Tuesday, June 29, 2010

IHS Breakfast Serving

Thanks to everyone who helped last Sunday at the IHS Breakfast Serving.
The next serving will be:
Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 6:00 am. We meet a t the ROL office at 6:00am and depart for the homeless shelters downtown. We are usually back at ROL by 8:00am. We serve at both the men's and women and children's homeless shelters. For more information contact Matt: 497-8249 The signup sheet will be posted on the bulletin board in the worship area outside the parish kitchen.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Una vez más, muchas gracias y Dios los bendiga a todos.

Thank you to everyone who helped serve at the Mexican fiesta at the Lighthouse Homeless Shelter this last Sunday. With our sombreros, t-shirts, and ono authentic Mexican food and music, a great time was had by all. We had enough food left to serve to the church members, which gave us another great opportunity for fellowship with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. For the second month in a row the salad was a big hit. Mahalo to all the ladies that come to the church at 4:30 pm and help prepare it. The kids enjoyed the dare of trying all the different Hot Sauces and chilies that were on the condiment table. Una vez más, muchas gracias y Dios los bendiga a todos.

Confirmation I and II:

June 27, 2010: The Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Read the Gospel: Lk 9:51-62

Journal: How did you live out last week’s Gospel message? What was tough? What was rewarding?

I grew up on Maui in the 1960’s and 1970’s, with a mother and a father who worked for the pineapple and sugar cane industries, respectively. Travelling around the island, I grew up marking time with the planting and harvesting of both crops throughout the years. Each season’s crop began with little plantings into full crowns or tall cane stalks. It was a miracle.
In this week’s Gospel, Jesus compares discipleship to plowing. Christians are like farmers. They bring new life into the world because they plow forward with their faith—something you can’t do if you’re always looking back to the past. Should you ignore your past? No.
I have a friend who made a lot of mistake in life; we’ve all made them. This friend of mine, however, wanted to become more Christian but found it too difficult. Why? She never learned from her mistakes or apologized to the people she hurt. As a result, she could never plow forward. By ignoring her past, she actually became stuck in it.
Following Christ doesn’t mean forgetting past mistakes and moving ahead. That doesn’t work. You can’t move forward in life with Jesus until you learn from mistakes and reconcile broken relationships.
Deal with your past mistakes and sins. It will help you set a hand to the plow, move forward, and bring new life into the world.

Journal: What past sins or broken relationships hold you back? Be specific. How has your past made you a better disciple?

Sunday, June 27, 2010

BIBLE STUDY & FAITH SHARING

BIBLE STUDY &
FAITH SHARING

Next Bible Study Session
Thursday, July 1st, 7-9 pm
All are Welcome

Come Join Us
Bibles are available

Read:
Isaiah 66: 10-13
Luke: 1-12, 17-20

Mahalo for your service Brothers and Sisters

Thanks to everyone who helped at James and Mary’s house yesterday (Saturday), and to everyone that helped last month as well. Yesterday we did some yard work, sanded and prepped the outside of the house for painting, and cleaned the bathrooms and kitchen. We will be going over again on Saturday, July 10th, from 9:00 am to noon. I hope to see some new faces there serving as our Lord Jesus Christ asked us to by helping our brothers and sisters in need. Mahalo again and God bless.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Faithful Citizenship

June 27, 2010

The fight to protect marriage as being between a man and woman only is far from over both on a local and a national level. Governor Lingle has merely bought herself two more weeks of sleeplessness by delaying her decision on HB 444. Her staffers say that the majority of phone calls coming in to her office are asking her to veto the bill. That should make us feel as though our efforts are worthwhile, but please don’t let it make you feel confident. Continue to call her office (586-0034) until the last minute. Several scenarios will follow her decision deadline of July 6:
1) If she vetoes the bill, the legislature can choose to hold a special session to consider an override. The Senate president feels she would have the votes to override. (Remember in November, this is the same person running for Congress who could make these things happen at a national level.) The House leader doubts that he would have the required votes. It would die FOR THIS YEAR.
2) If she signs the bill, it becomes law.
3) She can choose to ignore the bill altogether in which case it becomes law without her signature.
Those of us opposed to this bill have been accused of trying to deny basic civil rights to others. Don’t be fooled into apologizing for your Catholic faith. Our faith supports marriage between a man and a woman for the good of, and perpetuation of, society. There are no human rights being denied. It’s an emotional tactic. Going one step further, Hawaii’s reciprocal beneficiary registration (1997) specifically covers many of the rights proponents of the bill say they are being denied: inheritance, worker’s comp., right to sue for wrongful death, health insurance and pension benefits for state employees, hospital visitation and healthcare decision making. Protect traditional marriage.

