The Timing of God

March 23, 2022 Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent Readings for Today Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, Bishop—Optional Memorial

Video Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”  Matthew 5:17 Sometimes God seems to move slowly...very slowly.  Perhaps we’ve all found it hard to be patient with the timing of God in our lives.  It’s easy to think that we know best and if we only pray harder, then we will push God’s hand and He will finally act, doing what we pray for.  But this is not the way God works. The Scripture above should give us some insight into God’s ways.  They are slow, steady, and perfect.  Jesus refers to the “law and the prophets” stating that He came not to abolish them but to fulfill them.  This is true.  But it’s worth looking carefully how this came about. It came about over many thousands of years.  It took time for the perfect plan of God to unfold.  But it did unfold in His time and in His way.  Perhaps all those in the Old Testament were anxious for the Messiah to come and to fulfill all things.  But prophet after prophet came and went and continued to point to the future coming of the Messiah.  Even the Old Testament law was a way of preparing God’s people for the coming of the Messiah.  But again, it was a slow process of forming the law, implementing it for the people of Israel, enabling them to understand it, and then beginning to live it.   Even when the Messiah finally did come, there were many who, in their excitement and zeal, wanted Him to fulfill all things right then and there.  They wanted their earthly kingdom to be established and they wanted their newfound Messiah to take up His Kingdom! But God’s plan was so very different than human wisdom.  His ways were far above our ways.  And His ways continue to be far above our ways!  Jesus fulfilled every part of the Old Testament law and prophets, just not in the way many were expecting.   What does this teach us?  It teaches us lots of patience.  And it teaches us surrender, trust and hope.  If we want to pray hard and pray well, we need to pray correctly.  And the correct way to pray is to continually pray that Thy will be done!  Again, this is hard at first, but it becomes easy when we understand and believe that God always has the perfect plan for our lives and for every struggle and situation in which we find ourselves.   Reflect, today, upon your patience and your trust in the ways of the Lord.  He has a perfect plan for your life, and that plan is most likely different than your plan.  Surrender to Him and let His holy will guide you in all things. My perfect Lord, I entrust my life to You.  I trust that You have the perfect plan for me and for all Your beloved children.  Give me patience to wait upon You and to let You bring Your divine will to fulfillment in my life.  Jesus, I trust in You!

Forgiving and Being Forgiven

March 22, 2022 Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent Readings for Today

Video The servant fell down, did him homage, and said, “Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.” Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.  Matthew 18:26–27 This is a story about giving and receiving forgiveness.  Interestingly, it’s often easier to forgive than it is to ask forgiveness.  Sincerely asking for forgiveness requires that you honestly acknowledge your sin, which is hard to do.  It’s hard to take responsibility for what we have done wrong. In this parable, the man asking patience with his debt appears to be sincere.  He “fell down” before his master asking for mercy and patience.  And the master responded with mercy by forgiving him the entire debt which was more than the servant had even requested. But was the servant truly sincere or was he just a good actor?  It seems that he was a good actor because as soon as he was forgiven this huge debt, he ran into someone else who actually owed him money and instead of showing the same forgiveness he was shown, “He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’”   Forgiveness, if it is real, must affect everything about us.  It is something that we must ask for, give, receive, and give again.  Here are a few points for you to consider: Can you honestly see your sin, experience sorrow for that sin, and say, “I’m sorry” to another? When you are forgiven, what does that do to you?  Does it have the effect of making you more merciful toward others? Can you in turn offer the same level of forgiveness and mercy that you hope to receive from God and others? If you cannot answer “Yes” to all of these questions then this story was written for you.  It was written for you to help you grow more in the gifts of mercy and forgiveness.  These are hard questions to face but they are essential questions to face if we want to be freed of the burdens of anger and resentment.  Anger and resentment weigh heavily on us and God wants us freed of them. Reflect, today, upon these questions above and prayerfully examine your actions.  If you find any resistance to these questions, then focus on what strikes you, take it to prayer, and let God’s grace enter in to bring about a deeper conversion in that area of your life. Merciful Lord, I do acknowledge my sin.  But I acknowledge it in the light of Your abundant grace and mercy.  As I receive that mercy in my life, please make me just as merciful toward others.  Help me to offer forgiveness freely and fully, holding nothing back.  Jesus, I trust in You.

Athirst My Soul!

