Shepherd of Faith

Blessed Triduum! I’m a little late in posting but I wanted to share a site here. You’ll find a guide to each day of the Triduum. It includes a video from Fr. Mike about how to pray through Holy Week. Go deeper, pray more, try a new devotion, continue it beyond the holy days and watch it bear fruit! God bless you!

I have an image outside my bedroom of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Every morning I consecrate myself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As I gaze on the images, I contemplate their hearts. First, I contemplate Jesus’ Sacred Heart and the love He has for His family despite the pain they’ve caused Him. I always beg Him to transform my heart, to mold my heart to be like His: loving and forgiving. Then I contemplate Mary’s Immaculate Heart and the love she has for each of her children despite what they did to her Son and the pain they’ve caused her. I always ask her to lend me her heart. A heart so humble and pure. Today’s contemplation included more.

Last night I participated in a Lenten Mission offered by my parish. There was a speaker by the name of Bart Schuchts from Church on Fire Ministry. He talked about the major dysfunction he experienced in his family growing up. The beautiful message he expressed by the end of his talk was how healing and redemption was manifest in him and his family after he gave his heart to Jesus.

So this morning’s prayer before the Sacred Heart of Jesus was a little different. I prayed for Jesus to heal and redeem my family and those closest to me. What I received in my prayer and contemplation was: that is exactly what He came to do and I have to trust that His life was truly given as a ransom for many, including my family. In the midst of my contemplation, what I also received was the idea that in Scripture we hear of Jesus’ genealogy. When we listen to the names of the people who were Jesus’ ancestors we hear of alot of dysfunction. ALOT!!! But Jesus became man to be the conduit to heal and redeem them.

How does God continue to work in the world? He strategically places His people where they need to be to continue Jesus’ work of healing and redemption. You and I are the conduits. These are the days that we, by the grace of God, can be the conduits to Christ’s healing, peace and redemption in our families and in the world.

So today I offer it all up as I prepare to fast for the entire day in the hopes that my prayer for forgiveness, healing and redemption can become a reality through God’s grace. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen! Will you fast with me? Do whatever your circumstances allow. You’ll be amazed at how God works in your life when you do. Check out the video below which discusses the power of the fast! God bless you!