Looking For A Better Appreciation Of The Mass? Here’s Your Answer!

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Gary Zimak

I’ve always been a fan of the products offered by Midwest Theological Forum. Their Didache Series of books is one of the best Catechetical resources that I’ve seen. Among the topics covered are the Sacraments, the Church and the Bible and I highly recommend them for private or group study.

Today, however, I’m writing about their brand new DVD, Remain With Us, Lord. The 33 minute explanation of the Mass features interviews with Fr. Robert Barron, Archbishop Jose Gomez and several parishioners who share some personal observations about the Mass. As each part of the Mass is discussed, you’ll find yourself gaining a greater appreciation and understanding for this tremendous gift. Perfect for new and returning Catholics, teachers or students of RCIA and small faith sharing groups, this video presentation will explain the Mass in an entertaining and memorable way. For more information or to purchase the DVD, please visit the Remain With Us, Lord website.

Posted in Mass, product reviews, products, Real Presence | Comments Off

Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle on “Listen To Your Blessed Mother”

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Gary Zimak

?In Listen to Your Blessed Mother, using Scripture and personal stories, author Gary Zimak takes us by the hand and unambiguously leads us to a greater appreciation of our Mother in heaven so that we might strive to imitate her virtues while allowing Mary to take us by the hand to her Son Jesus. Highly recommended!?

(Donna-Marie Cooper O?Boyle, EWTN TV Host and author of sixteen Catholic books including The Miraculous Medal: Stories, Prayers, and Devotions)

Order your copy today and receive a limited time 25% discount!

Posted in Blessed Mother, book reviews, Gary's Book, Listen To Your Blessed Mother, Listening To Mary's Voice, Marian, Mary | Comments Off

Listen To Your Blessed Mother Is Now Available!

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Gary Zimak

This is a big week for me. On August 7th, I’ll be heading to the Catholic Marketing Network’s annual trade show. This year the show will take place in Somerset, NJ and I’ll be joining a “who’s who” of prominent Catholic authors and personalities as we come together to showcase our latest works. It will be a big thrill to officially debut my latest book, Listen To Your Blessed Mother, and to meet many of the retailers who will be carrying the book.

While at the trade show, I’ll be making several appearances (in person and on the radio). Here is my current schedule:

Author Reception (Grand Ballroom, DoubleTree Hotel)
Wednesday, August 7, 5:15 to 6:45 pm

Author Booth Signings (Liguori Booth #708)
Thursday, August 8th, 3:30 to 4:30 pm

Catholic Connection with Teresa Tomeo
Thursday August 8th at 9:40 am Eastern

EWTN Radio “Live from the CMN” with Thom Price
Friday August 9th at 10:15 am Eastern

Some people have asked me why I felt the desire to write a book about the Blessed Mother. Aren’t there already many books about Mary? To be totally honest, although several books have been written about Our Lady, there was a void. When I searched for a book that focused on Mary’s words in Scripture, I couldn’t find one. As a result, I felt called to write it. As I started to work on the project, I made the decision to also include all of Mary’s Biblical appearances, even when her spoken words were not recorded. The end result is that through this book, you’ll learn how to “hear” the Blessed Mother speak to you through the pages of the Bible. And her message is POWERFUL!

If you’ve ever wanted to get closer to Mary, if you want to better understand her words in Scripture or if you’re looking for a resource for your prayer group or Bible study, this book is for you. The reflection questions at the end of each chapter will help guide you, as you “listen” to Mary’s voice speaking directly to you. Order your copy (at a 25% discount) by going to the following link and remember to…

Listen To Your Blessed Mother!

?Biblical, personal, engaging, and thought provoking are just a few words that come to mind when reading this wonderful book! The Virgin Mary truly is our BLESSED Mother, and listening to her words in Scripture can help us to become blessed, too. Gary Zimak has done a great service for both Catholics and non-Catholics in offering a book that unpacks the biblical words of Mary in a very conversational and easy-to-follow style. The reflection questions and points to ponder at the end of each section will be of great benefit to the reader, too! I highly recommend this book!?

(Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, STL, Author ? Under the Mantle: Marian Thoughts from a 21st Century Priest)

Posted in Blessed Mother, Gary's Book, Listen To Your Blessed Mother, Listening To Mary's Voice, Marian, Mary, Mother of God | Comments Off

I Need A Miracle

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Gary Zimak

Over the course of my life, I have witnessed many miracles – Meeting and marrying my wife (despite numerous obstacles), the birth of my daughters (when the doctors predicted they would die), having two of my books published by a major Catholic publisher, appearing as a regular guest on numerous network Catholic radio shows (despite having no background in radio), hosting my own nightly radio show which reaches an international audience and being given the opportunity to work as a FULL time Catholic Evangelist. Miracles are nothing new to me and I have absolutely no doubt that the Lord can perform them in my life. I need another one…

As many of you know, since January of 2012 I have worked full time (after experiencing my first job layoff) as a Catholic Evangelist. I support my family through speaking engagements, book sales and donations. In addition, I have spent approximately $100,000 of my savings to finance my ministry. As much as I would like to continue to fund my work on my own, that is now impossible. Barring any additional unforeseen expenses (such as the broken dishwasher and the physical therapy for my recently diagnosed rotator cuff tendonitis), I have enough savings to last through mid-October. Unless something changes, Following The Truth will cease to exist at that time and I will seek a new way to provide for my family.

As dire as it sounds, I’m not panicking because there is an answer and that answer is YOU!

Since so many of you have been kind enough to tell me how much you appreciate my work, especially my nightly Following The Truth radio show, I am turning to you for help. The first thing I need is your prayers…LOTS of them! Secondly, if you believe in my work and would like to see it continue, I am asking 100 of you to partner with me and become monthly sponsors of Following The Truth for $10/month. If 100 of you would pledge $10/month (33 cents/day), I will be able to continue my nightly radio show and my full time mission of sharing the “Good News” of our Catholic Faith for the foreseeable future. All you need to do is use the PayPal “Subscribe” button on the bottom of this post. If you can donate more than $10/month, I would GREATLY appreciate it, but don’t feel pressured. If 100 of you could donate $10, you could “painlessly” allow that miracle to take place and join with me to spread the gospel. Also, please be aware that you can cancel your monthly subscription at ANY time, even after one month. Although I greatly need monthly sponsors, if you’d rather make a one time contribution, that would also help. You can find the “Donate” button at the bottom of this post as well. Incidentally, you can contribute via PayPal even if you do not live in the United States. I have several monthly sponsors who live in the UK and PayPal automatically handles the currency conversion.

Since I’m asking for your financial support, I owe it to you to be as transparent as possible. I’ve already mentioned that I have spent nearly $100,000 of my own money to support my ministry (and I have no regrets), but you may wonder what my annual income is. In 2012, between book sales, speaking engagements and donations I earned $20,000. This year, I estimate that my annual earnings will be approximately $25,000. Living an extremely modest lifestyle (no vacations, rarely eating out, no sporting events, concerts or other activities), our monthly expenses are approximately $6,000 (the bulk of which is health insurance, mortgage, utilities and food). Comparing my monthly expenses to my annual income, it’s rather easy to see why I’m in a financial bind.

Another question you may have is why your donations are not tax deductible. While the short answer is that I’ve never sought tax exempt status, there is more to the story. In addition to desiring to avoid all of the expenses and complexities of becoming a 501(C)(3) corporation, I want to be able to freely speak my mind when it comes to Catholic teaching. Having tax-exempt status can limit your freedom to boldly proclaim the teachings of the Church. Additionally, when people donate to my ministry I want them to do so because they believe in my work and not because they want a tax deduction. There is no doubt that those who contribute to Following The Truth believe in my work and are not looking for a financial benefit.

In addition to asking for your financial help, I am looking for new merchandising opportunities and stepping up my efforts to book new speaking engagements at parishes and conferences. This effort is already bearing fruit, but it can be a slow and labor intensive process. Unfortunately, my monthly creditors will not wait and the bills must get paid. Please keep me in mind if you are in need of a parish speaker. My talks on anxiety have been very well received and I also speak on numerous other topics as well.

Finally, although I consider myself to be in need of a miracle, I consider obtaining 100 monthly sponsors at $10/month to be a very achievable goal. Based on the number of my daily radio listeners alone, it is totally realistic. But it is not going to happen without YOUR help. Too often we think that someone else is going to contribute or we put it off and forget about it. When we think like that (and I’m guilty of it too sometimes), nobody donates and many ministries then cease to exist. Times are hard, my friends, and many ministries and charities are hurting. At the same time, I believe (and I’m sure you do as well) that the world is in great need of hearing the “Good News” of the Catholic Faith.

