Tobias' and Sarah's Wedding Night

TOBIT  8:4-9a

4] When the door was shut and the two were alone, Tobias got up from the bed and said, "Sister, get up, and let us pray that the Lord may have mercy upon us." [5] And Tobias began to pray, "Blessed art thou, 0 God of our fathers, and blessed be thy holy and glorious name for ever. Let the heavens and all thy creatures bless thee. [6] Thou madest Adam and gayest him Eve his wife as a helper and support. From them the race of mankind has sprung. Thou didst say, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; let us make a helper for him like himself.' [7] And now, 0 Lord, I am not taking this sister of mine because of lust, but with sincerity. Grant that I may find mercy and may grow old together with her." [8] And she said with him, "Amen." [9]Then they both went to sleep for the night.

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This was today's First Reading.  I have yet to read the Book of Tobit.  I know I should,  considering it is one where the archangel Raphael plays a supporting role.  Today's Reading is a continuation from yesterday's and the day before where both Tobit (the father of Tobias) and Sarah (the wife of Tobias) had sought God's intercession through prayers.  God has heard their prayers and has sent the archangel Raphael to help.

Raphael -- It is God who heals.  God heals.  God has cured.  God's medicine.

So we have to pray and believe that God will answer our prayers, just as he did Tobit's and Sarah's.

Feed My Lambs

John 21:15-19

[15] When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." [16] A second time He said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord, you know I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." [17] He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. [18] Truly, truly I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." [19] (This He said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this He said to him, "Follow Me."

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These words, "Feed my lambs ... tend my sheep ... feed my sheep ..." spoken by Our Lord to Peter, are the words which the Pope (as Saint Peter's successor) live by.  These words are also addressed to each and every one of us.  We are called to do our part in bringing Christ to the world.

One Day Closer

We should try to live each day the best we can with the thought that each day is a day in our journey to our true home.

Each day brings us one day closer to God.

SUFI Saying

Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates.

At the first gate, ask yourself,
  'Is it true?'

At the second ask,
  'Is it necessary?'

At the third gate ask,
  'Is it kind?'

Miracles are Second

Miracles are second, FAITH comes first.

Easter has just passed so the readings at mass are coming from the Acts of the Apostles.   It is said that among the greatest proof that Jesus was the Son of God was the conversion brought about by the Apostles after Jesus' death and resurrection.  The Apostles lived their lives as witnesses of the faith.  They were able to perform miracles and they were able to bring others into the faith through their words and actions.  The apostles gave their lives to God.

In this day and age, we do not hear of too many people being brought back to life (shocking a cardiac victim with a defibrillator doesn't quite count) nor do we read about people being miraculously cured of their ailments.  We ask, "Have we done something wrong?  Why doesn't the Spirit perform miracles the way we would want it to these days?"

Fr. John Watkins answered that question this morning at mass.  He said, "Therein lies the problem ... we ask why the Spirit does not perform miracles in the way WE want.   It is not what WE want that should matter.  It is what our Lord wants that should come first.  Faith is the key.  Faith in Jesus.  The apostles lived their lives as a reflection of Jesus' life.   The Spirit was IN them.  They did God's will, not their own.   First they believed, the miracles came after."

In Times of Trouble

Way back in December, during one of those times I was feeling out of sorts, I reached out to my former roommate.   I honestly don't remember any specific nighttime conversations with her but I do know that I can  always go to her if I needed someone to talk to (and that holds true for my other siblings and other 'sisters' in my life).

We were able to chat on the phone and that really helped a lot.  In addition to that, she typed out a reply to my "dissertation" of my situation.  

She wrote:

Space within myself. Space between what is now and what worries me. Space which is filled with God's presence. I am coming to terms with the idea of Emotions. Emotions are our perception of reality. The reality may not be real but it is very real to us and that is why we feel tension, fear, pressure. It is real to us. Emotions are the trigger that tells me what I believe how things are. When I recognize that this is what I perceive reality to be, I can ask our Lord - is it real. Are my fears real? Is this important?  Why is it important to me? And then little by little I realize who I am and what it is I really want and what it is that is so important to me.

 Now when there is an issue that really worries me but it has to be very specific - I put it in a prayer oven.  I say to God - Lord I am going to park this lorry in your garage because there is no room in mine to take care of it. And you know what - it works. The matter gets resolved somehow.

Words of wisdom.  

Thank God for older sisters.

One day, I hope that she and my other siblings will co-author this blog and share their thoughts and words of wisdom.  They have much to teach and I have much to learn.

Let There Be Space

My youngest brother sent out a prayer request today.  He was having work issues.

One sibling reminded him to "breathe, breathe, take time to mentally step away from drama and issue at hand." 

Another sister said, "... (sister's) idea to mentally step away from the drama is so true and so wise ... one of the most interesting things I have discovered is that there is a space that exists between situation and reaction. Sometimes our emotions lead us to react too quickly to a situation/stimulus so this space is very small.   If we widen the space then we have time to think and take a choice. It is this space where freedom lies for it is a space wherein we have a choice. It is in this space that God can talk to us.  The actions of the other person may be definitely wrong but at least our reactions will hopefully be definitely right."