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In Luke 5:22, Jesus asks the Pharisees, “What are you thinking in your hearts?” It is a rhetorical question, as Jesus knew quite well what the Pharisees were thinking; what the Pharisees believed. It is here, in the Gospel of Luke where we read of the historical event of Jesus physically healing the paralytic, and spiritually healing his friends. The room, in which Jesus was teaching, was so crowded that the paralytic’s friends could not get him inside. Yet, they knew that if they could somehow get their paralytic friend in front of Jesus that Jesus would heal him. Their faith in Jesus was great. So, the friends dropped the man into the room from the roof! “ When He saw their faith, He said,  ‘ As for you, your sins are forgiven ’”(Luke 5:20). Jesus knew that the Pharisees did not recognize Jesus as God, and that they believed only God can forgive sins. But, for the friends and the paralytic, they knew otherwise... Read more...

Love and Happiness It has always been believed that happiness depends on love more than on anything else. The greater the love, the greater the happiness. Yet for some unaccountable reason it does not always occur to us that, like everything else that is worth achieving, loving must be learnt. Far from being an exception to the rule, learning to love is more difficult than anything else because human beings are insatiably selfish and learning to love means learning to be selfless.   read on....

Entramos en el mes de diciembre. Es el último mes del año. Diciembre tiene alegría de fiesta, de música navideña, de campanitas y cascabeles, regalos y vacaciones. Pero también es un mes que llega, para los que ya somos adultos, con un agridulce sabor no tanto en la boca como en el corazón. Es un mes familiar y de hogar, pero no siempre están todos en la famiia ni en el hogar. También es un mes en que los días se nos escapan como viento con prisa y aligerado. Empezamos a sentir como una inquietud, como una urgencia porque hay muchas cosas que hacer, por preparar, por adquirir : regalos y compras navideñas, algún detalle para la casa con motivos alusivos a esta festividad, tal vez un viaje, un encuentro … Total que perdemos la calma y la tranquilidad. Malo es eso porque nos embarullamos y al final todo son prisas y apuros. Preparemos las cosas con tiempo y orden para que esto no nos suceda. leer más...  

I usually simply pray in my own words from my heart. However, the Catholic Church has a treasure trove of traditional written prayers which were never composed to rattle off by rote but written from the heart to inspire our hearts, especially when we are in a dry place when our own words have shrivelled. I have gathered a few traditional Advent prayers to ignite a spark of prayer in all of us., connecting us to all those who have gone before us and all those who walk with us in the Mystical Body of Christ. continue

Now that the Thanksgiving holiday is over, odds are we are all up a pound, or two, or three… With all the holiday parties, it is so easy to overindulge; so easy to gain weight. Embracing temperance, this holiday season, can be a gift to ourselves and to Christ. When we refrain from that extra piece of pumpkin pie, the cookies, and the hot chocolate with whipped cream, we save on the calories. The “sacrifice” we make, by saying no to the goodies, can be offered up to Jesus, in thanksgiving for His sacrifice on the Cross. When we refrain from drinking too much, we prevent scandal to our reputations. The “sacrifice” we make, by saying no to the alcohol, can be offered up to Jesus in thanksgiving for His love for us. When we refrain from overspending on holiday gifts, we save money for those needed expenses. The “sacrifice” we make, by saying no to extravagance, can be offered up to Jesus, in thanksgiving for always providing what we need. Embracing temperance takes some practi

Fr. Cedric Pisegna, a Passionist priest, posted the following prayer on Facebook recently. In the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season and perhaps as you live through the illness or death of loved ones, you might find the words helpful. "Dear Lord, sometimes I feel like I am imprisoned by my fears. I fear the future, I fear the unknown, I fear failure, I fear embarrassment, I fear suffering, I fear loss, I fear death. Such fears have kept me from moving forward in many areas of my life. I pray that you can forgive me for this lack of faith. I know in my heart that no fear is greater than your love for me. I long for the inner peace and serenity of being free from my unnecessary anxiety about so many things. Teach me that even when I am fearful, I can still move forward. Let me have the courage to face my fears. Help me to live the life that you want for me, a life of peace."  Click to continue

HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE LAZY BLOG? YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE! CLICK TO FIND OUT

Linaioli Tabernacle, St John the Baptist , Fra Angelico  [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel   Luke 3:1-6 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition)      In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord,     

Do you carry Christ’s love within you? Without thinking, many of us would most likely say, yes! I would like for you to think about this question more deeply before answering. Let me ask you a few questions to help you assess the correct answer: Do you love your neighbor unconditionally? When you think of the massive number of people walking up from Honduras and Guatemala, seeking refuge in safer lands, do you feel a sense of compassion for them? Do you understand their plight? Can you recognize them as your brothers and sisters in Christ? When someone sins against you, can you forgive that person? Is it in your heart to grant that person mercy? How well do you “know” your physical neighbors within your neighborhood or apartment complex? Do you generously give a helping hand, or a listening ear? So, now I ask you again… Read more...

DO YOU HAVE FAITH? HOW ROBUST IS YOUR FAITH? DOES IT CRUMBLE AT THE FIRST DIFFICULTY? WHO GAVE YOU FAITH? CLICK HERE

DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS? JESUS DID. DO YOU? DO SOULS FROM HEAVEN VISIT EARTH? DOES GOD SEND THEM ON SPECIAL MISSIONS? ARE OUR DEAD FRIENDS AND RELATIVES IN HEAVEN? DO THEY COME BACK TO PROTECT US? READ THIS ARTICLE AND COMMENT HERE. YOUR VIEWS MATTER TO US. CLICK HERE

El desarrollo de la mujer en estas últimas décadas ha sido  extraordinario, y en muchos países ha alcanzado unos niveles de éxito profesional que sus abuelas nunca hubieran imaginado. El nivel de libertad y autosuficiencia es, en países de primer mundo, equivalente al de los hombres. Ha ganado , loablemente, el reto de la igualdad. Pero…. Es feliz? ¿Ha cons e guido la felicidad por fin? Una encuesta realizada en Estados Unidos, nación en donde la equidad y oportunidades son de los más altos, ha encontrado que no.   La mujer moderna no es la más feliz. Y , además, sus niveles de felicidad han bajado en estos años con respecto a la de los hombres.   leer más...

The photo of the sunrise here was one I took from the balcony of my new apartment. The following reflection that came with the Daily Gospel email for Thanksgiving reminded me of it. (I subscribed to dailygospel.org.) May the Saint’s words touch your heart somehow. Saint Raphael Arnaiz Baron (1911-1938) Spanish Trappist monk Spiritual writings, 23/02/1938 “If this day you only knew what makes for peace” I leaned out of the window… The sun was beginning to rise. A great peace reigned over nature. Everything began to wake up: earth, sky, birds. Everything began, little by little, to wake up under God’s order. Everything obeyed his divine laws without complaint or sudden spurts, gently, smoothly, the light as much as the darkness, the blue sky as much as the hard earth covered with morning dew. How good God is, I thought! There is peace everywhere except in the human heart. Click to continue

This Sunday we will enter the season of Advent. Have you given much thought to what you might do to enrich your soul this Advent season? Yes, I know that it is a busy time of year, with all the shopping, parties and entertaining that we do. But, it is also a time when we should take stock of why we have this season. What Happens During the Advent Season? Advent exists to prepare us for the celebration of the Incarnation of God made man. It is a time for us to wait, prepare, repent, rejoice and ultimately receive the Word made flesh. We: Wait  in anticipation of the celebration of the birth of Our Savior and Redeemer. If God had never become man, then Jesus would not have died on the cross for our sins. It is through His Death and Resurrection that we are saved. Repent  for our sins and develop contrite hearts. We go to Confession. It is in the sacrament of Confession that Christ will cleanse our souls of our sins and reunite us to Him. Rejoice ! We take time during Advent t

Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee , Rembrandt  [ Web Gallery of Art ] We begin Year C, which highlights St Luke's Gospel Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel   Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition)      Jesus said to his disciples: ‘There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.  People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in a cloud” with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.   ‘Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed