Trusting in God

The definition of success

Preparing to hold flowers

What do you think is one of the hardest if not the hardest pain to carry? I feel that there are multiple circumstances and events that could be painful and heavy to bear. However, I think being alone is somewhere towards the top. I don't necessarily mean simply being alone but rather feeling like you're the only one and the deep feelings of loneliness. I have encountered loneliness many times in the past few years, and it certainly is a cross to carry. I do believe that it's becoming more common unfortunately due to our fast-paced, social media and tech based world. Many people are now experiencing various things alone due to their higher activity and involvement based on technology and primarily, I feel, social media.

I don't own social media accounts and haven't for a while. I think using and checking social media is not bad in and of itself. It's where people are at. But I do think it is part of our society's problem or epidemic in experiencing loneliness and a void with connecting with people, and I mean really connecting with people, like an actual conversation.

For me, I think this feeling of being lonely has formed over a certain period of time. It's highly difficult to meet and connect with young people and it can be just as hard to figure out where to look to. I also think it's a certain stage in  life. Being outside of college and trying to make it and bloom where you're planted as they say isn't all that easy and it takes time. While listening to the radio yesterday, I couldn't help but notice the obviousness or the subtleties of some songs that depicted feeling lonely or not part of something bigger. I have liked this somewhat oldie for a while, She will be Loved by Maroon 5, but listening to it actually brought tears in my eyes, the lyrics touched me. It reminded me of how God wants to heal us and touch our hearts. "My heart is full and my door's always open, you come anytime you want...I don't mind spending everyday everyday out on your corner in the pouring rain look for the girl with the broken smile ask her if she wants to say a while and she will be loved".

When we are stripped of our comforts and our desires we are like Jesus on the cross who was stripped of his garments, comforts, love of human hearts as well as His Father's divine plan. His arms and hands were outstretched, giving us all of Him and submitting and uniting His will to His Father's. I too can submit my will with His and in the meantime serve others with my hands and use my hands to create beautiful and inspiring things.

Back in high school I took a pottery and ceramics class. I didn't happen to be very good at it and really tried to make something that looked recognizable or pleasing to my teacher. I made a vase that looked decent enough and was proud of it. I still have this rustic vase years later and have put fake flowers for added effect. I've kept these false white hydrangeas from an old friend sister's wedding a few years back. I don't grow tired looking at them. It made me think of all the hard work, frustration, insecurity and doubt while forming and making this clay vase. The hard work payed off because now there are beautiful flowers resting inside and showcasing their flair. The vase has earned it's reward, to hold something lovely and beautiful.

Mary's Tears and Sorrows

I think knowing about someone's hardships and tough, interior moments makes it easier to get to know them. The walls are down, there is room to give comfort and consolation, and there is a pathway that links the two together, the sorrows that unite them. This is how I feel when I reflect upon Mary, Our Lady's sorrows. Tomorrow is the day to reflect upon her 7 sorrows throughout her life. I remember when I was in 4th grade, I heard about Mary providing 7 graces to the souls who venerated her sorrows. I would write in my journal/diary asking her to show me the graces because I wanted to know. I never received the answer then like I wanted. 

A few weeks ago when I was going through my prayer card collection, I came across a prayer card dedicated to Mary Our Lady of Sorrows. I hadn't fully memorized Mary's sorrows and now they were clearly written on this card. There were also the 7 graces bestowed on those who honor her tears and sorrows by saying a Hail Mary while reflecting on each sorrow. I've kept this card near to me, remembering to reflect upon Mary's sorrows in the morning when I wake up. I have felt closer to Mary due to this devotion and honoring the swords that pierced her heart. I have gotten to know her in a different, personal way. Mary was human too, and felt deeply though she was without sin. 

On this prayer card it shows Mary looking very sad and hurt, but still with her peaceful glow. She is holding close to her Jesus' crown of thorns and holding the 3 nails that hung Jesus on the cross. Her Immaculate heart is shown with 7 swords that have pierced and punctured her venerable heart. I can't help but look upon her sacred heart and how these events gave her a sword like piercing, that only she fully felt and endured. Mary truly is the one who was closest to Jesus. She bore Him in her womb and she understood His heart unlike any other. I have come to realize that to become closer to Mary one also becomes close to Christ.  Fulton J. Sheen had a deep devotion to Our Lady. Something that he wrote in his autobiography that interested me was, "When I was ordained, I took a resolution to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Eucharist every Saturday to the Blessed Mother, renewing my feeble love of her and invoking her intercession. All this makes me very certain that when I go before the Judgement Seat of Christ, He will say to me in His Mercy, 'I heard My Mother speak of you.' "

There is a saint whose religious name is devoted to Our Lady of Sorrows. His name is St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. He was a priest from the Passionist order and appeared to St. Gemma Galgani numerous times. He provided her relief and peace from her pain and sufferings. His life and conversion story is really powerful. He heard Our Lady speak to him from a picture of her and was inviting as well as commanding him to become a religious or else his life would be in deep turmoil. He didn't entirely get the hint until he realized what Our Lady meant. 

