April 18, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“We need to feel more to understand others
We need to love more to be loved back
We need to cry more to cleanse ourselves
We need to laugh more to enjoy ourselves
We need to be honest and fair when interacting with people
We need to establish a strong ethical basis as a way of life
We need to see more than our own fantasies
We need to hear more and listen to the needs of others
We need to give more and take less We need to share more and own less We need to realize the importance of the family as a back bone to stability We need to look more and realize that we are not so different from one another
We need to create a world where we can trust one another
We need to create a world where we can all peacefully live the life we choose” –  Susan Polis Schutz
I don’t know when this was written but it certainly is needed now more than ever. Let us ask God’s Spirit to open the hearts of those who are not tolerant of others. Let us pray that people can agree to disagree. Let us remember the family that prays together stays together.?

April 17, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection for today:
“Real optimism is aware of problems but recognizes the solutions, knows about difficulties but believes they can be overcome, sees the negatives but accentuates the positives, is exposed to the worst but expects the best, has a reason to complain but chooses to smile.” – William Arthur Ward
This quote reminds us when difficult times come it all depends on our attitude of how they really impact our lives if we believe that God is faithful to us then we will believe that God is faithful even during difficult times.?

April 16, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends, and spirit – and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends, and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.”- Brian Dyson
I think this reflection gives us a great way to strive for balance in our lives. I find this very helpful considering all of us need to juggle all these things in our life. Let us ask God to help us keep the proper balance in our lives.?

April 15, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“Some of the best advice a person can share with someone they care about is this…
‘God will be there for you.‘
If you need to lean on someone there is no greater strength. If you need to move away from difficulty and toward resolve there is no greater direction to go. If you wish to walk with happiness there is no greater traveling companion.
Follow your heart when it tells you to believe, because there is no end to the blessings you can receive.
‘God will be there for you.” – Alin Austin
God is always present with us even though we don’t feel God‘s presence. I think a perfect comparison is the sun is still in the sky even though we don’t see it or it is raining. And so, God will be there for you.?

April 14, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“Each day is an opportunity for a new beginning and a chance to grow and share our hearts, our love, and our lives to the fullest. Sometimes that means just making the most of the smallest things- like listening to each other, holding each other’s end, or just being together.” – Star Nakamoto
God gives us a new beginning every day. Let us stop and thank God for all the good gifts. This beautiful day is such a gift. Enjoy it to the fullest.?

April 13, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“Difficulties arise in the lives of us all. What is most important is dealing with the hard times, coping with the changes, and getting through to the other side where the sun is still shining just for you.
It takes a strong person to deal with tough times and difficult choices. But you are a strong person. It takes courage. But you possess the inner courage to see you through. It takes being an active participant in your life. But you are in the driver’s seat, and you can determine the direction you want tomorrow to go in.
Hang in there… and take care to see that you don’t lose sight of the one thing that is constant, beautiful, and true: everything will be fine – and it will turn out that way because of the special kind of person you are. So… beginning today and lasting a lifetime through-hang in there, and don’t be afraid to feel like the morning sun is shining… just for you.“ – Douglas Pagels
Each one of us is in the driver’s seat for our lives. God gives us the grace’s that we need, and we choose to accept them or not.☀️

April12, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“Readjust your attitude. Start to think positively, knowing you have what it takes to accomplish your goals.
Refresh your spirit. Dream new dreams, letting the possibilities grow into visions.
Renew your faith. Believe you have a purpose-a higher calling designed just for you.
Remember your loved ones. They are there to applaud your victories, encourage you on your journey, and help you through the challenges.” – Sue Davis Potts
Thinking positively is not always easy but in the long run it really makes our life much better. God is present with each one of us renewing our spirit. Jesus suffered through Holy Week to bring us Easter joy.?

April 11,2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
Most of us have heard the story of doubting Thomas. I like to think of him as believing Thomas since he proclaimed; “ My Lord and my God.” when I was in second grade, my first communion class, the Sister taught us at the consecration, when the priest raises the host and the chalice to pray, “My Lord and my God.” After all those years, I still do it today.
It is also Divine Mercy Sunday let us think about the ABC’s that Saint Faustina shared:
A. Ask for mercy.
The best way to ask for God‘s mercy for ourselves is through the sacrament of reconciliation.
Here is what Jesus told Saint Faustina about the sacrament of reconciliation, this was in her diary in 1602:
—“When you approach the confessional know this, that I myself am waiting there for you.
— I am only hidden by the priest, but I myself act in your soul.
—Hear the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy.”
But we can also ask for mercy for others, especially by praying for those who don’t trust or believe in Christ’s Mercy.
B. Be merciful.
Jesus told St. Faustina, “I demand from you deeds of mercy… You are to show deeds of mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere”
This means doing good things for others not because they deserve it or to get a reward, but simply in order to follow in the footsteps of our merciful Lord.
But where can we find the strength to do that?
C. Completely trust in Christ.
Jesus himself will give us his grace, if we let him. He will make us into ambassadors of his mercy, just as he did with the first Apostles.
Whenever we are afraid to ask for mercy, when we feel too weak to be merciful, we should simply pray the prayer that Jesus told St. Faustina to write underneath the image of his divine mercy: “Jesus, I trust in you. “
And let’s start right now, Ask for mercy, Be merciful, and Completely trust in Jesus. ?

April 10, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera

My reflection today:

“This light can awaken dreams. It creates beauty previously unimagined, fulfills promises and provides peace, teaches wisdom and strengthens the week.
This light can change anything. It turns the hardest heart to tears, transforms jealousy into gentleness, replaces resentment with fulfillment.
This light teaches forgiveness and patience. It comforts pain and sue the anger, believes in miracles and encourages hope, survives defeat and continues forever.
This light shines on-bright as the stars in heaven. It is a flame in the darkness of defeat, a flicker of hope that never ends, I spoke to fulfill God’s design for our lives.
When love sparks a heart and inspires tenderness and hope, it is always spiritual-a sign of God’s light inside us.
Always reach toward the light, and God will guide you from the inside. Simply follow the light, and you will find the key you need to discover your inner beauty and fulfill God‘s plan for you.” – Regina Hill
During this Easter season and beyond God‘s light will inspire our hearts. Amen

April 9, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“We don’t often take the time out of our busy lives to think about all the beautiful things and to be thankful for them if we did reflect on these things we would realize how very lucky and fortunate we really are
I am very thankful for the love of my husband – which is so complete and fulfilling and is based on honesty, equality intellectualism and romance
I am very thankful for the love of my children – which is all encompassing and is based on teaching, tenderness sensitivity, caring and hugging
I am very thankful that I am able to love and that the love is returned to me
I am very thankful that I am healthy and that the people I love are healthy
I am very thankful that I have dreams to follow and goals to strive for
I am very thankful for the beauty of nature-magnificent mountains the colorful leaves the smell of the flowers the roaring of the waves the setting sun the rising moon.
Everywhere I look I see the wonders of nature and I feel so proud to be a small part of it
I am very thankful for all the good people in the world I am very thankful that I have good friends
I am very thankful to be alive in a time when we can make the world a better place to live in”  – Susan Polis Schutz
There is so much in our lives to be thankful for… We can stop and be grateful for what we have been given or we can complain about what we don’t have. We can choose to be grateful or we can choose to be miserable. God gives us our choice.?