Timelytidbits’s Weblog

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nail-marks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:25

In my life I have met a few people who told me that they have never had a doubt about their faith or their life path. I truly envy those people because I am in a constant state of doubting. A good friend told me once to “stop making a decision over and over again.” I have a hard time doing that. I say “Yes, I will do that.” or “No, can’t be there.” and then the doubts start. Did I make the right decision? What if I should have said something else? What if my decision is wrong? What if…. You get the idea. I have never learned to trust myself enough to believe that the decisions I make; the choices I make are good enough.

Poor Thomas, he has for all eternity put himself in a negative position. Most say that Thomas was the ONE whose faith was weak other wise he wouldn’t have doubted in this moment. Thomas was no different then any of the rest. The ladies doubted when they went to the tomb…”Where did you put his body?” The men doubted when the ladies told them Jesus had risen since they all ran to the tomb to see for themselves. It was just Thomas’ turn.

Doubting is a natural part of any movement forward. We have lived so long in one way that it is hard to believe that this new path, which is unknown and full of uncertainties, is any better than the life we have known. What did the Israelites say once they had encountered a few hardships after crossing the Red Sea to their freedom? “Was life not better in Egypt? At least we knew what was to happen to us.” We can look at this statement and shake our heads at this weak moment, but what about us? As we struggle with our own slavery to the sins in our life; don’t we take that cigarette, sneak that doughnut, or fall to our own depravities because “at least we know what is going to happen.”

This Sunday, throughout the Catholic Church we celebrate God’s Divine Mercy. No matter what we do in life God will always take us back. God does not like the sin but God will ALWAYS LOVE the sinner. All we need to is utter the prayer of Thomas: “My Lord and My God.” I remain, Your Servant in Christ,

Theresa

After reading my last blog about God’s will you could get the impression that there is no commitment in God’s Will.  I would like to take a couple of blogs to discuss that because nothing could be further from the truth.

Our world is a world that feeds on running away from commitment or obsesses in being committed to the wrong thing (the operative word here is “thing”).  This is not just this generation but every generation.  We worry more about gaining power, greed, success, sex, and a thousand excesses than we do about the people around us.  As a matter of fact the people around us are simply means to getting the list I just mentioned.  We as humanity are users, always have been.  And there in lies the problem.  Not a very positive view is it?  Is there good in the world?  Absolutely.  Is there good in each of us?  Undeniably.  But in case you are wondering I am not one of those people who ascribes to the idea that everyone is basically good.   Let me explain and to do that we must go back to the very beginning.

God created us to be good and holy.  We are made in His image and likeness, after all.  Read the first chapter of Genesis in the Bible

       So God created man in his own image,
       in the image of God he created him;
       male and female he created them.   Genesis 1:27

We were made for God by God.  How many songs can we name at Church that have the phrase “God is Love”?  That is His essential nature — love, unselfish, giving, COMMITTED Love.  Don’t believe me?  Read the Bible.  It is, from beginning to end, a love story; a profession of God’s love for YOU and me.  God made the world.  God made us.  Problem was God made us with free will and with that will we turned our backs on God.  Why?  Power, greed, success… (See list above)

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.   Genesis 3:6

The question we need to ask ourselves, not only in this story but in our life, what did God do when Adam & Eve turned their back on God?  Yes, God got angry.  Just as a loving parent does when they find their children have consumed poison.  “What did you do?” most would scream.  But God never turned His back on Adam & Eve and doesn’t to you and me. 

Lets fast forward a few thousand years to a guy by the name of Abraham and his wife Sarah.  God was with humanity throughout all this time (Noah…) but it wasn’t until Abraham that God revealed Himself and invited humanity back into a personal relationship.  Even though Abraham and Sara were old, beyond the age of having children, God promised them descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and sands on the beach.  All they had to do was follow him.  What happens next (for the next several thousand years) is a series of the people of God saying they will follow God and they do but then they don’t… they get tempted and fall away.  God sends a teacher, leader, judge, king or prophet to bring the people back.  They repent, turn back to God and all is well till the next time.

