Saturday, May 1, 2010

1 Corinthians 15:32-34

"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." 33Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 34Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning

What strikes me most today

I found this modern take on the Norman Rockwell classic while looking for pictures for "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die." Isn't it awesome?

The last two words are the ones I need to listen to most: "Stop Sinning."

What strikes you most today?

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Friday, April 30, 2010

1 Corinthians 15:20-21

20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

What strikes me most today

"Resurrection comes through a man!" He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

God didn't have to create us, but He did!

Jesus didn't have to redeem us, but He did!

The Holy Spirit doesn't have to remain with us forever, but He does!

What strikes you most today?

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Thursday, April 29, 2010

1 Corinthians 15:16-19

16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

What strikes me most today

The idea at the end that we should be pitied if we have hope only for this life. Christ has been raised; He has conquered death! Without the hope of eternity with God, the suffering of this life would be unbearable. My son just made his Confirmation and took the name Damien, after St. Damien of Molokai. The picture above is of 2 boys who were sent to Molokai - they both suffered physical pain, loneliness, and an early death, but NOT before St. Damien was able to teach them of the hope of Christ. St. Damien believed in 1 Corinthians 15:16-19 so strongly, he offered his life to teach this important lepers to those shunned from the world at Molokai.

St. Damien, pray for us!

What strikes you most today?

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Wednesday, April 28, 2010

1 Corinthians 15:9-10

9For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.

What strikes me most today

This is Fra Angelico's painting of Saul (later St. Paul) on the left, watching the garments of others as he approves of the stoning of St. Stephen and the overall persecution of Christ and His Church. I like looking at this painting, because seeing where Paul goes from this painting to the awesome apostle that he became gives me hope for my own life, hopefully in imitation of St. Paul's "no longer I live, but Christ lives in me."

What strikes you most today?

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Tuesday, April 27, 2010

1 Corinthians 15:3-6

3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time.

What strikes me most today

I found this painting I have never seen before. I try to imagine my reaction if Jesus appeared to me after His resurrection. I've heard the Easter story so many times throughout my life, I sometimes take it for granted. But look at this painting and imagine you are one of the people He appears to. I would be speechless/shocked/trying to put together all He had taught and tried to prepare His disciples for. I would be filled with joy, which is how I should be because Jesus was raised from the dead - He conquered death for me by atoning for my sins. I need to not take it for granted and shout for joy and tell the world how awesome is our God!

What strikes you most today?

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Monday, April 26, 2010

1 Corinthians 14:12

12So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

What strikes me most today

Maybe this one is just me, but this passage seems to be addressing pride. I am eager to have spiritual gifts, but I think St. Paul is telling me to be sure they are the gifts that built up Christ's Church - not gifts that make me look better as an individual. When we pray in silence - it's great - we don't need everyone seeing us at Mass and Adoration. And working for social justice is good, but we must remember to really want to stand up for life, not just because everyone in our Parish is doing it, but even standing up for more controversial life issues, such as capital punishment and avoiding contraception. In other words, I should be eager to have spiritual gifts so that God's will, not my will, be done.

What strikes you most today?

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Sunday, April 25, 2010

1 Corinthians 13:13

"So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

What strikes me most today

OK, follow me on this one --> I'm trying to find ways to remember some Bible passages. For this one, think of the love between Herman and Lily Munster - they were an unconventional couple deeply in love. Do you remember their address? It was 1313 Mockingbird Lane (making 1 Corinthians 13:13 easier to remember!

Crazy, I know, but I actually may remember this Bible chapter and verse!

What strikes you most today?

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Love Never Fails - Brandon Heath - with lyrics

Saturday, April 24, 2010

1 Corinthians 13:8

"Love never fails."

What strikes me most today

This short verse says it all. At the times I am most stressed with worrying about kids (2 are out at proms while I write this, so yeah, I admit I worry until they're safely home), finances (tuitions, mortgages, home and car maintenance, insurance, food, and on and on...), work, friends (and my inadequate communication with them)... (I have to stop, I'm getting stressed listing my stresses!)

