Since quite a few of us are unable to attend Shaun's funeral, we were hoping to get together on the evening of Friday, August 24th, to offer up an hour of Adoration at St. Margaret Mary's Chapel in Harrisburg. I used to go there frequently when I lived in Harrisburg..it's a very small and peaceful place..and would be so awesome to fill with Shaun's friends that night to lift him up in prayer!
Also, there are small blue holy hour cards on the wall beside the donation box that we could use to send to his family if we wanted to do so.
August 24th also happens to be the feast day of St. Bartholomew (see below for more info. on his story).
Do you have a good friend who truly knows and loves you? Bartholomew, one of Jesus’ Twelve Apostles, discovered that Jesus knew him even before they had met for the first time. The Apostle Philip brought Bartholomew, who is also called Nathanael in the Gospels, to Jesus, telling him that Jesus was the person the prophets spoke about, the promised one of God. The moment Jesus saw Nathanael, he praised him, saying that he could see that there was no dishonesty in his heart. Nathanael immediately began to believe in Jesus. Jesus told Bartholomew that he would see great things because of his faith.
Jesus’ words certainly came true. Bartholomew did see and hear many great things as an Apostle of Christ. He saw Jesus heal the sick and perform other signs to show people God’s love. He heard Jesus talk about the Kingdom of God that was open to everyone who lived with love. He saw Jesus suffer and die on the cross to save all people from sin and he saw the Risen Lord, who told his disciples that they, too, could live forever if they followed him and his teachings.
After receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, Bartholomew traveled to foreign lands to share the Good News about Jesus with others. He founded Christian communities in parts of India and the countries we now call Armenia and Turkey. Although he always spoke the truth about Jesus, some people did not believe him and he died as a martyr.
St. Bartholomew reminds us that no one knows and loves us as much as Jesus. Like him, we can give our hearts and lives completely to the Lord. Even though Shaun faced many challenges, no one can argue that he didn't give his heart completely to God and our faith.
Lately, it seems suicide has been more rampant. During the last three weeks, two celebrities have killed themselves and a friend of a friend who was an up and coming singer/songwriter (see below for one of his songs called, "Nothing Left to Lose"). It's so sad to think these individuals felt they had nothing left to lose and chose to end things. What a sad world...we all have our inner demons and feel times of tremendous sadness. I can only pray for those who are afflicted with such despair and no hope for coming out of the darkness and those whom they have left behind through their actions. Life is such a precious gift and it breaks my heart to think of those who will never know these folks. Let's all cast up a prayer for those struggling from depression/anxiety/mental issues.
Let's give and take til it's nothing...nothing left to lose and we can begin to heal. http://mattryd.bandcamp.com/track/nothing-left-to-lose
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