Fork in the Road

" When you come to a fork in the road....Take it " ~Yogi Berra

Every once in a while I think about this quote sometimes on my own or a good friend of mine (roommate, colleague) , we'll often quote it to one another. A priest once made reference to it during a homily at mass we attended together and the quote just stuck with us. So yesterday I was sitting outside and this quote popped back in my head and I was thinking about the fork in the road and what does it mean to just "take it". Sounds easy enough, but how do you know which fork to take? What I started to think about is when I first heard this months ago I imagined a fork in the road to look like this: 

And I think that is what confused me. So in essence you are traveling down a road (life) and come across two similar paths (decisions) and have two choices presenting themselves and have to make a decision...you need to choose one or the other to continue on  the journey. (Kind of like the Robert Frost poem, The Road Not Taken).

But yesterday, the fork I began to envision looked different. It started to look like this:

This pictorial representation started to make more sense to me than when I initially visualized the "fork in the road". This image in my mind was different; it represented the fork as more of a splintering off of the path already being traveled vs. an either/or gotta choose one. With this image the traveler would still have a decisions to make, because you can choose to stay on the path you are on in life or take the fork (perhaps the road not taken or the narrow way...so many other references can be made here). 

How would you know if you should "take the fork"? Taking time for prayer (especially before the Blessed Sacrament). Both paths may be inherently "good" but which will be the most freeing and bring the most joy? Which will lead you to holiness?

Prayer of St Columba

Be, Lord Jesus, a bright flame before me,

a guiding star above me,

a smooth path below me,

a kindly shepherd behind me:

today, tonight, and forever

*I apologize for my elementary graphics, I drew them fast...but they did get the point across...I think?!?

The Gospel - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Saints Peter and Paul

Collect: Grant, we pray, O Lord our God, that we may be sustained by the intercession of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, that, as through them you gave your Church the foundations of her heavenly office, so through them you may help her to eternal salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

God Heals

O LORD, my God, I cried out to you for help and you healed me.
~Psalm 30:3

God Heals (author unknown)
Remember when you heard the words 
- and your mind went blank - you were in another world
God heals

Remember in your darkest hours 

- when all that surrounds you is pain and sorrow

God heals

Remember friends' prayers 

- your family's encouragement - glimmers of hope from everyday angels

God heals

Quiet...you can hear Him now 

- always there  - yet never this close

God heals

It's just another day 

- yet everything has changed  - and you hear yourself say

God heals

Birds are singing 

- the sky is a beautiful blue - flowers are blooming...

God heals

Truths that you knew as a child 

- awakened again with new understanding

God heals

Remember when others can't 

- that life is a gift - each day to treasure

God Has Healed

Humility

"Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you." James 4:10

Saw this quote when I was driving. It was just what I needed to read/hear at the time. God was speaking to me, clearly reading my innermost thoughts. Gosh, no matter how many times that happens I am amazed. And so I pray...

Most humble Jesus, give me a share of your humility.

Take from my heart everything that displeases you;

convert it totally to you,

so that I may no longer will or desire

anything other than what you will.
~St Alphonsus Ligouri

Gospel 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Luke 9:18-24

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude,
and the disciples were with him,
he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
They said in reply, “John the Baptist;
others, Elijah;
still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
He rebuked them
and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Then he said to all,
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

Jesus, fill us, we pray,  

with your light and life  

that we may show forth  

your wonderful glory.  

Grant that your love  

may so fill our lives  

that we may count  

nothing too small to do for you,  

nothing too much to give  

and nothing too hard to bear. Amen.

- St. Ignatius Loyola

www.livingwithchrist.us

Saints

Went to spend the day with my sister and her kids today. When her son came to greet me he didn't call me Mary or Aunt Mary, but Saint Mary! I told him not yet, but hopefully one day. That's what we are all called to be one day; saints in heaven with God, the angels and all the saints there before us. Thought it was kind of fitting that one of the stops during our day was to pick up my niece from VBS at church. We got there early and  walked the grounds of the parish, so many beautiful statues of saints to see!

"All the science of the Saints is included in these two things: To do, and to suffer. And whoever had done these two things best, has made himself most saintly." 
~Saint Francis de Sales

Almighty and ever-living God, 

I approach the sacrament 

of your only-begotten Son 

Our Lord Jesus Christ, 

I come sick to the doctor of life, 

unclean to the fountain of mercy, 

blind to the radiance of eternal light, 

and poor and needy to the Lord 

of heaven and earth.  

