Lord, I Am Not Worthy

BEADS OF JOY 06-30-18

“Lord, I Am Not Worthy”

©2018 James Dacey, Jr. OFS

My Friends,

Chrissy always turned to Our Lady for strength. 

Today’s Gospel: Matthew 8:5-17 (Many Were Healed)
“As he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, `Go,' and he goes, and to another, `Come,' and he comes, and to my  slave, `Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment. And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever; he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and served him. That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, "He took our infirmities and bore our diseases."

Reflection:
Are you too proud, too honorable, too well off that you can’t ask our Lord for a healing? Well, are you? Some things need to be asked bluntly. Think of this and I don’t say it lightly; the more we take care of ourselves the better we are to take care of others. Yes, we must continue to focus on others. Please try to keep your eyes off of yourself. We all are guilty of that from time to time, some more than others. But if we practice it day by day it will become more and more a part of who we really are. I’m not yelling, just calmly typing, note, I didn’t even use caps. LOL. That’s me just laughing out loud, by the way. I am really very light hearted, and I really hope you enjoy these reflections each day.

We must know where demons can lurk and do all we can to avoid them. Where, you ask? They lurk in the gallows of sin and selfishness. Just as we must know and recognize Jesus’ voice and know Him; as you have read in several different recent scriptures the demons know exactly who Jesus is, “You are the Son of God!" the real question is, why don’t some of us know Jesus like that? We must spend more time in His word, spend more time in His presence in Adoration, spend more time in prayer with Him. The more we spend time with Him, the more we will know Him.

Jesus never turns anyone away. We (our family) has been through a lot and we have suffered. Well, Chrissy suffered the most, she was my wife, for those who don’t know, we were married 30 years. Since May of 2010 she suffered with Stage 4 Lung Cancer, by God’s strength she lived almost 6-years with this horrible illness. He blessed us with her love, her presence, her strength, her patience and her wisdom. My Aunt Ann had the exact same lung cancer many, many years ago, she didn’t even live 2 years. Chrissy did suffer tremendously, even more towards the end. She lost too much weight in the end, dropping to 111 lbs. We never expected her to be here as long as she was, we are ever grateful for God’s mercy. So, we must recognize miracles and blessings; even when they are covered in pain and suffering. If we focus on the negative, we will find the negative; but if we focus on Jesus we will find Jesus.

The Faith of a Centurion

(with Ernest Borgnine)

Pondering these thoughts today: Verse 8, “But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Now we see where that comes from when we say that in Mass. “Lord, I am not worthy for you to enter under my roof but say only the word and my soul shall be healed.” How do you personally connect with these words in the Mass, when you are praying them before you receive? Has the meaning changed for you in your life over time, what caused the change?

LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!

Your brother in Christ Jesus 
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS

Today is Saturday: We pray the Joyful Mysteries:

The Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation (Humility) – Luke 1:26-28
2. The Visitation (Love of Neighbor) – Luke 1:39-45
3. The Birth of Jesus (Poverty of Spirit) – Luke 2:1-20
4. The Presentation (Purity of Mind and Spirit) – Luke 2:22-38
5. Finding in The Temple (Obedience) –Luke 2:41-50

I simply love Saturday mornings, because Saturday like every other day of the week -begins with the Rosary.

Special prayers for Fr. Kevin Scallon and his family, the priest's voice on these videos. I learned that he recently passed away. (at the age of 80)

Rosary Man Jim’s Joyful Reflection: http://beads-of-joy-blog.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-joyful-mysteries_10.html

MY FIRST BOOK.
(Mary’s Way of The Cross - .99¢)

https://www.amazon.com/Marys-Way-Cross-Rosary-Man-ebook/dp/B079TJZFQJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519240799&sr=8-1&keywords=rosary+man+jim

MY SECOND BOOK.
(Praying The Complete Rosary - .99¢)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFXM4VR

Rosary Man Jim's
Decades With Our Lady Podcast
https://rosarymanjim.podbean.com/

St. Peter & St. Paul

BEADS OF JOY 06-29-18

“St. Peter & St. Paul”

©2018 James Dacey, Jr. OFS

My Friends,

Today’s Gospel: 

Matthew 16:13-19 (Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul)
“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you lose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Reflection:
Today is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul
Click Here

This wonderful Apostle needs no introduction, we all know Peter. But for those who don't know Peter, I ask who is Peter? "As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen." Matthew 4:18. What did Jesus say to Peter at his boat? Jesus says this in The Gospel of Matthew, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Matthew 16:18. Ok, now this all making sense I think I know who Peter is. Where else in scripture is Peter with Jesus?

