October is here and 2022 has been flying by! Hopefully
everyone has been wearing their seatbelt as we continue
to navigate in a world that has completely lost its way,
and that we are all completely focused on our navigator,
Jesus Christ. For me, personally, September was a very
challenging and busy month. (I am starting to sense a
theme.) The kids are back in school and the chaos of
day to day living is in full force, but when times are in-
tense, we have to dig deep. We have no choice but to
keep our heads up and move forward. Why? Because
life will continue to move forward with or without us! Life
doesn’t care that we need to catch our breath, and it
doesn’t care that we need to slow up every now and
then. At the end of the day the only thing we can control
is how we respond to the stress of this world. It’s times
like these that we truly need to check our faith. We need
to ask ourselves; what am I living for? What do I stand
for? And am I living for and standing for God? Every day
we must convert back to Jesus Christ! You can not live
this life any other way!
In our Second Reading this weekend, we hear Peter en-
couraging the faithful; in it Peter says the following: “For
God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather of
power and love and self control.” God gave us power!
Not political power, not corrupt power, but the power of
His love! If it comes from God, it is love and mercy. We
are never to fear what God gives us, ever! Our Father
has given us all the tools we need to live this life. They
are tools to help us navigate those challenges that we
seem to face almost daily, and we are to use those tools!
Understand that point, we are to use those tools! We
have to use our self control to keep calm and move for-
ward! We have to use His love to understand that no
matter what, our life has meaning and purpose. It doesn’t
matter how we got here, because our lives are not some
cosmic accident. Each and everyone of us has been cre-
ated for His purpose! His purpose is always a beautiful
one for us! His purpose will lead us back to Him in Heav-
en!
Yes, God gave us power! This power comes to us from
the Holy Spirit, and we are to use this power in trials and
tribulations. We are to use this power for the greater
good of all of God’s people that we come in contact with.
Remember, if it comes from God, it is love. We have to
look beyond self when using these tools, because when
we lift others up and we encourage them we give glory to
God! This power, if used for self, will not work. It will not
be given back to us, so we must always look to use
God’s power for the greater good. How can you use
these “tools” to create a better world around?
This past month, our Sunday readings have focused on
preparation and who do we choose to serve. Are we are
choosing to serve God, or the trappings of earth? Are we
asking our Lord to give us strength for His good, or our
own? Today is a perfect day to spend some quiet time
with our Lord and meditate on His heart. Ask our Heav-
enly Mother to pray for you and your family today, and
ask her to help you meditate on her Son’s Words! Have
a Spirit-filled week!!!