Pearl

July 31, 2013 7:55 am

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. ( Matthew 13: 46)

A lot of time passed since we met at the last programme, Programme 4 (ME + God). We meet in precisely the same group so we know each other a little, although each family comes from a different place.

When we shared our experiences, it was easy to see that each one of us, when coping with the difficulties of the previous year, felt relief when surrendering all of them to God and letting Him lead. Although this is costly and sometimes requires a lot of effort. But the awareness of the pearl of great value, the Kingdom of Heaven, is worth this effort.
Greetings from Trzęsacz, from Programme 5: WE + God 🙂

Dorota

Programme 5

July 30, 2013 6:17 pm

We meet on this programme in the same group. This is this part of our programmes that we go through with the same people. For at least 3 years of working together. We are waiting for one more family that is coming any moment now. For the time being we meet just to be together, Like in a family. Or perhaps even more so because this is a family of choice. We look at the children, at the changes n our families and at new tasks that we took upon ourselves. We wonder where the Holy Spirit will lead us now.

Thank you for your support.

From Trzęsacz

Father Jarosław

You see what you know

July 28, 2013 9:48 pm

Art historians sometimes say ‘ A ceiling in a cathedral can have many names but you have to know them to actually spot them’. We know the phenomenon of “pandemic of pregnancies” when the watching woman is pregnant herself or the fact that we suddenly see more cars of a particular make when we have bought one ourselves. On running paths the runners greet each other because they know how much effort it takes.

When I go to the seaside and back I meet so many married couples and families. One can see so much in their faces and in their way of walking and communicating. All too often these ways leave a lot to be desired. But in such moments one can ask for support for them, even in a shortest prayer. A kind comment can lighten up their faces. Even in this simple way we can spread the family-friendly world.

From the end of the following retreat

Father Jarosław always joyful 🙂

A crop — a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown

July 27, 2013 8:51 pm

When I reflected on today’s Gospel, I thought about different crop that the same seed can bring. Isn’t it just like with our different duties, things to do, for example making a tea or a coffee for somebody. Can we talk here about different amounts of crop?
I thought that maybe if we co this tea right, the crop may be thirty times what was sown. If we do it willingly, it may be sixty times, and if joyfully – a hundred times. Right, willingly, joyfully. The same thing to do and we can express with it so much.
Today I am sending you my greetings as joyfully as I can:)

Father Jarosław

I am

July 26, 2013 10:48 pm

A 6-month-old baby does not pretend. He is joyful when it leaves the mum’s breat for a while and looks into her eyes. He is afraid when he wakes up during a walk and sees the trees. I look at these big, fearful eyes and I say, “I am here, son, daddy is here’. My wife says the same and then I notice I know these words. This is the name of God. Am I so helpless and afraid in His eyes, like a child, when He says ‘Do not be afraid, I am’?

Andrzej J.

brothers in arms

July 25, 2013 8:13 pm

A long time ago I heard a story that has stuck in my memory ever since.

War. Two brothers in arms. A company is forced to retreat under heavy fire. One of the two is severely wounded. After some time the latter becomes aware that the other one was left on the battlefield. He comes back, looks for him among the dead and finds him still alive. He takes on his back and carries him under fire.

When he reaches the camp, his friend is dead. His wounds were too severe and there was nothing to be done anyway. His colleagues ask him whether it was worth risking his life. He looks at them, astonished, that they ask such a question. He says, “When I found him, still conscious, he said “I knew you’d come”‘.

Coming back instead of pushing forward, taking a roundabout way, exposing oneself to a danger, giving one’s life for the others. Even among nonsense and turmoil. The final proof that you’re important to me. My husband, my wife, my daughter, my friend.

M

Parrot talk

July 23, 2013 8:09 pm

On the beach by brother tells me a joke:

– For seventeen years of our marriage you have been correcting me every time I say something.

– Eighteen.

On the trams I sometimes saw the inspiring slogan “Keep the distance”. Also in a marriage if we don’t keep the distance we might come to the erroneous conclusion that the spouse is only good for corercting. Weithout the distance that presupposes respect for differences we are not talent hunters we do not care for good and do not support the development. We are then rather a toxine that clips the wings. But there’s a chance even for the couple from that joke: eighteen years is still something else than fifty years. The parrot sentence “you’re wrong” can still be reprogrammed to “It’s very interesting, why do you think so?”.

M

The retreat in Wisełka- the third round

July 21, 2013 8:44 pm

Today the reatreat in Wisełka has begun again. Almost everyone has already arrived. You have to leave so much behind: job search or a job that you can’t really leave and  to which you have to devote some time also during the retreat: older and self-sufficient children or parents who must be taken care of.

What is left and taken is finally brought to the Adoration. Sometimes we can witness it when we hear the prayer intentions or just see the tears.

This is the time of believing and surrendering everything to God.

And on the other side there are now as many as three chaplains (Father Wiesław, Father Rafał and Father Radomir), two deacons and two seminarists, not to mention the strong team of Sisters.

Please support Wisełka this time again.
Remembering about you

Father Jarosław

The lighthouse

July 19, 2013 3:30 pm

“What are lighthouses for?”, I ask our children when we try to reach the top of the  Lyngvig Fyr lighthouse.
“To warn the ships that they come near the land.”
“To show the way!”

“The lighthouse does not move so that the ships that get lost can choose their way again when they see it.”
I must say I have liked these answers very much.
And then the light coming from Christ came to mind, the light that warns against the danger and shows the way. It shines always strongly, so that regardless of how muddled and winding our life paths become, we can find our way again. The way to Him!
Greetings from the top of the lighthouse,

Dosia

ObrazekObrazek

It's not the way it's supposed to be?

July 17, 2013 6:31 pm

Again. I’m sure that each of the readers has known such moments in life. The moments when we wonder why we are where we are and why things are the way they are. IYou know, it’s like when you go in the mountains, reach the top and then everything is supposed to be OK. But why can’t you see anything, there’s fog around, and people going down said the views were splendid, your feet hurt although the shoes are not new, it keeps raining, the backpack gives you pin, even though you’ve made many trips with it and everything was fine, etc. Not that you assumed everything would be perfect, certainly not. But not that bad, either!

But who told you that’s gonna be “the way it’s supposed to be”? In fact, we never know what it’s gonna be like. Sometimes the reality comes close to the expactations, and that’s all. What’s left is Hope. The virtue. If He is with us, what can it bother us that things are the way they are and not differently? Maybe it’s better for me this way? I may develop more, I may understand something, I may grow to something. I know, it’s easily said. But these thoughts kepte me alive when things went “wrong” and I Hope that I’ll understand also this time why things are the way they are.

Michał