The future of my ministry is very much in your hands. I will continue to do what I can do, but your financial support is necessary for my work to continue. In September, we’ll begin the 3rd annual 33 Day Preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary on my nightly radio show. If I have the financial resources to continue through October, I plan on once again doing an Advent and Lenten radio retreat (both of which were very well received in prior years). Additionally, I have started to work on 2 additional books, one of which is a step by step guide to eliminating worry from your life. There is still a great deal of work to be done and I am anxious to do it! If you believe in my work, I ask you to partner with me and help it to continue. I cannot do it alone, I need you to be a part of the Following The Truth team! If you are unable to help financially, please keep me in your prayers. Thank you and be assured that you will be in my daily prayers. If you have any questions or need my help in any way, please feel free to email me.

God Bless You!

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Posted in finances, Following The Truth | 2 Comments

A Little Faith Goes A Long Way!

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Gary Zimak

How important is faith? According to Jesus, it’s VERY important:

“Whatever you ask for in prayer, you will receive it if you have faith.” (Matthew 18:22)

“Daughter, your faith has made you well.” (Mark 5:34)

“Rise and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:19)

We often become uncomfortable when we read Jesus’ words, fearing that the reason our prayers aren’t answered is due to a lack of faith. This can result in anxiety because we don’t know how to increase our faith. In fact, doesn’t the Church teach that faith is a gift? If that’s the case, is there ANYTHING that we can do to increase it? Interestingly enough, the apostles had the same concern and took it up with Jesus:

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5)

As per usual, Jesus’ answer is a bit surprising:

The Lord replied, ?If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to [this] mulberry tree, ?Be uprooted and planted in the sea,? and it would obey you.? (Luke 17:6)

If we read between the lines, the Lord appears to be telling the apostles that they are not making use of the faith that they already have. This message applies to each one of us. While praying for an increase in faith is certainly a recommended practice, are we making use of what we?ve already been given? A good example of putting faith into practice can be found by looking at an event that occurred as Jesus and His disciples experienced a storm while riding in a boat. While this is hardly a story that ever gets used to illustrate what strong faith looks like, dissecting it can yield some surprising conclusions.

He got into a boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, ?Lord, save us! We are perishing!? He said to them, ?Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?? Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, ?What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?? (Matthew 8: 23-27)

For years, I would look at this story and criticize the disciples, wondering how they could be worried when Jesus was in the boat with them. Recently, however, I’ve come to realize that they handled this situation a lot better than I’ve handled similar events in my life. Instead of just worrying when they realized their lives were in danger, they went to Jesus and asked Him to save them. That was smart! How many times do we begin worrying about our problems and forget to pray? The fruit of their prayer was that Jesus calmed the storm. He didn’t say, “Sorry, you didn’t trust me. You’re on your own!” Notice also that Jesus never said they had no faith, saying instead that they possessed “little” faith. Obviously, they had some degree of faith in Christ because they went to Him for help. They believed that He could fix the problem. While their faith may have been weak, they had SOME faith and that was enough!

While it’s encouraging to realize that we can indeed “move mountains” with faith the size of a mustard seed, imagine what we could do if our faith was even greater! So what can we do? How is it possible to increase our faith? In his apostolic letter Porta Fidei, Pope Benedict XVI addressed this very question:

Faith grows when it is lived as an experience of love received and when it is communicated as an experience of grace and joy. It makes us fruitful, because it expands our hearts in hope and enables us to bear life-giving witness: indeed, it opens the hearts and minds of those who listen to respond to the Lord?s invitation to adhere to his word and become his disciples. Believers, so Saint Augustine tells us, ?strengthen themselves by believing?.