March 21, 2022 Monday of the Third Week of Lent Readings for Today

Video Athirst is my soul for the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God? (See Psalm 42:3) What a beautiful statement to be able to make.  The word “athirst” is a word not used that often but worth reflecting on all by itself.  It reveals a longing and a desire to be quenched not only by God, but by the “Living God!”  And to “behold the face of God.” How often do you long for such a thing?  How often do you let the desire for God burn within your soul?  This is a wonderful desire and longing to have.  In fact, the desire itself is enough to begin bringing great satisfaction and fulfillment in life. There is a story of an elderly monk who lived his life as a hermit being a priest and chaplain for a group of monastic sisters.  This monk lived a very quiet life of solitude, prayer, study and work most of his life.  One day, toward the end of his life, he was asked how he enjoyed his life all these years.  Immediately and without hesitation his face became radiant and overwhelmed with a deep joy.  And he said with the deepest of conviction, “What a glorious life I have!  Every day I’m preparing to die.”  This monk had one focus in life.  It was a focus on the face of God.  Nothing else really mattered.  What he longed for and anticipated each and every day was that moment when he would enter into that glorious Beatific Vision and see God face to face.  And it was the thought of this that enabled him to press on, day after day, year after year, offering Mass and worshiping God in preparation for that glorious meeting. What do you thirst for?  How would you complete that statement?  “Athirst is my soul for...?”  For what?  Too often we thirst for those things that are so artificial and temporary.  We try so hard to be happy and yet we so often fall short.  But if we can let our hearts be inflamed with longing for that which is essential, that which we were made for, then everything else in life will fall into place.  If God is placed at the center of all our longings, all our hopes and all our desires, we will actually begin to “behold the face of God” here and now.  Even the slightest glimpse of God’s glory will satiate us so much that it will transform our whole outlook on life and give us a clear and certain direction in all we do.  Every relationship will be affected, every decision we make will be orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, and the purpose and meaning of life we are searching for will be discovered.  Every time we think about our lives we will become radiant as we ponder the journey we are on and long to put it into full motion anticipating the eternal reward awaiting us in the end. Reflect, today, upon your “thirst.”  Don’t waste your life on empty promises.  Don’t get caught up in earthly attachments.  Seek God.  Seek His face.  Seek His will and His glory and you will never want to turn back from the direction this longing takes you. Jesus, my Living God, may I one day behold Your full splendor and glory.  May I see Your face and make that goal the center of my life.  May everything I am be caught up in this burning desire, and may I bask in the joy of this journey.  Jesus, I trust in You.

Exhausting the ‘Soil’ of Mercy

March 20, 2022 Third Sunday of Lent (Year C) Note: When the Scrutinies are used at Mass, the reflection for Year A may be used in place of this one. Readings for Today

Video “Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.”  Luke 13:8–9 Every gardener knows that good fruit is, in part, dependent upon the presence of good soil.  But other factors are also important in the production of good fruit.  The plant must be free of disease, receive water and sun, be planted in a warm environment, be properly pruned, and have enough space to grow.  When all factors are present, good fruit is guaranteed. So it is with our lives.  The soil in which we are to be planted is the mercy of God.  And this soil is the richest soil attainable for the production of the virtues in our lives.  God also produces the sun, the rain, and the warmth that is needed for our growth.  But, analogously speaking, we must allow ourselves to be pruned.  We must also allow the soil to be fertilized and cultivated in a variety of ways.  Though Jesus is the Gardener of our lives, it’s also fair to say that we are the gardeners in the sense that we must cooperate with our Lord, relying upon the supernatural resources of the Creator to ensure the healthy growth of our spiritual lives so that the good fruit of virtue may be born in our lives. This passage above is the conclusion to the Parable of the Fig Tree.  Just prior to this passage, the owner of the vineyard, God the Father, ordered that the barren fig tree be cut down so that it will no longer exhaust the soil.  But our merciful Lord, sent on mission from the Father to till the soil of our lives, seeks to offer one more chance and the Father obliges out of love.  This life is that “year” by which our Lord works fervently to cultivate the soil around us.  We must cooperate through daily prayer, fidelity to His commands, acts of loving sacrifice and surrender to His providence.  In the end, if we allow our Lord to do all He desires, our lives will bear good fruit. But on the flip side, make no mistake about the fact that, if our lives do not bear good fruit, we will be “cut down.”  Bearing good fruit is not an option, it’s a must.  It’s a clear indication of our spiritual health and it will become the measure of our eternal reward or eternal death.  Do not be intimidated by such sharp language coming from our Lord.  He spoke it in love so that we will know the serious duty we have to bear good fruit in our lives. Reflect, today, upon the outward signs of your inward spiritual health.  Do you see the virtues sprouting forth from your life?  Are you aware of the work God desires to do in your soul so as to cultivate it and fertilize it with grace and mercy?  Say “Yes” to Him this day and allow that grace to produce an abundance of good fruit. My virtuous Lord, I invite You into my soul to cultivate it and fertilize it with Your grace.  Please prune my sins and help me to sink my roots deeply into the nourishment of Your mercy. I am sorry for the ways that I have failed to bear fruit in my life.  I now entrust myself to You so that Your care will remedy all my ills and weaknesses.  Jesus, I trust in You.