Gotta go boot up my hard drive!

ST. JOHN’S ANNUAL THRIFT SHOP/GARAGE SALE

ST. JOHN’S ANNUAL THRIFT SHOP/GARAGE SALE
95-370 KUAHELANI AVE.
SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2010
9AM – 1:30PM (NO EARLY BIRDS, PLEASE)


GENTLY-USED ITEMS FOR SALE:
CLOTHING
BEDDING/LINENS
KITCHEN AND DISHWARE
SMALL TOYS AND ELECTRONIC GAMES
SMALL ARTS AND CRAFTS ITEMS
COLLECTABLE STAMPS AND COINS
BOOKS AND DVDs
PLANTS

There will be a SILENT AUCTION and BAKE SALE.

All proceeds will support St. John’s Hui O Laulima Ministry

Please pray for Debbie Kaeo

Please pray for Debbie Kaeo, St. Rita's Outreach Coordinator, who is in Hawaii Medical Center West in critical condition. She was found unconscious with no pulse and not breathing this past Tuesday at home.
Please let anyone who knows her to pray for her and her family. We need to widen the prayer circle and intercede for our sister in Christ!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Confirmation I and II: June 20, 2010: The Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Read the Gospel: Lk 9:18-24

Confirmation I and II:
June 20, 2010: The Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Read the Gospel: Lk 9:18-24

Journal: How did you live out last week’s Gospel message? What was tough? What was rewarding?

Many years ago an NBA player angrily announced that basketball players aren’t paid to be role models, so young people should stop looking at them that way. The statement came because some parents were criticizing basketball players for acting immorally off the court.
The player was right. Don’t make an athlete your role model for life. Life is more than sports. But don’t let Jesus be just a role model either.
What?!?
Yup, I said it. Don’t make Jesus just a role model. Role models are examples to follow. But they don’t necessarily help you follow those examples. That depends on your ability.
Jesus is more than a role model. Jesus is God. There’s a big difference. We want to follow Jesus’ example for living, but we can’t do it on our own. That’s what makes Jesus more than a role model. Because he is God, Jesus can send the world his Spirit. And we can follow his example only with the Spirit’s strength and guidance. Without the Spirit’s strength and guidance, we’re doomed to fail.
A lot of people give up on Christian living because they think it’s just too hard. Or they argue that Jesus’ message about forgiveness and peace is unrealistic. That might be because they see Jesus as just a role model—one of many lifestyle options. Maybe they don’t realize Jesus doesn’t expect us to follow his example using our strength alone. Maybe they don’t realize Jesus’ lifestyle seems more and more realistic the more you let the Spirit shape your vision and strengthen you through prayer.
So who do you say he is? Let him be more than your role model. Let Jesus be your God, your source of all life, strength, goodness, and hope. Let him help with every decision. Let him show you the way to go and help you get there. Let him inspire you, forgive you, heal you, and strengthen you. You can use his strength and vision every moment of every day. Ordinary role models can’t give you that!

Journal: Where in your life do you need Jesus’ strength most to live as a Christian? Reflect and give an example or two of a difficult time when you gave up in a situation that, in retrospect, you could have and should have called upon our Lord to help you through. How might it have changed the outcome? How might it have changed you? Be specific.

Monday, June 21, 2010

IHS Breakfast Serving

Why is it we get a lot of people signing up for the Lighthouse Homeless Shelter, but hardly anyone signs up for the IHS Breakfast serving?

IHS Breakfast Serving
Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 6:00 am. We meet a t the ROL office at 6:00am and depart for the homeless shelters downtown. We are usually back at ROL by 8:00am. We serve at both the men's and women and children's homeless shelters. For more information contact Matt: 497-8249 The signup sheet will be posted on the bulletin board in the worship area outside the parish kitchen.

