I love Lent. There is something truly beautiful about reconnecting with God, reminding yourself constantly of the need for sacrifice, for action, and for Christ-centered lives. I love the readings at Mass during Lent, I love the exercise of purging my vices, I love the expectation of Easter!
I give up cola every year. This year I also gave up Facebook & chocolate. In addition, I am joining the movement to choose something to fast of until abortion ends, and I am giving up drive-thorough burgers and sandwiches. I have already boycotted some businesses which donate to abortion providers/advocacies. Namely, Walmart, Starbucks and Coca-cola.
With all of these seeming restrictions on my life, it would be easy to assume that things are getting difficult and tight around our household. Quite the opposite is, in fact, true. Lent seems to have freed up a great deal of joy! :) By choosing to exercise our willpower, we in the Hastings household are finding it comes more naturally to sacrifice of our personal desires/concepts for how things should go, and are re-discovering the joys of giving for the sheer love of another!
God gifts us in such mysterious and wondrous ways!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
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Readings for 20 Feb 2011
Reading 1
Lv 19:1-2, 17-18
The LORD said to Moses,
“Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them:
Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.
“You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart.
Though you may have to reprove your fellow citizen,
do not incur sin because of him.
Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
I am the LORD.”
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.
Let no one deceive himself.
If any one among you considers himself wise in this age,
let him become a fool, so as to become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God,
for it is written:
God catches the wise in their own ruses,
and again:
The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,
that they are vain.
So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you,
Paul or Apollos or Cephas,
or the world or life or death,
or the present or the future:
all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.
“You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand over your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Fr. Anthony talked about being a temple of God and what that truly means in our lives, how we can transform ourselves through humble and love-centered living, and how the understanding is found within your heart, although it can be affirmed, understood, and focused through your intellect and logic.
It is unfortunate that our world so highly praises intellect. Do not misunderstand; it is, of course, important to utilize the gifts and talents we are given. (see Matthew 5:14-16, Mark 4:21, James 2:18, Matthew 25:1-13 & Matthew 25:14-30 In encouraging that we nurture these, our world is correct. Of course we should encourage a healthy appetite for knowledge and a good expansion of our abilities. However, this is simply not enough.It is not enough to be smart. It is not enough to be talented. It is not enough to make amazing paintings and to talk about all things current and intellectual and to be awesome. It is not even the most important thing. Christ clearly spells out to us that the most important part of our lives on this earth is how we treat God and how we treat our neighbors.
This means that goodness is above our social achievements. Goodness, holiness, being a temple of God is above being smart or wealthy or fun. In a world where intelligence and "excellence" are so praised, in a world where 90% of Downs Syndrome children are aborted, in a world where stupid is a bigger insult than selfish and wherein logic is paramount, what are your priorities? Are you striving for social graces, wealth, intelligence, knowledge, greatness, physical beauty, or recognition and attention? More importantly, are you striving for goodness? Are you striving for Love? Above the things of the world, are you striving for the things of Heaven?
Lv 19:1-2, 17-18
The LORD said to Moses,
“Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them:
Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.
“You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart.
Though you may have to reprove your fellow citizen,
do not incur sin because of him.
Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
I am the LORD.”
Responsorial Psalm
R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Reading 2
Brothers and sisters:Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.
Let no one deceive himself.
If any one among you considers himself wise in this age,
let him become a fool, so as to become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God,
for it is written:
God catches the wise in their own ruses,
and again:
The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,
that they are vain.
So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you,
Paul or Apollos or Cephas,
or the world or life or death,
or the present or the future:
all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:“You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand over your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Fr. Anthony talked about being a temple of God and what that truly means in our lives, how we can transform ourselves through humble and love-centered living, and how the understanding is found within your heart, although it can be affirmed, understood, and focused through your intellect and logic.
It is unfortunate that our world so highly praises intellect. Do not misunderstand; it is, of course, important to utilize the gifts and talents we are given. (see Matthew 5:14-16, Mark 4:21, James 2:18, Matthew 25:1-13 & Matthew 25:14-30 In encouraging that we nurture these, our world is correct. Of course we should encourage a healthy appetite for knowledge and a good expansion of our abilities. However, this is simply not enough.It is not enough to be smart. It is not enough to be talented. It is not enough to make amazing paintings and to talk about all things current and intellectual and to be awesome. It is not even the most important thing. Christ clearly spells out to us that the most important part of our lives on this earth is how we treat God and how we treat our neighbors.
This means that goodness is above our social achievements. Goodness, holiness, being a temple of God is above being smart or wealthy or fun. In a world where intelligence and "excellence" are so praised, in a world where 90% of Downs Syndrome children are aborted, in a world where stupid is a bigger insult than selfish and wherein logic is paramount, what are your priorities? Are you striving for social graces, wealth, intelligence, knowledge, greatness, physical beauty, or recognition and attention? More importantly, are you striving for goodness? Are you striving for Love? Above the things of the world, are you striving for the things of Heaven?
Thursday, February 17, 2011
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De-Funding Planned Parenthood?
