Discovering Miracles

Affirmation: When I focus my attention on Jesus Christ, peace reigns in my whole being.

 “I will say it again: Rejoice! Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phillipians:4, 6-7 

In Maria Shriver’s weekly newsletter, “Sunday Paper” on November 7th, 2021, she took the opportunity of her birthday to reflect on her life-lessons. She entitled the edition, Let’s Light the Way. I read it several times. I sent it to my children and to several of my friends. I read it out loud to my hubby, Sandy. I then copied it and stored a copy of it in my Pages documents.

I guess you can figure out that I loved it; actually loved it. I found it meaningful, it filled my heart with all the good things I like to feel, hope, faith, joy, strength, gratitude and compassion, not just for myself but for humankind. One of the many wisdoms she shared was that she daily calls on “God, Mother Mary and her Guardian Angels for guidance.” I too ask for daily guidance from my Holy Family and always say “thank you” to my Guardian Angel for all the hard work she has had to do to keep me on God’s path or to get me back to it. 

 I haven’t written a blog in a long time. I keep getting muddled by my feelings around our “war on Covid.” I have met people who claim this virus has not had any effect on the way they live their lives. I believe, however, that they are the exception. It seems to me that most people, myself included are still struggling to find solid ground after having the rug pulled out from under us. I’m such a proponent of choosing our perception of our experiences but I think there are some events we need to fully experience, both the good and the hard, before we can view it from the sunny side. For me, this pandemic fits that category. 

 In speaking with a few dear friends about Covid, I have found myself sharing the blessings we’ve experienced but always adding an apology for sharing the upside of what we have found during this time, especially when we have had so many deaths and so much more suffering through this pandemic. Yes, there have been struggles for me too, loss even but I still find myself focusing on the blessings. 

 I have a young neighbor who is dealing with metastatic lung cancer. She’s been on this journey now for almost three years. Her husband provides us with updates and always includes a scripture quote with them. They are a very faith-filled family. Phillipians:4, 6-7 was one of the first ones they shared with us. It’s also one of the first I ever memorized. When I read it I knew that’s how I wanted to feel when I asked Jesus to help me or my loved ones and friends. I wanted to let go of the anxiety and feel “the peace that transcends all understanding.” One of the updates we received from our friend's husband was that she had recently shared with him that “this had been the best two years of her life.” She wanted him to tell us how meaningful it had been for her to be so cared for and about. 

 I’ve recently taken up a new prayer, “Merciful Father, in the name of our loving Jesus and our Holy Mother, all our angels and saints, I ask you to set me on fire with the spirit of your love and to give me the grace to deeply love you.” Truly, I don’t know if it’s my age and because I know my days before me are far less than my days past or if I’ve been given this gift of time to continue to work on my relationship with Christ, but lately there has been a shift and I am grateful. 

 I’ve carried my faith around in my head now for decades. I’ve prayed for years that it would overtake my heart. The examples of faith-filled friends and acquaintances have helped me with my intention, like that of my young neighbor. I know well the practice of “turning ‘it’ over to God” and I know that for me, I usually have to do that over and over and even then it may not happen. I still feel I need to be in control but what if, what if I could really and truly let go of my concerns and even in the middle of a dreadful diagnosis, think that because of my Lord and Savior I am still having the best time of my life? I want that. I crave that. The older I become, the more I feel I need that. 

 Because of this desire, my studies have become even more faith focused. I have always been a fan of good inspirational material and have for my whole adult life, focused on material that inspire and uplift. It’s still true but I am steadily choosing information that reaffirms my desire to believe my God is not a god of history and instead is a living God, here and now present in this world. I began reading, Miracles Today by Craig S. Keener.”

