Growing through the Beatitudes: Seeking True Humility

Using Matthew 5:3-10 © 1997 + 2000 by Terry A. Modica

http://www.wordbytes.org/SpirGrowth/beatitudes1.htm

In the scene set by Matthew, Jesus first notices the crowd. We can imagine that He feels a great concern for each person. He understands their needs, and He wants to help them. The best teaching He can give them is one that will guide them into a more love-filled life, in which they are closer to God than ever before. Picture yourself in the crowd. He is speaking to you. He is addressing the needs you have today.

The first set of Beatitudes (verses 3-6) focuses on our relationship with God. The rest of them will center on our relationships with each other. This pattern reflects Jesus' core message: first love God with all your heart and soul and mind, and the second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:37).

The first four beatitudes tell us that God is the source of our happiness. When we accept into our daily lives the values of God's kingdom, we grow into a fuller relationship with Him.

Beatitude #1:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

I am a wretch, because I do not want to fully empty myself to become poor in spirit. I want to be in control of my life, my desires, and the people around me. I want to be important, applauded, admired, listened to and believed. I want the glory to go to me, not just to God. I want more than God's approval ~ I want the approval of people, too. Lord, help me! I belong more to this world than to heaven.

We are "poor in spirit" when we stop placing our confidence in material security or other false gods (the kingdom of the world). By depending instead on God (the kingdom of heaven), we experience His power and love and faithfulness. Think of a time when you died to yourself by choosing to be poor in spirit, trusting in God when it seemed easier or more sensible to trust in the things of this world. Remember how much closer to God you felt!

Beatitude #2:

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

I am a wretch; because I'm not sad about the control my flesh-nature has over my spirit. Rather, I mourn when I can't have things my way, and so I gain no comfort. Lord help me! Help me see my sins as they really are ~ harmful to my spirit.

We "mourn" or "sorrow" when our flesh-nature wants to take the easy path that leads to sin but our spirit chooses to resist and to take the holy path. God comforts us while we struggle and suffer. His ability to comfort us is limitless. Recall an experience you had fighting against yourself because you didn't want to do something God's way. Did you feel like crying in frustration? Did your flesh-nature mourn when you refused to give in to it? How did God comfort you?

Beatitude #3:

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

I am a wretch, because I am not meek; I do not control my desire to get riled up over situations that don't go my way. I get upset over people who oppose me. I get mad at them and try to make them change. I want them to believe I'm wonderful while behaving in a most un-wonderful way. Lord help me! Help me get my focus off of myself.

We are "meek" or "lowly" when we are submissive to God and obedient to His commands. Inheriting the "land" means becoming one of God's royal children in the kingdom of heaven. What are some rules of the Church that people don't like to obey? Is there a rule that you first disobeyed then obeyed? Why did you change? What effect did it have on you?

Beatitude #4:
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

I am a wretch, because I hunger more for the comfort of my flesh than I hunger for righteousness. I spend more time making myself feel good ~ watching TV, doing work I enjoy, socializing with people I enjoy, avoiding work and people that are difficult ~ than I do spending time in prayer and spiritual nourishment. Lord, help me! Reverse this!

We "hunger and thirst for holiness" when we choose to live morally, i.e., when we conform our will to God's will. This hunger will be satisfied because God helps us achieve righteousness. What may seem impossible for us is not impossible for God. Reflect on how you have grown in righteousness. What activities have purified you? Have you ever experienced growth in your ability to love or to be stronger morally because you were tested?

The second half of the Beatitudes focuses on our relationships with each other. The first three of these deal with how to live like Christ, the remaining ones show the results from that kind of living. The second half of the Beatitudes also reflects the spiritual growth that is produced by the first half.

Beatitude #5:

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.

I am a wretch, because I am quicker to complain about people than I am to give them mercy. Even if I think that I have given up being angry at them, I remain frustrated because they don't change the way I want them to. Lord, though I don't deserve it, give me Your mercy and help me be at peace with others.

When we are poor in spirit and place our trust in God's mercy (verse 3), the next step is to give His mercy to others, and this results in the blessing of receiving even more of God's mercy (verse 7). Call to mind some of the contrasts between the world and Christianity; for example, lying versus honesty. When you have chosen the Christian way, see how this shows the purity of your heart!

Beatitude #6:
Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.

