Thursday, June 19, 2014

Animated Good Shepherd


Couldn't resist sharing this animated good shepherd having fun for this week's Catholic Photo Challenge.  Many of our own roles in life are something like that of the Good Shepherd.  We have many opportunities to give life, to give love, and to make sacrifices on behalf of those we care for.
Fr. Francis has always reflected God's joy to all those who know him.  He has the heart of the Good Shepherd.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Celebrating the Wedding


Three amazing priests celebrating the bride and groom.  Something extra.  This week's Daily Post photo challenge.  I think it's also appropriate for this week's Good Shepherds Catholic Photo Challenge.  I was a postulant in the former Intercessors of the Lamb.  After the suppression I watched these men give tirelessly of their time to pray with us, help us to heal, and finally to move on.  Setting aside their own pain to help the rest of us.  They are some of the best Shepherds I've been privileged to know.  Happy Father's Day.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Source and Summit of Light

A two story sculpture of the Eucharist in Assisi - From Visual Prayer
Here Your light illumines my mind, enabling it to know You more and more deeply. Here streams of grace flow down upon my heart. Here my soul draws eternal life. O my Lord and Creator, You alone, beyond all these gifts, give Your own self to me and unite Yourself intimately with Your...creature.
Excerpt of a prayer from St. Faustina - Catholic Photo Challenge

The Light of Prayer

This man stopped in an alley in Jerusalem to pray.  Prayer is the greatest nurturer of God's light and maybe the surest way to walk from darkness to light. 


Monday, June 9, 2014

Angel of Light


Another entry for the Catholic Photo Challenge based on Isaiah 9:1 - Darkness and light - How many times have we been visited by angels unaware?  May the angels always guide us from darkness into light. 

For this week’s challenge, show us a photo that represents the tension between light and darkness, or an image of being in a type of darkness or light.

Monday, June 2, 2014

Fear of the Lord

Today we watched part one of a video series by Fr. Ron Rolheiser the "Many Faces of Fear: Exploring the Roots of Religious Fear"  I liked this quote from the end of the video where Fr. Ron explains what we fear most as we approach God:  "Fear that God is not as understanding and compassionate as we are. Fear that God is not a big-hearted as we are."

Poem: Fear to Freedom

I wrote this poem when I was struggling with the frustration of feeling that my life was diminished because of fear.  It's been a long journey that still continues.  Maybe you can relate.

From Fear to Freedom

I’ve lived with fear all my life
Believed him bosom friend
Welcomed him into my heart
Time and time again

He comes with kiss upon my cheek
Like Judas who betrays
I’m blinded by the lies he tells
Caught up in all his ways

“Don’t go against the crowd!” he says
“It’s best to be a pleaser”
“Tell them what they want to hear”
“Life will be much easier”

“Pay precise attention”
“I’ll tell you what to do”
“You have to get it perfect”
“Or the blame is all on you”

Sunday, June 1, 2014

May Those Who've Walked in Great Darkness See His Great Light

This is an entry for this week's Catholic Photo Challenge based on Isaiah 9:1 - A people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone.