The three questions for reflection are:
1. When have you experienced Christ in a real, tangible way?
In late spring, before walking with Laurie, I stopped in the church to spend a few minutes with Jesus in the Eucharist. It was a very foggy morning and I remembered what someone said about how most times that God speaks to his people in the Bible stories, he is present in a cloud. I then walked with Laurie and came home to get ready for the day and headed out to work. So as I got onto Lake Nepessing Rd. after the turnaround, I had the most awesome sense of peace throughout my whole being. It was such a peace that it was joyful also and I thought how this is the presence of God and is a foretaste of heaven. The memory is just as clear now.
2. What is your story of how God has worked in your life?
When I turn to Him with questions, He answers. Sometimes right away but mostly later through scripture in the Mass or daily readings. Here is one such immediate answer. I wrote this down when I got home from Eucharistic Adoration and walking with Laurie about a month ago.
"So I'm reading the DaVinci Code. Yes, it's is a good thriller and well written with just enough true facts to make it almost believable. But it is Fiction.
I had just 5 minutes to pop into church to say hi to Jesus in the Eucharist. I said a short prayer to Jesus in the Eucharist and told him I was troubled by the way Dan Brown, author of the DaVinci Code, used historical facts and names of Catholic institutions to weave a tale of corruption while making pagan practices and beliefs sound refutable and good.
I felt compelled to look at the readings of the day and here was Jesus' answer to me:
Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 461
Reading 1GAL 1:6-12
Brothers and sisters:
I am amazed that you are so quickly forsaking
the one who called you by the grace of Christ
for a different gospel (not that there is another).
But there are some who are disturbing you
and wish to pervert the Gospel of Christ.
But even if we or an angel from heaven
should preach to you a gospel
other than the one that we preached to you,
let that one be accursed!
As we have said before, and now I say again,
if anyone preaches to you a gospel
other than the one that you received,
let that one be accursed!
Am I now currying favor with human beings or God?
Or am I seeking to please people?
If I were still trying to please people,
I would not be a slave of Christ.
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,
that the Gospel preached by me is not of human origin.
For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it,
but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
I am amazed that you are so quickly forsaking
the one who called you by the grace of Christ
for a different gospel (not that there is another).
But there are some who are disturbing you
and wish to pervert the Gospel of Christ.
But even if we or an angel from heaven
should preach to you a gospel
other than the one that we preached to you,
let that one be accursed!
As we have said before, and now I say again,
if anyone preaches to you a gospel
other than the one that you received,
let that one be accursed!
Am I now currying favor with human beings or God?
Or am I seeking to please people?
If I were still trying to please people,
I would not be a slave of Christ.
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,
that the Gospel preached by me is not of human origin.
For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it,
but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Responsorial PsalmPS 111:1B-2, 7-8, 9 AND 10C
R. (5) The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever,
wrought in truth and equity.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has sent deliverance to his people;
he has ratified his covenant forever;
holy and awesome is his name.
His praise endures forever.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever,
wrought in truth and equity.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has sent deliverance to his people;
he has ratified his covenant forever;
holy and awesome is his name.
His praise endures forever.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
AlleluiaJN 13:34
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 10:25-37
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said,
"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law?
How do you read it?"
He said in reply,
"You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself."
He replied to him, "You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live."
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
"And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus replied,
"A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
'Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.'
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"
He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."
Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise.
"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law?
How do you read it?"
He said in reply,
"You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself."
He replied to him, "You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live."
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
"And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus replied,
"A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
'Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.'
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"
He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."
Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise.
The first reading is the perfect answer to my concerns with all who twist Christianity to their own agendas and mock it. The gospel is Jesus' instruction on how to live simply and in justice in spite of the mocking, unbelieving masses. Don't concentrate on the masses, see Jesus in the individuals.
3. Have you ever shared that experience with others? Why or why not? No. I didn't want to appear preachy or judgmental. These things make many feel uncomfortable.
Revelation:
When I was young, I had a recurring dream that I would find toys and stuffed animals in my closet or the attic that I didn't know I had. As I got older, I loved getting clothes from friends that were not new but were new to me. One dress, in particular, was from a friend who had a ton of stylish clothes. It was a dress that I wore often as a cashier at Big Boy because I felt pretty in it and it didn't cost me a thing! I have had similar experiences all my life, finding things or seeing things that were always there but I didn't notice them. Yeah, it's a Brennan thing and frustrating to those who see everything immediately and clearly.
I always wanted to have a word for this experience but up until last year, it just wouldn't come to me. Then, one day, I saw the it and recognized it immediately as that which I had been searching for. That Word is "Revelation." It's the same with The Word of God both in the Bible, the Holy Spirit and the Church. It has always been there there ready to help if I just looked. I find that starting my day with a little quiet time with Jesus and Mary and praying to the Holy Spirit helps open my eyes and prepares me for the day to come. It's also a good time to ask for God's hand in the days of my loved ones and those who have asked for prayers. I still miss the obvious in the world but the daily readings now jump out at me for their revelations on our faith, our lives, and how we can intercede for our loved ones and everyone who is a part of our days. It's a true blessing that I am often blind to the negativity, evil and just plain idiocy in the world. It makes it so much easier to love others and live a life of hope and thanksgiving - actually SEEING how much God loves all of us and seeing His hand in the little things of our days. So Dad fights off the idiots and cheesewheels and mom wanders through the fields picking daisies. Isn't life great?
Well, that's my little treasure to share with you today. Hope you all See God in the little things today!
Luv ya!
Mom
