by The Face of Grace Project | Jan 20, 2021 | Life, Work and the World
In December we awaited the Christ Child. On Gaudete Sunday we shouted rejoice! On Christmas day He arrived, and we celebrated for an octave. Christmas is now behind us and we are well into the new year. Jesus continues to give us the gift of His Spirit in every breath; the love between Him and His Father animating our very being. He continues to give His Sacred humanity to us in the Sacraments. The best New Year’s resolutions will be those that serve to focus us on this very reality every day. Review and revise those resolutions so they can bring you more deeply into relationship with Him, and through that bring His love into your relationships with others. Then, take concrete steps to extend that love to others.
In 2021, share the gift of you.
by The Face of Grace Project | Jan 17, 2021 | Life, Work and the World
With all good intentions we seek the path to sanctity, doing whatever we can fit into the day: fasting, rosaries, novenas, good deeds to others. But the path to sanctity isn’t in the ‘doing’. It is in surrendering to God. It is out of surrender that ‘doing’ comes. In the not-too-distant past, people could recognize a Catholic not by the clothes or crucifixes worn but by how they think, shown by how they speak and act. A Catholic mind is formed by God and so holds no duplicity.
Can people recognize you as Catholic not by label (pro-life, pro-marriage) but rather simply by your way of being?
by The Face of Grace Project | Jan 13, 2021 | Presence
In the old days, we called going to confession ‘getting right with God’. Regardless of what was happening in life, something deep inside of us knew that our relationship with God was the one thing that needed to be order. I liken it to having an internal antenna seeking God. The Church teaches that the very fabric of our being is created for this right orientation to God.
In these turbulent times, we must answer God’s call to holiness and allow Him to transform us through the sacrament of reconciliation.
by The Face of Grace Project | Jan 10, 2021 | Life, Work and the World
We are presently in a Church, and a country, in turmoil where many opinions are spewed but very little Truth spoken. In Advent, we awaited Truth to be born in our hearts. In every age God has left a remnant of people to carry on the Faith (ROM 11:5-6). This remnant are the righteous not the self-righteous; the surrendered not the self-empowered. They are seekers of Truth aware that it comes in uncomfortable ‘packages’ like a baby being born in a cave and a 33-year old man in his prime suffering unimaginable humiliation, torture and death. Advent was our time to say ‘yes’ to trusting in Him so that He can become incarnate in us. Now is our time to grow in this.
by The Face of Grace Project | Jan 6, 2021 | Presence
The ghosts of New Years past: resolutions to change myself every New Year’s, Lent, birthday and Advent … the yo-y0 effect of being absolutely sure every morning that I’ll keep my resolutions only to give in about 3pm that afternoon … a scream of “YIKES” realizing that me changing myself fails because it remains centered in me … suppressing the “YIKES” and coming up with a ‘better’ resolution.
All we need for 2021 is one simple resolution: to ask God “What is one thing I need to do, or not do, that will change my relationship with you?” And then do it.
