How can I keep from singing? We've all had a great summer, but I found myself singing and singing and singing...longing to sing to the King. Can there be anything greater than aligning your heart, mind, soul and voice with the community directing it to God? Methinks not...well receiving Him in Eucharist excepted... We're kicking off another year and I can't wait. We welcome a new Minister in the Edge program (Oscar Rivera) and we're planning more Illuminates...God is moving. My prayer is that you all, teens, young adults and not so young adults are blessed this year...that God opens a door and provides an abundance of love and mercy in your life. Stay strong and when you feel that inner joy and you can't hold it in any more...sing, sing, sing. Peace, Kenny
So, Ash Wednesday is this week. Time seems to fly by and in a flash we're talking about spring again. In a way, we go so fast, are we entirely sure we're slowing down long enough to hear what God has to say to us?
Confession: For me, the answer is no.
If you are like me, you like to ride on the success of your own efforts, moving on to the next project...not really recognizing what God is doing in the midst of it all. And I'm not even living in the "racetothefinishteenlife". I accomplish...I do...
I succeed.
A friend introduced me to the prayer of the humble or as it is called, the Litany of Humility. I've prayed this prayer many times...its the hardest prayer to pray and definitely the hardest to pray earnestly...as we move toward Lent, I encourage you to pray this in truth and love...
by Merry Cardinal del Val, secretary of state to Pope Saint Pius X O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, Hear me. Peace, Kenny
from the prayer book for Jesuits, 1963
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, O Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
Our God is Mighty to Save!
Summer is coming to an end...my mind is turned toward another Grace filled season of LIFETEEN, some crazy events and hopefully a return to regular prayer. I don't know about any of you all, but my prayer life is in the doghouse. What I mean is the "dog days" of summer have dried out my desire to pray and seek His will for me. But, in listening to Mighty to Save, by Hillsong...the words say "everyone needs compassion, a love that's never failing". That's our God.
I know that even when things are slow...tough...even impossible...that we have a God who NEVER fails...never changes...never gives up on me. That kind of strength is power beyond any human capabilities. Our lives change. Our emotions are fleeting. Our ability to stay on track depends entirely on our God's ability to sustain us with His Grace.
So, we return again...to school...to work...to life in the busy world. Will we pray? I'm going to try. I will be praying for all of you for sure. I might even pray for a bit more Grace and time to seek Him and His plan for me. Yeah, that's a good plan. Why? Because He's the most powerful force in the universe...yeah...He IS mighty to save.
Peace,
Kenny
In some small area of my mind, I'm screaming "NO! Not Lent AGAIN!!!" With all the doom and gloom that is being thrown at us now by our popular culture, I just can't believe we need 40 days of sorrow. I mean, give me a break ok? I get it! Yes, I get it...life is tough, but shouldn't we as Church be providing joy in times of sorrow? Not more sorrow, certainly...
Yet...when I do what I'm supposed to do in Lent, which is slow down and listen...pray...fast...sacrifice... When I hear Christ's words..."you must pick up your cross and follow me" I return to joy. Somewhere, deep inside me, there is joy when I know that I can offer something up for someone else. Whether that's God or my friends down the street, if I offer, He will sanctify that offering by His blood on the cross. My cross with His and together we bring meaning to suffering.
What I mean is that without the cross of Christ, life's suffering has no meaning. If we have no place to aim our sacrifice, sickness, suffering and anguish...why then do we suffer? Ours is joined with that of Christ...this is why Paul the Apostle could say, "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions. " Col 1:24
We are the Hope that the world needs today. And if you are suffering...and in despair, please know that there is hope. Your suffering has meaning. You are not alone...Christ hears your cry and He in turn cries out to you...longing for you to know Him on trial...at the whipping post...in his persecution...and on the cross. In our suffering, we show the world that Christ is worthy of our sacrifice. We show the world that they (you) are worthy of our sacrifice. And in our hearts, joy abounds because we know with deep love, why Lent is here. He who is Love, begins the journey toward our redemption...and we join Him. All of us. Together.
Peace,
Kenny
This week we find ourselves observing Martin Luther King day, the Inauguration of Barack Obama, March for Life and probably a bunch of other stuff I missed. Praying for God's Grace is nothing new to we Catholics. Now is as good a time as any for us to come together to remember the poor, the sick, the homeless, the marginalized and weak, the sad...angry...lost and unloved, the misunderstood, the dying...sinners and saints. Yep, that covers all of us. Say a prayer for your friends and enemies. Say a prayer for our LIFETEEN ministry and for the teens and young/old of our parish. Be Lifted. Be Strengthened. Be everything you should be. Don't give up...you are called to great things!
Most of all, remember our God and know that in all seasons...He loves you.
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear? The Lord is my life's refuge; of whom am I afraid?" Psalm 27:1
Peace,
Kenny
