Healing

 I meant to read Benedict J. Groeschel's Healing the Original Wound, as meditation.  I planned to read a few pages a day and then reflect on what I'd read.  However, Groeschel's style more often than not, seduced me into reading more.  He is funny, clear, and easy to relate.  

Our original wound is in Genesis.  It's that pull towards concupiscence.  Groeschel tells us how to overcome ourselves.  In fact, he says that our distractions and everyday nonsense helps us be better.  Yes, in fact, every time we turn away from it all and turn towards God, we are proving that we choose God.  

Groeschel shows us Christ's presence in our daily lives and how His salvation is waiting for us.  Father tells us stories of the people he has ministered to, and gives us hope.

His style is easy, personable, and funny.

Adoration Book

 

  Please consider buying this book for Adoration.  I have a few contributions in it.

The Shadow Grows Long

 The worst day of his life has descended,
            like the setting sun.

A inconsolable cry from a little girl,
           heartbreaking.

Over what, my child?

Her scoop of ice cream has
          fallen off.

Audacity!

Crying over spilled ice cream.

Flipping the Pages

 Kindle has many advantages, but there is one disadvantage that drives me crazy.  I can't flip the pages.  When reading Trust by Hernan Diaz, every reader will want to flip back. Trust began with a story about a financier's life.

Then, the reader comes to Book Two.  At first, I thought I wasn't reading a novel but maybe short stories?  But Book Two refers to the same story as the one the book started with.  In Book Two, the financier hires someone to write his memoir, which he plans to use to destroy that first book, in the novel.  Ah!  Flip back to see.  

The problem is that Book One has an unflattering story of the financier's wife.  He says it wasn't true.  The secretary, who personifies the modifier, meticulous.  The secretary realizes that there's three stories.  The first book, the view point of the financier, and the woman, herself.

Interestingly, the secretary lives in her own story.  Her father is an anarchist.  He is a printer and prints out anti-government tracts.  

The memoir ends because the financier dies.  Afterwards, the secretary ties up the story of her life. 

Offering a Mass

 Most of the time when one goes to Mass, the announcement may say that the Mass is being offered for a certain intention.  What does that mean?

It means that someone has asked the priest to offer a Mass for "their deceased parent," for thanksgiving for a healing, for...whatever.

How does one get the priest to offer a Mass for your intention?  You go to the parish office and ask the person who answers the door.  In my parish, the secretary will invite you in and you fill out a form. You will be given a date and time of the Mass to be offered.  This information will be in the church bulletin the week of the said Mass and the intention will be specifically included in the Prayers of the Faithful on the chosen date.  You then make a special effort to go to that particular Mass.  

What if they don't do that?  I know that the monastery I go to doesn't do that.  In that case, ask them to direct you somewhere that will offer a Mass for your intention.

Does it cost a lot of money?  It doesn't cost anything.  BUT!  It is customary to give a free will offering, I'd say $ 5---$ 20.  

If you don't have anything, that's fine.

God bless you.

My Response to Steve

 Steve is a friend.  He's a valuable member of the Franklin Senior Scribblers.  He's valuable because of his technical expertise.  He records our sessions once a month on Franklin's radio station and podcast.

Steve, besides being a "man about town," is a poet extraordinaire.  He created his own poetry genre, sherku.  Sherku's inspiration is haiku, but he adds two more syllables to the traditional haiku. 

Steve has numerous blogs--he loves to write.  On his sherku blog he welcomes responses and comments.  Thus, I respond to his sherku:

rethinking right

The attachment to being
Right is as much a sin
As lusting for something

   ______________________________________ 

Rethinking rethinking

     Why would I argue
     if I thought I was wrong?
     Do you posit, not believing?

The Six Trials of Jesus

 Did you know that Jesus went through six trials?

1.  Annas, the high priest.

2.  Caiaphas. a higher priest.

3.  Sanhedrin, Jewish jury.

4.  Pilate, Roman authority.

5.  Herod, Jewish king.

6.  Pilate, Roman authority.