The amendment to de-fund Planned Parenthood is going to a vote Friday rather than the expected Thursday. Steven Ertlet at Life News writes about Mike Pence taking charge on this issue. Jill Stanek, at her blog, addresses how to contact your representative at the Capitol Switchboard (202-224-3121). I am late on the ball in encouraging you to call, but you have time! Friday, first thing, CALL your representatives and voice your support of the amendment de-funding Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.
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Thankful Thursdays
*whew* What a week! Cutting it close this Thursday!
I'm thankful for...
1.) Friends, family, and work to keep me on my toes!
2.) Having finished N's sweater (it is SO cute on him!) and his hat to match XD
3.) A wonderful husband who brought me out on a very fantastic Valentine's Day date, and all 3 of the fantastic blessed guys in my life. :)
4.) Heat on cold days.
5.) Coworkers with sewing machines who mend my jacket. Yippee! :)
6.) Adorable phone messages left on my voicemail by my 2 1/2 yr old before his bedtime
7.) Delicious dinners
8.) Cuddlesome kittens
9.) This sweater, left for me by my now postulate nun sister who didn't know she was leaving it. I love it.
10.) God's graces in my life...through the sacraments, through my children, through the mere ability to resist temptations that once 'did me in'. :)
I'm thankful for...
Thursday, February 10, 2011
0
1. For N's continued love of cuddles, hugs, and kisses. I know that eventually it will come to an end, so I treasure it all the more for now.
2. For God's graces, getting me to Confession today! Yay! I went and it was gooood.
3. For my wonderful and loving husband who let me sleep an extra 2 hours this morning! :)
4. For the richness of the Church! I am working on a post about Mary and it is so great to have all of these established answers for the questions I'm asking! :)
5. For the knowledge that we are going to be okay. For the knowledge that even though D being between jobs is a little scary, we have God watching out for us and making sure we make it through! :)
6. For having finally gotten the dishes taken care of. I put it off and put it off but yay now that burden is off my back... for a little while anyway.
7. For sun! :) It's slowly but surely reappearing! :)
8. For quiet nap time during which I can get things taken care of around the house, and on my blog.
9. For N & T's interest in books. I love that they love reading.
10. For all those who watch out for us, pray for us, think about us, etc. It's so nice to know that we have a support system!
Thankful Thursdays
2. For God's graces, getting me to Confession today! Yay! I went and it was gooood.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
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This morning, Live Action released another video of a Planned Parenthood worker willing to aid a self-described sex trafficker to obtain testing, birth control, and abortion for his sex slaves. The Planned Parenthood worker informed the actor that he could pose as a guardian for sex workers as young as 14 (actually, she went one further and said 13) but that it wasn't necessary because in the grand ol' state of New York, girls 13 & up could receive all services without any parental notification.
Meanwhile, Albermarle police Sgt. Darrell Byers informs News Virginian, "he knew of no one in his department who received information about the “fake patient.” He said it was possible the workers could have called but that no report was made," despite Planned Parenthood's assurance that the Charlottesville Planned Parenthood clinic had called local police as soon as the man they believed to be a pimp had left.
Although Planned Parenthood officials continue to maintain the moral integrity of most employees caught on tape aiding a self-identified sex trafficker, they meanwhile have informed the New York Times of their plans to retrain staff members nationwide. Erik Ekholm of the NYT writes, "When the retraining is completed in April, 'termination of employment is the only possible action' when staff members do not report potential abuses of minors, the federation said in a statement."
David Schmidt at LiveAction has this response,
While Planned Parenthood Launches Retraining, Live Action Releases More Footage
This morning, Live Action released another video of a Planned Parenthood worker willing to aid a self-described sex trafficker to obtain testing, birth control, and abortion for his sex slaves. The Planned Parenthood worker informed the actor that he could pose as a guardian for sex workers as young as 14 (actually, she went one further and said 13) but that it wasn't necessary because in the grand ol' state of New York, girls 13 & up could receive all services without any parental notification.Meanwhile, Albermarle police Sgt. Darrell Byers informs News Virginian, "he knew of no one in his department who received information about the “fake patient.” He said it was possible the workers could have called but that no report was made," despite Planned Parenthood's assurance that the Charlottesville Planned Parenthood clinic had called local police as soon as the man they believed to be a pimp had left.
Although Planned Parenthood officials continue to maintain the moral integrity of most employees caught on tape aiding a self-identified sex trafficker, they meanwhile have informed the New York Times of their plans to retrain staff members nationwide. Erik Ekholm of the NYT writes, "When the retraining is completed in April, 'termination of employment is the only possible action' when staff members do not report potential abuses of minors, the federation said in a statement."
David Schmidt at LiveAction has this response,
Planned Parenthood is on the ropes and it knows that the public is watching. If they admit to too many problems, they will face further investigation and loss of public support. If they ignore the problem, they will be seen as not taking child sex abuse seriously. Planned Parenthood isn’t being guided by a moral principal to do the right thing (they would have done the right thing on tape if that is who they were) but rather a public relationship strategy to save their organization in the face of shocking video evidence.
Analysis
