The approaching holidays can be an excellent opportunity to sit down, take stock, think about the good things that have occurred during the past year, and give thanks to God and each other. Unfortunately, too much of our energy is spent running errands and worrying about everything we haven't accomplished. In order to do things differently this year, find times to rest, relax, breathe, slow down, and prioritize for emotional and spiritual health. Give yourself over to the silence and stillness that's possible. Focus on being an integrated fullness inside. Forgive yourself. Ask Christ to take away your pain, grief, and hurt. Ask the Holy Spirit to flourish in your soul. Focus on heaven and through prayer, ask God to incarnate His love all around you. #Happiness #Heaven #Wisdom #JesusChrist #HolySpirit #continualprayer #meditation

We dress for occasions. Job interviews, business meetings, dinner parties, birthdays, proms, clubbing, golf, barbequing, exercising; if you can name an activity, we can pick out clothes or costumes to fit the occasion. Halloween is no different from these activities; it's just the most obvious. Every October 31, culture warriors debate whether or not children and/or adults should dress up as vampires, mummies, celebrities, politicians, fairies, sports figures, super heroes, and just about any conceivable iteration of a nymph. Why? For some, this last day in October is merely a time for frivolity. For others, it is a reminder that death is real and evil stalks us like a lion in wait. The truth is: both points of view are correct. But there's a larger point to be made. Namely, we are what we do; which also means, we are what we where. Consider for a moment The Parable of the Wedding Banquet in chapter 22 of the Gospel According to St. Matthew. "Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet'. But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. "The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet'. Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. "‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth'. For many are called, but few are chosen'." Jesus is saying that His Father in Heaven has set a banquet before us and asking, "Why are you not answering the invitation? Why are you not coming to His house? Why are you not enjoying the feast?" At one level, He is referring to eternal life. At another level He is referring to the Church and its Sacraments. In other words, Jesus is asking us whether or not we're really paying attention to what's important. He's saying: What are your priorities? Where do you spend your time? What do your clothes tell you about your focus? Are you showing up for the wedding feast? Or, are you busy with everything else? Live in the world. But feast on the love and joy of heaven! #StMatthew #Sacraments #Wisdom #Heaven #Happiness

"On the cross Christ was wounded in His side to bring forth water and blood to all who believe and come to Him -- water for washing away the impurity of sin, and blood to withhold its power. How blessed is that day on which Christ's side was opened on the cross for the sinner to find in it his righteousness, his sanctity, and his redemption." - Matthew the Poor in The Communion of Love, p. 108." #MatthewthePoor #JesusChrist #Crucifixion

"Christ is still roaming among sinners healing every weakness and every infirmity of the soul. The Holy Spirit is ever ready to endow the tremulous with power from the highest. Grace is present every day to support trembling hands and feeble knees. And the love of Christ, when kindled in the repentant heart, changes it from a cowardly one to that of a martyr. How often has repentance turned feebleness, defeat, and surrender into testimony, witnessing and proclaiming the truth of the Gospel. The remembrance of previous horrors of the soul, of its despair and defeat are turned into a testimony of Christ's mercy. Terror as the motive force of sin and lust evaporates in smoke, and servile submission to the call of the company of evil is turned into advice and proclamation." - Matthew the Poor in The Communion of Love, p. 105 #MatthewthePoor #Sin #Healing #Mercy

"...does God really know what befalls the sinner in such pain and distress? For an answer to this question let us hear Him say: 'The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak' (Mt. 26:41). 'Woman, has no one condemned you?...Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again' (John 8:10, 11). 'Do you want to be healed?' (John 5:6). "It is thus that our weakness and misery were known to Him from eternity, and He has come Himself and put Himself in the service of the weak and defeated sinners. He has kept His Holy Spirit in guard of their soul, working day and night to expel terror and fear from the hearts of sinners and turn their hearts into a temple and a place of His habitation. "The personality that has been broken asunder by sin is gathered again by the Spirit. The soul that had been humiliated by the devil, who had sneered at its authority and dissolved its will, is then touched by the grace of Christ, and hence is risen, renewed, and strengthened. "A single glance of Christ made Peter overcome his weakness and defeat before the servants and concubines, pull himself together and regain his will, which had been shattered as a broken vessel, so that his soul melted before threat. From the eyes of Christ he drew forth the power of repentance, from which he regained his wholeness." - Matthew the Poor in The Communion of Love, p. 104-105 #MatthewthePoor #Sin #Suffering #JesusChrist #StJohntheTheologian #StMatthew #Healing

“The Holy Church sails along the waves of the sea of life for the entirety of its existence — for the centuries, millennia that it will endure. While it belongs to the world by virtue of its existence in the world, it does not belong to it in spirit; as the Lord said to the Church through its Apostles: ‘You are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world [John 15:19]. According to your bodies and needs, you belong to the world. But according to your spirit, you are foreign to the world; because you belong to God, Whom the world has despised’ [cf. John 15:18-19].” - St. Ignatii Brianchaninov in The Field: Cultivating Salvation (The Sea of Life, Part 3 of 16). #StJohntheTheologian #HolySpirit #Heaven #Hope #Suffering

