Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Companions pray with me: We praise You, Lord, seek mercy for our sinful ways, thank You for all Your gifts, and beg for all we need,

Companion Events: Birthdays Jack Backer (10/3), Matthew Dixon (10/5),  In memoriam: Becky Peterson (9/30/2007).

Keeping In-touch:  We enjoyed a quick camping get away and saw some peak viewing of the fall color at Golden Gate Canyon State Park. And I played in a tennis tournament all weekend.

Decision Point: Your Choices Matter
     God's Dream for You.

The Readings: Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
Jealousy brings people to poor decisions, sometimes mortally so for oneself and/or others.

Comments, Reflections, Insights...

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Companions pray with me: We praise You, Lord, in the morning, noon, and at night. We always wish to sing of Your glory. Count not our alienating thoughts, words, or deeds. Let Your love and Your mercy transform us. Thank You for all Your gifts and blessings. And help us with all we need to serve You, all we need to be whole and filled with Your Holy Spirit. Especially bless all those on our prayers lists. Comfort all who are torn by war: the physical wars that are fought between peoples and the spiritual wars that rip people apart. Also welcome "Rocky" DiPetrillo who died this morning to Your heavenly kingdom and comfort Debbie and all his family.


Companion Events: Birthdays Christine Lay (9/23), Hazel Quinn Figiro (9/24), Eric Olson (9/25).  Anniversary: Mary and Chuck Olson (9/23/??),  In memoriam: Tom Foley (9/23/??).

Keeping In-touch:  Our grandson, Nathan, kept us very busy at the end of last week. Together we enjoy the Broomfield Days parade and celebration activities. Earlier in the week we joined Alan and Connie at Rocky Mountain National Park and watch some majestic elk bully-bully. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner party with Bishop Paul from Uganda and Sam. I accepted some responsibilities to serve as Church

Decision Point: Your Choices Matter
     Live your best possible life.

The Readings: Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
I sometimes act like the son who says, "Yes Lord, I will do what you ask." (although the discernment of what it is that the Lord asks me is often difficult), and then become distracted by my business. And sometimes I follow the way of the son who says, "Not now, Lord, I have other things to do." but I come to my senses and do what I've discerned is God's will for me.
Help me Lord to know Your will for me and to do it!

Comments, Reflections, Insights...

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Companions pray with me: We have busy lives, Lord, but we praise You and seek to show Your glory by living with good news and joy! We wish to show our love in all we say and do. Forgive our forgetfulness, Lord. Help us to acknowledge our failure to re-member You in our lives. And help us know Your mercy and work for justice. Thank You for all Your gift of life and the promise of eternal life. Please grant all we need this week. Especially bring comfort, hope, and renewed health to those on our sick list.

Companion Events: Birthdays Margaret Lay (9/19), Al Sheive (9/20), Fr. Eustace Sequeira (9/20), Sophie Schnitzer (9/20).  Anniversary: Evelyn and Jim Green (9/816/??), Chris and Don Lay (9/20/1980). In memoriam: Willalee Haris (9/19/2009).

Keeping In-touch:  We had some cool, wet days last week but I still played tennis. We enjoyed playing with Nathan and having time at home. We were pleased by our quick visit with nephew Adam Olson and his friend, Travis, on their rest-stop before they continued to "Sin-City" and "The Granola State." (Las Vegas and California). The leaves have begun to turn bright colors and we have already seen snow...

Decision Point: Your Choices Matter
     We may have many more years than the young people that Matthew Kelly addresses here, but our choices still impact our lives and the lives of those around us.

The Readings: Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
I appreciate the first line of the O.T. reading, "Seek the Lord where He may be found," as I reflect on this Sunday's Gospel. Many of us read this parable of the workers in the vineyard and claim, "That's not fair!" We've been "walking with the Lord" all (or most) of our lives and we don't think it's fair that "new workers" should receive the same "pay."
If we "Seek the Lord where He may be found," we will know the glory of the Lord in our work. Our pay is not "the prosperity gospel," but our reward is our walk with the Lord and our expectation of full life with Him. Even when our work/walk is difficult, long and/or filled with suffering, we can live with joy because Emanuel: God is with us! We don't work for pay but enjoy the gracious status of sons and daughters of God.

Comments, Reflections, Insights...

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

My Companions pray with me: Lord, how can we give You praise and worship You? Help us listen to Your whispers that You speak in the depths of our hearts, respond to them, live abundantly, and bring You glory in our lives. Forgive us, especially our sins of busyness, where we don't listen to our hearts and know the guidance You have placed there. Our hearts are filled with gratitude and we thank You for all the life You give us. And we beg for all we need especially health for our companions and bread for the poor among us. Like Nicodemus, we seek You out and request the fullness of life.

Companion Events: Birthdays Mary Kate Weed (9/13), Taylor (Smith) Castillo (9/13).  Anniversary: Joan and Gary Carnegie (9/8/??).

Keeping In-touch:  We have begun to settle down from all our travels... at least for a month or so. My "news" is late this week but I'm catching-up on tennis (winter indoor breakfast league has begun), homework, and other odds-n-ends. Nathan has been able to help Nana make cookies and play Lincoln Logs with Papa John. We're returning to normal...what is normal? I'm adding a link on this blog each week to a video clip from the Decision Point Confirmation program:

Decision Point: Life is Choices

The Readings: Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
"What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Do we even take the time to ask the question. Nicodemus must have loved life and must have wanted to live in the fullness of life! The answer is given at every football game, on billboards, and as graffiti all-over: Jn 3:16. But what good are answers if we're not asking the question. I want to life life to the full. I will put the laptop down more this week to reflect on the question.

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Companions pray with me: We praise You and adore You, Lord. We trust in Your mercy and love as we confess our sin. We have so much for which to be thankful; our hearts are filled with gratitude. Please bless all our companions, especially those on our list for those in need of healing: Matt Gulmantovicz (a stroke).

Companion Events: Birthdays Joey Foresman (8/26), Evan Parise (8/31), Mike Pintek (9/7).  Anniversary: Connie and Alan Kobza (9/3/77), Julie and Jason Schnitzer (9/5/2004), Carman and Leo Albiniak (9/6/1969), Lori Beth and Tony Gulmantovicz (9/7/2003); In memoriam: Bernard Grau (9/5/2013), Emma Lay (9/5/1974).

Keeping In-touch:  We hope you enjoyed the holiday weekend and celebrated all the labor you do. We had a wonderful time with our kids, grand-kids, and other family members in Iowa. Now we have the long trek home. Breakfast-tennis begins this week on Wednesday and I'll enjoy seeing the players.

The Readings: Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
The Gospel presents me with a challenge, "Confront those who hurt you one-on-one, then with a couple others, and finally tell the church." This practice should bring us to more community. I will continue to individually find reconciliation with others and always pray for all of our conversions.


John