Tag: Sixth Sunday of Easter

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Sixth Sunday of Easter

picture of a person's hands forming a heart with the sun in the middle

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Mass Readings

Reading 1: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
Responsorial: Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
Reading 2: 1 John 4:7-10
Gospel: John 15:9-17

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050921.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

My brothers and sisters, God is love!

Welcome back for another edition of deacon rudy’s notes! I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we’re going to break open the Word!

There are so many wonderful things happening in the readings this weekend! The two overarching themes are that the Gentiles are included in the church and that God is love.

Very briefly, the first reading from Acts is amazing. It’s a reminder to us that Gentile membership in the church was not a given. It was something the early church resolved at the Council of Jerusalem described in Acts 15. But here’s the cool part. Before Peter finished speaking in Acts 10, the Holy Spirit descended on Cornelius and all the Gentiles gathered. The disciples could tell that the Holy Spirit had descended because they could hear the Gentiles speaking in tongues. And they were astounded! So, Peter ordered everyone to be baptized (Acts 10:44-48).

That’s such an interesting reading. I highly encourage you to go back and read that entire story, Acts 10:1-49.

Our second reading and the Gospel focus on love. John reminds us what we find in John 3:16, that God loves us so much that he sent Jesus into the world (1 John 4:9). And while Jesus was here, he taught us about love. The Law is meaningless if it isn’t rooted in love. So, Jesus gave us the Great Commandment. It’s so important that he wanted to make sure we’d understand it, so he said it in two ways. Jesus says you shall love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself (Matthew 22:35-40, Mark 12:28-31, Luke 10:25-28). In John’s Gospel account, Jesus says, “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you (John 15:12).

Now, it’s easy, I think, to look to our family and our friends and say to ourselves, “Yes, I love them.” That’s the easy part. But check this out. The Gospel tells me that I need to love the yahoo who cut me off in traffic! And what am I supposed to with criminals or with people who vote the wrong way? That’s right! I need to love them. Now between you and me, that’s a much more difficult pill to swallow!

You see, Jesus tells us that if we are going to be his disciples, then we need to keep his commandments (John 15:12, 17), and that means we have to love everyone. That’s not a cop-out! Love does not mean an absence of accountability. So, we can still hold people to account for what they’ve done wrong if they break the law for example. But love tells us how we should respond to them.

If all people are created in the image and likeness of God, and if I am supposed to love everyone, then how can I go to mass and say “I love you, Jesus,” but throw verbal rocks on social media at people who disagree with me?

These last couple of years or so have been a painful lesson about the urgency to preach the words of St. Paul that we hear in Mass: the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14). In so many parts of the world, what we see happening in politics and every nation’s response to Covid-19 and everyone’s response to their nation’s response to Covid-19 are excellent examples of how difficult it is to love someone who thinks differently than we do.

And I’m sure each of us can find personal examples where we find it difficult to love someone. But the Church teaches us that Jesus’ command, “Love one another as I love you” (John 15:12), is foundational to the entire Christian life. You can find that described in detail in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1827.

Love says we can disagree with each other. Absolutely we can! But love says I must treat you as a beloved creation in the image and likeness of God. Love says I must treat you with respect. I suggest to you this is easier said than done. Now, the root of the word “disciple” is the Latin word “discere” which means “to learn.” So, being a disciple means I need to constantly be learning. And that’s totally true with love.

Love is a virtue. We call it a theological virtue because God infuses us with love. As I’ve pointed out, it’s not easy to practice the virtue of love. But we can grow in and develop the virtue of love. Remember, a virtue is an intentional good habit. So, we can work at developing virtue or good habits in our lives.

We need to work at it because Jesus tells us that if we follow his commands then we will remain in Jesus’ love (John 15:10). But growing in love isn’t easy. It’s a process and we’re going to discuss one method in our homework in just a minute.

