Reaching for Heaven

Fr. James MulakelBorn: June 13, 1950Ordained: March 17, 1979Died: July 29, 2009Sometimes we forget how good we have it. Nope, make that most times. We may live in a country where political differences create heated discussions and divisions, where they have in fact invaded the unity of our Church, but for now, we remain fairly safe in our assumption that we shall not be slain for our faith. Not ours...for now.In so many ...

"I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts. They shall be my people and I shall be their God." Jeremiah 31:33 (NAB)"In the silence of the heart, God speaks." These are the wise words of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. The mystics in the Church throughout the years can tell of the sheer ecstasy achieved when that contemplative union with God is reached in stillness. Yet, for most of us, even if we can still our bodies long enough to sit and pray, our minds are near impossible to silence. Henri Nouwen writes of the challenge to work through the infinte soundtracks of our minds and hearts, plagued with worries and thoughts, to reach that place where only the voice of God remains. ...

The new logo for WYD 2011 in Madrid has been revealed! The logo designer, José Gil-Nogués, explained that the image symbolizes "youth of the whole world united to celebrate their faith together with the Pope, at the foot of the cross, and they form the crown of Our Lady of Almudena, patron of Madrid. "The crown, Gil-Nogués added, forms the "M" of Mary and of Madrid. And the cross, symbol of Christianity, presides over ...

In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. Ephesians 1:11-12 (NAB)It was the horror of childhood - to be the last one standing as people were choosing teams. No one wanted to be that kid! Truth be told, I think even as adults we have some of that lasting anxiety. We want to be #1...or at least not the last. Here's the good news (and I mean Good News!) - Christ has chosen us. He has sacrficed his earthly life to open the gates of heaven...for us. How do we repay that sacrifice? We are so bombarded with the idea that ...

Our prayers go out to the family of Fr. Richard Repsys and his nephew and to Divine Providence Parish in Southfield. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.Official release from the Archdiocese of DetroitIssued: July 29, 2009Contact: Ned McGrath, infodesk@aod.org / (313) 237-5943According to the Macomb County Sheriff, Father Ricardas Repsys (REP-shees), the 59-year-old administrator of Divine Providence Lithuanian Parish in Southfield, and his 13-year-old nephew, Toutvydays Skudas (TOUT-vee-dus SKOO-dus), both drowned while boating July 28 on Lake Saint Clair. The police report stated that Father was with his two nephews, who were visiting from Lithuania, ...

Someone just sent me an article on a six-week journey taken by four young men preparing to take their lifelong vows as Franciscan friars (accompanied by two current friars). They answered the call Jesus gave his disciples long ago - take nothing with you, but depend on the kindness of those you meet. Their story is fascinating - read the whole story from the Washington Po ...

Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God. We have come to know and believe in the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love, remains in God and God in him. 1 John 4:15-16Today is the memorial of St. Martha. You remember her - she did all the work while her sister lounged at the feet of the Lord, and she was none too happy about it! Yet, it was her sister who the Lord said had made the better choice. I've always wondered about that, being a bit of a Martha myself. Here she was, breaking her back working to serve the Lord, but it was Mary who got the praise - how could that be fair? In today's Psalm reflection in the Magnificat, ...

I will give you glory, O God my King, I will bless your name forever...Let me speak the praise of the Lord, let all mankind bless his holy name.Psalm 145:1, 21It's a daily struggle to live out the lesson learned in kindergarten - if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. We didn't know then that it was more than a rule for childhood. This is direct instruction from our Lord. On numerous occassions we are encouraged to build each other up, but more than that, to first give praise and glory to God in all things. Yet, I know I can go through an entire day and not realize the praise I owe Him, or the glory of His works throughout my day. What's worse, I can go through longer periods ...

Each one of you too is confronted by the challenge of giving full meaning to your life, the one life you are given to live. You are young and you want to live. But you must live fully and with a purpose. You must live for God, you must live for others. And no one can live this life for you. The future is yours, but the future is above all a call and a challenge to "keep" your life by giving it up, by "losing" it-as the ...

If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139:11-12It began in the garden. Hiding ourselves from God, or parts of ourselves that we aren't sure are quite ready for Him. I should say, pretending to hide ourselves, since there is no hiding from God. I don't mean that in the fear provoking "God sees what you're doing!" sense. Rather it's meant to invoke laughter at our own silliness in thinking we can ever hide anything from the Almighty. Sure, we all have things we would rather God not see, either because we're embarrassed, or we'd rather just ...

Because the loaf of bread is one we though many are one body for we all partake of one loaf. 1 Corinthians 10:17The central image for the Mass this weekend is that of bread. A simple image in secular terms, yet those going hungry know the life-giving value of such a simple object. Jesus came as the Bread of Life, to give us life in a way we had never known since Eden. As you reflect on the readings for Sunday, let your heart illuminate the Word with that knowledge. Jesus is the Bread of Life. As you take in the Eucharist and carry Christ within you, invite the Holy Spirit to reveal the depth of that action. Through that one bread, we are one body. How do we live that out? How can we overcome ...

Question of the Day: Jesus is compassionate, faithful, loving and has freed us to be joyful. Are we all those things?I know in my own life, I'd like to think I am many of those things, but I routinely forget amdist the trials of the day. We are free from our tribulations if we turn our lives over to Jesus - Christ has freed us to be joyful. That doesn't mean we won't have our struggles, but in joy, we know the promises he's made, and that the end will be glorious - now that's something to give thanks and praise for, isn't it?How about you? What saps your j ...

If there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Phillippians 4:8 Truth be told, God pops into my mind periodically through the day, but how often I purposefully dedicate my thoughts to Him...well, that's another story altogether. It's plenty easy to get distracted, and that's the honest truth from my end!What occupies your mind? Leave the honest truth here - you can be anonymous if you like... ...

It's occurred to me that Genesis Ministries sure does disseminate a lot of information. What we don't do as often is find out what is going on in your lives. Well, no more!This space is for you. Sure, we'll pipe in with questions and thoughts for reflection pretty regularly, but it's really a place for you to respond, to share, to inspire ... or to vent, if that's where life has led you at the moment.Got questions about the Catholic faith? Ask us!Have prayers you want to share? Post them!Inspired by a brilliant thought or picture? Share them!(you can email photos to info@genesis-ministries.org, subject "blog photo")This is for you, with a little nudge from us.Hope to "see" you here soon!!Peace ...