we are beautiful

May 10, 2012 9:44 am

In the mood of serenity, I’m completing a puzzle with my daughter (500 pieces). Even though the emerging picture presents us with fauna and flora, I get the picture of a community (family, Church…).

Because each piece of the puzzle is different. What a rich diversity of shapes! And, at the same time, they’re all equal – none of them is more important than the others. Each has its own place, predefined and anticipated. And only when they’re all in place – the picture makes sense. When only one is missing – there’s an ugly hole.

I like this consciousness that I’m part of some entity. That Someone chose a special place and task for me, and gave me the environment of particular people – not anyone else, but them. Nothing happens by accident. Together we may create a wonderful picture.

And yet, at some point, the puzzle-related analogies become entirely useless. Becasue each of us alone (unlike a piece of the puzzle, which means nothing in isolation) also means so tremendously much! Each of us, even when we get lost somewhere, is of a priceless value, as we’ve been created “in the likeness” of God Himslef! (Genesis 1:27-5:1)

We are beautiful with your beauty, Lord!

Open our eyes to Your beauty within us!

Basia

beauty treatment

May 9, 2012 9:09 am

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”  (John 15:2)

Jesus won’t give up on us so easily, we cost Him too much.* He wants us to grow, to develop, to transform our thinking. That’s why He demands from us. Every “cutting” and “pruning” hurts (as when you visit your dentist). After such treatment, however, we are more beautiful and mature.

* Padre Pio used to say that.

Dosia

remain in Me

May 8, 2012 10:57 am

A friend of mine told me about his trip to the place of his most beautiful childhood memories. How disappointed he was to find a partly burned down, and partly demolished, ruin of a building. That’s when he understood that the house had been there only thanks to his grandpa’s concern and care for it.

When we heard this story,  we were just about to return home from our stay in the countryside. In “our countryside”, where everything has been arranged to give rest. “Heaven on earth” – that’s how our friends call it, but in the past it used to be just an ordinary farm, left by the autohthons after WW II and took over by my husband’s grandparents, forcibly repatriated from the eastern territories. Later, my husband’s family pulled the barn down, brick by brick, turned the farmhouse into a simple place of summer accomodation, and the yard – into a vast space of a loan with a small vineyard, orchard and pine grove.

So I may lie down in a hammock, because someone planted the trees. The kids may run about barefoot, because someone carefully collected all the stones and sharp twigs, and mowed the loan.

How much effort is necessary for things to REMAIN. Not just to “BE”. If things are to remain, you have to check, if nothing is breaking down, if there is something that should be repaired or improved.*

Home. The relationship with Him. Relationship with the husband. With the children. With relatives. Friends.

Without the effort of looking after things, everything – sooner or later – changes into barren land. So I’m taking a closer look at my relationships and check if I “remian” in them, or just “am” with no consiousness or sense of purpose. And if someone important does not miss me.

Małgosia

*Fr. Mariusz Białobłocki, parish priest in Rychtal, Poland; Homily from May 6, 2012.

Back to normality?

May 7, 2012 10:31 am

We’ve just come back after a very looooong weekend.* Most probably many of us spent it with family. Today we have to settle back in “normality.” We are getting down to work in order to be able to go with the whole family on holiday very soon – that’s what we have in view.

Was there anything during that weekend that I’d particularly like to repeat? Or maybe some lessons learnt of things I’d rather avoid next time?

And what sounds like “normality” to me? Being together with my family, or being at work?

Fr. Jay

*Because of two festive days, which are public holidays in Poland (May 1 and May 3), the “long weekend” this year lasted as much as 9 days – from the evening of April 27 till Sunday, May 6!

the happy

May 6, 2012 6:22 am

“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you. . . They rejoice in Thy name all day long” (Psalm 89:15-16)

Happy are those who can rejoice! So it’s not true that our sense of happiness depends only on external circumstances, it comes and goes unexpectedly. It’s more the question of the inner capacity – a skill that you can learn. For example from little children, who are experts in the field of joy, they never worry in advance and forget very quickly the reason for tears they shed. I have to admit that learning to enjoy things is my favourite area of self-mastery.

Sometimes you need to help yourself to see the bright side of life (go on a date with your husband, meet friends, take a walk, have some good coffee, read a good book, watch a film…). In one word: do something that makes you happy.

And that’s what I’d like to wish all the Readers for this Sunday. In plenty.

Basia

text message for today

May 5, 2012 10:04 am
“When the Gentiles heard that, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed”  Acts 13:48
Through the Baptism we were appointed for eternal life. Isn’t that a great reason for joy?
And maybe you remember the date of your Baptism anniversary? It was a very special day.
Dosia

On the way

May 4, 2012 6:30 am

I wrote the other day about waiting for the Easter Sunday. That great festive day is gone. But I’m still as if waiting for my own, small Easter Sunday, linked with my present experience.

I arrived at the conclusion that this is not so, though. That day has come, it’s happening now. I haven’t noticed it yet. A bit like the Apostles. Disoriented, scared, they dispersed and got back to their everyday chores. And the Lord had risen from the dead! Only after they’d met Jesus, did they understand.

I don’t want to stay motionless and wait I don’t know for what. Even though it’s difficult, I want to move on in my life, day by day.

Maybe I’ll meet Him on the way… like the Apostles on their way to Emmaus? Maybe He’ll surprise me, as He did for Mary Magdalene at the tomb? Maybe I’ll meet Him at work, as the disciples while they were fishing? Maybe He’ll have a meal with me? Maybe the community will be the meeting place, as when He came to the Apostles? Maybe He’ll help me overcome my unbelief, as He helped Thomas when He let him touch His wounds?

He’s already waiting for me in all those situations and places. And in hundreds of others. So it’s time I was going. I want to be there. With Him.

Michał

Mary, the Queen of Poland*

May 3, 2012 9:01 am

Listening patiently. Powerful and delicate. Beautiful and discreet. Tender and kind.

How good it is to have a Queen like this!

*May 3rd is in our country the Feast of Mary, Queen of Poland.

Basia

ohana

May 2, 2012 9:31 am

In our family, the professor of the studies on family science is our 6-year-old son – a sparkle of genius imprisoned in the so-called  “inconsistent psychomotor development”, the origin of which remains unknown, despite advanced disagnostics. So on the one hand, our sonny needs a many-sided rehabilitation to catch up with other children, and on the other – he understands in an instant all the issues related to social life. His sensitivity is simply impressive.

A year ago he remembered a quote from one of Disney’s films – about an alien taken in by a little girl (the creature has all sorts of trouble due to his “being different”): “Ohana [in Hawaiian] means family. And family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.” It’s been translated into Polish even as  “no one is rejected or abandoned.” I should add, the Hawaiian “ohana” is about opening your heart to all blood-related, but also all close to heart. They all are part of the family.

One evening, when our family gathered round the icon of the Holy Family, our son said, while playing with his toys: “Well, that’s just ohana.”

I don’t know how this fits advanced theology but yes – I think it’s a great working definition of the Holy Family and any good family in general: the supportive bonds, the certainty of being loved. It’s something I’d like to whish for all of us.

Małgosia

St Joseph, the Worker

May 1, 2012 6:00 am

The role model and Saint Patron of people who have to work to earn their living. He knew how to combine his daily work with the care for the Holy Family, whom God placed under his protection.

A miraculous Saint. With no great miracles, no orations, no publicity. The man of a great consistency. Never leaning towards the extremes.

Today in any larger company they would speak of, monitor and be deeply concerned about the work-life balance. Go to Joseph. He’s famous for his know-how. 😉

Fr. Jay