I am a wretch, because I have a heart that is far from pure; it is full of deception and manipulation, insistence on my own way, impatience, pride, self-interest, quickness to judge others, the desire to be pitied, and love for what is easy, fun and immediately rewarding. Lord help me! I see me more than I see You! Help me to stop focusing on myself and every problem in my life and to focus more on You.

When we've wanted to sin but we've chosen instead to live God's way even though it makes our flesh-nature mourn (verse 4), we become pure in our hearts and we can see God more fully, i.e., we dwell in the presence of God (verse 8). This purity allows the light of Christ in us to shine more brightly onto others, and they are brought closer to God through the witness of our lives.

Beatitude #7:
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

I am a wretch, because I am more interested in fighting than in making peace ~ fighting for the truth, fighting to be heard, fighting to be understood, fighting to make someone else cater to me and give me attention. Lord help me! I'm fighting against You! I'm fighting against my inheritance of love! Help me to believe and trust that You will take care of everything that I think needs fighting for, Your way, which is the way of peace and love.

When we are meek (verse 5), we become peacemakers (verse 9), because we no longer fight and argue with others. Consider how God deals with us when we choose the path of sin. Does He fight against us? Sometimes it seems like we're wrestling with Him, but it's not God who's arguing: We're the ones who do all the complaining and yelling and struggling. Being peacemakers means we live as His children by handling conflicts the same way He does. We love our "enemies" unconditionally. We turn the other cheek. Reflect on a time when you served as a peacemaker. How did it reveal Jesus to the people with whom you dealt? Did you have the opportunity to see the difference it made in their spiritual lives?

Beatitude #8:
Blessed are those who are persecuted, for their reward will be great in heaven.

I am a wretch, because I don't want to be persecuted. I do not agree to suffering with joy. I want everyone to like me and approve of me. And when I suffer at the hands of others, I want ot make them stop hurting me. I do not want to offer the other cheek. I do not want to allow people to nail me to the cross. Lord help me! Help me to want to be like Jesus. Only You can achieve this ~ without You it is impossible, because I try so hard to be unlike Jesus!

When we live this way, we become more like Christ than those who don't, and for this reason they persecute us. They convince themselves that they are better than we are, to avoid realizing that they should give up their old ways and be converted. If we're not experiencing persecution, we're not really living the Beatitudes. When was the last time you were persecuted because of your relationship with God? Perhaps someone misunderstood your faith or rejected you or deliberately caused problems for you. Did you feel blessed by it? Did you feel closer or further from Jesus when it happened? Did you grow spiritually or did you loose some faith because of it? Why?

Suddenly, I realize something. I have entered into the first beatitude! Lord, I have emptied myself before You; I have become poor in spirit. And now I can just about feel that sense of mourning, too. Thank You, Lord, I am on my way to purification, because You are answering my pleas for help!

Carmelite TimeLine,

Starting with the Prophet Elijah...

900 BC - Prophet Elijah, lives on Mt. Carmel, experiences God in a deep, personal way, instructs first hermits of Mt. Carmel. Motto on Carmelite Crest: WITH ZEAL I HAVE BEEN ZEALOUS FOR THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS (1Kings 19:10 + 14).
1-33 AD - Jesus lives--tie-in of Elijah and the Blessed Mother, our Patroness, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
4th CENTURY AD - St. Helena, Queen and Mother Emperor Constantine, constructs the Basilica of Elijah in Palestine.
614 AD - Persians invade Palestine, destroy the Basilica of Elijah--many Jews and Christians flee the Holy Land.
1095 - 1291 - The time of the Crusades.
1155 - St. Berthold, Italian priest-monk, settles with 10 ex-Crusaders on Mt. Carmel, living in the caves as hermits.
1190 - Hermits on Mt. Carmel construct/dedicate the 1. chapel to Our Lady-demonstrate the Marian character of the Order.
1238 - Muslims in the Holy Land cause problems for the Carmelite Brothers living on Mt. Carmel. The Carmelites migrate to Sicily, England, Cyprus, France... Most begin to live a more communal life, but a few houses follow the true hermit life.
1242 - Sir Richard de Grey returns from the Crusades in the Holy Land and brings Carmelite brothers to England.
1247 - English Carmelite Simon Stock is elected Prior General.
1432 - Pope Eugene IV approved a mitigation of the Rule, theresult of a desire for less strictness in the rule.
July 16, 1251 - Our Lady of Mt. Carmel appears to St. Simon Stock and gives him the scapular promise: "Whosoever dies clothed with this habit shall be saved from Eternal fire."
1478 - 1834 - Spanish Inquisition--religious + political - drive out 2 specific hereies, but grew in proportion.
1517 - Luther starts the Protestant Reformation
August 24, 1562 - St. Teresa of Jesus of Avila begins her reform of Carmel, returning to the original, unmitigated Rule. She establishes the convent of St. Joseph, the first of 17 Discalced Carmelite Convents and many Discalced Carmelite Friaries.
1580 - Pope Gregory XIII separated them into two Orders. St Teresa's followers (unmitigated rule) are "Discalced" meaning "without shoes" while the original order is known as the "Calced" (mitigated rule).
Today - throughout the world there are about 2,200 Carmelite friars on five continents. There are 72 communities of cloistered nuns, 13 Congregations of sisters, a Lay Missionary Family, a Secular Institute, three communities of hermits, and numerous Third Order Lay members and Confraternities of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
1247 - St. Simon Stock (English) became Carmelite Prior General.
July 16, 1251 - Our Lady appears to St. Simon Stock and gives him the scapular promise, "Whosoever dies in this habit, shall be saved from Eternal death."