One of the best ways for our faith to grow is by putting the faith we already have into practice. The more we trust in the Lord and His providence, the more He will increase our faith. This often means stepping into action, even if we’re afraid. It means praying for a miracle healing or a new job, even when the odds are against you. The very act of praying implies that you do have faith and that you’re trusting in God. You may not trust a lot, but you trust enough to ask for His help. Don’t let the fact that you’re afraid cause you distress. Being afraid isn’t as important as what you do with that fear. The disciples were afraid during the storm, but that fear led them to go to Jesus. They exercised what little faith they had and the Lord came to their assistance. Good things happen when we step out in faith. The greatest example of this can be seen when we look at the life of our Blessed Mother. Her “yes” (even though she didn’t know most of the details) resulted in the arrival of our Savior!

By all means we should continue to ask the Lord to increase our faith, but we must never forget to make use of the faith we already have by praying frequently and with confidence. By doing so, an outpouring of graces and blessings will be unleashed?even if our faith is as small as a mustard seed!

“Faith is one foot on the ground, one foot in the air, and a queasy feeling in the stomach.” (Mother Angelica)

Posted in anxiety, faith, fear, trust, worry | Comments Off

Listen To Your Blessed Mother – She Has A Message For You!

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Gary Zimak

For most of my life as a Catholic, I was confused about the role of Mary. While I accepted the fact that she was important to Catholics, I didn’t understand WHY she was important. That changed BIG TIME for me a few years ago when I finally saw the light and accepted her as my spiritual mother. As a result, my life changed drastically and she has brought me closer to Jesus than I ever thought possible. I’d like to tell you about my “Mom” by looking at what is recorded about her in the Bible. I think you’ll agree that she has a powerful message for you!

Here’s what other Catholic authors are saying about my new book, Listen To Your Blessed Mother:

(Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, STL, Author ? Under the Mantle: Marian Thoughts from a 21st Century Priest)

“Listen to your Mother! How many times did we hear those words growing up? How many times did we roll our eyes and ignore the sage advice only to find out later on that Mom indeed did and does know best, especially our Blessed Mother. Now, straight from Scripture, Gary Zimak has given us even more reason to pay close attention to what our Mother, as in Mary has to say about living a grace filled life in this world so we can be with her and her son in the next. This book will definitely bring you closer to the heart of Christ through the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of God.”

(Teresa Tomeo,Syndicated Catholic Talk Show Host,Best Selling Catholic Author)

(Donna-Marie Cooper O?Boyle, EWTN TV Host and author of sixteen Catholic books including The Miraculous Medal: Stories, Prayers, and Devotions)

“With candor and simplicity, Gary Zimak reveals the power of Mary’s words in Sacred Scripture. No matter where you are in your spiritual life ? or in your relationship with the Blessed Mother ? this book will help you find new meaning and guidance in her words: words that Zimak shows are applicable to any of the problems or decisions you face each day.”

(Vinny Flynn, Author of 7 Secrets of the Eucharist, 7 Secrets of Confession, and 21 Ways to Worship)

?When I was given an opportunity to review Listen to your Blessed Mother, I hesitated only because of the full plate I was dealing with at the time. When I finally dove into this wonderful book, I realized that Gary Zimak has written a beautiful love story about our Blessed Mother and one which needs to be shared with everyone. His description of his growing love of Mary from his childhood to the powerful impact her intercession has had on his life as an adult is riveting. His use of scripture about the Blessed Mother and the few words spoken by her helps the reader share in her life and purpose. The reflection questions at the end of each chapter challenge us to grasp the role of the Blessed Mother in our own lives. I strongly recommend this book!?

(Randy Hain, author of Along the Way: Lessons for an Authentic Journey of Faith and co-founder of Integrated Catholic Life eMagazine)

?Jesus is our brother, and so his Father is our Father, his mother is our mother. How sad that so few Christians know the perfect maternal love that God has given us in his family. Jesus tells us beloved disciples, ?Behold your mother.? What a sweet command! And Gary Zimak has made it sweeter still.?

(Mike Aquilina, EWTN host and author of more than 30 books on Catholic history, doctrine and devotion)

?Gary has given us great insights about our Blessed Mother Mary in Scripture which makes this not only a wonderful book for Catholics but also a great resource for evangelizing those outside the Church. This is definitely a book you can share with your evangelical friends to help them come to know and love our Mother Mary.?

(Gail Buckley, Founder & President. Catholic Scripture Study International)

?It?s such an obvious way to follow Jesus through Mary, that I?m surprised this book was not written before. While some think going directly to Jesus is the fastest and surest way, Gary shows us how wrong that thinking is. He shares his own zig-zag journey to Mary as a way to grow closer to Christ. Though Mary in the Bible, Gary helps us to relish her role in salvation history, reflect on her life, and embrace her love for us.?