As summer gives way to fall, the rains come mightily down upon our homes, our heads and our hopes. These drenching storms wash away the dryness of summer and all of its dirt, sand and pollen. They refresh the grasses, restore the rivers and calm the senses. It is a natural rite of passage from frenetic exuberance to sullen hearts that intently stare at flowing waters washing the midday windows. Downpours also stop tracks. Feet step with purpose and tires roll with clenched knuckles. Retention ponds overflow and streets become babbling brooks. Clouds become floods; humanity stops and feels its smallness once again. This is the kind of ebb and flow that happens in life generally and in the spiritual life specifically. Because we get distracted, we lose our sight of what or WHO is important. We get mesmerized by the glittering days of summer and the spoils of life. But seasons change for a reason. They make us see creation, ourselves, and God from a changed perspective. The water that cometh restores life and reignites fear. It makes us to see what we have missed. And this is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He who makes us to lie down in green pastures, and lays down His life only to pick it up again. Let the floods come. Let them seep you away. Look up into Heaven and say, "Yes, Lord, I am yours, all yours from now and until I come into your kingdom!" Water resurrects. #JesusChrist #Fear #Suffering #Resurrection

Avoid those who, by slight of hand and tongue, try to reduce your faith so drastically that it becomes possible to leave it on a shelf in a glass bottle with a label that reads "Open in Case of Emergency." These people are the thieves Christ refers to in John 10:10 who come "only to steal and kill and destroy." In diametric opposition to this first image, Christ, in the latter half of the same verse confirms that He "came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." But what exactly does it mean to have an abundant life? For an answer to this, we only need to go one verse further. In John 10:11 Christ reveals, "The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." In verse 15 He states "I lay down my life for the sheep." Then in verse 17 Christ educates us further, "For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again." Thus, living life abundantly means sacrificing in the service of helping others toward Christ, as a type of Christ. In other words, abundant life comes through intercession. This is the very heart of holiness. So take that bottle off the shelf and smash it against the evil ministrations of people addicted to the temptations of a human existence. Live through Christ, live with Christ, and live in Christ; and lay down your lives for the sheep who need your help getting to The Good Shepherd. #JesusChrist #StJohntheTheologian #persecution #Sacrifice

Praying is a desire for intimacy with God. It is the pursuit of deep union. Praying is a yearning to be in God. It is a loving request for Him to be in us. Praying is a willingness to love without limit. It is a choice for eternity. #secretmeditation #continualprayer #Heaven #Love

Yearn to be free from all those things in this culture that distract you from God and diminish you as person. Break the chains of temptation. Unlock others from their imprisonment. This is exactly what Jesus does in Luke 4:13-22. When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time. Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. Think about this story. It starts with the end of Jesus' 40 days in the desert. There He was tempted and tested by the devil. Having survived this trial, Jesus is filled with the power of the Spirit and begins preaching throughout Galilee and in his hometown of Nazareth. After reading from Isaiah, He boldly proclaims what we now take for granted: "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." Even though this is a specific reference to His own divinity, Christ is also saying to us: 'exchange the yolk of human expectation and evil temptation for the divine right to answer your call, live it fully, experience it in joy, and share it with all those who want to break the chains of spiritual enslavement. Let this Scripture be fulfilled in your life.' Pray and you will have the guidance to know how to survive the tests of the evil one. Believe and you will see the direction of your life. Love and you will know what it means to help others on this path. #JesusChrist #HolySpirit #StLuketheEvangelist #Faith #Hope #Love

Children are taught many things growing up. They are firmly disciplined so they know how to behave. They are encouraged to experience many things so they know what they like and dislike. They are highly educated so they know how to get a job. But is there something more fundamental missing? How often are children encouraged to follow God's will? How well are they taught how to discern what it is that He is asking of them? How much are they believed, understood or supported when they decide they have heard from God? Even if a family goes to church on a regular basis, there doesn't seem to be any guarantee at all that a discussion has occurred about living organically with God. Sure, parents are always telling their children what to do and not to do. But this is often about their moral choices. Thus, children and young adults are left with the impression that God is a larger-than-life parent that simply doesn't want them having sex or drinking or smoking or staying out all night or hanging out with the wrong people or using vulgarity or murdering people or gaining some sort of bad reputation. The failure here is that there's no understanding of or teaching about God and His promise of love, unity and salvation in this life and the next. And when discussions cover subjects like that, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are presented in the same light as friends, pals, counselors, confidants, soulmates and the like. The truth is so much deeper, higher and intense that most people spend their lives not knowing what they're missing. Stop missing out. Start taking those unchartered courses that start as lingering notions in the head and fluttering urges in the heart. Those are inklings of the Holy Spirit that attempt to draw you out into Christ who is calling ever closer to His heart so that you can spend eternity basking in the energies of God that vibrate close to His essence. That's the place you want to be. Fear missing out on that. #JesusChrist #HolySpirit #Happiness #Simplicity #Healing #Heaven

Giving your life to God is simple but it is not easy. It is filled with life, but requires death (you must spiritually die to yourself many times before you physically die!). This is why so many people reject the Most Holy Trinity. They don't want the hard work. They want their life on earth to be filled with the things that pass away over time. St. John the Theologian, in the Book of Revelation 10:9-11, demonstrates what a difficult time people can have accepting the word of God. "So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll; and he said to me, ‘Take it, and eat; it will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth.’ So I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it; it was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. Then he said to me, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and languages and kings'." All of humanity is born into a divine life. Along the way, we get distracted, we get lazy, we get tired, and we get frustrated. That's to be expected. But we can't give up. Those that have been called in faith have to be willing to swallow that scroll over and over. Even when it upsets our stomach, we must be willing to take that scroll from the angels again and again. For we have been called to prophesy to our generation! #StJohntheTheologian #SacredScripture #Sacrifice #continualprayer #Trinity