Angels Watching Over Me

The Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 336 says:

From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.

Thoughts: Amy Grant had a song years ago called, "Angels Watching Over Me". The refrain went, "Angels watching over me every step I take". Awe inspiring to think that we are constantly surrounded by angels. Angels in their cherubic state watching us from womb to grave leading us to a life in communion with Jesus Christ is a comforting thought. At mass we join our prayers to those of the angels praising God, “Hosanna in the highest”. I fix my eyes on Jesus on the cross while we sing, “Glory to God in the highest” and I feel lifted up, drawn to Him. Perhaps it is my angel gently guiding me. The angels exist not for their own edification but for the glory of God. And so it is to be with us.  

Hold me, Jesus

So, my birthday was 2 days ago. It was a nice day mostly. I was not feeling real well physically and was in kind of a melancholy mood. I was probably having kind of a pity party too and just didn't feel very spiritual or close to God. My next to last phone call last night was from a very dear friend. As we were talking, I mentioned to him that I wasn't feeling very spiritual today so I had been praying all day. Now, isn't that a funny statement. I didn't feel close to God or spiritual but I had been praying all day. 

I just kind of sat there dumbfounded for a bit. I thank God for the down times that lead to prayer. It was kind of like the poem/prayer, “Footprints” where the person does not feel that God was near because he only sees one set of footprints. But these are the times that God is carrying us. I imagine Jesus carrying me in much the same way He carried his cross. Jesus in his beaten and broken state still carried the cross. The very thing that was to be the means to his death, he carried and faced for the greatest victory the world has ever known. 

I am humbled and awed that Jesus would do that for me. That he would carry my sinful broken self to the ultimate victory with him. Let’s end with a reading from Romans 8:35, 37 –

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Trial, or distress, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword? Yet in all this we are more than conquerors because of him who has loved us.

Justice in the kingdom of God

Romans 14:17-19 The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating or drinking, but of justice, peace, and the joy that is given by the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves Christ in this way pleases God and wins the esteem of men. Let us, then, make it our aim to work for peace and to strengthen one another. 

Thoughts: In this passage I think of eating or drinking as symbolizing the things of this world. While in this world we must eat and drink to nourish our earthly bodies. But the kingdom of God, which we get glimpses of in this life, is about the bread that truly feeds and nourishes us, Jesus. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus feeds us a peace and joy that is beyond the realities of this world. This peace and joy will lead to a greater sense of justice and call us to action for the sake of Christ. When we truly do things for the sake of Christ, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do amazing things. As we say during mass, “It is right and just” that we work for peace and strengthen each other through sharing our struggles and our successes. Lending an ear to ‘hear the cry of the poor’ will lead us to action to bring justice to this world. Peace comes from knowing that we are living in the loving care of God our Creator with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Camping

So, I have a couple of daughters that are American Heritage Girls. And the group decided to hold a Camp-o-ree. Original plan was for mother and daughter to attend camp. Andrew and I had planned to attend the prior week for cub scouts. Ours didn't work out. So, the day before the camp-o-ree we decided that we should all go. (5 of us anyway). So, we loaded up the truck and off we went of a Friday night. Excitement abounded. We quickly chose a campsite and started setting up camp. After putting up the tent, we realized that we had set up on some tree roots. I said no problem as I had an air mattress and it wouldn't matter to me anyway. Life is good. Then we go to bed.

By 10:00 we had no air in the mattress and my son had a real nasty cough. Add to that a pretty nasty rain storm around midnight and sleeping was not going to happen. Being a typical competitive man who does not like defeat, I was determined to not let one bad night beat me. So, while everyone started their activities on Saturday morning, I went off to Academy for supplies.

After collecting 3 new air mattresses and a sleeping bad I headed back to camp via my house where I took a shower. My wife had previously decided to not stay a second night but the kids wanted to stay and I was game. Armed with a new outlook and functioning gear, I proceeded to set up camp again. The 3 new air mattresses fit perfectly across the tent. Our food preparation was stressful that night as it just didn't want to get done.

Finally about 10:00 that night we settled off to sleep. Probably one of the best nights of sleep ever. The next morning after breakfast my 17yr old broke down camp all by herself. I am very proud of her.

I am hoping to continue this with my children as we all learned a lot and came closer as a family.