December 6, 2014
Marian Shrine E-Newsletter
Volume 3, Issue 18
Fr. Jim McKenna

"Not liking something is not a valid reason to reject it."


The thing to understand is that sometimes what we need most is something we may not like. Our preferences are not always indicators of what is truly best.

Therefore, we have to use different criteria than 'Like' and 'Dislike' to know if rejecting something is truly in our best interests. For example:

  • 'I don't like meditation."
  • "I don't like eating healthy foods."
  • "I don't like exercising."
  • "I don't like my experience right now."

The list goes on. And when we reframe it back in the context of youth ministry, it's even easier to see the fallacies inherent in assuming that because we don't like something, that is a valid reason to reject it.

Kids reject all kinds of things that are good for them - because the kids don't like them.

(And so do we!)

A natural response is to cite examples where this doesn't seem true.

For example, not liking "negative" people, grease or slime, being overworked and underpaid, etc.

But in those examples, the rejection is not actually related to Liking or Disliking. The Like / Dislike is actually a resulting consequence of something deeper... such as feeling like you are being pulled away from your True Nature.

At the heart of the matter, I'm not suggesting we suddenly just accept or be okay with all the things we dislike.

What I am suggesting and encouraging is that we use a different set of criteria other than "Like" and "Dislike" to decide whether or not "rejecting" something is the best course of action.

God Bless you.

In Mary Help of Christians,

I remain,

Fr Jim McKenna SDB

Director

Marian Shrine, Stony Point, NY

 

Walking with the Church
           

 

It is wonderful to see so many Catholics going to Mass each week in their Sunday best as they hear God say in the Third Commandment: "Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day: The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, your God.

In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day he rested. No work may be done on the Sabbath". (Exodus 20:8)

"Sabbath" is the Hebrew word for "rest".

Why do Catholics keep their Sabbath or Rest Day on Sundays instead of Saturdays like the Jews? Vatican II Bishops in their 1963 Document on the Liturgy; No 106, explains why beautifully:

"By an apostolic tradition which took its origin from the very day of Christ's Resurrection, the Church

celebrates the paschal mystery every eighth day; the Lord's Day or the Day of the Lord. On this day Catholics should come together into one place, so that hearing the Word of God and sharing in the

Eucharist, they may call to mind the Passion, Resurrection and glorification of Jesus. The Lord's Day is, the original feast day and should be preached to the faithful as a day of joy and of freedom from work."

Catholics are not meant to be "workaholics", working every single hour and day of the week for their material needs. Time must be taken out to think more easily about God their Creator; time to re-create and renew their spiritual and physical life; to join with the community; with the parish, in praying together, and coming to know each other's needs, like the Apostles and early Christian communities.

Marty
By V.J. Smith

It's amazing what can happen just by paying attention. Besides, I never thought I would have a life-changing experience at Wal-Mart.

I don't remember the exact date I met Marty for the first time. Up to that moment, nothing that day seemed particularly important-certainly not what brought me to the store in the first place. Like a lot of people who want to get through a checkout line, my thoughts were on speed, nothing more. The line I was standing in wasn't moving as quickly as I wanted, and I glanced toward the cashier.

There stood an affable-looking man in his seventies. Slightly stooped and average build, he wore glasses and a nice smile. I thought, well, he's an old guy and it probably takes him a little longer to get the chores done.

For the next few minutes I watched him. He greeted every customer before he began scanning the items they were purchasing. Sure, his words were the usual, "How's it going?" But he did something different-he actually listened to people. Then he would respond to what they had said and engage them in a brief conversation.

I thought it was odd, but I guess I had grown accustomed to people asking me how I was doing simply out of robotic conversational habit. After awhile, you don't give any thought to the question and just mumble something back. I could say, "I just found out I have six months to live," and someone would reply, "Have a great day!"

This old cashier had my attention. He seemed genuine about wanting to know how people were feeling. Meanwhile, the high-tech cash register rang up their purchases and he announced what they owed. Customers handed money to him, he punched the appropriate keys, the cash drawer popped open, and he counted out their change.

Then magic happened.

He placed the change in his left hand, walked around the counter to the customer, and extended his right hand in an act of friendship.

As their hands met, the old cashier looked the customers in the eyes.

"I sure want to thank you for shopping here today," he told them. "You have a great day. Bye-bye."

