April is National Stress Awareness Month.  Undoubtedly you feel stress in this crazy, fast-paced world of ours.  How do you handle stress in your life?  What kinds of things give you the most stress in your daily life?  How do you cope?  Do you feel a sense of peace after you pray or meditate about it? 

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.  Ps. 68:18-20

Do you hear all the noise around you? With our world of constant technological interruptions it isn’t very often that life is quiet. Our computers, blackberries, iPods, televisions and cell phones seem to push their way into any moment of silence. Often it seems they are competing against each other for our attention, even as we may be trying to discern our personal call to vocation. You may be studying vocation resources online when you receive an email or your cell phone rings, interrupting your thought once again. Although these convenient resources can be invaluable in your search into religious life, it is important to value the importance of silence too. How can we listen to what God is trying to tell us unless we filter out all the noise and prayerfully, quietly listen? So, take a moment today and turn the power off and turn your heart and mind on—onto God’s voice of direction and guidance.

These steps may help you hear God’s calling in your quiet time of prayer:… continue reading…

Snow blizzard in Baltimore, Maryland brings out neighborly goodness as neighbor helps neighbor.

When Jesus began his public ministry it was by word of mouth and deed that people began to see more than “just  another prophet.”   Some saw him only as a prophet though and could not open their hearts to the possibility that he really was the long awaited Messiah that John the Baptist announced.    

 The Gospel today (Mark 6:14-29) shows how the last days of John the Baptist parallels that of Jesus’ passion and death.  Herod even thinks that Jesus is John raised from the dead.  Today, aside from the oral and written words (Scripture) of our faith, through modern technology using the internet and Googling, etc, we have the benefit of learning about Jesus.  Who do we follow?  Can we see the real Jesus?  This is our challenge today – ask yourself, who is Jesus for me and how can I follow him more closely?  Does knowing Jesus help me to understand my vocation in life?  God’s will for me?