I was in adoration this past Friday and on the wall these words were written.
“DO NOT BE AFRAID
I AM WITH YOU
FROM HERE I WANT TO ENLIGHTEN
LIVE WITH A PENITENT HEART”
It spoke to me in a way which reminded me of where strength lies. Strength lies in the Eucharist (Thanksgiving). In being grateful to God we are not afraid of persecution because of the one who gave us everything. In being grateful to God we are enlightened by His Holy Spirit to live repentant and holy lives.
Thanksgiving is not something that happens every Sunday but a state of being which God always calls us to be in.
Lord may we always draw strength in remembering all the good things you have done for us. Amen
I got to spend my night with friends and at yearly jazz night at the seminary. I am truly happy I went for the reasons of… I got to meet other people that is strongly rooted in their faith and got to some of the priest in the Edmonton area.
I truly realized I am super shy around priest especially meeting them first time. I would never go out of my way to say my name but I rather have someone intro me to them for some odd reason.
One of the priest I met is Father Kris and he was ordained only few months ago and truly amazing hearing his story. How God truly turns things to show you want he wanting for you. And made me think… Am I truly listening to God and his message for me and what vocation he is leading towards. Here I am no thinking am I doing enough to know that answer. I would say NO! Now is the time to really discern with whole heart and opened mind of what God wants for me.
“Turn my eyes to see Your face as all my fears surrender. Hold my heart within this grace, where burden turns to wonder. I will fight to follow. I will fight for love. Throw my life forever, tothe triumph of the Son.”
I was simply reflecting as I was at work early in the morning by myself and I had those specific lyrics stuck in my head repeating itself over and over again..
How beautiful is it that the Lord can work in the smallest of our thoughts and transform them into an even more powerful affirmation that He is working in ALL our battles.
Crazy…**if you’ve taken notice in the way that I write reflections..I really feel that the Lord is allowing me to see His love in a very simple way. Yet, every simple affirmation remains so complex, so overwhelming to the point that where I can see God in awe and fear. **
Past that little side note, we will never stop fighting for the truth. I firmly believe that as young Catholics been given the opportunities to see the work of the Lord in our lives up until now is a calling to be part of the small percentage of the world that has been chosen to show what true love is.
How ironic is it that the way the Lord has called us to fight is to truly love one another as He did for us. To love ourselves. To love all those around us. That the battles against sin, against our worldly desires, what ever the case maybe, is worth fighting for because the Lord has something prepared for us that not even our own minds can imagine or comprehend.
To those “spiritually dry” or struggling with your faith. Its all apart of the never ending battle. Best believe that if you feel you are being attacked the most, it simply means the Lords victory ahead is going to make it worth going through again.
Simply put, the Lord is love. The cause of our joy. I will fight for love. I will fight to follow. For the triumph of the Son. Love truly is war!
If I can help you some how, or if you need anything at all, please don’t be afraid to contact me at any means!
This past week the Lord reminded me that He will continue to love me no matter what. Even if I desire not to be loved, He will still love me. Even if I forget to love Him, He will remind me of His love for me. Even if I deny His love, He will pour His abundant love so much more on me. I don’t expect to be loved by anyone because I know I am loved by Love Himself. But, He shows me that He loves me so much that He’ll even love me through the people He’s placed in my life. He will somehow use people, places or things to tell me “I love you, Michael.”
Thank you God, for never ceasing to love me. Cause of our Joy, pray for us.
From October 5 – 10 I had the privilege of attending the “Theology of the Body (TOB) I: Head and Heart Immersion” course at the Black Rock Retreat Centre in Quarryville, Pennsylvania. It’s the first course of three that goes over the entire Theology of the Body that St. John Paul II wrote just before his pontificate, that he shared during 129 wednesday general audiences in Rome. Our instructor for the course, Christopher West, has spent more than a decade studying this theology and has dedicated his life to proclaiming its message to the world. One of the ways he does this is through the catechetical Theology of the Body Institute which he co-founded, and through his evangelization ministry, The Cor Project. The TOB I: Head and Heart Immersion course covers only half of the content of St. John Paul II’s original Theology of the Body documents. Though it covered only half, I feel like the impact it has made on me and my fellow classmates will last for a lifetime.
The atmosphere of the course is meant to be like a “classroom in a retreat.” Daily activities consisted of praying the Liturgy of the Hours, Holy Mass, Confession, adoration, meals, a couple of two hour sessions by Christopher West, and opportunities for Q & A and sharing our grace-filled experiences. The venue was located far from the city and hid delightfully within the woods. We were surrounded by nature trails and trees. Also, there was a wonderful lake (pictured above) that added to the retreat experience. Our “classroom” was actually a chapel because it contained the tabernacle with presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Yes, that’s right, we got to learn about TOB before the Blessed Sacrament. We spent nearly five hours per day in the presence of Jesus, soaking all He wanted us to learn and simply hear from Him. Our “classroom” and everything about the venue was awesomely conducive for reflection and immersion of the head and heart.