1238 - Migration of Carmelites to Cyprus, Sicily, France, England

Quote Basket

Print this list; Cut each one seperately; Fold each one; & put it into a basket; Take to your Community & before you leave for the day; Pass the Basket around & let everyone select a Quote.

Each person can meditate on that quote until the next meeting...

(Nun's can meditate on 1 quote per day or week)

"Behold the handmaid of the Lord;

be it done unto me according to your word."
- Our Lady, Queen of Mount Carmel

"I made the resolution never to consider whether

the things commanded me appeared useful or not...
 it is love alone that counts.
Forget about whether something is needed or useful;
see it (the demand, rule, obligation, etc.) as a whim of Jesus."
- St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face

It is not so essential to think much as to love much.

- St Teresa of Jesus, OCD

Mine are the heavens and mine is the earth; mine are the people, the righteous are mine and mine are the sinners; the angels are mine and the Mother of God, and all things are mine; and God Himself is mine and for me, for Christ is mine and all for me. What then do you ask for and seek, my soul? Yours is all this, and it is all for you.

- St. John of the Cross - OCD
(from Prayer of a Soul Taken in Love)

How happy I am to see myself imperfect and be in need of God's mercy.

- St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, OCD

The more lofty the degree of loving union to which God destines the soul, so much more profound and persistent must be its purification.

- St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, OCD
(Edith Stein, Science of the Cross 77)

To be taken with love for a soul, God does not

look on its greatness, but the greatness of its humility.
- St John of the Cross, OCD

Always remember to love your neighbor; always prefer the one who tries your patience, who test your virtue, because with her you can always merit: suffering is Love; the Law is Love.
- Bl Mary of Jesus Crucified "The Little Arab"

It is certain that the love of God does not consist in

experiencing sweetness or tenderness of heart
but in truly serving God in Justice, strength and humility.

- St Teresa of Jesus, OCD

We can never have too much confidence in the

good God who is so powerful and so merciful.
We obtain from him as much as we hope for.
- St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, OCD

I abyss myself in His magnificence and His

wisdom but when I ponder His goodness,
my heart can say nothing - I can only Adore.
- St Teresa of Jesus of the Andes, OCD

I desire to suffer always and not to die.

I should add: this is not my will, it is my inclination.
It is sweet to think of Jesus; but it is sweeter to do His will.
- Bl Mary of Jesus Crucified "The Little Arab"

Trials are nothing else but the forge that

purifies the soul of all its imperfections.
- St Mary Magdalen de'Pazzi, OCD

God Himself teachs us to go foward with

our hand in His by means of the Church's liturgy.
- St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, OCD (Edith Stein)

It is not the soul that makes the progress,

but it is Christ, who carries her as a child is carried.
- Bl Mary of Jesus of Toledo, OCD

Wisdom enters through love, silence, and mortification.

