Sliney Central

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

Inspirational thoughts

Gratitude

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “With God’s permission…hope and love are put to the test.”  St. Faustina

    During one of our home visits at the family mission in Avondale, PA., we spent time with a young mom with cancer.  Her head was completely bald, she lived in a trailer park with no air conditioning, but she had a radiant glow in her face.  She was upbeat and grateful to God for recently allowing her to have a baby in spite of many risks, and during our brief stay her focus was on serving us and making sure that we were comfortable…those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

Evangelizing your pond

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

    Which fish in your “pond of influence” do not know and love Christ?  Make a list, pray for them and offer up concrete sacrifices for them each day…and don’t be afraid to share the treasure in a prudent, sincere and heart-felt way!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

Taking your temperature

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

“I always want to see you behaving like a brave soldier who does not complain about his own suffering but takes his comrades’ wounds seriously and treats his own as nothing but scratches.”

–Saint Therese of Lisieux, to her novices

     How often are we asked, “How do you feel? How are you doing?”   We all have aches, pains and real difficulties, but in general, most people do not want to be burdened by them.  I am always impressed by people who put their best face forward, don’t complain, and focus on serving the needs of others.  The more you take your own temperature, the higher it rises!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

Praying

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “Whether, therefore, we receive what we ask for, or do not receive it, let us still continue steadfast in prayer. For to fail in obtaining the desires of our heart, when God so wills it, is not worse than to receive it; for we know not as He does, what is profitable to us” – St. John Chrysostom

     In the Our Father, we pray: “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”   We can certainly pray for anything, but this should be our main focus as it will lead to our greatest fulfillment as human beings as well.  Our focus should be on evangelizing and spreading his love and doing his will in each and every moment.  If your prayers are not answered to your liking, trust that Christ has a better plan in store…

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

St. John Paul II

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TKC!

“There is no place for selfishness—and no place for fear! Do not be afraid, then, when love makes demands. Do not be afraid when love requires sacrifice”

–St. Pope John Paul II

    An elderly gentleman from Poland told me a story about St. Pope John’s Paul’s days as a parish priest.  He had just arrived to his new parish on horseback during a blizzard and he was certainly tired and cold from the journey.   Most of the parishioners were in the church praying the rosary and he was told that one of their parishioners had not come back from his travels and they were praying for his safe return in the blizzard.  The Pope immediately set out with a few young men and came back with this man on his horseback six hours later…he saved his life!  He truly walked the walk in so many ways!!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

The Eucharist

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends, in Christ,

“Only to be with thee, only to see thee, sufficeth me. My heart is then at rest.  I wonder I am worthy of so much.”  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

     I always prefer seeing a friend “face to face”, and having a conversation “heart to heart”.  Nothing beats being with Christ where he is, body and soul.  Go to the Eucharist!!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

Overcoming obstacles

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “Jesus says, “My child, know that the greatest obstacles to holiness are discouragement and an exaggerated anxiety…sensitiveness and discouragement are the fruits of self-love.”  St. Faustina

     I have often used the expression, “You need to pound through difficulties.”  Life can certainly throw some painful and surprising punches at times (health issues, relationship issues, misunderstandings, etc…), but God wants us to go forward and to advance, and not allow the difficult circumstances to drain valuable time and energy.  When times get tough, our sincere love for Christ and trust in Christ has to kick in hard!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

Little by little

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “Little by little, one travels far.”  J.R.R. Tolkien

     You don’t climb the spiritual mountain of holiness in one day…it is a “little by little” process.  Some people never start because they are intimidated by the steepness of the climb.  Just start up the path with a little prayer here, a Hail Mary there, a Gospel reading, a visit to the Eucharist…and then it will start to happen.  Don’t get discouraged!!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC