Good Morning and Welcome! Thank you for joining my contemplation of a portion of today’s Mass reading from Jeremiah 17:7-8…being planted by the water. One of my biggest ongoing struggles is trusting in the Lord. There is no good reason for my struggle because the Lord always shows up when I need Him and call upon Him. I guess the real struggle is pride, because maybe He didn’t answer me fast enough, or in the way I wanted Him to answer. While I strive to be diligent in prayer am I just talking? ‘Blah complain, Blah, give me, blah poor me… You heard me right Lord?’ That is a common thing I think. Every day in which I try to actually listen in true communication, and in gratitude, and not only imploring, my roots seem to become more firmly planted. With each reflection of gratitude and surrender to God’s will, I’m closer to the stream…more peaceful…nearer the living water of Christ Jesus and His nurturing abundance. The rain will feed the tree far from the stream, and the roots will soak in those running waters through the soil even at a short distance, but the closer the roots to the stream, the more abundant the benefits and the healthier the tree as it grows and provides shade, fruit, and nourishment for other sectors of nature. We can be a part of the stream.
This is also day 8 of the St Joseph novena I’m praying, and today the focus was upon loving and caring for abortion minded mothers and the unborn children they bear, or aborted. Our love, and compassion can be a true lifeline for any of these. We can reach out, providing contact with resource centers to help in any related situation to help the mother find a solution to the challenges she faces. We can be supportive of a healing process that comes through reflection, truth, repentance, and forgiveness, and can once again bring a respect for life, not only of the child, but also of the woman for herself. We can pray for them and be a friend and source of spiritual nourishment leading to a choice for life… a consequence of love and hope. This is true also for those facing euthanasia and the death penalty. We must speak in love and truth to enact Christ’s love. Sometimes the truth is hard to hear, but if we open our hearts and minds to speak it in kindness and love, chances increase that those who need it will hear, and it can be a true source of life and renewal, with each person taking responsibility for their own choices and actions. God’s mercy, love, and forgiveness know no limits, when repentance is true, and change heals as it follows. St Joseph, Please, pray for us!
Today, I will be praying that each of you are touched by God’s Living Water, and that it flows to, in, and from you to others. May we all be a part of the stream of Living Water for the nourishment of the world.
Thanks for sticking with me, but now, it’s time for me to quilt! I’m praying for you…Please, pray for me as well. You are loved!! ~Mary
Created4Christ 