(Patti Maguire Armstrong, award-winning author and managing editor and co-author of Ascension Press?s Amazing Grace Series)

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!!!

Posted in Blessed Mother, book reviews, books, Gary's Book, Listen To Your Blessed Mother, Listening To Mary's Voice, Marian, Mary | 1 Comment

Suffering? 10 Lessons We Can Learn From The Agony In The Garden

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Gary Zimak

Over the course of our lives, it is inevitable that we will experience suffering. It is also inevitable that this suffering will cause us to ask many questions:

Why me?

What should I do?

Is it okay to feel anxious or sad?

Can God help me?

Fortunately for us, the answers to each of these (any many more) questions about suffering can be found by studying Jesus’ actions on the night before He died. Here are 10 lessons that we can learn from the Agony in the Garden.

1. It’s Okay To Be Troubled – Sometimes we think that feeling sad or nervous means that our faith is lacking. We assume that if we trust God, we should always be happy. Not true! While we should avoid worrying, fear and sadness are normal human emotions. Jesus was “sorrowful and troubled” (Mt 26:37), “greatly distressed” (Mk 14:33) and “His sweat became like great drops of blood” (Lk 22:44). It’s perfectly acceptable for you do feel the same way when faced with difficulties in your life.

2. Prayer Matters – While there’s nothing wrong with feeling distressed or sad when facing difficulties, we should never succumb to useless worry. Instead, we should imitate Jesus and PRAY!

3. Ask Your Friends For Help – One thing that makes suffering more intense is the feeling that we’re in it alone. In his agony, Jesus teaches us an important lesson. Ask others for help! Jesus asked Peter, James and John to accompany Him as He prayed in the garden. When we’re in trouble, we should ask people to pray for us. In addition to our earthly friends, we can ask the saints in Heaven and the souls in purgatory to intercede on our behalf. There is never a reason to suffer alone!

4. God Can Do All Things – No matter what you are facing, ALWAYS remember that there is hope. Jesus assures us with the following words, addressed to His Father:

“Abba, Father, all things are possible to you.” (Mark 14:36)

5. It’s Okay To Ask For Relief – Sometimes we’re afraid to ask the Lord to take away our suffering. We shouldn’t be. Jesus did exactly that:

“My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me.” (Mt 26:39)

Always feel free to ask the Lord to remove your suffering, but…

6. Thy Will Be Done – We should accept the Lord’s decision. When Jesus prayed that His suffering might pass, He appended the words “but not as I will, but as thou will” to the prayer (Mt 26:39, Mk 14:36, Lk 22:42). Adding this powerful phrase ALWAYS ensures that we are praying in accordance with God’s will, even if His will is unknown to us!

7. Prayer Always Works – We often complain that God doesn’t answer our prayers. What this really means is that He doesn’t answer them in the way we’d like. We have to trust that, when we pray, we’ll always receive what we NEED, not necessarily what we WANT. In His humanity, Jesus prayed that His suffering would be removed (if it be the Father’s will). As it turned out, this was not the Father’s will. It was necessary that Jesus endure suffering so that mankind could be redeemed. In addition, Jesus received something that He didn’t request, but something that helped Him to carry His cross:

“And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him” (Lk 22:43)

8. Don’t Stop Praying – In times of trouble, one of our biggest temptations is to stop praying. If the Lord doesn’t answer fast enough, we often stop praying. Big mistake! In his gospel account, St. Matthew tells us that Jesus prayed three times in the garden “saying the same words” (Mt 26:44). Therefore, it’s perfectly fine for you to continually ask God to heal your cancer or help you find a job!

9. Pray To Avoid Temptation – While He was in the garden, Jesus warned Peter, James and John to pray that they would not enter into temptation (Mt 26:41, Mk 14:38, Lk 22:46). What’s one of the biggest temptations that we can encounter in the midst of suffering? Despair! Without prayer, it’s very easy to give up as we tire of carrying our cross. Take Jesus’ words seriously and keep praying even if you don’t feel like it.

