“Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

These were the words of the angel Gabriel in his appearance to Mary explaining how she could become pregnant with Jesus as a virgin, and how her cousin, Elizabeth, was already six months pregnant even in her old age with John the Baptist.

What a beautiful statement for us to remember when we are seeking God’s presence and action in our lives.  However extraordinary this occurrence may have been in the history of mankind, the words of Gabriel reflect a truth that nothing is impossible in furtherance of God’s will.

In Mark’s gospel Jesus makes a similar statement when healing a boy who was possessed by an evil spirit after the disciples were unable to do so.  The father of the boy pleaded with Jesus, “If you can do anything take pity on us and help us.”  Jesus said, “Everything is possible for him who believes.”  The father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”    

We can relate to the father of the boy because we do believe, but we also struggle with our unbelief.  Let us spend some additional time in prayer with the Lord this Christmas season, for “Everything is possible for him who believes.”  (Mark 9:23)   

Will you spend some extra time with the Lord this Christmas season?   

“Today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

What an amazing promise by Jesus to the so-called good thief as they hung on the cross next to each other.  Tradition tells us the name of the good thief was Dismas.

Luke’s Gospel reports that the other thief on the cross had joined the crowd in hurling insults at Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah?  Save yourself and us.”  But Dismas rebuked him, saying, “Have you no fear of God…we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.  Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’”  Jesus replied, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” 

This statement confirms so many of Jesus’ other statements that we live on after our physical death and where will be is determined by our choice, as demonstrated by the actions of the two thieves.  As Bishop Fulton Sheen says in his book, Life of Christ, Dismas’ statement to Jesus “was the only word spoken to the Cross that was not a reproach.”  All other words spoken to Jesus by those present were challenging or mocking him.  It was also “the only word spoken to the Cross that received an answer, and it was the promise of Paradise to the thief that very day.”

This week we celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving.  In addition to all the usual things that we thank God for including life, family, friends, and wellbeing, let us remember Jesus’ promise to Dismas – the promise of life after this life with the creator of all that exists.

Will you be thanking God for the promise of paradise this Thanksgiving?

“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony.” (John 4:1 – 42)

While traveling through Samaria, Jesus encountered a woman getting water at Jacob’s well.  Jews and Smaritans didn’t usually associate with one another, but Jesus surprised her by engaging in a conversation. As they talked, he mentioned that she had had several husbands.  She left her water jar, went back to town, and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.  Could this be the Christ?”

The people in the town came out to listen to Jesus, and “many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the women’s testimony.”

This story is a great example of the importance of our personal testimonies in bringing people to Christ. 

This past Sunday, I was participating at our church in a video series entitled The Resuce Project conducted by Father John Ricardo, Ch 7 – Words are not enough – The Experience – ACTS XXIX. His talk and reflection were on the Holy Spirit.  Toward the end of his talk, he asked people to imagine that they were having a personal conversation with Jesus.  He said let the Holy Spirit convince you that the Father loves you for who you are.  He said the Holy Spirit is in you like heat is in hot water. Let him convince you that Jesus came to rescue you and love you.   

In a discussion that followed, I was prompted to share that I had responded to a similar suggestion by a priest several years earlier that resulted in my having a personal encounter with Jesus.  This encounter led to a turning point in my life and a complete change in my priorities.   

While I may never know the effect of my testimony, I think the Lord wants us to share our experiences with him as he prompts us to do so.    

Have you shared your experiences of the Lord with others?       

“You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3: 1 – 21)

Jesus is having a conversation with Nicodemus, a Jewish Pharisee, who came to Jesus seeking understanding about Jesus’ miracles.  Jesus tells him, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”  Nicodemus is thinking of physical birth and asks how a person can be born a second time.  Jesus is speaking of a spiritual birth, and responds, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but Spirit gives birth to spirit.” 

We do receive the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in our baptism and the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, along with a reaffirmation of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of confirmation.  But we may also need to experience a personal encounter with Jesus and the release of the power of the Holy Spirit as an adult to fully experience the reality of our baptism – thus, being born again in the Spirit. 

I have shared in these pages before of an incident in my 30’s when I experienced a personal encounter with Jesus and the release of the power of the Holy Spirit at a renewal program conducted by some nuns in Scarsdale, New York.  In response to a priest’s prayer, I had asked Jesus to free me from a particular sin in my life and he did.  The nuns subsequently prayed for me to experience the release of the power of the Holy Spirit,  

From that point forward my priorities and focus changed from being very career oriented to being more family focused and seeking God’s will in the daily choices of life.  I am still very capable of messing up and do so quite often, but the Spirit always draws me back to God. 

