Author: AJ Rodas

Late have I loved You

Late have I loved You, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved You!  You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for You.  In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which You created.  You were with me, but I was not with You.  Created things kept me from You; yet if they had not been in You they would not have been at all.  You called, You shouted, and You broke through my deafness.  You flashed, You shone, and You dispelled my blindness.  You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for You.  I have tasted You, now I hunger and thirst for more.  You touched me, and I burned for Your peace.

 –St. Augustine

Father, as Holy Week begins, strengthen our desires for You. We are Your humble servants and we offer our time, talents and treasure as a pleasing sacrifice to You. Lord Jesus, we wait in joyful hope for Your coming, Your rising from the dead, Your triumph of evil through Your  sacrifice on the cross.

 

Too Blessed to be Stressed

John 11:41-42

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

… Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” 

The title for this post is actually borrowed from my girlfriend. It’s one of her favourite hashtags that she uses to remind her that no matter how crazy life is, the Lord is greater and each blessing is a reminder of that. So this week has been filled with many blessings that I just wanted to share some bigger ones with you:

– Getting the week of Conference off from work after it was initially denied
– New projects to do at work
– The Skytrain being delayed so I could go to Confession

I originally thought I could fit and detail specifics for each of the blessings that I listed above but my thoughts were so limitless that I knew that I would just go on and on and on without ceasing. That I would run out of words for my praise and thanks for the Lord’s  graces just as they are so abundant and never ending.

Ever since I’ve become a(n) MV, it’s been pretty busy. Yet,  I’ve been more aware of the blessings that the Lord has given me both big and small. Blessings that come whether I ask for it or not. Blessings that seem hidden that they are actually in plain sight. Blessings that occur when we need it the most.

Lord, thank You for my life, for the miracle of waking up everyday. I am a sinner but yet you still continue to pour Your blessings upon me. You fill my cup with more that I could ever ask for. Father, no words can truly express how thankful I am. I love You and I pray that You continue to use me as Your instrument here on Earth. That my service be my way of glorifying You, praising You, thanking You. Amen.

He lives in you

Just came home from a mini road-trip to Seattle, hence the my lateness in posting this entry (sorry!), where I watched the Broadway Musical adaptation of The Lion King. Essentially the entire plot of the play is taken from the movie but there are some songs/scenes added for the stage version.

If you haven’t seen the musical, I suggest that you try to. It’s a very creative take on the movie, with all the costumes, sets and choreography. Also, it has all of your favourite songs from the movie! This is actually the second time seeing the musical and I enjoyed it as much as I had seen it the first time.

One of my favourite songs from the play is “He Lives in You” (There are no spoilers of the play in the clip, just the song and video footage from Lion King 2). For those that are only familiar with the movie, yes that song is from there. The song was added as part of the scene(s) when Simba is taught about the Great Kings that are in the sky by Mufasa and Rafiki .

The song, though secular in presentation, can be a reminder that the Lord is always with us though we may forget it at times. Remember that no matter how distant we may feel, the Lord is always calling us! He is calling us to be the light of the world (2nd reading today)! To be His examples of love here on earth! Let us pray that through our love, the Lord will be revealed to those that do not know Him.

“18 I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” John 14:18-21

Larger Than Life

Today I learned a new song at our CFC-Singles for Christ General Assembly. I’ve actually heard it before as my brother covered it for CFC-Youth a couple of years ago (Love you Mike =D) but today was the first time that I was actually able to sing it in worship.

From the rivers to the seas
From the valleys to the peak of the mountains
You are God

From the skies to the stars
From the clouds to the heavens above us
You are God

You are God of this world
I am living
You are God of these dreams
I’ve been longing
You are God of this Life
That I’ve been striving for 
You are Larger than Life

It was a fitting song for this day as we are reminded in the readings from Mass of how powerful, loving and all-knowing the Lord is in our lives. How He is God and how He is greater than anything we could ever bring to Him.

Moses was able to strike upon a rock with his walking staff and bring the Israelites water after they were wandering many days from Egypt. Many questioned where Moses and by extension where the Lord was leading them.

Yet, after seeing this how could they question anymore? 
“Is the LORD in our midst or not?”
Exodus 17:3-7

Again in the Gospel we are reminded of how the Lord knows our hearts and how much we thirst for Him. How only his “water” can sustain us from ever thirsting again. After hearing Jesus speak, the woman knew for her heart to not be restless that she needed to draw closer to Him. John 4:5-42

I know for myself, it is very easy to doubt in my abilities and the path that I am taking. New responsibilities  as an MV, having a full-time job, being a household head, boyfriend, brother and son can be taxing at times. It is easy to make excuses for those different aspects of my life but these readings and this song are a reminder one very important truth. A truth the resounds in the deepest part of my heart. A truth where I know that I can lift all the good and bad things in my life all up to Him and everything will be OK. And that truth is:

God is Greater