How will I know that it’s working? How can I tell that I’m growing in virtue and overcoming bad habits or vices? Jesus says that we are supposed to go and bear fruit (John 15:16). That’s right, love is not only a virtue. Love is also a fruit of the Holy Spirit. That means that even if we can’t notice it, those around us – especially our family and friends – might be able to see the fruits of our spiritual work.

How do we do this? That leads us to Homework!

Nourished by the Word Incarnate and the Eucharist, I invite you to reflect on the following two activities.

First, bring your desire to grow in the virtue of love to God in prayer. Ask God to help you grow in love. You can do this with any virtue or with any vice you want to overcome. Here’s a pro tip. Write it down. No one needs to read it except you but write down your goal. It’s like that old adage, what gets scheduled gets done or if it’s not documented it didn’t happen. So, write down your goal and any thoughts, images, ideas, or feelings that come to you during prayer.

Second, ask yourself what things work against the virtue you want to develop. For example, if you want to grow in love, then what makes you grumpy, irritable, and impatient? A lack of sleep? Too much coffee? Consuming too much news or social media? Once you’ve identified something, resolve with the help of God to overcome it with concrete steps. For example, in addition to writing down your goal, write down actionable steps to overcome the obstacles. So, if you want to grow in love, you might write down that you’re setting a goal to get more sleep, or cut back on coffee, or reduce the amount of time you spend listening to the news or on social media.

You can even record your progress over time. These notes could be helpful in your discernment and in your conversation with your pastor or a spiritual director.

It’s not enough to say “Amen, alleluia!” when we hear Jesus’ words to love one another as he loves us. As disciples, we must take specific steps to grow in virtue and overcome vice. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Thank you for joining me today. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word. Peace!

Image Credit: Wiki Loves Love – Meta. By Ed Gregory. JPG. CC0 Creative Commons.

Bibliography/Suggested Readings:
1. Anderson, Kelly and Daniel Keating. James, First, Second, and Third John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2017. Kindle.
2. Kurz, William S. SJ. Acts of the Apostles. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2013. Kindle.
3. Martin, Francis and William M. Wright IV. The Gospel of John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2015. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Gentiles in God’s plan: 60, 674, 755, 781
2. Faith: 453-54
3. God is love: 214, 218-21, 231, 257, 733, 2331, 2577
4. God loving us by sending his Son: 457-58, 604, 620
5. Call to love one another: 459, 1823-25
6. Love of God and neighbor fulfills the Commandments: 1789, 1822-29, 2067, 2069
7. Charity: 1822-29
8. Friendship with Christ: 2347, 2709
9. Christ’s prayer at the Last Supper: 2746-51

Sixth Sunday of Easter https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050921.cfm
Lectionary: 56

Reading 1
Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
When Peter entered, Cornelius met him
and, falling at his feet, paid him homage.
Peter, however, raised him up, saying,
“Get up. I myself am also a human being.”

Then Peter proceeded to speak and said,
“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly
is acceptable to him.”

While Peter was still speaking these things,
the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.
The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter
were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit
should have been poured out on the Gentiles also,
for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God.
Then Peter responded,
“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people,
who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?”
He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Responsorial
Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
R. (cf. 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or: R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or: R. Alleluia.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or: R. Alleluia.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or: R. Alleluia.

Reading 2
1 John 4:7-10
Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

Alleluia
John 14:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord,
and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
John 15:9-17
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”

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Sixth Sunday of Easter 2020

light filtering through trees and person walking through Satchari national park habiganj sylhet

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Mass Readings

First Reading: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17
Responsorial: Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:15-18
Gospel: John 14:15-21

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051720.cfm
deacon rudy’s notes

Brothers and sisters, have you ever randomly opened up the Bible and found the perfect verse? Today’s readings are like that for us. You see, these readings weren’t picked. They are part of the regular sequence for Year A for the Sixth Sunday of Easter. You will find these same readings used in the year 2017. While all the readings are a treasure, this year these readings have special resonance for us.

