grape my heart delighted in her; my foot entered upon the straight path; from my youth I followed her steps. I inclined my ear a little and received her, and I for found for myself much instruction. I made progress therein; to him who gives me wisdom, and I will give, glory. For I resolved to live according to wisdom, and I was zealous for the good; and shall never be put to shame. My soul grappled with wisdom, and in my conduct I was strict; I spread out my hands to the heavens and lamented my ignorance of her. I directed my soul to her, and through purification I found her. I gained understanding with her from the first, therefore I will not be forsaken. My heart was stirred to seek her, therefore I have gained a good possession. The Lord gave me a tongue as my reward, and I will praise him with it. |