Gratitude

What is Holy Week all about? Holy Week like all of lent is a time of preparation, repentance, and especially gratitude. Gratitude is something each one of us has, whether it's towards a friend, a family member, a priest, or anyone else who has sacrificed their time for us. Think about one person...it can be anyone, who has sacrificed something for you. For me many people come to mind, but besides all those people Jesus comes to mind. For one reason, The Passion. This Holy Week our focus should be on gratitude towards others, but mostly towards Jesus. Now there is gratitude, but there is also ingratitude. What does ingratitude look like? Ingratitude can mean you are not grateful towards someone. For example Jesus we all sin in our lives right? So, sinning is like saying to Jesus you are not grateful for his sacrifice. This should be an encouragement for us to avoid the near occasion of sin. Now ingratitude can also be shown to another person as well. For example a friend helps you or prays for you, and you don't do the same for them. Don't get me wrong here we should not just help someone because they helped us, or because we need something from them. We should help others because we see their need, and want to fulfill it. When we help others we don't do it for our glory but for God's. It isn't always very easy to give God the credit, but we need to especially when he works through us because without him we would be nothing. People have always told me so many things for example, "You are my little Angel." Yes that is great and all I am glad I could help, but God is the one using me. Yes take credit, but make God the source of your actions, and give him the most of the credit. So this week practice gratitude towards others, and especially towards Jesus. Ask him to give you the grace to see how big his sacrifice was, and how much he suffered. One last thing I want to say; writing all this reminds me of one song, and from Francesca Battistelli, "Angel By Your Side." This is one of my favorites!

Thank You Lord for using us in ways we can never imagine! Help us to keep our egos in check, and give you the glory, not ourselves. Help us to be angels by others' sides when you need us to be!

God Bless,

Sarah

Palm Sunday

It is Palm Sunday; which is the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. I'm not going to put the gospel here because it is so long, but look it up in your bible if you want. The Gospel (Luke 22:14--23:56) for today shows us Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, and his arrest. So, I want to ask you something. The people who welcomed Jesus in Jerusalem...what did they do when he was arrested, and Pilate asked them what to do with Jesus? Mocked him, and wanted him crucified. What do we do when we sin? Sinning for us is like what those people did. We accept Jesus into our heart, and then we disobey his commandments. Now I know we aren't all saints, and we are all imperfect, but next time you catch yourself in the near occasion of sin...think about the Gospel for Palm Sunday. It isn't always easy, and  I don't have it down either. I mean when you have a vice, or a bad habit it can be hard to stop it, although ask God today for the grace to know when you are in the near occasion of sin. One thing I want to talk about today is this. For me Palm Sunday is very emotional, especially because of the closing song we sang at our church "Were You There." I absolutely LOVE this song, and to be honest it is hard to hold back tears when you are carrying the cross, and altar serving. Now I'm not crying  because I'm sad, but because I know my sins caused Jesus' death, and it is a touching event, which moves my heart. Anyway Palm Sunday should be a reminder for all of us, of the actions Jesus took to save us, and what he did to make it possible for us to have eternal life.

Thank You Lord, for the gift of your son Jesus. Thank You for this Lenten season, and help us to grow closer to you in this last week of Lent. Help our hearts to look more like your heart, because that is what matters, us loving each and every one of our brothers. Overall that is what holiness is all about.

I'll leave you with this song: "Were You There?"

God Bless, Sarah