Stewardship: A Way of Life

By Kathy Reilly | Published: February 6, 2012

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QUESTION: WHAT STORY ABOUT OR TEACHING OF JESUS IS YOUR FAVORITE? WHY?

How does this favorite story, event, teaching affect you? Or does it? Has this favorite Jesus moment changed your life? Should it? How often do you think about Jesus in this regard in your life?

Every time we go to a church service, especially the Mass, we hear over and over again the message of Jesus. We are encouraged to listen and make His teachings a part of our lives. We are told we should read the Bible. For if we don‘t know the Bible, we can‘t know Jesus, either through the Old Testament when the coming of the Messiah was foretold or in the New Testament when He, our Savior, the Messiah, the Son of the Father, arrives. We listen, we read, we pray, we try to establish a personal relationship with our Lord. Some feel frustrated. Some feel comforted. Some feel that they are learning more and more about Jesus‘ life. Some don‘t have time. Some are oblivious to the fact that they should make this a life-long passion to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him. Some try but just don‘t seem to get anywhere. Life gets in the way.

There was an important message in today‘s Gospel, if we were really paying attention. And it wasn‘t about the primary event. Jesus went to the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon‘s mother-in-law was ill and Jesus cured her. By evening, after sunset, the whole town was at the front door. Jesus cured many of various diseases and drove out many demons from those so affected. “Rising very early before dawn, He left and went off to a deserted place, where He prayed.”

If we are truly observant of Jesus‘ life, we will remember that Jesus often went away by Himself to a silent place to pray. He went into gardens; He went into deserted places; He prayed to His Father. He needed to be alone to restore Himself after He had done great deeds or in order to prepare Himself for what was to come. Maybe, at times, He too felt this world just getting in the way and had to reorient Himself. If Jesus needed to restore His soul, His body, His mind, don‘t you think that this message is one that we need to think about and adopt in our lives? The only way we can truly deepen our relationship with God is to stop, and by ourselves, talk with, pray to, and listen to our Father as did Jesus. As we roar though this life, hardly stopping to catch our breath, a quiet moment alone is restorative beyond measure and its worth known only by those who do it.

“What would Jesus do?” — a question asked by magazines, books, TV shows, etc. If we are at all paying attention, we know the answer by bearing witness to His teachings and by His actions, some unspoken. We, like Jesus, cannot let this life get in the way. We too need to withdraw, to pray, to think, to restore, to live. “Silence is golden”, it has been said. Let each one of us become rich as we follow Jesus‘ example. Let each of us find our alone place. Jesus says: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) Go thou and do likewise.

Stewardship Questions: Kathy Reilly 781-444-0862 e-mail: kreilly15@yahoo.com
If anyone needs a ride to a church service or wishes a home visit or Communion, please contact me.

Stewardship: A Way of Life

By Kathy Reilly | Published: January 29, 2012

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“THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THE FUTURE IS THAT IT COMES ONE DAY AT A TIME”

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Ordinary Time is that time between special events, holy days, sacred seasons in our church calendar. We are now between Advent/Christmas and Lent. Ordinary time is when we live day by day and are not distracted by the other issues or events surrounding this special time which has its own important meaning, obligations, joy, etc. These sacred seasons are periods of prayerful renewal; periods that reinvigorate us spiritually; times that we need to stop and learn to reconnect with our Lord. But they are a limited time period.

Ordinary time for us should obviously be filled with the Lord in our lives; a relationship that we nurture on our own. But ordinary time is also our every day time when we get up, still tired or not, pain free or not, to do what we have to do in the course of the day to fulfill our obligations to our family, job, volunteerism, friends, and the list goes on. These are the days that make or break us. And these are the days when many feel alone in their struggles. And unfortunately, these are the days when many of us have forgotten that Jesus often told us that He wished much joy and happiness for us in this life. Oh yes. I forgot to put that on my today‘s “to do list” –joy and happiness today. By forgetting Jesus‘ wishes for us begs the question– Is this any way to live?

Too often if we take time to really look around us, we see faces worried, stressed, sad, overwhelmed, and these faces are our families as well as strangers. What are we waiting for? “THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE! BE IN IT NOW!” Living waiting for the future or living being held back by the past just doesn‘t work if one wants to be in love with life and thankful for all of the gifts that God has given us today. The future has arrived in this moment. Day by day the future arrives. Sometimes we are rewarded with what we hoped and prayed for and sometimes we receive something new and unexpected that we did not anticipate. We are taught that all our prayers are heard by the Lord and answered. But how often do we really listen or pay attention. And how many of us are convinced that we should always be in control of our lives and those around us and that WE know best.

