The Harvest

  

  One of the many wonderful things to look forward to at the end of August is all the delicious farm-grown vegetables. Dinner sides and salads often rival the main course. I love a tasty harvest! My shade-covered yard doesn't get enough sun for my vegetable garden, so I rely on farmers' markets and roadside stands, but that doesn't mean I haven't been planting seeds. The seeds I plant are often slow-growing and bloom elsewhere. It is a garden not for myself, but for the Lord.

  We can all sow seeds of faith, hope, and love regardless of our occupation, location, or lifestyle. The Lord has blessed us with these seeds, and He only asks that we accept what we are given and share it with others. It's such a simple concept. And during those seasons when the sun isn't shining in our yards, we can benefit from those whose harvest is plentiful.

  This week, look deep inside yourself. Today might not be the right time for you to harvest. It could be time to plant new seeds or nurture what you've already grown. God doesn't require any green thumbs, only a heart full of love.

-Susan

Mary's Assumption into Heaven

 

  If you could mystically experience one moment in Mary's life, which would it be? There are so many moments to choose from. The birth of Jesus and Mary's Assumption would be at the top of my list. I would love to see Mary's face the first time she sees the face of God and holds Him in her arms. I also would love to experience the joy in Mary's heart when she is carried into heaven and sees Jesus' face surrounded by all His glory and the glory of heaven! I imagine her pure heart overflowing with love, knowing that neither time nor space would ever come between them again. 

  Mary desires that each of us long for that moment too—our moment when we will see the face of Jesus forever. Mary wants to bring us into unity with Jesus! She understands the deep longing of a soul craving complete union with God. Like Mary, we must be faithful and watchful while we live here on earth. So, grab your rosary and let Mary teach you how to stay faithful. She is eager to help you.

  We would be wise to open the door of our homes to Mary just as Elizabeth and Zachariah did. Let Mary enter your home, speak your name, and allow the Holy Spirit to fill you. The sinless virgin can do so much for you if you let her. Once inside your home, open the door to your heart as well.  Let Mary write her prayers on your heart so that together you can give honor and glory to God. Give Mary your heart, and she will give you hers as well. Through the heart of Mary, you will see the face of God, hear His voice, and experience the joy of heaven! 

  We have so much to celebrate today! Let Mary open the door of our hearts to the splendor of heaven! 

-Susan

Walking Towards Heaven

 

  Paulina knew she had tried hard to "fight the good fight."  Was she perfect?  Of course not.  She did her best to listen to the Lord's voice when making decisions.  She could clearly hear His voice right now. He was calling her.  A small smile appeared as she took her first step.  As she slowly walked toward heaven, she fixed her eyes on the Lord.

  The path was straight and narrow, but many others were on the same path with numerous familiar faces around her. The music softly touched her ears, seeming to amplify the Lord's call at the same time. She was almost there. The glories of heaven surrounded her.  

  Paulina trembled slightly as she took her last step forward. Reverently, she bowed before the Lord, then fixed her eyes entirely on Him. This was the moment she had prepared for, and she was ready. She reached out her hands, eager to embrace Him. Then the sweetest words were spoken to her, "The Body of Christ."

  Paulina let her heart, mind, and soul speak at the same time, "Amen!"

-Susan

A Far Greater Plan

      

  Last week, I talked about my family trip to Boston. One of my favorite things about vacations is that they can provide rest and a new perspective. My oldest daughter was excited to experience the Freedom Trail in downtown Boston.  She had learned earlier in the year that her husband's great-grandfather (x 5) was buried in one of the cemeteries on the Freedom Trail. Both my daughter and son-in-law wanted to pay their respects. Later, one of my other children asked my daughter why she was so excited about it, since it wasn't her heritage. My daughter quickly responded, "I wanted to say thank you. My husband or children would not have existed if it weren't for him."

  I reflected on this conversation later.  Each of us, no matter how ordinary our lives may seem, is so important to God's plan of salvation.  Our names may not be written in the history books, but they are engraved in God's heart. Every time we respond "Yes" to God, we have the potential to change the world.  The measure of our success is not how we or the rest of the world view our lives, but how God sees them.  God's plans are far greater than we could ever imagine, and this thought gives me great hope.