Mary knows what we need and how she wants us to become closer to her divine heart as well as her Son's. She wants us to honor her 7 sorrows and wishes to grant us her divine graces that Jesus has accepted to give us as well, these beautiful and generous graces. I want to continue honoring and getting to know Mary, and the beautiful and deep wounds of her heart. 

Acknowledging the Fig Tree

This morning as I was reading a passage from the bible a certain story made me think longer. I was trying to decipher what some things could mean. It was from the Gospel of John chapter 1 verses 45-51.

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”  He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

I found it interesting when Nathaneal had doubts and questions when speaking with Phillip about Jesus. I also was interested to know the significance of the fig tree. Jesus saw and knew Nathaneal He states, while Nathaneal was under the fig tree. This Gospel reading was read and reflected upon at today's Mass which I also found interesting and caused for more reflection. I found out the fig tree relates back to Israel which makes sense going back to my first post relating to the meaning and correlation between Israel and the fig tree. But also that Jesus had compassion and love for Israel and met them where they were at, yet guiding them as well. Nathaneal showcases doubt and hesitation at first but then is open and really sees Jesus for who He is. Nathaneal knows that Jesus will lead and guide, if only he trusts and puts his faith in Him. The saint's feast day today is St. Bartholomew also known as Nathaneal, who was one of the twelve apostles. Jesus meets us right where we are at and wants us to be honest, and open with Him, just like Nathaneal was. 

Final points on 'No God but One'

Who is Muhammad

The Heart of the Matter

I have wanted to know more about Jesus' sacred heart and grow in more devotion. I have recently learned that the month that I was born is addressed to His sacred heart. My sister's friend got married on the divine feast of Jesus' sacred heart, and I found that to be powerful and moving. I have become more interested and invested in learning more about the sacrament of the Eucharist and how it reveals Jesus' most sacred heart as well as his body, blood, soul and divinity. Not only attending adoration but also reading these types of spiritual books has made me stronger in faith, with and wanting an ardent desire and love for Him and this sacrament.

A book that I just recently started reading goes into detail, and rediscovering the devotion to the sacred heart of Jesus. This pink and red cover with a heart of flames and thorns depicts the image of Jesus' love and desire for us, for our hearts.

In the beginning of the book, it describes and goes into all the sayings we have in the English language referring to hearts or our hearts. Some of them include, 'to have a big heart', 'a cold heart', 'wear your heart on your sleeves', 'my heart goes out to you', 'take heart', 'to have a change of heart', a heart of gold' to name a few. The author explains the meaning and importance of hearts. "The feelings of one's heart, though sometimes sentimental, run deeper than the strongest emotions. The heart is not passive. The heart makes decisions. From the heart, acts of the will arise...The symbol of the heart has lost none of its meaning and power despite the rush of modern times. The heart is a universal and perennial symbol. More than conveying a romantic feeling, it symbolizes courage and compassion. The heart is the symbol of true love, that love for which every human being is searching" (A Heart on Fire, p 3-4).

The heart is a really important part of the person, and we get to see and understand through Jesus' words and actions what the heart really means. I have an interest in learning more about saint's lives who were mystics and had a deep devotion to Jesus' sacred heart. I immediately think of Padre Pio and St. Gemma Galgani who both had the stigmata, lived simple and quiet lives and experienced physical attacks from the devil. In the book, 'A heart on fire', it mentions some saints who encountered Jesus' beautiful gift.

"The first appearance in which Jesus revealed his heart was recorded by a Benedictine Cistercian nun, St. Lutgard. Jesus first appeared to her when she was a lay woman of 17. He showed her the wound in his side. After entering the convent, St. Lutgard was given a special grace to be able to understand the psalms as they were sung in Latin, a language she had not learned. This was in response to her request for help in her prayer life. When she complained that this wasn't enough, Jesus appeared to her and asked her what she wanted. Her response was, 'I want your heart!' To which Jesus responded, 'And still more do I want yours!' "
Other saint stories mentioned include St. Catherine of Siena and St. Francis and St. Margaret Mary, St. Faustina to name a few.

I've learned more and more that the Eucharist is Jesus' love revealed, burning with fire. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says that he 'wishes to set the world on fire, and how he wishes it were already blazing.' This relates to his divine love and heart for his children. The devotion to His most Sacred Heart grows and flourishes in relationship through the Eucharist. I remember when I was having a really rough time and not feeling so great, my sister recommended that I go to Eucharistic adoration. I felt so alone prior, and even if I didn't immediately feel the effects of going, I knew it was helpful and needed for healing and intimacy with Jesus and his sacred heart.

We can all learn and grow more in love and to Jesus' inviting heart through the Eucharist. My patron saint for this year, St. Therese' of Lisieux is all about a deep love for Jesus and his sufferings. I hope that she can be of intercessor for me and learn from her example.

Islam vs. Christianity Part 3

Islam and Christianity viewpoint: Jesus is God, the Trinity

Islam vs. Christianity- Nabeel Qureshi's book ' No God but One'