It’s been forty-eight years since that October evening, and I have tried to share about God’s presence in a variety of circumstances involving family, children, grandchildren, work, friends, and all kinds of situations in these pages.  I praise God for that special moment that led to a life full of moments of experiencing God’s presence.

Have you accepted Jesus’ invitation to be spiritually born again?

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

I was on a retreat this past weekend where the theme was welcoming God into our deepest thoughts in order to let him work on us.  For this to happen we need to be still before the Lord as the psalm encourages.  While I start most days with a time of prayer, I often find myself doing prayer rather than spending time WITH the Lord. 

I read scripture or the mass readings for the day or the Liturgy of the Hours but neglect to ask the Lord if he has something to say to me?  I will ask him to bless my day and my family and whatever may be on the schedule.

But I tend to be a doer like Martha in the story in Luke 10:38 – 42 where Jesus was visiting the home of Martha and Mary.  Martha got upset because Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to him and not helping with the preparations for a meal.  Jesus’ response was, “Martha, Martha, you are upset and worry about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

It is clear that Jesus places a high priority on our listening to him.  While he is in us through our baptism and we benefit from his presence, we benefit even more when we take time to actively listen to him.  Just as I am asking him right now to put thoughts in my mind to write this blog, we can ask him in our prayer time and throughout the day to guide us in whatever we are doing —  responding to a deadline at work, resolving a conflict with a family member, or reacting to a stranger asking for a handout on a street corner. 

Our thoughts can be a battleground.  Satan loves to distract us in our thoughts about personal needs and desires, but focusing on God’s presence in us can offset that self-focus and bring God’s presence into the circumstances of our lives.  As John says in his first letter, “for he who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world.” 1John 4:4)

Do you do prayer or spend time with the Lord, listening to him?

“Whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13)

How much faith do we have to pray in the name of Jesus for our needs?  I have seen prayers in the name of Jesus heal a hole in the heart of our daughter, Emily; restore a vision loss in me from glaucoma; find wonderful Christian spouses for our four married children; and keep me alive from a diagnosis of an aggressive and advanced prostate cancer 19 years ago.

In the workplace, I have seen prayers in the name of Jesus turn a negative work environment into a positive one; enable a person to forgive a business partner who had defrauded him of thousands of dollars; and guide a prosecutor to lead a defendant he had prosecuted several times to surrender his life to Christ before he died.

In Acts 3, a cripple asks Peter and John for alms as they are entering the temple.  Peter responds, “Look at us…I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, walk.” Peter then takes his hand and lifts him up.  His feet and ankles instantly become strong, he jumps to his feet, and he begins walking, jumping, and praising God.

Jesus says when we pray in his name, we create an opportunity for him to bring glory to the Father.  Jesus wants to bring glory to the Father.  So, it isn’t just about praying for our needs, it is also about providing an opportunity for Jesus to bring glory to the Father.  This was not something that was meant only for the early Church. These words apply to us today as well.  Pray for something in the name of Jesus today so that he may bring glory to the Father. 

How much faith do you have in the name of Jesus? 

“Lord if it’s you, command me to come to you on the water.”  He said, “Come.” (Mt. 14:22-33)

When we read Matthew’s account of Jesus walking on the water and Peter’s attempt to get out of the boat and walk toward him, we tend to dwell on Peter’s apparent lack of faith which resulted in him sinking until he called out to Jesus to save him. 

Still, of all the disciples, Peter was the only one who had the courage to get out of the safety of the boat and walk toward Jesus.  It is normal for us to seek safety and comfort, but sometimes the Lord calls us to step out of our comfort to do something for him or others.

Several years ago, I signed up for Catholic jail ministry under the auspices of Catholic Charities in our diocese.  The experience took me way out of my comfort zone.  A jail, by necessity, has very strict security with lots of rules administered by sheriff deputies who are trained to control the movement, actions, and very lives of the inmates.  They also strictly control the movement and actions of any visitors regardless of their purpose. 

There are mandatory orientation and periodic training required of all visitors who provide educational or ministry assistance to inmates.  On my first visit to the cell and classroom area, I was struck by the slamming of three heavy steel doors behind me as I proceeded to the classroom.

In spite of the strict environment, the prisoners love coming to learn and share their faith.  This past Saturday provided one of those instances when the positive responses from the inmates more than offset any discomfort I may experience being in a jail environment.

Our usual practice is to say a rosary with the men and then review the scripture readings for Sunday’s mass and invite them to discuss what the readings say to them.  All of Sunday’s readings were about persistence.

