Workout Wednesday with Fr. Marino

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin   POPE FRANCIS’ ADVICE FOR LENT Fast from hurtful words and speak kind words. Fast from sadness and pursue joy. Fast from anger and embrace patience. Fast from pessimism and cherish hope. Fast from worry and trust in God. Fast from complaints and be grateful. Fast from stress and seek calm. Fast from bitterness and choose harmony. Fast from selfishness and offer generosity. Fast from grudges and reconcile. Fast from talking and listen. On this SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , think about the Pope’s Lenten advice. While you may fast from food and drink during this penitential season, you might also consider fasting from behaviors and emotional responses that disrupt your peace of mind and interfere with your interpersonal relationships.  Remember these words of Jesus, “It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” Matthew 15:11.

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin   FAITH DOESN'T... Faith doesn’t Make difficult things easy. Faith makes difficult things possible. Faith doesn’t Take you out of the problem, Faith guides you through the problem Faith doesn’t Eliminate your pain Faith gives you the strength to bear your pain. Faith doesn’t Take you out of the storm. Faith calms you during the storm. Faith doesn’t Take away your fears. Faith enables you to overcome your fears. Faith doesn’t Move God. Faith moves you to trust God even if He doesn’t seem to be moving. Faith doesn’t Mean you have all the answers. Faith means that you believe God has all the answers. On this SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , remember that God has a purpose for your pain, a reason for your struggles, and a reward for your faith. Don’t give up. Courage is faith that has said its prayers. Say your prayers and be courageous.

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin   WHEN YOU… When you pray, GOD LISTENS. When you ask, GOD HEARS. When you listen, GOD SPEAKS. When you believe, GOD WORKS. On this SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , pray, ask, listen, and believe. God never fails us. Let’s never fail Him!

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin   WHAT “ROBES” BURDEN YOU? The king once commissioned his tailor to sew a new robe for him.  The tailor worked for months, using the most expensive fabrics, precious jewels, and metallic threads.   When the tailor finished the robe, he took it to the king with great pride and satisfaction, confident that he would be delighted with his work. The king donned the robe and sadly exclaimed, "It's too heavy, warm, and uncomfortable. It is burdensome to wear." The tailor replied, "Your Majesty, greatness often comes with discomfort." The king, reflecting on his life of wealth and luxury, said, "Then perhaps greatness is more of a burden than a blessing." The king ordered another new robe…plain, simple, and unpretentious.  Unburdened by the trappings of greatness, the king found comfort, peace, and joy in the simplicity of his new robe. On this SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY ,...

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY   A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin HOW TO PRAY THE “I DON’T KNOW” PRAYER Just go somewhere quiet And sit at the feet of God Then, say, “I don’t know.” I don’t know where to go from here. I don’t know what is happening. I don’t know what’s best. I don’t know how to process this. I don’t know which way to turn. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to handle this situation. I don’t know how to get through this. And then… With whatever little grain of faith that you can muster, say, “But You know…” And just leave it there. God hears your prayer. And He will never abandon you. On this SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY, just remember that even if you don’t know, God does. And He is at your side. Walk with Him.

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala,  OFM Capuchin DEPENDS ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE  Laziness kills ambition. Anger kills patience. Fear kills dreams. Ego kills growth. Despair kills hope. Jealousy kills trust. Doubt kills confidence. Hate kills love. Haste kills serenity. Anxiety kills faith. Sadness kills joy. Now reread it in reverse from right to left from the bottom line to the top line. On this SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY, choose your perspective: top to bottom or bottom to top. Left to right or right to left. Your perspective makes all the difference. Change your perspective and change your thinking. Change your thinking and change your life.  

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Cap. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? People wait... All morning for lunch, All afternoon for dinner, All day for five pm. All week for Friday. All summer for winter, All winter for summer, All year for vacation. All of their life  For happiness… Don’t wait! Don’t let the pursuit of what might come Diminish the joy of what is. On this SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , ask yourself what you’re waiting for.  Decide to live in the moment. Focus on the present. This moment, this minute, this hour, this day…each is a gift of God…allow the joy of NOW chase you down and overcome you.

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin A FRANCISCAN BENEDICTION May God bless you with discomfort With easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships So that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless you with tears To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war, So that you may reach out to comfort them and turn their pain into joy. May God bless you with foolishness To believe that you can make a difference So that you can do what others claim cannot be done To bring justice and kindness to all. May you be so blessed! On this SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY, bow your head and receive a Franciscan blessing so that you can share it with the world and bestow it upon others.  

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala,  OFM Capuchin LET’S LIVE BY THE RULE OF NATURE Nothing in nature lives for itself. “Rivers don’t drink their own water. Trees don’t eat their own fruit. The sun doesn’t shine on itself. Flowers don’t spread their fragrance for themselves.”                                                                                       ~ Native American Wisdom “Living for others is a rule of nature.  We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is. Life is good when you are happy. But life is much better when others are happy because of you.”                                           ...

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with  Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin BE A BRIDGE BUILDER One of the many things that surprised me when I first moved to Pittsburgh, PA, was the number, size, and beauty of its bridges. Even though each bridge created a different and valuable connection, there seemed to be far too many for one city to have. I realized that bridges provide a secure way for others to overcome obstacles and reach their destination safely, and I understood the need for so many different kinds. After using many of the bridges in my travels, it was apparent that all the bridges were necessary because, without them, it would be impossible for people and vehicles to cross the rivers, neighborhoods, hills, and valleys throughout the city. Thanks be to God for the gifted and talented architects and engineers who designed and built such beautiful and practical bridges. They became the city's focal point, and Pittsburgh became known as the “city of bridges.” As...