+JMJ
Dear family,
We all experience moments in our lives when God feels distant, when His presence seems elusive, and His voice, once so clear, is now quiet.
These moments can be beyond lonely and frustrating!
We yearn for answers that don’t seem to come.
You may cry out to Him, searching your heart and soul, wondering where He has gone and why He is silent.
As Catholics, we’ve been told to trust in God's plan, to have faith in His divine will, but what do we do when His will feels impossible to understand?
In these moments, remember the saints who walked this road before us.
St. John of the Cross wrote about the "dark night of the soul," a time of spiritual dryness and desolation, yet even in that darkness, he clung to the hope that God was at work, drawing him closer in ways unseen.
Our Blessed Mother, standing at the foot of the cross, witnessed her Son’s agony and suffering, and while her heart was pierced with sorrow, she never wavered in her trust in God.
She knew the silence was not abandonment but the prelude to the greatest act of love.
We often feel God’s distance when we are suffering, whether through loss, illness, or confusion in our faith.
The temptation to doubt, to despair, is real.
It’s in these seasons that we must hold on even tighter to the truth of who God is.
He is a loving Father, not distant, but ever close...even when we cannot feel Him.
He is refining us, allowing our faith to grow in ways that comfort and blessings alone could never achieve.
This is the time to lean into the sacraments.
In the Eucharist, we receive Christ Himself, whether we feel His presence or not.
In Confession, we experience His mercy, healing the wounds we carry and clearing the path between our hearts and His.
When God feels far away, the Mass becomes even more essential...an anchor of grace in the storm.
Turn also to prayer, even when it feels empty.
St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who suffered years of spiritual dryness, still spent hours in prayer each day.
She knew that prayer is not about feelings but about fidelity.
Continue speaking to Him, telling Him how you feel frustrated, abandoned, lost.
He is there, even in the silence.
He hears every word, every sigh.
In fact, He often speaks most powerfully in the quiet moments when we’ve exhausted all our words.
When God feels far away, do not be afraid to cry out to Him, as the psalmist did, "Why, O Lord, do You stand far off? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?" (Psalm 10:1).
Yet, follow that cry with the trust of faith, echoing Jesus' own words from the cross: “Into Your hands, I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
This time of distance will not last forever.
God is at work in ways you cannot yet see.
The silence may be a time of preparation, of deepening your faith, or of leading you to a place where you will hear His voice more clearly than before.
Trust in His timing, His goodness, and His love for you.
Offer your suffering to Him, unite it with the cross of Christ, and rest in the promise that, even when we cannot feel Him, He is carrying us through the storm.
God is near, dear soul.
He never leaves us, even in the darkest hours.
Hold fast to your faith, and know that the dawn will break, and His light will shine brighter than ever before.
In the meantime, stay close to Our Lady, who understands this suffering more than anyone.
Let her wrap you in her mantle of grace, bringing you closer to her Son even when He feels far away.
As always, our entire family is here to give you hope & encouragement! We truly love you and pray for you daily! Never hesitate to send a prayer request!
Sending our love and prayers to our remnant family...Wendy, Walt and the entire Cukierski family
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(PS: Catholic Spiritual Guidance Lessons for you, featuring writings from Rev. Fr. Kilian McGowan
It's a spiritual lifesaver and you can read more HERE )
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***Don't Forget to See TODAY'S DAILY SPECIAL as it helps fund the Pediatric Mission! Click HERE**
-----From a physician we help...he sees to the medical needs of children no one else seems to be able to help -----
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We do what we say we do!I am begging for your help with The Pediatric Giving Mission.
---HELP IF YOU CAN----
Here is a post, from a recipient of what we do,.
L**** and I were one of the precipitants of This mission. She is right. My parking was 9 per day for 3 months. Then on top of that food cost me approximately 15 per day. That was cheap - I got vouchers for $5.00 per meal. So somedays I did not eat or made meals last for more then one meal. Had to. Parking was $810. Food was $1,300. Then you have normal household bills and I have 3 animals I had to pay to have people come and take care of them. At first I had my dog in the Kennel for 1/2 the time. That was about 500. It is VERY expensive to have a sick child. That was Just ONE hospital stay. We have had numerous ones. Some only a few days, some a week or two. Without their help we would of gone fully under!
From providing necessary funds to actually having families stay with us...we DO what we say we do!
