 Abide In My Love
The Church and generations of believers have clung to these comforting words for centuries. As the decades pass and our loved ones pass on, we gradually come to understand the true meaning of abiding love. This broken world promises abiding love in many ways, but wrinkles, wisdom, and God's Word gradually reveal where our only true hope and enduring love come from. Abiding love is found only in Jesus. Where or in whom are you searching for hope and enduring love today? Many are still searching for that love in all the wrong places. Friends, Jesus knew that in this life's trials, He alone would be our true joy. He knew that in our disappointments, He would be our hope in our darkest days. He knew that in sickness, He would be our healing, and in death, He would be our life! He also knew that nothing could separate us from God's love if we abided in Him. Saint John knew Jesus' abiding love while isolated on Patmos. Saint Paul knew it and described it like this. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39). Abiding love is free and always available when we obey and abide in Jesus. Onward and Upward + Fr. Greg
0 Comments
 Overcoming Our Troubles
Let's face it; this world is facing growing troubles unlike anything we have seen. Whether economic, environmental, cultural, political, or personal, I have found that most people live with troubled hearts. It's easy today to become overwhelmed and anxious, to feel powerless, afraid, and confused. We all know those feelings can lead to anxiety, anger, frustration, depression, and deep despair. Do you recognize or wrestle with any of those troubling feelings today? If so, you're not alone! In fact, it’s estimated that more than 100 million people globally are on various anxiety medications. Friends, in today’s passage, Jesus clearly tells us, "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me". In these comforting words, Jesus calls us back to the only trustworthy source of peace in this troubled world. He reminds us to trust God and focus on him! Jesus would later say, "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Friends, overcoming this world's troubles starts with trusting our Good Shepherd to feed, lead, and meet the needs of our troubled hearts daily. When you fully surrender and trust in Jesus at the start of each new day, you gradually notice your anxieties and troubles diminishing. Try it, you have nothing to lose but your troubles! Onward and Upward + Fr. Greg  Do Not Fear
Are you living in fear today? Perhaps it's health concerns, or worries about the economy, or recent global events. Fear seems to be everywhere, yet Scripture repeatedly encourages us, "Do not fear!” In this Psalm, David reveals that God’s steadfast love is reserved for those who respect and honor Him. This Psalm also highlights how Scripture’s concept of "fear" differs from the worldly view. It’s not about terror or panic, but humble acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and our limited nature. Proverbs 9:10 tells us, "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". Friends, this encouraging Psalm highlights David’s divine insight and God's boundless love for us. David saw the Lord's love as immense as the heavens are over the earth. Growing up as a shepherd, He would have often gazed up at the star-filled night sky. Though he didn’t fully understand the stars’ vastness as we do today. He knew they were distant and understood that God's immeasurable love for us was even greater. We must never forget that nothing can separate us from God's love! So, do not fear, pray, worship, honor, and always trust in the Lord, whose love and mercies are renewed each morning! Onward and Upward + Fr. Greg  Worshiping Through Worry
Are you being challenged or persecuted for your faith convictions? Let's face it: Christianity isn't for wimps! It takes courage to faithfully follow Jesus. It's unlikely that we will ever face violent oppression, but we do face silent repression daily, and it's natural to feel afraid occasionally. So, how do we eliminate the fear of challenge and opposition? How do we get rid of the fear of disapproval? How do we get rid of the fear of rejection? The answer is Love! We must be filled with God's Love. The Bible tells us there's no fear in Love and that perfect Love casts out all fear. Friends, when we confront opposition, remember the importance of worship! Those who rest in God's Love aren't afraid of rejection. They aren't troubled by disapproval! Our verses say, “If we suffer for doing what’s right, God will reward us for it.” Instead of being afraid, we’re told to worship! And if asked about our hope as believers, be ready to explain it. We have two choices when we feel pressured to be silent about our faith. We can worry, or we can worship! That means we either panic or pray! We can either focus on the problem or focus on our Savior. Quite simply, that's what worship is: focusing on the Lord. So, when opposition forms, focus on worship rather than worry. Onward and Upward + Fr. Greg  Defusing Doubt Have you ever doubted God's presence or intentions? Many of us likely have or will at some point. The Apostle Thomas experienced doubt after the Resurrection. Doubt often stems from unmet expectations, especially when we anticipate God to act in a certain way and He doesn’t. That can cause us to question His love and whether He has our best interests in His heart. So, how should we defuse our doubt? First, pause and determine the real cause of your doubt. Is it because God isn't behaving as you expect? It's a mistake to see God as a genie who grants all our wishes. Our God isn’t like that; He tells us, "My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:9). Friends, share your doubts with other mature Christians. When isolated, our doubts seem even more overwhelming. That's why it's crucial to be actively involved in church. We need to surround ourselves with fellow believers who can support and encourage us when we stumble or doubt in our faith. This highlights the importance of belonging to a church family. Never forget that "iron sharpens iron" (Prv. 27:17). View your doubts as an opportunity for spiritual growth. James 1:3 says, "the testing of your faith produces endurance." Approaching doubt correctly can strengthen our faith. Keep in mind our doubts never lessen God's love for us. Even when doubt arises or our faith wavers, God continues to believe in us! "If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself" (2Tim. 2:13). Hold onto these promises to defuse your doubts. Easter Blessings+ Fr. Greg