Help Needed

This Saturday, June 26, I will be going over to James and Mary’s house. That’s the couple that Father Paul mentioned in his bulletin message a couple of weeks ago. It will be from 9 am to 12 noon. We will be doing some work in the yard, changing the wheels on a wheel chair, prep for painting the exterior of the house, and maybe some light housework inside. If anyone can join me, please email me at matthew25@clearwire.net. We will meet at the church at 8:45 am. Thanks and God bless, Bob

Sunday, June 20, 2010

From the desk of Father Paul, June 20, 2010

There are three things to cover today. First the invitation to the Bishop’s “thank you” for those who participated in the “With Grateful Hearts” campaign is still scheduled for June 29th. However, the venue has changed. It will not be at Our Lady of Sorrows as originally planned, but at St. Elizabeth in Aiea, beginning at 6:30 pm.
Secondly, the power bill: our power bill is well over a thousand dollars each month and I really don’t think it has to be so high if everyone would be more conscious of turning off lights when you leave a room that is empty (store room for example), keeping the air condition unit’s thermostat at a reasonable temperature and closing doors when the air conditioner is on so that we are not trying to cool off the outdoors or the entire church. Three different days last week I had to change the temperature setting on the air conditioner in the Blessed Sacrament chapel from 65 to 71 – this despite a sign on the thermostat stating “do not change the temperature setting”. There is no reason to set the temperature gauge to 65 degrees. Also, when a small group is using the Church, there is no reason to have every light in the Church on. Use the dimmers to turn some of them off.
Finally, yes, you guessed it, the water. While the water-sewer bill has been lower, it is still too high. On Sunday, as I was locking doors around 1 pm, I heard water running in the women’s bathroom. One of the toilets was running because someone forced the flush handle so hard that it was struck in the down position. How long it was running is anyone’s guess, but a lot of water was wasted. Also, the toilet next to the one that was running was so stuffed with paper that it was clogged – please be considerate of these who have to clean the toilets. Our old plunger was so warn that we recently had to purchase a new one.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Facing the Dragon

Everything now depends on man: immense power of destruction is given into his hand, and the question is whether he can resist the will to use it, and can temper his will with the spirit of love and wisdom. He will hardly be capable of doing so on his own unaided resources. He needs the help of an “advocate” in heaven…. The only thing that really matters now is whether man can climb up to a higher moral level, to a higher plane of consciousness, in order to be equal to the superhuman powers which the fallen angels have played into his hands.

--Carl Jung


Facing the Dragon: Confronting Personal and Spiritual Grandiosity by Robert L. Moore

Our Lady of Guadalupe at ROL

The Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe represents the Virgin Mary standing on a crescent, her long flowing garments held up by the arms of an angel; her eyes are looking down with an expression of compassion and humility, apparently at someone on a lower level. She is standing in a glowing halo as though before the sun. There are stars on her mantle and a moon at her feet. This subservient positioning has been interpreted as showing the Aztecs that the sun, the moon, and the stars are not gods to be worshipped. Her dress is that of a Middle Eastern maiden at the time of Christ as can be seen even today in the women inhabiting that region.

From Wikipedia

Friday, June 18, 2010

Faithful Citizenship from Mary B

June 20, 2010

Happy Father’s Day to all our dads, first time to great-grandpa!

Over the years, fathers have had to adapt:

In 1900, father came home to dinner. Today, fathers come home to a note on the fridge: Jimmy’s at baseball, Cyndi’s at soccer; I’m at pilates; pizza in freezer.
In 1900, father and son had heart to hearts while fishing.
Today, dad plucks the ear buds from his son’s ear and says, “When you have a minute….”
In 1900, a happy meal was when dad shared funny stories around the dinner table.
Today, a Happy Meal is from McDonalds.

When Father’s Day was first suggested in 1909 by a woman in Washington who wanted to honor her father who had recently passed away, no one beyond her own church members took her seriously. In fact, it took until 1966 when President L. Johnson proclaimed the 3rd Sunday of June as the official day to honor dads nationwide.

Dads have struggled long and hard to have their role in the family recognized as essential. Today we face a threat not only to dad’s role, but to the role of the traditional family as well. Please honor your dad by taking time TODAY or TOMORROW morning to contact the governor’s office regarding her veto of HB 444. She must make it known by June 21st if she intends to sign or veto.

