Spiritual Exercises – Day 16

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Gary Zimak

 

On today’s show, we focused on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12):

When He saw the crowds, He went up the mountain, and after He had sat down, His disciples came to Him. He began to teach them, saying:

?Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Today’s musical selection was “Litany of Humility” by Danielle Rose.

Listen to the podcast of the show here.

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Spiritual Exercises – Day 15

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Gary Zimak

 


On today’s show we discussed:

1. The Call of the Apostles – We are all called to evangelize and proclaim the “Good News”.

2. The Miracle at Cana – Jesus performed His first miracle at the request of Mary. Let her intercede for you too!

3. The Cleansing of the Temple – We cannot serve God and mammon (the riches of the world).

Our musical selection was from the CD “I Wait On Tepeyac” and can be purchased online here.

Listen to the podcast of the show here.

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We’re Halfway There!

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Gary Zimak

 

Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all who were in mourning; exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast.

The entrance antiphon from today’s Mass reminds us of the joy that awaits us in a few short weeks. Lent will be over and we’ll be celebrating the Resurrection of Our Lord! I can honestly say that, due to this retreat, this has already been my best Lent ever and it’s only half over! I’ve heard from many of you, but if any of you are struggling or even if you’ve decided to give up the retreat…

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO GET BACK ON TRACK!

Last night, I was reading a book by St. Francis de Sales and I was struck by something he said:

“The enemy often tries to make us attempt and start many projects so that we will be overwhelmed with too many tasks, and therefore achieve nothing and leave everything unfinished…He does not care how many plans and beginnings we make, provided nothing is finished.”

When we started this retreat, I warned you that Satan would try to get you to quit. He doesn’t want you to finish it because it will bring you closer to the Lord. He’ll tell you that you’re not making enough progress, he’ll tell you that you don’t have enough time, he’ll tell you that you’re not getting anything out of it, he’ll tell you that you should quit now and do it again sometime in the future, he’ll tell you that if you miss a day or two that it’s impossible to make it up, etc.

DON’T BELIEVE HIM…HE’S LYING!!!

If you started this retreat…I don’t care how many days you missed, I don’t care how unworthy you feel, I don’t care how little you think you’re getting out of it, you will benefit greatly if you continue with the Spiritual Exercises. I have been modifying the nightly meditations to make them easier to understand. I’m also summarizing each day’s meditation on my blog (https://followingthetruth.com/blog). I am also willing to work with you one on one (via email) to help you get caught up and back on track. If all you can do is spend 30 minutes listening to my radio show, that’s enough to benefit from this retreat.

As a reminder, the purpose of the Spirtual Exercises is to remove our sinful addictions and determine God’s will for our lives. None of us know if we’ll ever have another Lent to do this. Don’t pass up the chance to make it happen while there is still time. I am praying for each of you. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help make your journey easier.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!

God Bless,
Gary

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I Need Your Help!

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Gary Zimak

 

Hi Friends,

As many of you know, I am entering into my 2nd month as a FULL TIME Catholic lay evangelist. Having been a comfort loving, non-risk taking professional employee for thirty years, working for the Lord is proving to be a major adjustment for me. It gives me MANY opportunities to trust in His providence. It also necessitates that I humble myself and do something that doesn’t come easy to me…

ASK FOR DONATIONS!

There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t receive an email telling me that my work is helping someone grow closer to Christ. Here are a few samples of comments that I’ve received in the past few weeks:

I am doing well! And so much of my wellness has to do with you. I have told you again and again how much you have helped me. You are doing the work that God wants you to do. I loved your show tonight. I learn so much from you.

Thank you again, Gary, for doing all of this. What a Godsend you are! 🙂

I think this retreat is awesome!! You are very good at what you do. And the best part is that I can understand it.

Your presentation really touched something in me. Thank you for being dramatic!

I have looked at the Spiritual Exercises before and could not figure out how to do them. Thanks for all your work in making them understandable!

