Category: Spiritual

Become a Jesus Follower!

Happy Lord’s Day!

Becoming a follower of Jesus changes our whole perspective in our lives. We allow Jesus to use us wherever we are. We bring all of gifts, all the skills that we have, but use them now for the greater glory of God!

We read in the Gospel of Mark:

And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He (Jesus) saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said he them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of people.”Mark 1:16-17

Simon and Andrew had a major life shift. They would be reworked as instruments of Kingdom Building! But they were still Simon and Andrew. They would use their knowledge base, their expertise in a new way, Jesus’ Way!

As followers of Jesus, we too make use of our knowledge base and our expertise, that does not change. However, what changes is how we use these gifts.

Let us reflect on the gifts that we have and discern how we are using them to bring the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth!

May we be the change that changes our world!

Pax. The Hermit of Peace

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Let God and Follow Jesus!

There are so many things in our world that may occupy our thoughts and actions. These things may have value or may be a distraction. We may be able to do something about them or maybe it is out of our control.

But what brings meaning to our lives?

What is the purpose of our lives?

The Disciples in today’s Gospel selection from St. John helps us to see what brought meaning to their lives.

We read:

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

John 1:35-37

These two disciples were looking for something to make sense out of their lives. We can imagine that they had the normal concerns for people in their time, but something was missing.

This may be a reminder to us. We may be going through some situation that is occupying our lives. But if we follow these Disciples, and follow Jesus, we will find peace!

We may be in the midst of a stormy time, but do not focus on the storm, focus on Jesus and walk through the storm doing what you are able to do!

May we bring Jesus into our lives and TAKE BACK OUR PEACE!

Pax. The Hermit of Peace

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Be A Gift to the Baby Jesus!

The Magi Brought Gifts and Received the Greatest Gift!

Gifts are important items during Christmastide, but the gift that we receive needs to last us for the rest of our lives, Jesus! The Spirit of Christmas can be life changing if we allow the Meaning of Christmas to take us over.

The Magi travelled to find the source of light and was transformed by it. We read in St. Matthew’s Gospel:

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the Child with Mary His Mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:10-11

We join these Magi every day of our lives. May we bring whatever gift we have today to the Lord! May we be open to receive the gift that only this encounter can bring, the light of Christ!

May we carry Christmas with us all of our days!

Epiphany Blessings!

Pax. Hermit of Peace.

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Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Our Family!

The Holy Family of Nazareth as a model for the Family.

We read in St. Luke’s Gospel:

And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their town of Nazareth.

And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him.

St. Luke 2:39-40

The Christmas Season, for those who want to delve into the mystery, has much to teach us and to meditate on.

The family unit of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph reminds us of how sacred the family is. God became Emmanuel, God-with-us, in this unit. For us to delve into this mystery, if we choose, it can be a helpful mediation for our spiritual and emotional growth. As we prepare to close 2023 and enter into 2024, here are three points we may use from today’s Feast:

Jesus

God loved us so much that God chose to become on of us and be obedient to Mary and Joseph. God chose to be teacheable and learn human culture so that God could transform it!

Mary

Her yes to Father-God begins this transformation of the World. If individuals choose to follow her yes to doing whatever God wants us to do, we can continue making present Jesus in the World!

Joseph

He provided for God with his own resources. Jesus was threatened by King Herod, and not wanted by others, the Posada Experience (the were no rooms available in the Inns), yet Jesus reached adulthood because Joseph gave his life for Jesus and Mary!

How does these mysteries apply to how we ought to live?

Happy Feast of the Holy Family!

Have a blessed and safe New Year’s Eve!

Pax. The Hermit of Peace

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Will We Remember Today?

Will We Use Christmas In Our Lives?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christian traditionally celebrated Christmas for many days, Advent as a season of preparation for Season of Christmas, Christmas Day the beginning of Christmastide, with the first eight day (The Christmas Octave) each being Christmas Day, and concluding this time with the Season of Epiphany. There is tremendous wisdom in using these days for a time of contemplation, meditation and worship. We celebrate the beginning of our Salvation in Christ.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, gives us a wonderful example of why we must hold on to Christmas. It is written in St. Luke’s Gospel:

Mary kept all of these things and pondered on them in her heart.

