Sliney Central

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

Inspirational thoughts

Gentle of heart

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance.”  (Mt 5: 4)

     Three years ago, we made a stop in New Zealand before going to World Youth Day in Australia.  During one of our outings, I entered a sheep corral with a group of kids and suddenly one of the larger sheep rushed toward us with his head down.  My first reaction was to run, but then I remembered that it was a sheep!   Sure enough, as it approached, it slowed down and gently walked towards us looking for a little affection.

     Christ himself was referred to as the “Lamb of God”, and he was truly meek and humble of heart.  We need to ask Christ for this grace of gentleness and meekness, because for some of us, it can certainly be a struggle!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

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Christ is the protagonist

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “He must grow greater, I must grow less.” (Jn 3: 30)

    After making my first Profession of Religious Vows, a very holy priest reminded me, “Remember, Br. Michael, that you are a donkey.  You are carrying Christ in your heart and Christ will always be the protagonist.”  This is so true!  The inspiration to do good comes from Christ, the grace and strength to actually do it comes from Christ, and the positive results come from Christ blessing the effort.  He does ask for our collaboration, and although this is important, we need to always remember who is the protagonist!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

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Judging others

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “If you judge people you have no time to love them.”  St. Mother Teresa

   Are we here to judge or are we here to love?  If you could read the soul and history of a really prickly and difficult person, you would feel a lot more compassion than resentment.

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

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Open the door of your heart

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends, in Christ,

  “Christ says, ‘Give me all. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you….Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked- the whole outfit.  I will give you a new self instead.  In fact, I will give you myself: my own will shall become yours.”  CS Lewis

     Please, open the door of your heart and let the “Christification” process begin!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

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A judicious silence

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “A judicious silence is always better than truth spoken without charity.” –St. Francis De Sales

     I admire people who first listen, reflect, ponder…and then speak calmly with charity, wisdom, and without the passional outburst.

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

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Being with Jesus

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends, in Christ,

     “My greatest happiness is to be before the Blessed Sacrament, where my heart is, as it were, in Its center.” St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

     Several years ago, as I was coming out of a Parish youth activity in Northern Virginia, a fifteen seater van full of kids pulled up and the mom rolled the window and asked, “Fr. Michael, would you mind just staying here with these kids for 5-10 minutes?  I really need to make a visit to Jesus in the chapel!”  She looked a little frazzled and tired, so I agreed, and tried to do a catechism competition to keep them engaged.  Ten minutes later, she came out with a big smile on her face and thanked me from the heart.  She had filled her spiritual tank and was ready to go!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

True love…just gives!

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “Intense love does not measure . . . it just gives.”   — St. Mother Teresa

   Family vacation meant golf for my dad and my 2 brothers and I.  My mom resisted at first, but she eventually took the plunge when my oldest sister got married and no longer came with us on vacation.  I did my best to help with some lessons in the back yard with plastic golf balls, but it was super frustrating for her (and me).  She tried so hard!!  Her game was tennis, but she wanted to be with the ones she loved, so she kept plugging away.  It really was special to have her with us on the course, and yes, this was love!!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

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Lay down your arms

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends, in Christ,

     “Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms.” CS Lewis

     We all have certain vices/harmful ways of being, that we are not willing to give up.   Sanctity begins when you recognize this fact, lay down your arms, and allow God with the help of his grace, to gradually go there.

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC