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Our age seems to be an age of meetings and discussions, of comment and criticism. There is no shortage of advisers on how and when the harvest should be reaped but few seem ready to cut the hay.
With so much talk and advice in the air, it is easy to become confused or dispirited. This is as true in spiritual matters as in material affairs. Our Lord once said to his apostles: "You know these things, blessed shall you be if you do them."
When are we going to respond to the high calling of our Christian vocation? Tomorrow, next year, when we have more time, when our committees comes up with their new plan, when we have the harvest gathered and our holidays over?
If we make an effort to begin each morning with a moment of prayer we will help ourselves to live our Christianity rather than talk about it. Such a prayer should focus our attention on the present moment. It should help us to be both single-minded and clear-headed, two very important qualities in our modern world of multiple choices and muddled thinking.
Our Morning Prayer ought to help us to be clear headed because it puts before us simply a clear vision of our Christian purpose in life.
We are called i) to give glory to God our Father, ii) to live our lives in union with Christ his Son, bringing his light and redemptive grace to all things and to all, iii) to work for the betterment of humanity and for the development of the wonderful world given to us. When we make an effort to sincerely spend some time in prayer each morning we become aware of what we should be trying to do with our lives.
This simple spiritual exercise also helps us to be single-minded. It directs our energies to the achievement of our Christian purpose in what we are doing at the present moment. It emphasizes that we don't have to make further plans or await the result of investigations in progress. We begin immediately. We start today. The time is now!
We take our lives at this moment, our family life, our friendships, our work, our pleasures and relaxations, our sufferings and anxieties and breathe into them the spirit of Christ and already we are transforming the world.
We try to do our work as Christ would do it. We try to accept our sufferings as he accepted his. We relish the good and beautiful things in life as he enjoyed the things that made him happy, relaxed and joyful.
When we offer ourselves to and with Christ in the Mass we are really living our Christian vocation. For it is "through him, with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit that all honor and glory is given to God our Almighty Father," as we just try to live every moment of every day in His presence.
God Bless you.
In Mary Help of Christians,
I remain,
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
Director
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Walking with the Church
Q. What is the difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God? Why does one gospel call it the Kingdom of Heaven and in another gospel it is called the Kingdom of God?
A. The gospel of Matthew speaks of the "kingdom of heaven" because this was written for a Jewish
readership. Out of respect, the Jews did not like to use the name of God directly. Mark, on the other hand, writing for a different readership,has no problems speaking about the "kingdom of God". They mean thesame thing.
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 The Quilt
As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls. Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles. An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life. But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all. I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air. Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and death, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me. And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you." |
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 Laughter the best medicine
While on a road trip, an elderly couple stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch.
After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant, and resumed their trip.
When leaving, the elderly woman unknowinglyleft her glasses on the table, and she didn't
miss them until they had been driving for about forty minutes.
By then, to add to the aggravation, they had to travel quite a distance before they could find a place to turn around,in order to return to the restaurant toretrieve her glasses.
All the way back, the elderly husbandbecame the classic grouchy old man.He fussed and complained, and scolded his wife relentlessly during the entire return drive. The more he chided her,the more agitated he became. He just wouldn't let up for a single minute.
To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant.
As the woman got out of the car, and hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, the old geezer yelled to her, While you're in there, you might as wellget my hat and the Credit card.
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 The Devotion of 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.
My wife was suffering from varicose veins. It was the 25th December 2014 and she expressed her desire to accompany her daughter and her ailing mother along with me for the vigil Mass. I was hesitant because of my mother-in-law had to constantly go to the bathroom. This was where Our Lady came to our help. Everything went well in spite of the long service. I had been reciting the 3 Hail Marys ever since the year 1970. Thank you Mother Mary. Theo, NJ Our belated thanks to our dear Lord Jesus and Mother Mary for giving us a wonderful house and the many other favors we have received too. S. Wilson, FL My sincere thanks to Mary Help of Christians for the safe delivery of our baby. E. Roderick, NY
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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 MaryShrine@aol.com.
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: Day Retreats, Weekend retreats, Don Bosco Summer Camp, Eucharistic Adoration, Friday night Lenten Dinners, 50/50 raffle, 350 club, Rosary Madonna Statue. Rent Lomagno Hall, Rent our Banquet Hall.
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
mckennasdb@yahoo.com.
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