Matthew 17:23

Monday the 19th Week of Ordinary Time

Gospel Matthew 17:22-27

And they were overwhelmed with grief (Verse 23)

 

After Peter became rebellious when Jesus announced His death the first time,  (This must not happen”), now when Jesus talks about it again, the gospel says:

 

And they were overwhelmed with grief

 

Because Matthew specifically reports how the disciples respond to Jesus’ announcement, we must assume that this is very serious.  Grief is a very serious feeling.  When we feel grief, it is simply there.  Even the best-intentioned words cannot wipe it away. And we have the need to grieve at times. Suffering saddens us.  Paul does not tell us not to grieve, but he reminds us that as Christians we should “not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

 

And they were overwhelmed with grief

 

Jesus said that he would be raised on the third day.  At first, the disciples are not open to this concept.  They cannot understand what is about to occur because in the history of the world, this has never happened.  Regardless, it is very important that they hear this.  By hearing the Good News,  faith begins.  It does not take away the feeling of grief at first, but it begins the process.  They can guess at what is written in the book of Job about God: For He wounds, but he binds up; He strikes, but His hands heal (Job 5-18).  So in our grief, we can take comfort that it will not last.  We do not only share in the suffering of Christ, but in the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:10 and 1 Peter 4:13).

 

 And they were overwhelmed with grief

  

Let us listen to our hearts today!  To all our feelings, to the internal scream!  If we are screaming inside in our grief, we take it seriously.  Let’s take these feelings to God.  But it is also interesting how today’s Gospel continues.  In verse 24 it seems the disciples have returned to their daily routine.  This is a very important tip.  It is very important to take our feelings seriously and to bring them to our conversation with God.  It is equally important, however, not to let ourselves fall into pure introspection. The love for others, the fulfilling of our normal chores is the best medicine against grief.

Spring Mission Update

My Beloved Mission Partners,

Thank you for all your prayers, love and support over the past nine months of this mission year. God has truly blessed me with knowing each and every one of you. In just this short amount of time, he has already shown me so much and I know that this is only the beginning.

As I look back, I’ve realized that there is a common theme for the year; it’s called “change.”  Just when I start to get “comfortable,” God shows me that he has different plans and calls me to be “uncomfortable,” or as I like to call it, stretched.

Going into this year, I brought my guitar hoping to learn more chords and to be able to play some songs. And now at the last XLT (a night of Eucharistic adoration) in Süsterseel, I was asked to help lead with my guitar. There have been many other small stretching moments in community life as we learn to love and call one another to holiness. It’s not always easy to hear the truth or the things that I need to work on but by bringing things to the light, it has also brought freedom to our household. There are so many different opportunities to become the daughter of God he has created me to be.

It’s so wonderful that as I continually say yes to the Lord’s will, he provides for the desires of my heart. I’ve been involved in singing in choir since I was 12 years old and this was the first year I wasn’t. One night after attending the local Men’s choral concert, I was invited to sing with the Selfkant choir once a week on Monday evenings. I didn’t have to search for it; God just placed it into my hands. I should mention that I am the youngest member. It brings me so much joy because it reminds me of the choir I sang with at St. Philips in Fullerton, CA.

As of recently, we are now only four missionaries but we’re going strong. Being in only the second year of foreign missions for Life Teen in Europe, we are still very much pioneers. Most our time here has been learning by trial and error, seeing what works and what doesn’t. In this latest Mission Newsletter there is a section that explains everything more in depth.

In other exciting news, after much prayer and discernment, I find that God is calling me to attend the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. I’m starting in the fall, and I’ll be finishing up my Bachelors in Theology. God is calling me to dive deeper into our Catholic faith and also to be surrounded by a strong Catholic community. Although, I won’t officially be a missionary, I feel that my time at school will be an extension of this year and I would like to invite you to continue to be a part of it.

Thank you for continually journeying with me on this walk of faith. Without your prayers and love, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Don’t forget to check out our mission community’s newsletter update linked to this email. Please let me know how I can be praying for you by sending me an email. May God bless you and your family each moment of everyday.  

Through Christ, 

Alyssa Nicole

Click Here - Mission Newsletter 

"You Have Me"

A little over a week ago, as I sat down for Mass in the wooden pews of the Carmelite Convent in Sittard, I really wanted to take some time to prepare my heart to be completely open to whatever the Lord had for me. Lately, I’ve encountered a lot of challenges in living each aspect of my life for the Lord and it’s been a little disheartening. I took a moment of silence and just opened my hands. I took a deep breath and let it out. I opened my Magnificat® to the day’s readings and found such hope in the beautiful example of the apostles. They were thrown out of the temple and flogged for “speaking in the name of Jesus”, yet they persevered and went on their way, “rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name” (Acts 5:40-41).

Wow. Here I was sad and disheartened, while the apostles, on the other hand, rejoiced through their suffering. Now, this is not to say that I am never going to feel this way again, but it definitely puts some perspective on how to view living my faith fully. God doesn’t want us to be of this world or tied down by earthly things (John 3:31).  Although there will always be people or situations to challenge and test my faith, the most important thing for me to remember is that God is always faithful and rejoice in the fact that He is “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

Let us pray together for self-abandonment and the openness to follow the call to live each aspect of our lives for God.

For inspiration listen to “You Have Me” – Gungor.

Sacrifice of Love

An inspiring woman in my faith journey has been my Mom. This week was her 50^th birthday and she celebrated BIG. Although she threw a party it was not your typical birthday party; oh no, it was a dancing fundraiser. Okay, let me explain.  It all started five years ago when my Mom’s good friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. I’ve never seen a whole faith community come together so fast. Her friend is a wife, a mother of two and a sister in Christ. Within a blink of an eye, she was in danger of losing her life. In that moment, (I’ll never forget) it didn’t even take a second thought for my Mom to step in to help in whatever ways possible. This included weekly visits of fellowship, bringing her the Eucharist, and even taking her daughters to school. Ever since seeing the effects of this disease  up- close, my Mom  joined the movement for finding a cure for cancer by participating in the annual Susan G. Komen 3-day. She participates in the 60 mile walk during a three day period in San Diego. This fundraiser also takes place throughout America and it is where people share encouraging stories of survival while being a part of sisterhood.


Video: Susan G. Komen 3-day for the Cure


Each year it’s inspiring to see how much goes into each step of the way when months of training, sweat and joyous tears come from this walk. Sometimes, she’ll come home not being able to walk for the next week! But, each time she still says the same thing, “it’s worth all the pain”. It truly inspires me to see how Holy Spirit is completely moving by using a ‘trail in life’ to impact so many lives. Also, a glory story is that my Mom’s friend is now a Breast Cancer survivor. Praise God!


So, why did my Mom throw a Dancing Fundraiser instead of a 50^th Birthday party? Because, she believes that it is more important to invite everyone to share in the great experience of helping this great cause and ministry that will save lives.  This has been a huge witness to me in the sacrifice of love. Let your “Yes” resound and affect the masses, all for the glory of God. I invite you to join the cause.

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“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” 
–John 15:13

Love is Moving

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Community Jan-Feb 2011 Newsletter

A Zealous Love

‎"Heavenly Father, you are filled with zeal for holiness of your people. Make us holy in your image and give us a zealous love for increasing the numbers of your sons and daughters. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen." Magnificat Feb. 6, 2011.

Prayer for the day

"O God of light and glory, you are the beauty we seek, the power to whom we entrust ourselves, the love for whom we hunger and thirst. Make your yourself known to all people through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." - Magnificat January 2011