November 7, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“What does the Lord require of followers? The Lord requires gratitude. And for those of us in the Christian tradition, Jesus wants our gratitude to increase more and more until, like a holy flame, it burns within us and we burst into songs and deeds of thankfulness to God and neighbor. To express genuine gratitude to God, our deeds must demonstrate our love, trust, and service.” Beauty Maenzanise
What a beautiful image… our gratitude would increase like a holy flame and then burst into songs and deeds of thankfulness.
Today I thank God that we live in a free country.
Joe Biden is named our president-elect, let us pray that God guides him with wisdom. Whether you voted for him or not, let us come together as Americans for the good of our nation.?

November 4, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today is from Fresh Bread:
“ November: Thanksgiving day, harvest times, awareness of blessings, gratitude for gifts. It is significant and necessary for us to ponder deeply all that we have been given. If we reflect quietly and honestly, we can be almost overwhelmed by all that is ours. God has been very generous. None of the gifts has been earned. God gives all gifts freely. Even Jesus is an abundant, free gift to us. God is lavish in love, generous in the outpouring of goodness. This great generosity can draw us to look at our own generosity: how generous have we been with others in our lives? Are we people who really give of our treasures? Do we yearn to have the heart of our God, the one who lavishes love upon us freely? Do we cherish deeply all that we are and all that we have been given? Do we hold that love with open hands, allowing it to be readily available to others or do we clutch it to ourselves in fear that we might lose it?”-  Joyce Rupp
During this month, I know there are many people who are trying to take every day and stopping to be grateful for one thing.
Let us stop and reflect how everything that we have been given is a gift from God.
There are many requests for prayers for intentions but few requests for prayers of thanksgiving.
Let us take time to thank God for all that we have been given.?

November 3, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today comes from our Mercy Prayer Book:
Parts of psalm 34:
“ I will never stop thanking God, with constant words of praise. My soul will boast of God; the poor will hear me and be glad.
Join me in praising the Lord, together tell of God’s name. I asked and the Lord responded, freed me from all my fears.
Turn to God, be bright with joy; you shall never be let down. I begged and God heard, took my burdens from me.
God’s angel defends the faithful, guards them on every side. Drink in the richness of God, enjoy the strength of the Lord.
Live in awe of God, you saints: you will want for nothing. Even if lions go hungry, those seeking God are fed.”
Imagine… Never stop thanking God! What a different world this would be if everyone stopped each day to thank God.?
Thank you God for the right to vote! 
Our publicity and media coordinator at our parish suggested that this month my reflections be about being thankful.
I think it is a great idea so I will try. I also ask that each one of us pray for peace these next few days.

November1, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today comes from Give Us This Day:
“ The solemnity of All Saints is ‘our’ celebration: not because we are good, but because the sanctity of God has touched our life.
The Saints are not perfect models, but people through whom God has passed.
We can compare them to the Church windows which allow light to enter in different shades of color.
The Saints are our brothers and sisters who have welcomed the light of God in their heart and have passed it on to the world, each according to his or her own ‘hue’.
But they were all transparent; they fought to remove the stains and the darkness of sin, so as to enable the gentle light of God to pass through….” – Pope Francis
Today let us be grateful that the church has given us a day to celebrate our loved ones who have passed (and not been canonized) and our own call to sanctity.
Today we rejoice in the Communion of Saints.
We are part of this communion.
All creation is united in the Spirit. Happy feast day!?

October 30, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“ Remember that you are part of a limitless love and you will find strength you never imagined.
The combination of your faith in God‘s power can achieve things beyond your wildest dreams.
Allow His love into your soul, and let Him guide you along the path you were always meant to follow.
Trust that things will turn out as they were meant to be. God has brought you this far and He will always be close by your side.”- Jason Blume
Jason reminds us that God is always watching over us. There are times that we certainly do not feel God‘s presence but God is always with us. Imagine being part of a limitless love. When you’re feeling down stop in touch into that presence within.?

October 29, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today comes from Give Us This Day:
“‘Pray at every opportunity… be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones.’
The [holy ones] spoken of here are the saints at your elbow, the saints in your household, and the saints you shop with at the supermarket. They are the strangers you meet each day.
I used to worry about how to be faithful and praying for all these ordinary saints. While I was looking for ‘a way’ to pray for those who are a part of my life, ‘the way’ found me. I call it the Prayer of the Teacup. It is a lovely way of walking with strangers.
The first fifteen minutes of each day I reserve for the saints on earth. It is one of my favorite morning rituals. I begin my day with a cup of tea or coffee. As the steam from my cup ascends to the heavens I walk with all my favorite strangers into the heart of God. There is a bit of the stranger in everyone – even friends.
I simply look at these strangers and friends whom God loves, and I yearn for their good.” – Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr
I thought that this was a very interesting way to start the morning, especially with our going into November where we remember all saints. A time to remember not only the canonized saints, but those of our loved ones who have died, and those walking with us today.✝️

October 28, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today is from Give Us This Day:
“‘You are no longer strangers…’ Saint Paul tells us. Yet these days, we live in a world in which most everyone is presumed to be a stranger. Connected though we are by digital technology and social media, we nevertheless find ourselves in camps and silos of affinity, like mindedness, and ideology. Those who are not ‘with us’ are de facto ‘against us.’ The old adage ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ no longer is a sure proposition.

We are equal citizens of the kingdom of God, members of the body of Christ, united together in the Holy Spirit, and inseparable in our shared communion. And though politicians and neighbors, advertisers and television personalities, family members and coworkers may regularly challenge our ability to see this truth, we are no longer strangers and aliens. We are still one in Christ, something worth remembering at this time in our history.”- Fr. Daniel P. Horan
These words certainly ring true during these times. I have heard people say that people have unfriended their friends because of their political beliefs. What is wrong with this picture?? Years ago, we could have different political views and yet still be friends. Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Antonin Scalia gave us a great example. Let us all try to be one in Christ

October 27, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“ Let go… of guilt; it’s okay to make the same mistakes again. Let go… of obsessions; they seldom turn out the way you planned. Let go… of hate; it’s a waste of love. Let go… of blaming others; you are responsible for your own destiny. Let go… of fantasies so reality can come true. Let go… of self-pity; someone else may need you. Let go… of wanting; cherish what you have. Let go… of fear; it’s a waste of faith. Let go… of despair; change comes from acceptance and forgiveness. Let go… of the past; the future is here – right now.” Kathleen O’Brien
The challenge today is to let go! I think the United States needs to let go of hate.
Unfortunately the media keeps feeding us all the areas where there are riots.
Yes, we are in imperfect society but we can’t correct it by destroying other peoples businesses and lives. 
I would say let go and let God! Amen

October 26, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“My faith is tested many times every day, and more times than I’d like to confess, I am unable to keep the banner of faith aloft. If a promise is not kept, or if a secret is betrayed, or if I experience long-lasting pain, I begin to doubt God and God‘s love. I fall so miserably into the chasm of disbelief that I cry out in despair. Then the spirit lifts me up again and once more I am secured in faith. I don’t know how that happens, save when I cry out earnestly I am assured immediately and I am returned to faithfulness. I am once again filled with spirit and firmly planted on solid ground.” –  Maya Angelou
Maya sums up what many of us go through at different times.
We can go along doing fine and then all of a sudden reach our limit where we feel we can’t go on anymore.
We cry out to our God and our faithful God gives us the grace that we need during those tough times.