Tag: Personal Reflection

Act Of Faith

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Bible, Catholic Faith, Catholicism, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Jesus, Reflection, The Chosen

I had not watched The Chosen (Season 1) until this weekend. My parish priest had raved about this series and recommended it as a beautiful portrayer of Jesus.

Wrapping our heads around the hypostatic union of Jesus as one person with two nature – divine and human – can be grappling to understand.

From a personal perspective, I really appreciate how the Holy Spirit moves me time and time again to have a deeper understanding of Jesus’ human side. Between my daughter passing me tissues to wipe my eyes, not out of sadness, but with an inner joy, “Mom, why are you crying? You’ve read all this in the Bible and you know Jesus’ story.”

Reading and picturing the scene in my head is one thing, but to see it enacted adds to a holistic understanding of Jesus – the man, the son who was in constant communication with the Father, and his interaction and love for all the people around him. I also gained deeper insights into each of Jesus’ disciples. Just as I felt the pain Nicodemus the Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin was going through – the difficulty of giving up all to follow Jesus.

I am so often wrought by my own subjective reason and intellectualization that I miss the most basic teachings in the Bible. It is not through reason we come to Christ. Yes, for some it is, but for myself, it is to work beyond my own head space into faith – that means letting go of the mind and moving towards the “mysteries of God, and “Mysteries are not easy for a scholar”

I recommend taking the time to watch the first season of The Chosen now on Netflix. For myself, watching this was the Holy Spirit showing me that there is a bit of me in each of the people around Jesus.

SIN has permeated each of us, and Jesus points us to the Father:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

John 14:6-7 ESV

God Bless 💕🙏

Staying on God’s Path

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Catholic Faith, Catholic Teaching, Catholicism, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Personal Reflection, Reflection

I have to say that sometimes (ok, most of the time) it’s a struggle between my will (me) and God’s will. My path seems easy and mapped out. God’s route takes time and effort, nor do I know where the Holy Spirit will take me:

8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John 3:8 NRSVCE

The spiritual road travelled is littered with life challenges – it is through them that we can grow in leaps and bound. A part of that growth process is learning to discern between consolation and desolation. That is distinguishing if it’s from God or Satan. I have to admit this is a life long process of being mindfully alert and Jesus centred.

So often I do something thinking it’s God’s will only to realize the evil one has slid in and before I know it, I’m feeling stressed, overloaded and burdened. I piled upon myself all these to do activities thinking it will develop my spirituality only to realize they end up distracting me from focusing on Jesus. Satan has inadvertently slithered in. Yup, my lack of discernment.

These past few weeks, I have learnt exactly that – Trust God, keep my focus on Jesus, and silent time to hear the Holy Spirit. It is easy to fall on the wayside without realizing it. That’s when I find it necessary to shift my focus back to Jesus.

Good Bless 🙏💕

Dark Nights

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Catholicism, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Depression, Healing, Personal Reflection, prayer, Relationship, Spirituality

This past few weeks, so many around me are going through life (filled) challenges. Many are in a “clinical” depression, sad, or anxious. There are a few friends going through cancer treatments. For some, they cannot see the light and cannot grasp the inner joy within. I lack words of comfort.

For many their darkness stems from not only the death of those close to them, but from the dark cloak of secularism which has taken away their soul and replacing it with shallow emotionalism. Where has their inner joy, peace and love gone?

A young friend just lost her mom and bestie, and she asked me why she is being punished. “Where is God?” “God doesn’t exist!” She is not the only friend who has experienced the death of love ones. I can only listen and silently pray in my heart for them.

There is another recovering from addiction, and sometimes the pain is so bad she has strayed away from her program – “falling off the wagon.”

I recall Father D. Callaway, MIC once saying that therapy without healing the soul (spiritual) is ineffective. The mind and body may get better, but the spirit is weak and often times they fall back into their addiction.

How do I proactively help them? Yes, I try to listen mindfully without opening my big mouth. I give a hug. I also say a silent prayer for them asking for the light of Jesus to touch their souls. I pray for their healing, or I send them prayers to pray.

When someone is ill, praying is the last thing on their mind. When in a depression, it’s difficult to see the light. When someone is going through the pain of lost, no words can comfort. That’s why it’s up to us to pray for their healing, pray a rosary, or light a candle, or offer a mass on their behalf, and above all something I have learnt of late – to listen mindfully. With Jesus in us, this is what we are called to do.