I believe in my heart that the Lord truly wants me to work for Him as a FULL TIME Catholic lay evangelist, but I can’t do it without your support. I am the sole provider for my family and, just like you, I have bills that must be paid. If you have been helped by my work and would like to see that it continues, please consider becoming a monthly sponsor of Following The Truth or make a one time donation. Currently, donations are WELL BELOW the level that I need to continue my apostolate.

The world is a dark place and needs the light that can only be provided by the “Good News” of Jesus Christ. Your donation will allow me to continue doing that. My hope is that, beginning on April 16th, my nightly radio show will expand to a full 60 minutes. In addition to the usual themes, I’ll be reading and discussing the daily Mass readings and playing music from Catholic recording artists. This will not be possible, however, without your donations.

You can donate securely with PayPal by using the form at the upper right of this web page. If you’d rather send a check, please email me for the mailing address.

I will continue to keep you all in my daily prayers. Please know that I’m always here for you if you need anything!

In Christ,
Gary

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Spiritual Exercises – Day 14

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Gary Zimak

 

I started out by proposing 2 homework questions (for the weekend)

1. Look at every decision you make and ask yourself:

Why am I doing this? Is it purely out of love for God or is it because it feels good?

2. What attachments in your life might be getting in the way of your relationship with God? Are you willing to ask for the grace to give them up.

Today’s meditations are:

1. John the Baptist – His role was to draw people to Christ. How are you doing that in your life?

2. The Baptism of Christ – Our Lord humbled Himself and was baptized by John. How much humility do you practice?

3. The Temptation of Jesus – If Satan tempted Christ, he will tempt us. Do we pray when tempted? Do we try to resist?

I mentioned that I’ll be appearing on Relevant Radio’s Morning Air this coming Monday (March 19) at 7 AM Eastern. Sean Herriott and I will be discussing the Spiritual Exercises and Lent.

Our musical selection was “Thy Will Be Done” by Donna Cori Gibson (http://www.donnacorigibson.com)

You can listen to the show here.

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Spiritual Exercises – Day 13

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Gary Zimak

 

Today’s meditation focused on the 3 Classes of People. Let’s look at how Saint Ignatius describes them in the Spiritual Exercises, preceded by 3 preludes:

First Prelude. The first Prelude is the narrative, which is of three classes of men, and each one of them has acquired ten thousand ducats, not solely or as they ought for God’s love, and all want to save themselves and find in peace God our Lord, ridding themselves of the weight and hindrance to it which they have in the attachment for the thing acquired.

Second Prelude. The second, a composition, seeing the place. It will be here to see myself, how I stand before God our Lord and all His Saints, to desire and know what is more pleasing to His Divine Goodness.

Third Prelude. The third, to ask for what I want. Here it will be to ask grace to choose what is more to the glory of His Divine Majesty and the salvation of my soul.

First Class. The first Class would want to rid themselves of the attachment which they have to the thing acquired, in order to find in peace God our Lord, and be able to save themselves, and they do not place the means up to the hour of death.

Second Class. The second want to rid themselves of the attachment, but want so to rid themselves of it as to remain with the thing acquired, so that God should come where they want, and they do not decide to leave it in order to go to God, although it would be the best state for them

Third Class. The third want to rid themselves of the attachment, but want so to rid themselves of it that they have even no liking for it, to keep the thing acquired or not to keep it, but only want to want it or not want it according as God our Lord will put in their will and as will appear to them better for the service and praise of His Divine Majesty; and meanwhile they want to reckon that they quit it all in attachment, forcing themselves not to want that or any other thing, unless only the service of God our Lord move them: so that the desire of being better able to serve God our Lord moves them to take the thing or leave it.

You can listen to the podcast here.

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Spiritual Exercises – Day 12

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Gary Zimak

 

Today’s meditation focused on the Standard of Christ vs. the Standard of Satan. Both are calling us. In order to know who we are following, we must look at their opposing strategies:

Satan’s Strategy – Having called together his fellow demons, Satan devises a plan to turn humans away from God.

1. People are tempted to hold on to earthly possessions.
2. Through these possessions, they are to look for human recognition and honor.
3. They are led to pride, which leaves them open to sin.