It is great wisdom to know how to be
silent and to look at neither the remarks,
nor the deeds, nor the lives of others.
- St John of the Cross, OCD

Look for Christ Our Lord in everyone and

you will then have respect and reverence for all.
- St Teresa of Jesus, OCD

God desires the smallest degree of purity

of conscience in you more than all the works you can perform.
- St. John of the Cross, OCD

One cannot desire freedom from the Cross

when one is especially chosen for the Cross.
- St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, OCD (Edith Stein)

For my heart is always with Him, day and night

it thinks unceasingly of its heavenly and divine Friend,
to whom it wants to prove its affection.
Also within it arises this desire:
not to die, but to suffer long, to suffer for God,
to give Him its life while praying for poor sinners.
- Bl Elisabeth of the Trinity, OCD

A soul enkindled with love is a gentle, meek, humble, and patient soul.

- St John of the Cross, OCD

You know that our Lord does not look at

the greatness or difficulty of our action,
but at the love with which you do it.
What, then, have you to fear?
- St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, OCD

The proud person is like a grain of wheat thrown into water:

it swells, it gets big. Expose that grain to the fire:
it dries up, it burns. The humble soul is like a grain
of wheat thrown into the earth: it descends,
it hides itself, it disappears, it dies; but to revive in heaven.
- Bl Mary of Jesus Crucified "The Little Arab"

Prayer is a cry of gratitude and love,

in the midst of trial as well as in joy.
- St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, OCD

You will be consoled according to the greatness

of your sorrow and affliction; the greater
the suffering, the greater will be the reward.
- St Mary Magdalen de'Pazzi, OCD

So dearly does His Majesty love us that He will

reward our love for our neighbor by increasing the love,
which we bear to Himself, and that in a thousand ways.
- St Teresa of Jesus, OCD

What we need most in order to make progress is to be

silent before this great God with our appetite and with
our tongue, for the language he best hears is silent love.
- St John of the Cross, OCD

The goal of all our undertakings should be not so much a task

perfectly completed as the accomplishment of the will of God.
- St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, OCD

Oh my God, You have surpassed all my expectations.

- St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, OCD

Faith; is not believing God is real;

Faith is the Peace which comes from knowing God IS on your side.
- Christina Whale, OCDS

You have a Beautiful Life, because God designed it! Believe in yourself & Enjoy what God has given you! There is a special plan for your life, which the Lord has designed especially for you! Live it, because what you make of your life is your gift back to God...

- Christina Whale, OCDS

Whatever did not fit in with my plan did lie within the plan of God.

I have an ever deeper and firmer belief that nothing
is merely an accident when seen in the light of God,
that my whole life down to the smallest details has been
marked out for me in the plan of Divine Providence
and has a completely coherent meaning in
God's all-seeing eyes. And so I am beginning to rejoice
in the light of glory wherein this meaning will be unveiled to me.
- Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

God is there in these moments of rest and can

give us in a single instant exactly what we need.
Then the rest of the day can take its course,
under the same effort and strain, perhaps, but in peace.
And when night comes, and you look back over the day
and see how fragmentary everything has been,
and how much you planned that has gone undone,
and all the rasons you have to be embarrassed and ashamed:
just take everything exactly as it is,
put it in God’s hands and leave it with Him.
Then you will be able to rest in Him really rest
and start the next day as a new life.
- St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

Learn from Saint Thérèse to depend on God alone and serve Him with a wholly pure and detached heart. Then, like her, you will be able to say ‘I do not regret that I have given myself up to Love’.

- Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will prospect will open before me, and I shall meet it with peace.

- Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

Everything passes here on earth. What are we?
Nothing but dust, nothingness,
and God is so great, so beautiful,
so lovable and He is not loved.

- Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified

Holy Spirit, inspire me. Love of God; consume me. Along the true road, lead me. Mary, my good mother; look down upon me. With Jesus bless me; from all evil, all illusion, all danger, preserve me.

- Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified

Always remember to love your neighbor; always prefer the one who tries your patience, who test your virtue, because with her you can always merit: suffering is Love; the Law is Love.

- Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified

I desire to suffer always and not to die.
I should add: this is not my will, it is my inclination.
It is sweet to think of Jesus;
but it is sweeter to do His will.

- Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified

The proud person is like a grain of wheat thrown into water: it swells, it gets big. Expose that grain to the fire: it dries up, it burns. The humble soul is like a grain of wheat thrown into the earth: it descends, it hides itself, it disappears, it dies; but to revive in heaven.

- Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified

Observance of the rule is of more value than all extraordinary states, more than the stigmata and the gift of miracles.

- Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified

JESUS LOVES YOU!! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so!
Love Him back for by treating others the way
you would want them to treat you! Be Honest, Don’t Lie!
If you don’t have anything Nice to say about someone,
don’t say anything at all…

- Christina Whale, OCDS

Going to Carmelite Community Meetings,
doesn’t make you a Carmelite.
Just like, if you spend all day in the garage,
it won’t make me a Car!
It takes effort to be a Carmelite!

- Christina Whale, OCDS

Peace Be With You!

The Vigil...

written by: Angie Monnens

When I awake I take the time

to meditate and pray,

And call upon Your love to help

Sustain me through the day.

I come to You with tarnished soul

And a mind to do Your will,

But need someone to show me how

This wish I might fulfill.

As the sheperd of Your flock

You keep a watchful eye,

And fill our lives with blessings

On which we rely.

I long to stay within Your flock,

To be Your little lamb;

Let me be a part of You...

And love me as I am.

Wouldn't it be wonderful, if every single one of us,

would stop to meditate & pray, for help to get us through the day!

We would all be better off you know!

Thankful for the Thorns

Sandra felt as low as the heels of her Birkenstocks as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze. Then, in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole her ease. During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough, her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come. What's worse, Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. "Had she lost a child? No - she has no idea what I'm feeling," Sandra shuddered. - - Thanksgiving? "Thankful for what?" she wondered. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child? "Good afternoon, can I help you?" The flower shop clerk's approach startled her. "Sorry," said Jenny, "I just didn't want you to think I was ignoring you." "I . . . . I need an arrangement." "For Thanksgiving? Sandra nodded. "Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the "Thanksgiving Special." Jenny saw Sandra's curiosity and continued, "I'm convinced that flowers tell stories, that each arrangement insinuates a particular feeling. Are you looking for something that conveys gratitude this Thanksgiving?" "Not exactly!" Sandra blurted. "Sorry, but in the last five months, everything that could go wrong has." Sandra regretted her outburst but was surprised when Jenny said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you." The door's small bell suddenly rang. "Barbara! Hi, "Jenny said. She politely excused herself form Sandra and walked toward a small workroom. She quickly reappeared carrying a massive arrangement of green bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses. Only, the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped, no flowers. "Want this in a box?" Jenny asked. Sandra watched for Barbara's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems and no flowers! She waited for laughter, for someone to notice the absence of flowers atop the thorny stems, but neither woman did. "Yes, please. It's exquisite," said Barbara. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I'd not be so moved by its significance, but it's happening again. My family will love this one. "Thanks." Sandra stared. "Why so normal a conversation about so strange an arrangement?" she wondered. "Ah, said Sandra, pointing. "That lady just left with, ah . . . " - "Yes?" "Well, she had no flowers!" "Yep. That's the Special. I call it the "Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet." "But, why do people pay for that?" In spite of herself she chuckled. "Do you rally want to know?" "I couldn't leave this shop without knowing. I'd think about nothing else!" "That might be good," said Jenny. "Well," she continued, "Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling very much like you feel today. She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she faced major surgery." "Ouch!" said Sandra. "That same year, I lost my husband. I assumed complete responsibility for the shop and for the first time, spent the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel." "What did you do?" "I learned to be thankful for thorns." Sandra's eyebrows lifted. "Thorns?" "I'm a Christian, Sandra. I've always thanked God for good things in life and I never thought to ask Him why good things happened to me. But, when bad stuff hit. Did I ever ask! It took time to learn that dark times are important. I always enjoyed the flowers of life but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. Your know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted and from His consolation we learn to comfort others." Sandra gasped. "A friend read that passage to me and I was furious! I guess the truth is, I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God." She started to ask Jenny to "go on" when the door's bell diverted their attention. "Hey, Phil!" shouted Jenny