Sunday Meditation: How Can We Be Happy in Heaven if Our Loved Ones Aren't There?

Funerals turn the minds of the faithful to the four last things: death, judgment, heaven or hell. That's not too surprising when you think about it. Even those who have little or no relationship with God must think about "What's next!" when they attend a funeral. "Is this really all there is?... Where is my loved one, friend, acquaintance, colleague now?...What will happen to me after I die?" 

What We Can Learn from the Bees.

Bees have been the subject of countless meditations from the saints over the generations. They are mentioned so often I believe they must have a special place in God's kingdom. And what a privilege to serve as a beekeeper for these tiny creatures of God. They teach me so much.

Yesterday my husband and I inspected our hives to make sure they all have enough room to expand. This time of year we try to prevent swarming.

 Three hives had so many bees and the boxes were so full of nectar and pollen we added a new box to each one. It made me think of the posts I've seen lately about how many people have come into the Church this year. Praise God for all the newbies (and newbees)! 

Are You Praying the Stations of the Cross this Lent?

Every Friday my husband and I join several other members of the chapel for a holy hour for priests. It has become an essential and well-loved part of our week. We pray the rosary and then the stations of the cross. The prayers all focus on supporting our own priests and all the priests of the world in their challenging vocation. How desperately we need our priests. Without them Jesus cannot come to us here and now, really and truly present on our altars and in all the tabernacles of the world. 

The Winner in Yesterday's Elections? Karl Marx!

Readers can now see my posts on Substack which is friendlier than blogger. See this post there and please subscribe. A fellow member at Substack tells me they have never censored one of his posts. The B in Blogger stands for Bigot. If they dump me altogether, meet me at Substack.

Candidates who illustrate the assassination culture of the Democrat party swept Virginia yesterday. New York and New Jersey did no better. As for California, Gavin Newsom got the green light to gerrymander the state before the midterms to secure and maintain Democrat seats at the national, state and local levels. 

What now? 

Good and Evil Face Off in Woodstock

A small portion of the Patriots in Woodstock
rallying for Charlie Kirk.

Larry and I returned today from a two day stay in Staunton. It was not a planned vacation. We had tickets for a conference on regenerative farming being hosted by the Brownstone Institute. When they sent an email saying they had a long waiting list for the event, we decided younger folks would benefit more than we would. So we gave up our tickets. But I had booked a hotel reservation already paid for that couldn't be canceled. So instead of the conference we decided to take a mini vacation in Staunton. We planned a late lunch in Salem on Thursday with our five grandkids who attend Virginia Tech followed by two nights in Staunton doing a little exploring of the area. 

At the hotel, we watched a lot of the coverage on Charlie Kirk and marveled at the statement from his wife, Erika. What a testimony of faith and love! No hate, no unbridled anger, just determination to carry on Charlie's goal of "making heaven crowded."

Are you praying for the pope?

You should be. 

The Italians call him "Il Papa." He is our spiritual father. Does a child have the right to disrespect his natural father? Does the 4th Commandment say, "Honor your mother and father unless they offend you, sin against you, or make mistakes that hurt you?"

We have an obligation to pray for the pope just as we have an obligation to pray for our natural fathers, especially as they approach death.

That thought struck me today as I read about Pope St. Gregory the Great who's feast is today in the traditional calendar. I read this in Butler's Lives of the Saints:

Matt Walsh Channels Pogo: We've seen the Enemy and it is Us!

Yes indeed, Matt Walsh would certainly agree.

The country is falling apart and it's your fault.

Here's his opinion on Donald Trump and his supporters:

'We are teetering here on the brink of national disintegration and in this hour of immense and profound consequence, millions of Americans hoist a showboating charlatan on their shoulders and appoint him savior.