Palm Sunday 2008

[Andruschak]

They are doing quite well. I have given up trying to find Pumpkin a new home. The pounds and shelters are filled with animals, and many cats and dogs are being turned loose on the streets to fend for themselves. All this as people lose houses or otherwise have to downsize from the credit crunch.

At that, Silver and Fluffy are not quite as hostile to Pumpkin as they were at first. At least it is no longer attack on sight. But I have to make their visits to Pumpkin well supervised. Fluffy will still hiss.

Now Silver is becoming a little more relaxed, in the sense that when he is in the room, and Pumpkin is up on the closet shelf for safety, He will lie down on his side and just keep watch. Pumpkin dare not come down for food, water, or litter box, so I chase Silver out after awhile. But at least Silver is not climbing the cat tree to the closet shelf to harass Pumpkin.

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I was at an AA retreat this weekend. As usual, we went over the 12 steps spirituality program, as well as the chance for one on one sessions with the retreat master. The main thing was Fr. Patrick making it clear that my calling as a lay contemplative penitent did not mean that I might become a full contemplative before I die, nor did I need to. I was not to ask how high the ladder was, nor what rung I was on. Just to climb.

Now, I needed to have last Friday off to make this retreat. I had put in my request on 25 February, but it was not until 7 March that I was approved. My vacation request for 19-21 March off, The Easter Triduum, had not been approved as of last Thursday. My supervisor likes to keep me twisting slowly slowly in the wind. So I hope to get the approval when I return to work tomorrow. Time is getting short

 

[jmm08]

The main thing was Fr. Patrick making it clear that my calling as a lay contemplative penitent did not mean that I might become a full contemplative before I die, nor did I need to. I was not to ask how high the ladder was, nor what rung I was on. Just to climb.

Very beautiful. I like it. We are the sheep of His pasture. He is the shepherd (not we ourselves).

Now, I needed to have last Friday off to make this retreat. I had put in my request on 25 February, but it was not until 7 March that I was approved. My vacation request for 19-21 March off, The Easter Triduum, had not been approved as of last Thursday. My supervisor likes to keep me twisting slowly slowly in the wind. So I hope to get the approval when I return to work tomorrow. Time is getting short

I had a really good friend named Larry. Larry liked to remind me that “God is in control.” He taught me that we are upset at others when we think they are in control. However, God is in control. And the Servant of God, Cardinal John Henry Newman, wrote “God has created me for some definite service … He has not created me for naught … Therefore I will trust him … He knows what he is about.”

And I figure that God is just as concerned about our reaction to what happens to us, as what happens to us. When we upset a bucket, what was inside the bucket is what spills out. When we are upset, doesn’t the same thing happen?

jmm08

 

[jmm08]

Andruschak, I think you should re-read 1 Corinthians chapter 12. The full text of Cardinal Newman’s prayer follows:

A Prayer of John Henry Cardinal Newman

God created me
to do him some definite service;
he has committed some work to me
which he has not committed to another.
I have my mission -
I may never know it in this life,
but I shall be told it in the next…
Therefore, I will trust him…
If I am in sickness,
my sickness may serve him;
in perplexity,
my perplexity may serve him;
if I am in sorrow,
my sorrow may serve him…
He does nothing in vain;
he may prolong my life,
he may shorten it,
he knows what he is about.

I sang in the choir last night (my 3rd year in the choir). Our choir sings in the front of our church. We had a beautiful Palm Sunday Mass. The music was wonderful. I grabbed a bunch of palms before the start of the service and held them in my hand. In case anybody briefly forgot, they might see me with the palms and remember it was palm Sunday. And I could smell the palms. I asked Mary to share the scent with the souls in purgatory – so that in smelling the palms they might have fresh hope that it could be quite soon when they may experience the joy of resurrected life.

Happy Easter and Happy Holy Week to you and to all who read this.

jmm08

 

[Andruschak]

I forgot to give the web site for Serra Retreat…

serraretreat.com/

Towards the bottom of the home page you will find a picture of Bud. This dog has been spoiled rotten by all the love and attention he gets from retreat participants. Including me.