Daily Gospel III: Mt 14: 13-21

I had a feeling today would be my Daily Gospel day...God would definitely have worked it out that way. I really want to share the reflection from Papa BXVI in my daily email, and then I might give some of my thoughts...But his words are gold :-)

Pope Benedict XVI
Sacramentum caritatis, 88 (©Libreria Editrice Vaticana)

"You yourselves, give them something to eat"

"The bread I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world" (Jn 6,51). In these words the Lord reveals the true meaning of the gift of his life for all people. These words also reveal his deep compassion for every man and woman. The Gospels frequently speak of Jesus' feelings towards others, especially the suffering and sinners. Through a profoundly human sensibility he expresses God's saving will for all people that they may have true life.

Each celebration of the Eucharist makes sacramentally present the gift that the crucified Lord made of his life, for us and for the whole world. In the Eucharist Jesus also makes us witnesses of God's compassion towards all our brothers and sisters. The Eucharistic mystery thus gives rise to a service of charity towards neighbor, which "consists in the very fact that, in God and with God, I love even the person whom I do not like or even know. This can only take place on the basis of an intimate encounter with God, an encounter which has become a communion of will, affecting even my feelings. Then I learn to look on this other person not simply with my eyes and my feelings, but from the perspective of Jesus Christ." In all those I meet, I recognize brothers or sisters for whom the Lord gave his life, loving them "to the end" (Jn 13,1).

Our communities, when they celebrate the Eucharist, must become ever more conscious that the sacrifice of Christ is for all, and that the Eucharist thus compels all who believe in him to become "bread that is broken" for others, and to work for the building of a more just and fraternal world. Keeping in mind the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, we need to realize that Christ continues today to exhort his disciples to become personally engaged: "You yourselves, give them something to eat". Each of us is truly called, together with Jesus, to be bread broken for the life of the world.

When I first heard the Gospel this morning, my mind cued in on the first few lines. Jesus was sad to learn the news of John's death, to the point that He needed to get away and be by Himself (Jesus is SO like us). But, then, He saw the crowds wanting to be with Him and was moved to pity. Pity because of their hunger...because they hungered for material, passing things. Pity for them because He knew their condition and had come to redeem them. Even though He knew they needed more than the material, that was His starting place. He fulfilled their physical needs abundantly. He cured the sick and then fed them. He did this in a time of sorrow for Himself. Jesus is so others-centered here! Even as He grieved He recognized and fulfilled the needs for others. The Holy Father so beautifully points out, therefore, that Christ calls us to be engaged in the world, with each other..."give them some food yourselves." May we strive to be "food" for all we interact with!

Yay good books!

I’m getting excited for today’s (07/29) blog post so I’m writing it yesterday (07/28). My head is soaring from my latest read, Hinds' Feet in High Places, courtesy of Monica!

I almost felt like I was reading a book about me. The character’s name was Much-Afraid, and, well, that describes me to a t right there. I just really admired how this book was a combination of Song of Songs and the spiritual struggle/journey in general. I’ll keep those of you who haven’t read it in suspense as to the plot, but I will share my favorite reflection on the book. The book is based on Habakkuk 3:19. The Shepherd promises Much-Afraid that he will give her feet like hinds as she reaches the High Places. Near the beginning of her journey, Much-Afraid pays attention to the sounds around her and realizes that the water in the stream is pouring down from the High Places into the Valley of Humiliation. Why would the water choose to leave such wonderful places to go down to such a despairing place? “‘The High Places,’ answered the Shepherd, ‘are the starting places for the journey down to the lowest place in the world. When you have hinds’ feet and can go ‘leaping on the mountains and skipping on the hills’ you will be able, as I am, to run down from the heights in the gladdest self-giving and then go up to the mountains again. You will be able to mount to the high Places swifter than eagles, for it is only up on the High Places of Love that anyone can receive the power to pour themselves down in an utter abandonment of self-giving.’”