Unwavering Faith in the Face of Confusion

Saturday, March 19, 2022 Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary Readings for Today

Video Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.  Matthew 1:20 What a blessed man St. Joseph was.  He was called to be the earthly father of the Son of God and the husband of the Mother of God!  He must have been in awe of this responsibility and he must have, at times, trembled with a holy fear in the face of so great a calling. What’s interesting to note, however, is that the beginning of this call seemed to be marked with an apparent scandal.  Mary was pregnant and it was not from Joseph.  How could this be?  The only earthly explanation was infidelity on Mary’s part.  But this was so contrary to whom Joseph perceived her to be.  He certainly would have been quite shocked and quite confused as he faced this apparent dilemma.  What should he do? We know what he decided to do at first. He decided to divorce her quietly. But then the angel spoke to him in a dream. And, after he awoke from his sleep, “he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.” One aspect of this situation to ponder is the fact that Joseph had to embrace his wife and her Son in faith.  This new family of his was beyond human reason alone.  There was no way to make sense of it simply by trying to figure it out.  He had to approach it with faith. Faith means he had to rely upon the voice of God speaking to him in his conscience.  Yes, he relied on what the angel spoke to him in the dream, but that was a dream!  People can have all sorts of strange dreams!  His human tendency would be to question this dream and wonder if this was real.  Was this really from God?  Is this Child truly from the Holy Spirit?  How could this be? All of these questions, and every other question that would have arisen in St. Joseph’s mind, could only be answered by faith.  But the good news is that faith does give answers.  Faith enables a person to face the confusions of life with strength, conviction and certitude.  Faith opens up the door to peace in the midst of uncertainty.  It eliminates fear and replaces it with the joy of knowing you are following God’s will.  Faith works and faith is what we all need in life to survive. Reflect, today, upon the depth of your faith in the face of apparent difficulties.  If you feel God calling you to enter into some challenge in your life right now, follow the example of St. Joseph.  Let God say to you, “Do not be afraid!”  He spoke this to St. Joseph and He speaks it to you.  God’s ways are far above our ways, His thoughts far above our thoughts, His wisdom far above our wisdom.  God had a perfect plan for St. Joseph’s life, and He does for you too.  Walk by faith each and every day and you will see that glorious plan unfold. Lord, enable me to walk by faith each and every day.  Allow my mind to rise above human wisdom alone and to see Your divine plan in all things.  St. Joseph, pray for me that I may imitate the faith you lived in your own life.  St. Joseph, pray for us.  Jesus, I trust in You!

Rejection Transformed

March 18, 2022 Friday of the Second Week of Lent Readings for Today Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor—Optional Memorial

Video The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.  Matthew 21:42 Of all the rejections that have been experienced throughout the ages, there is one that stands out above the rest.  It’s the rejection of the Son of God.  Jesus had nothing other than pure and perfect love in His Heart.  He wanted the absolute best for everyone He encountered.  And He was willing to offer the gift of His life to whoever would accept it.  Though many have accepted it, many have also rejected it.   It’s important to understand that the rejection Jesus experienced left deep pain and suffering.  Certainly the actual Crucifixion was extraordinarily painful.  But the wound He experienced in His Heart from the rejection of so many was His greatest pain and caused the greatest of suffering. Suffering in this sense was an act of love, not an act of weakness.  Jesus didn’t suffer interiorly because of pride or a poor self image.  Rather, His Heart hurt because He loved so deeply.  And when that love was rejected, it filled Him with the holy sorrow spoken of in the Beatitudes (“Blessed are they who mourn...” Matthew 5:4).  This sort of sorrow was not a form of despair; rather, it was a deep experience of the loss of the love of another.  It was holy, and a result of His burning love for all. When we experience rejection it is hard to sort out the pain we feel.  It’s very hard to let the hurt and anger we feel turn into a “holy sorrow” which has the effect of motivating us toward a deeper love of those whom we mourn over.  This is difficult to do but is what our Lord did.  The result of Jesus doing this was the salvation of the world.  Imagine if Jesus would have simply given up.  What if, at the time of His arrest, Jesus would have called on the myriads of angels to come to His rescue.  What if He would have done this thinking, “These people are not worth it!”  The result would have been that we would have never received the eternal gift of salvation by His death and Resurrection.  Suffering would not have been transformed into love. Reflect, today, upon the deep truth that rejection is potentially one of the greatest gifts we have to fight against evil.  It’s “potentially” one of the greatest gifts because it all depends on how we ultimately respond.  Jesus responded with perfect love when he cried out, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”  This act of perfect love in the midst of His ultimate rejection enabled Him to become the “Cornerstone” of the Church and, therefore, the Cornerstone of new life!  We are called to imitate this love and to share in His ability to not only forgive, but to also offer the holy love of mercy.  When we do, we also will become a cornerstone of love and grace for those who need it the most. Lord of mercy, help me to be that cornerstone.  Help me to not only forgive every time I’m hurt, but let me also offer love and mercy in return.  You are the divine and perfect example of this love.  May I share in this same love, crying out with You, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”  Jesus, I trust in You.