Some of the men shared how important it was for them to persist in reading scripture and have fellowship with fellow Christian inmates so that they can make changes in their lives never to return to the jail again.  What a testimony it was to us and their fellow inmates!

Is the Lord calling you out of your boat of comfort in some way to serve him? 

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak.” (James 1:19 NIV)

If we calculate the amount of time we talk versus the amount of time we listen, what would be the ratio?  Would it tilt toward talking or listening?  A good friend of our family had an uncanny ability to listen.  If you would ask her how she was doing, she would quickly turn the conversation back to what was going on in your life.

On a Sunday morning a few years ago, I experienced the blessing of taking communion to a 95-year-old gentleman, a widower who lived alone in the house that had been his for more than 40 years.  In response to my question of “How are you doing today,” I heard about his wife of 52 years who died a few years previously; about his son who is a priest; about the many missions he flew in World War II and the Korean War; how he was a consultant to Congressional committees overseeing the Air Force, and finally, about his current health issues. What a blessing it was not to talk for more than 30 minutes, but just listen.  

We have the opportunity to listen wherever we are — at work, at home, or social gatherings. If our desire is to learn and grow in each of these venues, we soon realize that we don’t learn much from talking, but we do from listening. As an attorney, I found that I was able to better serve my corporate clients when I listened more.  At home, I serve and love my wife and children better by listening more. At social events I honor our guests by listening more.  While my efforts are sometimes spotty, I try to change course as soon as I realize that I am talking too much.   

We can also listen even when we are alone.  The Lord loves to put thoughts in our minds about various things going on in our lives so long as we are open to listening.  I have often allowed the noise of everyday life to drown out God’s voice, but the psalmist says, “Be still and know that I am God.”  (Psalm 46:10 NIV) 

Are we listening to the Lord and others, or to our own voice and noise?          

“But when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.” (Matthew 6:5 NIV)

When I pray in the morning before breakfast, I go into my den to pray.  While you might think this qualifies for the kind of room Jesus is talking about, St. Ambrose, a fourth century theologian and doctor of the Church,  said, “But by ‘room’ you must understand, not a room enclosed by walls…,but the room that is within you, the room where you hide your thoughts, where you keep your affections.  This room is always with you, wherever you are, and it is always a secret room, where only God can see you.” 

A room of our thoughts can be wherever we are physically present.  It might be in our car, at our workplace, in a restaurant, or any number of places.  Most of the time when I am someplace other than church or morning prayer, I am not thinking about the Lord.  Nor am I necessarily trying to engage the Lord in my thoughts on these occasions. 

I may pray at the beginning of the day that the Lord will be present in my thoughts throughout the day, but I get caught up in whatever I am doing and forget entirely that the Lord’s presence is available to me if I simply ask or remind myself that he is there. 

Several years ago, I read a book entitled Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence.  He said we should think about God all day regardless of what we are doing.  As we do our daily chores, help our kids with their homework, and even do our work, we can think of the Lord and bring his presence into every activity.  Unfortunately, I must confess that most of the time I am focused on whatever I am doing and not remembering to bring the Lord into the moment.   

But we can take solace in Jesus’ last words before his ascension, “I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20) We just need to acknowledge his continuous presence in our mind and thoughts, and in whatever we are doing. 

Do you remember to bring Jesus into your thoughts throughout the day?

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16 NIV)

All scripture in the Bible is from God, confirmed by his son, Jesus Christ, and validated over time by the Church fathers.  Scripture instructs us about life, existence, purpose, truth and all that is important. 

For many years I have made scripture a part of my daily prayer time with the Lord at the start of the day.  After experiencing a renewal of the Holy Spirit’s presence in my life more than forty-five years ago, I had an intense desire to read the Bible.  I started to read it from cover to cover as I commuted on the trains in and out of New York City each day.  As with many people who have experienced the Holy Spirit in a new way, the words seemed to leap off the page with new meaning.

Psalm 119, the longest of the psalms, spends its entire length extolling all that God’s word is and does for us. “Your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors.” (v. 24) “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.” (v.105) “Through all generations your truth endures.” (v. 90)

Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God is flawless.”  James exhorts us, “Be doers of the word and not hearers only…” (James 1:22) Finally, the Gospel of John tells us that God’s word became flesh in the person of Jesus “and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14)  

God’s promise is indeed to dwell in us if we invite him in.  “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” (John 14:23) Amazing!  The God and creator of all that exists, and his son want to make their dwelling in us!  Wherever we may be with God’s word, we can go deeper!

Do you want to get to know God and Jesus better?  God says read his Word.