 It enthralled me. I knew extraordinary miracles (Is that an oxymoron?) happen in places like Lourdes and Fatima and even unofficial places like Medjugorje but I have never heard of the miracles reported and confirmed like the ones in this book. I have visited one church in Quebec, St. Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal where crutches line the entry but I thought that was ancient history. I now find out, miracles are happening daily and I don’t mean the miracles of the sun rising or the leaves turning color. I mean the type of miracles where the blind see, the deaf hear, the crippled and maimed, are made whole; mind boggling events! I needed to hear this news. I needed to know there was concrete evidence of Jesus’ continued presence in this world today. Yes, all the miracles in “Miracles Today” happen in the name of Jesus. Not everyone healed is a Christian or even a person of faith but everyone healed is healed because of prayers to Jesus Christ. I have never actually asked for healing for someone in Jesus’ name. I have prayed for so many for their well-being, for their health, for remission, strength, hope. I have, however, never asked for a miracle and I’m not sure my prayer would affect that change but I have decided to give it my best. “In the name of Jesus Christ, I ask that you be fully healed.” It’s a prayer I’ve taken into my heart. I know it may not happen but I do believe that Jesus is alive today and perhaps my heart-felt prayer may happen and even create another miracle that Craig Keener can add to his list in his book. Now, that would be an amazing way to see a serious challenge turn into a blessing.

Being Your Better Self

Affirmation: Every day I strive to be a “better” version of myself

“God loves me just as I am but He /She loves me too much to leave me there.” 

Quote from a fellow Spiritual Director

Covid 19 has taken its toll on 2020.  It’s like God has sent us to our knees.  I know He/She has sent me to mine.  My prayer list at the end of this year is longer than it has ever been before and several of those prayers revolve around people I know and love who are dealing with this scourge that has infected our whole earth.  I am, probably like many of you, trying to listen closely to the messages from the Divine that seem to be coming in even more clearly than previously.  This month’s message has been about being the best, or at least the better me possible.

Richard Rohr in his book, The Divine Dance, tells the story of sharing with his spiritual director that he would like to be more like Thomas Merton, the great spiritual guru of the 70’s. His wise director told him he should simply be Richard Rohr. He is an American author with over 50 books to this date, spiritual writer, and Franciscan friar based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. PBS has called him "one of the most popular spirituality authors and speakers in the world." (Wikipedia) It seems like the advice was well received.

Then in a conversation with my dear friends, we found ourselves looking at our past and  comparing our accomplishments to people we admire. Matthew Kelly, the founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute shares in his book, Perfectly Yourself, that his favorite painter is Pablo Picasso.  He shares that when Pablo was younger his mother told him, “Pablo if you become a soldier, you will be a general.  If you become a priest, you will be the Pope.” Pablo then shares, “I became a painter and I became Pablo Picasso.”   Matthew also reminds us that no matter what society tells us about becoming whatever we desire, each of us has been called by God for a very specific reason.  We are here for a purpose.  We aren’t here to be all things to all people.  We are here to be the best version of ourselves we can possibly be or at least the better version of ourselves.
 

I must confess to believing that if I persevere in some endeavor I will eventually accomplish whatever it is I’m trying to master and that I now know that is not true.  I am not someone who regrets not trying to learn or do something of interest and over these many years, I have watched myself become the master of mediocrity at many many different skills.  I won’t bother to list them all here but trust me, there are many.  It’s not like I don’t try and it’s not like I have not invested a lot of time and energy truly believing that if I just hang in there, someday something magical will happen and I will be proficient at my desired talent.  That’s not to say I haven’t enjoyed the learning process or the amazing people and perhaps places I have met and visited along the way.  I have had many wonderful adventures in the pursuit of my different interests but I must confess, I simply did not have the God given talent to become a “good” fiddler, golfer, foreign linguistic, etc.  I think Matthew is right.  Some of us are simply suited to some things, designed for specific gifts, than for other.  The challenge is discovering those gifts, those gifts that God has bestowed on us to benefit this world.  Have you discovered yours?  What a wonder to be young and find that “something” and hone that talent.  I envy those people but “better late than never.”

The book I am presently reading is Julia Cameron’s, It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again.  Her first book, The Artist’s Way, changed my life as I know it did many others.  I discovered with the help of some of my dearest friends the gift of creating positive affirmations and of looking for and recognizing synchronicities or as she sometimes calls them, “ah ha moments.”  When I began writing morning pages 30 years ago, I discovered something that fed my soul.That quiet time of sitting and writing has helped me develop the discipline to begin every day with prayer, meditation, Bible study and journaling.  Within the journaling, I have left my petty concerns and discovered my passions and the joy of this blessed life.  