Going through the “dark night of the soul” is real. It is also a process of drawing one nearer to God. There is a light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. God is ever loving and merciful – He waits to hear from us. He waits for us to seek him to help us go through the “dark night of the soul”.

He welcomes our prays for the other.

There is also the freedom to choose. God also wants us – sick, depressed and going through life challenges – to seek him freely.

God also seeks for those in need to seek him from where they are at in their life’s journey. Following Father Mike today – Day 8 helped me understand this more fully: https://youtu.be/m6f2J4Cr3Ps

God Bless all those going through trials, illness, depression, and lost of love ones. Those of us in the faith, let us pray, pray, and pray for them. We can pray the Rosary 📿, light a candle at church, offer a mass. 🙏💕

Note: Forgive me for doing injustice to Saint John of the cross and his “dark night of the soul”. There is a multi-fold meaning to his work, and I do him a great injustice by the flippant and generalized way I am appropriating his phrase.

A Look Back…

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Advent, Catholic Faith, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Christmas, Mother Mary, Music, prayer, Rosary, Virgin Mary

There is a joy to in the season of Advent as we prepare our hearts and soul to receive God’s gift:

“The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of Our Lord’s birth on Christmas. From the earliest days of the Church, people have been fascinated by Jesus’ promise to come back. But the scripture readings during Advent tell us not to waste our time with predictions. Advent is not about speculation. Our Advent readings call us to be alert and ready, not weighted down and distracted by the cares of this world (Lk 21:34-36).“

From: https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year/advent

Christmas is a season for active preparation through fasting, reading the Bible, and prayer. It is a time to share with our families and communities the love of God. It is a time to express our resounding joy.

Praying the Joyful Mysteries, allows us to follow Mary’s “Yes” to the birth of Jesus. Through Mary’s eyes, we journey along with her in the faith, hope and joy. Reading scripture (Luke 1:26-56). also allows us to focus our minds and hearts on the true reason for the season – Christ, coming to redeem all of humanity.

https://rosarycenter.org/the-joyful-mysteries-without-distractions

Listening to hymns and carols immerses us in the soulful sound of celebration – we become a part of the heavenly choir:

Finally, I want to repost some thoughts I had as we ended the Year of St. Joseph. Christmas is also his story. Our story is no matter how often we fall or tumble, the light of Jesus lights our path.

https://rejoiceandpraise.ca/2021/12/18/a-light-in-my-path/

God Bless 🙏💕

Silent Night

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Catholic Faith, Christianity, Christmas, Jesus

Going into a Catholic Church during Advent fills my soul with quiet wonderment as I gaze upon the Nativity Scene.

Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, Montreal, Quebec

Kneeling before the manger, I recall a time when we would perform the nativity story for our parents and church congregation. It was a season of anticipation, of going from home to home, of festivities, food and baked goods, and different communities joined together in sharing in Christmas joy.

Our home was was opened to people from church. The first thing that would greet them is the smell of baked goods, and home made fruit cake which my dad gave out to families and friends. The joy of the season was also going to one another’s homes and carolling/singing Christmas songs. My favourite part of carolling would be the hot chocolate and treats our host prepared. The highlight of Christmas would be a candlelight service, where hymns were sung along with the Nativity play. All the kids would dress up and retell the story of the birth of Jesus. Always told with a bit of clumsiness and a tender heart.

The humble Holy family surrounded by shepherds and wisemen on a starlit night was a story retold year after year.

There is a rustic beauty as I gaze upon baby Jesus lying in white linen against the coarse backdrop of an old stable.

Watching this scene are sheep, donkeys, mule, cows – all in for the night. I imagine the barnyard smell of dry hay and animals. There is Mary and Joseph gazing with adoration upon this miracle from God – a baby is born into a world – our Savior. He is both Divine and human (now let’s try to wrap our heads around this), sent by the Father to redeem all mankind.

Let’s not let this beautiful story be untold in our world. Let this story not be forgotten, and let us share it even if it’s politically incorrect. This story tells of the birth of Jesus, born to a virgin who said, “Yes”, to God.

God Bless 💕🙏

The First Sunday of Advent

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Advent, Catholic Faith, Catholic Journey, Catholic Teaching, Catholicism, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Divine Mercy, God, grace

Being bed ridden is no fun, especially when it also triggers my asthma – so sleep is healing.

My Spiritual Director was not kidding when she once told me that the sick don’t pray or read the Bible. Well, I can honestly say that I just slept and bemoaned feeling like crap. I do recall murmuring Our Father and The Hail Mary.