Rumor has it that God‘s smile is at its brightest when we tell Him that we know best.Father Phil often reminds us to smile more often. It may be the only communication and positive support some people receive in the course of the day. “Smile and the world smiles with you.”

In closing, let not the cold and early dark, long nights hold us in its grip as we await the future–spring, warmth, summer. Today holds much joy and happiness if only we seek it and make it happen. Let the sun shine in and on you every day accepting God‘s blessing.

AN OLD IRISH BLESSING
May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures.
May all life‘s passing seasons bring the best to you and yours.

Stewardship Questions: Kathy Reilly 781-444-0862 e-mail: kreilly15@yahoo.com
If anyone needs a ride to a church service or wishes a home visit or Communion visit, please contact me

Just Do One Thing

By Barbara Dury | Published: January 23, 2012

God knows us before all time and he has called each of us, at our Baptism, by name just as he called the twelve apostles.  What is it that he calls us to do?  He calls us, just as he called the twelve apostles to follow him, learn from him and be his disciples. While most of us are not called to give up everything in order to follow him like those first disciples were  we are still called to follow him none the less.

( I have to admit that I have always felt a little sorry for Zebedee.   Zebedee, with the help of his sons, fished for a living and along comes a man named Jesus, and before Zebedee knew what was happening, his sons get up and leave him to answer the call of Jesus, and leave Zebedee alone holding the nets.  But I digress.)

Each of us is called to uniquely live out God’s plan for us through our vocation; whether it be through the priesthood, consecrated life, marriage or the single life; whether it be as a parent, child, teacher, student, clerk, lawyer, doctor, nurse, caretaker, laborer, policeman, fireman, soldier, or whatever; whether it be in business, education, public safety, service to others, medicine, research or by being at home. Yes, each one of us are called to live our vocations in our world each and every day.  But do we take the time to listen?  Do we try to discern what God is asking us to do?  Do we take the time each day to pray and listen to his voice?  Each one of us is a unique creation of God and each one of us has a unique role to play in building God’s kingdom here on earth.

~Barbara Dury

Just Do One Thing

By Barbara Dury | Published: January 17, 2012

Ordinary Time.    Thank you God for Ordinary Time.  Advent and Christmas are over.  I don‘t know how many people this past week have expressed relief that the holidays are over and how much they are looking forward to getting back to their everyday routines.  I think that this is because it is in the ordinariness of everyday life that we truly live.  Vacations and holidays are usually welcome respites from the routines of everyday life.  As much as I enjoy these breaks I am almost always relieved when life once again resumes a normal routine.  Sickness, infirmity, family emergencies can also interrupt our routines in a not so positive way and I know that I thank God when I am able to return to everyday life. Ordinary daily life is so much more then “ordinary” or unimportant.   It is the very substance and foundation of our lives.

What is the importance of Ordinary Time during the liturgical year?   Ordinary Time is called ordinary simply because the weeks are numbered in a series or come in a specific sequence or order.  Ordinary Time is the ordered life of the Church.  It is the part of the year in which Jesus Christ walks with us and transforms our lives. It is the time when we are called to “Come and See.” The vestments worn by the priest in Ordinary Time are green – a sign of this life and growth in faith.

This Ordinary Time let us walk with Christ and accept his invitation to “Come and See.”

~Barbara Dury

Stewardship: A Way of Life

By Kathy Reilly | Published: January 15, 2012

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Jesus stressed our need to love one another and be there for each other so powerfully that He made it the second greatest Commandment–to love one another as He has love us. If we succeed in being all we can be with the help of our Lord, then our positive influence on all that we have encountered in our life’s journey will be exactly what is asked of us. And if others we encounter along our life’s path are all that they can be, our journey is that much more divine, influential, positive, peaceful, and easier with the help of others. No one usually grasps the power that he/she possesses in their daily actions as witnessed by another. We never know who is watching us and when. This is not meant to be a scary thought, but rather a compliment referring to the need another might have for guidance as witnessed in the actions of someone who is admired. We can strive to be what we ought to be with prayer and the help of God, but that success will never be complete without the assistance of others around us. We leave this world alone. But we are in this world together. And the more we support each other in our attempts to ‘be what we ought to be‘, the more likely the goal will be attained by all.