There are times when I wonder if I’m being selfish by taking that sacred time in the morning but then, Elizabeth Fenske presented in her December writings her concept of Unity and Oneness in her daily meditation book, Spiritual Insights for Daily Living and everything fell into place, at least for 2020.  She writes, “We forget that what we do about the inner self we also do about the world.  No thing is separate from any other thing in the universe.  The auric fields, often invisible to our eyes, are all woven together. With everything which happens, we can “feel” ourselves moving toward a deeper sense of the awareness.  Often in the stillness we intuitively feel and know the interconnectedness and oneness we share related back to a common ancestry.  We are the essence of life, cousin to the star and tigress.”  This for me was an “ah ha moment.”  My dear departed guide, Valerie Kelly, often reminded me that everything we do, everything we say and think, affects every other person in the world.  What a responsibly!!!  If I can maintain an attitude of kindness, compassion and generosity within me and for me, I can send those qualities out into this weary exhausted world and to everyone within it.  My prayer time is not simply time for me, it’s time for you.  The waves of grace and ease, gratitude and compassion, joy and dignity, hope and trust flow out of me and my connection to my Divine family, to my Lord and Savior and blanket all those who have tuned into the same frequency as I and perhaps to those who are simply turning the dial looking for the best station to the guidance about becoming the best version they can be.    

@Home Retreat - September 19th, 2020

                     You are cordially invited to attend the:            

                    @Home Monthly Morning Retreat  

                          September 19th, 2020 9:00-10:00am

*Prepare your space: Find an area where hopefully you will not be disturbed for your quiet time.  Perhaps you want a blanket for yourself (or a teddy bear?). 

*Gather your supplies: Timer, note paper and/or journal, pen.  You may want to bring in one or two inspirational books.

*Create an “altar”: Put a few meaningful items out, include a 

candle.

*Opening Song - Parable or one of your choice.

         (This is a link in case you want to listen to it & sing along)

                         

https://youtu.be/zuQDeq0gtG4

Parable

To everything there is a season

A time to be born and a time to die

A time to plant and a time for harvest

A time to meet and a time to part

Nothing can grow in barren soil

Briars and ravens take their toll

Still there is grain a hundred-fold

From seeds that took root and grew

To everything there is a season

A time to be born and a time to die

A time for joy and a time for grieving

A time to seek and a time to lose

God's word is like the farmer's seed

Rooted in joyful, loving hearts

Growing like grain in fertile ground

A harvest that overflows

To everything there is a season

A time to be born and a time to die

A time to plant and a time for harvest

A time to meet and a time to part

Based on Ecclesiastes: -Mathew

             

 

*Opening Prayers - The Sign of the Cross/Our Father/Hail Mary/Glory Be or your choice.

*Intention:  This is a reflective, healing time and we ask that it be filled with the love of the Holy Spirit, the care of Mother Mary and the guidance of all our guardian angels.  We are here to learn from one another and to support each other on our journey towards a closer, more intimate relationship with Our Lord.

*Write out a prayer request or a few and add them to your “altar.”

*Reflection - It has now been over 6 months since the Covid virus appeared and while we had hoped this was a short-lived problem, it is still with us and our lives have changed. How have you continued to stay connected to God, the Divine, Our Lord?  What has come into your heart during this time of chaos and uncertainty peace, hope, fear, compassion? 

Using your journal write about any insights. (10-15 min.)

Responsorial Psalm

R. (14) I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.

Now I know that God is with me.

In God, in whose promise I glory,

in God I trust without fear;

what can flesh do against me?

R. I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.

I am bound, O God, by vows to you;

your thank offerings I will fulfill.

For you have rescued me from death,

my feet, too, from stumbling;

that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

R. I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.

 

 

Alleluia

LK 8:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart

and yield a harvest through perseverance.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

*Scripture Reading for today - Lectio Divinia - Slowly read the following daily scripture three times.  Read the passage slowly and carefully.