Ooof. So many questions of my own spiritual journey started pouring into my head…what is my motivation to seeking union with God? Is it so that I can have the perks and the graces and the security that comes with it? Or is it so I can descend quickly to help others to reach the heights? I think, as Catholics, we are blessed to usually be taught at young ages that Love is not something to take lightly. Love is a joy ride to the world, while in all actuality it is a painful ascent that challenges everything we hold dear that is counterfeit. Yet, as we escape such worldly falsities to reach the heights of Love, we are then called back into the midst of that world to teach others what we have learned…are we ready? Is that our goal all along? When I read this reflection about the water, I couldn’t help but think of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. Talk about an example of faith who reached the High Places and spent the rest of her life in the Valley bringing Good News to everyone. The love that it takes to reach such a love of God and turn right back around, possibly sacrificing everything and every comfort, to share it with others…amazing. And just what each of us is called to. Not super heroic acts of conversion, or living in the slums necessarily, but turning right back around to all the people in our daily lives, living an example of love, and saying, “Do you see this? This joy? You can have it also. See, there’s this Man…”

“Make haste, Beloved, be thou like an hart

On mountains spicy sweet:

And I, on those High Places where thou art,

Will follow on hinds’ feet;

As close behind the hart, there leaps the roe,

So where thou goest, I will surely go.”

To one part of the state and back

Well, hello there! Peace and blessings to you all! I just got back this morning (yes, beautiful 1:30am!) from Pittsburg, Kansas. And what an adventure it was! A group of us met at the Spiritual Life Center and traveled in two cars, reaching Pitt about 4pm. We prayed for the candidates on the TEC weekend, met up with them, and had a wonderful time :-). Long car rides with a random group of people are the BEST! Fellowship with young Catholic adults is probably one of the greatest perks of growing up.

Speaking of growing up, the job search continues, with a little less intensity than last week. I'm waiting to hear from one of the places on whether or not they want to train me, and I might apply at one more place this week...but, because I have my books basically paid off and no other expenses at this point, it's not as pressing as I can make it seem. So, whether or not I get a job offer, praise God. Speaking of, I might have an opportunity to get a dual license for Missouri and Kansas and need to call the Missouri Board of Nursing for information about it this morning...so...bye!

All Graduated!

And now begins the job search! If I don't have a job before the school year it won't be the end of the world, but if God wills, I will be working at a nursing home as a CNA soon.

I finished the first book of the Lord of the Rings. I believe I'm going to finish another book before I begin the second LOTR book. And, of course, SURPRISE, work on more recipes! I'm skimming a lot, skipping the numerous desserts and making sure I have more main dishes and salads, because salads are usually pretty quick and simple to put together.

As you might already know, I don't currently have a camera, so a couple days ago my dad and I were just browsing at cameras at a Best Buy. One in particular really caught our eye, and I'm hopeful on it. This particular camera was dual view. Besides the screen on the back of the camera, there was a small screen on the front where you could see what you were taking a picture of. PERFECT! Especially when you're trying to take a picture of yourself and another person, and you have to try about 5 times before it's centered the way you want...this would allow me to see what the view looks like while I'm aiming! Like I said, I'm hopeful for this one.

Well, Jake's back in Virginia. I think he really enjoyed his stay at home. From what I can guess, he wants to get out of there by September and do some sort of training at Pensacola and then maybe go overseas. Still waiting to see if that will fall through.

Quote of the Day XIV

"God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission – I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I have a part in a great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons."--Blessed John Henry Newman

Daily Gospel II: Mt. 11: 20-24

Jesus just went at the towns where He was preaching in this Gospel. He even makes Sodom sound better than Capernaum. That would have been a big deal to the Jews, because Sodom was renowned for its evil ways and ultimate destruction. Capernaum was a prosperous fishing town with no real problems...except their ears were not open. They were not the "good ground" on which the Seed fell upon. They had the Lord in their midst and yielded nothing for it, and Jesus accuses them by saying that if Sodom was given the same chance, they would have gotten the message. Kind of reminiscent of Jonah, if you ask me. Jesus' reproach wasn't just to be mean though. Can you imagine how much Jesus' Sacred Heart ached for people to come to Him? If anything, this anger was justified and really a cry of Love. May your hearts be open and willing to accept the word of God!!

The ants go marching one by one...

Have you ever tried to be something that you’re not? Wishing you were good at an instrument that you’ll probably never pick up. Convincing yourself that with a couple years practice, you’re sure to be the next Michael Jordan. You’re certainly reincarnated from the 1800s because you despise technology that much. I believe, lately, I’ve been convincing myself I can be an ant.