In today’s first reading, the youth, Samuel, was awakened from sleep three times, thinking it was Eli, the prophet, outside his room calling him. After saying “No” three times and explaining that it was not he calling, Eli said “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening’.” The Lord came again and revealed His presence. Samuel awaken and spoke as Eli had instructed. “Samuel grew up and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.”*

As we jog along in our life’s journey, let no word we utter be without a positive effect in reinforcing each other as well as in praise of our Lord. “Your servant is listening.”*

Stewardship Questions: Kathy Reilly 781-444-0862 e-mail: kreilly15@yahoo.com
If anyone needs a ride to a church service or a home visit or Communion, please contact me.

* A reading from the first Book of Samuel

Stewardship: A Way of Life

By Kathy Reilly | Published: January 11, 2012

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HEALING

No one needs Webster to define the meaning of the word healing. Each one of us can recognize the longing for it within ourselves. Some wish to heal physically, or morally, or mentally, spiritually, in a relationship, and so on. The need for healing is powerful if it is not present and equally powerful when it is. As soon as we are born, our physical need for a healing, while not understood, is communicated powerfully with a cry. As toddlers as soon as we have learned to communicate with another, even without language, we need a healing touch for our „boo boo‟ in order to make us better. Thousands have travelled miles and miles, spent a great deal of money, and prayed for healing at a sacred site, such as Lourdes. Often one goes to these sites for a physical healing but comes home with a spiritual healing never anticipated. Healing comes in many forms and in many ways. Sometimes we can receive healing from another and at others times to receive healing, one must initiate the healing process him/her self. A new year’s beginning is often the only time one takes time to reflect on this aspect of life.

“With God all things are possible.” How grateful and thankful we should be to be one of those chosen and given the gift of faith. We know that the ministry of Christ was a healing ministry. Jesus healed the sick and dying. He healed those whose spiritual need was weak. He healed with forgiveness. He taught us about His Father and our need to listen to Him and follow His way of life–to love Him above all else and to love one another as He loves us. And the Church continues this healing ministry in many ways. Our Catholic „professionals„ such as doctors, nurses, educators, priests, nuns, hospice, hospital workers, caregivers of all kinds, continue every day to minister to the poor or sick, be it physical, mental, moral, or spiritual. Before one can be declared a saint, there has to be proof of healing miracles.

Every sin has its consequences, no matter how small or serious. It disrupts our communication with God and often each other. It weakens our ability to deal with these consequences. Jesus knew this and preached constantly about the forgiveness of God. “We cannot speak about life in Christ or the moral life without acknowledging the reality of sin, our own sinfulness, and our need for God‟s mercy .”*

God in His creative genius recognizes our humanity, its strengths and weaknesses, our ability to endure, our need to cry out when we can take no more. He gave us pain as a warning. He gave us sleep to heal and rest. He gave us a moral compass which we may or may not follow. He gave us beauty and love to satisfy our needs emotionally. He taught us to forgive. He gave us reason to figure it all out. He gave us the Sacrament of reconciliation. He gave us His life of love and sacrifice. There is no pain or emotion that we feel that Jesus did not feel when He lived among us. He felt joy. He felt alone. He knew friendship. He felt betrayal. When Jesus needed help and healing, He prayed to the Father. Let this be the year that we too learn to take our needs to the Father, no matter their origin. “For nothing is impossible for God.” Let this be our year to heal. And as we go on this journey, remember to take along our Lord.

Stewardship Questions: Kathy Reilly 781-444-0862 e-mail: kreilly15@yahoo.com
If you need a ride to church services or a home visit or Communion, please contact me.
* The Catechism

Just Do One Thing

By Barbara Dury | Published: January 9, 2012

Real changes usually take place one small step at a time.  Most of us have two self-images; the idealized image of the person we want to be and the more realistic image of who we actually are.  For me, the purpose of my journey through life is to work at moving from the person I actual am to the person I want to be.  We all have things that we would like to change about ourselves; things that we can improve on, good habits we want to establish and bad habits we want to change; relationships we need to strengthen and relationships we may need to leave behind.    God has given each one us many gifts and talents according to his plan for us.  Do we recognize what we have been given, do we take the time to develop and share what he has given us.  Because of my sinful human nature I know,  that in my life time, I will  never truly be the person I want to be but each day by the choices and decisions I make and by the way I live my life I can begin the transformation from the person that I am to the person that I want to be.

