If you would like to know God ... Look at the crucifix.

If you would like to love God ... Look at the crucifix.

If you want to serve God ... Look at the crucifix.

If you wonder what you are worth ... Look at the crucifix.

If you wonder how much God loves you ... Look at the crucifix.

If you want to know the need for self-denial and sacrifice ... Look at the crucifix.

If you wonder how much you should forgive others ... Look at the crucifix.

If you wonder how much you should do for others ... Look at the crucifix.

If you wonder how much your faith demands ... of you in humility, poverty, charity in every virtue ... Look at the crucifix.

If you want to know what unselfishness and generosity are ... Look at the crucifix.

If you wonder how far your own unselfishness should go to bring others to Christ ... Look at the crucifix.

If you wish to live well ... Look at the crucifix.

If you wish to die well ... Look at the crucifix.

When was the last time you really thought about how much suffering Jesus went through for you?
Next time you think your pain and suffering is too much to bear ...

Look at the crucifix and say: JESUS UNDERSTANDS!

Trust in the slow work of God

We are, quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay;

We should like to skip the intermediate stages.

We are impatient at being on the way to something new,

And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability and that it may take a very long time.

Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be.

Give our Lord the benefit of believing that His hand is leading you, and accepting the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.

[Pierre Teihard de Chardin]

May your inner vision be transformed so that you can see more clearly your own journey with all humankind as a journey of peace, hope, and bondedness.

[inspired by Numbers 24: 15-17; John 20:20]

May you not be afraid of the questions that press upon your mind and heart. May you welcome the questions and wait patiently for the day when they will have their answers.

[inspired by Matthew 11:3]

May you awake each morning with thank you on your lips and in your heart, recognizing that all is gift, that all is blessing.

[inspired by Psalms 138:1]

Statement of Commitment for Reflection

(Used at a past Diaconate Retreat - click above to read)