True Riches

March 17, 2022 Thursday of the Second Week of Lent Readings for Today Saint Patrick, Bishop—Optional Memorial

Video When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.  The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.  Luke 16:22–23 If you had to choose, what would you prefer?  To be rich and dine sumptuously every day, clothed in purple garments, having everything you could ever want in this world?  Or to be a poor beggar, covered with sores, living in a doorway, feeling the pains of hunger?  It’s an easy question to answer on the surface.  The rich and comfortable life is more attractive at first thought.  But the question should not be considered only on the surface, we must look deeper and consider the full contrast of these two people and the effects that their inner lives have on their eternal souls.  As for the poor man, when he died “he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.”  As for the rich man, the Scripture states that he “died and was buried” and went to the “netherworld, where he was in torment.” Now who would you prefer to be like? Though it may be desirable to be rich in this life AND the next, that’s not the point of Jesus’ story.  The point of His story is simple in that while on this Earth we must repent, turn from sin, listen to the words of Scripture, believe and keep our eyes on our true goal of the riches of Heaven. As for whether you are rich or poor in this life, it really shouldn’t matter.  Though that’s a hard conviction to arrive at, interiorly, it must be our goal.  Heaven, and the riches that await, must be our focus.  And we prepare for Heaven by hearing the Word of God and responding with the utmost generosity.  The rich man could have responded in this life by seeing the dignity and value of the poor man lying in his doorway, and reaching out in love and mercy.  But he didn’t.  He was too focused on himself. Reflect, today, upon the stark contrast between these two men, and especially the eternity that awaited each of them.  If you see any of the sinful tendencies of this rich man in your own life, then repent of these sins and repent today.  See the dignity and value in each person you encounter.  And if you tend to be more focused upon your own self, consumed with selfish pleasure and excess, seek to embrace true poverty of spirit, striving to be attached only to God and the abundant blessings that come with a full embrace of all that He has revealed to us. Lord of true riches, please free me from my selfishness.  Help me, instead, to remain focused upon the dignity of all people and to pour myself out in their service.  May I discover in the poor, the broken and the humble, an image of You.  And as I discover Your presence in their lives, may I love You, in them, seeking to be an instrument of Your mercy.  Jesus, I trust in You.

10 Science-Backed Reasons To Drink More Tea

Tea is more than just a popular cold-weather beverage. For thousands of years, tea has been, and still is today, a tradition and ritual, rooted deep in cultures around the world. Originating in China, possibly as early as 2737 B.C., tea drinking spread to Japan, then Holland, and eventually throughout the rest of Europe. Dutch settlers to America first introduced tea in 1650. Britain was one of the last European countries to adopt tea, though it was heavily taxed in the beginning. Most of the tea imports were illegally smuggled until the British government slashed the tax rate in 1784, enabling tea to become an affordable drink for all and not just a beverage for the wealthy.

In the U.K. alone, roughly 75 million cups of tea are consumed daily, while it is estimated that over 3 billion cups are consumed worldwide every day. Tea’s popularity isn’t just due to its pleasant taste either. For centuries it has been drunk for its therapeutic benefits, which have now been heavily studied. So, let’s break down all the science-backed reasons you should be drinking more tea.

10 health benefits of drinking tea.

Tea seems to solve just about any problem. Stressful day at work? Curl up with a warm mug. Feeling sluggish? Perk up with a matcha latte. Under the weather? Soothe a sore throat with some tea and honey.

