Getting to Know Jesus Through Mental Prayer

Is it possible?

Yes.

How?

Begin by reading Sacred Scripture.

Choose a passage in your Bible. Read the passage, slowly, once, twice, or as many times as you need to read the passage to see it in your mind.

Once you begin to see the passage in your mind, and this might only take one reading.  I usually read the passage from Sacred Scripture twice, but everyone is different.

Keep a notebook or journal handy.

Be prepared to write down thoughts that will quickly fill your mind.

Do you have questions?

Jot them down in your journal and ask God to help you find the answers you seek.

Let's use this passage where Jesus walks on the water.

Remember, read it slowly and thoughtfully.  Feel free to write down your thoughts, reactions and question as you ponder the passage.

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.  And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,  but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea.  But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, 

“Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”  He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”  Matthew14:  22-23


What is the weather like when Jesus sends the Apostles off in the boat?  Is the sea calm?  Do you feel a breeze coming off the water?  Does the water smell of fish?  Are there other boats in the area?

What do you see when you look at the Apostles?  Are they puzzled?  Are the wondering how Jesus will get to the other side of the water?  As they pull away, do they see Jesus walking up the mountain and know that He is going to pray?

How did Jesus know that the boat was being battered by a storm, or did He know?  What were the Apostles thinking as they tried to survive the storm in their boat?  Were they afraid that they would die in the storm?  Did they suspect that Jesus was going to walk on the water and rescue them?

Why did the Apostles think that Jesus was a ghost?  Why were they afraid of Him being a ghost?

Why did Peter want proof that the person walking on the water was Jesus?  Why did he insist that Jesus give Him proof?  What frightened Peter when he walked toward Jesus?  What do you think Jesus was thinking as he saw Peter step out on to the water?  Do you think Jesus knew what Peter would do?  Why did Jesus reprimand all the apostles?  Why was it important for Jesus to correct His followers?  What convinced the apostles to worship Jesus?  How do you think Jesus felt when they finally believed and worshiped Him?

Now, focus only on Jesus.  Remember that Jesus was both true God and true Man.  As God, would Jesus have known what was going to happen on the boat that night?  Did Jesus, as God, plan this storm to challenge the faith of His Apostles?  Does Jesus challenge our faith?  Does Jesus feel sad that His apostles have so little faith?  When He walks on the water, does Jesus feel the water on His feet and on His face?

Think about Jesus.  Put yourself on the boat.  Is Jesus calling you to walk on the water?  Are you afraid?  Are you wondering if the person you see is Jesus?  How do you feel when you step out of the boat, or do you?  Do you choose to stay in the boat?  Do you feel safer in the boat than on the water?
Why do you feel the way you feel?  Do you trust that no matter what your decision is, that you will be safe?  

Hear Jesus say your name.  What does He want you to do?  Will you do it?  Are you afraid?  Do you step out in trust or fear?

Use these questions as a start for you.  Think about Jesus.  Welcome Him into your heart.  Do this daily.  You will learn more about Him and the way He loves YOU!  Don't wait.  Get started now.
He's waiting for you.

Happy Mother's Day!

Praise God for the Gift of Mothers.

Our Lady is our Mother!

Thank God for that!

Thank God for good Mothers.

Thank God for life!

Not all mothers are good mothers, but all mothers do the best they can with what they have.

Thank God for all Mothers.

Thank your Mother for the gift of life.

Life is precious.

She gave you life.

Life is precious!

Thank God for life!

Things to Remember about Your Mother

1) There was only 1 perfect Mother.  She trusted totally in God.  Your mother, even if she was a lousy mother, did the best she could.  It might not have been enough.  What she did might not have been right, but she did the best she could.

Pray for your mother.

2) You can't give what you don't have.

Women are pulled in so many directions today.  Society says that a woman's self esteen comes from her job and independence, and that to be a mother is weak.  Women don't always know what to do or have true direction.

Pray for your mother.

3) Love is not easy.  You might have been a challenge for your mother, and she might not have had support in raising you.  Forgive your mother her mistakes, and

Pray for your mother.

 4) Your mother loves to see you.  Your mother loves to hear from you.  Call your mother.  She loves you in the best way she can.

Call your mother.  Visit her if you can.

 

Pray for your mother.

5)  In this year of Mercy, remember, your mother chose life for you.  She could have aborted you, but she chose to give you the gift of life.  Thank your mother for this gift,

and

Pray for your mother.

6) Jesus gave us His Mother on the cross.  Thank Jesus.  Call upon Our Lady.  Tell her you need a mother.  She will be your mother.  Ask her to intercede for your mother.

Pray for your Mother.

Thank Jesus for the gift of His mother and your earthly mother.

Pray!

Hail Mary, Full of grace, the Lord is with you.  Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of  your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. 

Amen. 

Ending the Week with Thanksgiving and Praise

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

1) The Glory of God is bountiful in spring!  It is easy to imagine a tiny spot of heaven when the flowers begin to bloom.

2) Warmer temperatures are pleasing, especially when no jackets are needed and shorts are the norm.

3) The Rosary is a gift from God.  This gift was passed on to us from Our Lady.  It is through Our Lady that the graces of God flow.

