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Over the past several months I?ve been following the saga of Jim (a.k.a. po18guy), a regular poster on the Catholic Answers Forums. Last year Jim was diagnosed with lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system) and has been courageously battling the disease, while at the same time inspiring those of us who have come to know him online. His total submission to God?s will and positive outlook on life has been a great lesson to many. A few months ago it appeared that the painful chemotherapy treatment had miraculously eliminated the cancer from his body.

Unfortunately, the doctors have now discovered that Jim?s cancer has returned and have started a treatment plan using experimental drugs. I would kindly ask you all to remember this brave and holy man in your prayers and spread the word to anyone else that you know. Also, please pray for his wife and children during this difficult time.

The following links will allow you to read Jim?s comments on the battle that he continues to face. I guarantee that you will be inspired?

http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=261219

http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=321010

In today?s Palm Sunday gospel, we listened to St. Mark?s account of Jesus? Passion. In this powerful story, there are many characters mentioned. The majority of these individuals don?t end up looking very good. Today?s question is…

To whom do you relate?

The woman with the alabaster jar who anoints Jesus?

Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus?

Simon Peter, who denies Jesus 3 times?

James and John, who (along with Peter) can?t stay awake to comfort Jesus?

Pilate, who despite finding no fault with Christ, yields to the wishes of the mob?

The soldiers, who spit on and mocked The Lord?

The crowd, who cried ?crucify Him!??

Simon of Cyrene, who was forced to assist Jesus?

The centurion, who was the only person to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God?

Joseph of Arimathea, who courageously asked Pilate for the body of Jesus?

The young man, who followed Jesus, but fled naked when grabbed by the soldiers?

The 2 thieves crucified with Jesus, who were indeed guilty?

When we look at ourselves honestly, we find that we possess many of the same traits as the individuals in this narrative. There are times when we don?t speak out in defense of our Catholic Faith, possibly even denying our beliefs to avoid ridicule. There are also times when, despite the best of intentions, we simply don?t do the right thing.

During the upcoming Holy Week, why not try to make amends for some of the shortcomings in your life? If you need additional motivation, read the Passion narrative again, remembering that Jesus suffered and died a horrible death for our sins (not His own). You and I are responsible for putting Him on that cross.

I don?t know about you, but that fact sure makes me want to be a better person.

Before I begin, I?d like to mention that what I?m about to recommend applies every bit as much to me as it may to any of you. I am not trying to be judgmental or lecture anyone. Instead I?m just trying to make everyone (including myself) think a little bit more as we move into the final week of Lent. Sound good? Now, let?s look at an old Cherokee legend:

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.? It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.? The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?? The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

As we move into Holy Week, it is a great time to determine which wolf we are feeding. If we feed ourselves a constant diet of Desperate Housewives, Howard Stern, gossip magazines, risqu? jokes, Internet porn (either soft or hardcore), foul language and suggestive music, there is no doubt which wolf we are feeding. Instead, if we feed ourselves with the Bible and good spiritual reading material, watch only wholesome entertainment programs, listen to positive music and pray daily we are feeding the correct wolf.

Following Christ requires a daily examination of conscience. As we prepare to enter into the holiest week of the year, let?s try hard to be honest with ourselves. As always, the Holy Spirit will be there to help us see the areas that need improvement.

Two wolves?

only one will survive.

In yesterday?s blog, I discussed some recommendations for listening to God when you are attempting to make a decision. I received the following comment from a reader in response to my entry:

I know exactly what you mean but, when we want answers to important issues and we feel we are under pressure, what happens is that we become anxious and try to force the issue. I have found that when God is silent it is often because he is unable to answer my question because I am asking the wrong question or asking in the wrong way. Your key phrase for me is ‘I’ll present Him with a few alternatives…’ The key is not asking for clarification – the key is the opposite. It is ‘letting go’. My God, that is easier said than done but it is absolutely fundamental. It may be that your ideas of the future are totally wrong. It may be that He is thinking outside the box and has something different for you. It may be that it doesn’t ultimately matter which one you choose because in the end, whatever choice you make will not be the wrong choice as long as your heart is right with Him. He will honor it. Just say ‘Show me Lord’ and I guarantee He will answer because he never fails to answer that plea. Suddenly the Bible and the Missal will speak to you. Suddenly a complete stranger will say a phrase and you will feel as if a spear has just gone through your chest.

After reading this eloquent and thought-provoking response, I felt the need to clarify what I was attempting to say. The idea of presenting alternatives to God is part of an iterative process and not done only once. Developing these alternatives involves prayer and discernment. Many times you?ll get some ideas, pray about them – and decide that none of them feels right. It?s then time to go ?back to the drawing board? and wait for some more ideas. If you don?t get any, it?s possible that God doesn?t want you to make any changes. As the reader points out, we also need to be open to unexpected options. The key is to listen to God?s quiet voice as He gives you direction. Eventually His plan will become clear?as long as we listen.

Does anyone else have trouble listening to God speak? Sometimes I am so busy talking to Him that I forget to stop and listen. What complicates matters even more is that, generally speaking, my answer doesn?t come in the form of a booming voice from the sky. Instead, I receive only silence. Does that mean that He?s not saying anything?

It has been my experience that The Lord speaks to me by using a silent, peacefulness that permeates my being. Whenever I?m trying to determine a course of action for my life, I ask The Lord to ?please make the answer REALLY obvious? because I?m so dense! I?ll then present Him with a few alternatives and prayerfully attempt to discern His will. More often than not, I?ll begin to feel more peaceful about one of the options. At that point, I?ll try the option that I?m leaning toward and see what happens. If the peace continues, I can reasonably assume that The Lord is in agreement. If not, there is a good possibility that I made the wrong choice and I should reconsider my options.