as a balding, rotund man entered the shop. She softly touched Sandra's arm and moved to welcome him. He tucked her under his side for a warm hug. "I'm here for twelve thorny long-stemmed stems!" Phil laughed, heartily. "I figured as much," said Jenny. "I've got them ready." She lifted a tissue-wrapped arrangement form the refrigerated cabinet. "Beautiful," said Phil. "My wife will love them." Sandra could not resist asking, "These are for your wife?" Phil saw that Sandra's curiosity matched his when he first heard of a Thorn Bouquet. "Do you mind me asking, Why thorns?" "In fact, I'm glad you asked, "He said. "Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but we slogged through, problem by rotten problem. We rescued our marriage - our love, really. Last year, at Thanksgiving, I stopped in here for flowers. I must have mentioned surviving a tough process because Jenny told me that for a long time she kept a vase of rose stems -- stems! --- As a reminder of what she learned from 'thorny' times. That was good enough for me. I took home stems, My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific thorny situation and give thanks for what the problem taught us. I'm pretty sure this stem review is becoming a tradition." Phil paid Jenny, thanked her again and as he left, said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!" "I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life, " Sandra said to Jenny. "Well, my experience says that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, Sandra, Jesus wore a crown of thorns so that we might know His love. Do not resent thorns." Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident she loosened her grip on resentment. "I'll take twelve long-stemmed thorns, please." "I hoped you would, " Jenny said. "I'll have them ready in a minute. Then, every time you see them, remember to appreciate both good and hard times. We grow through both." "Thank you. What do I owe you?" "Nothing. Nothing but a pledge to work toward healing your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." Jenny handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach a card like this to your arrangement but maybe you'd like to read it first. Go ahead, read it." But, when bad stuff hit. Did I ever ask! It took time to learn that dark times are important. I always enjoyed the flowers of life but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. Your know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted and from His consolation we learn to comfort others." Sandra gasped. "A friend read that passage to me and I was furious! I guess the truth is, I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God." She started to ask Jenny to "go on" when the door's bell diverted their attention. "Hey, Phil!" shouted Jenny as a balding, rotund man entered the shop. She softly touched Sandra's arm and moved to welcome him. He tucked her under his side for a warm hug. "I'm here for twelve thorny long-stemmed stems!" Phil laughed, heartily. "I figured as much," said Jenny. "I've got them ready." She lifted a tissue-wrapped arrangement form the refrigerated cabinet. "Beautiful," said Phil. "My wife will love them." Sandra could not resist asking, "These are for your wife?" Phil saw that Sandra's curiosity matched his when he first heard of a Thorn Bouquet. "Do you mind me asking, Why thorns?" "In fact, I'm glad you asked, "He said. "Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but we slogged through, problem by rotten problem. We rescued our marriage - our love, really. Last year, at Thanksgiving, I stopped in here for flowers. I must have mentioned surviving a tough process because Jenny told me that for a long time she kept a vase of rose stems -- stems! --- As a reminder of what she learned from 'thorny' times. That was good enough for me. I took home stems, My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific thorny situation and give thanks for what the problem taught us. I'm pretty sure this stem review is becoming a tradition." Phil paid Jenny, thanked her again and as he left, said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!" "I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life, " Sandra said to Jenny. "Well, my experience says that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, Sandra, Jesus wore a crown of thorns so that we might know His love. Do not resent thorns." Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident she loosened her grip on resentment. "I'll take twelve long-stemmed thorns, please." "I hoped you would, " Jenny said. "I'll have them ready in a minute. Then, every time you see them, remember to appreciate both good and hard times. We grow through both." "Thank you. What do I owe you?" "Nothing. Nothing but a pledge to work toward healing your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." Jenny handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach a card like this to your arrangement but maybe you'd like to read it first. Go ahead, read it."

