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Jesus is a divine multitasker, intentionally and perfectly. Fr. Mark-Mary explains that while we might struggle to multitask, God works on multiple levels at all times. As Jesus turns water into wine in Gérard David’s painting, The Wedding at Cana, he is both continuing the joy of the celebration and revealing himself as the divine bridegroom. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Wedding Feast at Cana and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
https://www.youtube.com/@TheRosaryinaYear
For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.
Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.~
~Psalms 139:13-14
stacylsanchez.com / Heartprints of God
When Jesus approaches John to be baptized, John initially resists, insisting that he is not worthy. John is troubled, explains Fr. Mark-Mary, and yet, when Jesus reassures him, he obeys with confidence and trust. Andrea del Verrocchio and Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, The Baptism of Christ guides our meditation on humility. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Baptism in the Jordan and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
https://www.youtube.com/@TheRosaryinaYear
When we are broken by sin, shattered in a million pieces, we are closer to the Lord than we could ever imagine.
It is our brokenness that draws Him close.
It is our heartfelt confession that lets Him in.
It is our heart completely undone, solely in need of God to be made whole that receives His grace, that knows His forgiveness, that becomes whole in His hands, held tightly together by His mercy and love.~
~Stacy L. Sanchez / Heartprints of God
Several years ago, as I sat in Children’s Church, surrounded by precious little hearts, we talked about our world and the all too often missing ingredient, kindness.
We talked about bullies and what it feels like to live in a world where kindness is hard to find.
“Why do you suppose people are mean?” I asked. “Why are there bullies?”
Without thinking twice, a five year old girl blurted out, “Maybe their bucket is empty.”
“Their bucket is empty?” I inquired further.
“Yes. Maybe they are mean because they ran out of nice. Maybe their bucket is empty.”
It made perfect sense.
We can’t give away something we don’t have. And I wondered, right there and then, in the midst of these precious little faces, how many Christians are trying to make their way through life with empty buckets?
So often, we dart right out into life without first sitting at the feet of our Savior and filling up on His goodness, before communing first with the Holy Spirit and partaking of His sweetness, before allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us to overflowing. All too often, we yield to our natural inclinations because our spiritual buckets are empty. When conflicts arise, when relationships push us to a place of response, when life squeezes us until we react, we reach into self and the only thing we can pull out is the fruit of self.
Instead of love, hate.
Instead of joy, despair.
Instead of peace, strife.
Instead of patience, agitation.
Instead of kindness, animosity.
Instead of goodness, corruption.
Instead of faithfulness, disregard.
Instead of gentleness, harshness.
Instead of self-control, self rules.
No wonder the world has a hard time seeing Christians as Christ-like.
No wonder the world has a hard time seeing Christ in Christians.
When our reaction is anything but Christ-like, very likely, our bucket is empty.
As you look back on the past few hours, past few days, past few weeks of your life, what kind of fruit do you see?
If it isn’t the fruit of the Spirit, maybe your bucket is empty.~
~Stacy L. Sanchez / Heartprints of God
Concluding our focus on St. Joseph, we reflect on the quiet but powerful transition of Mary’s care from St. Joseph to Jesus in the cc. God’s constant provision for Mary is evident as we see how Jesus steps into his role as protector and provider for his mother. The reflection is anchored in a 17th-century painting of The Finding in the Temple, located at St. Nicholas Church in Brussels. Fr. Mark-Mary reminds us that even when God’s plan requires letting go, His attentive love never leaves us abandoned. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Finding of Jesus in the Temple and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
https://www.youtube.com/@TheRosaryinaYear