Fast forward again.  God shows His love for us by sending us the ultimate teacher, leader, judge, king and prophet — His Son, Jesus Christ.   Jesus not only teaches, leads, helps us to understand right from wrong, tells us what is going to happen if we continue to live in sin, but, he offers the ultimate sacrifice to show God’s commitment to us.  He takes our punishment by suffering and dieing on the cross.  Remember back to the beginning of this (now lengthy) blog — Adam & Eve eating the apple?  Our sin not God’s.  It should be each one of us who hangs on that cross not God.  God stuck with us for thousands of years through all sorts of rejection and denial.  God sticks with us today and there is nothing we can do to destroy that commitment to us.  STOP!  Hear what I just said:  There is NOTHING YOU or I can do to make God stop loving us.  NOTHING.  He doesn’t like the sin but he adores, loves and is deeply committed to the sinner.  Tune in for the “rest of the story”  I remain, your servant in Christ,

Theresa

Its funny how our day can run in themes.  Today I have had several conversations that have basically all been around the idea of asking what is God’s will in their lives.  One friend called to talk to me about a “promotion.”  Now this could be a good thing because it means a significant increase in finances and a greater job security which in these economic times is a great thing.  But as a single dad of teenagers to take this promotion would also mean more time away from home and less free time.  Let me repeat the significant elements — teenagers and less time at home.  Now for those of us with teenagers our immediate thoughts are — its a win/win situation — more money/less teenagers.  But for those of us with sense we also realize that being home more during these teenage troubles is exceptionally important.  What to do?  Another individual came into my office to discuss the possibility of a vocation to the religious life.  She is presently attending a Catholic College and has been greatly influenced by some of her professors and feels drawn toward the life of prayer that she has experienced there.  But she struggles because she has always imagined herself as a mother and at present is studying medicine with the hopes to dedicate herself to pediatric medicine.  And then later I got into another conversation about being called into a single life which he believes he has been lead by God to.  See what I mean about a theme to my day, and as my court date looms very close to finalize my own divorce I find myself reflecting back and wondering did I get it all wrong some 22 years ago when I believed God had brought this man into my life.  How do we know God’s will?

If I had the answer to that I am sure I would be rich in a matter of days.  Say this novena… recite these prayers… throw these holy cards and God’s will is certain to be made known.  Those of us who have struggled to make dicisions based less on our wants and everything on what we believe to be God’s will know that an obvious road sign is rare.  Remember the prophet Elijah?  There was a time in which he called to hear the voice of God:

The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”  Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.  When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.     1 Kings 19:11-13

Elijah pulled his cloak over his face because he heard God not in the earthquake or fire but in the gentle whisper.  We must all look and listen for those whispers in our own hearts.  And we must get it out of our heads that there is one perfect path.  How can we who are fallen creatures ever do anything perfectly?  We can’t and God knows that.  Yes, there are some right choices and some obvious wrong choices.  Life good — suicide bad.  But mostly its whispers of possibilities.  Yes having more money for my one friend would be great if it leads to opportunities that allow him to grow in his own faith and family life.  But what if it feeds into his fallen nature of greed and power?  How about the young lady discerning a call to religious vows?  She can have children in both worlds — one as a pediatrician nun and the other as a mom but either life could give her reasons to hide emotionally.

It is not one call to God’s will.  In my opinion it is getting up every morning and in prayer re-assessing ourselves then asking God how best can I serve you in this day?  How can I best become all you want me to be Lord?  And we listen.  As we dive into our day we make decisions and we listen.  And as we end our day we assess what we did and who we became and we listen.  Not to our weaknesses and wants but for the whisper of God.  And with those really big decisions we pray, we talk to those we trust to guide us on right paths but we decide and we listen to God, in scripture, in sacrament, in prayer.  We hear often that when God closes a door he opens a window but if we sit down refusing to move until God tells us what to do how will we ever know that just over there is an open door?   I remain, your servant in Christ,

Theresa

Read Luke 24:13-35

If you attend daily Mass this will be the Gospel that all will experience today and it is one of my most favorite passages in the Bible. To me it gives us an abreviated version of a person’s faith life in one chapter. It is a story of journey and discovery and hope.

The very first thing we need to note is that these two were leaving Jerusalem. They had not grasped the fullness of the resurrection; you might say their faith was weak but it was still important because this is what they were discussing. Jerusalem was the symbolic center of the then Christian faith and they were walking away from it. The next question we need to ask is: Where were they going? Emmaus. Just the name of a town to us until we realize that in that day it was the equivilant to a spa in this present day. They were leaving their faith as they sought out the pleasures of their present world. But God would not have it and it was in their “lively” discussion that Jesus became present although their eyes were blind to his identity.