 

 

Praise God from Whom all Blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above the Heavenly Host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!!!!

10 Facts About Mary, the Mother of God

1) The Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to ask her if she would become the Mother of God.

2) With only one question needing to be answered, not  because she lacked faith, but because she simply did not understand how the incarnation would happen because she was a virgin consecrated to God, she committed herself to the Will of God.

3) Mary conceived the Body of Jesus in her womb when she told the Angel Gabriel that she would do the Will of God.

4) Mary abandoned herself to God's Will and trusted that He would accomplish what was needed to allow her to bring forth her Son. For example,  Joseph was her chosen husband, but when he realized that she was pregnant and that he was not the father, he had decided to divorce her quietly so that she would not be stoned to death as mosaic law prescribed.  An angel was sent to Joseph in a dream assuring him that the child to be born was the Son of God.

5) Mary's life was not free of sufferings.  She suffered a great deal.  Can you imagine fleeing the town of Bethlehem in the middle of the night because an angel was sent to Joseph in a dream telling Joseph to take the Child and His Mother and escape to Egypt.  Travel was not safe in those days, much less, in the dark of night.  Having just had a baby, that did not make travel easier for the Holy Family.

6) At some point in her life, Mary became a widow.  We don't know when or how Joseph died, but he was blessed to die in the arms of Jesus and Mary.  

7) Mary lead a very ordinary life.  I am assuming that she cooked and cleaned, maybe she even had a small vegetable garden.  She had friends and relatives in town.  She was social.  She loved her family.  She did not stand out in the crowd, but she and Joseph raised Jesus to be a good Jew and follow the law.

8) Mary was the impetus that pushed Jesus to perform His first public miracle.  At the wedding in Cana, when Mary told Jesus that the couple had run out of wine, He asked her, "What does this have to do with me, woman?"  She simply told the waiters, "Do whatever He tells you."  She knew He would not say no.  I'm sure Jesus smiled because He knew He could not say not to His Mother.

He performed His first public miracle turning the water into wine.  The couple was saved from disgrace.  His Apostles were astonished.

9) Mary was with her Son when He died.  Before Jesus died on the cross, He gave His Mother to the world.  He made sure she was taken care of by John, the Beloved Apostle, and in giving His Mother to John, He gave His mother to us.

10) Tradition holds that before Jesus appeared to His Believers, after His Resurrection, He appeared to His Mother.  Can you imagine the joy of the Reunion!  Jesus had overcome death.  He had completed His Mission of Salvation.  He showed His Mother His Love!

Worth Repeating: Thoughts on Jesus and Prayer

Rising very early before dawn, he left
and went off to a deserted place, where He prayed.
Mark 1: 36

 

Even Jesus prayed.

The second person of our Triune God,

prayed.

 Jesus prayed.

He prayed in a deserted place.

Often, He would pray early in the morning or all night.

"In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed."
Mark 1:35

Jesus would begin his prayer with praise and thanksgiving to the Father.

"At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.<sup>"

Matthew 11: 25-26</sup>

Jesus thanked His Father for the gift of His followers to Him.
(One of my favorite scriptures)

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you,  since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.  And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.  I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
 “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.  Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.  I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.  And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.  While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. 

John 17: 1-12 


Jesus prayed to ask the Father that He take away His cup, but Jesus submitted to the Father's Will.


"Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed,  “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.”  Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength.  In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground."
Luke 22: 41-44

Jesus prayed for His murderers.  He asked the Father to forgive them.

"Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing."
 Luke 23:34

 In His Misery on the Cross, Jesus calls out to His Father in abandonment.

 ^"And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Matthew 27:46

Before this, Jesus taught us how to pray.

“Pray then in this way:

Our Father in heaven,
    hallowed be your name. 

     Your kingdom come.
    Your will be done,
        on earth as it is in heaven.     

 Give us this day our daily bread. 

     And forgive us our debts,
        as we also have forgiven our debtors.      

And do not bring us to the time of trial,
        but rescue us from the evil one."

Matthew 6: 9-13 

Photo attribution

"Statue of Jesus Christ in Prayer" by Conniemod - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Statue_of_Jesus_Christ_in_Prayer.JPG#/media/File:Statue_of_Jesus_Christ_in_Prayer.JPG

March 2, 2016 Message from the Mother of God to Mirjana Soldo

Dear children,

My motherly heart desires your true conversion and a firm faith so that you may be able to spread love and peace to all those who surround you. But, my children, do not forget: each of you is a unique world before the Heavenly Father. Therefore, permit the continuous working of the Holy Spirit to work on you. Be my spiritually pure children. In spirituality is beauty. Everything that is spiritual is alive and very beautiful. Do not forget that in the Eucharist, which is the heart of faith, my Son is always with you. He comes to you and breaks  bread with you; because, my children, for your sake He died, He resurrected and is coming anew. These words of mine are familiar to you because they are the truth, and the truth does not change. It is only that many of my children have forgotten it. My children, my words are neither old nor new, they are eternal. Therefore, I invite you, my children, to observe well the signs of the times, to 'gather the shattered crosses' and to be apostles of the revelation. Thank you.