BEADS OF JOY 02-09-18
“They Begged Him”
©2018 James Dacey, Jr. OFS
My Friends,
Today’s Gospel: Mark 7:31-37 (Healing of a Deaf Man)
“Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand upon him. And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
Reflection:
Have you ever been in a position in your life where you were begging our Lord, Almighty God, the Angels and the Saints, the Holy Spirit to help you, to heal you (or heal a loved one) or help see you through a most difficult time in your life? I’m talking down on your knees begging, seriously begging, tears rolling, sobbing in your sleep begging. Ok, then you were seriously at the end of your rope. I can fully relate to that, I understand the agony. But, how do we maneuver through that and still function and live and work and eat and cook and clean and do the things we need to with a family and a job and kids and cars and a house to clean. (ok breathe) oh yea and breath through it all!
Well, just know it was not easy for us (my family) and there is no magical
formula, but there is a way to lesson the pain of it all. To begin with it is
so important to have a vibrant daily prayer life. Ok, wait, let’s understand
something before I go any further. I’m not going to type out a list of 1. 2. 3
and poof you will handle everything perfectly well from now on. No! Here’s what
I suggest you do, start with prayer and let the Holy Spirit lead you and guide
you. Everyone one of us different and everyone of us enjoys and is drawn to a
different devotion or a different way of worship, and there are so many choices,
which is what is so fantastic about our faith.
Stop talking to God and start listening for
Him. He doesn’t speak to us by way of phone or text, no, He speaks to us within
the silence of our hearts. But, we can only hear Him when we are silent before
Him. Adoration, if even only one hour a month
at your church is a spectacular humbling experience. But like I have shared
before, even at home with a cross of the crucified Christ in hand, sit in your
room alone in silence staring at the crucified Jesus, for like 10 or 15 or however
many minutes you can grab, as often as you can grab it, and you will find peace
and answers to many questions, and answers to ones you didn’t even know you
had. You know what I mean. I hope that was helpful.
Pondering these thoughts today: The take away here is simple. Jesus needs to be very alive and very real
in our lives every single day. So that when the cancer comes, or the tragedy
happens or the love one passes away. You have Him to cling to. He will never
ever refuse us, even if we have never turned to Him before; but to always know
Him and always love Him, when we do turn to Him in our most venerable times, He
is there for us. I just love you guys so much, I hope you enjoy my reflections
each day.
LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!
Your brother in Christ Jesus
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS
Today is Friday: We pray the Sorrowful Mysteries:
The Sorrowful Mysteries
1. Agony on the Garden (Sorrow for sin) –Matt 26:36-46
2. Scourging at the Pillar (Purity) –Mark 15:1-16
3. Crowning with Thorns (Moral Courage) –Matt 27:27-31
4. Carrying of the Cross (Patience) –Mark 15:20-22
5. The Crucifixion (Perseverance) –Luke 23:33-46
Thank you Lord for loving us so much…
Rosary Man Jim’s Sorrowful Reflection: http://beads-of-joy-blog.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-sorrowful-mysteries_11.html
FRIDAY’S
I share this meditation I wrote back in 2010. Here I share my own personal insight and experience, as I journey with our Lady from station to station.
Many Franciscan groups around the world use this for their own group gathering while they meditate the Stations with our Lady. http://beads-of-joy-blog.blogspot.com/2010/03/marys-way-of-cross.html It is unique and emotionally very moving as you move from station to station… From my heart to yours.
