A book of prayers to the Holy Face of Jesus

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 “If You’re Too Big to Serve, You’re Too Low to Lead.” – Rich Wilkerson Every day, we experience, and often fail to appreciate the service of others! Regardless of your state in life, a life of service is a Nobel cause and should be recognized.   This is particularly important at the leadership level.  If we don’t have an attitude of servitude, we will never hope to engage those who we encounter throughout the day, whether it is our spouse, family, co-workers, people who report to us, etc. True Leadership is servant leadership, and the best example comes from the master in the washing of the feet! There is no hierarchy in a world of Love, there is no condescending attitudes in Servant Leaders!Service is Love made visible! Let’s be grateful for all who serve our needs and let us not hesitate to serve others through the perfect charity of our time, talent and treasure and of our divine love! 

Better A Shack On A Rock Than A Castle In The Sand Lately I seem to keep witnessing self-serving attitudes from people about their life, their relationships, and the things they tend to pursue. Be careful what you wish for and what you compromise to get It! This “Flash Paradise” you dream about, if you find it, will not last, will cause you countless sorrows, and compromise what you really value most! Love Ones are lost, relationships are damaged, and you may miss the chance at Eternal Paradise! Protect your soul, and fight to stay right with God and Family!  Keep them first and stop chasing rainbows!  It will only keep you wanting!  Sorry folks, despite what you see on TV, there are no Hollywood endings!But if you stay the course, stay humble, and give God His due, you will live an abundant life, in this world and the next! Peace and Joy to You in this New Year and in the Next Life!  Stay Rooted!

 Good? Is Your “Good Enough” Leading You Up Or Down? Let’s Be Sure!What does “good” get you?  I hear again and again, “why do I need to go to Mass? All I need to do is be a “Good Person!”  I guess a lot first depends on your definition of “Good!” Scripture tells us that we are called to Sainthood, to Holiness, a Royal Priesthood!  “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5. If John the Baptist says he is not worthy to unfasten the sandal straps of our Lord, then we are but dust, and in my humble opinion, “Good” isn’t Good enough, or you you better up the ante on your definition of “Good!”In order to “fight the good fight, and look back on our lives to say we won the race we need more than “Good” intentions! We need focus, practice and unwavering determination! Any athlete will tell you that is extremely hard to do alone! To do anything well, we need support, guidance and proper fuel and intake! If we don’t have a support network to lean on to keep us “on track” then it becomes easy to slip and to fall and we often wind up settling for something less than “Good!” What better “support network” than a “communion” of Angels and Saints in perfect harmonious adoration to God with our families, friends and neighbors in the conduct of Mass! What better foundation and source of “guidance” than the sharing of the “breath of God” in the reading of scripture! What better source of food for the soul and spiritual cleansing than receiving the “real presence of Christ” found only in the Eucharist! “When two or three gather in my name, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20. Whether we realize it or not we all have a deep inner desire to be united with God! It’s in our DNA when we’re designed in the image and likeness of God at conception! We fail often times to recognize it unfortunately! Those who understand, prepare for, and participate in the spiritual and sacramental Union with God through the GIFT of the Eucharist only found in the participation of Mass, know this and yield fruits and create a wellspring of greatness and charity fitting of saints! Don’t settle for your idea of “Good” when “greatness”  is right there at your fingertips, in God’s house and in participation in Mass!

 A Deeper Look at Love. What does “love” look like? Try to imagine what love looks like beyond the symbol of the Heart!  Picture it in your mind’s eye!  What do You See? I can picture a mother affectionately holding her newborn, with tears of joy streaming down her face and forgetting completely the birthing pains she just endured bringing that child into this world! I can see the warm embrace of a dear friend or family member who has just lost a loved one and how tears of sorrow flow down both of their faces with no words spoken, only shared pain and a comforting embrace to help bear that pain! I envision the delight of a heart filled with overwhelming joy of someone who having discovered and found their soul mate and Love of their life!  This “love at first sight” moment that will be permanently etched in their hearts and will consume most of their waking thoughts until death do they part! I think about a Love so Great, that our God willingly sent his only begotten son into this world, knowing that he would one day die a horrible death for the salvation of souls. I think about a Love so Great for the Father and for humanity, that the Son willingly offers Himself up as a living sacrifice, to suffer horrible torture, mockery, humiliation, beating,and crucifixion, for the Love of mankind!  “No greater love than to offer oneself up for love of another!” I think of a Love so Great, that in His moment of his most excruciating pain and suffering our Lord forgives his enemies!  “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!” Love, mercy, and above all forgiveness of those who have wronged us has to be the greatest form of Love! Yes, mercy and forgiveness of others has to be the greatest form of Love! Let us ask and pray to our Triune God every day for his love, mercy and forgiveness, and let us extend to others that same love, mercy and forgiveness! Mercy and forgiveness is the Look of Love capable of transforming the world! Picture That!!!                       Stay Rooted