      

Gospel

LK 8:4-15

When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another

journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable. 

“A sower went out to sow his seed.

And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled,

and the birds of the sky ate it up.

Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew,

it withered for lack of moisture.

Some seed fell among thorns,

and the thorns grew with it and choked it.

And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew,

it produced fruit a hundredfold.”

After saying this, he called out,

“Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

Then his disciples asked him

what the meaning of this parable might be.

He answered,

“Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God

has been granted to you;

but to the rest, they are made known through parables

so that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.

“This is the meaning of the parable. 

The seed is the word of God.

Those on the path are the ones who have heard,

but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts

that they may not believe and be saved.

Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear,

receive the word with joy, but they have no root;

they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation.

As for the seed that fell among thorns,

they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along,

they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, 

and they fail to produce mature fruit.

But as for the seed that fell on rich soil,

they are the ones who, when they have heard the word,

embrace it with a generous and good heart,

and bear fruit through perseverance.”

       

        

*Journaling Time - What did you hear God sharing with you?  What do you want to share with God? (10-15 minutes)

*Centering Prayer - 10 to 20 (recommended) minutes of silent time (you decide.)

*Centering Prayer - Guidelines 

1. Sit comfortably.

1. Choose a sacred word on which to focus.

1. Set a timer.

1. Don’t judge, just observe.

1. The phrase that often precedes Centering Prayer is:  I let go of security, affection & control and fully accept this moment exactly as it is.  (Optional)

1. Take a few breaths at the end to return to the present moment and to reflect on the experience.

Certified Spiritual Director

*Make it Your Own:

Perhaps you have an inspirational book you have been meaning to investigate but you just haven’t had the opportunity.  Now is the time.  If you have some time left before the end of the hour open it and see what other messages the Holy is sending to you.  

You could also use this time to say the Rosary.  Saturday in the Catholic Church is set aside as “Mary’s Day” and the reflection is on the Joyful Mysteries.  

*Closing Prayer - 

Dear God,

Speak gently in my silence.

When the loud outer noises of my surroundings and the loud   inner noises of my fears keep pulling me away from you,

help me to trust that you are still there even when I am unable to   hear you.

Give me ears to listen to your small, soft voice saying: “Come to me, you who are overburdened,

and I will give you rest...

for I am gentle and humble of heart.”

Let that loving voice be my guide. 

Amen

Excerpt from With Open Hands by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ave maria press, 2006

       “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2

*Sharing a Word Exercise - choose a word from your reading or your quiet time (your sacred word?) and share it.  Feel free to share any other thoughts or insights you have gained from this sacred time.  

Thank you. 

Jean Costa, MSW

Prayer Magic

Affirmation:  I pray unceasingly.  

Do you pray?  How do you pray?  Are your prayers silent or out loud?  Do you only pray when you go to church?  How about before meals?  Maybe you only pray before meals in your home, never out in public?  Maybe your prayers are only in the evening before bedtime, like some of us were trained to do as a child.  Maybe you make up your own words, or maybe you only use the rote prayers of your faith.  As you can see there are many forms of prayers, some might even say their best prayer is when they are on the golf course or watching a football game.  “God, help me get over this water!"  "Lord, please be with our team today."  Some wouldn’t even use the name of God.  Perhaps, their faith won’t allow that or perhaps their faith leads them to only a universal concept like, the Divine or the Holy.  Of course, we also have those people who don’t believe in prayer at all and think it a waste of their time.  This may not be the blog they will want to read.  That’s ok.  I believe they are praying every time they send their energy out into the world with their thoughts, or into their bodies with their intentions.  

As part of my Spiritual Direction training I read, "Ron DelBene’s Breath of Life Series: A Simple Way to Pray (The Jesus Prayer). I don't know why but I didn't expect much of this reading but  I had a list of monthly assignments and this was one of the choices.  It seems I am quite good at mis-judging what may or may not resonate with me and once again I was wrong; wrong, wrong, and wrong!  

