» Archives for April 2010

How to Know Your Purpose

Written by on April 25, 2010 - 7 Comments

“Don’t ask what the world needs.  Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.  Because what the world needs is people who have come alive” (Howard Thurman).

Do you believe that God created you for a specific purpose?  I do–with every fiber of my being.  However, not everyone believes this.  To paraphrase Henry David Thoreau, many people lead lives of “quiet desperation.”  In other words, some people simply make it through the day, without believing they have a specific mission.  This is a great tragedy.

To live with passion and purpose, we must believe in the depths of our hearts that we’re alive for a mission, that God has placed us here do something great.  This doesn’t mean that every day will be perfect or that we won’t suffer.  But it does mean that when we encounter difficulties we can always remind ourselves why we’re here.  The more we’re aligned with our God-given purpose, the more fully alive we will be.

So how can we know our purpose?  I don’t pretend to have a magic formula, and I’m not going to promise you any life-changing insights.  What I can offer are some simple spiritual steps that you can take to begin to know your purpose and to live it.  I offer these spiritual steps to you in the form of an acronymn, using the word “Purpose.”  In two posts I’ll use each letter to offer a particular insight.  This post will concern the first three letters and will be focused on how to know your purpose. Read more »

My Failed Jack Bauer Attempt…and What I Learned

Written by on April 22, 2010 - 22 Comments

I’m a “24″ addict.  If you’re not familiar with the show, Kiefer Sutherland plays Jack Bauer (above), the US Counter Terrorism agent who always saves the day.  My DVR is set to record each episode.  Every Monday after 9:00 Night Prayer in the seminary chapel, my friend Fr. Dave and I rush to my living room to watch what is always an intense episode.

The problem with 24, however, is that men who watch it actually start to believe that they have Jack Bauer-like abilities.  It’s called delusional thinking.

A couple of years ago I tried to be Jack–and failed.  The priests and seminarians of Our Lady of Providence Seminary were in Washington, DC for the annual March for Life.  I and the three priests who staff the seminary stayed at a guest residence for bishops and priests.  After Mass at the basilica, we got a ride back to the residence.  That’s when the problem began, and that’s when I tried to be Jack Bauer. Read more »

I Took the “What If” Challenge

Written by on April 19, 2010 - 27 Comments

“God loves every one of us with a depth and intensity that we can hardly begin to imagine” (Pope Benedict XVI).

Last week, fellow blogger Bonnie Gray challenged us to take the “What if” challenge.   Her challenge was to brainstorm five “what if” questions and then to live one of them and blog about the experience.

My “what if” question?  “What if I lived each day with a heartfelt awareness of God’s personal love for me?” Now, some might think that since I’m a priest I already live this way.  And while it’s true that I try to be aware of God’s love for me every day, there are times when I lose sight of this reality.

So here are some lessons learned by living my “what if.” Read more »

How to Love Jesus

Written by on April 15, 2010 - 24 Comments

“Jesus says, ‘I love you just the way you are. And I love you too much to let you stay the way you are’” (Mother Teresa).

One of my favorite gospel passages is the post-resurrection encounter between Jesus and Peter when Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” I love this passage because there have been many times in my life when I know Jesus has asked me the same question and it has forced me to enter deeply into my heart to find the answer.

Some days I’ve been able to answer with a resounding “Yes!” Other days, my answer has been more lukewarm: “Lord, I do love You…but not enough.”

Jesus asked Peter this question three times so that Peter would be given the chance to reverse his triple denial of Jesus. Just as Peter denied Jesus three times so now he would three times express his love for the Lord. Jesus takes the initiative to bring Peter to repentance for his sins. How beautiful! Even when we offend Jesus He draws near to us; He takes the initiative in leading us back to Him through repentance.

“Do you love me?” It’s a question that any serious follower of Jesus Christ must reflect upon because love for Jesus is at the heart of our spiritual lives. So today I invite you to look into your heart and respond to Him. Do you love Him?

None of us loves Jesus perfectly; but if we try to love Him then it will necessarily play out in our daily lives. So, how do we love Jesus—practically? How does it translate into our daily living? Read more »

Wounds Healed by Wounds

Written by on April 11, 2010 - 12 Comments

“For I will restore you to health; of your wounds I will heal you, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 30:17) Have you ever considered the areas of your life that need healing?  Not so much physical healing–although you may desire it–but spiritual and emotional healing.  I believe we’re all in need of healing.  We all have [...]

Read more »

Embracing Our Incompleteness

Written by on April 8, 2010 - 14 Comments

“This world is all a fleeting show, To Man’s illusion given; The smiles of joy, the tears of woe, Deceitful shine, deceitful flow– There’s nothing true but Heaven.” (Thomas Moore, Sacred Songs) I’ve always been intrigued by Jesus’ words to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection (John 20:11-18).  Mary is at the empty tomb and she’s [...]

Read more »

Praise Him in the Storm

Written by on April 5, 2010 - 6 Comments

It’s not very often that little ol’ Rhode Island makes the national spotlight, but if you followed last week’s news you learned about the devastating floods throughout our state. It’s ironic: in the past, when I’ve heard about floods occurring in different parts of the country, I’ve always thought, “Thank God nothing like that could [...]

Read more »