Elizabeth Tichvon, Author at Amazing Catechists

God’s Mother, Our Mother

Too often I need to remind myself that in my struggles I must turn to Jesus first, for He is my greatest consolation.

On this Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, I’m especially reminded of Mary’s suffering as she stood at the Cross of Jesus. How could she give the violence of her sorrow to her dying Son while He endured His own agonizing Passion?

Mary viewed her Son’s suffering with intense grief, yet in it she saw our salvation. Our Lady’s sorrows are embodied in the prediction and fulfillment of today’s Gospels; first, in Simeon’s prophesy of a sword piercing her heart, and second, in Jesus’ words to her and the beloved apostle, John, “Behold your son.” (John 19:26) “Behold your mother.” (John 19:27)

When Jesus gave Mary to John, He gave her to us as well. Now we, as members of the Mystical Body of Christ, share God’s Mother as our own – a Mother whose obedient and loving heart was pierced for the deliverance of our souls.

Elizabeth

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A Better Picture

By Elizabeth Tichvon

“You are greatly misled” (Mark 12:27) .

Recently I had a conversation with a friend who doesn’t believe in Jesus or in Heaven or Hell. He believes that when we die, our bodies will decay beneath the earth and that’ll be the end of it.

While deluded, his view of his eternal destiny sounds far less terrifying, even comforting, compared to the indescribable suffering that in fact awaits “those who, to the end of their lives, refuse to believe and be converted, where both soul and body can be lost.” (Catechism, Para. 1034).

St. Faustina was commanded by God to tell people they cannot avoid Hell by claiming on the Last Day they didn’t know it existed. She wrote in her Diary that when she was led by an Angel to the chasms of Hell, she discovered it to be awesomely large and extensive and a place of great suffering.

I shared with my friend a better picture, where on the Last Day the souls who died in God’s friendship will be reunited with their bodies and raised up like angels, “When they rise from the dead they are like the angels in Heaven.” (Mark 12:25) I conveyed what I know as truth from Scripture and the Catechism, which makes clear what God willed from creation. As my words reached his ears, I noticed a fragment of hope in his eye, as if he hadn’t known.

In the Gospels of Mark, Jesus revealed this truth to the Sadducees, but they didn’t believe either. Sadly today, many don’t. Some, like the Sadducees, reject it because they’ve been misled, while others, like my friend, simply don’t know. “You do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?” (Mark 12:24)

How then, will unbelievers find out before the Last Day? We, who ourselves have been led to the truth, must be joyful messengers of what Jesus revealed to us: that “God is the God of the living; not the dead” (Mark 12:27).

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Complete Joy

By Elizabeth Tichvon

The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle

Scripture from today’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26
Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
John 15:9-17

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

“I have told you this so that My joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.” (John 15:11)

Complete joy sounds unattainable in today’s world; after all, who really has it? People do. Jesus says it’s ours if we remain in His love by keeping His Commandments.

As Catholics, we have resources to do it, which alone should bring us joy. But we must accept the fullness of grace the Church has to offer. The Sacraments, frequent attendance at Mass, Adoration and prayer all help us keep His Commandments because they sanctify, instruct, nourish and strengthen us.

We can also learn from the lives of the saints, who knew what it meant to remain in God’s love. We should pray for the intercession of some of the great saints who often wrote about their joy, such as St. Faustina, “Great joy filled my soul to see the grace of God.” (Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska)

St. Therese of Lisieux described her joy as supreme, “…nearly ecstatic with the experience of supreme joy in my soul, I proclaimed: O Jesus, my love at last I have found my calling; my calling is love.” (Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux: The Story of a Soul)

What are we waiting for? God chose each of us to experience His joy within us, but first we must find out for ourselves what it means to remain in His love. Then, we must do it.

“If they want joy, let them find Jesus.” – Mother Teresa (Time Magazine, 1989)

Elizabeth

Repentance Points Us to Goodness

By Elizabeth Tichvon

The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, May 11, 2014

Fourth Sunday in Easter

Scripture from today’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 2:14A, 36-41

A reflection on today’s First Reading:

“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation!” (Acts 2:40)

This verse in the Book of Acts brings an image to my mind of a street activist holding a sign with those words scrawled across it — a scenario many would turn away from. But those who heard St. Peter’s speech at Pentecost were “cut to the heart” by it, and that day, three thousand were baptized and received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

How many of us were “cut to the heart” these past days of Lent and now seek forgiveness for our part in Christ’s death? Every one of us who has heard St. Peter’s message must also turn away from sin and allow the Holy Spirit to change us.

Here’s what the Catechism tells us about St. Peter’s message:

“Since Easter, the Holy Spirit has proved ‘the world wrong about sin,’ (Cf John 19:21) i.e., proved that the world has not believed in Him whom the Father has sent. But this same Spirit who brings sin to light is also the Consoler who gives the human heart grace for repentance and conversion.” (Catechism, Para. 1433)

Indeed, we must save ourselves from this corrupt generation! Repentance points us toward the goodness in our lives — it points us to God. Since Jesus Himself said that baptism is necessary for our salvation, we too must become sharers in His mission and stand up for St. Peter’s message — it doesn’t matter where or how we do it, but it matters that we do.

Gifts and Presence

By Elizabeth Tichvon

In this Octave of Easter celebration, we contemplate God the Father’s gift to us – His beautiful Son, Jesus, and the gift Jesus gave to us – His life.

Consider the abundance of gifts Jesus left behind so that we would know He is still with us. The gift of faith, which moves us to seek His presence. The gift of grace, the Holy Spirit living within us. The gift of forgiveness, so that we may be washed of every sin. Even greater, the gift of His physical presence in the Eucharist, which is what today’s Gospel writing of St. Luke teaches. Out of this sacramental gift comes His greatest gift – eternal life.

St. Luke describes the first physical presence of Jesus after His death and resurrection. While His disciples were discussing how they recognized Him in the breaking of bread, Jesus appeared to them in the flesh – what timing! But they were terrified, seeing Him alive after He had been dead, so Jesus left yet another gift – His peace; “Peace be with you,” He said, comforting them. They thought they were seeing a ghost, but Jesus reassured them, showing them His hands and feet, “Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have” (Luke 24:39).

We too, can recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread and be assured of His physical presence. Just as Jesus invited His disciples to “Touch me and see,” we can invite Jesus to “touch me” each time we receive His very body and blood in the Eucharist at every Holy Mass.

https://elizabethtichvon.wordpress.com

All We Have To Do Is Ask

By Elizabeth Tichvon

“Ask and you shall receive. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you” (Matthew 7:7).

If you’ve ever experienced the power of a novena, you can truly understand these words of Jesus told by St. Matthew in today’s Gospel.

Novenas are often discovered out of despair, when your own attempts for a solution have failed. You discover one that fits your situation and you start praying like mad, knowing there will be an answer. Deep inside we all have something called faith that awakens when called upon.

At first it seems that you are praying alone. Determined to find a happy ending to your story, you persist. Then God takes over and your days become filled with Him, into the night. You recognize this as grace because you’ve never been able to sustain such prayer on your own. That combination of desperation and a little faith begin working a small miracle in your soul.

When you call on your loving Father with all your heart as the anguished Queen Esther did in today’s First Reading, the fire of the Holy Spirit speaks to you with His presence, saying, you have found Me because you looked for Me in earnest. Now I will “turn your mourning into gladness, your sorrow into wholeness” (Esther C:25).

Peace begins, as your novena transforms itself from a cry of distress into a remembrance of your first encounter with the Divine.

Everyone is invited to knock, not just the inconsolable. But when the door opens and He calls you by name, you must enter. Then you will discover the enormous love of Jesus Christ . . .

“Lord, on the day I called for help, You answered me” (Psalm 138:3).

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Our Life, Our Sweetness and Our Hope: Amazing Catechists Offers New Rosary Series for 2014

By Elizabeth Tichvon

When we recite the Holy Rosary, we are reflecting deeply on the lives of Jesus and Mary as written in the Gospels. Therefore, we must clear our minds of all things temporal to hear what God is saying to us as we meditate on His life, His death and His glory.

It’s not always easy to set aside twenty minutes to pray the Rosary, but when we do, God amazes us with His grace; He rewards us for offering our time and energy as sacrifice for Him. If we find it impossible to pray five Mysteries after a tiring day, we may discover that praying with others can be encouraging and uplifting; peaceful and comforting, like a mother singing softly to her child. We’re never alone. Jesus’ Mother is ours; He gave her to us as she stood at the foot of the Cross and watched Him suffer and die. Now, through her historical messages to the world, she has taught us how to know Her Son through the events of His life and honor Him by imitating His virtues found in each of the Mysteries she asks us to pray daily.

Reciting the Rosary not only teaches, it gives us a sweet taste of Heaven as we begin to fall in love with our Savior and grow in grace and holiness. The more wisdom and understanding we receive, the more joyful we become and the brighter our lights shine.

I invite you to add a new method of prayer to yours by giving your weariness to Our Lady and consider praying the Rosary along with me. In no time you’ll discover how much you are loved by God, who is Love and Truth itself. Here’s the link to the videos on my Facebook page, Catechist Daily.

We at Amazing Catechists hope you’ll join us as our 2014 Rosary Series unfolds, and we wish you and your families the constant friendship of our Lord and protection of His Mother as we enter into a New Year of deeper spiritual reflection. Blessings!

