Totally Catholic Youth Ministers Lounge

Are you in youth ministry and you've had it with crazed parents? Rollin' your eyes at the pastoral council? Tired of administration work? Love youth? Love the Church? Appalled at parish politics? Looking for some good games? For a creative ways to teach a lesson for Religious Ed? Just need a place to veg out and say "phew! Someone outside of the parish to talk to!"? Grab y'r Starbucks, turn the computer away from the staff's eyes, grab a seat on a donated dusty couch and let it all go.

Friday, June 23, 2006

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

A most beautiful and powerful meditation. Especially appropro for those of us in ministry:

I'm looking at a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Behind Jesus is a cloudy sky and some trees. The Sacred Heart occupies perhaps two percent of the area of the picture. Yet when I first look at the picture, all I see is His heart with so much love radiating from it. As I gaze more closely, I am captivated by Jesus, His outstretched, nail-scarred hands,and His inviting pose.

Eventually I notice the background, which occupies over half of the picture's area. Because the background is crafted so skillfully, it leads the eyes immediately to the Sacred Heart, setting the stage without stealing the show.

The background to the love of Jesus is His early years as a Refugee, His conflict-filled public ministry, the agony of the cross of Jesus. In short, the background of the glory of love is a long life of suffering. Because God has so skillfully crafted Jesus' life of suffering, Jesus' suffering leads us immediately to His love.

Is your life full of suffering, brokenness, misery, and failure? Do you feel that more than half your life has been wasted? (see Is 49:4) Are you longing for life, but only finding suffering? Jesus is the Master, and He is making a masterpiece out of your life. Could it be that Jesus has been spending all this time painting your background? When He gets the background right, He'll be ready to paint the glory and the love. Jesus often saves the best for last (see Jn 2:10). Allow the Lord to paint as He sees fit. When He's finished, there will be nothing left but total love (see 1 Cor13:13). All your sufferings will only make the final masterpiece of your life shine more brightly with the touch of the Master's hand.

Prayer: Sacred Heart of Jesus, make my heart like unto Thine.
Promise: "We can speak freely to God, drawing near Him with confidence." Eph 3:12
Praise: Praise You, Jesus! You are Love incarnate (1 Jn 4:8). I rejoice in Your loving kindness. Alleluia!

-Presentation Ministries (hat tip to Dad)

2 Comments:

Blogger leytbloomer said...

have you ever thought entering a religious life.. like being a nun?

i'm also a youth in our church and sometimes i felt confused on my calling if i will remain a "kinda" youth leader or to enter a religious life.

thanks.. hope to hear ur views..

have a great life!! God bless..

11:04 AM  
Blogger TCYM Lounge said...

lol-no, I'm not. Married life for me!!

I believe that it is vital for the lay of the Church to keep getting involved in the mission of the Church, as well as pursue and call others on to Holiness. I believe in what priests and religious do (actually, since Priests are ordained, the Relgious are in part "lay") I think we as single and or married need to be quite active.

Thanks for hangin' with us!

1:10 PM  

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