Gotta go boot up my hard drive.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Thank You from the Mary Jane Program of Hawaii Catholic Charities

Father Paul received this nice card from the Mary Jane Program, thanking him for our contributions. Thanks again to everyone who helped make this gift from Resurrection of the Lord Parish possible.

Mary Jane Program

Here are things we will collect in June to deliver to the Mary Jane House
Diapers Newborn
Diapers Size 2
Diapers Size 1
Diapers Size 3
Newborn onesies or sleepwear boy
Newborn onesies or sleepwear girl
Baby Shampoo
Adult shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
Breast pads
Nursing bras
Maternity clothing is S, M, L, or XL
Body pillows (6) for each bedroom
Gentle baby laundry detergent (Dreft etc…)


If you can contribute any of these items, it would be greatly appreciated.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

washed white in the blood of the Lamb

He, who is born not from human stock, or human desire or human will, but from God himself, one day took to himself everything that was under his footstool and he left with his inheritance, his title of Son, and the ransom price. He left for a far country…the faraway land…where he became as human beings are and emptied himself. His own people did not accept him and his first bed was a bed of straw! Like a root in arid ground, he grew up before us, he was despised, the lowest of men, before whom one covers his face. Very soon, he came to know exile, hostility, loneliness… After having given away everything in a life of bounty, his worth, his peace, his light, his truth, his life … all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom and the hidden mystery kept secret for endless ages; after having lost himself among the lost children of the house of Israel, spending his time with the sick (and not with the well-to-do), with the sinners (and not with the just), and even with the prostitutes to whom he promised entrance into the Kingdom of his Father; after been treated as a glutton and a drunkard, as a friend of tax collectors and sinners, as a Samaritan, a possessed, a blasphemer; after having offered everything, even his body and his blood, after having felt deeply in himself sadness, anguish, and a troubled soul; after having gone to the bottom of despair, with which he voluntarily dressed himself as being abandoned by his Father far away from the source of living water, he cried out from the cross on which he was nailed: “I am thirsty.” He was laid to rest in the dust and shadow of death. And there, on the third day, he rose up from the depths of hell to where he had descended, burdened with the crimes of us all, he bore our sins, our sorrows he carried. Standing straight, he cried out: “Yes, I am ascending to my Father, and your Father, to my God, and your God.” And he reascended to heaven. Then in the silence, looking at his Son and all his children, since his Son had become all in all, the Father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet; let us eat and celebrate! Because my children who, as you know, were dead have returned to life; they were lost and have been found again! My prodigal Son has brought them all back.” They all began to have a feast dressed in their long robes, washed white in the blood of the Lamb.

Frere Pierre Marie, the founder of the Fraternity of Jerusalem

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Reverend Mother Ma. Trinidad P. Bunac, cnht

This Sunday at the 7:30 am Mass we were blessed with the presence of Reverend Mother Ma. Trinidad P. Bunac, cnht of the Carmelite Nuns of the Holy Trinity in the Philippines. The Reverend Mother is the guest of Linda Guting. Reverend Mother overseas two orphanages in the Philippines. Welcome to Hawaii and to Resurrection of the Lord Parish Reverend Mother.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Litany of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Litany of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.
Heart of Mary, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, like unto the Heart of God, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, united to the Heart of Jesus, etc.
Heart of Mary, instrument of the Holy Ghost…
Heart of Mary, sanctuary of the Divine Trinity…
Heart of Mary, tabernacle of God Incarnation…
Heart of Mary, immaculate from thy creation…
Heart of Mary, full of grace…
Heart of Mary, blessed among all hearts…
Heart of Mary, throne of glory…
Heart of Mary, most humble…
Heart of Mary, holocaust of Divine Love…
Heart of Mary, fastened to the Cross with Jesus Crucified…
Heart of Mary, comfort of the afflicted…
Heart of Mary, refuge of sinners…
Heart of Mary, hope of the agonizing…
Heart of Mary, seat of mercy…
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Christ hear us,
Christ, graciously hear us.