Jesus Walking On Water,
Calls Peter To Come

Matthew 14:25-33
"Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

Matthew 16:13-20
"When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah."

The Transfiguration

Matthew 17:1-13
"After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. "

Jesus Reinstates Peter

John 21:15-19
"When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again, Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

There is just so much to share about who St. Peter the Apostle was and is. He is a true man of honor and there is never only one time his allegiance was in question. In all fairness in sharing the whole story, many know it was Peter who denied Jesus, and Jesus predicted it. But Peter repented and remained loyal to Jesus after that. Below here I have listed to the best of my ability the order in which Jesus and Peter interact through the four gospels. I hope this is helpful.

Peter in The Gospels (in order)

-Peter Is Chosen and Called The Rock (Mark 1:16-18)
-Peter's mother in law is Healed (Luke 4:38-39)
-Jesus Walks on The Water, calling Peter (Matt 14:22-33)
-Peter Declares Jesus as Messiah (Matt 16:13-20)
-Jesus Predicts His Death, Peter steps In (Matt 16:21-28)
-Transfiguration. w/Peter James and John (Matt 17:1-9)
-Jesus Washes The Disciples Feet (John 13:1-11)
-Jesus Foretold of Peters Denial (Mark 14:26-31)
-Jesus Prays at Gethsemane, Peter sleeps (Mark 14:32-42)
-Jesus is Arrested, Peter Steps In (John 18:1-12)
-Peter Denies Jesus (Luke 22:54-62)
-The Resurrection of Jesus, to the tomb (Luke 24:1-12)
-Peter Escapes Prison, An angel guided him (Acts 12:1-11)

Peter's Death: "It is certain that Peter died in Rome and that his martyrdom came during the reign of Emperor Nero, probably in 64. Testimony of his martyrdom is extensive, including Origen, Eusebius of Caesarea, St. Clement I of Rome, St. Ignatius, and St. Irenaeus. According to rich tradition, Peter was crucified on the Vatican Hill upside down because he declared himself unworthy to die in the same manner as the Lord. He was then buried on Vatican Hill, and excavations under St. Peter’s Basilica have unearthed his probable tomb, and his relics are now enshrined under the high altar of St. Peter’s. From the earliest days of the Church, Peter was recognized as the Prince of the Apostles and the first Supreme Pontiff; his see, Rome, has thus enjoyed the position of primacy over the entire Catholic Church. While Peter’s chief feast day is June 29, he is also honored on February 22 and November 18. In liturgical art, he is depicted as an elderly man holding a key and a book. His symbols include an inverted cross, a boat, and the cock that crowed." excerpt from Catholic Online

Paul’s Death: “The apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthian church, summed up his own contribution to Christianity better than anyone else could. "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me." Wherever he carried the gospel, the church put down deep and enduring roots. He saw himself as primarily an apostle to the Gentile races.” Excerpt from Christianity .com

The following is a breakdown of the letters St. Paul wrote and their possible timeframes in which he wrote them:

-Galatians (AD 47)
-1 and 2 Thessalonians (AD 49—51)
-1 and 2 Corinthians and Romans (AD 52—56)
-Ephesians, Philemon, Colossians, and Philippians
  (AD 60—62, during Paul’s first Roman imprisonment)
-1 Timothy and Titus (AD 62)
-2 Timothy 

  (AD 63—64, during Paul’s second Roman imprisonment)

Bishop Barron on Saints Peter and Paul

Peter and Paul - The Indispensable Men

Pondering these thoughts today:
Grant, we pray, O Lord our God, that we may be sustained by the intercession of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, that, as through them you gave your Church the foundations of her heavenly office, so through them you may help her to eternal salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Source: Roman Missal, 