10. Angels Are Real – Do you believe in angels? You should because they are VERY real and can help you! When Jesus was agonizing in the garden, who was sent to strengthen Him? Certainly not Peter, James and John because they were asleep! Instead, an angel was sent to strengthen the Lord (Lk 22:42). Each of us has a guardian angel who watches over us. Remembering that fact during times of trouble can be extremely comforting. If an angel was sent to strengthen the Lord during His incredible agony, couldn’t your angel do the same for you?

As Christians, we are all called to imitate Jesus. There is no better time to do so than during our times of suffering. Not only did Christ suffer much, but He can teach us a great deal about HOW to suffer. Following His example can help us greatly as deal with our daily struggles.

Posted in anxiety, fear, prayer, suffering, worry | Comments Off

Don’t Let Fear Stop You From Saying “Yes”!

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Gary Zimak

“If you want to do something for the Lord, do it! Whatever you feel needs to be done, even though you’re shaking in your boots and you’re scared to death – take the first step. The grace comes with that first step, and you get the grace as you step. Being afraid is not a problem. It’s doing nothing when you’re afraid, that’s the problem.” (Mother Angelica)

It’s okay to be afraid.

Are you kidding me? The author of A Worrier’s Guide To The Bible and a frequent speaker on conquering anxiety is saying that there’s nothing wrong with being afraid…what’s going on here? Well, friends, I really did mean what I said. As I often state in my parish talks, fear is a perfectly normal emotion in certain circumstances. It can even be helpful, especially when it motivates us to DO something. On the other hand, fear becomes a problem when it leads to worry or causes us to NOT do something that we should do.

God often asks us to do things that frighten us…

Share our Faith with others, some of whom may react in a hostile manner.

Apologize to someone we have offended.

Trust in His providence by accepting a lesser paying, but more rewarding job.

Offer up our illness or suffering.

Two years ago, after dismissing the idea numerous times as being “impossible”, my wife and I felt that we were being called to homeschool our children. Although we were afraid and skeptical, we trusted (barely) that the Lord would be there for us. We said, “yes”. A few months later, I was laid off from my day job, and we decided that I should finally try to earn a living as a full time Catholic Evangelist. Again, we again said, “yes”. To be totally honest, however, we were scared to death both times. What we’ve discovered in the past two years is that if you say “yes” to the Lord (even if you’re terrified), He can do some incredible things in your life. Even better is that, the more you trust, the more He’ll increase your faith.

The Bible contains numerous stories of people who went along with God’s plan for their lives. Moses, Abraham, Jonah (reluctantly!), Samuel, Isaiah, Mary, Sts. Peter and Paul all said “yes” to the Lord without knowing most of the details. As a result, God was able to use them in amazing ways. In the same way, He wants to use us. Best of all, even our fear isn’t enough to thwart His plans. The only thing that will stop it from happening is when we answer with one word…

“No”!

Posted in anxiety, Christian Living, faith, fear, trust, worry, Zimak family | Comments Off

Congratulations, Mary And Elizabeth!

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Gary Zimak

A few years ago, my wife Eileen and I got the “crazy” idea that we should homeschool our daughters. They were in the sixth grade at the time, but we felt that the Lord was telling us we should do what we previously thought to be impossible. We prayed for several months, attending a Catholic homeschool conference and talked to many people. Finally, we reached the decision to move forward, believing (kind of) that if God really was calling us to do this, He would provide the needed graces. In September of 2011, Mary and Elizabeth started the seventh grade with their teacher, Eileen. After a shaky start (lots of adjustment for all), things got even crazier a few months later when I was laid off from my job as a project manager. Eileen and I then reached the “even crazier than homeschooling” decision that I should try to “make it” as a full time Catholic Evangelist!

After two amazing years, Mary and Elizabeth graduated from the eighth grade this week. I couldn’t be prouder of them and their wonderful teacher(a.k.a. my lovely wife). They have all worked very hard and have done a FANTASTIC job. Since I’m working at home, I had the privilege of being their religion teacher this year and they both received an “A+”! This experience has drawn us closer together as a family and we’ve learned the meaning of the phrase “if God brings you to it, He’ll bring you through it”.

