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Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Foggy DaysHere we are in Holy Week. The countdown to the end of Lent, Gethsemane, Golgotha and the Resurrection! The early
mornings have been quite foggy and remind me of the passage from 1st Cor. 13:12. "For now we see in a mirror
dimly, but then face to face" Our vision on earth is dim as though in a fog of materialism and other distractions.
Our light comes from Christ. And with His coming all things shall be made clear.
Remember to continue to pray for
those affected by disasters and to pray for an end to abortions.
10:16 pm edt
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Palm Sunday"The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices.
Open the gates before him, lift up your voices.
Who
is the King of glory, how shall we call him?
He is Emmanuel, the promised of ages!"
Traditional
Israeli folk song
Please read the account of the 1st Palm Sunday in Matt. 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:19-44
or John 12:12-19. Of interest is that Christ rode on an animal no one else had ridden. Kings ride on a mount no
one else has ridden. And His mount of choice was not a magnificent war horse, but a humble donkey. There is no
one like our God. Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of our Lord!
9:26 am edt
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Come HomeToday was deceptively bright and sunny for the temperature was quite chilly. My husband took our Jack Russell terrier
to the park for a walk. You must understand she has a thin coat and is used to being curled up behind a blazing wood
burner. She lagged further and further behind, at the end of her long leash until my husband (also chilled) turned to
her and said, "Do you want to go home, girl?" Immediately her ears perked up and she pulled on the leash all
the way back to the car. She could not wait to come home! Come home, dear friend, come back to the comfort of
the Church. The world out there can be cold, but there is warmth and redemption in the Word of the Lord. Come
home.
P.S. Let me introduce myself. My name is Sue Noreika and I am a member of the Advisory Board of Servants
of Mary. Hope these blogs are helpful and meaningful to you. Thank you.
8:35 pm edt
Friday, March 26, 2010
One down, two to go.Well, if the local lore is true it should not be long until it really is springlike. It has snowed once on the daffodils
and more snow is possible this weekend - but hopefully will just be a dusting like this current snow. As for today,
although it is chilly we rejoice in the sun and in the Son!
12:53 pm edt
Thursday March 25, The Annunciation of the Lord"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to
a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Hail,
O favored one, the Lord is with you!' But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort
of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus'" Luke 1:26-31 RSV
12:48 pm edt
Tuesday March 23rd - Feast of Toribo De MogrovejoToribo de Mogrovejo was born in Spain and became a professor and lawyer. He was appointed a judge and, although he
was a layman, was appointed to be a bishop in Peru by King Philip II of Spain. After ordination and consecration, he
set off for Peru and became a champion to the native peoples, trying to protect them from abuse at the hands of the occupying
Spaniards. He founded schools and hospitals and learned many Indian dialects so that he could minister to the natives.
You never know where God is going to put you to do his work.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Back in the coldLast week's warm sunny weather was a tease! We are once again having colder, wet weather. But there is still the
promise of the warmth of Spring. Life is like this, Bright warm sunny times and cold wet rainy times. But there
is always the promise of Christ walking with us, always the promise of hope and the reassurance of comfort and that we
are not alone.
10:35 pm edt
Sunday, March 21, 2010
The Fifth Sunday in LentAnother beautiful day! Praise God from Whom all blessings flow! Praise Him all creatures here below! Praise
Him above ye heavenly host! Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost! Amen!
Please remember to continue to pray
for victims of recent disasters and to continue to pray to stop abortion. Thank you.
10:17 pm edt
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Spring!Today is the first day of Spring! And it has been a beautiful day here is northeast Ohio. Certainly there may be a few
more snowflakes (local lore says it has to snow three times on the daffodils and they are not in bloom yet), but the worst
of winter is over and the promise of the rebirth of Spring is in the air. Just like the promise of the Resurrection
and being born again in Christ by faith through grace. As the earth starts to bloom and come to life again so can we
come to new life in Christ. (We've got some crocuses blooming!)
8:01 pm edt
Friday, March 19, 2010
Feast Day of St. JosephSt. Joseph is the model of perfect obedience to God. When he found Mary to be pregnant, he at first compassionately
sought to divorce her quietly. When an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him to take Mary his wife
and call the son to be born Jesus, he did as he was told. He took Mary to Bethlehem as was decreed and found lodging
and probably assisted with the birth of Christ. When an angel appeared in a dream and told him to flee to Egypt and
stay there until the angel would tell him otherwise, he immediately arose that same night and took Mary and Jesus to a strange
country and stayed there until told by the angel to return. Never any question, pure obedience, love and compassion.
