How time flies! I've been away from journaling for a while!  Busy!!  Today begins a busy week too --- I feel the yearning to just be with the Lord and "Stop the world, I want to get off!"  I picture the Spirit descending upon the Early Church, sending them forth to proclaim God's love.  The Spirit is with me too and no matter how weary, the Spirit gives me strength and enthusiasm to proclaim God's love to the people of today.

It is the end of a busy weekend, filled with opportunities to bring God's love to people in many different situations.  I am grateful to God for this opportunity and I entrust all the intentions of those I have met today, into God's most gracious hands.

These are the days when we pause to remember how much we are loved.  What can I do for him in return?  Nothing can ever be enough.  But that is the way the human person thinks, not the way God thinks.  God does not love me in order for me to return that love.  God loves because God IS love.  God cannot do anything else.  I cannot hurt God by not loving in return.  In reality, I only hurt myself, for I am made to be happy and to love unselfishly is the key to that happiness.  I delude myself if I think otherwise.

Help me to love, Jesus.  Help me to love because I want to, I am drawn to, and not because it is expected of me.  Help those you are calling to such a consecrated love to be open to the invitation and to answer wholeheartedly.  Help me to answer wholeheartedly too, all the days of my life.

A blessed Triduum, everyone!

A story from tradition, a book by the name of Quo Vadis?and a movie by the same name, depict the journey of Peter, leaving Rome, to escape the persecutions of the early Christians.  On the way out, he sees a figure in a distance, carrying a cross and headed into the city of Rome.  As the figure draws closer and eventually meets up with Peter, he realizes that this person is Christ and Peter asks the question "Quo Vadis, Domine?" --- "Where are you going, Lord?"  Jesus answers, "To Rome to be crucified in your place."  The story continues that Peter turned around that day to go back to Rome to face his martyrdom.

As Lent draws to a close and Holy Week awaits us, I will often think about this beautiful image of Christ meeting me on my unique path.  I do hope that if Christ asks me where I am going, my answer will always be "With you, Lord.  With you."

It is indeed a joy to share that for 40 years I have been gifted and called by God to give my life in the service of the people sent into my life.  Because of this, I am on fire to encourage those who think God might be asking them to do the same.  My one encouragement for today:  DON'T BE AFRAID!  It is a wonderful way to spend your life.