The looks on the faces of the customers were priceless. There were smiles and some sheepish grins. All had been touched by his simple gesture-and in a place they never expected.

Some customers would walk away, pause for a moment, and look back at the old cashier, now busy with the next customer. It was obvious they couldn't quite comprehend what had just happened. They would gather their things and walk out the door, smiling.

Now it was my turn. As expected, he asked me how I was doing. I told him I was having a good day.

"That's good," he said. "I'm having a good day, too." I glanced down at the name tag on his red vest, the kind experienced Wal-Mart cashiers wore. It read, "Marty."

I said, "It looks like you enjoy your job, Marty."

He replied, "I love my job."

Marty told me how much I owed and I handed him some money. The next thing I knew he was standing beside me, offering his right hand and holding my change in his left hand. His kind eyes locked onto mine. Smiling, and with a firm handshake, he said, "I sure want to thank you for shopping here today. Have a great day. Bye-bye."

At that moment I wanted to take him home and feed him cookies. It was as if Sam Walton had come back from the dead and invaded this old guy's body.

I left the store, walked through the parking lot and got into my car. On the drive home, I couldn't shake what had just happened. I had been in that store a hundred times and had never walked away feeling like that.

Who was that guy?

 


 

 
Laughter the best medicine 

Girl said: Dad, I'm in love with a boy who is far away from me. He lives in England. We met on a dating website, became friends of facebook, had long chats on whatsapp, proposed to each other on skype and now we've had two months of relationship through viber.

Dad said: Wow! Really!! Then get married on twitter, go on a honeymoon online. Buy your kids on ebay and get them, sent them through amazon.

 

A wife was making breakfast of fried eggs for her husband. Suddenly her husband burst into the kitchen, "Careful... CAREFUL! Put in some more butter! You are cooking too many at once. Too many! Turn them! Turn them now! We need more butter. There's no more butter! Where are we going to get more butter! They are going to stick! Careful! Careful! I said be careful! You never listen to me when you are cooking! Never! Turn them. Hurry up! Don't forget the salt. Have you lost your mind!

The wife stared at him with anger.

What in the world is wrong with you! You don't think I know how to fry a couple of eggs?

The husband calmly replied, "I wanted to show you what it feels like when I'm driving!"

 
 
Devotion to the 'THREE' Hail Mary's

The devotion of the THREE HAIL MARYS is a very simple yet most efficacious devotion.

Everyday, recite Three Hail Marys, adding the invocation: "O Mary, My Mother, keep me from mortal sin." Many people recite the Three Hail Marys as part of their morning and night prayers. To practice this devotion in time of danger, stress, special need or temptation, is a sure means to obtain Our Lady's help.


Thank you Mother Mary for giving me a healthy baby boy and for helping me solve my problems through the faithful recitation of the 3 Hail Marys. Do bless my baby with good health and my family too. Michelle, NY

  

Mary is in charge of my wardrobe. I was down to one good pair of slacks and two baggy ones. I mentioned it to her. Today out of the blue a friend gave me a woolen, lined pair for winter. This is not unusual but I continue to be gratefully impressed.  MK, Hyde Park, NY

Thank you, dear Lord Jesus Christ and Mother Mary for helping solve a huge problem of mine and giving me peace of mind. Thank you for good health and the numerous other blessings. Mary Felix, FL 

 

In Closing: 

 

Dear devotees of Our Lady and Don Bosco,

If you have received a miracle through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, we would like to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

 

Bookstore hours: Monday - Saturday - 10 am to 5 pm, Sundays: 12 - 4 pm

 

Weekday Masses: 12 noon. Confessions on weekdays begin at 11.30 am.

Sunday Masses: 11 am and 12.30 pm

 

Other activities: Weekend retreats, Don Bosco Summer Camp, Rent Lomagno Hall, Eucharistic Adoration, Friday night Lenten Dinners, 50/50 raffle, 350 club, Rosary Madonna Statue.

 

MEMORIES

Remember a Loved One: Engrave plaques on Wall of Memories, adopt a Tree, Engrave blocks on Walk of Honor, All Souls, All year Candle lighting, Holiday (Christmas and Easter), Flowers, Schedule a Mass, Bell Chimes.

 

MASS INTENTIONS

To offer a mass intention, please write to

Fr. Jim McKenna SDB

174 Filors Lane,

Stony Point, NY 10980

[email protected].


 

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