10:18 pm edt
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Feast Day of St. Cyril of JerusalemSt. Cyril was born in Jerusalem around the year 315 A.D. It is amazing the strife and discord that can exist within
the church. The Arian heresy, i.e., that Jesus was not Divine and One with the Father, had surfaced and much conflict
and false accusations were rampant between factions of the Church. Cyril rose to become bishop of Jerusalem at this
time. He remained faithful to the doctrine of the divinity of Christ and because of that and jealousy of the Arian bishop
of Caesarea (jealous because the see of Jerusalem was considered more important than the see of Caesarea), he was banished
from his Jeruslem see a total of three times. He was accused of selling church property for profit when in truth he
did sell church property but it was for food and supplies for the poor. He attended the Council of Constantinople where
the Nicene Creed was adopted firmly proclaiming the Divinity of Christ, and was cleared of all false charges. His last
years were peaceful unitl his death thought to be on March 18, 386 A.D. He is considered an early Doctor of the Church
9:00 pm edt
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Feast Day of Saint Patrick, Patron Saint of IrelandSt. Patrick was born in Kilpatrick, Scotland, in 387 to Roman parents in charge of the Roman colonies in Britian.
At about age 14 he was seized during a raid and taken to Ireland as a slave until he escaped at about age 20. Although
he was surrounded by pagans and Druids in Ireland, he remained a faithful Christian. He was able to escape after God
told him in a dream to go to the coast. There he found passage back to Britian and was reunited with his family.
Another dream showed him Irish people begging him to return. He studied for the priesthood, was ordained a bishop and
returned to spread the Gospel to Ireland. He spent the next 40 years winning many converts and disciples and is said
to have used the Shamrock to explain the Trinity. Although the exact year of his death is disputed, he is said
to have died on March 17. Happy St. Patrick's day!
5:57 pm edt
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Pick Up SticksNow that almost all the snow on the lawn has melted (a few spots under the trees are holding out) it is time for the annual
spring cleaning of the yard. And while I'm out there picking up sticks, soaking in the cool late winter sun I can
listen to the calls of returning birds. Lent is a great time for us to clean up our lives, to take stock of our relationship
with God. And enjoy the peace that comes when you straighten things up and prepare for what is to come.
6:23 pm edt
Sunday, March 14, 2010
The Fourth Sunday in LentDid you remember to "spring ahead' today and set your clocks one hour ahead? (Don't forget to change the batteries
in your smoke detectors too.) On Sundays in Lent we are all supposed to "spring ahead" in our thoughts
in joyful anticipation of Son Rise!
Remember to continue to pray for the victims of earthquakes and severe weather.
The rainy season will soon start in Haiti and so many of those people are in tent cities in low lands. Chile continues
to have tremblors.
3:45 pm edt
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The Woman Who Gave RagsI remember my mother talking about a poor woman who belonged to our church when I was growing up. I don't remember all
the details, but I believe she was a widow who supported herself and her young daughter by cleaning other people's houses.
She was very active in the church and well known to all and was often invited to bridal showers. She would always come
in her worn but clean and pressed dress and gave the same gift to each soon-to-be bride. And they all knew what
the gift would be and looked forward to receiving it. A smile of approval would cross everyone's lips when her gift
was open for inside, freshly laundered, pressed and neatly folded, would be a supply of rags. Remember, this was 50
years or so ago and there were no Swiffers, no steam mops, no disposable dust clothes. Everything the bride received
was brand new except for this thoughtful gift - cleaning rags for dusting, polishing and scrubbing! This widow gave
each bride what she would need to help keep her house in order. Everybody loved the woman who gave rags.
1:31 pm est
Friday, March 12, 2010
Another Friday in LentHere we have another Friday in Lent and choices to make about what meatless meal to have. Really our life is about choices.
And we do have them. So often it is easy to believe you do not have many choices, that life is going on without you
having control. But we do have choices. First, we can choose to remember that God is in control. Then we
can choose to ask the Holy Spirit to help us each day to live a life as Christ would have us live it. We can ask
for the Spirit to direct us and fill us. Then as we face the challenges of the day we can choose the attitude to
take to deal with things with the help of the Spirit. We can choose to be still and step aside from the busyness of
the day to listen for the still, quiet voice of God and be refreshed when we hear it. We can choose. (By the way
we chose crab cakes, cabbage pierogies and spinach for supper)
10:28 pm est
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Scents of SpringThere has been a sure sign of the coming of spring the past three nights - the pungent smell of skunks! They are waking
from their slumbers and looking for whatever skunks look for as the spring approaches. Of another more pleasant aroma,
there is the sweet smell from sugar houses as maple sap is being boiled down for syrup. With all this spring and the
promise of renewal in the
Resurrection is not far away.
10:44 pm est
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Tuesday, Feast of Frances of RomeFrances was born to wealthy parents in 1384. Although she wished to enter the convent, her family arranged a marriage
for her. She had two children who were lost to the plague. She then devoted her time to the less fortunate
and took care of the sick with her sister. This inspired other wealthy women to do the same. You never know what
your actions will inspire others to do. Keep yourself open to do whatever the Lord asks.
Pray for the victims of
all the recent earthquakes in the world. Pray to stop abortion
10:32 pm est
Monday - St. John of GodSt. John of God (1495-1550) was a man given to impulsiveness. In fact today, he would probably be considered to have
ADD. However, as he embraced his faith, it would seem that his impulsiveness was driven by the Holy Spirit's urgings
and his love for his fellow man. Ex. there was the time he raced into a burning hospital to help evacuate patients
while others just stood and watched. Then he went back and threw out mattress, blankets, anything he could grab because
he knew how hard they were to come by. His life is full of rapid shifts in direction. Read about him! Maybe
we should try to be a bit more like him in his unquestioning response to urgings of the Spirit.
10:27 pm est
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The Third Sunday of LentAnother beautiful sun filled day in northeast Ohio! Thirteen days until Spring officially begins! While pondering
our walk of faith this Lenten season we can look forward to the joy of the Resurrection. Jesus died that we might be
saved from the wages of sin. God loves each of us that much.
9:12 pm est
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Sunshine!!!The beautiful sunshine of the last few days remind us that winter's storms are almost over and spring is just around the corner...finally!
Remember to continue to pray for the victims of earthquakes and to end abortion. Thank you.
1:17 pm est
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Feast Day of St. CasimirSt. Casimir lived in the 1400's and is considered the Patron Saint of Lithuania and Poland. His grandfather is credited
with bringing Christianity to Poland. Born the second son of the king of Poland, he preferred simple clothes to
royal robes and was known for his charity and devotion to God and Mary. He refused to marry when his father offered
him an arranged marriage of political alliance and wanted to serve the Lord. He was well trained in affairs of state
and did act as ruler of Poland while his father was in Lithuania for 5 years. He died of lung disease (possibly TB)
at age 23.
4:53 pm est
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Feast Day of St. Katharine DrexelSt. Katharine Drexel is only the second American born saint and was canonized on October 1, 2000. She was born to a
wealthy Philadelphian family in 1858, but chose to use her wealth to help those who had less. She was especially interested
in helping African Americans and Native Americans. She founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Black
and Native Americans and approximately 60 schools for those groups were opened by her congregations. She is considered
the Patron Saint of Racial Justice. She suffered a heart attack at age 77 and devoted the rest of her life to quiet
prayer and Eucharistic adoration until her death in 1955. She is another example of one person who in the service of
God made a tremendous difference. When God calls He provides the strength to answer that call. Be open, be willing
to hear, and be ready to answer the call.
10:36 pm est
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
What if God used a cell phone......to text the Ten Commandments to Moses:
1. no1b4me. Srsly
2. no omg's
3. no wrk on
w/end
4. prnts ok - ur m&d r cool
5. dnt kill ppl
6. sx only w/m8
7. dnt steal
8. dnt lie
9. dnt ogle ur bf's things
10. dnt ogle ur bf's m8
9:56 pm est
Monday, March 1, 2010
The Second Sunday in LentContentment is not having more... but needing less.
Pray for life - pray to stop abortion.
10:30 am est
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Several years ago, David Parkes stared death in the face. A man with everything to live for:
a young family, star professional footballer, and standing on the brink of a promising pop music career, he was diagnosed
with severe Crohn's disease. Having endured ten major bowel operations, yet still in constant, debilitating pain, he was informed
by his medical team that there was nothing more they could do for him.