Have you ever had one of those “lively” conversations with a family member or a friend? I have and they are wonderful. Its not just an exchange of words or ideas but beliefs and concerns…you trust them enough to share a part of your soul. You might say that in this moment you are in “communion” with them — common union. You don’t have to agree on whatever it is you are talking about but they trust you and you trust them beyond this moment so no matter what is said your relationship remains strong and unbending. Jesus enters into these moments. Scripture tells us where ever there is love so there is God. And where love and God are there is also conversion… if we are open to it. These two men allowed the teachings of the Church/Jesus to impact their lives. But here is something very interesting — it was only AFTER they had shared with Jesus their experiences, their concerns, their doubts, their understandings. God cares about us. Let me repeat that. God cares about us and wants us. Faith is not about rigid mindless acceptance. It is about obedience and PERSONAL assent and PERSONAL gift of self to God. God, who is the creator of all things, could have made us without free will but then when we loved in return where would the gift be? Could it even be called love?

Next, we see the two coming to the inn for the night and Jesus acting like he is going further. What did the two do? They invited him to stay. They still didn’t understand or accept but they acknowledged that what they had shared was important to them. They still didn’t know him as “The Christ” but they liked what they heard and they wanted more. How many times have you or I given up on someone just because they didn’t believe in the “stuff” we believed in? How many times do we associate love with total agreement — you must agree with me or you don’t love me? Very shallow and sad place to be. We love not because they say we are right. We love because we are commanded to. And finally, it was in the breaking of the bread that their eyes were opened and they saw Jesus as the Christ — Communion.

As Catholics we celebrate 50 days of Easter. The conversion that began during Lent must be nurtured and supported throughout the rest of our lives which is why Easter is not just a day in our calendar. Easter is a season that on the calendar lasts 50 days but last for the rest of our lives. Believe. Jesus loves you. Jesus wants you just as you are. Jesus knows that you can be so much more if you only let him love you. Won’t you give it a try? Just take a moment and open your heart to him and let God do the rest. I remain, Your Servant in Christ,

Theresa

As I have shared in the past, I am the parent of a teenager.  Challenge is not the word I would use for having to mother a teen — torture, now that is the word I would use.  There are so many reasons why I use this image but the most difficult has to be letting her grow up.  I loved being the mom of a young child.  I was her world and even though she had friends, playmates and family when it came right down to it the day began with me and ended with me.  Every decision I was her main consultant (Elmo or Bigbird; McNuggets or Cheese burger?).  I shared in every laughter and consoled every tear.  But she is growing up and it is her task right now to separate herself from the established authority so that she can gain some Independence.  Erik Erikson and Jean Piaget would be proud of my understanding and patient.  But it still hurts.  I liked having control of her life.  I liked knowing what tomorrow would bring (for the most part) and understanding the limits.  Letting her go and grow is the hardest thing I have ever done.

Do you think this is what Jesus meant when he spoke those words to Mary Magdala at the tomb after his resurrection?  Do you think that is something Jesus says to us today?

Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. John 20:17

Growing in our faith is not an easy thing.  Most of us are willing to take  an adventure now and again but we want to slide back into our easy chair and be comfortable.  Do you notice that most people sit in the same pew and go to the same Mass week after week, year after year.?  We want the same ole, same ole predictable life because its easier for us.  Problem is if we hold onto the faith that we had as children, or young adults we do not allow God to show the full potential of his love for us.  God is a dynamic reality in our lives.  God wants us to continue to grow but if we hold onto God and not allow God to be God,  then it would be like my not letting my daughter grow up because its easier for me.

Alleluia, Christ has risen.  Alleluia, he has risen indeed!  But let these next 50 days be about opening your eyes and heart to the Jesus who wants to heal your every ill and bring hope into the dark places of your life.  For many Lent was a dynamic time as we fasted and prayed.  Don’t stop.  Don’t limit him into being only what you can imagine.  Maybe that is why so many early followers walked away at the resurrection.  Not because Jesus’ resurrection wasn’t real but because they just couldn’t image it — so they didn’t see it.  It happened but they remained blind by their own choice.  Don’t be blind.  Until next time, I remain, your servant in Christ,

Theresa

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Alleluia! He has Risen indeed!
Happy Easter Greetings to one and all! It is hard to believe that we are here in such a happy and hope-filled moment. Even though Easter is so very early it seems like (to me) that it has taken forever to get here. But as a friend would say: It is what it is. In my words: it comes when it suppose to come.My life has been a struggle of late. Some personal stuff that I must work through, just like we all have our crosses to carry. I have too long been wading through the winter of life’s problems. It didn’t help when we got so much snow (Almost record snow fall for southeast Michigan). In looking out my window all I could do was groan at another cold, white, cold, winter day. My daily prayer, would it ever end. And there were days when I believed that winter was going to be forever. The winter outside and the winter of my life.

But that doesn’t happen does it. Winter ends… when winter is ready to end it ends. We cannot make it come any faster or summer to stay any longer. Time marches on and we must go with it. The same with Easter. The struggles that we must carry in our lives are not forever. Whether in this life or the next “this too shall pass.” Easter must come. This is what our faith teaches us. Hope. New Life. Spring. But it will not come before its time. We must live with patience and know that God’s timing is perfect.

So, on that note I would like to wish one and all all the hope, happiness that this Easter Season can bring. Believe in the Lord and all good things will come to you. I remain, your servant in Christ,

Theresa

Its now the day after. The day after a horriable, horriable event.  Jesus, who was thought to be the Messiah is dead, cruxified on a cross. He’s gone and everyone wanders about wondering what to do; what to feel? Have you ever experienced the aftermath of a major storm event. I’m not talking about rain all night. I am talking about a hurricane, tornado… how about September 11th; where there has been incrediable devistation and loss of life. The morning after everyone slowly appears not sure whether to trust the quiet, looking at the loss. There is this erie sense that distruction leaves. Its almost as if you could taste it in the air or feel it. But its not the erie sense in the air that bothers everyone the most. Its the devistation and destruction of our inner peace that is most disturbing because we fear that what we sense is right — Nothing will ever be the same again.
One of my greatest joys about being Catholic is that during these holy days — Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday — nothing is left out. We re-enter into the fullness of what those early followers experienced so that when the resurrection comes (and it will come) we know it to our core. Our rituals and prayers are ripe with deep, significant meaning. No gesture or action is empty if you take the time to understand. I honestly feel sorry for the rest of the world that rushes to Easter. Oh, there are some who paused yesterday taking a moment of silence as they remembered the death of Christ, but today they are out getting their Easter dresses and baskets oblivious to the miracle that is about to occur.
See, I get it. I have had more then a few crisis in my life (most, if not all, I had a great part in creating) and there was this moment after breaking down in tears; sobbing my sorrow; beating my chest; promising my promises to change and get better and being sincere in it all… that I wondered, is change possible. I am fallen and I knew that. So, in those moments of quiet afterwards; while still amazed at all that had happen, in the quiet of my own heart I feared that I would be able to make it.
We have the benifit of hindsight, we know that Christ will rise, did rise and will rise again. But in my heart this is the day I pray for all in the world who struggle to know Jesus, struggle to know God, struggle to know faith, struggle to know health in their lives who still harbor doubt whether, what they want to believe is true. Will Jesus rise in their hearts and lives?  Can God create another miracle and bring new life into their lives after such a mess they have made.  Believe it. Its true. Can you imagine if after the cruxifixion no-one went back to the tomb? We create our own destiny by the path we choose to believe. Believe. Come home. Know that Jesus died for you, personally. Because whether you believe it or not Christ knew it thousands of years ago and lives it out in this moment… You are worth it. You are worth all the pain and suffering and yes, even death he endured. Because, you see, He loves you. He loves me. Now that is Easter. I remain, Your Servant in Christ,
Theresa

Have you ever watched daytime television?  I am not talking about the soap operas.  Those are a waste of everybody’s time.  (Trust me I know of what I speak.  I list them as part of my past addictions.)  No, I mean the talk show circuit.  Those of the Dr. Phil kind where people are challenged to deal with the demons in their life.  Have you ever thought about what is the common theme that runs through each of these shows?  I have because I live it every day of my life — fear of death and all the names that identify death for a person:  failure, rejection, unlovable, unredeemable…  Thing is, you and everyone around us lives with these fears as well.  In and of itself its not a problem.  Its what we do with that fear that creates the “problems” in our lives.  Because most often, rather than learning how to die we run away and hide.  We hide in alcohol, food, sex, gambling, power & control, abdication, video games…….  One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves and to those we love is learning how to die, to ourselves, our problems and our pain.  My fear is the problem and the pain will consume me and I will be no more.  The truth?  Well, for those of us of faith — death is a necessary step if what we seek is a true life.

