Mother's Day

Mother's Day!!! Newborn's Conversation With GodA baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow,but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to doanything but sing and smile to be happy."God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And youwill feel your angel's love and be very happy."Again the child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand whenpeople talk to me if I don't know the language?"God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words youwill ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach youhow to speak.""And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you howto pray.""Who will protect me?"God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.""But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you theway to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth couldbe heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, pleasetellme my angel's name."God said, "You will simply call her, "Mom."Lift a mother's spirit, send this to every mother you know (no matter howold her child is).

Self-Giving Always Brings Us Joy

If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. John 15:10-11

Joy is ultimately God's will for us. Joy is what we want for ourselves and for those we love. Sometimes, though, we look for it in the wrong places. If we try to find joy merely in material things, it eludes us. If we look for it in self-forgetting love, then joy finds us. I think this sums up much of what Jesus consistently tells is in the Gospel.
Jesus' commandments are all about loving God for himself and loving others in ways that we ourselves would want to be loved. Does this really bring joy? Maybe the best answer can come from our own self-reflection. In my life, all of my self-centered moments eventually caused me regret. But all the moments of gratitude and caring brought a wonderful sense of joy. This is what Jesus wants us to experience in our everyday life.
Lord, you came to show us how our lives could be meaningful and joyful. May your spirit guide us so that our lives may be in harmony with you.
Fr. Kenneth E. Grabner, C.S.C.

Help Us O'Lord

They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city. Acts 14: 19-20

God, open our eyes to see and respond to the need of our brothers this day.