Wind and the Mountain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjIwack34B4

Ask Ellen Needs Your Help

I need your questions!  What have you always wanted to know about Catholicism or Scripture?  Is there something you'd like to know about Gracieland or the process we use to make it?  No questions should go unanswered.

Send me a question today.  Go to the Ask Ellen tab on the left side of the page.  At the top of the Ask Ellen page there is a "Submit A Question" tab in blue at the top of the page.  Click on it and fill out the form.

Thanks in advance for your help.

What Stands In Your Way?

We have concluded our quick trip through the Book of Genesis.  Let’s review the people we met and the issue we addressed: Eve/doubt, Noah/moderation, Abraham/faith, Sarah/humor, Isaac and Rebekah/loyalty, Jacob/deceit, Leah/rejection, Rachel/perfection and Joseph/promotion.

This week we move on to the Book of Exodus and we meet Moses.  Most of us know the Moses that Charlton Heston brought to life.  This week we will look at another side of Moses.

In Exodus 3 we learned that God called Moses through a burning bush.  God tells Moses he is to lead the people out of slavery in Egypt.  In chapter 4 God confirms Moses’ mission by changing his staff into a serpent.

I want to focus on Exodus 4.  Moses is worried because he has a speech problem.  That is Moses’ issue, his impediment.

The dictionary describes impediments as “something that interferes or slows the progression of; drags, embarrass, hinder, hold back, an obstacle, stumbling block.”

Moses’ stumbling block was his speech.  Let’s look at how God responds.  Look at Exodus 4:11.  God makes it clear that He knows Moses’ impediments.  In verse 12, God assures Moses that He will help him.

Moses continues to argue.  God relents and agrees to send Moses’ brother, Aaron as his spokesman.  Moses goes on to be an effective leader and delivers the people from slavery in Egypt.  Moses overcame his impediment.

We are called to do the same.  We must recognize that God knows our obstacles even better than we do.  He asks us to trust Him and allow Him to use us anyway.  When we do, we are effective.

Ask yourself the following questions:

What things do I allow to interfere with my life?

What is dragging me down?

What parts of myself am I embarrassed by?

Do I obsess on my shortcomings?

How can I use this season of Lent to offer my obstacles up to God?

Throw It Back To Tomorrow

Click on the Gracieland icon on the bottom right of the page to see this week's webstrip.


Tuesday Table Talk

Explain to children that an existential crisis is one where you question who you are and why you are here.

Ask your child:

What important season does Father think Anthony is talking about?  What things does Anthony say that makes him think this?

What season was Anthony talking about?  How do those same things apply to it?

What Is Your Problem?

Click on the Gracenotes link above to hear this week's podcast about Moses and his issue. Check back tomorrow for a new Greetings from Gracieland webstrip.

Let's Talk About...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxUuDPNbkJk

Ask Ellen: Why do we say “Thanks Be To God” at the end of Mass? Should we really be that happy that Mass is over? Madison, GA

Thanks for your question, Madison.  It does sound like we are happy that Mass is over.  However, we are really thanking God for the opportunity to attend Mass and to be able to bring the blessings Mass gives us to others throughout the week.

Sometimes the responses we use at Mass can seem confusing at first.  If we take the time to think about them and study their meaning we will see how relevant each one is.  “Thanks be to God” is no exception.

This week when the priest announces that Mass has ended, let’s all respond with a joyous “Thanks be to God.”  Then we will take that joy to others in a hurting world.