Blog Archives - Articulating Hope

Our Lady of Lourdes--World Day of the Sick

2/11/2019

In a letter dated May 13, 1992, Pope John Paul II designated February 11 as World Day of the Sick. This is a day very near and dear to my own heart because of my own experience of suffering. St. Pope John Paul II described the day well when he stated that the World Day of the Sick is "a special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one's suffering for the good of the Church and of reminding us to see in our sick brother and sister the face of Christ who, by suffering, dying, and rising, achieved the salvation of humankind."

Please spend some time in prayer today remembering those who are sick.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!

Yes--I Was A Tourist Briefly Before The Retreat Began

2/10/2019

It was February 8, and the thermometer showed 80 degrees for much of the trip between Charleston and Myrtle Beach. The temperature had dropped to the mid 70's by the time we reached Myrtle Beach, but that did not stop me from enjoying some of the amenities. I have been on retreat in many different settings through the years, but nothing quite like this. I am extremely grateful for the donors who made this possible for the deacons and their wives in the Diocese of Charleston.

Our retreat director was very good. His presentations were thought-provoking and filled with nuggets of wisdom to help us be better spiritual leaders. I know the amount of work it takes to prepare for leading a retreat. Abbott Isaac Camacho blessed us with his attention to detail.

I miss the opportunities to be at an actual retreat center when going on retreat. However, since leaving the St. Louis area, most of my retreats have taken place at hotels or parish buildings. While this weekend's setting was not in the solitude of a remote retreat center, it still provided opportunities for quiet and reflection.

An impressive sandcastle welcomes guests in the lobby area.

The view from our room was beautiful.

May the Lord grant us a restful night. Blessings and peace to all who read these pages!

Will You Lower Your Net Into The Deep Water?

2/10/2019

In today's Gospel Jesus says to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." In what way is Jesus asking you to trust?

Being anchored to the shoreline may be safe, but that is not why the ship was built.

Are you playing it safe, or are you willing to take risks for God?

When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone to help build the Kingdom of God?

Thank you for the ways in which you defend the faith.

How Do You Encounter God In The Beauty of Creation

2/9/2019

Any time I stand high up in the mountains I marvel at the magnificence of creation. As I stand by the ocean, I am amazed at the vast amount of water. (This is starting to sound like a song.) Seriously, the beauty of creation is mind-boggling when you consider all that it involves.

How do you experience God when you have the opportunity for solitude in the midst of beauty?

Please say a prayer for the deacons and their wives who are on retreat, and also the men who are being ordained today as permanent deacons for the Diocese of Charleston. Thank you.

Deacon Retreat

2/8/2019

The deacons and their wives will be on retreat this weekend in the Diocese of Charleston. Please keep us in your prayers.

I will be doing my best to "unplug" during the retreat. Thus, these pages will be relatively silent except for a reflection question or two that I will schedule to post automatically prior to my departure. Have a blessed weekend!

Are You Energized By The Grace Of God In Your Life?

2/6/2019

How sweet is that?

As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, there may be times we feel a bit on the sluggish side. On the other hand, there may be times when we are feeling on top of the world--or at least on a sugar high. I have been feeling that little extra bounce in my step this week because of the life of the Church. Despite the challenges we face, and the failures of leadership on so many levels, "these three remain--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love." The Bride of Christ (the Church) may take some hits, but the gates of hell shall not prevail.

On Sunday, I had the privilege of preaching at the 9:00 A.M. Mass at St. Francis by the Sea. That is a tremendous responsibility that I never take for granted. Hours of prayer and preparation go into the Sunday homily, and God is always faithful in touching the hearts of His people. I am greatly amazed and humbled each time my words impact the lives of others. That is the power of the Holy Spirit, and certainly not my own doing.

After Mass I went directly to religious education classes for our kindergarten and first grade students. I visited each class and taught them a little bit about St. Blaise. I then blessed their throats. This was the first time some of the children had ever had their throats blessed. I had to assure them that it would not hurt.

On Monday, I visited the "Flames" bible study group. These ladies have been meeting for about 19 years. What a blessing to have small faith communities such as this! They recently decided to read my book, Articulating Hope, and have a discussion based upon the book. They invited me to join them on Monday. It is fascinating to be the author of a book and see how others perceive the message. In gatherings such as these, I have been reminded to be very clear and succinct in my writing. The interpretations of what was said, or not said, in the book is very interesting. We each bring our own story with us when we read something. This, in turn, impacts the way we receive the writer's message. It is not necessarily right or wrong; it is just wise to be aware of the influences of past experiences.

Are you excited about life? Is God moving powerfully in your midst? Are you spending a sufficient amount of time in fervent prayer? Enjoy a piece of your favorite candy (or other treat), and then visit with the Lord to give thanks for the many blessings in life. After giving thanks, sit quietly and let the Lord speak to you. Remember, you are loved immensely. As the Lord spoke to Jeremiah, we too, are special in his sight. "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born I dedicated you."

When Life Feels Like Low Tide...

2/5/2019

There are times when we can feel a little sluggish in life. That thought resonated with me when I saw these boats sitting in the mud in Tavernier, Florida.

Obviously, a boat is equipped to function in water, not sitting in the mud. We, as followers of Christ, are equipped to function in God's grace through the waters of baptism. Are we flowing in God's abundant grace, or are we experiencing a little dryness in life?

The Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea--Grotto

2/4/2019

The Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea--Key West, FL

2/3/2019

A Mass for the school children was in progress when we arrived. Tourists were met out front and informed of that before entering the church.

"Open Wide the Doors to Christ" takes on a literal meaning in Key West as the walls on both sides of the church are filled with multiple doors. The breeze flowed freely with all of the doors open.

The Shortness of Time and The Length of Eternity

2/2/2019

It is difficult to comprehend that my dad has been deceased for 25 years today. My brothers and I have lived a quarter of a century without our dad. My mom, although now deceased as well, carried on with life for over two decades after dad's death. I can only imagine the many challenges my mom faced during all of those years after his death. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in good health, but it did not take long for things to abruptly change.

While I found great comfort in knowing that dad's death occurred on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, it did not remove the fact that he was no longer in our midst. He has been greatly missed all these years.

"Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace! May his soul, and the souls of my mom, my grandparents, and all of my relatives, friends, and benefactors, and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace! Amen."