But I watch the above video, and I realize that God is love, and love never fails. Thank God God is in charge - even if I make wrong choices in this life, God is there for me if I allow Him to be - and boy do I want Him to be!

What strikes you most today?

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Friday, April 23, 2010

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

What strikes me most today

This says it all - read it again slowly, it meant even more when I reread it slowly. It's like the Our Father - I have heard it often enough that I sometimes zone out. But if you think about each part slowly, this passage and the Our Father sum up quite a bit about life and love.

What strikes you most today?

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Thursday, April 22, 2010

1 Corinthians 13:2-3

"If I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing."

What strikes me most today

I liked reading this today. As I sometimes feel guilty for not knowing Bible quotes and verses better, when I read this, I thought of how many weddings I've been to, and I think I've heard this passage at nearly every Catholic wedding I've been to. (I still won't remember the chapter and verse, but hearing it as two people are vowing to live their lives together in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is more important than memorizing chapter and verse numbers anyway!)

What strikes you most today?

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What part of the Body of Christ are you?

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

1 Corinthians 12:26-27

26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

What strikes me most today

Today's clip is from a pastor who gives a very short but very funny minute about his take on the body of Christ in his parish.

We Are One Body in Christ

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

1 Corinthians 12:12-13

12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

What strikes me most today

OK, I'm getting hooked on the music videos. This one is one of my favorites. I won't write a lot to give you time to listen to it all. It is perfect with verses in English, Zulu, and Spanish!

What strikes you most today?

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Carrie Underwood - I'll Stand By You

Monday, April 19, 2010

1 Corinthians 12:7

"To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit."

What strikes me most today

I have to admit I stole this idea from my daughter. She is working on a Catholic Social Justice Project for her high school Theology class and is using this video. I thought it fit well since Carrie Underwood is using a manifestation of the Holy Spirit to benefit these children orphaned by AIDS in Africa.

What strikes you most today?

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Susan Boyle - Les Miserables [HQ] Britains Got Talent 2009

Sunday, April 18, 2010

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

What strikes me most today

The idea of different gifts - for some reason it made me think of the first time I heard Susan Boyle after her awesome appearance on "Britain's Got Talent." What a gift, and how tremendous it was to see it along with the rest of the world for the first time. I put a clip from this initial appearance above.

What strikes you most today?

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Saturday, April 17, 2010

1 Corinthians 12:3

"no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit."

What strikes me most today

Even when we have doubts about our faith or "dry times" when we don't "feel" as strong in our relationship with God, something in us still says "Jesus is Lord." It is the Holy Spirit - as Jesus promised, He will be with us to the end of time.

What strikes you most today?

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Friday, April 16, 2010

1 Corinthians 11:23-24

23For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you."

What strikes me most today

Jesus obviously wanted to make this point very clear to St. Paul, as he had made clear to his followers, even those who had such a hard time with His teaching that they left Him (and He let them go - He didn't call them back to say he was speaking symbolically or figuratively). St. Paul knew Jesus, and he knew what Jesus meant by "this is my body which is for you."

That's all I need to know!

What strikes you most today?

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Thursday, April 15, 2010

1 Corinthians 11:1

"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."

What strikes me most today

I cannot quote bible verses. However, this is one of my all-time favorites, and with all the ones in the book, chapter, and verse, I'm going to try to memorize this one.

1 Corinthians 11:1 "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." (I re-typed it without looking! I'm feeling pretty good about this - I can actually quote a bible verse!)

What strikes you most today?

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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

1 Corinthians 10:16-17

16Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

What strikes me most today

The Eucharist. I haven't read the book above yet, but I have heard good things about it and the concept: "Heaven and Earth Unite." The Eucharist is present for us at Mass and for the Church Triumphant. The real presence of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the best foretaste of Heaven we have here on earth. I love Eucharistic Adoration at the Daughters of St. Paul Book Center on Watson Road in St. Louis and Benediction at the Carmelite Monastery on Clayton Road. No matter how stressed life gets, everything always seems OK when I'm there!