Happy Thanksgiving!

Things I am Thankful for...

that Christ died for our sins, He's raised from the dead, & is waiting for us!

that I have a Wonderful Husband & 3 Great Sons!

that we have a solid roof over our heads!

that I was given a second family through the Carmelites!

that I was called to Carmel, with all its treasures and traditions.

that I live in the USA, land of the free, home of the brave!

that I have few - but treasured friends.
that I can sing and worship God.

that I live in the age of the internet!

Blood Donors!

that we have Wonderful Little Dogs!

all the experienced Doctors & Nurses!

all the problems we've had throughout our lives,

because they make us who we are!

the quiet times & the noisy times!

my Faith, which gets me through each day!

the technology throughout my life.

my siblings, who love me.

the times we can spend with our children.

our wonderful future Daughter-in-laws!

Oh...

There are So Many things we can all be thankful for...

What do you Appreciate?

Who would you like to Acknowledge?

What are you Greatful for?

Who are you Indebted to?

Note: One of the Most Wonderful things I did a while ago, was to purchase a cheap journal & to write in it everyday, the things I am thankful for! In the beginning, it'll be really Easy, then after the first few pages it will get quite interesting, & by the time you reach page 20 or so - Wow! I guess the best way to explain it to you, is to tell you to do it! You'll love it! - Trust Me!!!

God Bless!

Sr. Mary Ann's Gasoline...

Sister Mary Ann,
who worked for a home health agency,
was out making her rounds visiting the
church's homebound patients when she ran out of gas.
As luck would have it,

a Texaco gas station was just a block away.
She walked to the...

station to borrow a gas can and buy some gas.
The attendant told her that the only gas can

he owned had been loaned out,
but she could wait until it was returned.
Since Sr. Mary Ann was on the way to see a patient,
she decided not to wait and walked back to her car.

She looked for something in her car that she could fill with gas

& spotted the bedpan she was taking to the patient.
Always resourceful, Sister Mary Ann
carried the bedpan to the station,

filled it with gasoline,
and carried the full bedpan back to her car.
As she was pouring the gas into her tank,

two Baptists watched from across the street.
One of them turned to the other and said,

"If it starts, I'm turning Catholic."

"Yippy! More Wonderful Catholics!"

Go & Sign Up! You'll Love It!

www.frpat.com - I signed up for a Daily dose & I Love it!

..=: S C R I P T U R E S - F O R - T H E - D A Y :=

He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.” ~Luke 21:21-24 --- Scriptures: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/

..=: M E D I T A T I O N - F O R - T H E - D A Y :=.

How we are inspired by generosity. Sometimes we brag a little about how much we'd give to the Church if we won the lottery. Yet every day we have opportunities to help out. But our response is often, other people are better at that than I am ... or, I'll be more of a helper when I retire and have more time. And soon we're saying, "Now that I'm retired I'm busier than before." And God's work goes un-done. And we can easily be made small by the poor widow that put more in the collection than all the rest ... he whole livelihood.

Never Stop Praying!!

By: Father Fred Fred Alexander, OCD

"Lord, teach us how to pray"

(Luke 11:1)

Words uttered by a disciple of Jesus so long ago still speaks to the heart of each Christian, each Catholic believer today.

At the end of the day sometimes we make a space and a place in our lives to pray & the Prayer doesn't come forth. As we begin to pray, it seems another force takes over. It could be the events of that day or the previous day or something from our past begins to hound us. It could be our anxieties about tomorrow, next week or what lies ahead.

I'm sure most of us can remember a time when our prayer life and relationship with God was going along pretty well then "life happens"; we may become more self centered, perhaps we're trying to keep up with the Jones, we become a little lazy, we become too busy with our career or ministry, we become enamored with some woman, man or we may ruminate over an injustice done to us for a few months or a few years. We become so preoccupied with these new interests in our lives that we've place God and our relationship with Him on the back burner. An image that comes to my mind is a cartoon caption where a person is running away so fast that all you see is a puff of smoke behind him/her. Image God in the area of the puff of smoke and we're running away from Him. In our prayer life when we allow ourselves to be distracted, we depart from the presence of God.

When we become distracted then our hearts are no longer nurturing our relationship with God as we did in the past. We have allowed other cares and concerns to take priority over God in our lives. Then we start to pray and it's just not the same. Our prayers may seem so empty, dry or filled with distractions; Distractions that may seem like a pack of wild dogs running through our minds that we can't control.

St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila) tells us prayer is "an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us" (Teresa's Life, chapter 8, #5). This idea of prayer as a relationship between friends who know they love each other and need to be alone with each other, so they can share intimately their deepest feelings and thoughts is a Teresian characteristic that leads us closer to God.

Let us not give up on prayer,

Because...

God Never Gives Up On Us!!

We cannot grow in our relationship with God any more that a flower planted in the fertile earth can grow without water. So many things in life tempt us to stop praying. We must NEVER-NEVER, STOP PRAYING! Our prayer will not always be sweet and satisfying. A Christian or Catholic who doesn't pray is like a boat without a motor or a paddle. You're out there on the sea of life being tossed by the waves of temptations and distractions; you may never make it back to shore without prayer. If we truly repent of our errant ways and preserve in prayer, God will return the former friendship and bless us even more than He did in the past.