Collect for the Vigil Mass on the evening of June 28 

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…

Special prayers for Fr. Kevin Scallon and his family, the priest's voice on these videos. I learned that he recently passed away. (at the age of 80)

Rosary Man Jim’s Sorrowful Reflection: http://beads-of-joy-blog.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-sorrowful-mysteries_11.html

MY FIRST BOOK.
(Mary’s Way of The Cross - .99¢)

https://www.amazon.com/Marys-Way-Cross-Rosary-Man-ebook/dp/B079TJZFQJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519240799&sr=8-1&keywords=rosary+man+jim

MY SECOND BOOK.
(Praying The Complete Rosary - .99¢)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFXM4VR

Rosary Man Jim's
Decades With Our Lady Podcast
https://rosarymanjim.podbean.com/

The Floods Came

BEADS OF JOY 06-28-18

“The Floods Came”

©2018 James Dacey, Jr. OFS

My Friends,

Today’s Gospel: Matthew 7:21-29 (The Two Foundations)

“Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works  in your name?' And then will I declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.' "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it." And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.”

Reflection:
Ok here we go… Homebuilder’s, carpenters, electricians, brick layers and I know, so many others, lend me your ears (Yes, I’ll give them back! lol). Today Jesus taught a parable you might want to read. I’m only going to reflect on His teaching. I personally never build a house, at least not with a hammer and nails. I’ve draw homes (and built scaled models with balsa wood) on an architectural level including all building requirement specifications; so, I have some simplistic semi-educated knowledge about the structure of a buidling. I did all that throughout High School and my first year of College. My initial career choice was to be an Architect. So, home design (foundation to chimney top) was something I loved since I was a teenager.

Building a house takes great planning, it’s not only a floor plan and a bunch of pictures of what the future inside will look like; the location must also be considered. And when you pick the location, you must take into consideration the seasons, current and past. Even though it may look beautiful today, maybe three years ago there was a flood in the very spot you have chosen. I’m sure you are wondering, what does all this have to do with our faith? I thought the same thing to, the very first time I heard this scripture. But think about it. The basic concept here is the “foundation” and what your house is built upon.

What is your house built upon? YOU, your heart, your ulterior motives, your desires, your intentions, your choices; the very character of who we are. That my sisters and brothers is our foundation. The house that is built upon it, is our words, our sincerity, our gestures, our faith, our intentions, our motives and our actions. Do you speak out of the both sides of your mouth? Do you know what that means? It means on one side you say one thing and then on the other side you say and do the complete opposite. God sees that. He knows the Character of His children. We must build our lives on a solid foundation of faith and keep our house in order. If we say we are Christians and we care for others and love our Lord; then we need to live a life that reflects just that. We must say and do what we mean and live by what we claim we live by. There are way too many phony people in the world today! Don’t be one of them! Turn to Jesus and promise Him your honest, reliable self and live a life pleasing to Him; while helping and serving others with His hands and His love. God loves you all. See you tomorrow.

“Our words matter, for the very words we speak; come from the very foundation we are built upon.” ~me

The Wise and Foolish Builders

Pondering these thoughts today: It is our very foundation that gets us through the storms of life. If you build it strong and deep, you will be able to withstand the fiercest of storms. Look at all Chrissy and I endured together. Nothing shook our house of faith, nothing made us mad at God, nothing stopped us from praising and loving Him, through all those days of our suffering. I still remain solid in my faith and the battles continue, but have lessened. Nothing will shake me, not even a gun to my head, telling me to deny Jesus or die. In that situation I chose death. How solid is your foundation? How strong is your faith? How sincere is your allegiance to our Lord? Be Bold in your faith, don’t be scared.

LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!

Your brother in Christ Jesus 
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS

Today is Thursday: We pray the Luminous Mysteries:

The Luminous Mysteries

1. The Baptism of Jesus (Matt 3:13-17)
2. Wedding Feast of Cana (John 2:1-12)
3. Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:15)
4. The Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13)
5. Institution of the Holy Eucharist (Matt 26:17-30)

Glory and Honor and Praise -Lord Jesus Christ!!