Lord, in your great generosity, 

heal my sickness, 

wash away my defilement, 

enlighten my blindness, enrich my poverty, 

and clothe my nakedness. 

May I receive the bread of angels, 

the King of kings and Lord of lords, 

with humble reverence, 

with the purity and faith, 

the repentance and love, 

and the determined purpose 

that will help to bring me to salvation. 

May I receive the sacrament 

of the Lord's body and blood, 

and its reality and power.

- St. Thomas Aquinas

www.livingwithchrist.us

"We must care for our bodies as though we were going to live forever. But we must care for our souls as if we were going to die tomorrow. "

~St. Augustine

The Gospel - 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thelma and Louise er I mean John

Went walking with Bailey (my dog of 7 years). Mike and I got her after we moved into our house and after he was diagnosed. Twofold; primarily because we both wanted a pet but also we thought a dog would be great company for Mike and a great motivator for him. When we got Bay she was just a pup and he was unable to work due to treatments and side-effects of brain cancer. So puppy training definitely gave him a bit of a boost...not sure if one could necessarily say a confidence boost because puppies definitely do what they want and have an alpha they look to. Unfortunately Mike wasn't the alpha in the house that she listened to and this infuriated him even further. But none the less, taking care of her gave him a reason to get out of bed each morning when I was at work. He had something to take care of, clean-up after :) ...walk (or chase rather) when she ran away from him. I would get calls sometimes at work from him, "It's a good thing I love you. That dog ran away again today and I had to run two streets over to get her and if I didn't love you...."  Ha! You get the drift.  I can go on and on about Bailey stories. How good she was when Mike was sick and home dying. And how she was my buddy when I felt so alone after his death, and still she's my faithful companion. Walking is our thing. I used to walk and walk a great deal after Mike died. Gave me time to think, listen to music and just get out for a bit. I still go out walking now any opportunity I get. 

Tonight was a neat experience. I was walking down a side street and saw an elderly man sitting on the porch (suspenders and newsboy cap, so classic ). I said "hi" and waved and he waved and I saw him trying to do something with his lips. I took my headphones off and he told me he was trying to whistle to get my dog's attention but he wasn't able to whistle anymore. I figured he was probably pretty comfortable with dogs so I walked up and met he and his wife. She told me she was Thelma and he is John, she said not "Thelma and Louise". (Great sense of humor. I liked her already). I stayed and talked with them for a bit and found out they are in their 90's, have a great-grand kid on the way and all sorts of other wonderful things. What I mostly learned from talking to Thelma and John is they just wanted somebody to talk to, somebody to stop and listen, and somebody to acknowledge their presence by waving, or saying hi and not ignoring them. They asked if I would stop by again and talk to them. When I was heading home this left me with much to think about; perhaps I can be more aware as I am going about my day to the "Thelma and Johns" that I pass, rather if I am walking, driving or in the store. Perhaps if maybe I just took the time to wave or say "hi", it could make a difference.

Who Me??

"We often like to claim we don't know what God wants when, in reality, we do and we just don't like His answer to our question." ~Tweet Inspiration

How many times has God asked me, you, whomever to do something and sometimes when it is really radical or maybe so simple I know my initial reaction sometimes has been a "no" (directly or indirectly) by a laugh, snicker or filled with excuses... "Me?" OR  "But I'm __________!" OR  "That's too ___________!?!" (fill in the blank) thinking I know better. ha! But God is good and loves us. He does have a plan for each and every one of us you know! "For I know well the plans I have in mind for you -  oracle of the LORD -  plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope." (Jeremiah 29:11) Trust, pray and rest in the Lord if you feel the nudge or the answer to a question from God.

St. Anthony Pray For Us!

Holy Spirit, fire of love, 

come rest over each of us, 

make our tongue ready 

to confess our sins, 

that in revealing everything 

and concealing nothing, 

we may attain heavenly life 

to sing eternal praise with the angels. 

With your help, you who live 

and reign through all ages. Amen.

- St. Anthony of Padua

Meditation by Cardinal John Henry Newman

God, you have created me to do you some definite service: You have committed some work to me which you have not committed to another. I have my mission – I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told in the next. Somehow I am necessary for your purposes. I have a part in the great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for nothing. I shall do good, I shall do his work; I shall be an angel of peace, A preacher of truth in my own place. Fulfill your high purposes in me, I am here to serve you, to be yours.