I was watching an ant before Tuesday Night Prayer and how it could carry such big things…this little fellow was carrying a piece of leaf that was at least as big as him…her…it? I have heard before that an ant can carry more than its weight, which is crazy ridiculous and should probably be against the laws of physics, but God has a sense of humor when it comes to His creatures, for certain (insert thoughts of giraffes and platypuses).

How wonderful and easy would it be for us to be able to lift that much when we are at work! If I could lift twice my weight, I wouldn’t be having such a hard time opening bottles probably, and I would never ask for help in doing any chores or work. That kind of super-human strength would make us very efficient, but it would also isolate us. We wouldn’t need each other to help with big lifting projects. Moving stuff to and from college would be a snap, but we wouldn’t have the opportunity to make so many trips back and forth to the car with each other. The point being, the community and aid that we would sacrifice for a little extra strength would be a great price to pay.

I guess the same is true in spiritual life. I can try to be like an ant all I want and carry everything on my own, but that would be attempting to break spiritual physics for me. I can fake strength, but in the end if it doesn’t crush me, it’ll at least isolate me while I try to take on the world. I was blessed to go to Mass on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, and then on Sunday the Gospel passage was the same: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." It’s crazy to think that God takes on our own sufferings. I really can’t imagine the load of God being less than my own. It seems like His would be HUGE; after all, He has the whole world to work with, and I only have my little portion of Kansas/Missouri that I’m concerned about. But really, it’s not an exchange of suffering by taking His load…He’s the good Parent that quietly takes everything upon Himself.

One line stands out to me in particular: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.” There’s so many many ways to take this, I think…but for me, it’s Jesus teaching me how to carry the burdens that I do have. A friend recently told me that another friend had stated, “Savior of the world…even He had someone help Him carry His Cross.” If we are to imitate our Lord, it means to allow others into even those burdens we don’t necessarily want to share. For me this doesn’t mean “emotional dumping,” as I am so prone to…Jesus’ example was in His true friendship with the Apostles and disciples…in speaking with clarity and truth. If we have transparent, Christian friendships, this makes sharing burdens and asking for prayers much simpler. I am not an ant and cannot defy physics, but I can share in the communal Body of Christ and take up His yoke. Peace, brothers and sisters!

P.S. Confession Session: made a HUGE mistake not wearing sunscreen on the 4th. Seriously, when I can't walk correctly and can hardly lift my arms above my head...something is wrong. Moral of the story...sunscreen, folks.

Recipes galore!

I haven't written about my progress on recipes lately. At the moment, I'm up to 187 recipes sorted, typed, and stored in a recipe folder on my computer under Word (soon to be 192...I have 5 recipe cards of Oreo desserts I'm going to type in after I'm done with this blog post...who knew you could do so much with Oreos?!)

It's a fairly fun project. It's easy to get burned-out on it, so I haven't been working on it as much the last couple of weeks as I did when I first started on it. My plan is to categorize, when I'm all done, into the different types of meals (desserts, main dish, breakfast, etc...) and then...if I get really ambitious and nit-picky...make an index of the ingredients used in each. I just think it's handy, if you have a particular ingredient that you want to use up in your cabinet, to pick out a recipe based on that. That's the plan at this point, anyways.

The funny thing is, I haven't even touched our actual recipe books yet. These recipes so far are all coming from clippings from the Internet over the years and random magazines that Mom will use once or twice and then forget about. Our method is for her to pick out her favorite recipes from the magazines, and then I pick out mine, and I type them in and we're tossing them as I get through with them. And, unknown to my mom, probably, I'm throwing away a bunch of the printed off recipes at my own discretion. There's so many that she literally never uses that she won't miss them if I don't put them in. A lot of them are from times, again, where she had something particular to get rid of, so she would print off 4 or 5 different recipes with that ingredient, and the papers would end up in the drawer never to be used again. Never again!!

The even funnier irony as I type in these recipes is that the dessert ratio is tending to be about every 3rd recipe. Good gracious. Again, it's not like we ever consistently use any of these. I keep teasing my mom that I'm not going to have enough meals to make next year, because all of my recipes are going to be desserts. And casseroles. Lots of casseroles, and salads. Not that many main dishes. Hopefully that will be fixed once I get into the actual cookbooks.