Signs and symbols: The sign of the Cross
The sign of the cross isn’t a symbol nor a superstition. It’s a Trinitarian prayer and consecration to Jesus used since the first century.
The beauty of powerlessness
From our beautiful and ancient Church heritage comes many prayers to aid us in the surrendering to Jesus of our loveless thoughts and self-protecting ways. Yet it remains a seemingly monstrous task to actually do it: to surrender to Him. And perhaps it is because at the center and foundation of surrendering is the primary truth of our own powerlessness.
I’m ok Daddy!
Small children, in their innocence, do things out of love not fear, and that’s how God wants us to be with Him …
I made Jesus suffer for me
A decade back, I prayed myself through the Ignatian retreat that the Jesuit father took Mother Teresa through in 1959 (found in appendix B of Come Be my Light). Sometimes the wording he gave in his instructions stood out for me. One such time was his instruction to her that stated, “To spend a day in reparation for the sufferings I have made Jesus bear for me.”
I grew up hearing Jesus suffered for me on the cross. But I’ve never heard I made Jesus suffer for me. Wow, a paradigm shift.
Aging well
I recently read that in the U.S., 10,000 people daily will reach age 65 (retirement age). This begs the question: How prepared am ‘I’ to accept aging?