On Friendship

I'm always amazed at how God puts people in my life right when I need them. What's even more amazing is the fact that this is one of His favorite ways to let us know he hears our prayers. (At least I think so). Life would be terrible without friends. I've heard it said that "Friends are the family that we choose." I believe that wholeheartedly. I guess that's how all families start. Jesus says,

13 No one has greater love than this, than to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. 16 It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. 17 This I command you: love one another. 18 "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. 20 Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

What amazing words from the Master. Laying down your life does not necessarily mean that you have to die, but it could mean that you sacrifice your whole life for the greater good of this other person. Your friend. That's what Christ did. And that is something that is hard to wrap your mind around. My God has called me, little old flawed me, His friend. Wow. It doesn't get much more personal than that (except for when we receive the Eucharist. And when you can receive the Eucharist with your friend, that's a whole new level of friendship that exists between both of you). Eat that Protestants! Literally (see John 6).

That's the kind of friend that I want to be; that I strive to be. If I have the love of God, I want to share that with others. Especially my friends. I suppose that all of my recent posts all tie together somewhat. That just kind of happened. I think. God works it, not me.

To all who are and remain my best and closest friends, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. We can get through anything together because Christ was our friend first and He is the one that brought us together in the first place.

Our Lady of the Rosary -- Pray for us!
St. Pius V -- Pray for us!

Meant to Be

Love will not betray you

Dismay or enslave you, it will set you free

Be more like the man you were made to be...

What amazing words from a band called "Mumford and Sons." It's from the title track Sigh No More. It was actually suggested by a really great priest friend of mine. Seriously, one of the coolest guys ever.

When I listen to this song and really feel the words, I come to a sort of peace. When I hear "Love will not betray you" I hear God telling me these words. This is the same God who IS Love. When you are in love with God and being loved by God, it will set you free. It will help me to become the man that I am meant to be.

I have no idea of where I am going or what I will do. All I know is that I love God and I want what He wants. And music is a gift from God. Seriously. Find some that means something and listen to it. He might be speaking through that. Where my life will take me is up to Him. I will respond accordingly.

When I love as God Loves, I will truly be set free.

2 Cor 6:1-10

Okay, this is appropriate:

2 Cor 6:1-10

Brothers and sisters:
As your fellow workers, we appeal to you
not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says:
In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.
Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.
We cause no one to stumble in anything,
in order that no fault may be found with our ministry;
on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves
as ministers of God, through much endurance,
in afflictions, hardships, constraints,
beatings, imprisonments, riots,
labors, vigils, fasts;
by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness,
in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech,
in the power of God;
with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left;
through glory and dishonor, insult and praise.
We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful;
as unrecognized and yet acknowledged;
as dying and behold we live;
as chastised and yet not put to death;
as sorrowful yet always rejoicing;
as poor yet enriching many;
as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

Discerning

How do we know that what we are doing is, in fact, the Will of God? How can we completely unite ourselves to His love and His Will? Is that even a remote possibility this side of the veil?

Life, I have come to realize, is just one big discernment process. Even at the most basest of levels. Even in the most mundane everyday things, there is a process of discernment. Do I put on this shirt or that one? Eat this for breakfast or that? Go to sleep or keep reading? Though seemingly unimportant, I believe that the process perfects itself and helps you to decide when it really matters. Practice, as they say (whoever 'they' are), makes perfect.

Jesus Himself, had periods of intense discernment. Think about His time in the desert for 40 days or about His prayers in the Garden before His Passion. God Himself, in virtue of His humanity, had to discern the Father's Will. He knew what He had to do, and still asked if the cup would pass. But the key was complete and total loving submission to the plan of the Father. That is what I want to do. ('Course, J.C. was God and knew what exactly was going to happen. I don't have the luxury.)

I am only concerned with what God's plan is for me. I am entirely in His hands right now. I know that my life also includes me and my wants and desires. I've said it before, if I conform myself so intimately with His Will, my will becomes His. Or something like that. That's true freedom.

I just wish sometimes that he would drop a letter on down telling me what exactly to do. I suppose that's what it means to have Faith. Faith in God that He will lead me to what He wants for my life. Faith that I will be able to act accordingly to His Will.

St. Louis-Marie de Montfort -- Pray for us!
Check out this link to Fr. Longenecker's blog about the still small voice in discerning. I love God!

On Love

So, I randomly was surfing the net for a few minutes and found this blog from another blog. I figured that I would also share this content. It's something that I think people need to know. I agree with the fact that English as a language lacks some very needed words, especially when it comes to describing love. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Pope Benedict XVI

Happy birthday your Holiness! May God grant you many more years of service to His people, the Church! Happy 83rd! We love you!

Adoration: Remedy to Stress

Lately, I have been in a constant conversation with myself about a lot of different things. It's been good days, bad days, and just daze sometimes. One minute I feel that I should be going in one direction and the next minute, I feel that I should stay the course that I am on.

I get frustrated at myself and have trouble sometimes with what exactly is going on. I will say that because of this internal "strife" I have been even more prayerful than normal and it has been an opportunity to again place all of my woes and worries in Christ's hands. Those wonderful hands that stretched themselves out on that cross for me. I don't have to worry about if I am the only one in this. I know that God Himself has gone through this and is going through it all with me now.

I thank Him for all the support of friends, family, and the prayers that I know are being said. And another great benefit through this has been my adoration time. It's increased a lot in the past month or so (going from no time to some time is a big increase.) I find myself ever more longing to spend some more time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. To paraphrase a great saint, "I just stare at Him and He just stares right back".

Adoration: try it and you'll be hooked.