~Barbara Dury

Just Do One Thing

By Barbara Dury | Published: January 2, 2012

I wish you all a happy and healthy 2012.  I guess I have never understood or appreciated the hoopla that surrounds New Year’s Eve.  What the beginning of a new calendar year signifies for me is a chance to reflect on the good things in my life and on those that are not quite so good.  What do I need to change in my life to fully be the person that God created me to be?  Of course, there are the usual candidates – lose weight, take better care of myself, go to the gym, don’t work so hard, play more, manage my time better, etc.  It certainly would be to my benefit to keep these yearly resolutions so during the coming weeks I will take time to reflect on and reorder my priorities as necessary, and if I am honest with myself, the changes that I need to make will happen.

The most important resolution I can make is to try and let go; let go of all my efforts to be in control; to let go of the my insecurities; the anxieties, hurts, and stresses that constantly disturb the peace and hope that is mine because Jesus became incarnate and entered into our world and changed everything.  I know that our God loves me unconditionally as I am; both the good and the bad. All he asks of me is to trust him, to put my faith in him, to let him take control and try to stay out of his way.

Winter is a quiet time when all of nature rests and prepares for the new life that comes in the spring.  Hopefully, this winter – this new year- I will use my time to learn to rest in God thereby renewing my life, faith and hope.

~Barbara Dury

Stewardship: A Way of Life

By Kathy Reilly | Published: December 31, 2011

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THE ONLY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION WE NEED - “LISTEN TO HIM AND DO WHAT HE SAYS”.

These words spoken by Jesus’ mother, Mary, were delivered at the wedding in Cana when the hosts ran out of wine. Sensing the embarrassment of the wedding hosts, Mary turned to her Son. Jesus responded by turning jugs of water into the finest wine. This was His first public miracle.

Today is the feast of the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. The Mother of God, “hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you”. How can we not listen to her words, knowing of her special relationship with Jesus, her incarnate Son? Yet the fullness of her humanity as daughter, wife, mother, cousin, teacher, chosen one by God, offers us an intimate look at one who loved, lived, and suffered with her Son. God so loved her that He chose her to be the Queen of Heaven and earth. Her life was spent “listening to Him and doing what He said”. What better example could we have for how we are to live our lives? Very simply, Mary puts into perspective, the teachings of Jesus.

This New Year let us become better listeners. Let us become better followers of the teachings of Jesus. Let us try harder and with more joy to “do what He says”. Let us learn to pray to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, so that we too might develop a very special relationship with our Lord.

“…………..All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart………….”

May you all have a very blessed and happy New Year all year long,
Your Stewardship friends

Stewardship: A Way of Life

By Kathy Reilly | Published: December 25, 2011

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CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS TO ONE AND ALL: A WAY OF LIFE

“Oh, Holy Night: Silent Night, Holy Night: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear: The First Noel: People Look East: Ave Maria: Away in the Manager: A Child is Born: What Child is This: Today is Born Our Savior: O Little Town of Bethlehem: A Child is Born in Bethleem: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: Hark! The Harold Angels Sing: Angels We Have Heard on High: Christ Was Born on Christmas Day: Joy To The World: O Come All Ye Faithful: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks: We Three Kings of Orient Are: Holy God, We Praise Thy Name: Rejoice in the Lord, Again Rejoice”

Tis the season. Excitement reigns. Our waiting is over. And our hearts and heads sing with joy. Whether we hum or sing, or pray with a song in our hearts and step, we cannot ignore each other or stop wondering about His birth, His coming to us, His life which will teach us the meaning of it all, today and forever.

REJOICE AND BE GLAD! REJOICE, REJOICE! CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS TO ALL! AND MAY YOUR CHRISTMAS JOY REMIND US ALL ONCE AGAIN THAT IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM AND NOTHING ELSE MATTERS!

WISHING YOU A MERRY, MERRY, AND THE MOST BLESSED CHRISTMAS FROM ALL YOUR STEWARDSHIP FRIENDS.