Congratulations, Mary and Elizabeth. Your Mom and Dad are VERY proud of you. And, while I’m at it, I’d like all of you to know just how much I love and respect Eileen for sacrificing so much for the sake of our girls. She’s taught me the meaning of the word “selfless”. Thank you, Jesus, for providing us all with this great opportunity to do your will. Please guide us as we continue this amazing journey!

Posted in Christian Living, faith, family, homeschool | Comments Off

Listen To Your Blessed Mother: Confusion

Posted on June 8, 2013 by Gary Zimak

?How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?? (Luke 1:34)

One day, God dispatched an angel named Gabriel to a city of Galilee named Nazareth. He urged her to not be afraid and assured Mary that she had found favor with God. Then he proceeded to explain the purpose of his visit, a purpose which would be enough to make most people afraid. Mary was given the details of a plan that would have her conceiving a son. That son, named Jesus, ?will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.? (Lk 1:32-33) While you and I may look at these words and be confused as to what?s being asked, a devout Jewish girl would have known exactly what was being stated. Mary was being asked to become the mother of the Messiah!

After the angel finished speaking, Mary was confused and asked a simple question ? ?How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?? (Lk 1:34) Some people will look at Mary?s words and wrongly conclude that her faith was weak. She?ll be compared to Zechariah who, a few verses earlier, doubted Gabriel?s prophecy about the pregnancy of his wife. Didn?t Mary and Zechariah both doubt the angel?s message? Not at all. Mary believed and Zechariah doubted. How do I know, you might ask? The answer lies in Gabriel?s reaction. After Zechariah?s question, the angel stated that he ?didn?t believe his words? (Lk 1:20). Mary received no such rebuke because, unlike Zechariah, she was simply asking for details.

Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that, although Mary was sinless, she was still human. Being chosen to become the mother of God didn?t automatically give her all the answers. Like us, there were times when Mary had questions about God?s will. Even though she always wanted to follow the Lord?s plan for her life, she was sometimes confused and needed to discern His will. As for Our Lady?s question to the angel, some background is necessary in order to understand what she is asking. The common belief of many theologians throughout the years (including Blessed Pope John Paul II, St. Augustine and St. Gregory of Nyssa) is that Mary was confused because she had consecrated her virginity to the Lord. Although unusual for married people, this practice was not unheard of in Mary?s time. This theory is supported by looking at Gabriel?s words. He told Mary that she would conceive and bear a son named Jesus. He didn?t say when, only that it would happen at some point in time. Since Mary was engaged to Joseph, it would be expected that she?d bear his children, therefore there?s nothing unusual about the message?unless she vowed to remain a virgin. Always desiring to do what?s right, Mary made a decision to do what she thought was best, but then Gabriel appeared with some new information. When informed that God wanted her to have a child, Mary needed to reevaluate her plan. Wanting to fulfill the will of God in her life, she needed to ask the important question. How can this be? Please tell me the details so I can cooperate with God?s plan. Far from doubting, Our Lady was pondering Gabriel?s astonishing message and was asking for guidance in carrying out God?s will.

Mary?s words to the angel remind us that it?s perfectly acceptable to ask questions. If you feel that God is asking you to do something, but you?re not sure how it?s possible, go ahead and ask Him for details. Mary did. If you?re carrying a heavy cross and can?t understand why, ask the Lord to enlighten you. Unfortunately, I can?t promise that you?ll get the answer you want. Instead, the Lord?s answer may be, ?trust me?. If that?s the case, you may be asked (like Mary) to go along with His plan without knowing all of the fine details. If you have a difficult time doing that?join the club! However, don?t ever forget that Mary can help you tremendously. As someone who?s ?been there, done that?, she knows exactly what you?re going through. Turn to her and ask her to share some of her faith with you. I can guarantee you that, as stated in the Memorare, ?never was it known that anyone who fled to her protection, implored her help, or sought her intercession was left unaided.?

The Message: God has a plan for my life and wants to make it known to me. Through prayer and careful listening, I can become aware of that plan and put it into action.

(The above is an excerpt from Listen To Your Blessed Mother – Mary’s Words In Scripture, the latest book from Gary Zimak. As someone who always sought to follow God’s will, Mary can teach us how to be better Christians and will help us to grow closer to Jesus. By looking very carefully at Our Lady’s words and actions as recorded in the Bible, we can “hear” her voice and benefit greatly from her motherly advice.)

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