Status Update: "More Info Needed" AND My Homily from Sunday

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/highbloodpressure.html

Well, I received a letter from Navy Recruiting. I need to send in some more information.

 

Apparently, the results of a drug test were left out of the report when I went for a physical. So I had them fax it. I also needed to go get an "Ophthalmology evaluation." I guess since I wear glasses, that might be a good idea. I have to go to my doctor twice a day for three consecutive days to get blood pressure readings. My blood pressure must have been high when I went for my physical. I wonder why (he says sarcastically) since I drove up to Edison to a clinic and was informed when I got there that they wouldn't be able to see me! Then I had to wait 45 minutes or so as a nurse came back from break and spoke to my recruiter and worked everything out. Ugh. Maybe that is why my blood pressure was up?!?

 

So no problem. If something is worth it, you have to work for it. Today is the last day of going to the doc for blood pressure readings. They are fairly normal. Certainly not high.

 

The good news is that the Navy must have started to look through my application. (Yeah!)  I will send the additional information to my recruiter and he will send it on to Washington.

 

Yesterday, August 7 was supposed to be another Navy Chaplain review board meeting. I missed another one. Hopefully, I will hear back from the Navy by the end of August and have an appointment for the final review soon. Keep your fingers crossed.

FYI -- here's my homily from this Sunday. I also had mass in Spanish this weekend. I will be doing the Spanish mass for the next few weeks.

Homily for 18th week in Ordinary Time Year B 

We spend much of our time doing things that help support our life here on earth.

• We work to support our family:   so we can have a roof over our heads, so we can feed our children, and so we can pay the bills. Maybe we will have a little money left over to have some fun.
• We may spend time cleaning, improving or fixing our house.
• We spend time with family and friends.
• We raise our children, send them to school, teach them to know good from bad.
• We maintain our car (I had to take my car for inspection this week!) and we take care of our other possessions.
• We manage our finances and try to save for future expenses and maybe prepare for retirement.

These are all good things and we should do them.

In the Gospel today, however, Jesus tells us not to “work for food that will perish” – the possessions, rewards and admiration in this life. He tells us rather to “work for food that endures for eternal life.”

How do we work for this eternal food. What is this eternal food?

Jesus himself is this food. He says, “I am the bread of life.”

So Jesus is commanding us to work to receive Jesus into our minds and hearts!  (Recall the gesture we make right before the Gospel… We make a cross on our forehead, lips and chest signifying “May the Lord be in my thoughts, my words and my desires. This is what he meant.)

How do we do this?

We know the basics. Practice our faith. Pray. Come to Mass. Teach your children, not only right from wrong, but teach them to know, love and serve Jesus. We do this by example.

Pray every day with your family. Perhaps pray the rosary as a family. Or if your children are very little, pray one decade of the rosary or do a shorter version – something they are able to do. But teach them the prayers. Teach them about Jesus. Teach them about Mary, Our Mother.

We need to open ourselves to how Jesus wants to feed us. So we need to remove sinful behavior from our lives. Run away from inappropriate entertainment and get help with fighting addictions. Make sure your marriage is in good standing, maybe an annulment is needed. Use some of your free time to serve the people around you. In serving, we imitate Christ.

Focus more of your day on the fact that God is present. Offer each day to God. Offer everything that you do for His glory! If you are going to work, offer that to God. If you playing with your kids, offer that to God. If you are sitting and talking with your spouse, offer that time to God. Be grateful for what you have and avoid always desiring what other people have.

St. Paul instructs us to “pray without ceasing.” So basically, you make your whole day a prayer - by reminding yourself and others. We do this with building habits of praying, for example praying before meals. We have statues and symbols around our house and in our car. I make time to pray the rosary whenever I am taking a long trip. As soon as I get off the highway, I take the rosary from around the rear view mirror and I start to pray before I forget.

Work for food that will endure for eternal life! Work to let Jesus into your hearts and minds!