Rosary Man Jim's Luminous Reflections: http://beads-of-joy-blog.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-luminous-mysteries.html

MY FIRST BOOK.
(Mary’s Way of The Cross - .99¢)

https://www.amazon.com/Marys-Way-Cross-Rosary-Man-ebook/dp/B079TJZFQJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519240799&sr=8-1&keywords=rosary+man+jim

MY SECOND BOOK.
(Praying The Complete Rosary - .99¢)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFXM4VR

Rosary Man Jim's
Decades With Our Lady Podcast
https://rosarymanjim.podbean.com/

By Their Fruits

BEADS OF JOY 06-27-18

“By Their Fruits”

©2018 James Dacey, Jr. OFS

My Friends,

Today’s Gospel: Matthew 7:15-20 (False Prophets)

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, you will know them by their fruits.

Reflection:
Today’s gospel says, “you will know them by their fruits.” So, let us reflect upon all the wonderful Spiritual Fruits of the Rosary. The Rosary has so much to offer to us in our lives. Let us include the Rosary in our daily prayers. I have truly found no other more perfect prayer than the Rosary, in keeping myself fully focused on my Lord. Nothing else other than straight bible study or reading, keeps my mind and my heart more focused. It is through the Rosary that we see Jesus through Mary's eyes and Mary’s heart. It is through the Rosary that Mary stands by my side bringing me to her Son. It is through the Rosary that my ears and my heart listens to the sweet sweet sound; of the Hail Mary's, and the Our Father's, and the Glory Be's, and the Fatima Prayer, that fill my heart with so much Joy. It is through the Rosary that today I will share with you the Spiritual Fruits that we receive by meditating on these wonderful, splendid, blessed mysteries.

The Joyful Mysteries

1. Annunciation (…when Mary said YES to God)
.....HUMILITY

2. Visitation (…when Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth)
.....CHARITY / LOVE OF NEIGHBOR

3. Nativity (…when Jesus was born)
.....LOVE OF POVERTY

4. Presentation (…of Jesus in the temple)
.....OBEDIENCE TO GOD

5. Finding of Jesus (…in the temple)
.....PERSEVERANCE IN SEEKING THE LORD

The Luminous Mysteries

1. The Baptism (…of Jesus in the River Jordan)
.....OPENNESS TO GOD AND HOLY SPIRIT

2. The Wedding at Cana (…where our Lady asked on our behalf)
.....MARYS INTERCESSION WITH OUR LORD

3. Proclamation of God's Kingdom (…through and by Jesus)
.....REPENTANCE AND FULL TRUST IN GOD

4. Transfiguration (…the glory of Jesus revealed)
.....TRUE DESIRE FOR HOLINESS

5. Institution of the Eucharist (..the beginning of the Mass, by Jesus)
.....COMPLETE ADORATION AND LOVE FOR JESUS

The Sorrowful Mysteries

1. Agony in the Garden (…the night before Jesus died)
.....TRUE SORROW FOR SINS

2. Scourging at the Pillar (Jesus is whipped almost to death)
.....MORTIFICATION OF YOUR SENSES

3. Crowning with Thorns (…upon Jesus' head)
.....TRUE COURAGE

4. Carrying of the Cross (…that Jesus had to carry)
.....PATIENCE TO ENDURE TRIALS

5. The Crucifixion (Jesus died upon the cross)
.....PERSEVERANCE

The Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection (Jesus defeats death)
.....FAITH

2. Ascension into Heaven (Jesus ascended)
.....HOPE

3. Descent of the Holy Spirit (…upon the Apostles)
.....LOVE OF GOD

4. Assumption of Mary (…into Heaven)
.....GRACE TO DIE IN PEACE

5. Coronation of Mary (…by Jesus to make her Queen)
.....DEVOTION TO MARY - HER INTERCESSION

The 15 Promises of the Rosary

Praying The Rosary
How to pray the holy rosary without getting bored.

(Excellent fun, enjoyable video.)