 A Living Hope Webster's defines hope as: "to desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment." Hope is a belief or expectation that something will happen. When outcomes fall short of our hopes, we may feel hopeless. How can we remain hopeful in a world filled with pain and suffering? The answer lies in remembering that our confidence comes from our relationship with Jesus. We have been born again into a living hope through Jesus’ resurrection. As His redeemed, we are new creations, no longer prisoners to sin and death. We have been born again, and we are now co-heirs with our living Savior. Friends, God has given us a living hope through Christ Jesus, and He supplies grace for each day and living hope for our earthly journey toward eternity. As the redeemed, we should not react to our trials and tribulations as the world does, but rather live by faith in what we have been promised, confidently trusting in God's plan for our future. When darkness or doubts threaten to overwhelm us, remember to fix your hope and focus on Jesus. Seek encouragement through God's Word and recall His promises in Christ. Jesus pledged to be with us until the end of the age, for He is our living and eternal hope. Thanks be to God; He has Risen Indeed! Easter Blessings +
 Never Forsaken
Have you ever felt like God has abandoned or forsaken you? Sometimes, when life spirals out of control and there seems to be no one to help us, we can feel deserted or forsaken. When our earthly support systems disappear, it can even feel like God has abandoned us. Let's face it: being in the middle of a storm is scary; feeling alone in the storm is even more frightening. In Psalm 22, David voices his deep frustration at not feeling God's presence in his moment of need. He also later acknowledges that even though he felt abandoned, he was never truly alone because God is Good. Friends, we too can cling to God's unending love during times of fear, loss, or isolation. The same promises David clung to in his suffering can comfort us when we can't see or feel God's presence. The Lord may even test us with trials to help us grow, and it may even seem like He has abandoned us at times. St. John of the Cross called these moments of doubt "the dark night of the soul." God didn’t abandon David and won't abandon us either. He promises, "he will never leave or forsake us." God's righteousness and faithfulness ended David's lament, and David responded by recording the most comforting words found in scripture, in Psalm 23. We must never forget that we are never forsaken; our loving God is Good, ALL the time! Have A Blessed Holy Week Fr. Greg  Jesus Wept
The shortest verse in the Bible says a lot about our Savior. We can all relate to Martha and Mary when they told Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” We feel the deep pain in their voices, and many of us have probably whispered similar words: “Lord, if you had done something differently, I wouldn’t be experiencing this.” Those feelings are shared by many. When the crowd saw Jesus weeping, we saw two very different reactions. Some said, “See how much He loved him!” while others wondered, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t He have kept Lazarus from dying?” Friends, during times of tragedy, some focus on God’s love, while others focus on what they believe God could or should do. This reminds us, especially in our own sorrows, to consider: Am I focusing on what I think God should have done differently, or am I standing firm in the truth of His vast love for us? Jesus’s tears show how much God cares. God knows our pain and collects every tear we shed (Psalm 56:8). We may not always see why God acts as He does, but we must remember, His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). So, when sorrow and sadness come, pray for the Holy Spirit to remind you of God’s unfailing love. Lord, help us to always see your love through our fears, tears, and sorrows! Onward and Upward + Fr. Greg  Spiritual Vision
How is your spiritual vision these days? The disciples encountered a man born blind and assumed his condition was due to someone’s sin. That was a common view on suffering at the time. Illness and disability were often seen as results of sin. It’s understandable how people could adopt this mindset. When someone experienced a disability, serious illness, or hardship, it was easy to blame them, their family, friends, or community. Sometimes, attributing a reason offers comfort when facing the unknown or difficult truths. Friends, in this Gospel, Jesus complicates matters by suggesting that God allowed the man to be blind so that His healing could demonstrate God's works. That's not easy to grasp! Honestly, human suffering is much more complicated than we like to admit. Sin has broken our world in ways far beyond what we understand. This story comforts us because it shows that God can and will bring good out of challenges and blindness. God works for our good in all things (Romans 8:28) and has redeemed us, giving us renewed spiritual insight through Jesus. When God’s works shine through our adversity, He reveals His goodness and love for us in a glorious, new way. Onward and Upward + Fr. Greg  Living Water
In this Gospel reading, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman and talks about living water. In those days, and still today in the Middle East, fresh water is a rare and valuable resource. Everyone needs water to live, but Jesus says that the water he offers provides something more. It's living water that wells up inside us, giving us eternal life! Many verses in the Old Testament speak of thirsting for God, just as we thirst for water. God is called the fountain of life and the spring of living water. Friends, once we satisfy our thirst with living water, we will never experience spiritual thirst again. The Holy Spirit we receive at our Baptism provides the living water for our souls, which we can draw upon continually. The truth is that no successful journey of faith is possible without access to living water. Only Jesus can lead us out of the spiritual parched deserts of our lives. Only He can quench our burning thirst for God deep within us. Only our Lord and Savior can give us this incredible gift that satisfies and quenches the deepest thirst and desires of our souls. Onward and Upward + Fr. Greg |