I Didn't Ask You To Fix Them

What is our responsibility to others in this world, especially those who are not acting "right" (read: not acting the way WE think they should)? God answered this question very clearly last year. I didn't ask you to fix them, I asked you to love them. We have not been called to change others. We are called to change ourselves. By our own good example and encouragement, others may find the desire and courage to change in themselves what would bring them true peace and happiness. By living out our lives and faith joyfully, others may "want what we have". If we are giving others unsolicited advice in order to "help" them, what we are really saying is, "You are not living up to my expectations." In other words, we are only offering conditional love. We will never attract by judging. Who would ever want anything we have if what we have to offer is condemnation? As always, it goes without saying, we shouldn't put up with or condone abuse. There are times that we do need to speak up. But abuse is where I try to draw the line when I'm carefully choosing my battles. I don't always succeed, but it is the guideline which God has made so clear to me: I didn't ask you to fix them, I asked you to love them.

Jesus, I Trust In You

"Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'" (Matthew 9:13) Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. "Pope John Paul II, both in his teaching and personal life, strove to live and teach the message of Divine Mercy. As the great Mercy Pope, he wrote an encyclical on Divine Mercy: 'The Message of Divine Mercy has always been near and dear to me... which I took with me to the See of Peter and which, in a sense, forms the image of this Pontificate.' In his writings and homilies, he has described Divine Mercy as the answer to the world's problems and the message of the third millennium. He beatified and canonized Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska, the nun associated with the message, and he did it in Rome and not in Poland to underscore that Divine Mercy is for the whole world." (www.thedivinemercy.org) So, what is mercy? Forgiveness, love, and charity toward those (including ourselves) who don't seem to "deserve" it. "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have Mercy on us, and on the whole world."

Easter's Promise by Winterberry

Many years ago, before I was really sure that God Is real (and definitely before I recognized Jesus as the Christ), I had an experience one Easter Morning, which I believe was a "seed" that God planted in my heart. I was at my in-laws' house. When we left to go to Mass, I noticed that all of the daffodils were hunched over and facing West. When we returned, the sun was streaming through the trees and morning mist. The daffodils had all turned toward the East and were stretching toward the light and warmed air. I wrote a poem several years later to convey the deeply moving spiritual experience that grew within.

Huddled together with covered heads,
Fear and sadness consumed the bed.

Bonnets of yellow, orange, and white,
Hiding numb faces, sign of their plight.

Torment, regret -- all hope was lost;
Love, it seemed, destroyed; Prince of Peace the cost.

How could it be? He promised so much.
How could He leave, in times of such?

Going unnoticed, rays of light
Pierced morning mist, ending the fight.

Turning to greet Him, Emmanuel,
Recognized slowly, to knees they fell.

Warmth slowly entered bodies so cold,
Broken hearts healed, freeing hurt souls.

Hearts filled with gladness, Hope now restored,
Reaching, receiving; Love freely poured.

Spirit among them, Mercy and Love
Grace given to all, from Heaven above.