What strikes you most today?

Click on "COMMENTS" below to share your thoughts, especially if you have a favorite place for Eucharistic Adoration.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

What strikes me most today

Trust me, this was the least controversial of the many images of "temptation" that I came across!

OK, so I'm not tempted beyond what I can bear. This sounds like I should not still be having episodes where I give in to temptation. Overeating is my most obvious one - I feel guilty when I do, I know I'm going to feel guilty when I do, I know I will feel bad physically and emotionally later, but I still do it.

I think the key is in the last part, that "he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." So... I could pray more, fast sometimes (seriously, I could at times, I think), and REGULAR visits to the Adoration Chapel and REGULAR use of the sacrament of Reconciliation.

The problem is not that He hasn't given us the "way out," I am just not taking full advantage of the means He gave us!

What strikes you most today?

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Monday, April 12, 2010

1 Corinthians 9:22-23

22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

What strikes me most today

I picture Saul before he was Paul - strong, powerful, fighting for what he thought was right. But deep down he had the humility to change when Christ entered his life. He "became weak, to win the weak," which must have been very difficult for someone who so recently had so much power. Why did he do it? For the same reason I should - "for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."

I'm not even close to doing what St. Paul did - and all I have to worry about is being looked at as someone trying to be self-righteous, holier than thou, or a "Jesus-freak" (OK, the Jesus-freak one may be true, but not the first two!) St. Paul faced prison, torture, and death on a daily basis. I pray I am never embarrassed to share Jesus, His gospel, and the Church Jesus left for us for any reason!

What strikes you most today?

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Sunday, April 11, 2010

1 Corinthians 9:1-2

"Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord."

What strikes me most today

Yesterday, my wife had a busy day - "Mom Prom" with my Senior son, and "Junior Ring" with my Junior daughter. As I saw her with the two of them at different times during this hectic day, I couldn't help but think of today's passage. My wife really is an apostle to our children - she has been teaching them about our Lord from the time they were born - especially with the example of her life. Our children really are the seal of my wife's "apostleship in the Lord."

What strikes you most today?

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Saturday, April 10, 2010

1 Corinthians 5:6-7

Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are.

What strikes me most today

I like the idea of getting rid of the old yeast. I know I often find myself in routines of doing certain prayers and practices. They're great, but even the best practices can become routine. Life in the Catholic faith is continual growth. Fortunately, the Church has endless good books, spiritualities, movies, practices, prayers - it would be impossible to run out of avenues of growth in the Church. And the more we learn and grow and change - the more humble we are (like bread not "puffed up" with yeast).

What strikes you most today?

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Friday, April 9, 2010

1 Corinthians 4:15-16

15Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

What strikes me most today

Another one of my favorites. How awesome the world would be if more people were unafraid to imitate St. Paul on a daily basis!

What strikes you most today?

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Thursday, April 8, 2010

1 Corinthians 1:30

"It is due to [God] that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption."

What strikes me most today

Today's passage especially reminds me of Blessed James Alberione's teaching that our spirituality is not just a book or set of teachings or a certain philosophy - it is a person, and His name is Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. That helps me understand why we can't "sanctify ourselves" or "earn justification" or "win redemption." Sanctification, justification, and redemption are gifts of God - given to us through His Son - and through His Church, by way of the Sacraments. Jesus became for us the Word Incarnate - the "wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." Thanks be to God!

What strikes you most today?

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

1 Corinthians 1:18

18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

What strikes me most today

Today was the funeral mass and burial for my sister-in-law, Sherry Mathews. It really was a beautiful mass. Many tears were shed, especially during my nephew Greg's eulogy, but it really could not have been better. And I thought, even through the tears, how fortunate we are to have the hope of Christ's resurrection. Especially as I looked at my own family, in gratitude for our Salvation due to the sacrifice of the Son of God on the Cross. It's been quite a Lent and Easter - I can't recall one where I have been so in touch with the Passion, Death, and Resurrection. What an awesome God!

What strikes you most today?

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