Panem nostrum

 

Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie. 

                                               Give us this day, our daily bread.   

That line stuck me yesterday at Mass. I know that sounds ridiculous.  It isn't the first time I've heard it! I call it Divine inspiration - and of course, it was the great Feast of Pentecost.  I also call it a moment of clarity.  I've been having those lately, thanks be to God.  

It's a reminder to me to not get too far ahead of myself.  I'm a worrier by nature.  My sister and I joke we worry enough for the rest of the family.  If you want something worried about, we'll add it to our list to free up your day!  But all joking aside, worrying gets you no where!  "Pray, hope and don't worry" St. Padre Pio reminds us.  

I have come to the realization that 'daily bread' isn't just the food we eat.  It isn't just that we have food - we need food to live of course.  These words taught to us by our Blessed Lord Himself are reinforcing to us (daily) that He will provide.  In fact, we must remember this is the ONLY prayer Jesus taught us during his ministry to be prayed by all the faithful.  It isn't a very wordy prayer, but is it ever packed with meaning.......every line.  Every. Word.  His Word.  

Our daily bread means that for this very day our thoughts may be peaceful.

Our daily bread means that for this very day our anxieties and fears may be calmed. 

Our daily bread means that for this very day our faith remains strong.

Our daily bread means that for this very day we may manfully endure any discomfort, pain or inconvenience for Jesus's sake.

Our daily bread means that for this very day we may forgive others and ask to be forgiven of our shortcomings. 

Our daily bread means that for this very day we need to feed our intellect and soul with God's holy word and prayer.  

And most importantly, Our daily bread means that when we can, we should receive the Most Blessed Sacrament in Holy Communion.  It is our spiritual food which our souls need for nourishment and grace.  

Being mindful to pray for our daily bread doesn't mean we don't think about tomorrow.  Of course we are mindful always of tomorrow.  But tomorrow isn't here....today.  Today we only have this very day.  

Remember, Christian Soul 

Remember, Christian soul, that thou has this day, and every day of thy life: God to glorify.
Jesus to imitate.
A soul to save.
A body to mortify.
Sins to repent of.
Virtues to acquire.
Hell to avoid.
Heaven to gain.
Eternity to prepare for.
Time to profit by.
Neighbors to edify.
The world to despise.
Devils to combat.
Passions to subdue.
Death, perhaps, to suffer.
Judgment to undergo.

This is the day the Lord hath made ~ let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Until next time, Be the Light!  Kellie

I almost missed it .....

It was one of those posts you might just scroll over quickly and miss.  But something brought me back to it.  Not 'something' in fact.  Divine intervention might be more correct.  

             'Pick someone and pray for them for 30 days.' 

Easy peasy, right?  I mean, say a prayer for someone for 30 days and you don't even have to tell them about it.  Just pray.  It sounded like an easy enough suggestion.  So I liked the post and silently committed my decision to do just that. 

But, I'm getting a little ahead of myself for a minute.  Let me explain.  Boy, this is kind of hard.  It's embarrassing.  Ok, just out with it.  Like ripping off the band-aid.  I have a hard time at private prayer sometimes.  There.  It's said. I mean, I'm great when it comes to praying with others, like the rosary with Tommy or at Mass.  But at home at private prayer, sometimes I can't stay focused.  I'm easily distracted and my mind has way too many tabs open at the same time.  Or I'm constantly making lists of tomorrow's demands while trying to prioritize their importance.  

It's probably not just me.  And I don't like this about myself at all.   However, that innocent suggestion couldn't have been more perfectly placed in my path.   Of course I have prayed my entire adult life.  There have been seasons of progress and seasons of regression as well.  But once I had set my mind to praying for a specific person -- and made the commitment for 30 days --it has begun to allow me to focus in a way I haven't been able to for a long time.  

It's almost as if I feel that if I slack off, it isn't fair to my 'person'.  And while it is anonymously, I feel a sense of obligation to the person and to God to finish what I started.  The need----the drive---- to begin the prayers each day is so uplifting and comforting.  And while I originally just planned to say a few memorized prayers, I've begun offering a holy hour for their intentions, bringing in some of my older prayer books, even singing hymns.  

It wasn't too long ago, this problem of distraction was even brought up in confession.  And what Father replied was very encouraging.  He said we all get distracted, even him!  But he also said we are somewhat like the animal tethered to a post.  He might go in circles, but he will never wander off.  In prayer, we might circle the post we're tethered to, but if we keep circling we won't wander too far away.  We'll always return to prayer, our tether.  It might come in dribs and drabbles, but eventually we'll return.  

Who knew a little post on face-book could give me just the incentive I needed to start this journey.  I needed a new perspective, to look at prayer for the complete benefit of someone other than myself and my needs.  I'm grateful for this change of perspective at this particular time.  I look forward to the next few weeks and have a feeling I might just be picking a 2nd person and start it all over again.  Praise God.  

Until next time, Kellie   

 

 

Porch sittin'

 

Who else loves just sittin' out on the porch?  Not being on your phone, not on laptop.  Just sittin'. 

It's good to sit quietly occasionally and just ponder.  Ponderin' can take some time, so don't rush it. 

Make it a point to do a little porch sittin' and ponderin' on a regular basis.  It's the best minutes of the day; and never a waste of time. 

Live fully, forgive when you need to and be at peace.  Until next time.  Kellie