Today throughtout the world time stops for many as we recognize the historical truth of today — Jesus died on the cross.  A few years ago Lent was made so powerful as people watched Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ.  For the first time, those who watched understood that Jesus suffered as he made his way to the cross.  He suffered a lot.  After years of watching the sanitized version of the passion of Christ in made for TV movies where if the suffering was at all in the production it was off screen, people finally saw that Jesus suffered.  And his death was not a simple nod of the head and he was gone but that too was an agonzing moment.  Why, you might ask yourself did Jesus do that?   After all, as the Son of God he could have done a number of things so as not to enter fully into the pain and agony.  But he did suffer.  In his humanity he endured excruciating pain and eventually his own death.  Why?  For many reasons.  Some I spoke of yesterday in my blog:  Good Friday–Why Did Jesus Have to Die. (March 20th).  The reason I want to speak about today is so that we can learn how to die.

I am not speaking of the fear that most of us have of enduring a painful, excruciating experience.  Some, depending on the depths they have allowed their demons to sink into their lives, will endure a lot to free themselves.  And there are those of us who struggle on a daily basis and will for the rest of our lives.  I am speaking of the mere fact that death to our demons is an essential step if what we seek is new life; a new path; a new way — personal resurrection.  Jesus showed us how to die.  Some of us have the fortunate gift of having a friend or relative inviting us into their own journey of physical death and all of us have such saints as John Paul II who hid nothing from us and saw each potentially humiliating wipe of drool as he said Mass.  Or Teihard de Chardin who died alone in complete poverty and obscurity.  Or Archbishop Oscar Romero who was shot while in the middle of Mass.  Or the four women who were martyred in El Savadore after enduring unbearable torture.  They meant these final moments with dignity.  Pope John Paul knew what was happen; the rest suspected their lives were in grave danger.  None of them hid or rain away.  They faced down their tormentors in the same way we are called to do.

Death is a part of life — both the physical and the spiritual/psychological.  Many of us have spent our entire lives trying to run away and hide from it.  Let me ask this and I want you to think hard — Has anyone, using whatever means as their numbing agent of choice, been successful?  Has Alcohol, Food, Drugs, Sex…. any of that EVER cheated death?  So why continue down a path that is a certain act of futility and waste of time.  Embrace death.  Die to yourself so that you too might share in the life of Easter — Your own personal resurrection.  For one thing I am certain of — Jesus did cheat death.  He rose to new life.  Yes, he embraced the death of Friday and his reward…. LIFE!  Choose life.  My prayers are with you.  I remain, your servant in Christ,

Theresa

The question has been asked of me, at various times in my life, why I remain Catholic.  That has never been a difficult question for me to answer because I passionately believe in this Church as the deepest expression of the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Son of God; so much so that I will serve in it until the day I die.  (God, willing)  That is the short answer.  The long answer has to do with a variety of different reasons and experience.  One of the other reason is expressed as we move into Friday of Holy Week; as we remember, honor and live tomorrow through the death of Christ.

You see, most Christian Churches focus on the resurrection of Christ and in truth so does the Catholic Church.  The difference is we don’t ignore the pain and suffering of Jesus.  A friend once asked me why we as Catholics “leave” Jesus on the cross.  I was in college at the time and didn’t know the answer. In asking one of my professors (who happened to be a Jesuit Priest) he said this:  As Catholics we need to be reminded of two things. First that death, no matter how painful, has no victory over those who believe because Jesus rises from this experience to new life. Lets just stop for a minute and think about this.  Death is not the end.  Better yet lets say it this way — new life can come from death if we believe.  You have been diagnosed with cancer.  Person after person has testified that this was the best news they ever go because it forced them to re-evaluate the way they lived and loved in their lives.  Divorce, although devastating can lead to new possibilities.  Job loss.  Death of a loved one.  These are only endings of chapters not of life.