V. Immaculate Mary, meek and humble of heart,
Make our hearts like unto the Heart of Jesus.

Let Us Pray

O most merciful God, Who, for the salvation of sinners and the refuge of the miserable, was pleased that the Most Pure Heart of Mary should be most like in charity and pity to the Divine Heart of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, grant that we sho commemorate this sweet and loving Heart maym by the merits and intercession of the same Blessed Virgin, merit to be found like to the Heart of Jesus, through the same Christ Our Lord.
R. Amen.

IHS Breakfast Serving

Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 6:00 am. We meet a t the ROL office at 6:00am and depart for the homeless shelters downtown. We are usually back at ROL by 8:00am. We serve at both the men's and women and children's homeless shelters. For more information contact Matt: 497-8249 The signup sheet will be posted on the bulletin board in the worship area outside the parish kitchen.

WANTED: ADULT VOLUNTEERS OVER THE AGE OF 21

WANTED: ADULT VOLUNTEERS OVER THE AGE OF 21 to work with our teenagers in various aspects of youth ministry (catechesis, faith-sharing, social ministry).NEEDED: We need your gifts; the Spirit is calling you.PAY: an abundance of JOY, commiserating with your personal commitment.Important meeting Monday, June 14th, 7 pm in the Conference Room. No obligation with your attendance. For additional information, call Liz Shippen at 497-7567 or leave a message at 676-4700.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

"FOUR PORTRAITS - ONE JESUS??"

Join Us For Bible Study

Wednesday, June 16th 7-9 pm

For an evening with Father Felix Just Speaker at L.A. Religious Education Congress

"FOUR PORTRAITS - ONE JESUS??" A look at the four Gospels

Presented by: Father Felix Just Guest Speaker
Jesus remarks that nothing can remain hidden or secret. We can try to hide things from others, from ourselves, and from God. How tempting to shut our eyes from the consequences of our sinful ways and bad habits, even when we know what those consequences are, and how tempting to hide them from others and even from God. But, nonetheless, everything is known to God who sees all.

Internet Pornography

Monday, June 7, 2010

Faithful Citizenship - June 6, 2010

Pericles said in 430 B.C., “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.” Like it or not, everything that happens in Washington D.C. or here at our own Capitol affects us—It may be directly in our pocketbook; it may be our social mores. Right now we are fighting for the very basic foundation of our society. Can we keep the traditional family intact? Governor Lingle will be gone for two weeks. Her office will continue to take phone calls and other commentary from us. Please do not let up with your messages expressing concern over HB 444. Again, the governor’s phone number is: 586-0034; her e-mail address is: governor.lingle@hawaii.gov.

Election time will soon be here. We will be bombarded with fancy brochures that will look nice but say little. It will be up to us to find out how our chosen leaders will vote on various issues. These are not legendary mythic creatures. These are flesh and blood men and women, our neighbors, who have stepped forward to lead us. We have not only a right, but an obligation, to follow their performance.

Let’s resolve to know not only who our congressmen, senators and representatives are but how they have voted in the past. As journalist Charlie Reese says, “Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.”

Gotta go boot up my hard drive!

Confirmation I and II: June 6, 2010: The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi Sunday) – Read the Gospel: Lk 9:11-17

Journal: How did you live out last week’s Gospel message? What was tough? What was rewarding?

I met an amazing young man one Christmas. Only 13 years old, he had organized a church blanket drive that had collected dozens, maybe hundreds of blankets for homeless people. His mom told me that he first wanted to organize the drive when he was seven, but that she told him to wait until he was older.
The young man is the perfect example of someone who seems to have learned from this week’s Gospel. In the Gospel story, the disciples face a hungry crowd and seem confused. They ask Jesus to do something. “Send them away,” they say. But Jesus challenges them to do something. The result? The hungry people eat.
We have to remember that Jesus left our world, but Christ is still here. We are Christ’s Body on earth. Each of us has a role to play in a world full of hunger and hopelessness. We all have the power to make a difference. But we need to work together and seek Jesus’ guidance.
So don’t just pray for Jesus to help others. He isn’t coming back until the end. It’s up to you and me to do the hard work of changing the world until then. Want world peace? Then pray for the ability to be a peacemaker. Want homes for the homeless? Then pray for guidance to help homeless people in your community. Want healing in your family? Then pray for the strength to bring it yourself.
Jesus is still trying to feed the hungry. But we’re his Body now. Let’s get to work.