Pondering these thoughts today: I hope this is helpful for your own reference in your prayer life. I can write about and talk about the Rosary every single day; and each day I would have something new to talk about. I pray that your heart gets more and more excited about the Rosary and our Lady and that she will lead you to her Son through her Rosary. God has blessed us with a truly beautiful, blessed Holy Mother. She is here for us whenever we need her in our challenges, she will speak to her Son on our behalf. And in all our misery and struggle, she helps keep us on the straight path that leads us to her Son. Today I challenge you if you haven’t already done so; add the Rosary to your daily devotion. At the bottom of every day’s blog is the day’s Rosary Video. I use them all the time. I’ll will continue praying for you.

LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!

Your brother in Christ Jesus 
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS

Today is Wednesday: We pray the Glorious Mysteries:

The Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection (Faith) –Mark 16:1-8
2. The Ascension (Hope) –Luke 24:50-53
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Love) –Acts 2:1-4
4. Assumption of Mary (A Happy Death) –Rev 12:1-6
5. Coronation of Mary (Mary’s intercession) –Judith 15:9-10

Glory and Honor and Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ!

Rosary Man Jim's Glorious Reflections: http://beads-of-joy-blog.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-glorious-mysteries.html

MY FIRST BOOK.
(Mary’s Way of The Cross - .99¢)

https://www.amazon.com/Marys-Way-Cross-Rosary-Man-ebook/dp/B079TJZFQJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519240799&sr=8-1&keywords=rosary+man+jim

MY SECOND BOOK.
(Praying The Complete Rosary - .99¢)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFXM4VR

Rosary Man Jim's
Decades With Our Lady Podcast
https://rosarymanjim.podbean.com/

The Gate Is Narrow

BEADS OF JOY 06-26-18

“The Gate Is Narrow”

©2018 James Dacey, Jr. OFS

My Friends,

This photo was taken in 1986 at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Washington, NJ.
This is a place where Chrissy and I, and our family (our kids), visited often.

Today’s Gospel: Matthew 7:6,12-14 (Narrow Gate)

“Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you. So, whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Reflection:
I have to say, I did a Google search for an image for “The Narrow Gate” and in the midst of those pictures there was The Crown of Thorns; and I thought to myself, “How out of place was that in this search?” Then the Holy Spirit tugged at me and I heard, “No it’s NOT! Look deep into its meaning, what does it represent?” Ah YES... It represents, persecution! “The Narrow Gate!” Jesus said in today’s gospel, “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.” Of cause, how many will be able to handle the persecutions of this life, to enter into the glory of the next life, with our Lord. Those thorns represent true courage of the real Christian, the real follows of Jesus who can and will take the narrow door.

There is persecution ahead for those who believe; who will be strong enough to withstand what lies ahead? Do you trust in God’s grace and love and help in the most difficult times? Sometimes we are tested, sometimes our feet are put to the fire and the flames are real; as Christians we must be true to ourselves and true to God. Paul the Apostle often reminds us about the love that is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. We must remember that we do not struggle alone. God does not disappoint us; His grace is sufficient.

On a personal note, the narrow gate (aka: our crown of thorns) has been our family’s expression of existence these past couple of years. Have we been tested? YES! Have our feet been put to a very real flame of fire? YES! Lung Cancer! 2 Strokes! No Income for over a year! Poverty! Hunger! Almost Homeless! Chrissy’s death! Yeah, I’d say we have been pushed close to the edge of the cliff. We never, ever lost our faith, we struggled indeed, but we hung in there, through many tears. It wasn’t easy by no means, but by God’s grace and mercy we made it through; through those most difficult times. The smoke isn’t cleared yet, but we are in a better place in some ways. Some serious struggles still exist. God knows our situation, but we fully and completely trust in Him.

Matthew 7:6,12-14 - The Narrow Gate

Pondering these thoughts today: No matter what the struggles are, or how narrow the gate is, hold strong loving and trusting our Lord. Sometimes mere words can’t express the depths of trust one must have, when times get really really tough. Chrissy always use to say, “God has a plan Jim, we have to just trust Him, even if we don’t understand it; complaining, only means we don’t trust Him.” She was right. I have to remember those words of my precious sweetie, when I feel doubt or worry, and I want to complain. She had this calmness, throughout all of her suffering. A calm that made no earthly sense, but God was with her and He comforted her; and so many times through her suffering, she comforted our sorrow. Chrissy was a strong woman of faith, and one of the most unselfish, loving, giving souls, I have ever known, throughout my life.

LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!

Your brother in Christ Jesus 
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS

Today is Tuesday: 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

MY FIRST BOOK.
(Mary’s Way of The Cross - .99¢)

https://www.amazon.com/Marys-Way-Cross-Rosary-Man-ebook/dp/B079TJZFQJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519240799&sr=8-1&keywords=rosary+man+jim

MY SECOND BOOK.
(Praying The Complete Rosary - .99¢)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFXM4VR

Rosary Man Jim's
Decades With Our Lady Podcast
https://rosarymanjim.podbean.com/

Judge Not

BEADS OF JOY 06-25-18

“Judge Not”

©2018 James Dacey, Jr. OFS

My Friends,

Today’s Gospel: Matthew 7:1-5 (Judging Others)

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”

Reflection:

Ok… I am going to listen to my own title and Not write about Judging Others or groups of Others to defeat the purpose of this reflection. Instead, let us look at what Jesus wants us to do. He wants us to HEAL our relationships! He wants us to restore them with His love! He wants us to be like Him, in many ways and do all we can do build relationships rather than destroy them. So, let’s NOT judge others in any way. Because in all reality, that’s God’s job, not ours. Let’s leave the Judging to Him, after all He will judge us all. Instead let’s be the peacemakers.

Kindness and mercy go a long way. Remember any judgment can be wrong and misguided; so, the best way to avoid a difficult situation that could cause some serious heartache of wrongful accusation, is just avoid it completely. We are not perfect, not one of us can say that we are. So instead, let us think the best of others, to the best of our ability and let us try to always be known for that. Kindness and mercy go a long way. A critical and harsh spirit is hard to love; but a merciful, kind and loving spirit can be easy to love. Be that spirit to all. Shock the world by your kind, merciful love. Think about it, anyone can say, “Look how horrible you are. You fool!” Rather be the one saying. “You’ll get through this, I’m here for you my friend.” Always think this: Kindness and mercy go a long way.

Ask Jesus to fill your heart with His love. His kindness. His mercy. So that you may be more charitable to others in all situations, even when they offend you, or they offend you. Ask our Lord to remove all the sin of selfishness, that puts the judgment of others in your heart. We must practice and focus to do our best daily, to think the best of others always. If the love inside our hearts ever has a chance to grow, then we must not allow the sin of hurting others to grow with that love. They cannot grow together. In order to allow the love inside our hearts to grow, we must tear out the weeds of judgment so that our kindness and our mercy is pure. Kindness and mercy go a long way.

Matthew 7:1-5 - Judging Others

Pondering these thoughts today:

~Be a Peacemaker.

~Seek out the Good in All.

~By example, be Jesus to All.

(When others see you, who do they see? An angry person full of judgement against them. No! Rather be the one others can lean on, to know that you are compassionate and caring and you place no judgement upon them, only love and understanding.) I challenge you my friends…

LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!

Your brother in Christ Jesus 
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS

Today is Monday: We pray the Joyful Mysteries:

The Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation (Humility) – Luke 1:26-28
2. The Visitation (Love of Neighbor) – Luke 1:39-45
3. The Birth of Jesus (Poverty of Spirit) – Luke 2:1-20
4. The Presentation (Purity of Mind & Spirit) – Luke 2:22-38
5. Finding in The Temple (Obedience) –Luke 2:41-50

I simply love Monday mornings, because every morning begins with the Rosary.

Rosary Man Jim’s Joyful Reflection: http://beads-of-joy-blog.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-joyful-mysteries_10.html

MY FIRST BOOK.
(Mary’s Way of The Cross - .99¢)

https://www.amazon.com/Marys-Way-Cross-Rosary-Man-ebook/dp/B079TJZFQJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519240799&sr=8-1&keywords=rosary+man+jim

MY SECOND BOOK.
(Praying The Complete Rosary - .99¢)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFXM4VR

Rosary Man Jim's
Decades With Our Lady Podcast
https://rosarymanjim.podbean.com/