My capable 16 year old tested me for Covid – 19 – negative. Praise God for his hand in my healing the past few days.

Being sick as the Advent season starts has given me time to reflect on Christ the king in my heart. It has also given me time to reflect on my sins – the chaos I create – gossipy tongue, work related dramas, interpersonal relationships and the mores! I continuously fall short. I am thankful for God’s Divine Mercy. His blood and water to cleanse the stains upon my soul.

https://archive.org/details/St.FaustinaKowalskaDiary

I hope to be back on my feet and the first thing I will do is go to morning mass and make a good confession as I head into the Advent Season focused on only Jesus.

This morning I gathered my family and lit the first Advent Candle with this prayer:

Blessing wreath prayer written by the USCCB.


“Lord our God,
we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
He is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,
He is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
He is the Savior of every nation.
Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light
be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.
May He come quickly and not delay.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.”

I pray for a blessed Advent for each of you and your families 💕🙏 and may the light within us shine out into the world💕🙏

For more information on creating your own unique family Advent:

https://hallow.com/blog/advent-candles-and-advent-wreaths/

https://hallow.com/advent/

Craft Ideas: https://www.blog.elizabethcraftdesigns.com/2022/11/24/advent-calendar/

https://www.elizabethclareblog.com/tag/advent/

God Bless 🙏💕

The Best Part Of My Day

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Catholic Faith, Catholic Journey, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Personal Reflection, Praise, Rejoice

I returned to work today after a long sojourn, and the best part of my day was going to Mary Queen of the World Cathedral to pray and attend the 7:30 am mass.

A wonderful way to start my day as I return to the hectic world of teaching young children. A lot has changed within me the last few years, but the world and the job all remains the same. The staff changes and children changes throughout the years, but the same hectic reality remains the same.

I have changed. My faith has deepened and for those of us who walk in Jesus:

“Three things are necessary to everyone: truth of faith which brings understanding, love of Christ which brings compassion, and endurance of hope which brings perseverance.”

–St. Bonaventure

A comforting thought as I start my day.

God Bless 🙏💕

God’s Healing Breath

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Bible, Catholic Faith, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Depression, Faith, Healing, Healing Prayers, Holy Spirit, Jesus, prayer

The past year and a half, has seen me work towards a more balanced spiritual, mental, emotional and physical well-being. None of this would have been possible without a deeper intimacy with Jesus and his divine grace. After becoming depressed and isolated at home during the onset of the Covid Pandemic, my only solace was the Bible. I remember praying for God’s intervention and guidance for healing in my life – to help me find him again, and “to be a stronger me in my own existence”. As I reflect back, Jesus has always been there as he is for each of us. Jesus was simply waiting for me and each of us to invite him into our lives for a deeper relationship.

20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Revelations 3:20

Thank you Jesus for the grace to know you more intimately, love you more deeply, and to walk with you more closely.

In fact, through working with a Saint Ignatius Spiritual Director, Art Therapist, and physical exercise, I am now better equip spiritually, emotionally and physically to step back into the ring of life and be the person God meant me to be. That is of course not without the daily challenges that comes with living – but with Jesus in my heart and the foundations of the Catholic faith, I am a stronger me in my own existence.

A psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

Psalm 23

Catholic Prayers For Soul Healing

O’ holy one

I have come before you today who needs your healing hand. Everything is possible in you.

Hold my heart within you, and renew my mind, body, and spirit.

I am lost, but I come to you with grace.

You gave us life, and you also give us the gift of eternal bliss.

Give me the strength to move forward on the path you have made for me.

Guide me towards better health, and give me the wisdom to identify the people you have around me to help me get better.

If you have bad memories, anguish, anxiety, or guilt, a “prayer for soul healing” will address those worries. It also focuses on forgiving the causes of your pain.

Catholic Prayers For Depression

Sometimes the thing we need most in order to heal — or even to think about healing — is some good, restful sleep. This prayer asks Jesus to help you sleep, to free the demons from your thoughts, and to have angels over you while you sleep.

Grand spirit

Thank you for being with me through all the ups and downs of my life and the blessings you have given me, for which I admire and thank you.

You know the disease I’ve been battling for a long time and there’s little that can be done by the medical profession – but believe me, I’m awesome and wonderfully made and you know every part of it is my body. You know exactly why I’ve been sick for so long. I come to you now asking that you will do complete recovery work on my body – whatever is causing this persistent problem. I pray that you, by your mercy, give me the health and strength that I need.

Lead me on the path you have planned for me.

God Bless 🙏💕