Today’s Gospel message is part of the farewell discourse given during the Last Supper. The Church gives us this piece of Gospel now so that we can unpack its meaning in these weeks leading up to Pentecost. But in the light of the pandemic, these readings give us insight into the meaning of a life of discipleship.

Jesus says to us, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot accept,” (John 14:15-17). Jesus will not leave us as orphans, powerful message, (John 14:18).

The world seems to begin emerging from this pandemic. We cannot all be leaders, scientists, and medical professionals, so we have to trust others. Unfortunately, the mixed messages and even contradictory statements fuel the darkness of uncertainty and confusion.

It is encouraging to see people turning to prayer, but there is still this underlying – well fear I guess would be the right word that seems to shroud some people I know in a sort of darkness. How should we disciples respond? Well, our first reading from Acts helps us, I think. You see, earlier in this same chapter we read from today, the church at Jerusalem is subjected to persecution at the hand of Saul (who will become Paul). The disciples are scattered. I would call that a period of uncertainty and fear, wouldn’t you? How did the disciples respond?

Acts tells us that those who were scattered went about preaching the Good News, (Acts 8:4). The deacon Philip (see Acts 6:5), makes his way to Samaria and begins to preach and perform all sorts of miracles. Remember, the Samaritans were regarded as mixed blood heretics who did not worship at Temple in Jerusalem, (Kurz, loc. 2829). Philip went there nonetheless, and many were converted. This was no fluke! Peter and John themselves go to Samaria to lay hands on the converts and pray that the Spirit be upon them. This image not only underscores apostolic authority in full support of legitimate evangelization efforts, but this also introduces the sacrament of confirmation. These things happen during a time of crisis and uncertainty and fear in the early church.

The message for all of us, I believe, is that we should be more willing than ever to share the light of our faith – to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with our family and friends who have fallen away from the faith or those who have never known Jesus. Peter reminds us that one of the ways we can do that is by being ready to offer an explanation of our faith to anyone who asks about the Good News. What’s the Good News? That God sent Jesus to walk among us. That Jesus suffered and died for you and for me so that death would no longer have a hold over us.

The gates of heaven are open to all believers. We no longer have to fear, no matter what life throws at us. That is good news and it melts the darkness away! It’s a powerful message that so many people need to hear. Will this news be well received? No, I don’t think so. Peter warns us that we will be ridiculed for our beliefs. But even that’s okay. Peter says, “For it is better to suffer, for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.”

Yes, this can be a daunting task, but my brothers and sisters, we are not alone! God has sent the advocate to be with us always. The Spirit within us can be a source of incredible courage to have the tough conversations or even like Philip to go to places where others wouldn’t even consider. Who in your life is someone who is unusually afraid of this virus or a resurgence? Perhaps that is the person you should approach to share the peace and joy of Jesus you have on your heart. Sharing the light of Christ in your heart might disperse the darkness of their world.

Homework! Having been nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and in the Eucharist for those fortunate enough to go to mass or an Act of Spiritual Communion for those who still can’t get into mass, I encourage you to reflect on the following questions.

  1. First, If you love me, you will keep my commandments. What commandments do I struggle to keep? How can I avoid temptations?
  2. Second, I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. When have I felt abandoned or lost? What has strengthened and comforted me?
  3. Third, In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. Where do I see God present and active in the world? How can I help others see God?

I think doing our homework will help us face the challenges of discipleship. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Art for this post: CC BY-SA 4.0. A person walking through Satchari National Park, located in far eastern Bangladesh. Satchari means “seven streams.” From the jury: “the light is magic.” Photo by Abdul Momin.