The medicinal benefits of tea, no matter the variety, have been known for thousands of years. And now, modern science is backing up a lot of those benefits. Here are 10 science-backed reasons to drink more tea:

1. It revs up your metabolism.

Black, oolong, and green tea’s polyphenols all have been shown to increase calorie expenditure and reduce body fat. Interestingly, tea actually promotes one type of fat: brown fat. This type of fat is more metabolically active and contains more mitochondria than white fat, which means brown fat can actually burn calories and improve metabolism.

In a review of 15 studies, it was found that those who consumed two to six cups of green tea a day for longer than 12 weeks had lower body fat and body weight than those who did not. Not a fan of brewed tea yet? Green tea extract, a concentrated form of green tea available in powders and pills, has also shown metabolism-boosting weight loss benefits.

2. It’s anti-inflammatory.

Inflammation has been linked to everything from diabetes to cognitive decline. In fact, it has been implicated as the root of almost all chronic diseases. The antioxidant polyphenols in tea are powerful inflammation fighters. In fact, the EGCG in green tea is as much as 100 times more potent than the antioxidant power of vitamin C.

Research has shown that tea can be beneficial for those with inflammatory bowel disease as well as other inflammation-driven diseases.

3. It reduces the risk of dying from certain chronic diseases.

In a study of more than 40,000 adults, it was found that regular tea consumption reduced the risk of dying from heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. In fact, participants who drank five or more cups of green tea per day had a 16% lower risk of cardiovascular death compared to those who drank less than one cup per day. Researchers credit green tea’s effect on hypertension and obesity along with potent polyphenols for its protective effect.

Chronic diseases are among the leading causes of death in the U.S., making tea all the more important to drink daily. More benefit was seen in those who drank three to four cups a day versus one cup or no cups, so drink up!

4. It can improve insulin sensitivity.

Green tea may help reduce complications from diabetes. Diabetes is a worldwide health concern, with significant risks of complications, early death, and poorer quality of life. Research shows tea can improve insulin sensitivity, protect pancreatic cells from further damage, and decrease inflammation, all benefiting those at risk for or already diagnosed with diabetes.

5. It’s good for your brain.

Regular tea consumption may lower the risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. While the exact causes of Alzheimer’s are still unclear and there is no cure, research confirms that green and black tea drinking improves cognitive scores among those with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Additionally, it can boost memory and increase attention span to prevent cognitive decline. The combination of caffeine and L-theanine in tea has been shown to improve reaction time, visual processing, memory, and concentration. It even changes the way your brain is organized for more efficient information processing.

6. It may help prevent cancer.

Green tea’s catechin EGCG is a potent antioxidant that has major cancer-fighting potential. Lab and animal studies have found that EGCG can reduce metastasis and improve outcomes for cancers of the breasts, lungs, colon, skin, and others.

While more clinical studies in humans are needed, some long-term observational studies have found similar cancer-fighting benefits. For example, Japanese women who drank 10 or more cups of green tea a day (120 ml or 4 ounces each) had a seven-year delay in cancer onset. This amount of tea was reported to be equivalent to 2.5 grams of green tea extract.

7. It’s good for your mouth.

Not all drinks are good for you mouth (looking at you, sugary sodas and juices!). But teas can actually improve oral health. Tea contains fluoride and can improve bacterial populations in the mouth. This reduces the risk of periodontal disease, cavities, and possibly even oral cancer. So even if you skimp on flossing here and there, you can still feel good about your oral health if you are sipping tea.

8. It may boost fertility.

Is there anything tea can’t do? A 2018 review reports struggles with fertility are heavily influenced by the degree of oxidative stress in reproductive tissues. Enter: tea. The polyphenols in tea have confirmed anti-inflammatory and potent antioxidant effects. Therefore, the authors suggest, tea can improve fertility in both men and women. More research is needed, but it certainly looks promising.

9. It’s hydrating.

This one might surprise you. While it was previously thought that tea (and coffee) promoted dehydration by acting like a diuretic and causing the body to lose more fluid, recent research finds that up to six to eight cups of tea a day is just as hydrating as the same amount of water.

10. It’s good for your gut.

Gut health isn’t all just fiber and probiotics. Research shows that tea’s polyphenols can beneficially modify gut bacteria. This can lead to positive health effects like reduced carbohydrate absorption, improved blood sugar levels, and weight loss.

Source: https://inducelabornaturally.com/10-science-backed-reasons-to-drink-more-tea/