A Good News Story from Wheeling, but not about Clergy

Mercy Cuts to the Bone 

by Dr. Steven Miller, orthopedic surgeon

Tired, worried, and with dark circles around her eyes, Kelly Amato arrived at the Orthopedic Clinic at Wheeling Hospital without an appointment and with X-rays in hand. She asked me for my help. I immediately responded, "Yes, of course!" What happened afterwards was incredible — not just due to the outcome, but also for how it transpired and how it continues to inspire me spiritually.

Snowing in Woodstock, a Handful of Folks at Mass

I'm thankful this morning for four wheel drive. We live in the bottom of a dip with significant hills on either side of us. Last winter our son's van couldn't make it up the hill and their winter visit was extended by a day (which delighted us but made our 14-year-old granddaughter upset because they were going to visit their cousins). The only way we get out after a significant snowfall is with our Yukon's wheels all working. This morning, with about five inches of snow on top of the ice from Sunday's storm, we would be home bound if not for four wheel drive. Thanks be to God.

So, with the hill conquered, we went to morning Mass where a half dozen other intrepid souls gathered for praise and worship. The gospel today was the good  shepherd who leaves the 99 to go in search of the lost sheep who has wandered away. What struck me this morning was Jesus saying:

"It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost." (Matt 18:14)

James Webb: The Lost Sheep

Who are these "little ones?" Since he is talking about the lost sheep who's wandered from the fold, I have to think he is talking about every single person in the state of mortal sin. We are all God's "little ones" and when our souls lack God's grace through serious sin we are the "little" lost sheep. Think of it. The man or woman most committed to evil, even one totally dedicated to atrocities, is God's "little one." Hitler, Stalin, and every other genocidal monster are "little ones." Kermit Gosnell, George Tiller, Leroy Karhart, Douglas Karpen and all their fellow abortionists...all "little ones" in God's sight. Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, the Obamas, Kathleen Sebelius, Harry Reid, Terry McAuliffe and every politician committed to killing the innocent...they too are "little ones."

As I reflected on the gospel, I asked the Lord to change my attitude toward these individuals whom the world honors. They are poor, pathetic "little ones" more to be pitied than despised. And so I pray that the Lord will lay on my heart his view of sinners, "poor sinners" as Jacinta of Fatima called them. Our Lady, I'm sure, constantly pleads for them before the throne of God. May we have the same love for poor sinners and pray diligently for their salvation. Not all will be moved by the grace of repentance offered to them, but let their condemnation never be laid at our feet for lack of interceding for them.

Our Lady, refuge of sinners, pray for us.  

 

Are You a Lonely Ember or Part of a Roaring Fire?

Hat tip to Rick for sending me this. I thought it was worth sharing.  

THE SILENT SERMON

A member of a certain church,
Who previously had been attending services
Regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks,
The pastor decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home
Alone, sitting before a blazing fire.
Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the
Man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair
Near the fireplace and waited.

The pastor made himself at home but said nothing.

Looks Like a Book and a DVD for Elvis and the "Bigger Elvis" Fans

For more go here.

Read the Tale of Two Mothers...

...and ask yourself whom you would rather resemble - Andrea Bomberger who vowed as a little girl to love the unwanted or Margaret Sanger whose whole adult life was committed to eliminating the unwanted whom she considered "unfit."

Read Andrea's Story told by one of her adopted sons. I guarantee you will be uplifted and inspired. Thank you, Lord for men and women like Andrea and her husband who gave so many "unwanted" little ones a happy Christ-centered family!

When You Think Something is Impossible, Remember Nik!

He's a wrestler and a wonder. Don't miss his story. It will put a smile on your face and a can-do spirit in your heart.

St. Lawrence, Pray for Us

Today is the feast of St. Lawrence, my husband's patron saint. St. Lawrence was a deacon under Pope St. Sixtus who was responsible for distributing alms to the poor. When Pope Sixtus was being taken to martyrdom, St. Lawrence followed weeping saying, "Where are you going without your deacon?" The pope assured him he would follow him in three days. So Lawrence sold what was left of Church goods and gave all that remained to the poor. When the local Roman prefect demanded he produce the Church's treasure, Lawrence asked for three days to gather it together. Then he brought the poor people of Rome and presented them saying they were the treasure of the Church. The prefect didn't think much of St. Lawrence's response and ordered him grilled. St. Lawrence earned fame by asking the executioners to turn him over because he was done on that side.

Consider the joy and sense of humor of the saints as they faced gruesome martyrdom. The Roman maryrs were famous for singing as they were led into the coliseum for slaughter. St. Thomas More asked his executioner to wait while he moved his beard out of the way of the axe assuring him it had committed no offense. Think of St. Ignatius of Antioch being led to martyrdom and rejoicing that the beasts would grind him like wheat to make him the pure bread of Christ. What a symbol of Eucharist to remind us that suffering represents the greatest union with our Savior. St. John Roberts, a Welsh priest hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn joked as he was led through the streets to the scaffold. When someone in the crowd called out why he didn't wear his cap, he replied, "Why, are you afraid I'll catch a cold?"

Think how many souls these martyrs brought to salvation by their suffering and death. Can't we accept and rejoice in our tiny sufferings when we think of these spiritual giants?

St. Lawrence, on your feast day, please pray for us.

An Inspiring Story for Sunday

I remember after Vietnam the incredible disrespect shown for combat veterans who came home to be spat on and called "baby killers." Thank God today's vets are shown the honor and respect they deserve for being willing to place themselves in harm's way. Travis Mills deserves our thanks and may God bless him and his family.

What a Wise Little Boy....

with a great understanding of the Holy Eucharist. Don't you hope you can face death with such peace? Garvan, please pray for us.

God Doesn't Make Mistakes

It's what's on the inside that counts. May the little blind and deformed Blessed Margaret of Costello pray for this lovely family. Unlike little Christian, Margaret was rejected and abandoned by her parents because of her deformities -- like so many parents who kill their sick babies. Pray for them. They will never know how those little ones would have enriched their lives. God bless you, Christian, for what God will do through you.

Man's Best Friend...And Baby's Too!

Here's a wonderful rescue story about a family dog who stayed with his two-year old "master" when the baby wandered out into the cold night and got lost. The temperatures went down into the 40s and the baby had little on besides a diaper. The dog probably saved his life. Praise God for this happy story. And consider how all those rescue workers spent hours searching for that lost little one. If he were an unborn baby marked for murder, how many would care? Pray for the scales to be dropped from all eyes so people will recognize that the baby in the womb is no different from the two year old who wandered away in the night. "Rescue those being dragged to death." (Proverbs 24)  How? Join 40 Days for Life.