A Note From Christina Whale:
   In My Opinion: I think God will never give us anything HE can't handle... I know that my husband & I have gone through our Fair Share of Trials in our lifetime and it's only through HIM that we are where we are today! The Good Lord knows us better then we know ourselves and so HE will only return the former friendships & family members that will inspire us to live For the Lord! So if, you feel the Lord has not returned a certain friendship to you, in my Personal Opinion, that's HIS sign to you, for you to continue praying for that person... Never stop praying!! Throughout Every Day, Keep Thinking about those People & with each thought, pray... God Bless!

I Found Something Today...

P. Aloysius Deeney, OCD has a Blog & I want to share a little of what he wrote on September 30th...

"The first sentence in #17 of the Constitutions is “The vocation to the Teresian Carmel is a commitment to live a life of allegiance to Jesus Christ.” Now let me point out what I think is the operative word. There are a few words of course, it’s a vocation, and it’s a calling, a calling that requires a commitment. You have to dedicate yourself to it. Your response has to be “ok, my free time of...” …we don’t need your free time, we need your time. God needs your time, because you have to dedicate yourself to live a life. It is a call to live a life. It’s not a call to pray…you’re not called to pray, you’re not called to wear brown, and you’re not called to do external things. You are called to live a life. You are called to LIVE something. Live the relationship with God. You do that when you go to work. You do that when you are in your family, when you’re making dinner, when you are praying, when you are going to a Secular Order meeting. You live whatever you do that you live, that’s when you are being a Carmelite. You don’t have to go and do something special to be a Carmelite. You don’t have to go away from what you are doing, you have to live what you are doing as a life in allegiance, loyalty to Jesus Christ. You have to live a life. It is a commitment to live a life in allegiance to Jesus Christ, pondering the Lord’s law day and night, and keeping watch with him."

"So here is when prayer first comes in as something that Carmelites do. What is described as prayer is: Pondering the law of the Lord day and night. Where is the law of the Lord? Scripture…the first thing that the Constitutions put in your hand for your relationship with God in prayer is the Scripture. You have noticed I am sure that in every Mass when we read the Gospel, we stand. In Morning or Evening Prayer when we read the Magnificat and the Benedictus, we stand. Why do we stand? Because those words are from the Gospel. We stand because that is what witnesses do. When you stand in these instances you are standing because you are witnesses to the truth of this Gospel. When you read the Magnificat and Benedictus you stand in witness. It is a symbol of what your life is, to be a witness to Jesus.

Pondering the law of the Lord day and night. The law of the Lord is given to us in our hand in the Scriptures, and that’s the first fruit of information which produces in us the formation of our minds and our hearts. Do you want to know what God thinks? Read the Scriptures. Do you want to know how God feels about what’s happening in His creation? Read the Scriptures. It is the only prayer book written by the Holy Spirit. Every other prayer book has been put together by somebody else, but the Scriptures are the relationship with God inspired by the Holy Spirit. I am sure all of you are just like me. If I go into a church where I have never been before one of the first things I look for is the sanctuary light, to find our where the Eucharist is so that I can acknowledge the Presence, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

The Bible is the inspired Word of God in your home. Your Bible is the presence of the Holy Spirit in the form of inspired words. When you go into your home perhaps you already have your Bible in a certain place in your home as the Word of God…it is the law of the Lord which is the first thing the Order says is given to you for your relationship with God. Acknowledge the presence, recognize that is the presence of the Holy Spirit, you are not alone. You are not abandoned. God is present through His Word in your home.

The relationship with God is communicated to us. God comes to us in His Word. We look to the Scriptures, we look to the presence of God, of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, and we look to that as what gives us nourishment and sustenance in our relationship with Him. He is communicating to us. We can touch His Word. If you are alone, read the Word out loud, then your mouth is saying it, your eyes are seeing it, your ears are hearing it. It is coming into you, the Word of God, God’s thoughts. You are not alone. St. Teresa says “Faithful to this principle of the Rule”…she placed prayer as the foundation of basic exercise of her religious value. The foundation is not saying prayers. The foundation of Carmelite life, of the Teresian Carmelite life is the relationship of God that is communicated to us in His Word, and that’s what we live, that relationship with God through the Scriptures that comes to us. It feeds and nourishes us."

Now, if you would like to read more, go to:
http://ocd4ocds.blogspot.com/index.html#3594628944590817775

It's so wonderful! Very Well Said...

You Are Mine,

Oh you have to listen to this song of Praise! it's so beautiful... Do not be afraid, God is with us!