I had the pleasure of meeting many individuals from all across North America. My roommate, Bryan, is from Mystic, Connecticut and works at a Catholic retreat island! I also befriended many priests, religious brothers and sisters, fellow lay missionaries, youth ministers, mothers, fathers, YouTube musicians, a Lutheran pastor, and many others. There was about 90 of us. It was great to have met so many people in different walks of life. The diversity truly testified to the Truth of TOB and how it draws all peoples. We shared many experiences together and have vowed to say a prayer for each other every day. It’s amazing how I feel so connected to everyone and how assured I feel that we will all pray for each other.
The Lord spoke to us in many different ways but, of course, especially through Christopher as he taught us about the TOB. We were each given a course handbook that contains the entire outline of what was taught. Many of us were there to learn, but on the first day, Christopher lovingly and sternly told us that we shouldn’t be there to learn for the sake of teaching, but to listen for the sake of hearing the voice of the Lord and allowing Him to transform our hearts and speak to the very depths of our core. Heeding his advice, I put down my pen and opened my heart to the Lord. Emptied, He filled me. Vulnerable, He spoke in my nakedness.
I have returned feeling different. Renewed. Thirsting more. Loved.
There are many things I can say but at this time I’d like to share with you the main grace which I feel the Lord has given me. The Lord taught me how to pray. Now, more than ever, do I feel like the woman at the well. The words that have been reverberating in my heart have been “stay in the ache.” I’ve realized how easily I am not willing to stay in there—to stay thirsting and yearning for the Lord. I have settled too easily in satisfying that hunger in my heart with worldly lures and self-gratification. I haven’t truly had faith in the Gift of the Lord, but rather have grasped at fulfilling my own life. I have since learned to wait on the Lord, who truly loves me and will not leave me barren. At the story of the woman at the well, Jesus’ thirst preceded the woman’s thirst. Jesus asks me for a drink because He wants and thirsts for my love more than I for His. This is amazing. He asks me for a drink, then offers me to fill my well with water that will never run dry. He offers me a drink that would truly quench my thirst for every desire of my heart. Instead of trying to satisfy the ache on my own, I am inspired to stay in the ache and wait for the Lord. I want to long for Him, for prayer is nothing but making myself a longing for the Lord. Even if there are no words during the agony, I will make my longing and ache my prayer to my Lord Jesus Christ, the lover of my soul.
During adoration on the wednesday, I felt the Lord speak to me. This is what He said:
“In Your Ache”
Stay with Me in your ache
Let Me expand your heart
In your suff’ring and pain
I will never depart
You might feel I’m away
You might think that I’m gone
My child, I’m here to stay
I’ve been here all along
Don’t listen to the lie
That My Gift will not come
I’m yours and you are Mine
You always have My love
So long as you abide
So long as you don’t leave
Trust Me with your whole life
Persevere, and you’ll see
You will see Me in all
Your joy will be complete
If you just heed My call
In your ache–stay with Me
Being away on mission (especially in a different country) has really been a true test of heart. Honestly speaking, I’ve had times where it has felt hard because it has sometimes felt like I only have a mere handful of home that I can turn to whenever, wherever, however (the 3 other missionaries, and my close friends and my family who are awake when I am). And the truth is, there are parts of my life that I know I have to live out differently because my focus (now that I’m actually placed at an Area – no matter how short or long it is going to be) needs to change… God has now entrusted new things to me. And honestly speaking, I have felt myself asking and pondering…
Lord, should I put these that are dear to me on hold?
It has been quite a journey. It’s been a while that I have asked this question, and after the BLESSED SFC Holy Land Conference that had just passed, I am affirmed.
I am not called to put what is dear to me on hold, but IN hold
… in His hold.
If our Father Who is Perfect can entrust new things – things that are dear to Him – to me, then I, being imperfect, must also carry complete trust to entrust all that is dear to me in His hands… in His hold… knowing He is making them more perfect. Our life, when placed in the hands of Christ, are being transformed more in His image and likeness. And it is through a journey; not an event. It is a journey of change in which He is perfectly making all things a gift. Therefore, I need not to worry or be weary, or even ask so many questions. I must just simply trust with patience and with faith.
PSALM 37
“3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your vindication as the light, and your right as the noonday.
7 Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;
11 But the meek shall possess the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
16 Better is a little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. 17 […] the Lord upholds the righteous.
23 The steps of a man are from the Lord, and he establishes him in whose way he delights; 24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord is the stay of his hand.
26 He is ever giving liberally and lending, and his children become a blessing.
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
33 The Lord will not abandon him to his power, or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
34 Wait for the Lord, and keep to his way, and he will exalt you to possess the land;
37 Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright, for there is posterity for the man of peace.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their refuge in the time of trouble. 40 The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in him.”
Lord, I trust in you, my Refuge and my Strength. In all my days, You have been the Greatest Providence, and I pray for the faith to keep my heart, my mind and my spirit always set on Your Will for me in all my desires… in all that I love. And I pray that in the same way, You bless all those whom I love and those I have yet to encounter.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us, Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us,
Lately I have been really thinking of my future and being all worried if my future is becoming a full time pastoral worker, being husband and dad and finding a job I love going to. But it is something I worry about way to much and thinking about my future instead the present. I should consecrating on my day and what is happening at the moment and also what I am blessed to have at this very moment. But this saint says it well in one of his quotes.
