onecatholicdad

Day 89 – The Rich Man and Lazarus

Lent has begun. The journey continues.

Prayer times for me right now are dry, hence the lack of posts.

Today I reflect on sin and why i need my God. Why I cannot do this without Him.

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is an eye opener for a lazy Catholic. This is the line that gets me the most:

Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from…

An Ignatian Journey day 62.

What do you want me to do for you?

Mark 10:51

Teach me to trust fully in You. Teach me to know that there is only one way – and that is Your way and that all suffering will be revealed to be for our benefit and Your glory. That all we have is a gift from You, and that all things are possible with You. In trusting you I will no longer fear or have anxiety thrown…

Day 58 – To Know, Love and Serve

This day I am asked to write out the mission statement for my life. It’s not original to say it and in fact its the mission of all Catholics – To know love and serve God and my brother.

But what does that mean. How do I do that on a daily basis? What barriers keep me from this mission?

On a daily basis I need to wake with God in mind early in the day, and stay connected to God through…

Day 48 – Balance

Day 48 of an Ignatian Journey. When have I felt in balance? When have I felt out of balance?

The grace we seek is indifference. In Ignatian vocabulary, this term does not mean an unfeeling lack of concern. Instead, indifference means that we hold all of God’s gifts reverently, gratefully, but also lightly, embracing them or letting them go, all depending on how they help us fulfill our…

Day 44 of an Ignatian Journey. Contemporary translation of the Principle and Foundation.

Reading Exodus 3:1-15.

How have I partnered with God to help people, to build a more just and gentle world, and to care for creation?

I have always had empathy for those in need. Generally I want to help someone, often whether I feel I can or not, I still try. There are times in my life though…

Day 43 What gets in the way of my praising, loving, and serving God?

Day 43 of an Ignatian Journey. Have I been a good steward?

Ask: How have I been a “good steward” of the gifts God has given me, including created things, my talents, and my abilities? From my own experience, what gets in the way of my praising, loving, and serving God? How do the following influence my choices and actions: titles, honors, possessions, career, opinion of others, lifestyle? Be…

Day 42 #ignatianjourney How do I concretely praise, love, and serve God?

Day 42 of this Ignatian Journey. Principle and Foundation, traditional interpretation.

How do I concretely praise, love, and serve God? What activities, people, or material things help me achieve this end?

O’Brien, Kevin. The Ignatian Adventure: Experiencing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in Daily Life (pp. 64-65). Loyola Press. Kindle Edition.

Praise in my prayer, in mass and in…

Day 26 #ignatianjourney

Day 26 of an Ignatian Journey. Today’s reading is Phillipians 3:7-16

…whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss…For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish,…not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ,…to know him and the power of his resurrection and [the] sharing of his…

Day 24 Ignatian Journey

Day 24 of an Ignatian Journey. Reading for today are Mark 10:17-27

This is the reading of the rich man who asks how to obtain eternal life. It deals with both attachment, our attachment to things of this world, as well the power of God. The power of God element is what struck me most this read.

They were more astonished than ever, saying to one another, ‘In that case, who can be saved?’…

Day 22 Happy New Year

Day 22 of an Ignatian Journey. Reading for today is Luke 1:26-38.

I have desensitized myself to the point that I don’t recognize that I am turning away from God. 

Day 19 OneCatholicDad.com

It’s now New Years Day, my last post was December 18th. I am anxious that I have not been following through on my commitment to spend an hour a day with the Lord. There is definitely guilt in that…

Day of Reflection : The Reposts #ignatianjourney

Taking a fews days to look back at my journal and reflect on the journey to date.

From Day 1: In Him we place our trust. In trusting Him we have no fear.

From Day 2: “Which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life” How can I become indifferent to the fears of this world? How can I trust in God so much as to truly not be afraid? 

From Day 3: Suffer and trust in God and all…

Day 19 of an Ignatian Journey. Reading for today are Ephesians 3:14-21.

Where do you find the awesome power of God at work in your life?

How glorious is our Father who names every family, and strengthens us with the power of the Holy Spirit, in accord with the riches of His Glory.

The riches of Gods glory must be beyond measure, yet Paul says here that we are strengthened to that…

Day 18 of an Ignatian journey. Today’s reading Romans 8:26-27

Where do you feel weak in your life right now?

“…for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes…”

Romans 8:26

I think prayer life is not about how much time we spend praying each day, it’s about how often we call on the name of the Lord in earnest to praise Him, thank Him, and ask that He send his…

Day 17 - #ignatianjourney

Day 17 of an Ignatian journey. Today’s reading Psalm 103.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Psalm 103:1

How can we develop a posture toward God in such a way as to praise Him for all He is, and has done for us?

We have just signed a contract to sell our family home. Many memories here, but I believe God is leading us, just as He was the Psalmist.

Day 16 of an Ignatian journey. Today’s reading Isaiah 55:1–13.

“Are you able to be still and simply listen to God, in Scripture and in the deepest desires of your heart?”

There are people we love dearly who have fallen away from God. Each has their own set of issues for why. But when they do fall away, many times they fall away because they believe a lie. A lie that tells them freedom comes…

Day 15 #ignatianjourney

Day 15 of an Ignatian journey. Today’s reading Luke 11:1-13.

“Accept Jesus invitation to ask for what you want?”

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses. How many days oh Lord have you given me my daily bread and forgave my trespasses and yet I still ask for more. More material things, more comfort, more things the way I want them to be.

We are so much like…

Day 14 - #ignatianjourney

Day 14 of an Ignatian journey. Today’s reading Mary Oliver’s poem “Messenger.”

How far God has brought me in just a year. How much I see now my prevailing desire for personal comfort, and what I need, and how little of that I actually do need. My willingness to just accept these needs as a justification for my actions. Action often without any thought of God.

I wanted to trust in God, by…