Always a Catechist

By Elizabeth Tichvon

“The LORD secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets captives free.
The LORD gives sight to the blind. The LORD raises up those who were bowed down; the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers. The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts”
(Psalm 146:7-9).

I remember a day years ago, it was my first time working as a patient advocate at a cancer hospital and I felt uneasy entering the rooms of the sick and dying as a stranger. But as it turned out, the day was a success and I met wonderful, courageous people whose spirits were brightened just because I came to sit and listen and pray with them.

By the time I left the building, I was feeling pretty good about myself and was immersed in the joy I’d brought to the downhearted. Suddenly an old, homeless woman boldly approached me and asked for seventy five cents. “Don’t give it to her,” the young valet parking clerk interjected, “She’s a regular – a swindler.” The old woman laughed and jeered at him for his assessment of her. She wore layers of fetid clothing and rolled her possessions on a cart that was on its last legs.

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THIS PATIENT? WHAT WILL YOU DO WITHOUT YOUR CLIPBOARD, WITHOUT A BOX TO CHECK, WITHOUT A PRIVATE, SANITARY ROOM TO SAFEGUARD YOU, WITHOUT NURSES OR DOCTORS NEAR? WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THIS PATIENT, WHOSE HOSPITAL ROOM IS HERE ON THE STREET?

I’d heard of the Holy Spirit speaking to the hearts of the faithful, but hadn’t yet distinguished His voice within me. At that moment, however, it was unmistakable and I responded without waver. I smiled back at her, gave her a bill and told her it was from Jesus, who loved her very much. The valet clerk looked dumbfounded while the woman was pleasantly surprised, snatching the bill from my hand.

I drove off and when I was some distance away looked back to spot her. She was hiding between two buildings, stretching her neck, waiting to catch a glimpse of me as I passed by and didn’t take her eyes off my car until it was out of sight.

I don’t know the extent to which God used me that day but I learned that love starts with the compassion of Jesus and flows through us to those He puts in front of us. He loves each of us, whether we dwell in a house, a hospital room or a simple shelter from the cold. All He needs is our little “yes” when He calls, which is far more often than we notice. He gives us thousands of opportunities outside of the classroom to bring hope to others, whether rich or poor, but we must listen for His voice and accept His grace. He’ll do the rest. Love really is that simple.

Teacher of Evangelists, Teach Us!

By Elizabeth Tichvon

… a reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

“He spoke to them at length in parables.” (Matthew 13:3)

The teaching technique Jesus used was established by His Father, who gave Jesus everything. Stories or parables were the method God chose to reveal the unseen to us through His Son. This way, we identify with what’s familiar to us so we can see more clearly the mysteries of Heaven. But before we can understand anything, we must do what Jesus taught those gathered around Him in today’s parable of the sower: listen. “Whoever has ears ought to hear.” (Matthew 13:9)

In this story, Jesus shows a relationship between us and soil. Like soil, we become richer by what God reveals to us. The more we listen, the more He reveals—the richer we become, and we begin to produce fruit that brings joy to both God and us. But if we only listen for awhile and then allow ourselves to be drawn in by earthly pleasures, we’ll resemble the first three kinds of soil in the parable, and wither for lack of roots. If we don’t listen at all and let sin take over like weeds, God’s Truth gets choked out altogether and we stop growing. Jesus is teaching us how to develop and deepen our relationship with Him so we won’t be like the shallow or unfertile soil where nothing ever grows.

Certainly, our objective is devotion to God and love of neighbor; Jesus simply uses images from our everyday life such as seed and soil to help us understand and become rich in the ways of Heaven, not in the ways of this world. When we cultivate our own will, Jesus, the Master Sower will take care of tending our minds and hearts.

Our Father

By Elizabeth Tichvon

“Father, hallowed be Your name. . . “ (Luke 11:2).

Ever since I was old enough to say it, I thought the opening of our Lord’s Prayer was purely to praise the name of God, but was surprised when I learned it’s actually the prayer’s first petition. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus Himself teaches us how to ask not only for the things we can rightly desire, but also in the sequence in which they should be desired.

When we say the first petition, “Hallowed be Your name,” we’re asking the Father that His name be made holy in us so that we may be made holy before Him through our actions. God’s name is blessed when we strive to live in a way that’s pleasing to Him, but His name is cursed when we live wickedly. We’re asking then that, just as the name of God is holy, we may obtain His holiness in our souls.

Once we begin every prayer with this in mind, we feel a sting whenever we hear the holy name of God being abused with casual indifference. That’s why we don’t say hallowed be Your name in us, but we ask that His name be hallowed in everyone.

Jesus not only gives us the words to the most perfect of prayers, He gives us His spirit. So when we begin the Lord’s prayer the way He Himself did, we’re preparing ourselves to ask much more of our Father, and we can be certain that in His generosity, He will give it.

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