Father Marino's Meditations

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin I AM: LIVING IN THE PRESENT I was regre t ti n g t h e p ast a n d fearing t h e fu t u re. S udd e n ly m y Lord was sp e aki n g: “My n a m e is I a m .” H e p a u se d . I wa i t ed . He c onti n u e d . “W h en you live in t h e p ast w i th all i t s m istak e s a n d regre t s, it i s h ard. I am n ot t h ere. My n a m e is n ot I was. W h en you live in t h e fut u re w i th its p r o b le m s a n d fear s , i t is h ard. I am n ot th ere. My n a m e is n ot I will b e. W h en you live in t h is m om en t, it is n ot h a r d . I am h ere. “My n a m e is I a m .” And I am with you.   On this Spiritual Workout Wednesday , when regrets haunt you, worries trouble you, and future fears numb you, remember that God says His name is I am and “I am with you.” Make His name your mantra and whisper it throughout the day,

  WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with  Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin COMMEMORATING THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS IN JANUARY January is traditionally dedicated to honoring the Holy Name of Jesus. We recognize the power and holiness of His name and honor it by keeping the second commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.” Unfortunately, in our secular world, we may easily slip into using expressions that dishonor His name. Social media and perhaps our own conversations casually use/misuse God’s name. Consider the many times we have exclaimed or heard exclaimed, “OMG!” How many times have we seen this expression on social media? Let’s clean up our act! Let’s raise our conversation to a higher level! On this Spiritual Workout Wednesday , let’s resolve to listen to ourselves more carefully. Let’s think before we allow ourselves to dishonor God’s name. When God’s name slips out unintentionally in casual conversation, just add a quick “be merci

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with  Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin WHERE IS GOD WHEN WE NEED HIM? Although we know, and we believe that God is everywhere, sometimes we forget and think we are lost and that we have lost Him. The good news is that even when we think we have lost Him, He never loses us. Oftentimes God is found in the most unusual circumstances and in very surprising places. In every human experience, it is possible to encounter the presence of God. Sometimes it requires silence. Sometimes it requires patience. Sometimes it requires stillness. God is here, there, everywhere. Tune in to God to turn on to His presence. On the Spiritual Workout Wednesday, remember a time when you experienced God’s presence in a difficult relationship, in a failing, in loneliness, at work or in pleasure. Remember the comfort of knowing that despite the challenge you faced, God was with you through it all. If God brings you to it; He will bring you through it.

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with  Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin PRAYER: A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION Sometimes, we treat God like an ATM Machine. We stop by for a few minutes, tap in our identification and request what we want, and leave. It’s true that Jesus did say, “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”   Luke 11:9-10 But Jesus might be especially pleased with a few more prayers.   Let’s resolve this year to add a bit more to our prayer practice. ACTS is a good acronym to help us remember that asking God for what we want is just one way to pray. On this Spiritual Workout Wednesday , let’s consider adding A doration, C onfession , and T hanksgiving to our prayers of S upplication.

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS FILLED WITH 12 GIFTS The traditional season of Christmastide or Twelvetide begins on December 25, with daily festivities and gift giving, culminating in the feast of Epiphany, January 6, the manifestation of Jesus to the world. Rather than partridges in pear trees and endless drummers drumming, here are twelve sacred gifts, dear to the hearts of those who celebrate Christ year ’round. Enjoy opening each one! On the 1st day of Christmas our true love gave us LOVE : “See what great love the Father has lavished on us.” 1 John 3:1 On the 2nd day of Christmas our true love gave us HOPE : “For you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:5 On the 3rd day of Christmas our true love gave us WISDOM : “He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:21 On the 4th day of Christmas our true love gave us JOY: “He will yet fil

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Spiritual Workout with  Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin YOUR DESTINY IS IN YOUR HANDS There once was a wise man that was known throughout the land for his wisdom. One day a young boy, feeling that it was his duty, decided to test the wise man and prove that the wise man was a fake. The boy thought to himself, “I will bring a live bird to test the wise man. I will hold the bird behind my back and I will ask him whether the bird is dead or alive. If he says that it is alive, I will squeeze the bird and kill it. If he says the bird is dead, I will free the bird and let him fly away. Either way, I will prove that the wise man is a fake!” With that idea in mind, he approached the wise man and asked, “Oh wise man, I have a bird in my hand. Can you tell me if the bird is dead or alive?” The wise man paused for a moment and replied, “Young man, that which you hold in your hands is what you make of it. If you wish the bird to be dead, then it will die. If you

  WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout  with  Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin PRAYING THE “O” ANTIPHONS WITH HOPEFUL EXPECTATION The Roman Catholic Church has been praying the "O" Antiphons since at least the eighth century. These are special intercessions and prayers offered to the Infant Jesus expressing our hopes and desires as we await His coming.  They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament.  They proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah. Let’s pray the “O” Antiphons together in spirit this season! December 17 O Wisdom  of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!   December 18 O Leader  of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout  with  Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin IS IT REALLY DIRTY LAUNDRY? A young, successful couple found their dream home. Shortly after purchasing it, the couple sat at their kitchen table to indulge in a delicious breakfast. The wife looked out the window, and to her surprise, she saw her neighbor hanging dirty laundry on the clothesline. “That laundry isn’t clean, it’s still dirty!” she said to her husband. “Someone needs to teach her a thing or two when it comes to washing her clothes!” A couple of days later, the couple sat down at their kitchen table for another meal. The wife saw her neighbor hanging clothes on the clothesline. But this time something was different. “Wow, look!” the surprised wife said to her husband, “Her clothes are clean! Someone must have taught her how to do her laundry.” Without raising his head from his plate, the husband kindly responded, “Actually, honey, I got up early this morning and washed the window.

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout  with  Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin WHAT DO YOU OWN AND WHAT OWNS YOU? Reflecting on the meaning of stewardship, Bishop Thomas Murphy, Archbishop of Seattle, asks a two-part question. “What do I own, and what owns me? An honest answer to this question makes us realize that we own nothing and that God owns us. We are His. We conclude that we own nothing. We control nothing. Both the ordinary and the most profound moments of our life belong to God. Of course, most of us have worked long and hard for what we have. But we should not forget that if it weren’t for the health, intelligence, opportunities, work skills, and values that we have been given, we would not have been able to accomplish much. Even when we experience challenges we cannot humanly overcome, faith teaches us that it is not up to us. God has a plan for everything that happens to us. Only with God is everything possible. Thanksgiving is a mindset. It is a way of life.

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout  with  Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin CHRIST PROMISED 7 "NEVERS" TO THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM. THIS IS ONE OF THEM. “I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life” ( Revelation 3:5 ) Scripture teaches we who believe in Jesus Christ will have our name written in the Book of Life, in which God records the names of every person destined for heaven. Once our names are there, they will never be erased. We are His forever.  Jesus promised, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand”  (John 10:28-29 ). We don’t know when inevitable suffering or loss will happen to our families or us. Will we encounter multiple struggles and sorrows or have a comparatively easy life? We can depend on that, through Christ, we’ll never be alone or abandoned. We’ll never be