References:
1. Martin, Francis and William M. Wright IV. The Gospel of John. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2015.
2. Keating, Daniel. First and Second Peter, Jude. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2011.
3. Kurz, William S. Acts of the Apostles. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2013.
4. Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
5. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
1. Titles of the Holy Spirit, 243, 388, 692, 729, 1433, 1848
2. Suffering for the sake of Christ, 520, 556, 1435, 1967
3. Promise of the Spirit, 729
4. Church as communion with Jesus, 788-89
5. Missionary call of the Church, 849-56
6. Invoking the Holy Spirit, 1083, 2670-72
7. Baptism and the Holy Spirit, 1226
8. Confirmation, 1285-1305
9. Exorcism, 1673
10. Christ’s prayer at the Last Supper, 2746-51

Sixth Sunday of Easter
Mass readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051720.cfm
Lectionary: 55

Reading 1
ACTS 8:5-8, 14-17
Philip went down to the city of Samaria
and proclaimed the Christ to them.
With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip
when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.
For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,
came out of many possessed people,
and many paralyzed or crippled people were cured.
There was great joy in that city.

Now when the apostles in Jerusalem
heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God,
they sent them Peter and John,
who went down and prayed for them,
that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
for it had not yet fallen upon any of them;
they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they laid hands on them
and they received the Holy Spirit.

Responsorial
Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20
R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!”
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!”
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare
what he has done for me.
Blessed be God who refused me not
my prayer or his kindness!
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2
1 Peter 3:15-18
Beloved:
Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.
Always be ready to give an explanation
to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope,
but do it with gentleness and reverence,
keeping your conscience clear,
so that, when you are maligned,
those who defame your good conduct in Christ
may themselves be put to shame.
For it is better to suffer for doing good,
if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.

For Christ also suffered for sins once,
the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous,
that he might lead you to God.
Put to death in the flesh,
he was brought to life in the Spirit.

Alleluia
John 14:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord,
and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
John 14:15-21
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always,
the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept,
because it neither sees nor knows him.
But you know him, because he remains with you,
and will be in you.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
In a little while the world will no longer see me,
but you will see me, because I live and you will live.
On that day you will realize that I am in my Father
and you are in me and I in you.
Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who loves me.
And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”

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My Peace I Give You

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Sixth Sunday of Easter Mass Readings

First Reading: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29
Psalm: Psalm 672-3, 5-6, 8
Second Reading: Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23
Gospel: John 14:23-29

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you,” (John 14:27).

Today we continue to hear what is called the Farwell Discourse from Scripture. There is little time left and what does he tell the disciples? Peace. Even in today’s first reading from Acts 15, we seem to hear that message. After Paul’s first missionary journey, some of the Pharisees are concerned that the Gentiles are not being instructed in the Jewish faith. Remember at this point in history, Christianity is not separate from Judaism. It’s one of many different branches of the Jewish faith. So, some people are going behind Paul and Barnabas and confusing them and stressing them out. But in the midst of all that stress and commotion, the Apostles through their letter wish these communities peace.

Peace.

Jesus says this in today’s Gospel. Peace.

That’s a message I need to hear. How about you? Life can be so hectic – so busy. It seems from the second I wake up we’re racing about trying to get to this or to that. No wonder I feel exhausted at the end of the day! How about you? How many of us get so caught up in the stresses of life that we can barely see straight? Sometimes the world gets to spinning so fast that we’re not sure which way is up and which was is down. We want to connect with the Divine, but we can’t – we don’t know how, and we just don’t have time.

Some people get so caught up in the motions of life that so much of what they do seems blah. Perhaps they’re in a sort of a funk – I don’t know. But everything is blah. For some, they become disillusioned with their faith. I’ll hear people say, “Going to church really doesn’t do anything for me.” Yet, they hunger for something…

The we see it – maybe as a social media ad or a sign on the way to work – an invitation to hear a Buddhist talk about meditation. Sounds intriguing. Maybe we think the West got it all wrong. We’re too rigid or too programmed or too whatever, so our minds turn to the ancient religions and philosophies of the East. We reach out there in the desperate hope of finding peace. Meditation and a nice cup of tea with a bit of honey…sounds good, doesn’t it?

