Inspirational thoughts

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

    “If, then, you seek to know what path to follow, take Christ because he is the way.”  (St. Thomas Aquinas)

     Christ came to serve.   We had a big “Angel for a Day” event every year to serve the inner city Catholic school families in DC and several of the local schools, parents and kids collected toys and dropped them off.  One Senior in High School impressed me in a particular way.  In the midst of college applications and an intense sports schedule, he dedicated several afternoons to personally collect toys from a local toy store near his house.  After getting permission from the owner, he set up a table and waited for hours asking people to either buy an extra toy or give him a few dollars so he could buy some toys.  He came by with several bags of new toys every week-end for a month…this is “real” service.

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends,…”  (JN 15: 5)

     A friend should be someone you can trust, someone who inspires you to be a better person, and someone who really cares about your well being.  Christ has been my best friend since my grade school days.  He has never let me down and he has gotten me through some really rough patches in life.  As I read about his life in the Gospels, he inspires me to be a more generous and selfless priest.  And nobody comes close to filling my heart with deep peace and joy, especially after receiving him in the Eucharist or spending time with him in front of the Blessed Sacrament.  He is a faithful friend who will never let you down, and he really wants to be your best friend as well!!

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

    “So stay awake, because you do not know the day or the hour.”  (Mt 25: 13)

     Our time on earth is limited.  There is a fixed day and a fixed time when we will officially depart this world.  Personally, I benefit from visiting cemeteries and looking at the various tombstones.  Most of the older ones are barely legible and this serves as a clear reminder of the vanity of the world.  Eventually, we will be forgotten by this world..  What matters in the end, is our fidelity and our love, and who we were able to lead to Christ and heaven.

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

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TKC!

A special thanks to Fr. Jason Smith, LC and Fr. Walter Schu, LC who helped contribute to my latest LifeZette article.http://www.lifezette.com/faithzette/the-divine-gift-of-ones-whole-self-marriage/

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

“If you believe what you like in the Gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.”

-Saint Augustine

    The Catholic Church does not promote the “Gospel of Prosperity.”  Christ never promised success, wealth or health…”Then he said to all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Lk 9:23).  Life can be really tough.  We should not be surprised by suffering and adversity, but we can also count on Christ to sustain us with his friendship, his peace and his grace.  Embrace your cross with love!  This is the path to peace and fulfillment!

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)

     Back in 1998, we brought a large group over to Rome for the Feast of Pentecost.  We were scheduled to have a special rosary with Pope John Paul II in the Vatican Gardens, but the crowds in St. Peter’s square rushed towards the gate when it opened for our group, so the Swiss Guards asked if we could form a human chain to keep the crowds under control.  Our guys volunteered for the job, and before long the guards were about to close the gates because the garden area was completely full.  Our guys offered to wait outside to control the crowds and to help lead everyone in a rosary on the steps of St. Peter’s along with Fr. Anthony Bannon, LC.  This was a tough sacrifice, but they did it with a great spirit.

     Two days later, we went to a Papal audience in St. Peter’s Square and as we entered the plaza, a Swiss Guard came up to me and mentioned that he could open up the barricade for our group, because the Pope would be driving right down this particular aisle. One hour later, the Pope drove down that aisle and most of our kids were able to touch him and see him up close.  Our little act of charity did not go unnoticed by God!

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “You can pray while you work.  Work doesn’t stop prayer and prayer doesn’t stop work.  It requires only that small raising of the mind to him: I love you God, I trust you, I believe in you, I need you now.  Small things like that.  They are wonderful prayers.”  St. Mother Teresa

 The key is to have constant awareness of the presence of Christ as your traveling companion, friend and older brother.  Strive for conversations with Christ or the Blessed Mother from the heart, taking a break from work/technology and re-charging your spiritual batteries.  For example, you can say these words as you are getting closer to home while in the car, “Jesus, I have had a long day at work and am about to walk in the door.  Please give me strength and patience to be a loving presence for my family”

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

Got Grace?

By Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

     “Got milk?” was a very successful television ad many years ago, showing satisfied, happy faces after drinking milk and flooding the screen with all of the nutritional advantages as well. The Catholic Church should consider doing an ad, “Got Grace?” Our worn down souls have a huge need for God’s grace and Lent is a great time to develop a healthy dependency on it.

     Nearly two years ago, I ran in the Hartford Marathon with two of my brother priests. Besides the practical advantage of getting back into shape and checking it off my bucket list, I thought it would help me better understand what it means to persevere in an endeavor that requires serious commitment and determination.  Several avid runners told me that I needed to buy a large supply of GU energy gels for my training and more importantly for the race itself. I resisted their urging until my body completely shut down near the end of a 16 mile training session…I think the 90 degree heat may have contributed to this breakdown! On the day of the race, I had five Gu packets stuffed in my pockets and systematically brought them out after the 4,8,12,16 and 20 mile markers…and I was extremely grateful for a gentleman on a bicycle who was handing out additional packets from mile 20-26.2…I had another 2 more!

     Persevering in Lent is similar to persevering in a marathon. Ash Wednesday is like the beginning of the race…lots of enthusiasm, focus, excitement and great hopes are at the starting line. Everyone has their resolution in mind, but as Lent drags on, some start to get tired, pull spiritual muscles or simply want out…perhaps the spiritual “GU” is missing fromtheir daily regiment? It also helped me, especially on mile 23, to remember that there was a finish line, that the fans were waiting and their would be a moment to celebrate with my brother priests. Easter is just around the corner…stay strong!

     Visit Jesus in the Eucharist! Don’t worry about what you are going to say, don’t worry if you hear anything or feel anything, don’t worry about all the other things you could be doing during this time. Make space to allow Jesus to love you! Go to Confession! Like a boxer going into the corner when the bell rings, we all need to leave the ring and get patched up by our trainer, the Holy Spirit. As the GU gel replenishes the body, Jesus will nourish your tired soul and give you the spiritual protein needed to continue on your transformational journey to holiness. Please, “waste time” with Jesus- you will never leave disappointed!

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends, in Christ,

     “God does not give Himself to a chattering soul which, like a drone in a beehive, buzzes around but gathers no honey. A talkative soul is empty inside. It lacks both the essential virtues and intimacy with God. A deeper interior life, one of gentle peace and of that silence where the Lord dwells, is quite out of the question. A soul that has never tasted the sweetness of inner silence is a restless spirit which disturbs the silence of others.” St. Faustina Kowalska

     We are all surrounded by constant noise on the radio, TV, Itunes, Iphones, conversations and events, and we can often engage in endless chatter….we need to get away and find a quiet place to pray.  Let your soul breathe the fresh air of God’s grace, and simply slow down.  God whispers…he will never shout.

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

“The recollection of an injury is . . . a rusty arrow and poison for the soul.” St. Francis of Paola

     Mistakes are often made in married life and even though behavior may change as a result and a lesson was truly learned, the guilty spouse may not fully appreciate how much damage was done or may not feel the necessary contrition.  Be noble, be magnanimous, take the high road and let it go…for Christ!!