  People may not know about our trials, failures, or joys in a few hundred years. Perhaps the only thing that may endure is a name etched in stone.  Yet, I would consider it an honor to have a young family approach that stone and say, "Thank you, your life made all the difference in our lives."  And I hope they thank God for all His Plans known and unknown to them in their next breath.

-Susan

Cathedral of the Holy Cross

 

   While vacationing with my family in Boston, we had the chance to attend Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. It was a stunning cathedral, a masterpiece of architecture and art. The impressive stained glass windows, each depicting a different biblical story, bathed the cathedral in a kaleidoscope of colors. What caught my eye before Mass began was the gold angels in front of the ornate white altar. A crucifix in the center of the altar reflected the radiance of God's love. Statues of the saints, each a work of art in its own right, were scattered throughout the cathedral. This cathedral was magnificent, but that wasn't what took my breath away. 

 The art was beautiful, but more importantly, I felt the Holy Spirit nudging and reminding me that the angels, saints, and Mary celebrate the Mass with us.  Even though I know this is true, I can sometimes take it for granted. Looking at the gold angels above me, I was filled with awe, wondering how many angels were present during the Mass. This reality was nothing short of a miracle. I could experience heaven's glories by opening a church door and entering Mass. God's generosity and love are more than I ever deserve.

 Celebrating Mass with my children by my side always fills me with joy. Feeling the presence of my heavenly family beside me lifts my happiness to new heights. I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with gratitude and thank God for this moment. This is the family vacation of my dreams!

-Susan

You Will Be happy

 

  One of my favorite movie lines came to mind today. The main character is about to get married and asks his best man for advice on marriage. The best man responds, "You'll be happy; you just won't know it." That simple truth always makes me smile. We often overlook the small, joyful moments, wishing for a fairy tale life full of endless fun and happiness. Rather than focusing on everyday blessings, we tend to judge our lives based on our worst moments and what we lack.

  God is always working in our lives. Jesus reminds us of this during His Sermon on the Mount and His teachings on the Beatitudes. Even when life is tough, God is close to us, drawing us nearer to Him. Can we truly be happy despite our pain? Jesus tells us, "Yes." Even on our worst days, we can receive the Eucharist, and the Holy Spirit always dwells with us. Our cup isn't half full; it's overflowing with divine graces. We are blessed beyond understanding!

  This week, do yourself a favor and try to remember all the blessings in your life. Our lives are better than any fairy tale. They are filled with God's love and Divine Presence! My advice is to remember that you are blessed, even when you don't feel it. If you spend your life united to God, you will be happy, and you will know it!

-Susan

I'll Take That To Go

  

    Jack pulled up to the window and rolled down his window. “Welcome to Heavenly Treats. Can I take your order?” asked the polite voice through the speaker.

“Yes, please, I’ll take the large cup of blessings, one order of forgiveness, and a side of charity.”

“What type of forgiveness would you like?” asked the voice.

“Oh, just give me a variety. I’m sharing it with my coworkers.”

“Would you like to supersize your cup of blessings?”

“No, thank you. I’m trying to sacrifice this week.”

“OK, pull up to the first side altar window, and we’ll prepare it for you.”

 Clearly, this is not how we develop faith. We can’t demand God bless us (even though God freely offers this). Forgiveness should be given genuinely and intentionally, reflecting on our actions and the desire to rebuild our relationship with God. 
 Growing in faith requires time, commitment, patience, love, and trust. Some days are easier than others, and it involves prayer, reflection.  We need to discern God's call and then respond. We can’t just pick up some faith; we must dedicate our lives to honestly examining the truth of the gospels. We can’t just stop by church to meet our needs; we should bring the church to those in need. It will take effort, but as they say, “If you enjoy what you are doing, it doesn’t feel like work.”
 Please come by the Church this week. Ask Jesus to bless and forgive you.  Spend time with Jesus and ask Him to reveal His heart to you. Stay as long as you can, then take Jesus by the hand and share Him with the world.  It’s okay to take Jesus to go.

-Susan