Journal: Who inspires you to believe you can help work Christ’s miracles in today’s world? Why? What specific thing(s) has this person done to allow you to say to yourself, “I can do that!” Pray now that the Lord might help you to see the needs of others and to make a difference in their life.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Mary Jane Program

Hawaii Catholic Charities Mary Jane Program Bob Mace, Gaylene Colon, and Joyce Urehara went to the Mary Jane Program House today and presented them with the funds we raised in our pre Mother's Day sale. We also gave them $100 worth of diapers. We were given a tour of the house and met some of the girls and their babies that are staying there. Thank you again to all of you who gave your time, money and love for this good and blessed cause.

Here are things we will collect in June to deliver to the Mary Jane House

Diapers Newborn
Diapers Size 2
Diapers Size 1
Diapers Size 3
Newborn onesies or sleepwear boy
Newborn onesies or sleepwear girl
Baby Shampoo
Adult shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
Breast pads
Nursing bras
Maternity clothing is S, M, L, or XL
Body pillows (6) for each bedroom
Gentle baby laundry detergent (Dreft etc…)

If you can contribute any of these items, it would be greatly appreciated.

Hawaii Catholic Charities Mary Jane Program

Bishop Larry Silva with the Body and Blood

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Upcoming Events and Needs

2010 ROL Graduates: We will be honoring all of you at all Masses on June 12-13. We ask all of you who graduated from a high school, collage and university or a vocational and technical school this May/June or will be graduating this coming December, to please provide your name and chool on the list out on the lanai.

Volunteers are needed to assist with Church cleaning on the 3rd saturday of every month. Sign-up is in the sacristy and the church office. Bring your family and make it a family project.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

First Holy Communion

Resurrection of the Lord Parish

On May 15, children preparing for their First Holy Communion gathered with their parents for a retreat. The day started with a healthy breakfast. The students then created posters expressing how they felt about the Sacrament. They used words like “Amen,” “Peace” and “I love Jesus,” and colored pictures to depict the Eucharist. During the retreat, the youths received a narrative tour of the church. “My favorite part of the tour was learning about the different color robes Father Paul uses.” said Nelson Weyl. The retreat ended with a heartwarming prayer. Thank you to Yuko Ornellas for coordinating this event. (Reported by Marlene Tamayo-Ishikawa)

From the Hawaii Catholic Herald

Confirmation I and II:

Confirmation I and II: May 30, 2010: Trinity Sunday – Read the Gospel: Jn 16:12-13

Journal: How did you live out last week’s Gospel message? What was tough? What was rewarding?

I hate driving with people who won’t ask for directions or look at a road map. Aside from running out of gas, there’s nothing I hate more than following a route on a hunch that it’s the right way. This brings us to the second way the Holy Spirit can make a huge difference in our lives. In this week’s Gospel, Jesus promises his Apostles that “the Spirit of truth” will guide them. The same goes for us. The Spirit, in other words, is our road map. Are you willing to follow it? God could’ve sent Jesus as role model and then left the rest to us. But God knows us, loves us, and wants the best for us, so we have guidance whenever we want it. Here are some important tips to remember when you look for that guidance. First, Jesus gave the Spirit to the Apostles as a group, not as individuals. So they found the Spirit’s guidance by praying and talking together. Likewise, we need to connect with other Christians to find the Spirit’s guidance. When you have a problem or need to make a decision, pray and talk with other Christians. Talk with a priest or another spiritual guide when you need direction. Second, the Spirit’s guidance comes through the dead as well as the living. Our Christian community includes heroes who’ve gone before us, from the Apostles to modern-day folks like Mother Teresa. The Spirit guides us through their lives too. So read about them in the Bible, on the Internet, in religion books. Let their lives provide you with part of your road map. Finding God’s directions in your life isn’t always easy. It can be confusing. You’ll make wrong turns and hit some dead ends. I have. But every time I’ve reached for the Holy Spirit’s help, I’ve found direction. And looking back, I’m amazed at the journey. It’s been a great ride, and continues to be so.

Journal: Recall a time when prayer or discussion with other Christians helped you find God’s guidance. What was your situation and how did the Spirit guide you through others? Be specific.