But you know, no outside force can make us find peace. In many ways, that’s why Jesus ascended instead of continuing to live among us. We have to find him – we have to find peace on our own. Is that mean? No, I think that’s just life – that’s just the way we’re wired. So while the Far East ad might sound intriguing and indeed some of the conversation you find there might be intersecting, in the end it cannot force peace upon, nor would it try.

Do you want to know something funny? Many of us in many different situations and circumstances leave home in search of ourselves or in search of something only to realize that what we long for or who we love has been right there at home all along. And the same is true with our faith.

Although we didn’t read it today, a little earlier in the Gospel passage read today in mass, John 14:2 says, “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” And in today’s Gospel, in John 14:23 we hear, “Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”

So many people set out on a journey to find God, but God has been right here, right where we started from the whole time. St. Teresa of Avila, reflecting on this these pieces of the Gospel, called it the Interior Castle. She said we could think about soul like a castle made out of a diamond or very clear crystal, in which there are many rooms. The soul, then, deep within us is a paradise where we can dwell with the Lord. Our soul – within our very bodies – right here, right now. We don’t need to run off to the Himalayas in search of some hidden Buddhist monastery to make a connection with God. No! We simply need to quiet our selves and look inwards to find the Lord.

The very heart of Christian meditation and contemplation is a journey within to experience the Lord. That’s peace!

Homework! Today, I want to prescribe some very different homework today. I’d like to invite you to spend just a few minutes in prayerful meditation. Don’t get hung up on the vocabulary or the process. There are lots of great resources out on this form of prayer – whether you call it centering prayer, or meditation or contemplation. In truth they’re all slightly different. Maybe I’ll dedicate an entire episode to this topic for now, let’s try this quiet form of prayer. Now, our minds – at least mine – is always racing.

There are always thoughts racing from here to there and back again. I suspect I’m not the only one. We need to find a way to gently push these thoughts aside and pull ourselves back to the exercise. Picture yourself floating in a swimming pool and some other floating toy is making its way toward you. If you overreact, you could flip into the water. So instead, we just gently push the other toy away. That’s what I want us to picture with our thoughts too. We’re just going to gently push thoughts away.

To pull ourselves back to prayer, many people find it helpful to have something more tangible. Perhaps you can focus on your breathing? Or perhaps you could hold a rosary and change which bead you’re holding? Or perhaps you could pick a word to help pull you back? Some people might simply say the name, “Jesus.” Ok, ready? Let’s give it a try. We’re actually going to try this exercise just for 1 minute. For this exercise, our symbol will be the name Jesus.

  1. Pick a quiet place where you are not likely to be disturbed for the next few minutes.
  2. Set a timer on your phone. Maybe start out with 3 minutes.
  3. Choose a word or symbol or your breathing to help pull yourself into prayer. Whatever you choose, say to yourself that this word or symbol or breath is my consent to God’s presence during this prayer. For our exercise, we’re using the name Jesus.
  4. Sitting comfortably, take 2 or 3 deep breaths. Feel the tension in your shoulders melt away. Then gently close your eyes and introduce the word or symbol or breath.
  5. If a distracting thought enters, don’t get frustrated and angry with yourself. It’s perfectly normal. Just imagine yourself pushing it away as easily as if you were pushing something in a swimming pool and in your mind quietly say the name Jesus.
  6. If another thought comes, quietly say the name Jesus.
  7. Now when you’re ready, I want you to open your eyes.

What did you think? Sitting quietly is not easy, is it. I find this very helpful especially during adoration, but you can do this just about anywhere. I encourage you to try this exercise a few times this week. As you become more comfortable, perhaps you could add a couple more minutes to your timer. People who use contemplative prayer will often try two times a day for twenty minutes each time, but just take baby steps. I’d love to know your thoughts. Leave a comment the website or send me an email to deaconrudyv@gmail.com.

Got it? Get it? Good! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. +Amen!