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love

Knocking on Heaven’s Door

All You Need is Love                                  2020

There’s a sign that I drive past on my way to work every day, it reads: This billboard available and there’s a phone number in large digits. Would it seem I was squandering money to rent that space to say – the Beatles were right, all you need is love…but Jesus said it first! Now that I have this in my head, I smile every time I see that sign. One day, I’ll get the nerve (and the money) to do it!

I’ve been reading a book in which I thought the author said the opposite of love is fear. I was sure that’s what he said, because in my mind I immediately thought – no, the opposite of love is hate. When I went back to check this fact, I couldn’t find that statement anywhere. He says we need to transform fear into love; he says fear and love cannot exist within us at the same time, he never says one is the antithesis of the other. But let’s look at it that way for a moment (since I have so many thoughts already supporting that point of view).

When we consider all the civil unrest happening around us – are these actions driven by hate, or fear? Is fear perhaps the very thing that feeds the hate which drives the violence? How can we stop the cycle? We might think it’s impossible for us, ourselves, to do anything to stop this madness. But let’s think again. Do we take part in hateful, hurtful dialogue on Facebook? Do we get into heated discussions with people who don’t think the same way we do? Do we get angry just thinking about these people who express views different than our own? How can we change this pattern? We should always consider, if we think things need changing, how we ourselves might change. How can we bring more positivity into the world around us?

If we take a moment, in quiet prayer and meditation, we’ll soon realize – love is key. We can’t always agree with everyone, even by educating ourselves; trying to see things from another’s perspective. But we can accept their thoughts and opinions with love. Jesus got angry on occasion, but he did not lash out at everyone who opposed his teachings; love was at the heart of everything he did.

When my sons were small I would say to them ‘do not use the word hate, it’s a bad word. You can say I dislike intensely, but never say hate!’ If hate is fueled by fear, let’s replace fear with love. Sing it with me – sing it loud – All you need is love! 

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Knocking on Heaven’s Door

Mediation                             

When I was a child, living with my large and crazy family, my father once told me I was the mediator of all the siblings. I think I had to go look the word up in the dictionary – what’s a mediator? When I learned the meaning of the word, I felt proud that I, one of the youngest, was deemed the one to settle disputes and bring about truces.

Where my sibling are concerned, I haven’t had to use this skill in a very long while. I hope this gift hasn’t become rusty with lack of use though, because this pandemic seems to be creating a rift between my sons and it weighs heavy on my heart. I bring this concern to God daily in my prayers and I ask for the ability to find the words to say to each of them that will smooth out these troubled waters.

There have not been angry words spoken, just hurt feelings. One is not afraid to get together; wants to see his brother and family, the other is taking every precaution and is fearful of contracting the virus. He was the one eager to get the vaccine, his brother is refusing to get it. Will the one ever feel it’s safe to be around his brother again? The tension builds and I am squarely in the middle.

Though I do talk to each of them gently, softly and, I hope, with very little applied pressure, I do constantly remind them of their strong familial love for each other. Differences of opinion on a pandemic that will one day pass should not destroy what a lifetime has built up.

Prayer has been my constant. Of all the hardships the pandemic has brought about, I never thought it would rock this foundation of love. Deep down in my heart I know the foundation is strong, and I know my prayers will one day be answered, but isn’t it typical to want and expect immediate results from our prayers?

I’ve been reading about St. Alphonsus Liguori, who died on the 1st of August in 1787 and whose feast we celebrate today. A writer of over 100 books, his Prayer, the Great Means of Salvation, eventually gained him the title “Doctor of Prayer” by the Catholic Church. He, and his strong devotion to the Mother of God, has inspired me.

I strongly believe in the power of prayer and I am certain it will get all of us through these difficult situations the pandemic has created in our lives. And, as a mother, I am also compelled to invoke the intercession of Our Blessed Mother – the greatest mediator of them all. Hear our prayer!

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Knocking on Heaven’s Door

Come, Holy Spirit

Early on, when I first began writing pieces for the bulletin, a compliment was given and my response, which I no longer remember, brought forth this reply from a parishioner – ‘That’s the Holy Spirit’s doing.’ Wow. I’m pretty slow at times, but when she said that, I felt it and I knew that it was true.

Sometimes, when I’m thinking and praying, I often don’t distinguish which of the Three-Persons-in One I’m addressing, I just think – God. But since it was brought to my attention that the Holy Spirit was often at work in my writing, I now pray directly to the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts and help me to make my words clear. Just because we go through this ritual each time – it doesn’t always bring success. That’s through no fault of Spirit’s – it’s all on me. I may get distracted; I may have my own agenda; or I’m simply not paying attention. Isn’t that often the case in everything we do? Paying attention is crucial.

The Holy Spirit also guides me – when I’m paying attention – in my conversations with others, especially with my kids and grandkids. Saying the right thing at the right moment can make all the difference in helping to ease tension, or bring to light a different perspective – not with preaching, but with Spirit-filled words of love and understanding.