His second comment has been my Good Friday reflection, since that day. He had me look closely at the face of Christ, right into his eyes. He asked me: “Who do you think Jesus is looking at?” I fumbled something like “Mary?” “No” he said. “You.  You,” he repeated.  “He sees you as he hangs on that cross.”  Then he had me look at the lips of Jesus and had me imagine Jesus whispering the name of his loved ones. And again he asked me: “Whose name is on is lips?” This time I remained silent. “Yours” he said.  He very emphatically told me that Jesus’ loved me so much that before I even knew him, he knew me and loved me and he died for me. 

Jesus remains on the cross to this day, suffering the humiliation and pain of death not because he needed it; but because he knew that you and I need it.  We cannot earn our way into heaven.  No amount of good deeds or donations or unselfish love could redeem our sinfulness.  This gift was given to us through the blood of the cross.  By the way.  Do you know why we call tomorrow “Good” Friday?  Not because of the pain and suffering of Christ but because we are loved so much:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Until next time, I remain your servant in Christ,

Theresa

Tomorrow begins the Triduum — the highest holy days of the Catholic Catholic in which we reflect, remember and live with Christ his passion, death and resurrection — Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.  When asked about today most Catholics will say that, of course, today is the day we celebrate the gift of the Mass; the gift of the Last supper.  And this is very true.  In the evening hours of every Catholic Church around the world the faithful will gather and celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.  It is a beautiful liturgy if you have taken the opportunity to participate.  Most parishes will pull out all the stops and there will be extra music, incense and opportunities to enter into prayer.  More importantly it is an chance to be with Christ as He personally invites each one of us to “Take and Eat”.The question is often ask:  “If these days are so holy, why doesn’t the Church obligate people to attend like they do for Sunday Mass?”  Let me answer that question in this way. 

Since my daughters birth she has attended Mass.  This had its challenges at different ages, mostly because the supervision of her was my responsibility alone.  My (soon to be ex) husband would genuflect, go into the pew and from that point on until the end of Mass I was on my own.  It was when my daughter was a toddler that this lack of a co-parent bothered me the most.  Be a person of faith Mass was important to me.  Yet, chasing a 18 month old aroung left me uncertain what had happened as we left the building.  I remember one particular Sunday I was extremely frustrated.  We were in the Narthex or vestibule of our Church.  My daughter, who had just gotten shoes that go “click clack” with each step was enjoying simply walking back and forth to hear the sound.  In this moment I allowed the depth of my frustration to bubble up and in my heart I remember praying:  “Why the hell am I here, Lord?  I will leave here with no better understand, sense or even a private moment to pray!”  For some reason (I suspect my daughter found a bug that she stopped to investigate) everything got quiet — the vestibule and my heart.  Quiet enough for me to hear this one line as it was read from the Gospel.  You see it was Palm Sunday and they were right in the midst of the reading of the Passion.  To this day I can hear the words as if they were spoken directly to me.  The words of Christ to his apostles and to us disciples: “Could you not stay awake with me for one hour?” (Matthew 26:40)  I got it.  I get it.

When we participate in Mass we are to give ourselves fully into the experience.  It is not about our obligation to be there but about giving the gift of our time, talent and interest.  How would you like it if your spouse, friend, children, co-workers only showed up because “they had to?”  When life is right, or even just so-so; we listen.  We respond.  We open our hearts and minds so that God can enter.  But when life is hell and we are tired, angry, hurt, overwhelmed, there is nothing left in us we just show up.  How else can God hold us if we don’t? 

The Church doesn’t obligate these days because there is a belief that the faithful would choose to be present.  Look at it this way.  So many people have said they can’t understand why those people in the Bible didn’t follow Jesus.  “Certainly if Christ was standing in front of me I would follow him.”  Christ is standing in front of you.  He has invited you into a relationship that will give you all you need to become the person you were meant to be.  So how about it.  Could you not stay awake with Christ for one hour? You are on line.  Check for a local Catholic Church and the time of services.   Attend Mass. I remain, Your Servant in Christ,

Theresa