There are many important decisions that need to be made over the course of our lives and it?s always a good idea to consult God first. An even more powerful method is to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. Many Churches have perpetual adoration chapels in which Jesus is available for us on a daily basis. There have been several occasions when, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, an answer suddenly seemed obvious. I can assure you that?s not a coincidence. We are privileged to have to world?s best advisor at our disposal?

Are we ?listening? to His advice?

A recent Gallup Poll has concluded that there is virtually no difference between American Catholics and American non-Catholics on the moral acceptability of abortion and embryonic stem cell research. Furthermore, this poll concludes that American Catholics are more liberal than American non-Catholics on a number of moral issues. I suppose that I could use the line of reasoning that the clergy is at fault due to their lack of strong preaching, but I?m not going to use that argument. Instead, I?m here to confess that it?s MY fault that more Catholics are choosing to pick and choose their own moral beliefs. Now before you think that I?m being too hard on myself, please let me explain?

For many years I did virtually nothing to proclaim the truths of the Catholic Faith. I suppose I could defend my inactivity by saying that it?s tough to teach what you don?t know, but that?s only part of the problem. In addition to not understanding my Catholic Faith, I never felt a burning desire to educate others about the truths of the religion founded by Jesus Christ. I felt that as long as I went to Mass each week (even if I didn?t pay attention), I was doing my duty as a Catholic. Imagine my shock when I had a major conversion experience and realized that I was supposed to help educate others about the Faith. It was then that I came to the conclusion that I had a lot to learn and proceeded to investigate what the Catholic Church actually teaches.

I suspect that my story isn?t unique and that?s what motivated me to form the Catholic Truth lay apostolate. I wanted to provide a central location where Catholics could easily obtain information about the true teaching of the Church. I finally stopped blaming the clergy and religious and accepted the fact that they don?t live in my home or work in my office. I also came to the conclusion that there are far more lay Catholics than there are clergy and that we have a job to do. We need to educate those around us that it is not acceptable for a Catholic to practice artificial birth control, support pro-abortion candidates, engage in pre-marital sex, skip Mass on Sundays, or any other number of issues. If we start doing our job, then other Catholics are going to understand what the Church actually teaches. If they don?t agree, it?s not our problem ? we did our part.

If you?re not sure about what Catholics believe, then visit our website (www.thecatholictruth.info) and subscribe to our monthly email newsletter (visit our website to sign up ? it takes about 5 seconds). If you already have a good understanding of Church teachings, then refer others to our website. I need your help to spread the ?Good News? to those who don?t understand. If we all do our part, then Catholics will start to reclaim their identity and live their Faith. If we do nothing, one day we?ll have to explain our inactivity to God. I don?t want to tell anyone what to do, but I strongly recommend that you try to do something now?it might save you the embarrassment of one day having to admit that ?it?s your fault?!

Read more about the Gallup Poll here (http://www.gallup.com/poll/117154/Catholics-Similar-Mainstream-Abortion-Stem-Cells.aspx)

Many of us are familiar with the famous words of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, ?Pray, Hope and Don?t Worry? ? but how many times do we follow his advice? It?s easy to trust God when things are going well. Our prayers may be filled with thanksgiving as we reflect on the many blessings we have been given. We may walk around with a good feeling about life. This may not be the case when we begin to experience troubles. Job loss, sickness, relationship difficulties or the death of a family member can suddenly turn our lives upside-down. How do we handle these situations?

The Lord works in mysterious ways and we must learn to trust Him in all situations. While worrying or getting angry is certainly understandable, it?s something that we should work on eliminating from our lives. One of my favorite Biblical examples of trust is when Abraham prepares to sacrifice his son Isaac (Gn 22), as requested by The Lord. I find it astonishing that Abraham didn?t even ask any questions ? he just obeyed! I can see myself in that situation saying, ?But Lord, don?t you know that he?s my only son? I thought you said I was going to have numerous descendents ? how is that going to happen if Isaac dies? Don?t you know how difficult it was to have a son at my wife?s age?? Abraham obeyed God because he trusted.

I?m not going to say that I never worry, because I do. However, when I find myself worrying about situations that are beyond my control ? I know that I?m not trusting God as much as I should. Instead of getting down on myself, I look at it as a starting point for my prayer. The Lord knows that I?m weak and wants to help me. I sometimes use the words of the father who asked Jesus to remove the unclean spirit from his son, ?I do believe, help my unbelief? (Mk 9:24). Then after praying, my hope increases and eventually? I even stop worrying!

I was always impressed when I?d hear people say that they read the Bible daily. I couldn?t imagine having the dedication to do such a thing. From time to time, I?d pledge to start reading the Bible each day and would always stop shortly thereafter. Not too long after I?d begin, I wouldn?t know which passages to read and would eventually lose interest and stop. Recently, I discovered a method that has proven successful and quite simple.

I?ve found that the easiest way to read the Bible daily is by making use of the daily Mass readings. Publications such as The Word Among Us or The Magnificat make this process very simple. Another method is to use the online readings provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. For those of us who work on the computer frequently, this resource is extremely convenient. This method takes about five minutes each day, but provides unlimited benefits.

By following the daily readings, there is never a problem deciding which passages to read. There is also the added benefit of reading the Biblical texts along with the entire Church. We let the Church, guided by The Holy Spirit, choose the readings pertinent to the liturgical season.

Why not try using this simple method daily for the remaining two weeks of Lent and see what happens? I suspect that you?ll find your life changed by a personal encounter with God through His Word. After years of failure, I?ve learned that it is possible to read the Bible daily by using this approach?I bet you?ll agree!