In the field of Social Psychology, we learn that people who have a strong social support system are more likely to overcome any adversity that comes their way. At-risk individuals are less likely to succumb to peer pressure, become drug addicts, involved in gangs, drop out of school, and other such negative outcomes if they have people in their lives that they can rely on. Why do I mention this? Because studies show that good friends make a positive difference in our lives! This holds true in our spiritual lives. St. Clare had St. Francis to look up to and emulate, the Apostles had each other and of course, Jesus, and St. Augustine had St. Monica, his pious and loving mother, to pray for his
So my husband and I have gotten hooked on a CW show called "Supergirl." On the episode we were watching, Supergirl is exposed to red kryptonite which brings out her darkest, meanest, and angriest self. She threatens the life of her controlling and self-centered boss, lashes out at her foster sister for always hovering over her, puts down the ex-girlfriend of her crush, and terrorizes the city with her wrath. In sum, our hero turns into a villain and loses the trust of the city she worked so hard to attain because of her anger! Although we can rest assured knowing that we will never be exposed to this fictitious "red kryptonite," we all have triggers that bring out the worst in us. For many o
The daily reading today came from John 6:22-29. The crowd that Jesus had just fed through His miracle of the multiplication of loaves noticed that Him and His disciples were gone, so they got on boats to find Him. Jesus tells them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” (John 6:26-27). What do you seek? Fame. Fortune. Success. Beauty. Popularity. Leisure. Travel. Power. These are but a few examples of the "food that perishes." There are countles
Today, we, the Church, celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord which is where Angel Gabriel appears to the young Mary and announces that she would become the Mother of Our Lord, Jesus Christ! Skydiving, climbing Mount Everest, and saving a burning village just doesn't seem as daunting as being the Mother of God. Angel Gabriel's first words to Mary were, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you" (Luke 1:28). Mary, however, was "troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be" (Luke 1:29). The Angel said that she was favored by God! Is that not a good thing? Why, then, would she be troubled? Most likely, Mary was pondering the questions- who me? Why w
