Inspired by Scholastica

  “God Bathing” We hear often that we should live always in the presence of God. Yet with all the social media, noise, and distractions around us, how is this possible? Actually, we don’t have to think of God every minute of the day to live in his presence. We don’t have to pray constantly to have God with us. God is always there loving us where we are, just as we are. That is not easy to believe if we grew up thinking we had to do something special or to pray constantly to live in God’s presence. We do not have to earn God’s attention. He is constantly here with us. Martin Laird compares it to “sinking into God’s being.” David Steindl-Rast refers to “God bathing.” I love the idea of God tenderly washing us clean.   Even when we are not aware, he is there pouring refreshing waters over us.   All we have to do is be there with open hands. Yet if we are in the throes of pain and suffering or sitting in a prison cell, it is hard to feel God bathing us with his tender...

  Lent – A Time to Grow Lent is upon us. We can think of it as a time of sacrifice and penance or a time of growth and new life. For me, it is a time to look back to where I’ve been lacking and forward to where I want to grow. I look at some of my weeds and rough parts and ask for God to be there with me as I try to be reinvigorated. I think we’re all a little like plants that need some pruning to grow into beautiful buds or branches. Maybe we can get rid of some of the dead leaves. Our lives can become wilted or weedy too. I like to think of God as opening me up to receive all the good things he wants to give me if only I have eyes to see and a heart to receive. Sometimes I put obstacles like indifference and laziness in the way of new growth. Each Lent we get a chance to respond to God’s gentle prodding and encouragement. Prayer nourishes our spirits, faithfulness softens the hardness of our hearts, sacrifice strengthens...

  Mary’s Thoughts “Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) I gasp, amazed when Gabriel appeared, telling me God had chosen me to give birth to the Messiah. I want to do God’s will, but this was perplexing, disturbing. Was this angel really God’s messenger? How could I explain it to my family? What would my beloved Joseph say? “Do not fear,” the angel said, but it was hard not to tremble at such news. And then the long trip to Bethlehem on a donkey, and giving birth in a stable, surrounded by scruffy shepherds and smelly animals. Shivering, Joseph piled straw around the Babe for warmth, and covered me with his meager cloak. Was this place befitting for the Son of God? The flight into Egypt to escape Herod’s threat was harrowing; we were foreigners in a strange land. People looked at us with suspicion. Joseph again had to find shelter, provisions and work. When we brought Jesus to the temple as was the cust...

  Prayer in Time of Need   We pray you, O God, be our help and protection. Save the afflicted among us, have mercy on the lowly Raise up the fallen, show yourself to those in need. St. Clement of Rome (ca AD 95-96) It is interesting to note that a prayer written in the first century can be so relevant today with wars and conflicts around the world. There are so many violent deaths and desperate people who live in fear and danger -- so much pain and suffering. Countries try to bring aid to the destitute and devastated in so many places, but the help is never sufficient. Sometimes prayer does not seem to change situations. People are still suffering, and children still go hungry. With so many afflicted and needy around us, I t is easy to become disheartened and hopeless. We can give up in despair, or we can keep praying and reaching out in any way we can. God does not always answer our prayers in the way we would like. When we pray for someone to get well and h...

                                                  New Bible Series When I went to grade school, we had a Bible History class, and often dramatized the stories. It made it more interesting than just reading from the Bible. Now a new television series called The Chosen has become very popular among Christians. It tells the stories from the Bible in a modern way with professional actors and modern script. It is a series about the life and ministry of Jesus and his apostles.   It is set in first century Judea and Galilee and was created and directed by filmmaker Dallas Jenkins. The Chosen makes the biblical characters very real and believable. It embellishes the stories in the Bible, yet remains true to the original translation. My favorite character is Matthew who is depicted as a dedicated young man who is disowned by his father...

  Learning to Listen I recently read an article about listening and love. It emphasized that you cannot love another person unless you listen to them. It is a listening without judging, without evaluating, without telling the other person what he or she should do. Real listening is giving the other person attention, care, and understanding. It is not having our own agenda, but really listening to their needs. This takes time and energy. Most of us are so quick to say I know what you mean. I have felt that way myself.   Worse still is telling the other he or she shouldn’t feel that way. Each of us is unique and has protective coverings.   We only open ourselves to people who show honest concern. Really listening to someone is a rarity in this age of instant messages and immediate answers. We are used to switching from one idea to another without much attention. That makes intent listening all the more difficult. People pay over $100 an hour to have someone like a co...

  The Gap-Filler Our love is always inadequate, never full or complete enough, but God fills in the gaps. We want to love God totally without any reservations, but we always fall short. As we start another year, I want to think this year I’ll do better, pray more, give of myself more, come closer to what I want to be. Then laziness creeps in, and excuses, and failures. I have to remind myself that God does not expect perfection. He can take our small efforts and magnify them, fill in the gaps. Just as a child learning to walk, with a few mishaps and falls, we are all toddlers in the spiritual life. Sometimes it’s two steps forward and one step back.   God is always there to assist us, to guide us, to pick us up when we fall. We, of course, have to show a willingness to grow, to reach out. We need to really place ourselves in God’s hands and ask for his guidance and forgiveness. God always listens to our longings and reassures us when we are afraid. He often does this th...