The Holy Spirit is a powerful force in our lives which, if you’re like me, may sometimes go ignored. We should never ignore the urgings of the Holy Spirit. In Acts, the Spirit is depicted as a wind, or a tongue of fire. Within each of us, I think, it most often comes in a different form – a nudge, perhaps; a push to say or to act in a way that is pleasing to God. It sounds easy, doesn’t it? If we are led by the Spirit we will remain on the right path. So what happens? How do we get so lost sometimes?

We forget to pray. Prayer should always be an essential practice in a life of faith. If we choose to be led and not to lead, guidance from the Holy Spirit, through prayer, is key.

On a slightly (but not entirely) different topic – I have been using these very quiet lockdown, pandemic days, to compile my bulletin pieces. I’m attempting to put them into book form, as a fundraiser for the new rectory. It’s a slow project and, at times, a frustrating pastime. Did you know I had recycled some of these pieces, giving them different titles? I had forgotten. Say a prayer to the Holy Spirit for me, to lead and guide me in this endeavor – for its success in generating necessary funds. Thank you and God bless.

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All You Need is Love

There’s a sign that I drive past on my way to work every day, it reads: This billboard available and there’s a phone number in large digits. Would it seem I was squandering money to rent that space to say – the Beatles were right, all you need is love…but Jesus said it first! Now that I have this in my head, I smile every time I see that sign. One day, I’ll get the nerve (and the money) to do it!

     I’ve been reading a book in which I thought the author said the opposite of love is fear. I was sure that’s what he said, because in my mind I immediately thought – no, the opposite of love is hate. When I went back to check this fact, I couldn’t find that statement anywhere. He says we need to transform fear into love; he says fear and love cannot exist within us at the same time, he never says one is the antithesis of the other. But let’s look at it that way for a moment (since I had so many thoughts already rolling around in my head with that point of view).

     When we consider all the civil unrest happening around us – are these actions driven by hate, or fear? Is fear perhaps the very thing that feeds the hate which drives the violence? How can we stop the cycle? We might think it’s impossible for us, ourselves, to do anything to stop this madness. But let’s think again. Do we take part in hateful, hurtful dialogue on Facebook? Do we get into heated discussions with people who don’t think the same way we do? Do we get angry just thinking about these people who express views different than our own? How can we change this pattern? We should always consider, if we think things need changing, how we ourselves might change. How can we bring more positivity into the world around us?

     If we take a moment, in quiet prayer and meditation, we’ll soon realize – love is key. We can’t always agree with everyone, even by educating ourselves; trying to see things from another’s perspective. But we can accept their thoughts and opinions with love. Jesus got angry on occasion, but he did not lash out at everyone who opposed his teachings; love was at the heart of everything he did.      When my sons were small I would say to them ‘do not use the word hate, you may say I dislike intensely, but never say hate!’ If hate is fueled by fear, let’s replace fear with love. Sing it with me – sing it loud – All you need is love!

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Catholic Death love

Good Grief

Patti & me
I wrote this piece a year ago. It’s two years now since my sister died . I think of her every day and thoughts of her still make me smile. Patricia McDonald Luca – 2 April 1956 – 13 March 2014.

A year has passed, since my sister Patricia died.  Slowly, imperceptibly, it seems, healing is taking place.  I think of her daily and, though the hole in my heart is still felt, the pain is not as great.

I read something recently about grief, and how, when help is sought, treatment given might be as for one suffering from depression.  According to the psychologist and writer of the article – they are not the same thing, and should not be treated in the same way.

However, when we let our pain and grief take us to a dark place, then professional help should be sought.  Grieving is a necessary process to cope with loss, but when it consumes us, when it prevents us from living our lives, it can spiral down into a dark depression that is far more serious than grief.  I chose to look at this subject because many of my friends and acquaintances have lost loved ones recently.  In this past year, so many of your family members and so many of our parish family have died.  We are surrounded by those who have lost spouses, siblings, parents and children.  Death is never an easy thing to face,  but hopefully we can find comfort in knowing that we are not alone in our sorrow and loss, this is a part of life that we all encounter.

In our travels recently, my husband and I attended mass at St. Mary of the Assumption, in Huntsville, and, as I love to do, I took one of their bulletins, just to see how others do things.  Right in the middle of the first page was a quote that touched my heart: “Those who die…are no further from us than God, and God is very near.”

I believe this to be true and I think this is why the pain is lessening.  I often feel Patti’s presence.  Sometimes it’s a nudging; pushing me to do and try things I have not done before.  Other times it’s her voice, “Really, you’re going to wear that?”  My sister had a delightful sense of humour and that is what I miss most, that and our long phone conversations that left us aching from laugther; our ears hurting from holding the phone against them for hours at a time.

Yes, loss is painful, but life continues on in spite of our loss and grief.  The world moves forward and we must move with it; move beyond ourselves.  Easter approaches and our faith calls us to rejoice – in the Good News, in the Risen Christ, and in our departed loved ones sharing in God’s promise!