If you’ve been following this blog, you already know that I am a great believer in the power of prayer.  I actually pray all day and I have lots of tools to help me with that.  I have all those memorized prayers most Catholics learn as children and several I’ve memorized as an adult.  I have the one I wrote myself that I occasionally use before I journal.  I have the Rosary which I always say as I walk the lake and if not then, during some quiet time in the afternoon or before Mass.  I have Sunday Mass and if I were really disciplined, I’d have daily Mass. Sometimes it’s as simply as doing an Ujayi yoga breath and adding the name of Jesus.  So you see, I’m pretty immersed in a prayer.  

At one point at the Haden SD training, we were handed a picture of a tree and the title was "Contemplative Practices."  There are several branches: stillness, generative, creative, activist, relational, movement and ritual/cyclical.  It would appear according to this diagram that almost any form of activity can fall into a contemplative category as long as one is wholly present to their actions.  I’m sure that’s true but I still feel most of us will benefit from finding a way to silence and stillness rather than trying to focus while on the move.  It’s a busy noisy world out there and "in here" and to take some time and just be, can be life changing.  In fact, it has now been scientifically proven that the part of brain that deals with stress, changes with meditation and we experience less tension and anxiety. 

Ron DelBene’s book was for me like discovering a magic lamp, with a genie inside.  The genie popped out and I was asked to make a wish, only one.  Oh, what was so important to me that I would want to focus on it all the time?  He suggests you find a short phrase that you use as an all-day prayer.  He recommends it be around six words or so.  You then repeat it throughout your entire day.  You can say it at a red light, standing in line, waiting in a doctor’s office, walking to your employment, in the shower.  Anywhere, anytime is the perfect time.  You rub the magic lamp and you actually ask, "God, what prayer would best serve our relationship?"  You take some of that quiet time I just mentioned and you listen.  What phrase comes to mind?  For now, that’s the prayer.  Sure, you can change it.  You can tweak it but for now, own the words that you have been gifted.  Breathe in, deep breath and let them settle into your heart and your spirit.  Give the prayer a few days to take root and the be prepared for when it begins to blossom.  That’s when you’ll know the "genie" has heard your one wish and it is being manifested.  The prayer isn’t for anyone or anything other than yourself.  Selfish, you think?  Remember the Prayer of Saint Francis?  "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me."  Until we change ourselves to be centered in the gifts of the Holy; love, joy, peace, hope, compassion and generosity, nothing outside of us will ever change.  Let God take up full time residence within, you only need ask, and then throw away that lamp because now the miracle of finding God within will bring about the miracle of revealing God without and I believe life will never again be the same.  

Give it a try.  If you like, write me and share your prayer and anything else that manifests from your newest practice.

"Holy Spirit, fill me with Your pure love."

Please Pray - by Jean Costa

Please pray for me

Please pray for her

Please pray for him

Please pray for them

Of course, I answer

I will, I say

I’ll add you to my list, I write

It’s my honor, I respond

Why, I think?

Will it help, I query? 

For what, I question?

How, I ponder?

Our Father, I begin

Hail Mary, I plead

Holy Spirit, I invite

Angles and guides, I request

I wake with a prayer

I walk in prayer

I sit for prayer 

I fall asleep with prayer 

Am I praying for them?

Am I praying for her?

Am I praying for him?

Am I praying for me?

How do I feel?

Does it make a difference?

Does it soothe the world?

Does it create healing?

But I believe

Yes, I believe

Truly, I believe

Surely. I believe

I pray for her 

I pray for him

I pray for them

I pray for you

I pray for hope

I pray for healing 

I pray for strength 

I pray for love 

Those I know

Those who have asked

Those who have been asked for

Those I have never met

I pray for me

I pray for family & friends

I pray for all the support people in my life

I pray for all my communities

I pray for my church

I pray for my country

I pray for our world leaders

I pray for those who have no one to pray for 

And, I send out those prayers 

I send them with hope and faith

I send them out and let them rest within

Away they go....blessing the earth

And, I trust, that I am that powerful

I trust, I can change the world

I trust, my efforts to love and not to judge

I trust, I am making a difference

No, not on my own but with 

God, the Divine, my Lord, Mother Mary 

With all our angles and guides

I pray my heart will be known 

And I trust my prayers are answered

.