Christ’s Strategy – How are Christ’s apostles to carry out their mission?

1. By drawing people to spiritual poverty.
2. Encouraging people to want and accept insults and humiliation.
3. Through humiliations, the followers of Christ will be led to other virtues.

To follow Christ in this way requires special help from Him. Saint Ignatius recommends that we ask Our Lady to obtain the necessary grace from her Son.

Listen to the podcast here.

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The Easiest Way To End Up In Hell…

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Gary Zimak

 

As humans, we have a tendency to do things that “feel good”. Conversely, we like to avoid things that are unpleasant. When we are young, this practice often keeps us out of trouble. Speaking from personal experience, very few kids are going to put the metal key in the electrical socket more than once. One “zap” is usually all it takes to make them realize that it’s not a “fun” experience! Unfortunately, while this attitude can be a big help when we are young, it can work against us when we are older ESPECIALLY when we use it as the basis for making moral decisions.

There is no question that sometimes what God wants us to do is not pleasant. If we want to grow closer to Him, however, it’s necessary to do these unpleasant things. When we study the life of Christ and the saints, we see them constantly rising above what “feels good”, choosing instead what is necessary. If you need an example, look at the life of Jesus and remove everything that wasn’t pleasant. What would be left? If you take away His most painful agony, suffering and dying on cross, where would you and I be today? Quite often, what is most painful in life bears the most fruit. If we want to get closer to Christ, we have to learn to put aside what WE want to do and do what HE wants us to do.

While it’s important for us to understand the necessity of sometimes doing the unpleasant, it’s even more important to understand the danger of ALWAYS doing the pleasant. Want to know the easiest way end up in hell? Always do those things that “feel good” or look attractive! No matter how much we want to deny it, sin feels good (at least for the moment). If it didn’t, we wouldn’t be tempted to sin. Let’s face it…if it was a sin to drink sour milk or eat moldy bread, it wouldn’t be too hard to avoid. Satan may be a liar, but he’s not stupid. If he wants you to sin (and he does!), he’s going to tempt you by appealing to your sense of pleasure. The “harmless” link on the Internet that teases you with pictures of a celebrity’s revealing dress, the thought of “sleeping in” and missing Mass on Sunday, the gratification of not forgiving someone who offended you…these are ways that he fools you into sinning and putting your salvation in jeopardy.

Fortunately for us, the Church gives us the season of Lent to work on practicing self denial. If we train ourselves to voluntarily give up small pleasures, we’ll be better able to avoid the evil of mortal sin. Although eating the candy bar won’t send you to hell for all eternity, clicking on that link could lead to something that will. Self mastery is the key to becoming a saint. Give it some thought…

It really is THAT important!

“It is not always in the soul’s power not to feel a temptation. But it is always in its power not to consent to it.” (Saint Francis de Sales)

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Spiritual Exercises – Day 11

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Gary Zimak

 

Today’s meditations centered on the life of Jesus before the start of His public ministry:

1. The Presentation – Mary and Joseph present Jesus in the temple, according to the law.

2. The Finding in the Temple – After losing Jesus, Mary and Joseph find Him in the temple.

3. The Hidden Life of Christ – Jesus spent most of His life working as an ordinary carpenter.

The podcast can be found here.

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Spiritual Exercises – Day 10

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Gary Zimak

 

On today’s show we focused on the Nativity of Our Lord. You can choose one or all of these themes for your meditation:

1. The Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem

a. The journey to Bethlehem came about due to a decree of a pagan emperor. Mary and Joseph made the journey to participate in the census

b. Christ was born in a stable, teaching us the value of poverty.

c. Contrast the glorious song of the angels with the stable.

2. The Shepherds – They responded to the angel’s message, traveled in haste to see the Savior and worshiped Him.

3. The Magi – Although they were Gentiles, they followed the star to pay homage to the Savior. After paying respects to the Lord, they went home “by a different route”.

In case you missed the show, you can listen to the podcast here.

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