St. Luke 2:19

Life gets rough, but if we keep Christmas in our thoughts and ponder on them often, we will get through all things, no matter how difficult life gets!

Remember, it is the same Mary who would hold her son 33 years afterwards after He died on the Cross!

Christmas can get us through anything, and we will rise with Jesus in the Resurrection!

We need Christmas everyday of our lives!

Christmas Blessings!

Pax. The Hermit of Peace.

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Say Yes to God!

We have a choice to make as we live our lives. That choice can change the course of our lives and the lives of others. As we close the Advent 2023, we see one choice recorded in the Gospel of St. Luke that changed the course of the world. It happened in an exchange between Mary and the Archangel Gabriel over 2000 years ago, and result of which we celebrate tonight as we begin Christmastide with the Vigil and the Vespers of Christmas.  We hear Mary here:

 

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the Handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the Angel departed from her.

St. Luke 1:38

 

This one yes brought God into the World in the person of Jesus! The Incarnation began with the Annunciation and Mary’s Yes!

 

This one Yes becomes one of the biggest celebrations in the world, knowing what it signifies or not knowing it!

 

However, Mary’s Yes reminds us to say Yes to God Too! Our “Love Yes” makes Jesus present in our lives and in the lives of others. And as the song says:

 

“I say yes Lord yes, to your will and to your way! I say yes Lord yes, I will trust You and obey!”

 

Fourth Sunday of Advent Blessings!

Christmas Eve Blessings!

 

Pax. The Hermit of Peace.  

 

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Be St. Joseph Like!

As Advent 2023 comes to a close, we have St. Joseph, the Foster Father of Jesus, the Husband of the Virgin Mary, as a role model.  We see in the Gospel of St. Luke:

 

He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While he was there , the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Luke 2:5-7.

 

The Christmas Story is so profound in its simplicity! We see St. Joseph providing for his young family the best that he could and the World received received her Savior!

 

Below is a little meditation that I hope will help us deal with struggles the way St. Joseph did so many years ago.

 

Have a blessed end of Advent 2023 and always remember to be a blessing!

 

Pax. The Hermit of Peace.

 

https://gofund.me/e4fbd23a

Happy Gaudete Sunday!

Choose Joy!

We are in the period of the last days in Advent 2023 and regardless of what we have been going through, we have a choice to find joy! Our model is St. John the Baptist who chose to live the joy of the Lord by preparing His way for us! However, will we follow John in his preparing the way of the Lord to everyone we encounter. The world still needs St. John the Baptist like individuals.

We find in St. John’s Gospel:

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.
John 1:6-7

Let us keep this testimony simple! St. John the Baptist was very much himself! He was “Wholly Holy”, he belonged to God, and he never wavered from surrender to God’s will for himself.

Can we use these last days before Christmas to give the true testimony that Jesus is the Lord of our lives? We do that by bringing joy to everyone we encounter!

Be Christmas Joy!

Pax. The Hermit of Peace.

https://gofund.me/e4fbd23a

Who Will Be the Herald for Jesus?

Will St. John the Baptist’s Mission Continue in Us?

It is the most wonderful time of the year!

For a good part of the world, this is a very special time! It is a time of love and goodwill between people, but can we be instrumental in making it more?

Let us let this section of the Gospel of Mark challenge us extend the power of Christmas!

We read in St. Mark:

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.”
Mark 1:2-3.

This prophecy speaks of St. John the Baptist centuries before John’s entry onto the historical scene. Hearts had to be made ready for Jesus’ entry into the social arena.

We are in the time called Advent, a season of preparation for the coming of Christmas, a time that Christians prepare their hearts and homes to celebrate the first coming of Jesus Christ.

But many people do not know Jesus, but they celebrate His birth anyway. The “Wilderness” that Isaiah speaks about in his prophecy continues in our societies today.

How believers celebrate Christmas can speak “Peace” to this most wonderful time of the year!

Here words are important, but more important are the actions that believers do. Gifts are signs of love, but the world is in trouble, depression has taken so many lives, people need to have Jesus. Jesus can and will pull people out of despair!

Let us remember the children’s hymn words:

“They will know we are Christian by our love…we will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand…”

May everyone one we encounter encounter Jesus in us!

Happy Advent Second Sunday!

Pax. The Hermit of Peace.

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