Amen

"Look to him that you may be radiant with joy!" ~Psalm 34:5

The mercy of God gives life to man, it raises him from the dead. The Lord is always watching us with mercy, [always] awaits us with mercy.  Let us be not afraid to approach him! He has a merciful heart! If we show our inner wounds, our sins, He always forgives us. He is pure mercy! Let us never forget this: He is pure mercy! Let us go to Jesus!" 
~Pope Francis/June 9,2013 Angelus

You Can Have Me

"Father of love, You can have me. My Father, my love, You can have me."

~Sidewalk Prophets

“Thy will be done.” What a comfort those four little words are to my soul. I have repeated them until they are softened to the sweetest harmony. We are in darkness, and must be thankful that our knowledge is not needed to perfect thy work. 

~St. Elizabeth Ann Seton  from Firmly On the Rock

Immaculate Heart of Mary

"Mary, give me your Heart: so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate; your Heart so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life and love Him as you love Him and serve Him in the distressing guise of the poor."

~Blessed Mother Teresa

Litany of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Lord, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy,
Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us,
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,                                             
Have mercy on us.

God the Son, redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us. 

God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us. 

Holy Trinity, one God, 
Have mercy on us.

Response to the following: Pray for us.

Heart of Mary                                                                    
Heart of Mary, after God’s own Heart
Heart of Mary, in union with the Heart of Jesus
Heart of Mary, the vessel of the Holy Spirit
Heart of Mary, shrine of the Trinity
Heart of Mary, home of the Word
Heart of Mary, immaculate in your creation
Heart of Mary, flooded with grace
Heart of Mary, blessed of all hearts
Heart of Mary, Throne of glory
Heart of Mary, Abyss of humblenes,
Heart of Mary, Victim of love
Heart of Mary, nailed to the cross
Heart of Mary, comfort of the sad
Heart of Mary, refuge of the sinner
Heart of Mary, hope of the dying
Heart of Mary, seat of mercy

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, 
Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, 
Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, 
Have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

L: Immaculate Mary, meek and humble of heart.

A: Conform our hearts to the heart of Jesus.

Let us pray:
O most merciful God, who for the salvation of sinners and the refuge of the wretched, has made the Immaculate Heart of Mary most like in tenderness and pity to the Heart of Jesus, grant that we, who now commemorate her most sweet and loving heart, may by her merits and intercession, ever live in the fellowship of the hearts of both Mother and Son, through the same Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 

"Love....to will, to want, the good of the other and do something about it." ~Fr. Robert Barron

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus 

Lord, have mercy on us. Christe, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, God, the Son, Redeemer of the World, God, the Holy Ghost, Holy Trinity, one God,  Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father, Heart of Jesus, formed in the womb of the Virgin Mother by the Holy Ghost, Heart of Jesus, united substantially with the word of God, Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God, Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High,  Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven,  Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity, Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love, Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues, Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts, Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, Heart of Jesus, in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Divinity, Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased,  Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received,  Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills,  Heart of Jesus, patient and rich in mercy,  Heart of Jesus, rich to all who invoke Thee,  Heart of Jesus, fount of life and holiness, Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins,  Heart of Jesus, saturated with revilings, Heart of Jesus, crushed for our iniquities, Heart of Jesus, made obedient unto death,  Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance,  Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection,  Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation,  Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins,  Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in Thee, Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee,  Heart of Jesus, delight of all saints,	h a v e m e r c y o n u s
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (spare us, O Lord.) Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (graciously hear us, O Lord.) Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world, (have mercy on us.) Jesus, meek and humble of Heart. (Make our hearts like unto Thine.) Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, look upon the Heart of Thy well-beloved Son and upon the acts of praise and satisfaction which He renders unto Thee in the name of sinners; and do Thou, in Thy great goodness, grant pardon to them who seek Thy mercy, in the name of the same Thy Son, Jesus Christ, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, world without end. (Amen.)

Grant me, Lord,
to know what is worth knowing,
to love what is worth loving,
to praise what delights you most,
to value what is precious in your sight,
to hate what is offensive to you.
Do not let me judge by what I see,
nor pass sentence according to what I hear,
but to judge rightly between things that differ
and above all to search out
and to do what pleases you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

- Thomas à Kempis

"You must always humble yourself lovingly before God and before men, because God speaks only to those who are truly humble and He enriches them with His gifts." ~Padre Pio